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Fanfic Chapter 178: Solo Duel Pt 2: Falling Down

Harold: Joey and Serenity had a little brother-sister spat because Serenity wanted to help out. Whether Joey liked it or not, Serenity would get her chance as she was set up to duel Bandit Keith's former gang who have somehow fused together to form a three-headed monster (actually, it's kind of an improvement). Bonz's zombie deck was stronger than ever and Serenity's charmer monsters were no match. Now down more than half her life points and staring down three monsters, it looks like Serenity's lack of experience will be her downfall.


"Molten Zombie, attack with Flames of Decay!" One of Serenity's face-down monsters was revealed.

"Reveal monster: Hiita the Fire Charmer (1) and I'll use her special ability to take control of your Molten Zombie and use him to block your Regenerating Mummy." Both of her monsters were destroyed but Serenity's life points only went down by 200.

(B: 4000)
(S: 2000)

Vampire Lord destroyed Serenity's remaining face-down card.

"That was a close one," Yugi said.

"Oh man, I knew Serenity wasn't cut out for this Shadow Duel stuff, I have to take over for her."

"Even if you could, how would you get over there, by jumping?"

"I'll think of something… even though thinking isn't my strong point."

"This is great," Bonz cried. "I'm doing better than I ever did under Bandit Keith!"

"Yeah, you da bomb, Bonz," Zygor agreed.

"So, lass, what do you say to a forfeit?"

Serenity took several deep breaths before saying, "It's my move." She drew a card. "I play Pot of Greed which lets me draw two extra cards. I play Tribute to the Doomed. Now by discarding one card from my hand, I can destroy one of your monsters and I choose your Vampire Lord."

"No, not him," Yugi exclaimed.

"But that's his strongest monster," Joey pointed out.

"True, but Vampire Lord has a special ability," Yugi explained. "When it's sent to the graveyard by a magic or trap card, it can return to the field at the next turn."

"Oh no, Serenity!"

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

Bonz drew a card and Vampire Lord returned. "Surprised? You didn't know my Vampire is a zombie in that it can't be destroyed. Now I will end your life!" Bonz drew a card and almost nailed Sid in the head with his arm.

"Hey, watch it, I'm here, you know!"

"Oh shut up, you have done nothing to help me ever since the duel started!"

"That's because you won't let me!"

"Yeah, Bonz, we were supposed to be Battle City Finalists too, remember but that whack-o with the spiky ring had to step in."

"What dueling have you two been doing?"

"None because you won't let us!"

The three arguing allowed Serenity a moment's breather as she collected her thoughts. I guess Joey was right, I wasn't cut out for this Shadow Game. This was a lot harder than Noah's Virtual Wars. I guess I always took that for granted. But how can I win when I'm trailing by over 2000 life points? What was I doing wrong? She suddenly remembered what Tristan said just before their duel against Nesbitt. To believe in herself. Could that be what I'm doing wrong? Could it be that I was so busy trying to prove myself that I forgot what the focus of dueling was, believing in the heart of the cards. I must believe in myself and I can win. Serenity turned her thoughts outside and saw that Bonz was still arguing with Sid and Zygor. "Hey," she called. "Are you three going to argue all day or are you going to duel?"

"Insolent child," Bonz said.

"A child, me? You're younger than me and you're calling me a child? Too bad having three heads didn't make you any smarter."

Good one, Harold thought but because his mouth was covered he couldn't say it out loud.

"You'll pay for that! I play Pyramid Turtle (2) in defense mode followed by the magic card Necklace of Command. Vampire Lord, attack her face-down card!" The vampire struck down on the card destroying the brown-haired woman wearing glasses. "Regenerating Mummy, attack now!"

"Reveal trap card," Serenity announced as her remaining face-down card was revealed. "Waboku!"

"Not Waboku!"

"Thanks to Waboku, I'm safe for this turn."

"But you won't be next turn," Bonz promised.

Not as long as I believe in the heart of the cards… and in myself, Serenity thought. She cast a side glance at Harold. For my friends… no, my family, let this next card count! She drew a card. "I summon White Magician Pikeru (3) in attack mode and play two magic cards: Trial of the Princess and Banner of Courage. Trial of the Princess raises Pikeru's attack points by 800 and Banner of Courage raises it for another 200."

(WMP: 1200-2200)

"2200 attack points!"

"That's right and I'm going to use them against your Vampire Lord. White Magician Pikeru, attack Vampire Lord with Magical Game!" The little pink-haired girl raised her small staff and fired a rainbow-colored energy blast which destroyed Vampire Lord.

