Ser Gerhalos


Saddened, angry, and without lordship, Ser Gerhalos gathered his things at the armory. The master-at-arms was a Yeyunist from Stefan's army, and he stared at the beastly knight with hate glowing in his eyes like a fire. Ser Gerhalos could see this but paid him no mind as he tightened his baldric over his torso to keep his massive sword snugly over his back.

"Is that all?" the master-at-arms said emotionless.

"That is all," Ser Gerhalos answered.

"Then begone beast. Soon, the likes of you will no longer be welcome in these parts."

"The sun will shine in the Shadow Realm before the noble High King Yuri accepts your hateful culture," Ser Gerhalos spat at the puny man. "If you think you've won Termnnia because the stupid Summoner of Dragons marries your foolish prince then you are foolishly mistaken."

Ser Gerhalos turned and left the armory and then made a long trip to the Southern Wall of Domino. He exited the city with pilgrims, traders, knights, and merchants.

There were Yeyunists preachers outside standing atop wooden boxes. They were dressed in brown robes with rope belts and flapped hats made of leather. "To kill a mage is not a sin!" he called out. "But a path to Yeyu! To kill a duelist is not a sin, but a path to Yeyu!"

Ser Gerhalos could not believe preachers were spreading their message so close to a city that lived off of magic, technology, and Duel Monsters. Ser Gerhalos gave a sorrowful whine before looking back at the city he was leaving behind. Somewhere in there was the girl he had sworn to Master Yu-Gi-Oh to protect. But she had preached for her independence for a long time, and the slap Avi gave him was a sign that she no longer wanted him anymore.

He sniffed sadly and took the dirt road back West. He felt rocks being tossed at his armor. He snarled and turned ready to maul whoever it was until he saw it was five young boys. The flaming eye of Yeyu was hanging around one of the boys' necks in bronze.

"Get out you filthy animal!" they shouted, hurling more stones at him. "Yeyu doesn't want your kind here anymore!"

Ser Gerhalos shook his head. Even the children have been poisoned with the ideology of intolerance and violence. And to think it was just outside the doorsteps of the Duel Monsters Capital of the World worried him. He began to worry for the city, and for Termnnia. It looked like not even Yuri and his Divine Beasts would not be enough to stop him. The children threw more rocks at Ser Gerhalos. He drooped his ears sadly and walked away, his shoulders hunched down as if weighing him down. The city was well behind him now and he was approaching the entrance to the forest.

"OY!" shouted a familiar voice.

Ser Gerhalos turned. He saw nothing. Then a thunderous flapping sound bellowed in the air and blew a gust of wind at him. Ser Gerhalos looked to the sky and spotted Judgement Dragon diving towards him which meant one thing. Ser Kenneth.

"Ser Gerhalos!" he cried out. He tried to climb off of Luster Dragon's back but missed his footing and went tumbling to the ground with a loud thud. "Don't panic!" he shouted, wriggling on the ground like a turtle flipped to its back. "That was deliberate, I tell you, that was deliberate!"

"What are you doing here?" Ser Gerhalos asked. "If you are asking me to return you have wasted your time."

"I didn't think it would be that easy," Kenneth said sadly. "Ser Gerhalos, please. This journey will not be the same without you. Avi was just confused and did something she didn't mean."

"She is not confused, boy!" snapped Ser Gerhalos. "She knew well what she was doing when she let the lad do what he wanted with her body."

Kenneth held up his fist in anger. "She's not some whore if that's what you're insinuating!" He backed down when he saw the look of hurt in Ser Gerhalos's eyes. He would never think of her that way. Even now, despite what she said and done, he still loved her.

Kenneth cleared his throat and took a deep breath to release his frustration and said, "She's a grown woman now, Gerhalos. And this alliance she makes with Stefan, as wrong as it feels, will quell a lot of anger between the cultures of the faith and of magic. Think about that, Ser, how long has it been since a Yeyunist wanted to marry a mage? Never! Because they never could see past their 'sins' despite how beautiful the person. I recall the bit of history with Queen Angelina of House Normandy. She offered such an alliance to Pope Justice IV in the Second Age. She thought she could quell the prejudice of the church with this marriage, but the pope locked her up in a tower after the wedding for the rest of her life. Poor woman starved to death after she ran out of fingers to eat. That was after she had eaten all of her Duel Monster cards."

"Was that supposed to make me feel better?" Ser Gerhalos asked sternly. "All your story did was make me want to charge back into Domino and rip Stefan limb from limb."

"You missed the point," said Kenneth after a brief chuckle. "Even with a beautiful bride staring them in the face, the believers of the Faith would never marry another magic-user. I tell you now, Ser Gerhalos, the prince played me in a match of Duel Monsters just after breakfast. A game the Yeyunists despise as well. He is truthful about this alliance. He doesn't want to marry Avi because she is beautiful or because she is the Summoner of Dragons. Stefan wants to unite our people in this time of need. Our true enemy, the Orcs, gathers up forces in the Black Continent. We cannot best them if our armies are divided."

"I care not," said Ser Gerhalos. "You are all fools if you think a radical religion like Yeyunism will stay true to their word for an alliance of peace. If I were you lot, I would get Avi out of there and fast. If anything happens to her the blood will be on your hands."

