Boss Rush
XVII: Witch of the Black Forest
"Oi, you sure he's fine?" Tsugare's voice seemed higher in pitch as the heterochromic Duellist hissed to Kaido. Both psychics were staring at the unconscious Kisaragi, cuffed to a chair with plastic ties. "I think Boss is rubbing off on Michiru-chan..."
"Yep," Kaido answered dully. "Guaranteed the maximum amount of discomfort for the least chance of escape while making sure that blood flow is not impeded."
"-.- T- That's not what I meant, Kaido..."
"Erm..." Koichi swallowed. "We can't interrogate him in this condition, right? And he won't wake up..."
"No problem," Kaido began taking off his spectacles. "I'll read his life story."
"Oi, oi, are you sure?" Koichi nearly flinched as Kaido pulled out his deck.
"Shuffle," Kaido indicated. "Celtic cross spread. First card, the present. Stoic of Prophecy, or Le Pendu, the Hanged Man. Giving up. Second card, Amores of Prophecy, or L'amoure, the Lovers. Facing love problems... well, Kisaragi ended up here because of the useless honey-trap anyway."
"OI!" Tsugare protested.
"Third card, distant past, the root of the problem," Kaido ignored the other. "Hmm, an Exceed card... odd, when did I shuffle my Exceed monsters in? Ah, well, Empress of Prophecy, the Empress. Boss, heh? Fourth card, Charioteer of Prophecy, reversed. Victory reversed, defeat. Well enough... the best right now... Spellbook Library of the Crescent, the Moon. Illusion... Factors or inner feelings, sixth card, The Grand Spellbook Tower."
"That bad?" Koichi asked.
"Disaster struck," Kaido shortly answered. "Seventh card, external forces. Justice of Prophecy, Justice. Impartiality... or justice? Ninth card, hope or fears... Fool of Prophecy? How unusual, a card of beginnings... and the final outcome..."
Tsugare and Koichi's eyes narrowed in the face of the card, the magician bearing a scythe. "Erm, Kaido..."
"Reaper of Prophecy, or Death, La Mort," Kaido considered. "A great change..."
The door burst open. "What are you guys doing...?"
All three men froze in the face of the cold queen. "Erm..." Tsugare winced.
"I'm reading his past," Kaido pointed.
"Excellent work," Setsuka nodded. "Tsugare, the Movement is going to participate in the Kings and Queens Festival this year."
"Festival?" Tsugare repeated. "So... what are you intending to do...?"
"Last year was a fairy garden theme, and before that there was a maid café which I forced Nowaki into..." Setsuka mused. "This year's mecha theme was also taken by Kings, so... we'll do a magical theme."
"M- Magical theme?" Tsugare gaped.
"Yes," Setsuka was already ignoring them. "A magic theme. Witches, wizards, books. Kaido, you'll be the fortune-teller."
"B- Boss, my opinion wasn't asked for..." Kaido muttered.
"Is there something wrong?" Setsuka asked. "after all, you're still between jobs, right?"
An arrow struck him in the heart. "Boss! I- I'm just... settling in..."
"Oh, but Shinamori only returned to the pro scene recently," Setsuka needled. "Why? You're helping him rearrange that deck?"
"I don't need to tell him what to do!"
"But, Shinamori's most recent key play is the magician and the Inaribi, right?" Tsugare whispered to Koichi.
"It's settled!" Setsuka snapped. "Kaido will be the fortune-teller. Koichi, you'll be pursuing a lead with this useless uke here."
"Boss!" Tsugare protested.
"What kind of lead...?" Koichi muttered. "I mean, it's a school festival..."
"It's only been a week since Ryuusei turned that building into a bramble thicket," Kaido severely answered. "I'm in..."
"Because Shinamori's too tired to satisfy you?" Tsugare snickered to be hit in the head by a thick book.
"Our sex life is very satisfactory, thank you," Kaido muttered.
"No hesitation to use blunt weapons, good," Setsuka clapped as Tsugare whimpered.
Koichi awkwardly rubbed the bump. "You're fine..."
"You're the only nice one, Koichi~" Tsugare whimpered.