(B: 3800)
(S: 2000)

Pikeru started to glow. She grew taller and was now decked out in finer robes.

"What happened to her?" Bonz asked.

Serenity closed her eyes and recalled Amara's explanation. "Trial of the Princess's second effect: when she destroys a powerful monster in battle, Pikeru transforms from a magician to Princess Pikeru (4). Now, I place my last card face-down and end my turn."

"I won't allow a little girl to beat us," Bonz said as he drew a card.

"Don't you mean 'me'?" Zygor corrected. "You are the one dueling after all."

Bonz shot Zygor a dirty look. "I play Card of Sanctity which lets us get six cards into our hands!"

Bonz must be getting desperate if he played a card that would give Serenity an advantage, Harold thought.

"I play Monster Reborn to revive Vampire Lord in attack mode and I summon Vampire Princess (5) in defense mode. That ends my turn."

"Oh good, it's my turn, and first I'll activate Princess Pikeru's special ability, a bonus of 800 life points!"

(B: 3800)
(S: 2800)

"Next I summon Queen's Double (6) in attack mode. Queen's Double, attack his life points directly!" The red-headed woman threw a spear-shaped crystal which hit Sid in the side of his face.

(B: 3450)
(S: 2800)

"Princess Pikeru, attack his Pyramid Turtle with Magical Game!" This time, the blast from Pikeru's staff destroyed the turtle.

"By destroying my Necklace of Command, I can draw a card and since you destroyed my Pyramid Turtle too, I can summon a monster to the field to replace it and I choose Ryu Kokki (7). And guess what, your Princess is a spellcaster monster which means Ryu-Kokki can destroy it no matter what. Ryu-Kokki, Death Axe Attack!" The large skeleton raised its weapon and slammed the girl. The girl screamed mutely as she disappeared.

(B: 3050)
(S: 2400)

"I switch Vampire Princess to attack mode. I'll activate her special ability transferring 400 life points to her 400 attack points!" Vampire Princess bit down on Sid's neck.

(VP: 200-600)

"Ow! Did you have to have her bite me?"

"Vampire Princess, attack Queen's Double, Vampire Lord, attack her life points directly!"

Serenity gasped but then saw her face-down card. My face-down card, I forgot about it. "I activate my trap card Pikeru's Gift. Now by paying 1000 life points and removing my Princess Pikeru from the graveyard I can cancel out all damage that I receive."

(B: 3050)
(S: 1400)

"But because of my Ryu Kokki's special ability, your Queen's Double is still destroyed. But that's not all, next I remove my Vampire Lord from play to summon Vampire Genesis (8) in attack mode! A large purple beast appeared. It had four wings and rows of sharp teeth. "And with 3000 attack points, he'll be sending you to an early grave!"

"Quit it with the zombie talk," Zygor snapped. "It's giving me a headache!"

"Thinking gives you a headache." Bonz and the other two degenerated into another argument.

Wow, 3000 attack points, Serenity thought. That's enough to finish me off twice. Now I know how the others felt. These Shadow Duels are dangerous. One wrong move and it's game over permanently. No wonder Joey was… Serenity cast a side-glance at Joey as a thought hit her.


Before our parents got divorced, Joey was always looking out for me. He took me places, protected me from those who would hurt me and even get me out of trouble. I originally felt like he was just doing what a big brother was assigned to do. But… when he told me about what he had to go through at Duelist Kingdom to get the money for my operation, I understood that he really loved me. He was afraid to face me after he lost his Red-Eyes Black Dragon because he must've thought he lost my love. But we're family and no matter what may happen, we'll always love one another.

Serenity looked over at Joey. "Joey, if… if I don't…"

"If you don't come through this?" Joey finished. "Yeah right, like that'll ever happen."

"Huh?"

"Serenity, I was a jerk for what I said before, I wanted to look out for you but I guess it came out as well… being a jerk."

"I understand, Joey, I…"

"Wait, let me finish, I guess I was a jerk, I never realized how much you've grown. I guess I'll always think of you as my kid sister."

"You… thought I've grown?"

"Oh yeah, big time! You can think for yourself now and you know you can beat him!"

"Hello, I'm right here!" Bonz called. "Can you just shut up and lose?"

"Joey, no matter what happens, I'll always love you," Serenity said and turned back to Bonz. "It's my move." She drew a card and let out a squeal of joy. "Joey, I drew your card!"

"Then what are you waiting for, a graved invitation, fire up that bad boy!"

