Disclaimer: (Hikari steps up to a microphone with several papers in her hand)
Okay, guess it's my turn to do the disclaimer. We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, even though we wish we did, we only own the Elemental Duelists (Except Mako) and our original cards (unless otherwise noted). Hope you readers enjoy the chapter!
(Hikari steps down, and the curtain lifts)
Previously,
The time had finally come. Yugi and Needlez began their duel, one that would decide the fate of the world. The loser would resurrect the Elemental Master, and if that happened, destruction would rain again. As Yugi and Needlez dueled, the Elemental Duelists, Joey, Kaiba, and Serenity, realized that Needlez probably had a back up plan. Gold and Zeffie went to gather their things, while Brian and Tim ran off to try and nip Needlez's plan in the bud. Thanks to Celeste's brilliant distraction, Needlez didn't notice them leave, but now all his attention is on the pharaoh…
Chapter 18
The Amazing Dueling Hokage Brothers
The two duelists stood staring at each other.
Yami: 5800
Needlez: 7300
Yami had Vampire Lord (2000/1500), Soul of Purity and Light (2000/1800), and the Swords of Revealing light holding his opponent prisoner.
Needlez had the dreaded Seal of Orichalcos, which was providing power to his fire aligned Homunculus the Alchemical being (2300/1600), which provided strength to an Element Dragon (2500/1200).
"I've no idea what my failures of minions are trying to do, blinding me like that." Needlez growled as he turned to Celeste and Mako, "But I don't really care. Now make yer move pharaoh!"
"If you insist." Yami sighed as he drew a new card, "Then I shall activate Card of Sanctity, so we both draw until we hold six cards!"
Yami drew six times, and Needlez three. Yami smiled as he saw what had appeared in his hand.
"Now for a card I haven't played in a while." He smiled as he put the card in his disk, "I equip Vampire Lord with Horn of the Unicorn!"
The undead king smiled as he reached under his cape, and removed a glowing blue horn that crackled with mystical lightning.
"Oh crap, that gives any monster an extra 700 attack points!" Needlez gasped.
"That's right." Yami confirmed, "Vampire Lord (2700/1500), feed on Homunculus with children of the night!"
The vampire opened his cape again, and several electric blue bats swooped out. They dove on the red skinned man, who screamed and fell over before shattering into fragments.
Yami: 5800
Needlez: 6900
"And since he damaged your life points, I can now choose for you to discard another type of card from your deck." Yami declared as Vampire Lord stepped forward, "So if you'd kindly discard one spell card?"
Needlez sneered, and removed his deck from its slot. He silently slid a Megamorph from his deck, and put it in his graveyard. As he did, Element Dragon's (2000/1200) runes faded again, and its attack fell without a fire monster present.
"I hope ye enjoyed that, because it won't be happening again." Needlez growled.
"We'll see." Yami smirked as he put two more cards into his disk, "I'll lay these down and end my turn."
The two cards appeared before Yami, and Needlez drew.
"Lay as many cards as ye like, they won't help ye now." Needlez growled, "I summon Element Doom (2000/1200) in attack mode!"
A terrifying roar sounded, and a new monster appeared. He looked like a human with rocky brown skin. He had black wings and a long, snaky tail, and he had runes like Element Dragon's running over his wings and tail.
"This fiend was once a servant to darkness." Needlez smiled, "But he was far too low on the social ladder fer his own tastes. The goddess of the elements asked for his service, and he accepted in return fer two of her blessings. The first was wind…"
"I already know what that does." Yami sighed, "It lets him attack twice if he destroys a monster with his first attack."
"Aye, but he also gained the power of earth." Needlez explained, "And I'll save that one fer a surprise. Fer now though, attacking is pointless and impossible."
Needlez placed two cards into his disk, and their holographic emissaries appeared before him.
"I'll just set these two cards down and end my turn." The mastermind stated.
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In the meantime, Zeffie and Gold ran into a new chamber. This one was furnished with a bed and desk like the others. In this one, the covers were slightly messed up, and there was plenty of clutter on the desk.
"Looks like Tim's room." Gold stated as he held out a large garbage bag, "Ye know what to do Zef."
Zeffie nodded and swept her arms. A huge gust of wind shot around the room, picking up clothes, spare cards, an empty lighter, and a few other personal knickknacks. They flew threw the air and into the garbage bag, which Gold tied off.
"Okay, next stop is Mako's room." Gold said, "You ready?"
"Don't worry Goldie, Zeffie could do this for hours!" The girl cheered as she and Gold ran from the room.
"I've asked you not to call me…Never mind." Gold sighed.
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In the meantime, Brian and Tim burst from the shadows in the seal room. The body's eyes focused on them immediately, sending a shiver down Brian's spine.
"So that's what it looks like now?" Brian asked, staring at the body.
"Yeah, kinda makes you wanna throw up doesn't it?" Tim answered.
"I'll be sick later." Brian said, turning to his brother, "Did you grab our seals?"
Tim held up the two cards in response, and Brian took the dark seal from him. He quickly shuffled it into his deck, and Tim did the same with the fire seal.
"We only get one chance at this. Whoever loses, loses." Brian stated as his disk activated.
"I'll see ya from the winner's circle." Tim joked, "Right now, the tension in the air is thicker than Kaiba's skull. Can we get on with this?"
"Then let's begin." Brian smiled, "A dueling demonstration…"
"From the Amazing Dueling Hokage Brothers!" Both shouted together.
They each drew five cards, and the life point counters set.
Brian: 8000
Tim: 8000
"Age before beauty." Brian joked as he drew a sixth card, "Let's see what I get."
Brian looked over his hand, and pulled one card from his hand. He carefully placed it on his tray.
"Here's someone that will look familiar," Brian smirked, "Vmpire Lady (1550/1550)!"
From the shadows rose the lovely vamipiress. She had flashed a fangy smile to Tim, and gave him a friendly wink.
"Oh crap!" Tim shouted.
"Hey, she's not that good a monster." Brian said.
"No, I gave Yugi my phoenix and you gave him your Vampire Lord!" Tim explained, "We don't have them with us!"
"That doesn't matter now." Brian responded, "We need to end this duel quickly, we don't know how long the pharaoh's duel may take. Now make your move."
Tim drew, and a frown crossed his face.
"Brian, we're going to destroy the body when one of us wins right?" Tim asked.
"Yes." Brian nodded, "The body and whatever soul was offered to it. Why?"
"What if the pharaoh loses?" Tim asked.
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Yami drew his fourth card. He cautiously looked over Needlez's two monsters, going over his options.
"We need to be careful of those facedown cards." Yugi warned, "We don't know what they might do."
"But at the moment, we have the strongest monster." Yami pointed out, "We need to press our advantage for as long as possible."
"Vampire Lord, destroy Element Dragon!" Yami ordered.
The zombie type fired his bats again, and they swooped toward the dragon. The creature drew back in fear…
When Needlez facedown card lifted. Element Doom dashed over to Element Dragon's side, and the two of them nodded to each other.
