hibryd: I have found an environment that might actually please MASAMUNE, a Wasteland Field.

MASAMUNE: Look at all the skulls. . . I shall build a throne of skulls and assume my leadership of the world from here!

hibryd: MASAMUNE, no! Read on peeps. I've got more work to do.

WARNING: THIS IS A PARTICULARLY LONG CHAPTER. IF YOU DO NOT ENJOY SUCH THINGS, PLEASE HIT YOURSELF OVER THE HEAD WITH A CAST-IRON SKILLET UNTIL YOU DO. THANK YOU.

------------- One Day at Home Ch. 7 ----------------

"We should work on defeating Rare Hunters while we try to get to the Finals, Steven." Paul said to Steven as they continued to look for Duelists.

"Look. We can't find Rare Hunters if we don't know where they are. They have to reveal themselves."

"Still. I think we should do what Yugi said, and try to eliminate Marik's forces. That leaves less chance of them getting to the Finals."

"We've already seen the show, we know who's going to make it to the Finals. We just need to make sure we make it there too."

"Okay. I guess."



"So there are three new duelists in Battle City, are there?"

"Yes, Master Marik. We have observed them and one appears to have strange powers."

"Really? Does he possess a Millennium Item?"

"No. His powers seem to come from within him."

"I wonder."

"Sir?"

"The ancient prophecy must be coming true."

"Ancient prophecy, Master?"

"Yes. The ancient Egyptians predicted that three children, who seemed to possess no extraordinary talents, would inherit the spirits of the three Egyptian Gods! The Gods would be reborn in the bodies of these three special children, and their powers would be unlocked once they had their true identities revealed to them!"

"And you believe these are the three children?"

"Yes. Send our finest Rare Hunters out. I want those kids as my Mind Slaves."

"Steven, we've searched almost all of Battle City, and there's no one you want to duel! Just pick someone already!" Paul complained after walking almost all day. "I'm tired."

"Allow me to pick for you!" A mysterious voice cried out.

"Paul, did that sound like – "

"A Rare Hunter under control? Yeah. Where are you, you miserable creep?"

"Ha! I'm right here!"

"It's coming from the roof of that building!" Steven said, pointing to a skyscraper with a distorted figure atop it.

"I'll come down and show you who I am then!" the Rare Hunter's voice called, and the figure jumped off the building!

"Is that guy nuts?" Steven asked. "He'll kill himself!"

"Guess again!" he cried. He pulled a string of chains on his robes and out came a parachute. "I challenge you to a duel!" he cried out as he fell to the ground.

"Me?" Steven asked, pointing to himself.

"Yes, you. If you win, you'll get my Hunter's two rarest cards and two more Locator Cards! But if you lose, your mind belongs to me and you become my Mind Slave!"

"Agreed. You get my mind if I lose. And your Hunter will be one step closer to the Finals. So let's duel already!"

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"I'll start off with Nin-Ken Dog in attack mode! You move, Rare Hunter."

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"Good. I'll set a monster in defense mode and end my turn."

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"Okay. I'll also set a monster in defense mode. Nin-Ken Dog! Attack!"

"It's my Old Vindictive Magician! This old man can destroy any monster on the field! So say goodbye to your pet!"

The Magician shot a spell at Steven's monster that utterly obliterated it.

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"I'll set another monster in defense mode and end my turn."

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"I'll also defend."

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"This duel is getting rather boring." Marik said almost mockingly to Steven through his Mind Slave. "I'll set one card facedown and summon my Twin- Headed Wolf in attack mode!"

A roaring howl came from this wolf's throats as it was summoned, but it was weak in terms of Attack Points.

"C'mon, Rare Hunter. This thing is far too weak." Steven mocked. "It's got no chance."

"Looks can be deceiving! I'll flip up my monster: Hiro's Shadow Scout! This card makes you draw three cards."

"Okay, what's the point in that?"

"It discards any Magic Cards you may get! So let's see them!"

"Solemn Wishes, Machine King, and my Pot of Greed."

"Pot of Greed is then discarded to the Graveyard!"

"I can't believe this."

"Now, I'll equip my Wolf with the Sword of Deep-Seated to raise its attack power to 2000! Attack the monster on the right!"

"This is a beauty I like to call Troop Dragon. Whenever one's destroyed, a new one emerges from my deck to take its place."

"That's annoying. However, I'll end my turn."

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"I offer Troop Dragon for Magical Marionette! And I'll equip him with an Axe of Despair! Normally he would only gain 1000 attack points, but since I just played a Magic Card, he gains an extra 200! And now I'll flip up my Man-Eater Bug! Destroy his Wolf!"

A gigantic brown Bug jumped out from underneath a holographic projection of a facedown card and onto Marik's Wolf. The Wolf Let out a cry of pain and was gone.

"Now my Sword's ability! When it's destroyed, it instead goes to the top of my Deck!"

"Big deal. Now I know you'll draw your Sword next turn. What a waste. Marionette, attack!"

"Not so fast, because I activate my Waboku Trap Card!"

"Ugh. I hate that card when I'm not using it. I'll end my turn then."

Steven: 4000 Rare Hunter: 4000

"Hiro's Shadow Scout, attack his Bug! And next I'll play the Fissure Magic Card. This may raise your Marionette's points, but it will destroy him anyway!"

Steven's Marionette dropped into a giant crack that appeared in the ground, and then the ground closed up, and everyone could guess what had happened.

"Now I'll offer Hiro's Shadow Scout for Marie the Fallen One!"