"You bet! First I play Monster Reborn to revive White Magician Pikeru." Pikeru's lower form reappeared. "Next I summon Aussa the Earth Charmer (9) in attack mode. And now, to play Joey's card, Bond of Brothers!"

"What does that card do?" Zygor asked.

"You got me, mate."

"I've never seen that card before, what does it do?" Bonz asked Serenity.

"First I pay 1000 life points to activate it," Serenity began.

(B: 3050)
(S: 400)

"Now I get to summon any monster of the same level and type as the monster I just summoned. So now I summon Eria the Water Charmer, Hiita the Fire Charmer, and Wynn the Wind Charmer (10)."

"But I destroyed those Fire and Water Charmers."

"True but I had more than one in my deck. Now I play the magic card United We Stand along with my White Magician. Now her attack points will be raised by 800 for every monster I have on the field. And since I have 5…"

"4000 attack points!"

(WMP: 1200-5200)

"White Magician Pikeru, attack Vampire Princess with Magical Game!" The little magician held her scepter up high as her entire body began to glow. Energy gathered in her scepter. It looked like she could barely hold it up. As she swung it down a larger version of her attack came out and destroyed Vampire Princess."

(B: 0)
(S: 400)

"And that's the power of teamwork," Serenity finished.

"Nice going, dunce," Sid said to Bonz. "You made us lose to a little girl."

I may be a girl, but I'm not little any more, Serenity thought.

"This ain't over," Zygor said. "Now you have to duel using my deck!"

"And my deck," Sid added. Serenity gasped.

"You can't do that!" Yugi protested. "She already beat you!"

"She beat Bonzie," Zygor said. "Not me and Sid."

Suddenly the three-headed Duelist started to disintegrate. "No, what's happening to us?" Bonz asked.

"I feel funny," Zygor said. All three of them let out a scream as they disappeared.

The rock Serenity was standing on started to shake. Suddenly it broke away and Serenity started to fall towards the lava pool below.

"SERENITY!" Joey cried and leapt off his ledge.

"Joey, don't!" Yugi protested but it was too late.

Joey frog-paddled down to her.

"Joey," Serenity gasped as he grabbed her arm. "But… we'll both be destroyed."

"I would've felt the same way if I lost you, Sis," Joey said. "You may be not a kid any more, but you're still my sister, and I still love you."

"Joey…"

The lava suddenly became a whirlpool and Joey and Serenity fell through it.

"Joey, Serenity," Yugi called back.

The bonds holding Harold to the wall faded. Harold was dangling off the edge. "Yugi, help me!"

Yugi turned to Queen of Autumn Leaves. "Queen of Autumn Leaves, can you rescue Harold please? I don't want to lose any more friends."

A log appeared underneath Harold's feet. More logs formed a path to the ledge where Yugi, Queen of Autumn Leaves, and Edina

"Yugi, what do we do now?" Harold asked. "Should we go after them?"

Yugi stared at the whirlpool of lava which was closing up. "No, we still need to rescue Tea."

"But Joey and Serenity."

"You think I don't want to leave them? But what can we do? Whatever that thing is has just closed up and it doesn't look like it's opening again. Since Panik controls the Shadow Realm, he might know where they are so let's just continue on our way to rescue Tea. I'm sure they'll be all right."

"I hope you're right, Yugi."

So do I, Yugi thought.


In a dark cavern, two figures laid side by side. One figure had his arm over the other. There was a small scuffle as something approached them.

The End


Duel Monster Database

(1)
Name: Hiita the Fire Charmer
Level: 3
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Fire
ATK: 500
DEF: 1500

(2)
Name: Pyramid Turtle
Level: 4
Type: Zombie/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1400

(3)
Name: White Magician Pikeru
Level: 2
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1200
DEF: 0

(4)
Name: Princess Pikeru
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 2000
DEF: 0

(5)
Name: Vampire Princess
Level: 2
Type: Zombie/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 200
DEF: 900
Once per turn, during your Main Phase, you may pay any number of life points to increase this monster's attack points (limit is 2000).

(6)
Name: Queen's Double
Level: 1
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 350
DEF: 300

(7)
Name: Ryu Kokki
Level: 6
Type: Zombie/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2400
DEF: 2000

(8)
Name: Vampire Genesis
Level: 8
Type: Zombie/Effect
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 3000
DEF: 2100

(9)
Name: Aussa the Earth Charmer
Level: 3
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 500
DEF: 1500

(10)
Name: Wynn the Wind Charmer
Level: 3
Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Wind
ATK: 500
DEF: 1500