"Oh, again?" Setsuka and Kaido commented as Koichi fainted nearly due to severe nasal blood loss.
The regular café appearances of the Arcadia Movement were rapidly growing popular. This year, a magical theme was put on. The inside of the allotted room on the Queens campus resembled a very dusty library, or a wizard's workshop or some variant thereof. There were chairs and tables arranged haphazardly about, and at the counter was a staff of magicians. The inside was packed as usual, with waitresses and bus-boys dressed as wizards or witches or cos-playing Duel Monsters going about their business.
"Welcome," Shimotsuki Setsuka greeted from her very comfortable couch on the counter.
Ryuusei gaped. "W- Why are you following xxxHOLiC?"
"Because."
"Because of what?" Ryuusei demanded.
"Because it's interesting," Shimotsuki archly replied.
"You just want an excuse to lord it over us, don't you...?" Ryuusei muttered.
"Get to work," Shimotsuki dismissed as a few of Kings' students began to fawn at her feet.
"Ryuusei-sempai!"
"Fudo-sempai!"
"Kyaa, he's looking this way!"
Impatiently, Ryuusei waved the sword that came with the fake armour, cyan wig and cloak he had been made to don. "Why, of all characters, this?"
"Isn't it interesting? Protector of plants and summoner of them," Setsuka observed. "I even had it specially made, Night Rose Knight."
"And what are you supposed to be?" Ryuusei pointed at her Gothic Lolita dress bearing purple roses, the frilly Alice band and her rose-tipped staff.
"Why, Witch of the Black Rose, of course," Setsuka was play-acting as she reclined, and a few of Kings' students admired her from afar.
"What an interesting festival," Marguerite, in her ghostly form murmured. "That armour suits you, but the wig..."
"It's costume play," Ryuusei scowled. "Shimotsuki, don't tell me..."
"HAHAHAHA!" Rex's howls echoed slightly in the packed café. "Ryuusei, you've really outdone yourself this time!"
"Shut up," Chase, Youkai and Ryuusei told him together.
Chase was dressed like the Infernity Avenger, and Youkai wore a Gusto Psychic costume and even dyed his hair green. In comparison, Rex was dressed as the Marauding Captain.
"See? Everyone is dressed," Setsuka pointed out.
Ryuusei sighed. "I'm only dressing because..."
"Everyone!" a high-pitched cry came out. Seika tripped over in a black leotard, black tights and a yellow jacket, a yellow wig and a black band jammed over her head and make-up to tint her skin eggshell yellow. "Nii-chan, you wore the costume!"
"Fortune Lady Light, huh?" Rex muttered. "No wonder..."
"And I'm Madolche Puddingcess!" Himemiya Uzuki boasted as she marched up in her poufy dress and her wig's curls went askew over red curls.
"Behave," Hazuki turned up, decked as Rose, Warrior of Revenge. "Setsuka-san, Ryuusei-san."
"Setsuka!" Michiru bounced up, decked out in an outfit featuring a light orange bodice, huge wings and a body-hugging figure.
"Photon Papilloperative?" Setsuka identified.
"The old man went overboard with the decorating," Michiru sighed.
"Quite well made," was the agreed consensus of Michiru's costume.
"Right, isn't it?" Tenjouin Fubuki himself appeared, dressed as an idol. "So, are any of you coming to see my idol act...?"
"No one wants to see your idol act!" Michiru yelled at him.
"But, Michiru~..."
"It sounds like fun," Marguerite laughed, though she looked uneasy.
"Is there something wrong?" Ryuusei quietly whispered amidst the hubbub of chattering students.
"It feels... like a few spirits decided to mingle," Marguerite noted. "Today is a very special day, Duel Monsters Spirit Day."
"What?" Chase heard.
"What?" Rex asked him. "Yelling for no reason..."
"He probably recalled that today is Duel Monster Spirit Day," Setsuka answered. "A day where Duel Spirits can take a solid form in this material plane."
"What?" this prompted quite the reaction.
"So, later there will be a Cosplay Duel," Setsuka clapped. "Of course, I should change costume for this-"
"You don't have to," all three guys answered.
