Chapter #1: Three Days On The Train
"Be careful with the sand down there. It's getting windy—it might get in your eyes."
The girl sitting in the sandbox looked up, nodding earnestly. She had pale hair and bright blue eyes—still short, as was expected from a girl her age, barely nine. "You can't tell me to be careful when you're all the way up there, Shiori-nee-san!"
Shiori rolled her eyes, leaning back. The sunset cast her long, white hair into a strange, luminescent glow. It was honestly around time for them to get back home, but considering how much fun her younger sister was currently having, it would be a shame to go home so early. She dangled her legs off the roof of the playground—uncaring of the danger. "I'm fifteen, you're nine. I'm legally obligated to tell you these things, Risu."
Risu smiled toothily at her. Shiori hid a smile behind her hand.
The playground was quiet now—most other kids didn't come to this one, since it was far in the outskirts of town. That was exactly why they came to this one, after all—Shiori liked the heights and the nearby forest, she liked the brook that flowed nearby, and most of all, she did not like being around a lot of people. And well, Risu was slightly more friendly than her, but she was still shy around other people too.
"I'm gonna miss you, Shiori," Risu said, pouting. "You really have to go?"
"It's just two weeks," Shiori said reassuringly. She carefully slid down the pole, walking over next to Risu and pulling the sand-covered girl into a hug. She felt Risu's relief, real as her own—genuine emotion. "It's an exchange program kind of thing, and I promise I'll call you everyday, okay? I'll be back before you know it, and we can go over dueling a bit more, alright?"
Risu giggled. "Mmm, okay! My big sis is going to become the best doctor in the world, isn't she?"
"I'm not even in med school yet," Shiori said, sighing. "But with you supporting me like this, how can I let you down, huh?" She let go of Risu, smiling. "I promise I won't be gone for long. Love you, Risu."
"Love you too, Shiori!"
When the two sisters got home, their parents were already there. Risu cheerfully told their parents about her day. With the obliviousness of a child, she didn't notice the tension at the table—the slight coldness, the way that Shiori herself never made eye contact with her parents.
Shiori kept a smile on her face, all the way until Risu headed up to her room to do her homework. Then, it fell immediately.
It was only for Risu's sake that she played nice with her parents, after all.
"I heard that you got three of your tests back," her father said. "How did you do?"
"... two perfect scores, and a ninety-nine," Shiori said. With her spoon, she idly stirred the bowl of soup in front of her—slightly tense.
"You need to do better then. Figure out why you lost a mark—you didn't do that well."
Mmm. It was always like this. No matter how well she did, her parents would never acknowledge it—only ask for more. It was stifling. It was why she tended to tutor Risu, while disguising all of it as games—math, science, so on—just to make sure that her sister scored well enough to never run foul of her parents' moods. And she had greater pressure on her too—to do well such that she could take the pressure off her younger sister, even if just for a while.
She remembered when Risu had first entered school, and her parents had tried to talk down her sister by comparing the two of them.
Shiori had snapped. She'd told Risu to go upstairs with a smile, and immediately turned to her parents to shout once her sister was gone.
"You can look down on me, but not on Risu!"
It had been a very ugly scene, and luckily, ever since then, her parents had steered clear of doing that.
"Got it." Shiori casually finished her soup, before she stood up. "I'm leaving tomorrow."
There were no well-wishes, no pretences at being good parents. Good. It was better that way.
The exchange program was to a nearby town—Shiori had taken the opportunity just to get out of her house for a while, though she did feel a little guilty about leaving Risu alone with her parents for a while.
However, this also meant that she was out of town when she got the news.
She had been sitting in the living room, trying to call Risu for the fourth time but unable to get the call to go through. It had been the same the day before too. The television had been going on in the background, and Shiori had been paying it no attention until the son of the family that was housing her had spoken up.
"Hey, the town they just mentioned, the target of the terrorist attack. That's your town, isn't it?"
Shiori turned her head to look at the television—and immediately froze at the sight.
Bombs were going off everywhere. Buildings were exploding, toppling down—
And yes. In the footage, Shiori saw a familiar playground blowing up.
The news anchor said that it had happened two days ago.
She had gotten to her feet before she knew it.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to go home," she said. "I need to find—"
—Risu.
"The attack's over, and they say that Maiami City's Leo Corporation is already there to provide aid to them. It's not safe, Fujishiro-san."
Shiori shook her head. "I don't care," she said. "Until I can be sure that Risu is safe…"
She grabbed the single bag that she had brought with her, quickly packing up her things.
"I'm sorry. Thank you for hosting me. But I have to go now."
There were no trains that went from this town to her home at this time of night—and even if there were, they would have been paused, considering that there was no longer a station for them to arrive at. It would be a one hour journey on foot.
So Shiori ran.
She ran, and she ran, and when her legs hurt so much that she felt like they might break, she carried on walking anyway. She had never been particularly fit—too focused on studying—but even so, even as she began to lose feeling in her legs, she walked and walked anyway.
The entire time, no matter how much she wanted to give up, she just kept repeating a name to herself.
Risu. Risu.
