Joey - Mellow Fields Tournament Final Match
October 10 - Year 18 4AOS
"You're not gonna beat me this time, Wheeler!" Rex Raptor shouted. "I use Ultra Evolution Pill on my Balloon Lizard, which will transform him into the one and only, Ultimate Tyranno!"
"Nyeh! That's not good!" Joey cried out.
The Balloon Lizard started glowing until he transformed into a big orb of light. The light started growing bigger and bigger and began taking shape until, at last, the second strongest monster of the Dinosaur-Type was rendered in full form. It gave out a loud shrieking roar as it shook its head from side to side; its eyes glowing brightly.
ATK/3000
"Face it, Wheeler, there's nothing you can do to stop me. Especially after I do this. I Special Summon two Gilasaurus."
Rex placed both cards on the Duelist of black steel and amber. Two brown raptors ran from behind Rex and stopped in front of Ultimate Tyranno.
"And when these guys are Special Summoned this way, you get to Special Summon two monsters of your own."
"All right, then," said Joey. "I bring back Shore Knight and Dust Knight in attack mode."
The two monsters flew out of the ground and landed on either side of Joey's Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
Knowing Rex, he's gonna take down my Red-Eyes with that overgrown lizard of his. My knights will guard me against his other two Gilasaurus and my Life Points will be safe and sound.
Rex sneered. "Now, Ultimate Tyranno, take down his Red-Eyes and his knights."
"What?"
"That's right! Ultimate Tyranno can attack all monsters you control, Wheeler. Say goodbye to your Life Points and the tournament!"
Ultimate Tyranno stomped both knights with his foot as though they were roaches. Then he pounced on Red-Eyes Black Dragon and tore out its heart with his teeth.
"That brings your Life Points to 0, Wheeler. I win."
"Aw, nuts," Joey said sadly. He knelt and punched the dirt.
Serenity sighed heavily. "Great. Now we can't get the money for the expedition."
Mai patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, honey, we'll think of something else. We can go back to monster hunting in the guild. We made quite a bit of money there."
"Over the span of three years," said Zoey, gnawing on a turkey leg. "You lot need t'think o' somethin' else now."
"Like what?" Serenity asked, feeling horribly distraught about seeing her brother lose so close to the finals. "Mai's so-called friend charges more than even a King makes in a year to use her vessel. I hate money. Because everyone wants it, Prince Yuri is most likely going to be delayed even further. We need him back now."
Mai sighed and looked at the stars. "I'll be right back," she said. "I think I saw a wanted poster put up by the Monster Hunters Guild."
Joey groaned and rubbed his face. "I ain't in da mood to look fer monster, Mai."
"Who said anything about you? Serenity, Zoey, Téa, up for a little adventure?"
"O' aye," said Zoey. "Count me in."
"Huh?' Duke said from the table. "What's going on?"
"Sorry," Mai said with a wave of her hand. "This is just for girls."
Mai - Woods outside of Mellow Fields
Téa blew into her crystal and held it up, illuminating the night. "Mai, what on earth have you gotten us into?" she asked.
Mai jumped on a fallen tree stump and held her torch up. It was made of platinum and crowned with glowing light crystals, orbiting around a smaller one. The family sword was sheathed on her lower back. She sniffed the air, listening as the creatures of the night hooted, chirped, and squawked. Fallen leaves blew on the ground, brushing against their boots and ankles.
"Oy, Mai!" Zoey called, standing behind Serenity, who had multi-colored crystals orbiting around her head. "What's the big deal? Why have you brought us all the way out here?"
"We're going on a hunt," Mai answered, jumping off the log. Her gear clinked and jingled. "The quartermaster of the castle posted work for anyone from the Monster Hunters Guild at the central plaza of the fairgrounds. Check out the creature said to have been stalking the countryside." She tossed Téa the flyer she picked up at the noticeboard. Téa unfolded the poster and cringed. "Ain't he a beaut?" Mai asked vexingly.
Serenity gasped at the sight of the horrible monster. "O' loving Ana, what is that?"
Zoey stuck more tobacco in her mouth and chewed on it. "That, lassie, is a Barox. These ugly-ass ogres are a problem for farmers. They swipe cattle in the dead of night. Cows. Pigs. Horses. You name it, he'll eat it."
Mai proceeded a little farther into the forest. "You're right. And, the Monster Hunters Guild is paying fifty-thousand in gold to get rid of it from the countryside of the two loving Queens." She knelt down and examined some odd indentations in the air. She smiled, baring her gleaming, white teeth. "We are close ladies. He's been here."
