10 YEARS AGO – CEMETERY – FUSION DIMENSION
Gloria and Grace stood at the front of the funeral. Everyone's heads were down. Maybe it was them showing respect or maybe they were too afraid to look at what was coming. The coffin was pulled from the hearse by six strong men, all wearing suits. The silence dwelled as they entered the church. It wobbled as they carried it to the front and gently placed it down.
Gloria held Grace's shaky hand the whole time. Grace wiped tears onto her sleeve and rested on her shoulder. Gloria kept it together until they passed a picture of their parents to everyone and that's when all the memories came flooding back like a tidal wave. Their faces seemed so alive and happy. The twins stared blankly at the coffin hoping that a miracle would happen and their parents would rise again and come back to the world, come back to them. But nothing happened. They were gone.
It's crazy how things can turn upside down for them. They see them every day and suddenly, they're gone and when they go, a part of the twins goes with them too. Who knew where they were going to end up if there even was a heaven. They liked to believe that the place is inviting and calm and there's nothing but good in it.
"Grace, don't cry. Don't worry, we're going to be fine. The Professor said he'll take us in. We'll be living in Academia from now on." Gloria kindly told her younger twin sister who was still sniffling between her tears.
"But Mom and Dad aren't here anymore..." Grace said as more tears came out despite her effort to hold them.
"I'm still here, aren't I? I'll keep you safe." Gloria held both her sister's hands in hers, smiling so gently that Grace couldn't look away from her older sister.
"You promise...you won't leave me...?" Grace asked as she held her sister's hands back.
"Yeah. I promise. We'll always be together from now on." Gloria promised. This made Grace to tightened her hold on her sister's hands.
"Don't ever leave me, Big Sis. You promised, so you must be by my side at all times."
PRESENT TIME – HALLWAY – EAST WING – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
Gloria was staring at the full moon outside the window. Not too long after Grace left, Gloria decided to chase after her younger sister. However, midway, she changed her mind and stopped her track, and thus, now she was standing in the middle of the hallway staring at the moon through the window. Gloria couldn't think of anything to say to her sister. What her sister said not only brought out sad memories, but also ugly thoughts that she has hidden for so long. The thoughts she refused to acknowledge she has until now.
"Gloria? What are you doing?"
Gloria turned around. Yuya entered her field of vision with a concerned look on his face.
"Are you okay? Why the long face?" Yuya asked, frowning.
"I'm fine. Just leave me alone." Gloria said coldly before turning back to the moon. She doesn't feel like talking her problem with anyone, especially the boy whom her sister has a crush on. However, the said boy turned out to be more perceptive than she thought.
"Does it have something to do with Grace?" Yuya asked, making Gloria to turn facing him with a question mark on how he knew. Yuya didn't get the question, but he answered her. "It's unusual that you're not with her. And I noticed that you're always making that face whenever something happened with Grace."
"...you already have a girlfriend but you still have the time to lay your eyes on another girl?" Gloria said after she went silent for a minute. To her amusement, her implication flustered the entertainment boy.
"T-that's not what I meant! You and Grace are my friends, so–"
"Relax, I'm just kidding with you." Gloria chuckled at seeing Yuya's reddened face. He coughed before speaking again.
"Won't you tell me what happened?" Yuya asked again gently, making sure he didn't sound forceful.
Gloria contemplated on whether telling him or not. A part of her didn't want to speak of this problem to anybody. On the other hand, a part of her also acknowledged that Yuya is trustworthy enough not to say anything about this problem of hers to just anyone. She doesn't know how to explain it, but the Entertainment Duelist has a knack to draw people towards him and make them comfortable around him in a way. And most of all, he was genuinely concerned. Not just for her, but also for Grace. She could understand why her sister falls head over heels for this boy. If he's just a little bit older than she is, then maybe she'll go after him too (she prefers an older man).
Gloria took a glance at Yuya again who was still for her response and she finally speak up.
"I'm thinking just how a horrible sister I am..." Gloria finally said.
"Horrible? What makes you think so? You've always been a good sister for Grace. I mean, if you're not, then you two won't be together this long." Yuya asked, surprised by what Gloria said. From his observation, the Tyler twins are the example of perfect siblings. Despite their differences, they're getting along so well and always glued to each other. They fight perfectly together as a team, the best Tag Duelist that Yuya had ever met. There was never a day that Yuya ever saw them having a fight. So, hearing that Gloria thinking herself as a horrible sister was understandably surprising for him.
"No... That's not really the case..." Gloria shook her head. She looked outside again, though her eyes weren't really looking at anything at all as her mind was elsewhere.
"When we were little, people around us tended to compare me and Grace. Grace was more popular, scoring higher grades in school and have a lot of friends. People would always say she's better than me. Compared to her...I'm undesirable. I love her, but it still didn't stop me from being jealous of her." Gloria admitted. Even remembering that now still irritated her. Grace was always favored between the two of them. This favoritism eventually developed an inferiority complex within her. However, rather than trying to prove her own worth, she chose to run away by treating her sister the same way.
