Previously on Yugioh: A New Generation…
"What's the status?"
"Preparations are at 80%, mistress. We're nearly ready for the battleground."
"As you recall, back in Las Vegas, we told you all that you would need to prepare to save the world from this upcoming evil. The fate of the world hangs in the balance."
"Maritime City…"
"They've set up here as their base of operations. Somewhere deep underground."
"Once everyone is cleared out, we will enter the city and confront Opaline and her forces. We're not gonna endanger innocent lives."
"It appears our heroes are in Zephyr Heights as we speak. Perhaps we should visit them. If we can take them down, our power will be all but unstoppable in the war."
"Let me go! I have to debt to collect with one of them."
"In that case… happy hunting."
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Mario himself! I hope I'm not interrupting your date, Young Prince. You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment. It's a shame it'll be over so quickly.
"Who are you?"
"I never forget… old friend. Or should I say, Mi Armor!"
"Rose?"
"I'm surprised you still remember me, Mario. After all, I would never forget if I backstabbed my ex!"
"Rose, what happened?"
"You did. But I should thank you for your special mark. I'm back. And since we last saw each other, I've made new friends."
"Rose, please don't tell me what I think you're doing. I once knew you."
"That's right, you used to know me. But now… I'm your Mortal Enemy! Get ready for the duel of your life, Mi Armor!"
Mario was still trapped within the forcefield that Rose put, as the two duelists had no means of escaping.
"What's going on?" asked Mario.
"What's going on is that you're down! I'll pummel you into the Shadow Realm's shadowy depths," Rose stated before she let out an evil cackle.
"So… Opaline and her forces got to you," responded the boy, staring defiantly at his former girlfriend.
"Not quite, Mi Amor. See, I'm not some puppet; I'm actually one of the guys pulling the strings," said Rose as she lifted her arm to show the special Opaline mark that was engraved and tattooed on it, as it shined with a purple light. "This right here… this is the real deal. The Mark of the Shadows. Unlike those minions you and your friends have faced, I'm one of the top commanders."
"So you're a Shadow Duelist then," said Mario.
This is what Mom was talking about.
Mario recalled the conversation his mother had told them back in Las Vegas.
"Because you are all strong and selfless, the marks knew you wouldn't run from a challenge or the darkness that is coming. And this darkness is dangerous. It will take on many forms. Maybe a stranger or a friend, but you'll know who they are, for they will have the mark of the shadows. Just as you all were chosen to protect the light, they were chosen to protect the darkness. They will stop at nothing to stop you."
Zipp had finally made her way into one of the skyboxes as she halted and approached the window. The girl was now high above where Mario was trapped, and she could see the firewall keeping him and his ex from leaving.
"This isn't good. Be careful, lover boy," muttered the girl as she prayed for Mario's safety.
At Haven's estate….
"It's Mario," said Roll, feeling her brother's presence.
"This isn't good," said Twilight.
"We need to go now!" said Isaac.
"Um, Ms. Twilight… what's that?" asked Sunny.
The two adults entered the living room, seeing the others looking out the window. They approached it with Roll and gasped. The mark on Rose's arm projected in the sky, clearly confirming what they already knew.
"Does anybody else think this is bad?" asked Hitch, with slight worry in his tone.
The group wasn't the only ones seeing this, as the entire city of Zephyr Heights and its citizens who were out and about noticed the giant purple glowing mark in the sky. To them, they'd never seen anything like it, and it got them all a bit nervous and scared.
"What is that?"
"Is it dangerous?"
"Why is it glowing?"
The uproar was starting to get loud as it was clear Opaline's attempt to spread fear across the city was working.
Back in the stadium, things were about to heat up between the two duelists.
"Rose… what happened?"
"You surprised, Mi Amor? I bet you never thought you'd see me again. Heh, and to think we used to be so close," cackled Rose as the thought that she once was in love with Mario amused her. "Well, in case you're wondering, no… I haven't forgiven you, Mario… for betraying me!"
"Rose, you were the one that took things too far!" stated Mario.
"Looks like I didn't take things far enough! Because of you! And your weakness!" barked Rose.
