Disclaimer: I don't own Magic: The Gathering.

Another attack like that and she's finished! I've got to take out her Winged Sliver!

"I play a Swamp and play Cabal Therapy!" said Arrathir "I make myself discard a card. Next, I sack Havoc Demon to Flashback Cabal Therapy!"

"In response," said Anima "I summon Quick Sliver (4/4) as an instant."

"That means your Essence Sliver survives!" said Arrathir "But at least Quick Sliver and Winged Sliver die."

"You also killed off all our other creatures, you idiot!" said Erik.

"If I hadn't killed her Winged Sliver, she would have picked us off one by one!" argued Arrathir "Finally, I play Zombify to return Havoc Demon to play!"

"Before my creatures die," said Eva "I sack Mogg Fanatic to deal one damage to you."

ANIMA: 13
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 4
ERIK: 13

"End turn."

"I summon a morph (2/2)," said Eva "And I end my turn." A sliver blob appeared on the field.

"I play a Plains," said Erik "And I summon Serra Angel (4/4, flying). End turn."

"I summon Victual Sliver (4/4)," said Anima "And I create three Sliver Tokens (6/6)." The Sliver Queen laid three eggs. The eggs hatched into three small Slivers. "Now I attack Arrathir with Sliver Queen (12/12)!"

"I block with Havoc Demon," said Arrathir, watching all their creatures exploding.

We are totally screwed now! Even my Havoc Demon can't take out her creatures!

"End turn."

"I summon Putrid Imp (1/1)," said Arrathir "End turn."

Better than nothing.

"I play Seal of Fire!" said Eva "And I sack it to deal two damage to you!" The red disk split into two halves and exploded beside Anima.

ANIMA: 11
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 4
ERIK: 13

"Next, I summon Jackal Pup (2/1). End turn."

"I summon Tundra Wolves (1/1, first strike," said Erik. A white wolf appeared on his field. "End turn."

"I've been disappointed with this duel," said Anima "I'm facing a bunch of kids when I should be dueling the Keeper of Black Mana! If he refuses to show himself, I will have to draw him out, but how?" Her eyes fell on Eva. "Yes, that will work. I attack Eva with all my Slivers!"

Eva disappeared under the mass of Slivers, all slashing away at her body.

NO!

When the Slivers returned to their side of the field, Eva's bloody, lifeless body was lying on the ground.

ANIMA: 11
ARRATHIR: 5
EVA: 0
ERIK: 13

Arrathir ran to Eva's side.

"No, Eva! Say something!" he said, knowing it was useless. She was gone.

Wait, she's not dead! I can still feel her mana!

"What did you do to her, you bitch?" he demanded.

"Her soul is gone," said Anima "If you somehow manage to defeat me, It will be restored."

Arrathir felt a terrible rage building inside him. For the first time in his life, he wanted to lash out; to hurt someone, even kill them. Everyone he'd ever cared about was gone, all because of Anima. Trembling, he got up and looked at Anima.

"You're dead!" he shouted.

"How so?" she asked "I have the field locked down! Soon you'll be dead and your girlfriend's soul will be gone!"

Arrathir clenched his fists in rage, knowing this was true. He was low on cards and not one of them could save him now. He felt despair washing over him. Even the Heart of the Cards couldn't save him now.

Help me, someone…

So, have we learned our lesson?

Spirit?

No, it's God. Of course it's me, naki!

I'm a failure. I've lost.

Shut up! Listen: Do you know why you are getting your ass kicked? It's because you rejected me. By doing so, you essentially gave up a part of your soul. We are two halves that make up a whole. Without each other, we are nothing! Now, are you ready to accept me back into your soul?

Spirit, I'm so sorry.

Stop calling me "Spirit"! My name's Chikuro! Now, let's kick this bitch's ass!

Right with you!

The symbol of black mana glowed brightly on Arrathir's forehead. His eyes narrowed and reddened. Raising his head, he stared t Anima.