Zoey stopped to look at the ground. Mai was right. In the faint light of Téa's crystal, she saw footprints on the ground. One of them had a strand of yellow fur lying in the center. Indeed, a Barox was just here. Zoey spat some of the tobacco out and looked around, feeling a bit anxious now, knowing that they were probably very close to something she'd rather be five-hundred miles away from. Fiend-Type Duel Monsters always appeared late in the night, popping in from vortexes that led to dark and monstrous worlds. Another fact about the monster came to mind and chilled her.
"Now I know why you only brought us girls down here, Mai," she said. "These foul creatures have a thirst for the blood of virgin maidens. O' course, he won't find such a delicacy with my blood. I've been fooked on more than one occasion."
Téa frowned at the girl. "Thanks for sharing, Zoey. Geeze, try keeping that sort of nonsense to yourself."
Mai shrugged. "I've got it," she said. "If he's around he'll smell it and come looking for us."
Zoey burst out laughing. "Yoo? Wit virgin blood? Goddesses above, Mai, wit yoo bein' Termnnia's Delight, I'd figure you'd have some action in the cot."
"Men don't interest me," Mai said, proceeding into the forest. "I don't think I've found the right one yet. But, who knows. Love works in mysterious ways."
Serenity heard a twig snapping behind her and caught up with Mai, sticking close to her. "You're going to have to marry someone someday," she said. "The survival of your House depends on it. You want it to thrive, don't you? Or would you rather it fall extinct?"
Mai shrugged again, not wanting to discuss the subject. "I don't want to get married, girls. My House had a good run with my grandmother, but all good things must come to an end. Besides, men overcomplicate things. They are pushy, warmongering, greedy, and too controlling. That's not what the House of the Harpie needs."
She paused. Something out there was making the air smell rather pungent. Something...dead. A few steps further and Mai discovered the rotting corpse of a cow. There were huge bite marks on its neck, and it looked like it had been slashed by large claws. Its tongue stuck out of its mouth, black with decay. There was huge, festering hole on the side of its body where the creature feasted on it. The ribs poked out from underneath the ripped hide. Most of the meat was gone and the innards of the animal had all been pulled out and eaten. Mai told the others to lower their voices. Serenity drew her silver sword. The runes inlaid on the blade started to glow bright pink. It did that when something foul was nearby her. And sure enough, not even a moment after she drew her enchanted sword, a roar blasted through the forest. The girls huddled up, eyes darting everywhere across the forest looking for the monster.
"LOOK OUT!" Téa cried out when she saw a large boulder hurling toward them. They ducked out of the way. The boulder smashed on the dead cow. Mai landed face down on the ground, leaves sticking to her golden locks. She felt the forest floor trembling. She looked up. A monster smashed through trees as though they were twigs. Burning red eyes pierced the darkness. Barox had arrived. The creature's teeth and claws were red with the blood of a fresh kill. Leaves clung to the patches of yellow fur on its shoulders, arms, and legs.
"Come on, big boy, you wanna play?" shouted Zoey. She drew her claymore - a weapon bigger than her - and dashed for the creature.
Mai tried to sit up. Her knee cap stung her awfully. While Zoey dodged and rolled to avoid the monster's claws, she took a moment to examine what had been ailing her. Shoot. He fell on a sharp stone that dug into her flesh. Mai tightened every muscle in her body and pulled it out. Shoot. She wasn't going to fight the monster like this. But then, a heavenly, spring-green glow lit from above her. Mai looked up and saw a quarter of flower bells that showered her with healing light. Decorative swirls extended downward towards her and pink flower petals flew around. Mai felt warm and rejuvenated. Téa ran past Mai and gave her a wink.
"Try to be more careful, monster hunter," she said, casting an aegis of green light around Zoey to protect her from the monster's attacks momentarily."
Mai got up and drew her sword. "I love White Mages," she said, running towards them to join the attack. She snapped her fingers and conjured a trio of old girlfriends. Harpie Lady Sisters. They burst out of nowhere in a flash of pink light. Rose petals scattered in all directions when they appeared into the realm. The three Harpies screeched and posed majestically behind Mai. Their golden armor flashed in the light of her torch, still burning on the ground. "You feeling frisky tonight, ladies?" Mai asked. She heard the three of them snigger cruelly. "Well, then, let me introduce you to this handsome fellow. Let's show him a good time, girls. Attack!"
