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, Akatsuki (c) Sunrise
Character of Lisa Drake (c) DaveMan1000
Character of David Xadashi (c) DaveMan1000
Jak and Daxter characters, Spargus, Tough Puppy, Sand Shark, Dune Hopper, Gila Stomper, Slam Dozer, Heat Seeker, Dust Demon, Desert Screamer (c) Naughty Dog
Crash Bandicoot characters, Wumpa (c) Activision
Ratchet & Clank characters, Veldin, Sargasso, Shatterbomb (c) Insomniac
Sly Cooper characters (c) Sucker Punch
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.
"(皆さん、よろしく!) Minasan, yoroshiku! (Salutations, everyone!)" greeted David in Japanese.
"It's that time again," put in Lisa, "Another segment for 'This week's noteworthy cards'! This one's gonna be a real treat," She and David then turned to face and aimed their arms at the nearby blackboard with the five cards (still showing their backing) lined up, "And these are the cards!"
The five face-down cards on the blackboard all automatically turned over and revealed themselves to be:
-'Roxrose Dragon' (Effect Monster Card)
-'Baronne de Fleur' (Synchro Monster Card)
-'Ruddy Rose Dragon' (Synchro Monster Card)
-'Necro Synchron' (Effect Monster Card)
-'Basal Rose Shoot' (Spell Card)
"(ありえない!) Arienai! (It can't be!)" cried David, speaking in Japanese and also in chibi form while staring at the middle card ('Ruddy Rose Dragon'), "Izayoi-san has a new ace monster!"
"Oh man, what a monster it is!" added Lisa, who was also in chibi form, "If this card is Synchro Summoned: You can banish all cards from the GYs, then if this card was Synchro Summoned using 'Black Rose Dragon' or a Plant Synchro Monster as material, you can destroy all other cards on the field."
"It can even bring 'Black Rose' back from the GY or Extra Deck!" Chibi David agreed thoughtfully, before he and Lisa, back to normal, turned to face the audience, "So, what do you think? Those are 'some' cards, right?"
"You bet they are," acknowledged Lisa, before she and David started waving goodbye to the audience, "Welp, we're off now. See you all soon for the next segment!"
The audience cheered and clapped in response.
Title: Coming Up Roses
Opening up in the old playground—but currently within the beautiful garden of the 'White Rose Cloister' Spell Card (which had just been activated), the duel between Carlie (LP: 4000) and Sherry (LP: 4000) raged on. The two players, plus greatest rivals, had the following cards on their fields:
-Carlie: Controlled only 'White Rose Cloister' (Spell Card), having just activated it.
-Sherry: Controlled 'Noble Knight's Spearholder' (Level: 2/ATK: 1500/DEF: 400) equipped with 'Fleuret de Fleur' (Equip Spell), 'Centaur Mina' (Level: 6/ATK: 2200/DEF: 1600), who is currently a Tuner monster and treated as 'Fleur Synchron', and a Set card.
"I activate the first effect of 'White Rose Cloister'!" declared Carlie, as the audience watched as white rose petals glowing yellow rained around the place, "If I control no monsters: I can Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster or 1 Plant monster from my hand," She took a card ('Roxrose Dragon') from her hand and held it out, "I Special Summon 'Roxrose Dragon'!"
Appearing on the field was a black dragon with two wings, pink neck, a pink rose bud on its back, and standing on four legs (Level: 3/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200). Sherry was surprised to see this monster as she never saw it before. She wasn't the only one…
"Dang, Carlie's showing off a monster we've never seen before," blurted Shinji.
"'Roxrose Dragon's' first effect!" explained Carlie, as a card ejected from the middle of her Deck, "If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: I…" She took hold of the card ('Blue Rose Dragon') and held it up to show her opponent before adding it into her hand, "…can add 1 card that specifically lists 'Black Rose Dragon' in its text, from my Deck to my hand, except 'Roxrose Dragon'. Then, I'll activate the second effect of 'Rose Bell of Revelation'!" The mentioned card ejected from her GY before fading away into oblivion, "I can banish this card from my GY; I must Special Summon…" The brown-haired young woman took and held one more card ('Tytannial, Princess of Camellias') out, "…1 Plant monster with 2400 or more ATK from my hand! Appear now, 'Tytannial, Princess of Camellias'!"
Appearing onto the field was the familiar human woman wearing a camellia bud-like crown and wearing a pink camellia dress with green plant-like parts for the shoulders, and she stood in a bed of camellias (Level: 8/ATK: 2800/DEF: 2600). Despite controlling a very powerful monster, Carlie still needed more to win.
"I Summon 'Blue Rose Dragon'!" continued Carlie, placing a card ('Blue Rose Dragon') onto her Duel Disk.
Appearing on the field was the 'Rose Dragon' monster with (what else?) blue rose parts (Level: 4/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200). With the correct monsters now on her field, Carlie knew the perfect Synchro Monster to bring out.
"My Level 3 'Roxrose Dragon' tunes Level 4 'Blue Rose Dragon'!" boomed Carlie.
Obeying the command, 'Roxrose Dragon' turned itself into three Synchro Rings, which 'Blue Rose Dragon' flew into before turning into four orbs of light and a Summon Chant was heard.
"Ruler of plant-life, protect the garden kingdom against the invaders of injustice!" chanted Carlie, as the symbols 4 + 3 = 7 were shown briefly just before the four orbs of light within the trio of Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon! Bloom, 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'!"
Appearing on the field, as the Synchro Summon sequence ended, was the familiar-looking beautiful human woman with long dark green grass-like hair and wearing a royal outfit that's known only to the Plant-Type family (Level: 7/ATK: 1600/DEF: 2400).
"It gains 400 ATK for each Plant monster I control, except this card," recalled Carlie, going over her monster's first effect, "With 'Tytannial' on my field, 'Periallis' has 2000 ATK!"
'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' grew stronger (ATK: 1600 → 2000). Sherry silently remembered that monster because Carlie used her back when they teamed up to fight Gwen (possessed), and knew she was going to be used to bring another Plant monster with a high Level. Sure enough, Carlie made another move…
"I activate the second effect of 'Periallis'!" announced Carlie, just as 'Garden Rose Maiden' reappeared on the field in a defensive stance (Level: 5/ATK: 1600/DEF: 2400), "During my Main Phase: I can Special Summon 1 Level 5 or higher Plant monster from my hand or GY in Defense Position, except 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'."
"'Garden Rose Maiden'," complained Sherry.
"Yes," confirmed Carlie, just as 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' grew stronger once more (ATK: 2000 → 2400), "The appearance of another Plant monster makes 'Periallis' stronger still!" A card ('Black Garden') was then ejected from her GY, through the first effect of 'Garden Rose Maiden', "Then, the first effect of 'Garden Maiden Rose' activates! if this card…" She added the card into her hand, "…is Special Summoned: I can add 1 "Black Garden" from my Deck or GY to my hand!"
"Well, that's a nice trick," said Sherry sarcastically, "Now let me show you one of my own!"
"What?!" Carlie responded back.
"I activate the second effect of 'Réglage de Fleur'!" As she spoke, Sherry made a card ('Réglage de Fleur') eject from her GY and fade away into oblivion, "I can banish this card from my GY; immediately after this effect resolves," She clenched her right hand into a fist and swung it about, "I must Synchro Summon 1 WIND Warrior Synchro Monster, using monsters I control, including 'Fleur Synchron'!"
"Here it comes," thought Carlie, worried.
From there, 'Centaur Mina' started charging forward—not into battle, but for something else.
"Level 6 'Centaur Mina' tunes Level 2 'Noble Knight's Spearholder'!" The voice of Sherry ordered.
On cue, 'Centaur Mina', being treated as 'Fleur Synchron', turned into six Synchro Rings, which hovered over, lowered, and surrounded 'Noble Knight's Spearholder' and turned her into two orbs of light.
"Body born from the speed of light, the time for revolution has come! Bring victory into my grasp!" chanted Sherry, as the symbols 2 + 6 = 8 were shown briefly just before the two orbs of light within the six Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon! Sparkle, 'Chevalier de Fleur'!"
Appearing onto the field from a flurry of flower petals, as the Synchro Summon sequence ended, was the familiar female Warrior monster with a large red cape and a sword sheathed by her hip, and a pink, flower-like helmet on her head (Level: 8/ATK: 2700/DEF: 2300).
"Heck yeah! Sherry brought out her ace monster, 'Chevalier de Fleur'!" cheered Shinji.
