Stardust Shimmer

Thirteen: Daybreaker

The wreck from Brave and Dragan was apparent in the empty room, Batman noted as he carefully picked his way around the site. Chains piled up in a corner, clearly used to bind the question. The smell of fried wires filled the room, faint but clearly present.

"They electrocuted Question to make him talk," Batman muttered, crouching to study a footprint that was too robotic and angular to be human, surrounded by burns. "From this pattern, it wasn't done with household wires, they used some huge device to electrocute him..."

Or a Duel Monster. This is an organisation of Psychic Duellists, after all.

"Or that," Batman conceded. "Any ideas what can electrocute like this?"

Myself, I know that Thunder Type monsters can do so easily, but I don't know any of that size or with that kind of footprint. Eatos?

From the depth, it would have to be a regularly large Thunder Type monster, about the size of a human, yes, the feminine voice agreed. The degree of burns indicate a fair amount of power. Three sets surrounding one spot... Batteryman AA.

"Batteryman?" Batman echoed.

When all three are on the field and take the same stance, Batteryman AA can charge itself to match a Blue Eyes White Dragon, the Guardian Eatos conceded. Perhaps even more terrifying is the strategy employed in general by them, to destroy all defences by Short Circuit and charge straight in for the kill... it is a wonder how the man you call Question is still alive.

Batman took a deep breath. "It's daylight."

That would hardly stop them.

"I know," Batman closed his eyes. "They're already at the stadium, aren't they? Preparing to play a game that could kill either of them..."

With Elma in the skies there is almost nothing that can escape her sight, Zera conceded. A battle between two Psychic Duellists... it could conceivably tear down the whole block.

More than that, Eatos interrupted. I was with Rafael when he presented her with her deck. Right away I knew, that she held the power of Fimbulwinter.

"Three successive winters where snow comes in from all directions, without any intervening summer," Batman recalled, already running out. "The prelude to the Norse Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods."

Indeed, Eatos nodded, floating beside him. Those Ice Barrier cards she holds... there are three powerful dragons that serve as the centre of the tribe. Brionac has the power to repel any trick, to unmake any trap or effort, Gungnir has the power to destroy any trap or effort, and Trishula... Trishula broke free, and with its release, their dimension was frozen for all time in eternal winter.

"I bet Freeze would love that," Batman muttered to himself as he shot the grapple hook to the roofs, taking a quick short cut. "Batman can't go out during the day... Bruce Wayne would have to step in."

And when you arrive with two spirits in tow, she would realise that this city's Dark Knight and its prince are one and the same, Zera pointed out.

"Where's the proof?" Batman retorted as he snuck into one of many bolt-holes across the city, taking off his cowl and hurrying to change.

...say that after you get your bones broken for lying.

Setsuka is... mildly forgiving, Eatos intervened. ...although she did inherit his temperament...

Setsuka: LP 4000

Dr. Lionel: LP 4000

"As the challenger, I take the first turn," the doctor began. "Draw. I summon Batteryman AAA [0/0] to my field in defence mode. This allows me to special summon another Batteryman AAA from my hand, also in defence mode."

Two robotic figures with bodies that resembled miniature dry cells appeared on either side of the field before him.

"I then special summon Batteryman Fuel Cell [2100/0], since I have two Batteryman monsters on my field," the doctor indicated as a large, humanoid pink robot,crackling with electricity appeared in a clap.

"Chain!" Setsuka called. "I discard one card from my hand to special summon Dragon Ice [1800/2200] in defence mode."

"Since this is my first turn, I cannot attack, hence I end my turn." The doctor bowed, still smiling. "Dragon Ice... like your mother, always managing to surprise people. Such a shame that didn't save her in the end..."

"Draw!" Setsuka declared. "I summon Eria the Water Charmer [600/1500]!"

The tiny blue-haired charmer appeared next to the dragon.

