Chapter 4: Patience is a Virtue
After several minutes of walking, Syrus and Hassleberry sat down at a stream, taking a break to rest. They had found neither any of their friends, a way home, or any indication as to where they were. Syrus sighed as Hassleberry handed him a canteen of water.
"Face it, Tyranno, we're hopelessly lost. We're in a strange land, we have no idea where we're going, and besides a talking skeleton we haven't seen anybody, much less anybody we'd know."
"Now what kind of talk is that? We just haven't been looking hard enough, is all."
"Um, excuse me?"
The two turned to see... some kind of humanoid plant. Its arms and head were tiny little bulbs.
"And you are..."
"My name is Knopse, I live in this forest. I heard you were lost, perhaps I can be of assistance?"
"Yeah, you can start by telling us where we are."
"You're in The World of Grace, one of six Duel Worlds."
"Duel Worlds?"
"Short for Duel Monster Spirit World. Its where Duel Monsters live in peace and duel to our hearts content. But, um... I don't know how to send you home. Sorry."
Just then, an idea popped into Hassleberry's pea sized brain.
"Wait a minute. This is Duel World, right?"
Knopse nodded.
"Then maybe the way out is through dueling! Starting with you!"
Knopse shrieked in fear.
"Me?!"
"Well, I don't see anyone else here. Do you?"
Syrus got in between them, trying to calm Hassleberry down.
"Hassleberry, calm down! You're scaring her."
"No. I want to do this."
Syrus turned to see Knopse more determined.
"I'm not a good duelist, but I want to be. I want to become strong, and the only way I will is through dueling. I accept your challenge."
After a few minutes, the two had spaced out on opposite sides of the stream, Syrus standing behind Hassleberry nervously.
"Now remember, Hasleberry, be gentle. She's just a beginner, so try and go easy on her."
"Don't you worry, Syrus. You all set over there?"
Knopse nodded, still a little uneasy.
"Um...ready!"
"Get your game on!"
"Oh, um, you too."
Knopse: 8000
Hassleberry: 8000
"I'll let you go first."
The humanoid plant nodded, her starting hand appearing before her as she contemplated her move.
"I summon Woodland Sprite in attack mode (900/400). Then I'll set three cards face down and end my turn."
Hassleberry sweat dropped, trying to think of how to say his next sentence nicely.
"Oh, did I do something wrong?"
"No, no, its just... you know your monsters can be in defense mode, right?"
"Yes."
"Alright. I draw! And to start, I'll Special Summon Gilasaurus (1400/400)!"
Knopse cowered as the brown Dinosaur roared at her.
"Next, I sacrifice him to summon Dark Driceratops (2400/1500)!"
"Oh, you normal summoned? I activate Forced Back. This card negates your summon and sends your monster back to your hand."
"Say what?!"
Hassleberry could only watch in disbelief as his monster turned hide and returned to his card, which then returned to his hand. Realizing he could do nothing else, Hassleberry sighed.
"I end my turn."
"Oh, then its my turn again! I, uh, draw! First, I summon myself, Elemental Hero Knopse (600/1000)!"
Hassleberry and Syrus watched in shock as an exact replica of his opponent appeared in front of them.
"Sam Hill! She's an Elemental Hero!"
"And I thought Jaden and Aster were the only Hero users."
"Now, I think I'll have my monsters attack you directly!"
Hassleberry shielded himself from the barrage of leaves strewn his way. They didn't hurt, but it was quite different from duels back home.
Hassleberry: 6500
"My effect activates. When I deal damage to you, I gain 100 attack points in exchange for 100 defense points (600-700/1000-900). I end my turn."
Hassleberry picked himself up, roaring as he drew his next card.
"I summon Sabersaurus (1900/500) in attack mode! Next I activate the field spell Jurassic World, giving my Dino's-"
"I activate Twister, paying 500 life points to destroy your field spell."
No sooner had the prehistoric field appeared that a small tornado blew it away. Syrus had to stifle a laugh at his companion's dumbfounded face.
Knopse: 7500
After composing himself, Hassleberry continued his play.
"Sabersaurus, attack Elemental Hero Knopse!"
With a mighty roar, the dinosaur stampeded towards the small plant. But...
"I activate Negate Attack. Your Battle Phase is over."
Hassleberry thought he was about to rip his hair out, but continued his play.
"I set one card face down and end my turn."
Knopse nodded and drew her card.
"I summon another one of myself to the field in attack mode. And when there is another Elemental Hero on the field, I can attack you directly!"
"Sam Hill!"
Hassleberry could only gasp in shock as the attacks struck him once more, putting him far behind his opponent. (600-700/1000-900) (700-800/900-800)
Hassleberry: 5200
"When I said go easy, I didn't mean throw the duel!"
"Shut it pipsqueak! She just got a sneak attack on me, is all."
"You should know that as long as my two Knopses' are on the field, you can't select either for an attack. I switch Woodland Sprite to defense mode and end my turn."
"That means she can keep attacking you directly while keeping her monsters safe! Be careful, Hassleberry."
"Don't you worry about me, lieutenant. I draw!"
Hassleberry couldn't help but grin we saw what he drew. He had this in the bag.
"I'll start with my face down, Call of the Haunted! This lets me bring back Gilasaurus, not that it matters cause I dismiss him to bring Driceratops back to the frontlines!"
"That's great, but you still can't take out her-"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP AND LET ME DUEL!"
Syrus jumped back, surprised by Hassleberry's outburst. Back seat dueling taken care of, Hassleberry returned to the duel.
"I know she still has her lock going, which is why I'm activating Tail Swipe, sending both of them right back to your hand."
Knopse could only gasp as Dark Driceratops swung its massive tail, sending her monsters back to her hand without a fight.
"Now then, Dark Driceratops take out her Sprite!"
With a mighty roar, Dark Driceratops bent down and gobbled the plant right up.
Knopse: 5500
"Now Sabersaurus attacks you directly!"
Knopse had just barely gotten over the shock when she was knocked over by Hassleberry's monster, hitting the ground with a THUD!
Knopse: 3600
"I end my turn there. Your move."
Frustrated, Knopse drew her next card, hoping to get something to help her...
Only to be thoroughly disappointed. With a sad sigh, she continued her turn.
"I set one monster face down and end my turn. Your move."
Hassleberry grinned, ready to win.
"First, I summon Element Saurus in attack mode (1500/1200). Dark Driceratops, attack her face down!"
The monster revealed itself to be Elemental Hero Knopse, although she didn't last long as Driceratops gobbled it up quickly.
Knopse: 2200
"Sabersaurus, Element Saurus, finish her off!"
Knopse could only watch in sadness as Hassleberry's monsters rammed right into her, ending the duel.
Knopse: 0000
Hassleberry wins!
"Alright, that's...huh?"
Knopse sat up, tears in her eyes as she tried futilely to wipe them away. Syrus crossed the stream and walked over to her.
"Hey, its OK. Everyone loses at some point, but you know what? It just makes you stronger next time."
Knopse sniffed, Syrus's words giving her hope.
"Really?"
"Well then, I guess Syrus here is the strongest duelist there is, considering how many duels he's lost."
Syrus glared at Hassleberry, who raised his hands in surrender. Fortunately, their words managed to get through to her.
"You're right! I'm going to train and duel harder, and the next time we duel you're going down."
Hassleberry smiled and gave her a salute, which she returned.
"I'll take you on any time, soldier."
With that, Knopse ran on home, Syrus and Hassleberry watching her with pride.
"You do know I won our duel, right?"
"Only because I let you win. Come on, lets get moving."
"Wait, what?"
