Chapter 2: The God of Thunder

The man smirked in his helmet.

"Be careful with that band. You could hurt somebody." He advised. She gave him a weird look… only for it to suddenly send a pulse through her hand, and cause her to shoot lightning from her palm! She almost jumped out of her seat, and looked at him as if he were crazy.

"You should regain vision in your left eye soon, Arden Thracia." He said calmly. She raised her eyebrow, but noticed he was right-soon, the blinding light faded, and she could see normally again. She felt around her eye, and noticed the bleeding had stopped as well. In fact, the only pain that remained was the pain from the bruising and other cuts, but even then, she noticed that was fading.

"What… is this…?" She wondered out loud, breathless. He let out a small chuckle.

"Look in your Extra Deck, Sapphire." He told her. She was confused at the mysterious "Sapphire" title, but looked nonetheless… and saw it glowing. Confused, she touched it, and felt a new card there. She pulled it out… and became immediately more confused.

It was a card she didn't recognize. A Level 11 Synchro Monster? Sure, she used Warrior-types, but this one was different and new. The picture displayed a large, armored, blonde man angrily smashing something with a hammer that had lightning behind it. The Attribute was almost unheard of.

DIVINE.

What was an unfamiliar, Level 11, DIVINE-Attribute Synchro Monster doing in her Extra Deck?! And it wasn't from any Archetype she'd ever heard of, let alone use…

"You created that card."

She snapped her head up to the man.

"W-What?"

He smiled.

"You created that card, with your own power. It belongs to you, and you alone, Sapphire. Now, take ownership of it! Use it! Awaken the God!" He told her fiercely. She swallowed, and bit her lip.

I guess I'll have to take a chance… I have no idea what this nutso is talking about, but if using some card that appeared out of nowhere is the way to win, then I'll use it! She thought, taking in a deep breath. Remembering that she already drew a card, Arden scanned her hand for a play.

Okay, four cards in my hand. Luckily, I just drew the Tuner, Wildfire Fairy. And I have the cards to summon her and my other monsters. Then I can summon that card I just got.

Man: 1000 SPC: 7

Arden: 100 SPC: 7

"Alright, this turn is the end! First, I activate-" She began.

"Haha…do not forget: I destroyed your Magic Barrier, so you can't activate any Spell cards except for Speed Spells." The man interrupted, with a laugh. She got an angry tic.

"I KNOW THAT, YOU IDIOT!" She snapped, glaring at him. She then took a deep breath, and calmed herself.

"But I have 7 Speed Counters, so I'll activate Speed Spell- Summon Orb. With this, I can Special Summon a level 3 or lower monster from my hand, as long as I have 5 or more Speed Counters. Come out, Wildfire Fairy!" She continued. A small, cute fairy with pink hair, tied into two pigtails with wings appeared. But these wings were different from usual ones; these were made of lava, lava that streamed out every time the fairy flew in the air. (ATK: 800-Tuner)

"Psh, is she supposed to help you? Unleash the God, Arden!" The man ordered. Arden smiled.

"That might not be a good thing for you, you know! And I'm not done yet! Now, I Normal Summon Acid Golem in Attack Position!" She warned as she called forth a golem with bandages wrapped around it and acid dripping from the bandages appeared. It let out a nasty groan. (ATK: 1600)

"Ooh, so close. I'm guessing the God you received is of a higher level than the two monsters you have?" He asked.

"I'm still not done! I activate the Speed Spell- Level Rise. When I have 6 or more Speed Counters, I can increase the level of one of my monsters by 2."

The man gasped, in shock. But he retracted that almost immediately in favor of a smile.

Summon it. He thought, knowing what had to be coming.

"Now, I Tune Wildfire Fairy with Acid Golem!" She began. He couldn't help but feel happy. He watched as it started normally. Wildfire Fairy turned into 3 green rings. The rings then scanned Acid Golem, which first change into a glowing yellow "outline" of who in turned transformed into 4 stars. A beam of light enveloped the stars, passing through the rings.