"With that, I send both Dragon Ice and Eria to the grave to special summon Familiar Possessed – Eria [1850/1500] from my deck!" Setsuka called as both the tiny charmer and the dragon vanished, replaced by an older-looking Eria that seemed to freeze the very air as she floated behind Setsuka. "Battle! Eria, attack the Batteryman AAA!" Setsuka called as the magician froze the robotic monster with a wave and smashed through it. "And, when Eria is special summoned by her ability, she gets to inflict piercing damage!"

A shard of ice flew from the monster and cut at Lionel, drawing first blood both symbolically and literally.

Dr. Lionel: LP 4000 → LP 2150

"Quick-play spell, Magical Dimension!" Setsuka continued. "I sacrifice Eria to special summon Dai-sojo of the Ice Barrier [1600/2200] in defence mode." Eria vanished into a coffin-like box, from which came out an old man wearing robes that had been stripped off to show his upper body, his head topped by a unique hexagonal hat. "By the same effect, Magical Dimension destroys one of your monsters! I choose to destroy Batteryman Fuel Cell!"

Dark energies reached out to pull the huge robot in, reducing it to scrap before the box shattered.

Setsuka scoffed. "I set one card and end my turn."

"Merciless as always," Dr Lionel shook his head. "I remember... Rafael Eatos was about as merciless as you were, but he never sacrificed monsters. Draw. I tribute my last Batteryman AAA to summon Batteryman Charger [1800/1200]!"

"Trap card open! Eisbahn!" Setsuka called. "When a monster other than a Water Attribute monster is summoned, and I control a Water Attribute monster, that monster is changed to defence mode!"

"By its effect, I can still special summon," Dr Lionel answered easily as his monster crouched. "With that said, activate, face-down Continuous trap, Wattcannon! When a Thunder Type monster is special summoned to the field, you take six hundred points of damage! I then special summon Batteryman AA [0/0] due to Battery Charger, so you take twelve hundred damage in total! "

"AAAHHH!" Setsuka cried out as lighting lashed out at her.

Setsuka: LP 4000 → LP 2800

"Then, I activate Inferno Reckless Summon!" Dr Lionel smirked. "When a monster of fifteen hundred and lower attack is special summoned to my field, I can special summon all cards with the same name as the summoned monster from my hand, deck, and graveyard in face-up attack mode!"

"I thought so..." Setsuka muttered as more orange robotic humanoids crackling with electricity joined the doctor. "Batteryman... a deck that specialises in the One Turn Kill..."

"Wattcannon activates!" the doctor ordered as Setsuka was literally shocked again.

"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" the girl screamed even as the shock dissipated, leaving her smoking from the sheer heat.

Setsuka: LP 2800 → LP 1600

"Unfortunately, due to your trap they are all moved to defence mode," the doctor easily answered as the three of them crouched and Setsuka stood back up. "However, if all Batteryman AA I control are in defence mode, they gain one thousand defence points for each [0/0 → 0/3000]. Also, Batteryman Charger gains three hundred attack points for every Thunder type monster on the field [1800/1200 → 3000/1200]. Turn end."

On the sidelines, Seika gasped. "Three monsters..."

"With potentially three thousand attack points," Aki murmured. "And the last piece needed..."

"Short Circuit," Ryuusei agreed. "If he activates that... If Setsuka can't do anything this turn..."

"You have only one card in hand, what are you going to do?" the doctor shook his head. "Like your parents before their deaths... out of options!"

"Draw!" Setsuka called. "You... have no right to talk about them! I activate the magic card, Card of Demise! This allows me to draw until I have five cards in hand, and after that, during my fifth standby phase after activation, I must discard my entire hand. No worries. I activate Raise Dead, summoning General Grunard of the Ice Barrier [2800/1800] from my grave. General Grunard allows me to normal summon another Ice Barrier monster on top of my normal summon once per turn. I summon Reese the Ice Mistress [800/800], and then I summon Cold Enchanter [1600/1200]!"