She had to see if Risu was…
Missed calls racked up on her phone as she dialed Risu's number over and over again.
She saw the smoke first, and then the rubble.
She collapsed against the wall, her lungs screaming for air.
"Risu!" She shouted. "Risu! Where are you?" She got no reply, and so she kept searching—she kept searching—
Eventually, her legs collapsed, and she fell to the ground.
No—she had to keep looking—move, stupid legs, move—
"Shiori?"
Slowly, Shiori turned her head.
Her mother was there, looking at her with the barest hint of surprise—and… shame?
Shiori should probably have been relieved that her mother was safe. Instead, she felt even more agitated than before.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She said. Why was her mother ashamed? "What did you do? Where is Risu?"
"Shiori—"
"What did you do?" Shiori shouted, and her voice echoed.
"Don't talk to your mother like that—"
"I'll go back to being your respectful, perfect daughter once I know that Risu is safe," Shiori returned. "That's always been my role. So?"
"We…" Her mother hesitated. "We couldn't find her, and there was a call to evacuate, and…"
"You left Risu behind?" Shiori exclaimed. "How—how could you do that?"
"It's fine! She was safe—someone found her."
"Where is she now then?"
Silence greeted her.
"Where is she now?" Shiori repeated.
They sold her.
They sold Risu. Yesterday, during the attack, they had left Risu behind because they couldn't find her. A woman had found Risu and taken her back with her, and apparently, after a DNA test, they found Risu's real identity. The woman that had found Risu had sent a representative to talk to Shiori's parents, and her parents had agreed to give Risu to them for money.
Just for money.
"I'll kill you," Shiori had snarled out, breaking through all the years of pretending to be the quiet, filial daughter. "I'll kill both of you."
Her mother had clearly not known how to react. Had she expected to have more time before she had to admit her actions to someone who genuinely cared about Risu? Shiori had dragged herself to her feet, walked to the shelter and gotten a cup of water.
"Where are you going?" Her mother had asked.
"To find Risu," Shiori had said. "After that, I'll figure things out. You never need to worry about either of us again." And then, despite her exhaustion, she had left, not looking at her mother's face.
It took her a week. Her legs were still aching from the strain by the time that she got to Maiami City.
There was only one woman who had been seen leaving with a child, from what she had heard around the shelter. CFO of the Leo Corporation, Akaba Himika. Someone who could ruin Shiori's life with all of her connections if she went against her.
That was fine.
Shiori had wanted to be a doctor, but her parents' constant expectations had long since eroded that dream. If she had to struggle in low-income jobs in exchange for saving her sister, she would be content.
Once a temporary station was set up, Shiori took the train—three days to get to Maiami City. She spent a lot of the time researching the Leo Corporation. One of the premier card-designing corporations in the world—recently having come up with a strange variety of summoning methods that it held a monopoly over. It had a foothold in pretty much all industries of Maiami City, not just dueling.
Its CEO was Akaba Himika's son, Akaba Reiji, who was a year older than her.
(... impressive. Though Shiori wouldn't allow herself to accept that thought for a while.)
In general, it was impossible to go through life without encountering a product or branch of the Leo Corporation. Especially if one dueled.
Shiori glanced at her duel disk.
Apparently, dueling was also far more popularised in Maiami City. Other places in the world were also advancing to be more focused on it, but Maiami City was ahead of the curve in that regard—it'd already had a thriving Pro League scene for a while, and well, the fact that a dueling corporation was the most wealthy company there spoke volumes.
It looked like the hobby that she'd picked up to blow off steam might pay dividends after all.
If dueling decided things, she would just have to be stronger than anyone else.
… no matter what, she had to get Risu back.
When she arrived in Maiami City, it was far more colourful than her hometown. Tall, strangely-themed buildings covered the landscape. Were there really enough duelists here to require these many duel schools?
Still, the skyscraper of Leo Corporation that she had seen in the photographs was easy enough to identify from a distance.
Shiori stopped by a convenience store. She bought some snacks—Risu's favourites—and a small box of strawberry candy. She opened it up, taking one of the tablets and eating it.
… there. The sweetness grounded her.
She walked towards Leo Corporation's building.
It was dark at night. She did not care.
"Do you have an appointment?" The guard at the door asked.
"I do," Shiori said, deciding to be bold instead of cunning. "My sister is here. The newest Akaba." That part was a guess, but she assumed that Akaba Himika wouldn't want anyone to know that she had literally bought a child. "I'm here to visit her."
The two guards looked at each other. "Akaba… Reira?"
… completely renaming Risu? "Yes," Shiori said, letting her anger stay hidden. "I arrived so late because of the trains. I was sent by my parents."
A lie? Yes. But if Shiori was good at playing the role of a daughter, she might as well use it to give herself more authority. A daughter acting on her parents' behalf had more authority than a fifteen-year-old girl all on her own.
Another quiet conversation. Then, one of them turned to her. "My apologies, but Akaba Reira-san is slightly unstable right now—apparently, she suffered a fright. To protect her delicate mental state, her mother has said that we should not allow people in."
… how dare Akaba Himika claim to be Risu's mother?