"O divine winds, gather into this hand of mine! Grant me the power to overcome my enemy and achieve victory! Create the resounding thunder and brilliant lightning that heralds his arrival!" She began chanting, a resounding echo coming through her voice. Power began to flow throughout her body as she chanted.

However, this time, the power was not painful. Instead, it was incredible, and made her feel as if she was a goddess of some kind. It made her body glow faintly, and guided her through the summoning process. The sapphire on her bracelet began to shine with brilliant blue light. A bizarre shape on her left eye began to shine as well. As if it was instinct, she took the card, and raised her arm until the sapphire passed in front of her eye.

The lights reacted, and changed to a beautiful, iridescent stream, which struck the beam of light for the Synchro Summon. It changed the beam to its color, and the rings followed suit. Lightning arced over the beam, and it expanded rapidly. The man looked up happily at the scene that was unfolding as she chanted.

"Descend from the heavens above, and crush my enemies with your mighty hammer! Heed the call of your chosen Sapphire! COME TO MY SIDE, ASGARDIAN GOD-THOR, GOD OF THUNDER!" She roared. The beam shone brilliantly, but faded, and a large, 7-to-8-foot tall man with long, blonde hair and a stubbly beard, wearing armor with six metal plates, three on each side, and a distinct symbol on it, a long red cape and carrying a hammer appeared. (ATK: 3300) The man stopped and whistled in amazement at the large being.

"Wasn't expecting to face something that strong… Truly an Asgardian God." He said to himself. Arden stopped a couple feet ahead and smiled.

"Do you see now that you shouldn't have challenged me? I'm the Queen and no one's going to dethrone me!" She yelled proudly as Thor stood by her side.

"I see… So you don't know…" He quietly mused.

"Now, let me show you the power of a god! Thor, attack him directly! Mjolnir Strike!" She exclaimed rather loudly, motioning with her hand.

"Prepare to be smited by my righteous fury, fool!" Thor roared. The man gasped as Thor raised his hammer to strike. The man immediately sped off, trying to avoid getting hit. Arden smiled and followed behind. Thor spun his hammer, and took flight, coming beside her.

"You won't win now! Thor, attack!" She exclaimed again, emphasizing with a dramatic motion of her hand. Thor let out a savage roar, and slammed his hammer down on the man, knocking him off his D-Wheel and causing him and his D-Wheel to crash into the oncoming wall.

Man: 0

Arden: Winner

"In-incredible…" The man said, breathless. Arden rode up to the man as the holograms disappeared.

"Tell me! How do you know what happened to me!?" She roared. He chuckled to himself.

"You claim that you won because you were the Queen. Your sovereignty over this city's Riding Duel Circuit had nothing to do with it." He replied mysteriously. She looked at him, confused.

"What you thought was your destiny-maintaining your crown as the Queen of Miami's Riding Duel Circuit-was but a dream you happened to make come true."

She looked at him as if he were insane. He looked back at her, and she could see the joy in his bizarre silver eyes.

"Your true destiny begins now, Arden Thracia…. Your destiny as the Sapphire." He told her cryptically. He walked over to his D-Wheel, and picked it up. He mounted it, and revved its engine.

"The Sapphire?! What the hell is that supposed to mean?! For that matter, what does anything you say mean?!" She demanded, throwing her arm out to the side.

"If you seek the truth, continue to Duel. The time will come when the Emerald and the Ruby awaken."

Arden was getting angrier and angrier. He wasn't answering her questions at all.

"Remember these words well, Sapphire. Fate will bring you to the Ruby and the Emerald. The brilliance you shine with will bring hope to those who have lost it. The power you create will slay the Beast of the End." He said with a warning tone, before speeding off.

"Wait! You haven't-tch!" She exclaimed, falling on her hands on knees as the damage she took in the Duel hit home. She panted heavily, cursing as she lost consciousness…