Opening Notes; Something I forgot to mention before, that Avenger Knight mention I made last chapter? I absolutely hated that damn thing lol. It kicked my ass when I first ran into it during my first foray into the Persona world, and let's not even get started on Yukiko's Shadow. It was sheer luck when I finally got out of that castle. Victory was all the sweeter though, as you can imagine, but my trouble only began, as I found out later. Turned out, I sucked at the time management side of Persona 4, trying to navigate high school and Yu's social links lol. Even so, like any good gamer, I eventually beat Persona 4, and that was a happy day for me lol.
That aside, this is the semi-final match, and things are going to become far more interesting if I play my cards right. Let's duel!
Possible, slight trigger warning in this chapter. Just warning you guys ahead of time. I can't say exactly what it is without spoiling it though, since it's important given the circumstances that will unfold themselves here. Still, thought I'd at least warn you guys before you stumbled across it and complain later lol. Seriously though, you've been warned.
"Alright duel fans, you all know what's next. The Semi-Finals have started, and the first round goes to Nanako Dojima, who won her last round with a spectacular combo of Archlord Kristya, the Silver Bow and Arrow, and Sanctuary in the Sky against Yuuta and his unstoppable Neo Featherman. What new power play will we see today against the Shadow Duelist, Sam Tywell? Stay tuned duel fans!" Rise put down the mic and leveled her gaze on the field as the two duelists took their respective positions at either end of the arena. She didn't like this, pitting Nanako against a confirmed Shadow wielder, duelist or not, but Rise knew Nanako wasn't about to back down. And while Yu didn't like it either, he had made a valid argument for this fight to continue. Nanako knew what she was getting into, having seen the other world herself when Namatame kidnapped her, but that didn't stop the former pop idol from worrying. If she lost, chances were good the sweet ten year old girl would be lost forever if Yu didn't beat Sam's ass himself. Rise didn't even want to consider what might happen if Sam beat him as well, walking away with more than another tournament win under his belt.
There was nothing she could do about it now anyway. They were already in position, and Rise and the others were busy handling the crowd if any Shadows decided to pop up around the arena rather than within its confines. They had no idea what Sam was truly capable of if pushed into a corner, so all she and the others could do was protect the innocent bystanders if the worst should happen and he revealed more than a few Shadows in his deck. Even if she couldn't use Kanzeon without being in the Midnight Channel, Rise could still see the beautiful Persona as the spectral woman appeared on her right side in the announcer's booth. She is safe, Mistress. Nanako will not fall this day.
I hope so Kanzeon. Rise thought back, taking strength from her 'other half', her soul given form. She really hoped this turned out well, because the consequences were too terrifying to consider otherwise.
Yu meanwhile silently watched the two duelists prepare themselves for one of the final matches of the day. Nanako was once again standing on her side of the field, her eyes closed, and her face set in a visage he had started to recognize as silent determination. While he doubted that she truly understood the enormous danger she had willingly placed herself in, he couldn't deny the fact that she looked ready to take on anything Sam threw her way. Besides, something in his own heart told him that even if Sam went all out, Nanako would weather the storm. Part of it was his own belief in her abilities as a capable duelist, but his mind flashed back to the spectral image he had seen hovering over the young girl. It had looked vaguely familiar, but he hadn't had enough time to determine anything about it other than it was there before it had disappeared.
It begins. Looking over his own shoulder, Yu met Izanagi-No-Okami's four red eyed gaze with a silent nod of his head. Nanako is far stronger than you know. He wasn't about to argue with the 'God' over his shoulder, but Izanagi's words left Yu wondering if there was more to the Persona's comment than he let on before his Persona disappeared. Whatever the case, this was it.
Nanako looked to her right and saw, much to her hidden relief, that her friends and family were still there. She understood better than Rise or Yu guessed what she had signed up for, but she wasn't afraid. Everyone was here, cheering her on, and keeping everyone safe was what her Big Brother did best. Besides, she knew she'd be fine. How she knew that, Nanako couldn't say, only that staring up into Sam's face as she was now, across the field as he was, held no fear for her despite what he had done to his last opponent. She should have been terrified to face someone like him, but she had stared into evil before, and Sam held no power over her now.
