Yu-Gi-Oh GX: The American Duelists

Chapter 8 - The Unfortunate Duelists

"Whoa! Incredible!"

"Check out those curves!"

"Talk about curves, check out those mountians!"

"Back! Back you fiends!" A boy demands from the center of a crowd of excited drooling Duel Academia boys. A second smaller group of boys creates a defensive permiteter around him to hold the other students at bay. "That's the freebie sneak preview. You know the drill: If you want to see more, it's going to cost you!" The boy lifts a huge cardboard box over his head. "Singles of any girl are 300 Yen a pop. An idol pack will set you back 1500 Yen for seven pictures. We've got the Idol pack for Anette, Lilica, and Jessica, as well as all your favorite DA girls. A deluxe mega pack is a modest 3000 Yen for 13 incredible photos, including exclusive shots you can't buy individually. We've got the deluxe mega pack for lady Venus, Duel Queen Asuka Tenjoin, and the voluptuous American vixen Hannah Daniels. As always, supplies are limited, so don't miss your chance."

Judai, Sho, and Kenzan watch as the massive crowd of boys scramble for their wallets. Michael stands off to a side of the group. The guard around the boy takes orders while the boy distributes packages and single photos. "That's the photography club, isn't it?" Kenzan inquires.

"Aren't they embarassed?" Sho asks with a queer smirk. Judai blushes and laughs uncertainly.

"SOOO CUTE!" A boy shouts over the crowd, as he shows off his newly purchased photo pack to his friends. "Anette chan is the best of them all!"

"Anette-chan?" Kenzan murmurs. He checks to make sure Sho and the others aren't looking before lifting himself onto his tip toes to try and sneak a peek across the lawn. Sho catches him squinting to where the boys have congregated.

"Aren't you embarassed?" Sho mutters accusingly.

"Gak!" Having being discovered, Kenzan waves the accusations away dismissively. "No don, it's not like that at allasuarus!" He laughs awkwardly.

"Sure." Sho states in utter disbelief.

"WHOA! THEY'RE ENORMOUS!" A group of boys shouts in unison. "It should be illegal to bend over at that size!"

Sho doesn't need to hear a name to know who they are talking about. He slyly stands on his tip toes and tries to use his glasses as binoculars.

"Aren't you embarassed?" Kenzan asks with his arms crossed over his chest and his back to Sho.

Sho turns away and folds his arms over his chest as well. "I have nothing to be embarassed about!" He retorts arrogantly.

"Is that so don?" Kenzan asks as he leans over Sho's shoulder. Sho's composure crumbles under Kenzan's interigating glower. "You know you can't hide anything from a predator, Sho-kun. Especially not a prehistoric predator whose senses have been fine tuned over billions of years!"

Sho peers over his shoulder with an incredulous look plastered across his brow. "And who do you think you're fooling with that prehistoric predator act?" He asks. Kenzan growls at Sho's remark, sending Sho on the defense.

"Hey, hey guys?" Judai asks cautiously. Judai's words barely reach the two over their growls at each other. Judai laugh's helplessly while the two go at it. Despite his ineptitude for the subject matter, Judai tries again to point out, "There are some girls coming." Both Sho and Kenzan stop fighting and look to the small group of girls coming over the hill.

"I know! Isn't Kyle-sama the coolest? He's so much cooler than any of the Duel Academia boys!" One of the girls states passionately.

"But he's SOOO bad!" Another replies. To her response, they all laugh haughtily.

"What about upperclassman Fubuki? I thought he was you're type." Another asks.

"Please. He's second string by comparison."

A bush collapses behind Judai's group. The three puzzled boys look to each other for answers, but quickly dismiss it as the wind. They watch the girls come within earshot of the crowd of boys. The boys fall silent and all sales cease as the girls walk by. They all giggle as they leave them behind. "Pathetic pervs!" The girls laugh.

When the girls have left sight, all of the boys fall to their knees and cry out, "IT'S TRUE!"

The boy selling pics quickly protests. "Hey now! You can't help what you are! The only thing you can do is embrace your pathetic pervyness, and buy more photos of your favorite girls, while supplies last!" His sales pitch falls on silence, until a single boys raises his hand with some money clenched in his trembling fist.

"I'll take a Lilica pack, if you've got any left, I think..." The entire crowd stares at him blankly. He sweats profusely under their collective gaze. As he is handed his photo pack, the crowd explodes back into business, and boys mob the photography club's defensive barrier with their orders.

Judai, Sho, and Kenzan laugh from the sidelines. "They should probably be ashamed of themselves!" Kenzan and Sho agree.

"The girls really aren't much better, though." Kenzan points out. He freezes up as he comes to a revelation. "You know what don? The Americans are all super popular school idols after only a week, but..." He looks to Michael, who stands silently to the side. It's hard to tell what he's watching, if anything, or if he has been paying attention to them at all. Kenzan lowers his voice and waves the others closer before continuing. Sho and Judai take the cue to lean into the huddle. "Have you noticed, Michael is barely ever mention, and no one talks about Ramirez at all?"

Michael doens't show any signs that he has been listening, even though he has been from the begining. "There's no point in trying to spare my feelings." He thinks. "I already know I'm not popular."

Sho whispers back to Kenzan, "It's sad how Ramirez is forgotten. I doubt anyone even realizes he hasn't been going to classes."

"That is sad." Judai agrees. "Maybe we should go see him again today; to check on him."

"It won't do any good." Michael breaths silently, as he recalls the previous night's failed experiment.

Kenzan points out that they will be refused admission by Miss Ayukawa, but Judai doesn't thinks it matters. "We should still go to show our support, even if we can't see him."

"He's gone." Michael exclaims from beside the group. The trio's heads turns to Michael for answers.

"What do you mean?" Sho asks, but Michael doesn't reply. Instead, he walks past the group towards the main building; leaving the group on the side of the worn dirt path. "What does he mean, big brother?" Sho asks again. Judai is left shaking his head.

"He seems really out of it-don. I don't think he's A-okayasaurus!" Kenzan states forcefully about the despondent young man who walks up the trail alone. Michael stands out amidst the crowds of guys who huddle around pictures of the their favorite girls on the island. He has a depressing air about him, which is a stark contrast to the liveliness around him.

Sho agrees, but he quickly points out, "What can we do to help him? We don't even know what's wrong with him." The two puzzle over his behavior, while Judai looks on in with concern.

"Let's go see Ramirez." Judai insists out of the blue.

"Now?" Kenzan asks. "We'll be late if we detour more than we already have, big brother."

"I know." Judai concurs. "But I still want to go to the nurse's office anyways." The other two don't question him any further, and the three set out for the nurse's office.

