King Bob's soul has been captured, leaving TJ and Vince to fend for themselves against the near unstoppable power of Ashley A and the Orichalcos. Add to it, their friends have been knocked out by the power of The Ashleys, but can they reach out from the beyond to give them one last fighting chance to defeat Ashley A and save Spinelli from the Ashleys' clutches? For in the darkest times, hope still resides as the true forms of the Legendary Dragons are revealed...
Score so far:
Vince: 10300
TJ: 8300
Ashley A: 23500
King Bob has been defeated, the rest of the Recess crew has been knocked unconscious, thus leaving TJ and Vince to fend for themselves against Ashley A with 3 near indestructible monsters in play.
"Have we really cursed the playground?" TJ questioned. "I thought all we were doing was helping the kids!"
"Detweiler...Lasalle...the darkness in your hearts surrounds your souls. You say you're doing good for the kids of the playground when in actuality, all you've done was lead this school on a path of destruction. And Detweiler...your little girlfriend is the main source of the problem."
Inside Spinelli's mindscape, she was looking on at the duel - TJ and Vince giving all they have to save her from the Ashleys.
"Where am I?" Spinelli asked herself. "Last thing I remember is being trapped in a duel with TJ's sister but then...nothing..."
That's when she saw astral projections of Ms. Grotke and TJ's sister Becky as well as Gretchen, Mikey, Gus and King Bob.
"Spinelli? Is that you?" Gus called out.
"Guys! Thank goodness you're alright!"
"Please, you call this alright?"
"You too, Becky?" Gus said.
"We're all in your mindscape, Spinelli. My brother and Vince are still out there trying to save you from the Ashleys. You can still get out of this mess if they defeat Ashley A," Becky explained.
"But how are they to achieve that? King Bob's with us now and that means TJ and Vince are fighting alone out there!" Gretchen assessed.
"Not necessarily, Gretchen," said Ms. Grotke. "Robert may have been knocked out of the fight but they're not alone. They've still got all of us. Sure, we're not right there next to them but that hasn't stopped us yet!"
"I'm not sure that's going to work this time, Ms. Grotke..." Mikey said to his teacher. "Ashley A is playing by her own set of rules and nothing can take down that Seal of Orichalcos."
"There is one thing that can help...it's one of the cards I gave him and if TJ draws it, he'll be able to unleash a force unlike any other..." Spinelli said.
"And this mystery card can defeat Ashley A and save you?" Becky asked TJ.
"Yes. It was the same mystery card Pegasus gave Yugi when he faced Dartz."
"Spinelli, if I may...it was on a trip to Egypt that Maximillion Pegasus was inspired to create the game of Duel Monsters after making an incredible discovery. You see, Ms. Detweiler, long ago ancient kings and sorcerors once preformed dark rituals that conjured real monsters. These monsters existed in a universe parallel to our own. Guarding the gateway to this universe were 3 dragons - Timaeus, Critias and Hermos. But what you don't know about these dragons is that they were hidden with a dark secret. Pegasus spent many years trying to uncover that secret and even made a special card that unlocked it. Then it dawned on him: What if these dragons weren't really dragons at all? What if...THEY WERE HUMANS?!"
"WHAT?! HUMANS? HOW COULD THAT BE POSSIBLE?" Gus gasped.
"I'm in concurrance with Gus here. The odds that a dragon could originally be human are astronomical."
"As much as I admire your love of science, Gretchen, there's a reasonable explanation for this. During the Battle of Atlantis, King Dartz transformed 3 brave knights into dragons in an effort to weaken them. Now it's up to TJ to restore them...before Spinelli's turned into an Ashley forever."
Back at the duel...
"Armbruster, you will not stop us from saving Spinelli! She gave us a mission - to save her and stop you from controlling the playground!" TJ called out.
"Mission..." Ashley A chuckled. "There's no such thing. Your mission for Spinelli is merely a cog of destiny. She didn't know you're the cause of the playground's destruction, yet she entrusted you with everyone's hope. And for that, every single one of you must be punished! For today...history repeats itself...AND THE BATTLE OF ATLANTIS SHALL BEGIN AGAIN! Only this time...my bloodline will be victorious and I will make the playground great again!"