"So, the Keeper of Black Mana has finally shown up?" she said.

"Yes!" said Chikuro "And this time, you're going down! You've hurt Arrathir more than ever and I can't let that slide! Draw!" He smirked at the card he'd drawn. "I play a Swamp and cast Dark Ritual!" Three black skulls appeared and entered his body. He felt a surge of mana and prepared his next spell. "I play Plague Winds!" A cold wind began to blow on the field. Anima's Slivers fell over as the spell began to disintegrate their bodies. Unfortunately, the spell also affected Erik's creatures. "This spell destroys all creature I don't control and they can't be regenerated! Now I attack with Putrid Imp!"

ANIMA: 10
CHIKURO: 5
ERIK: 13

"So, you're Arrathir's spirit?" asked Erik "'Bout time you showed up."

"Can it, rich boy," said Chikuro "If we're going to beat this bitch, we have to work as a team! You watch my ass and I'll watch yours."

"Fine," said Erik "I summon Leonin Skyhunter (2/2, flying)." A cat knight mounted on a pteron, the Pterodactyl-like mounts of the Leonin tribe, appeared on the field. "End turn."

"It will be a pleasure and an honor to kill you," said Anima "I summon Synapse Sliver (3/3). End turn."

"The only one who will be dead is you!" said Chikuro "Draw! I play Duress on Erik!"

"What?" said Erik "Are you crazy?"

"Just show me your hand," said Chikuro "Ok, loose the Convalescence. Next, I play Cabal Therapy to make Erik Discard his Konda, Lord of Eiganjo!"

"WHAT?" shouted Erik.

"Trust your deck," said Arrathir "Know that you will get the card you need."

Erik drew and his jaw dropped. "I play Breath of Life," he said, incredulous. "I return Konda, Lord of Eiganjo (3/3, indestructible, vigilance, bushido 5) to play! End turn." An old man dressed in a brown kimono appeared on the field. His face radiated with wisdom and power.

"Your old man doesn't impress me," said Anima "Go, Ward Sliver (3/3)!" A gray Sliver appeared on the field. "I choose White! All Slivers now have protection from white! Attack, Synapse Sliver!"

"I play Disenchant to get rid of your Coat of Arms!" said Erik. Anima's artifact shattered into a million pieces.

"Fine, but whenever a Sliver deals combat damage to a player, I may draw a card," said Anima. She snapped the top card off her deck.

ANIMA: 10
CHIKURO: 5
ERIK: 10

"You didn't say Black," said Chikuro "So I'll cast Consume Spirit on your Ward Sliver!" A green mist floated from the Sliver to Arrathir's hand, healing some of his wounds, the Sliver exploding into mana.

ANIMA: 10
CHIKURO: 7
ERIK: 10

"End turn!"

"And now since you're wide open, I'll hit you with Konda and Leonin Skyhunter," said Erik. The Lord of Eiganjo charged forward and dealt her a severe blow with his shaku. The Skyhunter slashed at her with her swords.

ANIMA: 5
CHIKURO: 7
ERIK: 10

"You are indeed a worthy opponent," said Anima. But now watch as I bring about the creature that will spell your doom! Come forth, Sliver Overlord (7/7)!" A gigantic, three-headed Sliver appeared on the field.

"No! That creature…"

"Exactly! It lets me search my deck for a Sliver card of my choice and put it in my hand!" said Anima "So in a few turns, I'll have the ultimate Sliver force! End turn."

"End turn," said Chikuro.

"I play a Plains and I attack with Konda and Leonin Skyhunter!" said Erik.

"I block Konda with Sliver Overlord," said Anima "And since your creature is now an 8/8, I'll play Awe Strike to prevent all combat damage and gain eight life!" Konda stopped its attack and knelt before the Overlord. Anima's wounds healed over and the small nicks and scratches on her face disappeared.

