Femme Fatale Flannigan
Episode 2: Chaos Reigns
Blair woke up in a darkened room, no idea where she was. Dizzy and disorientated, she stumbled to the mirror, and looked in it, discovering a demonic red arm had attached itself to her. She then looked down, and laughed, her voice distorting. 'Oh Jaden, I've found the perfect host. Now all I need is the perfect pets… the Sacred Beasts.' After finding a dark purple cape with which to hide the Devil Arm, she moved out.
In the Academy, the next morning
After Marcel told her what had happened, Alexis had decided to wait until the morning to tell everyone. As she arrived, Jaden was just walking around, so she went over to him. 'Hey Jaden, I was speaking to that Marcel kid last night. He said something about Blair being "taken"?'
Immediately concerned, Jaden's eyes widened. 'We need to go and find her. I'm going to speak to Marcel, you look for Blair, ok?' 'But Jaden… wait up!' It was too late however, as he had already dashed off. 'What does he see in that girl?'
He found Marcel quickly, receiving treatment in the medical bay. 'What happened to you?' By now, her friend was strong enough to speak. 'I… don't know. She was there with me, and then she looked round, the next I know she's gone. I just saw a shadow of her before I fell, she looked… almost demonic.'
The news terrified Jaden. 'How exactly?' 'I don't know… I just saw an arm… it was red, and it… she was grinning… I just don't remember it all. Please… help her.' Marcel then passed out again as Nurse Fontaine walked into the medical bay. 'How is he nurse?'
'Jaden Yuki, I didn't expect to see you here. Marcel will be just fine. He's shaken but uninjured. Apart from one thing.' She then turned him over to reveal a large, jagged yellow scratch on the back of his neck. 'What's that?' 'That's exactly what I'm trying to work out. But nobody seems to recognise it. It looks like it came from some sort of claw.'
This struck a chord with Jaden due to what Marcel had told him earlier. 'Nurse Fontaine, I have to go. Please take good care of him.' Rather purturbed by this comment, she responded 'I will do… it's kind of my job.' She smiled, and he left again.
No sooner had he left the bay however, then he received a call. 'Jaden, it's Hassleberry. Listen up soldier, we need you front and centre at the Chancellor's office. There's been an incident.' 'Ok, I'm coming. I'll just be a couple of minutes. Has Alexis found Blair yet?' 'You asked her to look? She was stood right there soldier. I think someone's been pulling rank.'
Arriving at the office, he found total disarray, and the Chancellor lay on the floor, injured. 'What happened here?' Shaken, the chancellor could only spit out words. 'Jaden… she's got them… the Sacred Beasts. I tried… to stop her. Please get them back.'
Without a moment's hesitation, Jaden put two and two together. 'He's talking about Blair!' 'But why would she do that?' Syrus whined, not being privy to the information Marcel had provided. 'It's not Blair we should be blaming. It's whatever's controlling her.'
Outside the Academy
Chazz was returning from a stroll when he saw Blair lurking around. Clearly not seeing the new look in her eyes, he did what he did best – jeering. 'Hey Slifer, shouldn't you be in lesson? I'm sure your babysitters don't want to give you a smacked botty.'
She grinned in response, having found a victim. 'You want to say that to my face? How about in a duel?' Chazz laughed. 'You've got no chance. But sure, I'll take you on. $20 says I beat you in less than five turns.' 'I'm not interested in your money. And besides, it would be so… so unfair. You don't know what you're dealing with.'
She then walked straight up to him. 'And what's that?' 'Let's just say I've got… some new tricks.' As she spoke, her voice started to waiver and merge with Yubel's. 'I'm sure that you're desperate to see them.' Chazz responded with his duel disk. 'Bring it on dork.'
Chazz LP:4000 vs. Blair LP:4000
Turn 1: Blair: 'I'll set a monster and pass.'
Chazz: 'Straight to the point. I draw. I summon X-Head Cannon (Atk:1800). Fire in the hole!' The cannon shot an electric pulse underground, blasting through Blair's monster (Reeshaddoll Wendi Def.:1000). 'When Wendi is destroyed in battle, she summons a Shaddoll monster face-down. I choose Shaddoll Beast.'
Smirking, Chazz felt he was totally in control. 'I activate Frontline Base. This gives me a Union monster every turn. I summon Y-Dragon Head (Atk:1500). And while I'm at it, I'll activate Quick Summon, to access Z-Metal Tank. And now I'll fuse the three of them to create the XYZ-Dragon Cannon (Atk:2800). I end my turn. Beat that.'
