Forgot to mention in the last part, thanks again to bailkatanas for the character of Michael, and thanks in advance for his deck.

"I'll go first," Michael declared. Arlene moved back slightly at the ruthless tone.

It's like he wants to destroy me...

"I play my magic card End of the World!" Darkness seemed to encapsulate the arena while Michael explained the effects of the card. "This is a ritual magic card that lets me summon either Ruin, Queen of Oblivion or Demise, King of Armageddon. It just so so happens that I have one of these cards in my hand, so I'll send two level 4 monsters to my grave and summon to the field Demise, King of Armageddon (2400/2000)!" The area they were dueling in started shuddering. From the sky a large monster descended, dressed mostly in black with a large axe. "I'll set one card face down and call it a turn." Michael's monster leered at Arlene as she drew.

This guy's managed to bring out something like that in one turn? He must think I can't destroy it. Idiot.

"I play Smashing Ground, so now your Demise, King of Armageddon goes to the graveyard!"

"You think so?" Michael muttered. A large fist hurtled towards his monster, but before it connected it ran into a barrier and shattered. "I activated my trap card Ritual Defender. Now I can negate any effect that would destroy my Demise, King of Armageddon other than in battle by paying 1000 life points each time."

Michael: 3000
Arlene: 4000

Hmm...better than I thought. Guess I'd better think about this a bit more...

Fine! I'll summon my Balance Warrior Boru (0500/0500) to the field in attack mode and then I'll play Swords of Revealing Light to stop you attacking for three turns!" Michael picked up his card.

"I'll set two cards face down and end my turn."

"Then I'll play Artificial Aura, which adds two Light Auras to Boru at the cost of 2000 life points!" Boru started glowing as it gained two more auras.

Michael: 3000
Arlene: 2000

"Now I play Disrupting the Balance! I can now send Boru to the graveyard with his 3 Light Auras to summon Warrior of the Light Aura - Boru (1000/0500)!" Boru swelled in size as his tattered clothes were replaced with simple white robes. He looked impassive as he observed the field.

"And he is supposed to help you how?" Michael questioned. "Your monster is over 1000 points weaker than mine." Arlene nodded.

"I'll get to that later. For now, I summon my Balance Warrior Hyan (1800/1200) in defence mode and end my turn."

"Well, I'll destroy your Swords of Revealing Light with Mystical Space Typhoon! Now, Demise destroy Boru!" Demise swung its axe at Boru with a malevolent grin.

Michael: 3000
Arlene: 0600

"Nice try," Arlene commented. "But Boru is still here! While he's in attack mode he can't be destroyed in battle, though if I ever negate the damage when he's in attack mode then he's destroyed. My move?" Michael nodded. "I play Dian Keto the Cure Master to increase my life points by 1000!" As Arlene played her card, a Light Aura appeared on Hyan, and two appeared on Boru.

Michael: 3000
Arlene: 1600

"Now, to activate some effects! I'll remove my Light Aura from Hyan to destroy one face up magic or trap card, so say goodbye to your Ritual Defender!" Michael's card shattered as Hyan's Light Aura shot through it. "Then I'll remove the two Light Auras from Boru to draw 2 cards! Then I'll play Shadow Cannon, equipping it to my Balance Warrior Hyan and giving it one Dark Aura, as well as bringing its attack up by 700 (1800/1200 - 2500/1200)! Go Hyan and destroy Demise!" Hyan blasted a dark sphere of energy as Demise. The sphere was stopped by a human shaped spirit.

"You should have remembered my face down cards. I activated Astral Barrier and Spirit Barrier! Astral Barrier can redirect any attacks you make and turn them into direct attacks, which is what I just did. And Spirit Barrier reduces any battle damage I would take to 0 as long as I have a monster on the field. So my monster's still here and I don't lose any life points. Any questions?" Arlene shook her head.

Dammit! Now what am I going to do? Arlene set a card and ended her turn.

"Demise, attack Boru!" Demise slashed at Boru with his axe again, bringing Arlene's life points dangerously low.

Michael: 3000
Arlene: 0200

"That's my turn." Arlene was thinking hard as she picked up her card.

This guy doesn't seem to have any kind of emotion when he's dueling...how can he be so level headed? If I can turn this around maybe I'll invoke some sort of reaction.

