Patty
A glorious Monday morning greeted her, but for Pamela McKnight, it was any other day. There was fighting going on downstairs meaning her father and stepmother were at it again.
What could it be this time? She wondered. Coffee too cold? Toilet seat got left up? Not that she cared. So long as they kept her out of their squabble. She threw the sheets off and walked to another of the paintings of her signature card, Zera the Mant.
She wore a white tank top and her favorite underwear which was colored black with the words Goodnight Babe written in crystal on the back, a present from her ex-boyfriend. She walked to her deck on her dresser drawer which had a mess of socks, pajama pants, and bra straps hanging from the drawers.
She picked Zera up from the bottom of her deck and gave it a kiss.
Zera the Mant was her favorite thing to paint. He was all over her room acting as her guardian. Sometimes she felt as if Zera the Mant was the only friend she had in the world.
"Morning, Zera," she said, putting the card back on the deck. She looked out the window. Her room had a nice view of the city. The Phobos Corp tower peered down at her from its roost in the central island.
Her parent's screams could still be heard downstairs.
"Another beautiful day?" she said to the nearest painting of Zera, who was shielding a naked girl on the ground. She was sobbing as his purple cloak protected her from a horde of shadowy monsters. The girl was her.
"It never rains, huh?" said Patty.
"PATTY!" shouted her father. "GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE AND FIX OUR COFFEE!"
So, Patty quickly got dressed. Grabbed her backpack and stuffed her deck into the back pocket and hurried downstairs to aid her lazy parents. When she couldn't fix the machine they both started to rant on her.
Patty ran outside from the mansion as her father chased her down.
"ALL YOU DO IS SIT IN YOUR ROOM AND PAINT!" he shouted for all the city to hear. "YOU'RE WORTHLESS! YOU'RE TRASH! THAT'S WHY SHE LEFT US!"
"I have to go to school!" Patty sobbed. "Leave me alone!"
She sniffed and hiccuped as she skulked along the sidewalk.
"Patty!" Yuri shouted, sprinting towards her.
"Hey, Yuri," said Patty.
"Another rough morning?" he asked, seeing her tears smudge her mascara.
"Just forget it." Patty wiped them away with a tissue from the pocket of her baggy, green, cargo pants.
"Where are you going?"
"School. It's Monday."
"Patty, there's no class today or tomorrow," said Yuri. "Teacher Workday."
"Oh!" said Patty. "Well, do I feel stupid."
"Well, seeing as how your dad is at it, again, why don't we go for a walk or something? Maybe a duel or two?"
"I'm not in the mood, kiddo. I need some time alone. But, thanks anyway."
"Well, okay," said Yuri. "If you're ever in need of some company, I'll be in the game shop."
"Bye, Yuri," said Patty.
When he was gone she proceeded into the Edge of Aquarius. 'The nasty side of town' as Yuri called it. Even if there was school today, Patty would have skipped it all the same and headed for a horrid den of depravity hidden underground under the sky bridge called The Red Trident.
"Patty!" said the bouncer with piercings on his face. "No school today?"
"Who fucking cares," Patty said handing him a crumpled hundred dollar bill.
"Well, hop on inside. Enjoy. In case you're up for some games, Levi just installed an arena in there. He acquired it last night."
"And by acquired you mean stolen?" said Patty.
"Details, details," said the bouncer. "Better get inside before anyone gets suspicious. There's been a lot of cops hanging around lately. Saying some pink-haired goon named Bakura is running about the town causing trouble."
"Bakura?" said Patty.
Isn't that the name of Yuri's imaginary friend from childhood?
Patty went on inside. Her ears bombarded with loud heavy metal music. The smell of tobacco, sex, and alcohol intoxicated her nose and her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
She heard a roar coming from a den down below. There was a crowd of punks huddled along a railing overlooking the den. Patty shoved her way through and spotted a dueling arena painted black and detailed with fluorescent spray painting.
"Patty!" shouted a girl with long pigtails of silvery-white hair. One had blue highlights and the other had hot pink. She wore a skimpy spiked corset and very short leather shorts over torn fishnet stockings, and belted leg-length boots. "Long time no see baby?"
"Serena!" Patty said hugging her. "It's only been a few days."
"It feels like an eternity without you, Pamela," said a fat girl with a black Mowhawk and a black trench coat. Her name was Maggie. "It's like we never see your ass anymore."
"Yeah, you think because you hang around the son of Phobos Corp's president you're too good for us?" Serena asked.
"That's not true," said Patty.
VROOM! VROOM! Went the engines of a large chopper in the arena below.
"Levi's at it again," squealed Serena.
"You mean another dork took the thousand dollar challenge?" snorted Maggie. "They're never going to learn, you can't beat the boss."
The owner of The Red Trident, Levi, was down below summoning a ritual monster called Dokurorider. It was different from an original Dokurorider meaning Levi had an extremely rare alternate art card.
This one had a flaming skull and his chopper was painted black with two massive wheels on the back. He had a large sword in hand.
She was approached by a fat fellow wearing a trench coat and sunglasses. He opened up his coat to show off his wares. Patty bought her usual bottle of pills which she used to keep awake in school and to combat her depression.
"Remember," said the seller, "take only two. Once in the morning and another at night. You remember what happened last time? I can't have anymore overdoses happening. The cops will get suspicious."
"Don't worry about me," said Patty, handing him a crumpled and torn fifty. "Just be sure to have my stuff next week."
"Will do, and by the way, I got those extra Zera Ritual cards you wanted."
"Thanks," Patty said taking the cards which were wrapped in tin foil.
"You still trying to pass school?" Serena asked. "I gave up on that shit a long time ago."
"Same here," said Maggie. "And by the look of those eyes, you should too. How long has it been since you had any sleep?"
"Too long," said Patty. "But I want to pass and pursue my art career."
"Careers are overrated," said Maggie. "So is painting."
"It's all I got," said Patty. "It's what I love to do."
"Do what you gotta do, baby," said Serena. "Follow your dreams, if that's what you want to do. Just be sure to let me tag along when you make it big."
"After those few months we had together," Patty smiled, hugging Serena around the waist, "How can I not bring you along."
"Sometimes I regret breaking up with you," said Serena.
VROOM! VROOM! Dokurorider's engines roared and he sped towards the opponent's Griffor monster. He made a powerful slide and rammed his spiked wheels into the monster's face.
The duel was won. Levi, held up his deck triumphantly. He was a good-looking youth wearing a Gothic suit and tie with a silver chain dangling over his hip. His hair was silvery blonde and he had purple contacts over his eyes because he wanted to look like the Targaryens from George R.R Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.
"Anyone else want to take on the thousand-dollar challenge!" shouted the club's MC.
"You there!" shouted Levi, pointing at Patty. "Girl with the black bow. Think you got what it takes?"
"Yeah, I'll take you on!" said Patty.
Serena whopped happily and slapped Patty's backside as she walked down the stone steps to the dueling pit. Patty tossed her backpack and her sweater at Maggie.
"All right, let's go!" said Patty, hopping onto her podium.
"We go when I say we go!" said Levi. "Don't think I ever saw you around here before. But from those pink highlights and that bow in your hair, I speculate you're that girl who is in love with her Zera the Mant."