When they arrive, they find the nurse's office empty, and Miss Emi Ayukawa, the girl's dorm head, the school health and PE teacher, and the school's nurse, walking away from the office wearing her track suit; most likely on her way to a first period PE class. "Miss Ayukawa professor!" Judai shouts to get her attenion before they lose her.

"Oh, Yuki Judai-kun?" She asks with a bit of surprise. "I didn't expect to see any of you so early in the day." She explains.

"We came to check on Ramirez." Kenzan states.

To his declaration, Miss Ayukawa shakes her head. "I'm sorry, but that's not possible. He was airlifted out of Duel Academia earlier this morning." The group is stunned by the news. Miss Ayukawa quickly reassures them, "It's not that bad. He'll be in very capable hands from here on out. I'm sure he'll be fine with time." She smiles slightly to the group. They don't know what to say to her comments or the news. Miss Ayukawa quickly reminds them, "You three should be getting to class now. It won't do you any good to worry in front of the nurse's office all morning, and I won't right you excuses for being late." She smiles at her last comment.

"Yes professor." Kenzan and Sho reply with a bow each. Judai is lost in thought at the moment, but quickly snaps out of it and bows as well. The three hurry on to their first hour class.

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Over the course of the day, the trio overhears all sorts of news, gossip, and rumors; from the usual idol gossip, which is currently dominated by talk of the four American girls, as well as Ash and Kyle, to more unsavory rumors about the group of newcomers, including the retelling of the Machinist Duel Faction's dominating duels against Michael. Even though the range of chatter is endless, none of it has anything to do with Ramirez. He is never mentioned once; by name or by description. "He really is forgotten." Judai agrees with what they said earlier.

"It's like he never existed." Sho points out once more.

"Extinct. Forgotten in the sands of time." Kenzan agrees in his own analogy.

"Are you really surprised?" A voice asks from behind them. They turn to find a figure donned in all black, including a pair of stylish black sun glasses.

"Manjyome-kun!" A startled Sho cries out.

Manjyome scans the hallway full of gossiping students and students going about their daily routines. "He wasn't a very good duelist, so why would anyone talk about him or remember him?" Manjyome asks coldly.

"Manjyome-kun, how could you say such harsh things?" Judai asks with a disapproving tone.

"Yeah, Manjyome. Being a foreigner and an honorary student should bring him notoriety on its own-don!" Kenzan adds.

Manjyome ignores Kenzan's logic and Judai's passionate reprimanding. "It doesn't matter." Facing Judai without removing his sun glasses, he boldly reiterates, "This is Duel Academia Main Campus. This is an elite dueling school that prepares its students for a life of going pro in the dueling world or to pursue careers in a field relating to Duel Monsters. This is no place for weak duelists, and this is not the place where anyone less than a great is acknowledged for their achievements." Manjyome stiffens his stance under Judai's intense gaze. "He was a nobody in the dueling world with no victories to show for himself and no accomplishments here worthy of idol gossip. Even as a foreign student, he didn't stand out in any good or memorable ways. Sad as you may think it is, this is the kind of treatment a nobody in Duel Academia receives, and he doesn't deserve anything more than this."

"That's vicious, Manjyome." Judai retorts in a hollow tone.

"Manjyome-sanda!" He snaps. "I've earned my right to be here, Judai Yuki!" He turns his back on the trio, and the boy in black marches off through the crowds of gossiping, chatty students.

"That's right." Manjyome reminds himself. "I've earned the right to be here... Haven't I?" Manjyome's unflinching confidence when speaking out to Judai and his friends now trembles and threatens to crumble beneath his own self analysis. "The spirit of my cards have abandoned me. I've been beaten by a weak duelist who was assigned to a lesser dorm, and it isn't even the first time..." He recalls Michael's victory over him, as well as Judai's trouncing him ever since he arrived, followed by his loss to the oddball of their group, Misawa Daichi. "Flukes!" He tries to convince himself. "They got lucky. That's all." He remembers his victories before coming to Duel Academia as well as his victories here. Since arriving at Duel Academia, he has trounced almost the entire school body, and many of them repeatedly. He recalls all of his major wins as well, including the duel with his brother, where he was forced to use only weak monsters with an attack of 500 or less. "That's right. I saved the school from being bought out by Manjyome group!" He praises himself. But, Michael's words from the previous night still echo through him.

"You are unworthy of these tiny wonders. These cute weak monsters need someone who will give them the proper environment they need to excel and feel needed. They need a deck where they can stand out and shine, even though they are weak. Look how they were chosen and used. Chosen out of desperation; a need so you could win, with them as sacrificial offerings. They will never truly be happy like this."

"Dammit! He's an admittedly inferior duelist: How dare he lecture me on my treatment of my cards!" Manjyome turns down a side hall of the school; a hall where students seldom congregate. He kicks the wall repeatedly and vocalizes his annoyance with beastly growls and assorted curses. "I've earned the right to be here dammit! How dare these Americans try and make me feel like I don't belong. Who are they to question me?" He shouts furiously.

"Who are you to be above questioning?" A cool collected voice replies. Manjyome turns sharply on the balls of his feet. He scans the hall and intersection, but it seems like he is completely alone. A feminine giggle gives away the mysterious stranger's location. Manjyome cautiously approaches an open classroom behind him. The only light in the dark room comes from between the drawn blinds when they sway in the breeze of an open window. Again, a feminine giggle guides Manjyome to the source of the voice. Manjyome spots a handsome boy with short spiked hair wearing an Obelisk Blue uniform at the back of the room. He is surrounded by three Duel Academia girls laying against him. One leans over his shoulders with her arms wrapped around him; nonchalantly buttoning his jacket. Manjyome recognizes the boy as one of the American Duelists from their introduction ceremony. From the rumors alone, Manjyome is certain he is Kyle Jones. Kyle wears an amused smile,

"It takes more than a few wins at school to be in a position where you are above questioning by others, don't you think?" Kyle asks. The girls snicker with agreement.

The comment is irritating coming from yet another American. And from the rumors, Kyle is the most arrogant of them all. "And do you think you're in such a position?" Manjyome asks coldly.

Kyle chuckles at Manjyome's comment, and the three girls echo his amusement. Holding out his hand over his shoulder, the girl behind Kyle interlocks her fingers in his. Kyle lifts her hand and transfers her from his shoulder as if she was a book bag. When she is no longer hanging on him, he twirls her in a kind of dance maneuver, before taking hold of her waist and pulling her down in his lap. She smiles as she leans back against his chest. "Me? Above questioning, in matters relating to Duel Monsters?" Again Kyle laughs. "Do you really want to know about me? I think these fine ladies have heard that story enough." Kyle states with a wide grin. The girls shake their heads and plead for him to tell the story once more. Manjyome doesn't answer. He can't manage anything more than hisses of annoyance.

