Tristan

"And now!" cried the herald. "Presenting from the west side! Ser Tristan Taylor the Wolf of Fairfax! Come forth and prove your worth!"

Trumpets blew as the gates were raised and Tristan came riding out atop his gray mare, both of them armored in steel decorated with ornamentation resembling the Silver Fang of Tristan's House. His greatest admirers stood up and held up banners with his name written in gray paint, and those who were fans of bare-knuckle fighting gave off cheers that could be usually heard in the fighting pits located across Termnnia. The gauntlets of Tristan's armor were plated with gold decorated in scrollwork, a sign of his reign as the bare-knuckle king.

"Well, Tristan," said Joey. "Looks like ya finally made it to the big leagues. How does it feel being in front of a real audience?"

"Don't underestimate me, Joey. I've been battling in the tilts long enough to learn some new tricks."

The herald shouted: "Fighters! Choose your monster!"

"Watch this!" said Tristan. A blade, looking like the one on a Duel Disk came out from out of his gauntlet, but it had one space for a card. However, Tristan held up two cards. "I've advanced enough in rank to do this! Fusion Summon!" He crossed the cards in the air. "Roboyarou and Robolady, combine and form Super Roboyarou!"

A portal opened behind him and then a cyborg clad in blue armor jumped out. He carried a double-bladed lance, which he then covered with a strong electric aura. The spectators applauded Tristan for his spectacular summon. Not being one to shy away from the spotlight, Tristan held up his hand, waving it around proudly as he basked in the admiration of his fans. Joey then let out a laugh that caused the cheering to die down.

"Tristan. You should know I've been in this business far longer than you. Yer not the only one who can Fusion Summon!" A Duel Disk blade came out of his gauntlet. "Giltia the Dark Knight and Gearfried the Iron Knight, combine yerselves and form into one! Fusion Summon!" He slapped the card on the blade. "Gilti-Gearfried the Magical Steel Knight!"

"Oh, this is gonna be good," Mai said.

Joey and Tristan put on their helmets. Tristan's helmet was crafted to look like a three-headed wolf and was topped with three long plumes. Two were gray and the middle one was white. The burning red eyes of the wolves flashed brightly in the morning sun. Mai noticed young Dancer getting out of his seat and leaning eagerly against the railing to get a better view of the battle. From the moment she saw him she knew he had such a fascination with heroes, knights, champions, and warriors of all colors. He admired the extravagant armor that both the jousters and their horses wore. The lively crowd, the colorful banners hanging over the lanes, the giant viewing platforms covered with a royal-red tarp and chequy patterns at the bottom. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before in his life, nor will for a long, long time. Being from Elleria, Mai guessed he would be stuck in a monotonous city of black and white. She had been to the capital, King's Rock, years ago with her mother. The buildings there were white with black domed ceilings and the temples had bronze statues. The green of the palm trees and the turquoise waters were the only thing that added color to the city. Even the knights were black and white.

She felt glad to be here in the capital. The trumpets sounded off, signaling it was time. And they were off.

Joey and Tristan raised their lances and their steeds galloped toward one another. Their monsters hovered above them, following at their heels. When Tristan and Joey were close, the monsters sprang into action. Super Roboyarou increased his speed, then tossed a bolt of lightning from his hands to scare off Gilti-Gearfried. Joey's warrior only held up his shield arm, blocking the attack, and bouncing it back at him. Super Roboyarou dodged the bolt, which hit the ground beside Tristan. His horse cried out in fright, which was just what Joey wanted. The horse was swerving left and right, keeping Tristan from galloping in a straight line. Tristan tried to keep his lance straight and his horse to calm, costing him a few precious seconds before Joey's lance smacked him on the chestplate. He reeled back, almost falling off his horse.

"OH!" shouted the crowd.

Tristan grimaced. The impact, which could be heard all the way up from the top of the stands, stung his chest.

"Ser Tristan loses five-hundred points!" declared the herald. When Joey's horse reached the other end of the pavilion, he raised his lance victoriously. Gilti-Gearfried swung his bladed shield-arm and stood at attention. Tristan and Joey got into position and readied for the next round.

