This story was done in collaboration between me, Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and DaveMan1000 (both here and on DeviantART), and we own the OCs that are used in the story. AaronCottrell97 (known as stevecottrell on DeviantART) provided the Duel Layouts and additional ideas. Everything else belongs to their respective owners:
Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry
Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami
Gundam SEED characters, Orb, Blue Cosmos, M1 Astray, Strike Rouge, Murasame (c) Sunrise
Character of Lisa Drake (c) DaveMan1000
Character of David Xadashi (c) DaveMan1000
WARNING: Once again, this story is rated T for violence, some blood, suggestive themes, and some language. Reader discretion is advised.
WARNING 2: If you haven't read "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles Season 2", "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles Season 4", "Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sodor Chronicles (Pyramid of Light", "David Xadashi", "Lisa Drake", or "Team 4D's", you might want to do so before reading this story
On a stage inside the Orb Duel School, five face-down cards were lined up on a large blackboard. On cue, David Xadashi and Lisa Drake both showed up and began speaking to the audience for only a brief amount of time.
"Yo, my peeps! Get ready for another exciting segment of 'This week's noteworthy cards'!" began Lisa, briefly speaking like a gangster before speaking normally, "Have we got a series of good cards to show all of you!"
"I'll vouch for that," agreed David, "But first, we'd like to apologize for the lack of a segment last week. Something else came up, so Lisa-chan and I were not available, but this one should more than make up for it," He finally cast a glance at the blackboard with the five cards (still showing their backing) lined up, "Now, come on! Let's see some of the cards Fudo-san and Izayoi-san both are using today!"
The five face-down cards on the blackboard all automatically turned over and revealed themselves to be:
-'Nitro Warrior' (Synchro Monster Card)
-'White Rose Cloister' (Spell Card)
-'Black Rose Dragon' (Synchro Monster Card)
-'Effect Veiler' (Effect Monster Card)
-'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' (Effect Monster Card)
"I don't believe it!" exclaimed Lisa, staring at the middle card ('Black Rose Dragon'), "What's this card doing on the board?"
"It's Izayoi-san's ace monster, isn't it?" blinked David, before reading one of the card's effects, "Once per turn: You can banish 1 Plant monster from your GY, then target 1 Defense Position monster your opponent controls; change that target to face-up Attack Position, and if you do, its ATK becomes 0 until the end of this turn," He then got thoughtful, "That's got to be the deadliest effect this card has."
"Yeah? No kidding," Lisa agreed, "I'd be afraid to face a monster like that… But not Matt! Surely he has the capability to battle and defeat it!" She and David then turned to face the audience, "Well, there you all have it. Hopefully this makes up for our temporary absence."
"Hopefully Fudo-san and Izayoi-san will both demonstrate even more great cards for us to go over," added David, before he and Lisa started waving goodbye, "Unfortunately, our time is up, so we have to go. Have a good night, everyone!"
The audience cheered and clapped in response.
Title: Doom in Bloom
Opening up inside the Dark Signers' hideout, Rutger and Vincent were watching a large crystal sphere placed on the table. On the sphere was footage of Carlie confronting her friends and allies. Rutger grinned to himself, just as he heard the nearby door open. As it turned out, it was Azrael who returned.
"So, how's it working out?" asked Azrael, walking over.
"Quite well," said Rutger, still smiling, "I'm really pleased. Thanks to your scientists and students at Blue Cosmos, along with your skilled manipulations, we now have a Signer—possibly the most dangerous of them all thanks to her psychic powers—who now completely distrusts the world and is even fighting against her own friends."
"Was there ever any doubt?" joked Azrael, as he and his ally stared at the sphere, "And now, it's time for me to go pull up a chair and watch the show in-person."
He turned and started to leave when he felt a hand grabbing onto his left forearm, stopping him in his tracks. The person who stopped Azrael from leaving the room was Vincent, and he looked almost like he was pleading or something.
"Hey, let me come along," requested Vincent immaturely, "I wanna see the duel up close and personal, too!"
"Unfortunately, I need you here," refused Rutger, causing Vincent to look over, "You will need to help me with something a little later."
Vincent was most unhappy about having to stay behind to work on a new project, but Azrael was relieved at the opportunity of being far away from someone he dubbed as very annoying. He then went to find the three Bio-CPU boys, knowing that they, his three top students, would want to check out the action in the upcoming Signer vs. Signer battle. No matter what, Muruta Azrael was absolutely confident his new 'ultimate weapon' would pull off a win against even the leader of the Signers.
(elsewhere…)
Back in Orb's parking lot, the duel between Matt (LP: 4000) and Carlie (LP: 4000) was on track to begin, and nobody watching it was happy about the duel happening.
"This is absurd," Michael was saying, "I know Matt and Carlie have dueled many times before, but never like this!"
"The closest was their very first duel in San Francisco years ago," recalled James R..
"This is all very unfortunate," agreed Mr. Kisaka, "But what I want to know is what it was the Blue Cosmos school did to Carlie to get her acting like this?"
Nobody else said anything back, because they didn't know, either. On the duel field, Matt and Carlie faced each other. While Matt remained calm and stoic, so did Carlie—at least until a flashback started up.
FLASHBACK
Flashback Carlie found herself waking up in a dorm under the covers of a bed. Not an Orb dorm, but a dorm at Blue Cosmos in Albany. Upon opening her eyes in slow motion, she saw someone looking down at her. Once her vision became clear once again, Flashback Carlie saw it was a man with short blonde hair and wearing a fancy business suit. This was obviously Flashback Azrael, but, for some reason, Flashback Carlie did not recognize him.
"Oh, dearie me, you're awake!" gasped Flashback Azrael, before placing both hands onto Flashback Carlie's shoulders and reassuring her she was safe, "Don't worry, you were only having a nightmare."
Flashback Carlie didn't say anything at first, but her eyes were initially dull and empty, as though she was wondering where she even was. More to the point, her head was pounding like crazy after she was… she was… Actually, Flashback Carlie didn't know what happened to herself in the first place.
"Now tell me, do you recognize who I am?" pressed Flashback Azrael.
"Y-You're…" began Flashback Carlie, before pain resumed filling her head and forced her to stop and shut her eyes, "No, I do not know you…"
"What?! You don't recognize me?" Flashback Azrael gasped in false shock, retracting both hands, "But you should know me," Flashback Carlie looked up as he continued on, "I'm Muruta Azrael, your adopted Father."
The confused brown-haired young woman was left most surprised; this Muruta Azrael person was the one who adopted her? But why couldn't she remember that? Her head just continued to pound as she tried to nurse the headache, but Flashback Azrael did not give it up.
"Remember? I was the one who adopted you from the orphanage nine years ago," resumed Flashback Azrael, "You didn't stay at the orphanage for too long, because I showed up only a few days after you arrived there," He then placed his right hand on Flashback Carlie's right shoulder (again), "I brought you here to Blue Cosmos, where you've been living ever since."
Now all of what he was saying were outright lies, but if they would help him get a Signer onto the side of the Dark Signers and Blue Cosmos, so be it. Speaking of Flashback Carlie, she was not at all aware that she was being lied to, seeing as she was suffering from a special form of amnesia due to a mixture of her psychic powers triggering during her earlier torture, and the Crimson Dragon's power trying to intervene and protect her from the torture before getting corrupted by her terror, rage, and psychic powers. Nevertheless, she slowly began to believe the lies being told to her by Flashback Azrael. Eventually, as the pain in her head subsided, she faced him and smiled slightly.