"Cute? Cool? Chilling?*" the Student Council President of the shared campus echoed. Hinamori Seiran was currently dressed as the Fire Sorcerer, and doing a good job of attracting eye candy everywhere. "How interesting! So, we'll be doing the commentating for today's main event; the Cosplay Duel! Today for commentary you'll be having me, the Fire Sorcerer!"
"What happened to me?" Ren, dressed as the scholarly T.G. Hyper Librarian, complained.
"Your broadcaster is Kings' T.G. Hyper Librarian!" Seiran gave a V as the crowd cheered. "So, let's get to the main event! Who would like to duel!"
"Please..." a black-robed dark-haired witch strolled up to the stage. "I'll duel."
"Very well! We'll commence the Cosplay Duel between Fudo Ryuusei and Witch of the Black Forest! Doing commentary is me, the Fire Sorcerer! Your broadcaster is the legendary T.G. Hyper Librarian!"
"Right! Hey, why am I broadcasting!"
"Because I said so!"
"Shall we?" the Witch smiled.
"Of course," Ryuusei nodded.
"Duel!"
Witch: LP 8000
Ryuusei: LP 8000
"I'll begin, draw," the Witch announced to great cheer. "I'll begin with the Field Spell, Tomato Paradise. Now, I summon Botanical Lion [1600/2000]. Due to the effect of Tomato Paradise, each player can special summon a Tomato Token [0/0] to the field in defence mode. Then, the effect of Botanical Lion activates, allowing it to gain three hundred attack points for every Plant Type monster I control [1600/2000 → 2200/2000]. I'll set a card, turn end."
"Hmm, quite a solid play there, having a powerful monster. But, if I know Ryuusei, then neither side gets a significant advantage."
"As expected of our Student Council President, Queens' youngest Lady, Hinamori Seiran!"
"My turn, draw!" Ryuusei declared. "I'll play the Spell, One for One and discard a Monster to special summon the tuner monster, Spore [400/800] in defence mode."
"Continuous Trap, Rose Tombstone," the Witch suddenly declared. "When my opponent uses a Spell or Trap, he shall take three hundred damage."
Ryuusei: LP 8000 → LP 7700
Witch: LP 8000
"Oh, that's quite a pickle..."
"Dandylion activates in the graveyard, special summoning two Fluff Tokens." Ryuusei continued. "So, I get two Fluff Tokens. Tuning, four level one Tokens to level one Spore! Limiter Removal, Level Five! Regulator open! Thruster warm-up, OK! Up-link all clear! Go! Synchro Summon! Come on! Tech Genus Hyper Librarian!"
In a flash, the white-robed monster [2400/1800] appeared.
"It really looks like you, Shirahane."
"P- President..."
"I normal summon, the tuner monster Cherry Inmato [700/400]," Ryuusei continued. "With that, I special summon one Token. Tuning, level one Token to level two Cherry Inmato! Evening shades envelop the world; herald of the night, shine. Take flight, Synchro Tuner, Twilight Rose Dragon!"
"Synchro Tuner?" the Witch gaped as the monster appeared [500/1400].
"I draw a card due to Hyper Librarian," Ryuusei indicated. "One Token gotten. Now, I activate Angel Baton, allowing me to draw two cards at the cost of discarding a monster."
"But, Rose Tombstone will inflict damage!" the Witch pointed out as Ryuusei was pelted.
Ryuusei: LP 7700 → LP 7400
Witch: LP 8000
Ryuusei shook his head. "Banish level four Botanical Lion to special summon Spore as a level five monster, one more Token. Tuning, two level one Tokens to level five Spore! Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Bloom, Black Rose Dragon!"
"That's your plan?" the Witch spat as the florid dragon [2400/1800] appeared.
"Now, tuning, level seven Black Rose Dragon to level three Twilight Rose Dragon!" Ryuusei called. Here, he paused, looking up at the two dragons and remembering. Remembering a garden, blazing gold fire like a thousand Julys burning in defiance of Winter.
"For all those redeemed nightmares," he murmured, "Farewell, glorious sun; flower of the night, bloom! Accel Synchro! From the darkness greet me, Night Rose Dragon!"