Kyle finally holds up a hand to call the girls to silence. With their approval, he clears his throat and starts his dramatic narration. "In my youthful days," He begins. "Every day after school, each weekend, and on my days off, I would go in search of tournaments and new worthy opponents. While many of my peers enjoyed reruns on TV, I was winning titles, awards, and invites from across the globe. In the past few years alone, I've taken major tournaments all around the world, including five back to back world championship titles. And three of those were from before the redemption series, mind you: Before I obtained all the pieces to make an Exodia deck." He adds with a sly grin. "With those achievements, I think it's fair to say I've been above questioning for some time." At his comment, the three girls share a wide smile.

Kyle continues, "After completing my Exodia deck, I became undefeatable. For two years I never lost a single game, and I participated in every major tournament I could participate in." Kyle chuckles fondly. "With my record, I should have been able to go pro several times over, but I was turned down by every pro-league talent scout who saw me play. They all told me the exact same thing, too: It's no fun to watch you win all the time." At his comment, Kyle becomes somber.

"They were right, though. It was no fun to watch me win all the time. In fact, it wasn't much fun to play and win all the time either. After attaining such greatness and being shot down by the pro league repeatedly, it became apparent that it wasn't enough to simply win. It takes something more; something I lacked." Kyle snickers. "Naturally, I went looking for what I was lacking, and I found it in the most unlikely place." Kyle laughs fondly. "I lacked the ability to lose. I was Superman without villains, conflicts, or Cryptonite." Kyle holds out his hands and shrugs. "In order to advance farther, I had to trade my record of unparalleled victory for greater challenge, which isn't tricky with an Exodia deck. By binding myself to the constraints of time challenges, luck, and imperfect deck designs, I was able to find challenge again. Victory was no longer certain, and people began to take notice of my achievements like they never did before. That became my way. I began dueling under new rigorous self imposed restrictions, and I embraced unpredictable deck builds and imperfection. It was the only way I could lose after rising so high, and to lose at such a height, it only strengthened my record. You see, my losses are not truly my losses, but rather my opponent's victory that I allow them a chance to achieve. I'm like the Sphinx, don't you think?" Kyle jokes.

The three girls laugh and agree with him. Manjyome however, refuses to take part in his joke.

"Yeah. I'm like the sphinx. I'm the beast who allows travelers to pass if they are willing to play my game. I could easily defeat any challenger in a heartbeat, but I choose to offer them a game they stand a chance of winning if they are daring and intelligent enough to agree to the terms. And no one calls the sphinx a loser for allowing her victims to pass. They are but her playthings which she has absolute control over." Kyle slides his fingers down the girl's arm and raises her hands out in a puppet act which she willingly submits to. "You see, I'm more than above questioning by other duelists: I'm above winning and losing. If this game was a measure of a man, I'd be something of a god. I only answer to the challenges of Exodia and the endless trials I can devise to hinder myself in summoning him forth." Kyle laughs cruelly as he uses his puppet to bring both girls in his and her embrace. "I've conquered far more than just the duel field as well." He adds with a wink.

Manjyome is repulsed by his actions, and he is infuriated by Kyle talking down to him, yet at the same time, the looks of prurient ecstasy on the faces of the three girls shakes all of his feelings and beliefs to the core. He can't imagine attaining such a status that he could be in that position with Asuka.

Kyle chuckles as he releases the girls from his spell. They stand and step aside without being told. He rises; showing his full height and figure. Manjyome is surprised to find that Kyle is no taller or stronger than him. He isn't even much older, even though the air about him makes him feel older. Kyle allows one of the girls to take his hand, while the remaining two follow at his side. "Ladies." Kyle begins to guide the girls past Manjyome.

"Wait!" Manjyome demands as Kyle reaches the doorway. "I challenge you!" He turns his head sharply, allowing his sun glasses to slide down to the bridge of his nose.

"Phew!" Kyle whistles.

"Nice shiners, second year." One of the girls remarks.

"That ugly one did quite a number on you." Another of the girl remarks.

Kyle spares Manjyome an amused smirk. He finally bows off Manjyome's challenge. "Forget about it, kid. You're in no state to be issuing or accepting challenges."

"And why is that?" Manjyome shouts.

"Do you really need to ask?" Kyle asks in disbelief. "You come ranting and raving down an empty hallway, attacking inanimate objects, and you think you are in the right state of mind to go challenging people?" Kyle laughs incredulously before rounding on Manjyome with his girl in hand. "Be serious with yourself: Can you really handle another loss right now? And even if you could pull a miracle win, how is it going to help you?"

Kyle shakes his head. "History has shown us the answers many times before, if only we weren't so arrogant to learn. We've been left examples by fighters who fell from grace after only a single loss. On any other day, to any other fighter, it would have been just another loss. Yet, from this one loss their careers crumbled. Each victory or defeat afterwards only further sped their descent. A single loss should be insignificant, and a victory should fuel a comeback... But so many never bounced back." Kyle's grin lessens, as his eyes pierce through the tinted black lenses of Manjyome's glasses. "History tells tales of great battles between men that decided the form of the world we know. Many left only an account of their regret or self doubt which sealed their defeat before the battle ever took place? If only to have stopped one battle sooner, they'd have been victors. If only they'd have advanced and not fallen into doubt, they'd have been gods. Cities and civilizations fell because of a step too many or a step too few, several times chosen incorrectly by a defeated mind? To be great, a man must seize victory in his own mind first. And the instant you doubt yourself, you have lost."

Kyle shakes his head once more. "You're at such a crossroad. You think you can rectify all the wrongs life has handed you recently by challenging a superior duelist you know you can't defeat. And what do you really stand to gain from winning? You're certain to lose, and you know it, but can you really handle another loss on top of all those things that sent you over the deep end not too long ago?"

Despite his annoyance, Manjyome searches himself for the answer. If he can defeat Kyle here, will it right the wrongs that came before? He imagines the Ojama Spirits returning because of his great victory. He can hear them praise his efforts, and he can finally punish them for leaving without his permission. He sees that fool Ramirez wheeling around Duel Academia in a wheelchair. The two turn their heads away from each other in disgust, but it is as far as their dislike for one another goes. He can even see Asuka taking him by the arm and congratulating him on his victories and willingness to coexist with his enemy. But he already knows, they are lies. The truth is reflected in Kyle's eyes where he sees himself alone and frustrated, hiding two black eyes with a pair of sunglasses. Beating Kyle won't get him any of those things or fix the damage Ramirez caused in his short time here. And if he lost... Manjyome can hear his own words to Judai, "I've earned my right to be here." Followed by the thoughts he's been sitting on over the past few days, "But the Ojamas have abandoned me, I was defeated by an inferior self handicapped duelist, and even against that monster, fighting to defend the honor of the woman I love, I'd have lost to him." It's a blur he doesn't want to remember, but he can still see it; the duel with Ramirez that James ended by forcing the system to shut down before Ramirez could deliver his final decisive blow. Manjyome lowers his head in shame at the realization that he shouldn't even be at Duel Academia right now.

