"We all need to grow up"

-Geno Roads

No longer a child

"Are you ok?"

Kelli shook her head, trying to get the little birdies to stop dancing around her head. She tried to focus, and found her vision slowly returning. That attack..had taken a lot out of her.

What was that… Kelli shook her head. She had thought of something strange…but now, she couldn't remember. She had no clue what had made her so worked up before the blow…

"KELLI!" Owen shouted, the ref shoving him back. The crowd murmured, wondering what Owen was so upset about. Kelli blinked a few times and stood up. Owen paused, stopping his push against the ref and looked at her, his face ashen and started.

"I'm…ok….is…it…my…turn?"

Owen smiled softly. "yes…yes it is."

Kelli nodded, drawing her next card. Mmm…another Double Coston…but… Kelli looked at her graveyard. Yes, that might work out perfectly. She turned and looked at Owen. If he thought that little hammer of Mars trick was suppose to impress her, then Kelli had a move that would dazzle the crowd and Owen. Owen wasn't the only one with combos.

"Owen, while that hammer may have shaken me up, but like any good magician, I still have a few tricks." Kelli held up a card. "And this is one of them. I will first command my Dark magician to leave the protection of the Magical Hats." Kelli grinned as her Dark Magician emerged from the center hat.

"What good does that do you?" Owen asked. "My Mars my be down to 0, but with Sanctuary, you'll do 0 damage. And it's only a matter of time before I draw another Mars.

"Who said I was using the Dark Magician?" Kelli asked. "No…I plan on using another Magician. I activate Dedication through Light and Darkness!" The Dark Magician Disappeared in a vortex of white and dark magic. As the energy faded, another vortex began to appear. "This card forces my Dark Magician go go through the trails of chaos. By succeeding, he is granted the powers of chaos, transforming into his new form!"

On the field, the vortex exploded, revealing the blue skinned mage, his black hair billowing as he spun his staff. His armor glistened under the stadium lights, his dark face cold and hard. Kelli smiled and looked over at Owen. "I special summon the Dark Magician of Chaos!"

Owen frowned. "So you just gained 300 atk points. Uh…whoopee?" He shrugged. "Still can't do me any damage."

"Think again. I plan to use the Magician of Chaos to destroy your Mars…through his spells. You see, when he is summoned, I get to recall one spell from my graveyard and return it back to my hand."

Owen looked at her. "But you haven't sent a card that you can't use to destroy my monster to the graveyard. The only one you used was Thousand Knives, and that won't work without a Dark Magician."

"You weren't paying attention to this duel, were you Owen?" Kelli said with a smirk. "You see, I do have a card. And you helped me put it in my graveyard. Give up? Need me to explain?"

Owen's eyes grew wide. "Harmony of the Planets! With that card…"

"I sent 4 cards to my graveyard. One of which will aid me now! I return, and then activate the magic card Cross Spell. This card allows me to get rid of a spell card to destroy one of yours."

"NO!"

"yes! By getting rid of Soul Release, I will destroy your Sanctuary in the sky!" Owen gasped as his spell card began to shutter, and with a jolt, shattered. He shielded himself, his sanctuary gone.

"And to finish up, we each get to draw one card. Little good it does you, since I know your…cards."

What is it about knowing his cards…something before…that thing…what was it!

Kelli and Owen both drew a card, and then Kelli smiled. "And now…it's time to get rid of your agent. Dark Magician of Chaos, attack the Agent of Power with Chaos Magic Blast!"

Owen let out a cry as his Mars shattered and he slide back, grunting to keep his balance. He breathed hard, watching the mage return to Kelli's side and nodded. (Owen-3400)

"Should I ask if you're ok?"

Owen smirked as he drew. "Don't get cocky…paybacks are a bitch."

"Ya, and so am I. So make your move Owen."

Owen glanced at her. "Gee, did I just hear Seto Kaiba possess your body?" He took a card. "You should learn by now Kelli…my agents die hard. I summon Agent of Change-Neptune!"

Kelli watched as a blue robed mage appeared. His long green hair billowed behind him as he twirled his trident, his strong muscle bound arms pumping. He spread is long blue wings, flapping them softly. Above them, the planet Neptune came into view. The 6 foot agent settled onto the field, tense and ready…only to turn to Owen's deck. (Atk and Def: 200)

"He doesn't look tat much, but his effect is a big one. It allows me to select one magic card from my deck and put it into my hand."

"Let me guess, Sanctuary in the Sky?"

Owen rolled his eyes. "Sorry, thanks for playing. But I will enjoy this parting gift: Pot of Greed!" Owen drew his two cards and smiled. "Mmm, perfect. I will now activate the magic card: Mission of the Archlords!"

The card flipped up, the image of Archlord Zeratta appearing. "This card allows me to summon all the agents in my hand to the field. ANd I have one that is going to be very hany: Agent of Protection-Gaia!"