"But she's weaker than Mistress Carlie's 'Tytannial, Princess of Camellias'," reminded Elsworth.
"Hey, man, don't count Sherry out just yet."
"The third effect of 'Centaur Mina' activates!" The voice of Sherry exclaimed, causing Elsworth and Shinji to look over as, on the field, she explained everything, "If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material for a WIND Warrior monster: I can destroy 1 face-up monster on the field."
"Oh no!" panicked Carlie.
'Chevalier de Fleur' drew her sword and struck 'Tytannial, Princess of Camellias', causing Carlie's monster to groan weakly before shattering into shards of glass.
"'Tytannial, Princess of Camellias' can negate card effects that target cards and destroy them by Tributing a Plant monster," remembered Sherry, while Carlie listened before gritting her (Carlie) teeth, "However, 'Centaur Mina's' effect doesn't target, meaning you couldn't stop me from destroying your monster."
"And the loss of a Plant monster…" added Carlie, growingly slightly frustrated, "…causes the ATK of 'Periallis' to drop by 400."
'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' grew weaker (ATK: 2400 → 2000).
"I also use this time to activate the third effect of 'Fleuret de Fleur'!" Sherry went on, aiming to keep piling on the pressure. She held up her card ('Fleuret de Fleur') taken from her GY, "If this card is sent from the Spell & Trap Zone to the GY: I can equip this card to 1 Synchro Monster I control," The blonde-haired young French woman slotted the card into a Spell & Trap Zone on her Duel Disk, "I equip this onto 'Chevalier de Fleur', giving her 700 more ATK!"
'Chevalier de Fleur' grew more lethal than she already was (ATK: 2700 → 3400). Over with the other members of Team 6D's…
"With her controlling a monster with 3400 ATK, Sherry now holds the advantage," frowned Michael.
"But it's still Izayoi-san's turn," insisted David, "She may have the opportunity to turn this to her advantage."
Luckily, back on the field, Carlie did have an opportunity…sorta.
"Resurrect, 'Revival Rose'!" she requested.
Reappearing on the field was 'Revival Rose' (Level: 4/ATK: 1300/DEF: 1300).
"Again?" scoffed Sherry.
"If a face-up Level 5 or higher Plant monster(s) I control is destroyed while this card is in the GY: I can Special Summon this card from the GY," said Carlie, just as 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' gained more strength (ATK: 2000 → 2400), "Also, 'Periallis' gains 400 more ATK from the presence of another Plant monster!" She then held up the top card of her Deck ('Black Rose Sowing'), "Now, I'll activate 'Glow-Up Bulb's' effect!" She placed the card in her GY, causing another card ('Glow-Up Bulb') to eject, "If this card is in my GY: I can send the top card of your Deck to the GY, and if I do, Special Summon this card."
Appearing onto the field was the large flower bulb monster with one eye (Level: 1/ATK: 100/DEF: 100). 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' then gained 400 more ATK (ATK: 2400 → 2800).
"Level 1 'Glow-Up Bulb' tunes Level 5 'Garden Rose Maiden'!" proclaimed Carlie.
'Glow-Up Bulb' turned into a single Synchro Ring, which 'Garden Rose Maiden' floated into before turning into six orbs of light as a Summon Chant echoed throughout.
"Hunter of splendid thorns hidden in the sacred forest, with your whip of punishment in hand, come forth now!" chanted Carlie, as the symbols 5 + 1 = 6 were shown briefly just before the five orbs of light within the single Synchro Ring turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon! Appear now, 'Splendid Rose'!"
Appearing onto the field, as the Synchro Summon sequence ended, was the blonde-haired human woman monster dressed in an outfit that resembled that of a rose, with the red rose petals near her feet, and her green outfit, which was meant to resemble the rose's stem, had one half a darker shade of green (Level: 6/ATK: 2200/DEF: 2000). 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' lost 400 more ATK with the loss of 'Glow-Up Bulb' (ATK: 2800 → 2400).
"Carlie, I know you're aiming to use 'Splendid Rose's' first effect to weaken 'Chevalier de Fleur'," scowled Sherry.
"You're right; I am," replied Carlie, before holding up a card ('Glow-Up Bulb') and allowing it to fade away into oblivion after a few seconds, "Once per turn: I can banish 1 Plant monster from my GY, then target 1 face-up monster my opponent controls; I must halve that target's ATK, until the end of this turn."
'Splendid Rose' summoned a pair of thorny vines, which were thrown at 'Chevalier de Fleur' and constricted her tightly as everyone else, including both Carlie and Sherry, watched.
"Since 'Glow-Up Bulb's' effect can only be used once per Duel, it's the perfect monster to banish," admitted Sherry, watching as 'Chevalier de Fleur's' ATK fell by half (ATK: 3400 → 1700), "Now my monster only has 1700 ATK!"
"But I still have lots more I want to show you," grinned Carlie, "That being 'Garden Rose Maiden's' second effect!" A card ('Garden Rose Maiden') ejected from the GY before fading away into oblivion three seconds later, which caused one more card ('Black Rose Dragon') to also eject from the GY, "I can banish this card from my GY, then target 1 'Rose Dragon' monster or 1 Dragon Synchro Monster in my GY; I must Special Summon it! Resurrect, 'Black Rose Dragon'!"
Reappearing on the field was 'Black Rose Dragon' (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800). Carlie knew that with 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms', 'Revival Rose', 'Splendid Rose', and 'Black Rose Dragon' at her command, she would successfully win the duel.
"Damn! Look at the powerful monsters Carlie controls!" admired Lisa.
"Indeed," agreed David.
Back on the field, Carlie's counterattack was finally beginning.
"Here I go, Sherry!" boomed Carlie, "First, my 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' will attack 'Chevalier de Fleur'!"
Thorn vines extended from 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms's' hands and rushed towards the weakened 'Chevalier de Fleur'.
"Comme l'enfer!" snarled Sherry in French, as a card ('White Steed of the Floral Knights') ejected from her GY, "I activate the second effect of 'White Steed of the Floral Knights'!" She took the card and held it up as she explained the effect, "When an opponent's monster declares an attack: I can banish this card from my GY, then target 1 card I control; I must negate the attack, and if I do, destroy that targeted card."
Just before the vines connected with 'Chevalier de Fleur', a barrier formed around and protected her from destruction. From there, the face-up 'Fleuret de Fleur' Spell Card behind 'Chevalier de Fleur' shattered into shards of glass and caused her to grow even weaker (ATK: 1700 → 1000).
"I can still attack with my other monsters!" Carlie pointed out, just as 'Splendid Rose' made one of her vines into a whip and cracked it, "'Splendid Rose', attack 'Chevalier de Fleur'!"
"I activate a Continuous Trap, 'Pennant of Revolution'!" cut in Sherry, as her Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "If another card(s) I control is destroyed by battle or card effect: I can add 1 'Liberty at Last!' from my Deck or GY to my hand."
"I remember that card," thought Carlie, as faded clips of Sherry using the 'Pennant of Revolution' Trap Card against Gwen (possessed) were superimposed over her as she spoke mentally, "It helped us defeat and save Gwen from the Dark Signers."
"My goal is to activate the second effect of my card!" continued Sherry, just as the whip-like vine from 'Splendid Rose' collided with another barrier forming around 'Chevalier de Fleur' and Carlie knew what would happen next as she listened to the rest of the explanation, "At the start of the Damage Step, if a Synchro Monster battles a monster: I can destroy my opponent's battling monster."
With a swift movement, 'Chevalier de Fleur' hurled her sword and impaled 'Splendid Rose' through her chest, destroying her and eliminating the greatest threat to Sherry. This also caused the ATK of 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' to drop again (ATK: 2400 → 2000).
"Well, Sherry, that was pretty good of you to do," complimented Carlie, before looking determined, "However… All it did was help me further!"
"What?! I helped you?" cried Sherry.
"Yes, by allowing me to take back 'Roxrose Dragon' via its second effect," explained Carlie, before holding up, in-between the index and middle fingers of her right hand, a card ('Roxrose Dragon') taken from her GY, "While this card is in my GY, if a face-up 'Rose Dragon' monster(s) or Plant Synchro Monster(s) I control is destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect: I can add this card to my hand," She added the card into her hand and resumed her Battle Phase, "I still have two more attacks… 'Black Rose Dragon'!" As she announced her monster's attack name, 'Black Rose Dragon' opened its mouth and charged an attack, "Black Rose Flare!"