Patty gave a smirk and let out a humored puff out of her nose. "Yeah, I guess you can say that."
"Nice," said Levi, "they tell me you're pretty good. Let's find out!"
"Do lets," said Patty, "Ladies first. I summon Terra the Terrible in attack mode!"
Heh! Heh! Heh! sneered the fat, green-skinned fiend.
Terra the Terrible
ATK/1200 DEF/1100
"Not bad," said Levi, drawing his card. He examined his hand and smiled. "But it won't be enough to contend with this. Chaos Rider Gustaph!"
The projectors rendered a green-skinned warrior in red straps riding atop a blood-red motorcycle. The headlights in the form of the eyes of a beast.
Chaos Rider Gustaph
ATK/1400 DEF/1500
VROOM! VROOM! The warrior revved up his engines, eager for Levi to declare an attack, which he did. He pointed at Patty's monster and commanded his Chaos Rider to destroy it. Gustaph burned rubber to intimidate Patty then sped towards Terra the Terrible and slashed him in the gut.
Patty snorted with frustration, feeling stupid to have started the duel with a throw-away monster like Terra the Terrible.
Patty-1800 LP
Levi-2000 LP
"Your turn, Pats!" cheered Serena from the stands above.
Patty was disappointed with her draw. A Claw Reacher monster. Her hand was nothing great either, for it was full of throw-away monsters and a trap that could keep her safe, but she needed that in case Zera was drawn. Until then, she had to play defensively.
"I summon Ogre of the Black Shadow in defense mode!" she called out, summoning her beast.
Ogre of the Black Shadow
ATK/1200 DEF/1400
The shadowy beast was weak in terms of attack, but defensively, it was evenly matched with Chaos Rider Gustaph.
"If you think your ogre is going to defend you from my biker beasts, you are sadly mistaken, sweetheart. First I play Graceful Charity. I draw three cards and discard two, like these trap cards, which are the cards I need for this monster. Go, Diskblade Rider in attack mode!"
Another green-skinned beast on a bike appeared on the field, save his armor and his motorcycle was blue. While Gustaph was wielding a sword, Diskblade Rider was equipped with a ringed blade.
Diskblade Rider
ATK/1700 DEF/1500
"And now I equip my Diskblade Rider with Big Bang Shot. This card with raise the attack of my Diskblade Rider by four hundred points. And, it also grants my monster with piercing damage, so even if your ogre is in defense mode, my beast will still inflict damage."
"Fuck!" Patty muttered.
Levi attacked. The Diskblade Rider rode to Ogre of the Black Shadow and sliced and diced him with his ring blade. The ogre exploded and dealt 700 damage to Patty's Life Points.
Patty shielded herself from the blast with her arms.
Patty-1100 LP
Levi-2000
"I guess you aren't so tough," sneered Levi. "You sure you're the Patty everyone's been talking about?"
"I am," Patty declared strongly. "You just wait, I'll wipe the smug look off your face! My deck will come through for me."
She drew her card.
"And my faith rewards me with Summoned Skull, with a devastating attack power of twenty-five hundred!"
OOOH! Went the crowd, for Summoned Skull was one of the most desired monsters of the Fiend-Type. However, Patty's card was different. Her Summoned Skull was an extremely rare alternate art card. Her Summoned Skull was holding a black, demonic scythe, wore heavy purple armor, purple-feathered wings, an armored tail, and one green eye on its head with two black horns coming out from the sides.
Summoned Skull
ATK/2500 DEF/1200
"Attack Chaos Rider Gustaph!" shouted Patty.
Summoned Skull let out a feline-like growl and slashed Chaos Rider Gustaph away with his scythe.
"NO!" shouted Levi. "My monster!"
Patty-1100 LP
Levi-900 LP
"The tides are turning!" shouted Maggie.
"That's it baby!" cheered Serena. "Get 'em!"
"Nice move there, Patty," Levi complimented her monster as well. "But don't think this will change anything. Your Summoned Skull is powerful, but after I'm done with him, your deck will get decimated by my ace monster! I use the ritual spell card: Revival of Dokurorider!"
He sacrificed a level six monster from his hand and summoned his favorite card to the field.
Dokurorider
ATK/1900 DEF/1850
"Ha!" laughed Patty. "No offense, but, he is way weaker than my Summoned Skull. I think the weed got into your head."
"I got plenty for us if you wish to join me after the match."
"Really?" said Patty. "I'm down for that."
"Yeah, but first, I've got to beat you. And I shall do so with my Diskblade Rider. He has a special ability. Once per turn, I can banish a normal trap card from my Graveyard to increase his attack by five hundred points."
"No! Now he's stronger than my Summoned Skull!"
"Damn right he is!"
VROOM! VROOM! The Diskblade Rider zoomed towards Summoned Skull and slashed him down to size.
Patty-1000 LP
Levi-900 LP
"So much for your Summoned Skull!" said Levi. "It's over for you, Patty!"
Three turns went by, and all Patty could do was go defensive. She lost Claw Reacher. Ryu-Kishin, and then her Gross Ghost of Fled Dreams.
But in the end, she finally drew her Zera the Mant. She kissed the card and activated the ritual, sending away just the right amount of monsters needed to summon her favorite monster.
Zera the Mant arrived in all his fury. He gave Dokurorider a good slashing and deal 900 damage to Levi bringing him down to 0.
"I don't believe it!" said the MC. "Patty has beaten Levi! She wins the thousand dollar challenge!"
"Congratulations," Levi said, after the duel and placed ten 100's on Patty's hand.
"You promised me a smoke," said Patty.
"I did didn't I?" Levi said with a confident grin. He leaned his head to the right. "My office is down this way," he said.
"Just you and me?" Patty smirked.
"Just you and me," Levi assured her.
Yuri
"I can't believe you're buying me cards from your own pocket!" said Yuri.
He, Nick, Carter, and Tyson were standing in the Ruby Dragon looking at the new set called Legacy of Darkness. Nick bought a hundred of them in search of Tyrant Dragon. But he said aside some extra money to help Yuri, for Crystal invited him to a party hosted by a friend of hers from school.
"Think nothing of it," said Nick. "After all, you're going to a party where only the best of the best can go. Henry Frost is not only one of the richest duelists on the island chain but he's pretty good with his magicians. Not to mention, you're going to be challenged by a lot of hotshots who are going to want to see that Black Tyranno of yours."
"WHAT THE CRRRPPPP!" shouted a little boy in the aisle behind them. His mother was just buying a board game for her nephew's birthday. She just put away a pack of cards he was carrying.
Yuri and his friends did all they could to ignore him.
"Well, I'm pretty sure they've encountered tougher monsters than my Black Tyranno," said Yuri. ("Yeah but I want it!")
"Waboku!" cheered Carter. "Waboku!"
"Yeah man, Waboku," said Tyson. ("But I want it mom!") "You could use that to defend..."
"DARN IIIIIIIT!" shouted the boy, going into rage mode when his mom put the cards away and went to the register.
"Shit," whispered Tyson. "That kid's about to go Super Saiyan on us."
"Uh, I think that's our cue to go," said Nick, running to the cash register.
The kid kicked a stand of structure decks to the ground.
