Yu-Gi-Oh GX: The American Duelists
Chapter 14 - Showdown at High Noon
Sitting on the edge of her bed, Asuka thoughtfully considers the dozens of neatly stacked piles evenly spaced across her blankets. She debates which cards best represent the emotions and feelings she wants to convey, moving them accordingly. After stretching across her bed to move a pile aside, she sits up clenching her aching shoulders and straightening her stiff back. "Errrrr... What time is it?" She asks as she stretches. The clock face across the room shows the numbers 5:57. With a hardy yawn, she exclaims. "It's morning already?" A glimpse across the room reveals two other four-poster beds with their curtains neatly drawn closed. "They haven't come back yet."
Asuka suddenly shakes her head, allowing her long sandy hair to slap her in the face. "This is between them. It has nothing to do with me. Besides..." Her eyes return to the hundreds of cards laid out before her. "I have my own obstacles to overcome. A student at Duel Academia without a deck is like a skater without skates. A skater without skates...?" Thinking over its meaning, Asuka plops back on her bed, scattering several of her carefully stacked and organized piles into the air. A few of the cards flutter past her distant gaze with one landing on her forehead. "I'm without the tool of my trade. I'm vulnerable right now." She reminds herself aloud. A quick breath blows the card and her long bangs off her forehead. "What was I trying to accomplish anyways?" She asks uncertainly. The stray card tumbles through the air, eventually landing beside her. After a moment, she turns her head to follow it. Cyber Tutu lies next to her face at the top of her spilled piles of cards.
"Cyber Tutu?" She breaths. Her breath is soon followed by a slight smile across her youthful face. "That's right. How could I forget?" Asuka giggles. Closing her eyes, she can see the feint images once more. A little girl, not much older than 10, performs a floor routine, dancing elegantly and with such discipline that even adults watch with awe struck expressions. "I can't see her face anymore." Asuka admits to the darkness pf her foggy memory. Yet despite the details having long since been forgotten, she remembers each precise movement. The dance routine slowly blurs out of focus, and is replaced by a similar routine on ice. The small faceless girl glides gracefully across the ice rink. Surrounded by a black nothingness, all that she can see is the girl and the ice; the star and her tools.
"She was such a phenomenal skater." Asuka states needlessly as the girl's routine comes to a fantastic end. The rink drowns in applause. Despite gasping hard, the featureless girl stands triumphantly with a wide open-mouthed smile across her blacked out face. Asuka's lips move, but no words follow. Yet in her heart, she speaks. "Her smile... That's the feeling, I want to convey. Her strength, her independence, her individuality, her discipline, her grace..." Asuka's voice drifts away. "Her smile..."
A light knock at her door snaps Asuka out of her dreams. Sitting up, Asuka wipes her eyes and takes a glance at the clock across the room. The clock reads 7:48. "I must have fallen asleep?"
Again, someone knocks at her door lightly. This time, Asuka gets up to answer the knock, letting her card piles spill into her indentation on the bed. To Asuka's surprise, she is met by a very timid looking Momoe. "Momoe? Why are you knocking?" Asuka asks her roommate.
The girl nervously mutters, beating around the bush, until she musters the nerve to get to the point. "If you're not busy, can we talk?"
"That's fine." Asuka answers. And she holds the door open for Momoe to enter. Once in the room, Momoe starts up into a string of muttering and broken thoughts without meeting her friend's eyes. After a minute of pointless rambling, Momoe stops. "What's wrong?" Asuka asks of her friend's bizarre behavior.
Momoe turns on her heal to face Asuka. Looking her eye to eye, she unloads all of her feelings at once. "Oh Asuka, I'm so, sooo sorry! What happened yesterday, it was a mistake! It never should have happened! We didn't mean to yell at you or insult you! And we didn't mean to make you choose sides! We were wrong to even think of asking you to choose between us!" Bowing low, Momoe formally apologizes. "I'm deeply sorry." Springing up, tears run down the young girl's pale cheeks. "There's no way we can ever apologize enough for doing something so low! But please, believe me that I'm sorry! Not just me; Junko, too! I know she feels the same way!" Asuka has to grab Momoe's shoulders to get her to stop.
With a soft smile, Asuka replies, "That's enough. I forgive you."
Momoe watches cautiously. "You, forgive us?"
Asuka's smile fades. "I was really upset. I won't pretend what you two did didn't hurt me. But..." She smiles again. "You two are my best friends, and I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I know you two get carried away sometimes."
"Oh, Asuka!" Momoe can't hold herself back. The tears flow down her cheeks, and her nose starts to run. Asuka pulls away slightly with a laugh at the melodramatic reaction. Momoe lunges forward, hugging Asuka tightly. "I really am sorry Asuka-San!"
Asuka pats her on the back. "I know you are. And thank you for apologizing. It means a lot to me." Momoe cries even harder.
It takes awhile for the girl to stop crying, and even longer for her to gather herself. As she wipes her tears away, Asuka asks, "Are you and Junko still going to go through with this?"
Sniffling, Momoe nods. "Yeah. We have to duel to settle this. Otherwise, neither of us will back down."
With a hardy sigh, Asuka admits, "You two were right. I don't understand these things that well. But I imagine, it'll probably make you both stronger in the end... At least, in matters of the heart." Hearing the words come out of her mouth, Asuka can't suppress an embarassed blush.
Momoe nods. "Yes. It will." Thanking her once more, the short black haired girl watches Asuka intently.
"What?" Asuka asks in response to her friend's empty gaze.
"You. You seem, I don't know... different?" She observes coyly.
"How so?" Asuka responds.
"I don't know how. But you have this feeling about you. You seem... stronger..." Momoe tests the words to see if they sound right when spoken. Then she commits to them. "Yeah. You seem stronger and cooler than before."
Asuka laughs. She thinks to ask jokingly, "So, wasn't I that strong and cool until recently?" But instead, she merely smiles and agrees. "Yeah. I think you're right."
Looking at the bed filled with cards, Momoe wonders aloud, "Is it because of..."
Also looking at her piles of cards, Asuka finishes for her, replying softly. "I think it is." Still watching the piles of cards, she reveals, "I felt like it was time for a change. Time for me to grow up a little more, as a duelist, and as a person."
"As a person?" Momoe gasps in shock. Slapping her hand to her mouth, she murmurs, "As a woman? Asuka, have you? With a boy?"
Asuka shakes her head in disbelief. "What's this nonsense you're spouting?"
"Oh!" Momoe exclaims. "I'm sorry. It's just that, with all these changes, what else could it be besides a boy?"
"Not everything revolves around boys!" Asuka shouts at her friend. Momoe giggles and waves her hand.
"You're right, you're right." With Asuka's stern eyes still locked on her, Momoe craftily steers the conversation, and hopefully Asuka's attention, back to her deck. "So, what kind of deck are you planning on building?"
Her ploy works. Asuka turns her attention back to the mess of cards and her disassembled deck. "Honestly, I still don't know. I have a certain feeling I want to convey with my deck. It's a feeling I don't feel like I ever truly conveyed with any of the decks I was using."
"Oh?" Momoe cries curiously.
Asuka shakes her head. "I'll figure it out, eventually."
"I can help you." Momoe offers. But Asuka continues to shake her head.
"No. This is something I want to do on my own." Hearing her words, Asuka corrects herself. "No. Something I have to do on my own." Her soft smile becomes distant. Momoe can tell, she is thinking of something very important. She begins to explain that she understands, but Asuka's dreamy eyes catch her in their sights. "Thank you for offering."
Momoe agrees, "Some things we have to do on our own."
"Speaking of which... What about your problem?"
"You mean, a partner?" Momoe asks almost rhetorically.
"Will you try it one on one?"
Momoe shakes her head. "No. We aren't those kinds of duelists. Our decks are slow and unsteady without support. Besides, Junko has our win condition."
"Then?"
"I have someone in mind already. And I'm certain Junko will do the same." Momoe responds with a serious gleam in her eyes.
"What's that?" Asuka asks with her eyes.
Momoe solemnly answers, "The Twin Swords."
Asuka shows her shock at first, but after a second, she admits, "It does make sense. They are the best tag duelists currently here."
"I know." She agrees. "Their older brother went pro several years ago, and they're aiming to reach pro league as well, as tag duelists so all 3 can be pros together. It's marketable." She jokes before letting her smile fade. "I only worry that I can't keep up with one of them."
"Non-sense." Asuka reassures her. "When not being dorks and making fools of yourselves, you and Junko are very strong." Asuka sticks her tongue out at her friend.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Momoe whines at Asuka for teasing her.
"Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help it. You brought it on yourselves, you know." Asuka states definitively.
"Now you're being mean, Tenjoin-Sama!" Momoe stresses.
"Tenjoin-Sama?" Asuka asks in mock outrage.
"Yeah, Tenjoin-Sama." Momoe reiterates playfully.
Asuka gives her long hair a fluff with her hand. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped. I am Duel Queen of all Duel Academia, after all. It's only fitting a commoner address me as such."
"Co... Commoner?" Momoe responds in disbelief. "Okay, I can't let that slide, even if I owe you one."
"Is that right? What will you do about it?" Asuka asks mockingly. Momoe answers with independently wriggling fingers.
"You know how." She responds firmly while flashing a devious grin.
Asuka backs away, telling her seriously, "NO! Don't do it." Momoe doesn't heed her warning, and she stalks closer with each step. "I'm warning you!" Asuka threatens.
Junko listens in on the two from outside the door. Wearing a soft teary eyed smile, she apologizes quietly. "I'm sorry Asuka. And to you to, Momoe. But I won't lose this challenge, because we're friends."
Asuka's shriek penetrates the door as if it was made of paper, as Momoe laughs deviously. "Heh, heh, heh... Tenjoin-Chan, you're skin is so soft and smooth."
"Cu, cu, cut that out!" Asuka shouts seriously. Momoe laughs maniacally at her request. "Ah! You perv!" Junko chuckles lightly at the sounds from inside. She lets her head fall lightly on the door, before leaving.