The attack was unleashed, striking and destroying 'Chevalier de Fleur' in a massive explosion. Sherry managed to stay on her feet from the explosion's backlash as she took the first battle damage of the whole duel (LP: 4000 → 2600).
"Since a card I control was destroyed by battle or card effect," reminded Sherry, holding up a card ('Liberty at Last!), "I get to add a copy of 'Liberty at Last!' from my Deck into my hand!"
"You're not off the hook, just yet!" thundered Carlie, as 'Revival Rose' fired off spores at Sherry, "'Revival Rose', attack Sherry directly!"
Sherry coughed over being hit by the spores, reducing her LP even further (LP: 2600 → 1300). Over with the small crowd…
"Way to go, Carlie!" cheered James R., "One more powerful attack, and you'll be the winner!"
"Most impressive," admired Elsworth, "Mistress Carlie has really continued to grow as a duelist."
"She sure has," acknowledged Shinji, as he looked at the smiling Carlie Izayoi, "If she keeps up the momentum, she might have a real shot at defeating Sherry."
Back on the field…
"I activate 'Dark Rose Fairy's' second effect!" declared Carlie, before discarding her retrieved 'Roxrose Dragon' Tuner Monster Card and causing another card ('Dark Rose Fairy') to eject from the GY, "If this card is in my GY: I can send 1 card from…" She placed the card on top of her Deck, "…my hand or field to the GY; I must place this card on the top or bottom of my Deck," Finally, a face-down card materialized on the field near her feet, with two fingers from her right hand positioned on a Spell & Trap Zone on her Duel Disk, "I Set one card and finish my turn."
"I have a theory on that," thought Sherry, "But I swear I'll win before it happens."
"Sherry!" called Carlie, "We've reached the boiling point of our battle! If it continues down this path, it will end with my victory."
"Yes, you have grown stronger than ever before," admitted Sherry, "However, it will not be you who will win—it will be me!" She drew a card, "It's my turn! Draw!"
Turn Four: Sherry LeBlanc (LP: 1300)
Deck: 50
Current Hand (3): "Necro Fleur", "Liberty at Last!", and "Angel Baton"
On cue, the 'Angel Baton' Spell Card flipped face-up and revealed itself.
"Spell Card, 'Angel Baton'!" The voice of Sherry began, drawing two cards (one at a time), "I must draw 2 cards, then discard 1 card," She then took a card from her hand and showed it to her opponent, "I discard 'Liberty at Last!'!"
"She only has three cards in her hand," thought Carlie, "What will Sherry do using them?"
"Then, I'll activate the Spell Card, 'Charité de Fleur'(!)!" Sherry went on, holding another card ('Charité de Fleur') out, "If I control no monsters: I must target 1 Level 8 or lower 'Fleur' monster in my GY; I must banish it, and if I do, draw 3 cards," From there, a card ('Sauge de Fleur') ejected from her GY before fading away into oblivion, "I banish my Level 8 'Sauge de Fleur'…" She then drew three more cards, "…to draw three cards!"
Her refreshed hand now contained 'Necro Fleur', 'Ecole de Zone', 'Synchro Dilemma', 'Barrière de Fleur'(!), and 'Necro Synchron'.
"Magnifique!" rejoiced Sherry in French, "Carlie, I've drawn exactly what I need to defeat you," To prove it, she took a card ('Ecole de Zone') from her hand and held it out, "Remember this card?"
Carlie gasped, just as a quick flashback ensued.
FLASHBACK
During the duel between Flashback Carlie and Flashback Sherry against Flashback Gwen (possessed)…
"Field Spell, 'Ecole de Zone', activate!" announced Flashback Sherry, taking her drawn card placing it into her Duel Disk (Field Zone)
The street turned into a castle garden of sorts, with everyone else looking around at their new surroundings for a few seconds.
"If the turn player Summons exactly 1 monster: I must destroy it, and if I do, the controller of that monster Special Summons 1 'Mask Token' to their field, which cannot attack directly, with ATK/DEF equal to what the destroyed monster had on the field," explained Flashback Sherry.
Outside the flame ring…
"That's actually a good move on Sherry's part," commented Flashback Shinji.
"Is that right?" interrupted Flashback Gwen (possessed), smiling darkly, "The strategy you're attempting will not work against the likes of me."
"What?" gasped Flashback Sherry.
"I activate the second effect of 'Necroworld Banshee'!" As she announced that, Flashback Gwen (possessed) made a card ('Necroworld Banshee') eject from her GY before vanishing into oblivion, "(Quick Effect): I can banish this card from my field or GY; I must activate 1 'Zombie World' directly from my hand or Deck."
Flashback Sherry cried out in a mixture of surprise and anger, watching as her face-up 'Ecole de Zone' Spell Card shattered into shards of glass.
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended.
"It's 'Ecole de Zone'," reminded Carlie, "You tried using it against Gwen, but she instantly countered and destroyed it."
"I know," confirmed Sherry, "But this time, you alone will experience its power without fail!" She placed the card ('Ecole de Zone') near her Field Zone—which opened up, "I activate the Field Spell, 'Ecole de Zone'!"
The card was inserted and the Field Zone closed up, causing the face-up 'White Rose Cloister' Spell Card to shatter into shards of glass. From there, a mist covered the whole garden before becoming outright fog.
"What the hell is-?" grimaced Michael.
"Is this Sherry's doing?" added Matt.
"Where's she taking us?" finished Zack.
On the field, Carlie looked around at her surroundings wondering what was going on. The fog soon died down and revealed another rose garden, while she stood on the water of a pond without sinking. There were stone pillars scattered and shattered throughout, including some floating in midair. There were also stairs both upside down, right-side up, and a peculiar eye in the sky. Nearby, Carlie found her friends were standing in the sidelines, all fine, while Shinji and Elsworth stood on the other end, both also okay.
"Where are we?" peeped Carlie.
"Welcome to my field," The voice of Sherry called out, causing Carlie to look nearby. There, she stood on the right-side up stairs, and she was smiling with triumph, "This is where you and I will finish our duel, Carlie!"
"Sherry…" whispered Carlie, before looking at her surroundings again.
"If the turn player Summons exactly 1 monster: I must destroy it, and if I do, the controller of that monster Special Summons 1 'Mask Token' to their field, which cannot attack directly, with ATK/DEF equal to what the destroyed monster had on the field," revealed Sherry, revealing the first effect of her Field Spell. She then took another card out, held it out, and placed it onto her Duel Disk, "To show you, I'll Summon 'Flower of Death - Necro Fleur' in Attack Position!"
Appearing onto the field was what appeared to be a dying plant-like monster (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0).
"This activates the power of 'Ecole de Zone', destroying my monster!" recalled Sherry, before 'Necro Fleur' shattered into shards of glass. She then held her left hand (equipped with the Duel Disk) out, "This means I get to Special Summon a 'Mask Token'!"
Appearing on the field in the place of 'Necro Fleur', was a blue Monster Token of sorts (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0).
"Next, since a card of mine was destroyed, I'll use the first effect of 'Pennant of Revolution' to add 'Liberty at Last!' back into my hand," said Sherry, taking and adding a card from her GY into her hand, "However… I use this moment to activate my destroyed 'Necro Fleur's' monster effect!" As the effect was being explained, the 'Necro Fleur' Effect Monster Card was shown, "If this card is destroyed by card effect and sent to the GY: I can Special Summon 1 'Sorciere de Fleur' from my Deck," She held up a new card ('Sorciere de Fleur') taken from her Deck, "Come forth, 'Sorciere de Fleur'!"
Appearing onto the field was a familiar human woman wearing a peach-colored dress with a rose-like headdress and a rose-based scepter (Level: 8/ATK: 2900/DEF: 0).
"Another monster you've used against Gwen!" exclaimed Carlie.
"If this card is Normal or Special Summoned: I must target 1 monster in my opponent's GY; I must Special Summon it to my field, but it cannot attack my opponent directly, and is destroyed during the End Phase of this turn," explained Sherry, before holding her right hand out, "The monster I choose…" As she announced what she would take, Carlie looked down at the GY Zone of her Duel Disk with caution, "…is your 'Splendid Rose'!"
'Sorciere de Fleur' opened her mouth and fired a golden breath attack, striking Carlie's Duel Disk and causing a card ('Splendid Rose') to emerge and fly over to Sherry's field before becoming 'Splendid Rose' herself (Level: 6/ATK: 2200/DEF: 2000).