"It's not that easy." Needlez laughed, "My Covering Fire trap will add Element Doom's attack to Element Dragons for this turn, meaning yer monster now fights a creature with 4000 attack points. Now, combo retaliation!"
The dragon shot out its flames again, and the fiend opened its mouth. From its mouth flew a blast of sand which shattered the bats. Vampire Lord screamed as the dragon's fire struck him, and he shattered into fragments.
Yami: 4500
Needlez: 6900
Yami cringed as his life points fell. He looked over his hand, and sighed. A card slid from his graveyard, and he placed it on top of his deck.
"Since it went to the graveyard, my Horn of the Unicorn now returns to the top of my deck." He declared, "Nothing more I can do, it's your move."
"That's what I thought." Needlez smiled as he drew, "Then I think I'll summon another of the goddess's servants. Once a servant to the power of light, this fairy chose to search for a higher calling. She found the elemental goddess, and was giving the powers of fire and water."
Needlez placed a card on his disk.
"I summon Element Valkyrie (2000/1200)." He laughed.
In front of Needlez, a young woman shimmered into form. She wore red armor and boots, plus a blue cape. She carried a spear, and her boots and arms were covered with the same runes.
"I end my turn with that, meaning yer pathetic swords are blown away." Needlez declared, the swords breaking one by one as he ended his turn.
"Before I move, I don't suppose you'd tell me what water does." Yami queried as he drew.
"Does it matter?" Needlez responded with a shrug, "There are no water monsters in play right now, are there?"
"Not yet anyway." Yugi agreed as he looked at the card Mako had given them.
"We have Tim's phoenix and Mako's fisherman." Yami thought, "But we don't have enough to summon the phoenix, and the fisherman isn't strong enough."
"Maybe there's another way we can use it." Yugi suggested, "Think, there has to be a way."
"There's still nothing I can do Needlez, I end my turn."Yami admitted with a frown, "But keep in mind that your monsters are unable to defeat Soul of Purity and Light."
"Aye, due to her effect." Needlez nodded as he drew.
A smile crossed his aged features. He placed a card in his disk, causing electricity to crackle over head.
"But it won't matter soon." He explained as he put a card into his graveyard, "I play Lightning Vortex, to destroy that pathetic pixy!"
"Pathetic!" Celeste shouted from outside the seal.
That was all she got out. A storm began to brew overhead, and Soul separated from Yami's back. She floated out to the front of his field, with a sad look in her eyes. A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky and eliminated Yami's final monster.
"Now my creatures," Needlez ordered.
"I activate Threatening Roar!" Yami interrupted, one of his facedown cards lifting.
A huge monster jumped from the card, and let loose a terrifying roar. All three of Needlez monster's drew back in fear. Needlez sneered angrily as he glared at the three creatures.
"Fine then, I'm done." Needlez sighed.
"Then it's my move." Yami said as he drew.
His eyes widened at the sight of the card he now held. Without a moment's hesitation, he placed it in his disk.
"And I activate my Spider Web spell card!" Yami shouted, a thin gossamer line flying toward Needlez graveyard.
"Spider Web?" Needlez gasped as the string struck his disk, "What's that?"
"It steals the last spell card my opponent used, and adds it to my hand." Yami explained as a green bordered card flew from Needlez to him, "So now I control your Lightning Vortex."
"Oh no." Needlez squeaked.
"And I'll activate it!" Yami declared, sliding Legendary Fisherman into his graveyard.
A huge storm appeared over the dueling field again. This time however, it was Needlez's monsters that were wiped out by a huge bolt of electricity. Yami smirked as he tapped another button on his disk.
"And now I activate Call of the Haunted to revive the monster I just discarded." Yami declared, "Legendary Fisherman (1850/1600)!"
Needlez watched as Yami's card lifted, and a purple mist floated from it. From the mist emerged a bare-chested man. He had a deep tan, and very closely resembled Mako. He carried a sharp spear, and rode on a giant shark.
"Idiot, ye could have revived a monster with more attack than that." Needlez laughed.
"Maybe, but I feel that each of the monsters leant to me deserves a chance to get even with you." Yami explained as he put another card into his disk, "Speaking of which, I play Premature Burial to revive Soul of Purity and Light!"
Needlez gasped as the spirit of light coalesced behind Yami once more. The shimmering maiden seemed quite displeased as she shot an ugly look at Needlez.
"Both of you, attack directly!" Yami ordered, waving his hand toward Needlez.
Fisherman drew back, and hurled his harpoon right at Needlez's chest. The soul raised one hand and fired a shimmering ray of silver light right at the villain's face. As the attack's approached, Needlez's last card turned over.
Yami gasped in horror as a shimmering barrier appeared before his monsters, showing their reflections! The attacks passed through the wall, and struck Needlez, though he didn't seem to be nearly as affected as he should. At the same time, the fisherman (925/1600) and the soul (1000/1800) were both covered in cracks like broken glass.
Yami: 3700
Needlez: 4975
"A Mirror Wall trap card…" Yami realized.
"Aye, to cut the attack of any monster you attack with in half." Needlez confirmed with a nod, "Guess it wasn't such a good idea to waste 800 life points on that fairy, was it?"
"Why I oughta…" Celeste growled as Mako quickly pulled her back.
"Celeste, don't forget the seal is still there." Mako reminded the girl, "I know you're upset that he keeps insulting your monsters, but you can't do anything about it right now."
"Yeah, just wait for Yug to kick his butt for ya." Joey suggested.
"And how is he supposed to do that?" Kaiba muttered.
"Like this." Yami responded as he removed the two monsters from his disk, "I'll sacrifice both of these creatures to summon Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys (2400/ 1600)!"
Yami placed another card onto his disk, and the two creatures before him were consumed by golden flames. Each of them shot an ugly look at Needlez before vanishing, and in their place appeared the beautiful golden bird. She began to sing a lovely song, and Needlez winced.
"This could be bad." He thought as the monster continued its haunting melody.
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Back in the seal chamber, Brian and Tim had been continuing their duel.
"We'll just have to trust Yugi and the pharaoh to win." Brian sighed, "And if they don't we still can't allow Needlez to get what he wants. Now come on, start dueling!"
"Okay, but you asked for it." Tim smiked as he drew, "I summon Blazing Inpachi (1850/0) in attack mode."
Tim placed the card down, and a giant made of logs rose up. The creature was literally on fire, and it turned toward Vampire Lady.
"Inpachi attack! Blazin beatdown!" Tim ordered.
The wooden creature pulled back his fist, and swung it toward the vampire mistress. She screamed as the flaming attack struck her in the stomach, and she shattered into fragments.
Brian: 7700
Tim:8000
"Now I'll set this facedown." Tim said as a new card appeared behind his monster, "Your move."
Brian drew, and a nervous smile crossed his face. He flicked open his field zone, and slid a card in.
