The Rise and Fall of History II: Opposing the Present

by Medigo

The world of dueling has reached its climax. Many stories have been told through these cards, and the final story brought everyone together. People are united and yet, an unknown world suffers in their shadow. The fallen one returns in the midst of their peace, pursued and still a stranger to those around. There is not much time to save both his home and his friends.

62. Fatal Attraction

Redux 29: Fatal Attraction

"Dorian?.. My name is.." There it was, Bishop heard his true name. It sounded utterly alien to him. "And Martel's not his name?" The one who took that away from him was called Timothy. But not anymore. "How did you find.. me?" The one who told him all that was this strange blonde-haired woman. But then, he was surrounded by strange people. "It's what I do. My powers lets me see into the minds and memories of others, and my pendulum allows me to use it in this world where the power source was lost. In his mind I see a young boy, a lonely boy who had no friends or family. An orphan who moved through a normal life, in a normal school with normal foster parents. He was not happy. Then.. one day.. he came upon that." She aimed her finger at the black and crystal-eyed doll in Alice's arms. "That pendulum stores the power to control minds, Timothy learned that quickly when he found that doll in the middle of the park during one of his lonesome walks. So he started making friends, against their will." June's eyes fell on the unconscious Queen. "Tara was the first. Someone he loved, but couldn't get to love him in return. You, Dorian. Were the second. Just a classmate of his, but a duelist as well. He wanted friends and allies. That's why he chose you."

"That's..why?" Bishop was horrified. All of this began for such petty reasons? "You cannot take from me, what is mine. Not my mind." Martel protested. "I didn't take, Timothy. I just borrowed. I am sorry, but the answers you hold had to be shared." She gave him a faint smile as the glowing eye symbol faded from her forehead. "No. Timothy is dead. I am Martel.. the King, I was the King the moment I found Her." Martel insisted as he took his turn. "Just give it up man, you're outnumbered five to one!" Tory cursed. "I am one and I am all. And all can never lose!"

Bishop's LP: 1900 Martel's LP: 5900

Martel flipped his face-down monster: Shadoll Hedgehog(3/800/200). "It came to me, this power. To me alone." The Hedgehog's flip effect added another Shadoll spell to his hand; Nephe Shaddoll Fusion. "With this spell, any element is within my grasp." Nephe Shaddoll Fusion was equipped to the Hedgehog, which altered the doll's attribute into that of Light. "FUSION SUMMON!" And this equipment did not have Fusion in its name for nothing. Nephe Shaddoll Fusion took the equipped monster and a Shaddoll Beast in Martels hand as fusion materials. Thanks to Shaddoll Beast's effect, Martel drew one card. "El Shaddoll Construct!" When dolls of Light and shadows mixed, they formed the giant woman(8/2800/2500) construct in purple and gold. "It's her.. again." Alice remembered her from the previous fusions: this lady formed the base of the fallen Shekhinaga and the still living Infernoid assimilate Anoyatyllis(9/2700/2000). "The first fusion he ever made." June claimed. "She was the card that gave him his power? Where did it come from?" Uno wanted to know. "Not even he knows. His mind never asked."

"When the Construct appears, one of my Shaddolls leaves the deck." Martel activated the Construct's effect to send a Shaddoll Dragon to his graveyard. "And now, your trap will be destroyed, my pawn!" That trap was the only thing keeping Bishop save from total obliteration. "Not before I activated it!" But Bishop already flipped the trap face-up before the Construct could resolve her own effect. "Sealing Ceremony of Mokuton! I know you want to take advantage of my weakest monster, so I will tribute it!" The ceremonial trap demanded sacrifices of the earth-attribute. It was a demand Dokidoki(2/500/500) could meet. "And I'll remove your two fusion spells!" Afterwards two cards would be banished from the graveyard. Mokuton sealed away El Shaddoll Fusion and Nephe Shaddoll Fusion. Only afterwards could the discarded Shaddoll Dragon destroy the continuous trap. "Then you shall lose your greatest monster instead." The fused Shaddoll moved to attack Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior(8/3000/2800). "The Construct destroys any who were special summoned." The Magnawarrior was overpowered by Construct's strings of bloodred energy and was, despite its powerful struggles, torn limb from limb.

