Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh GX.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this out. Recently, my life has been rather... hectic. But, regardless, it's here. A quick note first: On the advice of another author, I made some pretty major changes to chapter 3. I recommend you go re-read it, or you'll be completely lost. That being said... on with the fic!
Yu-Gi-Oh GX - A New Duelist Legend
Chapter 4 - Harpie's Hunting Ground
"Owww... what the heck happened?"
A extremely disoriented Jaden attempted to sit up and bumped his head on the thing he was laying under... which happened to be a deck chair.
"Jaden, why are you under my chair?"
The deck chair Bastion had been napping in, to be precise. Jaden slid out from under Bastion's chair and stood up, rubbing his temples. "I don't know. I'll tell you once I stop hurting... I feel like Thunder Nyan Nyan is doing a drum solo in my head."
Bastion sat up, concerned. "Just from bumping your head on my chair?"
Jaden rubbed his temples harder. "Doesn't feel like it... owww..."
"So there you are, Jaden!" Jaden and Bastion turned to the voice, and saw Syrus running around the corner. "You must have picked a really good hiding place! I looked for almost two hours and couldn't find you. Did you get bored of waiting or something?"
"Hiding...?" Jaden said, still rubbing his temples as he sat down on another deck chair. "Why was I hiding?"
Syrus blinked. "Don't you remember? We were playing hide and seek." He turned to Bastion. "What's wrong with Jaden?"
Bastion got up and stretched. "He was complaining of a headache, so perhaps he has suffered some sort of head trauma which is affecting his memory."
"What!" Syrus yelped, "Are you ok, Jaden?"
"Yeah..." Jaden said after a moment, "The headache's getting better already."
"You sure?" Syrus asked, still concerned.
"Of course I'm sure." Jaden said, standing up and grinning. "I'm fine."
"Well, if you're sure..." Syrus started, "Then I believe you!" He finished, smiling back at Jaden.
As he said that, the ship's PA crackled. "All students please report to the front deck. We will be arriving at Academy Island in fifteen minutes. I repeat, All students please report to the front deck. We will be arriving at Academy Island in fifteen minutes."
"Well then, shall we go?" Bastion asked as he walked off.
"Yeah!" Syrus said, following him.
Jaden stayed back for a moment, thinking back, now that his head was a little clearer.
"So, do you want to surrender?" Nightshroud asked the two prone students mockingly.
Jaden struggled to his knees, in agony from the enormous power of the direct attack. "I'm... not... gonna... give... up..."
"Your resolve is admirable, but foolish. You can't win. If you wish to continue, however, I will end..." Before he could finish his sentence. He was interrupted by a ringing sound.
"What? Who on earth..." Nightshroud exclaimed as he pulled a cell phone from his pocket, opened it, and put it to his ear. "What?"
A few moments of mumbled talking followed.
"WHAT!" Nightshroud yelled suddenly, "HOW?"
More mumbled talking.
"That shouldn't have been... yes... very well." Nightshroud sighed, and returned the phone to his pocket. "It seems, children," he said, addressing the kneeling Jaden and Chazz, "That I have more important business to attend to." He shut off his duel disc and the massive dragon vanished. He also gestured with one hand, and the shadows vanished as well. "So I must concede."
Nightshroud walked towards Jaden and Chazz, pulling a syringe out of his pocket. "I will keep my end of the deal and send you back. Just remember, we will meet again. And next time, I hope you provide some small challenge..."
"Was that just a dream...?" Jaden asked, talking to thin air.
"Jaden, you're falling behind!" Syrus yelled.
Jaden shook himself out of his daze, and called back. "I'm coming, Syrus!" As he ran to catch up, he thought to himself, "I need to try and ask Chazz if he remembers. I almost hope he doesn't..."
About an hour later, all the new students were gathered in the auditorium, listening to the end of their official 'welcome speech'.
"Now," Crowler finished, "that I have briefed you on the general rules of Duel Academy, I will give the podium to our esteemed Chancellor for a final note." As he moved aside, a slightly obese, bald man with a small beard walked up to the podium and began speaking.
"Welcome, students, to East Duel Academy!" The man said, "I am Chancellor Sheppard, the, well, chancellor of this esteemed institution!"