"You can't! Not another war!"
"We won't let you!" Vince added in.
"Too late, boys...it's already begun," Ashley A taunted.
"If that's the case...WE'LL END IT HERE AND NOW! My move!" Vince declared, drawing his card. "I'll begin by activating my GRACEFUL CHARITY! So TJ and I draw 3 cards, then toss 2. Next, my Alternative Black Dragon and Dark Dragoon will attack your Aristeros!
Both monsters launched fire streams at Aristeros, but both attacks failed.
Shunoros ATK: 24200
Vince: 9700
"I'll end my turn with 2 cards face-down."
"That brings it to me! And I'll begin by activating my POT OF GREED! This lets me draw 2 more cards! Next I'll call OBNOXIOUS CELTIC GUARDIAN to the field in Defense Mode!"
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1200
"I'll end by playing a card face-down."
"And you know what that means...I automatically get another 1500 Life Points!"
Ashley A: 25000
'25,000 Life Points...' TJ thought to himself.
"Now I activate this Spell - it's known as ORICHALCOS IGNITION! This lets me activate up to 3 Orichalcos Spell or Trap Cards from my deck! So now I activate ORICHALCOS PENTOS, ORICHALCOS HEXOS and ORICHALCOS HEPTOS! Now that we're up to the seventh level of darkness, I can now Special Summon monsters from my hand, deck or Graveyard! Next, I'll have Orichalcos Shunoros take out that Red-Eyes Dragon with PHOTON RING BLAST!"
A bright green ring of photon energy rose to Shunoros's crown before it was launched at Alternative Black Dragon, destroying it.
Shunoros ATK: 21800
Vince: 0
"Strike 2, dorks..."
"I'm not through, Armbruster...reveal...face-down card! It's called Mystik Wok. By sacrificing my Dark Dragoon, I can convert all of its 6000 Attack Points into TJ's Life Points!"
TJ: 14300
"TJ, it's up to you now...defeat Ashley A and save Spinelli..." Vince stumbled as he fell to the floor and his soul was taken.
"Detweiler...looks like you're the SOUL survivor..." Ashley A taunted. "Now comes my Dexia's ability. It ensures its strength is always 300 points higher than whatever it battles! Now attack Celtic Guardian!"
Dexia launched a laser beam at Celtic Guardian, intending to destroy it. However...
"HOLD ON! OPEN TRAP CARD! All I have to do now is give up half my Life Points and my Soul Shield activates, stopping your attack!"
TJ: 7150
"Not bad. But what's the point? Just look around you...you're all alone against me. Your friends are no longer there to support you...and the scoreboard doesn't exactly point in your favor so why drag out this torment any longer? Just place your hand over your Duel Disk and forfeit this duel to me...accept your girlfriend's Ashley destiny..."
TJ growled, preparing to draw his card. "You've lied for the last time, Armbruster! My friends are always with me! And we're gonna win this fight and take you down together! ARMBRUSTER! IT ALL ENDS RIGHT NOW!" he said as he drew. 'It's the nameless card...I can feel its power...'
"I believe in the vision of the future shared with my friends! Do you know what's in my hand? THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE SECRET OF THE LEGENDARY DRAGONS!"
"WHAT?!"
"You heard me, Armbruster...GO, LEGEND OF HEART! I give up 1000 points and sacrifice my Obnoxious Celtic Guardian! This lets me summon Critias, Hermos and Timaeus in their true form!"
TJ: 6150
"FINALLY! After 10 millennia in captivity, we've been set free!"
"NO! NOT THEM AGAIN!"
A bolt of lightning then crashed down on Benedict's old lair, revealing the Legendary Knights of Atlantis.
"I am he who is named Timaeus!"
"And I am...SIR CRITIAS!"
"I am known as...SIR HERMOS!"