"But I had to," responded Mario.
"We used to have so much fun, just the two of us. Didn't we, Mario? To think… the times you smiled the most was when you were with me… but that's all gonna change!" stated Rose. "You never should've turned your back on me, Mario."
"What was I supposed to do? I was protecting Roll!" said the boy.
"Did you forget what you once told me on our first date? That being with me brought you more happiness than your family. And when the time came for you to choose between your family and the person you loved the most… you chose the wrong option!" growled Rose. "Tell me then, do you regret your choice that day?"
"Well… n-no b-but-…" answered Mario.
"Like I said, you chose wrong!" stated Rose, cutting the boy off from finishing his sentence. "But the past is ancient history. Let's start talking about your future! I'm going to send you to the Shadow Realm!"
Rose opened her cloak, and she was shown wearing a duel disk. The disk came online and projected her card tray as she stood ready to fight.
"Come on! Let's duel!" egged the Shadow Duelist commander.
"Rose, what happened to you? How did you get roped into all of this?" Mario demanded as the girl laughed.
"What's wrong? You scared?" mocked Rose.
"No," said Mario defiantly after he put his head down for a moment and looked up at her with determined eyes.
The boy then pulled out his duel disk and strapped it on. He slotted in his deck as his device projected a red card tray, and the mark on his arm continued to glow. It was clear the only way Mario would get the answers he sought was to accept Rose's challenge to a Shadow Duel. Zipp saw Mario strap on his duel disk as her worries grew, hoping he would emerge victorious.
"Opponent detected. Duel mode set. Initiating. Commencing duel." said both duel disks.
Mario's Life Points: 8000-
Rose's Life Points: 8000-
"Rose, talk to me. What happened to you?"
"Ha, ha, ha! It's a little late in the game to be playing catchup, Mi Armor. What's done is done, and there's no going back. The only thing left to do… is for me to defeat you."
"So, what happens to me if I lose this duel? Do I become one of you?" asked Mario.
"Not quite. But you will be consumed. You'll be emersed into the shadows," said Rose.
"Well, that's not gonna happen," responded the boy. "I'm gonna put a stop to you."
"Let's duel!" shouted both teens.
As the two prepared to fight, Zipp noticed the nearby console. She approached it and pulled out her duel disk to connect it to a cable. The heiress was looking to see if she could get the play-by-play of Mario and Rose's duel to observe. She tapped into their frequency as she did just that and got some live footage of the pair about to brawl.
"Let's go!" stated Mario.
"Ha, ha. Yes! Time to make this breakup official!" responded Rose.
Turn 1: Rose (Hand 5)
"It's my turn!" said the evil girl as she drew to kick things off. "I summon Mystic Tomato(1400/1000) in defense mode!"
A tomato with an evil and malicious face appeared as it gave off a creepy vibe.
"Now that I've gotten him on the field, I think I'll place one card facedown and end my turn. Come, Mario. I've been looking forward to this duel for a very, very long time. Don't let me down! Give me everything you've got!"
Turn 2: Mario (Hand 5)
"You asked for it!" responded the boy as he took his turn and drew. "I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman(800/1200)! And I can draw two cards when he's the only one out. Next, I'll play the spell card H - Heated Heart to not only give him 500 extra attack points but to allow him to inflict piercing damage until the end of the turn! Bubbleman, move in and blast away that rotten vegetable!" commanded Mario.
"Not so fast, Mario!" shouted Rose, touching her duel screen. "I play the trap, Rose Uproot! By sending one plant-type monster from my deck to my graveyard, I can negate your monster's attack!"
"What?" said the boy, as he had never seen Rose have that card.
"Looks like you're still playing the same old card tricks. I expected more, Mario."
"Oh, yeah! And how have you changed up yours, Rose?"
"You'll find out soon enough," laughed the girl.
"Well, in the meantime… I place two cards facedown and end my turn," said Mario defiantly.
Turn 3: Rose (Hand 4)
"My move then. And from my hand, I'm playing the field spell card, Black Garden!" stated Rose as the entire area around them began to change. The pair now found themselves surrounded by a garden full of thorns that surrounded them. "Then, I'm summoning Rose Paladin(1800/200) from my hand!"