A chorus of yawns was the only answer he got from the assembled students. Sweatdropping, he continued. "I realize that it's fairly late in the day, so I'll keep this short. After you leave here, you will report to your dorm. Dorm assignments were handed out before the ship left. Once there, report to your dorm's cafeteria, where you will meet your dorm's headmaster and have your welcome dinner. Your headmaster will lay down the rules for the rest of the evening. Starting tomorrow, you will have a week to get used to the island. During that time, no classes will be held, so feel free to explore, learn where everything is, and mingle with the other students. Now, report to your dorms, and I hope everyone has a great year!"
Outside, Jaden, Syrus, and Bastion, all carrying the bags with their things, were walking together, as, for part of the trip, anyway, the path to Slifer Red also led Ra Yellow.
"Man, that took forever!" Jaden complained. "They could at least given us a drink, or something."
Bastion sweatdropped. "They usually don't give out drinks at school initiation speeches, Jaden."
"I know," Jaden responded, "But still..."
"Besides," said Syrus, "I bet they didn't want to spoil dinner!"
As Syrus and Bastion continued talking, Jaden fell back a few steps, and, rubbing his chin, started thinking. "I never got an opportunity to talk to Chazz... and he's the only one who can tell me wether that really happened or not! Of course... I don't want to think about what it could mean if it did happen..."
His thinking was interrupted by a voice from behind him. "You look like you're pretty deep in thought. You probably shouldn't keep it up for to long, the position doesn't look natural on you."
Jaden turned around, and was greeted by the smirking Tsukanna, who greeted him with a wave. "Hey, Tsukanna!" He said, "Good to see you!"
"Likewise." She said, shifting the weight of the duffel bag on her back.
In front of them, Syrus and Bastion turned around to see where Jaden was. Bastion blinked. "Well who's this?" He asked.
"Tsukanna." The self-identified individual replied as she and Jaden caught up. "Tsukanna Kanshisha."
"Nice to meet you," replied Bastion as the four resumed walking, "I'm Bastion Misawa." He turned to Jaden. "Where did you meet her, Jaden?"
"On the boat." He replied, "I tripped over her."
Bastion blinked, and decided he didn't want to know.
"So," Tsukanna asked, "You're in Ra Yellow?"
"Um... yes." Bastion said after a moment. "I would think the blazer made it obvious."
"That's true." Tsukanna replied. "Still, people, myself included, have a strange tendency to ask questions we already know the answers to."
Bastion blinked again. "That's an accurate observation."
Tsukanna smiled. "Observing is something I'm good at."
After that their conversation got fairly meaningless, and, after a few minutes, Bastion took the offshoot path that led to th Ra Yellow dorms. A few minutes after that, Jaden, Syrus, and Tsukanna came to the fork that separated the paths to the boy's and girl's Slifer dorms. They said their goodbyes, and Syrus and Jaden went one way, while Tsukanna went the other.
"Good evening, students. I'm professor Lyman Banner, headmaster of the Slifer Red boy's dorm." The speaker was a man in his late twenties, with long, slightly spiky black hair, who was wearing glasses, a white dress shirt, and tan pants. "And this is my cat, Pharaoh." The slightly round-looking feline 'meowed'.
"I welcome all of you to Slifer Red!" The professor continued, sitting down at his own table. "Enjoy your welcome dinner, and afterwards, come see me. I'll give you your PDA and room number. Now, dig in!"
"Is this really our welcome dinner?" Jaden asked Syrus.
"It looks like it..." Syrus said, staring forlornly at the fairly cheap-looking meal.
Jaden took a bite and grimaced. "It's not very good..." Then he shrugged. "Oh well, at least there's plenty of it."
With that, Jaden and Syrus dug in.
"Welcome, ladies, to the Slifer Red girl's dorm!" Over in the other Slifer dorm, the shrill-voiced headmistress was introducing herself. "My name is Professor Elizabeth Crane, and I am the headmistress." Professor Crane was a thin woman in her early thirties, and her face looked sharp enough to cut someone by looking at them. She was wearing a white blouse and red skirt that went to her ankles. "Once you finish you dinner, you will sit quietly until I am finished. At that time, I will call you up one at a time to receive your PDA and room assignments." She stalked down the center aisle, still talking. "Just remember, during your time in this dorm, I expect each and every one of you to conduct yourselves in a ladylike manner..."