"I see! Sherry's gonna banish 'Necro Fleur' from her GY to use 'Splendid Rose's' first effect to weaken 'Black Rose Dragon'!" guessed Shinji.
He was partially right about that…
"I activate 'Splendid Rose's' first effect!" announced Sherry, just as a card ('Necro Fleur') ejected from her GY, "Once per turn: I can banish 1 Plant monster from…" She took the card and held it up until it vanished into oblivion, "…my GY, then target 1 face-up monster your opponent controls; halve that target's ATK, until the end of this turn," As she spoke on, 'Splendid Rose' raised her hands and sent out another series of vines out, "My target is your 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'!"
The vines constricted 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' and held her in place, reducing her ATK even further (ATK: 2000 → 1000).
"I won't go on the offensive just yet," warned Sherry, "I first want to show you the true power of my Deck—a power I have never used against anyone until our duel."
"Your Deck's true power?" repeated Carlie.
"Never used?" came from Shinji.
"Yes," From there, Sherry slotted a card into her Duel Disk, "Continuous Spell, 'Synchro Dilemma'! I can activate 1 of the following effects."
These were the effects written on the 'Synchro Dilemma' Spell Card:
-"I must send 1 'Synchron' monster from my hand or face-up field to the GY; I must Special Summon 1 monster from my hand."
-"I must target 1 other card I control; I must destroy it, and if I do, Special Summon 1 'Synchron' monster with a different original name from my hand or GY."
The 'Mask Token' shattered into shards of glass, meaning Sherry picked the second choice.
"Now, I'll Special Summon a 'Synchron' monster with a different original name," continued Sherry, before placing a card ('Necro Synchron') on a Monster Zone on her Duel Disk, "Appear now, 'Necro Synchron'!"
Appearing on the field was a small, plant-like Machine monster, a combined form of 'Fleur Synchron' and 'Necro Fleur' (Level: 2/ATK: 200/DEF: 400).
"This card's name becomes 'Fleur Synchron' while on the field or in the GY," said Sherry, going over her monster's first effect. She then pointed up then forth, "From there, I'll activate 'Necro Synchron's' second effect!" As the explanation proceeded, 'Necro Synchron' did something that caused 'Splendid Rose's' Level to increase from 6 to 8 (Level: 6 → 8), "I can target 1 other face-up monster I control; I must increase its Level by 2 until the end of this turn."
"Level 8!" gasped Carlie.
"This is it, victory is within my hands!" declared Sherry, holding her right hand up and shaking it, "It's all over for you, Carlie Izayoi!" She clenched her hand into a fist and gave the command, "My Level 2 'Necro Synchron' tunes Level 8 'Splendid Rose'!"
'Necro Synchron' turned itself into two Synchro Rings, which hovered over, lowered, and surrounded 'Splendid Rose' as she turned into eight orbs of light.
"Noble while lily! The time for revolution has come! Bring victory into my grasp!" chanted Sherry, as the symbols 8 + 2 = 10 were shown briefly just before the eight orbs of light within the pair of Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon!" Soon, the body of the new monster was shown; a female Paladin (a form of knight) wearing armor, wielding a sword (in a sheath on her left hip), carrying a large shield, and riding a splendid-looking horse also wearing armor, "Bloom in glory, 'Baronne de Fleur'!"
The horse leaned onto its back legs for a moment and neighed as 'Baronne de Fleur' drew her sword and raised it into the sky (Level: 10/ATK: 3000/DEF: 2400).
"'Baronne de Fleur'?!" cried Carlie, having never seen this monster before.
"Sherry never used this monster against me whenever we dueled for fun!" came from Shinji.
"It would seem Lady Sherry has been saving it for this specific moment!" concluded Elsworth.
Back on the field…
"The third effect of 'Necro Synchron' activates!" howled Sherry, just as a second 'Necro Fleur' appeared on the field (Level: 1/ATK: 0/DEF: 0), "If this card is sent to the GY as Synchro Material for a WIND monster: I can Special Summon 1 Level 1 Plant monster from my Deck!" She then looked all the more certain for her victory, "And then I'll activate 'Baronne de Fleur's' first effect!" As she announced the effect name, 'Baronne de Fleur' raised her sword and slashed 'Necro Fleur' clean in two, "Fleur de Serenade!"
Both halves of her own monster shattered into shards of glass.
"Huh?!" sweated Carlie.
"Once per turn: I can target 1 card on the field; I must destroy it," explained Sherry, before taking a card ('Sorciere de Fleur') from her Deck and placing it onto her Duel Disk, "Since I've destroyed 'Necro Fleur' by card effect, I'll Special Summon a second 'Sorciere de Fleur' from my Deck."
Appearing on the field was a second 'Sorciere de Fleur' (Level: 8/ATK: 2900/DEF: 0). Sherry LeBlanc now commanded three extremely powerful monsters in two 'Sorciere de Fleurs' and 'Baronne de Fleur', with Carlie only controlling weakened monsters.
"It's time to end things!" bellowed Sherry, entering her Battle Phase, "I use my first 'Sorciere de Fleur' to attack 'Revival Rose'!"
The first 'Sorciere de Fleur' raised her staff and fired a blast towards 'Revival Rose'.
"I won't allow myself to fall here!" interrupted Carlie, before holding her right hand out, "I activate a Trap, 'Enchanting Bouquet'!" Her Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "When an opponent's monster declares an attack: Until the end of this turn, that opponent's monster loses 200 ATK for each Plant monster in my GY!"
"Je ne te laisserai pas!" Sherry declared, viciously, in French, much to Carlie's shock, "I activate Baronne de Fleur's' second effect! Fleur de Nocturne!" As she explained the effect, 'Baronne de Fleur' charged into battle on her horse, raised her sword, and slashed Carlie's face-up 'Enchanting Bouquet' Trap Card, destroying it with seconds, "Once while face-up on the field, when a card or effect is activated (Quick Effect): I can negate the activation, and if I do, destroy that card!"
"Sherry-san destroyed Izayoi-san's card!" yelled David.
"Carlie's monsters are sitting ducks!" added Lisa.
The first 'Sorciere de Fleur's' attack struck and destroyed 'Revival Rose', while Carlie was barely able to stay on her feet from the attack's backlash as significant damage was dealt (LP: 4000 → 2400). The loss of a final Plant monster caused 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' to grow the weakest she's ever been (ATK: 1000 → 600).
"My second 'Sorciere de Fleur'…" whispered Sherry, before yelling out her attack, "Take down 'Black Rose Dragon'!"
The second 'Sorciere de Fleur' raised her staff and fired a blast, this time at 'Black Rose Dragon'. All Carlie was able to do about it was watch helplessly as her ace monster got struck and roared in agony before exploding from destruction. Again, she was barely able to stay on her feet from the backlash of the explosion (LP: 2400 → 1900).
"I activate the second effect of 'Roxrose Dragon'!" recovered Carlie, before holding up a card ('Roxrose Dragon') taken from her GY, "While this card is in my GY, if a face-up 'Rose Dragon' monster(s) or Plant Synchro Monster(s) I control is destroyed by battle or an opponent's card effect: I…" She added the card into her hand, "…can add this card to my hand."
"I don't care!" shouted Sherry, "I still have one attack left, and I've saved the best for last!" She swung her left arm (with the Duel Disk), "'Baronne de Fleur', attack 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms'!" As 'Baronne de Fleur' charged into battle by horseback riding, she announced the attack name, "Fleur de Rhapsody!"
"This is bad!" panicked James R., "With only 600 ATK and 1900 LP, Carlie will lose the duel when the attack connects!"
Finally, 'Baronne de Fleur' raised her sword and, with a determined scream, slashed at 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms', striking the monster and causing a massive explosion to be left behind again. Carlie screamed as she was caught in the explosion, while the other members of Team 6D's, including Zack, watched in horror over their friend's seeming loss. Sherry, meanwhile, walked down the staircase, looking very disappointed despite being the game winner.
"You failed to beat me again, Carlie," she remarked, before turning around, sighing, and starting to leave, "I have won our final battle."
But it was not meant to be… When the smoke cleared away, a slightly dirty-looking Carlie, with her eyes closed, was on a knee shivering weakly.
"No, it's not over yet," whispered Carlie, before opening her eyes and looking up at her rival, "Not by a long shot."
As it turned out, Carlie was not finished off as Sherry had been hoping for, as she (Carlie) still had very slim LP remaining (LP: 200). Sherry quickly turned around and gasped with surprise, while Matt and the likes were very relieved that Carlie actually survived.