"He cannot be foolish enough to try anything at the conference," said Ser Kenneth. "Master Yu-Gi-Oh and his princely friends are but a few hours away from arriving here, and a large number of their forces from their respective kingdoms have gathered here as well. To say nothing of the machines of war the Daltons hold. The Church may have a few modern soldiers but it will not be enough to fight back the combined strength of the Alliance. And you'd best do well to return, Ser Gerhalos, for Master Yu-Gi-Oh sails with them."

"As I said, I don't care. I want nothing more to do with this journey so long as the Church is involved."

"So be it. Just let it be known, you're breaking her heart."

"Good, maybe she'll know how it feels." He looked at a silver necklace in his hands in the shape of the Leogai god, Tumak the Lord of the Earth. "This…belonged to my cub, back when I had a family. Her name was Du'uvia. I named her after her mother."

"You never said a word about your family."

"They are dead. Killed by the Church Militant after we settled in Gaia Fields in a settlement of Kajai (Cat Folk). They used my mate's fur as a throw rug and gifted it to the Primate of the local Yeyunist Church. I hunted them down and burned down their chapel. I could never find my cub. This necklace was all I had of her. I was hoping to give it to Avi when she became a Master Summoner. That girl…was the closest thing I had to call my child."

Tears flowed down his face and he clutched the necklace tighter in his grip. "But now it seems the Church has taken another thing I hold dear. Farewell, my friends. This is where we must part ways."

"It was good fighting with you Ser Gerhalos," said Kenneth. "I am sorry about your family. And I am sorry for what you've recently lost."

"I look forward to that day. If you hear tales of a Leogai hedge-knight, you can be damn sure it's me."

The knight shook hands with Kenneth and then strolled into the forest on his road to find another lord. He prayed Master Yugi would not approve of this plan and remain clear of the Church despite Avi's new ties with them. Mayhaps he could serve with him when he's High King. He heard Luster Dragon's wing flap behind him. The leaves rustled above when the gust pushed against them.

He turned to look at Luster Dragon until it was gone. Just when Ser Gerhalos began to hear the thunderous current of the nearby Great Falls of Eredas, he felt something slither over his head and wrap around his neck. Whatever it was it cut off his air supply. He gasped and grunted like a beast trying to get rid of the creature, only it wasn't a monster. It was a rope. A horseman wearing chainmail under a brown surcoat came riding out of the forest and jabbed Ser Gerhalos in the back with a spear.

His armor was tough but the tip still poked his flesh. He roared with pain and grabbed the rope, knocking the horseman off his steed. Ser Gerhalos pulled on the rope to drag the man towards him and he smashed his head with a powerful punch. Three arrows hissed from the trees and struck his back. Ser Gerhalos let out another roar as more assassins rode out of the forest lassoing him like a lost cow. They roped his right arm and his leg. He used all his might to break free of his bindings and grabbed his sword.

A horseman galloped towards him with a spear, but Ser Gerhalos stepped to the side and cut off the horse's head with a powerful blow. The accoster flew forward and smashed his head on a rock on the ground. Another one came from behind and jabbed Ser Gerhalos in the thigh. If he had not been wearing his armor, it would have surly gone through, but the tip still dug its way through and poked his flesh.

Another attacker charged, twirling a steel ball and chain that whacked Ser Gerhalos in the back of the head, knocking all the fight from him. He dropped his large sword and fell to his knees. The golden-brown hair on his mane turned red from where the blow was struck and more assailants jumped in to pick at him with their spears and arrows.

But he was a strong and agile creature, dodging their blows. He was so quick for something so big and well-armored. He punched assailants from the top of their horses and every now and then he would feel the sting of an arrow piercing armor and poking his flesh. Ser Gerhalos felt the earth shaking, and smiled when he felt a gust of powerful wind blowing hard at the forest. He looked up weakly and his eyes beheld Luster Dragon's beautiful armor.

"DRAGON!" one of the assailants shouted.

Kenneth charged out of the beast's saddle. The attackers thought they had the numbers on their side but the young knight and the dwarf were two very superior fighters. Throvor smashed their chests with his hammer, shattering their ribs. Kenneth was so quick with his sword, he looked like he was flying and dancing. His moves dazzled his opponents. They were dead before they even knew who they were fighting with him.

The lead attacker rode to Ser Gerhalos and climbed down his horse. He quickly tied a thick rope around the knight's leg to the saddle and slapped the horse on the rump. The horse took off into the forest and dragged Ser Gerhalos along the ground. The leader cackled cruelly, but Ser Gerhalos reached out and grabbed the attacker's leg in the nick of time, dragging him with him.

Ser Gerhalos and his assailant wrestled along the ground as they were dragged by the powerful warhorse. They punched each other while being tossed around on the ground. The assailant took a dagger from his belt and jammed it into Ser Gerhalos's shoulder. The leogai roared and punched his assailant one last time. The man rolled violently and hit a group of rocks with a powerful thud, breaking his ribs. Ser Gerhalos tried to steer the horse with the rope, but it looked like it was blindfolded. Now he knew why. They were approaching the ravine of the Great Eredas Falls. Ser Gerhalos reached for the dagger lodged in his shoulder. It was hard reaching for the rope at his leg because of his size and even when he could cut at the rope, it was no use. The rope was too thick.

"SER GERHALOS!" shouted Kenneth riding atop a horse he stole from one of the attackers. "I'm coming!"

"NO!" shouted Ser Gerhalos. "Take care of Avi for me!"

Kenneth watched helplessly as the warhorse blindly ran over the ravine. Ser Gerhalos gave out a sorrowful roar as the warhorse took him down to the raging rapids below.