Kelli looked up, waiting for a planet…but only felt the earth rumble. From the center of the field burst a brown robed angel, her flowing brown hair gently settling against her body. In her hands she held a small cross, her delicate fingers gripping it. Her long brown wings folded neatly, and the 9 foot angel looked down at Neptune, smiling softly, quietly. The Agent of Change's eyes flashed as both began to glow. (Atk:1300,Def:1000)

"My Agent of Protection is the Agent of the Earth. And just like the earth, she offers protection to all those that dwell near her. In other words…She counts as a Sanctuary of the sky!"

Kelli nodded. "meaning I now have two monsters to deal with that can't be hurt, right?"

"Oh yea. I set this card, and end my turn."

Kelli drew and smiled. "You know, I respect Mother Earth and all, but in this duel, I am afraid I have to deal with her. And when I say deal…I mean destroy. First, I will activate Double Spell. By discarding this spell card from my hand, I can take one of yours. And I chose Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two new cards." Kelli smiled. "OH yes, this will do nicely. You see Owen, I have just drawn the card that will spell the end of this match for you."

"Is that so?" Owen said calmly.

"Yes. First, I will use the magic card Monster Reborn, reviving my Dark Magician Girl." The pink mage girl appeared, the hearts appearing most more around her. "And next, it is time for me to show you the true power of my deck. You see, while I do hold Sorcerer of Dark magic, I also hold another card. The shiny form of my Dark Magician Girl!"

Owen watch in awe as the Dark Magician Girl glowed, slowly reforming. When she appeared again, she was dressed in a flowing white robe, a clothe headdress veering her long hair. She stood tall, revealing her age: No longer was she a child, studying under the Dark Magician. No, this magician was a grown woman, skilled as her master before her. Her gloved hands held a long white staff, decorated with long pink veins of metal that lead t a shinnying golden orb. She spun her staff and gave a nod to the Dark Magician of Chaos, before turning to Owen, the soft smile erased from her face, now hard and determined

"I summon the Priestess of Dark Magic!" (atk: 2800, Def: 2300)

Kelli smiled and looked at Gaia. "It is time to end this game, once and for all. You see, my Priestess knows a spell that is going to get rid of your Gaia's strength. It allows me to negate all monster effects other then hers. Which means, her protection over your lp is gone."

Owen frowned. This is not good. If she can break through my Gaia, then I will be done in….my trap card. I had a feeling it would save me, and now, I think it's time to use it.

"Attack his Gaia my Priestess, with Millennia Blast!" The mage nodded and fired a blast of white magic at Gaia, shattering her into bits as Owen shielded himself. (Owen-1900)

"Too bad her strike will cost your Dark Magician his life!"

"What do you mean?"

Owen smiled. "You have activated my trap card: Pluto's Vengeance!" Kelli watched as the Agent of Death rose from the ground, bringing his scythe against the Dark Magician of Chaos' neck. "This card allows me to destroy one monster when my monster is destroyed. So…say goodbye Dark Magician!"

The mage let out a gasp as Pluto pulled back, shattering it before he sunk back into the graveyard. Kelli frowned, ending her turn.

ok, Owen thought, drawing his card and smiling. with this…I can set up the end of this game. My plan will be complete, and not only will Kelli get the points she needs, I will make it look like I was trying to win the game, so Lilka won't bother me too bad.

"I will first shift my Agent of Change to defense. Next, I activate the magic card Halflife. This card should make perfect sense Kelli: It cuts our lp in half. And with that move, I will end my turn." (Kelli-900, Owen-950)

Kelli smiled as she drew. "Not even that can stop me Owen from winnign the game."

Come on…stop talking and just beat me!

"Owen, your agents are a force to be reckoned with. But my mages, this time, were greater. First, I will summon Breaker, and have him attack your Agent of Change-Neptune!"

The red robed monster focused, and fired his blast right at Owen's monster. Owen closed his eyes, bracing for the hit.

"Now Priestess of Dark Magic, finish Owen off!" The mage raced forward…and tapped him on the head gently. "I win." Kelli said softly. (Owen-0000)

Owen smiled, trying to hide his grin. And no one will be the wiser.

"Sorry Lilka." Owen said softly, walking up to her after the duel. She looked at him and shrugged.

"You tried your hardest." She looked over as Kelli ran up to Owen and wrapped her arms around his waist. "You still got 99, even with using half of your deck." She glanced at Kelli. "And you got 50…good job." She mumbled that last part.

Kelli shrugged. "Owen did great too. He almost had me."

Tressa nodded. "I thought he had you when he used Hammer of Mars. Most of the time, when he uses that, it's the killing blow."

Owen shrugged. "I pulled it too late."

Kelli looked at him, her eyes wide. She remember…

"You bastard."