"... okay," Shiori said. She stepped forward, and bowed her head. "Thank you, anyway."
"No problem—"
Shiori seized the keycard from the guard's belt, having lowered their guards with her deferential stance. She immediately charged into the building amidst their shouts. She didn't know what the keycard was for, but it would probably give her better access to the building.
The guards were chasing after her. Shiori spotted a button behind glass—indicating itself as a trigger for shutter doors. She immediately pulled up the glass cover and pressed the button. The shutters began to fall, and she slid under one of them, the guards stuck on the other side, unable to pursue her.
She carried on searching the rooms, anyway. When she couldn't find Risu there, she headed for the stairs—
"Who are you?"
Shiori looked up towards the top of the stairs. A girl with blonde hair was standing there. Her hair was in a long ponytail—there were some orange streaks in it, like a sunset. She was wearing a dark choker and a sky blue blouse, along with light yellow shorts. Her amber eyes were wide with confusion, but she didn't seem hostile.
Because of that, Shiori replied without any rudeness. "I'm here to look for Risu," she said. She then realised that the girl wouldn't know who that was, so she begrudgingly used that other name. "... Reira."
At that exact moment, the girl's phone rung. She lifted it, accepting the call. "Yes?... really? Do I have to? She's just concerned for Reira, right? Aren't they friends?... well. If you say so."
She hung up, and she turned to Shiori. She smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry," she said. "I was told that you were an intruder and I have to stop you here."
"Bring Risu here so that I can talk to her, and I won't go further," Shiori said.
"... I'm really sorry," the girl said. "I can't do that."
"Fine." Shiori could see the girl's reluctance too—it was clearly an order from someone else, so she didn't give the girl a hard time. She tapped her own arm, where her duel disk was. "I heard that duels decide everything. Will this do?"
"Sure." The girl looked relieved. "If you win, I'll let you go past me, okay? I'm really sorry…"
"Don't apologise." Shiori raised her head. "I'll just push you aside—no offence intended."
"That works. Uh… I'm Sakaki Manami! What's your name?"
"... Fujishiro Shiori," Shiori said. It was the polite thing to do, after all. "Let's go."
Up in the tower, a tall boy with grey hair was looking at a screen that displayed the two girls, a calm look on his face. He adjusted the red scarf that he was wearing, which contrasted against his dark blue sweater and white pants.
"Why not just kick her out, Reiji-san?" Himika said. The boy's lip twisted—he clearly wasn't fond of the deferential honorific.
"I want to see," he said. "She said that Reira was her sister, correct? So that would make her Fujishiro Shiori, from the files that you pulled up."
An extraordinarily prodigious girl, according to what they'd found. Fifteen this year, but having skipped so many years in school on the request of her parents that she was already on the way to study medicine in a well-known university a few towns over. Almost completely perfect grades… and apparently, she had found time to duel too.
There was something tidy to her appearance, for all that she must have rushed here. Long white hair, most of it clinging to the similarly pale white jacket that she was wearing. A dark shirt and dark pants under the pale jacket—a shadow beneath the pale.
Purple eyes that studied everything in front of her intently.
"Indeed. She was out of town during the terrorist attack." Himika shook her head. "To think that she came all the way here to look for her sister…"
Yes.
That was why Reiji wanted to observe her.
There was something interesting about this girl.
Both of them raised their duel disks, and the duel began.
[DUEL!]
Fujishiro Shiori: 4000LP
Sakaki Manami: 4000LP
[Turn 1: Shiori] [H:5]
"I will Normal Summon Armageddon Knight," Shiori said, taking the first turn without any comment. In front of her, a dark knight in rusty armour appeared, wearing a long red scarf.
[Armageddon Knight (4*/1400/1200/DARK/Warrior/Effect)]
"When Armageddon Knight is summoned, I can send a DARK monster from my deck to the graveyard." She placed down the card quietly. "I sent Shaddoll Hedgehog to the graveyard. With its effect, when sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can add a "Shaddoll" monster from my deck to my hand." She picked up the card delicately. "I will also activate the Spell Card, Foolish Burial. I will send a monster from my deck to the graveyard. I'll send Reeshaddoll Wendi from the deck to the graveyard."
"A deck that focuses around sending monsters to the graveyard?" Manami murmured.
"Reeshaddoll Wendi's effect. When sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can Special Summon a different "Shaddoll" monster from my deck to the field in facedown Defense Position." A single set card appeared on her field. "I'll set a card facedown and end my turn."
[Turn 2: Manami] [H:6]
"Your deck's pretty interesting," Manami said. "Let's see what that set monster does then… I'll activate the Field Spell, Dragonic Diagram!" A heavenly blue glow surrounded Manami's field, with yellow lines of light running across the ground. "While I control Dragonic Diagram, all "True Draco" monsters I control gain 300 attack and defense points!"
