D.H. A.N.: I want to thank those of you who have been patiently waiting on this Chapter. So, without any further comments from the authoress, Here's the duel you have waited for and Chapter Two: A Rival's Rose. Please leave a review.
Chapter Two: A Rival's Rose
"So you're actually going to do it?" Seto Kaiba asked, obviously a bit surprised at how determined Serenity sounded. "Yes, I am going to duel you Seto Kaiba, or are you too high up on society's ladder to hear me correctly?" Serenity retorted defiantly. She was upset, nobody had ever been able to make Serenity lose her serene temperament, but then again, Seto Kaiba wasn't a nobody. Serenity was smirking at him. Something that not even her brother, Joey Wheeler could do for very long. To Mhera and Tea's surprise, Seto Kaiba endured Serenity's expression for two minutes before saying "If you take the staircase, you'll end up on the floor above. Wheeler, just be ready to duel, and don't bring those losers with you." Tea and Mhera silently steamed with anger at the Kaiba Corp. CEO, but they were used biting comments from him by now, so the three just let him walk up the staircase without another word. He tossed a silver-colored suitcase "Oh, and here, you'll need cards to make a deck. Oh, I forgot, you already knew that" He then laughed that annoyingly cocky laugh of his that all love and despise at the same time.
"We have thirty minutes, let's get started shall we?" Mhera stated with a smile. Building dueling decks was one of her favorite hobbies. "This is your deck. Are you sure you want my help?" Serenity nodded swiftly. "I'm not going to be able to coach you in your match." Mhera became straight faced, opening the briefcase. What kind of deck do you want to use?" "I've always been a fan of fairies." "Alright, if you want fairies, we want to start with these…"
Fairies, I've never been a fan of them, but they do have their uses. There are excellent strategies that work well. And they are, no pun intended, fairly easy to use. I wish Kaiba had given time for her to have a practice duel. I wish I had time to show these strategies to her, maybe I can give her some quick ones. Mhera thought as the deck was being built. There were a couple of cards that didn't belong to the fairy group, but went well with them. Because fairy monsters often have life point increasing effects, a Fire Princess was a must. Its effect was essential to a strategy. Soul Absorption would help, because there were quite a few Fusions, so Fusion Gate was included. Soul of Purity and Light requires the removal of two Light Monsters from play. The card Soul Absorption would give the controller 500 Life Points for each creature removed from play. That was only a few of the strategies that made it work.
Thirty minutes went by far too quickly. Miraculously, Serenity had just gotten a decent deck together, with a couple of minutes to spare. "Do you really think I can do this? Everybody knows that the only duelist to defeat Seto Kaiba in a duel was Yugi Moto, and he had only won the duels by a hair." Mhera and Tea exchanged worried looks, but after remembering all the efforts Serenity had put into her deck, the two teens smiled. "You'll definitely be able to surprise Kaiba with this deck. You know the cards well, and therefore, should fare well in your duel." "Oh no! I'm late, again!" Serenity shrieked. She then dashed up the same stairs Kaiba had used earlier. "Aren't you coming?" She asked her companions. "You heard Kaiba, he doesn't want an audience to the match, and you know how he hates the cheerleaders we turn into when one of our friends is dueling him." Mhera smiled "I think it's because he never has any friends." They followed her up the staircase, as they remembered that it was their only way back up to the floor from which they had fallen. When they reached the floor above, they were sure that Kaiba was already waiting. They parted from there. "You'll do fine, Serenity. Just remember, take it easy, and read the cards carefully." Mhera stated rather calmly. She would have had to tell herself the same thing, if she were going through the same circumstance. "Yeah, Serenity, you'll show Kaiba what's coming to him!" Tea chimed in, "We'll meet you at the gates when you finish. Best of luck."
Seto Kaiba was already at the arena, deck ready. She's late. I should have guessed a Wheeler would make a fool of herself by challenging one as skilled as me. She is wasting my time. I should just lea- "Wait!" Serenity was out of breath. "I got lost. Arena one isn't the first arena, apparently." "Well, since you are here, I guess we'll just have to start our duel, won't we? Prepare to lose, Wheeler." That statement made Serenity lose her temper, something that is very hard to do. "Oh, I'm ready, and stop calling me by my last name only!" "Why, you and your friends do it to me all the time." "I've only done that once. I cannot speak for my friends. Let's just duel already Seto Kaiba!" Serenity said with an irate tone. "As you wish, Serenity Wheeler. Ladies first." The duel had begun.