"But because your field spell is activated, Rose Paladin loses half its attack points," stated Mario, almost wondering why Rose would summon a monster when her own field spell affected her.
"You're correct, but even with its power at half, it's enough to take out your Bubbleman, especially once I switch my Mystic Tomato into attack mode. And let's not forget that because I summoned a monster, you get a Rose Token on your field! Now… Rose Paladin, take out his Bubbleman!" commanded Rose.
Her newly summoned monster raised its sword and leaped into the air before coming down and delivering a slash that struck Mario's monster down the middle, resulting in its destruction. Mario covered up as he felt the power of Rose's attack; a rose petal flew by his face and left a small cut on his cheek.
Mario's Life Points: 7900-
"The powers of the dark shadows really suit me. Duels are much more exciting when I can dish out real pain. In fact… I like it so much I think I'll dish out some more! Mystic Tomato, attack Mario's Rose Token!"
Mario looked on as he saw the small vegetable fire, a beam of dark energy heading toward him. Rose began to crack up as the boy saw the attack getting closer and closer.
"This is the first step to sending you to the Shadow Realm!" proclaimed Rose.
"Mario, watch out!" shouted Zipp, seeing the broadcast as the attack was about to hit him.
"The power of your monster is no match for the ability of my Hero Spirit! Since you destroyed my Bubbleman, this trap allows me to take zero damage from one of your monsters!" said Mario as the attack ceased before it hit him.
"Hmph!" said Rose as she wasn't amused. "Well, now I activate the ability of my Rose Paladin. Since it destroyed a monster and sent it to the graveyard, I can tribute it to summon out one Plant-type monster from my deck in defense mode. And I choose Bird of Roses(1800/1500), which means you get another Rose Token on your field!"
As Rose's new bird-like monster made of roses appeared, another rose sprouted on Mario's field, occupying another monster zone of his field.
"Now, that was a close one. But don't let your guard down, Mario," muttered Zipp as it was clear the boy's ex wasn't fooling around.
"Mario, try to keep up with me, will you? And please play something new for a change, okay," demanded Rose as she took a card from her hand and set it. "I like surprises, and I hope you do too. Because this facedown isn't just some old trap we've been using since we were younger like that Hero Spirit of yours. I've upped my game, have you?"
"Don't need to! My deck has never let me down!" responded the boy.
"Hmph. Well, there's a first time for everything," stated the girl.
Turn 4: Mario (Hand 4)
I sure hope she's wrong.
"It's my turn!" stated Mario as he drew and saw what card he got.
And boy, was she wrong.
"You know I like to do things the old-fashioned way, Rose. So I think I'll play a favorite of mine. I summon Elemental HERO Avian(1000/1000)! And by summoning him, you get a Rose Token on your field!"
"But Avian's attack points are reduced in half by my field spell," stated Rose.
"Not for long. I now activate the spell card, R - Righteous Justice. Now, for every 'Elemental HERO' I have, I can destroy that many spells/traps you control. So I think I'll be getting rid of your garden!" stated Mario as the whole garden began to wither away. "And with your field spell gone, Avian's attack points return to normal. Next, I'm gonna play another oldie but goodie of mine, Polymerization! And combine it with Elemental HERO Burstinatrix in my hand!"
Mario's two monsters appeared before they entered a swirling vortex behind him that emitted orange and purple lights.
"And while we're playing Mario's greatest hits, why don't we hit up a classic? I Fusion Summon! Go… Elemental HERO Flame Wingman(2100/1200)!"
"Not bad, but way too predictable," mocked Rose upon seeing Mario's monster.
"Well, how's this for predictable? I play the spell card Hero's Savior! I get to draw two cards since I used two monsters to summon out my fusion beast. But that's not all; if you take damage, I get to draw a card, and if it's a monster, I get to summon it automatically to the field. And with your Mystic Tomato in attack mode, that damage is coming sooner rather than later!" proclaimed Mario.
"Heh. Don't be so sure, Mi Amor. I still have my trap in play, remember."