Kenneth wailed into the forest and jumped off his horse and ran towards the edge of the ravine. He looked down searching for his friend. There was no sign of him. Surly his armor would have dragged him to the bottom by now. He knelt down and prayed in elvish for his soul to be welcomed to the garden. He heard someone laughing behind him. Throvor sprinted down the hill holding his hammer high at the injured leader. He stomped his foot onto his broken chest. The attacker wheezed in pain coughing out blood.

"Tell me who sent you and I will ease your pain!"

"Little kitty fell off the cliff, eh?" laughed the attacker. "Not to worry. Cats always land on their feet, right?"

"Who sent you!" he shouted, stomping on his chest again. That was too much for the man to take and the pain and trauma killed him. He was holding something in his hands. Something silver.

He gasped sadly, opening up the assailant's hand, revealing the precious necklace Ser Gerhalos wished to give Avi.


Avi - The Silver Conference


She had never heard a crowd cheer so loudly before. Avi felt her eardrums would burst open and bleed. From a balcony atop one of the House of Gray's guest palaces, she watched Master Yugi and the princes parade on horseback through the streets under a rain of confetti and flower petals surrounded by soldiers and knights who had traveled from afar to see them. A forest of banners from their respective Houses washed the streets in their colors.

Prince Stas, Talion, Marcel, Michael, Jaeyoung, Venaquas, Jon, and Ryon rode on both sides of Yugi proudly holding up the banners of their Houses as though Yugi was king of the world.

"Here they come," said Blair. "All the way from Duel Academia. Aren't they handsome?"

Trish shook her head. "If I wasn't into women, I would have an eye for them. But they are beautiful men, that much I will say."

"Do you grow nervous, My Lady?" Stefan asked, standing with her waving to the crowd who were congratulating them both on their marriage.

"I have never met the legendary Seven Princes of Termnnia," Avi gulped nervously, dressed in a white gown of a flowery design trimmed with gold. The top was shaped like a budding lily flower opening to reveal the upper half of her breasts. Fira disapproved of the design for there were slits at the sides which showed much of her legs. No doubt it was of Stefan's choosing.

"I haven't met them before either," said Stefan. "I am more nervous than you."

"What makes you say that?"

"I am still an enemy in their eyes." He stared at her for quite a while. "You look beautiful."

That made Avi grin, but she began to wonder if he really meant it. Ser Gerhalos was wise to stay vindictive of the Church, for they were not known for keeping oaths. Her future husband's father was a good example of that. She often thought about how this was affecting him but she wasn't bothered too much.

She had her dragons and her friends. And as soon as Ser Gerhalos came back, she would pack her things and leave, resuming her quest to find more dragons She gave a heavy sigh looking down at the parade again. Camera crews began sending out drones to get a good look at the seven princes for the news outlets reporting the festivities of the conference which would end all hostilities with the North once and for all.

"Present arms!" shouted the general of the Royal Army of Eredas. The soldiers in suits of Kevlar and steel plate raised their rifles as Master Yugi and his companions approached the gates of his castle.

Yami looked up at Avi. She smiled at him and waved to get his attention, but he just glared at her and turned his head away. Avi's smile faded quickly, and she felt a sense of uneasiness rush through her gut and up her chest.

"He didn't look too happy," Fira whispered into Avi's ear.

"He's just serious," said Aldara. "Don't worry."

"Look at all those knights!" Tordo gawked at the heavily armored men below. He admired the armor Prince Yuri was wearing. It was the armor the Elven-kings gave to him the day it was announced he was going to be High King. The jewels studded all over the massive golden plate Yuri was wearing made him sparkle with each step. The banners whipped through the air and the hooves of their steeds clopped on the white cobbled streets.

"This will be a very interesting luncheon, my friends," said Stefan. "I will see you there, love." He kissed Avi's left cheek and strolled away casually followed by an escort of tactical knights and the abbot.

"We should get moving too," said Constantine now clad in white enameled scaled armor with a gleaming white cape.

"Aw, but I want to see the knights!" pouted Tordo.

Neow! Neow! Hissed the Baby Tiragon, proudly perched on Avi's shoulder. He snapped at Tordo as if telling him to get moving.

"Come, my little warrior," Aldara beamed at him. Baby Tiragon flew off of Avi's shoulder and onto Aldara's.

"You'd best come along too, Dove," said Fira. "I imagine there is much to discuss at this lunch."

Avi followed Fira and Aldara back into the castle. The fans cooled her face dreadfully warmed by the hot southern sun. As Avi went deeper into the tower that would serve as the place to hold the conference, she saw Yami leaning against the engraved walls waiting for her.

"Master Yu-Gi-Oh!" Avi bowed. "It's so good to see you again."

"I wish I could say the same about you."

"What do you mean? What have I done that has displeased you? I'll have you know I found many powerful dragons in my quest."

"And now you're marrying the archbishop of the Church and the King of the North. Both of whom are mortal enemies of cultures like ours. Why, Avellana?"

"He was so convincing."

"So convincing that you would strike your knight champion in defense of this foolish proposal?" Yami scored. "Ser Gerhalos has risked much to keep you safe, young lady, and this is how you repay him?"

Great. Avi frowned. Just great. First, she had to be lectured by Ser Gerhalos. Now it was Yami.

"He treats me like a child! And what do you mean foolish? I'll have you know this marriage was for Prince Yuri's benefit."