As she said that, she passed Tsukanna, who didn't appear to be paying much attention. "YOU!" The headmistress shrieked, causing several people in the room to hold their ears, and pointed a Tsukanna "You don't belong here!"
Tsukanna blinked. "I don't?"
"This is the girl's dorm!" The headmistress said, still shrieking Or did all of the girls around not tip you off?"
Tsukanna blinked again. "I am a girl."
"WHAT!"
"See?" Tsukanna said, taking her wallet out of a pocket, opening it, and producing an I.D. card, which clearly labeled her gender as 'female'.
"If you're a girl..." The head mistress started, almost calmly, "WHY ARE YOU WEARING A BOY'S UNIFORM!" She finished with a shriek that seemed like it could shatter glass.
Tsukanna appeared completely unfazed by the professor's volume. "A simple reason." She said, putting her I.D. back in her wallet and replacing her wallet in her pants, "Skirts don't have pockets."
The headmistress looked like she was going to blow a blood vessel. "I'm afraid your opinion isn't a factor. The rules clearly state that all students must wear their appropriate uniform!"
"No it doesn't." Tsukanna replied, "And I quote: 'Official Duel Academy Rulebook, chapter four, section nine, subsection five: All students must wear approved Duel Academy uniforms while on the premises.' It doesn't say anything about wearing the uniform intended for your gender." Tsukanna smirked. "Go look it up is you like."
Professor Crane dashed to the rulebook, flipped to the indicated section, and read. Her face fell, then twisted into an expression of pure rage, all of it directed at the grinning Tsukanna. "You..."
"Don't get angry just because I'm right." Tsukanna said cheekily, "And... I'll make you a deal."
"I'm listening..." Professor Crane responded.
Tsukanna pulled her deck out of one of her pockets. "We'll have a duel, right here, right now. If you win, I'll change to a girl's uniform. If I win, you get off my case. Permanently."
Professor Crane's face twisted into an evil grin. "Just let me get my deck."
As the professor left the room, Tsukanna pulled her Duel Disc out of her bag and attached it to her right arm. As she did, the girl she had been sitting next to tugged on her sleeve. "E-excuse me.." The girl stuttered nervously.
Tsukanna blinked, and looked down at the small, mousy girl, who had brown hair and was wearing large, wire-rimmed glasses. "Yeah?"
"Well..." The mousy girl fidgeted, "Although I... and probably most everyone here, respect you for standing up to her... you really shouldn't duel her."
"Why not?" Tsukanna asked.
"She's a really good duelist!" The mousy girl said, "Really good! And the rules are on your side anyway..."
Tsukanna smirked. "Thanks for the concern, but I'm a pretty good duelist myself. And I really don't want to listen to her screeching at me for the rest of the year."
"O-okay..."
As they finished speaking, Professor Crane came back out of her private office, wearing a duel vest like Crowler's. "Duel Vest on! Are you ready to lose?" She asked, grinning evilly.
"I don't lose." Tsukanna replied. "Duel Disk, on!"
They both drew their starting hands and the duel began.
CLP: 8000
TLP: 8000
"I'll go first!" Professor Crane called as she drew a card, smirked, and played it. "And I summon Harpie Lady 1 in attack mode!" As she placed the card on her disc, a red-haired Harpie wearing purple appeared. She brandished her claws at Tsukanna and screeched. (1300/1400)
"And let's not forget her special ability!" Professor Crane yelled, before Tsukanna interrupted her.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Boosts all Wind monsters on the field by 300. Jeez... why am I not surprised you use a Harpie deck...?"
"Err... that's right." Professor Crane said, caught off guard. A small tornado spun around Harpie Lady 1 for a second, and then dissipated. The Harpie Lady screeched again, and her attack points rose. (1300/1400)–(1600/1400)
"I'll end my turn by placing three cards facedown!" Professor Crane slid the cards into her magic/trap slots, and they appeared on the field behind her Harpie.
"Alright then, my draw!" Tsukanna smirked. "My key card already... how's that for luck? I play a facedown, and then the field spell Necrovalley!" The facedown appeared in front of Tsukanna, and the cafeteria changed into a desert canyon with pyramids in the distance. All the students were sitting on stone benches.
"What happened!" Asked one girl.
"I-it's her field spell..." The mousy girl from earlier stuttered. "And it's powerful... no spell, trap or monster effect that targets anything in any graveyard works, and all Gravekeepers get a 500 point attack bonus.
