The Road to Rule
"How do you typically spend your Christmases, Mateo?" Luna asked as she sat next to Mateo on the couch. He glanced over to her, and then back to tinkering with some wires protruding from his Duel Disk.
"I spent the majority of my life alone, to be perfectly honest." Mateo replied. "I never really experienced a true Christmas. Every once in a while, I'd find someone who was just as lonely as I was, and we'd have a duel and trade cards, but other than that…"
"That's terrible!"
"Oh, it isn't so bad. Besides, you guys have this beautiful tree set up, and I suppose that one Christmas is better than no Christmas." Mateo closed the hatch on his Duel Disk and set it on the table as Jack walked up.
"Never liked Christmas. Not enough action. Suspense, yes, but Yusei and Crow always made me celebrate."
"I love how Jack conveniently forgot to mention that he was always the one who went out to find the tree."
"I did not!" Crow and Jack started bickering, and Mateo chuckled.
"I think I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Mateo." Luna called as Mateo picked up his Duel Disk and got off the couch to walk to his room. He closed the door as Crow and Jack's shouting started to get louder and Yusei got involved. Mateo threw himself onto his bed and sighed, his eyes closing.
Panic grew across Mateo's face as he looked down at his Duel Disk. He was at 50 Life Points. How did I get so low so fast? What happened? What's going on...?
Mateo's thoughts were interrupted by a blood-curdling roar. The shadows surrounding him parted for an even darker shadow, a large pitch-black dragon. It glared down at Mateo before breathing black flame, enveloping him completely. Mateo screamed in pain as his Life Points dropped to 0. The pain continued further, and the last thing Mateo felt was his heart stopping before he bolted awake in his bed, sweat pouring down his face, and panting heavily. He gulped and looked over to his Duel Disk.
Mateo walks down the ramp into the garage and clicks a button on his Duel Runner. Two slender arms reach up from the Duel Runner and attach to the bottom of the Duel Disk blade, and it separates from the Wrist Dealer and attaches onto the Duel Runner. He lifts the arm and sits down on the seat for a moment, before he starts the Duel Runner up. The garage door opens, and Mateo starts to back out, but Jack enters the room.
"Mateo?" He asked. "What are you doing?"
"Going out for a bit." Mateo continues heading out, but Jack hops off the ramp and walks over to his Duel Runner.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Something like that."
"Well, I've never been much of a sleeper myself." Jack replied. "I'll go with you."
"The city looks lovely around this time of year, doesn't it, Jack?"
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I suppose so." Jack looked distracted, so Mateo brought his Duel Runner in a little closer to his.
"Hey! I heard an interesting rumor!"
"I'm not the rumor type, either."
"No, no, you'll like this!" Mateo called. Jack sighed and looked at him. "There's a rumor that anyone who's crazy enough to go Turbo Dueling on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Eve only, will have access to a special version of Speed World. What do you say?"
"Are… Are you challenging me to a duel?"
"Yup! Wassamatter? Scared?"
"Hell no! Let's do this!" Mateo nodded and pressed a button on his Duel Runner screen, and the Duel Runner began actively searching for a Duel Track. After a few moments, it found one, and the entrance opened. Mateo and Jack drove onto the track, with the entrance closing behind them.
"Duel mode active. Autopilot standing by." Jack and Mateo revved their Duel Runners. "Activating the Snow World Field Spell."
A glowing cloud appeared above Mateo and Jack's heads with snow slowly drifting down as ice formed across the Track. Jack and Mateo drew their top 5 cards. "Let's duel!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 0
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 0
"Snow World, huh?" Jack brought the card info up, taking his eyes off the road. His Duel Runner hit a patch of ice and started wobbling and sliding. "Whoa!"
"Ha! Looks like these ice patches are here to add some challenge to an already difficult game!" Mateo called. "Eh, Jack?"
"Indeed. So then. Shall we begin?"
"We shall. I'll make the first move!" Mateo placed his index finger on the top card of his deck and drew a card. "I draw!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 0-1
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 0-1
"I summon the White Stone of Legend in Defense Mode!" Mateo called as the small egg-shaped stone appeared to the field with a blue hue over it. "I'll place three cards facedown on my field to end my turn!"