Rose is right. She can still trigger the effect of her Rose Uproot. All she has to do is send one plant-type monster from her deck to the graveyard to negate my attack, leaving me out of moves. But I've dueled Rose long enough to know she doesn't like getting rid of her monsters.
Mario looked at Rose as he struggled with his inner thoughts. The evil girl smirked as if she knew what her former lover was thinking, which made Mario hesitate, but he soon shook off.
"Flame Wingman, attack!" shouted Mario.
The boy's hero soared toward Rose's Mystic Tomato as she smiled.
"When I said that I upped my game, I wasn't just talking about the cards in my deck, Mario. I got a whole new strategy. So by using the effect of my trap, Rose Uproot, by sending one Plant-type monster from my deck to the graveyard, I cancel out your monster's attack!" stated the Shadow Duelist as Mario's monster tried to break through the barrier that was put up but couldn't.
"Guess Rose's got some new tricks," muttered Mario.
"Well, this next move might make you disappear," responded the girl.
"Oh, great, what now."
Turn 5: Rose (Hand 2)
"Something new," proclaimed Rose as she drew. "First, it's destroyed since I used my Rose Uproot twice already. So you can now freely attack me. In addition, you're allowed to draw one card, and depending on what you draw determines its effect. If you draw a monster, you immediately banish it. Draw a spell and add it to your hand, but take one other card and shuffle it back into your deck. And if it's a trap, you can set it, but if you don't activate this turn, it's destroyed at the End Phase. So… feeling lucky?"
"Let's find out!" stated Mario as he drew.
The boy momentarily looked at the card he had drawn before slotting it into his duel disk, which materialized before him on the field. Seeing the card Mario had set gave her a clear indication of what card he had drawn, and she smiled. Yet, she wasn't worried and continued with her move.
"Now, I sacrifice the Rose Token on my field to advance summon Rose Tentacles(2200/1200)!" An octo-like rose monster appeared as it had sharp thorns on its legs. "And due to Rose Tentacle's ability, it gains an additional attack for every Plant-type monster you have out on the field. So, with those two Rose Tokens, Rose Tentacles can attack three times, which means it can clear your field! Go, my beast, take out his first token!"
Rose Tentacles lifted one of its arms as it whipped it and smashed one of the Rose Tokens on Mario's field. The boy flinched and covered up as he felt some of his clothes starting to have shreds.
Mario's Life Points: 6500-
"And for each Plant-type monster it destroys in battle, you take an additional 300 points of damage!" stated Rose.
Mario's Life Points: 6200-
"Now… take out his second Rose Token!"
Another whip, using its legs, lashed out as Mario's second token shattered. It took the boy off his feet and hit the ground.
Mario's Life Points: 4800-
"And by destroying that token, you lose another 300 points."
Mario's Life Points: 4500-
"Mario!" said Zipp as she was worried, seeing her friend lying on the ground.
A car was shown driving along the road, and inside was Isaac, Twilight, and their daughter. Rose was in the back with her mother as the woman held her child, who clutched and looked at her glowing mark. Roll then winced in pain as she clutched her arm tightly.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" asked Twilight.
"It's Mario… he's hurt," said Roll, as she felt her brother's pain from the latest attack he got from Rose tossing him around.
"We're almost there!" said Isaac as he accelerated.
"Please, hold on, Mario," said Twilight, looking out the window. She saw the glowing mark in the sky, and her worries for her son increased.
Back in the stadium, Mario began to stir as he sat up. The teen was in pain as he now had bruise marks on his skin. Rose enjoyed seeing the boy struggle as it made her laugh.
"Rose Tentacles, take out his Flame Wingman!" said the evil Shadow Duelist as one of its limbs whipped out to remove Mario's remaining monster.
"I activate my facedown, Hero's Barrier! With this, your attack is canceled out!" said Mario, thrusting his arm out as his monster was protected from destruction.
"I'll end my turn," stated Rose.
Turn 6: Mario (Hand 4)
"My move! Flame Wingman, take out Bird of Roses!" stated Mario as he commanded his monster. The boy's feathered monster took the air and came down on Rose's bird-like creature as it exploded into flaming petals. "Since Flame Wingman destroyed a monster, you now take damage equal to your monster's attack points!"