"Guh.. When Berserkion is destroyed, his banished components will return to my field!" The Magnawarrior disconnected into the Electromagnet Warriors Alpha(4/1700/1100), Beta(4/1500/1500) and Gamma(3/800/2000). "The effects of Alpha and Beta will reactivate!" Now that they were special summoned again, Alpha could add a new MagnaWarrior card from the deck to the hand, and Beta could claim another level 4 or lower Magnet Warrior. Bishop took a second Berserkion and a second Alpha Electromagnet Warrior from his deck. "And while its still your turn, the Electromagnet Warriors can tribute themselves to summon level 4 Magnet Warriors from my deck!" The electric knights combined their shield, sword and fists to build up a charge which consumed their bodies. "I summon Alpha, Beta and Gamma the Magnet Warrior in defense mode!" The electricity exploded outwards and three lightning bolts impacted with the floor. The original grey, yellow and pink magnet knights: Alpha(4/1400/1700), Beta(4/1700/1600) and Gamma(4/1500/1800) came to life. "Whoa. Havent seen those in ages." Eric did not even duel during the days those cards were brand-new. "Maybe that shows, just how old Bishop really is." Uno thought out loud. Bishop might have looked young, but that was only because Martel kept his body in card-form for so long.

"..." Seeing as how all three Magnet Warriors were rock monsters, and Catapult Zone was still on the field, attacking with Anoyatyllis was not worth Martels time. Instead the puppetking placed two trap cards down and ended his turn. "I will get you this time, Martel!" With three Electromagnet Warriors back in the graveyard, Bishop could banish them all. First he normal summoned the second Alpha Electromagnet Warrior(3/1700/1100) from his hand, using its effect to add another Magnawarrior from his deck. "I add Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!" Duelists could only summon one Berserkion per turn, so this Alpha gave Bishop a more retro Magnawarrior instead. One Berserkion was plenty. "I special summon Berserkion again!" The Alpha, Beta and Gamma Electrowarriors in the graveyard combined their bodies and transformed into Berserkion(8/3000/2800). "You still believe, you can be someone without me. That also is an error." Martel smiled briefly, as he activated Super Polymerization by discarding Shaddoll Fusion from his hand. "That card!" Uno gasped. "Bishop, he is going to use your monster!"

"No. No not again!" Bishop shouted. "Super Polymerization targeted the Berserk Magnawarrior and fused it with the reactivated Shaddoll Core trapmonster(9/1450/1950) to summon El Shaddoll Shekhinaga(10/2600/3000), the Qliphort Construct fusion. The spell recycling effect of Shaddoll Core was also activated with its trip to the graveyard, and Shaddoll Fusion moved itself back to Martels hand. "the guardians." Anastasia let out a startled cry now. "Oh, so you did meet them before." June noted. "And so has he. In fact his fusion choices are oddly familiar, wouldn't you say?" Ritual Beasts, Stellarknights, Yang Zing; all of them were corrupted by the Shaddoll's curse. "But you never fought him before?" Uno asked her. "No. As I said, this boy was born in this world. The power found him, and that is the binding element. That puppet somehow ties to us, you, Tempus and the time guardians." It felt like there was an unseen presence at work.

"I don't care about any of that! It's Martel who chose to do this to me! I summon Valkyrion!" By tributing Alpha, Beta and Gamma, they could combine into Valkyrion the Magnawarrior(8/3500/3850). "And I activate another field spell: Magnetic Field!" A magnetic chamber rose up around the two duelists, destroying the zone of catapults in the process. "Electromagnet Warrior Alpha attacks El Shaddoll Shekhinaga!" It seemed suicidal, but the electric lancer threw his weapon at the earthen Shaddoll. Shekhinaga deflected the lance and slammed Alpha into the ground for daring to strike it. However.. "Magnetic Field can return one monster on the field to a players hand if they survive a fight with one of my rock monsters!" A static charge was left behind by the destroyed Alpha. The static evolved into a fierce storm that electrocuted Shekhinaga to death. "And Valkyrion destroys Anoyatyllis!" The combined magnet warrior raised its sword to the ceiling to infuse it with thunder and lightning. With one vertical swing, the Infernal Shaddoll of water was cleaved from head to toe. "This wont end until your power is broken!"

Bishop's LP: 1000 Martel's LP: 5200

"Until you are free? You want to live again? You want to die? These worlds are already counting down to zero. To save it, all must be one. Not just the planets, the people too." Martel's turn began. "You are talking about Phoebe's plan? The one where you fuse both worlds together, with that super fusion card?" Uno heard that from Adamant and Iria. Among the many fantastical events he'd heard or seen, this one still seemed too out there. "It was not her plan. It was mine. When I got the power, I got the words. The fusion guild came together, because of me, because I knew how to save it." He proclaimed. His words worked better on some than others. "Would you really.. save everyone.. that way?" Alice wanted to believe it, that both worlds could come together. "There was power like that once. I would know, I lived in one of those times." June placed her hands together. "Back when there were still realms for spirits, one being tried to fuse them all together. A spell, just like the one he just used, was the key to the whole process. In fact you would be surprised at how many times this planet got separated into multiple dimensions in past timelines."

