Andre - Aquarius, The Standard Dimension
Around eight o'clock, Andre picked up his coat and walked out of the RV shack. He put on a black sock hat to shield his head from the light drizzle pouring down. He traveled through the slums underneath Aquarius then paid a security guard at the elevator to take him up to the top level where the city loomed over the poor and downtrodden of the shack town. Andre felt disgusted to see the transition of the rundown buildings made of whatever to a bustling metropolis of tall skyscrapers, lush environments, and expensive luxury goods. By the time Andre reached the Dueling Grounds, the sun had set completely behind the ocean. The trees lining the sidewalks with their white string lights hanging from their bare branches. The wet streets reflected their lights and the lights of all the buildings around them, turning the black asphalt pink, red, blue, and white.
Yup. This is exactly what he needed. A good duel. And who better than the legendary Crystal Anderson, the crown jewel of Aquarius as many called her. He heard she was pretty good, but he wasn't scared. Not now that he could finally use his real deck, his real power, Andre was without a doubt the strongest player on the island. Thanks to Termnnia lifting 1000 cards from the ban list, all the cards in his deck could now be used in a Duel. The thought excited him, and at the same time, he began to pity Yuri's friends. Black Tyranno to them was an unbeatable card, however, thanks to the new cards imported from Termnnia to Aquarius, Black Tyranno wasn't all that special anymore. Andre had the likes of Valkyrion the Magna Warrior, a monster so strong, Yuri threw his cards down in surrender. And his Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. He couldn't wait to use it against Crystal's Chaos Emperor Dragon.
Yuri and his crew would sure be surprised to see him. No, not surprised. Shocked. He couldn't wait to take on Patty most of all. She thought she was so hot and professional with all her ghoulish monsters, and her Ghost Rare Zera the Mant. But first thing's first. Crystal Anderson. If the rumors about her were true, then she was going to be a worthy opponent. As Andre neared the Dueling Grounds, he stopped. He checked the address Crystal texted him earlier. He was in the right place, but this wasn't the place Yuri and his friends usually hung out with. These grounds looked like a building for an art museum. It must have been recently built to be used by the hoity-toity of the Phobos Island.
He stopped and spotted Ren walking back and forth in front of a holographic orange tree. He had red LED headphones over his ears and wore a white and red hoodie and baggy jeans. Andre liked his new look. It sure beats seeing him always dressed in thousand-dollar suits.
Just as he was about to approach Ren and talk to him, the loud roar from the engine of a jet-black custom Kawasaki motorcycle disrupted the silence. The rider was a girl, wearing a black leather jacket over a short white dress trimmed with lace. She had on white gladiator sandals, sparkling with small diamonds on the heel. She took off her helmet and a waterfall of champagne-colored hair flowed down all the way down to the girl's back. Andre's eyes almost popped out of his head when he realized the girl was his opponent tonight. Crystal Anderson, looking stunning as always. Even though the weather was getting cold, she never shied from showing off her long legs.
Andre watched as Ren circled her motorcycle. Crystal got off and put on her backpack, loaded with her Dueling gear. They walked to a vendor nearby and bought themselves some hot chocolate. Ren slid his finger down the whipped cream topping his beverage and smeared it on the tip of Crystal's nose. She yelped, backing away giggling. Ren apologized and picked up a napkin to clean it off.
Andre waited for the cars to pass by before he crossed the street to see them. "Hey, guys," he said.
"Well, look who it is," said Ren. "Many of us thought you fell overboard or something. Where the hell have you been?"
"Important business, but I can't talk about it."
"You're not impressing anyone with the edge lord gimmick," Crystal said. "To be frank, none of us care what your business is. Just don't hurt my Yuri, that's all I'm saying."
"I'm here to help him!" Andre exclaimed.
"Yeah, right," Crystal said. She crossed her arms sternly over her bosom. "For all we know, you're here to collect the bounty Brett placed on Yuri's head."
Andre frowned at her. "What? That's one hell of an accusation you're making, Crystal. What's your deal?"
"She's protective of Yuri, that's what," Ren answered. He waved his head to the right to swing the bangs off his eyes. "All these secrets of yours aren't helping at all. You pretend you're a student at St. Augustus, you claim you don't use your real deck, and now you come back right at the same time Brett puts out this bounty. It just seems very suspicious to us."
"I'm here to help Yuri out. I swear. Besides, if I wanted to beat Yuri from the bounty, I would have done it already."
Crystal glared at him poisonously. "You really think you're better than him, don't you?"
"Well, I beat him twice. He hasn't beaten me at all. Look, I can't help it if I'm better at the game than he is. Just like you can't help it that you're as skilled as you are."
Crystal shook her head. "Hmph. Don't compare us. At least I'm honest with people about my skills. I don't make fun of them by holding out in a Duel."
"You've been holding out on our friends?" Ren asked. "Why would you do that?"
"My real deck is too strong."
"And what, our friends are too weak? Did you even let them play against your deck to properly evaluate if they can play against it or not?"
Andre sighed. "Look we don't have to be enemies here."
"We're not trying to be enemies," Ren replied before Crystal could say anything. He lightly tapped her on her lower back to keep her quiet. "But it's hard to trust someone who isn't telling us the full story. You say you want to help Yuri. I admire that. I'm even thankful for it. With all these bounty hunters and Rare Hunters running around, we need all the help we can get. But Yuri's had a tough life, despite how privileged he is. People have stabbed him in the back numerous times. Brett for example. Believe it or not, he and Yuri used to be best friends."
"What?" Andre gasped. "Yuri? Brett? No way?"
"Yeah. But the years went by and they are what they are now. And he had an incident as a kid concerning kidnappers. One of them, the brains behind the kidnapping, was the Montgomery family's personal gardener, a man they trusted for years. So you see, we can't just let anyone get close to Yuri. Especially not when that someone has too much red tape on things. So if you can't give us the details in full, then I'm afraid we can't consider your help."
Andre looked away. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway. If you guys won't accept my help, fine, I don't need you. I work better alone. Anyways, you wanted to Duel me, didn't you Crystal? Well, are we going to get this over with or what?"
"We sure will. Follow me. My friends are already at the arena I've rented out for us."
Andre and Ren followed her inside the very spacious and artistic Dueling Grounds. It really did look like a fancy art gallery. They passed by the hall of fame where regal portraits of Duelists from the past lined either side of the wall. Crystal turned left, leading Andre into a dueling arena underneath a rotunda that looked like it should have been built for parliament or something. Sitting in a cafe beside the arena were a group of young ladies. Andre recognized two of them as Patty and Natalya from the card shop. The others had had trouble recognizing.
"You know Patty, right?" said Ren. "These two are her friends, Sabrina and Rosita." Both girls just waved at him. "And these over here. They're Crystal's teammates. Layla Lovecraft, Ashley Remminton, Shayla Chang, and Margery Lancaster. The Sensational Dragon Sisters."
"I've heard about them. They're supposed to be really good."
"They're only the third-ranked dueling team in the world," said Ren. "How are you doing, ladies?"
"Ren!" said Ashley. "So glad you could join us. Who's he?"
"An acquaintance who's looking to help us deal with Yuri's bounty hunter problem. And I can't begin to tell you how grateful Crystal and I are for your support in this matter. I know Brett owns your contracts and stuff, so you're risking a lot in doing this."
"Don't mention, darling," Margery said. She was warm and snug in a green park with a fur-trimmed hood and jeans. "Brett can get away with a lot of sleazy stuff, but we're not pardoning him for this. Besides, it's really Phobos Corp who pays our salaries. Brett just owns a percentage of the merchandising thanks to a clause his uncle added to the contract. Come to think of it, getting rid of us would be the last mistake Brett would ever make. He'd lose a ton of money."
"And then he'd find some way to punish you for it," Crystal said. "Please be careful, girls. Brett's dangerous."
"That he is," said Layla. Her beloved girlfriend was sitting on her lap, feeding her gummy bears. "Mmm, thanks babe. I've seen what he can do when he wants to get rid of the competition."
The girl sitting on Layla's lap moved her hands around making sign language.
"What's wrong with her?" Andre asked. "Is she deaf?"
Layla shook her head. "Nope. She's mute. Poor thing's been diagnosed with ALS. She doesn't have the ability to speak. But she makes up for it with her beautiful personality. She's a hell of a great poet and she can make cookies that will melt your soul. Her name's Luthien, like the maiden from the Silmarillion."