"Y-You're right," admitted Flashback Carlie, before sitting up and letting the blanket drop and showing her basically still in her bra and panties, "It was a really horrible nightmare I had."
"There, there," comforted Flashback Azrael, before he and Flashback Carlie embraced, "Now, tell me all about it."
Unknown to Flashback Carlie, there was a growing evil smile on her 'Father's' face as she and him hugged it out. Flashback Azrael knew that the manipulations were working, and that meant the first step in getting a Signer onto his side was going to happen. All he needed now was for his staff and the other students to play their parts.
(new scene…)
While Flashback Carlie believed the lie that Flashback Azrael was her adopted Father and Blue Cosmos was her home, I'm sorry to say life at the school was far from…exciting, as she learned the hard way. Now wearing a female Blue Cosmos school uniform, Flashback Carlie discovered that a lot of the other students and even teachers distrusted and even ridiculed her for having psychic powers, a lot worse than when she was in school back when she lived with her parents and brother. Such scorn and isolation quickly hardened her attitude into a stoic, emotionally unstable young woman.
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended, which left Carlie very bitter and determined to prove to Blue Cosmos that she was able to get rid of the Orb Duel School.
"Just watch me duel," thought Carlie, "I'll definitely succeed where most of you failed to do… I'll make my adopted Father, and all of you possibly watching, proud of me by taking this school down," She drew a card, "I'll go first! Draw!"
Turn One: Carlie Izayoi (LP: 4000)
Deck: 54
Current Hand (6): "Phoenixian Seed", "Offensive Guard", "Red Rose Dragon", "Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis", "Fragrance Storm", and "Black Rose Sowing"(!)
Her hand contained 'Phoenixian Seed', 'Offensive Guard', 'Red Rose Dragon', 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis', 'Fragrance Storm', and the drawn 'Black Rose Sowing'. Nodding, Carlie took a different card from her hand and placed it onto her Duel Disk.
"I Summon 'Phoenixian Seed'!" she announced.
Appearing onto the field was a large orange-colored plant with a demonic-looking eye in the center (Level: 2/ATK: 800/DEF: 0).
"I activate 'Phoenixian Seed's' monster effect!" As she spoke, Carlie held her previous card ('Phoenixian Seed') up before sending it right to the GY and holding another card ('Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis') up before setting it onto her Duel Disk, "During my Main Phase: I can send this face-up card I control to the GY; I must Special Summon 1 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' from my hand!"
'Phoenixian Seed' burst into flames seconds later. When the fire died down, there, on the field in its place, was a large plant that seemed to partially resemble a phoenix of sorts (Level: 8/ATK: 2200/DEF: 0).
"'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis'!" realized Matt.
"'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' is a monster that can't normally be Special Summoned," explained Carlie, as focus went towards the 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' Effect Monster Card on her Duel Disk, "One method to bypass this rule is with 'Phoenixian Seed's' effect," She took and held another card ('Fragrance Storm') out, "Then, from my hand, I'll activate the Spell Card, 'Fragrance Storm'!" The card was slotted into a Spell & Trap Zone on her Duel Disk, causing the mentioned Spell Card to flip face-up and reveal itself, "I must target 1 Plant monster on the field; I must destroy that target, and if I do, draw 1 card, then if that card is a Plant monster, I can reveal it and draw 1 more card," While talking on, 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' found itself bursting into flames, "By destroying 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis'," It was around then she drew a card and looked at it, "I'll draw a card."
The drawn card was the 'Rose Princess' Effect Monster Card. To make a long story short, it was a Plant monster, and the sight brought a small, brief smile to Carlie's face before she lost the smile and held the card out.
"I've drawn 'Rose Princess', a Plant monster," said Carlie forcefully, before drawing another card, "Thanks to the effect of 'Fragrance Storm', I get to draw another card!"
Matt grimaced, acknowledging to only himself that Carlie was really good at getting the cards she needed, Speaking of which, the next drawn card was shown to be a Spell Card called 'Wonder Clover', which she added into her hand.
"Next, I'll activate 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis's' second effect!" continued Carlie. While speaking of her monster's second effect, the flames from her monster rose into the air while facing Matt before the effect name was yelled out, "If this card I control is destroyed and sent to the GY: I must inflict 800 damage to my opponent! Scatter Flame!"
The flames then rained down upon Matt's field, causing him to wince in pain as his LP took a hit—not too big of a hit, but it was definitely not a little hit, either (LP: 4000 → 3200).
"This power…!" thought Matt, "Carlie really does mean to get me without mercy!"
"From there, I'll activate the second effect of 'Rose Princess'!" interrupted Carlie, before, while explaining the effect, sending the mentioned 'Rose Princess' Effect Monster Card from her hand to the GY—resulting in a card automatically ejecting from the Deck, which she took hold of, "I can discard this card; I must add 1 'White Rose Cloister' from my Deck to my hand," Without wasting a second, the brown-haired young woman held her added her card ('White Rose Cloister') out, "Then, I'll activate it right away! Field Spell, 'White Rose Cloister'!"
The parking lot of Orb began turning into a lovely-looking castle garden with white roses littered in the bushes and trees. It might almost be a beautiful place to spend time in if not for the fact Carlie was nearly psychotic at this time, and something terrible could happen at any time were she to completely lose her temper.
"I Set one card and finish my turn," concluded Carlie, slotting a card into her Duel Disk and causing a face-down card to appear on the field, "But it being the End Phase allows me to activate the third effect of 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis'!" As she spoke, a burst of fire erupted in-front of her newly Set card, "During my End Phase: I can banish 1 Plant monster from my GY; I must Special Summon this card from my GY in Defense Position."
When the fire died down, there, back on the field in a defensive stance, was 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' (Level: 8/ATK: 2200/DEF: 0). That was its main method of being Special Summoned.
"This will allow me some protection for early on," Carlie pointed out, as focus went on the card ('Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis') on a Monster Zone on her Duel Disk, "It will also ensure you take more damage if you're foolish enough to attack it."
"Carlie…" thought Matt, before narrowing his eyes, "No matter what happens, I won't back down from trying to fight you," He drew a card, "It's my turn!"
Turn Two: Matt Fudo (LP: 4000)
Deck: 54
Current Hand (6): "Shining Silver Force", "Quickdraw Synchron", "Level Eater", "Defense Draw", "Nitro Synchron", and "Effect Veiler"
His drawn card was the 'Effect Veiler' Tuner Monster Card, while the rest of his hand contained 'Shining Silver Force', 'Quickdraw Synchron', 'Level Eater', 'Defense Draw', and 'Nitro Synchron'. Overall, he was very pleased that his cards came through for me.
"Carlie, you're not the only one who's good at getting cards he or she needs," began Matt, before sending a card ('Level Eater') from his hand to the GY. He then placed another card ('Quickdraw Synchron') onto his Duel Disk, "For my first card, I'll Special Summon 'Quickdraw Synchron' from my hand!"
Appearing onto the field was a small robotic-like Warrior ('Synchron') monster wearing a cape, cowboy's hat, and wielding a pistol of sorts (Level: 5/ATK: 700/DEF: 1400).