"But.." She pulled her hands back. "I can see the plan you're proposing. You want to use the power you took from the guardians of time and that spell, to turn the whole world into energy. You can call it a 'carding' on a grand scale. Those with counterparts will be fused together, people like Eric over there.." She pointed at both Stonewell and Eric. "Will become one man in a new world, and forget who they used to be." Eric and Alice flinched. "What?""That's horrible!" They both yelled. "That's your plan!? No wonder you didn't ask for help, you'd know I would never go along with that!" Uno yelled. "You helped regardless, lord." Martel took a card from his belt and tossed it to Uno. "!?" It was his Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon. "We took the code and uncovered Doms secrets. Now all we need.. is time." Martel placed two trap cards face down, including the Shaddoll Core trap that he retrieved when Shaddoll Anoyatyllis was destroyed. "End turn." But he did not attack with the Construct, doing so would just cause Magnetic Field to take away the one monster he still controlled.

"Is that why I can't remember anyone? Because you wanted me to merge with my other half? There is no way I would let you do that to anyone!" Bishop drew his next card. "It has already begun, whether you want it or not. One will be all, all will be one." His opponent kept up the taunts. "You.." In his anger, Bishop nearly made a miscalculation. "I can send Valkyrion to my graveyard to resummon its components! And when I control a level 4 or lower rock monster, Magnetic Field can summon one from my graveyard!" The idea was to bring back Alpha the Electromagnet Warrior and grab the last Berserkion with its effect. "You..." Except, there was one trap on Martels field that Bishop could not get rid of. And he knew from experience what kind of traps Martel used. If it was the trap he was thinking of, his entire combo would stumble over itself at the first step. "I know you." Despite Martel's constantly tired appearance, Bishop could see subtle changes to his expression that betrayed his thoughts. "I will set a trap card too and pass my turn."

"What!? Why?" Though Tory and the others did not see why. "Let him do what he wants." June did, but she kept herself quiet. A smile was the only hint she gave. "You did not fall for it." Martel was disappointed. "Then I will force your fall upon you, as I have done to others. You are all so blind." Martel placed a monster face-down and activated his trap card. "Sinister Shadow Games. One Shaddoll leaves my deck, and all monsters who hide will hide no more." The trap flipped Shaddoll Falco(2/600/1400) face-up, and sent the third Shaddoll Dragon to the graveyard. "I knew it." The discarded Shaddoll Dragon destroyed Magnetic Zone. That's how Martel would have countered Bishop in his turn, by killing the field spell. "Your king knows you too." The flipped Falco placed one Shaddoll from the graveyard, Shaddoll Squamata, face-down on the field. "Earth, fire, water, light, wind.. We know them all." The king re-activated Shaddoll Core, summoning the shadowheart trapmonster(9/1450/1950) and transforming its attribute into that of the wind. And via Shaddoll Fusion, the Core and Falco were turned to fusion materials. "FUSION SUMMON! El Shaddoll Wendigo!"

"Hmm." June was admittedly a bit surprised, when her own Ulti-Beast Pettlephin(6/200/2800) popped up on the field in defense mode. Pettlephin was corrupted by the Shaddolls core just like all other fusions. "Did I read you right, my pawn?" Martel made El Shaddoll Construct attack the Magnawarrior. "Tch... I activate my trap. Magnet Force. Your effects cannot affect my rock monsters his turn." A magnetic barrier coated Valkyrion like a second skin. It repulsed the Shaddoll's threads and sent them back to her. "I did." Martel snapped his finger to activate Wendigo's effect. Once each turn the corrupted Ultibeast could keep another monster safe from destruction during battle. The Wendigo created a whirlwind with her staff and warded off Valkyrions counterattack. Though Martel still took battle damage. "I can see the future better than any other, my pawn. You are choosing death or me, there is no third road." He placed one trap card down and ended his turn.