"We knew we would have to play these sooner or later." Brian sighed.
"I was hoping for later." Tim confessed.
"Sorry." Brian shrugged, "Activate: Elemental Seal of Darkness!"
"So now I get to play Elemental Seal of Fire from my deck." Tim retorted as he removed the card and placed it in his own field slot.
Around the brothers appeared a circle of runes. The ones near Brian were black, and Tim's were red. A huge wall of black flames leapt up around the two, and Tim's monster began to burn with an even fiercer flame. Blazing Inpachi (2050/0) moaned as it was covered in a barely visible red tattoo. The same happened to Tim, while Brian was covered with black markings.
"I swear, this is the last time we use these." Brian promised as he put a card on his disk, "But it's the only way we can make our plan work. Now I set one monster facedown, and end my turn."
In front of the dark duelist appeared a facedown monster, which Inpachi and Tim eyed suspiciously. Tim drew and looked over his hand.
"This is obviously some bait on the hook, but I'll bite." Tim nodded, "Go Blazing Inpachi!"
The flaming golem threw a punch at the card before it. The monster flipped over, revealing a silvery pot with a single, green eye. The pot laughed, and exploded, taking the Inpachi with it.
"Damn Cyber Jars." Tim muttered as he took the top five cards from his deck.
"Looks like I get to summon Mystic Tomato (1600/1100) and Witch's Apprentice (750/500)." Brian said as he put the cards on his disk and added the other three to his hand, "But thanks to my witch, both of them gain 500 attack points, so I'm leaving them in attack mode."
Before Brian appeared the large, somewhat comical plant, and the winged Spellcaster. The young witch raised her broom, covering the field with an eldritch energy. Tomato (2100/1100) laughed as it and Witch (1250/500) gained an even darker aura.
"I got Great Angus (2000/600) and both of my Hands of Nephthys (800/600)." Tim sighed.
"Wait, both!" Brian gasped, "I never knew you had two! How did I not know you have two?"
"It's not like I put them on the field together." Tim pointed out as he arranged the cards, "Besides, I'm allowed to have more than one in my deck, I'm just limited to one phoenix. My hands will go facedown, and Angus will stay in attack mode."
In front of Tim appeared a fearsome, red boar-like creature with a terrifying look on its face. On either side of it were the two hidden Spellcaster maidens. The boar bellowed as the red fire marks appeared on its skin.
"Since it's still my battle phase, I'll have Angus smash your Apprentice." Tim declared.
The beast jumped toward the witch, who screamed in terror as she was knocked to the ground. She shattered into pixels, and Brian cringed a bit as his life points fell. The tomato (1600/1100) looked upset over her loss.
Brian: 6950
Tim: 8000
"Very nice move, my turn?" Brian asked.
"First I'll set these two cards facedown, and then end my turn." Tim smirked as he placed the cards in his disk.
The two cards appeared next to the first as Brian drew.
"Okay Tim, I don't have Vampire Lord but I do have someone who's pretty good in his own right." Brian stated as he took his only monster off his disk, "I tribute Mystic Tomato to summon Mefist the Infernal General (2000/1700)!"
The tomato laughed, and disappeared. In its placed strode a large black horse with a man wearing demonic armor riding on its back. The soldier carried a huge ax, which he easily hefted with one hand.
"And just so you know, Mefist packs a permanent Fairy Meteor Crush effect." Brian explained, "So he'll wipe out one of your facedown Hands with glaive of destruction!"
The demon slammed his weapon to the ground, and a shockwave flew from it. The energy struck one of the facedown monsters, which flipped to reveal the bird priestess. She barely had time to scream, before shattering into fragments.
Brian: 6950
Tim: 6600
"I hate Mefist." Tim muttered, "Now I have to discard a card since he damaged my life points."
"Yeah, but I choose a random card." Brian reminded his brother as he looked over his five options, "So I choose the second one from my right."
Tim plucked the card (Rush Recklessly) from his hand and dropped it into his grave slot. As he did, Brian placed one of his own cards into his disk.
"I'll end my turn with a facedown card." Brian announced as a card materialized behind Mefist, "Your turn."
Tim drew his fifth card.
"I summon Raging Flame Sprite (300/200) in attack mode." Tim announced as he slid the card into his disk.
The giggling, bouncing fire pixy jumped onto the field. She smiled as her wand sparked to life, and she aimed it right at Brian.
"Aw man, not her." Brian moaned.
"Yes her, and she's hitting your life points directly, as per her special effect!" Tim declared.
The pixy swung her weapon, and a shower of sparks flew over Brian. He batted them away, looking more annoyed than injured.
"And now, since she attacked your LP directly, she gets 1000 extra attack points." Tim stated.
A little fireball began to circle the pyro type, who giggled again as she waved her tiny wand.
"Now, Great Angus can attack Mefist!" Tim shouted.
The boar lunged toward the wicked general, who raised his ax in response.
"They'll destroy each other!" Brian shouted.
"Not if I activate the Rush Recklessly I had facedown." Tim laughed as the card behind his monster revealed itself.
Angus gained a sudden burst of speed, and his fist collided with Mefist's head before the fiend had a chance to react. The general shattered into fragments, which vanished into the shadows.
Brian: 6250
Tim: 6600
"Now, I'll end my turn." Tim declared with a smile and a snap of his fingers.
"Remember bro, just because we're dueling for the fate of the world doesn't mean we can't enjoy it." Brian said as he drew.
"The way I see it, this might be our last duel together." Tim admitted, "I figure: Why not live it up? I activate my second card, Thunder of Ruler during your standby phase…"
"So now, I'll have to skip my battle phase." Brian nodded as the trap lifted and a fearsome soldier jumped up behind Tim, "Clever. I'll just summon Giant Orc (2400/0) in attack mode."
In front of Brian appeared the fat orc, complete with his bone club. He looked around with a stunned look on his face, even as the black marks covered his body.
"That's all." Brian stated, pressing his end turn button.
"My turn then." Tim said as he pulled another card, "And I'll equip my Raging Flame Sprite with the Twin Swords of Flashing Light: Tryce!"
Tim placed one card in his disk, and then one into his graveyard.
"I have to discard a card to equip them, so I choose Flame Ruler." Tim explained.
Flame Sprite (800/200) frowned as her wand vanished. Then she smiled as two small swords, the size of rapiers to her, appeared in her hands.
"I know those weapons." Brian frowned, "They take 500 attack from whatever uses them, but they let it attack twice."
"Right." Tim nodded, "And she gets to attack your life points because of her own effect…"
"Meaning that she'll be gaining 2000 attack points per turn!" Brian gasped.
"Raging Flame Sprite, attack directly with Twin Sword Slash!" Tim ordered.
The pixy swooped right at Brian, and swung one of her weapons across his left cheek. Brian raised one hand to where a small cut appeared, and a second fireball began to orbit the little girl.
"Again!" Tim shouted.