"Hey...HEY!" shouted Boris.
"I GET NOTHING!" shouted the boy as he went out the door. "NEVER NOTHING!"
"Stop right there!" yelled his mom. "STOP RIGHT THERE!"
When they were gone everyone in the store began to laugh.
"What the hell, man!" said Tyson. "Talk about spoiled."
"Well, it was a lot of money," said Nick, "but you're worth it, Yuri, here you go."
He shoved all the packs in Yuri's arms.
"Wow, thanks," said Yuri.
The woman came back inside looking shocked and distraught.
"OH MY GOD!" she shouted. "THERE'S A GIRL IN YOUR ALLEYWAY!"
"What? A girl?" said Boris.
Yuri and his friends followed Boris outside.
"Oh my God," said Yuri.
"PATTY!" shouted Nick.
Patty was face down on the ground in her underwear surrounded by trash. Her cards were scattered all around her. Zera the Mant tucked in her waistband. Someone spray-painted SLUT on her buttocks.
"Is she dead?" asked the boy, poking her ribs with a stick.
"STOP THAT!" shouted Sergei, shoving past the crowd. He lightly pushed the boy back to his mother.
"Is she okay, Boris?" Yuri asked.
"She's alive, just drugged out of her mind!" he answered. He checked her pupils which were dilated.
"Drugs!" shouted Tyson.
"Not again," said Nick.
"Boys, get back!" shouted Sergei. "Everyone get back! Boris, get these people out of here. Wanda, get me a blanket to cover her up. We got to get this girl to the hospital."
"We're coming with you!" said Nick.
"No, you go home!" said Sergei.
"But she's our friend!" said Carter.
"I'll take care of her, da?"
"Okay," said Nick. "Come on guys, let's pick up her cards."
Wanda came out of the shop with a blue blanket. Sergei picked Patty up in a fireman's lift and put the blanket over her.
Yuri walked into Patty's room in the hospital the following day. She was up in bed eating a small bowl of cherry-flavored jello. She smiled. Her face was horribly gaunt, and the bags under her eyes were sickly purple.
"Hi, baby," Patty said with a hoarse voice. "Can you believe it? I've been expelled from school. Principal Green saw the video of me passed out outside the Ruby Dragon. Daddy's going to kill me for this."
"If he isn't, I will," said Yuri, horribly stern, walking forward into the room.
The leather of his jacket creaked. Water dripped from it, soaked from walking in the rain outside. The water droplets on his beanie glistened in the dull light of Patty's room. Thunder rumbled, making Patty feel awfully nervous. This whole setting. The atmosphere. Yuri's angry appearance. She had a feeling she was going to be in even more trouble.
Patty's smile faded. "Yuri...I...I screwed up. Don't you be mad at me, too."
"You promised me you'd be clean," said Yuri. "You said you'd stop going to nightclubs and filling your body with this crap. Look at you. Look what those ANIMALS did to you. I warned you, didn't I. I warned you something like this would happen. It's just a club, you said. Nothing bad will happen, you said."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry's not good enough, Patty," said Yuri. He sighed sadly, then covered his face with his palms. "My folks...they don't like what you've done. Bad enough you're a social media thot. But now this? I don't know what else to do. We can't go on. You and me can't go on."
Patty's lips trembled. Yuri felt his heart sinking when he saw the tears of hurt glistening in her eyes. "No...no...Yuri...you don't mean that. We can work something out. I'll get help. Please, don't leave me. I love you."
"But you need to love yourself," Yuri said, breathing heavily, trying to control his emotions. "I don't respect anyone who doesn't respect themselves. And you clearly don't. There's a lot I've tolerated from you, Patty, but this is the last straw. I'm breaking up with you."
Patty heaved in sorrow. She buried her face in her hands and wailed.
"I'm sorry," Yuri said, walking out of the room.
As Patty sobbed in bed, a shadow loomed over her. It formed eerie red eyes. It was Zera the Mant. The monster snarled in delight proud of what he had done. He looked down at Patty crying and let out an eerie chuckle.
Despite the situation, Yuri and his friends, even Crystal, went to visit Patty as she was in the hospital. She then had to leave for a rehabilitation center for another few days which seemed more like a resort getaway. She was gone a while, but she gave the location of the Red Trident to the police who raided the club and arrested Levi.
Seeing as how her father and stepmother were not fit to raise her anymore, Patty went to live with her grandmother in her apartment on the fourth island of Aquarius. Days later, with Crystal's help, she was enrolled in Mrs. Andersons School for Girls on Mobius Island. Her grandmother thought it best to keep Patty away from male influences, as that would speed up up her road to recovery. And it was partially the blame for most of the trouble Patty got into.
Hopefully there she would find a new life and sober up. Yuri wanted to visit her, but he couldn't. He did not want to see her again.
And he had almost forgotten that he had to get ready for the party Crystal invited him to months ago. Deep down, he didn't want to go. But he couldn't afford to let Crystal down. Yuri dressed in his father's favorite tuxedo. To make a good impression he let Yuri use his black ruby-studded Duel Disk.
By eight o'clock Crystal and Ren came by on a limousine that took them to a beautiful towering mansion that had a beach for a backyard. Yuri gulped as the vehicle came to a stop in a lit-up driveway. Colorful lights flashed in the windows and beautiful girls walked around in elegant dresses. Loud music could be heard booming from within the walls of the mansion.
Bernard, the driver opened the door and held out his hand to let Crystal out. She thanked him and paid him with a one-hundred-dollar tip. Yuri followed. He wanted to get back in the car. Game shops, parks, and his room were the only places Yuri ever wanted to be. Parties like this were what he saw on television.
A long time ago, Yuri felt like he would do anything to join them and live that life. But now that one such party stood before him, he felt like he wanted to run home.
"Don't be so nervous," Crystal said taking Yuri's hand. "Everything will be okay. I'll take care of you. Just act like you won a big tournament, and you're in the club."
"Sheesh," said Yuri. "I didn't beat anyone so important I should be here."
"No, but you beat a Dragon Sister and the regional champion," Ren said coming out of the limo. "That's gotten you pretty famous little buddy."
"I just hope nobody challenges me to a Duel," Yuri said with a gulp. "I don't think even my Black Tyranno can match any of these guys."
"He's right, Crystal," said Ren. "We have to look out for him."
"If they want to play against our little flower, they're going to have to get through me."
"Thanks," said Yuri. He finally got the joke. "Oh…that's not cool, Crystal."
Ren and Crystal laughed out loud, crossing over a bridge with a red hexagon-tiled path and black iron guards where young guests stood and talked or took photos of themselves with their phones.
There was a lit-up moat beneath the bridge where fishes of all sizes swam, but the main eye-opener was the ten black-tipped reef sharks. The guests were young; all of them were some of the most elite Duelists in the country.
The night sky was turning rather purple, a sign that it was going to rain soon. In fact, flashes of lightning briefly lit up the skies. Crystal said that storm or no storm there was going to be a party.
"I don't belong here," said Yuri, adjusting his bow tie.
They walked up the marble steps and into the large foyer where the young African American host, Henry Frost, kindly greeted them.
"Crystal, you look lovely, as always," he said with a thick British accent. He took her hand and kissed it. "Ren, long time no see, old friend."
