Chapter 10: Defying Destiny
Hey everyone, I'm here with a new chapter. This one was difficult because there wasn't much info on Prof. Frank's deck so I had to make some new additions. Hope they make sense. Also the results are in and Roxas' first/main girl for this story will be...Tifa Lockhart! This was an interesting poll but she won in the end. Thank you all for your input and I'll work on getting those two together. Hope you like what I have planned in the meantime. Please Review and Enjoy.
It was the end of the second round, and the crowd was antsy about Akiza's big debut.
As Akiza made her way out, she noticed Roxas walking down the same hallway.
Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him before walking past him.
"Geez what is with her?" Roxas asks.
In Goodwin's booth, Goodwin and Lazara were looking at Roxas and the Professor's images on the screen.
"Tell me, Jack do you have any ideas who this Roxas boy is?" Goodwin asks.
"All I know is that he's Yusei's friend. He helped him escape the Satellite, but I've never seen him before in my life." Jack said.
"We tried to do a background search on him earlier, but for some reason we found nothing," Lazar said bringing up a screen to show Roxas' image but nothing else. "No birth certificate, no forms of identification, no records of anything. It's almost as if this boy just appeared out of thin air."
"So basically, this guy is a total nobody." Jack declares.
"How odd. Even in Satellite, there would be records of this stuff." Goodwin ponders.
Behind them, the door opens revealing the Professor.
"Director." Prof. Frank smiles bowing his head in respect.
"Ah good you made it," Lazar said.
"Forgive me, I had to make some serious changes to my deck for this particular match." Prof. Frank apologizes.
"We need you to push this Roxas to his limits to see if he's a Signer. Since we know next to nothing, we aslo need you to try seeing what you can uncover about this boy's backstory. See if you can trigger anything." Lazar instructs.
"I understand." Prof. Frank nods before walking out.
"So what do you reckon about this mysterious boy?" Lazar asks looking at Goodwin.
"The thing about those with nothing is that it's very easy to turn them into something. Depending on the outcome of this duel, we can use that." Goodwin ponders.
As the stage was set, the audience was eager for Round 3.
"And now it's time for the third match of the Fortune Cup! In this corner, the Dean of the Deck! The Brain of the Game, it's Prof. Frank!" MC declares as Prof. Frank appears on stage. "He's got a PHD in Psychology, Hypnology, and Duelology so his opponent better watch out!"
"They give PHDs out for dueling?" Leo asks not expecting that.
"Degrees hardly mean anything in the real world Leo. What matters is how well you duel." Bolt said.
"Are you just saying that because you're not that into education?" Jessie deadpans making him cringe.
"Uh no not at all." Bolt clears his throat.
"And his opponent, a duelist of unknown origin and mystery. A new rising star! Give it up for Roxas!" MC said as Roxas appeared on stage.
"Whoo! Go Roxas!" Jessie cheers.
"Take him down!" Tifa cheers.
"Is Roxas any good?" Luna asks curious.
"I've never actually seen him duel," Bolt admits.
"Oh yeah. Trust me, he won't disappoint." Tifa assures.
Peeking out from a side entrance, Mulan watched the duel.
Lazar wouldn't let her leave as long as Roxas was in the tournament, so hopefully he could lose and she could this nightmare behind her.
In the back room, Yusei was eager to see Roxas duel finally.
'I've never seen one of Roxas' duels before but Rally told me he was good. Let's see how good.' Yusei thought.
"Please to meet you, Roxas." Prof. Frank bows.
"Same." Roxas nods.
"Let's make this a match to remember." Prof. Frank said.
Activating their duel disks both duelists faced off.
"Let's Duel!" Both said.
Roxas: 4000
Prof. Frank: 4000
"I'll go first." Prof. Frank drew and grinned seeing the card he drew. 'Perfect, with this card victory is all but mine.'
"Okay Roxas, show us what you can do," Goodwin said interested.
"First I'll summon Mystic Tomato in attack mode." Appearing at his side was a large red tomato with a scary face.
Mystic Tomato: 1400/ 1100
"Next I'll place two cards facedown. And that will do for now." Prof. Frank said.
"Who fights using a vegetable?" Leo raises an eyebrow.
"Leo, tomatoes are fruits." Dexter corrects.
"Who cares? It's still a lame card to play." Leo groans.
"My move." Roxas drew. "First I activate my spell, Six Samurai United!" Roxas said as a glowing circle appeared around the field. "Now whenever I summon a monster with Six Samurai in its name I get a counter. Like my Six Samurai Zanji in attack mode!" Appearing on his field was the yellow-armored Samurai to the field.