The battle went on longer than Mai would have hoped. An hour, maybe two, went by before the monster started to show fatigue and get slower in combat. Harpie Lady Sisters screeched out a battle cry and rocketed towards Barox. They slashed him with their claws and tackled him to the ground making it easier for Zoey and Serenity to hack at his vital points. Téa shot balls of light from her palms, that smacked into Barox with enough force to knock him down. He grew angrier and angrier with each assault. The monster started slashing the air wildly with his claws, smashing boulders, trees, anything that stood in its way. Zoey ducked just in time before it could smash into her. Téa launched another glowing ball at the monster, but it ducked its head in time. The ball smashed into a tree, knocking it down.
"Oops," she said.
Barox roared and chased after her. His charge was immediately halted when he was stuck in the face with a crossbow bolt. Mai had a small one in her hand. Damn, they didn't call her the Huntress with Seven Weapons for nothing. Téa ran away to safety as Barox snarled, trying to brush the bolts off his face. Zoey ran up from behind and slashed the back of his leg with her claymore. The Harpies came down and grabbed him by the back of its head, rearing it up until his neck was exposed. It roared in pain as the Harpies pulled on his fur. Mai quickly fired a bolt into the throat of the creature. The bolt had an explosive head and detonated. Barox whined, his movements started slowing down. He moaned as death took him and he fell face-first on the ground with a loud thud.
Serenity sighed and collapsed to the ground. "We did it," she said. "Son of a bitch, we did it."
"Aw, that thing stinks," Zoey said walking away from it. "Is it like that because he's dead?"
Mai walked towards Serenity and sat down next to her. She put an arm over Serenity's shoulder and leaned her head against it. "Well, babe, you finally got your expedition."
Serenity blinked to keep the tears back. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Mai kissed her cheek. "None of that. Come on, let's get this thing back to the castle and get our pay. Then let's head back to Rassay. I have a feeling our work to help Yuri ain't done yet."
Alexandra -The Kingdom of Orange Hill, The Hellgari Estates
October 11 - Year 18 4AOS
A priest from the temple of Vennex, Goddess of Kings and Rulers, waved his jeweled thurible back and forth in front of the new ruler, reading from an extravagant tome made of gold called The Voice. Each Goddess had one. Alexandra hated that. So many different rules and commands. All to maintain a natural order of things. So much for that. Those fancy golden books did very little to change anything in the world so what was the point of sitting here listening to them? The priest was going to be standing there for another hour, asking the newly appointed King Merthaw of the newly united Kingdom of Hellgari questions such as obeying the will of the people, being there for the needy, being a champion of justice, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Alexandra knew deep down that he would not obey his commands. Nobody ever did. In her twenty years in this world, she had seen kings turn to tyrants and perverse masters with an iron fist. She hoped the ceremony would end soon. She had been standing for almost forty minutes and the high heels of her boots were beginning to make her feet burn. And she wanted to change out of her leotard at once. It was making her sweaty and the backside was riding up her butt constantly, making her uncomfortable. As much as she wanted to adjust it, she couldn't. Not with so many eyes looking at her. It certainly didn't help that she and her uncle were right there in the front row watching the whole thing taking place. Someone could be watching her. Alexandra sighed heavily and decided she just had to grin and bear it.
Finally, the priest said his final prayer, and then at last the bloody crown was placed on Merthaw's head. As the audience clapped, Alexandra took the time to adjust her leotard and in a flash joined in on the clapping. A cloak of burgundy with a white fur collar was placed over her cousin's shoulders, then he was given a scepter. He turned and looked at his people, smiled, then paraded out of the throne room. Now, there was a wedding to be had. Cousin Darrien was going to marry the king's daughter. King. Merthaw? The man didn't even look like a king, not even with all that regality draping him. Darrien was going to take the crown one day. He looked even less of a king than the old man did.
"Is he even qualified for this?" Alexandra asked, watching him pass by.
"Mind your tongue," Antilles grunted. "I take it you've been settled to your room? You're going to be there for a while."
"I have. You made me pack so many things, it's like I live here."
"You need to keep your cousin company while he's here. Your father commands it."
"Whatever for?"
"As a show of goodwill and for our children to get to know each other in this blessed new union."
"You say union with spite. Is there something I don't know, Uncle?"
"Just do as you are told, girl. I'll have everything sorted out in due time."
When the throne room was finally empty, Alexandra and Antilles walked together to the gardens on the tallest tower of the castle to see the wedding between her cousin and the new princess, Alianore. She was a pretty young thing, Alexandra gave her that. Her brown hair was tied into two long pigtails and she had pink blush on her face, making it glow with a sweet innocence that made Alexandra feel like she was sick to her stomach. Standing there behind them was her cousin's Clear Wing Synchro Dragon and her own beast. A creature that made her the most feared and respected princess on the continent. Des Volstgalph.