Wisps of black whirled overhead, condensing into the form of an enormous dragon. Its narrow head and slender neck was velvety black, as were its wings formed by countless dark purplish-red rose petals. The dragon was coated with brilliant stardust, glowing and glittering like a starry night sky [3000/2500].
"N- Night Rose..." the Witch gasped.
"I draw two cards due to Hyper Librarian," Ryuusei next announced. "Activating Night Rose Dragon's first effect! I can banish any number of Plant Type monsters in my grave to destroy the same number of cards on the field. I will banish Spore and Dandylion to destroy your two face down cards."
"But, I'll still have life points," the Witch considered.
"The second effect of Night Rose Dragon," Ryuusei continued. "I choose your Botanical Lion, and its attack and defence power is halved [1900/2000 → 950/1000]."
"Demon!" someone booed from the stage.
"Take it easy, your opponent's a girl!"
"What's the difference between a girl and a guy?" Chase's voice yelled.
"That's right!" Rex bellowed. "Man or woman, we're all Duellists!"
"Shirahane, those two are right, now get your head checked!"
"Battle!" Ryuusei called. "Night Rose Dragon, attack with Witching Obscurity!"
Witch: LP 8000 → LP 5950
Ryuusei: LP 7400
"Now, Hyper Librarian, direct attack!" Ryuusei called.
Witch: LP 5950 → LP 3550
Ryuusei: LP 7400
The Witch sighed. "I thought... that I could have fun..."
"What's wrong?" Ryuusei asked.
"It's..." the Witch hesitated. "When I first appeared, everyone loved me. I was constantly being challenged, duelled with... then, one day, no one came anymore. I found it hard to find a Duellist..."
"Well, let's do our best, okay?" Ryuusei offered. "We're all here to enjoy ourselves. I'll set two cards and end my turn."
"Try..." the Witch nodded slowly. "Draw! I'll summon Tomato in Tomato [1000/1400], which allows me to special summon another Tomato in Tomato from my hand or deck. Now, I activate the Spell, Closed Plant Gate. During my opponent's next turn, they cannot declare an attack."
"Oh, Witch-san managed to buy some time!"
"Quite a good move."
"Now, I activate the Continuous Spell, Catapultomato!" she called. "I can tribute one Plant Type monster to inflict four hundred damage to my opponent. I tribute both Tokens to inflict eight hundred damage! Fire!"
Ryuusei: LP 7400 → LP 6600
Witch: LP 3550
"Not bad," Ryuusei admitted as the smoke died down.
"Turn end," she announced.
"Draw!" Ryuusei called. "Activate Trap, Lost Star Descending. I special summon Twilight Rose Dragon with one level decreased and its defence at zero, on top of having its effect negated. One Tomato Token is special summoned. So, I tribute the Token to summon Gigaplant [2400/1200]. Equip Supervise to Gigaplant. With this, the present is complete."
"Present?" the Witch echoed.
"Tuning, level six Gigaplant to level two Twilight Rose Dragon!" Ryuusei called. "Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon!"
"This chant... can it be? A level eight Synchro monster..."
"Synchro Summon!" Ryuusei called as white wings like sails, a draconic roar and stardust scattering in its wake screamed [2500/2000]. "Take flight, Stardust Dragon!"
"The legendary ace monster of Fudo Yusei... Stardust Dragon...!"
"So, in a time when he couldn't attack, he uses this to bolster his offence..."
"Because Supervise is removed from the field to the graveyard, Gigaplant is special summoned to the field." Ryuusei elaborated. "Turn end."
"W- Why would you summon that legendary card here..." the Witch spoke in a hushed voice.
"Well, as Duellists, we should go all out, right?" Ryuusei reasoned. "To do less is to insult our opponents."
"I... see... Draw!" the Witch called. "How interesting! I summon Tomato Knight [1100/800]! Now I create an Overlay Network with three level three monsters! Exceed summon, Tomato King!"
"It should have some hidden effect..." Ryuusei muttered as a giant tomato wearing a crown appeared [1600/800].
"I tribute both special summoned Tomato Tokens to inflict another eight hundred damage," the Witch reported. "Furthermore, I activate the effect of Tomato King, detaching one Exceed material to double his attack until my next standby phase [1600/800 → 3200/800]."