"And just how will marrying the most powerful figure of a cult hell-bent on the termination of magical ideologies benefit me, Avi?" Yami asked.

"Stefan is different."

"I'll decide that for myself," said Yami. "At the feast."

"That goes for me too," said Prince Michael. He was leaning on an aquatic column facing away from Avi, for he did not want to look at her. "I can't take his word without suspicion. We believed King Forrest would end his violence with a pact years ago and look how that turned out. He tried to have me killed! And many of my friends, too."

"I am sorry about what King Forrest has done to you, I really am."

"If you truly are, you would not have accepted Stefan's proposal for marriage." Yami sighed with frustration. He rubbed his Millennium Puzzle to ease his tension.

"Why are you against this?" Avi asked. "I could very well end the violence and hate that poisons Termnnia."

Yami sighed again. "As you wish. While we are here, I'd like to discuss your quest for the dragons, Avi."

"Ah, just in time," a voice said from outside the halls. He entered the room. The young man was an Eldori with tanned skin, golden eyes and dark teal hair that spiked out from the back of his head, and in twin spikes with the likeness of two horns in addition to two ponytails bound with golden rings. He was holding a black staff with cubed holographic orange ornaments that spun and disappeared and reappeared in a loop.

"This is a fellow Eyar of my order," said Yami. "And, if Avi wills it, her newest companion. May I introduce you to Aigami."

Michael came out of hiding and bowed. "Aigami."

"Who is this?" Avi asked.

"Aigami is the one who knows where your origins lay, Avi," said Yami.

"However, that little secret will remain hidden until matures at her task," Aigami said inspecting Avi, sternly. "We'll talk later. I believe they are expecting us for lunch."

They followed him to an oversized chamber with a panoramic view of the city and the ocean outside. The princes were already helping themselves to the food. They all looked at Avi with discontent. They were so angry that they didn't even wish to greet her. Avi wanted to burst into tears seeing them neglect her this way.

Yami saw this and offered a toast to break the silence. He felt relieved when they clinked their glasses with Avi's though they did so hastily. And so, they dug in after a priest gave a two-minute blessing to Yeyu.

Prince Jon of Riftgaard could take it no more and grabbed his fork and started eating. Michael and the others followed as well.

"Praise be to Yeyu!" the priest called out before sitting down, feeling perturbed that the arrogant youngsters disrespected his faith this way. Avi began feeling uneasy. She and Stefan may sway the people to peace with their marriage but it would take a great deal more convincing to get the princes to approve. Shortly after starting their meal, Stefan stood up and tapped his steak knife against his glass.

Everyone stopped eating at once and looked at him like poisonous vipers ready to strike.

"I'd like to thank you all for coming here," he announced. "Now I know, you are still in the early months at Duel Academia, and, again, I'd like to thank each one of you for taking time from your busy schedules to join me in this talk of peace between our cultures. Enough blood has been spilled for our beliefs and I believe we can end such hostilities today."

"If you have a point, get to it," grumbled Stas. "I'm starving."

Avi sighed with disbelief. Stefan was no doubt from the most aggressive faction of this dispute, but he was more on the side of peace than the others.

"It is not the first time you and your people have held peace talks before," said Michael. "Every pact we have made with your Church you have broken."

"I am not King Forrest," said Stefan. "Friends. Please. Do not persecute me for the sins of my father. I have broken ties with him. Look, I have more than proven myself by asking Lady Avellana to marry me. She is a magic user and I am a Yeyunist."

"An act we find rather condemnable," spat one of the preachers. "If you want her for a wife, she must promise to convert to the true church and cease summoning those demons."

"They are not demons!" shouted Avi.

"Case in point," Prince Venaquaus of Atlantea said leaning back on his chair.

"Too right," said Prince Michael. "Avi when you came to Domino over the summer, you talked my ears off about your hate for the Church. Now you marry one of its leaders. Where is the logic in that? You yourself said there is no negotiating with them, and this priest here is proof of that. Even when in the midst of discussing peace, he forces you to convert to the faith under pain of death."

"I never said…"

"You don't have to say anything, Father," Michael interrupted the priest. "I have read your White-Gold Tome."

"As have I," said Prince Talion of Elleria. "I recall a passage that sticks out to me the most. 'He who does not accept my word or the teachings in my Tome will have his head removed and he is a demon caller, burn his cards. And if he has a wife, she will be given to you to pay for his sin of non-belief. And you will sell his children away. His daughters will be slaves and his sons will take the sword with the Templars." Michael grinned arrogantly. "You said this to me once when my sister Evelyn and I rejected your religion, yes?"

The priest went quiet. Stefan nodded in agreement.

"It is because of radical people like you that we have enemies everywhere, preacher!" shouted Stefan. "You either accept my wife is a user of magic or I will have you stripped of your position!"

"Your father would have your head for this if he was here!" snapped another priest.

"And to think I could be dueling in Endless Night right about now," groaned Stas. "I knew this peace conference was a waste of time. And so what if you're marrying Avi? You think marrying a pretty mage convinces us that you are true to your word? Have you heard the tale of Lady Angelina and the Wailing Tower?"

"I have," said Stefan. "But those are the days of old. I assure you that our faith can move forward. We must unite our forces and combat the Orcs."

"So that's it, eh?" said Jon. "And you needed to marry Lady Avellana to do this when all this time you could have just joined us long ago?"