The boy's monster aimed his claw as it opened up and released a stream of fire in Rose's face, which covered up and flinched.
Rose's Life Points: 6200-
"And since you took damage, my Hero's Savior kicks in. So I draw a card, and if it's a monster, I get to summon it." Mario looked at his deck to collect himself before drawing. He then flipped the card over and saw it. "Now I'll destroy my Hero's Savior to summon my Elemental HERO Neos(2500/2000)!"
"Busting out your deck's top performer, I should be flattered, Mario," said Rose.
"Well, this next move will really make you feel special. Neos, take out Rose Tentacles!" commanded the boy as his monster put its hands together to concentrate and condense its cosmic energy into a ball that was fired and took out the monster.
Rose's Life Points: 5900-
"With that, I end my-!"
"I activate the trap, Soul Rope! Since a monster I control was destroyed and sent to the graveyard, I can pay 1000 Life Points to summon one Level 4 monster from my deck. So I'm bringing out my Rose Shaman(1700/200)!"
Rose's Life Points: 4900-
Turn 7: Rose (Hand 2)
"My move. And to start, I'll activate my Rose Shaman's ability to tribute him. Doing that allows me to draw a card." Rose looked at the card she picked up, and her smile grew wider. "I summon the tuner monster Naturia Rosewhip(400/1700)!"
"A tuner monster? Then that means…"
"I now tune my Level 3 Naturia Rosewhip with my Level 4 Mystic Tomato. Now it's been a while since I cracked open a math book, Mario, but I'm pretty sure that adds up to a Level 7 monster and adds up to your defeat!" stated Rose as her monster turned into three giant green rings that circled its comrade who turned into four white stars that lined up with a yellow light surging through.
"A cold flame envelops the world, and within its blinding light, a black flower blooms! Appear… Black Rose Dragon(2400/1800)!"
A petal blizzard appeared before it stopped, and Rose's monster stood there, letting out a fierce roar.
"Black Rose…" said Mario as he felt Rose would bring out one of her strongest monsters.
"Still remember it, Mario. Well, then you'll also remember this. Due to Black Rose Dragon's special effect, when it's Synchro Summoned, all the cards on the field are destroyed!" stated Rose.
The girl's dragon made another rose blizzard occur as it blew over the entire field. Mario covered up as he could feel the small bits of petals trying to tear up his clothes. All the while, Rose just stood there, enjoying the destruction she was causing as some of the chairs in the stadium were being destroyed. Zipp could see the destruction from the skybox she was in as it gave the heiress a worried look. The tornado died down as nothing was left in its wake.
"Don't you just love it?" smirked Rose as she admired all the chaos she created. "I now activate the second effect of my Rose Shaman. I can add a Plant-type monster to my hand by banishing him from my graveyard, so I'll take back my Renegarting Rose I sent away earlier. Then, because the monster I added to my hand is a Level 7 or higher, I can send a Plant-type monster from my deck to the graveyard."
"I don't like this," mumbled Mario.
"Next, because a Level 5 or higher Plant-type monster was destroyed, I can special summon my Revival Rose(1300/1300) from my graveyard!" stated the girl, using the second monster she sent away to block Mario's attack. "And with your field empty, nothing can stop me from attacking you directly. Oh, it's just so hard to find good defensive help these days. Revival Rose, make my ex feel the pain!"
The twin roses fired all their petals as Mario covered up. He was taken off his feet, collided with the forcefield, and slid to the ground on his stomach.
Mario's Life Points: 3200-
"Mario!" shouted Zipp as she saw her friend lying on the ground.
"With that, I set a card facedown."
Turn 8: Mario (Hand 5)
The boy began to stir as he struggled a bit to stand from Rose's latest attack. He now had some cuts on his skin as it was clear the girl's dark powers were throwing him around like a ragdoll. Nevertheless, the boy's never-say-die spirit willed him on to stand up as he looked to turn the duel around in his favor.