"And then, ever since our parents died, she always clinging to me. At that time, seeing her reaching out to me, clinging to me more than ever, there's this feeling of satisfaction sprout in me. I thought I must protect her no matter what, I vowed that I'll never leave her side forever. I must take care of her. I thought that it's my responsibility as an older sister." Gloria recalled that time when Grace was holding her hands so tightly with that pleading look, as if afraid that she'll disappear from her sight. For the first time that she felt so needed in her life. Since then she thought as her older sister, she should be the one who take care of her sister and no one else.
"But I was wrong. I realized it now. All this time, I've been taking her feelings for granted. Grace's need to rely on me for confidence and support, I've been taking advantage of them. She's the first and the only person who desperately needs me like that. And I wanted her to stay that way...so I can monopolize her... Everything is just for my own self-satisfaction..." Gloria smiled bitterly. All this time she has been intoxicating herself with a false sense of responsibility that hides her obsession to be needed by her sister. She's the worst.
"You said you want to monopolize her for your own self-satisfaction, but maybe that's actually your inner feelings wanting to have your sister all to yourself? Isn't that a different form of love?" Yuya wondered out loud for her to hear. It's normal for siblings who are close, got jealous if someone else become closer and get more attention from their sibling. Like a complex. Maybe Gloria was driven by self-satisfaction, but Yuya believed that the older twin actually truly loves her sister.
"What?" Gloria was almost dumbstruck hearing Yuya.
"It's still wrong, but you already realized that now, so you can become a better sister. All this time, you and Grace have been mainly living in your own world. You need to expand your world, for each of you to find important things. The time will come for the two of you to part ways, but it doesn't mean your bond as sisters will be cut off completely. You'll always be there for each other." Yuya told her. He doesn't have any sibling. Well, his counterparts are actually can be considered his siblings. But the point is, when it comes to familial bond, no matter how far apart you are, they'll still be family. That's what happened with him and his father. Even after three years being apart, they're still father and son. In fact, their bond got stronger than before when they were reunited again. The same could hold true for Gloria and Grace.
"You can do it. You're the older sister after all." Yuya smiled encouragingly at Gloria.
Gloria couldn't help but feel her cheeks heating up seeing Yuya's smile. She took it back. She might go after him too if he is always like this even if he's younger. Damn it, Yuya. Why do you have to be like that?
"You're really a complete moron, Yuya..." Gloria said to calm down herself.
"What?!" Yuya sweat-dropped at that. Did he say something wrong that he deserved to be called a moron just now? But seeing Gloria smiled back swept away that thought. Yuya knew that Gloria has found her answer and knew what she must do.
"Thanks. I'll be going now." Gloria said.
"Good luck." Yuya replied.
Gloria left the hallway to look for her twin sister while Yuya watching her retreating form.
DUEL FIELD – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
Ruri Kurosaki was facing an unexpected opponent. She came to the Duel Field to train against a Duel A.I to test her new strategy. To her surprise, Grace suddenly barged in. The younger twin of Tyler Sisters then asked–demanded for a Duel with her. This was the first time she saw Grace alone without her sister, and even dueling without her. She wondered what's gotten into her, but as Grace was so determined, Ruri couldn't refuse. And dueling against someone is better than dueling an A.I. Plus, she had heard of Amazoness Deck, but haven't got a chance to duel against it, so this is a good opportunity.
Ruri has seen the Tyler Sisters dueling in a Tag Duel, but never duel alone. She's curious how they're faring if they duel alone without each other as partner. Now that she's dueling Grace, more questions came. Was this the first time Grace dueling alone without her sister? Because, compared to when she's dueling together with her sister, her strategy and reaction were rather...sloppy. Not as effective as when she's with her sister, though not amateurish either.
GRACE LP: 1200 = 0
"Ugh...I lost..." Grace said as she fell on her knees. She let out a frustrated sigh before standing up again, patting the dust from her clothes.
"Don't be so down, Grace. You still did good." Ruri told her but Grace shook her head.
"No. It's not enough. I'm still not used dueling alone without my sister. This is not good." Grace insisted, her brows furrowed.
"Now that you mentioned it, why aren't you with Gloria? Both of you are always together, and you are Tag Duelists, but why are you alone now?" Ruri finally asked.
"I'm thinking of getting myself used to duel alone from now on." Grace answered, surprising Ruri.
"Why the sudden change? You're not going to be a Tag Duelist with your sister anymore?"
