"Beat the witch!" She's not a witch, she just has psychic powers. "I'll root for that Satellite garbage!" Is it because he's the lesser of two evils? "Smash the witch!" A bit harsh for a sixteen-year-old girl, no?
In anticipation for the finals, they started lighting fireworks and showing highlights of Yusei's and Izayoi's duels, with a noticeable bias towards Yusei. It's times like this I wish I could leave this city, but I can't. I'm tied down, can't escape. Between my duties here and my mark, I could never leave. I'll be shunned one way or another wherever I go. It's frightening, being tied down. Sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating in the smog of the docklands, exiled from the utopia that is Neo Domino City. The breaks in between duels give me time to think, but somehow, all I can think about is the state of affairs in this godforsaken city. I turn my thoughts towards the upcoming duel between Yusei and Izayoi. I want to believe Yusei will be fine against her, since he won't call her a witch like everyone else. But a small part of me worrying what Izayoi will do if Yusei offers her friendship, she could lash out at him for all those years of loneliness, self-loathing and dark thoughts. Yusei could end up in the same state as Kinomiya. I'm terrified but I can't show it. As I look now, people can't tell I'm a Satellite. A proper city resident should not be concerned for the safety of a Satellite lowlife. No matter how makeup I put on or how much of a cool front I put up, I will always be a Satellite, I will always cry out at injustice. If only this were a world where I would be listened to. As dark thoughts enter my head once more, the lights turn off in the stadium.
"It's finally time for the finals! The winner of the finals gets to challenge the King!" They show some promotional photography of Jack in the centre of the stadium, which reminds me that I will have to sit through this asshole dueling either Izayoi or Yusei. "Which one will get the chance to gain an audience with the King? The first challenger is the Black Rose Witch Aki Izayoi!" Izayoi appears in a puff of smoke, the spotlight harshly on her presence. "Next is the Satellite's Shooting Star Yusei Fudo!" Yusei also appears though a cloud of smoke, his back is towards me. I say what resembles a prayer in my head. The lights finally come back on in the stadium, they also projections of Yusei and Izayoi everywhere. They want us to feel excited, but all I feel is dread. "Every moment has led to this! Duel of Fortune Cup finals! Start!"
"Duel!" Yusei and Izayoi chant, officially starting the duel.
"My turn. I draw. I summon Wall of Ivy in defence position(DEF:1200). I set one card and end my turn." If she's going first again, she must want to end this quickly.
"My turn. I summon Speed Warrior(ATK:900)." How many times has Speed Warrior been in Yusei's starting hand? It feels like too many, to be quite honest. "During the Battle Phase of the turn that Speed Warrior is summoned, its attack points double(ATK:900-1800). Speed Warrior attacks Wall of Ivy!"
"When Wall of Ivy is the target of attack one Ivy Token is Special Summon onto the opponent's field in defence position(DEF:0)." More Tokens? Ivy Token deals 300 points of damage to the controller when destroyed. I somehow feel like Izayoi has already set up a strategy.
"Sonic Edge!" Speed Warrior attacks, destroying Wall of Ivy.
"Whoa! Aki Izayoi often uses the strategy of summoning a Token onto the opponent's field! What surprise does she have this time?" Oh yes, the MC still exists, shame.
"This token is..." I wonder if Yusei is having the same thought pattern as me right now, I doubt it to be honest. "I end my turn."
"My turn. I draw. I flip over my set card. I activate the Continuous Trap Cursed Ivy. Due to its effect, I can Special Summon one Ivy monster from my graveyard in face up defence position. I return Wall of Ivy(DEF:1200). Cursed Ivy equips onto Wall of Ivy, and if it's removed from the field, the equipped monster is also destroyed. I end my turn."
"In the first two turns, they're both feeling each other out. The crowd also looks to have calmed down. However, is this the calm before the storm?" The MC is right; the crowd is unusually calm. Just wait until Izayoi attacks, then they'll kick up a storm.
"My turn." I've noticed that Yusei doesn't declare his draws like most people, interesting. "I release the Warrior-Type Speed Warrior. That allows me to Special Summon Turret Warrior(ATK:1200)! Turret Warrior gains attack points equal to the attack points of the Warrior-Type monster that was released(ATK:1200-2100). Turret Warrior attacks Wall of Ivy!"
