Chapter 2
Descending down the stairs toward the locker room, Mai pass' by the poster of her dearest friend, trying with all her might to just walk straight past to no avail. Her hand reaches for the poster once again touching it tenderly, again the memories try to bubble to the surface, their ugly head emerging to the top of Mai's thoughts.
(You should be relying on your own strength to duel)
(I know that you're a really gentle person. Come to think of it... I haven't returned it back to you yet)
(You need to take the first step Mai. Otherwise you'll continue living in pain!)
Tears threaten to drop like bombs from Mai's eyes, how could she hurt him? Him of all people, the sins she committed will never be forgiven, she is her own judge, jury and executioner.
"Mai?"
A familiar face greets Mai, however it isn't quite a friendly one.
"Rebecca, how've you been hun?"
Mai quickly tries to hide the tears in her eyes, which she either done with the skill of a ninja or Rebecca simply didn't care
"You don't get to do that, don't pretend that nothing happened"
"I'm sorry that wasn't what I intended to do, I just-"
"Listen, if it was up to me I wouldn't have anything to do with you, but Joey and Yugi... why did you just leave? Joey thought maybe you needed space but I don't think his calculations were on the basis of 3 years!"
"I couldn't face them! After everything I done how could I even call myself a friend? Joey did everything he could to help me, give me love like nobody has done before and I threw it away"
The words catch in the back of Mai's throat, no longer could she hold back the floodgates as she began to whimper against the wall.
"Those sound like the words of a coward, maybe you did make the right decision after all. Don't think this is over, I'll make sure that you feel every bit of resentment when I crush you in the finals"
Rebecca was now almost as tall as Mai, her hair was long and had turned darker in colour, she had it tied back in a ponytail with a single pink ribbon, no longer did she wear those glasses. Mai couldn't help but look at the features of the young woman, feeling almost a sense of nostalgia and pride in who she had become. However she had just threatened Mai, which can't go unpunished
"Dont you threaten me with a good time, if you're gonna throw everything you've got at me then bring it hun. I ain't losing to the likes of you"
"That sounds more like the Mai I know, fine then, don't start crying again when my dragons turn your Harpie's into a roast dinner"
"We'll see who the hunter and they prey really is, see you in the finals pip-squeak"
Rebecca give Mai a thumbs up as she began walking out into the centre stage, feeling that her plan had worked. She meant everything she had said to Mai, except for the resentment.
(I want a challenge in the finals, she's the most worthy opponent here)
Rebecca took her position in the centre field, her opponent did the same, he was quite tall with a slender build, dark brown hair that was well groomed and light blue eyes.
"The name's Damien, its nice to meet you"
"Rebecca, likewise. Although time for pleasantries is over, ill be sending you home with your tail between your legs"
"Let's just make sure to have fun, thats the most important thing"
Damien was softly spoken, although for some reason this got under Rebecca's skin, she couldn't get a read on him either which annoyed her even more
"Ladies and gentlemen, the first of the semi-final matches will now begin! Duelists, are you ready?"
Many things raced through Rebecca's mind, although some of the stuff was quite random. Like how the announcer was like an excited puppy, you could tell that he really loved his job, although who wouldn't? He got to sit around all day, say a few words before a match and occasionally interject, then go home with a big paycheck
3.
2.. Damien and Rebecca prepared their duel disks and the crowd could no longer hold back their excitement
1...
"Duel"
Rebecca (4000LP)
"Okay Damien, since you're such a good samaria I'll take the first turn, draw! I set one card facedown and summon a monster in facedown defence position. That'll do for now"
Damien (4000LP)
"OOOOHH I see, playing defensively at the beginning is a good strategy, you don't know what deck I use so you're trying to scope out what you're dealing with"
"Wow you actually know basic strategy, I'm well and truly impressed!"
"Thank you Rebecca!"
"It seems sarcasm isn't your strong point"
"Hmm okay, I think it'll have to be this move then, I summon Mad Archfiend in attack position!"
A skeletal creature appeared on the field with red shaggy hair and a skull where its stomach should be, it wore baggy yellow trousers and was simply unappealing to look at (ATK1800/DEF 0)
"THIS GUY IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITES, he's quite special in terms of his ability, see he can actually inflict damage even when the opponents monster is in defence position, so that defensive strategy of yours actually backfires"
Rebecca was looking at the young man, confused, he seemed like a complete novice to duel monsters, however he already came up with a counter strategy to her game plan, what's his deal?
"Okay Mad archfiend attack her monster now!"
It turned out that the area where the skull rested was actually the creatures mouth, which began crunching on the skull until it was broken into many pieces, spitting them out with the speed of a machine gun at the opponents monster revealed to be Sangan (ATK 1000/DEF600)
Rebecca (40002800LP)
"Sangan's effect activates! Allowing me to add Fire Princess to my hand, also I activate my facedown card, solemn wishes!"
"I set one card facedown and end my turn, you're strategy was quite good, however it wasn't perfect and I found a way to counter it. Please show me more of what you have to offer"
"You're probably meaning to be nice but its really just quite patronising, the duels far from over yet!