"Looks like it's my turn then!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 1-2
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 1-2
"If you control a monster and I don't, I can Special Summon my Vice Dragon from my hand! Sure, it has only half of its original Attack, but it's gonna be used for more than that." Jack's monster roared to the field, despite its diminished state. "Cause I'm gonna release it! This allows me to summon my Strong Wind Dragon! And when Strong Wind Dragon is Normal Summoned by tributing a Dragon-type monster, it gains attack equal to half the original attack of the monster used for its summoning!"
"Quite the monster you've got there, Jack."
"Why, thank you!" Jack replied. "Strong Wind Dragon! Attack the White Stone of Legend! Hurricane Gale!"
Strong Wind Dragon roared and then flapped its wings, as gale forces obliterated the White Stone of Legend and ripped through it towards Mateo. At the last second, it stopped, and the sound of a card being drawn echoed through the Track. "What?"
"I activate my Defense Draw Trap card! When I would take Battle Damage, I can activate this card and negate the damage, and then draw a card!" Mateo replied as he added his card to his hand. His deck then shuffled itself and then a card ejected itself from the top into Mateo's waiting hand. "And not only that, when the White Stone of Legend is sent to the graveyard, I can add a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from my deck to my hand!"
"I guess this duel wouldn't be any fun if you just let me win, would it?"
"Of course not!"
"I place one card facedown and end my turn!"
"Then it's my turn!" Mateo called. "I draw!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 2-3
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 2-3
"I'm gonna summon my Maiden with Eyes of Blue in Attack mode!" Mateo placed his card on the Duel Blade, and the Maiden appeared in a burst of light. "And with that, I'll end my turn!"
"Alright, looks like it's my turn!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 3-4
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 3-4
"I summon my Twin-Sword Marauder! And with him, I attack your Maiden with Eyes of Blue!"
"My Maiden's effect activates! When it is attacked, I can negate the attack and switch my Maiden to Defense mode! Then I can special summon my Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Mateo threw his hand into the air as the mighty Blue-Eyes White Dragon burst forth with a powerful roar.
"That's exactly what I was waiting for! Strong Wind Dragon! Attack the Maiden with Eyes of Blue!" Jack exclaimed as his dragon flapped its wings again, with the gale headed straight for the Maiden. "Hurricane Gale!"
At the last second, the Maiden vanished, becoming its glowing blue Level Star. It floated over to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and wrapped around it, creating a glowing green ring around it. "You surprise me, Mateo! I haven't seen Urgent Tuning used in a long time!"
"Ha! Not many people have! From the primordial egg, I call and command you to rise! Illuminate the path of destiny!" Blue-Eyes White Dragon's Level stars glowed through its body, and it becomes a glowing outline of itself. Blue-Eyes White Dragon's Level stars arranged themselves into a straight line as they are pierced by a green light, expanding to the innermost rim of the rings. "Synchro Summon! Evolve! Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon!"
"No matter! Strong Wind! Destroy Azure-Eyes!
"Not quite! I activate my facedown Trap card! Negate Attack!"
"Is that monster your Signer Dragon, perhaps? Is that why you are determined to keep it safe?"
"To be honest with you, Jack, I have no idea what my Signer Dragon is. But I know for a fact that it isn't this Dragon or Star Eater." Mateo replied. "But for now… I draw!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 4-5
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 4-5
"I pay 4 of my Speed Counters! Unlike Speed World 3, Snow World doesn't give me benefits, but grants me the ability to hinder you! And by paying 4 Speed Counters, I can create an Ice Barrier to force your Strong Wing Dragon into a weakened state! Mateo clicked a button, activating a rear-view camera as he span around, watching the screen for ice patches. He threw his hand forwards, and an ice barrier forms in front of Mateo's Duel Runner and shoots towards Strong Wind Dragon. When it hits it, its Attack power is reduced by 1000 points.
Mateo: SPC 5-1
"And now, my Azure-Eyes Dragon! Attack Strong Wind Dragon with Primordial Breath!" Azure-Eyes rears back and roars, before breathing white fire at Strong Wind Dragon, obliterating it.
"Ooof!"
Jack: 4000 LP-3900 LP
"That was a good move. But I've got something better!"