Inside, Momoe has Asuka tied up in a weak hold. Her fingers continue to wriggle with mischievous anticipation. Asuka glances over her shoulder to the door, where she is certain she heard a soft thump. "Junko?" She asks softly.
"Time for the clincher." Momoe cracks before launching her strike that catches Asuka off guard. Asuka's shriek echoes through the girl's dorm.
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High noon, Asuka stands on the outer edge of a grassy meadow oasis in the forest. The oblong meadow, roughly the size of a soccer field, is almost completely surrounded by trees with the exceptions being a partial cobblestone trail on either far end. Glaring up at the sun, Asuka recites to herself, "When the sun is over Duel Academia, we'll settle this." She shakes her head with an embarassed smile. "Just because he's American, doesn't make all this necessary. Two figures emerge from the trail at one end of the meadow and saunter towards the middle of the field.
The girl wears a standard Obelisk Blue girl's uniform with no modifications, while the boy wears the standard Obelisk Blue boy's uniform with an emblem of an oversized double-edged black broadsword sewn into the back. The sword's blade points downwards into the ground, while its hand guards wrap entirely around the uniform about where the boys nipples would be if he wasn't wearing a jacket. His build is trim yet muscular, and his height, while average for a boy his age, still leaves him towering over his female partner. The girl's shoulder length red hair bounces slightly with each step, while the boy wears his dark brown hair cut short and cleanly with no stray strands to be moved by the wind or with his steps. The boy's face is rather plain with a clear complexion, but his pleasant smile, brimming with anxiousness, gives him a cool vibe that makes him appear more handsome than he really is. The girl's flawless complexion and large expressive eyes outshine him. While her anxiousness shows on her face as well, she does not smile. Instead, she keeps her expression serious, and she exudes a tense vibe.
The two reach the middle of the field. Asuka watches Junko from the distance. Having resolved to stay out of her friends quarrel, she keeps herself back and says nothing to try and prevent their duel. "She refuses to look at me." Asuka breaths to herself. Junko keeps her eyes forward on the opposing trail.
Within a minute of arriving, a second pair emerges from the woods, but this time, they come from the opposite trail. This girl also wears a standard Obelisk Blue girl's uniform with no modifications, while the boy wears the standard Obelisk Blue boy's uniform with an emblem of an oversized double-edged white broadsword sewn into the back. The sword's blade points upwards to the sky, while its hand guards wrap entirely around the uniform at the boy's waist level; with his belt running along the same line around his waist beneath the jacket. His build is also trim and muscular, with the same height as the boy on the opposing team. He also towers over his female partner, who is a bit shorter than her female opponent. The top of the girl's long black hair stays smoothly rounded to the shape of her head, unmoving even in the wind, while the rest bounces vibrantly against the back of her neck, where it is feathery and wild. The boy's hair and face are identical as his opponent, even sharing the same colored steel grey eyes. He wears an equally pleasant smile as his opponent that doesn't betray his excitement at the coming storm. However, his vibe is different somehow. While virtually identical in every way, his presence seems to shine brighter and more intensely than his counterpart's aura. It is a distinct air of maturity. The girl, however, couldn't look less like her friend. While her complexion is equally fair, it is much paler, and while her eyes are large and expressive, they brim with a childish innocence; giving her an air of naivety and seeming lack of confidence. Her face doesn't betray that impression either. While she keeps up a serious front, she is more tense than her friend and partner turned opponent.
When both teams have met at the center of the otherwise empty meadow, the two boys share a wide smile and handshake. "Brother." They greet one another formally.
Junko glares at Momoe intensely. "I see we had the same idea."
"Yes." Momoe answers, matching her intensity.
"It was the natural choice." Junko admits to the group.
The boy bearing the emblem of the white sword suggests, "Shall we exchange names?" Without a reply, he introduces himself first. "I am Kanno Haruki, The Twin Sword of Light."
His brother follows. "Kanno Toshi, The Twin Sword of Darkness."
Junko follows. "Makurada Junko."
Momoe finishes. "Hamaguchi Momoe."
With all introductions out of the way, the boy bearing the emblem of the white sword nods his head in a slight bow and explains, "While I am unaware of the stakes in this battle, I look forward to this valuable learning experience."
His brother nods slightly as well. "I never considered going against my brother until today. This will be an exciting milestone."
Junko nods as well, but her large expressive eyes remain locked on her friend. "Thank you very much in advance for agreeing to this temporary partnership."
Momoe matches her nod and glare, replying, "I thank you as well."
With nothing more to say, all four remove their decks from their deck boxes and pass them to the opposing team's member of the opposite sex. Junko and Haruki exchange decks and begin shuffling, while Momoe and Toshi exchange decks and do likewise. With all 4 decks shuffled, they return their decks to their original owners. Then both teams turn their backs on one another and march ten paces. Asuka comments from the sidelines. "They're both taking this pretty seriously." She rubs the goose bumps on her arms. The tension is getting her excited as well.
A new figure emerges from the same trail Momoe and Haruki took to reach the meadow. A lone boy dressed in an unmodified Obelisk Blue jacket, white dress pants, and a black neck choker examines the scene from the end of the cobblestone path. Then, he joins Asuka on the sidelines. Asuka's eyebrow twitches at the sight of the American Duelist, Ash Campbell. While she says nothing of her feelings aloud, inside she is outraged. "The nerve! He does realize this is his fault?"
The young man's face doesn't show any such understanding, though. The boy is several inches taller than the identical twins positioned to duel. His medium brown hair is cut short and clean, same as the twins, but Ash has allowed his to grow out slightly, rather than keeping it molded to his head's natural shape; the way Momoe keeps her hair. The slight variation allows his very short hair to sweep lightly in the breeze and while walking. In addition, his natural roots are two distinct shades; one lighter and one darker than his natural hair color. The end result gives Ash a decidedly wild and cool look. His facial features are also more pronounced than either of the twins. His cheekbones, jaw bone structure, and chin are pronounced and masculine, while his thicker neck shows a more even distribution of muscle across his entire form than either of the twins. If not for the calm peaceful look, which is his most natural expression, the young man would appear wild and dangerous. He joins Asuka with a soft smile and a kind greeting. "Hello Asuka."
His greeting is one she wishes she could hear more, but coming from him at a time like this, it feels insulting. Biting her tongue, she responds, "Good afternoon, Ash." She makes a quick mental note of the bags beneath his eyes, but does not immediately call attention to them. "I didn't expect you'd come." She points out honestly, but for different reasons than Ash picks up on.
"How could I not come? I've heard a lot about Junko and Momoe's duels, but I've never had a chance to see them in action." He glances at the four, who all stop and turn in unison. "So when they told me they'd be dueling at noon today, I had to come."
Ash smiles softly at the two. Even with the bags beneath his eyes adding to his calm and sympathetic image, Asuka is irritated by his expression. His words, "I had to come," is offensive in her ears.
Asuka crosses her arms over her chest before commenting. "You seem tired."
"I am." He laughs rather painfully.
"If that's the case, then why obligate yourself to come watch this duel?" She asks casually, hiding a subtle irritated undertone.
"Why?" He asks as if not understanding her question. "Didn't I say?" Asuka already has her retort that he didn't, but before she can answer, he adds, "I've wanted to see them duel since I heard they were tag duelists."
Asuka can't find fault in his answer this time, but she hasn't forgotten that her best friends are fighting with each other over him, or that he has shown up so casually to enjoy the fight between friends, which he started. "You wanted to see them duel?" Asuka asks rhetorically. "And they told you they'd be dueling at noon today, here. If you wanted to see them so bad, why didn't you go to bed early last night? Or were you too excited to see the fight?" She finishes her statement aloud, but continues to speak it in her mind, "that you started?"
Still casting her a tired and slightly confused look, he answers. "I was up late last night making preparations and doing research on some opponent's and their decks. I didn't know about the duel until this morning, when Junko came and invited me to watch at noon." He points a thumb to the sky and remarks, "It really was a last minute invitation; a two hour notice, tops." Having answered Asuka's questions to a level he feels is satisfactory, Ash asks Asuka, "Mind if I ask you a question now?"
Asuka's facial expressions don't change, but she replies in as friendly tone as ever, "Go ahead."
He doesn't beat around the bush. "Did I do something wrong?"
Still using closed body language, with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, Asuka shrugs her shoulders. "If you don't understand why you'd be in trouble, then why would you think you did something wrong?"
Ash doesn't answer her question aloud, but in his own mind, he asks, "Isn't that the same as saying I'm in trouble?" He shrugs and scratches the back of his neck innocently. "My mistake, I guess." Looking back on the field where all four arm their duel disks in unison and slap their decks in, he explains, "It's just, the air here feels really tense; like you could cut it with a knife."
Before Asuka can comment, Junko shouts out the rules. "This will be a two on two tag duel with partners sharing a single field and life points. No player can attack during their first turn. The turn player will alternate between teams." Holding up her duel disk, she shows that her duel disk's orb is the sole red one. "I will go first, Momoe-San second, Kanno Haruki-San third, and Kanno Toshi-San fourth." She lowers her duel disk. "While fields will be shared, cards will not. Players of the same team cannot exchange or disclose knowledge of their hands to their partners, and only the owner of a set spell or trap card can activate it for their teammate. Is this understood and agreed upon?" The other three all agree. With all four in agreement, they raise their arms.
Together, the four all shout simultaneously, "DUEL!"
Ash and Asuka watch the four draw out their opening hands. "Why aren't they partnering together?" Ash asks.
Asuka glances sharply at him, but his expression shows he genuinely doesn't understand anything that is going on. "You really don't know?" Asuka asks with no harsh undertones.
Looking at her, he asks, "Should I say, know what, or no?" His responses calls Asuka's behavior to attention. She blushes slightly.
"I'm sorry for that." She admits.
He explains, "I know I'm dense, but I'm not totally oblivious. I did something, so why not fill me in?"
"You did..." Asuka blushes a bit deeper. "You didn't do anything." Meeting him face to face, she explains, "Those two, my best friends, are dueling each other over you." She explains embarrassedly.
"Huh?"