"Never saw that movie."
"It's a book," Layla corrected him. "God forbid it becomes a movie. Say hi, Luthien."
The girl cooed and waved at him. Andre waved back at her. "Nice to meet you. Hey, where are Yuri and the guys?"
"They went bowling," replied Rosita. She was leaning on the back of her chair, dangerously tipping it backward. Her arms were on the back of her head to cushion it. "So except for you and Ren, it's ladies' night."
"All right, sounds good," Andre said. "Glad to be of help."
"Is he even capable of handling himself in a Duel first of all?" Margery asked. "Not just any moron with a Duel Disk is here to hunt Yuri. These guys are the best, so you need to be at your best."
"I can handle myself," Andre said.
"Doubt it," Patty boasted. "I beat you like four times. You're not as good as you think you are, bruh."
"I have a new deck now, Patty. I best you right now if I needed to."
"Then prove it against me," Crystal said. She took off her jacket and set it on her table. "Time to Duel."
"I did beat Yuri twice," Andre said. "Don't underestimate me."
"Yes," said Ashley, "but you forget he was playing with some very outdated cards. Things are different now."
"I can handle myself. I'm ready to play, Crystal."
Crystal didn't answer. She took her deck out of her backpack. She walked to her Duel Pod, colored red. It extended forward, hovering over the green arena below.
Andre took his position on the blue one.
LP 4000
"Duel!" they both shouted.
"You first," Andre said.
"No, you go ahead."
"If you insist." He looked at his hand.
Hmm, Spellbinding Circle, Curse of Dragon, Card Destruction, Dark Renewal, and Magician's Navigation. What a perfect time for a bricked hand. But I won't quit. I won't quit.
"Okay, Crystal. You wanted my best, I'm giving it to you. I play Card Destruction. Now we discard our cards and draw the same amount we had before."
"That's too bad for you," said Crystal. "One of the cards you forced me to discard was Kidmodo Dragon. When it gets sent to the graveyard, I'm allowed to summon a powerful dragon from my hand for no cost. And I'll use his effect to call...Van'Dalgyon, the Dark Dragon Ruler!"
"That's not good," Andre murmured. The ground in front of him sparked. From a dark gateway rose a humanoid dragon, covered in purple armored flesh with red glowing decorative accents, and blue gems here and there on its body.
"Very well, Crystal. I discard a card from my hand and special summon The Tricky in defense mode."
T2
"So that's all you could muster, huh?" Crystal said. Her dragon snarled and breathed heavily in front of her. "Disappointed."
"Just you wait and see, Crystal. Don't go counting your chickens yet."
"I already have. The arithmetic is just not in your favor if you're throwing cards away to make plays as simple as special summoning The Tricky. I draw. And I'll use Pot of Greed to draw two new cards. I equip Van'Dalgyon with Fairy Meteor Crush. This card will allow the monster I equip it with to inflict damage to your Life Points even if your monster is in defense mode. Van'Dalgyon. Attack!"
Van'Dalgyon spread his wings, held out his arms, and roared. He flew close to the top of the rotunda and released a red laser from his mouth, blasting The Tricky to oblivion and taking away 1600 points of damage from Andre.
He just stood there, his jacket flapping around in the blast. "Is that all, Crystal?"
"If you want more, you'll just have to wait for the next turn."
T3
"All right, Crystal. I summon the Dark Magician…"
"No, you're not, bud," Ashley interrupted. She held up her hand and took a sip of her milk. "New rules, or did you not care to read the handbook they passed out last week? You can't summon high-level monsters without tribute anymore."
"Oh...shit," Andre croaked. His deck was nothing but high-level monsters. He drew. "Oh, no." It was Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. But even with all the cards he sent to the graveyard, he didn't have the required monsters he needed to summon the soldier. "My hand. It...it's been bricked!"
T4
"Well, isn't that a shame?" Crystal said. "I'll attack your Life Points directly with Van'Dalgyon!"
"You can make direct attacks now?" Andre said. "Hold on! I discard Kuriboh from my hand, canceling all the damage. I'm safe."
"Then I guess I'll end my turn."
T5
Andre placed his two fingers on the top of the deck. "Come on. Heart of the Cards. Just like Master Yugi said." He picked up the card. "Gold Sarcophagus? This isn't going to help me now."
T6
"What was all that talk you said earlier?" Crystal asked. "About taking them on alone? Not with a deck like that you're not. Time to end this. First, I play Dragon Shrine. With it, I send Arkbrave Dragon to the graveyard. Now, I tribute Van'Dalgyon to summon Grav-Crush Dragon! Then, I banish Van'Dalgyon and Alexandrite Dragon to special summon Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End."
Patty giggled. "So much for that."
Chaos Emperor Dragon rose out of a wall of fire that burst in front of Crystal's booth. The holograms even produced the dragon's odor, filling the arena with the sweet smell of incense.
"Finally, I play Monster Reborn to bring back my Arkbrave Dragon from the graveyard."
Andre just stayed quiet, watching the huge line of powerful dragons in front of him. He heard the Dragon Sisters cheering from the cafe. Chaos Emperor Dragon was the big star of her deck. Seeing him was like seeing a celebrity for the group. They started snapping pictures and asked Crystal to make cute poses in her booth with the dragon in front of her, to which she did. When she was done goofing off, she commanded her dragons to attack.
It was done.
Winner: Crystal
"I had him in my hand." Andre thought as he looked at Black Luster Soldier. "Damn it."
Rosita walked to his booth. "Hmm, that wasn't all impressive to me. Mind if I check your deck, man?"
"Sure," Andre said. He gave Rosita the deck.
She flipped through it and grimaced for a bet. "You sure you can take on the bounty hunters with this brick?" she asked. "Your deck is cluttered with high-level monsters and gimmick cards. If you want to use this while goofing off at the card shop, go for it. But we're not playing, dawg. This is serious. We have a friend who needs our help."
Andre swiped the deck from her. "My deck is just fine the way it is. I won many duels with it?"
"How many is many?" Crystal asked as she walked to him.
"Andre," said Ren. "Let's get on the same page here. We need to work on your deck."
"You do what you want," Andre said. "I'll beat those clowns with my cards. It's never let me down before."
"I find that hard to believe after what I just saw," said Rosita. "Don't be sour, man. We're trying to help you."
Andre tucked his deck back in his pocket and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry. I appreciate you guys looking out for me, but I'm not changing my deck. I've grown attached to it."
"If you say so," said Rosita. "I'm in no position to tell you how to play your deck. But you're going to find it difficult to get what you need. You could have had Black Luster Soldier on your field in a snap, but you couldn't because you were running all this other stuff."
"I have faith in my deck," said Andre. "And because of that, I always get what I need."
"You didn't this time, Rosita said.
"Then how about we duel?" Andre asked.
"I don't have my cards right now," said Rosita. "And I'm in no mood for a duel. I got the cramps. But if you want to schedule a match, I can meet you at the Ruby Dragon tomorrow afternoon. I'll see you then."
Andre gave a nod as he saw her leave. "I look forward to it, Rosita."
Queen Maria Alejandra Delgado of the Kingdom of Feldia - Aboard the Great Imperial Dinocarriage Dynarmix
The doors to the throne room opened and a line of knights in blazing crimson armor blew on golden trumpets announcing the arrival of the queen, who was turning eighteen today. She walked in with her sisters and the royal court summoner, a girl with violet purple hair who could summon a great beast called Ultimate Conductor Tyranno. A tan-skinned lad with dreadlocks named Hasselberry Kenzan walked by her side clad in amber armor with a great bow on his back. He was the queen's cousin and knight-champion of her House.
The young queen dazzled all who looked upon her with her floor-length hair as black as shadow and her glimmering gold dress with a train over thirty feet long. A baby Megazowler happily scampered at her feet, his head held up to make him seem regal. Maria sat down on a white and gold throne crusted with thousands of colorful jewels.
"Happy birthday, your highness," Hassleberry said. "You're lookin' radiant today."
Maria smiled at him gleefully, her cheeks turning strawberry red. "Hassleberry, you charmer you." She held out her hand as the royal cupbearer poured her a glass of golden honey wine from a handsome bottle made of gold. "To peace," she said, holding up her jewel-encrusted goblet. Everyone in court applauded her.