"It's… my turn. I draw. I summon Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier(1400/1300)!" stated Mario as a sprout of water appeared before it took form and solidified as his monster. "And when I normal summon my Liquid Soldier, I can revive a Level 4 or lower 'Elemental HERO' monster in my graveyard. So Avian is back in play! Now… Liquid Soldier, take out her Revival Rose!"
The boy's monster transformed back into water as it headed toward the flowers. It pierced through the two as it exploded upon impact.
Rose's Life Points: 4800-
"Avian, your turn. Go, Quill Cascade!" shouted Mario as his monster swung its wings and fired several quills from its feathered wings as it bombarded Rose, who covered up.
Rose's Life Points: 3800-
"I set a card facedown and end my turn."
Turn 9: Rose (Hand 3)
"Not bad, but… I play the spell card, Mark of the Rose."
"Ahh!" exclaimed Mario upon seeing that card.
"This lets me select one monster on your field and take control of it. Elemental HERO Liquid Soldier, what do you think about joining me?" smirked Rose as Mario's monster quickly changed sides. The hero stood before the girl as he bent down to a knee and gave the Shadow Duelist his loyalty while bearing the mark.
"My monster!"
"It looks like your hero has sworn allegiance to me. Thanks so much, Mi Armor. You always knew what I liked, " Rose said as Mario gritted his teeth. "But since I'm feeling generous, why don't I let you feel the sting of your monster's betrayal? Take out his Avian!"
The boy's turned monster zoomed back around as it zoned in on its former comrade. Avian put its arms up to defend itself before its ally destroyed it.
Mario's Life Points: 2800-
"Next, I'll equip the spell card Vengeful Servant onto my new hero. Now, when he returns to your field at the end of my turn, you lose even more Life Points. One for each of his attack points!" said Rose as Mario's eyes widened. "And wouldn't you know it? My turn ends right now. So, Liquid Soldier, why don't you go on home and unleash the true power of my Vengeful Servant? Now, strike down your former master!"
Mario's monster leaped into the air on command as he bawled his fist and thrusted it forward. Mario felt the gut punch from the attack of his own monster before he was pushed back and hit the ground hard again as he groaned in pain. The boy instinctively held his side as he felt searing pain; he felt like he was about to collapse.
Mario's Life Points: 1400-
"Mario!" yelled Zipp as she was worried about everything.
The boy was down to his last few Life Points as his ex controlled the duel. The evil girl laughed the hardest, as this duel was more fun than expected. Mario groaned as he lifted his head to see his opponent before his vision blurred. His glowing mark reflected the boy's condition, which resonated and seemed to tell the others about him.
"It burns!" said Hitch, as he grabbed his arm.
"Mine too," stated Izzy.
Sunny and the others had stayed behind at the estate while Roll and her parents went to check on Mario. Haven was with the teens as she could see all of them in some sort of burning pain as they all tightly held their arms. The group could feel Mario's life force weakening as he was clearly in deep trouble.
"Come on, lover boy… get up!" yelled Zipp as she tightly held her arm, feeling the aching pain.
Mario stood up and somehow managed to find the strength to get up. He stared down Rose, who didn't stop smirking as he put on a defiant look while clutching his bruised side.
"Don't go lying down on me, Mario. I want to make sure you stick around for this. After all, I've been dreaming of this day, and now I get to deal you a little justice, you backstabbing traitor!"
"Rose…"
"But nothing, Mi Amor!"
Turn 10: Mario (Hand 5)
"If that's the way it's going to be, I draw!" said Mario as he picked up the top card of his deck. "Rose, just tell me why you chose to join the darkness?"
Simple. I needed to free the old me that you were holding back."
"That's a lie. I only ever tried to help you because I loved you."
"Heh, look at how that turned out," barked Rose. "To think I gave my heart to be with you, but now… all I want to do is make you feel the hate that has filled my heart. I was a fool before, but now I'm wiser! So prepare to meet the shadows, Mario. This game is over."
"Nothing's over till I say it's over!" barked the boy.
"Ever the optimist… just like your father. You don't want to admit you're more similar to him than you'd like to think!"