I draw! First off solemn wishes activates, anytime I draw a card I get 500 life points"
Rebecca(28003300LP)
Then I'll summon Fire Pri-"
"OOOOO I almost forgot! I activate my trap card Tour of Doom, with this we flip a coin, if it lands on heads you can't normal summon any monsters, quite a nasty effect isn't it? Well dont worry its quite the risky card, if it lands on tails then I can't normal summon any monsters"
"Mystical space typhoon!"
Rebecca didn't even acknowledge what her opponent was saying, there would be no point since the trap card was no more
"Aw Rebecca! Why did you have to do that? It would of been like a game in a game that way where we could test who the luckiest one of all is!"
"Sorry but one game with you is already too much, I'm ending this quick. I activate premature burial allowing me to summon back Sangan to the field"
Rebecca (33002500LP)
"OOOO how clever! Special summoning a monster from the graveyard, while it may have cost you life points you'll get them back again gradually with the effect of solemn wishes, although his attack doesn't stand up to my archfiend"
Damien had a sorrowful look on his face, thinking that his opponent had misplayed
"Don't worry, he's going straight back to the graveyard, so I can summon this guy! Get a load of my Luster Dragon number 2!" (ATK2400/DEF1400)
Damien opened his mouth in awe at his opponents move, he went to speak however Rebecca cut him off
"Time for talk is over, Luster Dragon attack!)
The giant emerald coloured dragon flapped its wings and roared mightily, setting its sights on the opponents Mad archfiend, taking aim and then firing a massive blast of emerald flames, leaving the opponents monster incinerated
Damien (40003400LP)
"Seems playtime is over, time for me get serious I guess. Draw, first off I set one card facedown and activate the spell card Pandemonium!"
The field was transformed into a landscape that could only be described as hellish, structures appeared around the two duelist, none of which had a definitive shape and appeared to shift continuously, the sky around them was crimson red and the howls of demons could be heard throughout the arena.
"First off I activate summon dice"
A white dice began to spin in the middle of the field
"What does it do?"
"You'll find out"
The dice came to a stop on 6
"From my hand i can special summon a level 5 or higher monster without tributing, come forth! Annihilator Archfiend!" (ATK2000/DEF3000)
A black demonic like creature with bat like wings appeared on the field, simply staring directly at Rebecca.
"Summon Terrorking archfiend!"(ATK2000/DEF1500)
"Annihilator's effect, I destroy 2 cards, one yours, another mine. If I happen to destroy a fiend with this effect then I gain half its original attack. Your field is wide open now Rebecca, no facedown card, no survival. Attack my archfiend!"
Damien's monster charged toward Rebecca who didn't even have time to react before the creature had her in its grips, squeezing tightly until Rebecca was gasping for air, it waited until the eyes rolled into the back of the poor girls head before throwing her against the wall.
Rebecca (2500LP)
The young woman struggled to get to her feet, she was still struggling to catch her breath, wondering how the tide of the duel turned so quickly. However she mostly focused on the pain, how was he able to inflict real pain on her? He didn't have a millennium item as they were in the pharaohs resting place
"REBECCA!"
The sound of Mai's voice cut through the air, the woman sprinted over to young girls aid, immediately cradling her gently.
"Mai?..."
The young girl passed out in Mai's arms, paramedics ran over to the scene and places the girl on a stretcher, Mai could only look on helplessly as the girl was brought to the infirmary.
Anger seethed inside of her, she didn't just want to defeat Damien, she wanted to hurt him, worse than what he had done to Rebecca
"DUEL ME!"
Mai activated her duel disk, ready to face the man who had done such a horrific act. Damien locked eyes with Mai and went to reactivate his own duek disk when...
"DON'T THINK SO MAI"
Jean appeared on the centre field, eyes full of determination, the cocky arrogant demeanour had vanished.
"This is still a tournament, meaning you can't face him until you beat me"
"Don't get in my way you social reject!"
"Save it for the battlefield Mai, we're on in 10"
Jean pointed at the notice board which was displaying the next match up which was indeed Mai against Jean, with clenched fists she walked over to her position and prepared to fight, it may not be the opponent she wanted to face, however she made a promise to herself she wouldn't lose this duel, she would crush Jean like the insect he is and then destroy Damien.
"Fine then Jean, you want to duel me so badly? Then let's go!"
Jean took his position across the field, prepared his duel disk and locked his eyes with Mai.
"I'm... not sure what just happened but it looks like our next contestants have already taken their positions. Well as they always say, the show must go on! Duelists are you ready?
3.
2...
1...
"DUEL"
End of chapter 2
Hey guys and girls, this is just a little message from me personally, I just want to to thank you for continuing to read this fanfic, it means a lot. How are you guys finding the story so far? I know things went from 0 to 100 really quickly in this episode but these first few chapters are really just trying to lay the groundwork for the future chapters. If you guys could please leave a review of what your thoughts are so far it would be greatly appreciated and again I can't that you enough for reading this far!