"You still take two form Skyhunter," said Erik.

ANIMA: 11
CHIKURO: 7
ERIK: 10

"Now," said Anima "I pay three mana to pull a Sliver from my deck to my hand, using Overlord. I summon that Sliver. Go, Clot Sliver (1/1)!" A black Sliver appeared on the field.

Clot Sliver. That one lets her regenerate Slivers for two mana. Not good.

"I attack you, Keeper of Black Mana, with Sliver Overlord!"

"I block with Putrid Imp," said Chikuro as his creature was torn to bits by the Overlord.

"End turn."

"I summon Kokusho, the Evening Star (5/5, flying)!" said Chikuro. The Legendary dragon spirit appeared on the field, it's great body coiling around the building for support. "End turn."

"I play a Plains," said Erik "And I summon Kami of False Hope (1/1)." A humanoid spirit appeared on the field. "Now I attack with Leonin Skyhunter. End turn."

ANIMA: 9
CHIKURO: 7
ERIK: 10

"I play Mistform Mask on your Konda," said Anima. A white cloud appeared over Konda's face. "Now I pay one mana to change his creature type to Sliver until end of turn. Finally, I activate Sliver Overlord's other ability: By paying three mana, I can permanently take control of target Sliver, so I'll take control of your Konda!" The samurai got up and walked over to Anima's field. "Now the ultimate irony!" said Anima "I attack you with your own creature!"

"I sacrifice Kami of False Hope to negate all battle damage," said Erik.

"End turn."

The other Arrathir started at the card he'd just drawn.

This can help me, but I've got to time it right.

"I end my turn," he said.

"This'll slow you down!" said Erik "Ghostly Prison!" A translucent wall appeared around Anima's creatures. "Now you have to pay two mana per creature when you attack me! End turn."

"I pull Essence Sliver from my deck," said Anima "And I summon it (3/3). End turn."

"End turn," said Chikuro.

"I play a Plains and play Circle of Protection White!" said Erik. The pentagram he was standing in glowed white. "End turn."

"I play Victual Sliver," said Eva "This Sliver lets me pay two mana and sack a Sliver to gin four life, so I'll tap five, one to make Konda a Sliver, and sack Konda and Essence Sliver." Konda and Essence Sliver exploded into mana. Almost all of Anima's wounds healed over.

ANIMA: 17
CHIKURO: 7
ERIK: 10

She has no respect for her creatures. She sacrifices them without a thought for them.

"Now I pay two mana and attack Erik with Synapse Sliver."

"I block with Skyhunter," said Erik.

Here goes!

"I play Living Death!" said Chikuro. Several cards disappeared from each player's graveyards. "We remove all creature cards in our graveyards from the game and Sacrifice all creatures we control!" All creatures on the field exploded. "When Kokusho goes to the graveyard, each of my opponents looses five life and I gain the combined total. Sorry, Erik, but that means you too." The dragon spirit exploded, taking a chunk from both players' lifepoints.

ANIMA: 12
CHIKURO: 17
ERIK: 5

"Now we return all creatures we removed from the game to play!" The field quickly filled up with creatures. Arrathir's two Havoc Demons, Hypnox, and three Putrid Imps stood by his side. Anima had all her Slivers out and Erik had his white creatures.

"You've just spelled your own doom!" said Anima "With all my Slivers in play, I can crush you next turn!"

"Wrong!" said Chikuro "I flashback my Cabal Therapy by sacking my Havoc Demon! My other demon dies as well, so everything in play gets -10/-10!" All the creatures disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. "End turn. Erik, your next card will help you greatly."

Erik started at the card he'd drawn. "I summon Akroma, Angel of Wrath (6/6, flying, trample, first strike, haste, vigilance, pro black, pro red)!" A purple-haired angel in battle armor appeared on the field, wielding an enormous sword. She bowed to Erik who was dumbstruck. "Akroma, attack that bitch!" The angel spread her wings and flew over to Anima's field where she slashed at the summoner with he sword, inflicting severe damage.

