When last we left TJ and the Recess Gang, they had lost Spinelli to the Ashleys. However, TJ with the help of King Bob had discovered a never used clause in the playground constitution that TJ hopes to exploit. But do the Ashleys already know?
TJ showed the Red-Eyes Black Dragon to Vince and the others, who gasped in stunned silence.
"No...way!" Gus broke the silence.
"That's Spinelli's favorite card - the Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" Vince added in.
"That's right. Spinelli put it with a note she wrote and had King Bob deliver to me," TJ explained. "And I'm gonna use this card to break the Ashleys' hold over Spinelli..."
"If we weren't any further cognicent, I'd be keen enough to assess that you, TJ, have an infatuation with our fallen friend Spinelli," Gretchen called out TJ.
Heaing this stopped TJ dead in his tracks. He had been caught. "How long have you guys known?"
"Since the experiment."
"We knew you were faking being disgusted, TJ..." Mikey said.
"And I...kinda rigged the straws so that you and Spinelli would get the shortest ones," Vince admitted.
"We all knew you were crushing on each other, we just had to set the right situation for you to act on it," Gus told TJ.
"And now, my dear friend TJ, you finally came out and admitted your true feelings for our fallen friend Spinelli," the peacekeeper Mikey mused.
"I miss her already...and I want her back more than anything. Strike that - I don't just miss Spinelli...I love her...and I know I'll get her back. You guys with me?"
"Indubitably, TJ," Gretchen confirmed.
"You know it, man!"
"You got it, Commander TJ!"
"TJ, it's not even a question...we're all with you..."
2nd recess came later in the day. That meant it was time for King Bob to announce the invocation of the duel clause. TJ took his place next to King Bob atop Ol' Rusty, preparing for the announcement.
"You ready, Detweiler?"
"I sure hope so..."
King Bob's detail blasted their kazoos to herald the arrival of the playground king.
"Kids of the Playground! I, King Robert The 6th, have a very important announcement to make! A very brave 4th grade soul has invoked the duel clause in the playground constitution. This 4th grader is someone you all know who has helped out many a person on the playground, be they big or small, young or old...even me. That person...is none other than our own TJ DETWEILER!"
Across the playground, the Ashleys heard this announcement and froze.
"A duel clause? Like, who put that in?" Ashley T asked, turning to her fellow Ashleys.
"I, like, have a feeling I know who..." Ashley Q said, turning to Ashley A.
Ashley A knew she was in trouble. "Like, okay...fine! I had that put in because I thought I couldn't be defeated in a duel. After all, I was and still am the top female duelist here at 3rd Street."
"But, like, have you seen Detweiler duel?" Ashley B asked her superior.
"Yeah. He even beat King Bob once!" Ashley T told Ashley B.
"Like, he may be even better than you, Ashley A!" Ashley Q warned.
"LIKE, NO ONE'S BETTER THAN ME! YOU GOT THAT? AND I'LL PROVE IT! LIKE, I'LL WIPE THAT SMUG SMILE OFF DETWEILER'S FACE AND DESTROY ANY HOPE HE HAS OF SAVING SPINELLI FROM BECOMING THE ASHLEY SHE WAS ALWAYS MEANT TO BE!" Ashley A declared. "I will prove to everyone that I am the number one duelist at 3rd Street! Ashley Q, Ashley B...proceed with Operation Ashley S as planned. I'll have the Tylers deal with Detweiler. Ashley T, head for the basement where we took down SAL 3000. If the Tylers fail...like I know they will, that's where you come in."
With a nod, the Ashleys went to their designated posts while Ashley A vented to herself. "TJ Detweiler...why do you go after a tomboy like Spinelli? What do you see in her? Why don't you see that I love you...oh, never you mind...I'll make sure you never save Spinelli and that I have you all to myself!"
Back atop Ol' Rusty, TJ and King Bob were discussing his upcoming battles.
"Appears your first opponent is already waiting for you..." King Bob told TJ.
"Whoever they are, I'll be ready."
"Jerome is telling me that your first opponent is in the gym...good luck..."