They charged again, raising their lances. Joey's lance was topped with the head of a Red-Eyes Black Dragon with a glowing mouth and eyes that seemed to blur like flames as he rushed across the lane towards Tristan. Tristan narrowed his eyes so he could lock on to Joey's chestplate through the narrow slits of his helmet. His breath reverberated inside his helmet and dotted the steel with moisture. Suddenly, Joey disappeared behind the flaming red eyes of Gilti-Gearfried. Tristan's shock caused him to lose focus and waste precious seconds. Could he count on Super Roboyarou to save him in time before he and Joey clashed? It sure didn't feel like it. Gilti-Gearfried was getting closer and closer. Suddenly Super Roboyarou soared over Tristan and his horse. The two warriors locked weapons. Gilti-Gearfried had enough power to push Super Roboyarou off and then they clashed in mid-air, zooming over the tilts, completely forgetting their task of defending their masters. Super Roboyarou spun his double-bladed lance and conjured a blue ball of energy. He swung the ball towards Gilti-Gearfried. He blocked the attack with his shield, causing the energy ball to rebound and rocket towards the ground a yard or two from Tristan, causing a tremendous explosion. Tristan, in his confusion and fright, pulled on the reins, causing his mount to lose speed. His next mistake was looking up at the battle as his warrior and Joey's warrior clashed dozens of feet in the air. He failed to see Joey riding out of the cloud of smoke, still charging in at maximum speed. When Tristan focused back at the lane, he saw Joey just in time and raised his shield.

Joey's lance smacked it with great force. Tristan's elbow gave way to the impact and bent backward, knocking the shield back at him. He felt the edge of it smacking against his helmet. He put all his weight into the left half of his body; for he could feel himself falling off the saddle. The crowd cheered, for it was a last-minute save on Tristan's end. Tristan let out a deep breath as he rode towards the other end of the lane. Gilti-Gearfried and Super Roboyarou stopped fighting. They nodded respectfully before flying back to their masters' sides. Tristan breathed heavily. A bead of sweat rolled into his mouth, stinging his tongue with a salty unfavorable taste. He could see Joey on the other end of the lane. He looked so menacing. His armor was huge and bulky. The horns and spikes were tipped with glowing red metal. His cape waved behind him, the lower half hued with an enchanted glowing fabric that made his cape look like flames. The Red-Eyes Black Dragon crested on his helmet spewed out small clouds of white smoke and the fiery glowing plume flapped like the wings of a phoenix. His warhorse shook its head and snorted smoke through the openings of the chaffron forged to look like the face of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. Even the eyes over the mount's orbs were glowing red. He was a champion, that's for sure. Tristan felt foolish going up against him. But then, he looked to the stands and saw his sister, Serenity. Her hands were clasped over her chest, reminding Tristan of the days when he was young and watched jousting from the stands.

He recalled how fair maidens would always gasp and jump and hollar before covering their mouthes with their hands as the ones they loved risk life and limb in these dangerous jousting tournaments. He hoped that someday he would ride into the tilts with a beautiful maiden to cheer for him up on the stands. For many years, he longed for that maiden to be Serenity. Serenity suddenly waved a handkerchief in the air and started cheering him on. That sure put a lot of confidence back into him. He felt energized and had the urge to charge against a hundred men single-handedly. And this joust was much different than the ones he saw as a boy. He had a pretty badass-looking monster over his shoulder. He raised his lance in the air and pounded his fist against his chesplate. He let out a loud roar to rally the crowd by his side.