"My lady, you are doing a fine job with the kingdom," said a chronicler for the kingdom's newspaper. He bowed three times before reaching her and sat down on a stool next to her throne with a peacock feather quill and notebook in hand. "The borders are secure from the Naralians. The Evolzars have secured you total and complete power in the country and your new routes of trade with the other kingdoms have bolstered the economy two-fold. Feldia has never been brighter or stronger."
"Of course," said Hassleberry. "You honestly think that no good, backstabbing father of hers could've done better?"
"Not in a million years," said Maria, casually sipping her wine. "Conspiring with Naralia, secret deals with the Dragonheart Party to vote against the return of Prince Daveed. Or is it Yuri that they're calling him these days? Ah, what does it matter? You're not here to discuss my father."
"No, never," said the chronicler. "You are the crown jewel of all Feldia, My Queen. Tell me. How were you able to accomplish all this?"
"The Evolzars, of course," said Maria. "Without them, I could never have defeated my uncles in the Two-Weeks War years ago. I have Avi the Summoner of Dragons to thank for finding them as well. I wish her luck wherever she is."
"Oh, yes, we all know about that. But what about the coup itself? How did you and your sisters manage to accomplish this?"
Maria took a long sip of her cup. "Well, do get comfortable, senor. It's a long story."
August 24th - Year 16 4AOS
Princess Maria Delgado, eldest child of King Salazar the head of House Delgado, kept her gaze to the dense jungles outside Palacio de la Luna, a palace of glass and steel that rose twenty stories high, dominating the city of Santa Rosa; the capital city of Felida, Home of the Dinosaur Lords. Once again, her Lord-father was ranting about losing all his heirs and how he was cheated by House Dragonheart. He slammed his massive fist on the table, shaking it violently and knocking over glasses of wine and mead. His top advisors and military officers stood around the table emotionless and still as statues as they tolerated Salazar's angry rants once again.
Maria sipped golden wine from her jeweled goblet, inlaid with a Black Tyranno skull: the sigil of her House. Her father's anger drew her emerald green eyes to La Boca Del Dragón, Feldia's largest active volcano. It slowly vomited smoke into the amber-colored skies, marred by clouds, which added splashes of a dull gray to the brilliant canvas painted by Kana (The Air Goddess). The rim of the volcano's mouth dripped with fiery red lava that slid down the slope of the volcano and flowed into the massive canyon known as La Forja, where the best blacksmiths in Feldia worked tirelessly making weapons and armor for the king's army.
Thinking of the forge made Maria impatient; for today would mark the completion of the new armor for her war mount, a Destroyersaurus (ATK/1800 DEF/1100) whom she named Rosita, after her youngest sister. Maria spent a fortune from her share of the royal purse to purchase that armor and hire the best blacksmiths and goldsmiths to work on it. Not to mention the purchasing of her Destroyersaurus set her back 50,000 gold crowns.
Beside her stood her knight-champion, Hassleberry Kenzan, who went by the codename, Tyranno, after a year in Eredian Special Forces. He stood tall over Maria by a few inches, and his wide, muscular arms were out in the open, for he only wore his chestplate of silver and platinum and a chainmail skirt over his greaves.
"I can tell you want to leave this place quick," he said.
Maria only nodded. "He'll go on ranting for hours and hours, and we'll never get anything done. Watch. In a matter of moments, he's going to blame me for all the bad that's been happening. I suppose that's what he deserves for trusting scum like House Dragonheart. Hector gets all the fame, and we don't even exist. Not that I want to. I will be cold in my grave and eaten by worms before I see this House led by Cousin Hector."
Kenzan grinned. "Same here, Yer Highness. Don't worry, the Gate Wars are looking in the favor of Master Yugi's alliance. He'll stall them long enough."
"Say another word about the plan, and you'll get both our heads mounted on pikes."
"And you!" Salazar shouted pointing at his daughter. "What news from the other Houses?"
Kenzan stepped back to let the king see his daughter. Maria shrugged. "I've made a significant gain acquiring allies for your suicide mission into Emboldor."
Salazar pretended Maria didn't say that, and he silenced Kenzan before he could say anything. "So who do we have?" Salazar said with a growl resembling that of a Black Tyranno. "And so help me, child, these had better be good ones."
Maria pivoted in a slow quarter turn. Her wine-red gown was slow to catch up with her movements and the black metalwork over her chest, hips, and shoulders clinked. Her hair was piled high with elegant curls and there was a tropical red flower tucked behind her left ear. The officers and the advisors nodded their heads approvingly, no doubt dumbstruck by the Princess's beauty. Maria grinned devilishly, adoring their attention.
"Well, father, if it so pleases you. I have gained support from La Casa del Trujillo."
"House Trujillo," Salazar said, placing a totem on the map.
"Paloma and Esperanza just came back from Callao, and have gathered the Royal Casas of Sidonia, Balbases, Borgia, and Osuna; who loved Unlce Gabriel very much."
"Mmm," Salazar grumbled, putting more totems on the map.
Maria sipped her wine. "But you are still not happy."
"These Casas are small, you fool! I will never conquer Emboldor with these meager Houses!" He threw a totem at her. Maria tilted her head to the right. The totem hit the wall with terrific force and shattered.
"Conquer Emboldor," she repeated his words with a slight vex. "It is that phrase that has gotten many of the larger Casas to deny the request to join your campaign. I don't know if you've heard, papa, but there are powerful allies fighting for Yugi. One of them is a Riftgaardian prince wielding a weapon forged from the Goddesses. And you have the likes of Yuma and his Utopia Kaiser and Yuya, whose Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon can transform into a dozen powerful forms."
"We have one hundred thousand knights in my army!"
"One hundred thousand," Maria gave a defiant laugh and rolled her eyes. "Father, if you wish to kill yourself, jump out the window. But do leave our soldiers out of your affairs. Even with a thousand Royal Cases backing us, you'll never save Hector's campaign, let alone conquer Emboldor." She giggled.
"You underestimate your father, Princesa ," taunted the Duke of Bourbon. "You see, he has a plan."
"What plan?" Maria asked.
"As you now, querida," Salazar began, placing his hands behind his back and pacing towards the largest window in the war room. "Up north, there is the Royal Casa Santcliment. They have made a sort of pact with the engineers of the Eredian arms manufacturer Truesdale Enterprises. They have developed weapons for the House; monstrous machines that the kids call Dinomist.
"Dinomist?" said Maria. "Sounds stupid."
"Hmph," said Salazar, not amused by her display. "Nevertheless, House Santcliment has warded off Covenant invaders to the north of our borders with these machines. I want them."
"So send him a letter."
"I have," said Salazar. "They will grant us the use of their Dinomist machines on the condition that they get the most valuable prize in all Feldia."
"What are they getting?" Maria asked.
Salazar and his council laughed. "Not what," said the Count of San Ernesto. "Who."
It took a while for Maria to comprehend what they were all smiling about. She felt like she wanted to shove herself into the mouth of a Black Tyranno. "Marriage?" she gasped. "But to whom?"
"You will marry Duke Fabian de Santcliment this weekend. He is already here and preparations for the wedding are underway. He is a fine young man to marry. I expect you will do your part and see that he is happy."
"I will not!" Maria said, stomping her foot on the ground.
"You will! I command it! Do not worry, I haven't singled you out. I have arranged many matrimonies for you and all your sisters. Each of you will marry and secure every corner of this continent until all its people and their resources belong to me."
Maria's lips trembled and her head slowly waved from side to side. "And what of Rosita? Surely you can't have married her off. She's a child!"
"Rosita turned twelve last month," spat Salazar. "She is old enough to wed and will be betrothed to Count Santiago after your wedding."
"How can you do this to me? How can you do this to us? We're your family; do we not matter to you?"
"YOU'RE MY DAUGHTERS!" shouted Salazar. "I needed sons to continue my legacy. Instead, the Goddesses cursed me with nine worthless girls who prat around all day imbibing my gold dry like blood-sucking leeches. Well, it's time you made yourselves useful. You and your sisters will marry who I tell you. And you will secure me power in this province! And you will do so willingly! If not, then I will instead engage you in an affair with the headsman! Do I make myself clear!?"
Maria performed a quick curtsy and dashed out of the war room. She then stormed out of the palace furiously. Kenzan followed, but she told him to stay put. She wanted to be alone. After leaving the palace, she quickened her pace in the palace gardens, ignoring the cries of concern from the servants and the noble guests. She was in no mood for anyone. She just wanted to run into the jungle and disappear. Finally, she exited the gardens and sprinted down a long bridge into the villas surrounding the palace.
