Hey everyone!

Now, longtime watchers might have questions, and before you ask them, let me say up front, NO this is not a Shadowchasers fic. Kinda sorta. This does take place in the same continuity, and was written to tie up some loose ends, a spin-off of a sort.

I will say, however, that the protagonist of this fic is someone who predates Shadowchasers by several years. I did not create this character - he was a suggestion by a friend with the screen name "Snakes N' Legend". I haven't spoken to him in years, but hey, if you're out there Snakes, thanks for the inspiration. My friend Metal Overlord 2.0 noticed the character's inclusion in a recent fic, and his review was, well, encouraging and inspiring, giving thought to something new. Or rather, a new take on something old. Eh… You'll get the idea.

One thing I will mention right now, this fic will feature appearances by some minor canon characters, and by minor, I mean important non-cameo roles in individual episodes, but not essential to the overall plot. (Yasmin from GX would fit this role, Anna from Zexal would not, and no, that is just an example, I will not be using Yasmin.) There might be some continuity snarls about the ages of some of them, but I'll try to keep those to a minimum.

So… BLOCKBUSTER: Yu-Gi-Oh! starts now!

Chapter One

"It Started with an Idea…"

My name is Terone Brickman. Most of the time. When I'm up in front of an audience as a Pro Duelist, I'm called Terone, Duelist of Hogwarts!

Okay, I suppose it sounds a lot better when the announcer says it.

Why did I decide to be a duelist while cosplaying some weirdo in a robe and hood? Well, I could give you all that stuff about "answering a call" or "the deck choosing the duelist", but to be honest, I can indeed pinpoint the reason. I was twelve years old, I was a week into summer break, and my mom gave me the old song and dance about playing too many video games and needing to "better my mind" by reading. Obviously, she never saw the stuff kids were actually reading those days. Anyway, she gave me her library card, and I decided to humor her. The first book I picked up at the library was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

When I opened it to skim through, I found a card there. Night's End Sorcerer. Someone had used this card as a bookmark and forgotten it. I held onto the card, and as I started reading the first book in the franchise - and the seven that came after, as I quickly became hooked on it - I started looking up all the information I could get on this odd game. You might say the two sources kind of "blended" together for me.

So now, a decade later, I do this for a living. I never really put much stock in those old stories about Shadow Games or whatever those "Shadow-Seekers" deal with. Although that whole mess on Duelist Kingdom made me expand my horizons a little.

Four months after that whole snafu, I was doing something I had intended to do two months earlier, working on the deck. I'd been using the Prophecy cards for a year by then, and it was starting to get old. "Always keep the audience entertained" is the first rule of a Pro, and until you become as popular as guys like Jack Atlas, you always have to keep the act fresh.

"Lucky" for me, I had a new opponent to spar with.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Are you really sure about this, Jenni?"

I was looking at the new automated Dueling Computer in front of me, something programmed with an AI system that Jenni claimed had been downloaded from a KC DuelTek 900. I certainly had never heard of that model. The body of the computer seemed like a large spherical machine suspended from the girders about ten feet off the floor, with a blocky and vaguely human-shaped frame appearing from the front, with a semi-ellipsoid head and one blue optic sensor.

"Course I am," said Jenni's voice through the headset I was wearing. "Kaiba himself initially designed this model for his own use. I think he figured the only worthy sparring partner he could have was one with his own sense of strategy and intuition."

"Not sure that's reassuring," I replied. "It looks like GLaDOS."

"Oh, THAT was due to some modifications I made myself. I was thinking of a Daalek theme but using an AI with a voice that annoying crosses the line."

That Jenni, full of laughs.

Jenni has been my researcher/funder/assistant/supplier for six years, and a friend for four years longer. (Sometimes the type "with benefits" but not currently.) She's the reason I even have access to stuff like this, like a lot of good (but not best) cards, and for that matter, this townhouse. I really have no idea where a lot of her funding comes from. Well, okay, maybe I know where some of it comes from, but I'm not going to say it here, given her promise to break both my arms if I do.

So… In regard to her… eccentricities, I guess I can't complain.

"So, uh, this thing can have a deck with any cards at all?" I asked.

"Yep, if it's in the KaibaCorp database, it can have it, and it can remember too."

"Uh, pardon?"

"Dynamic game difficulty balance, as in, it learns, and it can recognize a duelist by his deck. You can fool it with, say, Dark Coffin the first few times, but eventually it might start being wary of using Mystical Space Typhoon."

"So, this is like the type of video game that cheats?"

"They all do that, Terone. They've done that since the days of Space Invaders."

"Hmm… And what about this?" My question this time was directed at the new Duel Disk she had given me, an odd one with a bladed shape made of black metal.

"Oh, that's the new model, the one with the TRI system. the Totally Realistic Interface."

"Meaning simulated wounds and a more sensitive rumble pack, right?"

"Hard to say, I certainly wasn't going to test it. So, whenever you're ready."

"Okay, start it on hard mode."

"You sure?"

"Hey, not like I plan on going up against any computers in the bush league, you know?"