With a nod, TJ climbed off of Ol' Rusty to join Vince and the others. "First stop - School Gym. Got my first opponent waiting..."
"Careful, man...we don't know who's waiting for us or how strong they are. We could be walking into a trap," Vince warned.
"Maybe. But if it means getting Spinelli back, so be it."
With that, the group ran into the school gym, where they were met by Tyler Q and Tyler T.
"Welcooe, Detweiler..." Tyler T greeted.
"We've been expecting you..." Tyler Q added. The duo were brandishing a pair of KaibaCorp Duel Coats, but much smaller to fit their 2nd grade statures.
"Enough games, Tylers! Where's Spinelli?" TJ barked.
"I'm afraid that's only for our sisters to know..." Tyler T teased mockingly.
"And if you want to get to your girl, you'll have to defeat the both of us...in a TAG DUEL!" Tyler Q challenged.
"You're on! And I'll have Gus duel by my side!"
"Bring it, Tylers! FOR SPINELLI!" Gus chimed in as he and TJ activated their standard KaibaCorp Duel Disks.
Tyler T: 8000
Tyler Q: 8000
TJ: 8000
Gus: 8000
"Alright, Tylers...GET YOUR GAME ON!" TJ called out.
"I'll begin the proceedings..." Tyler Q said as he drew his first card. "And I'll start with the Continuous Spell FULL MOON MIRROR!"
Tyler Q slid the card into his Duel Coat and a demonic mirror appeared with a projection of a full moon following.
"What is that thing, TJ?" Gus freaked.
"I'm not sure...and I don't think I wanna find out..."
All Tyler Q could do was chuckle menacingly as he continued his turn. "Next, I'll play this face-down and summon SILVER SPIRIT SAKYO in Attack Mode!"
ATK: 800
DEF: 600
"That'll do for now."
"That means it's my turn! HERE GOES!" TJ exclaimed, drawing his card. "First thing's first - my CARD OF DEMISE! This lets Gus and I draw 5 new cards, but at the cost of tossing out our hands in 5 turns."
After TJ and Gus resolved Card of Demise's effect, TJ looked at his hand and smiled as if he knew what to do.
"Now 3 of those 5 draws get thrown face-down. Next up...POLYMERIZATION! I'll use it to fuse the Avian and Bubbleman in my hand to summon ELEMENTAL HERO MARINER!"
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1000
"Now for my QUICK-ATTACK card! This lets me attack right now! And my target...is TYLER T!"
"WHAT?!" Tyler T gasped.
"Mariner, strike Tyler T directly with ANCHOR AWEIGH!"
Mariner launched an anchor from its right wrist, striking Tyler T in the chest.
Tyler T: 6600
"Are you alright, Tyler T?" Tyler Q asked.
"I'll be fine..." Tyler T confirmed.
"That was a cheap shot there, Detweiler!"
"You Tylers played dirty when you snitched on everyone! Only seems right that I play dirty right back! I'll throw down another face-down and defer to you Tylers."
"Very well, but in the meantime, it's my turn!" Tyler T retorted, drawing his card. "I too will play a card face-down. Then, I'll call SILVER SPIRIT SAKYO to the field - Attack Mode!"
ATK: 600
DEF: 800
"Your move, Griswald!"
The son of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Griswald said nothing as he drew his card. He now had an expanded hand after TJ's Card of Demise play and decided to make the most of it.
"I'll begin with 3 cards of my own face-down. Next up is my DOUBLE SUMMON Spell Card! This lets me conduct 2 summonings for the price of 1 this turn! And I can't think of a better duo than DESTINY HERO DIAMOND DUDE and DESTINY HERO DUNKER!"
Destiny Hero Diamond Dude:
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1600
Destiny Hero Dunker:
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1700
"Now I'll play their abilities! First, Dunker lets me toss a Destiny Hero to deal 500 damage to a target I choose. And this round's target...is TYLER Q! So I'll toss out Captain Tenacious and you take 500 points of damage, Tyler Q!"
