Houki is in a tough situation. Wanting a little payback, Hector got her to duel Flint under the condition that Ichika can't help her at all. She agreed to it, but now she's in a tough situation. Flint has all his life points with Flamvell Firedog at 2400atk points and Neo Flamvell Sabre at 2100atk points. Houki's only got 1200LP and all she's got is her Shield of Passion trap.

"Houki might be protected, but she isn't doing well." Charlotte said.

"Indeed. One attack and she's done for." Cecilia said.

"I wonder where Ichika is. Even though he can't give any advice, he should be here to see this." Laura said.

"We can't worry about that now. We just need to have hope that Houki will pull through." Charlotte said, but it isn't looking good for her.

"It's my turn, hotshot! I draw!" Houki said as she drew her next card. "I'll start by activating my Pot of Greed. This allows me to draw two more cards." Houki drew her next card, but she was surprised to see one of them was Sun Swordsman Vinto. 'This is Rin's card.' She thought as she thought how it got in there. 'I must have slipped it into my deck by accident.' She looked over in the direction of her friends, but knew Rin and Ichika weren't there. 'Too bad they aren't actually here to help.' Houki looked over what she had and saw that Moon Swordsman Ventin was in her hand as well. 'Wait a minute. This could work, but it's risky.'

"Will you make a move already?!" Flint called.

"Keep your shirt on. You need to think of your next move carefully." Houki said. "I think I'll play this. I summon Moon Swordsman Ventin in attack mode!" She summoned another swordsman with it having a blue kimono and his sword glowing like moonlight with him having 1700atk points. "I'll also place one card facedown and that ends my turn."

"That's it? That monster isn't strong enough to defend her." Charlotte said.

"She must have something planned. Why else would she summon a monster such as that?" Laura said.

"Giving up already? Too bad." Flint said as he drew his next card. That was Houki's opening. "I think I'll play..." "I activate my trap!" Houki interrupted.

"I activate Unwavering Devotion!" Houki said as a blade appeared in her hand. "For the cost of 1000LP, your turn is skipped and I can start my turn again."

"What?! No fair!" Flint said. Houki struck herself with the blade and caused her life points to drop to only 200, but it allowed her to start her turn all over again.

"Here I go!" Houki said as she drew her next card.

"Houki's taking a big risk. She only has 200LP left." Charlotte said.

"I do hope she'll be well." Cecilia said.

"Since it's my turn again, I'm summoning Sun Swordsman Vinto to the field!" She summoned out a copy of Ventin, but he was red with his sword shining like sunlight. It also had 1800atk points.

"That's Rin's card!" Charlotte said. "If only she was here to see this."

"Please." Hector said. "She and Ichika took off because they know she can't win." They want to prove Hector wrong, but it's not looking good.

...

Rin

Since Rin and Houki got into an argument, she didn't bother staying around. She splashed some water on her face, but she doesn't really like how she and Houki left things. Even though they both like Ichika, they still managed to become good friends.

"If you're bothered by what happened with Houki, go talk to her." Rin turned around and was surprised to see Ichika there.

"Ichika? What are you doing here?" Rin asked.

"Houki's dueling Flint. I figured you would like to go and see it." Ichika said.

"You dummy. Why would I? She's just going to lose." Rin said. "Of course, you better get back there and make sure she wins."

"Rin, you're not giving Houki enough credit. She's a better duelist than you think." Ichika said.

"Yeah, but Houki's dueling against pro-skilled duelists. She wasn't even invited here." Rin said. "Face it. That Flint guy is a big shot like William was. She doesn't stand a chance. You got to help her if she really wants to win."

"I can't do that." Ichika said.

"ichika!" Rin shouted as she grabbed him by the shirt. "Why are you being so dumb?!"

"If I got back and coach her, she forfeits. That's the deal we made with Houki." Ichika said. "Houki will be fine, but that doesn't mean we can't lend her our support. You're her friend, Rin. You've got to help her. Houki believe she can win. Why don't you?"

"It's not that I don't. It's just..." Rin wasn't really sure how to say it.

"You were speaking out of concern. You thought you were helping, but all Houki did was get mad. Is that it?" Ichika said. Ichika could see he hit the nail on the head. "Rin, we've got to believe in Houki. If we don't, who will. Houki might be able to win, but she needs to know her friends are by her side. She needs to know we do believe in her." Rin could see Ichika was right. She wants Houki to do well, but she needs to push her up not down.

...

The Duel

"So you got two monsters on the field. So what? Neither of them can take on my monsters." Flint said, but Houki just giggled at him being naïve. "What?"

"It seems you don't know the power of Vinto and Ventin." Houki said. "Their true power awakens when both of them are on the field together. With both of them on their field, they both gain 800atk points." Their attack points rose to 2500 and 2600.

"That means her monsters are stronger!" Cecilia said as the girls were happy to see things were looking up for their friend.

"Oh man. You mean to tell me they both get a power-up from the other being on the field?" Flint said.

"That's right, but there's more. It's about Neo Flamvell Sabre." Houki said. Flint didn't like the sound of that. "Your monster only gained attack points when I have four cards or less in my graveyard. Well, I have more than four now." Flint did a quick count and he could see she was right.

"Oh man! That means he gets weaker!" Flint said as Neo Flamvell Sabre's strength dropped to 1500.