"When Wall of Ivy is the target of attack, one Ivy Token is Special Summoned onto your field in defence position(DEF:0)." What could Izayoi be planning?
"Revolving Shot!" Turret Warrior's attack goes through.
"Since Wall of Ivy was destroyed, Cursed Ivy is also destroyed. When this card is sent to the graveyard, two Ivy Tokens are Special Summoned onto your field in defence position(DEF:0/DEF:0)." Yusei has a full field now.
"I end my turn." Is Yusei feeling the same sense of dread towards that full field of his?
"My turn. I draw. From my hand, I activate the spell card Seed of Deception. I can Special Summon one Level-2-or-below Plant-Type monster from my hand. Appear, Dark Verger(ATK:0)! Then I release Dark Verger! That lets me Advance Summon Rose Tentacles(ATK:2200)! Rose Tentacles attacks Turret Warrior! Thorn Whip!" As usual, Izayoi's attack causes a strong wind to whip around the stadium as Yusei's life points drop to 3900.
"Yusei only took 100 points of damage to his life points. Therefore, he didn't feel much pain!" Nah, I doubt he felt pain. A strong wind shouldn't bother him.
"I'm not done. When the Battle Phase begins, Rose Tentacles can attack again for every Plant-type monster on your field." The crowd begins to murmur, here we go. "And when it destroys a Plant-Type monster in battle, you take 300 points of damage."
"Whoa! There are four Plant-Type Ivy Tokens on Yusei's field! That means Aki Izayoi can attack four times! Then due to Rose Tentacle's monster effect, Yusei will take 300 points of damage!" People on the tier below are already getting up to leave at this. They know that there is a chance of them getting hurt. "And when Ivy Token is destroyed, he'll take 300 points of damage! That means for every attack, he will take 600 points of damage!" There's her strategy, alright.
"Rose Tentacles attacks Ivy Token! Thorn Whip One!" People are already ducking in their seats of anticipation. Yusei's life points drop to 3300. Instead of the tentacle simply hitting Yusei, it wraps around his right arm. I know what Izayoi is planning to do with him and I don't like it. "Thorn Whip Two!" This time the tentacle grabs his right leg and his life points drop to 2700. I don't have my duel disk on me, I can't save him from what's coming. I look around, most of the seats around me are empty. However, Yusei's friends are still hanging on. "Thorn Whip Three!" The tentacle grabs his left leg. My hands are shaking, the fear setting in. Yusei's life points dropping to 2100. Izayoi is panting, clearly feeling her energy draining from dueling back-to-back with her powers. "This is the final attack. Last Thorn Whip!" The final tentacle wraps around Yusei's torso and left arm. He is slowly carried into the air. I can't look anymore. My eyes are tight shut, with my hands over my ears. I can't bear to see what happens next. I can hear Yusei smashing into the ground, the shockwave of the impact spreads throughout the stadium. Tears are stinging in my eyes; I slowly open my eyes in fear of what I'm about to see.
"Whoa! Due to the explosions from Aki Izayoi's attacks, the stadium is in a huge panic! Like we thought, Aki Izayoi is..." The crowd finishes for the MC, crying 'witch' left, right and centre. The dust begins to settle; I can barely make out Yusei trying to stand up. I sigh in relief. Yusei's life points now stand at 1500.
"My turn." From the way he talks, he's clearly in pain. My heart hurts just looking at him. His speech and movements are slow; I wish I could continue the duel for him. "I summon Shield Warrior in defence position(DEF:1600). I set two cards and end my turn." Across from him, Izayoi is still panting. She has this big harrowing smile on her face like she's enjoying herself. I can anger brewing up inside me. "I finally know. I know one other emotion that lies beyond rejection and anger. Aki Izayoi, you enjoy the power of destruction. You feel joy from that power."
"I enjoy destruction?" Well, when you've suspended a man high in the air and sent him crashing to the ground, leaving him clearly in pain and you're smiling. Yes, you are enjoying it. The crowd is dead silent at this revelation, clearly horrified.