"Smart answer." Kyle states as he takes his female acquaintances in hand once more. The four leave Manjyome alone in the dark room to wallow in his thoughts.

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The bell signals the end of another school day. While many of the students head to their after school clubs, others disperse to wherever they please to meet up and hang out with friends. Among the clubless student body, Yuki Judai waits on the school roof, where he basks in the sun's warmth and the fresh air. "It's not like you to be alone." A voice comments from the stairwell.

Judai sits up and finds Michael at the doorway. "Michael?" He asks, before realizing he had been asked an indirect question. "Sho and Kenzan-kun both have clean up duty today." He explains.

Michael remains in the doorway, where he watches Judai sitting in the sun in the middle of the roof. "Have you given up looking for Kyle?" He asks with mild curiosity.

"Well, no, not really." Judai scratches his head. "I'd love to have a rematch, but I can't find Kyle anywhere. Every time I think I know where he is, he ends up being two steps ahead."

"Is that right?" Michael laughs slightly. He finally steps out of the shadow of the doorway. "Well, I'm not Kyle..." He admits as he arms his duel disk. "But, if you want to play another American duelist instead..." With a slight nod of his head and wave of his fingers, Michael gestures for Judai to come on. "I believe we had a rain-check anyways."

"Alright!" Judai gleefully accepts. He jumps to his feet and arms his own duel disk.

Michael removes the deck from his second deck box. Upon sliding it into his black duel disk, he glares over the deck. "In this duel," He starts in a resigned tone, "I will reveal the true form of this deck; the true embodiment of my feelings towards dueling..." His gaze is empty as if he had already been defeated. "And towards life." He adds in a breath.

Uncertain of how to respond, Judai gives Michael a cautious nod of his head. The duel disk orbs alternate until Judai is chosen to take the initiative. The chance to go first energizes him. "Alright, my turn!" Judai declares. He draws an extra card and examines his opening hand. "Good." He encourages himself. "I'll start this battle with Elemental Hero Burst Lady." Burst Lady materializes on the field and exhales her battle cry to announce her appearance. "And I'll set two cards. Turn end." The 2 s/t cards appear face down on the field and Judai's life points show at 4000 behind him.

Michael draws silently. After examining his hand in detail, he sets a monster and 2 s/t cards. "Turn end." He declares in the same unenergetic tone.

Judai draws cautiously. "He's so distant." Judai analyzes. "Could he have fallen into despair as well?" Judai's eyes widen. "Could this also be a game of darkness?" Judai carefully eyes Michael for signs that he has submitted to the same magic as Ramirez, but despite seeming more depressed than usual, Michael doesn't show any signs of being controlled or manipulated by magic.

"It's not like you..." Michael states abruptly, "to hesitate in a duel."

Judai nods. "Elemental Hero Featherman, attack position!" He declares. Featherman materializes beside Burst Lady. Judai points at the set monster. "Burst Lady, attack! Burst Fire!" Burst Lady leaps into the air, and she fires a scattered barrage of fireballs. One of the fireballs reveals the set monster, The Unhappy Maiden. The lethargic sitting girl shares the same despondent expression as Michael. She glances up in time to see one of Burst Lady's fireballs falling directly for her. Despite seeing her impending doom, she makes no attempt to defend herself or to escape. She explodes without a scream or cry of protest.

"When The Unhappy Maiden is destroyed as a result of battle, the battle phase ends immediately." As the words leave Michael's mouth, the field fills with sparkles of soft blue light.

Despite her tragic destruction, The Unhappy Maiden's destruction leaves Judai in awe. "It's... so beautiful..." Judai breaths. Featherman is also awed to the point he cannot take advantage of the open field Burst Lady created for him.

Michael activates a set quickplay spell depicting art similar to The Grave of Enkindling, but the woman wears a blue dress, and her hands are folded over her heart in prayer, while two angelic wings of light emerge from her back. "The Goddess of Revival." Michael explains. "When my monster is destroyed by my opponent's actions, my monster will be revived from my graveyard." The Unhappy Maiden materializes in the same space she previously occupied.

"Turn end." Judai declares.

Michael draws. He sets yet another monster, as well as another s/t card. Then, he ends his turn. Neither of the boys has dealt any damage.

After drawing and checking his newly drawn card, Judai attacks with Burst Lady; targeting the face down monster. "Burst Fire!" He declares. Again, Burst Lady fires a scattering barrage of fire balls. The set monster reveals itself to be the cute plant monster Dreamsprite. "That card?" Judai swears he has seen Michael's cards used by someone else before, but he can't recall where. The tiny dozy sprite casts a cloud of dreamy magic bubbles to obscure Burst Lady's vision. Burst Lady turns her head away as the lovely bubbles float past her face. She inadvertently destroys The Unhappy Maiden with her attack. The Unhappy Maiden's magic activates. The field shines in the lovely blue sparkles created by the destroyed girl.

To the destruction of his monster, Michael activates the card he set in the previous turn. The quickplay spell depicts yet another woman with wings of light. She holds a near identical winged woman in her arms. "Second Goddess." Michael reveals The Goddess of Revival from his graveyard. "By removing from play a copy of a spell in my deck, I can activate a spell of the same name in my graveyard." Michael reveals a second Goddess of Revival from his deck, and he drops it into his deck box. The Unhappy Maiden is revived, yet again. Judai is forced to ends his turn again.

Michael explains, "This is how I play, Judai; by using spells and traps to preserve the lives of these cute weak monsters, rather than using them once and discarding them. In this way, even a monster such as The Unhappy Maiden, with no attack or defense to speak of, can seal an integral part of my opponent's game." After explaining his strategy, he lowers his head and eyes. "But, this may be a crueler fate than to be discarded or not used at all. The only way this unfortunate pretty girl can be of use without being used once and discarded, is if I am able and willing to preserve the cycle of suffering, death, and rebirth."

Judai doesn't know how to respond to Michael's comment. He is right about her effect. She has no stats and her effect only activates when she is destroyed as a result of battle. She really does exist solely to be destroyed. Judai want's to say she has other uses, but he can't think of what more she can do. Even Necro Darkman, whose effect activates when he is in the Graveyard, has a strong enough attack and defense to defend the field or deal damage to win the game.

Michael draws. After examining his newly drawn card, he adds, "It's not enough..." He ends his turn without playing a single card.

Judai draws; immediately activating his drawn Burst Impact. Burst Lady prepares to clear the field with her special attack, but Michael chains his last set s/t card, Angel Blast. Burst Impact's effect is negated in a burst of blinding white light in the form of two angel wings, and the card is destroyed. Judai is forced to attack The Unhappy Maiden once more. Burst Lady destroys The Unhappy Maiden for the third time, and his turn ends while the cloud of blue sparkles covers the field.