"Two icy ladies," the doctor scoffed as they appeared. "What can they-"

"Tuning, level four Cold Enchanter and level two Reese!" Setsuka called. "The chill of frost spread over the land, the arching spear of the lost people! Synchro Summon! Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier [2300/1400]!"

"So it's here," the doctor frowned as the icy dragon roared, giving off chilly mist from all over its scaly body as it reared its head. "The legendary sea dragon, Brionac..."

"Moving Dai-sojo to attack mode," Setsuka called as the monk stood. "Then, I activate the effect of Brionac! I discard one card to return one Batteryman AA to your hand, another to return another to your hand, and a last one to bid adieu to every single Batteryman AA on the field. Far Chill!"

Brionac roared, the Batteryman enveloped in blue-white light that shot back to the doctor's hand.

Battery Charger glowed as its attack dropped [3000/1200 → 2100/1200].

"General Grunard, destroy that!" Setsuka ordered as the general shattered it with his fists.

Dr. Lionel: LP 2150 → LP 1450

"Dai-sojo, direct attack!" Setsuka ordered as the monk leapt forth to punch the doctor in the gut and send him flying back.

Dr. Lionel: LP 1450 → LP 0

"She won!" Seika cheered.

"Yeah," Ryuusei frowned. "But, the monsters..."

"What do you know about my parents?" Setsuka demanded as General Grunard picked up the doctor easily to face her.

Dr Lionel smiled weakly. "I'm afraid... that those details are hardly pertinent."

"I see," Setsuka's expression set. "Brionac."

The dragon's head lowered, cold blue energy gathering in its maw.

"Will you talk?" Setsuka coldly stated.

"You won't," the doctor shook his head. "You won't do this. Not to challenge what they said... to give you a normal life, rather than one of alienation due to your power... when you're like us, what does that matter?"

"Brionac," Setsuka's voice was incredibly soft. "Ice Target."

The dragon roared as the blast grew larger.

Heart pounding, Bruce ran as fast as he could towards the oncoming blast.

We won't make it! Zera cursed as he ran. And even so, there's no way to stop Brionac!

"Eatos, can you?" Bruce quietly hissed as he ran in.

I would require a solid form, which I do not have.

"Get one," Bruce cursed as the light solidified to shoot. "Please, please, please..."

He leapt off the grandstands, diving for the field and the doctor and pulling the doctor out of the blast.

Bruce whistled as ice solidified over half the field. "That's going to need some thawing."

Setsuka glared at him, though it lessened once she realised that half the field was covered in ice. "Dr Lionel, we will settle this once I defeat your son."

"Try," the doctor coughed. "You can't always guard her."

Setsuka froze. "If you come near Seika, I will... not be pleasant. At all."

She then stormed off, leaving Bruce to hold down a conveniently unconscious Dr Lionel.

"S- Setsu-chan?" Seika stuttered tearfully. "A- Are you mad?"

Setsuka looked at the other girl for a few moments. "...maybe."

Seika reached out a comforting hand to Setsuka's shoulder. "Don't be mad, okay?"

"...I'll try," Setsuka glanced down. "I make no promises."

Aki shook her head. "Still, we should call the police- huh?"

All three children turned around to see that the doctor, and Bruce, had disappeared.

The ice had melted, the spectators remained ignorant of the dangers present as they cheered for the first match, unaware of the hostile stares directed by the contestants at each other.

"And welcome to the semi-finals of the Junior-Singles WRGP!" the announcer's voice boomed. "I'm Chris, your announcer for today, and we'll be joined by Mark. Say hello, Mark."

"Hi, everyone, I'm Mark. Today we're seeing Glen Powers try to match up to Ryuusei Fudo, who's already got the best odds of winning of the four people today. Despite Ryuusei's strength it remains to be seen if Glen can succeed against the Duel scion of the man acknowledged as King by even Jack Atlas, Yusei Fudo."

"So, Mark, let's rev it up! Field Magic, Speed World Two Dual Magic, set on!"

"Riding Duel, Acceleration!" both boys yelled as they began to speed on their D-Boards.