"I've been too dependent on Gloria. Since we were little, she always took care of me, so I've gotten used to be depending on her, whether in our daily lives or in duels. Nothing lasts forever, we're bound to part ways eventually. Before that happens, I must able to duel by myself, finding my own style, that way when the time comes, I won't be at loss. This is for Gloria's sake too. We must expand our worlds, for each of us to find other important things, to be independent, to learn things that each one of us are good at." Grace explained. After what Sora told her this afternoon, she realized how dependent she's on Gloria this whole time. She was so afraid to lose her that she did everything she could to keep her sister by her side, conditioning herself so that her sister couldn't leave her alone. By doing so, she was weighing her down. And Gloria wouldn't stop worrying if she continues to be like this. She must become stronger so Gloria won't have to worry about her anymore and can aim higher.
The whole time Grace was thinking, Ruri was watching her. The Lyrical Luscinia user can understand where she's going. She knows what the problem is now. She understood. She had been in her position too.
"Grace, you're probably thinking that you're a hindrance against Gloria's independence." Ruri said. She understood. Before, she always needed to be protected by her older brother. She was weaker than him and a girl, so her older brother was overprotective of her. She felt helpless. She felt she was being a burden to him, troubling him for being a weak younger sister. She wanted to prove her worth so that her brother won't be so overprotective of her.
"But you know, that's not the case. Both of you can try to separate yourselves, finding your own dueling and important things, but it still won't change the fact that you are twins. Forcing yourselves to live separate lives, that would just kill your feelings for each other. Is that really independence? Being twins mean you two can face the future together. You're not depending on each other, from now on you'll influence each other."
After her brother went missing, she realized how much she wanted to be with him. Even if she became stronger than her brother, she still wants to be by his side. She wants to fight by his side together as equal, not depending on each other. She realized that as siblings, they can become stronger together.
Ruri held Grace's hand gently in hers.
"You don't need to be in such a hurry, Grace. Times with your siblings are precious and priceless. It is precisely because there will be the time comes for both of you to find your separate ways that in the present you must be by her side as much as you can. Otherwise, you may regret it." Ruri have seen enough people losing their lives and how much pain it brought to the people who were left behind. Anything could happen in this war, knowing that, Yuno proposed to Celica while he could. That's why every moment is precious. In this crucial time, Grace must stick together with her sister.
Grace could only stare at Ruri. Her gaze hardened. When she finally opened her mouth, another voice interrupted.
"Aww...that's very touching, don't you think?"
Geist stepped in casually like he just entered his own home. He bowed politely to the girls. Ruri and Grace immediately raised their Duel Disks, in their battle stance.
"Geist!" Ruri called out in alarm.
"Good evening, ladies. Don't you think this is a beautiful night to enjoy a tea together?" Geist gestured to the full moon above them, completely ignoring the hostility from the two girls who are ready to fight.
"Unfortunately, we're out of teas, so please kindly leave, or do we need to escort you to the exit?" Grace retorted coldly, which earned a chuckle from Geist.
"Oh, I insist to invite myself in. Besides, the party is just about to begin, so there's no need to be in a hurry..."
Geist grinned at the two girls. Unbeknownst to them, two Parasite Fusioners were crawling on their shoulder, making their ways towards their ears, and went it. All of a sudden, the two girls felt something hit their brains from the inside. Their visions blurred. They couldn't think anything. Everything became black to them. Ruri and Grace swayed and passed out. Geist stood hovering them, sinisterly grinning wider.
"Let's take our time and enjoy ourselves...shall we?"
LABORATORY – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
Yuno came into the lab. Just a minute ago, he was called by Haruna who said she has something important to tell him. It has been days since she was cooped up in the lab, this was the first time for her to call him. There must be at least some progress. Haruna was sitting on the same chair the last time Yuno met her. Lilac was busy checking the documents on her table that might gave her hints about Apophis. Yukiya was taking his break after Lilac finished hers 10 minutes ago, eating his boxed lunch.
"I'm here, Haruna-san. I hope you'll enlighten me with good news." Yuno entered, quickly approaching the Holy Elf.
"As a matter of fact, yes." Haruna smiled at the Oracle. "I've identified the Gatekeeper of the Rift and how to close it without sacrificing the boys' lives."
"Seriously?!" Yuno turned to the computer screen, feeling hopeful. Haruna showed the mural found in Apophis' temple that she has just deciphered. It also showed a mural of a Duel Monster cladded in flames.
"This Duel Monster is the Gatekeeper of the Rift. It's called Salamangreat Pyro Phoenix. A Link Monster. Since the beginning of time, Pyro Phoenix has been protecting the Rift from intruders that threaten the peace to the world of Duel Monsters." Haruna explained the translation of the murals.
"Alright. We identified the Duel Monster. What about the way to close the Rift?" Yuno asked. It was the more important question to him. Closing the Rift without sacrificing his descendants' life-spans are what matters to him.
"By having another Salamangreat Monster, Salamangreat Mirage Stallio, to provide its energies to Pyro Phoenix while we're closing the Rift. That way, we don't need the energies of the Four Heavenly Dragons." Haruna showed the mural of Mirage Stallio as she explained further.