Sam merely smirked, straightened his tie, and ran his thumb over the white rose he kept in his vest pocket. "Guess they ran out of real duelists, now they send me kids barely in grade school. Fine, as a descendent and one of the last survivors of the White Rose Duelists, you won't walk out of this arena. Prepare yourself for the end, little girl."
(For added effect, play Persona 4; I'll Face Myself. Regular or extended works fine.)
"You're the only one who will lose today." Nanako shot back as she drew her first five cards before drawing a sixth. She looked at her hand for several long seconds before finally putting down a trap card, Waboku, and a monster card. "There." Marshmallon, I know you'll protect me. She looked up to Sam, and nodded her head to show she was done this turn.
Nanako 2000 LP. 4 cards in hand, 1 monster face down, one magic card face down
"Is that all the baby duelist can manage? Fine, I'll make this quick." Sam chuckled darkly before putting down a monster of his own before his lips pulled up into a malicious grin. "I saw how you defeated that brat in your last duel, so I'm willing to bet that card you have face down is that annoying marshmallow, which means I won't be attacking it if I don't want to lose an arm. What I will be doing is making you regret stepping into my arena, girl. Behold! The Field Spell, Midnight Hour! With this card, the game becomes far more than a collection of holographic representations!" Slapping the Field Spell card down, Sam cackled as a dense white fog started to rise from his side of the field before it quickly swept over the entire stadium. "My Shadows are empowered by the fog, making their attacks very real, and the effects on you will be the same as they were on the last pathetic duelist! As I told you before, girl, you won't be walking out of here today!"
Holding her arm over her mouth, Nanako coughed as the draining fog swept over her, but she stood her ground before slowly lowering her hand. Besides tasting funny, it didn't have any effect on her, not like last time. She looked around after realizing this, but took a sharp intake of breath when her mind caught up with what her eyes were telling her. Other than Big Bro and their friends, no one else was moving in the slightest. It was as if the entire world had been frozen. "What did you do?!" Nanako shouted, her eyes having fallen on her father's face, which was also frozen, the color leached out of him as well as everyone around him that didn't number those that had saved her two years ago.
Sam was all too happy to gloat about the power he had unleashed upon them all. "It's rather quite simple, but I'll try and use small words so you can understand. It's a combination of another realm, much like the Midnight Channel, and the Dark Hour an annoying bunch of brats that called themselves SEES investigated a few years back. The Midnight Hour freezes the world around us, sealing us within a pocket dimension until the duel is over. Here, the rules of the game change, as you're about to find out. Make your move girl, and make it count."
Nanako 2000 LP. 4 cards in hand, 1 monster face down, one magic card face down
Sam 2000 LP. 4 cards in hand, 1 monster face down, one magic card face down
"I'm not a baby anymore." Nanako muttered, her small brown eyes narrowing in anger at what Sam had done to everyone else in the crowd. "I set another card face down, and then I summon Dancing Fairy, in attack mode!" Dancing Fairy 1700 ATK / 1000 DEF. Another card appeared beside her first one, and then, her summoned monster appeared on the field. A pink flower sprouted on her side of the field, which quickly unfolded its petals, revealing three small fairies with wings of translucent gossamer rapidly flapping behind them. All three fairies appeared to be just as young, if not younger, than Nanako herself, but like most Fairy type monsters, underneath the cute veneer, they contained great power. "Go, attack his face down monster, Fairy Wind Trinity!"
"FOOL! You attacked the wrong monster! Arise, Laughing Table!" Sam gleefully cried out as he flipped over the targeted monster, revealing the effect his Shadow had as it materialized on the field. "It can't be destroyed in battle, so you just wasted your attack girl!" Laughing Table ATK 0 / DEF 0 A simple, unadorned wooden table appeared on Sam's side of the field. Several items, a spoon, a pan, a pot, and a candle stick holder, floated around the top of the table, guided by an invisible hand, while the table itself was covered by a white cloth with a masked face hanging over the edge facing Nanako.
Dancing Fairy, 1700 ATK / 1000 DEF vs Laughing Table 0 ATK / 0 DEF
"Check again Sam!" Nanako shouted back, and couldn't help her own grin of satisfaction as Sam's Laughing Table exploded in a shower of wood splinters when her monster's wind based attack slammed into the Shadow. "You might not lose any life points, but your monster is still destroyed!"