The bridge stretched over a wide river that turned the color of liquid gold as it reflected the morning sky. The bellow of a herd of Bracchio-Raidus was sweeter than all the music that was played in the nightly balls that took place in the palace. She stopped and slipped toward the concrete rail of the bridge and watched the most ancient of Termnnia's Duel Monsters enjoy life.
The Bracchio-Raidus were gigantic, quadrupedal behemoths colored in dark blue flesh and they had glowing green eyes. They waded in the water, ducking their long necks into the river to pull out river weeds, and glowing pink water flowers which tasted as sweet as candy in the mouths of the giant dinosaurs. The hatchlings played by the riverbed under the watchful eyes of their mothers, known as Matriarchs, a scholarly term for female dinosaur Duel Monsters. Over the hills, a herd of Sauropod-Brachion stomped toward the river to join in on the morning feast. They were much bigger than Bracchio-Raidus. Their size demanded respect from the other dinosaurs. In the plains, far from the riverbed, families of Megazowlers and Sword Arm of Dragon trotted happily grazing on the thick blades of grass.
"Paradise," Maria said, leaning on the barricade. "I wish I could be like you sometimes." She sighed dreamily. "You just live your lives without having to worry about wars, men, or politics. You just eat, sleep, shit, and fuck all day long without any cares in the world. Hmph, well, except of course thinking about being someone's meal."
She shifted away from the barricade then made her way off the bridge into the jungle, following a dirt path toward the villas where her Destroyersaurus was kept. The ground suddenly quaked beneath her. She stopped and waited for the large creature to pass. No doubt it was a dinosaur. Though a rare occasion, the monsters would eventually come face to face with people. The beastmasters taught her to remain still and wait for them to pass. Dinosaurs were usually calm and gentle creatures unless provoked.
The sound of thin trees snapping and the bushes cracking caused her heart to race in her breast. She held her breath and balled her fists as the monster revealed itself. A patriarch Megazowler was stomping through. She saw Maria and stood still. The Megazowler blew steam out of her nose.
OORRROOOW! She roared and froze, flushing blood into the squared patters at the sides of her body and she swayed her head from side to side to show off her horns. She did not want to fight. It was a display she made to warn predators who were fool enough to challenge her. Maria smiled and performed curtsey for the patriarch.
At once, the Megazowler knew Maria meant no harm. The Megazolwer knew who Maria was. The scar on her face revealed her to be Romi, a beast whom Maria had seen from time to time.
The Megazowler called out into the jungle. A choir of chirping answered her. From the bushes, baby Megazowlers came scurrying out. Maria gasped with joy and clasped her hands together. The little dinosaurs noticed Maria, and cautiously made their way toward her to examine her. The patriarch called to her babies to stay away from her, but they were too stubborn to listen.
They stopped at her feet and went on their hind legs while placing their fronts on her legs.
"Hello, babies!" Maria said, petting them as though they were dogs. "Hello!"
Megazowler remained at the ready in case Maria meant her children hostile intent. Just then, a smaller hatchling came out of the woods. It was no bigger than a cocker spaniel, and called out pathetically. No doubt, it was the runt of the clutch.
The patriarch roared at it to stay put. The runt still attempted to join the others and play with Maria, but the mother picked the runt by his tail and took him to the edge of the forest, dropping him on his head. Maria felt such a dose of sympathy for the poor creature. She read that runts were doomed the moment they were born. Never did she think their lives would be this cruel. To be treated so badly by his own mother.
"Hey!" said Maria. "That's not nice!"
Megazowler roared at her to silence her, stomping her two feet on the ground creating a fierce dust cloud. No doubt, Maria was intimidated and stood her ground as the babies returned to the patriarch. A trickle of urine trailed down her leg from the shock. Megazowler snorted and walked into the jungle on the other side of the road. The runt followed, but one of his sibling began to slide its foot on the ground, signaling a charge. With a powerful head butt, it knocked the runt on his hind legs.
"Leave him alone!" shouted Maria. "Shoo! Shoo!"
The other siblings ran away from her and scurried into the jungle and out of sight. "You okay?" Maria said picking up the runt. He called for his mother, but she continued her trek into the jungle.
"I'm sorry beloved, but she doesn't want you anymore."
The runt understood and hung its head with sorrow. "Aww," Maria said, rubbing the dinosaur's back. "I know how it feels to fail meeting the expectations of your parents. The day I was born and it was revealed I was a girl, my father hated me. I'll take care of you though. I'll call you Roose."
The Megazowler runt seemed to like his name. Maria carried the little dinosaur all the way to the villas and toward the arena where she was anxious to see her Destroyersaurus. By the time she got there, the sun had risen high over Santa Rosa. The sky had now turned a brilliant shade of blue, marred by a thick cloud of gray which was the smoke from La Boca Del Dragón. At the entrance of the arena was a fountain with a Black Tyranno standing at the top roaring with a prehistoric fury. Her sisters were gathered around a white table having tea and cakes on a balcony overlooking a giant waterfall that fell hundreds of feet below.
"Hermana!" Esperanza called out when she saw Maria approaching them.
"Here to ride her new pet I see," said Teresa. "Rosita is saddled and armored as we speak."
"Who my Destroyersaurus? Or our hermanita?" laughed Maria.
"Who's that on your arms?" asked Teresa.
"Oh? This guy? He's a runt I saved in the jungle. I named him Roose."
"Aww," Paloma said. "Can I hold him?"
"Actually, he's yours. I mean, I already have Rosita to ride on."
"Thank you," Paloma said, taking the dinosaur from her. She tickled his stomach. "He's so cute!"
"I don't know," said Esperanza. "Father will not allow us to have such a pet."
Maria put a hand on Esperanza's shoulder to silence her. "Let me deal with Father, dearest. After tonight, we needn't worry about him anymore."
"What makes you say that?" said Paloma, looking up at her sister with concern on her face. "Be careful how you speak, dear sister. If any other person muttered those words, they would be on the quickest route to the chop for treason against the king."
"Is everything okay, Maria?" Esperanza rested her hands on her hips again. "You look…troubled."
Maria forced a smile. "I am fine, Esperanza, there is no need to worry. And is my Destroyersaurus ready for me?"
A loud roar bellowed from the arena's towering walls of limestone.
"Does that answer your question?" laughed Paloma. Roose shivered in her arms when he heard the roar.
Rows of red flags waved triumphantly from the top of the arena where Maria and her sister Nelly would be competing in tonight, for this was a very special day. Had it not been for the surprise coming in from behind a lit-up garden, Maria would have probably forgotten.
Rosita, followed by her sisters Nelly the third oldest of Maria's siblings; Angelina, the fairest of the sisters with hair so long it brushed down to her ankles like a river of ink and was as wide as her shoulders; Estrella, which was Feldian for Star. She was named this for she was found with star-shaped birthmark when she was born; and Macarena who had curled hair as red as blood. They came out of hiding from behind the bushes.
Rosita was carrying a chocolate cake with green icing. A candle in the shape of a Two-Headed King Rex was stuck in the middle with gold sparklers coming out of their mouths. A pink candle was placed in front of him. They began to sing a song to bless her birthday.
Estas son las mañanitas,
que cantaba el Rey,
Hoy por ser día de tu santo,
te las cantamos a ti,
Despierta, mi bien, despierta,
mira que ya amaneció,
Ya los pajarillos cantan,
la luna ya se metió.
Que linda está la mañana
en que vengo a saludarte,
Venimos todos con gusto
y placer a felicitarte,
Ya viene amaneciendo,
ya la luz del día nos dio,
Levántate de mañana,
mira que ya amaneció.
"Yay!" they all cheered after Maria blew out the candle.
"Feliz cumpleaños! Hermana!" Angelina said, hugging her and squeezing poor Roose in their embrace.
"Gracias!" Maria said. She hugged each of her sisters one by one. "What are you all doing out here?"
"Well," said Macarena, "this is the only place you enjoy hanging out, now that you've purchased that Destroyersaurus."
"Not to mention the new armor for her is here," said Rosita. "It looks really good."
"Think you'll get a lot of money this year?" asked Estella. The red ribbon in her curled jet-black hair swayed in the wind. "I mean, today is your twenty-first birthday."
"Ah," Maria said, pausing for a moment. "Now it all makes sense."
"What?" asked Esperanza. She saw the look of worry on Maria's face. The smile her sister was making did very little to hide her troubles.