"Then we must find this Mirage Stallio and then use it against Pyro Phoenix." Yuno muttered, thinking various locations where Mirage Stallio could be. They must find out more about the Salamangreat archetype first.
"About that, I think our clue would the Crimson Duelist that Sara had encountered before." Haruna said.
"The Crimson Duelist in the rumor?"
"Yes. Sara had encountered him, and she said that the Crimson Duelist uses Salamangreat Deck. It's highly possible that he has Mirage Stallio with him. If we can find the Crimson Duelist, we'd find Mirage Stallio. And Sara also said that she can try finding him using her Link Sense and also the Kuribohs' help to ascertain their nature." Haruna recalled the idea that Sara had told her. When she first heard it, she was quite uncertain because the chances were slim. But now, they have more than enough reasons to find the Crimson Duelist. They can do this. They'll close the Rift without sacrificing the four boys' lives.
The whole headquarter was shaking following the sound of explosion. The alarm automatically was sounded throughout the whole building. The shaking almost caused Haruna to fall from her chair, but luckily Yuno caught her, though several people like Lilac was unlucky. The whole lab started to panic as the lights were flickering.
A Brotherhood Duelist entered the room, as panic as the rest were.
"What's going on?!" Yuno questioned.
"Sir! It's terrible! Several of our comrades suddenly are attacking us!" He reported.
"What?! Why?!" Lilac exclaimed in disbelief.
"I don't know. I can only say that they don't seem to be in their right mind, Sir!"
Haruna quickly checked the surveillance cameras, watching several areas within the headquarters that showed their comrades who are causing the chaos.
"I think I just found the cause." Haruna stated, showing one of the screens that showed severam Brotherhood members dueling using Parasite Fusioners on their Field.
"That's Parasite Fusioner!" Yukiya exclaimed in horror, remembering his encounter with the Duel Monster.
"Then, they're being controlled by those parasitic monsters." Lilac concluded correctly. Yugo and the others had told them about what Parasite Fusioner could do, but she didn't expect it to turn her comrades this far.
"We must take out those parasites." Yuno stated.
"Just defeating our comrades controlled by them won't get rid of the parasites. They'll just keep coming back again. We must find the queen that's controlling them." Haruna said. She already did some research on Parasite Fusioner. And as a group, Parasite Fusioner has characteristic of following their female leader for communications.
"The queen?" Yuno repeated in question.
"Yes. Like some insects, these parasites are moving following the commands of the queen. You take out the queen, and that'll stop their activities long enough for us to safely take out the parasites from our comrades' bodies." Haruna explained.
"But how do we get rid of the queen? Won't it be just the same as if we take out our comrades controlled by Parasite Fusioners?" Yuno asked. Even if they defeated the one who's being controlled by the queen, it won't get rid of the queen permanently, only rendering their comrade unconscious until the queen takes control again.
"Maybe I can help you with that." Yukiya voiced out, raising a hand so that everyone's attention is on him. He remembered back when Yugo defeated Rin. Zarc's power was able to destroy Parasite Fusioner inside Rin. Back then, it was coated with Apophis' power, but Ma'at's power should be able to do the same trick. He can do it. "I know how to destroy the parasite. I can do it."
Neither Yuno nor Haruna asked anything. Seeing Yukiya was enough to convince them. However...
"Now the question is...which one of our comrades who has the queen?"
FIELD – THE BROTHERHOOD HQ – CAPITAL – CANTIDEL EMPIRE – ARC-V
Gloria was running through the Field where she heard Grace was seen. She immediately rushed here after hearing the alarm and the announcement that some of their comrades have been taken over by Parasite Fusioners. She encountered several brainwashed comrades and defeated them on her way here. While she knows how dire the present situation is, her mind focused more on finding her sister more than anything.
She heard a scream nearby. Several men were blasted away and their Duel Disk automatically deactivated. They have lost a Duel. Gloria checked on them. They were injured, suffering broken bones, but fortunately not life threatening. She turned to their victorious opponent and gasped when she saw the person standing in front of her.
"Grace!" Gloria called out her sister. For a second, she was relieved to see her sister. However, upon seeing how sinister her sister was looking at her, Gloria went defensive. With just a glance, she knew that this is not the younger sister that she knows.
"Hello, Big Sister. Are you my next opponent?" Grace raised her Duel Disk once more and activated it, challenging her sister.
"The Parasite has gotten into you too..." Gloria gritted her teeth. Without a choice, she activated her Duel Disk as well. As Academia Duelist, she knew well how Parasite Fusioner works, so she knew that anything she said would be pointless. The only way to save her sister from the brainwash is to get the parasite out of her brain.
{{ACTION FIELD ON, FIELD SPELL: DARK JUNGLE}}
Their surrounding changed into a vast jungle. However, it was filled with many dying plants and sticky mud. And as it was night, their surrounding was dark and quite difficult for them to see. Fortunately, the Action Card was within a light sphere, making it easier for them to find.