True Draco, huh? Interesting archetype name…
"I'll activate the Continuous Spells, Disciples of the True Dracophoenix and True Draco Heritage." The two Spells appeared on the field, floating and glowing slightly. "My "True Draco" monsters have a specific trait to them—namely, most of them can be Tribute Summoned using Continuous Spells or Traps I control as tribute, instead of monsters! I'll tribute Disciples of the True Dracophoenix to Tribute Summon Dinomight Knuckle, the True Draco Fist Fighter!" A blond warrior in large black and green armour appeared, holding up silver claws, black and green wings unfurling behind it.
[Dinomight Knuckle, the True Draco Fist Fighter (6*/2500/1200/WATER/Wyrm/Effect)]
Tribute Summoning using Spells and Traps as tributes… interesting.
"Since Disciples of the True Dracophoenix was sent from my Spell and Trap Zone to the graveyard, I can destroy a Spell or Trap on the field! I'll destroy your set card!"
"Trap Card, Resh Shaddoll Incarnation." Shiori calmly flipped over the card. "I can Special Summon a "Shaddoll" monster from my graveyard in face-up or facedown Defense Position."
"I'll chain Dinomight Knuckle's effect to it!" Manami declared. "Once per turn, when my opponent activates a card or effect while I control a Tribute Summoned Dinomight Knuckle, I can take a "True Draco" Trap from my deck, and I can either activate it or add it to my hand!"
… so she had purposely tried to force Shiori to activate her card. Not bad. Well, Shiori could see the LDS pin on the girl's collar, so clearly, she was from the school, right? If this was the best Duel School in the world, then no wonder.
"Activating True Draco Apocalypse!" The Continuous Trap appeared on Manami's field.
"Resh Shaddoll Incarnation's effect resolves," Shiori replied. "I'll Special Summon Reeshaddoll Wendi from my graveyard in facedown Defense Position." Her Trap Card was then destroyed, but it had done its job.
"I'll activate True Draco Heritage's effect," Manami declared. "During my Main Phase, I can immediately Tribute Summon a "True Draco" monster! I'll tribute True Draco Apocalypse to Tribute Summon Majesty Maiden, the True Draco Mage!" A blonde girl dressed in white appeared, red wings spreading out behind her. She was wearing a golden crown, and holding onto a staff that spun with hurricanes on both sides.
[Majesty Maiden, the True Draco Mage (5*/2300/1500/WIND/Wyrm/Effect)]
"Since True Draco Apocalypse was sent to the graveyard from the Spell and Trap Zone, I can target and destroy a monster you control! I'll target the monster you set with Reeshaddoll Wendi's effect last turn!"
The monster shattered, but Shiori once again wasn't bothered by it.
"When Helshaddoll Hollow is sent to the graveyard, I can send cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard, up to the number of different original Attributes of monsters on the field," Shiori explained. Flames swirled around her field. "You have the WIND Attribute Majesty Maiden and the WATER Attribute Dinomight Knuckle, while I have the DARK Attribute Armageddon Knight. So I will send three cards from the top of my deck to the graveyard."
"Majesty Maiden, the True Draco Mage's effect! Once per turn, since my opponent activated a card or effect while I control her after she was Tribute Summoned, I can add a "True Draco" monster from my deck to my hand!" Manami quickly added a card to her hand.
"Helshaddoll Hollow's effect resolves." Shiori revealed the top three cards of her deck. "I will activate the effects of Shaddoll Dragon and Shaddoll Beast, since they were both sent to the graveyard by a card effect. Shaddoll Beast allows me to draw a card. And Shaddoll Dragon allows me to destroy a Spell or Trap on the field." She gestured to Manami's True Draco Heritage, which blew up.
"... so I won't be drawing cards this turn, huh?" Manami sighed. "What a strange deck…"
Shiori would return the exact same statement to Manami, actually. What a strange deck. Then again, Shiori wasn't used to actually facing anyone strong—she didn't even know her own capabilities.
She just knew that she had to get to Risu, no matter what.
"Battle Phase!" Manami declared. Dragonic Diagram's effect powered her monsters up.
[Dinomight Knuckle, the True Draco Fist Fighter: 2500 + 300 = 2800ATK; 1200 + 300 = 1500DEF]
[Majesty Maiden, the True Draco Mage: 2300 + 300 = 2600ATK; 1500 + 300 = 1800DEF]
"Dinomight Knuckle attacks Armageddon Knight! Mistmight Punch!"
Sure. It wasn't like she wanted to keep that monster on the field anyway. The monster in green and black armour charged forward, destroying her monster with a ferocious punch.
Shiori: 4000 - 1400 = 2600LP
"Majesty Maiden attacks your set Reeshaddoll Wendi! Hurricane Blast!"
The girl held up her staff, firing off a gust of wind that hit Shiori's monster, flipping it over.
[Reeshaddoll Wendi (3*/1500/1000/WIND/Psychic/Flip/Effect)]
"When Reeshaddoll Wendi is flipped face-up, her effect activates," Shiori said. "I can Special Summon a "Shaddoll" monster from my deck in face-up or facedown Defense Position." Yet another set monster appeared on her field, even as Wendi was destroyed.
"I'll end my turn," Manami said. "So your monsters are both Flip Monsters and monsters that want to go to the graveyard?"
"I can't spoil my deck completely for you yet," Shiori replied.