Ryuusei: LP 6600 → LP 5800
Witch: LP 3550
"Battle!" the Witch called. "Tomato King, attack Night Rose Dragon!"
"Duel Academia's Prince of Duel obviously has something, right? Right?"
"Nope," Ryuusei shook his head as Night Rose Dragon was destroyed.
Ryuusei: LP 5800 → LP 5600
Witch: LP 3550
"Trap card, open!" Ryuusei snapped. "Miracle's Wake!"
From above burst forth the gleaming dragon once more [3000/2500].
"Turn end," the Witch whispered.
"Draw!" Ryuusei announced. "Let's do this! Night Rose Dragon's second ability, Sapping Bloom!"
Night Rose snapped its jaws as some miasma surrounded the Tomato King [3200/800 → 1600/800].
"Now, Night Rose Dragon, attack with Witching Obscurity!" Ryuusei called as the dragon's breath fried. The smell of cooking tomato filled the air.
Witch: LP 3550 → LP 2150
Ryuusei: LP 5600
"Stardust Dragon, direct attack with Shooting Sonic!"
Witch: LP 2150 → LP 0
Ryuusei: LP 5600
"And the Prince of Duel wins again!"
"Ah, that was fun," the Witch laughed as she met Ryuusei later somewhere by the huge sakura tree on the campus. Dusk was fast approaching overhead as the festival entered the last stage of the party.
"Thank you," Ryuusei politely nodded.
"No, thank you, Knight-san," the Witch smiled. "When did you realise it?"
"A while ago," Ryuusei acknowledged. "You're the real Witch of the Black Forest, aren't you?"
The Duel Spirit gave a tender smile as she began to fade. "I have been around ever since... well, the start of the game. Soon after that, I was played by almost every Duellist. I was loved... or so I thought."
"Oh, the Forbidden List," Ryuusei muttered awkwardly.
"It was lonely soon enough," the Witch sighed. "I still had people who played me, but not as often, and soon I was forgotten in favour of cards like Black Magician Girl. The city continued to change, and mortals forget, but... the cards remained. Today was fun, like sunlight on a dreary existence."
"Oh," Ryuusei quietly answered. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
"I'm so glad..." the Witch gave a throaty laugh as she pecked him on the cheek. "Like roses. With you around, I can rest easy. Thank you, Your Majesty, for coming back."
"E- Eh?" Ryuusei gaped as the Witch twirled and disappeared in a flash of black robes.
"She finally came out," Marguerite sounded surprised. "She's one of those spirits in the park."
"You mean, with the Dreamsprite?" Ryuusei asked in surprise. "I've never seen her..."
"Who would?" Marguerite rhetorically posed. "Witches of the Black Forest are primarily healers and searchers, not battlers or tricksters. For her to come out, she must really feel safe. Your presence is one that grants us spirits allied with Summer comfort, you must realise."
"Really?" Ryuusei murmured as giggling and more fairies appeared to surround him and even tug at his cloak and sword. "Well... you're my friends as well..."
Laughter rang out, merry and sweet in the heat of midsummer as more danced about. "Why, thank you," Marguerite whispered before he was pulled into a clumsy waltz by some of the fairies.
It was a while before Ryuusei had to extricate himself and move back to where the festival was being held, where a body crashed into him.
"Oh, sorry," the older man rumbled as he left.
"Don't worry about it," Ryuusei frowned as the man left. "That aura... was it my imagination?" he paused, before shrugging off to join the rest of Kings and Queens in the festival of Midsummer's Night.
"Waah!" Ryuusei gaped at the Aussa that was hiding in his room. "You..."
"Is there something wrong?" Aussa blinked owlishly at him. She was half-dressed in her worn robes, and there was another half-dressed girl with a staff, this one with fiery red hair and a Fox Fire for a familiar spirit. "This is Blazing Hiita, by the way."
"Nice to meet you," Ryuusei greeted. "Back to the point... why are both of you half-dressed in my room? Better yet, why are you in my room?"