"Suit yourself, it's your barbecue."

I took one final long look at the device, and then held my Duel Disk in front of me, activating it.

"Duel Mode activated. Challenge accepted."

The female computerized voice made me more nervous than before; it even sounded like GLaDOS. Maybe mom had a point about those video games I used to play. Its Duel Disk had a curious design, with a semicircular metal tray and sharp spokes.

Well, I thought, here goes nothing.

(Terone: 8,000 - - - - - - - - - - Duel Computer: 8,000)

As the duel began, the computer's odd disk hummed and glowed, and five cards appeared, hovering in front of its face, back sides forward. I saw no sign of a deck, figuring it must be entirely virtual.

"I draw!" I exclaimed, trying to envision an audience watching who would be impressed. "Okay, here goes. I set one monster, and then use the Spell Card, Witchcrafter Creation."

As I fit the Spell into the Disk, an oversized image of the card appeared, as usual, in front of me, a picture of a teenage girl with pink hair and a child with blonde hair, surrounded by cute, colorful stuffed plushies that floated in mid-air. "This lets me take a specific variety of Spellcaster monster from my deck. So, I'll…"

Then to my shock, the two girls on the card placed their hands forward, channeling some sort of streams of magic, and actually, well, created a card where their two streams met. The older one made a gesture, and the card darted out of the card so I could catch it. They smirked and the card itself disappeared.

What the… I hadn't even decided yet, but in brief hindsight, this was the card I would have picked. I looked at the Duel Disk again.

How high tech IS this new system?

I set one card in my Spell Zone and said, "Uh, think I'll end my turn now."

"Drawing card," said the computer, manifesting a sixth card among its others. "Setting one monster and one card in Spell Zone. Activating Continuous Spell, Arcane Barrier." I watched the two concealed cards appear, and then a large revealed one, showing a robed, cloaked Spellcaster strutting her stuff with a potent spell.

"This Spell Card gains one Spell Counter every time a Spellcaster-Type monster is destroyed. By sending it and a Spellcaster-Type monster to the Graveyard, I may draw one card for every counter it has."

I knew what it did, but even with a duelist like this who literally could not become angry or annoyed, I wasn't going to be rude and interrupt. "Professional courtesy" and all that.

"Ending turn."

"I draw!" I shouted. "Now I'll -" I started, but I was interrupted by the computer's Trap Card:

"Activating Multiple Destruction. For the cost of 300 Life Points per card in my hand, both players send their hands to the bottoms of respective decks and then draw five cards."

I wasn't about to object to this; after all, this was the sort of deck I'd have to shuffle a lot. And the five new cards had a lot more potential than the three I'd sent back, including one particular Continuous Spell.

"I'll activate Witchcrafter Bystreet."

While this was not a Field Spell, the effect did seem similar, the grid on the walls transforming into an outdoor urban locale. It seemed like an old fashioned market district of a larger city, each door of each shop having a colored crest hanging above the door.

"Neat," I said. Then I looked at my set monster; seeing as my opponent didn't attack, I figured I'd use its effect.

"I flip summon Witchcrafter Potterie!"

The card made a 90 degree turn and flipped over, causing the monster to materialize. She was the blonde girl on the card, a child with large, blue, glum-looking eyes, wearing a blue robe, and a green shawl. The robe was covered with images of the same odd plushies from the Spell Card, and as the young Spellcaster appeared, the same small creatures appeared, only they seemed made of clay. (0 ATK)

"Uhm… Hello," she said meekly.

I almost lost my composure there. (Okay, to be perfectly honest, I almost dropped my hand of cards and soiled my pants.) All of a sudden, referring to this Spellcaster as "it" or even as a "monster" seemed rude.

"Uhm, okay, okay, next I'll summon Witchcrafter Pittore."

Playing the card caused multicolored motes to fly from the card, which coalesced into the other Spellcaster on the Witchcrafter Creation card. The odd robe she was wearing was made of green material that seemed to have qualities of a qipao and a smock, covered with colorful runes. She held her incredible long ponytail in her right hand - using it for a paintbrush! - and her left hand held a large, crescent-shaped sextant holding six spherical glass jars, each holding a different color of paint. (1,000 ATK)

"Aw, why so glum?" she said, her question directed at Poterie. "Here…" She pointed her paintbrush-ponytail at the clay sculptures and poked at them, with each poke turning each a different color.

"Uhm, Jenni, you getting this here?"

"Yes, I think it's a nice touch."

Right, right, Jenni, would love to see YOU come down here and try it. "Okay, uh... Poterie, I need your effect here…"

I half expected an objection (after all, using Poterie's effect meant sacrificing her), but there was none. Poterie waved her hand and knelt, a small pottery wheel appearing in front of her with clay on the turntable. It turned on, and she started to shape it.

I took a card from my hand - Witchcrafter Draping - and discarded it. "By sacrificing Witchcrafter Potterie and discarding a Spell Card, I can summon another Witchcrafter, so I'll bring out Witchcrafter Schmietta!"