Ryuusei: LP 4000

Glen: LP 4000

"And Glen takes the first turn! He plays One for One, discarding a card to special summon Watthopper [0/0] from his deck. He then normal summons another Watthopper from his hand, and tosses down a face-down card and ends his turn. With this, Ryuusei can't attack or destroy any Watt monsters with card effects. Well, Mark?"

"You're forgetting something, Chris. Ryuusei is well able to break the lock."

Ryuusei scanned the field. "Monster lock-down deck... why are you working for Elysium?"

"It's obvious! I got nowhere else to go!" Glen retorted. "Hurry up already!"

"Ryuusei takes the field. He draws, and he discards a card to special summon Quickdraw Synchron [700/1400] from his hand, a move that seems to be a Fudo trademark. With that, Boost Warrior [300/200] is special summoned to the field. As expected, he synchs a Drill Warrior [2400/2000]. He activates Drill Warrior's effect, halving its attack points [2400/2000 → 1200/2000] for a direct attack!"

"Crud," Glen swore as the monster shot at him.

Glen: LP 4000 → LP 2800, SPC: 2 → 1

"Well, we know that Glen specialises in direct attackers, but Drill Warrior might turn out a bit much for him! Ryuusei discards a card to banish Drill Warrior, and normal summons Blue Rose Dragon [1600/1200]. He ends.

"Glen doesn't look too happy there. He draws! He summons Wattcobra [1000/500] and activates the face-down Wattcannon! Ryuusei takes six hundred damage!"

"AAAHH!" the younger Fudo flinched as the electric shock hit.

Ryuusei: LP 4000 → LP 3400

"Oh my, Fudo's in pain!" Glen cackled. "I activate Wattcine! Now, Wattcobra attacks directly!"

"AAAHHH!" Ryuusei screamed in pain again as the cobra bit him, the D-Board swerving wildly before stabilising.

Ryuusei: LP 3400 → LP 2400, SPC: 2 → 1

"When a Thunder Type monster inflicts battle damage, Wattcine allows me to gain life points equal to the damage inflicted!" Glen hollered. "Wattcobra also allows me to move a Watt monster from my deck to my hand, and I choose Wattberyx! I set a card and end my turn!"

Glen: LP 2800 → LP 3800, SPC: 1

"Oh, looks like Glen's pulling ahead!" the announcer yelled as murmurs went on amongst the crowd.

"Go home, you monster!" someone called.

"Freak!"

"Idiots," Glen cackled. "It's your turn, or were my monsters that shocking to your spirit?"

"D- Draw!" Ryuusei snarled. "Due to its effect, Drill Warrior returns to the field, and I can take back a monster card in my grave. I choose Quickdraw Synchron!"

Ryuusei was grinning, and it was off-putting. "I activate Speed Spell – Angel Baton! I draw two cards and discard Dandylion [300/300]. This gives me two Fluff Tokens. I summon Debris Dragon [1000/2000], and with its effect, I special summon the discarded Dandylion! I discard Quickdraw Synchron to banish Drill Warrior!"

"Ryuusei must be trying not to overextend!" Chris called as the orange warrior vanished.

"Tuning, Dandylion to Debris Dragon!" Ryuusei called. "Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set in bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!"

"It's here!" Chris called as the large red dragon spread its wings. "Watthopper only prevents Watt monsters from being targeted, it never said anything about a monster that can destroy everything!"

"What?" Glen yelled. "Dammit!"

"Black Rose Gale!" Ryuusei ordered as winds swept the field clean, even his own monsters. "Dandylion gives me two Fluff Tokens in defence mode, and, because Blue Rose Dragon was destroyed and sent to the grave, I can special summon Black Rose Dragon [2400/1800] in attack mode!"

"Oh!" the announcer called as the black dragon flared its wings out again on the field.

"Black Rose Dragon, direct attack!" Ryuusei ordered. "Black Rose Flare!"

Black Rose dragon emitted a stream of black petals at the other Duellist.