"'Quickdraw Synchron'?" pressed Carlie.
"I can Special Summon this card (from my hand) by sending 1 monster from my hand to the GY," explained Matt, going over his monster's first effect, "Then I'll activate the first effect of 'Level Eater'!" While continuing to speak, a small insect with a star on its back appeared on the field and went right through 'Quickdraw Synchron', reducing its Level (Level: 5 → 4) before it itself landed on the field (Level: 1/ATK: 600/DEF: 0), "If this card is in my GY: I can target 1 Level 5 or higher monster I control; I must reduce its Level by 1, and if I do, Special Summon this card."
"Ngh… There's also 'Quickdraw Synchron's' primary gimmick," grunted Carlie.
"I'm glad you know of it," smirked Matt, then, while speaking still, 'Quickdraw Synchron' found several floating 'Synchron' Tyner Monster Cards floating around it on a roulette, to which he pulled out his gun and shot one of them ('Jet Synchron'), "This monster is capable of substituting for any 'Synchron' Tuner monster!" Finally, the main command was given, "Level 4 'Quickdraw Synchron', substituting for 'Jet Synchron', tunes Level 1 'Level Eater'!"
'Quickdraw Synchron' reached for the sky and turned himself into four Synchro Rings, which 'Level Eater' jumped into before turning into a single orb of light as a Summon Chant followed.
"Gathering magic that lives in each creature will merge and become one! Become the path its light shines upon!" chanted Matt, as the symbols 1 + 4 = 5 were shown briefly just before the single orb of light turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon! Blast off, 'Jet Warrior'!"
Appearing onto the field, as the Synchro Summon sequence came to an end, was the humanoid monster made from parts of a black jet plane (Level: 5/ATK: 2100/DEF: 1200). Carlie didn't look worried, since if Matt attacked her monster, he would only end up hurting himself in the process.
"So, are you going to be foolish and attack?" teased Carlie, "I know even someone like you can't be dumb enough to try that!"
"Actually, I will attack your monster," accepted Matt, "But not in a way you want me to."
Carlie flinched, "What?"
"I activate 'Jet Warrior's' first effect!" Matt went on, as 'Jet Warrior' prepared to attack, "If this card is Synchro Summoned: I can target 1 card my opponent controls; I must return it to the hand."
Carlie gasped once more, just as 'Jet Warrior' started charging like a sonic jet towards 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis'.
"Reverse Jet!" The voice of Matt exclaimed.
'Jet Warrior' collided with 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis', causing the enemy monster to dissolve and for Carlie to regain her monster in card form—which got added into her hand. Since 'Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis' was put back in the hand, its second effect was not activated.
"From there, I'll Summon the Tuner monster, 'Nitro Synchron'!" continued Matt, placing a card onto his Duel Disk.
Appearing onto the field was a cartoonish-looking pink canister with arms, legs, hands, and feet (Level: 2/ATK: 300/DEF: 100). From there, 'Nitro Synchron' and 'Jet Warrior' both took to the skies.
"My Level 2 'Nitro Synchron' tunes Level 5 'Jet Warrior'!" The voice of Matt announced, as the above scenario played out.
'Nitro Synchron' turned the handle near its head to the max, turning itself into two Synchro Rings. 'Jet Warrior', while flying, gets overwhelmed by the Synchro Rings, turning himself into five orbs of light as a Summon Chant echoed throughout.
"Gathering minds will now become a new force! Become the path its light shines upon!" chanted Matt, as the symbols 5 + 2 = 7 were shown briefly just before the five orbs of light in both Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon! Blaze on, 'Nitro Warrior'!"
Appearing onto the field, as the Synchro Summon sequence came to an end, was a green, musclebound-looking warrior with what looked like a large jet on his back (Level: 7/ATK: 2800/DEF: 1800). Carlie scowled silently, both annoyed and impressed over her opponent being able to Synchro Summon twice in the same turn.
"'Nitro Synchron's' monster effect!" reminded Matt, "If this card is sent to the GY…" He drew a card, "…for the Synchro Summon of a 'Nitro' Synchro Monster: I must draw 1 card."
The drawn card was a Monster Card called 'Junk Converter'; it was a card he would likely save for later on, if needed. Knowing with his current luck, he would indeed need it.
"I'm sorry, but this is for your own good!" apologized Matt, before entering his Battle Phase, "'Nitro Warrior', attack Carlie directly!"
'Nitro Warrior' jumped high into the sky above the opponent, just as the jet-like proportions fired and launched him down towards a seemingly defenseless Carlie.
"Dynamite Knuckle!" The voice of Matt hollered.
With a loud cry, 'Nitro Warrior' raised both fists and lit them on fire, aiming to strike at Carlie and heavily reduce her LP. Over with the audience…
"If this attack is successful, Matty will reduce Carlie's LP to just 1200!" Ashima was saying.
Sadly, Carlie, over at her spot on the field, didn't have the same thought; the look on her face proved that to Matt.
"You think you will hurt me like that? I'll block off some of the damage!" retorted Carlie, before her Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "I activate a Trap, 'Offensive Guard'! When my opponent's monster declares a direct attack: I must halve the attacking monster's ATK until the End Phase, then draw 1 card."
'Nitro Warrior's' ATK reduced by half (ATK: 2800 → 1400), and, from there, Carlie drew another card, which she saw was a Trap Card called 'Rose Curse'. Even then, it did not stop 'Nitro Warrior' from slamming both fiery fists into her Duel Disk, causing Carlie to cry out from the power behind the attack as she got pushed back and her LP dropped by a fair bit (LP: 4000 → 2600)—although she quickly recovered enough to add the drawn card into her hand.
"It's unfortunate Matt likely doesn't have a Spell in his hand," commented Michael, while Ms. Simmons stood beside him and nodded, "If he did, he could have activated it and given 'Nitro Warrior' a helpful boost of 1000 ATK from his first effect."
"Such a tactic would have greatly aided Fudo-san in this moment," agreed David.
Back on the field, Carlie stared defiantly at her enemy, while Matt remained calm as he pondered his options of how to battle his friend.
"I did some damage, but I have a long way to go before I can reach out to her," thought Matt, before taking a card from his hand and slotting it into his Duel Disk, "I Set one card and end my turn!"
A face-down card appeared on the field.
"Those eyes are the same… I have seen those eyes many times…" said Carlie coldly, which caused Matt to briefly flinch, "The same eyes that look like they've seen a monster like me!" She raised her right hand in the air, "It's my turn!"
Suddenly, the falling rose petals around both her and Matt started glowing yellow, much to Matt's surprise.
"This is the second effect of my Field Spell, 'White Rose Cloister'," explained Carlie, "During my Draw Phase, before I draw: I can declare 1 card type (Monster, Spell, or Trap); I must reveal the top card of my Deck, and if it is the declared card type, apply this effect for the rest of this turn (even if this card leaves the field)."
This was the effect written on the mentioned Spell Card:
-"Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters I control gain 1000 ATK."
"What?!" gasped Matt.
"Yes," confirmed Carlie, "That will give you something more to worry about should I bring such a monster out. And I already know what card type I plan to choose… I will choose Monster Card!"
Over with the audience…
"That means if Carlie brings out 'Black Rose Dragon', it will have 3400 ATK until the end of the current turn!" guessed Lisa.