[Turn 3: Shiori] [H:5]
"Draw. I'll activate the Continuous Spell, Terrors in the Hidden City."
"I'll use Majesty Maiden's effect and add a "True Draco" monster from my deck to my hand!"
Shiori nodded. "I'll set a monster. Then, I will Flip Summon Shaddoll Beast." In front of her, a dark purple beast with large purple claws appeared.
[Shaddoll Beast (5*/2200/1700/DARK/Spellcaster/Flip/Effect)]
"When Shaddoll Beast is flipped face-up, I can draw two cards and discard one."
"I'll use Dinomight Knuckle's effect to activate another copy of True Draco Apocalypse from my deck!" The Continuous Trap reappeared on the field, and then Shaddoll Beast's effect resolved. Shiori drew two cards, before revealing the card that she was discarding. "I'll send Qadshaddoll Keios to the graveyard, which triggers his effect. I can send another "Shaddoll" monster from my hand to the graveyard, and all monsters I control gain 100 attack and defense points times the original Level of the monster I sent to the graveyard for the rest of this turn. I sent Shaddoll Hound to the graveyard."
She raised her head.
"Thus, Shaddoll Beast gains two boosts. Firstly—400 attack and defense points from the effect of Keios. And secondly, since it was flipped face-up while I control Terrors in the Hidden City, it gains 1500 attack and defense points."
Manami's eyes widened. Shaddoll Beast's stats shot up.
[Shaddoll Beast: 2200 + 1500 + 100 x 4 = 4100ATK; 1700 + 1500 + 100 x 4 = 3600DEF]
"Since Shaddoll Hound was sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can change the battle position of a monster on the field."
"Oh, you're targeting… Dinomight Knuckle?"
"A monster on the field," Shiori said. "Not your monster. I will flip my Shaddoll Squamata face-up." A strange, metallic creature appeared, long tail slinking behind it. Purple threads wound around it—perhaps far more obvious on it than on the rest of her monsters so far—the ones that had actually appeared on the field, anyway.
[Shaddoll Squamata (4*/1800/1000/DARK/Spellcaster/Flip/Effect)]
"Shaddoll Squamata's effect triggers when it's flipped face-up by the effect of Shaddoll Hound," Shiori clarified. "I'll target a monster on the field and destroy it. I'll target your Dinomight Knuckle with this effect."
"I'll activate the effect of True Draco Apocalypse!" Manami countered. "I can perform a Tribute Summon of a "True Draco" monster during the opponent's Main Phase! I'll tribute Dinomight Knuckle!"
So she was dodging the effect, huh?
"Come—Ignis Heat, the True Draco Warrior!" A tall man in gold and red armour appeared—the gold on his armour came up in the shape of spikes. He was grinning, red and gold wings spreading out behind him as he sharpened his blade.
[Ignis Heat, the True Draco Warrior (5*/2400/1000/FIRE/Wyrm/Effect)]
[Ignis Heat, the True Draco Warrior: 2400 + 300 = 2700ATK; 1000 + 300 = 1300DEF]
Obviously, if the other two added Traps and monsters, this one added Spells.
… how troublesome.
Squamata's effect resolved without a target.
"Squamata gains the same boosts as Beast. It's a Continuous Effect, so you can't chain your Ignis Heat's effect."
[Shaddoll Squamata: 1800 + 1500 + 100 x 4 = 3700ATK; 1000 + 1500 + 100 x 4 = 2900DEF]
"Shaddoll Squamata attacks Majesty Maiden, the True Draco Mage!"
"I will activate the effect of True Draco Apocalypse!" Manami countered. "I'll target another "True Draco" card I control and destroy it—and I'll halve your monsters' attack and defense points permanently! I'll destroy Majesty Maiden!" The girl shattered into light and dust.
[Shaddoll Squamata: 3700 / 2 = 1850ATK; 2900 / 2 = 1450DEF]
[Shaddoll Beast: 4100 / 2 = 2050ATK; 3600 / 2 = 1800DEF]
"So, you can't attack me with those monsters anymore!"
"… I will set a card and end my turn." Since True Draco Apocalypse had set her monsters' attack points to a new value, Keios's effect didn't wear off.
[Turn 4: Manami] [H:4]
"Draw!" Manami looked through her hand. "I will tribute True Draco Apocalypse to Tribute Summon Draius III, the True Draco Cavalry General!" In front of her, an older knight in silver armour appeared, wearing a red scarf as well. His wings were blue-grey, like a stormy day.
[Draius III, the True Draco Cavalry General (6*/2100/2800/EARTH/Wyrm/Effect)]
[Draius III, the True Draco Cavalry General: 2100 + 300 = 2400ATK; 2800 + 300 = 3100DEF]
"With True Draco Apocalypse's effect, I will destroy Shaddoll Beast!"
Beast was ripped apart. Shiori raised an eyebrow. Really? "When Shaddoll Beast is sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I will draw one card," she said.
"Draius attacks Shaddoll Squamata!"
"... Trap Card, Purushaddoll Aeon." Bright golden flames burst across Shiori's field. "I'll send a "Shaddoll" card from my hand to the graveyard and target Shaddoll Squamata. It gains 1000 attack points, but it is changed to facedown Defense Position during the End Phase."