"Then bring it on, Jack!" Mateo span his Duel Runner back around and switched off his rear-facing camera. "My turn is over!"
"Then it's my turn! Draw!"
Mateo: 4000 LP SPC 1-2
Jack: 4000 LP SPC 5-6
"If you control a Synchro Monster, I can special summon my Mirror Resonator from my hand! Next, I summon my Creation Resonator! I tune my level three Creation Resonator to my level 4 Twin-Sword Marauder!" Jack called. Creation Resonator's three Level stars burst out of it and encircled Twin-Sword Marauder with three glowing, green circles. Twin-Sword Marauder's Level stars aligned themselves in a straight line before being pierced by a green light that expanded to the innermost rim of the rings. "I Synchro Summon my Exploder Dragonwing! But that isn't all!"
"Go on, Jack. Show me what you've got!"
"I'm gonna tune my level 1 Mirror Resonator, now, to my level 7 Exploder Dragonwing!" Just like when Exploder Dragonwing was summoned, Mirror Resonator's Level star burst out of it and encircled Exploder Dragonwing. Then the level stars of Exploder Dragonwing aligned themselves before the green light of a Synchro Summon pierced through all seven of them. "Behold, in an inferno of power and might, a blazing new beast is now forged! I Synchro Summon the Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"There it is. Your mighty Signer Dragon."
"I pay 4 Speed Counters to reduce your Azure-Eyes Attack by 1000!" Jack throws his hand forward as an ice barrier forms and shoots at Azure-Eyes. Mateo smirks as the ice collides with Azure-Eyes, weakening it.
Jack: SPC 6-2
"Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack Azure-Eyes Silver Dragon! Absolute Powerforce!" Red Dragon Archfiend's hand becomes engulfed in flame as it roars. It turns to Azure-Eyes and slashes, obliterating Azure-Eyes.
"Aaaaaaah!"
Mateo: 4000 LP-2500 LP
"That was a good one! I like that!" Mateo called out, laughing. "But I'm gonna win this, Jack. And I'll show you how!"
Mateo's Mark of the Dragon starts glowing through his coat sleeve. "It's my turn!"
Mateo: 2500 LP SPC 2-3
Jack: 3900 LP SPC 2-3
"I summon my Alexandrite Dragon! And with one card facedown, I end my turn!"
"All you've got for your strategy is a small, weakling Dragon?" Jack replied. "Well, alright. Cause it's my turn, now!"
Mateo: 2500 LP SPC 3-4
Jack: 3900 LP SPC 3-4
"I pay 4 of my Speed Counters to use the effect of Snow World! Now your Alexandrite Dragon's attack is weakened!" Once again, the ice barrier forms and shoots at Alexandrite Dragon, weakening it.
Jack: SPC 4 0
"Red Dragon Archfiend, attack! Absolute Powerforce!" Red Dragon Archfiend surges forward, but before it can reach Alexandrite Dragon, a large crack, flowing with dark energy erupted between the two monsters. "Oh, no, you, don't! I activate my Red Salvation Trap card! During the End Phase of the turn a Red Dragon Archfiend is removed from the field, no matter where it is sent, it will return!"
"That only provides a temporary salvation from my Dimensional Prison, but I applaud your efforts, Jack!" Mateo smiled. "It's my turn, meaning your Red Dragon Archfiend revives to the field!"
Mateo: 2500 LP SPC 4-5
Jack: 3900 LP SPC 0-1
"I summon Delta Flyer to my field! And with Delta Flyer's effect, I can raise my Alexandrite Dragon's Level by 1, making it level 5! So I'm gonna tune my level 3 Delta Flyer to my level 5 Alexandrite Dragon! The Earth burns in a terribly beautiful display of power and might! Illuminate the path of destiny!" Mateo throws up his hand as a green light surrounds him. In a burst of red light, a card appears in his hand. "Synchro Summon! My display of strength, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
"So then. That's how it's gonna be, is it? Archfiend vs Archfiend?"
"You could say that, but by the End Phase, there's only gonna be one Red Dragon Archfiend on the field!" Mateo tapped on the brakes, and Jack sped past him, swerving to avoid an ice patch. "Using Snow World, I reduce your Red Dragon Archfiend's Attack by 1000!"