Blair: 'If you insist. But trust me, it's not going to be a pleasant experience. I draw! I'll start by setting another monster. Then I'll use Graceful Charity, to draw three cards, then discard two. Now I activate the Continuous Spell Sect of Sleeping Shadows. Once per turn I can reveal the top card of my deck. If it's a monster, I can set it on my field. If not, it goes to the bottom of my deck.'
She then flipped the card. 'It's Shaddoll Hedgehog. So it's going face-down. Until I activate my Trap – Sinister Shadow Games. By sending Shaddoll Dragon from my deck to it's demise, my monsters get flipped face-up (Shaddoll Beast Atk:2200, Shaddoll Hound Atk:1600, Shaddoll Hedgehog Atk:800).'
'When Beast is flipped up, I can draw two cards and then ditch one. With Hound, I can add ReeShaddoll Wendi back to my hand, and Hedgehog adds Nephe Shaddoll Fusion to my hand. I'll now activate Nephe, and equip it to Shaddoll Hedgehog, changing it's Attribute to Light.'
'What else you got – a magic hat?' She just giggled. 'For my next trick, I'll activate Double Fusion. By paying 500 Life points (Blair LP;:4000-3500), I can Fusion summon twice. First, I'll fuse together Shaddoll Hedgehog and Shaddoll Wendi to summon El Shaddoll Construct (Atk:2800). And then with Double Fusion still active, I'll fuse Shaddoll Beast and Hound in order to summon El Shaddoll Winda (Atk:2200).'
Still unconcerned, Chazz's fighting talk ramped up. 'What are they going to do Slifer – tickle me?' Seemingly in full control, Blair retorted. 'Never underestimate someone based on the colour of their jacket! Construct, attack XYZ-Dragon Cannon.' Construct fired out hundereds of near-invisible wires at Dragon Cannon, and despite their power being equal, Chazz's monster was sliced apart by the wires.
'Oops, did I forget to tell you that your monster is destroyed when it battles Construct? It's your fault for Special summoning it. Happens to all of them. Winda, Darkstorm Disaster.' Winda fired a dark and foreboding wind from her staff, and it manifested as a hand, choking Chazz until he was on his knees (Chazz LP:4000-1800).
As Chazz gasped for air, Blair laughed. 'How does it feel being alone with nobody to help? Now you know how it feels to be me! I end my turn with a face-down. Take your last turn.' Still struggling for breath, her foe stood up again. 'I beat you before with a bunch of little pests in my deck. You really think I'm going to lose to you now?'
Chazz: 'I draw. I activate Union Scramble. This brings back the three monsters I banished earlier. Return, X, Y, and Z (Atk:1800, 1500, 1500).' At this juncture, a bombshell was dropped. 'Oh, just one more little thing.' 'What?' 'Winda only lets you Special summon once per turn.'
'I'll just have to change my plans then. I'll tribute Z-Metal Tank to summon Union Driver (Atk:2100). And I'll activate it's effect. It searches my deck for any Level 4 or lower Union monster to equip itself with. How about W – Wing Catapult? (Atk:2100-2500).'
'And now I'll activate Union Burst. By banishing Wing Catapult (Atk:2500-2100), Union Driver gains it's Attack points until the end of your next turn (Atk:2100-3400). Attack her Construct with Grand Crash Auto.' The Driver got into the blazing remains of his Catapult, and slammed it straight through El Shaddoll Construct.
Blair however, just got angrier (Blair LP:3500-2900). And this seemed to trigger Yubel's influence. 'How dare you insult me. When Construct goes to the grave, I can add Nephe Shaddoll Fusion from my grave to my hand.' 'Search all the cards you want. I end my turn with a face-down.'
Blair: 'I draw.' As she drew the card, she laughed. 'Your luck appears to have run out. Appear, Chaos Summoning Beast (Atk:0).' 'What's that thing going to do – flap at me?' 'No, something far, far worse. By tributing it, I can summon a special kind of monster direct from my hand. I believe they call them… Sacred Beasts.'
This sent a chill down Chazz's spine. 'No way' 'Yes way. Ever wish you were never born? No? Good, the feeling will be a new experience then! Appear, Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder! (Atk:4000).' Chazz just stood in awe of the mighty monster, unable to react to it.
Inside
Everyone had met up again having been unsuccessful in finding Blair. 'Nothing?' 'Nothing soldier. What about the lady?' 'I dunno – it's like she's just vanished.' At that moment, a piercing and agonised scream filled the halls, picking up Alexis and Jaden's attention. 'That sounded like' 'Chazz!'