His cluelessness irks Asuka, emboldening her once more. "I'm dense in these matters too, but even I understand this. They are both interested in you. The reason they are fighting is you!" Remembering why she was angry in the first place, Asuka raises her voice and points out, "You've been stringing them both along and leading them both to believe you're interested in one and not the other!" Asuka takes a deep breath so she doesn't completely lose her temper, but she continues with the same unabashed aggressiveness. "I don't like my friends getting hurt, and I especially don't like seeing my two best friends fighting over a boy who treats them like toys for his amusement. You need to make a decision and choose one of them already. I won't stand back and watch my friends torn apart by a guy coming between them."
Ash doesn't respond immediately. Rather, he holds back, waiting to see if Asuka will have another outburst before he says anything. When his chance has finally come, he replies, "I never meant to lead anyone on. I didn't even know they felt that way."
Asuka watches his face for signs that he is lying, but none comes. "You're saying you couldn't tell they were interested?" Asuka asks dubiously.
Again he answers sincerely. "No, I couldn't. We hung out a lot, but I don't think I ever sent any signals that I liked either of them like that."
"So you don't like them?" Asuka asks.
"No, I do like them... but as friends. Not in any other way."
Asuka is torn between her desire to be mad at him for being so clueless and her understanding of her friends. "They both get themselves into these kinds of situations all the time." She admits to herself, but she still doesn't want to admit it to him. Once more, she reprimands him. "You should have known something like this might have happened and been up-front about how you felt about them."
Not arguing with her statement, Ash admits, "Maybe I should have, but it really never occurred to me. I don't think to tell every girl I talk to that I'm uninterested in them as a potential girlfriend." Rubbing the back of his neck embarrassedly, he admits, "It's not something that comes up in conversations naturally. If you've got a stock conversation you use to bring it up, I'm all ears for suggestions."
For the first time, Asuka is on the same page with him. She can see herself going to each of her guy friends and telling them she's not interested in them in such a way. As she pictures herself saying it to Kenzan, then Misawa, and then Sho, she realizes just how uncomfortable it would be to bring that up out of nowhere. "I guess I can understand." She compromises.
Ash continues. "I like their company." Ash explains. "Junko and Momoe are both good looking, and they both have great personalities..." He falters for his point to not embarrass himself or upset Asuka. "I don't think that's something unnatural or to be lynched over; being around the opposite sex. I mean, it should be alright to be friends and like being around each other, but not with each other, right?"
In his awkward answer, Asuka suddenly realizes, "He's like me." They both want friends, but find themselves in situations where they are both only people to be coveted. "I'm sorry." She finally apologizes with her whole heart. "I didn't understand the situation."
He laughs. "At least you're understanding. Hannah isn't. She has her own preconceived notions of how male-female dynamics add up, and there is no middle ground." With another embarassed chuckle, he admits, "Because I'm a guy, I'm always a user of women, and I'm always at fault for wanting to be around anyone who isn't another guy."
"Yeah. That sounds like her." Asuka admits with a smile.
"It's funny, in an unfortunate way, that the views she stands against are the views she has towards life." The playfulness leaves his voice. "It's an unfortunate side effect of being put in such pitiful situations that she'd become the thing she hates in order to overcome it." Glaring at the field where Junko holds back tensely and stares down her friend, Ash admits, "Kyle can happily use women, but I've never even been in a relationship. Frankly, I've never really thought about it." His eyes drift back to Asuka. "My eyes are set on pro life too, like him; to get paid and make a living doing what I enjoy. The fame and the perks..." Shrugging his shoulders, he explains, "It doesn't mean much to me."
Ash takes a deep breath and lets his eyes drift to the sky. "I'm afraid, I might not make it. All I can do is keep my mind on my goal and force myself to stay the course and not get side tracked by more than I can handle." Looking back on Asuka, he smiles. "Even if I could win so easily as Kyle and had the time to fool around and get involved with women in such a way, I don't think I could. I don't have it in me, to use people."
Asuka blushes. "That's a good thing. Girls like to hear those kinds of things about guys."
Jokingly, he asks, "I think so too, but I'm the one whose never had a relationship."
Asuka understands what he's really saying, and she blushes. While she hasn't met Kyle personally, she's heard more than enough stories about him. His reputation is already one of infamy. And more so, the general consensus among the female student body is positive towards him. Both Asuka and Ash avoid gazes. However, after a minute, Ash breaks the silence. "Hey, Asuka?" He asks cautiously.
"What is it?" She answers equally cautiously.
"I'm dense about these things, but... Am I suppose, to try and stop them?" Ash asks while looking at the two tag duel teams.
Looking at Junko who still hesitates, Asuka answers simply, "No. This is something they need to settle between themselves. Besides, you'd never break up a duel between students at Duel Academia." She shoots a smile at him. "And that's something I'm not dense about."
"I guess not." Ash agrees.
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A crosswind sweeps across the meadow and rustles Junko's short red hair. Standing there, facing down Momoe, her usual tag team partner and best friend, she can't bring herself to act. Yet her resolve still burns fiercely inside her. "I have to beat her." She reminds herself. "I can do this. I know I can. I know her deck inside and out, and I have the advantage." But then, the source of her hesitation becomes apparent to her. "She knows my deck inside and out as well, and our decks cancel each other out."
Both brothers watch Junko. Neither says anything, but they can see the drive in her eyes, despite her hesitations. Momoe's focused gaze softens slightly, as she cautiously asks, "Junko..."
"Draw!" Junko shouts. She adds the sixth card to her hand and examines her options. The choice is clear in an instant. Before playing her first card, she shouts to Momoe. "I know your deck as well as I know my own! And I know there's nothing you can do to prevent helping my deck."
Momoe responds. "Likewise, but still..."
Junko finishes for her. "I'm going to go all out!"
Both girls smile as if to say, "I wouldn't want it any other way." Then, Junko continues.
"I summon, Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn!" A thin tree trunk grows from the ground. As it rises, it steadily takes the shape of a young woman. Two arm like branches sprout from the woman's back and immediately burst into bloom with leaves of every shade of orange, red, yellow, and brown. Her leafy hair grows long, matching her wings. Once summoned, the lovely young woman with skin colored and textured like tree bark smiles softly. "Once per turn while I control Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn, I can send 1 plant-type monster from my deck to my graveyard." She quickly sorts through her deck and sends a plant sprite to the graveyard. With that completed, she sets 2 s/t cards. "Turn end." Junko shouts.
"It's started." Momoe explains to her partner. "Haruki-San, we only have 3 turns to prepare ourselves or shatter her combo."
"This is it then? This is the dreaded Four Seasons cycle?" Haruki asks.
Momoe nods her head. Glaring seriously at the lovely bark colored woman with autumn leaves for hair and wings, she explains. "The four seasons: autumn, winter, spring, and summer, they pass in a continuous cycle. At each of her standby phases, the next season will start. In winter, plants die and go into dormancy, but in spring, the plants set into bloom, and in summer, they cover the land with their radiance." Momoe glances at her partner. "Once summer comes, we'll be swarmed in an instant." Again, her eyes shift to the lovely plant sprite and its master behind her. "Especially, if summoned by the effect of a Sprite of Four Seasons." Momoe adds.
Haruki nods. "Understood. We have 3 turns. We'll make clearing Makurada-San's signature monsters our number one priority."
"Are you sure you want to do that and risk leaving me unattended, dear brother?" Toshi asks. You know if you give me time, you'll never recover.
"I'm aware of what our deck's can do." Haruki responds.
"It's not just that!" Momoe points out. "Remember, the Four Seasons cannot be attacked or targeted by card effects while their owner controls another plant-type monster."
"In other words, if we want to destroy her seasons, we have to destroy every monster she plays first?" Haruki asks rhetorically.
Momoe hangs her head. "Yes, and no. There's no we." She admits solemnly. "I can't use my monsters to defeat hers. My monsters can hinder her monsters and lower their threat level, but they can't beat her offensively. I can only weaken them for you to destroy." Momoe glances to Haruki, who nods.
"Alright. With your support, I'm sure I can handle it." Haruki answers confidently.
With his reassurance, Momoe draws. "It's pointless to summon a plant-type monster now. It'll only be destroyed come winter. I have to set up the timing to not give her any support come summer." Momoe sets a monster and 1 s/t card, then ends her turn.
Junko tells Toshi, "We'll have to clear away Hamaguchi-San's fairies as she summons them. They cycle between day and night mandatorily on every other turn, or voluntarily each turn. If it is night in summer, my attacks will be restricted."
Toshi agrees. "Got it. Draw." He doesn't hesitate, summoning his signature card, Demon Sword LV 4. A pure black double-edged broadsword rises from a hole in the ground, while black mist gushes from the hole after it. With its serrated blade, demonic wing crossguard, and pulsating black aura, the sword poses as a menacing threat. "Let's back that up, and this turn is over." Toshi states, as he sets 2 s/t cards.
"My turn." Haruki draws. "Reinforcement of the Army." He states calmly. He searches his deck for Marauding Captain and reveals the monster before summoning it. "When Marauding Captain is normal summoned, I can special summon 1 level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I'll summon, Goddess Sword Level 4." A beam of light shines from the cloudless blue sky, and a pure white double-edged broadsword descends handle first from the sky. Smooth bladed angel winged sword floats beside Marauding Captain without assistance, casting a radiant white light over the monster. "Now, Level Up!" Haruki declares with the spell card of the same name revealed. His sword grows in size and brilliance. The smooth bladed sword casts white lightning bolts into the sky, while the form of an angelic woman's face emerges from the white hilt of the lengthened sword, with her eyes closed in ominous anticipation. "Union." Marauding Captain seizes the silver and white sword, boosting his attack by 700 points. The sword's aura continues to emit white lightning bolts into the sky. "Turn end."
Junko draws. "Standby! At this time the seasons change!" Her Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn vanishes in a swirling cloud of autumn leaves, and she is promptly replaced by Junko's next seasonal monster, Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter. The somber plant sprite kneels under the heavy white snow which covers her wings and green pine needle hair. The pale girl opens her arms. "While Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter is on the field, plant-type monsters must remain in defense position." The girl's long thick scarf billows in a sudden cold sweeping wind. Junko summons another plant-type monster, Whimsical Sprite. The tiny sprite titters adorably upon her appearance, but after being hit by the frigid snowy breeze, she curls up in defense position. "Turn end."