"Perhaps, but your Dancing Fairy loses her effect." Sam countered, seemingly unfazed by the loss of his defensive creature. "And it gets worse! Go my Shadows! Consume the crowd!' It was then that Nanako noticed about the same time her friends did that dozens of black, oily portals started to appear all over the stadium. Worse yet, Shadows of various shapes and sizes started to pour out of the holes in reality, allowing the creatures to fly towards her Big Bro and those that stood beside him.
Nanako 2000 LP. 1 face up monster, 1 face down monster, 2 face down magic cards
Sam 2000 LP. 1 face down magic card
They were ready however, much to Sam's shock, despite having known they had survived countless battles beforehand.
"PERSONA!" They shouted as one, before they unleashed an array of devastating attacks against the horde that had descended upon them. Bursts of fire, ice shards, windstorms, lightning, light and darkness, and more tore through the monsters, clearing the air almost as quickly as they appeared.
"We got this Nanako! Finish that bastard off quickly!" Yu shouted before turning his gray eyes upon another Table, before holding his hand out before him. "Izanagi-No-Okami!" With that simple declaration, his 'soul', his Persona formed, and raised the double bladed naginata like weapon before its chest before dashing by the simple Shadow. It shattered, leaving nothing behind as Yu's Persona sought out more targets. He found them moments later, and once again, raised his hand and pointed at the group before a furious burst of blue lightning rained down upon them, leaving nothing but ashes behind from the sheer force of the attack.
"Show that freak who's boss Nana-chan!" Yosuke said before leveling an ear to ear grin at another handful of Shadows before him. "Let's do this, Susano-O!" Throwing the giant saw blade his pale green and orange clad Persona held around its waist forward, the Magician generated a massive cutting windstorm against the gathered horde, cutting down anything stupid enough to get in its way.
"We're right here with ya kiddo." Labrys called out, having since lost her illusionary disguise now that battle had been joined. Pulling a collapsible, giant battle ax from a hidden sheath, the Anti-Shadow Suppression weapon charged into the fray, her own powerful Persona hot on her heels. She was a blur as she brought her massive axe to bear against one opponent after another.
Nanako had long since gotten the point, and turned her gaze back to the other side of the arena, where Sam was staring aghast at the power her friends were unleashing upon his creatures. "You picked the wrong people to attack Sam Tywell!" She cried out, gaining Sam's undivided attention as she pointed an accusatory finger in his direction.
He grunted in annoyance, but regained his calm as he prepared to make his move. "On the contrary girl, this is exactly what I was asked to do, by someone a lot more formidable than your pathetic friends. But you won't be around long enough to see what happens next." Sam stated before he drew a card and prepared for his next assault. "And this will mark the beginning of the end for you girl. I special summon a monster. Claim your next victim! Avenge your brethren, Avenger Knight!" Avenger Knight 1700 ATK / 1000 DEF Once more, the fiendish warrior and its armored horse appeared on the field, towering over the young girl and her Dancing Fairy. "Destroy that pesky Marshmallon! Skewer!" The horse reared up on its hind legs before its masked rider charged across the field, its lances poised to carry out its master's command.
Avenger Knight 1700 ATK / 1000 DEF vs Marshmallon 300 ATK / 500 DEF
"Not this time!" Nanako shouted back before flipping over her trap card. Three women in pale blue robes appeared in front of her face down monster, defending Marshmallon from the Avenger Knight's no doubt powerful effect. The only reason Sam would target him is if he had a way to destroy the monster, and that she couldn't allow as the Avenger Knight was repelled and forced back to his side of the field.
"Tsk, not bad brat, but you can't hide behind that trick twice." Sam growled before finishing his move by summoning a second monster. With his battle step over, he couldn't attack again, but the same couldn't be said for later. "Monopolizing Cupid, in attack mode." Like most of Sam's monsters, the Cupid he had just summoned was a corrupted version of Nanako's Fairy Archer. The only thing it had in common was its small size and the fact it had wings, otherwise, it was about as ugly as the rest of the Shadows he had so far called forth. Monopolizing Cupid 1500 ATK / 800 DEF
Nanako 2000 LP. 1 face up monster, 1 face down monster, 1 face down magic card
Sam 2000 LP. 2 face up monster, 1 face down magic card
Just as Nanako started to draw again, something caught her attention from the corner of her eye. There, standing next to her, was a Shadow, hovering at eye level. She froze, the first shred of fear finally overcoming her. The monster was shaped like a ball, covered in black stripes over pink skin, wearing a red mask over its face. Just as the floating monster, with its long, drool covered tongue opened its mouth wide to take a bite out of her, a single gunshot rang out across the stadium, popping the Shadow into a harmless cloud of black smoke. Once the smoke cleared, Nanako gasped in delight to see Naoto, her revolver held aloft, its barrel smoking. "Finish the fight Nanako-chan. We are right here with you."