SK: 4000 SW: 4000
"I'll go first then." Serenity groaned at her opening hand. She had Manju Of The Thousand Hands, Performance of Sword, and Airknight Parshath, Soul of Purity and Light, and Cestus of Dagla. She drew Waboku. Okay, let's see I can't use Manju's effect, as I already have my Ritual Monster in my hand. And I want to save the Cestus for my Airknight. So I'll just set Manju in Defense Mode and Waboku on my field. Besides, if it is destroyed, that's one towards getting my Soul of Purity And Light out… "Make your move Serenity, you've kept me waiting for five minutes. And as you know, the longer you take to make your move, the more time I get to rip your strategy to shreds." "Fine, then I'll set one Monster in Defense Mode, and a card face down. And that's it for my move."
Meanwhile, at the gate, Mhera and Tea were on pins and needles. Not only was their friend dueling one of the best and most ruthless duelists ever, Mhera had the eerie feeling that they were being watched, but by who, was unclear. The feeling was almost always right. Tea tried to put them both at ease by striking up a conversation. "Do you really think Serenity will be alright, and why did Kaiba choose to duel her?" Mhera looked to Tea, saying, "Methods like those of Seto Kaiba are very hard to define. He would never believe it, but I think this duel with our friend is a brilliant example of how fate brings two opposites together. I am not certain about it though. If anyone can melt that CEO's iced heart, it's Serenity Wheeler."
Back at the arena, it was Seto Kaiba's move. He looked at the redhead that had the nerve to find guts to challenge him. His face exhibited a minute twitch. He quickly reordered the wording of his thought. He had challenged her. I don't know what she's planning, but she is in for a surprise. I have my X Head Cannon, my Y- Dragon Head, and my Z- Metal Tank hidden within my deck and with all three on the field, I can summon my XYZ Dragon Cannon by removing all three from play, without using a Polymerization card. So I think I will wait for that opportunity to wake her up to reality. I also have a couple of magic cards that could help me out, namely, my Dimension Fusion, but I'll save that for later. Speaking of Dimension, I wonder if the project is done?
Serenity just looked at him. Of all the times she had seen him, he merely kept the same smirk he would usually possess. But now, she had seen his face twitch. She knew a move like she had just done would do anything but make the CEO nervous. It would probably make him burst out laughing. Was he being courteous to her? He had honored her request to call her by the first name. The last name, she thought, was a bit much though. His voice jolted her out of the thoughts that had crossed her mind. " I think I'll duplicate your maneuver, by setting one card facedown, and a Monster in defense mode." Kaiba never plays defense. I don't like this one bit. It's my turn, but the dilemma presents itself, do I attack, risk triggering, it's bound to be, one of Kaiba's traps? Or do I play another defense and leave the Monster on his field be, which he'll then tribute to summon a stronger Monster? I think I'll use this.
She had forgotten, however that Kaiba hadn't ended his turn. The choice has presented itself. If she attacks, I have a Mirror Force in wait. If she pulls another defense move, Soul Exchange will allow me to tribute her Monster along with mine, and bring out my new Dragon. Or, I could not activate Mirror Force, and still tribute the only Monster she has; that would make it all the better, "I end my turn." Seto Kaiba finished rather simply.
Serenity took a deep breath. It was now or never. "I tribute my Face down Monster to summon Airknight Parshath (1900,1100), and then equip it with Cestus of Dagla. Here's what it does, it increases my Airknight's Attack points by 500, and in addition, any battle damage this card inflicts on you comes back to me as Life Points. Pretty neat, huh?" She shot Kaiba a smile, but as quickly as it appeared, it was replaced by a look of fire in her almond eyes. "Now I attack your face down Monster with my Airknight!" The knight sent a shock wave of air on the facedown card, that turned out to be Vorse Raider (1900, 1000). It was destroyed and then a blast of air was sent toward Kaiba, and his Life Points fell to 2600. Serenity then drew a card. "I think I'll end my turn with a facedown card."
Tea and Mhera were still waiting by the gate, bored out of their wits. "I'm going to get a drink. Do you want something?" Tea asked casually. "No, thanks though." Mhera replied calmly, too calmly, Tea thought. Tea then left. I think, no, I know I lied. I want that match to be over, so that I won't have that "There's trouble" feeling I've had since we got here. Mhera heard footsteps behind her. She turned, only to be gripped on a pressure point and black out.
Tea had only caught a glimpse of what happened next. A man in a Kaiba Land Security Uniform slung the unconscious red head over his shoulder and stalked off to an area marked "off limits" I have a hunch that guy's not a real security guard. If he is, he wouldn't go into that "off limits" area. I've got to go find Kaiba. Tea quickly downed the rest of her water, and made way for Arena One.
Just as Seto Kaiba was beginning his turn, the communicator in his trench coat went off. "Mr. Kaiba, we have reports of a security guard going into the Dimension Area. He has someone with him." "Do you know who it is?" Kaiba asked the one on the other end. "No, sir, all we have in terms of security cameras are low-tech black and white shots, but we'll enhance the images and get back to you.." The communication was then ceased.