"Ignis Heat's effect!" Manami called out. "I'll activate True Draco Heritage from the deck!" The Continuous Spell appeared again.
Shiori nodded. Squamata's attack points shot up.
[Shaddoll Squamata: 1850 + 1000 = 2850ATK]
She revealed the card that she had discarded. "Shaddoll Dragon. With its effect, I will destroy your Dragonic Diagram!" Manami's Field Spell was torn apart. Her monsters' attack points fell, and…
[Ignis Heat, the True Draco Warrior: 2700 - 300 = 2400ATK; 1300 - 300 = 1000DEF]
[Draius III, the True Draco Cavalry General: 2400 - 300 = 2100ATK; 3100 - 300 = 2800DEF]
Most importantly, her monsters were no longer protected from battle.
Squamata counterattacked, crushing the monster with its tail.
Manami: 4000 - 750 = 3250LP
"When Draius III leaves the field after being Tribute Summoned, I can Special Summon a "True Draco" monster from my deck in Defense Position! Come—Majesty Maiden!"
Another copy of the blonde girl appeared on the field—though, to the best of Shiori's knowledge, since she wasn't Tribute Summoned, she couldn't help to search out cards anymore.
"Main Phase," Manami continued. "I'll activate the effect of True Draco Heritage. I can draw a card for each different card type of "True Draco" cards that I sent to the graveyard this turn. I sent a Trap and a monster, so I'll draw two cards." She picked up the two cards, glancing at them. "I'll now overlay the Level 5 Ignis Heat, the True Draco Warrior and the Level 5 Majesty Maiden, the True Draco Mage!"
Shiori's eyes widened.
"I'm not used to Xyz Summoning yet," Manami admitted. "I only got this because, um, I…" She hesitated. "Never mind. But I don't normally use it. You're… pretty good, honestly, for someone who doesn't use the Extra Deck."
"I have to be," Shiori said. "I'm not from LDS, so I never had that option."
"... right." Manami cleared her throat. "Beautiful, majestic gale, enter the staff of the maiden of dragons, and become the power to sweep my foes away! Xyz Summon! Rank 5! Majestic Maiden, the True Draco Spectral Mage!"
An older form of Majesty Maiden appeared, wearing a long headdress of gold, long strings of gold and gemstones coming down both sides of her face, though leaving her face unblocked. The red part of her earlier clothing was now mostly gone—her armour had become mostly white, with only some red accents around the waist and shoulders. A white cape was draped over her shoulders. The red wings from before had transformed to something brighter, a bit pink. Green gems glowed around her clothing. She swung a staff through the air, summoning up the same gales as before.
[Majestic Maiden, the True Draco Spectral Mage (R5/2000/1500/WIND/Wyrm/Xyz/Effect) (OU:2)]
"Since Majestic Maiden was Xyz Summoned using only Wyrm monsters as material, she gains 1000 attack points," Manami explained.
[Majestic Maiden, the True Draco Spectral Mage: 2000 + 1000 = 3000ATK]
"I'll set a card and end my turn," Manami said. Shiori's Squamata flipped facedown.
Just ending her turn like that? Then her monster could most likely protect herself too.
"Okay," Shiori said. "My turn."
"Forgive my curiosity," Manami said. "But why are you so determined to see Reira, to the point where you broke into the Leo Corporation?"
"... I feel like if you were curious about that, you should have asked me this earlier," Shiori said.
"Ah, I…" Manami fidgeted. "I tend not to ask about things that the Leo Corporation asks me to do—plausible deniability, you know? But I just… you're so quiet, but still so determined too…"
"... Reira—Risu's my sister," Shiori said. Manami's eyes widened. "I failed to protect her, and I wasn't there for her, but I told her that I would come back to her."
[Turn 5: Shiori] [H:2]
She drew a card.
"I'm not very nice. I'm insincere, and I can't stand most people. But more than anyone else, Risu is the most important to me. That's why I won't let anyone hurt her—and I won't let anyone use her either."
"Risu… so that's Reira's original name?"
"Yes," Shiori said. "I was there when she was born, I held her in my arms—the first word she ever said was my name. I have a responsibility to that girl, and I don't care how powerful this corporation is—if it wants to use her for something terrible, then I'll make it my enemy for life."
She gestured forward.
"I'll Flip Summon Shaddoll Squamata. I'll—"
"Majestic Maiden can't be targeted or destroyed by card effects!" Manami countered.
Hmm. Alright. Then she just had to win through battle. Whatever effects that Xyz Monster had didn't matter—Shiori did not care about the things that she did not have. As long as she destroyed it, it was fine.
Luckily, she had an easy way to do so.
"Don't forget my Continuous Spell," Shiori said.
[Shaddoll Squamata: 1800 + 1500 = 3300ATK; 1000 + 1500 = 2500DEF]
"Come—Denko Sekka." A blue-haired girl appeared, a long ponytail behind her. She was dresssed like a samurai, and she raised up a sword that was gleaming with blue light.