"Good to see you too, Henry," Ren said, shaking his hand.
"And who is this?"
"This is my dearest friend, Daveed Montgomery," said Crystal. "But we call him Yuri."
"Montgomery, did you say?" Henry asked. "As in Jacob Montgomery?"
"Yes, he's my father," said Yuri.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance. So you're the famous, Yuri. Crystal's told me so much about you." Henry shook Yuri's hand. "Please, make yourselves at home. And if you need anything don't hesitate to ask."
The host made his leave.
Yuri followed Crystal around the party shaking hands with champions and other prestigious players. As he made his way deeper into the mansion, the music began to pound on his ears as well as the attacks from the Duel Monsters up in the arena on the roof.
For a long while, Yuri said nothing. He just smiled and continued to shake hands with people that Crystal knew, and she knew quite a lot of individuals.
They went downstairs to the basement where people danced on the floor as a DJ played his music. Others were Dueling on bright lit-up tables. The basement bar had a window, which showed the fishes and sharks from the moat.
Yuri, Ren, and Crystal sat down by one of the windows to rest their feet. Crystal jeered with excitement when the sharks started swimming by their booth.
There were flashes of light coming from the surface. It was the guests snapping pictures of the beautiful creatures from up top.
Crystal was greeted by more famous Duelists and a few movie stars and music moguls as they ate their food and learning that Yuri was a both a Montgomery and the one who beat Lawson in a Duel was an eye-opener for them. He fit in rather well, and he began to calm down.
Kiss From a Rose began to play and couples went to the floor to dance to the soft song.
"Any of you guys want to dance?" asked Crystal.
"Sure," Yuri and Ren both said.
"Maybe you two have to Duel to get to see who dances with me."
"Well, I'm out," said Yuri. "If I'm going to Duel Ren I'll lose."
"Come on, we'll take turns," said Crystal.
The three of them got up and walked to the dance floor where they were urged by others to join them.
Brett came out of the crowd and took Crystal's hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked.
She gasped in shock and was led away, leaving Yuri and Ren alone. Afterward, they went upstairs, mingled with more guests, and then sat down on a leather couch outside on the porch. There weren't that many people here, so Crystal used this as an opportunity to see how Yuri was doing. He gave positive answers, to which Crystal smiled and hugged him.
The wind began to blow hard and howled in their ears. Lightning flashed over the ocean in the dark horizon. A girl quickly took a photo of the amazing sight with her phone. The palm trees swayed violently, and a roar of thunder shook the land, but still, the party and the Duels raged on.
A Blackland Fire Dragon flew in from the clouds at its master's call ready to do battle with the opponent's Ancient Crimson Ape on the roof above. A group of girls came up to Crystal and asked if she wanted to dance with them on top of the pool's water fountain, which she did. Yuri held on to her drink as he watched her run off. She and the girls removed their spiked heels and dresses.
Yuri's mouth fell as he saw them jump into the pool in their lingerie. Henry Frost and a mob of young men crowded around the pool cheering them on as the girls began to dance on the fountain. Lighting flashed again over the ocean in the distance pumping the adrenaline of the dancers and causing a loud WOOO to come from them.
"Huh," Yuri said, looking up at the sky to divert his gaze from Crystal and her friends. "Rainy season's kicking in."
"I'm…going to get more vodka," Ren said walking back inside. He was shaking his head. He couldn't believe he saw Crystal act that way.
"I don't belong here," said Yuri.
"Doesn't look like you're enjoying yourself," said a Duelist, a few years older than he was. He was well built giving Yuri the impression that he liked to hang out at the gym. He had gelled black hair and wore a black blazer, a black shirt, and pants. He had a custom Duel Disk on his right wrist made of chrome with fancy engravings and neon lights.
"I'm not a party person," Yuri responded. More lightning lit up the sky and the bellowing of thunder followed. "I'm only here because of her."
The Duelist looked at the fountain. "Crystal Anderson? Is she your date?"
"I'm hers. I refused to come at first, but she gave me puppy eyes that would melt your heart."
"Well, now you're one lucky dude. I'm Ted McQueen."
"Daveed Montgomery. But friends just call me Yuri," he said shaking Ted's hand.
"Montgomery you say? You're the son of the great Jacob Montgomery and the kid who beat Randall Lawson, the regional champion."
"Guilty as charged," said Yuri.
"This is truly an honor. I'm sure you've heard of me."
"Can't say I have," said Yuri.
"I'm the five-time tag team champion; the 2009 Regional Champion; and the winner of the Phobos Corp. Invitational."
"Again, I haven't heard of you, but that's very impressive," said Yuri. "Crystal doesn't talk about her other acquaintances when she's with me."
"And what about you, friend?" Ted asked placing a friendly hand on Yuri's shoulder. "Surely a Montgomery must be a great player. How many championships do you hold?"
"None."
"How many tournaments have you won?"
"None."
"I see. Besides your win with Randall and Layla Lovecraft and that prodigy Miguelito, do you have any other victories at all?"
"Six...I think."
"You don't play much do you?" Ted said with a chuckle.
"I was never really lucky when it came to deck building," said Yuri. "I opened pack after pack, but all I got where regular rare cards while everyone around me got Gaia the Fierce Knight, Mirror Force, and Jinzo."
"But, you're a Montgomery. Your father owns the games. Doesn't he give you cards?"
"No, we have to get them ourselves. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair. As I said, my luck with booster packs hasn't been good. I got a Chaos Emperor Dragon once from my uncle, but I gave that to Crystal."
"You mean to tell me that Chaos Emperor Dragon she has in her deck was once yours?"
Yuri nodded in response.
"At least I think it was," he said. "I woke up and found it next to my night table one morning. It was the first of many strange cards that came out of nowhere."
Ted scoffed and shook his head in disbelief.
"Man," he said, "I would've paid anything for that card. Chaos Emperor Dragon-Envoy of the End and its light counterpart, Black Luster Soldier-Envoy of the Beginning, are the most sought after cards in the world. Only ten of them were ever made. Duelists would pay anything to have those cards in their collection, and you just gave it to her?"
"Yeah, I mean, I didn't have a deck at the time, and I didn't play all that well."
"Hmm. And that rare card everyone says you have. May I see it?"
Yuri held up the card.
"Dinosaurs eh?" said Ted. "I don't see many with a deck like that. Hardly any support for the damn things. But still, what an effect. Why don't we give that deck of yours a try?"
"You want to play?" Yuri asked.
"Of course," said Ted. "I'd like to see your skills, and that Black Tyranno in action."
"You want to see my skills or do you want the chance to beat a Montgomery?"
Ted laughed. "Come, there's an open space right on the beach."
"Lead on, champ," said Yuri.
He followed Ted down to the beach close to where the waves crashed into the sand. The lights from the mansion provided enough light for them to see their cards and each other. They already drew quite a crowd.
The two men activated their Duel Disks and their Life Point meters displayed in mid-air showing everyone they had 4000 Life Points.
"I'll let you start first Montgomery."
"Okay...uh." Yuri began to search through his hand. "I'll summon..."
"Hold it! Hold everything!"