Mateo: SPC 5-1
"Red Dragon Archfiend, attack! Use your Crimson Flare attack!" Red Dragon Archfiend roared and turned to Jack's Red Dragon Archfiend. Mateo's monster blasted fire at Jack's Red Dragon Archfiend, which attempts to retaliate with its Absolute Powerforce attack, but fails to do so as it explodes.
"Augh!" Jack's Duel Runner wobbled a bit, and narrowly avoided an ice patch.
Jack: 3900 LP-2900 LP
"You don't beat around the bush, do you?"
"I don't try to."
"Sounds fun. My turn, then?"
"Just one moment. I'm gonna set one card facedown. And I end my turn!"
"Alright! It's my turn!"
Mateo: 2500 LP SPC 1-2
Jack: 2900 LP SPC 1-2
"I'm gonna activate my Speed Spell – Overboost Spell card! This increases my Speed Counters by 6, but at my End Phase, they reduce down to 1!" Boosters appear on the back of Jack's Pheonix Whirlwind, and he blasts forwards.
Jack: SPC 2-8
"Next, I activate my Spell card Speed Spell – Deceased Synchron from my hand! This lets me perform a Synchro Summon using monsters that reside in my Graveyard by paying 8 Speed Counters! So I'm gonna double tune my level 8 Red Dragon Archfiend with my level 3 Creation Resonator and level 1 Mirror Resonator!" Three balls of light float out of Jack's Graveyard and take form as the three monsters Jack is using for the Synchro Summon. In a burst of light, fiery rings are created from the two Tuner Monsters equal to their level stars, and surround Red Dragon Archfiend. The rings start spinning until Red Dragon Archfiend is no longer visible.
Jack: SPC 8-0
"Here is comes."
Jack's Mark of the Dragon starts to glow as he raises his hand into the air, and, like when Mateo summoned Red Dragon Archfiend, a light glowing in the shape of a card appears in Jack's hand. "Behold as the stars high above in the sky, and the fire deep down below in the earth collide in a cosmic explosion to Synchro Summon Red Nova Dragon!"
Red Nova Dragon roars as the flames evaporate. "With his effect, he gains Attack equal to every Tuner Monster in my Graveyard. At this moment there aren't any Tuners in my graveyard. But it's Attack is high enough to beat your Red Dragon Archfiend! Attack!"
Red Nova Dragon soars up into the sky, and then shoots down at Red Dragon Archfiend. "Afraid I can't allow, that, Jack!"
Just before Red Nova Dragon would strike, a large shield appeared between it and Red Dragon Archfiend. As it hits the shield, Mateo is hit with a burst of green energy.
Mateo: 2500 LP 6000LP
"What?"
"You triggered my Draining Shield Trap card! It negates your attack and increases my Life Points by your monster's Attack points!"
"You're really not making this easy!"
"Not trying to make this easy. I need Red Dragon Archfiend. So long as I can draw the right card, at least." Mateo replied. "Speaking of which, is it my turn?"
"Go ahead. Draw this card, if you think that you can." Mateo looks down to his deck, and concentrates, but his mind wanders to his nightmare, and his life being eradicated when his Life Points reached 0. His heart started beating faster and he started to hyperventilate. "Mateo? Are you alright?"
"Y-yeah. Yeah, I think so. Okay. It… It's my turn!" Mateo puts his hand on his deck, and the top card started glowing. He looks relieved, as he draws it. "I draw!"
Mateo: 6000 LP SPC 2 3
Jack: 2900 LP SPC 0 1
"I summon Majestic Dragon in attack mode!" Mateo called as the dragon appeared to the field. "And when I Normal Summon a monster, I can special summon my Turbo Booster from my hand!"
"Oh, bollocks!"
"You know what this means! I'm gonna tune my level 1 Majestic Dragon to my level 8 Red Dragon Archfiend and level 1 Turbo Booster!" Majestic Dragon floated up and then expanded to several times its original size. Red Dragon Archfiend roared as it and Turbo Booster floated up to its chest as Majestic Dragon floats higher, and they pass through Majestic Dragon's now transparent form. All nine Level starts shoot out of the monsters and align themselves from head to tail on Majestic Dragon, as a green light pierced all nine of them. "Cracking earth and enveloping flame. Show all who stand before you the truth in majesty! Illuminate the path of destiny!"