Maria blinked and widened her fake grin as she looked at her sisters one after another. It stung her in the heart to realize that if Salazar got his way, this would be the last time they could be together like this. No! She could not allow that to happen. She would not allow it. Fortunately for her, Salazar was not the only Delgado who could plot. Even as she stood there, engaging in this joyful moment with her sisters, Maria was concocting a plot that would save both her and her sisters from horrible marriages. And maybe, just maybe, she could gain the support of the entire province under her House's wing, just like her father wanted.
"Hello?" said Paloma. "Earth to Maria? Is anybody home?"
"You sure you're okay?" asked Nelly, the third oldest of Salazar's children. Her hair was short and curled, giving her the appearance of a boy. Despite this, she was the buxomest of the sisters. "I need you in top shape if we are to compete tonight in the games honoring your birthday."
"Who are we fighting?" asked Maria.
"Duke Fabian de Santcliment," Nelly answered. "And his brother, too. Father says they will be rewarded the greatest treasure in all of Feldia if they beat us."
"Yes, I'm sure," said Maria.
"Why don't we go practice, Maria?" said Nelly. "My Sabersaurus is eager for a joust. What do you say?"
"I say that's a bad idea," said Angelina, her cinnamon skin glistened with sweat. She cooled her face with a white paper fan. The cicadas began to hiss in the trees all around them causing Teresa to shake her head in disapproval, for it was the sound she most despised in all the world.
"What if you were to get hurt? Jousting is dangerous, even during practice. We can't have Maria getting hurt before the party tonight."
"Well, I wouldn't mind a bit of a joust," said Maria. "It might cool us off from this dreaded heat."
"Why don't we go for a swim afterward?" Rosita suggested as she played with Roose who was happily hanging in Paloma's arms. Her golden tiara crusted with diamonds almost blinded the little dinosaur when the surface reflected the sun. Even Paloma had to squint to shield her eyes from the bright light.
"Swim?" they all said.
"Aww, come on," Rosita pleaded.
"I don't know if we have the time Chiquita," Maria said. She undid a pink ribbon in her sister's reddish-black hair. The same color as their dearly departed mother.
"Ow, that pulls Maria!" the little princess whined. "Ow stop!"
"Don't struggle, dear," Macarena said, taking the cake from Rosita. "Who wants a slice?"
"Me!"
"I do!"
"I will!"
"I do…Ow!"
Maria laughed. "Hold still, Rosie. I have to fix your hair. One of your pigtails is bigger than the other. Did you get Consuela to help you this morning? Or did you do your hair yourself? You know you're not supposed to do that, right?"
"I had to do it myself," said Rosita. "Ow! I want to see you and Nelly fight and Consuela takes forever! Ow! If I had let her do my hair…OW! I'd still be in my room right about now."
"You have to look your best, hermanita," said Teresa. "You're a princess, remember?"
"Oh, here we go again!" Rosita said with a roll of her eyes. "I'm a lady. I represent the king and his court. I might marry a handsome knight one day. Blah, blah, blah. Yuck! What about the rest of you? You don't seem to be worried about looks."
"Because we're your senior, Chiquita," said Angelina, taking a plastic fork from one of Nelly's pouches. "We're old enough to do things our own way and please the court all the while. You're still a baby, and need to learn how to follow our traditions to a tee."
"Aww," said Rosita forming a pout as she crossed her arms. "I hate being little."
"There," Maria said, tying the ribbon into a perfect bow now that Rosita's pigtails were even. She kissed the top of her head and patted it. "Don't worry, Rosita, you'll grow up soon enough."
Estrella laughed. "Yes, and when she does. She's going to wish she was young again."
Destroyersaurus roared from her pen deep inside the stadium. Rosita shook with fear and admiration, not believing her beloved sister was riding such a beast.
"We couldn't have been the House of the Horse Lords," grumbled Angelina, fanning herself frantically. "Or the masters of a graceful beast such as the Pegasus of House Trevelyan. No. Our home had to be the home of these brutish and terrible lizards."
Teresa hated when people referred to their sacred dinosaurs as mere lizards. Her anger brought out the muse in her.
"The terrible lizards come, hulking, snarling, their small and insignificant minds knowing only agony and desire."
She put her hands on Paloma's shoulders, rubbing them sensually up and down. "Oh!" Paloma said. Her sisters screeched with glee at the provocative sight.
"Their roars are fear-provoking," Teresa continued gasping passionately. "Their forms dreadfully magnificent, but flee not from them, for they call to us dear sister. They invite us to run in the fields, to hunt under the moon, to rip off our clothes and human facades, and battle with them in the blood-soaked fields of Mother Nature's playground. Our prehistoric blood flows through our veins, the savagery rises from our bosoms, and our future becomes our past, so that at their summons we become beast once again! The terrible lizards come, and when they roar, so will we."
She shoved Paloma to the ground. "Whoa!" she cried, holding onto Roose.
"Well…" Angelina giggled. "When you put it that way."
"Oh yuck!" said Rosita.
A clap could be heard coming from behind the fountain. Kenzan had arrived. "Well, well, well," he said, still clapping. "I never thought the ladies of House Delgado were so poetic."
"Ser Hassleberry!" cried Rosita. "Is it really you?" She ran into his embrace. The Eldori knight lifted her into the air with ease.
"'Course it's me!" said Hassleberry as he set her down. Though he was a native from Feldia, he had an accent of South-Eastern Termnnians from deep in the country. "I wouldn't miss this special day for the world. Ouch, my back. You sure are getting heavy, princess. What in the world have you gals been feedin' her? Oh, I've got some good news."
He took a roll of parchment from a compartment in his black-purple cape. "See, I'm graduating from Duelist Academia with honors. I've all but secured my spot at Broxiton University."
"The school of kings?" Maria asked.
"Yeah, and I start when Yuri comes home."
"Ah, I see. You're so lucky you'll be seeing Daveed.
"Daveed?" Hassleberry asked.
"Oh, forgive me," Maria said with a chuckle. "I forgot Yuri is his new name now. I can't believe he's a Terretar."
"Makes sense," said Estrella. "He is from our House. Not to mention our family's most sacred card: The Black Tyranno found his way towards him."
"Aw, the Black Tyranno," said Hassleberry. "Did you guys ever get the card back?"
"Sadly, no," Macarena answered. "And it's such a damn pity. The Black Tyranno was treasure passed down from Delgado to Delgado for generations since the days of Norman the Conqueror."
"Y'all must be honored to have a lineage with him," said Hassleberry. "The blood of the Champion of the Goddesses himself runs through your veins."
"Maybe yes, maybe no," said Angelina. "You can thank his good-for-nothing licentious grandsons for that fact. After Norman returned to the Divines, his children grew power hungry and lustful. None more than Ortexios Delgado who had orgies with multiple women in the hundred years that he was Supreme King. In the very bed where the great hero once slept; such pomposity. Dozens if not hundreds of bastards were born because of him. The last pure-blood decedent of the Conqueror, Melodía Delgado, the first High Queen of Termnnia at the time, was killed when she and her brothers tried to defend the real bloodline against the bastards in the War of the Hay Penny Kings. As you know, the bastards won that war and started another to see who could wear the crown. Eventually, the divine blood of Norman the Conqueror was stained until it became nothing more than mud."
"Hay penny kings?" Rosita asked with a giggle. "What a silly name."
"Because that's what those bastard sons were worth, querida ," said Paloma. "So many of them claimed to be the true kings of Termnnia. Luckily none of them could have the chance to sit their asses on the Diamond Throne because the Norman Invaders sailed from the West and took over Termnnia."
"And then Tiberius the Uniter came and set things right. Yeah, I know the story," said Hassleberry with a fake yawn.
"It's not a story," said Angelina. "You can be so ignorant, Ser Hassleberry."
"I meant no offense, of course," said Hassleberry. "Are y'all gonna spar with each other or what?"
"Indeed," said Maria. "Nelly, shall we suit up and have our dinosaurs prepped?"
Nelly bowed. "I'll inform the beastmasters to have them ready. It might take some time to set this up, what with the stadium being prepared for the games and all." She bowed her sisters farewell and ran into the stadium.