Six Samurai Zanji: 1800/ 1300
"Now slice that tomato!" Roxas said as Zanji lunged forward and sliced Mystic Tomato in half destroying it.
Roxas: 4000
Prof. Frank: 3600
"Thank you for that. Since you destroyed my Tomato, its special ability allows me to summon a new monster to the field. Like my Bowganian." Prof. Frank said summoning a large eye monster with a crossbow.
Bowganian: 1300/1000
"And on my next standby phase, it has the power to deal you 600 points of damage." Prof. Frank said making Roxas growl.
"I place one card facedown and then I—"
"Hold it!" Prof. Frank calls out stopping him. "Before you end your turn, I activate my facedown card, go Destiny Board!" Prof. Frank said revealing his trap and a creepy ouja board appeared over them.
"That card gives me the creeps." Yangai shudders.
"What is that?" Roxas asks never seeing something like this.
"This Roxas, is what will bring about your defeat. With this card, every time a turn goes by where you haven't defeated me, I can play a special card. When Destiny Board spells out a certain 5-letter word, I automatically win the duel regardless of who has more life points." Prof. Frank explains surprising Roxas and the crowd.
Appearing above them, we see the board move to reveal the letter D which floated above the board.
"That means Roxas has 4 more turns to win this duel." Leo gasps.
"You mean 3 turns Leo? He can activate it now and get a letter." Luna corrects.
"Man talk about having to move quickly." Dexter cringed.
"So Roxas, do you end your turn now?" prof. Frank asks.
Looking at his hand, Roxas had nothing to play. "I end my turn." Roxas nods.
"Good, then that means I can play another number. Spirit Message, E." Searching his deck, Prof. Frank plays a spell and appears on the field a flaming E.
"D-E? What does that spell?" Yanagi asks in a scared tone.
"I don't know gramps, but hopefully Roxas figures out a way to win before then," Tifa said hopefully.
"He'll have to. Thanks to that card, Roxas is now gonna feel a whole new amount of pressure." Jessie said worried.
"Hard to believe 5 letters can determine someone's fate isn't it Roxas?" Prof. Frank chuckles.
Hearing this Roxas couldn't help but think of his own name. 5 letters and they are what set him on the path he's on now.
Shaking his head. Roxas snapped out of it.
"Just make your move." Roxas glares.
"Fine by me." Prof. Frank drew. "And now since it's my Standby phase, my Bowganian's special ability activates."
In response to him, his monster fired an arrow an arrow at Roxas. Quickly raising his duel disk, Roxas deflects the attack.
Roxas: 3400
Prof. Frank: 3600
"The Professor is doing quite a good job laying on the pressure," Lazar said. "He'll push Roxas to his limits and see if he's a signer and whatever other secrets he might be holding."
"Next I activate the spell Dark World Dealings. With it, both of us must draw a card from our decks and then pick a card from our hands to send to the graveyard." Prof. Frank explains as a shadowy aura surrounds his and Roxas' deck.
As they both drew a card Roxas looked at his hand and sent a card to the grave as Prof. Frank did the same.
"Have you ever made a deal Roxas? One that seemed too good to be true in exchange for something that seemed so small?" Prof. Frank asks.
Hearing this, Roxas couldn't help but remember Xemnas who made him such a deal.
"Well, I have no problem paying the costs, especially when I can make a move like this. I summon the monster Memory Crusher in attack mode!" Appearing at Prof. Frank's side was a purple fiend monster with large black wings.
Memory Crusher: 1000/ 600
'Why did he play that in attack mode? My monster has way more power than both his cards.' Roxas thought confused.
"Next I reveal my facedown card, Gestalt Trap!" Prof. Frank said as a large trap wrapped around Roxas' Samurai trapping him.
"What the?" Roxas gasps.
"Like it? My trap drains your monster of all of its attack and defense points, not to mention it negates its special ability." Prof. Frank explains as Zanji was weakened.
Six Samurai Zanji: 0/0
"And now with no attack points my Bowganian attacks with Dark Arrow!" Prof. Frank said as Bowganian fired an arrow destroying Roxas' monster.
"I activate my trap Defense Draw. Now I take no damage from an attack and I get to draw a card." Roxas drew.
"Bravo managing to avoid one attack but now you're wide open. Memory Crusher attacks you directly with Tragedy Strike!" From his brain, Memory Crusher fires a beam hitting Roxas.
Cringing in pain, Roxas briefly saw a painful memory of when Roxas and Axel faced off in the Twilight Mansion.