"I agree," said Yami, wiping his chin with a red handkerchief. "If you really wish to lend your support to Prince Yuri, why not just end your hostilities and just join him. You did not have to bring Avi into this though marriage."

"Don't any of you see?" said Avi. "Mages, Duelists, and magic users everywhere look to me in these dark times with Yuri away. If they can see me unifying with Stefan, the archbishop of the Church of Yeyu, they will surely change their minds and see we can coexist with the Faith and vice versa. Our bond will show Termnnia is a land for everyone, regardless of their beliefs."

"You gamble a lot with this, Avi," said Michael. "Your admirers could see you as more a traitor than a beacon of unification and peace."

Avi grimaced and looked down at her plate sadly.

"It is also foolish to think a single marriage will end the hostilities of the Church," said Prince Marcel, the Red-Eyes Black Dragon Rider of Akuuda.

"Which is why I sought to join your alliance today," said Stefan. "Please. Allow me room in this grand brotherhood you have and let us show the people that we are capable of getting along. Together, we can rebuild Termnnia into the superpower it once was in the ancient days."

"Fine, but there are a few terms you must meet to gain our trust," Jaeyoung said, spinning his knife on the table.

"I will do whatever I can for you," said Stefan. "Whatever you ask. I will do it. If you ask me to end my marriage with Lady Avi. I will do it."

"As ludicrous as the marriage is, you make valid points," said Jon. "Keep the Summoner. It matters not to us."

Avi cringed again. They hated her. Perhaps once they all thought she could be the ultimate tool in taking down the poisonous ideologies of the church. But her accepting Stefan's proposal to marry him was like taking a furious jab at their hopes for toppling the organization for good. Yami groaned with disbelief as well. He could not believe they were being so hard on her.

Prince Ryon Balor of Katina spoke first. "First off, you will tell your people to end all violence with magic users once and for all. If they so much as harm one of our citizens the alliance is off and we'll march with full force to Naralia to throw you out of power and send every Yeyunist back to Balodrum!"

"I will tell them as soon as I can," said Stefan.

"You will tell them today, at the speech!" Ryon demanded. "You will sign the treaty my friends and I have been working on during our trip from Duel Academia. Your promise will be made law."

"It will be done."

"Furthermore," Prince Jon added. "None of your followers will force any of our citizens to convert to your religion. That will also be part of the treaty."

"Third," said Prince Jaeyoung, "your church will pay for Elleria's debt to the Termnnian Bank."

"This is preposterous!" shouted one of the priests.

"It will be done!" Stefan shouted over him. "For many years, you lot and my father have harassed that kingdom. It is high time you paid for your sins. All of you!"

"But Your Grace…."

"SILENCE!" shouted Stefan. "Not another word!"

Avi stood up before tensions could rise any higher. "Please, everyone, this is a conference for unity and friendship. Let us not bicker like children. We all want a world where we can live together peacefully. Fathers, I know this must be very difficult for you. You are proud men and astute believers in your faith and I commend you for that. But these are new times. If you are to move forward and keep your Church standing tall, you must accept there are those who do not see the world as you do. And violence will only pull you further and further away from the people of this world. You are up against armies vastly superior to yours and...and a god."

"You mean Yuri?"

"He is no god, Lady Avi," said the priest.

"Then call him what you will," said Avi. "It does not change the fact he has the power to kill dark lords and will command three of the single most powerful beings to ever walk the earth, who alone can destroy all you stand for. That is the last thing you want is it not?"

"She is right, brothers," said a priest, garbed in blue. "This alliance is blasphemous in my eyes, but, it is one we must make. Otherwise, we will wind up destroying one another. The wars caused by the violence of our followers have cost us all dearly, you know this."

Murmurs of agreement from the priests.

"The same goes for you lot," Avi directed her words to Yuri and the Princes. "A leader from the organization you hate has come offering terms of friendship and you spit it back in his face. Prince Michael, how many times have I heard you make speeches at the table begging for a better world? A world where we can be free and share our ideals? Well, you have your chance now and refuse to take it. Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you! And now, you all persecute me for trying to bring us together. At least I have made some attempts to end the violence with the church. What have any of you done?"

Avi silenced everyone. She didn't know how she was doing it but she got everyone to settle down and think about what they were doing. Her speech continued. Soon, Jon started rolling up the parchment with his list of demands. Yami beamed at her.

"She's amazing," said Yugi, appearing next to him to watch her speak. When she was done, Pegasus stood up from his seat and clapped. His two sons, Yako and Gekko did as well, followed by Yami and Aigami.

"Yes, she is," said Yami.

The meeting was adjourned hours later and when news of the Eight Princes now becoming Nine spread, the city erupted in applause. Soon Yeyunists came out of their churches and started shaking hands with the people of Domino. It was working. An hour later, the Princes and Avi were transported to a giant silver stadium by the sea where tens of thousands of people gathered to watch her and the new Prince of the Alliance make a speech.

"Where's Ser Gerhalos?" Avi whined. She looked around after the conference was done but there was no sign of him."

"I don't know My Lady," said Stefan. "No one has seen him." He looked at Yuri and said, "Smile, my dear. Don't be so nervous."

Avi had never thought he would give a speech before an audience of thousands. She supposed it was a skill he needed to develop throughout her years, for there was no doubt in her mind that she would be giving more speeches in the future. Especially with her being the Summoner of Dragons.