Meanwhile, Maria, her sisters, and Hassleberry all trekked to a cliffside cafe walled off with hedges dotted with colorful flowers. Hassleberry ordered ales for everyone, but Rosita, who settled for a glass of ice-cold chocolate milk. She looked over the vine-covered railing next to their table and peered at the bay below where herds of large dinosaurs marched toward the waterfall pouring down a tyrannosaur-skull-shaped formation. Black Pteras soared overhead to fly over the water and catch fish. A towering lighthouse on top of a mountain near the entrance of the bay glimmered in the sunlight. The White-Gold Torch of Santa Rosa it was called. The calm blue waters were dotted with merchant vessels and fishing boats.
Paradiso! Rosita thought to herself and took a long gulp of chocolate milk. A loud hissing roar echoed across the valley, signaling a Giant Rex (ATK/2000) was on the prowl in the forest below. It was so loud and metallic in sound, and rather frightening. Rosita, in her shock, lost the grip of her cup spilling milk all over her dress.
"Oh!" she squeaked.
"Rosita!" cried her sisters.
"Oh, that aint good," said Hassleberry.
"I'm sorry," Rosita said bashfully. "It scared me!"
"Rosita look at you!" said Estrella. She picked up a red velvet napkin and started scrubbing Rosita of her mess with such a fuss only an older sister could give. The roar echoed across the valley again. The plant-eaters began to honk and shout in restlessness, calling out to their young to stay close to the herds.
"Sounds scary down there," said Macarena. "Thank the Goddesses we're safe all the way up here."
"It can be even scarier in the throne room during court," said Maria. "Ser Hassleberry, I trust you bring me news from the West."
"Yeah, I bring news alright," said Hassleberry. "It aint pretty. Why don't we save this matter for another time though."
"I can't," said Maria. "It's a matter for right now. It's of the utmost importance."
"What's going on, Maria?" said Esperanza. "Tell us the truth."
"Not in front of Rosita."
"Hey!" snapped the little princess. "Anything you have to say, you can say in front of me!"
"Well, that isn't going to be possible now," said Estella. "This gunk just won't come off. Not only do you need a change of clothes, but you need a bath."
"No, I don't!" cried Rosita in utter fear. "Not a bath! Anything but a bath!"
"Rosita..." said Maria, crossing her arms. "If you don't do as we say, you'll be grounded from the festivities tonight."
"Aww," said Rosita.
"Come, little one," said Estella. "I promise we'll clean you up in time for the food."
"No! I don't want to!"
Angelina took out her golden harp and began to sing.
The fair-faced princess from her castle she did go
In the jungle black and untamed
She crossed the bridge and roamed in the night
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
Then many hours later the princess lost her way
In the jungle black and untamed
And there she met a tyrant as black as hell
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
O Lord Black Tyranno! Please don't eat me!
My dress of silver I shall give to thee!
A silver gown won't do me good at all
Your flesh and blood to my belly they must go
O Lord Black Tyranno! Please don't eat me!
In the jungle so black and untamed
My necklace of gold I shall give to thee
Gnashing Teeth so sharp and bright
A golden trinket serves no purpose to me
In the jungle black and untamed
Your flesh and blood to my belly they must go!
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
O Lord Black Tyranno! Please don't eat me!
In the jungle so black and untamed
My diamonds and pearls I shall give to thee
Gnashing Teeth so sharp and bright
Diamonds and pearls won't do me good at all
In the jungle black and untamed
Your flesh and blood to my belly they must go!
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
O Lord Black Tyranno! Please don't eat me!
In the jungle so black and untamed
A thousand golden cards I shall give to thee
Gnashing Teeth so sharp and bright
Duel Monster cards serve no purpose to me
In the jungle black and untamed
Your flesh and blood to my belly they must go!
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
The frightened princess she shrieked and ran away
In the jungles black and untamed
Darkness's hungry howl shook the harvest moon
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
The king and his men heard her horrid cry
In the jungle black and untamed
The gallant knights they rode into the night
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright
The red sun rose sorrowing the next day
In the jungles so black and untamed
A torn and bloody gown is all that remained
Gnashing teeth so sharp and bright!
"Stop it! Stop it!" cried Rosita, shoving both hands over her hears. "You know I hate that song."
"But why?" asked Angelina. "It's the song of our House."
"I don't care," said Rosita. "It's such a sad story."
"Oh come now, Rosita, you'll love it if you get used to it. I'll sing it one more time."
"No! No!"
"Then go take your bath," said Maria. "On the double!"
"Aww," Rosita said. She slid her chair back with her hands and climbed down from her seat. Another choir of dinosaur honks filled the air from the bay below.
Estrella laughed. "Come along, querida."
When they were gone, Hassleberry dug into his honey-coated chicken. "I've heard of that song before," he said, chewing his food. "I had no idea it was the song from your House."
"The death of the princess led to the forming of our noble House," said Maria. "The princess's father hunted that beast and took his skull which makes the throne our father sits on. And let us not forget, he trapped the soul of the Black Tyranno in a magic crystal which he formed into a ring to marry a beautiful warlord who helped him kill the beast. The other half of the Black Tyranno's soul was forged into a card."
Macarena sipped the red broth of her spicy noodle soup. "The other half, eh? That explains why he's so fucking weak."
"Language!" snapped Teresa.
"Well, it's true," said Maria. "Imagine how strong it could be had its soul been intact. It's strong still, especially if it developed a will of its own and fled to the prince. Hmm. Seems Yuri is more Delgado than we thought if the card ran from us to him."
"Why is that I wonder?" asked Estrella, braiding Paloma's hair for the festivities. "Yuri is a bastard born of incest by Gabriel's lust for the Celtra woman. He's no more Delgado than we are to being related to Norman the Conqueror."
"There's no point in trying to figure him out," said Hassleberry. "Once one mystery about Yuri is solved, another comes up. He was a million stories melded into one boy. Anyhow, you said you had news, Maria"
"Yes, what's the news Maria?" asked Angelina. "What's this big secret with Hassleberry?"
"It's not so much a secret," said Maria. "I just don't want little Rosita being scared. The news Ser Hassleberry brings is going to be quite...frightening."
"Yeah," Hassleberry said, wiping his mouth with his red napkin. He set it on his lap again. "Lady Raven De Los Dientes has somehow agreed to participate in an assault on your castle this evening. There's going to be a coup tonight."
"So it's true!" said Macarena. "I didn't think the coup would come to fruition."
Suddenly, Nelly returned. She was red in the face from running with all her might. Curled flaxen hair trailed behind her in the wind as she saw her sisters and picked up speed. "Sisters!" she called out. "Sisters!"
"What happened?" asked Maria. "What news? Are our mounts ready for our sparring match?"
Nelly stopped. She bent forward and held up her hand, signaling her sister to give her a moment while she gasped for air. "Lady Raven De Los Dientes was in the arena."
"Oh!" said Hassleberry. "What did she say?"
"I didn't approach her directly," said Nelly. "But, I overheard her talking to her Black Raptor Knight in the hallways as I was about to prep our dinos. I overheard her telling her knight to prepare for an assault on our castle this evening."
"Then we must prepare," said Maria. "Ladies. You know what to do."
"Uh, not for nothing," said Hassleberry. "But aint this somethin' you should tell yer dad?"
"Father will not be involved in this matter, I assure you," Teresa said coldly. "He will no doubt bring ruin to all we've planned."
"You mean you gals have known about the coup?" Hassleberry said in shock.
"We have," said Maria. "And he has done nothing about it, despite the signs are right there under his nose in the very war room. If he will do nothing to protect this kingdom, then we shall take matters into our own hands and see to it that we will instead. If all goes as planned, Father will see that we are not worthless as he thinks we are."
"I get it," said Hassleberry, slamming his fist onto his palm. "You girls are prepping the defenses yourselves and protect the crown, all the while showing ol' Salazar that he was wrong all along."
"That's right," said Paloma. "All our lives he's called us worthless and stupid. Sometimes he even goes as far as to call us whores. Well, once Lady Raven begins her assault, we will show him what for, won't we girls?"
The sisters of House Delgado all agreed.
"We've done all we could to prevent this night from happening," said Esperanza. "But father, as always, does things his own way. I fear we will all pay in blood tonight, but no doubt, it will be a great victory."
"I have faith in all of ya!" said Hassleberry.
"Well then, there's no time to waste," said Maria. "Spread the word to the guards, sisters. Tell them that Lady Raven attacks tonight after the party."
Paloma
In the castle kitchen, Paloma and her sister Esperanza were making a few adjustments for tonight's supper for the palace soldiers.
"I can't believe it's come down to this," Paloma said, feeding a leaf of lettuce to Roose. "An assault? Not on our beloved home."