ANIMA: 6
CHIKURO: 17
ERIK: 5

"I summon Birds of Paradise (0/1)," said Anima. The rainbow bird appeared on the field. "End turn."

Chikuro drew his next-to-last cad. "End turn!"

"I attack with Akroma!" said Erik.

"I block with Birds of Paradise," said Anima. Akroma cleaved the bird in half with her sword. "On my turn I summon Victual Sliver and sack it to gain four life. End turn."

ANIMA: 10
CHIKURO: 17
ERIK: 5

"I can't do a thing," said Chikuro "Erik, you'd better take her down this turn or I won't be around anymore."

"I attack with Akroma!" said Erik.

ANIMA: 4
CHIKURO: 17
ERIK: 5

"What a pity," said Anima "Now the Keeper of Black Mana will loose and you will be next! I summon Toxin Sliver (3/3) and Winged Sliver (1/1). End turn."

"You'd better win!" said Chikuro "Remember, trust your deck." The Keeper of Black Mana collapsed.

ANIMA: 4
CHIKURO: Loss by deck-out
ERIK: 5

"I play Karmic Justice!' said Erik. A portal opened beside him. "No whenever destroy a permanent I own, I destroy a permanent you own! End turn."

"You rely too much on enchantments," said Anima "I play Tempest of Light, destroying all enchantments!" White meteors fell from the sky and obliterated all enchantments in play. "Now I summon Muscle Sliver (2/2). End turn."

"I will crush you!" said Erik "Akroma, attack!"

"I double block with Muscle and Winged Sliver," said Anima.

"So?" laughed Erik "Akroma has first strike, meaning she kills your Slivers before they can deal combat damage and you still take two damage!"

ANIMA: 2
ERIK: 5

"Now you die!" said Anima "I play a forest and cast Arrest on your angel!" Akroma put down her sword and crouched on the field. "Your creature can't attack or block! Now for the killing blow! I play Tribal Unity, giving all Slivers +2+2 until end of turn! Toxin Sliver, finish him!" The Sliver launched itself at Erik. There was a tremendous explosion. When the dust cleared, Erik was still standing, head bowed.

"What?"

"Heh," said Erik "I activated Beacon of Immortality, doubling my life total to ten."

ANIMA: 2
ERIK: 5

Erik raised his head. He now looked different. His eyes were darker and the scars on his cheeks were deeper and more defined. This new appearance made him look more sinister. However, the most noticeable change was the sun icon that glowed brightly on his forehead.

"It can't be…"

"Believe it," said Erik, only it wasn't Erik's voice. This voice was deeper and full of hatred. "Now, die!" Akroma flew over and delivered the final blow.

ANIMA: 0
ERIK: 5

"For attempted assassination," said Erik "I Exile you!"

Anima cried out as she disappeared from the field. In a final explosion, she was gone.

"Finally," said the Keeper of White Mana "It's over."

To be continued…

Author's note: One keeper down, three to go. So we finally find out the other Arrathir's name and the Keeper of White Mana shows up. How will this affect the awakening of the Keepers?

Kitsu: It's possible that I might re-use some of the Magic players used in MTG vs YGO.

Yawgmoth's Messenger: The Slivers are from the Tempest and Legion sets. I don't know how big they are, but I'd guess about the size of a big dog. Your prediction turned out almost right, but, thanks to fanfiction's new regulation, songfics are not allowed, so you won't have to suffer through another one.

ACS Dude: Yes, you got me.

Khell: Patience, my young padawan. Khell will appear when you least expect it. Evil laugh

Chigy: Like a lot of other people, you noticed when I switched the names. It was an honest mistake and I should have caught it.

Demonslayer: Hypnox only makes your opponent discard their hand if you play it from your hand. Bringing it back using Zombify or Exhume doesn't activate its effect.