The sprite (1800/200) swooped lower, and swung her second sword at Brian's chest! Brian leaned back a bit, so only his shirt was damaged by the attack. Flame Sprite (2800/200) giggled as a third fireball began to swirl around her. She floated back to Tim, a smile on her little face.
Brian: 3650
Tim: 6600
"Now, I'll move Great Angus to defense mode and end my turn." Tim announced as he turned the only other attack position card on his disk.
The beast fell to its knees, and lowered its head. Brian cautiously drew a card. A smile crossed his face, and he looked apologetically toward his brother.
"Sorry Tim, but I'm going to end this now." Brian said as his facedown card lifted, "But first, I activate Dust Tornado to destroy your last facedown card."
A blast of wind shot forward, and annihilated the only remaining surprise Tim could have hidden. The fire duelist frowned as his Mystical Space Typhoon shattered like glass.
"And then, I play Brain Control!" Said Brian, putting the card he had just drawn into his disk, "Letting me pay 800 life points to control one of your monsters. Want to guess what I choose?"
"My Flame Sprite." Tim guessed, "And…wait a minute. It has 2800 attack points now, and if it attacks it will be at 3800…"
"And then it can attack again for the game." Brian confirmed as a giant brain appeared next to him.
The brain extended a pair of misty hands, which grabbed the sprite. Her eyes glazed over, and she floated to Brian's side with a dazed expression on her face.
"Attack!" Brian ordered the sprite.
She flew forward, and stabbed her blade at the younger Hokage brother. He dodged to the right, causing the sword to pierce the sleeve of his jacket.
"I have become the architect of my own destruction." Tim frowned as he looked at his brainwashed monster, "Aw, damn it!"
"Finish this!" Brian shouted with tears in his eyes, "And I'm sorry bro!"
The Flame Sprite raised her blade again…
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Needlez was still nervously staring at the Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys as Yami cleared his throat.
"Needlez? I'm ending my turn, so you can take yours." Yami reminded his opponent.
Needlez shook his head, and drew his next card. He snarled a bit as he looked at Mirror Wall.
"There's no way I'm paying to keep this here, so I choose to get rid of it." He stated.
The trap shattered, and the wall faded into non-existence. Needlez now had a clear field, Seal of Orichalcos aside.
"Bah, barely anything worth using." Needlez sneered as he put a card in his disk, "But at least I have this: Shooting Star Bow Ceal."
A shimmering bow and arrow set appeared before Needlez. He smiled as they floated ownerless in midair.
"That's an equipment spell." Yami pointed out, "And you have no monsters to equip it to."
"Correction, I have one monster I can use it on." Needlez smirked, "I'll equip it to that blasted bird ye have!"
The archery pieces flew toward Phoenix and attached to her leg. The Sacred Phoneix (1400/1600) screeched as the weapons began to drain her strength.
"Oh no!" Yami gasped.
"Aye pharaoh, by equipping this weapon to yer monster, I decreased its attack by 1000 points." Needlez taunted.
"Yes, but you gave her the power to attack directly." Yami pointed out with an angry look in his eyes.
"True, but seeing as there is nothing else I can do I've at least avoided some damage." Needlez said, "It looks like ye won't be doing much to me on yer next turn…"
"Fine, I draw." Yami growled as he did so.
"Drat, there's nothing else we can do either." Yugi frowned as he saw their hand.
"Nothing but attack him directly." Yami sighed, "That will have to do for now."
"Phoenix, attack his life points directly!" Yami shouted, pointing at Needlez for emphasis.
The weakened bird let out a screech, and launched a fireball right at Yami's foe. Needlez screamed as the flames hit him, and he stumbled backward. He quickly batted out a small fire that appeared on the front of his outfit.
Yami: 3700
Needlez: 3575
"Looks like the score is more or less even." Yami smiled, "Now make your move."
"Gladly." Needlez responded as he drew, "And I'll play the card I just drew: Card of Sanctity!"
Yami frowned as he drew two cards from his deck. Needlez was smiling as he drew four cards, and looked at them.
"Seems fortune favors me." Needlez smiled as he put a card in his disk, "Watch and learn laddie. First, I set this card facedown…"
The card appeared before Needlez, who put another one into his disk.
"Next, I activate Soul Charge to bring back the three monsters ye sent to my graveyard at the cost of 500 life points each." Needlez continued as another card materialized and began to glow.
"Then you'll have barely any life points left!" Yami shouted.
"Not with this plan." Needlez smirked, "Yew know about chaining cards, right? Well I'll chain the quickplay spell I just set: Emergency Provisions!"
The facedown card lifted, and a giant mouth came from it. It gnashed its teeth hungrily, as if waiting for a meal.
"I can activate spell cards in the same turn I set them." Needlez smiled, "And I can chain set cards to ones that I activate. So I chain Emergency Provisions, and sacrifice Soul Charge and Shooting Star Bow Ceal to it. Thus restoring 2000 life points!"
The mouth inhaled, and the two cards vanished in sparks of light. At the same time, three cards flew from Needlez's graveyard, and he picked them up.
"Of course, the official rules say that if I chain Emergency Provisions to a normal spell, I can sacrifice that spell and still get its effect." Needlez laughed, "So I still pay 1500 life points to revive Element Valkyrie, Element Dragon, and Element Doom! (2000/1200) X 3."
Yami gasped in horror as his opponent's life points raised and then dropped again. In front of Needlez reformed the spear wielding fairy, the dragonling, and the demon; none of which looked exceptionally happy.
Yami: 3700
Needlez: 4075
"Next, I play Snatch Steal to control yer phoenix!" Needlez declared as he put another card into his disk.
A pair of hands grabbed the magnificent creature, and yanked it over to the ancient evil. The giant beast gave Yami a sad look.
"Now, it's time to bring forth the mortal incarnation of the elemental goddess." Needlez intoned as he put fourth card into his disk, "I activate the ritual spell: Doriado's Blessing! And I offer this blasted bird as tribute to summon her."
The phoenix release one last, sad note as a circle appeared beneath her. Four columns; one of flame, one of ice, one of stone, and one of swirling wind; rose up around her. She vanished in a burst of sparkles, and Needlez pulled the wooden scepter from the waistband of his robe. He turned it in his hand, revealing several holes carved into it.
"I feel a wee bit of music is in order, to make my ultimate monster more at home." Needlez smiled.
He put the scepter up to his lips, and blew over one of the holes. As he did, music began to flow from the object. It was a strange, haunting melody, and the four columns began to move closer together.
"It's a flute." Joey realized, not noticing as Zeffie and Gold ran back into the room.
Gold put six large garbage bags on the floor in front of him.
"We're done raiding the rooms." He said, "Now what happened while we were gone?"
"Nothing good." Kaiba growled.
"Looks like Needlez is pulling out his trump card." Mako muttered, "Any idea what he might have meant when he said 'element goddess?'"
"Uh-uh." Zeffie muttered as she shook her head, "Maybe Celesty knows something."
The others looked at the light duelist, who was deep in thought. She slowly shook her head, and sighed.