"Couldn't have said it better myself." Tsukanna said, giving the girl a thumbs-up. The girl blushed.
"It doesn't matter!" Professor Crane yelled, "I activate Dust Tornado!" Her facedown lifted, and a tornado launched out of it. "This trap..."
"I know what it does, I use it too." Tsukanna interrupted, "And I was prepared. I activate a Quick-Play Spell! Big Red Bulls-Eye, do your thing!"
"Big Red what?" Professor Crane yelped.
"Bulls-Eye." Tsukanna cheekily, grinning. "Whenever you choose a target for anything, by simply discarding a card..." She took a card from her hand and placed it in her graveyard. "I can change it's target to any other legal target!"
"Hah!" Professor Crane shouted, "Dust Tornado can only target a card on your side of the field, so you still lose a card!"
Tsukanna smirked. "I said I was expecting something like that, didn't I?" A paintbrush appeared, and painted a bulls-eye on Tsukanna's set card. The tornado twisted it's flight path, and slammed into Tsukanna's set card, which shattered it... but a moment later it reformed facing forward.
"What! What happened?" Professor Crane shrieked.
"Simple." Tsukanna replied. "The card you destroyed was called Gravekeeper's Lure. Whenever an opponent's card effect sends it to the graveyard, I can special summon any monster with 'Gravekeeper's' in it's name from my graveyard."
"Hah!" The headmistress laughed again. "You don't have any monsters in your graveyard!"
Tsukanna wagged her finger at Professor Crane. "I discarded one to use Big Red Bulls-Eye. And, before you object again, this card's effect ignores Necrovalley."
Professor Crane sweatdropped. Apparently she hadn't even thought of that.
"Now," Tsukanna finished, "come on out, Gravekeeper's Curse!" Gravekeeper's Lure shattered, and it reformed into the familiar black-robed, dreadlock wearing, crook wielding gravekeeper. (800/800)–(1300/1300)
"And..." Tsukanna continued, "When he's summoned, you take 500 points of damage!" Gravekeeper's Curse raised his crook, and shot a beam of black energy from the head of it at Professor Crane. The impact knocked her back a step.
CLP: 7500
TLP: 8000
"You'll pay for that..." The headmistress growled, "Your monster's still to weak to defeat my Harpie Lady!"
Tsukanna smirked. "I can fix that. Because I special summoned Curse, I can still normal summon this turn. So, I tribute Gravekeeper's Curse to summon Gravekeeper's Chief in attack mode!" Tsukanna placed the card, Gravekeeper's Curse vanished, and the leader of the Gravekeepers appeared, brandishing his serpent-headed staff. (1900/1200)–(2400/1700)
Professor Crane grimaced.
"And I'm not done!" Tsukanna said, "Due to the effects of Gravekeeper's Chief, not only is my Graveyard no longer affected by Necrovalley, but I get to special summon a Gravekeeper from my graveyard! So, return, Gravekeeper's Curse!" The dreadlocked Gravekeeper mage once again appeared, brandishing his crook. (800/800)–(1300/1300)
"And don't forget his special effect!" Tsukanna smirked. "Gravekeeper's Curse, blast her!" Gravekeeper's Curse once again shot a blast of black energy at Professor Crane, knocking her back again.
CLP: 7000
TLP: 8000
"1000 damage, and my battle phase hasn't even started yet." Tsukanna grinned. "Well, I'll start it with a bang! Gravekeeper's Chief, attack Harpie Lady 1! Grave Spell!"
Off to the sidelines, the mousy girl's heart was pounding. "Could she actually win?"
"I activate a trap!" Professor Crane yelled, and the mousy girl flinched. "Absolute End!"
Tsukanna looked at her quizzically. "Why would you use that?"
"By your comment, I assume you know what it does." The headmistress smirked, "It makes all of your attacks this turn direct attacks on my life points."
"The only reasons to do that," Tsukanna mumbled to herself, "Are to protect your monsters... but her's is fairly weak, so it must be because she wants to take damage... but why..." Her eyes widened as she realized what Professor Crane's other card was. "NO! Gravekeeper's Chief, stop!"
But it was to late. Gravekeeper's Chief had already launched a beam of black energy from his staff. It shot through the air, and slammed Professor Crane in the stomach, knocking her down.
