Yu-Gi-Oh
No Limits
Chapter 2-The Girl who could awaken the shadows
By Kevin Jones
"Keep it up Chase you've almost got me."
Time to recap; about several ago I had a duel with the number 1 duelist in America, Scott Truman. At about 7:00 p.m. I was watching the sunset on the roof of my school when suddenly I started hearing a little voice. I knew I was alone so it wasn't another student, and no one wants to admit their crazy so I decided to follow it.
9:00 p.m. I'm now in the Middle of New York City trying not to bump into pedestrians. At this rate I think-
"Ok were here."
We're at Bryant Park, honestly I'm relieved that this chase is over, but Bryant Park, I was thinking maybe something a bit more interesting like Ellis Island, or Greenwich Village, hell even going into the Sewers wouldn't be as anticlimactic as Bryant Park.
"Well what are you waiting for you've got something important to do."
Well I guess there's only 1 thing to do.
"Might as well."
What the hell? All of a sudden I feel I feel like I just got the wind knocked out of me.
How the, the park was empty, now it's got about 20 or 30 people in it, all staring at the same thing, me.
I don't know why but I'm being drawn to these people. Even though I have no idea who these people are I find myself now only 10 steps away, now 9, 8, 7- Wait a minute these aren't people, they look more like Duel Monsters, more specifically, my Duel Monsters.
"In all these years of waiting I never once lost hope."
It's Elemental Hero Voltic, purple costume and all.
"What hope?"
"Hope that you'd reach the day of your Inclaim. I'm excited that our 10 year wait is over."
"What's going on here and what's an Inclaim?"
I think its safe bet I have absolutely no idea what is going on here.
"Allow me to explain." I watched as Elemental Hero Clayman walked out of the crowd, each step loud and heavy.
"You have a power that separates you from most of society. For as you can now see, you have the ability to talk to Duel Spirits.
"That's impossible, I, I must be going insane!"
"Oh really then how do you explain your Stardust Dragon?" From his tone I can tell he's leading me on.
"Stardust?"
"Think about it Stardust Dragon is a one of a kind card that, until a few years ago, had only one known copy; owned and frequently used by Yusei Fudo in Japan. Which brings up the interesting question how did you get one?"
"The thought had occurred to me."
"Well then allow me to explain. StarDust Dragons are an interesting species. Like some other Dragon species they can pass threw from the spirit world into this one with no trouble. Dragons Species like Ancient Fairies, Black Roses, Black-Wings, and Red Archfiends usually only pick one human in a generation as a partner but Stardust's are different.
You go into any museum, anywhere and you find stories of Mystic dragons that aided Man in times of trouble. Though many of these dragons look different and some eventually even became interpreted as different creatures all together they all come from one simple fact, throughout your history StarDust Dragons find new ways of aiding Humanity, it's why their called StarDust. Their light spreads everywhere and 2 of them have figured out a new way to spread their light, through dueling. The first human to receive this honor is Yusei Fudo and the second is you, Chase Rhodes. "Why me?"
"Because," Elemental Hero Stratos has now interrupted Clayman, "not only can you communicate with your deck, but you are a brave, selfless person who wouldn't think twice about helping somebody."
"Sorry but you're wrong. I only look out for number 1 and I don't give a crap about anyone else," and I'm telling the truth, believe me.
Stratos has tightened his blue fists and sounds angry.
"That is a lie! You used to do whatever it took to do what you believed was right, and you always put others first!"
"Those days are over and I don't need anybody."
"Don't you, don't you understand bonds are the most powerful things in the world! Without them were nothing, you used to understand that more than anyone and I know you still think about her."
There was silence after that, and I knew that I had to change the subject.
"So what's an Inclaim?"
"Finally," A tall winged man all in green, usually referred to as Elemental Hero Avian, has stepped forward.