[ACTION DUEL!]
"I'm taking the first Turn! I activate the effect of the Amazoness Spy (ATK: 800 / DEF: 1200 / LV: 3) in my hand! By revealing another Amazoness monster in my hand, I can Special Summon it!" Gloria revealed Amazoness Queen and Special Summoned Amazoness Spy in Attack Position.
Gloria then jumped, taking the floating Action Card. Grace, on the other hand, just stood still without even trying to make a move. However, the moment Gloria grasped the card in her hand, the Action Card activated by itself.
{{Action Trap: Prison Leaf. You cannot summon Monster except from the Main Deck until the end of this Turn.}}
As it was announced, Gloria's Extra Deck was covered by black-colored leaves, locking her Extra Deck.
"An Action Trap?!" Gloria couldn't contain her shock. She has heard of Action Trap, but it was rarely used in the Action Duels she has done or seen so far. This was the first for her to actually experienced it.
"Fufufu. It's a special program included by Prince Kurt. I'll be careful if I were you. It's possible that the Action Card could be either Action Magic or Action Trap on the next Turn. Are you willing to take the risk of taking Action Card now, Gloria?" Grace warned her older sister, taking joy in seeing her sister's troubled face.
"Then I release Amazoness Spy to Advance Summon Amazoness Queen (ATK: 2400 / DEF: 1800 / LV: 6)!" Gloria summoned Amazoness Queen in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"I set a card and end my Turn!" Gloria concluded. Grace furrowed her brows at that.
"Are you underestimating me, Gloria?" Grace questioned coldly.
"What?"
"Amazoness Queen and a set card. That's all you did for your first Turn? Even if your means to summon Monster from Extra Deck has been sealed, you can still do more. You'd usually always form a stronger defense and not giving any of your opponents an opening to attack. Even if Amazoness Queen can't be destroyed by Battle, you can do more than this! You think I'm so weak that this is enough to beat me?" Grace accused her sister, narrowing her eyes at her and her Field.
"You're wrong, Grace. I know well about your Dueling more than anyone, the same way you do about mine. That's precisely why I can't use the same strategy against you. You'd predict it easily." Gloria answered. Her sister knew about her cards and she knew hers. They've been dueling together for most of their lives after all. However, even if Grace knew about her cards, if she uses a strategy that even her sister doesn't know about, she has a chance to win.
"Hmph. We'll see about that!" Grace retorted and began her Draw Phase.
"My Turn! From my hand, I summon Amazoness Swords Woman (ATK: 1500 / DEF: 1600 / LV: 4)!" Grace summoned Swords Woman in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
Gloria once again noticed the Action Card of this Turn. It could be another Action Trap. But if it's an Action Magic and her sister got it first, it'll give her advantage.
"Don't think that the possibility of Trap will make me afraid of getting an Action Card!" Gloria once again grasped the Action Card. Like before, the moment she grasped it, it activated itself, revealing an Action Trap.
{{Action Trap: Wooden Stake. Choose one card on your Field, and then that card is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard.}}
Gloria chose her set card. A dark wooden stake came out from the card and stabbed through her set card, sending it to the Graveyard. She glanced at her younger sister and frowned when seeing her giggling at another miss.
"When an Amazoness Monster is Normal summoned or Special summoned, I can Special Summon Amazoness Baby Tiger (ATK: 500 / DEF: 500 / LV: 2) from my hand! Due to its effect, Baby Tiger's name becomes Amazoness Tiger while on the Field or Graveyard." Grace summoned Baby Tiger treated as Amazoness Tiger in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"I activate Magic Card: Fusion! I fuse Amazoness Swords Woman and Amazoness Baby Tiger! Wild beast of the jungle with vicious fangs! Obtain the eyes of the warrior who hunts down her prey! Be reborn as a savage beast and appear! Fusion Summon! Emerge! Level 7! Amazoness Pet Liger (ATK: 2500 / DEF: 2400 / LV: 7)!" Grace summoned her ace monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"Battle! I attack Amazoness Queen with Amazoness Pet Liger!" Grace declared Battle Phase. Due to its effect, Pet Liger gained 500 ATK during Battle Phase, increasing its ATK to 3000. Pet Liger clawed Amazoness Queen who blocked it with her sword. The force of the claw caused a crack on her sword and pushed her back.
GLORIA LP: 4000 = 3400
"After damage calculation, my opponent's Monster loses 800 ATK!" Grace lowered Amazoness Queen's ATK to 1600.
"I activate Trap Card: Succession of the Tribe from my Graveyard! When I received a Battle Damage while I control an Amazoness Monster, I banish this card to Special Summon two Amazoness Monsters whose total Levels are equal to the Amazoness Monster I control on the Field!" Gloria summoned Amazoness Blowgun (ATK: 800 / DEF: 1500 / LV: 3) and a second copy of Amazoness Spy from her Deck both in Attack Position.