CLP: 4600
TLP: 8000
"Ahahahahahah!" Professor Crane laughed madly. "By your reaction earlier, you probably guessed what y my other facedown is! I activate Damage Condenser!"
Tsukanna flinched.
Professor Crane grinned cruelly. "I'm also guessing you know what it does. I can activate this trap whenever I take battle damage, and it lets me summon any monster in my deck with attack equal or less then the damage I took. Now, come out, Harpie's Pet Dragon!" A tornado appeared on Professor Crane's field, and when it dissipated, there stood a massive red dragon with a chain on it's neck. (2000/2500)
Tsukanna's face was grim. "And by the combination of his effect and Harpie Lady 1's, he gains 600 more attack and 300 more defense points."
"Exactly." Professor Crane said, still grinning cruelly, as the dragon's stats raised. (2000/2500)–(2600/2800)
Tsukanna looked at her cards. "Well, since Absolute End is still in effect, I'll have Gravekeeper's Curse attack you directly." The named Gravekeeper shot a black energy blast, which again bypassed Professor Crane's monsters and struck her in the chest.
CLP: 3600
TLP: 8000
"I end my turn."
"Excellent! I draw!" Professor Crane cackled as she added her new card to her hand. She cackled again. "I start this turn off by playing a powerful spell card called Gathering of the Harpies!"
Tsukanna's eyes narrowed.
"First, on the turn I activate this card, I can't normal summon, set, or special summon any monsters other then by this card's effect. Then I pay 1000 life points."
CLP: 2600
TLP: 8000
"Now, this card lets me summon any number of cards from my hand, deck or graveyard that are named Harpie Lady! So, I summon two more Harpie Lady 1s!" Next to the first Harpie, two identical duplicates of it appeared, and they screeched. (1300/1400)x2–(1600/1400)x2
"And the combination of their effects will boost all of my Wind monsters' attack by 600, and their mere presence boosts Harpie's Pet Dragon Attack and Defense by another 600!" All of the students watched in horror as all of Professor Crane's monsters climbed to absurd heights of power. (1600/1400)x3–(2200/1400)x3, (2600/2800)–(3800/3400)
"There's nothing you can do to stand against my monsters!" Professor Crane shouted, "Harpie's Pet Dragon, attack Gravekeeper's Chief with Blazing Flame Breath!" The massive dragon breathed a torrent of fire at Gravekeeper's Chief, who stood without flinching. When the fire receded, Gravekeeper's Chief was standing untouched and glowing black. Gravekeeper's Curse was glowing also. Despite the untouched state of her monsters, Tsukanna's Life Points still took a hit.
CLP: 2600
TLP: 6600
"What happened? Why isn't your monster destroyed?" Professor Crane yelled.
"Simple." Tsukanna replied, gesturing at her graveyard. "I discarded Charm of Shabti. I can discard it from my hand to make all battle damage my Gravekeepers suffer until the end phase of the current turn zero. I still take damage, but my monsters survive."
Professor Crane growled. "Fine! My three Harpie Ladies attack Gravekeeper's Curse!" The three harpies all launched a sonic scream at Gravekeeper's Curse. The monster ignored them, but Tsukanna doubled over in pain and clutched her ears.
CLP: 2600
TLP: 3600
"I end my turn. There's no way you can recover!"
Before she drew her card, Tsukanna heard a noise. Looking over, she saw that the mousey girl from earlier was shaking, and on the verge of tears. She looked around the room, and everywhere she saw other signs. Everyone in the room was deathly afraid that the headmistress would win, and they were all certain she was going to.
"Well?" Professor Crane said, irritated, "Are you going to draw, or forfeit?"
"Neither, at the moment." Tsukanna said. "Before we continue, I'd like to change the wager I made." The mousy girl looked up, astonishment and betrayal in her eyes.
"What makes you think I'll let you weasel out of it?" The headmistress asked scornfully.
"I'm not trying to." Tsukanna replied. "The new wager is this: If I win, you quit your job at Duel Academy. You'll no longer be the headmistress of this dorm."
"WHAT!"
"I'm not done." Tsukanna said calmly. "If you win, I'll do whatever you say to make me the perfect 'lady' for the rest of the year."
Professor Crane froze for a moment. She looked at the field. Then at her hand. "Anything?" She asked.
Tsukanna nodded. "Anything."
