"Domino." Arliss said, standing at the very front of the boat. "Long time no see."
"Where it all began, little brother." Arlen commented, standing nearby at the rail, voice going to his natural southern accent as he thought about those days, back when he and Arliss were kids. "Alex and Arnold Milo, begging for spare change."
Mayday sidled up to her husband. "I bet you were so cute back then."
Arlen rolled his eyes. "Quiet, you."
Mayday giggled. "I am going to find the baby pictures, you know. And then I'm going to show everyone. Little baby Arlen taking a bath. Little baby Arlen's first steps…"
"Little baby Mayday getting her diaper changed…" Arlen warned.
Cassandra shook her head as she looked at the town. "This is wot eve'yone makes such a bloody fuss about?" She turned to her boyfriend. "Wot's the bloody big deal? 'ayden…you listenin'?"
Hayden sat at a keyboard, typing. "Just a sec, I'm hacking into the CNN website." He hit a few keys. "And…"
He turned the screen and grinned as CNN's main page turned to a shot of a large animated man in orange/red armor attacking a man in a yellow machine/wheelchair.
"Silly bitch, do you not know who I am? I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch!"
Arlen frowned. "Why did I suddenly think of Louis Armstrong?"
Missy rolled her eyes. "I really don't care…I just want to do some shopping! New clothing, here I come." Dhmitri's mouth began to water at that thought, and Mayday smacked him over the back of the head. Norman, Mayday's pet dragon, chirped happily as Dhmitri glared at his adopted mom.
"Don't be a pervert." She muttered.
Dhmitri stuck out his tongue. "Said the woman that just tried to ride dad like a…"
"Dhmitri, pipe down or you can go babysit Souta and his friends." Arlen warned.
The hanger-ons, as they called them, the students that hadn't become hunters, were below deck, allowing the family a private meeting. Mainly to discuss what they were going to do, and who got stuck babysitting the newbies.
With the news that the entire academy was heading off the Domino, the Rare Hunters had been left with a decision: Either stay behind and cause mischief, or go with them and cause mischief. In the end, they went the route of compromise: They would cause mischief at the island, then head over a few hours later to Domino tocontinue their evil, evil ways.
Currently, they all sat on the small yacht Arliss had bought, looking out at the port city. Lexie, Nessa, Mayday, Missy and Cassandra were in their bikinis, sunning themselves, while the men, dressed in t-shirts and swim trunks, guided the boat towards port.
Nessa lowered her sunglasses, still trying to get some last minute rays in before she had to change. Sure, she was the queen of nightmares…but that didn't mean she had to look like a chalk-skinned goth girl.
"Can we speed this up." Lexie demanded for her seat, rubbing in the coco butter into her skin. "You interrupted my footrub." She lifted one foot up, wiggling at Arlen and Arliss.
"She's your sister." Both muttered at the other.
"Tell me Arliss…" Nessa said, "What evils are we going to commit here in this city?"
The King of the Rare Hunters grinned. "Oh…I've got some fun stuff planned." He began to pace the deck. "We will divide up into smaller groups. Arlen and Mayday, you two are going to get us some street cred. Check the seedy bars, the clubs…beat downs and murder are allowed. I want everyone to know the Rare Hunters are back in full force. The more dramatic the crime, the better. Dhmitri, Missy, I want you two to go to the docks and wreck havoc on the boats that brought the rest of the academy here. If you see Aster Phoniex or Sartorious' ships, I want them blown up.
"Cassandra, Hayden, you two are goin' to the Kaibaland dueling arena. I want you two to plant a bug in the systems, to allow us to see everything they do. Feel free to cause power outages and data loss. Nessa and myself are going to go find out a bit about Sartorious, and, if we have time, see about some property damage. Buildings, cars…all the good stuff. Lexie…"
"I'm going baby shopping." She interrupted. "And I will be going alone. I like shopping in peace."
Arlen frowned. "You should take some of the boys…use them as cannon fodder if you get in trouble…"
"No." She said harshly. "I go alone." Her eyes went black and her aura crackled.
Arliss held up his hands. "Fine…you go alone. Finally, the boys…I'm lettin' Souta take charge of them. He said he's meetin' his sister in town, and I figure they will stay out of trouble."