The Shadow Scout disappeared and in his place a girl with bluish black skin appeared. Dark wings unfolded behind her back, and she let out a banshee- like scream.

"You're lucky she can't attack you, boy. Your move."

Steven: 3800 Rare Hunter: 4000

"I'll set one card facedown and summon Zombyra the Dark! With an attack power of 2100, he'll wipe the floor with Marie. Attack, and allow her to fulfill her name of the fallen one!"

Marie let out another banshee-like scream when Zombyra punched her, but this one had more anguish to it. She disappeared with nothing else said.

Steven: 3800 Rare Hunter: 3600

"You've fallen right into my trap! They call her the fallen one because as long as she's in my Graveyard, she'll give me a Life Point boost at the start of each of my turns! I'm quite enjoying this duel now! My move."

"At the start of your turn you may gain Life Points, but I activate Solemn Wishes! This will boost my Life Points by 500 at the beginning of my turns!"

"I can't do anything. Your move."

Steven: 3800 Rare Hunter: 3800

"I'll enjoy the effect of my Trap Card now." Steven said as his points were raised. Then he glanced at the card he drew. "Ha ha! Oh, this is rich. I can't believe my luck!"

"Hmm? What are you practically dancing about?" Marik asked irritably through his Mind Puppet.

"The card I've been so lucky as to draw! I'll play Monster Reborn and resurrect your Fallen One! Now there's no more gaining Life Points for you, as she's on my side. Now I'll shift my Troop Dragon to attack mode! Attack, my monsters! You're lucky Zombyra can't attack your Life Points directly.

Steven: 4300 Rare Hunter: 1400

"My move. I'll summon Giant Orc in attack mode! And I'll equip him with Sword of Dark Destruction! Your move."

Steven: 4300 Rare Hunter: 1400

"I'll shift all my monsters to defense mode and set another monster in defense mode. Your move."

Steven: 4800 Rare Hunter: 1400

"And I'll gladly take it. I'll equip my Orc with Dark Energy! Attack Marie the Fallen One!"

Another anguished scream was heard from her and she disappeared.

"Now my Orc shifts to defense mode. But I activate Pyro Clock of Destiny, so that the turn clock moves forward! And I'll shift my Orc back into attack mode! Your move."

Steven: 4300 Rare Hunter: 1400

"I'll sacrifice my Troop Dragon for a monster called Patrician of Darkness! And I'll flip up my facedown Magician of Faith! Your move again."

Steven: 4800 Rare Hunter: 1400

"I summon the Bistro Butcher. Attack his Magician!"

"Activate Patrician of Darkness's special ability! Redirect the attack towards Zombyra the Dark!"

Steven: 4300 Rare Hunter: 1600

"I offer the Magician of Faith for the Machine King! Machine King, attack his Bistro Butcher! Rocket Fist!"

Steven: 4300 Rare Hunter: 1100

"My move again. I activate Change of Heart to steal one of you monsters! So I'll take you Patrician, thank you! Now, I'll offer both monsters for Dark Magician of Chaos!"

"What? That's my card!" Paul announced in surprise.

"We aren't called the Rare Hunters for no reason! Now, I'll get a Magic Card back from my Graveyard! And I'll equip it to him, Sword of Dark Destruction, raising his attack power to 3200! Attack Machine King!"

Steven: 3200 Rare Hunter: 1300

"Well, nice move. But mine's better. I'll set a card facedown and Dark Blade in attack mode. Your move."

Steven: 3700 Rare Hunter: 1300

"That's your great move? You must want to lose! Very well, I'll help you! Dark Magician of Chaos, attack!"

"Not so fast there, bucko. I activate Compulsory Evacuation Device. This will return your monster to your hand. Unfortunatley for you, it's removed from play because it was removed from the field."

"No! And there's nothing in my hand to help me! I guess it's your move. . ." Marik tensed up his Rare Hunter's body for the impact of attack.

Steven: 3700 Rare Hunter: 1500

"Okay. Prepare to lose! Dark Blade, attack!"

Steven: 4200 Rare Hunter: 0000

"Nooooooo!" The Rare Hunter's body was thrown backwards from impact of Dark Blade's sword.

"The duel is over. I want your Hunter's rarest cards and two locator cards."

"Fine. You may have won this time, but you won't be so lucky next time." He said through the Hunter's body as he handed them up. Afterwards, the Hunter fainted, Marik's possession having taken a toll on his body.

"Dark Magician of Chaos and. . .Red Eyes Black Dragon? A Red Eyes? He gave me a Red Eyes!" Steven said to Paul, surprised.

"Guess so. Looks like we've both got a Dark Magician of Chaos in our Decks now, huh?"

"I'm not putting either of these in my deck. Too many Tributes."

"Fine."



I can't believe a mere child has such dueling experience! I will have those children as Mind Slaves!

"Odion!"

"Yes, Master?"

"I want you to send out our newest recruits. Put the Winged Dragon of Ra in the special one's Deck. I want to see the child who defeated my Millennium magic crushed by his own spirit! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

----------------- End Chapter 7 --------------

hibryd: Ooooooooooo. Looks like Marik and Michael have it in for Steven. And all because he inherited Ra's spirit! What shall happen?

MASAMUNE: (sitting on a throne of skulls) Slave! Fetch me lemonade! It's far too dry out here!

hibryd: Looks like a throne's getting to his head. I'll have found a new place for him by next chapter. Keep reading and, as always, Review!