She walked forward to the podium, and the crowd jumped to their feet seeing their beloved Summoner take the stage. Avi laughed seeing both mages and Yeyunists all together in the arena. She held out a hand to pacify the crowd, but it was not enough to contain their excitement. She grinned beautifully and then put a finger to her lips.

"Shhh," she shushed them gently. And slowly the noise went down as though someone lowered the volume with a remote. Then all was quiet, save for the seagulls in the air and the waves crashing against the rock. A few helicopters above rumbled.

"Everyone," she finally said. "It is with great pleasure that I finally say, the war with the North will be coming to a close."

The crowd cheered.

Stefan took the podium after her speech. He cleared his throat as he brought his lips to the microphones and called for his fellow members of the Faith to lay down their arms and shake hands with the nearest mage, Duelist, or non-human standing next to them. He promised a new age of prosperity for the Church after this day.

An era of reconstruction and a renaissance for the kingdom, as he announced that as of today, the Daltons were going to share the machines with the North. Stefan announced that Naralia would become modernized much like Domino, starting with the capital of Lionhold. One of the priests started to protest. He may have disagreed, but there were many followers of the faith amongst the crowd who cheered at the prospect of a new Naralia.

"To prove this is a new day!" shouted Stefan. "Watch as I shake hands with the man my father has called an enemy for so long!"

He beckoned Yami Yugi to come forward. Yami took a few steps toward the microphone and Stefan took Yami's hand and shook it. He put an arm around his new ally, and the camera's flashed, and the crowd thundered.

He patted Yami on the back and let him go. He went back to the microphone and said: "Let us give thanks to our beautiful Summoner of Dragons. With her aid, she will help me — us — build a new North. A new home!"

The crowd went bonkers at his announcement. Stefan signaled for Avi to join him. She walked forward and took his hand. He then embraced her passionately for a very long kiss. Yami scowled at the sight. His ears bombarded by whoops, whistles, and cheers for the crowd.

"I know this must be hard for you, spirit," Yugi said, looking up at Yami in his phantom form.

"This is not what I wanted for her. In reality, I wanted Avi to marry another." He looked at Yuri, who was also feeling uncomfortable from the kiss.

"This is blasphemy!" spat a priest in red and gold garbs. "The archbishop kisses a witch!"

"Be quiet!" said Jon.

"The days of political correctness are over, priest," said Michael. "Too long have weak rulers let you rape our land with your radicalization. The youths of the world are in charge now. You either adapt to the new rules and live with our culture peacefully or you can get out."

When Stefan and Avi's lips were free from the kiss, Stefan signaled Yami to join him again. "Do want a kiss to Your Grace?"

The crowd laughed.

Stefan put an arm over Yami and another over Avi. "Behold, our new alliance. And may the days of High King Yuri be blessed!"

The crowd cheered one final time.

Confetti fell all around them, and then everyone in the stadium began to sing the Termnnian anthem, both mage, and Yeyunist, hand in hand. But the celebrations would not last for long.

Explosions suddenly rocked the amphitheater and helicopters swarmed overhead holding metal crates. There were soldiers above in rickety iron armor with white surcoats and gun magazines attached to boiled leather holsters here and there on their person giving them a poor tactical look.

The soldiers shouted: "Yeyu be praised!" and dropped the crates on the audience. Many attempted to run, but their constant pushing and shoving slowed them down, and the crates fell on top of them crushing them and killing them. More crates were dropped and from the top of the amphitheater, more soldiers rappelled into the stadium blasting their weapons.

Aldara and Fira grabbed Avi and formed a diamond formation as they escorted her off the balcony. Yami could see boats on the sea loaded with corsairs who had crates of their own loaded on the decks of their ships. When the soldiers caused enough chaos, their leader, a mercenary in well-polished steel armor with tactical holsters pressed a gooey on a holographic wrist display on his gauntlet.

"Less this be a lesson, of the fury of our lord and master Yeyu, the Lord of the Fires of Judgement!" he shouted.

The crates opened.

"They like to play with monsters. So we'll give them monsters!"

The crates slowly opened. Steam hissed out of the machinations opening the doors. They were pounded down by a horde of wild Duel Monsters. Ooguchi, Ocubeam, Stone Ghost, the lobster-like Zarigun, Man-Eater Bug, and fiendish creatures such as Neck Hunter, Shadow Specter, Saggi the Dark Clown, Phantom Ghost, Megirus Light, and Blue-Eyed Silver Zombie. Winged creatures took to the skies such as Whiptail Crow, Mabarrel, One-Eyed Shield Dragon, a swarm of purple eyes called Monster Eye, Air Eater, Gale Dogra, and Skullbird. From the sea, the terrorists opened a metal crate and let lose the largest Duel Monster of the attack, a Dice Armadillo.

"By the Ten Hells!" shouted Michael. "How?"

"We can worry about that later!" Marcel cried out unsheathing his blade. "Let's take care of these beasts and sort out the who's and why's afterward."

"Finally," Jon sneered drawing his blade from the sheath on his back. "I was getting a little bored. Time to cut me up some Yeyunists."

Jaeyoung drew the Zhanmadao sent to him by his five generals in Uzume as a token of good luck in school. He leaped into the air and jabbed the long blade into the mouth of a charging Man-Eater Bug. Jon searched around for an opponent and spotted an Ooguchi feasting on the body of a woman. The creature looked up at join chomping on a large chunk of meat. Its round lips normally a shade of lime-yellow were dark red like lipstick. It snarled at Jon feeling content with fresh meat.