Poterie stood up and stepped backwards, as the vase she was working on started to grow, becoming as large as her as she disappeared, it grew slightly more, and then shattered as a new Witchcrafter smashed her way out of it. This one was about the same age as Pittore, with red hair tied into pigtails, a white halter top over a black sports' bra, red short-shorts, leather boots, and four pouches, two on her belt, and one on each leg, on smaller belts around her thighs. She carried a blacksmith's vice that was as large as she was but held with one hand and casually slung over her shoulder. (1,800 ATK) She turned to me and smirked slyly.

"Uhm, okay, let's battle! Schmietta, you're up!"

The lady blacksmith gripped her weapon in both hands and shouted "Hurrah!" as she leapt at the set card, causing it to flip up, and reveal the… monster? It looked like a floating, empty robe with an oddly shaped cowl, one that seemed very familiar… (2,000 DEF)

(Terone: 7,800 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 7,100)

Schmietta stumbled backwards and exclaimed, "What is THAT?"

"Kind of looks like… Dark Magician!" replied Pittore.

"No," I added, "looks like his clothes, but he's not in them…"

"Activating effect of Magician's Robe," said the computer. "Sending one Spell Card from hand to Graveyard to summon Dark Magician."

"Oh… brother…" I said, as the monster started to appear.

As the card was played, a dark, spiraling portal appeared on the floor, and a tall, dark figure in a lavender wizard's robe sprang out of it, doing a somersault before landing dramatically on his feet. The portal didn't vanish right away - a long staff shot out from it, upward, and flew around the room spinning like a pinwheel, before he finally reached his hand out and caught it.

It was him alright. It seemed Jenni was right about this system being able to download any card. I was now looking at the ace monster of the King of Games himself, and the gentle smile on his face did not do much to put me at ease. (2,500 ATK)

Of course, as nervous as I was, the two Spellcasters I had right now seemed to be trembling in fear. In hindsight, it made sense - they were novice Spellcasters, and this was one of the game's veterans.

"Okay," said Pittore, "guess we're… doomed!"

"Ladies, ladies, calm down!" I urged, "I have the Bystreet up, remember?" It did seem to calm them a little, even though all the while I was thinking, Why the hell am I talking to cards?

Of course, that didn't stop me from doing it. "Just because it has Yugi Mouto's cards doesn't mean it can use them as well. I'm ending my turn now, and as an added effect of Witchcrafter Creation," I took the card as it slipped from my discard slot, "I get to take it back. You're up."

"Drawing card. Moving to Battle Phase, Dark Magician attacks Witchcrafter Pittore."

The stronger Spell Caster aimed his staff at Pittore, and she started shivering. For a minute, I really had no idea what to do. But then, the computer's Trap lifted.

"Activating Magician's Circle. Trap Card allows both duelists to summon a Spellcaster-Type monster from their decks with 2,000 Attack Points or less. Summoning Magical Something."

I was shocked, of course. As the Trap activated, a grim-looking brunette sorceress with a long-sleeved serape with an intricate wrought-bronze belt and reverse-tiara. and a dress and shawl that had an odd black and white pattern of triangles and curves, all in black and white. Rather than a magical staff, she held a decorated scythe. (1,800 ATK)

I knew about Magical Something, I had used the card when trying to construct my own Spellcaster Deck. Obviously, the computer had figured out quickly (possibly by consulting an internal database) that my Continuous Spell let each Witchcrafter survive one attack per turn, but the reason I was shocked was realizing I had been given an opportunity.

"I can also use that card's effect! I summon Witchcrafter Edel!"

As I fit the card on my Disk, a huge, purple gemstone appeared, in midair. It started to crack, and then shattered, a new Spellcaster appearing amid the broken shards. She was older than the others, with a flowing, purple dress, purple hair held back with a tiara, a black sash, and black heels. Every part of her clothing and much of her exposed skin was studded with fancy gems. Like Schmietta, she carried an oversized tool as large as herself, in this case, a caliper, with an oversized gem held in its grip.

"Ever hear that diamonds are a gal's best friend?" she snarked. She held the odd weapon forward, and the gem started to pulse with eldritch energy.

"That's right," I said, "and by discarding a Spell Card, your effect summons yet another Witchcrafter, so let's bring out Witchcrafter Haine!"

This time, as I tossed the card, Edel's magic created a curtain on a rack, a silhouette showing someone was behind it. A pair of shears ripped through the cloth, and the Spellcaster appeared. She was a grim, serious-looking woman, slightly older than Edel, wearing tight leather pants, and an overcoat fastened with several belts, around her arms, legs, torsos, and one crossing her rather generous cleavage. (Times like this are when pros like me appreciate not having to make eye-contact with their own mons.) The belt she wore properly (around her waist) had a first aid kit fastened to it. She wore a riding cap on top of blue hair worn loose with bangs, and carried a sextant-staff similar to Pittore's, but smaller and with only one green orb. Her eyes shimmered, and several sharp looking scissors, separated into the halves, floated around her.