Martel's LP: 4500

"Can you? Can you see what I am about to draw then, Timothy?" Bishop waited before he used his drawphase. "You think you kept me safe, but you were just using me! I don't care if everything ends, a life like mine might as well be death. Draw!" Bishop did not know a lot, but he knew the duel had to end this turn, or he would be ended. "I activate.. Magnet Reverse!" But his deck did not abandon him. "I can special summon one rock or machine from the graveyard, if it cannot be summoned in a normal way!" Berserkion qualified for that position, and that was the monster whose death was reversed. "Once.. more?" Berserkion entered the battlefield to support his brother in arms; Valkyrion. "Yes, this card. Berserkion will destroy one of your cards after it banishes a Magnet Warrior from the graveyard. And.. it can use this effect as many times as it wants!" Berserkion removed all three Magnet Warriors and the Electromagnet Warrior Alpha, to give his weapon four charges. "I destroy your four cards!" It unleashed the thunder and electrocuted El Shaddoll Construct, Wendigo, Squamata and a Black Cat-astrophe trap card. "But you are.." All that was left, was to attack. "I am not your Bishop or your Pawn. I can do what I want!" Valkyrion and Berserkion struck at once, sending thousands of volts directly after Martel. "No. Nrghaaa!"

Martel's LP: 0

"Whoa!" The last hit sent Martel crashing into the barrier. "Is it.. over?" Bishop couldn't believe it. "I think that did it." Uno did not see the King get up from that. "Yeah, uhm.. congrats. I am glad one of us did " Tory said as she dismissed the barrier. "But is he.. at least still alive?" Alice asked. "What, you're feeling sorry for him?" A baffled Eric asked her back. "No, but.. he still knows so much. If.." She crept closer and closer to him, until.. "NO!" Martels arm snapped upwards. "Eek!" Alice flinched and stumbled backwards. Martel was not trying to grab her however, he snatched for the puppet from her arms. "No. I still have you, I still have.." He held it now, and held it close. Madness contorted Martel's expression. "I have you!" He placed his hand on the doll's crystal eye. "He's getting away!" Tory yelled. The purple crystal glowed, the glow was not strong enough to cover the puppetmaster. "You.." Martel stared into the dolls eyes, and his gaze turned vacant. It was as if he saw something no one should ever witness. "...ah.." Then his eyes glazed over, and his body went limp.

"What.. what happened to him?" Alice stammered. "I..do not know." June stated, shaking her head. "His mind.. turned away." There were no thoughts to be found, at all. "A coma?" Tory carefully nudged the puppetmaster. He made no movements, sudden or not. A pulse and breath was his body's only sign of life. "that doll.. " Anastasia bent down and picked it up. "Ana. Be careful!" Uno yelled. But nothing happened. "..do you have any idea where that crystal could have come from?" June inquired. "...i do not recognize it, father did not say how many before us there were." She knew it was not going to do her any good to lie to the telepath. Though she wanted to be sure Uno did not misunderstand her either. "He must have been a busy man?" Uno could not remember if Tempus ever told him either. "they did not always make it to the next world. but their crystals did. the pendulum is the only thing that can never be erased from time." June stared at the sister for a long time. "You're not lying at least. You're saying someone else put this pendulum on a puppet?" Martel found the doll this way, it was not his idea to use a crystal for an eye. "that is what i believe." Anastasia would keep it to herself for now.

"So.." Eric coughed. "What are we supposed to do now? Do we keep him here?" This was the infirmary after all. "Let him lie there, we're done with him." Bishop gave his opinion and kicked Martels body for good measure. "Ah.." Alice winced. "But if he wakes up, he might be able to tell us where the rest of the guild is." They had no other leads but him. "Weren't we supposed to stop that Marco jerkhead first? You know, end of the world type of deal?" Tory said. "That was the plan, and the reason why I brought June and August here. But apparently that was not good enough."

"To find someone like him we need December and January. August might not admit it, but without December we really don't have any guidance. He is the one who brought us together, who always knows where and when we need to show up. He can see the future, basically." She told Tory. "Oh, stellar. Then how do you get him?" They did say he was in a whole different dimension, possibly. "For that I suggest we focus on finding the fusion guild first. You told me they had a gateway that can break the dimensions." She pointed at Uno. "Get the gate, and you get my companions, and they will get your brother. It is as easy as that. And you won't need to question the puppetmaster." She tapped the side of her head. "I already read his mind to see where their base is."

(To be Continued in Redux 028: Monsters)

New Cards used by Bishop
Beta the Magnet Warrior
Gamma the Magnet Warrior
Valkyrion the Magna Warrior

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Magnetic Field
Magnet Reverse

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Sealing Ceremony of Mokuton
Magnet Force

New Cards used by Martel
El Shaddoll Wendigo

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Nephe Shaddoll Fusion

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Sinister Shadowgames