"I thought you said you were part of the tournament!" Atem and Serena heard. The pair had finally gotten those drinks Serena had went for and rushed back to the scene of Rei's duel only to find a very angry Rebecca.
"I said nothing of the sort! You challenged me, you didn't say anything about Battle City! I don't even have locator cards anymore!" Rei shot back. Atem sighed. He'd forgotten that Rei was out of the tournament when Rebecca had made the challenge.
"Ugh. What a waste of time," the granddaughter of Arthur Hawkins grumbled. Rei caught Atem out of the corner of her eye and turned around.
"Hey! Where the heck were you? You guys just abandoned me mid-duel, thanks. And besides, I thought this girl was some champion or something. Seems pretty immature for such an accolade," She complained. Atem and Serena relayed the series of events that had taken place, leaving Rei speechless.
"Wow. You must be pretty decent to use Yu- sorry, Atem, I keep forgetting," She added as Atem opened his mouth. "Anyway, to win like that with someone else's deck takes some skill," Rebecca said. Serena blushed slightly at the praise; she felt as though she'd barely pulled the win out.
"So wait a minute. You have one of the Wicked Gods now?" Rei realized.
"Wicked Gods?" Rebecca echoed.
"Yes, Rebecca. It's… complicated. Let's just say that things are going awry again just like the first Battle City, but even weirder this time," Atem said. Rebecca looked at him with questioning and concern. "It's better if you stay uninvolved," He told her. She shook her head fiercely.
"If you're going to be fighting evil or whatever, I wanna help," She said in an almost whiny voice.
"Oh no, God made two of 'em," Rei said in mock horror, staring straight at Serena. Serena pursed her lips. Rei was gonna pay for that remark later. Pushing that thought aside, she gave a derisive snort.
"Hell, Atem. We've told everyone else that knows you, why not her? Just because she's a girl?" Atem's eyes shifted. That was actually his EXACT reasoning; not to be sexist, he just didn't want to involve any of the girls that didn't have superpowers.
"I…er… I think we have a strong enough force as it is, that's all," Atem explained nervously. This could only end badly; two girls with fighting experience from fighting the forces of evil and a college student that could still handle herself versus one very cornered Pharaoh were not good odds.
"Yeah. You think I can't handle it or something? I fought Dartz's goons, remember?" Rebecca added, hands on her hips as the three advanced on Atem. The poor lone man put his hands out in a sign of peace.
"Look… I've already gotten you involved in my messes once with Dartz. This is our problem to deal with. It's fine, don't worry about-" Serena cut Atem off.
"Look, Atem. We need everyone to help. Just give her the details so we can be off," She said impatiently. Atem and Rei both gave her odd looks. That was very unlike Serena to be so bold and impersonal. As Atem gazed at her, he caught what he could have sworn was something… different in her eyes. Something was wrong, he could feel it.
"…Serena, you feeling alright?" Rei asked quietly as Atem explained the basics to Rebecca. Serena shrugged.
"Fine, why? I just want to get another duel in so I can get my sixth locator," She replied. Rei nodded, but still had her suspicions just as Atem. "You quite done yet?" She called over to Atem. He nodded and Rebecca looked at her and Rei in awe.
"Sweet! I'm friends with superheroes now," She said with a grin.
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"Hey! Bakura!" Neflite had hauled tail to find the Egyptian as soon as she'd lost her match. She finally found him in the middle of a duel, yelling out to get his attention. He held a finger up and continued play.
"I play Card Destruction to discard our hands, discarding two Graphas, play Monster Reborn on one, Summon Beige, return it for the other, play Gates of Dark World, and attack for the game. Locator cards and rare card," He said. His opponent stared in shock, slack jawed until finally he shut his disk and handed the cards to Bakura.
"Now then. What do you want?" He asked.
"Uhm…" Neflite didn't know how to put this in a way where she wouldn't wind up dead or worse. "I'll be blunt; I ran into Serena and dueled her," She began.
"Good. You knew her strategy, how did it go?" He asked.
"That's the thing. Atem and her had accidentally, ah, exchanged decks. She was using Atem's cards, and, uh, well," Neflite stuttered. Bakura narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me you did not lose," he hissed. Neflite gulped.
"I can tell you. Doesn't make it true," She said nervously. Bakura vibrated with rage as he advanced on her.
"YOU LOST DREADROOT?!" He roared. Neflite let out a squeak that Bakura assumed was an affirmative. He KNEW he'd felt a disturbance in the balance of power between the Wicked Gods. "Pathetic fool! And how many locators do you have left?" He asked.
"Just the one," She said. Bakura made to yell at her again but paused.
"Wait… you said earlier that she used Atem's deck to Summon monsters on you when you tried to take Slifer, correct?" He asked. Neflite, surprised at the sudden softening of tone, nodded. "So she used the power of her Moon Prism to do it. That's the thing that gives her the Sailor powers, right? It's closely connected to her?" He pressed.