She lifted an intact pair of shears and said, "Ever wonder how Peter lost his shadow in the first place?" She snapped them once with a loud snip (2,400 ATK)

"Let's find out," I said. "I'm discarding another Spell Card to use your effect. Destroy Dark Magician with Shear Madness!"

The bad pun elicited a groan from Jenni, but Haine was only too happy to oblige. Her eyes glowed eerily, and the shear blades around her gave off the same glow. Then she pointed her sextant forward, hurtling the flashing blades at the Dark Magician. He staggered, then shattered into pieces.

My shock at this victory was matched only by that of the Witchcrafters. "Did we just…" gasped Schmietta. "We…"

"Je n'en crois pas mes yeux!" cheered Pittore. Unfortunately, her cries of delight were cut short, as the Computer wasn't finished and Magical Something had an attack, a sharp blade of energy from her scythe hitting Pittore in the midriff. Fortunately, I was able to use Bystreet's effect, so she didn't shatter and only fell on her behind with an ungraceful "URK!"

(T: 7,000 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 7,100)

"You might want to tell your harem there not to get too excited, Terone," snarked Jenni, "This duel is a long way from finished."

"Setting two cards in Spell Zone," said the Computer, doing so. "Ending turn."

"And I'll activate my Trap Card," I said in response, "Witchcrafter Masterpiece. Since I have a Spell Card called Witchcrafter Holiday in my Graveyard, which I discarded for Potterie's effect last turn, I can take a second Witchcrafter Holiday from my deck."

Again, the card appeared right in front of me. I was getting used to this fast, so I simply plucked it out of the air, then made my draw for that turn.

Witchcrafter Holiday was a card that could summon a Witchcrafter from the Graveyard, but only Potterie was there now, making this a Spell that was unfeasible to use now, but which was too valuable to discard. Plus, Spells were dangerous to use around Magical Something, as each one gave her a Spell Counter that increased her Level by one, and three could let the player recover a Quickplay Spell from the grave. But I did have another choice here.

"I'll throw down a facedown - as another duelist would often say- and then… Pittore, I have to use your effect this time."

To be completely honest here, this was the first time I had ever felt the need to ask a monster permission to use her effect. Still, Pittore nodded, and then waved her ponytail paintbrush, conjuring up a large easel and canvas. "Allons enfants de la Patrie, le jour de gloire est arrivé!" As she softly sung the words of the old song, she started to paint very quickly, as the jars of paint on her sextant-staff started to glow and flash in a pattern.

"By using Pittore's effect," I announced, I can sacrifice her and discard a Spell Card to summon another Witchcrafter from my deck. However, due to Witchcrafter Bystreet being in play, I can skip that second cost by sending Bystreet itself to the Graveyard.

As the street and shops around me started to fade away, Pittore exclaimed "Voila!" and turned the painting - a portrait of a beautiful woman in a fancy white gown and long, blue hair, reclining on a throne made of glass. Pittore herself exclaimed, "Adieu!" and disappeared, while the painting came to life, leaping from the card and then positioning herself on the throne while crossing her legs with a sly smile. Witchcrafter Madame Verde had arrived. (2,800 DEF)

"Terone, you're treading in dangerous waters here."

"Come on, Jenni, I got this. Okay, time to battle! I'll -"

"Yo, let me have a whack at that, chief, I'll squash em into succotash!"

The cheery comment had come from Schmietta, and it was very hard to disagree. Of course, she couldn't do so by herself.

"I'm Equipping Schmietta here with One-Shot Wand." The vice disappeared, and a long staff with a crescent moon design on the tip materialized overhead and fell so she could catch it. "It gives her a boost of 800 points." (2,600 ATK)

She leapt into the air and shouted, "Fahr zur Hölle!" And then blasted a stream of powerful energy at Magical Something with an impact that reduced the Spellcaster to shards.

"Now that I've done that, I can get rid of the Wand -" The device shattered into golden motes. "- and then draw one card."

When I saw what I drew, I realized the flaw with this deck. It was one of my favorite cards, but I couldn't summon it now. Having an extra deck might have helped, but I figured I didn't need one for Witchcrafters. Hindsight is always 20/20.

"Humph, such shoddy work," said Haine. It seemed she was one step ahead of me, having produced an aerosol can of - I assumed - fabric softener, and was spraying it in the direction of Magician's Robe. Already it was starting to sag and droop.

"That's the ticket!" I shouted. "Attack!"

She tossed the aerosol aside and lunged forward with her shears, slicing the phantom cloak down the middle and ripping it to shreds.

"Your turn, Edel, attack directly!"

As Edel rolled up her sleeve and balled her hand into a fist, and a set of brass - or rather, gold - knuckles formed on it, studded with a gem on each knuckle, ruby, sapphire, diamond, and emerald. She levitated off the floor and then soared towards the computer and socked it hard in the optic sensor.

Of course, it was hard to read this thing's face (as it really didn't have one) so it was impossible to see whether that did much more than annoy it.