"You really do remember? I'm so flattered!" Axel said as a wall of flames erupted around him. But you're too late!"
Eyes widening Prof. Frank pauses. He had never seen anything like that before. His curiosity pushed him, he needed to know more.
Roxas: 2400
Prof. Frank: 3600
"If you think I'm finished you'd be mistaken. When my Memory Crusher lands a direct attack I can deal you 100 points of damage for every card in your extra deck." Prof. Frank points to Roxas' Duel Disk and 8 cards in his extra deck reveal themselves damaging Roxas even more.
Roxas: 1600
Prof. Frank: 3600
"Sneaky move." Roxas growls.
"Memories can be painful Roxas. Especially the ones we want to forget, or…what we cover up. I place one card facedown and end my turn." Prof. Frank points out ending his turn.
"What is that guy up to? What is he talking about?" Leo asks.
"He's trying to get in Roxas' head. Mess with him." Tifa said worried. "Come on Roxas. Focus."
"My move." Roxas drew before looking at the field. 'His Destiny Board needs all 5 spell slots to activate, so as long as he has a facedown, he can't play that last letter. I gotta move fast.' Roxas thought. "I summon Six Samurai Kamon in attack mode!" Roxas said summoning his dynamite-wielding Samurai.
Six Samurai Kamon: 1500/ 1000
"Next by using my Six Samurai United, by sending it to the graveyard I can draw a card for each counter and I have two," Roxas said drawing two new cards.
"Roxas's hand is getting bigger." Dexter notices.
"And no doubt reinforcements are on the way." Jessie grins knowing this combo.
"Next since I have a Six Samurai on the field. I can special summon Legendary Six Samurai Kizan in attack mode!" Roxas said as his black armor samurai appeared at his side.
Legendary Six Samurai Kizan: 1800/ 500
"Still have so much fight in you. Impressive." Prof. Frank said.
"Well then, you're going to like this. I activate Kamon's special ability. As long as I have a different Samurai on the field, I can destroy one spell or trap card on the field and I think you know which one I'm aiming for." Roxas said pointing to Destiny Board.
"Uh oh! Looks like Roxas is about to blow the Professor's strategy sky-high! Fire in the hole everybody!" MC said as Kamon's dynamite ignited.
"Clever move, too bad I have this. Go Divine Wraith!" Prof. Frank said revealing his face down. "By sending a card from my hand to the graveyard I negate your monster's special ability and destroy it."
Sending a card from his hand to the grave a bright light shines down from the sky and comes down on Kamon destroying him.
"You can't fight destiny, Roxas. Whether you like it or not you are destined to lose this duel. Embrace it." Prof. Frank declares making Roxas growl.
"I'm not done yet! Kizan attack his Bowganian!" Roxas said as his Samurai impaled Bowganian through its giant eye destroying it.
Roxas: 1600
Prof. Frank: 3100
"My fate doesn't include losing to you," Roxas states ending his turn.
"Brave words, but all for naught. Now that your turn is over, I can add another letter to my Destiny Board. Now I play Spirit Message A." Prof. Frank said as a glowing A appeared alongside his other letters.
"Only 2 more letters to go! I don't know what that word is but I am on the edge of my seat!" MC declares nervously.
"My turn." Prof. Frank drew and grinned. "I sacrifice Memory Crusher to summon a powerful creature. Meet my Puppet Master!"
Appearing on the field a large scary jester monster hung above the battlefield.
Puppet Master: 0000/0000
"What is that thing?" Mulan said surprised.
"Wait his monster has Zero attack points. Why would he summon that?" Leo asks.
"I don't know. He must have something planned." Jessie assumes.
"He does, Puppet Master is a very dangerous card if you know how to use it." Bolt gulps.
"My monster has a very powerful special ability. By paying 2000 life points I can pick 2 monsters from my graveyard and summon them to the field." Prof. Frank explains as Puppet Master's strings float down to his duel disk.
Roxas: 1600
Prof. Frank: 1100
"Wait, the only monsters he has in his grave are Bowganian and Memory Crusher. What good are those?" Gogo asks when Yusei realizes something.
"Or maybe he has others." Yusei gasps.
"Now welcome to the field, Legendary Fiend and Invader of Darkness!" Prof. Frank declares as a blue-skinned, four-armed creature with black appeared alongside a large demonic creature in a black coat both with long puppet strings attached to them.
Legendary Fiend: 1500/ 1800
Invader of Darkness: 2900/ 2500
"Holy moly! With one move Prof. Frank has summoned incredibly powerful cards! But since Puppet Master's special ability summoned these cards they can't attack on the turn, they're summoned so Roxas still has a chance!" MC declares.