"We could probably spend the rest of the night talking about your issues but right now we have to get down to business. The Inclaim is the ceremony in which you will pledge yourself to the duel. For one reason or another your power was doormat but something in your duel today awoke it, and now we are giving you the right to chose. If you chose to accept you will most likely live a life of solitude. The power you will gain will separate you from the rest of society, in the end you will be an outsider. Duelists who make this choice don't die like most celebrities, they don't have drug overdoses, they lose to Duelists like them, Duelists who can bring their monsters to life and they won't show hesitation. If you ever lose to these kinds of people then they will kill you."
"And if I say no?"
"This entire night will be erased from your memory and you will continue with your life as normal." "That ain't going to happen, and as for a life of loneliness I'm already half way there anyways." "Very well then."
With that there's a new energy surge going threw me. This one is so powerful it's got me on the ground and it has become hard to breath. As I struggled to get up the statue of William Cullen Bryant that stands at the other end of the park has been replaced by a large suspended glowing multi-colored Sphere.
"What in the world is that?"
"I take it you know what Ener-D is."
I'm nodding my head being that it has become too hard to talk.
"Ener-D is more than a cheap energy source, it flows through all life forms and if you are to become a true Duelist you must have the power of Ener-D flowing through you at a rate unlike others. But be warned once you stick your hand in their it cannot be pulled out until you have absorbed every last particle."
"What happens if I do pull out to early?"
"Use your imagination." With that sign of encouragement from Avian I slowly walk towards the light, each step harder than harder the last until somehow I'm close enough to touch the orb. I take a deep breath and reach in. With a flash of light I feel a pain so powerful I feel like my arm is about to disintegrate. I cried out in pain but those around me new the rules, if I pull my hand out I die.
With each second a new pain, with each minute the idea of dying sounded better and better. I'm trying to look away but something about the bright light is, is keeping me from looking away, watching it shrink is the only thing keeping me sane, granted that the smaller it's getting, the more painful it's getting.
What the, my hand, my hand is actually being forced out of the ball. I've got to keep my hand in, I mean, the thing is now only as big as a Basketball so I'm almost through, but still my arm, it's, its-
Its morning and, and I'm on the roof, exactly where I was sitting last night. A dream, I hate dreams, but, Duel Monsters aren't real but- my arm; it's, it's shaking, same one I stuck in the light ball and it's shaking. It's shaking and I can't get it to stop, but why?
…
This sucks, I've got my hands in my pockets but guess what my right hand is still shak-
What the, there's a group of boys and girls crowded in front of my room.
"Can I help any of you?"
Instinctually they all turn their heads towards me and I can hear whispers in the crowd. Plus there's a short old man pushing through the crowd.
"Mr. Rhodes, may I ask where you were last night?" Said the old man, aka Head Master Dewint. I want to say Bryant Park but instead I should go with.
"I fell asleep on the roof last night; I go there sometimes to think."
"Yes well perhaps you should come over here."
I walked past the small Moshe pit and ended at my door way, shocked at what I'm seeing.
My entire room is a mess, even more than usual. My desk has been turned over; my bare mattress is on the floor, with all the sheets around it. The few clothes I have are all on the floor and my Duel Board is lying on its side.
"What the hell happened?"
"We were hoping you could tell us."
"I haven't the faintest idea who would do this." "Yes, well, we'll leave you to yourself. Ok all students the shows over."
That was quick. Oh god, what's going on here? My hands shaking, I'm dreaming about talking cards, there- what's that? There's something sticking out by my closet door… it's a letter and it has my name on it.
"Dear Dragon Boy, meet me at Rat Rock in Central Park at Noon, come alone and bring your deck with you."
…
Even though it's probably a bad idea I've changed into jeans, a white t-shirt, black leather jacket, and dog tags, and I'm on my Duel Board.
Well here I am; one of the oldest rock formations in the city. There isn't a person anywhere near here, except one.
"Why'd you trash my room?"
"Why'd you steal my opponent?"
Wait a minute it's the same stone cold girl from yesterday only this time, she traded in her oversized school uniform for a denim jacket, jeans and a blue t-shirt, that's the same ice cold blue as her eyes.