[Denko Sekka (4*/1700/1000/LIGHT/Thunder/Effect)]
"Denko… Sekka?"
"While I control no set Spell or Traps, Denko Sekka prevents both players from setting Spells and Traps, or activating Spells and Traps that have been set on the field."
And it seemed that Majesty Maiden couldn't respond to her effects, so…
It did not matter right now.
"Since I control a Spellcaster monster, I can also Special Summon Inari Fire from my hand." A bright orange fox appeared on her field.
[Inari Fire (4*/1500/200/FIRE/Pyro/Effect)]
"I think that's enough," Shiori said after a brief pause. "You can negate my attack with an effect if you have one. But otherwise… Shaddoll Squamata attacks, then Denko Sekka, then Inari Fire."
The three monsters all dogpiled on Manami, knocking out her monster and her life points.
Manami: 3250 - 300 - 1700 - 1500 = 0LP
Winner: Fujishiro Shiori!
Reiji watched the screen. He saw the look on the girl's face as the final attacks landed—there was no satisfaction in winning at all.
She was just focused on her goal—the duel itself didn't matter to her at all.
"To go toe to toe with Sakaki Manami…" Himika raised an eyebrow. "I suppose that girl is rather talented after all."
"Sakaki should not have Xyz Summoned," Reiji said simply. "But I don't blame her for it—it's natural to want to use it more, since she just got that monster." He stood up, lifting his phone. "I will go and pick up Reira, mother."
"Is that wise?"
Reiji stared at her. "I will do what's best," he finally said.
He had been disturbed by the implication that they should turn a traumatised child into a soldier from the moment that his mother had suggested it. Fujishiro Risu had never consented to becoming Akaba Reira, after all.
And, despite the approval that the parents had given…
It seemed that someone else refused to let go.
Manami picked up the phone, before nodding and turning to Shiori. "Um… I've been told that Reira is just ahead on this floor."
"Thanks." Shiori stalked past her, but the girl followed along with her anyway.
"Um, so… do you want to join LDS? I feel like you would do well if you became a professional duelist…"
"What are you, an advertiser?" Shiori shook her head. "I'm not interested. I'm just here for Risu—nothing else."
They made their way to a room. It was completely empty, except for a bed and a cupboard—a wardrobe, perhaps?
And then Shiori caught sight of the figure that was sitting on the bed.
Relief washed over her. She walked forward immediately. For all that Risu was currently wearing a hoodie that obscured her features, Shiori would recognise her anywhere.
She knelt down, reaching out a hand. Then, she made eye contact with Risu—empty eyes looked back at her, nothing like the cheerful sister she had known.
Oh, she must have been so scared…
"Hey, little pearl," she said softly. That was the nickname she'd used for Risu when they were younger—for the character in her name. "It's me."
Risu stirred for a moment, looking at her. No response came.
"I told you I would come back, didn't I?" She didn't move any closer—not wanting to scare her sister. "Come on, Risu, it's me. You know that nothing will ever happen to you while I'm here, right?"
"Shi…" Risu took a halting breath. "Shiori…?"
"Mm. It's me."
"Shiori-nee-san…" Risu moved for a moment—and then, she dove straight into Shiori's arms. "You came back, Shiori-nee-san… I was so scared… I thought you left me behind, like mum and dad…"
"I should have been there," Shiori said softly. "But no, I'd never leave you behind. You're my little treasure."
"I'm scared!" Risu clung to her. "I don't want to be a soldier. I don't want to…"
"Then you don't have to," Shiori said.
"But… the tall lady said…"
"You think anyone can make you do something you don't want while I'm here?" Shiori said, soft and comforting to Risu's ears—but a clear threat, as she turned towards the figure that had approached the door. "They can try. They'll fail."
She made direct eye contact with the boy.
"... on that," the boy said, "I don't intend to argue with you."
Hmm.
Now that she thought about it…
That was most certainly Akaba Reiji, wasn't it?
"But I do have an offer for you," Akaba Reiji continued. Neither of them had introduced themselves to each other, but they both knew who the other was. "Independent of your sister's wellbeing—you may take her away from this place, regardless."
Shiori couldn't stand up—she wasn't strong enough to actually carry Risu, after all. Even so, she nodded after a moment. "Sure."
"I will need strong duelists in the future," Reiji said. "You don't want to go back to your parents, I assume."
Shiori was about to condemn her parents with very strong language, before she remembered that Risu was right there. "You assume correctly," she said.
"And I would rather not…" Reiji pinched his nose. "Have my mother go through with what she was planning. Here is my offer. In the future, becoming a strong duelist will be the only way to defend yourself from danger."
… what on earth did that mean?
"Join LDS," Reiji said. "I'll arrange a proper scholarship for you that will account for food and other necessities, along with the school fees. I will arrange for housing for you and your sister in the city. And in return, you'll duel in my name in the future."
"... I had an arrangement to study medicine at Borealis University," Shiori said. "You'll need to cancel it for me. But I'm already past high school material—if you want me to attend a duel school, I'll take my university courses online."
"We'll pay for those."