Before she could shout out towards one of her dear friends however, a new voice caught her attention. "But will they always be there for you?" Once more, Nanako froze like a deer in headlights when she turned her head back to the front, only to stumble back in shock when she was met with a sight that she wasn't prepared for. Falling on her butt on the edge of the platform that was still several feet above the ground, Nanako's brown eyes were riveted to the near perfect doppelganger….of herself. The only difference was the glowing yellow eyes it possessed, which were staring right at her. "They will leave you, you know that. Even Daddy will leave you one day. He can't protect you forever. None of them can. Everyone….will leave you….just like mommy."
"Guys! Sensei! There's a Shadow by Nanako-chan! Her suppressed emotions are on display!" Teddie yelped, before giving a startled cry when another orb like Shadow almost took his head off as it flew by. A timely fall backward saved him, allowing him time to summon his own considerable power. "Grrrr! Take that, and this!" Teddie growled out before freezing the offending creature in its tracks, as well as several others that had gathered around it. All of them fell to the floor, shattering into thousands of pieces.
"No...this is all wrong! Nanako-chan!" Yu called out, but from the look on her face, she was too focused on her 'Other Self' to notice anything around her. The fact they were fighting Shadows outside of the Midnight Channel was bad enough, but now his cousin was staring into the eyes of her darker self? The last time she had been in the other world, she hadn't had to confront her suppressed emotions, most likely because she had been held hostage by Namatame, and thus had been too focused on that to allow her innermost thoughts a chance to escape. Even so, what was happening now shouldn't have been possible, yet the proof was there for him to see, and it seemed she was about to be put through emotional Hell if he didn't do something soon. But Sam's attack on the stadium made it impossible to get close. Like they were purposely…. Like they were purposely keeping them away from her! Yu gasped at the realization, and had to jump backward gracefully as a sword wielding creature tried to cut him in two. "GET OUTTA MY WAY!" Yu roared before his Persona cut the monster down, only for it to be replaced by three more. "Damn it!"
"They're certainly persistent, the bastards!" Kanji growled, having since picked up a chair, which he then proceeded to use as a makeshift weapon against anything that his Persona, the robotic, flame covered Emperor, Rukoten Maoh, didn't smash apart on his own. "You want a piece of us, well come on!" Kanji roared before throwing his chair at one Shadow, shattering it. He followed that by jumping into the air, catching his chosen weapon before he brought it down hard on a second. "I can do this all day!"
The young girl on the platform was oblivious to all of this. "You're wrong….you're just trying to confuse me." Nanako stuttered, her confidence gone at this unexpected turn. She knew what this was, having been told about it by Yu and the others during the days before the tournament after she told them she had wanted to know everything. But knowing and experiencing it for herself were very different things. Mustering what courage she had left, Nanako forced herself to stare down her Shadow. "They will never leave me. They won't abandon me."
"They will and you know it, deep down inside. If they don't leave you willingly, they'll either move away because they have to, or they'll go away like mommy did. They'll die….leaving you alone in this world." Her Shadow stated, and took a step closer, forcing Nanako back a step.
"No...no I won't listen! You don't know that!" Nanako shook her head rapidly from side to side, her pigtails flying.
"Nana-chan! We would never leave you! We would never abandon you!" Yukiko cried out before narrowing her eyes as several more Shadows rose up to block her path. "Stand aside!" The white garbed Priestess, Amaterasu, appeared behind the young woman, and the next moment, another firestorm erupted before her.
"She's right Nanako-chan! We've come too far to just up and disappear on ya!" Chie shouted out, her right foot leading as she kicked aside one monster before slamming her bare fist into a second. Suzuka Gongen was right behind her, her double naginata spinning gracefully around her as the Chariot Persona kept pace with her host.