"You want some?" Jon asked. "Bring it on!"

The beast charged but then Michael jumped from the top of a crate and flipped elegantly. The five swords he summoned formed into a halo that cut off the monster's head so cleanly and so quickly that it still charged at Jon thinking nothing had happened. Blood spurted out of its neck, and the head came rolling off. The four legs of the beast went limp, and the body slumped lifelessly before Jon's feet.

"YOU BASTARD!" Jon shouted furiously. "It still counts as mine! Damn show off."

"Look at them go!" Tordo shouted from the safety of a VIP box.

"Let me join them!" Avi demanded. "I want to fight too!"

"What's with Stefan?" Fira asked. "He's just standing there, smiling."

"Bastard!" snarled Constantine. "I bet he had something to do with this!"

"No, that's impossible!" said Avi. "He couldn't have done this!"

"Then why does he stand there basking in the chaos?" Fira said angrily. "He played us all for fools." She took the safety off her rifle. "One bullet to the brain and I will end this." She aimed down her multi-vision scope. The targeter zoomed in on Stefan's head.

"DON'T!" shouted Avi. "FIRA DON'T!"

Down below, the Naralian commandos took notice of the princes battling below. "It's the Eight Princes!" a terrorist shouted. "Let's end this now."

"Yeah let's get 'em!"

"Get those bastards!"

"When Naralia learns that we killed the Eight Princes, they will build a statue in our honor!"

Fira noticed the soldiers swarming toward them. Soldiers from the Templar of the Church were surprisingly marching to engage the terrorists and the monster horde they brought out. Perhaps Stefan was true to his word. Whatever the case, the Templars fighting the attackers was enough to get her to cease aiming at Stefan. Meanwhile, on the docks, the corsairs in their ships poured out and began attacking civilians. A shadow loomed over the stadium. She turned her head and saw that Avi was missing.

"Where's the Summoner?" she demanded.

"LOOK!" shouted Tordo. He was pointing at the sky. Avi was flying into the bay on Arvas' back.

"Oh, that girl!" Fira pouted.

The corsairs pointed up at the sky. Avi glared at them, her eyes burning like molten platinum. She held out her arm, and her staff appeared onto her hand. She gave it a beautiful twirl. Two white arcane circles morphed on either side of her. White-Horned Dragon and Light and Darkness Dragon flew out from the circles and roared when they arrived into Termnnia. Her staff glowed, and Prime Material Dragon emerged.

"Eyath ian, inflimarus!" she shouted in Norman.

The three dragons roared and dove down towards the bay. Avi held onto her stomach as Arvas flew like a bullet towards the ships. The wind whipped her face, and her hair flew all around her. Arrows and bullets whistled by her face. White-Horned Dragon flew to the east and blasted four ships with his fiery breath. Light and Darkness Dragon fired its blackish laser beam and caused the targets to blow into black mushroom clouds snapping with blue sparks.

Prince Ven dodged an attack from an incoming Skull Bird. The pink-fleshed bird monster swooped down for another strike. Ven jumped atop of a pile of rubble which gave him enough height to reach the bird and cut off one of its wings. The Skull Bird screeched and crashed into the bay. Ven turned to see what was next. His eyes beheld chaos. The stones of the amphitheater were painted red with the blood of the fallen, many of them civilians who came to celebrate peace. He ground his teeth in anger. He should have listened to his friends. The Church was never to be trusted. Even though he saw Templars fighting against the terrorists and their monsters, he had no doubt in his mind Stefan was behind all the bloodshed. He heard blasts from the bay as Avi and her dragons decimated the corsairs. Fira and Aldara were at the top level providing overwatch for Yuri and his friends.

"I'm running out of ammo!" shouted Fira.

"This is my last magazine." Aldara tossed it at her. "Make it count."

Prince Michael then spotted Jon in a fierce fight with a Man-Eater Bug. The beast overpowered him and whacked him to the other side of the stadium with a force that knocked him out. Michael looked up at the balcony and spotted Stefan still standing there with his eyes closed. He was smiling as he muttered words. He was locked in prayer. No doubt he was thanking his false god for the destruction.

"YOU!" Michael shouted. He dashed up the ramp to the top floor. Fights were going on all around him. Michael cut a dark clown in half before he spotted Yuri dashing up the ramp to the podium, sword in hand, and fiery anger in his eyes. In the sky, White-Horned Dragon burned the last of the ships. The corsairs ran about screaming in agony while the fires burned their bodies. Avi fell limp on Arva's neck exhausted.

"My Lady," Arvas said to her. "Are you all right?"

"I am exhausted," Avi groaned. "I never summoned all of you at once like this. My power grows stronger it seems."

"AVI!" shouted Ser Kenneth, riding towards her atop his Judgement Dragon.

"Where is Ser Gerhalos?" Avi cried out weakly.

"You'd best return to the amphitheater," said Ser Kenneth. "Prince Michael looks like he's lost his mind. He's charging towards your betrothed."

"What? But why?"

"Unless you want to be widowed before you're wedding you'd best stop asking questions and get back there and stop him Summoner!" shouted Constantine.

Avi nodded and instructed Arvas to take her back to the stadium. A thick column of black smoke rose into the blue skies. She could hear sirens from the fire department and the tactical police forces.

"I hope I'm not too late."


"STEFAN!" Michael shouted, getting closer to the young king. Now he was holding up his arms and vividly looking toward the skies. Michael gave an energetic battle cry and raised his sword up high ready to cut off his head.