"Carlie survived!" realized Zack
On the field…
"But…how?" stammered Sherry, "How could you… how could you have survived my final attack?!"
Shinji and Elsworth both were curious to know that, too, so Carlie was more than happy to explain the story.
"Before 'Baronne de Fleur's' Fleur de Révolution connected with 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms', said Carlie, motioning her left arm (with the Duel Disk) slightly, "I activated the second effect of a card from my GY, 'Enchanting Bouquet', which you destroyed with 'Baronne de Fleur'!"
A flashback ensued.
FLASHBACK
Flashback Sherry ordered, nonverbally, 'Baronne de Fleur' to attack, who obeyed without question. After getting close enough, she raised her sword. But then Flashback Carlie made a card ('Enchanting Bouquet') eject from her GY.
"I can banish this card from my GY; I must gain 100 LP for each Plant monster in my GY," narrated Carlie, as her flashback self restored a portion of her LP (LP: 1900 → 2600), "With seven Plant monsters, I gained 700 LP, allowing the survival of your attack, Sherry."
'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms' was struck by the sword, causing a massive explosion to be left behind again. Flashback Carlie nonverbally screamed as she was caught in the explosion and lost most of her LP (LP: 2600 → 200), while the other members of Team 6D's, including Flashback Zack, watched in horror over their friend's seeming loss.
END FLASHBACK
The flashback ended.
"Now, I'll resurrect 'Revival Rose' from the GY once again!" proclaimed Carlie.
Reappearing on the field was 'Revival Rose' (Level: 4/ATK: 1300/DEF: 1300).
"Tch! So be it," growled Sherry, before slotting the last two cards in her hand into her Duel Disk, "I Set two cards…" Two face-down cards appeared on the field, "…and end my turn," She stared sternly at her opponent, "You might have lived this time, Carlie, but without any of your powerful monsters to fight mine, what good will a one turn delay do you?" While she (Sherry) went on, Carlie listened to the hard words, looking very unsettled, "On my next turn, I will strike you down with all three of my monsters!"
"Sherry is still as unpredictable as ever," thought Carlie, "It's so annoying, but she's also one of the greatest duelists I've ever faced," She cast a glance at the top of her Duel Disk—mainly the LP counter, "I only have 200 LP left, but there's still one more card that can turn things around."
"The card," cut in Sherry, causing Carlie to look up, "on top of your Deck is 'Dark Rose Fairy'; you placed it there with the intention to use the second effect of 'White Rose Cloister' to predict what type of card you'd draw in order to give your Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters an extra 1000 ATK and allow them to possibly overpower 'Baronne de Fleur'," She closed her eyes briefly and shook her head, "But now that 'White Rose Cloister' and the rest of your Synchro Monsters are no longer on the field, 'Dark Rose Fairy' has become useless to you, and I'm absolutely certain you have nothing left that will help turn things around."
Over with the small crowd…
"One of Sherry's Set cards is 'Liberty at Last!'," figured James R..
"You're right about that," agreed Michael, taking over from there, "If a monster Sherry controls is destroyed by battle and sent to the GY, she can target two face-up monsters on the field and shuffle them into the Deck," He narrowed his eyes, "So even if Carlie overpowers one of Sherry's monsters, her monster will just be bounced back into her Deck."
"God, that just sucks," complained Lisa.
Back on the field, Carlie continued to listen to her rival speaking and putting her down.
"Once again, you've disappointed and failed to defeat me, and nor have you truly proven how sorry you are," The voice of Sherry rambled, just before she pointed forth again, "Right now, you're just a withering little rose who has lost her thorns."
Carlie finally started to lose hope, realizing that Sherry was right again.
"Then tell me what I should have done," whispered Carlie, which briefly caused Sherry to frown slightly, "Ever since our paths crossed once again, not a single day has gone by where I haven't stopped thinking about that fateful day years ago, and I've constantly been thinking about what I could have done back then to prove to you that I was sorry for what I did to you before our respective adoptions since you refused to even let me say anything to you."
As Carlie made her heart-wrenching speech, faded stills of Young Carlie at the orphanage trying to approach Young Sherry and her trying to get away as fast as possible were shown in the background, while Sherry said nothing.
"But no matter how much it's plagued me, I could never come up with an answer," ranted Carlie, as she looked at the palms of her hands and tears formed in her eyes, "All I could do was just pathetically ask 'What should I have done? How was I supposed to prove back then how truly sorry I was'?!"
The other members of Team 6D's, Zack, Shinji, and Elsworth watched and listened with sympathy, as Carlie fell to her hands and knees and started to cry. Over with Sherry, her eyes were closed as she listened to every painful word Carlie had just said.
"It isn't pathetic," Sherry reassured gently, opening her eyes. Carlie looked up with surprise at the very rare gentleness that was being displayed, but didn't respond back, allowing the blonde-haired young French woman to resume speaking. "And there's no reason to beat yourself up over 'that'. No. What you 'should' be beating yourself up over is how, even after officially being deemed one of the greatest duelists in the states, if not the world, you're still constantly and pathetically proving that you can't even defeat a nobody like me, or even made it past the first round of Godwin's tournament."
"Are you saying I'm disgracing myself?" asked Carlie bitterly.
"At the moment," Sherry replied, with her expression not changing, "you 'are'."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" demanded Carlie hotly, as she jolted back onto her feet in anger.
"If you have time to complain, then defeat me!" dared Sherry, before pointing at her opponent, "With your duel where you burn your soul!"
As he watched, Matt seemed very interested in the way Sherry was provoking Carlie.
"In order to overcome the hardships in one's heart, one has to become stronger…" muttered Matt.
"Fudo-san?" pondered David.
"What are you thinking, mate?" put in Michael.
"What Sherry's telling Carlie," answered Matt, "A duel that burns the soul… I think she's trying to become Carlie's greatest test."
"A test?" repeated James R., "Sherry?"
Matt nodded silently, "To help Carlie grow stronger," he went on, "This duel is Carlie's greatest test."
Back on the field, Carlie took Sherry's words into consideration and remembered that it's the End Phase, meaning it was time for one thing…
"I activate the second effect of 'Kismet Blooming'!" she declared, before holding up a card ('Kismet Blooming') taken from her GY, "During either player's End Phase, if I control no card in my Field Zone: I can banish this card from my GY; I must activate 1 'Black Garden' or 'White Rose Cloister' directly from my hand or GY."
With that said, the 'Kismet Blooming' Spell Card faded away into oblivion, and that meant one thing was coming, another Field Spell.
"Field Spell, 'White Rose Cloister'!" yelled Carlie, "Sherry!" As she spoke, the face-up 'Ecole de Zone' Spell Card shattered into shards of glass, "Your 'Ecole de Zone' is destroyed!"
The field went from the weird garden back into the peaceful-looking garden with occasional raining white rose cloisters.
"If I control no monsters: I can Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster or 1 Plant monster from my hand!" explained Carlie, going over her Field Spell's first effect, "However, I control 'Revival Rose', so I can't use this effect at the moment."
"Now I see," confessed Sherry, actually looking remarkably calm, "All along, you expected me to destroy 'White Rose Cloister'."
"I knew exactly what you would try to do the moment you said this wouldn't be a Turbo Duel," As Carlie spoke, a large image of the 'High Speed World' Spell Card appeared in the background, "'High Speed World's' greatest flaw is that it forbids other Field Spells from being used, and since both our strategies tend to rely on Field Spells, and because we know each others Decks so well, a Turbo Duel would have severely hindered us and our best plays."
Sherry seemed to smile that her rival had known all this time. Meanwhile, Zack actually took the drawback to Industrial Illusions's greatest creation into consideration. Finally, the possible final turn began.
"It's my turn!" boomed Carlie, as the falling rose petals around the garden started glowing yellow, "'White Rose Cloister's' second effect! 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."
"But it's so obvious what card is on top of her Deck," Lisa was saying, "She placed it there on purpose during her previous turn."
"Despite no longer controlling 'Black Rose Dragon'," reminded James R..
Back on the field, glowing white rose cloisters fell around Carlie as she drew her card with a Destiny Draw.
Turn Five: Carlie Izayoi (LP: 200)
Deck: 39
Current Hand (3): "Black Garden", "Roxrose Dragon", and "Dark Rose Fairy"
"The card I guess is 'Dark Rose Fairy'!" she guessed, before looking at the card ('Dark Rose Fairy') and revealing it to Sherry, "I was right! All Level 7 or higher Synchro Monsters I control will gain 1000 ATK, even if my Field Spell leaves the field."