Michael draws. He examines the cards in his hand. Before playing a card, he looks to Judai over his hand. "It's inevitable the seal will be broken eventually. With no means to capitalize on a seal, the seal will always break before its user can seize victory." Michael summons The Unhappy Girl. The same girl from before appears in a cloud of wind-blown flower petals. She looks to Judai sadly. Michael sets a s/t card and waves his turn away.

"Draw!" Judai adds the newly drawn card to his hand before pointing to The Unhappy Girl. "Featherman, attack!" Featherman lunges for the girl and delivers a ferocious backhand slap. The sound of Featherman's hand striking the girl's face echoes across the campus. The helpless girl doesn't resist. She accepts the strike to drive her into the ground. It takes her a moment to sit up once more. Despite the painful strike, the subdued girl's miserable face hasn't change. The large red hand print across her face throbs and glows a deep shade of pink. To Judai's and Featherman's surprise, Featherman's hand glows in the same shade of pink light. He looks at his glowing hand and the throbbing pink mark on her miserable face.

Featherman falls to his knees as he begins to agonize with guilt. Both he and Judai hear a voice whispering the words, "This is no way for a hero to behave! To strike an innocent maiden is reprehensible!"

"It's like..." Judai immediately sees the resemblance to Rei's Love Maiden. "But, their feelings are different." He remembers the elaborate act put on by Rei's Love Maiden to guilt and take over his monsters, but The Unhappy Maiden has a very different feel. Her vacant gaze is without happiness or act. She is truly miserable as she accepts the painful attacks without complaint or resistance. "This is not the love duel of Love Maiden." Judai explains to himself meekly. But, he quickly clenches his hand in a tight fist. "I can't back down. This is a duel, and I have to do my best to win, no matter what!" Judai points at The Unhappy Girl. "Burst Lady, attack!"

When Burst Lady attacks with her Burst Fire, Michael activates his set trap, Emissary of Harmony. "All battle damage to players will become 0 for this turn, and our life points will increase by the damage amount we would receive." The Unhappy Girl is hit directly by a fireball, but it explodes over the sad girl in a pillar of healing white flames. Despite her attack not dealing any damage on the sad girl, Burst Lady is overwhelmed by the guilt of attacking her as she watches The Unhappy Girl engulfed in the white flames. Michael's life points increase to 4200; effectively neutralizing the damage caused by Featherman. Judai ends his turn.

Next turn, Michael draws and activates Graceful Charity. He discards one of his two spell cards, including his last Goddess of Revival. Then, he summons Black Magician Curran. The cute girl appears with a crack of her whip. After setting another s/t card, he ends his turn.

Judai draws. "Alright. It's time!" Judai declares confidently. "Featherman and Burst Lady, fusion!" The two monsters fuse in a massive swirling vortex over the field. "My favorite card, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" With his trump card on the field, Judai activates the spell, Fusion Recovery to get his fusion spell and Burst Lady back from his graveyard. He then activates E - Emergency Call to add Elemental Hero Sparkman to his hand from his deck. "Sparkman and Flame Wingman, fusion!" The two monsters fuse into Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman. The winged hero descends from a brilliant light in the sky. Shining Flare Wingman's attack rises from 2500 to 3400. "Not yet." Judai proclaims, as he activates another spell. "Refuseon." The spell depicts a black shadow in the form of a dragon and a red shadow in the form of a demon with their backs to each other, and they fight to tear apart from a swirling vortex between them; similar to the vortex created by Judai's fusion card. Judai reveals Mudball Man from his fusion deck, and he sends 2 copies of it to the Graveyard. Then he adds Clayman and Bubbleman to his hand from his deck. Shining Flare Wingman's attack rises to 4000. "Yes." Judai celebrates. "One more time! Elemental Hero Burst Lady!" Burst Lady appears beside Shining Flare Wingman.

Judai hesitates to attack, as he examines Michael's emotionless expression. "That set card, is it a trap to stop my attacks?" Judai wonders. "No. It's a bluff!" Judai is almost certain of it. "Why else would he look so defeated?" Coming up with that conclusion, Judai orders his attack on Curran. "Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman, final attack! Shining Shoot!" At his order, Shining Flare Wingman emits a huge wave of white light on the small girl in a rabbit hat.

"Trap card, open. Emissary of Harmony. Monsters will not be destroyed in this turn, and the effect of all other Emissaries in my Graveyard will activate immediately." Curran is protected by a barrier of light that cancels out Flare Wingman's attack. The fiery light becomes healing light once more. Michael's life points skyrocket to 7000. Judai is shocked by the additional effects of Michael's trap. He is forced to end his turn once more.

Michael draws. Then Curran launches her special attack; whipping Judai once for each monster on his side of the field. Judai cringes with each strike, and his life points fall to 3400. Michael looks thoughtfully at his newly drawn card. He sets it in his s/t card zone, and he summons White Magician Pikeru. The cute girl in white takes her place beside Curran. The two exchange irritated glances before turning their noses up at one another. "Turn end." Michael breaths.

Judai draws. With Shining Flare Wingman, he should be able to force through Michael's monsters, but if that card is another Emissary card, it'll only heal Michael more. Judai figures that Michael probably has 9 total Emissary traps, meaning he can stop Judai's attack and heal another 7 times. Despite the risk, Judai can't risk not attacking now that Curran is on the field. Judai activates another Fusion card to send Bubbleman and Burst Lady to the Graveyard to summon Steam Healer. Shining Flare Wingman's attack rises to 4600. Then, Judai summons Clayman. "Alright. Steam Healer, attack Black Magician Curran." Steam Healer charges forward, but again, Michael activates his set trap.

"Defense Maiden." Michael states without emotion.

"Rei Saotome's card!" Steam Healer is forced to slam into The Unhappy Girl. The miserable girl is thrown to the ground, but she is not destroyed. Michael's life points fall to 5600. Steam Healer falls into a guilt trip just as Featherman and Burst Lady did earlier. Despite Steam Healer's cries of self anguish, Judai orders Shining Flare Wingman's attack against The Unhappy Girl.

"Defense Maiden." Michael breaths. He points to Dreamsprite. The small sprite can't react to the attack change, and she is destroyed by Shining Flare Wingman's attack. Michael's life points fall another 300 points to 5300. Judai is surprised Michael would let Dreamsprite be destroyed, but Michael answers his expression.