Tyler Q: 7500
"Next up is Diamond Dude's ability! He lets me look at the top card of my deck. If it's a Spell Card, I send it to the Grave then activate its effect on my next turn!" Gus explained as he drew his next card. "Looks like I found Destiny Draw! Since it's a Spell Card, I send it to the Grave then use its effect on my next turn! I'll lay one more card face-down and take a break."
It was back to Tyler Q. "My turn! Draw! I'll play the card I just drew - MIRROR ROUTE! This lets a monster I control with less than 1000 points strike you directly this turn! And I choose my Ukyo! Now attack Detweiler directly with QUICKSILVER!"
Ukyo launched a stream of sonic blasts from its left arm at TJ, pushing him back a few inches.
TJ: 7200
"Care to retaliate?"
"You better believe it!" TJ growled, drawing his card. "And I think I'll start with this - CARD OF SANCTITY! So we all draw until we're holding 6 cards! Next up is some more fusion action with POLYMERIZATION! So I'll be merging the Bustinatrix and Clayman in my hand to summon ELEMENTAL HERO RAMPART BLASTER!"
ATK: 2000
DEF: 2500
"Now for her to do what she does best - and that's blasting! Even though she's in Defense Mode, she can still blast away at your Life Points to the tune of half her Attack Points! And guess what? You're right in her crosshairs, Tyler Quinlan!"
"UH OH!"
"Go, RAMPART BARRAGE!"
Tyler Q: 6500
"That worked just as I hoped. I'll call it a turn there."
Action shifted back over to Tyler T - Ashley T's brother. "My turn!" He called out, drawing his card. "I'll play my own MIRROR ROUTE card! This will let Sakyo attack directly! Attack Griswald with QUICKSILVER!"
Gus: 7400
"I'll end with 2 face-downs."
It was back to Gus. "That means I'm up! And you're about to go down! Here goes!" he declared as he drew. "First thing's first, the effect of Diamond Dude activates, letting me use the effect of the Destiny Draw I milled last turn. So I'll get rid of the Destiny Hero Doom Lord I just drew and draw twice. Next up, I'll play MONSTER REBORN to bring back Doom Lord!"
ATK: 600
DEF: 800
"Next I'll use Diamond Dude's effect again...and this time, I find MONSTER REINCARNATION! Since it's a Spell, it goes to my Grave and I can use it next turn! Now that that's done, the pieces are in place...for this! I sacrifice Doom Lord, Diamond Dude and Dunker so I can summon this...DESTINY HERO PLASMA!"
ATK: 1900
DEF: 600
"DESTINY HERO PLASMA?!" The Tylers gasped fearfully.
"That's right! And you're about to feel its wrath! Attack Sakyo with VENGEFUL REIGN!"
Destiny Hero Plasma launched a bloody stream right at Tyler T's Sakyo, however...
"I think not! Open Trap Card! MIRROR BIND! Mirror, Mirror on the wall...now whose monster will lose this brawl?"
Tyler Q had a Trap ready and waiting!
"You see, Griswald...Mirror Bind activates when you declare an attack while Ukyo and Sakyo are on the field together. Since that's the case, every monster with equal or less Attack Points than Plasma that are out on your field are destroyed!"
"WHAT?! My attack's being reflected!"
Plasma and Mariner were both wiped out! Not only that, but a part of the moon was gone...but TJ had a plan.
"Don't think I'll let that go unpunished! I have a Trap of my own - ELEMENTAL MIRAGE! I can use this Trap whenever an Elemental Hero bites the dust by way of an effect. Since that was the case, I can bring back any monsters that were destroyed! That means Plasma and Mariner return!"
"Thanks for the save, TJ!" Gus cheered. "Now that Plasma's back, he can strike again! VENGEFUL REIGN!"
This time, Tyler T was ready for it.
"Sorry, Griswald! You triggered my MIRROR TRAP! This lets me use a card my partner played this turn and I'm choosing MIRROR BIND! You know what that means...Plasma and Mariner are gone once again!"
2 more mirrors opened up and more sections of the moon vanished as Plasma and Mariner were destroyed once again. This time it was Gus's turn to save TJ.