"It's right there, I just can't remember its name or what it does." She explained, "But I remember someone saying it was even better for this kind of deck than Homunculus."
The four columns converged, and a column of pure light formed. Everyone gasped as Needlez stopped playing, and in the light faded. In place of the column, there was now a young woman in blue robes. She had blond hair, and a dome-shaped head dress with a five-pointed star on the front. In the center of the star was a clear jewel, which was suddenly emblazoned with the image of the Orichalcos. The woman looked up at Yami, and she had a peaceful look on her face even as the wicked seal caused her eyes to glow red.
"Say hello to Elemental Mistress Doriado (1700/1400)." Needlez laughed.
"Why would you summon such a weak ritual monster?" Yami asked, staring at the spellcaster.
"Take a look at my other beasts." Needlez responded with a sickening grin.
Everyone looked at Needlez's other creatures, and Celeste let out a yelp of fear.
"All of their runes…They're glowing!" She realized.
It was true. The runes on Element Dragon (2500/1200) had lit up green and red like Christmas lights. The Element Doom's wings and legs were covered with green and brown colored letters. At the same time, Element Valkyrie's (2500/1200) arms and legs had been marked with red and blue symbols, and her spear was glowing at either end. The tip had a serene, blue light, while the butt of the spear blazed with a red glow.
"But that only happens if other elements are in play!" Serenity protested, "The seal makes all monsters dark in addition to their original attributes, but none of his monsters is anything but dark or light!"
"That's where yeh're wrong wee Serenity." Needlez snickered, "It's true Doriado is a light monster, and the seal allows her to count as dark as well. But Celeste was right when she said Doriado is better for my deck than Homunculus. The reason being: Doriado also counts as a creature of fire, water, earth, and wind!"
"All FOUR!" Mako shouted.
"That ain't fair!" Joey protested.
"Actually, considering how low her attack is…" Celeste started to say.
"Now don't try to start that." Needlez interrupted, "Take a look, I summoned her in my spell and trap zone!"
It was true. Doriado stood silently behind the other three monsters, in the spot normally reserved for spell and trap cards.
"Did ye forget one important property of the Seal of Orichalcos?" Needlez questioned.
"It lets the one who controls it summon monsters in their spell and trap zone." Yami muttered, "Thus giving them the potential to have ten monsters on the field."
"Aye, and ye can't attack my back row till ye clear out the front." Needlez nodded as he put his last card on his disk, "But I'm not half done pharaoh. I summon Element Saurus (2500/1200) in my front row!"
From the ground came another monster. This one was a large reptile, about the size of Yami. He had brown scales, with more of the runes covering his legs, back, and arms. It was bipedal, and looked like a miniature T-rex. In either forearm, it carried a small, blue orb.
Then, the Seal appeared right between its eyes. It roared as Doraido glowed, and the marks on its body shined with brown and red light.
"This wee dino was rejected from his family because he was the runt of the litter." Needlez explained, "Forsaken by his own earth-following clan, he rejected his ties to his former element and became a dark monster in service to the elemental goddess. She gave to him the powers of fire and earth. Ye already know what fire can do, but earth will negate the power of any monster my Saurus destroys in battle."
"And Element Doom has earth power too!" Kaiba exclaimed.
"Aye, but thanks to Soul Charge, I'm only permitted to attack with Doriado and Saurus this turn." Needlez confessed, "I brought the others back so they could watch the pharaoh meet his end. Doriado, attack directly with elegy of the elements!"
Doriado opened her mouth, and began to sing. It was a beautiful, wordless melody. As she performed though, six orbs appeared behind her: one made of shadows, one of light, and one each of wind, fire, earth, and water. Yami gasped as the orbs flew at him, striking him in the chest!
"And now, Element Saurus will end this!" Needlez shouted, "Magma cannon breath!"
The dinosaur roared, and spat a blob of molten rock from its jaws.
"If this hits, Yugi's done for!" Joey shouted.
Yami didn't seem concerned though, as he took one card from his hand, and placed it in his graveyard. A ball of brown fuzz leapt up in front of him, and squeaked before being dissolved by the molten slag.
Yami: 2000
Needlez: 4075
"Kuriboh." Needlez growled with hate in his voice.
"That's right, and by discarding him I've saved what remains of my life points." Yami nodded, "And since you can't do anything else, it's my turn."
Yami drew a sixth card, and looked over his hand.
"I think we have everything we need for one big combo." Yugi thought as he looked at the cards, "If we can pull this off, we might just win!"
Yami nodded in agreement, and placed a card into his disk.
"I play Double Spell." Yami declared as he slid Monster Reincarnation into his graveyard, "This lets me duplicate a spell in your graveyard at the cost of one card from my hand."
"And just what do I have that can help ye?" Needlez growled.
"Swords of Revealing Light!" Yami answered as the cage of swords slammed down around his foe.
"Ah…Yes. I suppose there is always that." Needlez sighed, "But all I need is a good spell destroying card to get rid of this and then yew!"
"That will have to wait." Yami responded as he put another card on his disk, "One of your former employees' monsters wishes to have a word with you. Come forth, Chaosrider Gustaph (1400/1500)!"
The roar of an engine filled the cave. Zeffie squealed with excitement as the green-skinned biker punk drove out in front of Yami, sending a spray of gravel across the field.
"Just some other lousy rebel without a clue." Needlez sneered.
"Did you forget his special ability?" Yami asked as Monster Reincarnation and Swords of Revealing Light slid from his graveyard, "I can remove two spell cards from my grave to increase his attack by 300 for each."
The motorcycle revved up as Gustaph (2000/1500) turned the gas handle.
"And then, I activate my Pump Up spell card." Yami announced as he slid the card into his spell slot, "It doubles the attack of one monster for one round only. Meaning Gustaph will now have 4000 attack points!"
Gustaph (4000/1500) began to shimmer with mystical energy. He smiled, and Yami pointed right at Element Doom.
"Gustaph, use exhaust rush to destroy his Element Doom!" Yami shouted.
The biker blazed forward, and popped a wheelie as he approached. The front wheel caught Element Doom right in its face, and the fiend roared in pain before shattering into a blast of pixels.
Yami: 2000
Needlez: 2075
"Very nice." Needlez said sarcastically as he clapped his hands, "But ye forgot that the effects of Gustaph and yer Pump Up card only last until the end of yer turn. Next turn, Gustaph will be as weak as ever."
"I haven't forgotten." Yami said, "But it's your move."
"I hope he knows what he's doing." Serenity whispered.
"Don't worry sis, Yug always knows what he's doing." Joey assured her.
Needlez drew, and smiled.
"Looks like I drew Pot of Greed." Needlez said as he plugged the card in his disk and drew two new cards.
He smiled, and put both of the cards into his disk. Two brown cards appeared next to Doriado.
"And I think I'll set both of them facedown." He smirked, "Your move pharaoh."