Professor Crane smiled, a fierce, sadistic grin on her face. "I accept. You'll look wonderful in a skirt, with that tangle of hair combed out, a little makeup and a more feminine deck, instead of those nasty Gravekeepers. Of course, I'll also have to squash that sassy attitude of yours!"
The mousy girl's expression, and the atmosphere of the whole room, changed. This time, Tsukanna could see hope, albeit one that those hoping thought was impossible.
"We'll see." Tsukanna drew a card, and immediately placed it on her Duel Disk. I activate Pot of Greed." The familiar green pot appeared on the field, and Tsukanna drew two cards before the pot shattered.
"I play a monster facedown in defense mode. Then I switch my Gravekeeper's Curse to defense mode. I'll also set two cards." Gravekeeper's Curse crouched behind it's crook, and then three facedowns appeared, one to his left and two behind him.
"Next," Tsukanna continued, "I'll play Poison of the Old Man. This card lets me either gain 1200 life points or deal 800 damage to you, and I chose to have you take 800." An old man in brown robes holding a vial of purple liquid and a vial of green liquid appeared. He floated over to Professor Crane, and forced the contents of the purple vial down her throat before disappearing.
CLP: 1600
TLP: 3600
Professor Crane coughed for several seconds. "That tasted disgusting!"
"Now," Tsukanna said, a determined look on her face, "Gravekeeper's Chief, attack one of those Harpie Ladies."
Gravekeeper's Chief chanted, and launched a black energy beam at one of the Harpie Ladies. It shattered, and Professor Crane's life points dropped.
CLP: 1400
TLP: 3600
"In addition to the Life Point damage, your monsters are now weakened." As Tsukanna spoke, the loss of the Harpie was dispiriting all the others, and their stats fell. (2200/1400)x2–(1900/1400)x2, (3800/3400)–(3200/3100)
"I end my turn." Tsukanna finished, her expression not wavering on bit.
"I draw!" Professor Crane looked at the card she drew , then at another card in her hand. "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! You may have done some damage last turn, but it doesn't matter! I play the spell card Harpie's Vengeance Ritual!" The two Harpies on her field surrounded Harpies Pet Dragon and began to chant.
"Harpie's Vengeance Ritual..." Professor Crane continued, "Prevents me from summoning again this turn, can only be played when I have at least one Harpie Lady on my field, and at least one more in my graveyard. It allows me to tribute Harpie's Pet Dragon to summon my ultimate monster! Meet HARPIE'S VENGEANCE DRAGON!" As the harpies finished their chant, the Dragon grew to massive proportions. The chain around it's neck broke, it's skin turned black, and it's eyes turned red. Massive red spines grew out of it's back, and strange red symbols appeared all over it's body. (3000/1500)
Tsukanna didn't react to the massive dragon at all.
"Hahahaha! It appears the sight of my dragon has frozen you with fear!" Professor Crane laughed madly. "Well it's not done yet! Harpie's Vengeance Dragon–"
"Gains 800 attack points for each Harpie Lady on your field and 500 for each one in your graveyard. In sync with your harpies' abilities, it has a grand total of 5900 attack points. Also, as long as there's a Harpie Lady in play or in your graveyard, it can't be targeted by spell of trap cards. Lastly, it has a trample effect, so it does damage to monsters in defense mode." Tsukanna finished for the headmistress, her voice not shifting at all. "I'm familiar with it. Now finish your turn." As Tsukanna spoke, the Dragon roared, and it's stats skyrocketed. (5900/1500)
Despite herself, Professor Crane was impressed. "She's facing down an invincible monster with 5500 attack points, and she's not even quivering." She grinned sadistically. "Oh well. I need to break her spirit to make her a lady, and now's as good a time as any to start!"
"Harpie's Vengeance Dragon!" The headmistress called, "Attack Gravekeeper's Curse with Vengeance Flame Blast!"
"I activate a trap." Tsukanna said, her voice still not shifting.
"Did you forget? Harpie's Vengeance Dragon is immune to traps!" Professor Crane retorted.
"It doesn't target the dragon. I activate Shift, which changes the target of your attack to my facedown monster."
Before the fire hit, the mousy girl in the sidelines covered her eyes.
The stream of fire bent in midair, splashing down on Tsukanna's facedown monster, which flipped up briefly before shattering. The fire went past the card and slammed into Tsukanna, sending her flying through the air, and reducing her life points to almost nothing.