"But first she'll need to draw the guessed card type," reminded Mr. Kisaka, "If she fails to get the correct type, that effect will not work."
Carlie simply braced two fingers on top of her Deck and drew a card, looked at it for a few seconds, then held it ('White Rose Dragon') out, causing some dismayed reactions from a few audience members.
"Are you kidding me?" groaned Lisa.
Turn Three: Carlie Izayoi (LP: 2600)
Deck: 49
Current Hand (6): "Red Rose Dragon", "Black Rose Sowing"(!), "Wonder Clover", "Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis", "Rose Curse", and "White Rose Dragon"
Sure enough…
"That's too bad, Matt," taunted Carlie, "I've guessed and correctly drawn a Monster Card. That means all Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters I control will gain 1000 ATK! And don't worry, I will bring one such monster out real soon," She added the card ('White Rose Dragon') into her hand and took another card ('Red Rose Dragon') before placing it onto a Monster Zone on her Duel Disk, "I Summon the Tuner monster, 'Red Rose Dragon'!"
Appearing onto the field was the small, dragon-like creature with red roses on its back (Level: 3/ATK: 1000/DEF: 1800).
"Then, I'll activate my added 'White Rose Dragon's' second effect!" continued Carlie, while placing her card ('White Rose Dragon') onto her Duel Disk, "If I control a Dragon Tuner or Plant Tuner: I can Special Summon this card from my hand," While explaining her monster's effect, appearing on the field was the small plant-like dragon with white rose features (Level: 4/ATK: 1200/DEF: 1000), "Come, 'White Rose Dragon'!"
Both monsters stood protectively beside Carlie, which Matt knew exactly what was coming next—and he did not like it. Not one little bit. Sure enough, the command was being given.
"Level 3 'Red Rose Dragon' tunes Level 4 'White Rose Dragon'!" uttered Carlie.
With the nervous audience…
"Oh damn!" panicked Lisa, "4 plus 3 equals 7! We all know what that means, right?!"
"'Black Rose Dragon'," confirmed Michael grimly.
From there, on the field, 'Red Rose Dragon' turned into three Synchro Rings, which hovered over 'White Rose Dragon' before lowering and overwhelming the monster as Carlie chillingly did the Summon Chant during the entire sequence. And thanks to the lower vocal tone she currently had, it made the chanting all the more terrifying.
"Chilling flames engulf the entire world," chanted Carlie calmly, "Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom!"
As the symbols 4 + 3 = 7 were shown for a few seconds near the end of the chant, the outlined 'White Rose Dragon' turned into four orbs of light and lined up in the three Synchro Rings before turning into a massive beam of light, which slammed down onto the field around Carlie before erupting into a pillar of black/purple flames.
"Synchro Summon!" shouted Carlie, as she raised her right hand into the air, "Appear now, 'Black Rose Dragon'!"
Emerging from the dying pillar of purple fire and onto the field, was none other than the dragon littered with rose-like features (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800). With the appearance of Carlie's ace monster, a ferocious roar escaped from 'Black Rose Dragon's' mouth as it unleashed a mighty blast of wind that everyone in the parking lot felt, while Matt nearly got pushed back by it. The wind was being amplified by Carlie's psychic powers.
"And don't forget that I correctly declared a Monster Card when I used 'White Rose Cloister's' effect," reminded Carlie, before 'Black Rose Dragon' glowed purple with power while growing stronger (ATK: 2400 → 3400), "All Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters gain 1000 ATK until the end of the turn!"
Over in the audience, Ashima appeared to flinch when she heard 'Black Rose Dragon' let out another roar. The black-haired young Indian woman seemed to sense the anger and confusion within the Signer Dragon, which appeared to come from Carlie's current state of mind. Realizing that 'Black Rose Dragon' was suffering just as much as Carlie was, Ashima became deeply unsettled since it brought back memories of when the Dark Signers possessed her against her will. Back on the field, Carlie's turn resumed.
"'Red Rose Dragon's' effect activates!" announced Carlie, before placing the index and middle fingers of her right hand on top of her Deck, "If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material: I can Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster from my hand or Deck, except 'Red Rose Dragon', then, if it was sent for the Synchro Summon of 'Black Rose Dragon' or a Plant Synchro Monster," She drew a card and looked at it, "I can also add 1 'Frozen Rose' or 1 'Blooming of the Darkest Rose' from my Deck to my hand."
The drawn card was the 'Blue Rose Dragon' Effect Monster Card, causing Carlie to narrow her cold eyes. A few seconds later, she held her drawn card out.
"Come, 'Blue Rose Dragon'!" demanded Carlie.
Appearing onto the field was the small, dragon-like creature with blue roses on its back and for wings (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200).
"Now I get to move a copy of either 'Frozen Rose' or 'Blooming of the Darkest Rose' into my hand," reminded Carlie, drawing another card and seeing it was the 'Frozen Rose' Spell Card, "I think I'll pick 'Frozen Rose'," She added the card into her hand and then continued with her turn, "Then I'll activate 'White Rose Dragon's' third effect! If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material: I can send 1 Level 4 or higher Plant monster from my Deck to the GY."
Automatically, a card slipped from Carlie's Deck, which floated around her before stopping to face Matt and the audience. The card was revealed to be…
"That's 'Staysailor Romarin'!" realized Matt.
"By sending this card to the GY, I'll activate its second effect," began Carlie, just as a card emerged from the Extra Deck Zone on the Duel Disk and she took hold, "If this card is sent to the GY by a card effect: I can send 1 Level 5…" She readied the card in-between the index finger and thumb of her right hand, "…or lower Plant monster from my Deck or Extra Deck to the GY."
Over with the audience…
"Carlie will send 'Garden Rose Maiden' from her Extra Deck to the GY," Sherry was saying, causing Shinji and a few others to look at her, "She used this exact combo to defeat Gwen."
"No doubt you're right," admitted Zack, "We all know how she duels."
"After all, this is one of her Deck's key combos," added Michael.
Back on the field, Carlie turned over her card and revealed it to be the 'Garden Rose Maiden' Synchro Monster Card, proving Sherry exactly right.
"So, you guys already knew I'd send this to the GY?" frowned Carlie, "Well, it doesn't matter if you know or not," She sent the card ('Garden Rose Maiden') to the GY, "What you should be worried about is this, 'Black Rose Dragon's' first effect!" While the effect was being explained, 'Black Rose Dragon' let out another roar as it powered itself up to unleash its most devastating attack upon the unlucky duelist faced with it, "When this card is Synchro Summoned: I can destroy all cards on the field."
Cue some gasps from the audience.
"Brace yourselves, everyone!" warned Matt.
"Black Rose Gale!" thundered Carlie, raising her right hand again.
With little-to-no warning, 'Black Rose Dragon' roared in a further rage, causing another enormous blast of wind that everyone in the parking lot felt.
"The power of 'Black Rose Dragon' is much greater than-!" cried Michael, using his right arm to shield himself, "This woman… She's coming at Matt with full force!"
"If you mean she's trying her absolute hardest to kill him, then you won't get an argument from me!" countered Lisa with a snark.
"I-Izayoi-san," grimaced David.
Back on the field…
"I can't let my friends get hurt by 'Black Rose Dragon'," thought Matt, reaching for a card in his hand, taking it, and holding it ('Effect Veiler') out, "I activate the monster effect of 'Effect Veiler'!"