"I know what you fear….what you're too afraid to admit aloud. You miss mommy, and you're terrified of being alone like that again. Of being left in the rain, standing on the side of the road the day your mommy was ran down."
"Stop it!" Nanako cried out, her hands over her ears as she tried to block out what her 'Other Self' was saying.
"Why don't you make it easy on yourself and go to her now? Avoid the pain altogether? All you have to do is jump….and know nothing more." Her Shadow looked to the edge they were standing on, and even held out a hand to Nanako. "You wouldn't have to be alone anymore. Your mommy's waiting, all you have to do is take one little step. I know… I know it all….because I'm you."
"Nanako!' Rise yelled into the microphone, an impenetrable force field having sprung up around her, courtesy of Kanzeon, which several more monsters were currently throwing themselves against to no avail. The pop idol didn't hesitate as Nanako jerked her head towards the booth, if only for an instant. It was enough for her as Rise continued. "We're doing everything we can to make sure you aren't left alone again! I promise, we'll never leave you! We'll always find a way!"
(Play Persona 4; I'll Face Myself, 2nd Version.)
They'll always….find a way. Rise's words echoed in her ears, and Nanako slowly started to realize how stupid she had been. Of course they would never abandon her, never leave her side. They had grown too close for that to happen. Looking at the offered limb, Nanako turned to regard her Shadow, before forcing herself to stand. She shook her head slowly, and ignored the tears that were running down her face as she met her Shadow's glowing eyes. "No….I'd rather live….I'd rather risk the pain of being alone than leaving my Big Bro, my daddy, and everyone who loves me behind like that. I won't take the easy way out." She looked down at her feet, but her voice slowly started to gain strength as the words poured from the depths of her soul. "I am afraid of being alone again, of losing everyone I care about, but I have so many friends now, so many people who care about me, and I love them all. Daddy, Big Bro, Big Sis, Rise, Chie, Teddie, Yosuke, Kanji, Yuuta, Daisuke, Kou, and so many more! They might move away, they might be forced to leave….like mommy, but as long as I don't forget them, they will always be a part of me." Snapping her head up, Nanako met her Shadow's gaze again, her brown eyes alight with newfound strength. "I know what you are….and you're me."
Her 'Other Self' nodded her head as a single tear rolled down her face before disappearing in a flash of light, which quickly enveloped the real Nanako Dojima. Power flooded her small body, drawing the attention of Shadow and Persona user alike as it radiated outward, like a beacon in the darkness. The Shadows forgot all about the rest of the crowd as they turned towards the dueling arena and started to converge on the little girl, but they were far too late because just as they reached her, they were repelled by a wave of light.
"Whoa…." Yosuke stuttered, blinded by the light Nanako was giving off. "She's...she's awakening!"
"She earned her Persona without denying her true feelings! This is beary amazing!" Teddie exclaimed, his blue eyes as wide as saucers at the realization.
"She's certainly an amazing kid, eh Senpai?" Kanji asked Yu, a giant grin on his face, unable to tear his gaze away from the power Nanako was in the process of unleashing.
"Nanako….whatever happens from here, you will never be alone again." Yu promised, having missed Kanji's comment entirely. His gray eyes were riveted to the scene playing out before them all.
I am thou, thou art I.
"Wha….what's...going on?" Nanako asked as she put a hand to her forehead, a strange, overpowering sensation emanating from the back of her skull.
The time has come. Open thy eyes, and call forth what is within.
Slowly lowering her hand, it was then that Nanako's brown eyes fell on a card that hadn't been there before. It was the exact same size as one of her Duel Monster cards, yet it wasn't black and brown. This one was blue and white, with a masked face staring back at her. Flipping it over revealed a blank space, but it revealed itself, took the form of a shadowy figure near the edge of a cliff. A number appeared at the bottom of the card, along with a single word.
O. Fool
The light disappeared, revealing Nanako, unharmed and standing tall despite the physical toll awakening a Persona normally took on the host. A word came unbidden to the girl's lips, and she looked towards the nearest batch of Shadows that slowly began to approach when nothing at first happened after the initial light wave that had pushed them away. "Per...so...na!' The light returned, emanating from the card in her hand before it quickly overwhelmed her. Diving deep into her being, it manifested, took on a shape that resonated with her very being. When the light disappeared again, her Persona hovered over her shoulders. It was an angelic warrior, a jewel encrusted sword and shield held before her, beckoning anyone who'd dare approach to try their luck again as the few remaining Shadows visibly quivered in fear at the unexpected arrival of a new foe.