"You're lucky that your Trap Card has an effect that will activate it in the Graveyard. But will you be so lucky next time in Action Card?" Grace said in a mocking tone. Gloria didn't answer to that.
"I set a card and end my Turn." Grace concluded.
"My Turn!" Gloria looked at the card she has drawn. Fusion. Since the Action Trap's effect only lasted until the end of Turn, she can now summon monsters from Extra Deck.
"I activate Magic Card: Fusion! I fuse Amazoness Queen and Amazoness Blowgun! Queen of the jungle! Receive the power of the valiant swords-woman! Build an empire that rules over everything! Fusion Summon! Appear now! Level 8! Amazoness Empress (ATK: 2800 / DEF: 2400 / LV: 8)!" Gloria summoned her ace monster in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"You've finally summoned Empress. But just that won't be enough to defeat my Pet Liger." Grace pointed out.
"Appear! The circuit that rules the battlefield!" Gloria opened the Link Summoning Circuit, surprising Grace.
"Arrowhead confirmed! The summoning condition is one Amazoness Monster! I set Amazoness Spy to the Link Marker! Circuit combined!" Gloria set Amazoness Spy in the Bottom-Right arrow.
"Link Summon! Appear! Link 1! Amazoness Lancer (ATK: 1000 / LINK: 1 / LM: Bottom-Right)!" Gloria summoned a female warrior monster dressed similarly as Amazoness Swords Woman but with braided hair and holding a wooden lance. She summoned it in the Link Monster Zone.
"I activate Amazoness Dancer's effect! When this card is pointing to a Special Summoned Amazoness Monster in the Main Zone, it gains 600 ATK for each Amazoness Monster in the Graveyard!" Gloria increased Lancer's ATK to 3400.
"Battle! I attack Amazoness Pet Liger with Amazoness Lancer!" Gloria declared Battle Phase, targeting the only Monster on Grace's Field. Amazoness Lancer thrust her lance forward, aiming straight between Pet Liger's forehead.
"Trap Card: Clash of Tribes! When an Amazoness Monster I control is battling an opponent's Monster, I can negate its destruction until the end of this Turn!" Grace opened her face-down card. A group of Amazoness monsters appeared from the card and protected Amazoness Pet Liger, preventing its destruction, but Grace still received damage.
GRACE LP: 4000 = 3600
"I see. You purposely summoned Amazoness Queen to goad me to attack you so you can send as many Amazoness Monsters as you can to the Graveyard to increase Amazoness Lancer's ATK. That's new." Grace admitted that she didn't see this coming.
"It's too soon to be impressed. I'm not done yet. When Amazoness Lancer inflicts Battle Damage, I can add an Amazoness Card from my Deck to my hand." Gloria added Amazoness Baby Lion from her Deck to her hand, revealing it to Grace.
"I activate Amazoness Baby Lion's effect. By sending this card to the Graveyard while I control an Amazoness Monster, that Monster can attack once more!" Gloria sent Baby Lion to the Graveyard, allowing for a second attack for Lancer.
"Once more, I attack Amazoness Pet Liger!" Gloria declared her second attack. Amazoness Lancer once more attacked, though once again her lance was blocked due to Clash of Tribes' effect.
GRACE LP: 3600 = 2600
As Grace skid backwards from the impact of the attack, she noticed an Action Card and picked it. Gloria noticed it too. Since it didn't activate on its own, it must be an Action Magic.
"I am lucky, Sister. I got an Action Magic instead of an Action Trap." Grace giggled.
"Are you sure that you don't have a program that can tell if it's Action Magic or Action Trap installed in your Duel Disk?" Gloria questioned suspiciously. In the previous Turns, Grace didn't make any attempt to get an Action Card like she already knew it's not an Action Magic. Considering that Apophis was behind it, she suspected that he has given her the program that able to tell if it's an Action Magic or Action Trap.
"Oh my, no. I can assure there's no such a thing in my Duel Disk." Grace replied sarcastically, giggling louder at her sister's suspicion.
"Right... I end my Turn." Gloria concluded.
"My Turn! Draw!" Grace smiled upon seeing Parasite Fusioner that she has drawn. Time to get serious.
"I activate Action Magic: Forest Cocoon. I can Special Summon Level 1 or 2 Monster from my hand!" Grace Special Summoned Parasite Fusioner (ATK: 0 / DEF: 0 / LV: 1) in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"It's finally appeared." Gloria readied herself.
"When Parasite Fusioner is Special Summoned, I can perform Fusion Summon using itself and a card on my Field or hand. Parasite Fusioner can also replace any Fusion Material of a Fusion Monster. I fuse Amazoness Pet Liger with Parasite Fusioner!" Grace opened the Fusion Vortex, sending Parasite Fusioner and Amazoness Pet Liger into it.