"My turn. I draw! I activate the Continuous Spell Ivy Shackles. During my turn, I can turn all monsters on your field into Plant-Type monsters. I change your Shield Warrior from Warrior-Type to Plant-Type. Next is Rose Tentacles' monster effect. When the Battle Phase begins, for every Plant-Type monster on your field, it increases the number of times it can attack. Therefore, Rose Tentacles can attack twice. Rose Tentacles attacks Shield Warrior! Thorn Whip!" The crowd screams as Izayoi attacks. "Shield Warrior is currently Plant-Type. When Rose Tentacles destroys a Plant-Type monster, you take 300 points of damage." Yusei's life points go from 1500 to 1200, as Izayoi smirks.
"So it's true that you enjoy destruction." Yusei keeps hammering this point, he's trying to get a response from Aki. Bad idea to be quite honest, but okay.
"Rose Tentacles attacks for a second time! It attacks you directly!" She clearly reacts to Yusei's words, but chooses to ignore them.
"I flip over my trap card Card Defence! By discarding one card from my hand, I can negate the direct attack from one of your monsters. Afterwards, I get to draw one card." Yusei once again makes a nice save.
"I end my turn."
"Izayoi, you enjoy dealing out pain." Yusei, trying to get a reaction here isn't going to help you in the not getting hurt department.
"Enough. What are you talking about?" So basically, Izayoi said 'stop talking about that', then immediately said 'keeping talking about that'. Okay.
"My turn." And Yusei ignores her. Okay. "From my hand, I summon Junk Synchron(ATK:1300). Due to Junk Synchron's monster effect, I can Special Summon a Level 2-or-below monster from my graveyard in defence position (Speed Warrior-DEF:400). Level 3 Junk Synchron tunes Level 2 Speed Warrior! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Junk Warrior(ATK:2300)! Then from my hand, I activate the Equip Spell Junk Barrage! I equip it onto Junk Warrior. Junk Warrior attacks Rose Tentacles! Scrap Fist!" Izayoi's life points drop to 3900. "Next is Junk Barrage's effect. When the equipped monster destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to half that monster's attack points." Her life points drop again to 2800. "I end my turn."
"Izayoi took a lot of damage! That's why this is the finals! No one knows what's going to happen!" The crowd is cheering for Yusei to 'beat the witch'. Wow, this city is very divided on who they actually like.
"My turn. I draw! Due to the effect of the Continuous Spell Ivy Shackles, Junk Warrior changes from Warrior-Type to Plant-Type. I summon the Tuner Monster Copy Plant(DEF:0)!" A tuner monster? Here comes Black Rose Dragon, since she only has one Synchro Monster apparently. "Once a turn, Copy Plant selects one Plant-Type monster on the field and becomes the same Level. Copy Junk Warrior's Level(LV:1-5)! I activate the monster effect of Dark Verger in my graveyard. When a Plant-Type Tuner Monster is summoned, I can Special Summon it from the graveyard(ATK:0). Level 5 Copy Plant tunes Dark Verger! Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch dark flower set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear, Black Rose Dragon(ATK:2400)!" The appearance of her dragon causes significantly less destruction and fear than the other times, this is good. "Black Rose Dragon's monster effect. By removing one Plant-Type monster in my graveyard from play, one of your monster's attack points become 0 during this turn. I remove Wall of Ivy from play. Rose Restriction! (ATK:2300-0)"
"Junk Warrior!" Yusei is awfully worried about his hologram, then the attack will hurt him more now, ah well.
"Black Rose Dragon attacks Junk Warrior! Black Rose Flare!"
"I activate Shield Warrior's monster effect from my graveyard! By removing this card in my graveyard from play, it negates the destruction of my monster due to battle!"
"However, you still take battle damage." If only those effects negate battle damage, duels would last so much longer.
"I flip over my trap card! Spirit Force! For one time only, the battle damage I take becomes 0!" Oops, never mind. The attack breaks the barrier on the track behind Yusei, the people in the front rows are scrambling in fear. "Due to Spirit Force's effect, one monster in my graveyard with 1500-or-fewer defence points is added to my hand." Yusei shows Izayoi his Junk Synchron card.
"I set two cards and end my turn." The crowd begins to heckle Izayoi once more. Hang the witch, ouch, that one's not directed at me and it still hurt. "That's right. You're exactly right." Oh no. "I'm a witch. I'm a scary girl who enjoys dealing out pain." Izayoi begins to smile. It's almost as if the crowd want her to go on a murder spree and kill them. "I enjoy it. I really enjoy using my power to deal pain to everyone who pushed me into isolation!" At this point, her eyes are wide and she has a crazed smile on her face. Well, there's no going back from here to be honest.