Momoe draws. She immediately flip summons her set monster to reveal a tiny fairy. The tiny girl shines with a sunny aura and scatters glimmering dust across the field. Junko's winter sprite's attack increases from 1600 to 2400, while her defense drops from 1600 to 800. Her Whimsical Sprite's attack rises to 1300, while her defense drops to 0. "Solar Fairy." Momoe announces. The cheery fairy dances with exuberance, as her own stats readjust to 1600/0. "While Solar fairy is on the field, the attack of all plant-type monsters will increase by 800 points, while their defenses will decrease by the same amount." Despite the tiny fairy's cheer, she is quickly forced to her knees by the harsh winter cold and snow. Momoe strengthens her field presence by summoning Prickle Fairy in defense position. The plant woman is partially buried in ice and snow, while Solar Fairy's power decreases her defense to 1200. "Solar Fairy can't be attacked or targeted by card effects while I have another plant-type monster on my side of the field." Momoe finishes before ending her turn.
"That's the infamous Solar Fairy, huh?" Toshi asks. Without waiting for a response, he comments, "Quite a powerful effect for such a small cute monster."
"Don't underestimate it." Junko points out.
Shaking his head, Toshi agrees. "I wouldn't dream of it. I know better than to judge a book by its cover." He and his brother smile at the apparent in-joke. Toshi draws. "I'll summon Dark Blade!" A fierce looking warrior in spiked black armor takes the field. "Union!" Toshi declares. Dark Blade's twin swords vanish beneath its cloak, and the black armored soldier grasps the black sword, boosting it's attack by 700 points to 2500. "Dark Blade, attack Prickle Fairy with a demonic slash!" Momoe hesitates to activate her set s/t card, but decides against it. After being cleaved in two, the plant sprite blows away like dust in the wind. In her last effort, she grasps Dark Blade, and pulls him to his knees before blowing away fully. "Main Phase 2. After my sword destroys a monster as a result of battle, even while equipped, it levels up." He sends his LV 4 sword to the graveyard to summon Demon Sword LV 6. The black sword is consumed by black flames, lengthening just as his brother's Goddess Sword did a turn earlier. The black hilt of the sword bears the face of a demonic man with closed eyes, and its serrated blade has become even more erratic looking, featuring several scythe-like protrusions on either side. "Union!" Toshi declares once more to allow his Dark Blade to take the Demon Sword in hand once more. Again, it's attack rises to 2500, with the only change from the previous turn being the sword's appearance and the aura of black flames engulfing the blade. "Turn end."
Haruki chuckles. "It feels strange to not have my opponents attack when I left such a small monster unprotected." He examines Premature Burial and Freed The Brave Wanderer in his hand, deeming them both of no particular use at the moment. He continues to draw a card. "Release union." Marauding Captain releases Goddess Sword LV 6. Marauding Captain vanishes in a pillar of light. "I'll tribute Marauding Captain to summon Goddess Sword LV 6." A second white sword adjourned by the face of a woman with angelic beauty appears. Neither of the sword's angelic faces has her eyes opened. "Union." He declares, merging the 2 swords into a single sword with increased length and brilliance. The equipped monster's attack rises to 2800. Pointing to Junko's tiny Whimsical Sprite, he declares, "Goddess Sword Level 6, twin sword slash!" The sword flies for the tiny monster in a streak of white lightning.
"Trap card, activate! Guardian Vines!" Junko answers. The ground rumbles, drawing a sneer from Momoe. An instant later, dozens of massive tentacle-like vines tear out of the ground behind the tiny Whimsical Sprite. They seize the flash of lightning in a single swipe, stopping the sword dead in its tracks in mid flight. More vines emerge to bind the sword to Haruki's side of the field. "As long as Guardian Vines remains in effect, any monster that attacks my Whimsical Sprite will be bound and have its level decreased at each end phase." Junko explains. "When your level can't drop any lower, my vines will drag your monsters to the grave."
"Hmmm..." Haruki hums. "This is troublesome." He admits while rubbing his bottom lip with his thumb. "You told me your decks were built to heavily protect your cycles, but I hadn't expected this."
"I'm sorry." Momoe apologizes.
"So how do we get rid of the vines?"
"Makurada-San has to pay life points each turn equal to her protected monster's original attack.
"That's not much of a payment." Haruki jokes, in regards to the tiny plant sprite.
"I know." Momoe agrees. "With 8000 life points, she can protect her monster for the entire duel if she wants to. We'll have to destroy Guardian Vines with removal."
"Only the vines?"
"Yes. It has to be the vines. Both of our decks are half dedicated to various kinds of protection for our deck cycles, while the other half is dedicated to the combos themselves. If you try to destroy her plants with removal, she'll only negate it."
Haruki considers the information. "This complicates things, but it's not unbreakable. No deck cycle or combo is." Haruki states confidently. "But for now, my turn is over."
Momoe continues to analyze the situation in her head. "That's right. Junko's deck is built to gather strength, then swarm, while my deck is designed to power up her swarm and protect her monsters in their down season. Both of our decks are designed to protect from attacks and card effects." The two girls meet eye to eye. Without saying it aloud, Momoe wonders, "Why would Junko choose to use shared fields? Her deck's main combo requires an entire field. She has to know she'll be limited by her partner's monsters."
Junko draws, promptly summoning her Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring by sending her Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter to her graveyard. The light skinned girl emerges from the cloud of scatter snow powder. Her light green and earthy colored ensemble flutters in a light breeze, with her long skirt flowing in an almost hypnotic rhythm. Her hair and wings, both made of short budding stalks and plant stems, also sway lightly in the accompanying breeze. Junko lowers her head, and the vines drain her life points by 500 points. She continues. "With Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring in my control, I can add a plant-type monster from my graveyard to my hand, and an additional plant if summoned by the effect of cycling seasons." Junko reveals the monster she sent to her graveyard with Autumn's effect and adds it to her hand. Then, she changes her Whimsical Sprite to attack position. With Solar Fairy on the field, both Sprites continue to gain an 800 attack bonus, while Momoe's lone plant fairy remains in defense position with an 800 point handicap. "Whimsical Sprite, attack Prickle Fairy!"
Momoe responds with her set trap, Enchanting Fragrance. The trap flips up, depicting Dreamsprite blowing a cloud of bubbles and sparkles over Rescue Cat, soothing the mini-beast and putting it into a peaceful sleep. Solar Fairy blows into her cupped hands, scattering a cloud of sparkling powder over Junko's monster. All of Junko's sprites smile softly and sit on the ground. Even Dark Blade is pacified by Solar Fairy's dust. It kneels, leaning on the black sword. "I expected this much." Junko admits. "Turn end."
"Draw!" Momoe calls out. She hides her cross expression behind her cards. "Junko's forcing me to give up my backfield support so I'm defenseless come summer." Without hesitation, Momoe summons Lunar Fairy in defense position. The small fairy takes the field beside Solar Fairy. The two tiny winged girls greet each other. After a brief conversation, the giggling sprites wave good bye. Momoe's yawning Solar Fairy flies back to Momoe's hand. Lunar Fairy promptly scatters her own dust over the field, decreasing the attack of the plants on the field by 800 points each, while their defenses increase by the same amount. Momoe calls to Haruki. "This is your chance! You'll have to capitalize on their weakened stats in his next turn." He replies with a nod. Momoe sets another s/t card and ends her turn.
"Sorry Hamaguchi-San!" Toshi apologizes as he activates his set Dust Tornado. He targets Momoe's freshly set card. A second Enchanted Fragrance is revealed by the cyclone before being blown away. He uses Dust Tornado's secondary effect to set another s/t card in its place. "My turn. Draw." After adding his new card to his hand, he chuckles. "This is a strange pacing, isn't it brother?"
"It is different." Haruki agrees with the same identical smirk on his face.
"Not anymore though. Trap card, activate!" Toshi flips over his set Call of the Haunted and selects Demon Sword LV 4 to be revived beside Junko's tiny sprite. The small girl titters nervously, while the vines wait behind her, in anticipation of a threat. "Demon Sword Level 6, release union!" Dark Blade releases the flaming black sword. "Demon Sword Level 4, union!" His two swords merge just as his brother's swords did in his last turn. "Now, I'll summon Demon (Archfiend) Soldier!" The demonic warrior lands between the tiny sprite and the merged swords. She giggles and sweats even more with the imposing creature at her side. "Not bad, huh brother?" Toshi asks with a smile.
"It looked impressive." His brother responds. "But we'll see if it pays off in the long run."
"Agreed! Demon Sword Level 6, twin hell flame slash!" His black sword slams into his brother's bound white sword. After the initial strike from each, the unioned swords emerge from their hosts and slam together. Matched with the same power level, both swords explode, hurling a pillar of black flames and white lightning into the sky. From the shattered pieces of his Demon Sword LV 6, Demon Sword LV 4 rematerializes in its place on the field. While on the other side of the field, Haruki's Goddess Sword LV 6 remains unscathed. The white spectral light of the Goddess Sword equipped to it rises into the sky.
"We're not done yet." Toshi announces. "Formation Union! Demon Sword Level 4 and Demon Soldier, union, and destroy Goddess Sword Level 6!" Demon Soldier lunges forward, catching the sword in mid jump. In a single swipe, the white sword is shattered like a glass decoration. Momoe watches worriedly as her team's life points fall to 7500. Haruki however doesn't seem bothered by his brother's offensive. "Dark Blade, destroy Lunar Fairy." The demonic swordsman hurls a black sword wave at the small plant fairy. The explosive collision obliterates her, leaving Momoe's and Haruki's field clear. The Demon Sword immediately levels up to LV 6. "Demon Sword Level 6 and Dark Blade, union! And this turn, is over." Toshi proudly announces. Dark Blade clasps the sword firmly as their life points appear between him and Junko, while his brother's life points appear between Haruki and Momoe: 7500 vs. 7500.