"Savage beast of the jungle. Become one with the inner voice and shred your enemies with your claws! Fusion Summon! Appear! Level 9! Amazoness Pet Tigon (ATK: 3200 / DEF: 3000 / LV: 9)!" Grace summoned a Tigon-like monster wearing the same armor as Pet Liger in Attack Position in the Main Zone.
"Battle! I attack Amazoness Lancer with Amazoness Pet Tigon!" Grace declared Battle Phase. Pet Tigon roared before running at the Link Monster.
"At this moment, I activate Amazoness Pet Tigon's effect! During Battle Phase, this card gains ATK equal to the ATK of an Amazoness Monster in my Graveyard!" Grace chose Amazoness Pet Liger, increasing Pet Tigon's ATK equal to Pet Liger's ATK, which made its current ATK 5700.
"But due to Amazoness Empress' effect, Amazoness Lancer cannot be destroyed! And Lancer's ATK is increased!" Gloria reminded. Pet Tigon tried to mow down Lancer, but the female warrior managed to stab the hybrid monster with the tip of its lance, deep enough to force Pet Tigon to retreat.
GLORIA LP: 3400 = 1100
"I activate Amazoness Pet Tigon's second effect! When it fails to destroy opponent's Monster during Battle Phase, all my opponent's Monsters' ATK are halved for three Turns!" Grace added, targeting Amazoness Empress and Amazoness Lancer. However, at that moment, Gloria took her chances and grabbed the Action Card. Fortunately, it's not a miss.
"Action Magic: Jungle Drum! When my monster is affected by an effect, I can add a card from my Deck to my hand!" Gloria added an unknown card from her Deck. She couldn't prevent her monsters' ATKs from being halved, but the card she just added would help her starting her next Turn.
"I end my Turn." Grace concluded. "How is it, Sister? Have you tasted enough of my new power? You're no match for me now."
Gloria only stared at Grace. She doubted anything she say to her would do any change. It wouldn't free her from Parasite Fusioner's control. Even so...she felt she has to say this now...
"Grace. I have always been jealous of you." Gloria admitted.
"What?"
"You had everything I didn't. You're always favored by Mom and Dad. You had more friends than me. That's why I loved how you depended on me. I wanted to believe that I had to be there to protect you." Gloria remembered every moment when their parents always praised Grace more than her no matter how hard she tried until she gave up. How Grace always being surrounded by other children so naturally compared to her. And how she's relieved and loved it when Grace depended on her.
"Well I'm through with you. I don't need you anymore. I can do things on my own from now on!" Grace retorted sharply, but Gloria ignored the sharpness of her tone.
"Yeah. You can go on your own even without me. You're free to do as you like without having me by your side. But even if we go our separate ways, it still won't change the fact that we are twins! We can face the future together!" Gloria has decided that she will become a better sister from now on. She will respect her younger sister's wishes, but she will never sever her ties with her even if they are separated.
"Grace, we aren't depending on each other from now on. As twins we'll influence each other, and face a future twice as bright than normal people's!" Gloria inwardly thanked Yuya for helping her realized this. Now that she and her sister knew their mistakes, they can still fight together, but this time not being heavily depended on each other. They'll grow together, becoming strong together as individuals by helping each other.
"My Turn! I summon Amazoness Apprentice (ATK: 600 / DEF: 1000 / LV: 3)!" Gloria summoned a female warrior wearing the same outfit as Amazoness Blowpiper but has longer skirt and wore traditional necklace and bracelets.
"Appear! The circuit that rules the battlefield!" Gloria set Amazoness Empress, Amazoness Lancer, and Amazoness Apprentice into the Link Markers, combining the circuit.
"Link Summon! Appear! Link 3! Amazoness Nymph (ATK: 2000 / LINK: 3 / LM: Bottom-Right, Upper-Left, Right)!" Gloria summoned a female warrior monster wearing a thin brown-colored gown that covered half of her upper-body and golden-colored ornaments on her shoulders along with silver claw-shaped necklace around her neck. Her skirt was made from animal skin with feathers as a belt.
"When you said you'll use a different strategy, you mean that you'll use more Link Monsters? Are you abandoning your specialty in Fusion Summoning?" Grace questioned with disappointment and disgust at another Link Monster summoned instead of Amazoness Fusion Monster.
"I have no such intention. I simply use Link Monsters to further reinforce my Fusion Monsters! I activate Amazoness Nymph's effect! On the Turn this Monster is Link Summoned, I can destroy one of my opponent's Monsters!" Gloria declared her Battle Phase, pointing at Amazoness Pet Tigon. Amazoness Nymph created ripples of water that shot forward at the Pet Tigon.
"I activate Parasite Fusioner's effect! When the Monster equipped with this card is about to be destroyed by Battle or Effect, I can destroy this Monster instead!" Grace protected Amazoness Pet Tigon with Parasite Fusioner, destroying the insect monster instead.