Yuri turned to see who shouted and saw Crystal running towards him hopping up and down trying to get her spiked heels back on her feet. She was clothed again, her hair dripping and soggy.
"Crystal?" said Ted.
She made it to the surf. "Come on, Ted, I'm not about to let you guys have all the fun. I'm in. I'll team up with Yuri."
Ted was pleased.
"A tag team Duel? Very well, now it looks like I'll need a partner."
Almost instantly a mob of Duelists crowded to the beach, all of them raising their hands to team up with the tag team champion, and the chance go up against Crystal, and the boy who beat Lawson.
But suddenly, Ted's partner walked out of the crowd. Yuri and Crystal frowned when they saw it was Brett Martinetti.
"I'll be your partner," said Brett as he activated his black Duel Disk covered in white floral designs.
"Ah, Mr. Martinetti. Yes, join me."
Brett got into place and smirked. "On one condition," he said. "How's about we wager some cards. Say, that special monster Mr. Montgomery made for the both of you."
"Are you out of your mind?" said Crystal. "There is no way we're putting Reyna on the line."
"Reyna?" Ted asked.
"Yes, one of the most beautiful monsters ever made," said Brett. "There is only one in print, and Crystal has it. Mr. Montgomery made it for her like a sigh of her friendship with that loser she has for a partner. If anything, that card should be ours."
"Why should it be?" Yuri asked.
"The card should be ours because she is my fiancée!" Brett boasted aloud.
The crowd oohed. Ren was standing on the balcony of the mansion. Brett shouted his engagement so loud he could hear from where he stood. He felt heartbroken. Ren had strong feelings for Crystal since they were very young. At a young age, he and Yuri would compete against one another for her attention and admiration.
To know she was getting married, made him furious. He had to do everything in his power to keep himself from running down there and knocking the stuffing out of Brett.
The girls around him gasped.
"Marriage?" one of them said.
Yuri looked over at Crystal who was devastated. She buried her face in her hands.
"Wow," was all Yuri could say. "When were you going to tell me?"
"The wedding has been planned since the day we were kids. I know I should have told you. I'm so sorry, buddy,"
"Don't be," said Yuri, patting her shoulder.
"So you see," said Brett. "Crystal and I are to be married soon. A card of such grace and beauty should be shared by a couple such as ourselves."
"You must be out of your mind!" Crystal said at once. "Yuri may not be much of a Duelist, no offense bro."
"None taken," Yuri replied casually while giving a cheerful grin and folding his arms.
"But he's a great friend," Crystal continued. "Yuri, Ren, and the Montgomery family have become closer to me than you or anyone of those snobs in your house. Yeah, I'm marrying you, but it doesn't mean I like it one bit. My mother is just a bitch who would sell her very soul to the devil for a penny. If it weren't for this stupid wedding, I'd have absolutely nothing to do with the likes of you!"
The crowd oohed and aahed.
Brett was furious.
"You want to hold this card with me, Brett? Then you're going to have to beat my TRUE partner and me."
"True partner?" gasped Ren. Could Crystal have stronger feelings for Yuri than me?
"Very well," said Brett. "I lose you can see your so-called 'brother' as often as you'd like. I win, well, you can keep the card, but it will be yours and MINE. And Yuri will never bother you again!" Brett said dramatically pointing his finger at Yuri who was dumbstruck.
"Somebody's been watching way too many Saturday morning cartoons." said Yuri.
"I'll say," said Crystal. "You have a deal."
"WHAT!" Yuri cried.
"Come on, let's do it," said Crystal.
"You realize if we lose you and I will never share Reyna again. What's worse is I'll never see YOU again."
"We can do it, Yuri, come on."
"Okay, but I hope you know what you've gotten ourselves into. Our friendship is on the line. Don't you find it ridiculous that it's because of a Duel Monsters match? This whole thing is stupid."
"Yuri!" Crystal whined. She made her puppy face.
"No, no, no, not that thing you do with the lips and eyes and the face and the OH-NO!" He groaned. "All right, all right."
"Can we continue?" Brett asked.
"Yes," Yuri said shuffling his new deck and placing it into the deck slot which glowed red as the cards went in. "Sweet, dad's custom Duel Disk is awesome. Well, here goes. I summon Crawling Dragon Number Two!"
Crawling Dragon #2
ATK/ 1600 DEF/1200
"Then I lay three cards face down and end my turn."
"At last I can begin," said Brett. "Ah, good, I summon Garoozis in attack mode!"
He summoned a lizard-like warrior in steel armor plating and wielding a mighty ax.
Garoozis
ATK/1800 DEF/1500
"I would attack," said Brett. "But as the rules state, we must not attack until everyone has a turn."
"That's a relief," said Crystal. "My turn." She drew her card. "I summon Infernal Dragon!" She slapped her mosaic rare card on the Duel Disk. A dark green dragon with black and red membranous wings and a trident tail rendered onto the battlefield. It had a wingspan of fifteen feet and stood
Infernal Dragon
ATK/2000 DEF/0
"All right Yuri. Let's get them."
"Impressive monster, Crystal," said Ted. "My compliments."
"Thank you," said Crystal, looking up at her dragon. "He is cool, huh?"
"For what good, it will do them?" laughed Brett. "Because if she attacks with it, the dragon will be destroyed and she'll be wide open."
"Then I guess it's lucky for me that I can't attack," Crystal said, cocking her head back. "Your turn, Ted."
"Very well," her opponent said, drawing his first card. "I will place a card face down and summon the lovely Gyakutenno Megami in attack mode."
He summoned an ashen-skinned fairy with beautiful green hair. The fairy wore an elegant, silky pink dress and stylish gold jewelry.
Gyakutenno Megami
ATK/1800 DEF/2000
"Montgomery, I believe it's your turn."
"Thank you," Yuri said, drawing. "I will summon Two-Headed King Rex!"
The Duel Disk scanned the card and rendered its holographic form onto the field. A five-meter-tall winged-dinosaur with two ferocious heads growled as it came into view. Its flesh was dark purple, and its horns made of gold.
Two-Headed King Rex
ATK/1600 DEF/1200
"Wow, Yuri!" said Crystal. "You got yourself a new dinosaur!"
"He's just one of many," said Yuri "I place a card face down and end my turn. All yours, Brett."
"Don't talk to me!" said Brett. "I know!" He searched his hand, grinned. "I play Polymerization, to fuse these two Thunder Dragons in my hand to become the mighty, Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon!"
Two serpent-like dragons with green scales appeared on the field. A vortex formed behind them and sucked them in. From the vortex erupted a display of lightning then, stomping out, came an oddly-shaped beast, two meters tall with bright pink skin and a purple underbelly. It had chicken-like feet, green with purple spikes. The body seemed to be its head, and there was a second mouth on the top.
Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon
ATK/2800 DEF/2100
"Oh, geez," Crystal cringed when she read the monster's attack points. "Brett just summoned his ace monster."
"And now, my great beast, attack Crystal's Infernal Dragon!"
The creature's horns began to glow bright blue. Electricity sparked all around them.
"I think not, Brett!" Yuri called out. "Reveal face down card: Shadow Spell!"
"NO!" shouted Brett. He watched as his dragon was tied up in chains. It writhed and hissed, trying to get free. Its attack points also went down by 700, reducing it to 2100.