And now it was time to charge again. Both knights lowered their lances and their monsters took positions over their masters. Gilti-Gearfried brandished his large iron ax and Super Roboyarou spun his lance around. They kicked their horses into a gallop. Gilti-Gearfried fired fiery beams from his eyes, striking Super Roboyarou in the chest and knocking him to the ground. Gilti-Gearfried then soared to Tristan and started assaulting him with his ax. Tristan held up his shield, trying to keep his lance straight while blocking the magical steel warrior's attack. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of Joey, startling his warhorse. It stopped and reared on its hind legs. Joey cursed as he pulled the reins, trying to keep the damned beast still. Super Roboyarou then used jet boosters on his back to fly towards Gilti-Gearfried with great speed. He smashed his lance on Gilti-Gearfried's shield arm so hard that it cracked. His arm rebounded from the impact, exposing his chest. Super Roboyarou quickly raised his fist and powered it up with a cybernetic enhancement that increased the strength of his punches two-fold. He smashed his fist into the knight's chest, knocking him away. Tristan saw his chance, for Joey was still trying to keep his steed steady. He charged, and lifted his lance, taking aim for the exposed chestplate. Joey saw him coming, but it was too late. Tristan's lance struck him on the chest. "Aaaagggh!" Joey shouted. The impact caused him to drop his shield. His body bent backward, the crowd gasped. It looked like he was about to fall off his saddle but he seemed glued to the mount.

"Ser Joey loses five-hundred points!" shouted the herald.

The audience applauded Tristan for a job well done. "Yeah!" Tristan shouted, pounding his fist against his chest. He rode to the other end of the lane where a water maiden came running out of the cellars with a bucket of ice-cold water. Another one emerged out of the other end to tend to Joey, while a young boy went to the lane to pick up the fallen shield. The water maidens dipped a goblet into the bucket. Joey and Tristan removed their helmets. Their faces were dotted with glittering drops of sweat and their hair was ragged and shined from the wetness that accumulated inside their helmets. Joey took the goblet and took a quick drink, then handed it back to the girl, asking for more. But he did not drink from it. Instead, he poured the water over his head. Tristan took four long gulps and tossed a palm-sized gold coin at the water maiden. She bowed and ran back to the cellars. Joey paid his water maiden handsomely as well and then put on his helmet. Tristan did the same.

Both riders readied their lances and their monsters got into position. They fought their hardest but were equally skilled it seemed and their monsters were well trained. None of them could get to each other's chestplates. They charged towards one another until the sun went down and the torches in the arena were lit. In the end, Ser Tristan could not best the veteran jouster. Too tired to keep himself up, let alone continue jousting, Tristan's body gave way and he tumbled off his horse, landing on the ground with a loud, clanking, thud. Gilti-Gearfried and Super Roboyarou then vanished; for the match had finally concluded.

"Ser Tristan has been de-horsed. Ser Joey is your winner!"

Joey got off his horse and helped Tristan back up on his feet. Both knights took off their helmets and hugged, causing the audience to stand up on their feet and applaud. Tristan and Joey held each other's hands up and basked in the admiration of the crowd.

"Good tilt," said Joey. "Ya really learned a lot."

Even though there was a good display of sportsmanship between them, Tristan was still plenty mad he lost the joust. Though his body was battered and sore, his ego was still pristine. "Yeah, well, I'll get better. Just watch, Wheeler. Next time we joust, I'm knocking you on your ass."

"Nyeh ha-ha-ha, I'll be ready."

Yami

After the joust, the festivities continued. Once the sun went down, Joey, Tristan, Duke, and Yami made merry in the tavern called the Drunken Knight Inn, having a meal of hot meat, baked potatoes, and tankard after tankard of mead. The other patrons laughed and roared with joy as a band was playing music in the corner. The old tavern rang with laughter and fragranced by the delicious smell of Niwatori meat roasting in the kitchen behind the bar. A fire roared in the giant stone fireplace filling the tavern with intense bursts of warmth and a fiery glow bathing the patrons in a warm orange tinge. Their shadows danced on the polished wooden floors and walls. Chandeliers made of elk antlers with little white candles glimmered from their iron hinges on the ceiling. The two lion statues carved into the fireplace had red candles in their mouths. Above the fireplace was a portrait of a buxom woman posing over the decapitated head of a giant she slew.

Joey proudly boasted her as Belladonna Wheeler, his great-great-great aunt. He explained her greatest exploits and how she convinced the stubborn House Walsten to share their Red-Eyes Black Dragon cards with the Wheelers.

"What do you think, Yug?" Joey asked.

"I'm sorry, what?" said Yami.