"You're going to what?!" flinched Carlie.
"During my opponent's Main Phase (Quick Effect): I can send this card…" explained Matt, before discarding his card ('Effect Veiler'), "…from my hand to the GY," He then pointed forth, "then target 1 Effect Monster my opponent controls; I must negate the effects of that face-up monster my opponent controls, until the end of this turn."
Appearing on the field was a young woman with cyan-colored hair, wearing white clothing, black stockings that went to the middle of her thighs, and sporting two large angelic wings. Sensing the pain in 'Black Rose Dragon', 'Effect Veiler' approached and gently entered the dragon's body, stopping it from completing its effect, which Carlie was far from being happy about.
"A hand trap, was it? So be it," growled Carle, before taking another card ('Frozen Rose') from her hand and holding it out, "I activate a Quick-Play Spell, 'Frozen Rose', from my hand! I must send 1 face-up monster I control to the GY; I must apply this effect, depending on the Type it had on the field."
These were the effects listed on said Spell Card:
-"Plant: During the End Phase of this turn, I must draw 2 cards, then discard 1 card."
-"Non-Plant: I must add 1 Level 4 or lower Plant monster from my Deck to my hand."
"I send my 'Blue Rose Dragon to the GY," ordered Carlie, just as 'Blue Rose Dragon' roared and faded away in a blue streak. This caused another card ('Rose Witch') to automatically eject from the middle of her Deck, which was taken without hesitation and held out for everyone to see, "'Blue Rose Dragon' is a non-Plant monster, so I get to add a Level 4 or lower Plant monster."
A long, eerie silence ensued. Over with the audience, everyone felt a slight shiver…
"Does…anyone feel uneasy over the look on Carlie's face?" worried Sean.
"I definitely feel it," shuddered Janice, "It's almost as though she plans to take Matt down in a single turn."
"Defeat Matt in one turn? I honestly don't see how Carlie can do that," mused Mayura.
"Carlie does have a way, Mayura," Ms. Simmons pointed out, which caused Mayura, Sean, and Janice each to look over, "As though it might seem like an impossible theory, she actually does have a way to attempt a One Turn Kill this turn."
Back on the field, a Spell Card called 'Wonder Clover' materialized face-up on the field, compliments of Carlie—a card that also proved Ms. Simmons's theory totally right.
"Spell Card, 'Wonder Clover', activate!" began Carlie, taking a card ('Rose Witch') from her hand and quickly sending it to the GY, "I must target 1 monster I control, then send 1 Level 4 Plant monster from my hand to the GY; this turn, the targeted monster can make a second attack during the Battle Phase, but other monsters I control cannot declare an attack," While speaking, the power of the face-up 'Wonder Clover' Spell Card glowed and enhanced 'Black Rose Dragon's' power, "By targeting 'Black Rose Dragon' and sending 'Rose Witch' to the GY, my monster is able to attack you twice!"
"This is really not good!" exclaimed Sean, "Once 'Nitro Warrior' is destroyed by the first attack, Carlie will be free to strike Matt directly and finish him off!"
"Writhe in the fire so cold it burns!" spat Carlie hatefully, entering her Battle Phase, "'Black Rose Dragon', attack 'Nitro Warrior'!" As she announced her monster's attack name, 'Black Rose Dragon' opened its mouth and charged a purple fire blast, "Black Rose Flare!"
The blast of purple flames was unleashed and struck 'Nitro Warrior', destroying him in a massive explosion. Matt braced himself from the great backlash of the attack while his LP took another blow (LP: 3200 → 2600).
"The finishing blow!" uttered Carlie, before raising her voice into a shout while 'Black Rose Dragon' charged and fired another Black Rose Flare, "Attack Matt Fudo directly!"
"MATT!" Asagi, Ashima, Janice, and James R. all cried out at once.
Just when it looked like it was all over for Matt, he held his right hand out and made a move to save himself.
"I activate a Trap, 'Defense Draw'!" proclaimed Matt, as his first Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "During my opponent's turn, at damage calculation: I must make the battle damage I take from this battle 0, and if I do, draw 1 card."
A barrier formed around Matt and protected him from Black Rose Flare, while he then drew a card. Unfortunately, the attack, powered by Carlie's anger and psychic powers, also did massive damage to the ground all across the transformed parking lot.
"The parking lot!" bemoaned Mr. Zimmerman, "Even so, I'm more worried about Carlie."
Speaking of Carlie, she continued to stare defiantly at her opponent while taking two cards from her hand and slotting them into her Duel Disk.
"I Set two cards and finish my turn," concluded Carlie, as her Set cards appeared on the field near her feet, "This means the effects of both 'Effect of Veiler' and 'White Rose Cloister' end here."
The ATK of 'Black Rose Dragon' returned to normal (ATK: 3400 → 2400). So far in the duel, Carlie had the field advantage.
"What's wrong, Matt?" teased Carlie, "Is that all you can do to try and beat me?"
"Answer me a question," interrupted Matt, causing Carlie to frown again, "Are you happy doing this?"
"What?"
"It's as I said! Are you happy attacking Orb like this?" The dirty blonde-haired young man pointed out, "I asked you a similar question back when we first dueled, about if you enjoyed causing destruction and hurting other people, or if it's all a farce to hide your pain," When Carlie said nothing back, he continued reaching out for her sealed heart, "You have to remember, since I was the one who reopened your closed off heart!"
"Don't give me that nonsense!" snapped Carlie, still believing she was being lied to, "You're just trying to deceive me again!" She pointed forth again, "Don't forget that it's your turn!"
"Very well," accepted Matt, drawing a card, "It's my turn! Draw!"
Turn Four: Matt Fudo (LP: 2600)
Deck: 50
Current Hand (4): "Shining Silver Force", "Junk Converter", "Greed Grado", and "Tuning"
The card was a Spell Card called 'Tuning', which he held out without a second thought.
"I activate the Spell Card, 'Tuning'!" declared Matt, as a card slipped from the middle of his Deck before taking hold of, "I must add 1 'Synchron' Tuner…" He held the card up for the rest of the explanation before turning it around and revealing it to be the 'Junk Synchron' Tuner Monster Card, "…from my Deck to my hand, then send the top card of my Deck to the GY. And so, I'll add in my Level 3 'Junk Synchron'!"
"Now send the top card of your Deck to the GY!" requested Carlie.
Matt nodded, drawing the top card ('Rockstone Warrior') of his Deck and sending it to the GY. From there, he took two cards from his hand and held them ('Junk Converter' and 'Junk Synchron') out.
"From there, I'll activate the first effect of 'Junk Converter'!" proclaimed Matt, doing the above mentioned scenario. He then sent both cards to the GY, "I can discard this card and 1 Tuner; I must add 1 'Synchron' monster from my Deck to my hand," He drew a card and looked at it, seeing it was the 'Hyper Synchron' Tuner Monster Card, "I've added 'Hyper Synchron'!"
Carlie said nothing, even as the ground started shaking itself apart.
"Not again!" complained James R..
"No, wait," interrupted Mr. Zimmerman, "I don't think it's coming from Carlie."
"It isn't?" pressed Sean.
"He's right," acknowledged Ashima, "It's coming from Matt's field."
Back on the field, the ground opened up and revealed a stone hand emerging.
"What is this?!" gasped Carlie.