"This is your demesne, is it not?" Aussa tilted her head. "It is normal for bodyguards of royalty to remain in the same room, perhaps closer. As for our state of dress, it is hot."
"Oh, Aussa?" Hiita smirked as she caught the Earth Charmer in a headlock. "What she means that we were Queen Titania's handmaids rather than bodyguards, seeing as you mortals don't really get the concept."
"But I don't need any servants," Ryuusei answered, perplexed.
"Oh?" Hiita sauntered up would have reached if not for Marguerite's kind hand.
"He does not need more information passed that way," the Witch of the Time Flower warned.
"... this is one of those complete disregard of personal space things, right?" Ryuusei realised.
"No, this is a way to implant information into a person's skull," Marguerite answered. "I forget that mortals are not aware of such communication, but Aussa gave you information by directing everything into your head, reducing the need to argue or explain."
"Erm... please don't do that again," Ryuusei muttered.
"Did it displease you?" Aussa cocked her head. "I was sure that Your Highness required a clear explanation. This was the most expedient way of delivering it."
"..." Ryuusei gave up arguing about the semantics of a kiss. "The question. I don't need servants."
"Surely you have no wish to be attacked in your sleep," Marguerite considered. "You may not require them, but your family will. Perhaps you do not realise, but you are a target now. And the predators after you will not hesitate to kill, especially amongst spirits. Former Signers or not, your parents have escaped their destiny but lost the protection of the Crimson Dragon. Your safety is paramount amongst the Summer-bound. As for why Aussa and Hiita is here, that is to weave the barrier to protect at least this house and keep malicious influences out, be it from Winter or from Summer itself."
"Summer itself...?" Ryuusei gaped. "I'm being targeted because of politics?"
"When it concerns who holds power within the Court, is it not obvious?" Marguerite questioned. "I will teach you more in the future, but for now, the only protectors you have are those steadfast partners you hold within your deck and the three of us. Surely you can live through this."
"Y- Yeah," Ryuusei slowly nodded, having not been a stranger to danger ever since the attacks on himself. "It's... new, I guess. Being targeted for some reason other than being a powerful psychic or for my looks."
Marguerite coughed vaguely.
Ryuusei's eyes narrowed. "Marguerite. You're not telling me something."
The Witch of the Time Flower looked vaguely discomfited. "Well, when a flower blooms, the initial fragrance will draw bees to its sweet nectar-"
"Marguerite."
"You may face more attacks from monsters who want to eat you, whether literally or metaphorically." Hiita lasciviously smirked. "And, Your Highness?"
"Call me Ryuusei," Ryuusei answered. "Both of you."
"Ryuusei," Aussa tested. "Meteor... we spirits by nature do not differentiate by gender or sex. You will be a target."
"As you have been ever since you could be smelt," Marguerite murmured. "Aussa, how did he taste?"
"Like roses," Aussa answered.
"Why are all of you discussing how I smell and taste?" Ryuusei grumbled.
"There are monsters who are going to eat you," Marguerite began.
"Yes?"
"Those monsters are going to judge their perception of your value as a food or mate based on scent and taste," Hiita took up.
"Aussa thinks, it would be the most logical thing to do, to discuss exactly what makes Your Highness's scent and taste more enticing in order to mask those effects," Aussa took up.
To that, he could not give an adequate reply except to sink his face into his pillow and curse fate. "Please stop with the title already...!"
*Note, this is a Japanese pun: Kawaii, Kakuaii, Kowaii, or something like that translated...
Twilight Rose Dragon
Dark LV3 500/1400
1 tuner + 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Synchro/Tuner/Plant
Once per turn, you can tribute 1 level 5 or higher Plant-type monster to Special Summon 1 Plant-type monster or 1 "Black Rose Dragon" from your Graveyard.
Night Rose Dragon
Dark LV10 3000/2500
1 Synchro tuner + "Black Rose Dragon"
Synchro/Dragon
You can banish any number of plant-type monsters in your Graveyard to target the same number of cards on the field; destroy them. Once per turn, you can target 1 monster your opponent controls and halve its ATK and DEF.
Credit for the above cards go to The Otherworlder. Both were first featured in Chapter 13 of the story, Born in Another World.
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