"My turn. I summon Junk Synchron from my hand(ATK:1300)! Due to Junk Synchron's monster effect, I can Special Summon Speed Warrior(DEF:400)!" Junk Warrior's attack points increase by Speed Warrior's 900 to 3200. "Level 3 Junk Synchron tunes Level 5 Junk Warrior! Wishes come together to form a new shining star! Become the path that lights the way! Synchro Summon! Soar, Stardust Dragon(ATK:2500)!" I'm honestly surprised Yusei would get rid of Junk Warrior with its high ATK, but then I remember Stardust's effect.
"This is the first time I've seen this dragon! What an incredible sight!" Well it is one of a kind and it's probably been in the Satellite for more than a decade.
"This is a detestable mark. I despise this mark. If I didn't have this power, I..." Oh yes, the infamous 'if I didn't have these powers' downward spiral of thoughts.
"You wouldn't have felt joy from the power. You would not have gained pleasure from people's pain." Is Yusei still continuing this?
"That's right." Wow, finally, some affirmation. "This mark is a detestable symbol carved into me by a monster that surpasses humanity. That's why I hate myself." Well, I'm a psychic and that's not why I hate myself. Also what monster surpasses humanity? "I can't hold back my feelings of destruction. I felt that I shouldn't be allowed to live." Please don't go into that downward spiral of thoughts right now, hun. "However, the stronger those feelings became, the more it transformed into impulses for destruction. So I stopped being me. I created another version of myself." Izayoi holds up her mask. "My masked version wasn't me." In that moment, Raiden popped into my head. Somehow, I understood Izayoi. "I didn't care if I enjoyed destruction and laughed at pain. That's when Divine taught me that I didn't need a mask and I should just be me. Those words saved me. I'm fine as long as I remain alive. I won't think of anything anymore. I'll just only feel."
"You have to think for yourself!" I suddenly wonder why Yusei is going so far for Izayoi, when he simply stared at me, speechless.
"I don't care. Divine will think for me." My head is warring with thoughts of Yusei and Raiden. Perhaps Izayoi and Divine have a similar relationship to Raiden and I.
"Don't run from your problems, Izayoi!"
"It can't be helped. There's nothing I can do." I can see a mirror of myself in Izayoi, I know that pain and anger, the helplessness.
"Yes there is! There's a version of you who doesn't approve of your joy! As long as those feelings exist, you can start over! You can save yourself!" The more Yusei reaches out to Izayoi, the more bitter I feel. I don't understand it, why does Yusei reaching out to a fellow psychic make me so alone?
"Be quiet."
"Stardust Dragon attacks Black Rose Dragon! Roar, Shooting Sonic!" Izayoi's life points fall to 2700.
"I'll just only feel. I'll feel pain and strife from you." She finally puts on that mask of hers. Somehow, the crowd is surprised and begins to call her a witch again.
"Izayoi." One word from Yusei and I feel like I'm being stabbed in the heart. Why am I feeling like this?
"My turn. I draw." Izayoi's voice is slightly muffled from the mask. "I activate Magic Planter. By sending a Continuous Spell on the field to the graveyard, I can draw two cards from my deck. The Continuous Trap Wicked Rebirth. By paying 800 life points, I can Special Summon a Synchro Monster from my graveyard." Her life points drop to 1900. "I resurrect Black Rose Dragon(ATK:2400). Wicked Rebirth is equipped onto Black Rose Dragon. The equipped monster cannot attack this turn. And when the Equip Card is no longer on the field, that monster is destroyed. Furthermore, if the equipped monster is destroyed due to something other than this card's effect, then it is Special Summoned at the End Phase. Black Rose Dragon's monster effect. When it is successfully Special Summoned, all cards on the field are destroyed. Black Rose Gale!" The usual theatrics occur with wind and petals everywhere. I keep gripping my wig to make sure it doesn't fly off. Yusei turns for a split second, looking in my direction. I know he isn't looking for me, but it still warms my heart.
"I activate Stardust Dragon's monster effect! By releasing Stardust Dragon, an effect that destroys cards is negated and destroyed! Victim Sanctuary!" Stardust manages to wrap its wings around Black Rose Dragon and they both fade away.