"This is 'Rockstone Warrior'," answered Matt, "Or, to say the least, my second copy of it," While going over his monster's second effect, the full body of 'Rockstone Warrior' fully emerged onto the field and posed for battle (Level: 4/ATK: 1800/DEF: 1600), "I can banish this card from my GY; I must Special Summon 1 'Rockstone Warrior' from my Deck in Defense Position," He then placed one more card ('Hyper Synchron') onto his Duel Disk, "Next, I'll Normal Summon the Tuner monster, 'Hyper Synchron'!"
Appearing onto the field was a blue and yellow-colored robot (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 800). With the audience, they were having a discussion about Matt's current monsters.
"You guys know there's only one monster Matt can Synchro Summon with those materials, right?" said Zack.
"I sure as heck know who it is," acknowledged Lisa.
Back on the field…
"Level 4 'Hyper Synchron' tunes Level 4 'Rockstone Warrior'!" announced Matt, just as 'Hyper Synchron' started charging up power, "Let's rev it up!"
'Hyper Synchron' finally released four orbs of light from its chest before shattering into shards of glass. The orbs became four large Synchro Rings, which hovered over, lowered, and overwhelmed 'Rockstone Warrior' before turning it into four orbs of light as Matt heroically performed a Summon Chant throughout the sequence.
"Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon!" chanted Matt, as the symbols 4 + 4 = 8 were shown briefly just before the four orbs of light within the four Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light which slammed down onto the field around him, "Synchro Summon! Take flight, 'Stardust Dragon'!"
When the beam of light died down, there, flying in the sky, was the majestic-looking white dragon, and it let out a roar to signal its arrival (Level: 8/ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000). The sight of this monster caused Carlie to gasp and look surprised—but only for a moment, before she returned to her angry, stoic persona. Over with the audience again…
"Since Matt used 'Hyper Synchron' for the Synchro Summon of 'Stardust', it gains 800 ATK and an immunity to destruction by battle," remembered Michael.
"Which is a good thing for Fudo-san!" nodded David.
Back on the field, the spirit of 'Hyper Synchron' merged with 'Stardust Dragon' and raised its ATK to greater heights (ATK: 2500 → 3300).
"Just remember the inherited side effect of using 'Hyper Synchron'!" retorted Carlie, being keenly aware of how 'Hyper Synchron' worked, "On your second Standby Phase, 'Stardust Dragon' will be banished and leave your field open!"
"I know that!" accepted Matt, before entering the Battle Phase, "Let's go, 'Stardust Dragon'! Attack 'Black Rose Dragon' with everything you have!" As 'Stardust Dragon' opened its mouth and charged a white energy blast, he announced the attack name, "Roar! Cosmic Flare!"
The attack was unleashed, colliding with 'Black Rose Dragon' and destroying it in a massive explosion, resulting in Carlie bracing herself from the attack's backlash as her LP took another large hit (LP: 2600 → 1700).
"Next, I'll activate a Quick-Play Spell from my hand!" continued Matt, taking and holding another card ('Greed Grado') out, "'Greed Grado'! If I destroy a face-up Synchro Monster controlled by my opponent this turn…" He then started drawing two more cards (one at a time), "…either by battle or by a card effect: I must draw 2 cards!"
Both cards were shown to be 'Stardust Halo'(!) (Trap Card) and 'Doppelwarrior' (Effect Monster Card). Carlie was initially stunned by the turnaround made by her opponent, but, suddenly, became overwhelmed by pain in her head, causing a pair of visions to ensue.
VISION
The first vision was of her defeating five Blue Cosmos students at the same time. Without wasting a second after drawing her card, Vision Carlie removed the Monster Card ('Witch of the Black Rose') from the Monster Zone on her Duel Disk.
"I Tribute 'Witch of the Black Rose'," As the voice of Vision Carlie spoke, she placed her drawn card ('Rose Tentacles') onto an empty Monster Zone, "and Tribute Summon 'Rose Tentacles' in Attack Position!"
'Witch of the Black Rose' faded away in a blue streak, and appearing onto the field was a huge, living rose monster with thorn roots for tentacles (Level: 6/ATK: 2200/DEF: 1200).
"Continuous Trap, open!" announced Vision Carlie, as her face-down card flipped up and revealed itself to be… "'Ivy Shackles'! All face-up monsters my opponent controls become Plant monsters during my turns only."
"N-No way!" panicked Vision Student 3.
"Are you kidding me?!" added Vision Student 1.
"Battle!" declared Vision Carlie, holding her right hand (as her Mark of the Dragon on her forearm glowed dark purple) out, "Sick 'em, 'Rose Tentacles'… Thorn Whip!"
In five separate stills, 'Rose Tentacles' attacked the five Blue Cosmos students individually, saving the 'best' part for the final one as a form of revenge for insulting her so badly.
(new scene…)
Suddenly, it was the year 2007, and Matt and Carlie were dueling each other for the first time in the Intercontinental Championship in San Francisco, and he just got attacked several times by 'Rose Tentacles' and claimed that Vision Carlie's remaining emotion is her enjoying inflicting pain and destruction on others. Eventually, shortly after Synchro Summoning 'Stardust Dragon' and Vision Carlie claimed she hated her birthmark, Vision Matt started talking to her.
"You never enjoyed your powers," commented Vision Matt, "Nor did you take pleasure in people's pain."
"Yes…" The voice of Vision Carlie confirmed, while continuing to clutch at her right forearm as she felt the birthmark under her glove glowing, "This birthmark is a wretched mark engraved into the monsters who have transcended past people," She had an expression on her face that indicated she hated herself more every second, "That is why I hate myself," Faded clips of herself as a young girl causing destruction due to her unstable psychic powers played in the background as her explanation continued, "I almost felt I had to live with my uncontrollable affinity for destruction," The clips soon stopped playing, "But, the more and more I invited destruction, the more they changed into impulses for destruction. I gave up on being myself. I created another 'self'."
"Another self?" repeated Vision Matt.
"When I'm in the mask, I'm not me. I'm not indifferent to enjoying destruction or laughing at pain," replied Vision Carlie, before looking at the palms of her hands, "At least, that's what I was told. I was told I didn't need the mask and that I'm fine just how I am," She looked up, "I was saved by those words. I only need to live. No longer think. Just feel."
"You need to think on your own!" insisted Vision Matt, "Don't run away from it, Carlie!"
"I have to. I can't do anything," snapped Vision Carlie stubbornly.
"Yes, you can! The person who rejects that pleasure is still inside you!" The voice of Vision Matt reassured, as he continued to encourage his opponent, "As long as you feel that way, you can start over! You can still save yourself!"
END VISION
The visions ended, and Carlie was still clutching the sides of her head after seeing a memory she seemingly never had.
"What… what did I just see?" winced Carlie. Shaking her head and freeing it from what she perceived as false memories, she held her right hand out, "Trap Card, open!"
The first Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself to be…
"'Black Rose Sowing'!" The voice of Carlie declared, before going over the card's effect, "I must target 1 Attack Position opponent's monster; I must Special Summon 1 'Black Rose Dragon' from my GY, and…" She held up a card ('Black Rose Dragon'), "…if I do, change the targeted monster to Defense Position."