(T: 7,000 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 4,300)

"Now comes the fun part. Like I said before, each Spell Card with the word 'Witchcrafter' in its name has an added effect that lets me take it from the Graveyard during my End Phase, so long as I didn't send it there this turn. And right now, there are four such cards in my Graveyard!"

True enough, four Spell Cards - Witchcrafter Holiday, Witchcrafter Draping, Witchcrafter Creation, and Witchcrafter Confusion - were fed out of my Graveyard. However, even as I took them, the computer spoke up, one of its set cards lifting up.

"Activating Trap Card, Forlarren Forsaken."

This one, I could honestly say, I had never heard of, but it explained quickly. "Because at least two of my monsters were destroyed this turn, this card gives you the option of discarding two cards and then drawing three. If not, this Spell Card goes to the bottom of my deck, and I take 1,000 Life Points of damage."

As luck would have it, the card I had other than those four Spells would be better off in the grave. "Uhm, okay, I'll take the first option."

However, as soon as I drew the three replacements, it used another Trap, and this one I knew about.

"Balance of Judgment. Because the combined number of cards in my hand and field equals 5 and yours is 8, I draw 3 cards.

Starting to think it's learning a little too fast, I thought.

Starting turn, drawing card, it continued. "Card drawn is Palladium Oracle Mahad, and via its effect, it is Special Summoned to the field."

Again, previous to this duel, I had never seen this guy, but on the other hand, it took about five seconds to realize that this was a card I really, really wanted. If anything, he was an imposing, intimidating, handsome Spellcaster, looking like some Ancient Egyptian high priest in bronze armor, his richly tanned skin only a slightly lighter hue of bronze. He wore a silken-white headdress, breechcloth, and cape, and a bronze scepter. (2,500 ATK)

This guy looks like someone Dark Ruler Ha Des wouldn't mess with! I thought.

"Activating Spell Card, Allure of Darkness. I draw two cards, then banish a Dark Monster from my hand."

It drew twice, then one of its cards - Old Vindictive Magician, I figured - revealed itself and then melted into dark mist. Again, it quickly used one of its new cards, summoning a new Spellcaster with a blonde hair tied in a ponytail, a violet bodysuit with no sleeves, and again, a long breechcloth. Whether this one was male or female was hard to say - it seemed, for lack of a better word, androgenous, (400 ATK)

"By summoning Apprentice Magician, I may put a Spell Counter on any card on the field that uses them. Thus, I will place another on Arcane Barrier."

"Wait, how much does that thing have right now?" asked Edel.

"Uhm," said Schmietta. She did a quick count. "Dark Magician, Magical Something, Magician's Robe…" She grunted something in German, then said, "I think this makes four."

"Correct, thus I can send Arcane Barrier and Apprentice Magician to the Graveyard to draw four cards."

Damn, I thought, this is one powerful deck.

The Spell Card and Apprentice Magician disappeared, but still, the Computer wasn't finished. It only took a second to go over its new hand, then used one of them while displaying two others, which I recognized as Dark Red Enchanter and Exemplar Magician.

"By using the Quickplay Spell Card, Forbidden Droplet, I can discard these two cards, and then choose two of your Monsters causing them to lose half their Attack Scores this turn. Thus, I select Witchcrafter Haine and Witchcrafter Madame Verde."

"Oh, really? Haine use your effect, counter that Spell!"

"Terone, I'm sorry, I…" Haine fell to her knees. "I can't!" (1,200 ATK) Verde looked just as sick, struggling to simply stay in her chair. (500 ATK)

"Wait, but -"

"Uhm, Terone," said Jenni, "because she discarded Monster Cards to use Forbidden Droplet, you can't use Monster Effects to counter it. Sorry."

Not good, I thought. Palladium Oracle Mahad was already aiming his scepter at Haine, and not only was she a sitting duck now, I couldn't use Verde's effect. But then, it got so much worse.

"When Palladium Oracle Mahad attacks a Dark Monster, its Attack Score is doubled."

"Say WHAT?" My earlier assumption that Dark Ruler Ha Des wouldn't mess with this guy seemed to have been verified, something that hit me just as hard as the blast of brilliant, burning Light magic hit Haine, blowing her to little pieces with a backlash that slammed into me hard.

"Terone, you know, I can still lower the setting if you want."

"Jenni, shut it! I don't need a corner-man here!" Fortunately, I had a Trap ready, and I was using it now. "Option Hunter! This grants me Life Points equal to my mo… Equal to Haine's Attack Score."

(T: 5,600 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 4,300)

I thought I heard a brief "Ugh" from Jenni or maybe something more, but the Computer finished its turn by setting one more card in its Spell Zone. "I'll take up golf before I lose to some crazy robot, DRAW!

"All right, Verre, move to Attack Mode." Madame Verre nodded, standing up out of her seat. (1,000 ATK) The texture of her dress oddly seemed to change, appearing to change from cloth to some odd form of flexible, translucent glass.

Not using Witchcrafter Holiday my last turn had clearly been a mistake, but I would use it now. "I use this Spell Card to revive Witchcrafter Haine from the Graveyard!"