"But all Izayoi-san has in her hand are 'Black Garden', 'Roxrose Dragon', and 'Dark Rose Fairy'," protested David, "How will she use this situation to her advantage?"
"It will have to wait," cut in Sherry, "Because I'm activating 'Baronne de Fleur's' third effect!" As she explained the effect, 'Baronne de Fleur' started glowing as she rose from her horse into the sky as bits of her Paladin armor broke apart piece by piece, "Once per turn, during the Standby Phase: I can target 1 Level 9 or lower monster in my GY; I must return this card to the Extra Deck, and if I do, Special Summon that monster."
When the sequence ended, 'Baronne de Fleur', now 'Chevalier de Fleur', lowered back to the ground onto a knee similar to a praying stance. She then returned to her feet and glared at the opposition (Level: 8/ATK: 2700/DEF: 2300).
"Sherry-san has 'Chevalier de Fleur' back," gasped David.
"Sherry must have big plans if she brought her secondary ace monster back," insisted Shinji.
Carlie gritted her teeth, knowing that there 'was' a reason for bringing 'Chevalier de Fleur' back.
"Next, I'll activate a Trap, 'Barrière de Fleur'!" declared Sherry, as her first Set card flipped face-up and revealed itself, "I must target 1 WIND Warrior Synchro Monster I control; I must equip this card to it," While speaking her next sentence, 'Chevalier de Fleur' found herself glowing and receiving a new power, "I choose 'Chevalier de Fleur' to accept this card's power!"
"'Barrière de Fleur'? What other powers does it have?" Carlie thought to herself.
"Now my card's second effect!" continued Sherry, "My opponent cannot destroy the equipped monster or this equipped card with card effects. For the third effect, if the equipped monster battles: I must halve any battle damage I take from that battle."
"'Baronne de Fleur's' negation effect only works once while it's on the field," commented Michael, "The only way to use it again is to make it leave the field and resummon it later on."
"That means Carlie will have to win the duel before that happens!" urged Lisa, "It doesn't help 'Chevalier de Fleur' can now only be destroyed by battle."
Back on the field, Carlie was having the same thoughts before taking a card ('Roxrose Dragon') and placing it onto her Duel Disk.
"I Summon 'Roxrose Dragon' again!" she commanded.
Appearing on the field for the second time was the black dragon with two wings, pink neck, a pink rose bud on its back (Level: 3/ATK: 1600/DEF: 1200).
"As before, I get to add a card with 'Black Rose Dragon' in its text from my Deck into my hand when 'Roxrose Dragon' is Summoned," reminded Carlie, drawing a card. She saw it was a Spell Card called 'Basal Rose Shoot', then held it out, "I activate the Quick-Play Spell, 'Basal Rose Shoot'! I must Special Summon 1 'Rose Dragon' monster from my hand or GY in Defense Position!" A storm of rose petals ensued behind her, "I Special Summon 'Black Rose Dragon' from my GY!"
The petals came together and formed the body of 'Black Rose Dragon' (Level: 7/ATK: 2400/DEF: 1800).
"Because I guessed right in the effect of 'White Rose Cloister'," As Carlie spoke, 'Black Rose Dragon' gained significant amounts of strength (ATK: 2400 → 3400), "'Black Rose Dragon' gains 1000 ATK!"
With her beloved ace monster back on the field, Carlie started to feel the warm desires and compassion of 'Black Rose Dragon' as its amber eyes stared down at her intently, giving her master encouraging rumbles, which Carlie understood perfectly.
"That's right, 'Black Rose'," thought Carlie, smiling in confirmation, "We're both in it together until the very end."
A frowning Sherry, however, disagreed with the setup.
"Carlie, you're aware you will not be able to settle things this turn, right?" she stated forcefully.
"You're wrong, Sherry," dismissed Carlie, "I will win this duel on this turn… For now, I'll activate the second effect of 'Instant Germination'!" She then held up, in-between the index and middle fingers of her right hand, a card ('Instant Germination') taken from her GY and showed it to the opponent, "During my Main Phase, except the turn this card was sent to the GY, if a Level 7 or lower Synchro Monster was Special Summoned from my GY while my LP is lower than my opponent's: I can banish this card from my GY, then target 1 face-up card my opponent controls; I must destroy that target," The card dissolved into oblivion, "I destroy your 'Pennant of Revolution'!"
"Naive!" insulted Sherry, "I activate the third effect of 'Pennant of Revolution'!" While she explained away, one of her 'Sorciere de Fleurs' shattered into shards of glass—which then caused a barrier to form and protected the face-up 'Pennant of Revolution' Trap Card from whatever Carlie tried to destroy it with, "If this card in the Spell & Trap Zone would be destroyed by a card effect, I can destroy 1 monster I control instead."
"Just what I was hoping for," acknowledged Carlie, smiling slightly.
Sherry suddenly looked mildly worried.
"Sherry, like you, I've been looking forward to this final battle more than anything," Carlie confessed, no longer smiling while remembering how she acted in her tragic past, "When I first started out as a duelist, raised and trained by Discord J. Crawford, I was scared and lost in the darkness, being angry at the world for shunning me over having psychic powers, and the only friends I had at the time were…" James R., Michael, and Zack each listened to their friend's little speech, "James, Mike, Zack," She then looked slightly solemn as she soon finished, "and Discord himself."
"What are you trying to tell me?" asked Sherry softly.
"Although Matt pulled me out of despair when he defeated and showed me true kindness, there was still one person who has kept me from falling even further into darkness before then," Carlie went on, as Sherry listened to the end with a look of slight surprise, "That someone… It was you, Sherry."
"M-Me?"
"Yes, you," The brown-haired young woman nodded, kindly showing that even though they were now bitter rivals, she (Carlie) still truly thought of Sherry as a true friend, "I kept thinking about you and how we would someday reunite and become friends again. I never once forgot you—even after I traumatized you and left the orphanage without apologizing," She then looked determined before holding her right hand out, "Before this duel ends, I'm going to show you my new power. Not a power of cold destruction, but of a warm, fiery light!"
Carlie then crossed her right arm across her chest, causing the Mark of the Dragon on her right forearm to begin glowing with power underneath her forearm-length glove. The audience watched with amazement over hearing the speech and what they were witnessing, which was the Crimson Dragon giving Carlie the power she needed to turn things around. The other members of Team 6D's also felt their own respective birthmarks (Matt: Dragon's Head, Michael: Dragon's Wings, James R.: Dragon's Tail, Lisa: Dragon's Hand, David: Dragon's Heart) glowing and responding in kind. At last, back on the field, the words everyone was expecting to hear from Carlie were given…
"My Level 3 'Roxrose Dragon' tunes Level 7 'Black Rose Dragon'!" began Carlie, motioning her right arm about.
'Roxrose Dragon turned itself into three massive, fiery Synchro Rings, which hovered over, lowered, and surrounded 'Black Rose Dragon' as it let out a roar of triumph before turning itself into seven orbs of light while a Summon Chant echoed throughout the sequence.
"A warm flame illuminates the darkness! Let the drop of blood stain the rose a ruddy red, and bloom into this world!" chanted Carlie, calmly and warmly. The symbols 7 + 3 = 10 were shown briefly during the chanting just before the seven orbs of light within the three flaming Synchro Rings turned into a massive beam of light, "Synchro Summon!" Familiar-looking thorn vines were shown emerging from the evaporating beam of light, "Appear! Dragon of Vitality! 'Ruddy Rose Dragon'!"
The full body of 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' was shown; it resembled 'Black Rose Dragon' in a way, only was bigger and the rose parts on its body was colored a different shade of red (Level: 10/ATK: 3200/DEF: 2400). Zack smiled to himself without saying anything, while everyone else was struck speechless over the new ace monster Carlie brought out.
"This is amazing!" breathed Elsworth.
"'Ruddy Rose Dragon' has 3200 ATK!" added Shinji, before adding, "Oh, but wait a second, 'White Rose Cloister's' effect will increase it even further to a staggering 4200!"
And that's what happened… 'Ruddy Rose Dragon's' ATK climbed to even higher levels (ATK: 3200 → 4200).
"4200 ATK…" whispered Sherry, but recovered quickly, "Too bad for you, it won't be of any help!"
"She's right," agreed Elsworth, "Despite the advantage seemingly going to Mistress Carlie once more, Lady Sherry has 'Liberty at Last!' Set; all Mistress Carlie has to do to trigger it is declare an attack and destroy 'Chevalier de Fleur'—although Lady Sherry just needs to use the second effect of 'Pennant of Revolution' to destroy 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' at the start of the Damage Step."