The other hunters didn't make eye contact.
"Ok…not as much trouble as they could."
&&&
"Domino!" Anarchy said, rolling his neck to work the kinks out. Beside him, Sola, Viola and Hyper each did the same, while Adrian Kratos simply adjusted his dress shirt, his dark bat wings retreating from sight. The rest of their group appeared with a snap of Anarchy's fingers. "Been a little while…can't wait to cause more destruction."
Viola nodded. "They say the gods walk in this city, controlled by a boy…what foolish gods would allow a mortal to control them?"
"Many of them." Sweet said, twirling his cane. "Yea, this burg could use my touch."
"Pathetic place." Zane Trusdale glowered. "It should be cleansed." He closed his fist, dark energy flashing as the ghostly images of the Cyberdark dragons appeared behind him for a moment.
Puck chuckled. "You merely have bad memories, dear silly horsemen. Soon Anarchy will give you this city as a kingdom, and you may do as you like."
Sola licked her lips. "The mortals have for too long dwelled without our aid. I say we show them that the true masters have returned."
"Something tells me they know, love." Adrian said, pointing out the massive crater they had made in their fall to Earth from the palace.
Lacey wiggled in her daddy's arms. "Wanna pway!" She squealed. "Pway with Hyper, daddy!"
"And what sort of game shall we play, precious?" Anarchy asked.
Hyper giggled. "Dollies!" She held up her hand, a few people that had been watching the strange sight floating up, screaming as Hyper began to turn them into full-scale Barbie and Ken dolls. Complete with plastic skin and unseeing eyes. The crowd broke off into a panic, leaving the deities to themselves.
"Good ol'chaos magic." Puck said. "She learns, Master."
"That she does." Anarchy snapped his fingers. "Sweet, go observe Sartorious. I want to know what he is up to. Puck, Zane…I wish to learn more of the warriors that call this place home…I sense one of great power…I want my horsemen completed. Find me the ones I desire, now!"
"Yes, my Lord." Puck said, Zane merely nodding.
Sola flipped her hair back. "Adrian and I are to go to talk to some of his old friends."
Adrian nodded. "I miss my little Renfields."
Anarchy approved. 'Anything to get him out of my hair.' He thought. "Sola, Hyper and I will play. It has been too long since I have meddled with the mortals."
&&&
"Domino." Marco said. "Why does my father keep me here?" Brutus said nothing, as always. "Sartorious grows stronger, as do Antonio and Vera…" He closed his eyes. "And I sense several great powers…"
He grabbed his weapons, moving towards the back of the plane and his speed boat.
He needed to investigate.
&&&
(Several hours later)
"What do you think?" Lexie asked, holding up the outfit. "Do you think it looks good?"
The salesclerk frowned. "Honestly…I've never heard of a baby wearing leather pants before."
Lexie rolled her eyes. "What…I'm suppose to dress my child in cotton sleepers? My baby is going to be the most feared creature in the world! He or she needs to look tough." She sniffed. "Besides, I think they'll match the little jacket." She grinned, holding up the little purple Rare Hunter jacket she had requested made.
The salesclerk's face turned a weird shade of puce.
"Lets see…" Lexie said to herself, going over her list. "I have 4 sets of pants, 6 shirts, the little jacket, shoes, socks, purple sleeper, black sleeper, purple and black sleeper, baby hat in purples and blacks…the blanket that will go perfect with the mobile." She grinned, thinking of the mobile she had made that featured Duel Monster cards hanging on it. "I think that is everything, clothing wise. I'll take this back to my boat." She told the clerk. "Do you have an accessory section…diapers and rattles…I want to get a nice rattle, shaped like weapon of some kind…"
"No!" The clerk squeaked. "Not at all."
Lexie frowned, pointing at an area of the store filled with cribs, rattles, and toys. "What's that over there?"
"Nothing." The clerk said.
"Really?" Lexie asked.
"Really."
The Rare Hunter shrugged. She wasn't in the mood to play with this girl. She wanted to go home, unpack her goodies, and maybe dig into some of the pecan pie Arliss had made for her.