Haruki draws. "Well played, dear brother." Haruki exclaims calmly. " Now let's see if I can't match your enthusiasm." He summons Freed the Brave Wanderer. The wandering hero stands ready to battle with his cape billowing in the breeze. Haruki reveals his two level 6 Goddess Swords. "By removing from play 2 light monsters in my graveyard, Freed can destroy 1 monster on the field with a higher attack than him." Haruki points to his brother's Dark Blade. Receiving his target, Freed groans and raises his sword to the sky. A pillar of light consumes Dark Blade. Once more, Demon Sword evades destruction while its wielder is destroyed. With a light snicker, Haruki reveals his next card, Dimension Fusion. His team's life points fall to 5500, and both Goddess Swords descend from the sky in pillars of white light. "Now I'll show you how it's done. Union!" Freed takes the white handle of the pure white sword. The sword's white aura flows through him, raising his attack to 2400.
"Attack Demon Sword Level 6. White lightning slash!" Freed draws the magnificent sword back, and with a single fierce swing, he sends a wave of white lightning tearing across the field. Demon Sword LV 6 is eradicated. Toshi and Junko watch their life points fall 300 points. "Goddess Sword Level 6, target Demon Soldier! Goddess strike!" His second sword aligns itself to Toshi's monster, with the blade pointing at Demon Soldier's chest. The sword vanishes in a streak of white lightning, and emerges on the other side of Demon Soldier. The monster cries as it grasps for the white hole through its chest. It explodes in a pillar of white lightning. Junko and Toshi take another 200 points of damage, bring their team's life points to 7000 against Haruki's and Momoe's 5500.
With a smile, Haruki casually announces, "Level up." Both Goddess Swords drown the field in white light. When the light fades down, two immense white swords remains on the field. Each sword's hilt bears the beautiful angelic face of a woman with blue gemstone eyes. Her long white hair coils down the white handle to the prommel at the handle's end. It also coils partially up the sword's smooth white blade, forming ornate patterns, and partially around the large spread angelic wing crossguard, which is now decorated in green gemstones. "Union." Freed gently receives one of the Goddess Swords at her ultimate levels. She blinks as if to acknowledge her master. Bathed in her brilliant white light, Freed's attack sky rockets to 3100. "Turn end." Haruki declares triumphantly.
Junko's hand trembles over her deck. "This is the power of the twin swords?" She asks herself. "The speed and the efficiency which they summon such high level monsters is remarkable. And their combos are so precise..." She catches herself hesitating and quickly takes her next card. "Draw! Standby!" Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring vanishes in a swirling vortex of flower petals. She is replaced by a girl in a rainbow colored sun dress. The small girl's hair and wings are composed entirely of flowing long green grass with tiny flower buds. "Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer!" Junko announces. In an instant, every bud opens, revealing a rainbow of flowers in the plant sprite's hair and wings. Whimsical Sprite changes to attack position, and Junko explains. "While Summer is present on the field, all plant-type monsters must change to attack position and remain in attack position." Once more, Junko pays 500 life points to the vines before continuing.
"Once per turn, while I control Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer, I can special summon a plant-type monster from my hand, and an additional plant-type monster is summoned by the cycling seasons." She then reveals 2 monsters from her hand. "Wayward Sprite, and Seedling Matron!" She declares, slapping the cards down on her duel disk. Two more plants in the forms of human women appear on the field. Before either guy can fully take in the monsters' appearances. Junko's duel disk orb cycles between blue and red, ultimately stopping on red. With some dismay, she explains. "When Wayward Sprite is summoned and at each of my Standby Phases, I'll toss a coin. If the result is heads, she'll be unaffected by the effects of cards that target her. If the result is tails, she'll be unaffected by the effects of cards that don't target her."
Junko activates a spell card from her hand, depicting Rose Specter of Dunn slinking forward seductively. Her lips glisten with sparkling metallic pink lipstick. "Belladonna's Kiss!" Junko announces. She points to Seedling Matron and Freed the Brave Wanderer. "With Belladonna's Kiss, the attack of the targeted monster will decrease by the attack of my plant-type monster. If the attack of the monster becomes 0, that monster is destroyed." Junko smirks. "Pity that Freed's so strong." The motherly plant sprite, Seedling Matron, blows Freed a deadly kiss. The sparkling lip shaped cloud meets his battle hardened lips, and the proud warrior is immediately driven to his knees in agony. Freed's attack decreases to 1500. Junko continues to smile, as she further explains. "My Seedling Matron can't attack this turn, but my other plants will make her sacrifice worthwhile." Junko's smile is replaced by a fiercely competitive scowl. "Wayward Sprite, destroy Freed! Incorrigible charge!" The sporty antlered sprite charges. At 1700/0, Freed is no matched for the powerful plant monster. She tackles Freed using her head full of numerous branches, each pair shaped like a different animal's antlers, but Goddess Sword protects him from destruction. Haruki and Momoe take 200 points of damage from the magnificent sword's destruction. Freed is left on his hands and knees with his attack at 100.
"Your turn, Whimsical Sprite! Capricious reasoning!" Juno declares. Her tiny Whimsical Sprite flutters across the field as quickly as her tiny wings will take her. A virtual die rolls in the middle of the field. It lands at 3, as Whimsical Sprite delivers her attack, which readjusts to 1500. The tiny sprite musters an unexpected amount of power and delivers a burst of rainbow light and sparkles. Feed's body turns to rainbow dust in the attack, and his team takes another 1400 points of damage, leaving them at 3900. Satisfied with her offensive, and unable to defeat Haruki's second Goddess Sword, Junko leaves her battle phase. Again, she closes her eyes and pays life points. Opening her eyes, she explains. "While I control Seedling Matron, I can pay 800 life points to special summon a plant-type monster from my deck with an attack and defense of 800 or less." Junko summons another Whimsical Sprite. After shuffling her deck, she declares, "Turn end!" Both teams' life points show between their players: 5700 vs. 3900.
Momoe draws. Her wide eyes widen at the sight of her newly drawn card. Junko shoots her a cross and curious glance, which is returned with interest in the form of an antagonizing smirk. "Looks like I got a lucky card." Momoe remarks. She summons her own Seedling Matron in attack position. The winged plant sprite takes the field. "We'll counter before you get another chance to bring out Summer!" Momoe activates her effect twice, paying 1600 life points to summon 2 Lunar Fairies from her deck. The small fairies scatter their dust across the field, leaving all of Junko's monsters, except Wayward Sprite, with an attack of 0. "Seedling Matron, attack Seedling Matron."
Haruki, Junko, and Toshi all look to Momoe's Seedling Matron. Their faces don't betray their curiosity or surprise. The 0 attack Seedling Matron flies head on towards Junko's Seedling Matron. The motherly plant sprite doesn't wait for her, and she flies forward as well, meeting her counterpart mid field. As their auras meet, both plant sprites unexpectedly fade away. Momoe explains with a triumphant smile. "When two attack position monsters with the same attack value battle, both monsters are destroyed, even if their attacks are both 0."
Haruki laughs. "Never seen that before."
"Indeed. A true rare occurrence." Toshi agrees.
"Lunar Fairy cannot be attacked while it's owner controls another plant-type monster." Momoe reminds Junko needlessly. "With that, my turn is over. Next turn, Haruki-San's monsters will devastate your field, Makurada-San!" Despite her team's life points having fallen to 2300, Junko bites her tongue. There is no way of arguing that Momoe's monster's can't be attacked or removed easily, and that they have crippled her field, leaving her team at the disadvantage.
"Draw!" Toshi shouts. "Looks like it's up to me to provide some damage control." Both Whimsical Sprites vanish in pillars of black flames. "I'll tribute Makurada-San's tiny sprites to summon my signature card. Come forth, Demon Sword Level 8!" A hole in the ground opens, and the immense black sword emerges. Its double-edged blade has taken on a chaotic appearance with fang-like scythe protrusions running the length of the sword's serrated blade. The black hilt host the face of a demonic man with 2 blood red gemstone eyes. The demon's elaborate horns wrap around the sword's handle, partially around the demon winged crossguards, and partially up the sword's chaotic blade. Orange gemstones decorate the black hilt, additionally. Junko's Guardian Vines retreat into the earth, and her continuous trap is destroyed. "Demon Sword Level 8, destroy Goddess Sword Level 8!" Both swords take to the sky, before flying for one another. They collide in an epic explosion, sending white lighting and black flames billowing over the field. Asuka and Ash brace themselves to the light and wind. When it is over, neither ultimate sword remains.
"Finished?" Haruki asks his brother in as casual a voice as ever. Toshi gives him a little wave of acknowledgment, allowing him to draw. "Another nice comeback attempt, brother."
"Thank you, brother." Toshi replies prematurely.
"However, it still won't be enough." Haruki activates Premature Burial, reviving Goddess Sword LV 8. His team's life points fall to 1500. He then summons Shining Angel. "Shining Angel, repay Wayward Sprite for her earlier kindness!" The winged angel lunges across the field, tackling the sporty antlered sprite with a full body charge. Junko clenches her eyes shut as her life points fall 1300 points, to 4400. "Follow up, Goddess Sword Level 8!" Haruki's ultimate sword streaks into the sky as a bolt of white lightning. An instant later, Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer is struck by a white lightning bolt. Junko clasps her teeth together as her life points fall another 2800 points, leaving her team with only 1600 life points left, against their opponent's 1500. When Junko opens her eyes, she is no longer met with the sight of one of her Four Season Sprites. Rather, she finds herself face to face with the deep blue eyes of the lovely Goddess Sword. She swallows hard. The radiant sword fades away, reappearing in front of Haruki. "Turn end." He states.
Still shaken by the awe inspiring sword, Junko falters to draw. Haruki smirks at her, and she quickly looks away, only to meet eyes with Momoe. Seeing her friend's staunch and serious face renews her resolve to win. She forces herself to reply. "Good work. It's to be expected from one of the Twin Swords, though." Haruki acknowledges her compliment with a slight bow, which is accompanied by his soft smirk. "But don't think this is over. You've disrupted my cycle once, but I'm far from defeated." Having said that, Junko summons another Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter in defense position. The snow covered plant sprite summons a frigid snowy breeze, sweeping both of Momoe's Lunar Fairies to defense position. "I'll set 2 cards and end my turn."