"I'm not my father! Watch!" yelled the teen. "I activate the spell card, O - Oversoul. So now I can special summon my Elemental HERO Neos back from the grave. Then, I activate the spell card Miracle Fusion. So by banishing my Liquid Soldier and Neos, I can conduct a fusion summon!"
Both of Mario's monsters disappeared as the outline of a new monster appeared.
"I Fusion Summon! Elemental HERO Neos Knight(2500/1000)!"
Mario's monster appeared as it had the body of his Neos while it had a sword and shield.
"I activate my facedown, Synchro Spirits! By removing one Synchro monster from play, I can bring back the components used to summon it if they're in my graveyard. So by removing my Black Rose Dragon, I can bring out Mystic Tomato and Naturia Rosewhip!" stated the evil girl as she had two monsters appear in defense mode to protect herself, which Mario didn't like.
"Well, Neos Knight has got some special abilities of his own. First, he gains half of the attack points of my Liquid Soldier, boosting his attack to 3200. Then, his other effect allows him to deliver two attacks in this one battle. So charge, Neos Knight. Take out both of her monsters!" commanded Mario as his monster leaped forward and delivered two separate slashes that wiped the monsters Rose brought out.
"When Mystic Tomato is destroyed, I can special summon a Dark monster from my deck with fewer than 1500 attack points in attack mode," said Rose as a card slid out of her deck for her to grab. She momentarily looked at it before smirking. "And the card I choose is this… the dark tuner monster, Rose Sorceress(1400/1400)!"
"Dark tuner!?" exclaimed Mario as he witnessed Rose summon a brand new card.
Out came a witch in red garments. She wore a matching pointing hat and rode in on a broomstick with a small wand in her hand.
"I don't like that," said Zipp, seeing the dark tuner out on Rose's field.
"Well, I'm gonna activate the effect of my Liquid Soldier. Since it was used to fusion summon, I get to draw two cards and discard one!" stated Mario, looking at what he picked up before sending one away.
"I should be thanking you, Mario."
"And why's that, Rose."
"Ha, ha, ha! Because you get to last another round, I get another chance to toss you around. Plus… did you honestly think that by summoning out my Rose Sorceress, you weren't helping me to summon my most powerful beast?"
"What is it?" demanded Mario as he feared what Rose was referring to.
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough."
"In that case, I'm laying two facedowns!" said Mario as he did his best to prepare for the worst.
"Get ready, my old flame… because your days of dueling are over!" shouted Rose. "I just for your sake, your loyal friends don't ever have to feel the stinging pain of your betrayal."
Turn 11: Rose (Hand 2)
"Now… I draw. And I activate the spell card, Rose Bell of Revelation. With this spell's power, I can add a Plant-type monster with 2400 or more attack points to my hand. So, I'll add my Queen Angel of Roses(2400/1300). Then, by banishing my spell card, I can summon my newly added monster from my hand!"
"Mario, be careful!" said Zipp.
"Now… the time has come. I tune my dark tuner Level 3 Rose Sorceress with my Level 7 Queen Angel of Roses!" shouted the evil girl as she held her card up high.
"What's happening?!" shouted Mario as he felt the wind pick up.
"Look!" said Sunny as she peered out the estate window.
The girl saw the glowing mark in the sky light up even more. The people who were near the stadium also saw it before they each began to disappear into lights as they were all sucked in. The many flashing lights were now absorbed into the glowing mark as the outline of Rose's great beasts was shown. Watching from the moving car, Roll and her family were shocked by seeing the many people disappear, and they couldn't believe their eyes. The others also saw the same thing as they had their jaws drop.
"By channeling the life force of the many innocent souls, I call upon a beast of great power. When even darker shadows devour the shadows, the curtain pulls back to reveal a world without light! I Dark Synchro Summon! Come forth… Petal Doom Roseate Dragon(3500/3000)!"
The blinding light died down as Mario looked at Rose but saw nothing.
"Okay, so where's this monster then?" said the boy.
"Heh… it's right… there!" said the girl, pointing behind her former lover.