Nanako was too stunned to look away to notice her new Persona doing anything of the sort, her brown eyes having found the woman's face. She bore a striking resemblance to her mother, Chisato. The brown hair, the matching brown eyes, and while the angelic woman's face was locked in anger at the monsters trying to harm her, the resemblance was otherwise uncanny as an older version of her own soft features. No...it's not mommy's face….it's my own! She squeaked when the realization struck her. Five years down the line perhaps, and the resemblance would be like looking into a mirror. "This is...Big Brother's power?"
I am yours, and yours alone little one. I am Okaasan. I am your sword and your shield in the Journey you have only just begun. Nanako could only stare, amazement etched on her face as she realized that she had the same power her Big Bro had. Her guardian angel smiled down at her, before turning her brown eyes on the few Shadows that were left. Begone from this world! Light enveloped the few that remained, encircling them with spiritually charmed pieces of paper that dissolved them completely seconds later.
"Okaasan….thank you." Yu whispered, but to his amazement, the angel Persona born of Nanako's soul nodded her head before disappearing within his 'Little Sister'. He started towards the platform when Nanako wobbled when her power vanished, but she managed to catch herself against the side of the platform.
"I'm...alright now." She stated, feeling lighter than she could remember feeling before as a weak smile formed on her face before she turned to her deck. It had since changed, much like Yu's had at the start of this, but that was a distant concern for her. Because it was then that she saw Sam had visibly paled, and she didn't need her Big Brother to tell her why. He hadn't expected her to survive, he hadn't expected her to face herself, and he most likely hadn't expected her to so easily come to terms with her deepest fears. But she hadn't, not on her own, and looking up at the booth now, Nanako opened her hand and summoned Okaasan again. The angel nodded her head before casting her spell again, clearing the booth of everything that had been trying to bypass Rise's shield.
Rise had to shield her eyes for a moment when the light washed over the Shadows, destroying them all with little effort. She had seen Hamoan before, but she had never expected to see it from Nanako, or her Persona for that matter. The fact she even had one was astonishing enough, but Rise found that she didn't mind in the slightest. The only thing that mattered now was that they finished this, and freed everyone from Sam's spell. Rise beamed down at the girl and flashed her a thumb's up for her help.
Nanako 2000 LP. 1 face up monster, 1 face down monster, 1 face down magic card
Sam 2000 LP. 2 face up monster, 1 face down magic card
Nanako smiled back before finally turning to Sam. "You're going to pay for what you've done here Sam. You won't hurt anyone ever again!" She didn't wait for a reply as she flipped over her face down card. "Change of Heart!" A young woman appeared on the field, half of her body matched that of a white winged angel, while the other half was that of a black winged devil. Between her cupped hands was a similarly colored heart. "With this card, I can take control of a monster for one turn! And I choose your Avenger Knight!"
"No!" Sam roared, but the power of her Spell Card had already taken root as the Knight tried to fight the magic, only to yield to it moments later as it moved to Nanako's side of the field.
"And I summon a monster! Go, Sky Absorbing Archangel!" Flipping the card over, Nanako watched as the normally rotund angelic monster, complete with halo over his shortly cropped brown hair, transformed before her eyes. His stomach flattened, he became taller, his wings lengthened, and white plates of metal covered him from the neck down while a winged helmet covered his face. His brown eyes were obscured by the new headgear, but through the slits in the helmet, two golden lights could be seen. Justice, lvl 3, Sky Absorbing Archangel. 1600 ATK / 1000 DEF
"Whoa! Did she just transform that thing into a Persona?!" Yosuke asked, having found his voice first at the astonishing transformation Nanako's monster had gone under.
"Our power has changed to adapt to this new threat. It makes sense then, seeing the new monster on her field." Yu replied calmly, his gray eyes alight in wonder at how strong Nanako appeared then. She looked just like he had when he had first summoned Izanagi, full of confidence and determination. He knew this battle was as good as done.