He was a dragon-type Duel Monster and the last in the House of Dragonheart. Hundreds of years ago, there were thousands of them taking to the skies, welding the great banner of her family. Their numbers dwindled in the Waltz of the Dragon Queens, and then they became extinct after Antar's Rebellion. Fortunately, there was one left. Alexandra got him as a birthday present when she was very young, and formed a loving bond with the beast over the years. Dozens of young and handsome knights and lords and paladins offered to be her champion and protector. And dozens of times, Alexandra laughed at their faces and kicked them out of the castle on their rear ends. She already had a champion by her side. The only one she'll ever need. With a dragon by your side, who the hell needed some knight in pretty painted armor?
The new couple walked towards her hand-in-hand. Princess Alianore kissed both of Alexandra's cheeks and welcomed her to the family.
"I hope you had a comfortable trip, Alexandra," she said.
Alexandra cringed hearing her voice. It was delicate and sweet as honey. She ground her teeth together and tried her hardest to smile and show she was thankful. "When you travel through Waystations, any trip is comfortable. I'm just in awe by how fast this all happened. It's only been, what, a couple of weeks since you were engaged to my cousin."
Ser Darrien laughed, for she was absolutely right. "You'll be surprised by how fast a kingdom can surrender when they have a dragon going up against them. As soon as the forces of House Remmington and Fairfax came together to march upon him, Clear Wing and I took flight. It took only the burning of the cavalry to get them to fall to their knees and surrender. They wanted nothing to do with my dragon. Dragonfire was not worth their lives, so they choose a more peaceful resolution."
"Peaceful," Alexandra said with a chuckle. She walked to the buffet table and served herself sparkling water from a glass pitcher with a gold lion's head. "That's quite an ironic word, don't you think, Cousin? You practically forced them to make peace with a knife at their throats."
"Not all of us are as quick to violence as you are, Cousin. How many men did you and Bruton kill just to get them to stop proposing to you? Hmm? 20,000 including the lords they served."
Alexandra gulped her drink. "They had it coming. I will make ashes of any fool who thinks of me as some prize to be won."
"The Slayer of Lords and Princes," Alianore said with a shiver. "That title alone will keep all those lords off our backs. And with your dragon here at the wedding, I am sure they won't think of betraying my family."
"Having dragons has its perks," Alexandra said, running her finger along the rim of the cup.
"Alianore, will you excuse me and Alexandra for a moment?" Ser Darrien said, stepping forward to stand by his cousin's side. "There's something she and I must discuss."
"Of course, will I have the honor of seeing you at the fireworks show tonight, Princess?"
"Oh, I'll be there. Trust me, love, this won't take long. Uh, Darrien, come please."
They walked away from the party and then they were alone in the halls of Castle Fairfax, the grandest castle in Hellgari, now the main home for King Merthaw. Darrien looked around and made sure that there was no one watching them before he spoke.
"I can't stand that perky princess!" he said, furiously taking a long gulp from his goblet. He tossed it across the hall when it was empty. "I hate her! I loath her! I detest her."
"Hush!" Alexandra said with a whisper. She pressed herself against him and pressed her finger against his lips. "I thought you wanted to keep things between you and me. Keep yelling like that and someone is going to hear us, dear cousin. If all goes according to plan and we play our roles to a tee, you won't have to worry about being married to that bouncy-breasted giggling bitch any longer. This united kingdom of Hellgari has now become a well of gold for our family. It's our job to make sure, Uncle Antilles gets it. No matter what the cost. Rest assured, I will be here to give you company, so you won't have to deal with lowly peasants alone."
"I couldn't ask for better company," he said, kissing her forehead. "But what does Uncle Antilles intend for us to do?"
"Come with me," Alexandra said, taking Darrien by the arm and leading him to the vaults, hundreds of floors below the castle. Darrien noticed that these vaults seemed to be glowing as if they were keeping the sun itself down here. Alexandra dragged him towards one of the rails and showed him the vaults. They were rolling hills of gold and all kinds of treasures, lit up by a giant chandelier of crystal and gold and all sorts of colorful gems, crafted to resemble the fabled Rainbow Dragon. His cousin giggled and pointed at the newly crowned king walking around alone along the paths of the vault, made of gold bricks.
"Well, look who it is. Not even a day into this marriage and already things are going according to plan."
"What's wrong with him, Alexandra? He looks like he's in a trance. Did you cast him under a spell?"
"Why no, Cousin. If I were able to do that, I would be Empress of the World by now. No, greed is beginning to corrupt him. Look at the sickness in his eyes. He's like a dragon hoarding all its gold. But dragons are strong, he is not. This is the beginning of his downfall."