Now that that is taken care of, where was I? I remember now. I was just about to draw. Seto Kaiba made his draw, a Monster Reborn. Perfect, now, I can get my Vorse Raider back, and Summon my Dragon. "I activate Monster Reborn, taking my Vorse Raider back from the Graveyard, and placing it in attack mode, but it won't stay long. I activate Soul Exchange, which lets me tribute my Vorse Raider. and your Airknight to bring out my Rose Dragon !"(2600,2350)
Just as he finished his declaration of triumph, a rose-hued dragon materialized on the field. Serenity found it beautiful. Its wings were shaped like leaves, and it had a rose on the crown of its head, its talons were the color, and no doubt of the same sharpness, as a rose's thorns. The eyes were a deep emerald green. Its attack must be pretty awesome looking. Serenity mused. "It's a really cool card, Seto Kaiba. Did you make it?" "As a matter of fact I did, Serenity." Kaiba said icily, he hadn't used her last name this time. Serenity softly shook herself back into reality. Thank goodness I've got Waboku on my field. She sighed gratefully.
"Now Rose Dragon attack with Light Petal Burst!" Kaiba's command rang through the arena. Petals began to fall from the rose on the dragon's head. And began spinning around the dragon's mouth. Suddenly, a burst of light came from the revolving petals aiming for Serenity. "Go! Waboku!" Serenity screamed. A trio of robed figures appeared and blocked the attack. "I end my turn." Kaiba said smoothly.
Serenity quickly set her Hysteric Fairy she had received thanks to her Airknight's draw facedown, then special summoned Soul of Purity and Light, (2000,1800) by removing the Airknight, and Manju from play, in Defense Mode, and that was her turn. Seto Kaiba was just about to begin his turn, when the trench coat device went off. "We've enhanced the photos, sir." "Put them onscreen." Seto replied as if it was no big deal at all. The Life Point scores were then replaced by images of what could clearly be seen as a guard, and something to dark for the cameras to pick up, on his shoulder. "I can't identify it. It's probably just a glitch. Take the images off screen." Kaiba said. The images faded from view, the score coming up once again. Seto Kaiba: 2600 Serenity Wheeler: 5400. That lead she has is about to be turned against her. For once I attack her Soul of Purity and light with my Rose Dragon, my Blue Eyes can be summoned to the field from my hand. When Rose Dragon destroys a Light Attribute Monster, I am able to summon any Dragon that has less attack than the total Attack and Defense points of the Monster Rose Dragon destroys. Now, I think it's time to use that strategy.
"Now, Rose Dragon, destroy her Soul of Purity and Light! Light Petal Burst!" The dragon did so, and revealed that were buds just below its wings. I guess I'll find out what those are for. Serenity thought as a bud popped off , and landed alongside the dragon from whence it came. "Now, here's where it gets interesting." Seto Kaiba began, "I've just destroyed a Monster, and this bud appeared. Only, it's a bud no longer, it's a dragon egg. You already know what's in it. Meet the Blue Eyes White Dragon.!"(3000, 2500) As if on cue the "bud" began to enlarge and harden. Then a minute crack came from the center, and then it burst open. With its characteristic blue scales, there was no mistaking The Blue Eyes White Dragon. "Now, Blue Eyes, use White Lightning on her facedown!" A burst of white energy came from the dragon's mouth, revealing a very hysterical Hysteric Fairy. She tried to block the attack with her glasses, but they shattered under the pressure of the dragon's breath.
She's wide open. By the look on her face, I'd say she doesn't have anything that can protect her from my onslaught. This duel will be over in two more turns. Kaiba smirked as he thought of the look of shock on his opponent's face, when he only had to wait one more turn to finish her.
Serenity was hopeless I should just give up. I don't have any Monsters that I can summon. I can either surrender, or, I could have Kaiba finish me off. She chose the earlier. She placed her hand over her deck, saying almost inaudibly "I surrender. It looks like you win, Seto Kaiba."
Seto Kaiba was shocked. In all his duels, his opponents kept denying the inevitable loss at his hands. But this girl Serenity saw that it was hopeless, and embraced it. But she had a good deck in her hands, and knew how to use it. Strangely enough, Kaiba made not one snide remark after Serenity left the field.
Serenity was walking out when Tea almost bumped into her. Tea was gasping for air. "Is Kaiba still in there?" Serenity was puzzled, "Yes, I believe so. Why?" "Because," Tea panted, "Mhera's been kidnapped!"
D.H: Sorry for the horrible cliffie, but it has to be done. Next Chapter: Tea and Kaiba confirm that Mhera has been kidnapped, but where she is being held is a whole other story. Travel into the virtual world once more in Chapter Three: Dimension of Destiny. Please R&R. Thanks