"I use Avenger Knight to attack my face down Enchanted Marshmallon!" Nanako had since declared, her focus solely on finishing this duel. The Knight obliged her, before charging down the field. "And because I haven't activated his effect, he won't be destroying my new and improved monster!" To add credence to that, her hidden defense creature revealed itself. Like the formerly known Absorbing Kid from the Sky, Marshmallon had also changed. Hierophant, Lvl 3, Enchanted Marshmallon 300 ATK / 500 DEF
Nothing visibly changed about the amorphous ball, save for the fact that it now generated its own light source. A bright, golden soothing light radiated from the otherwise pink creature, which was currently being skewered by the Avenger Knight. Like its former self, the Marshmallon warped around the lance, and quickly reformed itself, actually regenerating the few pieces that had broken off from the horse riding Knight. "And that's not all! I activate Enchanted Marshmallon's new effect! You take a thousand points of damage, and your Knight loses 800 attack points!" Before the Knight could return to its master's side, Nanako's monster's inner light flared intensely, blinding them all save for the girl herself. "The light banishes the darkness, even your Avenger Knight has to yield to it!"
"No...my Knight! My life points! You little shit! You're-" And it was true as globs of shadow peeled away from the Knight, leaving smoking, smoldering patches across the horse it rode and the rider. By the time it returned to Sam's side of the field, it was a smoking wreck of its former self, entire plates of armor missing from both halves of the Shadow monster. Sam LP 1000. Avenger Knight, 1000 ATK / 900 DEF
"Shut up, stupid!" Nanako shouted back, far from done. "You're nothing but a stupid bully! And my turn isn't done yet! I now attack your weakened Avenger Knight with my Archangel! I also use his new effect! I get 300 attack points for each level of the monster I choose to attack!"
"But that means-" Sam started, even as Nanako's Archangel started to glow before he pulled a sword from his belt and aiming it at the black knight.
"This duel is over!" Nanako called out, her right hand open out towards the Shadow duelist. "Heavenly Slash!" Sky Absorbing Archangel 2800 ATK / 1000 DEF vs Avenger Knight 1000 ATK / 900 DEF
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Sam wailed as the winged warrior charged down his knight, his sword leaving an afterimage as it cut his Avenger Knight down to size. The resulting explosion was that of a bunch of smaller shadows being forced to disperse across a large area, leaving nothing behind when the smoke cleared. "I can't lose, I can't lose to you!" He roared, but he soon found he had his own problems when a black hand erupted from the platform. The clawed appendage wrapped around his leg, and by the time Sam started to try and break free, three more had appeared. "No….someone help me! They're gonna kill me!"
Yu was the first to react as he directed Izanagi-No-Okami towards the other side of the field, followed closely by Nanako's newly acquired Okaasan. But they didn't get there in time as Sam was pulled under, never to be seen again. "Damn…." Yu cursed, before turning his gaze to Nanako's platform. He gasped when he saw Nanako wobble and finally fall, her back to the duel field, beyond exhausted, but alive as the fog finally lifted. The color returned to the world, but he hardly noticed as Rise hesitantly declared a winner despite the mysterious disappearance of Sam Tywell and his Shadow deck. He and Ryotaro were the first at the platform when it lowered itself at the conclusion of the duel, only to find Nanako, a peaceful, tired smile on her face.
"Is she alright?" Ryo asked, having knelt down next to his daughter the moment he got close.
From his puzzled expression, Yu guessed that no one but him and his friends had seen the intense battle. That was probably just as well, trying to explain to the older Dojima that Nanako now possessed the same power would probably be too much for the detective at that moment. "Yeah….she's gonna be just fine." Yu assured him, making his Uncle wonder if there was far more to his nephew's words than he could possibly guess.
End Notes; Let me start by saying that this chapter about made me cry just writing the damn thing. As for Okaasan, I actually found a picture that inspired her current appearance, which I'll try and post a link of here as well as give kudos to the artist that made her. In the meantime, if you're curious as to her name, Okaasan can be translated from Japanese, and it means Mother. Rather fitting, given the content of this chapter, wouldn't you folks say? At any rate, I hope you enjoy guys and gals. Adios!
Deviantart in case you're curious, by kikicianjur
edli . deviantart # / art/angel-warrior-275874486?hf=1
You'll have to remove the spaces, sorry I don't know how to do this right lol.