"I play Aura Condenser! This magic card lets me remove all Auras from one monster, and then destroy a number of magic or trap cards on the field equal to the number of Auras removed, so I'll remove my Dark Aura from Hyan to say goodbye to your Astral Barrier!" A glass cylinder scooped up Hyan's Dark Aura, then blasted it out at Astral Barrier destroying it. "Boru gains 2 Light Auras, and for each one he has, his attack and defence go up by 500 (1000/0500 - 2000/1500). So, Hyan will destroy Demise, and then Boru will attack you directly!" Hyan blasted out another sphere of energy which collided with Demise and exploded. Then Boru raced up to Michael and slashed at him.

Michael: 1000
Arlene: 0200

Michael grimaced with pain. Seeing him like this, Arlene couldn't resist the urge to taunt him after the long period of him showing no emotion.

"Not so level headed now, are you?" Michael faced her, anger blazing in his eyes.

"What? You think that because I have no monsters you've won? You think that one good move makes you a better duelist? YOU ACADEMY STUDENTS ARE ALL THE SAME!" Arlene recoiled at Michael's outburst, but he didn't stop. "I TRIED TO GET INTO THAT STUPID ACADEMY! ME AND MY...my sister...all I wanted was for her to be safe..." Arlene looked stunned at the sudden change in emotions. Michael didn't seem to notice she was there as he stared at the ground, continuing his narrative. "They would let me in, but not my sister. It was their policy. I was trying to get away...trying to find a new place for us...they let me down when I needed help the most...she would have found us if we'd gone anywhere else..."

"Who?" Arlene dared to ask. Michael looked as though he'd been electrocuted as he realised Arlene had heard everything. The anger in his eyes returned. He picked up his card.

"I play Preparations for the End, removing all Fate cards in my deck, hand or graveyard from play at the cost of half of my life points!"

Michael: 0500
Arlene: 0200

"Then I'll play my own Swords of Revealing Light so you can't attack for three turns!" Arlene looked like she was going to cry as she drew her card. "What?" Michael snapped.

"You shouldn't have played the Fate cards." She breathed deeply, then continued her move. "I play Explosive Star, which lets me destroy one magic or trap card on the field, and I choose your Swords."

"No..." Michael looked fearful as he realised what would now happen. "Please no..."

"I'm sorry..." Arlene whispered. "Hyan. End this." Hyan fired his cannon which ended the duel.

Michael: 0000
Arlene: 0200

The Fate cards swirled around Michael. Shaking, he picked the middle card. His eyes widened as he saw what card he had picked: Binding Fate. The picture had one person running, with another behind them who looked as though he desperatly wanted to be somewhere else.

"No...please no..."

"What does that card do?" Arlene asked.

"It...it means that I have to go where you go until I die. I can never go anywhere unless you want to go there." Tears ran down his face. "My sister...what will I do...?" Arlene was torn.

He's one of them...but he cares so much for his sister...besides, not all Begia members are that bad. Look at Bryon...

"I'm going to try and destroy the Fate cards." Michael looked at her. "Once they're destroyed, you'll be free. But I need you to help me find where they make the cards." Michael looked disbelieving.

"You're going to destroy the cards?" Arlene nodded. Michael thought about this for a few moments.

Will she really keep her word? A mental image of his sister flashed through his thoughts.

"Okay. I'll help. Let's destroy the cards."

New cards...

Ritual Defender
Continuous Trap
Image: A Light Barrier encircling an assortment of Ritual Monsters.
Effect: When a Ritual monster on your side of the field would be destroyed by a card effect, by paying 1000 life points the effect is negated.

Warrior of the Light Aura - Boru
ATK: 1000 DEF: 0500
Attribute: Light
Level: 6
Type: Warrior
Image: Balance Warrior Boru dressed in White Robes holding a majestic dagger.
Fusion Requirements: Balance Warrior Boru with 3 Light Auras.
Effect: This card can only be fusion summoned by Disrupting the Balance. Once per turn you can negate the cost of an effect that discards Light Auras. This card gains 2 Light Auras instead of one from card effects. This card cannot accumulate Dark Auras. This card gains 500 attack and defense points for every Light Aura it has. Remove 2 Light Auras to draw two cards. This effect can only be used once per turn. This card is not destroyed as a result of battle if it is in attack mode. If you negate the battle damage Boru would receive in attack mode through a card effect this card is destroyed.

Aura Condenser
Normal Magic
Image: Balance Warrior Hyan looking pale as he is trapped in a cylinder.
Effect: Remove all Auras from a monster. For each one you remove, destroy one magic or trap card on the field.

Binding Fate
Quickplay Magic
Image: A woman running with a man behind her who looks like he desperately wants to be somewhere else.
Effect: If this card is chosen by your opponent due to the effect of "Fate" your opponent must go wherever you want them to go.