"She's the Moon Princess. The link is inextricable," She replied. He smiled dangerously and gave a low laugh.
"Perhaps this with work in our favor after all…" He said thoughtfully. He saw the confused look on Neflite's face and sighed. "All Duel Monsters live in a place called the Shadow Realm. That is why the Shadow Games use real monsters. The Millenium Items were made to take power from the shadows and summon those creatures," He said.
"And?" Neflite pressed.
"Well, when your little Sailor Scout used her Prism to do the same, she essentially put shadow energy in it. It will wear away in time given inaction, but thanks to your poor dueling she has possession of a Wicked God. That card is full of dark energy," He explained.
"You're saying that it would essentially taint the Moon Prism?" Neflite asked sharply. Bakura nodded.
"The Wicked Gods draw evil power from one another. So long as I control at least one, I can use all of their energies. Sailor Moon used an immense amount of shadow energy with her Prism to have summoned Slifer, so I believe it won't be long before she is consumed with the dark energy that I control," He said with a grin.
"Serena will turn on her friends as the darkness takes ahold of her," Neflite realized. "And then…"
"Then I will pull her strings with the power of the Wicked Gods and put her to work for our ends. Once my plan has reached completion, you will be free to have your way with the girl," He said.
"Sounds like a plan. Shall we inform Queen Beryl?" Neflite asked. Bakura nodded and Neflite took off to find her Queen.
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"Hey, who's that?" Serena asked. She'd been practically dragging her group around their designated area, looking for another opponent. She'd even left Rei with Atem when the latter engaged in a duel with an unranked player who'd boldly challenged Atem despite his amateur experience. She'd come back around to see that Atem had won, so the four of them were now back on the prowl.
"Not entirely sure," Atem replied. The girl Serena was looking at was a blonde, wearing a light blue shirt and a denim skirt. She seemed to be on the lookout for opponent's just as Serena was. Serena ran ahead and yelled to get the girl's attention.
"Hey! You part of the Battle City tournament?" She asked. The girl looked surprised, but nodded after giving Serena a once over. "Well, so am I, so let's duel!" Atem and Rei exchanged looks.
"Since when is Serena so…demanding?" Atem wondered. Rei shook her head.
"She's not. That's extremely unlike her," She replied.
"Sure thing. I'm Alexis. And you?" The blonde asked. Serena smiled as they put distance enough for the playing field between them.
"Serena. Now let's get this started!" She said as the Disks activated. Alexis gave an amused smile at the spunk Serena showed and drew her opening hand.
"I'll start by playing Cyber Tutu in Attack Mode!" Alexis declared as a petite dancer with pink hair came to her side (1000/800). "I place two cards facedown and pass it over," She added.
Serena snorted. "Seriously? A ballerina?" She gave a bored sigh. "Let me show you how to REALLY duel! I summon Gladiator Beast Laquari in Attack Mode! Show that dancer some REAL moves!" She commanded. Atem looked to Rei and Rebecca.
"I feel it too, Atem. That dark aggression. That Dreadroot is having an effect on her," Rei said. He nodded in agreement and grimaced. How would they save her from the grasp of Bakura's darkness? Atem was snapped out of his thoughts by Rei's sudden expression change, as though she'd had an idea. Before he could even ask, she ran over to Alexis and began whispering in her ear.
"Hey! No coaching!" Serena protested. Rei rolled her eyes even as Alexis nodded, confirming that she understood what Rei was telling her.
"I wasn't saying anything about the duel, Meatball Head," Rei said. Serena eyes narrowed, but she turned her focus back to Alexis.
"Laquari is going to clean your Tutu's clock!" She said, pointing as the lizard bore down on the petite girl. Alexis grinned.
"Activate Trap Card! I play Doble Passe`!" She said. Serena rose an eyebrow as Cyber Tutu dodged out of the way, allowing Asuka to take the blow (8000 - 1800 = 6200). Her eyes widened as Cyber Tutu began to rush her.
"Hey! You can only attack on your- Ugh!" Serena protested as the dancer hit home with a pirouette kick (8000 - 1000 = 7000). "What gives?"
"When Doble Passe` is activated, both monsters that are involved in a battle instead take a direct shot at the opponent," Alexis explained. Serena frowned, but shrugged.
"Fine with me. At the end of my Battle Phase, my Laquari's effect activates, allowing me to-"
"Hold up!" Alexis interrupted. Serena growled. "I activate Pure Pupil! If I have a monster with 1000 or less ATK on the field, such as Cyber Tutu, I'm allowed to nullify the activation of an Effect Monster's ability. What's more, the monster whose effect was negated is then destroyed!" She said. Serena swore loudly as Laquari was blown apart.
"Alright, fine. A lucky first round, cool beans. I'll lay three cards facedown and call it a turn," Serena muttered as the cards materialized.
"We have to break the spell somehow," Atem said. Rei smiled.
"I have a plan," She said.