&&&
Marco pulled a cigarette from the pack and put it between his lips, wetting the tip slightly. 'Been a long time since I smoked one of these.' He thought, grabbing his newly bought lighter and grimacing at the smiling image of a chibi dark magician girl that graced the plastic.
Lighting up, Marco groaned as he drew the smoke into his lungs, feeling it instantly calm his nerves. Waiting for the gods to give him a command had left him jittery, and thus a nicotine break had been the call of order.
Brutus was back on the ship, minding things, while Marco went to get more supplies. Some new duel cards, food, placing a shipment of fuel in for the Holst…
He paused from thoughts as he watched a young woman, obviously very pregnant, dressed in a purple trenchcoat, walk past him, carrying bag. She was a stunner, that was for sure. Long brown hair, big bright eyes, a winning smile. The child growing within her made the woman glow, and while he could sense darkness within her, it was a warrior's darkness.
Still considering the stranger, Marco did a double take when the woman's twin walked past. Long blonde hair, eyes that saw the world and didn't see it at the same time, emotionless, dressed in white…Marco stretched out his feelings…and shivered.
'Like ice.' He thought. 'Unforgiving ice…Alexis Rhodes…Sartorious' work.' He realized. 'But who is the other girl…'
He needed to investigate.
&&&
"Hey…stop." Alexis shouted. "I said stop."
Lexie didn't glance over her shoulder to see who it was…she just knew it was her…herself from this dimension. "Yea?"
"You are one of Arliss' shadow whores…an impurity that disgraces the glorious light…"
"Actually, I was Jaden's whore. Arliss saved me from that world. Now, I'm just one of his killers." Lexie said, balling up her fist. "Go away, little girl. I have better things to do."
Alexis stared at the woman in shock, before rushing her and grabbing her shoulder, whipping her around. "How dare you…talk…" She stood there, gobsmacked. "What…what trick is this?" She whispered.
"No trick." Lexie said. "I'm you…a you that went the way of darkness instead of the pathetic way of light. A you that chose the path of power, of emotion, of family…rather then fell into the clutches of some brainwashing cult." She laughed. "You are even weaker then before."
Alexis was outraged. "You will not insult the power of the light. The light is all seeing, all knowing…"
"All stupid." Lexie snapped. "But don't believe me…" She held up her hand, her deck flying to it. "Lets see which power is strong…light or darkness…yin or yang…lets dance, bitch."
Alexis sneered, activating her duel disk. "I will bring your broken body to Lord Sartorious on a platter. He will reward my glorious victory by giving me another taste of light…and you will be left broken, naked before its unforgiving rays!" She laughed, while Lexie looked on, annoyed.
"This is what I look like evil?" Lexie asked. "Pathetic. You should hit on Arliss if you want to be the bad guy…he makes you a lot more attractive, with killer powers…and deals with that lopsided ass thing you have and use to deal with."
Alexis frowned. "You understand nothing. Soon you will feel the power of light…and my ass is not lopsided."
Marco, from his hiding spot…disagreed.
"It is time to show you the true power of the Society of Light." Alexis drew her cards. "I will start by setting one card on the field in defense, and end my turn."
"Goodie." Lexie said, drawing her own hand. She looked over her cards carefully. "A barren field, just waiting for my touch…" She murmured, her eyes glowing black as she held up a card, sending it flying through the air. "I will set one card on the field, and summon Jerry Beans Man to the field."
With a laugh, the little green monster appeared, sword and shield in hand, ready for a fight. Alexis took one look at the monster and sneered. "Pathetic."
"That's my line. Jerry, attack!"
The knight nodded, bouncing at Alexis' defense monster. But the instant his sword managed to get near it, a fist flew out, striking him. (Lexie-3950)
"Cyber Gymnast. 1800 defense points…more then enough to stop you Jerry Beans Man."
Lexie shrugged. "Big deal…little damage. Still haven't seen you do anything yet. Come on…you're suppose to be evil, Alexis…act evil! You're giving us both a bad name."
"Me…you run about like some filthy whore, removing your purity…"
"We both know you want to bang Jaden Yuki. I just happened to do it."
Alexis glared at her for a moment. "…how is he?"
"Not great."