Matt gritted his teeth, watching as 'Black Rose Dragon' reappeared on the field in a swarm of purple rose petals (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800). Carlie then nodded, allowing a swarm of thorn vines to erupt from the ground where 'Stardust Dragon' was above, grapple with the Signer Dragon, pull it down, and force it into Defense Position (ATK: 2500 → DEF: 2000).
"This is really bad," said Shinji direly, "There's a big reason Carlie switched Matt's 'Stardust' into Defense Position."
"Yup… It's for 'Black Rose Dragon's' second effect," agreed Zack, "Once Carlie's turn comes up and she uses 'White Rose Cloister's' second effect again, she will immediately use Rose Restriction to banish a Plant monster from her GY…" He looked over to Carlie, who continued staring at her opponent with malice on her face, "…and force 'Stardust' into Attack Position while also reducing its ATK to 0."
"Carlie… This is absolutely nuts," muttered James R., before casting a quick glance at Sherry (and even she was deeply worried) before looking a little miffed, "Sherry…!"
"Carlie, please stop this!" begged Mr. Izayoi.
Back on the field…
"Can't you get it through your thickheaded skull already?" sneered Carlie, outright ignoring her Father and focusing entirely on Matt, "We're not friends, we're enemies! And any and all enemies of Blue Cosmos must be totally destroyed!"
"Say whatever you want, but I know what I'm talking about," countered Matt, "I will continue to fight and bring the real you back out, no matter what happens to me!" He took two cards from his hand and slotted them into his Duel Disk, "I Set two cards and end my turn!"
Two face-down cards materialized on the field. Meanwhile, as Matt's turn ended, a very good distance away from the duel and the crowd, Azrael and the Biological CPU trio finally arrived to see everything.
"Great! We've made it just in time to watch the good stuff!" rejoiced Orga.
"Quick, let's reveal our presence to those fools!" requested Clotho.
"Not just yet," The voice of Azrael declined, much to the red/orange-haired young man's disappointment. He looked intrigued by the duel and wanted to watch it for a little while longer before showing himself, "I'd like to see the duel fully until there's an outcome, then we'll show ourselves to the Signers and their allies to rub our victory in their faces."
The three Bio-CPU boys each grinned with eagerness and agreed to watch the duel, since they wanted to see Carlie wipe the floor with Matt. Back on the field, the face-up 'White Rose Cloister' Spell Card activated once more.
"I activate the second effect of 'White Rose Cloister'!" proclaimed Carlie, drawing a card, "This time, it will be a Spell Card."
Upon turning the card ('Angel Baton') and revealing a glimpse of it, she added it into her hand.
Turn Five: Carlie Izayoi (LP: 1700)
Deck: 44
Current Hand (2): "Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis" and "Angel Baton"
"Well, hmhmhm, lucky me," Carlie joked with a short, humorless chuckle, before holding her right hand out, "I was right in my guess, so, again, all Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters I control gain 1000 ATK for this turn!"
'Black Rose Dragon' gained strength once more (ATK: 2400 → 3400).
"Then I'll activate my drawn 'Angel Baton'!" continued Carlie, drawing two cards, "I must draw 2 cards," She then sent one card ('Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis') to the GY, "then discard 1 card."
With both 'Thorn of Malice' (Spell Card) and 'Half Counter' (Trap Card) added into her hand, the time to win the duel came.
"Brace yourself for my attack of hatred," hissed Carlie, before holding up a card ('Rose Witch') taken from her GY, "I activate 'Black Rose Dragon's' second effect!" While speaking, the spirit of 'Rose Witch' appeared on the field, just in time to be chomped on by 'Black Rose Dragon' as everyone in the stands watched with clear concern, "Once per turn: I can banish 1 Plant monster from my GY, then target 1 Defense Position monster my opponent controls; I must change that target to face-up Attack Position, and if I do, its ATK becomes 0 until the end of this turn," With her eyes still narrowed and full of hate, she gave the command to her ace monster, "Rose Restriction!"
'Black Rose Dragon' summoned another surge of thorn vines from its body and sent them to constrict the roaring 'Stardust Dragon', switching it into Attack Position and weakening it completely (DEF: 2000 → ATK: 0).
"'Stardust Dragon'…!" murmured Matt, clearly worried for his partner.
"This is the end!" announced Carlie, seemingly entering her Battle Phase, "'Black Rose Dragon', atta-" She suddenly stopped, much to the audience's confusion—which then became sheer worry when they saw the small, cold smile on her face along with her eyes closed, "Actually, I don't even need to outright attack to finish you off."
Matt silently wondered what Carlie meant by that, and Carlie, getting the feeling her enemy was not sure what she meant by that, opened her eyes and decided to make her intentions very clear.
"I have a card capable of bringing you down without the need for 'Black Rose Dragon' to attack your weakened 'Stardust Dragon'," explained Carlie, before pressing a button on her Duel Disk, "Trap Card, open!" From there, her remaining Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "'Rose Curse'!" She held up her card ('Rose Curse') while explaining what it did before getting rid of it, "If the ATK of a monster my opponent controls changes: I must inflict damage to my opponent equal to the difference between that monster's previous ATK and current ATK!"
"Aaaahhh!" screamed Asagi, horrorstruck.
"'Stardust Dragon' had an ATK of 3300, and it got reduced to 0 by 'Black Rose Dragon's' Rose Restriction!" put in Juri.
"Matt will take exactly 3300 damage as a result, and he only has 2600 LP left!" realized Mayura, "The end result of that being his defeat!"
"Unless he has a way to stop 'Rose Curse', he likely won't even survive the onslaught!" finished Shinji.
"Carlie!" yelled Sherry.
Back on the field, the face-up 'Rose Curse' Trap Card created a parade of rose petals all across the parking lot as everyone else, with an exception to Azrael, Orga, Clotho, and Shani, watched in horror, but Carlie, glowing with a purple aura from her corrupted Mark of the Dragon, was unfazed by what she was about to do—which was to win the duel and destroy her enemies.
"It's all over for you," uttered Carlie stoically, about to use her psychic powers and savor her victory. She then raised her voice into another fierce shout, "Go to Hell, Matt!"
The storm then intensified, and much of the crowd cried out from the devastating force of Carlie's attack. In particular, Sherry was immediately reminded of how strong Carlie's powers were when she (Carlie) traumatized her (Sherry) when they were children living at the orphanage, but that was nothing compared to the immense dueling power that Carlie was currently displaying. Despite not being as powerful of a duelist as Matt Fudo or Michael Atlas were, Carlie Izayoi was far more ruthless in her dueling than either of them—especially when she was angry or worse.
"Is this really the true extent of her power?" thought Sherry, covering herself with her (Sherry) arms while managing to get a look at the stoic-looking, nearly insane Carlie on the field, "Is she really that dangerous? Would I even stand a chance against her if she dueled me with this much power?"
She (Sherry) was, of course, referring to and envisioning herself dueling in Matt's place, facing Carlie while she (Carlie) was in this sort of state. A distressed-looking Ben, not able to take it, finally let out an emotional scream over what his beloved sister was doing.
"CARLIE, PLEASE STOP!" begged Ben.
Unfortunately, Carlie either didn't hear him or didn't intend to stop until all of her enemies were eliminated for good. Nearby, the sight of his ultimate weapon about to win brought a very evil smile onto Azrael's face.
"My plan to defeat Matt Fudo is absolutely perfect," The evil blonde-haired man pointed out, "Do you see, boys? Our weapon has absolutely crushed him without fuss."