"And…" Shiori hesitated. "I won't ask you to cover Risu's education. I'll handle that myself. But… I would like my sister to go to therapy, if that's possible."
Reiji's expression was unreadable, before he nodded.
"Then I'll accept your offer. It's the most convenient way to do this anyway. But there has to be a limit." Shiori raised her head. "I won't be sitting here waiting for you to tell me to duel for you my entire life—I have things I want to do. If by a certain point, whatever you wanted me for still hasn't happened yet, I won't wait for you."
"We can specify that in the contract," Reiji agreed. "Do we have a deal, Fujishiro Shiori?"
"... it's a deal, Akaba Reiji." Shiori gently put Risu down, before taking her hand. "... see, Sakaki-san. That's how you advertise a school properly."
Sakaki Manami, who had been spying on them the whole time, let out a squeak as she was discovered.
Reiji sighed. "I'll have someone show you to temporary housing. You can come back tomorrow morning and we'll hash out the contract."
"Appreciated." Shiori met his gaze again. "... you're a more decent person than your mother. Come, Risu." She led her sister out of the room, before Reiji could get a chance to respond.
"Are we… going, Shiori-nee-san?"
Shiori nodded, turning to smile at Risu, reassuring and warm. "Of course. Don't worry. I'll take care of everything."
"... ok. I know, Shiori. You're…" Risu squeezed her hand tightly, as though afraid to let go. "You're always the best…"
For a moment, Shiori's expression became one of shock, before she quickly schooled her features. "That's right. I'll always be nice to you."
She would only ever be an angel to Risu, after all. The person she was in front of Risu, with all those smiles and optimism—that was the guardian angel that she'd made to shield Risu's innocence, and she'd failed so spectacularly that it made her hate herself. Now, all she could do was help her sister heal.
And meanwhile, the shadow behind the smile—the person that could perhaps be called the 'real' Fujishiro Shiori…
That would be a weapon she wielded to protect her sister too.
She would not fail again.
"You let her go?"
Reiji had already practised what to say to his mother, so he kept his expression calm. "I found something better," he said. "So Reira—no, Risu is no longer necessary, mother."
Cold words, ones that he didn't really mean, but that his mother might actually listen to.
"Fujishiro Shiori," his mother said. "Do you intend to have her become one of your Lancers?"
"... it's best to not hedge all our bets in one place," Reiji said. "Now that Sakaki Yusho is gone, we must consider other plans as well. That's why I approached Sakaki Manami—that's why I made that offer to Fujishiro Shiori. It's always better to start early."
"... very well. But I hope you have not made an error in judgement, Reiji-san."
Reiji nodded. He was sure of one thing, however.
If he hadn't made that deal with Fujishiro Shiori… there was a high chance that she would have become an enemy to them. He'd seen those focused black-purple eyes—transfixing in their lack of care for anything except the objective.
If he could channel that into what they needed…
He'd rather have her on his side than not.
OC Cards:
Majestic Maiden, the True Draco Spectral Mage
(R5/2000/1500/WIND/Wyrm/Xyz/Effect)
2 Level 5 monsters
Cannot be targeted or destroyed by card effects. If this card is Xyz Summoned using only Wyrm monsters as Xyz Material, it gains 1000 ATK. When this card destroys a monster by battle: You can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; add 1 "True Draco" card from your Deck to your hand, and if you do, send 1 "True Draco" card of a different type from the added card from the Deck to the GY. You can only activate this effect of "Majestic Maiden, the True Draco Spectral Mage" once per turn.
End Notes:
I was running through concepts in my brain and this entire fic sprung from "okay but what if we force LDS to actually face the consequences of their actions pre-canon." This is just a oneshot for now, but I'll probably add to it over time.
The thing about Reira being picked up from a warzone is that Himika has no reason to go to a warzone. Thus, I changed it to a terrorist attack, with Himika representing the Leo Corporation to give aid as a PR move in the aftermath—thus, it's safer for her than a warzone. I don't think that woman would ever put herself in a dangerous situation.
As usual, I aged all the characters up because I don't like writing literal fourteen-year-olds in war. Yuya is 16 at the start of canon, Reiji is 19, and Shiori will be 18. So right now Reiji is 16 and Shiori is 15.
If you like True Dracos, you should check out AccurateGap1's fic, 'Descend to Heaven, Ascend to Hell'. I had this fic in the works long before I read their fic, but it's a really good one. I'll give credit to him for the decision to use the OCG names but to replace "True Dragon" with "True Draco" too, because it sounds way cooler like this :)
I tend to use either English/Japanese archetype names depending on which one I like better, fair warning.
If you're also wondering why Shiori doesn't use the Fusions… well, she says it herself. LDS has a monopoly, and we're very pre-canon right now. She literally doesn't have them. Same for Manami and Master Peace—not quite yet. And yes, Manami is related to Yuya, though perhaps not in the way you think.
And yes, Risu/Reira will never use C/C/C monsters in this story. And she gets therapy. And she gets to be a girl. We love that for her.
Let's address all the typical questions. No Links, no additional dimensions, and yes, there are pairings in this story. This is a far more typical/conventional YGO fic.