As I played the card, a spiraling magic circle appeared on the floor, and Haine rose up and through it. She held her chest for a few seconds, as if to make sure her heart was still beating. (2,400 ATK)

"Now I can use Madame Verre's effect." As I started to explain this, Verre closed her eyes and lifted her staff; like a prism, colored lights started to flicker and shimmer inside her glassy dress. "Each time one of my Witchcrafters attack, they gain 1,000 Attack Points for each Spell in my hand with the word 'Witchcrafter' in it." I turned two of the cards of my hand around, Witchcrafter Draping and Witchcrafter Scroll.

"And because Edel clearly isn't a Dark monster, let's see golden boy dodge this!"

Edel lifted her caliper, her Attack Score soaring up to 5,000, and a spiraling, brilliant, burning light shot from the gem it clutched, hitting and vaporizing Palladium Oracle Mahad. His staff fell to the floor with a clatter, broken and smoldering.

(T: 5,800 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 2,800)

Okay, I've got this, I thought, all I have to do is -

"Activating Palladium Oracle Mahad's second effect."

Why did I keep tempting Fate?

"When Palladium Oracle Mahad is destroyed, Dark Magician is summoned from the Graveyard.

And as it said, Dark Magician appeared again, this time kneeling and holding his staff across his lap. (2,100 DEF) But the Computer wasn't done yet, one of its facedown Traps - Back to the Front, I believe - activated. Magical Something appeared again. (1,300 DEF)

Not that this was going to stop my team's assault - and the fact that I actually started thinking of them as a team oddly didn't strike me as odd.

"Schmietta, go!" I shouted, and the young blacksmith leapt at Magical Something, her muscles bulging and her Attack Score boosted to 3,800 as she gripped her weapon in both hands and slammed down, squashing Something flat and causing the whole room to shake.

"You've got the last one, Verre!"

The sorceress pointed her staff and prismatic, multicolored light started to flow through the glassy material of her dress…

But it seemed this computer had one more trick. "Activating Magic Arm Shield."

My thoughts upon seeing this were in the area of, Magic Arm Shield? Who uses THAT card? But this computer was indeed using it. The shield-like device appeared on Dark Magician's wrist and a hatch on the front opened, and a pair of "lazy tongs" attached to a pantograph hinge shot from it, grabbing Haine by the waist. She shrieked and was pulled over to the computer's side of the field.

"Magic Arm Shield brings your monster to my side of the field, and then redirects your attack to that monster."

"Oh, that is just peachy," said Verre, her uppity tone dripping with sarcasm as she aimed her staff towards her clearly-frightened friend. "Hold still, Haine, I'll make this quick…"

It seemed I had a choice now, this computer seeming to have picked up a nasty streak. I could use Verre's effect - doing so would cost my opponent 1,600 Life Points but force me to sacrifice Haine - or neglect to use them, in which case I'd lose Verre and 1,400 of my own Life Points. Neither decision was preferable, but I had another choice.

"I activate the effect of my Bacon Saver!"

I tapped part of my Duel Disk and a… pig sprung from it, quickly expanding to proper size and positioning itself in front of Verre. Then it jumped out of its skin - literally, it opened its mouth impossibly wide, and its skeleton leapt out, causing Verre to scream and fall backwards from the shock.

I deposited the card in my jacket pocket; while that wasn't the usual way Bacon Saver was used, I had been able to end the battle and save both Witchcrafters.

"Think you can warn me before you do that again?" said Verre with a sneer.

The Magic Arm Shield gave Haine a shove, pushing her back to my side of the field. She looked pissed as she looked at Verre.

This was still very hard to take in; as I looked at Dark Magician, I started to wonder just what he would be telling the duelist using his card. Then I started wondering about Celtic Guardian, Summoned Skull, and all the other cards the King of Games was known to use… "Ugh, I set one card in my Spell Zone. Then I end my turn and use the second effect of Witchcrafter Bystreet. Because I have it in my Graveyard, I can activate it now. And, I can use Witchcrafter Creation's effect to regain it."

The backdrop appeared again, as I took the Spell Card from the discard pile. I thought I was safe here - with Bystreet in play, three cards to use for Verre's effect, and a facedown card set for insurance, I should have been able to finish this the next turn.

Overconfidence is a trait that it isn't wise for a duelist to have…

"Drawing card," said the computer. "Activating Spell Card, Dark Magic Attack."

"Wait, wait, hold it… Dark Magic Attack? Isn't that the name of the attack Dark Magician uses?"

"Hold on, Terone, I'll look it up…"

"With Dark Magician on the field, this card destroys all Spell and Trap Cards on my opponent's side of the field."

"Never mind, Jenni… I chain-activate the Trap Card, Witchcrafter Masterpiece!"

Dark Magician stood up, aimed his staff, and a potent surge of magic caused both Bystreet and my Trap to shatter into particles. Still, I was able to use the Trap at the last second, and now I had four of the Witchcrafter Spell Cards, the Trap's effect gaining me Holiday from my Graveyard.