"Give up, Carlie! Even with 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' on your side, you have no chance for victory!" yelled Sherry.
"You're wrong!" refused Carlie, "By using 'Black Rose Dragon' as material for this Synchro Summon, the true power of 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' will be unleashed."
"What was that? 'Ruddy Rose Dragon's' true power?" flinched Sherry.
"I activate 'Ruddy Rose Dragon's' first effect!" proclaimed Carlie, as various cards from both players' GYs emerged one at a time and flew around the garden-like field, "If this card is Synchro Summoned: I can banish all cards from the GYs," While still speaking, she raised her right hand slightly and snapped her fingers, "then if this card was Synchro Summoned using 'Black Rose Dragon' or a Plant Synchro Monster as material, I can destroy all other cards on the field!"
Sherry helplessly watched as every card ('Noble Knight's Spearholder', 'Fleuret de Fleur', 'Centaur Mina', 'Angel Baton', 'Ecole de Zone', 'Necro Synchron', 'Charité de Fleur', 'Necro Fleur', and 'Sorciere de Fleur') from her GY dissolved before her very eyes.
"That's why Carlie baited me by trying to destroy 'Pennant of Revolution' with 'Instant Germination'," thought Sherry, "It was so that I couldn't protect it from something like 'Ruddy Rose Dragon'!"
Carlie watched as every card ('White Rose Dragon', 'Staysailor Romarin', 'Twilight Rose Knight', 'Fragrance Storm', 'Chirubimé, Princess of Autumn Leaves', 'Talaya, Princess of Cherry Blossoms', 'Rose Princess', 'Blue Rose Dragon', 'Tytannial, Princess of Camellias', 'Black Rose Sowing', 'Splendid Rose', 'Periallis, Empress of Blossoms', 'Basal Rose Shoot', 'Black Rose Dragon', and 'Roxrose Dragon') that was in her GY flew around her field before dissolving into nothingness. This was necessary for her to win the duel, so there was no other choice but to do it.
"Now, 'Ruddy Rose Dragon', destroy all other cards on the field!" ordered Carlie, "Blood Rose Typhoon!"
'Ruddy Rose Dragon' obeyed, letting loose a mighty, gale-force wind-like roar across the whole field. All in all, it was very similar to 'Black Rose Dragon's' Black Rose Gale, but 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' wasn't going to be destroyed by it (even retaining the 4200 ATK). The attack was so strong that every card Carlie and Sherry owned on their respective fields exploded rather than shatter into shards of glass. Team 6D's, Zack, Shinji, and Elsworth all braced themselves from the backlash of the powerful move. The destruction of the 'White Rose Cloister' Spell Card also returned everyone to the old playground. When the smoke on Sherry's field faded away, all that was left was 'Chevalier de Fleur', and she was still equipped with the face-up 'Barrière de Fleur' Trap Card.
"You've forgotten all about 'Barrière de Fleur'," scolded Sherry, "As long as it's equipped to my monster, both cards can't be destroyed by card effects."
"It still won't save them from my upcoming attack," retorted Carlie, "Next, I'll activate the second effect of 'Black Rose Sowing'!" She raised her right hand as a familiar card ('Black Rose Dragon') reappeared above the palm, "If this card in my possession is banished or destroyed by card effect: I must…" The card was then shuffled into the Extra Deck Zone, "…return 1 of my 'Black Rose Dragon' or 1 Plant Synchro Monster that is banished or in my GY to the Extra Deck."
"Carlie regained 'Black Rose Dragon'!" observed Lisa.
"Will Izayoi-san find a way to use it again?" wondered David.
"We'll find out, soon," replied Zack, "Look! She's about to attack!"
Back on the field…
"Battle!" announced Carlie, entering her Battle Phase. As she gave the command for 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' to attack, her monster opened its mouth to charge a blast of fire for an attack, "'Ruddy Rose Dragon', eliminate 'Chevalier de Fleur'!" The attack was unleashed as the attack name was then yelled out, "Blood Rose Inferno!"
It looked certain that 'Chevalier de Fleur' would be defeated, and she was indeed defeated; Blood Rose Inferno connected and caused 'Chevalier de Fleur' to scream as she was overwhelmed and shattered into shards of glass.
"But the third effect of 'Barrière de Fleur' reduces the battle damage I take by half!" reminded Sherry (LP: 1300 → 550).
"Still, 'Chevalier de Fleur' has been destroyed," said Carlie triumphantly, "This means-"
"I win," cut in Sherry.
"What?"
"'Barrière de Fleur' has a fourth effect," The blonde-haired young French woman confessed, "If the equipped monster is destroyed by battle: I must destroy the opponent's monster that battled the equipped monster, and if I do, inflict damage to my opponent equal to half the ATK that monster had on the field!"
Carlie appeared mildly worried by the revelation.
"Dammit! Half of 4200 ATK against 200 LP is complete overkill!" wailed Lisa.
The face-up 'Barrière de Fleur' Trap Card charged and fired a red beam towards 'Ruddy Rose Dragon', aiming to destroy it and inflict enough damage to defeat Carlie, therefore rewarding Sherry the duel victory.
"Tout est fini, Carlie Izayoi! I win!" roared Sherry.
"Mmm," responded Carlie, and then smiled slightly and used Matt's catchphrase, "Are you sure about that?"
Sherry stopped, "What?!"
"I activate 'Ruddy Rose Dragon's' second effect!" explained Carlie, "When my opponent activates a card or effect that would destroy a card(s) (Quick Effect): I can Tribute this card; I must negate the activation, then I can Special Summon 1 'Black Rose Dragon' from my Extra Deck or GY. Do it, 'Ruddy Rose'!" As she announced her monster's effect name, 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' started dissolving into ruddy red rose petals, "Blood Rose Response!"
The rose petals rained down upon the field, causing Sherry to watch as her face-up 'Barrière de Fleur' Trap Card shorted out before shattering into shards of glass without resolving its fourth effect. With the audience…
"She did it…" uttered Shinji.
"Blood Rose Response is just like 'Stardust Dragon's' Victim Sanctuary," realized Matt, which caused James R. and Zack both to look over at him, "'Ruddy Rose Dragon' sacrificed itself to quell and accept the brunt of Sherry's long lasting pain in the form of 'Barrière de Fleur'."
"Carlie's amazing! Just totally amazing," breathed Lisa.
Back on the field, Sherry was the most speechless anyone had ever seen her behave.
"Carlie already prepared for this situation to happen," Sherry was telling herself, mentally, "Did she truly anticipated that everything in the duel would play out exactly as it did right from the very beginning?"
As the storm of rose petals left behind by 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' intensified, a familiar Summon Chant was heard by Carlie…
"Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom!" chanted Carlie, speaking in the same calm and warm tone she did for 'Ruddy Rose Dragon'. As she finished, the rose petals came together and formed the full body of a powered up 'Black Rose Dragon' (Level: 7/ATK: 3400/DEF: 1800), "Resurrect, 'Black Rose Dragon'!"
"'Black Rose Dragon'-!" fretted Sherry.
"Even though 'White Rose Cloister' left the field, its effect lingers until the End Phase," said Carlie wisely, "'Black Rose Dragon's' ATK currently stands at 3400!"
Sherry gasped and then gritted her teeth as the end was coming for her.
"My Battle Phase resumes," Carlie declared, before giving a command, "'Black Rose Dragon', attack Sherry directly! Black Rose Flare!"
'Black Rose Dragon' obeyed, opening its mouth and charging up a Black Rose Flare. As Sherry watched the attack get charged up, she at first looked fearful of the loss—but, seconds later, that changed when she smiled with resignation and pride.
"Well done, Carlie," congratulated Sherry, "You are the winner."
Carlie looked up with surprise, but was rendered speechless as she remembered Sherry's words from earlier on…
"It isn't pathetic, and there's no reason to beat yourself up over 'that'."
This caused Carlie to wordlessly realize that Sherry had already forgiven her (Carlie) before now. Nearby with Shinji and Elsworth, they both had the same idea.
"Lady Sherry… Mistress Carlie…" murmured Elsworth.
At last, 'Black Rose Dragon' unleashed Black Rose Flare, which connected with and overwhelmed Sherry as she simply closed her eyes while her LP gauge emptied (LP: 550 → 0).
DUEL RESULTS: Carlie Izayoi wins!