They quickly located him outside, battered but moving. 'What happened out here Chazz?' 'That slifer dork… her arm.' 'What is it about her arm?' 'It… it was all red and scaly.' 'Did she have the Sacred Beasts?' He nodded, and then lapsed into unconsciousness.
'So what do we do now?' Jaden looked across the horizon. 'I suggest we go after her.' Before he could go anywhere though, someone grabbed the back of his jacket to stop him running off. 'Whoever it is, this isn't funny.' The familiar voice then spoke. 'I wasn't laughing.' Jaden looked up, and stood above him, Zane.
'What are you doing here Zane?' 'Stopping you running off into danger. If she is being possessed like it sounds, who knows what she's capable of.' He then looked back at the broken Chazz. 'You can see what she did to him. And I get the feeling that might only have been the start.'
'So that means that I shouldn't go after her?' Staying very matter-of-fact, he replied logically. 'No. It means that Syrus should take Chazz back to the medical bay while the rest of us keep moving.' Syrus however, protested. 'Why is it me who has to go back? I can stand up for myself.'
Zane looked back, and almost cracked a smile. 'I know. That's the point. If Blair attacks you, you'll be able to stand up for yourself. Which means you'll get Chazz back to the medical bay.' Reluctantly, he agreed. 'Well stay safe then.' Zane looked back, nodded, and then they walked off.
While they hunted, Jesse got curious. 'So Zane, what brings you here?' 'Oh you know, just passing by, in the area and all that, like I do. Then I saw an explosion and came over as quick as possible. Looks like I got here not a moment too soon.' Jesse still seemed confused though.
'Still don't get what it's got to do with you.' 'The academy needs my help. With all it's given me, I thought I should repay the favour while I can.' The last words caught Jaden's attention. 'Hang on – what do you mean by "while I can"?' They stopped, and Zane came clean about his ulterior motives.
'All the underground duelling, it paid well. But the cost was even greater. Jaden, my heart… is giving out. I might not have long left.' 'But you might?' 'I could have days, I could have years. I'm not taking the chance. I want to pass on my legacy before I go. I also want one last duel. Something which will satisfy me.'
Zane's explanation was interrupted before it's crescendo however, as an imposing pyramid-like structure erupted from the ground. Atop it, not a peak so much as a platform. And a figure stood at the top of it. Jaden looked at Zane, then at everyone else, and they immediately marched towards the sound of battle.
As they did, Blair and Jaden came face-to-face, and she grinned. 'Welcome Jaden. I've been waiting for you for a long time.' 'Well I'm not difficult to find. Who are you, and why are you possessing Blair? What's she done to deserve being in the middle of all this.'
The malveolent spirit laughed, and spoke, not in Blair's voice, but it's own. 'Oh Jaden, it's been so long. I'm surprised that you remember me at all. After all, it has been 10 long years.' Immediately, the voice struck something in Jaden's memories. 'It can't be… Yubel? But why?'
'Because you discarded me. Like a piece of litter. You sent me on an interstellar voyage. It sounds fun, right? WELL IT WASN'T!' A signle tear then fell from Blair's face, and Yubel spoke through her. 'I was so… so lonely. Left alone up there, all I had was years and years to contemplate your abandonment of me.'
Jaden was clearly upset hearing this story. 'Yubel, I'm sorry!' 'You will be! I missed you so much. But then I saw the light. And do you want to know what it told me?' 'What?' 'It told me that I have to destroy you! Only then can we be united and rule the twelve dimensions together!'
Jesse then stepped up. 'But what about Blair? What's she done to deserve this?' What Yubel said next would change everything. 'Let's just say I needed… a lonely heart. Someone who felt just like me, someone who would believe in me. Someone else who was abandoned.'
Both Jesse and Zane seemed to realise what was going on at the same moment. But before they could say anything, the Devil Arm was revealed. 'This arm… is our bond. This way I am a physical part of her, and she a physical part of me. A symbiotic relationship if you will.'
She then started staring daggers at Jesse. 'If I'm going to rule over the twelve dimensions, I'll have to start by making you feel the same way as me.' She raised her arm, and a blinding light appeared. The next anyone knew, Jesse was there no longer. This angered Jaden, starting to awaken his dormant Supreme King side.
'Tell me what you did with him!' 'Oh, I didn't harm him. All I did was move him… to another dimension you might say. I'm going to make you feel exactly how I do.' Zane tried to talk to Jaden, but he shrugged the pro duellist off, and activated his duel disk.