"Well, you just played right into my hand. Activate Trap Card! Go, DESTINY MIRAGE! Since a Destiny Hero went MIA due to an opposing effect, I'm allowed to bring back all monsters destroyed by that effect! Return to the front lines, Plasma and Mariner! Next, I'll be using Plasma's effect - it uses one of your monsters as an Equip Card then takes half of the equipped monster's Attack Points and adds it to its own! And this round's target is SILVER SPIRIT UKYO!"
"Nice try! But I have another Trap! SILVER SPIRIT REDIRECTION! I can use this when you target one of our monsters with an effect. That effect gets negated and the monster that tried it is automatically destroyed!"
Just like that, Plasma was gone again.
"Not bad, but I have this - from my hand, I play the Spell Card OVER DESTINY! With it, I can target a Destiny Hero in the Grave, then summon another Destiny Hero that's less than or equal to half its level. Plasma's level was 8, so I can summon up to a level 4 Destiny Hero monster. So from my deck, I'll be calling up DESTINY HERO DRILLDARK!"
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1200
"Now I'll use one of my hidden cards - the Trap Card D-FUSION! This lets me use Destiny Heros for a Fusion Summon this turn. So I'll be fusing Drilldark with the Destiny Hero Disk Commander in my hand! Time for my ace to make its appearance! Appear now...DESTINY HERO DESTROYER PHOENIX ENFORCER!"
ATK: 2500
DEF: 2100
"And it's got a pretty powerful effect. Once each turn, I can destroy a monster I control along with a card you control! So I'll be destroying my Phoenix Enforcer and...YOUR SAKYO!"
"OH NO!" Tyler T freaked as his spirit and Gus's hero were destroyed.
"I know what you're thinking...'all that work just to destroy his own monster?' You would be right except for one thing - if Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer were to be taken out by any means, I can summon a Destiny Hero from the Grave during the next turn. Though your Full Moon Mirror may have 6 counters on it now, TJ and I clearly have the edge. That's all for me."
Tyler Q growled as he drew his card. "My turn then..."
"And you know what that means...Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer returns!"
"We need to find a way around that monstrosity that Griswald has out..." Tyler T warned.
"You think I don't know that? I'll handle Detweiler. You figure out that Phoenix Enforcer," Tyler Q said. "I'll be giving up my Ukyo to summon this - MAGIC MIRROR SPIRIT NAYUTA!"
ATK: 2600
DEF: 1400
"Now attack Mariner!"
TJ: 6000
"That's all for me."
"Back to me now...here goes!" TJ called out, drawing his card. "I think I'll take 2 additional cards with my POT OF GREED! Next up is my FUSION RECOVERY! This lets me move Polymerization and a Fusion Material monster to my hand from the Grave! Now it's FUSION TIME! I fuse Necroshade and Wildheart in my hand to make ELEMENTAL HERO NECROID SHAMAN!"
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1800
"Now for Shaman's effect. It sends your Magic Mirror Spirit to the Grave and replaces it with the much weaker Silver Spirit Ukyo!"
"Big mistake, Detweiler! When Ukyo is summoned, Sakyo returns!"
Gus turned to TJ with a puzzled look. "You mind telling me what the plan is, TJ?"
"Relax, Gus. I got it all figured out. Since I sent Necroshade to the Grave with Polymerization, I can play his effect - an effect that lets me summon a high level Hero without sacrificing anything else! Come on out, BLADEDGE!"
ATK: 2600
DEF: 1800
"Now I play my DE-FUSION! Time to split, Necroid Shaman!"
Necroshade:
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1800
Wildheart:
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1600
"Wildheart, attack Sakyo with WILD SLASH! And don't even think about playing your Mirror Bind card because Wildheart isn't affected by Traps!"
Wildheart launched into the air and slashed Sakyo, destroying it.
"Now that your deadly duo is broken up, your Mirror Traps have no bite! And now that the coast is clear...Necroshade, strike Tyler T directly!"