Esperanza circled around a beautifully cooked pig, neatly arranged with vegetables and fruits. It's mouth was wide open, stuck in the face of agony it made when it was slaughtered that morning. Paloma had a hard time wondering why Maria would feed the troops so lavishly. It would not doubt attract suspicion from her father, and those who were also cursed with his mindset. If they caught wind of anything out of the ordinary, the whole plan would be blown and the coup would no doubt be bloody.
"These are Maria's orders," Esperanza said, picking up a grape from a pewter bowl and plopping it into her mouth. "For the guards, they will be treated with a grand, grand feast to celebrate the twenty-first birthday of the eldest princess of the House. As she requested, one nice, plump, suckling pig..." she jammed a note into the pig's mouth and down its gullet. "Stuffed with good news."
Paloma giggled at the joke. "I sure hope Captain Santiago will get it. If not, our whole defense of the castle will be ruined."
Esperanza shoved an apple into the pig's mouth. "He will get it querida. He never lets any part go to waste. Oh, Louise!"
The head chef arrived. His face soaked in sweat from the fires of his oven. He took off his hat and bowed his head. "Si, Princesa!"
"Take this to guard's barracks if you please."
"Si, Princesa," Louise said with a bow.
"Is everything all set for the party?" Paloma asked.
"Almost," said Louise, checking his checklist. "That no good...MARIE! The begets! Hurry up!"
Nelly
It wasn't odd to see Nelly fraternizing with the palace guards every now and then. Out of all the sisters in the clan of House Delgado, Nelly was the one who desired the company of men more. And she was not for handsome princes or dashing knights like her younger sisters. Personally, if a man could satisfy her desires, he was fine by her book. She stopped to talk to a few of the town guardsmen at the gate to Santa Rosa, no doubt dressed to impress in a tight suit of Uraby leather which showed off her midriff and opened up at the chest to further show off her femininity at the guards who were no more than pawns in her little game.
Nelly had every high-ranking officer on the watch wrapped around her finger. She wanted nothing to do with the privates or the cadets, but no doubt the honor of talking to her or even bedding her would rile them up and motivated them to do their jobs better and rise up the ranks.
"So, any of you hear the news?" she asked, leaning an arm against the pauldron of a guard. She leaned forward so as to give him a good view down her jerkin.
"Wh-what news, My Lady."
"Well, a little birdie told me there is to be a coup tonight."
"A coup?" said a second guard, anxiously waiting his turn to get touched by the princess. "No worries, Princesa. We'll stop them."
"Well, that's what I came to talk to you about," Nelly said, rubbing the other guard's beard. She reached into her cleavage and handed the second one a note.
He opened it eagerly, hoping it was an invitation to a lovely night. When he read the note, his face went from lust and glee to worry and fear. He looked at Nelly with his mouth agape. "So it's true?"
"Yes," said Nelly. "I need all the guards here at the gates at their best tonight. If you two handsome gentlemen can get the word out, I'll repay you greatly."
"You will?"
"Of course. I can get you anything. Gold...flesh. Anything you want."
"It will be done, My Lady."
Macarena and Estrella joined her at the gates to inform her that their deeds were done.
"And, what news?" Nelly asked, walking away from the guards.
"It's all set," said Estrella. "I can't believe we're doing this."
"Neither can we," said Macarena. "But if papa is going to take us seriously from now on, we have to go through with it."
Nelly sniggered viciously through her nose. "Take us seriously? He will have no choice but to make us queens after tonight."
Maria
It was now four in the morning. Four in the morning and still Santa Rosa continued with the festivities for Princess Maria's birthday celebration. Colorful paper lanterns, some in the form of dinosaur Duel Monsters, lit up the streets from the lines where they hung. Fireworks splashed the skies in a variety of colors, bathing the land in a bright spectrum. Along the mountainous horizon, a hue of metallic blue could be seen signaling the rising of the coming sun. A night to remember indeed.
Luckily for each patron in Santa Rosa, businesses and schools would be closed so as to let everyone rest from the merriments of the night. This was commanded by Maria herself. She stood in the massive throne room staring at the Fossil Throne, a seat of power created by the skull of a Black Tyranno who was once the ruler of these lands. A lord of both man and beast. Orbs of amber decorated the throne and two torched burned from the sockets where the creature's eyes once were. Maria smiled, knowing full well that after tonight, her father would have no choice but to allow her on the throne. He was going to be so proud of her thanks to the coming coup that was going to take place soon.
A fresh and cool breeze flowed in between the columns that encircled the throne room. They were apart wide enough so the king could have a 360 view of the land from the throne which was perched at the center on a large pedestal with water gently flowing down the stairs into a small moat that circled the throne. Behind the throne, Maria could see La Boca del Dragón burning orange against the oily black sky. In front, was the city that she would soon rule. The fireworks were in plain view, but their colors were drowned out by the hundreds of torches and the large chandelier of fossils hanging over the throne from the rotunda.
The white enameled doors opened with a loud creak. Maria turned slowly to see who was approaching her. She smirked when she saw that it was her father, King Salazar, storming for the throne like a drunk toward a chalice of massive sized filled to the brim with sweet wine. A powerholic, Rosita once said. Maria couldn't agree more. It seemed like sitting on the throne was a means to satisfy his addiction to power. When sitting on it, he looked like a bum high on Murk. His eyes were glazed over and his face red as though he drank five large chalices of wine.
Beside King Salazar was a young man with shoulder-length wavy hair and sun-kissed skin. His eyes were so green they were almost glowing. He wore field-green-colored armor trimmed with engraved gold. The top of a Tyrannosaurus's head was formed on the chestplate with eyes made of sparkling emeralds, and he wore a white cloth-of-gold cape. There was no doubt in Maria's mind that he was Duke Fabian de Santcliment. Her suspicions were justified after her father sat down on the Fossil Throne, then quickly and arrogantly introduced the Duke to his eldest daughter.
Maria nodded her head in false acceptance and looked at Fabian with curious eyes, giving her the appearance of a timid forest animal peering out of its den for danger. Fabian admired the innocence glimmering in her eyes. A smile as bright as a field of flowers in the summer arched on his handsome face.
"I am very happy to meet you, Princess," the Duke said with a voice that was low and sweet. He took a pink flower and handed it to her. "A token, for a blessed marriage."
"You are too kind," Maria said taking the lotus. To his shock, she ate it in one bite as though she were one of the Bracchio-Raidus in the swamp. Though bitter, it left a rich aftertaste. She had a will of iron and did not gag.
"You are full of surprises," the young Duke said, trying to keep his composure.
Maria's attire left nothing to the mind. Her upper torso was donned with a short white-enameled chestplate with gold trim and floral filigree moldings along the surface. Her shoulders were covered in long pauldrons with the lower jaws of Uraby raptors dipped in gold and inlaid with gems. A white cape of metal mimicking silk went down her back. Below, she had a white and gold tasset over her leather trousers with gold rings. White boots with gold metal trim completed her look. Her Dueling Deck was strapped to her thigh.
Maria gave a victorious smile when she saw the Duke's cheeks turning red like apples. Fabian bit his lip, admiring and quivering before the racy attire the princess was wearing. She chose this just for him, and to appease her father, who was no doubt enjoying the spectacle from his throne. His daughter wanted this marriage, he could see this. Maria dressed to impress and impress the Duke she had.
"Are you ready for the courtship?" she asked.
"There is no need," said Salazar. "You are married now. There is no need for complicated rituals. Fabian, there is no doubt my daughter wants you tonight. Will you have her?"
But before Fabian could answer, there was an explosion rising from the front gate.
"What's this?" said Salazar.
Maria grinned. "Why it looks as though we are under attack father," she said with an eerie calm.
"My sister!" cried Fabian. "She's going through with this assault after all."
"Both of you will stay here and guard me!" shouted Salazar. "This is an order from the king!"
All through the night, Maria assured her father of her plans to keep the city safe. But something strange was happening. Defeat after defeat after defeat was being reported by the guards. Salazar no doubt scorned his daughter for her supposed 'plan' to keep the city safe from Lady Raven del Los Dientes who had somehow commanded a coup de ta to take Santa Rosa from King Salazar and the Delgados.