"Activating Trap Card, Magician Navigation." I didn't like the looks of this card either, nor did I know what it did. But I got the answer quickly. "I can special summon a Dark Magician from my hand, then a Level 7 or lower Dark Spellcaster from my deck."

"You have TWO of them?"I shouted.

"Affirmative."

What am I saying? I thought. It likely has three of them. I did my best to keep calm as it appeared, almost relieved that I wasn't doing this in front of an actual audience. (2,500 ATK)

The second monster it summoned looked like a mannequin or large marionette, painted to vaguely resemble a harlequin, with a tall, pointy hat. (1,300 ATK) I had heard of Legion the Fiend Jester, though up to now, I'd thought it to be a Normal Monster, wondering why anyone would use it.

But the Computer was far from done. "By sending one Normal Monster to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Cosmo Brain from my hand."

The defending Dark Magician disappeared, and a dark, metallic orb rose from the floor. Cracks started to form over it, with a glowing, pulsating core inside… Then it burst and standing over a pile of red-hot stones was a tall, ominous, vaguely female figure in a long, flowing cloak over a black dress, that was in turn, over a skintight bodysuit. Glowing eyes peered out from under a decorative, conical headdress, and it held a long, golden sorcerer's staff with one end topped by a spiral with purple gems. (1,500 ATK)

"No… way…" I whispered.

"Nobody panic!" urged Haine.

"When summoned in this manner, Cosmo Brain's Attack Score increases by an amount equal to 200 times the Level of the sent Monster." (2,900 ATK) "Then, by using its effect, I can send an Effect Monster to the Graveyard, and then Special Summon a Normal Monster from my deck."

It seemed my assumption about Legion being a Normal Monster was incorrect, as that was what it decided to sacrifice. I assumed I'd be seeing the third Dark Magician in this deck…

…I was wrong. It was another well-known monster, the one that proved a Duel Monster didn't need an Effect to be an absolute terror.

"Okay," sighed Verre, "start panicking."

Still, even she almost lost her nerve when Blue-Eyes White Dragon let out a colossal bellow. (3,000 ATK)

Okay, okay, I thought, I can still manage this… As strong as these guys are, Verre can still…

"Legion the Fiend Jester's effect now activates."

Now what?

"Upon being sent to the Graveyard, Legion the Fiend Jester lets me take Dark Magician from my Graveyard.

"And now, Polymerization."

A Fusion Summon now? I thought. It sure seemed so, as three cards - Polymerization, Dark Magician, and D.D. Warrior Lady - combined in violet and brown swirls of light…

There was a loud whinny of a fierce horse, and a mounted knight flew from the vortex. Riding a ferocious steed resembling that of Gaia the Fierce Knight, the rider wore armor like that of the Dark Magician's robe, but made of metal. He held two lances, again in the style of the Fierce Knight. (2,800 ATK)

"This Fusion Monster gains 100 Attack Points for every Spell and Trap Card in both Graveyards. There are now 15 such cards."

(4,300 ATK)

Sweat ran down my brow, but I still figured I could win this; with four Spell Cards to use with Verre's effect, as strong as these monsters are, I could use Verre's effect to make them even stronger. All I needed was…

"Activating effect of Forlarren Forsaken."

"Wait, what?"

"Because Forlarren Forsaken is now in my Graveyard, the second effect can be used, and I can destroy one opposing monster."

Cracks started to form over Verre's robes, arms and face. "Well, Terone," she said with a sigh, "it was fun while it lasted." And then she shattered like she was made of glass.

I made a mental note to myself: Next time an opponent uses a card I'm unfamiliar with, I would take a minute to read the card's text. Of course, this was a note I had made to myself about a dozen times in my career.

Of course, that realization came as the mob of monsters the Computer had summoned launched their assault. Blue-Eyes spewed its potent White Lightning at Haine, Cosmo Brain unleashed a powerful wave of psionic energy at Schmietta, and lightning flashed from Dark Cavalry's lances, homing in on Edel…

(T: 1,900 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 2,800)

"I'm… I'm sorry."

Unfortunately, the computer still had one attack left.

"Dark Magic Attack!" ordered the computer.

This was seriously adding insult to injury. I started to wondered if Chell ever felt like this…

(T: 0 - - - - - - - - - - DC: 2,800)

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Terone? Terone, are you there? The visual just cut off! Terone?"

As the dry run duel was happening in the basement of the house, Jenni was watching it from her "PC cave" on the first floor, but it seemed the onslaught of the attacks had interfered with the connection.

"I'm fine," I said, causing her to turn her chair to look at me. "Sorry you couldn't record the ending for your blog." It was sarcasm, of course, but she was used to it.

Jenni was an odd character, to put it mildly. Her hair was bobbed, with bangs, and originally blonde, but often dyed some bright and unusual color - today it was green. She always wore torn jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt (often with a midriff) with some anime or comic book inspired print on it; today it was black with the Punisher's insignia. She also wore headphones (to communicate on the net) and sunglasses, usually worn on her forehead.