"Then I draw…" Yami stated as he drew his card, "And I sacrifice Gustaph to summon Dark Magician Girl (2000/1500)!"
The biker waved to Zeffie, and faded away. In his place appeared the sorceress, spinning her cane. She smiled, and threw a wink at Needlez, who just frowned.
"Then, I play Sage's Stone, which allows Dark Magician Girl to summon her teacher from my deck." Yami continuted as he threw another card into his disk.
A glowing jewel appeared, and the girl caught it. She held it over her head, and a bright light filled the chamber as Yami pulled a card from his deck. He put the card down, and the intimidating form of the Dark Magician (2500/2100) arose!
"Very clever, ye got out yeh're best monster. Yew no doubt have some plan involving them that will defeat me." Needlez laughed, "But allow me to throw a proverbial wrench into things and play one of my facedown cards…"
One of the cards next to Doriado lifted, revealing a samurai in a kneeling position.
"Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!" Needlez shouted, "Now I can choose from one of four effects: I draw two cards, yew discard two cards, I destroy all spells and traps yew control, or I destroy all monsters yew control."
Yami began to sweat as Needlez closed his eyes…
"And I do believe I'll choose the effect that destroys all yer monsters!" He shouted.
The samurai drew his sword, which was immediately wreathed in flame. He charged forward, and swung his weapon, decapitating both the Dark Magician and his student! The samurai then sheathed his weapon, and disappeared.
"No!" Zeffie screamed from the sidelines.
"Those were two of his best monsters." Gold muttered numbly.
"Aye, and I think I'll also activate my other facedown card…" Needlez laughed.
The card lifted, and another samurai appeared.
"Another Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!" Yami gasped.
"Aye, and this time I'll take the effect that lets me draw two cards." Needlez nodded.
Behind the samurai, and large tree rose up. A cloud of cherry blossoms bloomed on its branches, and the warrior smiled as he looked up at them. He and the tree vanished, and Needlez pulled two new cards from his deck.
"Wait a minute." Celeste protested, "Needlez, you need to have four monsters of different attributes on the field to use those trap cards!"
"Wrong again." Needlez grinned, "I need the elements of fire, wind, earth, and water on the field to use them. In case yew forgot Celeste, Doriado counts as all four."
"You do realize you could have used that second trap to destroy my swords." Yami growled, "Why didn't you?"
"Two reasons." Needlez explained, "One, yew still have a card in yer hand, and it might be dangerous to me. And two, it's just too much fun messing with yew! Now I see why Tim likes to do this to people."
Everyone else just glared at Needlez as he laughed maniacally.
"Besides, the swords will only last two more of my turns, and then yeh're through!" He guffawed.
"Your turn then…" Yami sighed.
Needlez drew a third card, and a smile crossed his face again.
"Seems luck ain't on yer side laddie." He said as he put another card in his disk, "I play Premature Burial to revive Element Doom (2000/1200)."
Yami: 2000
Needlez: 1275
From the cave floor burst the bat-winged fiend. It growled angrily as the green and brown runes began to glow on it again.
"And then I summon the fifth servant: Element Soldier (2000/1200)!" Needlez declared as he put another monster down.
A new monster that looked human appeared. He wore golden armor, and a blue cape. In his hands was a spear, covered in the strange runes. The runes also ran along his armor, and soon they began to glow blue and brown.
"This one is a fiend like Element Doom." Needlez explained, "But he hails from a land filled with snow and ice, where the people pay tribute to the powers of water in all of its forms. He left that home one day, seeking new lands and adventure. What he found was employment, in service to Doriado. She granted him the blessings of earth and water. Now through the might of the earth, he dampers his foes' tricks, and the cooling rush of water always reminds him of whom he serves."
"Say what?" Joey asked.
"I'm gonna guess that water power means the monster can't be brainwashed." Mako answered.
"Wish we had had that ability." Celeste muttered.
"Amen." Gold agreed.
"I'm done." Needlez said.
Yami frowned as he drew.
"I have Brain Control and Dark Magician of Chaos, but neither of them can do me any good." Yami realized, "Even if I controlled one of his stronger monsters, I'd never be able to make a real difference in time. I'll just have to hope that I can draw something on my next turn…"
"I pass, there's nothing I can do." Yami stated.
"Then I draw." Needlez said as he pulled another card from his disk, "And now I summon the last of Doriado's servants. A young sorceress, much like Dark Magician Girl, who once studied the art of wind magic. She became quite talented, and Doriado offered her a chance to use her powers to protect the elements from evil."
"Looks like she failed if she's serving you." Yami interrupted, an angry look on his face.
"As I was saying, she accepted, and was given the powers of wind and water." Needlez continued, returning the glare, "I summon Element Magician (2000/1200) in my back row!"
Needlez put the card into one of his spell and trap slots. A young girl dressed in a green body suit jumped onto the field. She had purple hair, and a circle of runes floated around her body. The circle began to glow green and blue, and she smiled as the seal appeared on her forehead.
"Yer as good as done fer." Needlez smiled, "But I think I'll be a nice guy and show ye the last card in my hand."
He turned it around, showing a spooky graveyard covered with strange mist.
"Call of the Haunted." He smiled, "Not that it matters now. I end my turn, and the swords are gone."
The sword shattered for the third time that duel. Yami slowly drew his next card.
"Come on, we have to believe!" Yugi shouted, "Everyone is counting on us, we can do this!"
"You're right." Yami nodded as he swung the card out to the side, "Heart of the Cards…guide me."
Yami looked at the card he held, and a smile crossed his face.
"It's over Needlez, I've won." He stated.
"How can yew win when I'm about to clobber ye on my next turn?" Needlez taunted.
"Easy, I'm going to end the duel on this turn!" Yami responded as he placed one card in his disk, "First, I play Brain Control, which will let me control one of your monsters as long as I pay 800 life points."
The giant brain appeared next to the pharaoh, and extended its misty arms forward.
"And just what did ye plan to control?" Needlez challenged.
"I think…Doriado will do." Yami responded as the elemental mistress was pulled to his side.
"Doriado!" Needlez shouted.
"Next, I play my Soul Taker spell card." Yami declared as he put another card in his disk, "It lets me sacrifice one of your monsters, as long as I give you 1000 life points in exchange. So I'll tribute Element Magician…"
The spellcaster in the back row gasped as a new card appeared before her foe. It glowed, and she vanished in a burst of light, leaving Needlez with an empty spell and trap zone (Premature Burial aside).
Yami: 1200
Needlez: 2275
"…And Doriado..." Yami continued as he put another card on his disk.
Needlez let out a shout of anger as the cornerstone of his strategy dissolved into sparks. Element Dragon (2000/1200), Element Valkyrie (2000/1200), Element Saurus (2000/1200), Element Soldier, and Element Doom all looked forlorn as their runes were extinguished, and their powers faded away.
"…To summon Dark Magician of Chaos (2800/2600)!" Yami concluded.