Momoe draws. "You're planning on skipping seasons, aren't you?" She asks forcefully.
"Even if that's true, can you do anything to stop me?" Junko asks.
"Maybe I can." Momoe utters under her breath. She sets a single s/t card, and glances to Haruki. "Turn end." Haruki nods slightly.
Toshi draws. "Dark Factory of Mass Production." He states, revealing the spell. He recovers Demon Soldier and Dark Blade from his Graveyard and adds them to his hand. "Not much point in summoning a monster to attack Shining Angel." He points out. "So I'll summon Mystic Tomato in defense position, and this turn is over."
Haruki chuckles as he draws. "Looks like someone did some planning ahead of time, doesn't it brother?"
"And you're saying you and your partner entered a tag match unprepared?" Toshi quips.
"I wouldn't be much of a tag duelist if I did that." He replies. Extending his finger to Mystic Tomato, Haruki declares his attack. With the 2 Lunar Fairies on the field, Mystic Tomato's defense is boosted to 2700, but it isn't enough to ward off Goddess Sword's attack of 2800. The white sword destroys Mystic Tomato the same way it destroyed Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer. As the white sword rematerializes in front of Haruki, the destroyed Mystic Tomato is replaced by yet another Mystic Tomato. Winter's icy breeze shifts the monster to defense position and freezes it solid. Haruki changes his Shining Angel to defense position and ends his turn, joking, "I don't much care for gazpacho."
"You know that's a frequent misconception, dear brother?" Again, the two smile and chuckle at what is certainly an in-joke.
"Draw!" Junko declares. She activates one of her set cards, Lost Season. "Lost Season allows me to skip a season in my cycle." She sends Winter to the graveyard to summon Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer. All plant-type monsters on the field change to attack position. "With Summer's effect, I'll summon my trump card!"
"Oh no!" Momoe cries.
"Oh yes!" Junko corrects her. "Weeping Willow!" A large, seemingly ordinary Weeping Willow tree emerges from the ground, towering over Junko's side of the field. Other than it's unusually large size and a feint blue aura, there is little extraordinary about the tree. However, Junko points out, "Weeping Willow's attack and defense values increase by 200 points for each plant-type monster in a player's graveyard." The tree's blue aura steadily intensifies, and 13 small blue orbs of light gather around the tree, raising its attack to 4400. The two Lunar Fairies' magic decreases its attack to 2800. "Attack Shining Angel!" Juno declares. The tree glows brighter, and the lights streak across the field where they batter Shining Angel until he explodes, leaving only a single white feather. From the feather, Haruki summons another Shining Angel in attack position. Junko smiles. "Your life points are exposed now, and next turn, both Lunar Fairies will leave the field, and Solar Fairy will have to be summoned. It's game over." Junko smiles triumphantly. "Turn end."
"It's not over yet!" Momoe shouts back. After drawing, both of her Lunar Fairies return to her deck. She special summons 1 Solar Fairy from her deck. All of the plants on the field gain an 800 attack bonus. "I summon, Solar Fairy!" Momoe declares. A second Solar Fairy appears on the field, boosting the plant-type monsters further.
"It won't do you any good to defend yourself." Junko points out. "Your partner's life points are exposed by his monsters."
"Turn end." Momoe states confidently. Junko is taken aback.
"No... That can't be?" Junko looks to Momoe's set card.
Toshi draws. "I summon Demon Soldier." Junko looks to his monsters in horror. Mystic Tomato, finish it! Destroy Shining Angel with march of the killer tomatoes!"
"What have I done?" Junko utters to herself.
"What's wrong, Makurada-San?" Toshi asks, as his Tomato charges across the field.
"This is!" Momoe answers. "Activate Day-Night Shift!" Her quickplay spell flips up, depicting the Lunar Fairies and Solar Fairies changing shifts. Momoe returns her 2 Solar Fairies to her deck, and she resummons her 2 Lunar Fairies. Mystic Tomato's attack plummets to 0 once more, and his attack is repelled.
Haruki smirks as Toshi realizes what has happened. "That looks like the end for you, dear brother."
"Not yet!" He insists. "Demon Soldier, destroy Shining Angel!" The fierce demonic soldier slices through Shining Angel, to deal 500 points damage to Haruki's and Momoe's life points. Shining Angel explodes. From the explosion, the fiery white flames take the form of a mass of white souls. They merge together and form a dog faced beast. "What, is that?" Toshi asks.
"Theban Nightmare." Haruki answers. With a smirk, he jokes, "Let's just say we're even."
Unable to do more for the turn, Toshi has no choice but to set a s/t card and end his turn. Haruki draws. "Let's end this!" He declares, and he reveals Lightning Vortex. He sends Dunamis (Dark Witch) Valkyrie to the graveyard to activate the spell.
As the Lightning Bolts rain down, Junko responds, "Forget about it! Trap card, activate!" Her set trap flips over, depicting a boy and girl dressed for summer, while a winter breeze suddenly sweeps over them. "Out of Season will negate a card effect that affects a plant-type monster on my field!" The lightning is dispersed.
"I summon, Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke." Holding out his hands, Haruki explains, "No hand. No backfield." Theban Nightmare howls. It's attack rises to 3000. "Theban Nightmare, destroy Mystic Tomato."
As the demon formed from a mass of souls slinks across the field, Toshi looks frantically between his set s/t card and the monsters. He finally activates it, revealing DNA Surgery.
"Plants!" He calls out. Theban Nightmare sprouts several buds, and its attack drops to 1400 points. While flowers grown in Goddess Sword's hair. Despite its attack being cut, Theban Nightmare still destroys Mystic Tomato, dealing 1400 damage and leaving Toshi and Junko with only 100 life points left. Mystic Tomato is replaced by Matazza the Zapper.
Haruki points to Demon Soldier. "It was a good game." Goddess Sword flies to the sky once more and crashes down on Demon Soldier in a strike of white lightning. Junko flinches as the final explosion pushes her off balance. The field fades away.
Toshi recovers quickly from the attack. "Nicely played, brother. Hamaguchi-San." He acknowledges each with a slight bow.
"You as well, brother. And Makurada-San." Haruki agrees with an accompanying nod for each.
The two girls say nothing to one another, nor do they face each other. Toshi however, chuckles as he approaches his brother at the center of the field. "I really thought we had you, too."
"You should know better than that. It's not over, until it's over."
"That still doesn't mean it's closed to speculation."
Haruki laughs. "It was closer than you think, brother. You only thought you were in control."
"It would seem so." Toshi agrees. While the two chat casually, both Junko and Momoe walk towards the center of the field. Neither looks up from the ground ahead of her. Once they have rejoined their partners, Toshi apologizes to Junko. I'm sorry for costing you the game, Makurada-San. It was a miscalculation on my part."
Junko shakes her head. "No. It's alright. We both made mistakes." Having said that, Junko finally looks up to see Momoe's face. She announces, "Haruki-San and Momoe-San are the winners."
Momoe still finds it hard to meet her friend's face, but she humbly explains, "I was pretty useless in the duel. I couldn't even attack, so I can hardly call it my victory."
Junko shakes her head, stating, "A win's a win, and you did set me up." The two girls finally look each other in the face. The tense atmosphere has completely dissipated from the peaceful rest stop in the woods, and the two smile slightly at each other.
"You knew I'd go for the twin sword brothers." Momoe points out.
"Well of course I did." Junko replies. "They are the best tag team currently in Duel Academia."
"That's not what I mean." Momoe contradicts her. "You hesitated. You let me take the stronger of the two brothers."
"Of course I didn't." Junko disagrees, but from her lack of passion in her argument, it is obvious she is lying.
"Momoe chuckles lightly under her breath. "Liar..."
Junko nervously musses her hair and rolls her hand as she tries to bring up their argument from the day before. When she finally reaches her point, she stops fidgeting and tells Momoe to her face, "I want to take back all the cruel things I said to you. I never meant any of it."
Momoe smiles wide. "I'm sorry too."
The two hold back for a moment, then throw their arms around each other and start balling. "I'm sooo sorry!" They both cry over each other's shoulders.
On the side lines, Asuka blushes embarrassedly. "Those two..." Despite ehr embarrassment, she smiles and wipes her eyes.
The Twin Sword brothers look to each other with an, "I knew it," kind of glance.
Haruki explains, "I thought they must have had a fight."
"But everything seems okay now." Toshi points out. Haruki nods with a smile, and Toshi says it for both of them. "It's better this way."
Both Junko and Momoe continue to cry their apologies on their friend's shoulder. "I never realized how important your stat increases were until now!" Junko balls. "You're not worthless. Your indispensable to this team!"
"I was wrong. It's not fair that boys keep breaking your heart! I had no right to take cheap shots on you! It's not your fault! I'm a flake! And I hesitate too often!"
Everyone blushes as the two continue crying for several minutes. When they finally settles down, the two puffy eyed girls thank their partners and bow to express their gratitude.
"Thank you. It was a fun and valuable learning experience. I understand the true power of your decks more than ever now, and I must say, it is an impressive force to be reckoned with." Haruki compliments them.
Toshi agrees. "You two exhibit incredible knowledge of each other's decks. Acting together, it's impossible to deny your plays would be flawlessly executed according to your partner's plays."
Once more the girls thank them. Haruki and Toshi set off on their own, but before leaving the oval meadow, Haruki tells the girls, "We should duel properly sometime."
The girls both reply at the same time and bow. "It would be an honor." When the boys have left, the two girls giggle to one another.
Clearing her throat, Asuka calls their attention to their company. Seeing Ash, both girls settles down some, and Junko pushes her friend forward. Momoe tries to resist, but Junko reminds her, "Go on. You earned this." With ehr friend back on her side, she doesn't fight it. She nods and gathers her confidence before marching forward, ahead of Junko.
As they approach, Asuka jokingly asks, "Are you ready for this?"