"Traitor!" he shouted. His aura of swords dancing even more pugnaciously. ("NO!" Avi shouted, getting closer to him). Jon joined him. Followed by Ryon, Stas, Jaeyoung, Talion, Ven, and Marcel, all of them ready to get a piece of their enemy. Their charge was halted when Michael ran into the face of a barrel. The abbot was holding a rifle, shaking with rage.

"You dare point a weapon at the Crown Prince of Termnnia?" Michael snarled.

"And doesn't Yeyu forbid you to use guns?" Jon asked.

"There are exceptions!" snapped the abbot. "Let the prince do what he needs to do!"

"You mean stand there and do nothing as innocents die!" barked Marcel. "Step aside, or we will cut you down with him."

"That rifle bolt-action," said Michael. "There are many of us, and our armor is strong. You will die if you continue to stand in our way."

"Look!" shouted Stas.

A blue arcane circle spun underneath Stefan's feet. A chain reached down into the circle and pulled out a creature not seen since the dawn of time.

"It can't be!" gasped Yuri.

The beast's metamorphosis was complete, and the world beheld the sight of a Duel Monster. Not just any Duel Monster. It was...Exodia.

"Impossible," said Marcel.

Exodia, Master of the Guard towered over the stadium, looking down at the many foes for it to destroy. Its body was still wrapped in chains. He broke them with his arms while a choir from nowhere sang for his arrival.

Everyone began to wonder how? How could such a person be worthy of this creature so fearsome, so magnificent? Monsters looked impressive on their cards but seeing them come out and show their true fury was a sight that brought tears to Yuri's eyes. He dropped his sword, watching the great beast destroy the monsters with a blue laser blast from each of his fingertips.

Gunfire then peppered Exodia from the lead terrorist's helicopter, but it was a foolish move. Exodia felt no pain and received no damage and then sent out a powerful soundwave from its mouth that caused the helicopter to explode, killing him and his crew.

People crowded into the stadium, pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of the monster that saved them. They pumped their fists into the air and cheered for it. Whistles and gleeful shouts filled the stadium as the Master of the Guard roared.

Avi watched with disbelief from atop Arvas. White-Horned Dragon snarled with confusion as did Sanctity of Dragon and Prime Material Dragon.

Exodia was once again wrapped in the divine chains that kept him locked in another realm. He growled sadly, for he wanted to stay here in this world even longer. Stefan looked at it with a prideful grin planted on his face. He took a moment to bask in the cheers of the people below shouting his name. Yuri and his friends seemed almost forgotten. Everyone, no matter what their belief came together and cheered for Stefan.

"LONG LIVE STEFAN! LONG LIVE STEFAN!"

Stefan walked down the stairs to join the others. They surrounded him with looks of amazement on their faces.

"How?" Michael asked.

"Exodia?" Ven said. "Or...a form of him at least. How did you manage to get blessed with such a monster?"

"I was born with it," answered Stefan. "Father was furious when he saw me calling it. I was only five at the time. The beast nearly drained me, killing me almost, but I told father I would get stronger if he sent me to the Citadel and Duelist Academy to learn how to control it. Naturally, he refused my request to join either. We are a family of the faith, and Father wanted it to remain that way. He sent me to live with the Pope and become of Follower of Yeyu. He had hoped the faith would make me forget this gift I had. But I always practiced summoning my creature. I am a man of faith, but I wield magic. The Church wanted me executed, but I was a crown prince of Naralia, and even my father had limits when it came to their unjust decisions. So you see, Master Yu-Gi-Oh, that is why I wanted Avellana to be my betrothed. We are both Summoners of Termnnia's mightiest monsters. With my influence on the people, we can finally end the violence between our cultures and unite our forces against our true enemy. The Orcs."

"So be it," said Yami.

"Do I have your blessing, Master Yu-Gi-Oh? It seems Avi's closest figure, Ser Gerhalos, has left. Now that father figure is you."

"What do you say, Master?" Avi asked, slipping her arm around Stefan's waist.

"You have my blessing," said Yami.

"My Lady," Kenneth said, hobbling past Yami and the princes.

"Have you found Ser Gerhalos?" Avi asked.

"We were attacked by assailants in the forests just outside the city," said Ser Kenneth. "They were attacking Ser Gerhalos."

Avi swallowed. "Did you save him?"

"Well, we arrived on time…"

"Ser Gerhalos!" Avi said immediately. She didn't want stories. "Where is he?"

"He fell," Kenneth said almost in a sob. He walked to Avi and took her hand, opened it, and placed the silver necklace that Ser Gerhalos intended to give her onto her palm.

"I am sorry, My Lady," said Ser Kenneth. "'Take care of Avi for me,' were his last words. And I promise you that is what I intend to do."

Avi said nothing, staring into the silver pendant. She knew of its story. Ser Gerhalos had told her about his cub. But, she never knew he wished to give it to her as a gift when she found all her dragons. She felt darkness consuming her. Her legs got wobbly. The whole world was spinning.

"AVI!" shouted Michael. He dashed by Yami and grabbed her before she fell.

"GUARD!" shouted Stefan.

Two Templars rushed towards Avi. Stefan sped forward to examine Avi. She was out. He rubbed her face sympathetically. "The Summoner needs rest. Take her to my quarters in the House of Gray at once."

"It will be done My Lord," one of the Templars said, scooping Avi from Michael's arms and marching away.