Tyler T: 5000
"Now Bladedge, hold nothing back! Take out Ukyo with SLICE AND DICE ATTACK! And don't think Defense Mode will help here! Bladedge can deal you damage even if your monster is in Defense Mode!"
"WHAT?!" Tyler Q flinched as his monster was destroyed.
Tyler Q: 4500
"Now Rampart Blaster, activate your ability again and strike Tyler T with RAMPART BARRAGE!"
Tyler T: 4000
"I'll throw down a face-down and call it a turn."
"That means it's to me now! And I'll just set these 2 cards face-down. Your move, Griswald."
Gus just chuckled at Tyler T's move. "That's all? Lame! I draw now! And I think I'll pick up 2 more cards thanks to Pot of Greed! You remember Diamond Dude's effect, don't you? Even though he's not on the field any more, I can still use the effect of a Spell he milled the previous turn, so I'll toss out Defender and bring Plasma back to my hand! Now for my assault! Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer, attack Tyler Q directly!"
However, Tyler T wasn't about to let his fellow Tyler take the hit!
"I play a Trap! My SOUL MIRROR! So I'll give up Mirror Bind and summon SILVER SPIRIT SAKYO!"
"And when Sakyo is summoned, Ukyo returns!"
Unfortunately, they played right into Gus's hand...
"Just as planned. Open Trap! D-CHAIN! I can equip this onto a Destiny Hero and give him 500 points! In this case, it's my Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! And I'll follow that up with my other down card - DOUBLE ATTACK! This lets my Enforcer attack twice this turn at the cost of one card in my hand. Phoenix Enforcer, take out Ukyo with CHAIN OF REPENT!"
Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer twirled his chain and thrust it forward, destroying Ukyo.
"You may be thinking that since your monster was in Defense Mode, your Life Points are safe, right? Not necessarily. You see, when a monster saddled with D-Chain destroys an opposing monster in battle, the controller of that monster loses 500 points!"
Tyler Q: 4000
"And thanks to Double Attack, I still have my attack on Sakyo! CHAIN OF REPENT!"
Just like with Ukyo, Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer did the same motion at Sakyo, destroying it.
"And due to D-Chain's effect, 500 points get shaved off from you, Tyler T!"
Tyler T: 3500
"Very good, Griswald. However, I have my BURIED SOUL TALISMAN Trap! With it, I can take down your Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer and summon this - MAGIC MIRROR SPIRIT ASOGI!"
ATK: 1500
DEF: 2500
"And when Asogi is summoned, Tyler Q gets to bring back Nayuta!"
"While I do thank you for bringing Nayuta back, I must also say...YOU IDIOT! You do realize that Griswald's Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer will just come back next turn...and its effect is a Quick Effect, meaning he can use it to destroy any of our spirits?"
"Uh oh...I misplayed..." Tyler T admitted.
"I'll lay 2 cards face-down and take a break."
"Uh, Gus...take a look...the moon's gone!"
"What do you think is going on with that?"
"I'm not sure, but I have a feeling we're about to find out."
Meanwhile, back at the Ashley clubhouse, the Ashleys and Spinelli were watching the duel intently.
'Come on, TJ...don't let those Tylers rattle you...' Spinelli thought to herself as the Ashleys proceeded with their plan to transform her into one of them.
Back at the gym, it was Tyler Q's turn and he had drawn the big bad of their decks. "First, I'll play the effect of Full Moon Mirror - because of the monsters we've destroyed, the mirror has 10 counters. Thanks to that, I can now sacrifice Full Moon Mirror to play INFINITE FIEND MIRROR! Next, I'll sacrifice Asogi and Nayuta to summon this...THE DARK CREATOR!"
ATK: 3000
DEF: 1000
"And with Infinite Fiend Mirror in play, Dark Creator spawns 9 Dark Creator Tokens with the same Attack Points, Defense Points and abilities as The Dark Creator!"
Dark Creator Tokens (x9):
ATK: 3000
DEF: 1000
"Creator Tokens, attack TJ's monsters now!"
On that command, the Creator Tokens blasted streams of dark energy from their eyes at TJ's heroes, destroying them.