"If a say no, do I have a choice?" Ash replies. His reply draws a chuckle from Asuka.
Standing in front of Ash, Momoe holds her hands over her laps and takes a deep breath. Before she can say a word, Ash breaks in, "May I say something first?"
"Oh?" Momoe is startled by the interruption. She loses her nerve, and utters, "Okay."
Finally given his chance to set things straight, Ash starts to lose his nerve as well. He sighs before fumbling into his attempt to explain himself. "I'm sorry if I lead either of you on." He starts. He looks each of the girls in the eyes to make sure they understand he is addressing them both. "I never intended to send out any signals. In truth, I don't want to get involved in a relationship with any girl right now." He pauses, to give the girl's a chance to react. While both girl's seem surprised, neither seems even close to being devastated, which is a huge relief for him. He admits, "I'm solely focused on going pro. If I don't make an impression soon, I won't be scouted to go pro. And if I can't reach pro level in the next two years, I'll have to find work to support my hobby and myself." Looking at each of the girls, he admits, "I like being around both of you, but if that is somehow too hard on either of you or your relationship with each other, I'll understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore." He finishes. "And that's all I have to say."
He waits a moment for a reply, but both girls remain silent. "I'm going to get going, okay?" He asks, trying to find a way out of the awkward situation that will let the girls have time to let it sink in. But before he leaves, he tells Junko and Momoe, "Good friends shouldn't fight each other, especially over a boy." As he turns away, both girls shout to him.
"Wait!"
"You don't have to go." Momoe tells him. Glancing at her, the black haired girl explains herself. "I understand how you feel, and... It's okay. It's okay." She reiterates more confidently. Smiling, she insists, "We can still be friends. You don't have to go." Junko agrees.
"So everything is fine?" He asks.
Momoe smiles to him, and then to Junko and Asuka. "Yeah. It is fine."
Ash nods and rejoins the three. As he approaches, both Junko and Momoe share a heavy sigh. "Another handsome talented guy is off the market. Drag."
Asuka chuckles. When they notice her, the two apologize to Asuka for their foolishness. She forgives them and apologizes as well. "I'm sorry I didn't see the full truth. Ash is a decent guy after all."
Both girls are shocked by Asuka's confession. Turning their backs on her, they have a private huddle. Although, they speak in their usual tones, well within range for Asuka to hear everything they say. "Oh no! This is bad!" Momoe states.
"Yeah! If Asuka is getting a crush on Ash too, she's only getting herself up for a heartbreak."
Asuka's eyebrows twitch, as she listens to the two talk about her right in front of her. Ash waves his hands, showing he wants nothing to do with this. "I am not getting a crush on him." She states forcefully. "Can't you two ever see relationships between males and females as being purely plutonic?"
The two ignore her and continue to gossip to each other. Momoe explains, "Asuka is building a new deck, and she is acting differently lately."
Junko glances at her from over her shoulder. "A boy?" She looks closer. "You're right. She does seem more womanly. But if not Ash, then..."
The two conclude, "It must be someone else." Both peer at her from the corners of their eyes, and they ask, "A love deck?"
Asuka shouts at them and chases them across the field, while Ash is left alone. He laughs uncomfortably. "Why do I always end up, in weird positions?"
Chapter 14 - End
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Chapter 14 Author Notes
I hated writing this chapter's duel. Hated is most certainly an understatement. It was a technical nightmare. Managing 4 players (Hand sizes, Life Points, monster stats on field, field space with a shared field, etc) was extremely complicated, and after I finally thought I had it done right, I found a small mistake at the start of the scripted duel that ended up ruining the whole duel. Thus, I had to start over. It didn't help that I had such a specific destination with it, either. Anyways, hopefully all mistakes are fixed and the chapter is enjoyable. I've always wanted Junko and Momoe to be represented as real characters, and hopefully this chapter was a good start.
Just for reference, anyone who thought parts seemed too faked or scripted unrealistically, I had to play this game out on 2 duel fields to finally get it right, and everything that happened is how the cards played out with the opening hands and decks. When I first wrote the chapter, damn Weeping Willow kept killing Momoe and Haruki, but when I played the duel out while taking the notes, the damn tree came out to 4400 exactly, which with the 1600 point decrease, left it tied with Haruki's Goddess Sword. That drove me freaking nuts! I intended for the duel to last 1 more turn for Junko to use Extended Season, and Haruki defeats Toshi and Junko with Living Arrow, when Toshi attacks with an equipped monster wielding his sword union. Then there was an amusing little scene I wrote between the two, but it had to be scrapped because the chapter ended differently.
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Chapter 14 Author Cards
This section is for all cards I created for this fanfic. There's a lot of them, but considering how poorly Plants are represented and supported, there wasn't much choice.
Wayward Sprite
Earth, Plant, LV 3, 1700/0
Effect: When you successfully Summon this card, and during each of your following Standby Phases, flip a coin. If the result is heads, this card is unaffected by card effects that specify this 1 card as a target. If the result is tails, this card is unaffected by card effects that do not specify this 1 card as a target.
(Art: A sporty plant sprite with branches on her head in the shape of various animal antlers.)
Whimsical Sprite
Wind, Plant, LV 1, 500/500
Effect: When this card battles a monster, roll a six-sided dice. Multiply this card's ATK/DEF by the result of the die roll, for the damage step.
(Art: A ditzy little plant sprite. She sits on a flower with a vapid and clueless, yet cheerful expression.)
Seedling Matron
Earth, Plant, LV 3, 1600/0
Effect: During your Main Phase, pay 800 Life Points to Special Summon 1 Plant-Type monster with an ATK and DEF of 800 or less from your hand or Deck to your side of the field. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. A monster Summoned by this effect cannot be attacked while this card is on the field.
(Art: A motherly woman with branches for arms. In the same pose as The Agent of Creation - Venus, except she is surrounded by 3 small sprites in transparent bubbles.)
Solar Fairy
Light, Plant, LV 2, 800/800
Effect: A "Solar Fairy" and "Lunar Fairy" cannot be Summoned or set in the same turn. When this card is successfully Summoned or flipped face-up, all face-up copies of "Lunar Fairy" on the field return to their owner's hands. During your second consecutive Standby Phase this card is face-up on your side of the field, return all copies of "Solar Fairy" on the field to their owner's Decks. (This is mandatory.) Then, Special Summon 1 "Lunar Fairy" from your hand or Deck to your side of the field. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. While this card is face-up on the field, increase the ATK of all Plant-Type monsters on the field by 800 points, and decrease the DEF of all Plant-Type monsters on the field by 800 points. This card cannot be attacked or targeted by a card effect controlled by your opponent while there is a Plant-Type monster other than this card on your side of the field.
(Art: One of many small fairies. She wears a short flowing light colored dress and dances on an open flower. The sun shines brilliantly behind her. The other Solar Fairies behind her dance and spread Solar Fairy dust over the flowers.)
Lunar Fairy
Dark, Plant, LV 2, 800/800
Effect: A "Lunar Fairy" and "Solar Fairy" cannot be Summoned or set in the same turn. When this card is successfully Summoned or flipped face-up, all face-up copies of "Solar Fairy" on the field return to their owner's hands. During your second consecutive Standby Phase this card is face-up on your side of the field, return all copies of "Lunar Fairy" on the field to their owner's Decks. (This is mandatory.) Then, Special Summon 1 "Solar Fairy" from your hand or Deck to your side of the field. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. While this card is face-up on the field, increase the DEF of all Plant-Type monsters on the field by 800 points, and decrease the ATK of all Plant-Type monsters on the field by 800 points. This card cannot be attacked or targeted by a card effect controlled by your opponent while there is a Plant-Type monster other than this card on your side of the field.
(Art: One of many small fairies. She wears a long flowing dark colored dress and sits on a leaf of a closed flower. The moon shines brilliant behind her. The other Lunar Fairies behind her relax on leaves and spread Lunar Fairy dust over the flowers.)
Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn
Wind, Plant, LV 4, 1600/1600
Effect: You cannot have more than 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster on your side of the field at any time. During your next Standby Phase after this card is Summon or flipped face-up, send this card to the Graveyard. (This is mandatory.) Then, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard. Once per turn, during your Main Phase, send up to 1 Plant-Type monster from your Deck to your Graveyard. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. If Summoned by the effect of "Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer", send up to 2. This card cannot be attacked or targeted by a card effect controlled by your opponent while there is a Plant-Type monster other than this card on your side of the field.
(Art: A plant sprite with a form of a small yet beautiful woman. She wears a long dress in autumn colors; orange, yellow, brown, and red. Her hair is made of leaves all turned or turning for the season, as are her leafy wings. Her skin has a light bark texture and color. She compassionately checks on all of the trees and plants, touching the tree leaves lightly.)
Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter
Water, Plant, LV 4, 1600/1600
Effect: You cannot have more than 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster on your side of the field at any time. During your next Standby Phase after this card is Summon or flipped face-up, send this card to the Graveyard. (This is mandatory.) Then, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard. Once per turn, during your Main Phase, destroy up to 1 Plant-Type monster on the field. If Summoned by the effect of "Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn", destroy up to 2. While this card is face-up on the field, all face-up Plant-Type monsters on the field change to defense position and must remain in defense position. This card cannot be attacked or targeted by a card effect controlled by your opponent while there is a Plant-Type monster other than this card on your side of the field.
(Art: A plant sprite with a form of a small yet beautiful woman. She wears a long white and blue colored dress with a thick scarf wrapped around her neck. Her hair and wings are pure white, smooth on top, and spiked downwards, like the branches of a pine tree weighted heavily in snow. Her skin is pale and bark textured. She sits in the snow, keeping a weary vigil of the snow covered landscape.)
Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring
Earth, Plant, LV 4, 1600/1600
Effect: You cannot have more than 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster on your side of the field at any time. During your next Standby Phase after this card is Summon or flipped face-up, send this card to the Graveyard. (This is mandatory.) Then, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard. Once per turn, during your Main Phase, add up to 1 Plant-Type monster from your Graveyard to your hand. If Summoned by the effect of "Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter", add up to 2. This card cannot be attacked or targeted by a card effect controlled by your opponent while there is a Plant-Type monster other than this card on your side of the field.