'I'm going to take you down. And then you'll have to tell me where Jesse is.' Yubel was licking it's metaphorical lips at the idea, but it wasn't to be, as when she turned around, Alexis was stood opposite her, duel disk activated and ready for action.
'Stay back Jaden – I got this.' She then eyed up her now-possessed "rival", with a gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. 'I've only ever done what I had to in order to protect Jaden and protect my status. If that means cutting you down to size, then so be it.'
Yubel laughed at the mere thought. 'Ooh, I can see this is a spicy one. You've had issues before haven't you?' This was news to Jaden. 'Err Alexis, what does she mean by' 'Nothing! She means nothing, it's just whatever's inside of her trying to manipulate you. And I'm going to stop her going any further.'
Yubel laughed, and the Devil Arm opened up into a duel disk, grossing Alexis out. 'When I win, first thing I'm going to do is rip that thing off of you.' 'You can't remove what is now part of me. I will tear apart anyone who is close to my Jaden. A feeling I'm sure you recognise.'
Blair LP:4000 vs. Alexis LP:4000
Turn 1: Blair: 'I will start.' 'By all means do.' 'I draw. I'll set one monster and end my turn with five face-downs.'
Alexis: 'I know what you're setting up and I don't like it. I draw. I'll summon Blade Skater (Atk:1400). Tear her monster apart with Accel Slicer.' The gorgeous skater swooped in with an unmatchable grace, slicing through Blair's monster (Shaddoll Squamata Def.:1000).
'You're out of luck today. When Squamata is flipped, it destroys one monster on the field. I choose Blade Skater.' The Skater was quickly overwhelmed by dark strings piercing into it, and was destroyed. 'It's a good job I've got this – Monster Reincarnation. By discarding one card, I can add Blade Skater back to my hand. And now I'll activate Polymerisation, to fuse her and Etoile Cyber to summon my Cyber Blader (Atk:2100). I end my turn with a face-down.'
Blair: 'I draw. I activate Hyper Blaze. By discarding one card, I can add Uria, Lord of Searing Flames to my hand. And with the other effect of Hyper Blaze, I can send it and two face-down copies of Call of the Haunted from my field to my graveyard, in order to summon Uria (Atk:3000).'
'Not good. Not good at all.' Blair then laughed. 'It gets worse. Once per turn, Uria can destroy a face-down on your field. And you can't activate anything in response. I hope you're not suffering from… burning jealousy.' Uria shot a single fireball, which took Alexis' face-down (Pure Pupil), and set it alight.
'Let this one sting. Uria, attack Cyber Blader with Hyper Blaze.' Uria unleashed a torrent of fire from it's mouth, charring the Cyber Blader and burning through Alexis' body, as she dropped to her knees (Alexis LP:4000-3100). As Alexis struggled to her feet again, everyone else watched on, and Hassleberry was still grasping the situation.
'I wonder what's got into that girl sometimes.' Zane's reply was blunt. 'It's not what's got into her, it's WHO. Whoever's inside of her, clearly has some form of issue with Jaden. But why? And what do they need with Blair? Unless...' It then hit him exactly what was going on. 'Jaden, I've worked it out' 'Not now Zane.'
Alexis then stood up again. 'Cyber Blader can't be destroyed in battle as long as you control only one monster. You don't get rid of her that easy.' 'Good – I was hoping to delay your suffering! I end my turn with a face-down.'
Alexis: 'It's about time I showed you why I'm Obelisk and you're just a pretender. I draw. I'll start with my Mystical Space Typhoon, which will blow away the card you just set.' 'Not before I activate it. Go – Needlebug Nest! This sends five cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard.'
Blair revealed the top five cards, and they came up smelling of roses (Royal Oppression, Begone, Knave!, Appropriate, Sangan, Witch of the Black Forest). 'Three more Continuous Traps in the grave means 3000 more Attack for Uria (Atk:3000-6000). So bring it on.'
Clearly in a bind, Alexis took time to assess the field. 'The only way to win is to get rid of Uria. I summon Cyber Petit Angel (Atk:300).' 'What's that? You're opposing a Sacred Beast with a cherub? Don't mock me!' 'Mock you? I'm going to beat you. When I summon my Angel, she allows me to grab a copy of Machine Angel Ritual from my deck.'
'So I can now activate it. All I have to do is tribute Cyber Petit Angel and the Cyber Prima in my hand, and I can summon Cyber Angel Dakini (Atk:2700).' Jaden seemed impressed by the move, and started cheering Alexis on, increasing the anger of her opponent.