A column of shadowy energy shot up in front of him. From the shadows stepped a powerful sorcerer, wearing a black body suit. He carried a magical staff, and his skin was pale blue. He smiled at his master, and spun his weapon. Eldritch energy began to converge in Yami's graveyard, and the pharaoh move his hand next to it.
"Now that I successfully summoned him, I may take any one spell I desire from my grave, and add it to my hand." Yami explained as a card slid out, "And I'll choose one that I discarded earlier with Graceful Charity."
"What's that?" Needlez asked as Yami inserted the card.
"My Diffusion Wave Motion card!" Yami responded, "This card costs me 1000 life points, but allows a spellcaster of seven stars or more to attack every monster you control! My Dark Magician of Chaos fits the bill, so do the math…"
"If he attacks all my monsters…" Needlez muttered, the fear growing in his eyes, "I'll lose 4000 life points! Oh this is really gonna hurt…"
"It's over Needlez!" Yami shouted as he played his spell
Yami: 200
Needlez: 2275
The magician held up his staff, the tip of which ignited with magical energy beyond description.
"Do it now!" Yami shouted, "Destroy every last one of his monsters!"
The sorcerer waved his weapon, and an unstoppable scythe of magic flew from it. Then another, and another, until the air was filled with the powerful spell. Needlez and his monsters screamed, and the spells struck them. Needlez's monsters were easily cut into ribbons by the powerful magic, and Needlez himself fell face-first to the floor.
"This madness has finally ended." Yami declared as the final life point count was set.
Yami: 200
Needlez: 0
Needlez lay on the ground, not moving. Yami breathed a sigh of relief, and the puzzle flashed, indicating Yugi was retaking control. The boy stood over his opponent, and gently nudged him with his foot, not noticing that the seal was closing in around them.
"It would seem…I've lost." Needlez moaned as he pulled himself into a kneeling position.
"That's right Needlez." Yugi stated, "That means your plans are all washed up."
"Oh really?" Needlez snickered as the circle passed over Yugi, and a column of green light surrounded the evil mastermind, "I think not little Yugi."
"What?" Yugi gasped.
"Ye thought I'd risk everything in a duel against a near undefeated opponent? I didn't plan on winning!" Needlez scoffed.
"But the Seal…" Yugi started to say as he took a step back.
"Was part of my plan!" Needlez shouted, "If yew had lost, I could have brought back my old body and controlled it like a toy robot, with yew as the battery. But since my soul is being taken in, I'll be put back in control of my old form…"
"So you'll be the Elemental Master again!" Yugi realized.
"That's right, and it's too late to go back now!" Needlez roared.
He threw back his head in terrible, mocking laughter as the green glow around him flared up. Needlez stopped laughing, his soulless body falling limply to the floor of the cave. Yugi stepped back in fear, as a beam of green-blue light flew from the chamber. He quickly knelt down, and snatched the Seal of Orichalcos from Needlez's disk.
"Come on! We have to follow him!" Yugi shouted as he dashed after the beam.
The others nodded, and ran after the victor, each of them silently praying that their plan would work.
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"I can't believe he was so stupid, of course I had a contingency plan!" Needlez's soul laughed as it shot in to the seal room, "Hey, what the hell…"
Standing near the crystal containing the body, was Brian. Tim's jacket lay on the ground nearby in two separate halves, and Tim himself was standing with the fire stone between him and the crystal.
"What…What do yew two think you're doing here?" Needlez asked as he began to circle the crystal.
"Just thought we'd give you a little gift." Brian smiled.
"A nice warm welcome to your old body." Tim finished, holding up his manacle.
Needlez gasped in horror, the crystal in the manacle was blazing with red light.
"Yew can't!" Needlez shouted, "If ye give any more power to the body, ye'll disrupt the balance of the elements!"
"That's what we were counting on." Tim smiled as a point of red light floated from the gem, "Hey Brian, how many Hokage brothers does it take to screw up an evil plan?"
"Just two." Brian smiled as the crystal absorbed the red light.
"NO!" Needlez shouted, trying to pull away from the stone.
It was no avail. Tugging and screaming, the beam of light formerly known as Needlez was pulled closer and closer to the gem. Inside, the body was beginning to smoke, and its skin was turning red from heat. Needlez gave one last scream, and vanished into his old body.
"Ye…little…punks!" He shouted, not seeing Yugi and the others run in, "If I…go down…I'LL TAKE YE ALL WITH ME!"
"That's what you think." Celeste smirked, "Gold, do you have our things?"
"Right here." Gold confirmed, hefting up four of the garbage bags.
Zeffie smiled, and hoisted up two of her own.
"Then it's a good thing we still have our elemental powers." Celeste nodded.
"Especially the rapid transit ones." Mako agreed as he took Serenity's hand, "Everyone pick a partner and let's get out of here!"
Serenity gasped as she and Mako collapsed into water and vanished. Brian raised one hand over his head, and a blanket of shadows pulled him and Joey into the wall. Celeste and Yugi were consumed by an orb of light, while Zeffie spun around, and disappeared in a tornado with her two bags. Gold and his bags sank into the ground, and Tim ran up to Kaiba's side. He turned back to Needlez, and smiled.
"I'd tell you to go burn in hell, but it looks like your already doing it here." He joked as flames leapt up around him and Kaiba, "Sayonara sucker!"
The flames died away, and left Needlez alone. He was screaming as he began to burn, his powers so unbalanced he'd been unable to stop the escape of his former servants.
"I'll get ye back fer this!" He shouted, "I swear, if it's the last thing I do, I'LL GIT EVEN!"
And then, a giant explosion filled the chamber, and flames began to rush through the cave.
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Outside the entrance to the cave, the Elemental Duelists and their cargo (both human and non) appeared right in front of the entrance. A fierce rumbling filled the area, and a wave of heat rushed out of the open cavern.
"Get out of the way!" Brian shouted, pushing everybody toward the side with a wave of shadows.
Brian dove to the side himself, just as a huge blast of flame shot from the entrance. Everyone was pressed against the canyon wall, but shocked that the flames weren't touching them! The explosion quickly died down, leaving the ground and walls blackened with soot and ash. Zeffie fell to her knees, gasping for breath.
"That wasn't easy." She whispered, taking off her circlet one last time, "Wind shields are hard!"
"You did great Zef." Gold smiled as he picked up the small child and sat her on his shoulder.
"Joey…" Serenity said, tapping her brother on the shoulder.
"Yeah, something wrong?" Joey asked as he took his sister's hand.
"Promise me that if you ever get involved in something dangerous like this again, you'll keep me updated." Serenity smiled, "But don't let me anywhere near it."
"You got it." Joey smirked.
Joey embraced his younger sister, and Kaiba just turned to Tim and scowled.
"This is all fine and dandy, but if you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you reversed whatever you did to me back at my office." He threatened.
Tim nervously took a step back. He was sweating, until he looked into the cave. He then smiled as seven points of light floated out.
"I think we just did." He said as a red point of light floated into his chest.