(Art: A plant sprite with a form of a small yet beautiful woman. She wears a light green and earthy colored ensemble with a long skirt. Her hair and wings are both made of many short stalks and plant stems, all budding in preparation to bloom. Her skin is light but vibrant, with a leafy pattern to it. She cheerily trots over the short grassy meadow tapping the short plants as she passes to wake them.)
Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer
Fire, Plant, LV 4, 1600/1600
Effect: You cannot have more than 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster on your side of the field at any time. During your next Standby Phase after this card is Summon or flipped face-up, send this card to the Graveyard. (This is mandatory.) Then, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn" from your hand, Deck, or Graveyard. Once per turn, during your Main Phase, Special Summon up to 1 Plant-Type monster from your hand to your side of the field. If Summoned by the effect of "Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring", Special Summon up to 2. While this card is face-up on the field, all face-up Plant-Type monsters on the field change to attack position and must remain in attack position. This card cannot be attacked or targeted by a card effect controlled by your opponent while there is a Plant-Type monster other than this card on your side of the field.
(Art: A plant sprite with a form of a small yet beautiful woman. She wears a short sun dress with bright rainbow colors. Her hair and wings are both made of long vibrant green grass with a rainbow of small flowers in full bloom. Her skin is tanned with a leafy patern to it. She cheerily strolls through forest and meadow overflowing in flowers.)
Weeping Willow
Light, Plant, LV 6, 1800/1800
Effect: Increase this card's ATK/DEF by 200 points for each Plant-Type monster in a player's Graveyard.
(Art: A large Weeping Willow tree on the river's edge. The entire tree glows with a brilliant light blue aura, which is reflected on the calm waters. Hundreds of small blue ethereal lights float around the tree.)
Guardian Vines
Continuous Trap
Effect: You can only activate this card by selecting 1 Plant-Type monster on your side of the field when it is attacked. After activation, negate the attack of a monster that attacks the selected monster, and that monster cannot attack or change its position for as long as this card remains on the field. At each End Phase, a monster that attacked the selected monster has its level decreased by 1. When a monster's level cannot decrease anymore by this effect, send it to the Graveyard. When the selected monster leaves the field, this card is destroyed. Pay Life Points equal to the ATK of the selected monster at each of your Standby Phases. If you do not, this card is destroyed.
(Art: Prickle Fairy defends herself from an attaching swarm of Flower Wolves. Dozens of massive vines emerge from the ground, blocking the Flower Wolves' attacks, seizing them, and dragging them into the ground.
Enchanting Fragrance
Trap
Effect: You can only activate this card while you control a Plant-Type monster. Change all attack position monsters on your opponent's side of the field to defense position.
(Art: Dreamsprite blows a dreamy mixture of sparkling dust and bubbles into the light breeze. Rescue Cat sleeps peacefully in front of her.)
Belladonna's Kiss
Spell
Effect: Select 1 Plant-Type monster on your side of the field and 1 face-up monster on your opponent's side of the field. Decrease the ATK of your opponent's monster by the original ATK of your selected monster until your next Standby Phase. If the ATK of your opponent's monster decreases to 0 by this effect, destroy the monster at this time. Your selected monster cannot attack during the turn this card is activated.
(Art: Rose Specter of Dunn slinks forward to delivers a fatal kiss. Her lips shimmer with a sparkly metallic pink lipstick.)
Out of Season
Counter Trap
Effect: You can only activate this card while you control a Plant-Type monster and your opponent activates a card effect that affects a Plant-Type monster on the field. Negate your opponent's card effect, and destroy that card.
(Art: An autumn leaf sets off a concealed bear traps, while a rope snare is frozen solid in mid snap. A pair of snowshoes are beached at the river edge in the background where fish hop in the bright summer sunlight.)
Lost Season
Trap
Effect: This card can only be activated at your Standby Phase before a "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster on your side of the field is sent to the Graveyard by its effect. Send the "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster to the graveyard. For a "Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring" sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn" to your side of the field from your hand or Deck. For a "Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer" sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter" to your side of the field from your hand or Deck. For a "Sprite of Four Seasons - Autumn" sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Spring" to your side of the field from your hand or Deck. For a "Sprite of Four Seasons - Winter" sent to the Graveyard, Special Summon 1 "Sprite of Four Seasons - Summer" to your side of the field from your hand or Deck. Shuffle your Deck afterwards.
(Art: A girl in a miniskirt clenches her skirt as a freak snow storm sweeps through with heavy winds. The guy next to her clenches his arms over his bare chest.)
Extended Season
Quickplay Spell
Effect: This card can only be activated at your Standby Phase before a "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster on your side of the field is sent to the Graveyard by its effect. The "Sprite of Four Seasons" monster is not sent to the Graveyard until your next Standby Phase.
(Art: A guy and a girl cross-country ski on grass while wearing shorts and t-shirts. Several sad kids sit on their toboggans at the top of a grassy hill, but can't get it to slide.)
Note: Junko had this set, but lost before she could use it.
Day-Night Shift
Trap
Effect: This card can only be activated by returning all copies of "Lunar Fairy" or "Solar Fairy" on the field to the bottom of their owner's Decks. Then, Special Summon up to the same number of copies of "Lunar Fairy" if a "Solar Fairy" was returned to its owner's Deck, or "Solar Fairy" if "Lunar Fairy" was returned to its owner's Deck, to your side of the field from your Deck. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. This card cannot be activated during a turn a "Lunar Fairy" or "Solar Fairy" was Summoned or flipped face-up.
(Art: A garden is parted down the center of the card with it being night on one side and day on the other. The Solar Fairies yawn and wave goodnight as they flit away, while the Lunar Fairies emerge from their sleep and stretch. Cute animals pass by each other on the ground beneath the plants, passing sleeping caps and coffee mugs as they go by.)
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Goddess Sword LV 4
Light, Angel, LV 4, 1400/1400
Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a Warrior-Type, Angel-Type, or LIGHT monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. Increase the ATK/DEF of the equipped monster by 700 points. During the Main Phase of a turn after this card or a monster equipped with this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon a "Goddess Sword LV 6" from your hand or Deck. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, this card is destroyed instead.)
(Art: A smooth-edged broadsword with a white hilt and metallic white blade, as well as a white aura. The crossguard has the shape of 2 feathered angel wings. The sword points upwards to the sky as light shines down on it.)
Goddess Sword LV 6
Light, Angel, LV 6, 2100/2100
Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a Warrior-Type, Angel-Type, or LIGHT monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. Increase the ATK/DEF of the equipped monster by 700 points. Negate the effects of monster cards a monster equipped with this card destroys as a result of battle. During the Main Phase of a turn after this card or a monster equipped with this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon a "Goddess Sword LV 8" from your hand or Deck. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, this card is destroyed instead.)
(Art: Goddess Sword LV 4 upgraded. Now longer, with a larger blade and hilt, and a more brilliant aura with white lightning crashing around it. The hilt is more elaborate with the angel wing crossguard increasing in size, and an angelic woman's face where the blade and crossguard meet. Her eyes are closed.)
Goddess Sword LV 8
Light, Angel, LV 8, 2800/2800
Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a Warrior-Type, Angel-Type, or LIGHT monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. Increase the ATK/DEF of the equipped monster by 1400 points. Negate the effects of monster cards this card or a monster equipped with this card destroys as a result of battle. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, this card is destroyed instead.)
(Art: The sword's final form. Now a white sword bathing the world in its white aura. Its hand guard now depicts an angelic woman's face with her long hair weaving partially up the blade, partially around the winged crossguard, and around the handle to the prommel. Her deep blue gemstone eyes are open. The immense sword is now encrusted in green gems as well. Its blade is smooth and flowing from tip to end.)
Demon Sword LV 4
Dark, Demon, LV 4, 1400/1400
Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a Warrior-Type, Demon-Type, or DARK monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. Increase the ATK/DEF of the equipped monster by 700 points. During the Main Phase of a turn after this card or a monster equipped with this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon a "Demon Sword LV 6" from your hand or Deck. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, Special Summon this card in face-up attack position.)
(Art: A black serrated-edged broadsword with a black hilt, as well as a black aura. The crossguard has the shape of 2 leathery demon wings. The sword points downwards to the ground as dark mist rises around it.)
Demon Sword LV 6
Dark, Demon, LV 6, 2100/2100
Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a Warrior-Type, Demon-Type, or DARK monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. Increase the ATK/DEF of the equipped monster by 700 points. Negate the effects of monster cards a monster equipped with this card destroys as a result of battle. During the Main Phase of a turn after this card or a monster equipped with this card destroys a monster as a result of battle, send this card to the Graveyard to Special Summon a "Demon Sword LV 8" from your hand or Deck. Shuffle your Deck afterwards. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, Special Summon this card in face-up attack position.)
(Art: Demon Sword LV 4 upgraded. Now longer, with a larger blade and hilt, and a more brilliant aura with black flames burning around it. The hilt is more elaborate with its demon wing crossguard increasing in size, and a demonic man's face where the blade and crossguard meet. His eyes are closed.)
Demon Sword LV 8
Dark, Demon, LV 8, 2800/2800
Union/Effect: Once per turn during your Main Phase, if you control this monster on the field, you can equip it to a Warrior-Type, Demon-Type, or DARK monster on your side of the field as an Equip Spell Card. Or unequip the Union equipment and Special Summon this card in face-up attack position. Increase the ATK/DEF of the equipped monster by 1400 points. Negate the effects of monster cards this card or a monster equipped with this card destroys as a result of battle. (1 monster can only be equipped with 1 Union Monster at a time. If the equipped monster would be destroyed, Special Summon this card in face-up attack position.)
(Art: The sword's final form. Now a black sword bathing the world in its black aura. Its hand guard now depicts a demonic man's face with his elaborate horns spiraling partially up the blade, around the winged crossguard, and around the handle to the prommel. His deep red gemstone eyes are open. The immense sword is now encrusted in orange gems as well. Its blade is serrated and chaotic from tip to end.)