CLP: 1400
TLP: 100
"What! How did you survive?" Professor Crane shrieked.
Tsukanna got up and picked a card up off her disc, and showed it to the headmistress. "The monster I redirected your attack to was Gravekeeper's Guard. It's normal defense is 1900, but it was boosted to 2400 by my Necrovalley. 5900 minus 2400 is 3500, 100 less then my life points."
"Grrr... I'll get you next turn."
"You won't get another turn. Gravekeeper's Guard has a flip effect. It returns one monster on the field to it's owner's hand."
"NO!" Professor Crane shouted.
Tsukanna pointed, still stone-faced. "I choose Harpie's Vengeance Dragon."
"NO!" Professor Crane shrieked again, as Harpie's Vengeance Dragon dissolved in a shower of light.
"Finish your turn." Tsukanna said.
Professor Crane gritted her teeth. "I'll have one of my Harpies destroy your Gravekeeper's Curse." The harpy shot another sonic scream, which shattered the crouching Gravekeeper. Tsukanna still didn't react.
Professor Crane grimaced. "I end my turn."
Tsukanna drew a card, which she played without even looking at. "I play Gravekeeper's Cannonholder in attack mode." In front of her, another black-robed Gravekeeper appeared, this one crouching with an antique cannon over it's shoulder. (1400/1200)–(1900/1700)
Professor Crane snorted. "What can that do?"
"You'll see." Tsukanna replied. "I activate my final trap - Rite of Spirit. This allows me to special summon a Gravekeeper from my Graveyard. I choose Gravekeeper's Guard." The portly, staff-wielding gravekeeper rose onto the field and bowed to Gravekeeper's Chief. (1000/1900)–(1500/2400)
Professor Crane sneered. "I would have hoped you would have summoned that Curse of yours. At least you could have said you got me down to less then a thousand Life Points before I finish you."
"It wouldn't have mattered." Tsukanna responded. "I tribute Gravekeeper's Chief and Gravekeeper's Guard fot the special effect of Gravekeeper's Cannonholder. For each Gravekeeper I tribute to his effect, you take 700 points of damage."
"NO!" Professor Crane shrieked.
"Gravekeeper's Cannonholder, Cannonball Blast Barrage." Gravekeeper's Chief and Gravekeeper's Guard both melted into light, which flowed into the Cannonholder's cannon. Gravekeeper's Cannonholder fired twice, both cannonballs slamming into Professor Crane, knocking her over and depleting the last of her life points.
CLP: 0
TLP: 100
Necrovalley faded as Tsukanna deactivated her duel disc, took it off, and replaced her deck in her pocket. She then walked over to Professor Crane, who was kneeling on the floor in shock.
"You lose. According to our wager, you must now resign your post here at Duel Academy."
"No..." Professor Crane said, her face and voice contorted by rage, "You little bitch, you were just lucky!"
"I was not just lucky." Tsukanna replied, her face stone. "From the moment we made our wager, your defeat was inevitable."
"How–" Professor Crane's words cut off with a strangled croak. For just a second, a curtain of black had flowed across Tsukanna's eyes.
"AHHHHH!" Professor Crane screamed, tore off her duel vest, and ran out the door and into the night.
The assembled Slifer Red girls had watched the whole exchange in shocked silence. They continued to watch as Tsukanna gathered up Crane's dropped deck, and tossed it down the garbage chute in the wall.
Tsukanna then continued to Crane's former table, and looked at a sheet of paper on it, running her finger it down for a moment. Having found what she was looking for, Tsukanna grabbed a PDA from the box next to the former Professor's chair. That done, she finally spoke. "I suggest you all look at your room assignments and get PDAs yourselves. I doubt she'll be back to help." With that, Tsukanna walked out of the room. No one moved or spoke for several minutes.
About an hour later, Tsukanna was in her room, laying on the bottom bunk, and just staring up at the bunk above her, when the door opened. "E-excuse me..."
Tsukanna looked up to see who had opened the door. "You're the girl from before..."
The small, mousy girl gulped and walked into the room, holding her duffel in one hand and a paper bag in the other. "M-my name's R-rita. Rita Anzem. Ac-ccording to the sheet we're.. roommates... If that's ok that's ok with you..."
Tsukanna smiled tiredly. "Of course it's ok. Come in."