"That's one of the rarest trap cards in the game," said Ted. "Color me impressed."
"Sorry, babe," Crystal said, wagging her finger. "Try again next time."
"I end my turn," Brett scoffed.
"My turn," said Crystal. "I summon Seiyaru!"
She summoned a small pink dragon with an ax-like head. It squawked as it flew out from the card and flew circles above the battlefield, ready to attack.
Seiyaru
ATK/2500 DEF/2300
"And the Queen of Dragons summons, yet, another beautiful monster to the field," Ted said, clapping his hands. "Wonderful."
"Wait till you see it when it attacks," said Crystal. "Thanks to Yuri's trap, it's stronger than that Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon."
"You wouldn't dare!" hissed Brett. Twin-Headed Thunder Dragon was his favorite monster.
"Oh wouldn't I?" said Crystal. "Seiyaru, ATTACK!"
The dragon fired a neon green flames at Brett's dragon. The attack reduced it to cinders. Brett's Life Points dropped to 3600.
"You will pay for this!" growled Brett. "You're going to get such a spanking when we get back home."
"Ha!" scoffed Crystal. "Looking forward to it. Yuri, can I count on you to have my back?"
"You bet," Yuri replied. "They're going down."
It was a long and arduous Duel.
The crowd thought Brett and Ted almost had them when four of the Monarchs were out, and many thought it was over when Crystal's Chaos Emperor Dragon was destroyed. The Duel went on for so long that each player's decks were running low. Yuri was standing with 150 Life Points while Crystal had 1000. They sent their monsters to intercept attacks as a way to save each other and Crystal, and Yuri boosted each other's Life Points with healing spells and monsters with healing effects.
Working together Yuri and Crystal summoned Reyna, Empress of Love and Friendship; a creature with 5000 attack points that could only be summoned with seven dark monsters and seven light monsters in the graveyard.
Ren stared in awe at the beautiful monster.
She was a woman, a six-winged angel, wearing an extravagant white dress that flowed like water. She had an armored right arm and a beautiful bracelet on her left wrist. She had flowing white-gold hair and eyes like the sun. Seven golden-armored dragons flew around her sprinkling stardust as they flapped their wings. She had a radiant glow around her, lighting up the night. Reyna's beautiful face beamed down at the monsters below. Around her neck was a silver locket, and inside was a picture of Yuri and Crystal when they were little, the day they first met. Passionate Duelist was playing from the inside of Reyna's locket.
"That song?" gasped Brett. "It's the melody from Yuri's necklace.
"So…" Ren said, sadly. "This monster represents how strong your love for each other is."
Crystal commanded her monster to attack. Reyna held out her arm and a large sword appeared in her grip. It began to glow sky-blue, and she slammed it into the ground sending a powerful blast of energy towards the enemy monsters. They were obliterated and then she wiped out Brett's Life Points.
Having lost his partner and with no means to combat such a monster, Ted surrendered.
The hour was of late, and soon many guests began to take their leave. After a few drinks, Crystal and Yuri went to look for Ren but someone said he went home already.
Crystal sighed and took her phone out of her purse. She called her limo driver, and he arrived shortly. She was very jumpy on the way home and giggled with excitement from the Duel.
"That was so cool!" she said.
"Yeah," said Yuri. "I can't believe we pulled that off."
"I know," said Crystal. "I thought Ted had you when his Swordstalker went to attack your points. But you activated that Mirror Force my goodness I couldn't believe the look on Brett's face."
The wind started to blow harder, and rain began to fall. The thunder boomed. Crystal yelped and hugged Yuri's arm rocking back and forth in fear. If there is one thing Crystal hated more than anything, it was thunder and lightning.
"Do you remember when we were kids and that big storm came when I went to have lunch at your house?" she asked, to which Yuri smiled.
"Yeah, I do," Yuri replied. "You were such a mess."
"Yeah, but then you and I built that fort out of blankets and pillows under the table. Then you held me in your arms and said: "Worry not, my fair lady! Sir Yuri will protect you from the dreaded Thunder Dragon."
"Did I say that?" Yuri said, slapping his hand on his face pretending not to remember.
"Yes you did," Crystal said looking back up at Yuri. "You took out cards from your old binder and pretended to summon creatures. First, it was Kairyu-Shin, and we pretended he started summoning a rainstorm. Then you brought up Tornado Bird, who we pretended was causing that terrifying wind. And every time thunder erupted it was Thunder Dragon fighting back. You set down Chaos Emperor Dragon; the rain was subsiding. Then lastly, you put down our card Reyna and moments later..."
"The sun came out," said Yuri.
Crystal smiled and rested her forehead on Yuri's arm. "You and Ren all I have to look up to in this world."
"We are?"
"Yeah, you guys the only ones who treat me like a person, and not some glittery accessory. I know you don't like him, but it will mean the world to me if you can make it to the wedding. You're going to be the only light I have in a long and painful life ahead."
Crystal dropped Yuri off at his home. They hugged. Yuri stood outside the gate watching the limo drive down his neighborhood.
"Oh Crystal," Yuri said sadly.
Where on Earth would she be without him? He remembered her saying that he was her greatest treasure.
A year ago Yuri was trying to keep her from taking a bottle of pills when she called to say goodbye. She wanted to kill herself. They conversed late into the night until the dawn began to creep up, but he eventually saved her.
Crystal was a girl who grew up pampered and spoiled, but the people in her life exploited her; seeing her as a money maker than a daughter, save for her father.
Bill Anderson was once a wealthy oil tycoon, and he loved his daughter to death, though her mother was not too pleased to share her fortune with a child. Crystal should have had two more siblings in her house, but, secretly, her mother aborted the children before anyone knew she was pregnant.
One horrible day Mr. Anderson was killed when one of the oil platforms he owned exploded. It was a devastating loss for Crystal. The death of her father caused many shady deals with the board of directors. Eventually, her family lost the company and was very close to losing everything. But, Crystal's mother was good friends with the Martinetti crime family, and they said they would help her, but only if Crystal married Brett and took control of the company.
Yuri knew that Brett was a horrid man since the unfortunate day that they met. He called Crystal horrible names and he and his friends would always dominate her with his power.
Poor Crystal seemed to have been miserable since they met. She and Yuri found each other as toddlers when they first met at a Duel Monsters tournament Yuri's father was hosting.
Five-year-old Yuri walked with Ren down the halls of the small community arena where the competition was taking place.
"Look at all those cool monsters!" said Ren, looking at the Duel Screen displaying the monsters in 3D. "I can't wait to be a Duelist too!"
"Yeah, me too," said Yuri. He was cheering for a dinosaur player, but he was eliminated in the first round.
"Yuri," said his mother, Paula. "I'd like you to meet some people. They're new here in Aquarias. This is Helen Anderson and her daughter Crystal."
Yuri looked up at the cold blonde-haired lady named Helen. She greeted him, but it was quick and unwelcoming. He felt angered, but that changed when he saw Crystal.
He could feel his cheeks blush and Crystal's cheeks did as well, and she covered her mouth timidly as she gave a giggle. Her hair was short and curled, and she wore a white linen dress with silky blue sashes.