"IN THE NAME OF ATLANTIS, WE HAVE BEEN REBORN!"
Legendary Knights (x3):
ATK: 2800
DEF: 1800
"I THOUGHT MY ANCESTOR DARTZ TOOK CARE OF YOU 10 MILLENNIA AGO!"
In the presence of the Knights of Atlantis, The Seal of Orichalcos is negated and destroyed!
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! MY PRECIOUS SEAL OF ORICHALCOS IS GONE!"
Shunoros ATK: 19800
"Your ring of darkness is useless in our presence!"
"Did you forget our last encounter with your ancestor?"
"He was the one who gave me this scar...and I have a score to settle with your bloodline!"
"The time has come to weaken your defense. Timaeus, attack Orichalcos Aristeros now!"
Timaeus rushed in to attack Aristeros, but the attack failed.
"I'm not through yet. Critias, Hermos...follow Timaeus's lead and attack!"
Shunoros ATK: 10500
TJ: 6250
"And with that, I shall end my turn."
"Now...ORICHALCOS SHUNOROS, ATTACK CRITIAS WITH PHOTON RING BLAST!"
Not so fast, Ashley A!
"Hold it right there! CRITIAS, DEFEND! Your attack's not going anywhere, thanks to his special ability!"
"HIS WHAT?!"
"He's allowed to absorb the effects of any Trap Card used throughout the duel. I choose to use one that was employed by King Bob earlier in the duel - THE REFLECTING POWER OF MIRROR FORCE!"
Ashley A had just walked right into a Trap!
"Now Critias can stop your attack and send it right back at your monsters!"
"OH NO!"
"I'm afraid so!"
Critias slashed the ring into pieces, destroying all of Ashley A's monsters.
Ashley A: 14500
"Excellent move, Detweiler...to think you would be able to destroy my Orichalcos Shunoros. However..."
Orichalcos Shunoros crumbled and a huge snake-like creature replaced it.
"What is that thing?"
"Meet my most powerful monster - the Divine Serpent. I can only summon it if my Orichalos Shunoros is destroyed while it has no Attack Points. Since that was the case, I can send my entire hand to the Graveyard and give up 10,000 Life Points. After that, my Life Points drop to 0 but as long as Divine Serpent is in play, I remain in the game. However, if you're somehow able to destroy him, you win."
Ashley A: 0
Divine Serpent:
ATK: Infinite
DEF: Infinite
"Its strength...IT'S INFINITE!" TJ gasped.
"There was never any hope for the likes of you to defeat me. So draw your final card! Nothing you draw will stop my ascent to queen of the playground!"
"I will not stop until you are defeated and Spinelli is safe! MY DRAW!"
The card he drew...
'Dark Magician Girl...I can sense Spinelli's soul in this card. I made a promise to her and I intend to keep that promise...' TJ thought.
"I'll play this face-down. It's your move now..."
"Very well. First, in order to attack with my Divine Serpent, I must mill the top 10 cards of my deck. Now, Divine Serpent...STRIKE DOWN ONE OF HIS KNIGHTS!"
Divine Serpent shot blue flame from its gaping mouth, destroying Timaeus.
"NO! TIMAEUS!"
TJ: 0
"One knight down...not that I need to take out the others...because you're out of Life Points! That means the duel is over and Spinelli's Ashley destiny is fulfilled! FAREWELL, DETWEILER!"
The Seal reappeared, intending to take TJ's soul, but was destroyed and out of the smoke...there was TJ with Dark Magician Girl!
"WHAT?! WHY ARE YOU STILL STANDING IN MY WAY?"
"It's thanks to my face-down card - an extremely rare and powerful Trap known as RELAY SOUL. When my Life Points hit 0, it allowed me to stay in the game by summoning Dark Magician Girl and putting my fate in her hands. So you and I are in the same situation now. Each of us has one monster - you have your Serpent...and I have Dark Magician Girl. When one is destroyed, the cardholder will lose. Now, let the final phase begin!"