"I'm not done. I summon Phoenician Seed(ATK:800). Due to Phoenician Seed's monster effect, I can release this card to Special Summon Phoenician Cluster Amaryllis(ATK:2200). Phoenician Cluster Amaryllis attacks Speed Warrior. Flame Petal! After Phoenician Cluster Amaryllis attacks, it self-destructs. Scatter Flame! And it deals 800 points of damage." Yusei's life points go from 1200 to 400, as Izayoi's masks begins to break, showing her twisted smile underneath. "I set one card."
"When Stardust Dragon activates its monster effect, it resurrects during this turn's End Phase(ATK:2500)!"
"Due to the effect of Wicked Rebirth, I Special Summon Black Rose Dragon during the End Phase(ATK:2400)! Then I activate the Continuous Trap Overdoom Line. The monster that I Special Summoned from my graveyard gains 1000 attack points(ATK:2400-3400). Then due to Phoenician Cluster Amaryllis's monster effect, it resurrects in defence position(DEF:0). I end my turn."
"My turn. I switch Stardust Dragon to defence position(ATK-DEF:2500-2000)! From my hand, I activate the Equip Spell Prevention Star. I can equip it onto a monster when the monster switches to defence position. Once per turn, I can select one of your monsters. That monster cannot attack nor change battle position. I select Phoenician Cluster Amaryllis!"
"The trap card Synchro Back. I return one Synchro Monster on my field to the Extra Deck. I select Black Rose Dragon." Izayoi interrupts Yusei. That card now allows Izayoi to Special Summon Black Rose during her next Standby Phase, which is very soon.
"I set one card and end my turn."
"My turn. I draw. Due to Synchro Back's effect, I resurrect Black Rose Dragon(ATK:2400)!"
"I know you're not enjoying this." Yusei's insistence is starting to make me feel bitter.
"Be quiet!" This insistence might make things end badly for Yusei.
"You're in pain, aren't you? The time has come for you to change. The joy of destruction has been tormenting you. And that pain... That pain is changing to something we both share because we have the same mark." A mark? I don't remember Yusei having anything like that. "The mark has guided us. The pain is trying to tell us something. In order to know the answer, you have to think for yourself. This mark holds the answer! Don't let others think for you. You have to think for yourself." His words strike a chord deep within me. He likes her, doesn't he? Why else would he pursue such a futile goal like trying to make Izayoi change? I don't blame him, Izayoi is very pretty and holds herself well.
"What will a witch like me think about? As long as Divine guides and loves me, that's enough!" I'm torn between the pain I feel and the feelings I share with Izayoi. I should forget about Yusei and run back to Raiden, forgetting this ever happened.
"You're wrong! You have to love yourself!"
"If I could do that... If I could... I'm in pain because I can't!" Izayoi's hair clip falls out once again, meaning she's lost control of her powers. Again. "Black Rose Dragon's monster effect activates! Black Rose Gale!" The wind in the stadium is much fiercer, completely breaking the barrier behind Yusei. "All cards on the field are destroyed!"
"I'll keep taking it! Send out all your sadness! Victim Sanctuary!" Stardust once again wraps its wings around Black Rose Dragon. It cries and fights back, but it's for nought and they both disappear.
"The pain is fading... Now Phoenician Cluster Amaryllis is free of Prevention Star's curse! Your field is wide open. If I successfully attack you directly, I win! Everything must vanish. Don't make me think. You're a detestable foe!"
"Then why are you crying?" It's hard to see, but a tear is definitely flowing from underneath her mask. "The trap card Cosmic Blast! When a Dragon-Type Synchro Monster leaves my field, it deals damage equal to that monster's attack points!" The mask falls off Izayoi's face as her life points hit 0.
"Help me..." She cries out for help with tears rolling down her face.
"Izayoi!" The tone of his voice is the final nail in the coffin. The crowd is screaming at the top of their lungs. Serves you right, witch! Go home to your witch's nest! Their words no longer affect me. Divine walks onto the stage and wraps his jacket around Izayoi.
"You did your best, Aki. Now let's go back together." In that moment, I saw myself and Raiden. Now, I just feel confused. I want to leave right now, but I must save face.
"There's a winner! Yusei Fudo!" I don't look at Yusei, my eyes follow Izayoi and Divine.
A/N: Today, September 2nd, is Kaoru's (Yuuka's brother's) birthday! Just felt like I should mention that