Even as the attack ended, there was a very long silence from the spectators. Both young women were exhausted from their intense match, huffing and puffing while glaring at the other and struggling to remain on their feet. When Carlie and Sherry took a step back out of reflex, Sherry instead collapsed onto her hands and knees. Carlie was about to say something when she heard 'Black Rose Dragon' growl slightly. Looking up, she saw her now solid ace monster looking at her. Wordlessly, Carlie reached out to 'Black Rose Dragon' with her right hand, causing the dragon to craned its neck and brought its head down low enough to put the side of its maw against Carlie's palm, before she placed her left hand on the other side of 'Black Rose Dragon's' maw and slowly pressed her forehead against the space between the dragon's eyes, with the mighty 'Black Rose Dragon' rumbling affectionately.
"Thank you, 'Black Rose Dragon'," Carlie whispered softly, "Together, we've won our most important duel ever."
When the embrace ended, 'Black Rose Dragon' finally faded away in a flash of fire. With the other members of Team 6D's…
"Alriiiiiight!" whooped James R..
"She did it!" put in Lisa.
"Izayoi-san!" finished David.
Matt smiled, "Carlie finally did it."
"That she did; she defeated Sherry," agreed Michael.
Zack didn't say anything, but he was very happy that Carlie emerged victorious. Even Shinji and Elsworth were deeply impressed by Carlie Izayoi's victory. Sherry, meanwhile, remained on her hands and knees in defeat when a shadow loomed over her.
"Hey, Sherry?" The voice of Carlie spoke up.
Sherry looked up, noticing Carlie standing in-front of her, smiling kindly, and holding her right hand out as though she (Carlie) was offering her (Sherry) a helping hand to her feet.
"Will you be alright?" asked Carlie warmly.
Sherry simply looked at her triumphant opponent before closing her eyes and sighing in defeat.
"You have surpassed me and more," she admitted.
"Sherry…" thought Carlie.
"But…" continued Sherry, which caused Carlie to wonder what was up, "Although you've won, there's one thing that's got me curious," There was now a cheesy smile on her face, "I gotta know one thing; what's your secret?"
Carlie looked comically freaked out over such a question and, after a short beat, collapsed onto the ground with a loud groan. Suddenly, Sherry started laughing in a jolly way.
"Je rigole!" chortled Sherry, briefly speaking in French, "You really haven't changed a bit… You're still as obstinate as ever."
"Oh yeah?" Carlie retaliated playfully, winking, "And you're just as stubborn."
Both young women then started laughing like they were back to being friends. The spectators watching were very happy that all seemed to be well between them again. Suddenly, the mood went from heartwarming to heartbreaking as Sherry, with tears forming in her eyes, laughed until she broke down crying in sadness. This stunned Carlie, making her wonder what was going on.
"I'm sorry, Carlie," sobbed Sherry, "All this time, I've been wrong. Please forgive me…"
"Sherry…?" pressed Carlie, reaching over to touch her friend's shoulder.
"When I lost my parents and was sent to the orphanage years ago, I put on a tough, arrogant facade in-front of the other orphaned kids to hide my pain," recalled Sherry, as tears streamed down her delicate face, just before faded stills of her younger self taunting Young Carlie and her (Young Carlie) losing control of her emotions and psychic powers, then of Young Shinji being adopted and leaving the orphanage played while superimposed over her, "But I lost my friendship with you when I went too far with it, and when Shinji was adopted soon after, I was left all alone with no one important in my life."
Nearby, Shinji frowned solemnly before looking at Elsworth, who only nodded silently.
"I had to hate someone for it, and settled on you, Carlie," remembered Sherry sadly, as Carlie gently listened to the broken words from the poor young woman, "I blamed you for the bad stuff that happened in my life since you were the one who traumatized me," She looked up with the saddest expression anyone ever saw from her, "But that was wrong of me to do. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
Sherry then continued to sob out of hurt and remorse, but then felt someone carefully wrapping their arms around her. Looking up tearfully, Sherry saw it was Carlie who was hugging her (Sherry), and Carlie had also begun to cry, too.
"Oh, Sherry, you have no need to apologize," wept Carlie, but not losing any of her confidence, "I never once held a grudge against you. I've always held onto the belief in my heart that we'd become friends again somewhere down the road."
Sherry said nothing initially, but then, with tears still streaming down, she calmed down and returned the soothing hug—which felt very, very good—with the atmosphere going from heartbreaking back to heartwarming.
"I know," admitted Sherry, "You're far too nice to ever hold a long term grudge, unlike James."
Over with the rest of Team 6D's, Matt, Zack, and Michael each smiled, while Lisa looked like she was also crying over the heartwarming bonding moment between Sherry and Carlie. David was the first to take notice and grinned as though he was going to enjoy bringing that up.
"Lisa-chan, are you crying?" he teased, which caused Lisa to stop and look humorously spooked, "You? A tough-as-nails woman?"
"M-Me? Crying? Don't be ridiculous, Dave!" denied Lisa, using her right arm to dry her eyes in a haste, "T-There was just something in my eye, that's all."
David wasn't convinced, but just smiled. Then he and Lisa both heard loud sobs coming from their area, and they were coming from James R., who was definitely crying (complete with ocular gushers) comically over Carlie and Sherry reconciling.
"T-That is…the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!" wailed James R. loudly.
Being the two most serious members of the team, Matt and Michael looked very uncomfortable by the sight, but David and Lisa were greatly amused by James R.'s hilarious antics. Zack simply paid no attention to it. Soon, Sherry and Carlie were back on their feet, and Shinji and Elsworth approached.
"Man, that was the sweetest duel I've ever seen, you two!" praised Shinji.
"You did a great job, Mistress Carlie," put in Elsworth, before addressing his ward, "And you were just as good out there, M'lady."
Suddenly, they heard Zack clapping his hands together as he approached.
"I think it's time to reveal my little surprise," The black-haired young man bragged, as a clip of Carlie and him in the hallway at Orb's Turbo Duel Stadium played out in the background, "I was the one who gave Carlie 'Ruddy Rose Dragon' yesterday, which gave her the victory today," The background went back to normal as he closed his eyes, folded his arms, and grinned with satisfaction, "Pretty groovy, wouldn't you guys agree?"
Seconds later…
"Uh-huh," The voice of Shinji said sarcastically, which caused Zack's eyes to shoot open. With his arms folded, there was a deadpan look on his face, "Thanks for telling us, but it's not much of a surprise if it's the most obvious answer possible."
Lisa and David both snickered to themselves, while Zack's soured mood over Shinji's response was a mixture of sulkiness and annoyance that someone out deadpanned him (Zack). Michael merely rolled his (Michael) eyes, knowing that while Zack could definitely dish out the dry comments towards most people, he also couldn't take it if someone delivered them right back. Suddenly…
"Augh! It's not fair!" The voice of James R. whined, causing Zack to look over. He appeared very jealous for some reason, "Matt has 'Shooting Star Dragon', Mike has 'Red Nova Dragon', and now Carlie has 'Ruddy Rose Dragon'!"
"So?" snorted Michael.
"So why don't I have an upgraded form for 'Black-Winged Dragon'?" demanded James R., "It might make me equal to you three."
"I wouldn't worry about that, Hogan-kun," soothed David.
"Never forget that Dave and I don't have upgraded forms for 'Life Stream Dragon' and 'Ancient Fairy Dragon' respectively," stated Lisa, "But we're fine with that."
"Oh really?" laughed Zack, "Even though 'Life Stream Dragon' is already an upgraded 'Power Tool Dragon'?"
Lisa and David said nothing in response.
"Waaaah!" groaned James R., clutching the sides of his head while sinking onto the ground, "Sometimes life towards me is just unfair!"
Everyone else (yes, even Sherry and Elsworth) merely shared a jolly laugh at poor James R. Hogan's expense (again). Well now, talk about an ending to a most perfect duel.
Okay, forget what I said in the previous chapter; 'this' will definitely be the final chapter written and posted for the whole year. And what a way to end it, too! Carlie has finally defeated Sherry in a duel, has access to a new ace monster, and she reconciled with Sherry in a big way (they are now friends again). From the next chapter-onward, however, things will be getting dark in tone, as the Dark Signers will be making their next move. Now, before I close this chapter (and year) out, I'd like to thank James (sodormatchmaker), Dave (DaveMan1000), and Aaron (AaronCottrell97) for helping to make this story and series a nice success.
Happy (early) New Years, everyone, and be sure to stay safe in these troubling times.