"Do you really think a monster with that power is capable of defeating me? My Divine Serpent's power is limitless!" Ashley A taunted.
"I will not be tricked by you, Armbruster!" TJ rebuttaled. "I believe in the bonds with my monsters...and my friends!"
"There you go again acting tough. I'll break that facade with this! IMPACT REVIVE! This brings back a monster that was destroyed this turn and gives it an extra 500 points!"
The monster she brought back...was Timaeus!
"But why? Why bring back Timaeus?"
Ashley A just laughed. "The Legendary Knights are nothing when faced with infinite power. And one more thing...Impact Revive grants me another attack!"
"OH NO!"
"I mill the top 10 cards of my deck to allow Divine Serpent to attack once more! Now, Divine Serpent...END THIS DUEL AND BRING SPINELLI TO ME!"
Divine Serpent launched another attack, this time aiming at Dark Magician Girl and intending to end the duel right here and now. However...
"Hermos, activate your Sword of Renewal! Absorb the power of a monster in my Graveyard!"
Hermos stepped in and blocked the attack!
"I'll protect you, my leige!"
"Thanks to the help of Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, Hermos is safe from any monster with more than 1900 points!"
"We'll see about that!"
"IN THE NAME OF ATLANTIS..."
"...WE SHALL DEFEND..."
"...HE WHO HAS RELEASED US!"
"Your Serpent's been stopped! So much for infinite strength! Lesson 1 - Attack Points aren't everything..."
Ashley A chuckled. "You really think you can beat me when I have a monster with infinite Attack Points? I'd love to see you try..."
"I'll do more than try...I'LL WIN THIS TURN! I play CARD OF SANCTITY! This lets us draw until we're both holding 6 cards! Since I have nothing in hand, I draw 6!"
"Draw your last pathetic cards so I can end you, Detweiler, and bring Spinelli to where she belongs...with my fellow Ashleys..."
Once the effect of Card of Sanctity was resolved, TJ smiled.
"My deck has no pathetic cards, Armbruster. But it does contain..."
TJ flipped his hand over and revealed a combo he had hidden from everyone at Third Street.
"...THE UNSTOPPABLE EXODIA!"
"WHAT?! NO WAY!"
The other Ashleys, who had been looking on the whole time, were dumbfounded.
"HE HAS IT?!" Ashley T gasped.
"DETWEILER HAS THE FORBIDDEN ONE?!" Ashley Q exclaimed.
"LIKE, IMPOSSIBLE!" Ashley B screamed.
"Ashley B, Ashley Q, Ashley T...get to the Santa Monica Pier...take Spinelli and Gretchen...I've got one more trick up my sleeve..." she told the other Ashleys under her breath.
"I've assembled all five special cards! All five pieces of the puzzle!"
A unicursal hexagram appeared on the field and out of it came the great defender of Egypt - Exodia the Forbidden One...
"EXODIA! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE! ONLY THE KING OF GAMES HIMSELF HAS EVER BEEN ABLE TO CALL HIM!"
"This is for Spinelli! EXODIA, OBLIDERATE!"
On that iconic command, Exodia launched a beam of dark fire energy at Divine Serpent, destroying it and catching Ashley A in the crossfire. Upon Ashley A's defeat, Vince and King Bob's souls were returned. Gus and Mikey woke up as well as did Principal Prickly and Ms. Grotke. TJ then rushed Ashley A.
"Where is she? WHERE'S SPINELLI?!" TJ growled, grabbing Ashley A by her pink top.
"I'm afraid that info is for Ashleys only. But if you want to see her...and Gretchen...again, head to the Santa Monica Pier...for your most dangerous duel yet!"
"The Santa Monica Pier...hang on, Spinelli...we're coming..." TJ said, knowing what he had to do now. Unknown to him, the other Ashleys had brainwashed Spinelli into being TJ's opponent...
Ashley A has been defeated, but TJ's true test is afoot as he must face Spinelli to free her from the Ashleys' control...with the loser possibly becoming sharkbait! Will TJ be able to save himself and Spinelli? Find out next time!