Alexis nodded. "Then you have served your purpose and saved me some trouble. Now face the power of…"
"light." Lexie finished. "I get it."
"I activate my Cyber Gymnast's special ability. By discarding one card from my hand, I can destroy one monster on your side of the field…like your Jerry Beans Man!" The Gymnast leapt into the air, delievering a spin kick to the plant monster that shattered it. "Next, I will summon my Cyber TuTu to the field, and have her attack you directly!"
"Activate trap card, Nutra-Line." Lexie grinned as TuTu's attack turned to particles. "This card allows me to negate your attack, then search my deck for one plant type monster and add it to my hand." Doing that, Lexie began her turn. "And I will now summon my Seed Knight #1"
Marco frowned as the small, black seed warrior appeared on the field, shield and sword in hand, much like the more colorful Jerry Beans Man. He held up his duel scanner, pulling out his view finder and slipping it over his head. Tracking onto Lexie's duel disk, he hit a button, searching for the monster…
Seed Knight #1Earth
Level 3
1500/1000
Plant
"A small knight with some skill, with time she will become the greatest warrior in Gaia's army."
'Will become?' Marco though.
"Next, I set one card on the field, and then have my Seed Knight attack your Cyber TuTu!" The little warrior leapt forward, slashing the dancer monster and shattering her into pieces. Alexis grunted, covering her eyes as her monster was destroyed. (Alexis-3500)
Alexis snarled, drawing her next card. "When will you learn that those weak monsters are no use against my superior cyber warriors? I will again discard one card, activating my Cyber Gymnast's effect once again to destroy your Seed Knight."
Lexie wagged her finger. "Not…so fast. I activate my Quick-Play Spell Storm Shielding. This card protects my monster from being destroyed by monster effects this turn. Also…"
"Big deal." Alexis snapped. "More then one way to pluck a pedal. I activate the spell card The Dance of Death. By sacrificing my ability to summon monsters this turn, I can destroy all the monsters on your side of the field."
The Gymnast held up her hands, waving them through the air, summoning a powerful white magic blast that hurdled towards the Seed Knight. However, Lexie seemed unconcerned…especially when her plant monster began to glow.
"You should have waited and let me finish. You see, my Seed Knight is an interesting monster. It has a ton of fusion cards…" Lexie pulled a fusion deck from her coat pocket. "But the thing is, my fusion monsters, they don't need a fusion spell card…they also don't need fusion componates."
"What?" Alexis questioned, confused.
"Follow me here." Lexie said. "Plants develop based on the soil you put them in. Too much of something gives you green leaves, another big blossoms. The same with my Seed Knight. For every type of card in this game, I have a fusion monster that can be born when that card is used while Seed Knight is on the field. For example, when I activated my Storm Shielding, it allowed my Seed Knight to grow, and transform into the Witch's Weed!"
The Seed Knight split open, and from the small body rose a spellcaster, her body made up of thousands of twisting vines, her robes a patchwork of leaves, her feet thin roots. In her hand she held a twisted staff made from a dandelion, energy crackling from her weapon.
Marco scanned the monster.
Witch's WeedEarth
Level 7
2000/1250
Plant/Fusion/Effect
"This card only be special summoned by sacrificing a monster with "Seed Knight" in its name from the field when a spell card has been activated. As long as this card is on the field, your opponent can not activate any spell cards."
Lexie grinned as her witch blocked the spell's effect, sending it to the graveyard. "And now, I will attack with my Witch." The weed sent out her roots, capturing the Gymnast and squeezing the life from her. "Now that was fun, wasn't it?"
Next Time, on G/X: Hunters- The battle between Lexie and Alexis continues. Lexie uses the versatility of her Seed Knights to counter every move Alexis makes, destroying all her advances. But Alexis isn't a fool, and using the ability of her White Rose card, is able to swarm Lexie's monsters and bring her close to the end. But the former Shadow Knight will not go down easy, and places all her hopes of her newest fusion, Gaia, Goddess of Earth
Yin and Yang Part 2
Author's note: Arlen's comment about Louis Armstrong refers to the chapter "Somewhere over the rainbow". If you remember, Arlen had a dream that he was warned would be important.