"Aw man this isn't good with Legendary Fiend it gains 700 attack points at every standby phase. And Invader of Darkness stops Roxas from activating any quick play magic cards." Bolt points out.
"Wait when did those cards end up in his graveyard?" Leo asks confused when Tifa gasps.
"He sent them to the grave every time he had to discard a card. He was waiting for this moment." Tifa realized.
As Roxas looked at the field, his eyes were drawn to the Invader of Darkness. Seeing that creature in the black coat being controlled. It hit him on a personal level. To Xemnas, he, Xion, and even his friend Axel were nothing more than puppets for him to control and do with as he pleased.
"Have a look, Roxas. Merely a puppet of fate. Destined to play its part for the rest of your existence until deemed unfit. Does that resonate with you? Does it bring up bad memories?" Prof. Frank asks but Roxas just glared at him. "Not in a sharing mood? Perhaps you need something to brighten your mood, and I have just the card, go Swords of Revealing Light!" Prof. Frank said as 3 glowing swords rained down from above and surrounded Roxas' field.
"What is this?!" Roxas said looking around confused.
"For three turns you can't attack me or any of my monsters, but I can attack you. You're trapped, Roxas. This duel is mine." Prof. Frank declares making his eyes widen.
"Well, the kid put up a good fight but this duel is over." Krieger said. "As long as those swords are up, Roxas can't touch the Professor for three turns. And if those monsters don't defeat him, Destiny Board will."
"Roxas can pull through. I know he can." Yusei said not taking his eyes off the screen.
"My turn." Roxas drew. "I switch Kizan to defense mode and next I summon Legendary Six Samurai Shinai in defense mode.
Appearing on the field, his purple-armored samurai appeared.
Six Samurai Shinai: 1500/ 1500
"Next I activate the spell card Shien's Smoke Signal. With this card, I can add a level 3 or below Six Samurai monster from my deck to my hand. And I choose Six Samurai Kageki." Roxas said adding his monster to his hand.
Looking at his cards he didn't like but this was all he could do.
"I end my turn." Roxas declares much to the Professor's enjoyment.
"Now the 4th letter shall appear. I activate Spirit Message T." Prof. Frank said as a T appeared in the air.
Looking at them, Roxas was beginning to see what word they formed.
"D-E-A-T. Your word is…Death." Roxas declared.
Shuddering in fear, Yanagi didn't like the sound of that one bit.
"Yes Roxas. And when my swords disappear, I will have the final space open giving me the final letter I need to win this duel." Prof. Frank declares drawing his card. "And since it's my turn my Legendary Fiend gets 700 attack points stronger."
Legendary Fiend: 2200/ 1800
Looking across, Prof. Frank saw he was getting to him. Now for the final push.
"Legendary Fiend attacks his Hisashi!" Prof. Frank said as Legendary Fiend leaped across the field and rammed into Kizan destroying him. "Now my Invader of Darkness destroy his last defense."
As darkness surrounded his hand, Invader of Darkness blasts Roxas causing him to drop to his knees.
"Stay down Roxas. Stay down and follow the path you were made to walk. You fight back and you will only be destroyed. Although I guess if you tried…no one would miss you." Prof. Frank states.
Hearing this Roxas remembered a brief memory.
Flashback:
In the World That Never Was, we see Roxas walking down the streets briefly passing Axel who was leaning nearby.
"Your mind's made up?" Axel asks.
"Why did the keyblade choose me? I have to know." Roxas states and instantly Axel leans away from the wall concerned.
"You can't turn on the Organization! You get on their bad side and they'll destroy you!" Axel warns.
"No one would miss me." Roxas declares before walking away.
"That's no true…I would." Axel admits with a sad look on his face.
Flashback End:
And even then, that statement wasn't true. In the short time Roxas had been in this new world he had met plenty of new people: Yusei, Rally, Blitz, Tank, Nervin, Jessie, Gogo, Tifa, and even his new friends like Bolt and Yanagi.
These people had made such an impact on his life and he for them.
Looking to the stands, Roxas saw all of them looking at him with worried and hopeful looks.
"Come on Roxas get up." Tifa pleads.
"Don't let him win," Jessie said.
They hadn't given up on him yet. So why should he?
"Professor. Do us all a favor and just shut up already." Roxas said standing back up.
'He still resists me? What drives him? And that memory, what was that?' Prof. Frank thought surprised. "I switch my Puppet Master to Defense Mode and end my turn." Prof. Frank said switching his weakest monster to defense.