Rita started, as if the answer had been unexpected. "R-right!" She walked in, closed the door, and set her duffel on the floor. Then, she offered the paper bag to Tsukanna. "When I saw we were roommates, I, well, got you some food. It's cold... but... you never got a chance to eat..."
Tsukanna smiled tiredly again, "Thank you. Cold food is fine."
"R-right! You're welcome!" Rita responded, jumping slightly.
Tsukanna ate in silence, with Rita watching her carefully. Tsukanna finished the food, and, with a sigh, put the plate on the floor. "That hit the spot. Thanks again, Rita."
"O-oh! You're welcome again!"
"I'm gonna go get changed for bed." Tsukanna said, walking into the bathroom.
Rita sat and fidgeted for a minute, then picked up the paper bag, paper plate, and plastic silverware, and threw them in the trash, before sitting down and fidgeting until Tsukanna came back out, wearing a long nightshirt.
Tsukanna walked over and sat down on the bed. "Sorry I'm not at my most energetic." She said, "That duel took a lot out of me. I like my duels to be fun... and that definitely wasn't fun. I'm gonna go the sleep now. Thanks again for the food." Tsukanna's bells jingled as her head hit the pillow, and, within moments, she was fast asleep.
Rita sat for a moment, blinking. "She has really weird hair."
Hours later, in the middle of the forest, Professor Elizabeth Crane was finally to tired to run anymore. Panting, she sat against a tree. "That little bitch... I'm going to get her..."
"Heh. Not likely." A feminine voice emanated from a shadowed figure which had appeared suddenly in front of the former professor.
"What!" Crane said, panicking, "W-who are you?"
"That duel was pretty pathetic, but such rage as yours might be useful..." The figure continued.
"W-what are you talking about?"
"You'll see." The figure responded.
A single, shrill scream pierced the night, before all was ruled by silence.
New Cards:
Big Red Bulls-Eye
Quick-Play Spell
You may activate this card when your opponent chooses one or more target(s). Discard a card from your hand to shift those target(s) to any other legal target(s).
Image: A Goblin Calligrapher painting a bulls-eye on a sleeping Cave Dragon.
Gravekeeper's Lure
Normal Trap
When this card is destroyed and sent to the graveyard by as part of an opponent's effect, you may select 1 Monster that includes "Gravekeeper's" in it's card name and from your Graveyard and Special Summon it. This card's activation and effect are unaffected by "Necrovalley".
Image: Freed the Brave Wanderer charging to attack a dummy wearing a Gravekeeper's robe, with a Gravekeeper's Assailant hiding in a trench behind it.
Gathering of the Harpies
Normal Spell
Pay 1000 life points to activate this card. During the turn you activate this card, you may not Normal Summon, Set, or Special Summon a monster. Special Summon any number of monsters named "Harpie Lady" from your hand, deck or graveyard.
Image: Harpie Lady Sisters diving to attack Freed the Matchless General.
Harpie's Vengeance Ritual
Normal Spell
You may only activate this card when a "Harpie Lady" exists on your field, an another one exists in your graveyard. During the turn you activate this card, you may not Normal Summon, Set, or Special Summon a monster. Tribute 1 "Harpie's Pet Dragon" on your field to Special Summon 1 "Harpie's Vengeance Dragon" from your hand.
Image: A slain Harpie Lady, with two others nearby, chanting in front of a Harpie's Pet Dragon.
Harpie's Vengeance Dragon
Wind, Effect Monster - Dragon, Level 10, 3000/1500
The ultimate weapon of the Harpies, this monster is only called upon to avenge their slain kin. This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card cannot be special summoned except by the effect of "Harpie's Vengeance Ritual". This card gains 800 ATK for each "Harpie Lady" on your field, and 400 ATK for each "Harpie Lady" in your graveyard. As long a "Harpie Lady" exists on your field or in your graveyard, this monster cannot be targeted by spell or trap effects. When this card attacks with an ATK that is higher then the DEF of your opponent's Defense Position monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent's life points.
Image: A giant black Harpie's Pet Dragon with no chain on it's neck, red eyes, red spines on it's back and neck, and red symbols all over it's body.
Next time: An innocent (partially) midnight romp explodes into a fearsome duel! It's the queen of Obelisk Blue versus the newbie of Slifer Red! Don't miss "Maiden of the Moonlight"