"Her effect has no practical purpose in this game. It's unfortunate, but she is often a greater burden than an aid. Nonetheless, I try to get the most out of her ability for as long as I can." Judai ends his turn, with his 3400 life points against Michael's 5300. After Michael draws, Pikeru casts her healing light over his side of the field. His life points rise to 7500. Curran, not one to be showed up by her rival, launches her strike against Judai once more. Judai is whipped 3 times, and his life points drop 900 points to 2500. Michael doesn't risk attacking Clayman, and he ends his turn.

"Draw." Judai rubs his arms and body where he was stricken by Curran's whip. He examines his monsters and set s/t cards, Hero Signal and Hero Barrier. They are no good against Michael who doesn't attack. His newly drawn card, H-Heated Heart will add a little damage, but it's not enough to defeat Michael in a single turn. He examines his other two cards, but neither will shatter Michael's lock alone. Judai has no choice but to activate H-Heated Heart on Shining Flare Wingman. The monster's attack rises to 5100. "Go, Shining Shoot!" Again Shining Flare Wingman emits a massive wave of light on The Unhappy Girl. She is consumed by the white light, but she is not destroyed. Michael's life points fall to 2800. Immediately after, Shining Flare Wingman agonizes over what he has just done. The Unhappy Girl glows pink from within the light wave attack, and Shining Flare Wingman glows with the same pink aura. Judai shifts Clayman to defense position and sets a card before ending his turn.

Again, Michael draws silently. Pikeru heals him; returning his life points to 4000. Then Curran whips Judai three times, dropping him to 1600. "It's time." Michael declares. He activates the card he drew in the previous turn and explains. "When Pikeru and Curran prove themselves by their merits on the field, they need not face an arduous trial." The card depicts a surprised and battle ravished Curran and Pikeru being handed a crown each. "By succession through experience, they will be crowned Princesses after using their effects to deal twice the damage as their attack strength or heal their user's life points by twice their attack strength." Both monsters vanish and Michael summons Princess Pikeru and Princess Curran from his deck. The two lovely Princesses watch humbly over the field. "A Princess is without purpose without a Kingdom to rule over. When a Princess is summoned, I can add their Kingdom to my hand from my deck." Michael retrieves a field spell from his deck and activates it. "Sovereign Kingdom." He explains as a massive city half in lovely white stone and half in lovely black stone rises around them. The castle stands behind Michael. "A Princess cannot be attacked while I control another monster. A Princess is unaffected by all of my opponent's card effects. And as long as I have a Pikeru or Curran..." Michael points to Judai's vacant monster card zones. He pays 1600 life points, and 2 cute black rabbit tokens take his side of the field. He pays an additional 1600 life points to summon two white sheep tokens to fill his vacant monster card zones. Both Princesses nod to their cute subordinates. They exchange a quick competitive glance, but both change their focus to Judai, who is astonished by the two bouncing black balls of fluff on his side of the field.

Judai scans between the energetic rabbits, the two beautiful princesses, and the lovely kingdom. With his play completed, Judai expects Michael to end his turn, but he does not. He activates the card he just drew. "Then and Thereafter. At the cost of my Battle Phase, I'll return to my Standby Phase."

Judai quickly chains his set Emergency Provisions, sending Hero Barrier and Hero Signal to the graveyard. His life points rise to 3600. Michael doesn't seem surprised by Judai's play. Princess Pikeru activates her healing light magic. Michael's life points rise to 4800. Princess Curran creates a whip at the end of her magic wand, and she swings the whip of black light through all of Judai's monsters. It cracks over him once, and his life points fall to 600 points. He falls to his knees after the stinging strike.

"Turn end." Michael states. Before Judai draws, Michael calls attention to The Unhappy Girl. He comments while looking sadly on The Unhappy Girl. "Even when she finds this lovely kingdom where she is blessed by the Princesses healing light and given a means to find victory by the black Princess, she cannot find happiness." Michael's eyes waver. "This card is the embodiment of my feelings towards dueling."

Judai doesn't understand, but Michael continues to watch over The Unhappy Girl who remains unhappy in the beautiful kingdom. "Why do the things that bring us joy, bring us so much pain?"

Judai can't answer Michael's questions. He honestly doesn't know what to say. He can't relate to Michael's feelings. Winged Kuribo suddenly appears from Judai's deck. "Partner?" He asks uncertainly. Winged Kuribo whips himself into a frenzy.

"Partner?" Judai states in a surprised tone to Winged Kuribo's fit. "No. You're right." Judai agrees. He draws his final card. "This is still a duel." Judai reveals his newly drawn card without looking at it. "Pot of Greed!" He draws two new cards, and examines his hand. The three cards hold the answer he was looking for. "I'm sorry, but it has to end now." Judai declares. He reveals the first card. "R - Righteous Justice!" Sovereign Kingdom and Defense Maiden are destroyed. Both Princesses glare angrily at Judai as they watch the beautiful city crumble around them as if it was made of glass.

Judai changes Clayman to attack position and activates the quickplay spell, Hero Backlash. "When a Hero monster is destroyed as a result of battle, I can destroy 1 monster on your side of the field." Judai reveals his last card, Sky Scraper. The city rises around Michael and Judai. Both Princesses look insulted by this ugly new field. They refuse to make eye contact with Judai. Winged Kuribo is embarrassed as well. Despite being snubbed, Judai launches his counter offensive. "Clayman, attack Princess Pikeru!" Clayman charges. With the power of Skyscraper, his attack rises to 1800, which is still 200 points too little to destroy the pretty girl. Pikeru cracks him over the head with her scepter. To her surprise he begins to crack and split. Judai's life points fall to 400. He abruptly explodes, and The Unhappy Girl is destroyed by the earthen shrapnel. With her gone, both Steam Healer and Shining Flare Wingman are released from her spell. "Steam Healer, attack, Princess Pikeru!" Steam Healer nods before charging for the girl. Princess Pikeru readies herself, but she can't match Steam Healer's power in the Hero's city. Pikeru is destroyed. Curran is infuriated by this, but she isn't given much a chance to dwell on her rival's destruction. Michael's life points fall to 4000, while Judai's life points rise to 2400. "Now, Shining Flare Wingman." Shining Flare Wingman absorbs the power of the deceased heros. Clayman brings his attack to 5600. Shining Flare Wingman emits his wave of light to decimate Curran. Michael's life points plummet to 400. After her destruction, Judai reminds Michael of Shining Flare Wingman's effect. The white light turns to flames, and Michael's life points are reduced to 0 in the white flames.

Michael removes his deck from his duel disk and holds the cards limply in his hand. The breeze threatens to scatter them across the island. Judai is concerned with how Michael will take the loss. He watches Michael and waits for a reaction, but his attention is called to the field by Winged Kuribo. Judai is astonished to see that The Unhappy Maiden/Girl remains on the field. "Duel Monster spirit?" He asks.