"My turn." Roxas looked at his deck. 'I need to end this duel now. I won't survive another. Here goes everything.' Reaching to his deck he drew a card and instantly grinned. "I summon Six Samurai Kageki in attack mode!"
Appearing on the field, his 4-armed Samurai appeared. "And thanks to his special ability I can summon another Samurai. Like the tuner monster Kagemusha." Standing next to him, his yellow armored samurai appeared.
Kageki: 1700/ 2000
Kagemusha: 400/ 1800
"And now since I have 1 or more Samurai I can special summon Grandmaster of the Six Samurai in attack mode," Roxas said summoning a third samurai to the field.
Grandmaster: 2100/ 800
"What are you doing? Not a single one of them has the power to defeat my monsters." Prof. Frank points out.
"On their own maybe, but together. I can. I activate the spell Six Strike Triple Impact! When I have 3 Six Samurai Monsters on my side of the field, I can choose to wipe out all monsters or spells and I choose to wipe out every spell and trap card on your side of the field!" Roxas declares horrifying Prof. Frank.
"No! You can't!" He panics.
"I can and will! Kageki, Kagemusha, and Grandmaster wipe out his Swords and his Destiny board!" Roxas orders as all three Samurais raise their weapons creating an orange, yellow, and purple light.
Hurling their weapons across the field they destroyed all the cards in Prof. Frank's spell and Trap card zone.
"It can't be. I had the perfect strategy." Prof. Frank declares.
"For someone who's supposedly so smart in dueling, you should know there's no such thing as perfect. You were so focused on your Destiny Board beating me, that you didn't realize that you left one big hole in your strategy! No one decides my destiny but me! Now I tune my Kagemusha with Grandmaster to synchro summon Lightning Warrior!"
As lightning struck the field Roxas' warrior bellowed through the stadium.
"What a comeback! With his Swords of Revealing Light and Destiny Board gone, there is nothing holding Roxas back from taking this match!" The MC said excitedly.
"Lightning Warrior take out that Legendary Fiend with Lightning Fist!" As lightning surrounded his arm, Lightning Warrior charges at Legendary Fiend and punches it in the gut destroying it.
Roxas: 1600
Prof. Frank: 900
"When Lightning Warrior destroys a monster you take 300 points of damage for each card in your hand. And you have 4 cards in your hand." Roxas points.
"Wait then that means." Prof. Frank realized.
"You lose! Lightning Warrior end this duel!" Roxas said as Lightning Warrior stood over Prof. Frank. Holding out his arm he electrocuted Prof. Frank from close range making him scream in pain before he fell to the ground in defeat.
Roxas: 1600
Prof. Frank: 0000
"And he's done it! The Winner of the 3rd match is Roxas!" The MC declares as the crowd goes wild.
"Whoa, that guy is really good," Dexter said impressed.
"No wonder he's Yusei's friend," Leo said.
"Roxas is one of the best." Tifa smiles clapping for him.
"Hmph well what do you know," Mulan said mildly impressed.
In Goodwin's viewing area, he and Jack watched as Prof. Frank walked away. What no one else realized was that there was a dark angry look on his face.
"Guess he's somewhat decent after all." Jack brushes off.
"The things he said, they resonated with him, but why?" Goodwin ponders as a screen appears revealing Zigzix.
"Sir I'm sorry to say we did not get any readings during the match," Zigzix admits with a frown.
"Hmm perhaps the Professor wasn't the ideal opponent for him…but that doesn't mean he's not a perfect opponent for someone else." Goodwin ponders.
Behind him, the door opens revealing Lazar.
"Well, that was an entertaining duel. The Professor certainly didn't expect that." Lazar said.
"Did he uncover anything about his past? Anything at all?" Goodwin asks.
"Roxas subconsciously resisted him the whole fight. The Professor could only get one memory out of him." Lazar said. "The boy walked away from the only life he knew because he wanted to find answers about something with a strange name, a… keyblade."
Hearing this, Goodwin's eyes widen in disbelief.
"What's a keyblade? Is it some kind of card?" Jack asks never hearing of such a thing.
"I'll tell you what it is Jack. It's an opportunity." Goodwin grins getting an idea. "And I just figured out the perfect match to test this theory."
In the waiting room, Yusei was thrilled to see his friend advanced.
"Looks like I need to make it round 2 now as well." Yusei smiles happy for Roxas.
"Assuming you can even make it past me." Gogo smirks. "And FYI Yusei, I don't duel on the ground like the other matches. I turbo duel." Gogo declares.
Hearing this Yusei couldn't help but grin.
"Sounds good to me, I'm ready to rev it up." Yusei declares.