Orga, Clotho, and Shani each watched, nonplussed yet intrigued that Carlie Izayoi managed to seemingly defeat the leader of the Signers, which Clotho acknowledged to himself he failed to do. Back on the field, just when it looked like it was all over for him, Matt seemed to smile weakly as he said a few simple words.
"I…will protect you from yourself, Carlie," Matt offered, which caused Carlie to ease up. His first Set card then flipped up and revealed itself, "Counter Trap, 'Shining Silver Force', activate!" The face-up 'Shining Silver Force' Trap Card then unleashed a counter wind blast across the field, "When my opponent activates a Trap Card that would inflict damage to me: I must negate the activation, and if I do, destroy it, then destroy all face-up Spells/Traps my opponent controls!"
The counter blast of wind struck Carlie's field, destroying all of her Spell and Trap Cards while also preventing Matt's defeat. Plus, with the 'White Rose Cloister' Spell Card destroyed, the field returned to being just Orb's parking lot, with Carlie being stunned that she lost nearly all of her cards—and it caused her to suffer yet another headache and a pair of visions.
VISION
Vision Carlie was shown walking down the hallway of Blue Cosmos one day, as she started to turn the corner, she overheard some students talk about her behind her back.
"God! Why the hell did the headmaster agree to let her stay?" complained Blue Cosmos Male Student 2, leaning against the wall, "What's so special about that witch, anyway?"
"That stupid bitch, yes, bitch, not witch, is just too much!" Blue Cosmos Female Student agreed snootily.
"Bitch… Yeah, that's what she is," Blue Cosmos Male Student 2 laughed scornfully, folding his arms thoughtfully, "How a bitchy witch like her got the attention of the headmaster, I'll never understand."
"There are rumors going around that he adopted her from the western coast a long time ago," pondered Blue Cosmos Male Student 1, "But I find that a little skeptical mostly because we never even heard of her until today."
Vision Carlie became upset when she heard the insults thrown at her, but she resisted the urge of running away from her problems—well, at least until the female student threw in one final, particularly hurtful comment…
"I bet she's only here because the headmaster felt sorry for her due to her parents leaving her at an orphanage," The voice of Blue Cosmos Female Student said, before she was shown mocking Vision Carlie's tragic past to her two friends, "Ooh, look at me, I'm a monster with parents who don't love me! My powers trigger when I'm in a bad mood, stay away from me because I'm bipolar!"
The two male students laughed at what they perceived as a humorous impression of the so-called 'Black Rose Witch'. Unable to take it any longer, Vision Carlie turned and ran off down the hallway, wanting to get away from the ridicule she was getting from the other students of Blue Cosmos.
"Huh? Did you two hear that?" wondered Blue Cosmos Male Student 2.
The other two students looked around and simply shrugged as though they misheard something.
(elsewhere…)
A little later in her room, Vision Carlie was alone and laying down on her bed, brooding, as she eventually looked at her gloved right forearm, growing angry with having a birthmark of a weird-shaped foot there in addition to psychic powers.
"Why did I have to get this wretched birthmark and unstable powers?" Vision Carlie asked herself, reaching over and clutching her right forearm with her left hand as her eyes welled with tears before shutting them, "I hate this birthmark… I hate my powers! I hate them all!"
But before she could begin crying, a knock on the door ensued. Drying her eyes, Vision Carlie glumly sat up on the bed with her knees tucked near her chest.
"Come in," sighed Vision Carlie.
The door opened, and Vision Azrael walked into the room.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you," he pressed, before seeing how sad his 'daughter' looked, "Oh my, you look down. Is something the matter?"
"Oh… Don't worry, I'm okay," lied Vision Carlie, before shaking her head two seconds later, "No, forget I said that."
"Huh?" quizzed Vision Azrael.
"For as long as I could remember, I've been isolated by people and ridiculed by them for seemingly being a witch," Vision Carlie went on, before letting go of her right forearm and removing her glove to show her 'Father' the birthmark, "Honestly, I wasn't always like this; soon after I turned five, I received this thing while I slept peacefully in bed, and my life hasn't been the same since."
"Is that so?" said Vision Azrael, sitting down on the bed beside Vision Carlie, "Is that the reason you ended up at the orphanage?"
"That and so much more," sulked Vision Carlie, as she put her glove back on, "I just want people to like me as a person and not treat me as though I'm a witch or a monster. Is that too much to ask?"
Vision Azrael smiled to himself, knowing that Vision Carlie just gave him the spark he needed to 'help' her become liked by the students and teachers of Blue Cosmos. Eventually, the headmaster of the Blue Cosmos school spoke up.
"Actually, Carlie, there might be a way," mused Vision Azrael, which caused Vision Carlie to look over, "There might be a way for you to earn that respect."
"There is? Then tell me, please" pleaded Vision Carlie, taking hold of Vision Azrael's hands and staring into his eyes, "I'll do anything! I'll do anything to become loved by everyone else here! Please, I beg you! Tell me what I have to do!"
(new scene…)
Vision Matt had successfully defeated Vision Carlie, and he started to run over and see her.
"Are you okay?" Vision Matt asked immediately, just before stopping and gasping, "What?"
Vision Carlie was shown to be crying her eyes out. Between the painful bullying she endured at the orphanage, being separated from her parents and brother at a young age, and nearly hurting Vision Matt severely in the duel due to her completely losing it… It had all just become too much for her to bear.
"Help me…" wept Vision Carlie, looking up towards her victorious opponent.
Vision Matt slowly bent down to Vision Carlie. The sight of her being in tears really made his heart ache.
"I don't have to be your enemy, Carlie," he said calmly, "I could be your friend. Wouldn't that be better than hurting people?"
The poor, broken, brown-haired girl only wrapped her arms around Vision Matt as she continued to cry even as the audience booed and jeered at her.
END VISION
The pair of visions ended, and the pain in Carlie's head started to ease up slightly even as she continued clutched at the temples.
"That was another memory I never saw before," grimaced Carlie, unknowingly feeling her mind beginning to decline further, "Am I going insane or something?" She then stared at her birthmark in anger, "It's you… You're trying to confuse me in some way!"
Nearby with Azrael and his three top students, he (Azrael) was shown frowning over Matt's resilience because he (again Azrael) was absolutely certain Carlie would have won had Matt not activated the 'Shining Silver Force' Trap Card in response to her 'Rose Curse' Trap Card.
"Cheer up, Headmaster Azrael," encouraged Orga, "Even though she lost all of her Spells and Traps, the witch still technically has the overwhelming advantage," He held up his right fist and stared at it, "She can still win the duel in your name."
"R-Right," acknowledged Azrael, as he resumed smiling thinly, "And, if I'm not mistaken, she might still have yet to show off the true power of the deadly 'Black Rose Witch' persona," He narrowed his eyes into a cruel sneer, "And I want to see it all when the Signers die by her hands."
Over on the field, Matt stared on in defiance as a faded image of an insanely-smiling Carlie (from shoulders up) appeared near the middle of the sky as a weakened 'Stardust Dragon' and a powered up 'Black Rose Dragon' faced each other. Was Matt capable of defeating his friend? Was he capable of freeing Carlie from the hold Muruta Azrael and Blue Cosmos had over her? That, I cannot say, since the battle was far from over.