"Anyone home?" Tristan asked then he chugged down the last of the mead in his metal tankard.

"Still thinking of the baby I suppose," Duke said playing with a lock of his long black hair, his bright green eyes like emeralds in the red glow of the fire.

"Relax Yugi," said Joey. "The kid's the High King of Termnnia now. He doesn't need us."

"Technically, no," said Yami. "We don't know if the Divine Beasts have accepted him." The tavern then shook violently. The chandeliers waved to and from their iron hinges, and drops of mead fell from Joey's tankard. "That's the third time tonight," Yami said with worry.

"More mead, gentlemen?" asked a servant girl who approached holding a wooden tray with one hand. She raised her voice so as to be heard over the lively music and the roaring laughter of the patrons.

"Absolutely!" called Tristan. "And can I ask for the Rassay Mountain?"

"Of course, Ser Tristan!" the girl said taking his empty tankard.

"What's the Rassay Mountain?" Yami asked.

"You should try it, Lord Yugi," said the girl. "It's a drink containing sweet cream, covered with caramel, over some of our finest mead, and topped with a delicious goldenberry from my garden."

"I'll try it then," Yami said with a smile.

"Make it four!" Duke Devlin said, pounding the table and holding up four fingers.

"Right away gentlemen," the girl said bowing and she walked away.

"What were you saying about the Divine Beasts, Yugi?" said Duke, eating a pretzel.

"It is up to the Divine Beasts to see who sits on the throne. Not us."

"He makes a good point," said Duke. "But why wouldn't they pick the kid? He destroyed the greatest evil since Zorc."

"And?" said Joey. "The Divine Beasts can be rather picky. You ever heard of Relegost Morvion the Red Knight of Feldia? He was one of the contenders during the 100 Years Interregnum of the Second Age. He defeated almost all the Great Houses and petty kingdoms of Termnnia, and took Rassay without a fight, but despite his accomplishments the Divine Beasts rejected him."

Duke intervened as he laughed, slapping his hand on the table. "And when he forcefully tried to summon them, the monsters exterminated him. What a moron."

Another violent shake and this time it caused the patrons to stop what they were doing. The laughing subsided, and the music came to a halt. Yami and his companions quickly dashed outside; Duke tossed a small sack of Star Chips on the table before heading out. They exited the warmth of the tavern and entered the cold, wet rainy night. Bands all over the city stopped playing their music, and people stopped dancing. Lamps shook to-and-fro on their hooks, and a few shacks and stables were even knocked down. Yami began to fear the worst.

An Embodorian soldier called out to him from the walls above.

"MASTER YU-GI-OH! YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!" he called.

Yami, Joey, Tristan, and Duke walked up the stone steps to the city walls above. The knight pointed at the mountains standing a mile away which were nothing more than black silhouettes in the dark, rainy twilight sky. It was dark, but Yami saw clouds of dust rising into the sky, and large chunks of rock were being tossed into the air.

"What is that!" cried Tristan.

A loud horrifying roar answered his call. Yami stood rooted to the spot when he saw six burning red eyes peer through the mountains far off in the distance. Another loud roar and the beast revealed itself.

A Mist Wurm.

The beast was over a mile long and heavily armored in a purple shell. It had hundreds of sharp armored legs. Noxious purple gas erupted from multiple chimneys from its back as it gave another bellow into the night. The people of Emboldor screamed in fear and began running about, fleeing for their lives. Yami's jaw dropped when he heard more horrible roars from the mountains that burst into clouds of dust.

Five more Mist Wurms appeared from the mountains giving screeches and grunts as Emboldor stood before them.

But then Yami heard another sound. Drums. Yes, he could hear drums coming from the mountains as well. The Mist Wurms stayed where they were, swaying from side to side in a battle dance.

Yami heard another familiar noise. Grunting could be heard mixing in with the sounds of beating drums. A Fire seemed to be flickering from the tunnels the Mist Wurms made. What Yami saw next made his heart stop. Legions of orcs were pouring in from the tunnels made by the giant Duel Monsters. They snarled and roared as they at last set foot onto the surface.