Winged Kuribo talks with her. Although she doesn't make a sound, Winged Kuribo seems to be able to understand her feelings. Michael's hand suddenly clenches his deck tightly. After this action The Unhappy Girl nods and returns to his deck.

Michael walks off. Before descending the stairs, he tells Judai, "It was a good game."

"Yeah." Judai agrees. When Michael has left, Winged Kuribo explains the conversation with the little spirit. "So she isn't happy, but because Michael hasn't given up on her, she remains by his side?" Judai shakes his head. Winged Kuribo asks why he looks so down. Judai shakes his head. "I won, partner, but I don't feel happy. Dueling is supposed to be fun, but that duel wasn't." Judai's eyes drift to the stairs. "I can't understand being hurt by the game I love so much."

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After losing to Judai, Michael wanders the island on his own. "I didn't expect to win." He reminds himself. "It's fine though. Winning wasn't the deck's only purpose." Michael stops abruptly. Ahead, a girl sits on the grassy fringe between the forest and the dirt trail. She has several cards spread out across the ground, and she examines several more in her hand.

Michael approaches the girl from her blind spot to get a closer look at what she is doing. She is so intent on her cards that the petite girl doesn't notice Michael watching from over her shoulder. She continues to silently debate with herself which cards to remove or add. All of her cards are themeless wind angels. When she sorts two of the angels into a pile that Michael deduces is her deck, he comments, "That's an unusual route for a Wind Angel deck." She jumps back; dropping her cards with a frightened squeak. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sneak up on you."

The slight trembling girl shakes her head. "N-no, it s'okay." She replies nervously.

"May I see?" Michael asks.

"It's s'not, very good..." She mumbles incoherently while giving Michael a shaky fearful nod, which he accepts as an invitation to sit beside her. At only half his size, he still towers over her while sitting. Michael looks over the deck she has built so far, despite her little nervous noises.

After examining her deck, Michael points out, "You looked very intent on this deck."

She nods nervously. "Ye-yeah." She answers. "I-I've been working hard, on it, the deck, to make it better..." Michael's eyes shift from the deck to the girl. She quickly stares at the grass in front of her. "But, it's it's not... I'm not... not having, much luck."

"It doesn't look that bad." Michael contradicts. "You have some good ideas here. You only need to stabilize them and bring them together."

"No..." She wants to argue and cut herself down, but she can't argue with Michael even if it is a compliment about her she believes to be a lie.

"I can help you, if you'd like." Michael tells her. "I'm actually pretty good at deck building."

"Oh, but you can't... I mean, I can't..." The flustered girl tries to argue, but Michael dismisses it.

"It's no problem." He assures her. With his assurance, she can't argue any further. Michael begins sorting her deck into piles by card types. "The way I build is, I choose my cards one by one, starting with the cards I like and want to use. Do you have any favorites you want to build the deck around?"

The girl shakes her head cautiously. "I like... them all."

To her nervous response, Michael nods and adds the monsters she took out of the deck into the pile with the other monsters. She blushes as he examines the monsters she took out of the deck. Michael doesn't notice though. He continues explaining to her, "Once I have the cards I want to use sorted by types, I take cards and sort them by function or combo." He sets Dancing Fairy on the grass. "This monster has a strong attack, so it can be used as a field clearer, but it also has a healing effect." Michael takes the next monster, a weaker wind angel with a healing effect. "Then, I take cards that share similar abilities or combos, and I over lap them with the cards they have synergy with." He places the side of the weaker wind angel over the edge of Dancing Fairy. "If we put all out strong monsters on one side of her, and all of our healers on the other, we can see how many cards we have for each strategy. This way, we can add or remove cards so the deck runs smoothly. See?"

The shy girl nods. "Y-es." She mumbles.

Michael removes a wind angel from the pile with a random effect unrelated to all of her other cards. He starts a new pile for it. "This monster is a wind angel with okay stats, but it doesn't have any synergy with the deck. It's effect doesn't give any tangible effect like removal or suppression, and it doesn't combo with the other wind angels. It's also too strong too be searched with your search cards, but its too weak to beat your other bigger monsters like Dancing Fairy." Michael points the card out to her. "This one would do better in its own deck. In this deck, she'll only be a burden and if you try to focus on her in this deck, all of your strategies will be stretched thin and be left equally under supported."

The girl nods. It takes her a moment, but she eventually tells Michael, "You're really smart, at deck building."

Michael admits, "I'm not the type who can rely on luck, so I build to maximize synergy and minimize reliance on lucky draws." Again, he looks at her, and she quickly looks away. Michael continues by revealing a position swapping spell. He sets it above Dancing Fairy. "This card works well as a defense card to stop an attack, but it also can be used to change her to defense position to use her healing effect or as an offense card to help destroy a monster. We can start building a row for defense cards going up from this card and a row for offense cards from this card going left or right from it. This card is a good fit for this deck, because it is simple, versatile, and has a lot of synergy with your monsters."

The girl doesn't respond, but she understands what he is saying. Her nervousness at being alone with him fades a bit as he shows her more of his deck building tricks. Michael sets Flying Kamakiri in its own pile. "While not pretty, a few of these would support almost every monster in your deck. They are good on the offense, defense, for swarming, for searching combo cards and situational monsters, as well as many other tasks."

"I thought, about using it..." She hesitates, to see how he will respond to her arguing. When he doesn't get mad at her, she continues. "But, I felt that using an Angel searcher might be better, because... Um, the deck, it's all Angels." Again, she watches his reaction.

"An Angel searcher will work in this deck, but your deck is as much a Wind deck as an Angel deck, and you have much more Wind support than Angel support. With the insects, you'd get three more monsters that can use your Wind support, while the Angel searcher has far fewer uses because of its specific conditions."

"I didn't, think of that." She admits.

"There is nothing wrong with your build. Personally, I'd use the Angel searchers over the bugs any day. So long as you understand that if you build based on favorites and idealism, the deck will be harder to win with, and at times, impossible to win with."

"I understand." She admits sadly.

"I'm like that. I'm bound to my principles, and I can't use cards out of theme with my deck, or cards that I don't like. I understand it's harder to win this way, but it's my way. I cna't play any other way."

She nervously replies, "I think it's commendable, to use the cards you like, even if it's hard."

"It's unfair to the cards, sometimes. I could probably afford to be a bit less picky, and to sacrifice some pride and principles for their sake."

"I don't think so." She argues cautiously. "It's admirable that you can play how you want." She looks sadly at her cards. "Winning is everything for so many people here. They could never play with that kind of a handicap. It's hard for them to lose even occasionally." Her eyes fall on her back pack and coat. "It's hard for me, being in Obelisk Blue. I'm a girl, so I have to be in the blue dorm, but I'm not very good. The better girls look down on me, for losing so much, and for building decks that aren't very good."