"What do you mean I stole your opponent, it was completely random and you snuck in anyways!" "Your wrong Scott Truman is a powerful man, he was looking for someone with equal power, that's why I was sent here but for some reason he chose you instead of someone as powerful as me and I want to find out why!"
She's angry, plus she's just turned on her Duel Disk which leaves me with only one option.
"Bring it!"
Mystery Girl
"I summon Draw Fox in ATK Mode" (ATK: 0/DEF: 0).
Chase
"That's it?"
She's stared glaring angrily at me which I assumes meant yes.
"Ok then, I summon Elemental Hero Voltic in ATK Mode (ATK: 1000/DEF: 1500) Now Attack, Voltic Thunder!"
"Sorry, but when Draw Fox is destroyed by battle not only do I not take battle damage but I get to draw2 cards."
I can tell that this is part of her strategy, but still she's showing only one emotion, anger.
"I end my turn."
Mystery Girl
"I summon Fox warrior in ATK Mode (ATK: 900/DEF: 1100) now destroy his Voltic with Fox Xiaolin!"
"Check the numbers your Warrior's 100 points to low."
"Not quite."
Voltic's lightning proved feudal at destroying the tall yellow fox as it went in for the kill.
"When Fox Warrior attacks she gains 1000 attack points. (4000-3100) I set one card face down and end my turn."
Chase
"My Turn, I summon Elemental Hero Stratos in ATK Mode (ATK: 1800/DEF: 300) next I activate his special ability allowing me to add 1 elemental hero from my deck to my hand."
Ok seriously it's like dueling a computer; This girl doesn't change her expression and her duel disk, it's grey and everything is covered by a sheet of metal that has a blinking antenna on the top, the only exposed parts are the slot she put her deck in, her graveyard, and her summon blade. I've never seen anything like it. My duel disk is the school model, which is just the standard duel disk, in gold and black.
"Now Stratos attack Fox Warrior with Stratosphere Storm!"
"Not quite I activate my trap card; Kunai with Chain, which switches your giant blue fan into defense mode and gives Fox Warrior 500 ATK points. (ATK: 900-1400)"
"I set one card face down and it's back to you."
Mystery Girl
I draw and summon Tiny Fox in ATK mode (ATK: 440/DEF: 1100) now destroy his Stratos. Oh yeah and guess what when my fox destroys a monster that monster is taken out of play instead of being sent to the graveyard."
Shit, looks like I've got to put Stratos in my jacket pock- I just figured out how I'm going to win this. Now Fox Warrior attack him directly with chain throw! I set one card face down and end my turn." (3100-700)
Kevin
"I Draw, I play Red Medicine which gives me 500 Life points (Kevin's Life points 700-1200) next I summon Turbo Synchron (Level: 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 500) in ATK mode next I activate the trap card Limit Reverse to bring back an old friend; Welcome back Voltic. Now Turbo Synchron attack Fox Warrior with Turbo speed Fist!"
"What are you doing?"
"Watch closely because now Fox Warrior goes into Defense mode (Kevin's Life points 1200- 200) now thanks to Turbo Synchron's effect I can special summon The Elemental Hero Avian (Level: 3/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000) from my hand in attack mode, now Voltic attack Tiny Fox, Voltic Thunder! (MG Life Points 4000-3440) Now another guest's coming back Elemental Hero Stratos in Attack Mode, next I activate his other special ability, since I have 2 other Hero's on the field he can destroy both your Kunai with Chain and your face down!" The card was Spell Binding circle which could have caused me a lot of trouble.
"Now that my attacks are over I think I'll show you something new; Turbo Synchron do your thing!"
Turbo Synchron revved up his engines and shot like a bullet, when he stopped he turned in to a green circular finish line and a dematerialized Voltic and Avian flew threw (1+3+4=8)
"You want my Dragon; you got my Dragon, I Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon!"(ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000) Stardust Shined from high in the sky waiting for my command to attack.
"I set 2 cards face down, and call it a turn."
Mystery Girl
"You tricked me from turn one, didn't you!"
"Something like that."
"My turn, Draw, it's here, I drew what I need to win."