The light that pierced through the nine Level stars expanded until it enveloped the entire Duel Track. "Synchro Summon! Blaze on, Majestic Red Dragon!"
"Damn it."
"I think you know what happens now."
"Obviously."
"Good. Cause I'm gonna use Majestic Red Dragon's effect to negate Red Nova Dragon's effect! And, due to its effect, Majestic Red Dragon gains Attack equal to Red Nova Dragon's Attack!" Mateo revved his Duel Runner and surged forward. "Majestic Red Dragon, attack!"
Majestic Red Dragon flew up, and then launched itself at Red Nova Dragon as the sun broke over the city buildings. Majestic Red Dragon smashed through Red Nova Dragon, and it explodes. "Eeeeeuuuuurrrrrrgggghhhhhh!"
Jack: 2900 LP 0 LP
As Jack's Life Points reduce to 0, a burst of steam is ejected on either side of Jack, as he is brought to a stop. Majestic Red Dragon and the ice and snow of Snow World fade as Mateo circles around and stops next to Jack, who is in the middle of removing his helmet. "That was an awesome duel."
"I suppose."
"You know, that was the one thing about Christmas that I really consider tradition."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know, life on your own, it isn't always easy. But there's always someone to duel, and it's a way to pass the time. After all, what time was it when we left? Three, four in the morning? It's now seven o'clock." Mateo replied. "Thanks for keeping my only Christmas tradition alive."
"Oh. My, uh… My pleasure." Jack replied. "We should probably be headed back home, shouldn't we?"
"Yeah, probably.
Jack and Mateo walk their Duel Runners back into the garage. Jack clicks a button on the wall and the garage door closes. Quietly walking up the ramp, they stop when a voice calls out. "Didn't think you'd be able to sneak out for a midnight ride and get away with it, did you?"
Crow steps out from the doorway and into the garage. "Come on. Christmas breakfast is gonna start, soon."
"Is that Jack?"
"Yes, Martha!"
"MARTHA?!"
"Yeah, we invited her." A black woman walks around the corner and sees Jack. She smiles and hugs him, a surprised look on his face.
"And what sort of time is this, Jack Atlas?
"I, uh…"
"Well it's a good thing you made it, at least. Come inside. Oh, and you must be Mateo." Martha pushed past a bewildered Jack and hugged Mateo. "Yusei's told me about you, and this 'threat'. Don't worry about a thing. If anyone is gonna beat this thing, it's you Signers. Now then. Off to breakfast. Go on."
Mateo chuckled a bit, before following Jack and Crow into the living area of Yusei's garage. Yusei and Leo appeared to be finished cooking and were in the middle of putting things on the dinner table. Luna and Akiza were setting the table. Luna looks over to the door and smiled as Mateo and Jack came in. "We thought you were gonna miss breakfast!"
"Nah, I wouldn't want to miss all this!"
After breakfast, everyone sat in the living room opening presents, except for Mateo, who was standing in the corner, watching everyone open gifts, smiling slightly. "Mateo!"
Yusei tossed a small box over to Mateo, who caught it. "This is from all of us."
Mateo looked up at everyone, who was watching him. He gulped and looked down at the gift in his hand, wrapped in red paper with a green bow. He gingerly untied the bow and took the top off. With everyone watching in suspense, he took the card that was sitting inside the box out and stared at it. "Such a small thing, and yet… Yet it's so significant."
"A lot of strings had to be pulled to get that card. There are only two of its kind. But I think the power in it lies more in the title." Yusei replied. "Converging Wishes."
"I'll treasure this. I mean it."
"Oh, before you get all mushy, I got you something, too." Jack walks into the room with a large box and hands it to Mateo. Mateo looks down at it and then back up to Jack quizzically, before unwrapping it. Opening the box, he sees a riding helmet for his Duel Runner. "Just don't blame me if it's not the right size."
"I'm sure it will be just fine. Thank you. All of you." Mateo replied, trying to hold back tears. "Thanks for making my first real Christmas a special one."