"But now you can't use Parasite Fusioner's Effect anymore." Gloria pointed out. She has achieved one of her goals by destroying Parasite Fusioner. That monster has a troublesome effect, so it's better sending it to the Graveyard. She failed her attempts earlier, but now she succeeded.
"So what? You can't attack with Amazoness Nymph whose ATK is lower than my Pet Tigon." Grace reminded.
"Yes. I cannot. That's why I end my Turn." Gloria concluded, shocking Grace before the younger sister laughed.
"You talk big, but it's just that. I'm disappointed in you, Gloria. I'll put an end to this pathetic Duel. Battle! I attack Amazoness Nymph with Amazoness Pet Tigon!" Grace declared Battle Phase immediately as her Turn started. Pet Tigon attacked Nymph; mercilessly consuming Nymph alive that Gloria had to admit deeply disturbed her as she was covered in smoke from the impact of Pet Tigon's strike.
GLORIA LP: 1100 = 0
Grace smiled in victory, expecting to see her sister's unconscious form. She waited until the smoke cleared up, excited for the scene. She was so sure that she has won, so she couldn't hide her surprise when she saw her sister's silhouette standing still on her spot, especially after the smoke cleared up.
"W-what?! How?!" Grace was completely taken aback.
"I activate Successions of the Tribe's second effect from the Graveyard. When an Amazoness Monster I control is destroyed and my LP hit 0, I can banish this card to Special Summon an Amazoness Monster with the highest Level from my Graveyard and gained 100 LP for each of the Monster's Level." Gloria revived Amazoness Empress in Attack Position and recovered her LP at the same time.
GLORIA LP: 0 = 800
"Additionally, I activate Amazoness Nymph's effect. When a Level 7 or higher Amazoness Monster is Special Summoned to the Field while this card is in Graveyard, I can Special Summon it." Gloria revived Amazoness Nymph next to Amazoness Empress.
"I activate Amazoness Nymph's effect! When its Link-Arrow is pointing at a Monster, I can target one of my opponent's Monster and that Monster loses ATK equal to the ATK of the Monster pointed by Nymph's Link-Arrow!" Gloria targeted Amazoness Pet Tigon, lowering its ATK equal to Empress' ATK, making its current ATK 400.
"But it still won't be enough to defeat Pet Tigon! Don't forget that it'll gain ATK equal to Pet Liger's ATK during Battle Phase!" Grace reminded, regaining her composure. The moment the Battle Phase begin, Pet Tigon's ATK will be at 2900, higher than Amazoness Empress.
"I activate Amazoness Apprentice effect from my Graveyard! I banish this card to increase the ATK of an Amazoness Monster I control equal to its ATK!" Gloria increased Amazoness Empress' ATK to 3400, and Grace clicked her tongue at the change.
"Battle! I attack Amazoness Pet Tigon with Amazoness Empress!" Gloria declared Battle Phase. Amazoness Empress slashed Pet Tigon into two and then skewered it further, destroying it to bits and blew Grace a step back.
GRACE LP: 2600 = 2100
"Next, I attack directly with Amazoness Nymph!" Gloria declared her second attack. Nymph delivered a kick against Grace, sending her onto her back. She grimaced in pain before standing up again. This pain was nothing to her.
GRACE LP: 2100 = 100
"But I'll still have LP!" Grace reminded. Her LP was very low, but she can still turn it around on the next Turn. "Too bad, Gloria! I'll finish you off on the next Turn!"
"No, you won't! I activate Amazoness Lancer's effect! When a Link Monster inflicts Battle Damage while this card is in Graveyard, I can banish it to inflict damage equal to half of its ATK!" Gloria added. She banished Lancer, summoning her lance from the Graveyard, pointing at Grace.
"No way...!" Grace gasped.
The lance shot forward, hitting Grace and knocked her out cold as her LP was depleted.
GRACE LP: 100 = 0
Gloria has made sure to hold back on that one so that her sister won't suffer serious injury. She reluctantly handcuffed her sister in case the Parasite Fusioner take control of her again before the queen is destroyed. She gently caressed her sister's face before carrying her on her back to take her to a safer place.
"I'll let you go after we've gotten rid of the Parasite Queen. Once this is over, we have a lot to talk about, Grace..."
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:
The Little Bird that Fell into Darkness – In the midst of searching for the one using Parasite Queen to control her comrades, Sayaka encounters the mind-controlled Ruri. Without any choice, Sayaka challenges her best friend to a Duel.
I hope this Duel did well to entertain you for the time being. And before, I promised to include Action Trap. I am very sorry that I included it very very late in the story. I'll add more in future Duels.
For the next chapter, I remembered that I haven't included Independent Nightingale in the series. Before, I didn't include the Fusion Monster because it's evil-looking for Ruri to use unless she's being controlled. And so, I decided with this scenario, and I think this will be good in exploring more of Ruri and Sayaka's friendship and their growth.
Please don't forget to review this chapter!