"Vinto, attack Firedog!" Houki ordered. Her swordsman attacked and slashed against the firedog as it was destroyed and Flint's life points dropped to 3900. "Ventin, your turn!" Ventin attacked Sabre and destroyed it with Flint's life points dropping further to 2800. "I think that's enough for this turn."

"Yeah, Houki!" They all looked and saw Rin and Ichika came back. "Way to make a comeback." Rin said.

"Houki appears to be doing great." Ichika said.

"You're here..." Houki said as she wasn't sure Rin was going to come back.

"Yeah. Sorry about earlier." Rin said.

"Why sorry? She's about to lose like you said." Hector said.

"Man, you're a jerk." Rin said.

"I'm just saying the truth." Hector said.

"Well, here's another piece of truth. Since it's technically the end of my third turn, Fortune Swordsman returns to my hand." Houki said as she took the card back. "It's your move, Flint."

"Gladly, and I'll crush you!" Flint said as he drew his card and it was just the card he needed. "Watch this! I activate Flame Offering! This spell card allows me to banish two fire attribute monsters! By doing that, I'm able to summon a level seven or higher fire attribute monster. Say hello to my mightiest monster! I summon Coronix the Sun Phoenix!" A geyser of fire erupted as something emerged from it. It was a red and orange phoenix with it shining like the sun and it having 2400atk points.

"What is that?" Rin asked.

"I've never seen anything like it." Ichika said.

"Coronix is my rarest and most powerful card." Flint said. "Just like the mighty phoenix, if you destroy it, all I have to do is banish a card from my graveyard and it comes back."

"So as long as Flint has cards in his graveyard, his phoenix can come back?" Charlotte said.

"Yes, but Houki still has the advantage." Laura said.

"Not anymore. I activate Salamandra to increase it's power by 700!" Flint said. Coronix got an increased in power as it rose to 3100. This could be it. "You're finished! Attack that sun warrior with Phoenix Inferno!" His phoenix encased itself in fire as it dived at Houki's swordsmen. It smashed into them and it seemed like it was the end. However, they were surprised when they saw that both monsters still stood.

"Look! Houki's monsters protected each other. She didn't even lose any life points." Charlotte said.

"That's the power of both monsters. Not only do they give each other strength, but they protect each other as well. They're close friends." Houki said.

"Are you kidding me?" Flint said.

"What are you doing out there?! Do I have to do it myself?! Beat this wannabe already!" Hector shouted, but Flint was getting annoyed.

'Man. I love to shut him up.' Flint thought. That was when he got an idea for when he duels Hector. 'You know, if I can get my hands on that Fortune Swordsman, the card that beat him, I might be able beat him myself.' "Hey, girl. What do you say we add to our little wager."

"Huh?" Houki questioned.

"You win, I'll give you Coronix, my best card." Flint said.

"He'll give her Coronix?" Ichika questioned.

"He must be pretty confident to wager his best card." Rin said.

"What if you actually manage to beat me?" Houki said.

"If I win, you give me Fortune Swordsman." Flint said. That was a real surprise to all of them.

"What are you doing?! That wasn't part of the plan!" Hector said.

"No way!" Houki said. Since Ichika gave him the card, she doesn't want to give it away for any reason. "That card means a lot to me. I'm not giving up."

"Are you sure? Think about it. You could get my phoenix." Flint said.

'I don't want to, but having that phoenix could really improve my deck.' Houki thought.

"Do it, Houki!" Rin cheered. "There's no way you're going to lose to this guy! You can do it!" That was the opposite of what she was saying before. Houki was starting to think she can.

"You're on!" Houki said. 'It all really comes down to what I draw.' Houki had only one chance at this. It was now or never. She drew her card and she was hoping for the card she needed. "Yes! This is what I needed! Since you want Fortune Swordsman, here's a look!" She summoned out Fortune Swordsman with it coming out and having 1000atk points. "These three cards together represent Ichika, Rin, and myself fighting together, and together is what will help me win. I activate United Pact!"

"United Pact?! What's that?!" Flint said.

"When I have three warrior-type monsters on the field, this card allows one card to be destroyed! I'm taking out your phoenix!" The three of them placed their swords together and unleashed a powerful blast that destroyed Coronix.

"Forgetting already?! All I have to do is banish one card and Coronix comes back!" Flint said as he got rid of one of his cards and Coronix came back.

"But I know that only works once per turn. Coronix also lost it's extra power." Houki said. "With that done, Vinto can take out your phoenix!" Vinto went at Coronix and destroyed it with Flint's life points dropping. "With him out of the way, Ventin and Fortune Swordsman can attack you directly!" Both of her swordsmen slashed against Flint and he lost the last of his life points.

"Houki won!" Rin cheered as all of them cheered for her.

"I lost? No way..." Flint said in shock.

"You did. You lost your four stars and your phoenix." Houki said.

"You moron! What were you thinking?!" Hector said. "Can't you do anything right?! How could you lose to her?!"

"Lay off." Houki said and got Hector's attention. "Hector, your problem is that you don't seem to know how to rely or trust on anyone. It's good to be self-efficient, but it's nice knowing you don't have to do everything on your own. It's nice having people you consider a friend." Houki looked in Rin's direction and smiled at her. Rin smiled back. Despite their issues, the both of them are real friends.

"That's right. Our friendship is a mighty flame that can't be put out." Rin said.

"As bright and powerful as the sun." Houki said as she held up her Vinto card. Houki won without advice from her friends, but her friends still supported her and helped her. Now, she's closer to entering the castle and has a couple new cards in her deck to help her out.