Glen: LP 3800 → LP 1400, SPC: 2 → 0

"Turn end!"

"The advantage is now with Ryuusei!" the announcer called. "This is a fantastic duel!"

"Draw!" Glen announced. "You... I'll make you suffer! I play the Spell, Recycling Batteries! This allows me to take my two Watthopper and place them in my hand. Then, I activate the trap, Wattkeeper, special summoning the Wattcobra in my graveyard! I summon Wattberyx [300/0]! Tuning, level four Wattcobra to level three Wattberyx! Electricity that shocks in a single moment, leave my enemies struck! Synchro Summon, Watthydra!"

"Oh, Glen has Synchro Summoned a level seven Watthydra [1500/1500]!" the announcer gasped as lights starting blinking out. "We're facing a few electrical malfunctions at the moment..."

"Go away, monster!"

"Freak!"

"Someone remove that!"

"Superman! Help!"

"Watthydra can attack directly!" Glen called, still grinning though the grin was getting brittle. "Go, Watthydra! Direct attack!"

"Like I'll let you!" Ryuusei retorted. "Battle Fader, go!" A monster that resembled a pendulum appeared, clanging sharply against its bell. "Battle Fader can be special summoned when I face a direct attack, and when that happens, the battle phase ends!"

"And Ryuusei has evaded the damage!" the announcer called.

"Go, Ryuusei!"

"Go Fudo!"

"Make sure you win against that monster!"

"Che," Glen scoffed. "Turn end. All of you... all of you... you're all the same..."

"No!" Ryuusei answered. "Can't you see? What I see... is just someone misunderstood! Glen!"

"Fudo..." Glen whispered. "My Watt cards... the hydra won't leave me..."

"My turn, draw!" Ryuusei called. "Drill Warrior returns, so I take back Quickdraw again! I activate the effect of the card in the graveyard I sent in the first place! A/D Changer [100/100]!"

"What?" Glen screeched.

"I change Watthydra to defence mode!" Ryuusei raised a hand as the electrifying hydra bowed. "I then activate the effect of Black Rose Dragon! Once per turn, I can banish a Plant Type monster in my grave to change one defence monster on your field to attack mode, and drain its attack to zero [1500/1500 → 0/1500]! Rose Restriction!"

Thorned vines sot out and trapped the hydra, as the black dragon roared.

"Look! I'm going to free you right now!" Ryuusei ordered. "Black Rose Dragon, attack Watthydra! Black Rose Flare!"

The black petals that spewed out shattered the hydra and part of the track, as Glen's D-Board stopped.

Glen: LP 1400 → LP 0

Ryuusei swerved over the D-Board to brake, staring back into terrified eyes.

"Help... me..."

Blue eyes widened even as the men of the Elysium Circle ran forward to receive the fallen Glen. Despite the cheers around him, Ryuusei felt distinctly empty as he returned to the stands.

Seika was staring at the place where Glen had fallen. "That boy... I feel so sorry for him."

"It's okay, Seika," Ryuusei whispered. "It's okay."

"I still don't get the point of it," John shook his head, hovering above the Gotham Stadium out of sight. "I mean, using holograms to play a card game? And monsters becoming real?"

"It's about strategy, GL," Flash sighed, waving pennants for the tournament. "And how to direct a battle. Plus, you gotta admit it looks cool."

"I'll admit that when I'm sure it's not destroying the world," Green Lantern John Stewart answered. "That was real damage, and the lights weren't tampered with."

"Batman to Green Lantern," the comm-piece crackled. "Elma is currently hovering overhead. I will be backing you up once I ascertain where the rest of the Circle is located."

"Roger that," John tersely answered. "Green Lantern out."

Batman pulled out the tiny comm-piece, turning to the tied-up Dr Lionel instead. "Let us start talking."

"Y- You can't make me," the psychiatrist growled.

"I can..." the Batman loomed over him in the shadow of the cave. "And you will."

Please review! Stay tuned for the next turn: Ice Water! Duel, Acceleration!