'When I summon Dakini, you have to send one monster from your field to your graveyard. And it appears you don't have a great deal of choice. Little girls shouldn't play with big toys.' Oddly, Blair seemed rather nonplussed by this. 'Fine, Uria's gone.'
'And with that, Dakini can smash you right in the face!' 'That's not going to happen I'm afraid. I'm always two steps ahead, and ten times more vicious. So I'll flip Depth Amulet. If I'm willing to discard a single card, I can stop your attack dead in it's tracks.'
Dakini swung in with her multiple blades, each one clanging off of the Amulet sitting on the field. 'I end my turn with a face-down. Just give it up already. Everyone knows you're just attention seeking Blair.' The Slifer responded by getting catty.
'Oh, so you know my name now? It's amazing how all you have to do is steal some rare cards, and then everyone wants to know you all of a sudden. Have you told everyone about how you've been sabotaging my work? Or how you wrote a letter to the directors of the academy recommending my expulsion? Judging by everyone's reactions, I'm guessing you conveniently forgot that bit.'
Blair: 'It's just a shame that you're going to BURN FOR YOUR SINS!' Blair's eyes started to darken again, and this time Alexis noticed it. 'Fight the influence Blair.' 'Like I'm going to listen to you! I draw. I activate the effect of Hyper Blaze. I can discard one card, and breathe new life into Uria, Lord of Searing Flames. And because I discarded a Trap, Uria's Attack goes up further (Atk:7000).'
Realising she wasn't going to win, Alexis looked at her face-down. [I might not be able to win this one, but I can still try and force whatever's inside of Blair out. If she attacks, I'll use Doble Passe. Sure I'll take 7000 damage, but so will she, forcing a draw].
Sadly for Alexis, Blair had already considered this. 'As my Battle phase begins, I activate Anti-Magic Arrows. These arrows pin down your face-down, stopping you from using it. Doble Passe I presume? Actually, I really don't care. Uria, make this one hurt!' Uria unleashed a wicked vortex of fire, which boiled Dakini and Alexis alive (Alexis LP:3100-0).
The duel left Alexis totally knocked out, not even moving a muscle. Jaden then stepped up. 'What's going on Blair? How could you let this happen to you?' 'Let it happen? I embraced it! I'm finally someone! And besides, dear little Lexi wexi had it coming to her!'
Finally fed-up of the taunting, Jaden activated his duel disk. 'You want to play games with me Yubel? Well how about this game – how about you duel me right here right now so I can get rid of you once and for all.' Yubel laughed the idea off. 'No Jaden. Little Jaden doesn't get to come and play until he's learned his lesson. But so you don't feel left out, let's at least have a game of hide and seek. Here's how it works… come and find me before I corrupt the entire world!'
As Blair vanished, Jaden started to grow in anger. 'Who does that to someone? Takes over their body, makes them dance like some puppet? This is all Yubel's fault! And I'm going to do whatever I have to in order to get revenge on her.' Zane then sucker-punched Jaden, in order to make him listen.
'Yubel's not at fault, you are.' This took Jaden aback. 'I'm at fault? How can I be at fault? I've done nothing!' 'You said it yourself. You've done nothing. Blair looks up to you like some sort of mentor Jaden, some sort of personal icon. Can you imagine how excited she must have been to start here? And since she arrived, what's happened?'
'I don't get you Zane.' What Zane said next would prove a pivotal point. 'Think Jaden – how many times have you checked how she's doing? Or said hello to her? Or asked how she's doing? Face it Jaden – you've not even acknowledged her existance. Did you really think I was in the area just by happenstance? I was asked to come. Because only one person could see what was going on Jaden, and it wasn't you, and it certainly wasn't Alexis.'
Jaden was still protesting his innocence at this point, but Zane wanted more information from him. 'Who is this Yubel? What happened between you both?' Jaden then recounted the tale of he and Yubel. 'Yubel was a duel spirit, we were best friends when I was young. But then something happened. Something really weird.'
'Weird how?' 'Well everyone I duelled, they collapsed. It didn't matter who they were, they just fainted, and didn't wake up for days. So I sent her card off to space, I was hoping that someone somewhere would be able to heal her, fix her almost. She must have been so alone out there...'
This was the last piece Zane needed to complete the puzzle. 'Jaden, think about it. Yubel doesn't just feel lonely, she wants revenge. But she needed a body. So who would she have chosen?' 'Someone weak?' Zane nodded. 'Yes, weak how?' Jaden then realised. 'Someone like her… someone so alone… it's all my fault.' He then gave a steely look. 'Which makes it my responsibility to fix all this.'
END OF EPISODE 2