Kaiba grunted as another red light touched him. Celeste was infused with a yellow one, Zeffie purple, Gold's was brown, Mako's blue, and a green one floated off into the sky.
"That one must be Marik's talent." Zeffie smiled as she drew a card from her disk, "And Zeffie has her's back! Hooray!"
Celeste smiled as she, Gold, and Mako all looked through their cards, their minds quickly re-adapting their strategies. Kaiba smirked as he looked at his own deck.
"Well, I guess there's only one thing left to take care of…" He smiled.
"You're right Kaiba." Yugi confirmed as he held up the Seal of Orichalcos.
The Elemental Duelists each nodded, and Tim held up the other seal cards. Each of the others took their respective seals, and turned to Yugi.
"We have to destroy them." Yugi said.
"But how?" Mako asked as he looked at the Seal of Water in his hand.
"Um…They're just cards." Gold pointed out, "Let's rip 'em up."
The others stared at their own seals, and Celeste began to laugh. She almost doubled over as she held up her own card.
"They cause so much trouble, sometimes you forget that they're just ink on paper outside a duel." She laughed.
The others all chuckled a bit as Yugi held up the Orichalcos. The Elemental Duelists all raised their cards…
And tore them up. Each of the seven tossed the pieces into the air, and watched as the remains of the seal were scattered to the winds.
A/N: Keep reading, the epilogue is below the card info!
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Original Cards
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Spider Web
Spell
Image of a giant spider web
Take the top spell card from the opponent's graveyard, and add it to your hand
This card was first used by Yami in the anime episode "Grappling with a Guardian (part 3)." All creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.
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Pump Up
Spell
Double the attack power of one of your monsters until the end of the turn.
This card was first used in the anime episode "Fate of the Pharaoh (part 1)" by Yami. The credit for it goes to the writers of that episode.
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Soul Taker
Quickplay spell
You may sacrifice one of your opponent's monsters. Your opponent gains 1000 life points.
This card was first used by Yami in the episode "Final Face Off (part 4)." All credit for it goes to the writers of that episode.
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A/N: Here's the epilogue.
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One week later, at the Domino City Airport…
The lobby of the airport was packed with people. Some were resting, waiting for their flights or family members to arrive, others were frantically racing to reach the proper gate in time.
Standing near one gate in particular were Yugi, Joey, Mako, and Seto. Next to the boarding gate were Brian, Tim, Celeste, Zeffie, and Gold. The Elemental Duelists were wearing their regular clothes now, having donated the "traditional costumes" to the local costume shop. The five near the gate had packed suitcases (Zeffie wearing her backpack) and Mako flashed them all a thumbs up. They were all waiting for the next flight home, seeing as their elemental powers had vanished along with the seals.
"Too bad you guys can't stick around a little longer." Mako sighed, "It was pretty cool being part of a team."
"Yeah, we should do this again sometime." Celeste nodded, "Without the whole 'trying to conquer the world' thing, of course."
"Besides, we have to get back to our homes." Brian smirked, "I bet our family back in Chicago is worried sick."
"That, and your brother needs to start his new job." Kaiba pointed out as he turned his gaze to Tim, "Unless he has enough to pay off the damage he did to my building right now that is…"
"Right, how much was that again?" Tim asked as he pulled out a wallet.
"Approximately, twenty-thousand American dollars." Kaiba snarled.
"Like I said, see ya Monday boss." Tim said with a nervous laugh as he pocketed his wallet.
"I didn't even know that Kaiba Corp. had American branch offices." Yugi mused, "You're just full of surprises lately aren't you?"
"I may have a few more." Kaiba responded.
"Hey Yugi, the next time Zeffie sees you she wants a rematch!" Zeffie cheered.
"Technically, Brian was the one that beat you." Gold pointed out.
"Doesn't matter, Zeffie wants to beat the King of Games!" Zeffie shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
"Attention please, flight 242 to Chicago is now loading at gate 2." A voice announced over the intercom.
"That's us." Brian said as he picked up his suitcase, "See you later everyone!"
The others all waved goodbye as the Hokage brothers headed through the gate behind them. The remaining team mates began to walk to the next gate, Celeste shooting Yugi a guilty look along the way.
"I really hope you won't hold what I did against me." She muttered to Yugi.
"Don't worry Celeste, I don't." Yugi said with a smile as they approached another gate.
"Yeah, Yugi doesn't carry grudges." Joey assured her.
"Now boarding flight 166 to Los Angeles at gate 6" The intercom announced.
"That's me." Celeste gasped as she began to run, "Bye everyone! I'll e-mail you everyday!"
"We'll look forward to it!" Gold shouted with a wave.
Celeste disappeared into the crowd of people gathered around the gate.
"Flight 550 to Kansas City now boarding at gate 12." Came the next announcement.
"That's us." Zeffie said as she jumped up onto Gold's shoulder.
"Thanks for saving us from Needlez." Gold said as he turned to Yugi, "Ya really helped us out."
"Don't thank me." Yugi blushed, "From the sound of things, it's the Hokage's you should thank."
"Yeah, but you beat Needlez and helped us get rid of him." Gold smiled as he slapped Yugi on the back, "That makes you alright in my book!"
As Gold and Zeffie headed to their gate, Yugi gasped in pain.
"I'd hate to see what he'd do to someone he doesn't like." Joey commented as they headed to the exit.
"Take my advice: You don't want to know." Mako stated, "But I need to be going to. The sea, and more duels, await!"
"We'll look forward to seeing you again Mako." Yugi said with a smile, "But before I forget, what did you and the others do with the cards Needlez gave you?"
"Oh those?" Mako answered, pulling out his deck from the pocket of his shorts, "We kept most of them, though I'm definitely going to make a few changes to mine again. I must have been brainwashed to use such a dirty strategy!"
"And those 'Elemental Master' ritual monsters?" Kaiba asked with a growl, "I'm certainly hoping I've seen the last of Pyros…"
"Oh don't worry, we've all agreed not to use those monsters any more." Mako smirked, "They're powerful, but they reminded us a little too much of how Needlez tricked us."
The four had exited the airport now. Kaiba's private limo stood nearby, waiting to take them back home. Mako shook hands with all three of them, and headed to the bus stop.
"Till we meet again my friends!" He laughed.
Yugi and Joey smiled. Kaiba muttered something about time wasters under his breath as he wiped his hand on his jacket.
"Well, are you two coming or are you taking the bus with Aquaman?" Kaiba grumbled as he got in the limo.
Yugi and Joey just climbed in without a word, as the limo pulled away. It headed out onto the street, and headed back to the one place that every duelist, from the best to the worst, the most experienced to the least, always loved to return.
A place called home.
A/N: That's it, that's all we wrote for this fic. But stay tuned everyone, cause we have a few more projects in the works. Keep an eye out for two fics with the Elemental Duelists.
One's called "The Grand Elemental Tournament"
The other is "Virtual Tournament"
See ya then!