She says this so quietly that I can barely hear her
"And what may I ask is that?"
"You'll see but first I need to destroy your Stratos." "Not happening! I activate the trap card Pixie Ring, now you can't choose Stratos as an attack target, and also I activate one of my favorites Battle Mania! Now your Fox Warrior has to attack so guess what that means!"
The tall fox leaped into battle hoping to destroy the powerful dragon (ATK: 900-1900).
"Now StarDust Dragon Cosmic Flare!" (MG Life Points 3440- 2840)!"
"The games mine, next turn all I have to do is have Stardust Dragon and Elemental Hero Stratos attack her direct-
Suddenly I've been knocked to the ground but from what I don't know.
"What was that?"
Did I just see the air pulsate?
"What's going on here?"
There are 2 more and I think they're coming from the girl, and it looks like black rays of energy are being emitted from the girl's body as well.
"Quick have us attack," says Stratos, "that girl isn't normal, Fox Warrior must have been sealing this power away and now we've let it out."
The pulsations are now more frequent and more violent with no sign of them stop- something's got me by the leg, it, it looks almost like a shadow! A shadow is pulling me by the leg towards the girl!
Chase
"Quick Stardust Dragon, Stratos attack!"
The 2 monsters are going after the girl, afraid to hurt her, and afraid of what else would come out of her. The Shadows then leapt up, faster than any eye could follow, and grabbed the 2 monsters, tightening there grip, squeezing with a desire to make sure there victims never saw light again. I tried to grab the tentacle but felt my hand go right threw it however my leg still remained trapped. Suddenly more rays of shadow came up and went around my neck, preparing for the kill. As I looked into the tentacle I saw 1000 horrible things, some I had experienced, some I had seen, and some from my worst nightmares. I looked down at the girl who was staring straight at me with the smile of a Demon, licking her lips at the sight of me gasping for air. Oh god I don't know-
"Togda ozornaja lisy vernulis' v noru."
With that I hit the ground, my monsters have vanished, and my opponent now looks like she's… died standing. Her pale skin looks even paler, her hair pin had flown away during her ",episode," leaving what has now turned into a grayish, red color that's over her face, behind which is a face that shows a mind of pure emptiness.
"What the hell was that?"
"Don't worry boy since you would have won last turn anyways let's just say you won."
"A little girl nearly destroyed Central Park and you expect me to just except it!" It was a statement not a question.
The new person in front of me appears to stand at nearly 7 feet tall with long curly black hair that reaches the bottom of her skirt. She's wearing a pair of black round sun glasses that covers a face that appears to be wearing no makeup what so ever and the more I look at her the worse a feeling I get, in other words I feel like a field mouse in front of a tree branch that looks an awful lot like a snake waiting for the right moment to strike.
She reaches into the chest pocket of her suit and pulls out a card which she tosses to me.
"Take this card as an apologize, reward, whatever you want to call it, for entertaining our little Abby, and for keeping your mouth shut."
This is impossible, this card can't exist and all this. "A pleasure meeting you, and an excellent comeback Mr. Rhodes let's not run into each other again," she says as they walk away.
"No way, this isn't over!"
I've got to hurry there almost out of sight.
There gone, all they did was turn behind a tree and there, they're gone.
There's nothing here except for the debris left by the duel, except… there's something in the ground where she was standing.
It's a small key chain, it's says New York City and there's a small logo under it, it looks familiar but I can't remember where it's from.
…Oh crap I hear some people coming and all I need is for people to think I did this.
Winner: Kevin Loser: Abby
…
As Chase walked back to the school an aging man watched him. Rhodes was obviously shaken up and the man had a bad feeling why. With that he took a cell phone out of his pocket, dialed a number, took one last look at the boy and said.
"Arthur it's me, and it's time."
Next time: Chapter 3-To the Tops
I pushed down on the accelerator as fast as I could. Even though going to fast could over heat the board the alternative was worse. Let Sector security catch me and get expelled, lose my chance at figuring all this out, and probably my chance of just about anything else.