TJ: 2700
Tyler T laughed sinisterly. "Now for Dark Creator's effect! Since it destroyed a monster in battle, you and Griswald take 700 damage for each one! That's 4 monsters, meaning 2800 damage - more than you can afford, Detweiler!"
TJ wasn't done yet!
"I play a Trap! It's called RETURN MARKER! This Trap activates when I would take damage from an effect. It negates the damage, then one of you takes damage equal to the Attack Points of your Dark Creator! And my target is...TYLER Q!"
Tyler Q: 1000
"I have a Trap as well! It's known as BARREL BEHIND THE DOOR! Much like Return Marker, this Trap activates when damage would be dealt due to an effect. But unlike Return Marker, it redirects the damage back to you, Tyler T!"
"WHAT?!"
Tyler T: 700
"I still have another attack! Creator Token, take out Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer! And in response, I'll chain my QUICK-ATTACK card! This lets my Dark Creator strike right now!"
Gus: 3900
"And let's not forget Creator's effect - since it destroyed your monster in battle, you take 700 damage!"
Gus: 3200
"I'll lay this and end my turn."
"Back to me then! DRAW!"
"And you know what that means, TJ! Since Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer was taken out, he returns!" Gus then turned to TJ. "TJ, my cards are your cards."
TJ smiled and nodded at Gus. "In that case, I'll use Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer's effect to destroy itself and...YOUR DARK CREATOR!"
"BUT THAT MEANS..." Tyler Q and Tyler T said together.
"Your field gets wiped out!"
Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer glowed as it destroyed itself, taking Dark Creator and the Creator Tokens with it.
"How?! How is that even possible?" Tyler Q asked, surprised.
"Don't you get it, you dunce? First he used Destroyer Phoenix Enforcer to destroy our Creator, that destroyed our Creator Tokens!"
"That means you're out of luck! I play my hidden card - CALL OF THE HAUNTED! Return to battle, DESTROYER PHOENIX ENFORCER! But he won't be out long, because I'm using DE-FUSION to split him into his former counterparts! Now check this out...it's MIRACLE FUSION!"
"MIRACLE FUSION?!"
"Pretty sweet, huh? Miracle Fusion allows me to fuse any Heroes I have in my hand or my Graveyard and remove them from play to summon any Heroes in my Fusion Deck! So I'll be fusing Elemental Heroes Avian, Bubbleman, Bustinatrix, Clayman, Rampart Blaster, Necroshade, Bladedge, Wildheart, Mariner and the Neos in my hand with Destiny Heroes Drilldark, Defender, Disk Commander, Plasma, Diamond Dude, Doom Lord and Captain Tenacious!
"17 FUSION MATERIALS?!" The Tylers gasped.
"Prepare yourself for the ultimate Fusion!" TJ exclaimed.
"We summon forth..." Gus started.
"WAKE UP YOUR ELEMENTAL HERO!"
ATK: 2500
DEF: 2100
"And it's got a pretty powerful effect! First it gains 300 Attack and Defense Points for each monster used in its summon!"
"Since we used 17 monsters, it gains 5100 points for a grand total of 7600!"
"Not only that, but it can attack a number of times equal to the number of monsters we used to summon it!"
"NO!"
Wake Up Your Elemental Hero:
ATK: 2500 - 7600
DEF: 2100 - 7200
"END THIS DUEL WITH HERO UNIFICATION BURST!" TJ and Gus called out together. Every monster used to summon the grand fusion charged in and launched their respective solo attacks at Tyler Q and Tyler T, knocking them to the ground.
Tyler Q: 0
Tyler T: 0
TJ & Gus: WIN
Enraged, TJ grabbed Tyler Q by the collar. "Now...WHERE'S SPINELLI?"
"We...we don't know..." Tyler Q choked out. "But...but Tyler A and Tyler B are in the auditorium for your next match, Detweiler. Defeat them and you'll have your next clue..."
TJ then threw Tyler Q to the ground. "So be it...gang, let's advance."
Half of the Tylers have been defeated. The other half remain before TJ gets to face the Ashleys. Can he defeat them? Find out next time!