"So, what's the verdict?" she asked.

I fell onto the couch, then tossed the deck case - which held the Witchcrafter deck - onto the coffee table. "Needs work."

A plastic crate on the table held several other deck cases, each with one of the decks we had been trying the past week, before she installed that computer. As of yet, I had tried Cyber Angels, Windwitches, Traptrix, and Valkyries. None of them seemed to have the… rapport with my style that I had been hoping for, though to be honest, I was curious how this new "Totally Realistic Interface" would react with the others.

"You know, Terone, if these decks aren't your thing, you don't have to use a deck with female-only monsters."

"That was Phil's idea, remember?"

Phil Rasudo was an agent - as in, my agent - something pro duelists like myself considered a "necessary evil", so to speak. Not my choice - he worked for a company called Trask Inc., which sponsored those in many entertainment-related fields, including pro duelists. I hadn't spoken to many other bigwigs at Trask, nor would I want to - most of them were corporate sharks always looking for ways to fatten their already-fat bank accounts. To be fair, Phil didn't have as many hairbrained ideas as some agents I had heard of, but when he did, his clients tended to take the brunt of them.

My stomach started to growl; I got up and went to the refrigerator, which was in the adjoining room.

"Maybe you can try Amazons?" asked Jenni.

To be honest, I had been thinking about that. If nothing else, a pro using them would increase viewership among horny teenage males or gotten angry mail from soccer moms. Or both. It might have taught Phil to be careful what he wished for. I would have called or emailed that lady from the tournament - What was her name? Natalie? Nikki? - but I had no idea what her number or address was.

"By the way, if you're looking for the leftover chicken wings, I had them for lunch."

I sighed and closed the refrigerator. "Guess I'll go out to Pandora's, you want me to bring back anything."

"Nah, I'm good," she said, and turned back to her PC.

One odd thing about Jenni, I rarely saw her move from that spot, and certainly never saw her outside the townhouse. It was a mystery why she needed those sunglasses or how she ever got enough exercise to keep her figure or enough sun to keep from turning pale.

I stuffed my Duel Disk into my knapsack - which already held my portable laptop - and headed out, my only goals at the moment a double cheeseburger, fries, and a friendly atmosphere to relax, especially if I planned to go through a rematch with GLaDOS - which I would be calling that computer from this point on - when I got back.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Pandora's Box was one of those odd theme restaurants that seemed to have started as a flash-in-the-pan fad, but one that managed to last longer than most.

The dining area looked like a tavern from a typical fantasy RPG (aside from the old arcade games off to the side, which at the moment included Golden Axe and Shadows over Mystara, and the claw crane machine full of plushies), the cashiers dressed like tavern serving maids, and the food, well… It was pretty much burgers, chicken wings, fish sandwiches, kids' meals with prizes, all that stuff, with names like minotaur burgers, spicy roc wings, filet of nixie sandwiches. Someone had felt obligated to put a sign near the counter that read, "No sentient beings were harmed in the making of this food". Still, as odd as this place was, the food was decent and inexpensive, plus offered free Wi-Fi service.

The place had become popular haven for young, inexperienced duelists since last year when they started giving away promotional Duel Monsters cards in the kids' meals - not the most useful, mainly holofoil versions of old monsters, like Giant Soldier of Stone, Spirit of the Harp, and Beast of Talwar, but still popular enough for them to have repeated the promotion twice more.

It was nearly five in the afternoon, so the place was busy; while waiting for my order, I opened my laptop and started working on a special database. A wish list.

Or rather, a dream list, the ideal deck I wanted, which I doubted I'd ever be able to build. Dark Magician was already part of, along with many of Yugi's other cards.

And now, so was Cosmo Brain and Legion the Fiend Jester.

Whether it was a pragmatic or effective deck wasn't important to me, I simply kept it for my own amusement. A duelist can dream, right?

Maybe.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Wishful thinking, Terone, dreams can come true, but in your case, you're going to have to earn it.

Next chapter, Terone will face his first human opponent, but it will not be what you think! Hopefully, I will be able to update more often than occasionally - something I will say here, I had meant to start this thick months ago, but was often delayed by having to rewrite the duel outline many times. The Witchcrafters are, to say the least, a complicated archetype. With her all use them again, I'm not sure, but the TL system will definitely be staying.

And with that brief note, I will see you all soon.

Ooh, but before I go, a fanmade card to post:

Forlarren Forsaken (Normal Trap Card)

Image: A shadowy silhouette of a small, gaunt, imp like figure on a forest path with the sun to its back; to its right, the forest is lush and beautiful, to the left the forest is dark and full of twisted dead trees.

Effect: Activate if 2 or more of your monsters (not including Tokens) are destroyed this turn. Your opponent may discard 2 cards and then draw 3. If they do not, you take 1,000 points of damage and this card is sent to the bottom of your deck. If this card is sent to the GY without this effect activating, banish it. If this card is in your GY and "Forlarren Forsaken" was not activated this turn, you may banish it, and then destroy 1 monster your opponent controls.