"There's nothing wrong with your decks." Michael argues. "You just need some fine tuning to make them work with the directions you've taken them." The two share an awkward silence, while she nervously plays with her hands in front of her mouth. Michael reaches into his deck box, and he pulls out the Spirit of the Breeze he took from Manjyome. "This card. I think it'd be better off with you."

"Oh no! I can't take your card!" She protests nervously. But Michael shakes his head.

"It's okay. I already have cards I cherish. I don't have a deck where this card could shine."

She quickly thanks him. With the new card, she finds new courage to speak up. "I-I watched you, at the ceremony. I liked your deck." She swallows hard. "I was envious at how well you used it. I don't think many people would be able to use it as well."

"Thank you." Michael replies.

"And, I saw your duels, with the Machinist Duel Faction." Again, she swallows and must take a breath to gather her confidence. "I still think, even though you didn't win, you played very well and intelligently. I'm not as good of a duelist as you, so..." She forces herself to laugh timidly.

"I'm glad you enjoyed watching." He tells her. "That's why we duel like this, after all, isn't it." They share another awkward silence, until Michael asks if she'd like to continue with the deck. She nods timidly while fumbling with her hands over her mouth.

As he continues to show her his strategies, she admits, "I never really understood these complex things in class, but you make it all seem so simple. You're smarter; a better duelist than others give you credit for." She blushes brighter. Michael doesn't respond. She quickly tries to hide her embarrassment. "Is that, your deck from the ceremony?"

Michael taps his deck boxes. "Want to see it?" She tries to apologize for asking, but nods that she does to not insult him by refusing to look.

She handles each of his cards with care, even though they are almost all commons. "It's so well built." She admits.

"But, you see things you'd do differently?" Michael asks.

She nervously disagrees. "No. I could never!"

"Honestly, I think that would be the best thing for the deck; for it to find a new way." She tries to argue and hand the deck back, but Michael stops her hand with his, and he folds her fingers over it. He shakes his head slightly. "It can't go any farther with me. But with your innovative ideas, I'm sure it will become stronger than it ever was with me."

"I can't..." She argues, trying to hand the deck back again. He shakes his head slightly and gives her a slight smile before getting up.

"Take care of them." Michael tells her with a smile. "And have some confidence. You're ideas really are good." With that, he continues on his way down the dirt path.

"Y-yes." She answers. She holds the deck box against her chest as she watches him go. She wants to say more, but she can't. She's not strong enough. "I will take care of them." She promises herself. "I'll make a strong deck, and I'll remain loyal to the spirit of this deck, in my own way." as she watches Michael wander alone down the dirt trail, she adds. "When I'm stronger..."

Lilica watches from the edge of the forest. She is going to approach Michael as he passes, but she stops herself. "I can't take this away from you." She tells herself with a soft smile before leaving in the opposite direction.

Chapter 8 - End

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Author Notes:

Sorry for the super long wait. A lot has happened, and for some reason, this short chapter turned out to be a bit massive. Beyond that, I hope people are enjoying the fic. Thanks for reading.

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Author Cards:

The Goddess of Revival

Quickplay Spell

Effect: You can only activate this card when a monster on your side of the field is destroyed as a result of battle by your opponent's attacking monster or by a card effect controlled by your opponent, and your monster is sent to the Graveyard. Special Summon the destroyed monster from your Graveyard to your side of the field.

(Art: Almost identical to The Grave of Enkindling in style and art, except the woman is a lovely young girl in a baby blue dress with her hands folded over her chest in prayer. Also, she has 2 massive white wings of light emerging from her back and in the process of unfolding from embracing her.)

Emissary of Mercy

Trap

Effect: During the turn this card is activated, all battle damage players would receive is decreased to 0, and increase a player's Life Points by an amount equal to amount of battle damage that player would have received. If you have at least 1 "Emissary of Harmony" in your Graveyard, it's effect is activated at this time as well. If you have at least 1 "Emissary of Tranquility" in your Graveyard, it's effect is activated at this time as well.

Emissary of Harmony

Trap

Effect: During the turn this card is activated, monsters are not destroyed as a result of battle or by card effects. If you have at least 1 "Emissary of Mercy" in your Graveyard, it's effect is activated at this time as well. If you have at least 1 "Emissary of Tranquility" in your Graveyard, it's effect is activated at this time as well.

Emissary of Tranquility

Trap

Effect: During the turn this card is activated, all damage players would receive by a card effect is decreased to 0, and increase a player's Life Points by an amount equal to amount of damage that player would have received by a card effect. If you have at least 1 "Emissary of Harmony" in your Graveyard, it's effect is activated at this time as well. If you have at least 1 "Emissary of Mercy" in your Graveyard, it's effect is activated at this time as well.

Then and Thereafter

Spell

Effect: This card can only be activated during your Main Phase 1. Return to the start of your Standby Phase. Skip your Battle Phase for the turn this card is activated.

Experienced Successor

Quickplay Spell

Effect: This card's name is treated as "Trial of the Princesses." You may activate each of the following effects once:

Send to the Graveyard, from your side of the field, 1 "White Magician Pikeru" that has increased your Life Points by 2400 points with its effect. Special Summon 1 "Princess Pikeru" from your hand or Deck, and shuffle your Deck afterwards.

Send to the Graveyard, from your side of the field, 1 "Black Magician Curran" that has inflicted 2400 points of damage to your opponent's Life Points. Special Summon 1 "Princess Curran" from your hand or Deck, and shuffle your Deck afterwards.

Sovereign Kingdom

Field Spell

Effect: You may add this card to your hand from your Deck when you successfully Summon a monster with "Princess" in its name. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. A monster with "Princess" in its name on your side of the field cannot be chosen as an attack target while you have at least 1 other monster on your side of the field. A monster with "Princess" in its name on your side of the field is unaffected by the effects of cards controlled by your opponent. During your Main Phase, you may pay 800 Life Points, to Special Summon 1 "White Sheep Token" (LIGHT, Beast, Level 1, 0/0) to your side of the field, if you control a monster with "Pikeru" in its name, or 1 "Black Rabbit Token" (DARK, Beast, Level 1, 0/0) to your opponent's side of the field, if you control a monster with "Curran" in its name. A "White Sheep Token" or "Black Rabbit Token" cannot be used as a Tribute for a Tribute Summon (or Set).

Refuseon

Spell

Effect: Select 1 Fusion Monster Card in your Fusion Deck, and reveal it to your opponent. Send a number of copies of the selected Fusion Monster Card in your Fusion Deck to the Graveyard to add the same number of Fusion Material Monsters listed by name on the selected Fusion Monster Card from your Deck to your hand.

Hero Backlash

Quickplay Spell

Effect: When a monster with "Hero" in its name on your side of the field is destroyed as a result of battle, destroy 1 monster on your opponent's side of the field.