That could not be. Salazar's forces were well-trained, well-armed, and even taught by the King's Royal Guard from Emboldor. There was no way his forces were being dominated so easily, and so quickly. If his soldiers were putting up a fight, Lady Raven's forces would have still been stuck at the front gate, and he himself supervised the garrison that Maria and her sisters had set up along the wall preparing for the coup if Raven had the audacity to commit such a crime. There were 5000 men positioned there, and a cavalry of 500 knights riding atop Megazowlers. Those knights were armed with spears and musket rifles.
An attack on the front gate alone was a suicide mission for any invader, but with each passing moment, there was news of defeats at almost every checkpoint that led to the castle.
Salazar was sensing treachery, and it was not from an outside source. He knew this could only come from his own House.
"I've had enough of your games, Maria!" he shouted. "What is going on?"
Maria made her sensuous slow-quarter turn and looked at her father. "Independence," she answered coldly.
BOOM!
The tall white-enameled doors fell to the ground. Soldiers in red armor stormed into the throne room, lances, muskets, and lever-action rifles at the ready. Salazar shouted at Maria and Fabian to guard him with their lives.
Just then, a young woman stormed into the throne room, clad in a black armored dress trimmed with purple and decorated with glowing purple orbs. Her gown reminded Salazar of a certain Duel Monster, but he could not remember which one.
He looked into the cold violet eyes of the girl who was the mastermind behind the coup.
"How is this possible?" groaned Salazar. "My forces were supposed to be unbeatable. You couldn't have fought your way past them in such a short amount of time. Who are you?"
"I am Lady Raven de Los Dientes," the duchess said arrogantly. "And I am here to relieve you of your duties as King, Lord Salazar."
"How dare you defy me!" shouted Salazar. "You cannot do this! You cannot do this!"
"I already did," said Raven. She held out her hand. A purple orb with lighting surging inside appeared over her palm. She slammed it on the ground and summoned a ferocious beast. Salazar shrank in his throne while he stared at the purple clouds flashing with purple lightning. They rose all the way to the top of the rotunda and formed into arguably the most powerful monster of the Dinosaur-Type in Duel Monsters.
Ultimate Conductor Tyranno.
Raven was no ordinary girl. She was a Summoner. Salazar began to realize how his forces were dominated so quickly. The beast gave a thunderous roar that cracked the rotunda above and most of the columns. That monster was the trump card Raven needed to seal the deal. Outnumbered and intimidated by the beast, Salazar surrendered
"What do you want?" shouted Salazar. "I'll give you anything you want! Anything!"
"Your crown," said Raven. "Give it to me."
"No!" gasped Maria. "Father you mustn't! Our family has ruled these lands for thousands of years. You cannot be fool enough to just hand over the crown."
"I have no choice!" he shouted. "This is all your fault. I should never have entrusted you with the command of our military. Because of your foolishness, we have lost. You have killed us all you stupid wench!"
He removed the crown from his brow and threw it at Raven's feet. Raven chuckled as she picked up the greatest symbol of power in Feldia. She held it up high for all to see. Her soldiers cheered and bashed their weapons against their shields in triumph.
"Sister!" said Fabian. "Is this truly what you want to do? Think of all the history you will be rewriting."
Raven looked at him. "Silence! This is what we came here for, hermano. From henceforth, there will be a new queen here in Feldia. But first, there must be a quick execution." She looked at Maria. "Maria Alejandra Bustamante Armanda Delgado, kneel."
Salazar gasped in utter horror. Raven was going to kill his daughter. Better her than me, he cruelly thought. "Fine, fine!" he cried, holding out a quivering hand for mercy. "But spare me, please."
"Salazar, you never cease to amaze me," said Raven. She placed the crown atop Maria's head. "Arise, Queen Maria Delgado of Feldia. Hail to the Queen!"
"HAIL!" shouted Raven's soldiers.
"HAIL!" shouted Fabian.
"What?" said Salazar.
From the entrance to the throne room, his daughters proudly marched inside. Rosita, Paloma, Nelly, Esperanza, Estrella, Macarena, and Angelina were all dressed in their best gowns and glittering with the jewels their queens once wore. For Salazar, it was a parade of treachery. To know they had been in the royal vaults and looted the jewels that belonged to his mother, and her mother before her, was like being stabbed in the gut by a flaming sword. In a swift, fluid movement, his daughters formed an arch in front of him. The girls all stared at their father like a group of venomous serpents ready to strike at their prey. In fact, they had a look in their eyes that gave the impression that they wanted to tear Salazar limb from limb. Ser Hassleberry entered the throne room as well armored in his military gear.
Queen Maria then looked at Hassleberry and nodded. Without a word, Hassleberry stored towards the throne. Fabian followed. They both grabbed Salazar by the arms and tossed him off the throne. They dragged him towards Maira.
"What is the meaning of this!" shouted Salazar, struggling to get free. But the grip of the two young knights was like being bound by chrome steel. And in his old age, there was nothing he could do to fight out of their grip. "Unhand me!" he shouted. "You both will pay dearly for this!"
"I don't take orders from you anymore, My Lord," said Hasslberry. He forced him to bend forward to bow for Maria's new position.
A knight from her House approached carrying a red velvet pillow with a sword that was forged ages and ages and ages ago during the foundation of their kingdom.
"Maria, no!" shouted Salazar. "You are not entitled to that weapon!"
"Oh, I think I am," said Maria.
It all came together now. Lady Raven did not start the coup. His daughters did.
"You!" Salazar shouted. "You were the ones who opened the gates for the invaders!"
Maria laughed. "They were not invaders, Father. Just allies who helped me clean house of those who are still loyal to you. Thankfully, they were few. Everyone from the captain of the guard to the piss boy was persuaded to join my side. They saw reason. They saw that you are no longer fit to be king. It's time for a change, Father. And my sisters and I will lead that change, starting tonight. After all, we cannot have king slayers on the throne."
"What?"
"Did you really think nobody would figure it out?" said Maria. "You plotted against Yuri after Master Yu-Gi-Oh convinced the Senate to refuse your offer to let him back into the family. If you couldn't have him then no one would. So you helped our cousins with their campaign to march into Emboldor and start those bloody Gate Wars."
Murmurs of shock around the throne room.
"TRAITOR!" shouted a knight.
"JUSTICE!"
"JUSTICE!"
Salazar thought that his scheme was kept confidential.
The throne room went silent. Not a sound could be heard, save for the grunting and snarling of Ultimate Conductor Tyranno and the screaming citizens in the city below. "You cannot hide your crimes from the Divines. Your crimes against the Champion of the Goddesses leave you condemned."
"Condemned!" cried Salazar. "No! No! My girls! My beautiful girls! You wouldn't let him harm me, would you?"
Maria laughed. "You poor insignificant fool! I have made it my personal mission to hunt down those responsible for the corruption in these lands. The trail starts with you, Salazar. Yuri is our last hope to combat the oncoming darkness, but petty politics and greed seem to delay him from returning to fulfill his duties." He raised his sword over his head. "And today you will make up for that."
"NO!" cried Salazar. "Maria! Macarena! Rosita! Please! Don't do this! I am your father! You wouldn't kill your father, would you?"
None of his daughters answered. Rosita whimpered and looked away so as not to see Salazar lose his head.
"GIRLS!" he shouted. "DON'T…"
SLICE!
With one fell swoop, Maria hewed Salazar's head from his shoulders. It rolled to a stop at his feet. Maria picked up the head by the hair and stuck the point of his blade into the exposed esophagus. She held up the sword with the head placed on the tip for all to see. The knights cheered.
"Behold the head of the traitor!" shouted Raven.
"JUSTICE!" shouted Maria.
"JUSTICE!" shouted the knights.
"JUSTICE!" shouted the Delgado sisters.
ROAR! Ultimate Conductor Tyranno joined in on the celebration. Soon Hassleberry and Fabian dragged the headless body of Lord Salazar away.
Present Time
Maria smiled again, shaking her head confidently as she remembered the sight of her traitorous father getting beheaded. "And that's how my sisters and I toppled the tyranno of Salazar Delgado."
The audience clapped and the chronicler stood up, wiping a tear from his eye. "Well, done, My Queen!" he said. "He would have led our fair country into turmoil had you and your brave sisters not stood up against him."
"My Lady," said Raven. "We're nearing the Riftgarrdian border as you have said. What is your first order of business?"
Maria looked at Lady Raven's brother. "My first order of business is with Prince Jon."
"Sister," said Esperanza. "What do you want with Prince Jon?"
Maria smiled. "I wish for Feldia to become part of the Alliance. Hassleberry, do get our coats. It's going to be very cold out there."