"Ren here is older than my Yuri, but they've been like brothers since they first met. I'm sure they'll be the best of friends with Crystal."
"Indeed," Helen said coldly, looking at Yuri as though he was a cockroach that needed to be smashed.
"What's wrong with your boy's eye? Why is it glowing like that?"
"We don't know. We took Yuri to the best doctors across the globe, but no one could figure out what it is. What does it matter? I think it makes him look kind of, as the kids say, cool."
"If he were my child I'd have it removed," Helen said, in a disgusted manner. "It's not contagious, is it? My Crystal won't have glowing eyes either will she?"
"No, of course not. Renny here has been playing with Yuri for a long time, and he there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him. My Yuri is one hundred percent safe, Ms. Anderson. Don't worry."
"You can't be too sure," said Helen.
"Eh, right," said Paula. "Come, Helen, let's leave the children to watch the games. The ladies are in the sitting room upstairs."
The two women left.
"Hey, I'm Ren."
"Nice to meet you," said Crystal. Her eyes lit up, and she had the face of a baby angel.
"Will you be my new friend?" she asked.
"I don't see why not," Ren said.
She looked at Yuri.
"Hello," she said.
Yuri said nothing and hid behind Ren.
"I said hello," Crystal said, her feelings hurt.
Ren laughed. "You'll have to excuse, Yuri, here. He's still just a little kid."
"Aw, I don't mind. He looks nice. And I think that eye is pretty."
"Really?" Yuri asked.
"Yeah. It looks cool. I wish I had one like that. Do you want to go to the playground outside?" Crystal asked. "These Duels are getting boring."
"You go ahead," said Ren. "I want to watch the matches. I'm sure Yuri wouldn't mind taking you there."
As Ren left to spectate the Duels in the arena down below, Crystal and Yuri played on the swings outside in the playground.
"You like Duel Monsters?" Crystal asked.
Yuri nodded his head. "You?" he asked back.
Crystal bit her bottom lip and played with her fingers as she sat sadly on the swing.
"I used to like it," said Crystal, sadly staring at the ground so as to hide the tears from Yuri. "It was okay at first, but now mommy makes me play for hours so I can improve. I don't know why. Daddy and I played it lots and lots and lots of times. But it was mostly for fun."
"Where's your daddy?" Yuri asked.
"Daddy went to sleep when I was still a baby."
She looked at her lap and made a squeaky sniff.
"Oh, gee. I'm sorry."
"It's all right. So, Yuri, uh...will you be my friend?"
"Of course I will."
"Pinky swear?" she said, holding out her pinky.
Yuri held out his and locked it with Crystal's.
"Pinky swear," Yuri muttered to himself, as he watched the limo disappear into the night.
Lore
The Singer and the Carpenter King
Narrated by Yuri Wallcroft
Tea Gardner told me this story once when I first arrived in Termnnia. The Turtledoves around her neck are the sigil of her House. A House that came into power thanks to the strength of friendship. She would lecture me on and on about it. How it could change the tide of someone's life. I thought it all nonsense but there was truth in her words, as cringy as they were. Especially in this tale.
The tale of The Singer and the Carpenter King is a tragedy known well throughout Termnnia and the continent of Balodrum from whence the story begins. And from this tale originates the sad, sorrowful song with the lyrics: "Why have you forsaken me?"
For years, Termnnian Kings, if they felt suspicious of feverish alliances, would send bards to the keeps of their subordinates and play this song. A song of betrayal. Deception. Sorrow. And death. And our first-ever High King: Tiberius Pendragon.
It began in a small town in Balodrum where young Tiberius worked as a carpenter who scraped a living selling rocking chairs and furniture to the lord of the castle overlooking his village. His craft was fair, but not enough to gain the favor of potential customers. Tiberius felt unappreciated and felt that he was of no use to anyone. So great was his sorrow, that went to the forest to hang himself. But then, he came upon a beautiful girl singing by the river. At once, Tiberius felt the need to know her. She had the most beautiful voice. The girl knew him at once as the carpenter and asked to see his wares. So he took her to his workshop. The girl knew Tiberius had a gift and it was thanks to her that Tiberius worked day-in and day-out to improve his craft.
The girl also had a gift. A gift in the voice and storytelling. But she was sad, for no one could listen to her tales. She told him that she came to the river to drown herself. She felt useless. Alone. She felt as though the world would be better without her. But Tiberius helped her to her feet and promised people would hear her stories.
For days, he chopped down the best trees for his craft and instead used the wood to make a stage for her. He built it at the mouth of the road where traders and warriors would often travel. There, the girl sang and told her tales, and the travelers would stop to listen to her and give her coin and renown. She became famous. As thanks for his kindness, the girl offered to be his friend. Every day after work, the girl would meet with Tiberius on a hill to tell him the most beautiful stories of princesses being rescued from evil knights by brave, fire-breathing dragons. Duelists with the skills to remain undefeated for hundreds of years. And tales of Norman the Conqueror. It is said that the hill where they sat on to rest had a grand view of the village and the castle.
"I'm going to live there one day," said Tiberius. "I'm going to be the bravest, most honorable knight in all of history."
The girl smiled and believed in him. "I cannot wait to sing songs of your heroism," she said.
So by and by, Tiberius and the girl grew to be best friends. They would talk for hours and hours, having the most intricate of conversations. They shared their life stories. Their hopes and dreams. Tiberius felt as though he and the girl would be friends forever. She did as well and wrote a song of everlasting friendship between the two of them. At the end of each day, the girl would play her harp and sing the song to remind Tiberius that what they had was unbreakable. A friendship that would last a thousand years. He wanted to thank her by spreading word of her voice. He used what little money he had saved and bought a horse to act as her harbinger. He rode far and wide to tell everyone about her.
He sometimes rode for days no matter how good...or bad...the weather was, going from inn to inn and telling all about the maiden with the voice like silver bells. When he did come back to the village, he was sick and exhausted. But he had to continue his work at the shop, and make more fliers to pass out in the nearby towns. He almost worked himself to death for her and got no thanks from her for his deeds. But he loved her too much to care.
She had her first concert by the road one night. Needless to say, it was a big success. The girl had grown in fame thanks to Tiberius' generosity. She became so renowned that even kings invited her to sing at their banquets. The both of them began to grow rich, and Tiberius thought their vow was true. That he and the singer would be friends for all eternity.
Until that fateful day...
Tales of the singer's voice and beauty were spread far and wide. One day, the girl received a letter that she had been accepted to the Bard's Guild of Dragonseed, an institution where the most successful bards learned their craft. But she would have to travel far. Very far. Tiberius worried that they would never spend as much time with each other again. Or ever see each other again. But the girl told him not to worry; for she purchased a Duel Monster known as Skull Red Bird, a creature who could fly faster than the wind, so they could write letters to each other.
So the girl left and journeyed to her new life, leaving Tiberius behind. For a while, they both wrote to one another often. Tiberius felt a sense of relief, knowing that even though they were so far apart, they could still communicate with one another. There were times when the girl came back to the village and visit him. For Tiberius, it felt as if nothing could stand in the way of their friendship.
But he was wrong.
Fame and ego began to corrupt the girl's mind. The girl quickly started making new acquaintances. Eventually, she was invited to lavish parties to tropical islands far across the ocean and elegant banquets hosted by handsome lords and rich noblewomen. Eventually, her communication with her beloved companion dwindled.
The Skull Red Bird would come three times a week. Then two times. Eventually, the bird started coming once. Sometimes, Tiberius' letters would remain unanswered. Then….the Skull Red Bird never came. He would wait by his window, heart heavy with grief and anxiety, waiting for a reply from his dear friend.
But the days turned to weeks. Then weeks became months.
"I am burdened with my work" she quickly replied when he asked her why she didn't write anymore. "I have many songs to write. I have no time to spend on you anymore. I will write to you when I can but do not expect me often - if not at all at this point. You are still my friend, but this is how it must be. I'm sorry."
She did have a lot of work, of course, but she was not as 'burdened' as she claimed she was. No. She was preoccupied all right. Too preoccupied with attending lavish parties and hanging out in luxurious palaces with her new companions to even care to remember of he poor fool who got her life going in the first place. The one who saved her from death. Her fame grew and grew. But soon, her fame would be nothing more than a tiny cinder by dragon flames; for meanwhile, back in the village, history was being written.
Tiberius ran into great fortune when he saved a lord from a wild horse at a jousting tournament. The lord was so grateful, he named Tiberius his honorary squire. He had done it. He would soon be a knight. He wrote to the girl.
Naturally, she did not respond.
Not that Tiberius cared anymore. He excelled through his training and eventually became a knight like he always dreamed he would be. In his first year, he made a name for himself killing bandits and goblins that nested near the roots of the mountain that loomed over his home. He then slew a powerful Orc known as Gardun the Red. He came to his village with a hero's welcome, for the Orc was a menace to their livelihood. And soon, he found a home in the palace. His time there was unfortunately short. Months later, he was sent to the front lines to aid the Normans in conquering Termnnia. Tiberius wrote to the girl one last time, hoping to rekindle the fellowship he once had with the singer.
But, as you may have guessed, she never responded. After that letter, they remained separated for years. They never spoke again. Tiberius' heart broke, but the girl…hmph. The girl could care less what happened to him. She continued to live her life, not caring that her actions put someone she cared about into a long depression.
You could imagine her surprise when word spread of a High King that was crowned in Termnnia. A warrior who could summon Slifer, Obelisk, and Ra. The first Terratar in thousands of years since Norman the Conqueror's departure. A High King who brought all the kingdoms together and unified them into an almighty continent.
High King Tiberius Pendragon, the Uniter of Termnnia.
He had done it! Tiberius had become a figure that would be known through the annals of history. She had to see him. Her dear friend's dream of becoming a legendary warrior came true. He became all he said and more. He was no mere knight. He was a High King. The first High King.
So, the girl sailed across the sea to Termnnia and waited for days and days to get the chance to see her friend again. A High King. All this time she had befriended a boy who would become the first supreme ruler of Termnnia. Finally, she got her turn to see him. She walked into the throne room with her head high, feeling confident that Tiberius would remember her.
She played their song. Their song of everlasting friendship. And when she was done…Tiberius gave her a gold Star Chip and sent her on her way. The poor girl...she was distraught. How could he not remember her? He who fussed all these years just to have a short letter from her every once in a while.
She begged for him to remember her. But the High King ordered her out. Some say the years apart proved too much. He had forgotten her. But there are some who say... he did not care to remember her. She made her choice when she went away and forgot about her love for him. She made her choice when she decided he was no longer worth her time. She made her choice when she had all but forgotten him. When she treated him like an afterthought that was worth remembering when she felt like it.
The poor girl tried all she could to get him to remember, but she was eventually dragged out by the guards and tossed into the courtyard where she was ordered to go home.
She was not welcome around the High King. Nor would she ever be.
He had new friends now. An alliance of the bravest most powerful knights in the kingdoms. These men and women would bleed for him. Die for him. Stand by him no matter what obstacle stood in his way. They would be the first Noble Knights of the Royal Table. They were the epitome of true friends. Something the singer was not.
So she sailed back to Balodrum, heartbroken and wallowing in her forgetfulness. Her cruelty for treating her dear friend so harshly all those years. All the heartbreak and sorrow she felt, he harbored in his soul for years. But unlike her, Tiberius was resilient. The girl was not. She found the hill where she and her dear friend once sat and talked until the sun went down. The hill where they promised a friendship that would last a lifetime and beyond. She sang one final song.
"My friend! Dear Friend! O' why have you forsaken me!?"
And when the final melody was sung. She hung herself. The lyrics were found and brought back to High King Tiberius, and, oddly enough, he chose to make the song the theme of his newly forged House. A song to remind all that friendship is an alliance that no force of nature can break.
So remember, friends. Treat your allies with honor. Treat them with respect. Treat them as they would treat you. Love them as they love you. For you never know who or what they will become. If you abandon them and the time comes that you finally need them, they won't be there. Forget them, and they will forget you. Ignore them once, and they might ignore you daily. You can try to claw your way back into their lives, but you are scratching in vain, for their hearts have been turned into the coldest of stone.
Learn this lesson well…lest you, too, wind up a poor fool screaming…Why have you forsaken me?
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called my brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.
We sang stories by the silvery rivers calm
We cried and shared our secrets dark
In the fields, we romped and laughed with joy
Unto you, I always tossed my sorrow
And in my trust, you never disappoint
We sang songs of friendship eternal
But tonight, I find my release.
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.
My dreams have come and soon I must away
But you will always have a place within my heart
As I leave you my heart melts within my breast
But with this bird, we shall remain as one
Like the wind, our words will fly
We will write of a friendship eternal
But tonight, I find my release.
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.
If you are trusting you will confide in me
You will never be anything less than my friend
Unto you, I give you my heart so warm and smiling
I will think of you and sing for you
I will sing a song of a friendship eternal
But tonight, I find my release.
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.
My work and burdens have shunned me from your kindness
I admit I have turned a blind eye to you
You, my friend, whom once I loved
I find new pleasures and fair company
You called my name and I cared not to answer
We once promised a friendship eternal
But tonight, I find my release.
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.
In my eyes, you became more worm than a man
I despise you and ignored you.
I felt like I no longer needed you.
O' so foolish was I to have forsaken you
For we once sang of a friendship so eternal
But tonight, I find my release.
Your mighty work has caused your bones to crack
And my absence melts your heart like wax
My silence breaks you and my ignorance it burns you
I had no idea of the torture I delivered
But yet still, you always have loved me.
You committed and I failed to deliver
O' my friend I am not worthy of thee.
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.
Now the nations of the world call upon your name
Now a chair of diamonds you hold claim to
The God Cards bow to you and answer you
Lords in shining armor now give you love
A love that I once shared with you
I'm so proud of you and now I come upon you
Wait for me, I still remember you!
I sang a song of a friendship eternal
But you gave me a Star Chip and sent me away
The Knights take my arms and throw me out
As I look upon your face as cold as stone.
I've become a worm so despised and loathed
I deserve this pain but please don't leave me!
Or tonight I find my release
My friend, dear friend! O' why have you forsaken me?
You who I called brother and my flesh and blood
O' my friend I cry your name but still no answer
And tonight, I find my release.