Mario turned around, gasped, and took some steps back. Towering over the stadium was Rose's giant, and I mean, giant beast. The beast was a dragon with deep, dark black skin and pink petals on its back; the rest was covered from head to toe in red roses that made it look like it had armor. The wings on its back were spread out as it reached from one end of the stadium to the other. The tail had sharp thorns on its back as it whipped it about.
"What the hell is that thing?" said Mario, taking in the sight of Rose's gigantic beast that looked down on him like an ant.
"Where did that come from!" said Zipp as she couldn't believe her eyes at what she saw.
"What the…" said Twilight, as they saw Rose's new monster from the back but couldn't see it from the front. However, that thing alone meant it was a threat.
"Ha, ha, ha, get ready to join the taken into the Shadow Realm!" declared Rose. "Petal Doom Roseate Dragon, obliterate my ex!"
On command, the dragon began to open its mouth and charge up its attack.
"I'm activating my facedown, Hero Barrier!"
"You're gonna have to try a lot more than that," snickered Rose as Mario's card fizzled out before it was set back down.
"What?!" said the boy as he couldn't believe his trap didn't go off.
The dragon fired its attack as it was coming at him.
"In that case, Neos, protect me!" commanded the boy as the monster looked to sacrifice itself to protect his master.
However, the attack passed through Neos Knight and didn't destroy him. Yet the attack was still coming at Mario.
"How can this be?" said Mario.
"My Petal Doom Roseate Dragon allows me to attack your Life Points directly!" laughed Rose.
Directly… but… then… There's nothing I can do. I can't stop this attack!
"MARIO!" shouted Zipp as the boy braced himself when the beam hit him.
The attack made contact as Mario yelled and was thrown high. He came crashing down and hit the ground hard, letting out a painful scream. The boy lay there, not stirring but wincing in pain. His duel disk was shattered and broken.
Mario's Life Points: 0-
Winner: Rose
At that moment, the marks on the others all ceased to glow. They each felt the pain go away, but sadness and dread followed them.
"Kids, what's the matter?" asked Haven, seeing the looks on the group.
"I'm not sure… but… I think Mario's been hurt," said Sunny as she clutched her heart, feeling her friend's life force fading.
Mario lay there as he was defeated and in immense pain. Rose cackled as she began to approach her fallen lover and smiled.
"Look at you. You're so pathetic. You can't fight your fate, Mario. You can't save the world from being obliterated. And you couldn't even save yourself! Now, say goodbye!" said Rose as she looked to send the fallen duelist to the shadows.
"Stop!" said a voice in Rose's mind.
"What?!" barked Rose as Opaline talked to the girl from their hideout using her crystal ball.
"Leave him!"
"Why?"
"Because we still need his energy to open the gates and unleash the army. The ritual has yet to be completed. The door to the Shadow Realm is opened only when combat is waged on the sacred battlefield. His power is still needed," said Opaline, as if they got rid of Mario right now, they couldn't summon the army of shadows to destroy the world.
"It's your lucky day, Mario. But next time, you won't be," said Rose as Mario just laid in incredible searing pain. "The Young Prince? More like a Fallen Prince if you ask me. Petal Doom Roseate Dragon, come to me!"
The Shadow Duelist held her card high as she remembered her mighty beast. The dragon roared as it was being returned to its origin. The seal surrounding the pair was gone, and the two were on the dark stadium ground. Rose then disappeared into dark shadow clouds, and they disappeared just when Zipp came down from the skybox. The heiress had seen what went down and immediately checked on her friend. At that moment, Isaac and his family arrived as they passed through the gates. They saw Mario on the ground as Zipp was crouched next to him, checking to see if he was okay.
"Mario!" shouted Twilight at seeing her son and rushed forward.
"Zipp, is he okay?" asked Roll as she came up on her friend.
"I don't know," said the girl as she grabbed the boy's head to hold in her arms. "Mario, speak to me."
"My gut…" said the boy as he felt his ribs were damaged.
"Help me get in the car!" said Twilight to the girls as they lifted the boy with his arms over their shoulders. They began to follow Twilight to the vehicle they arrived in.
Isaac watched his wife and the kids have to carry his son right past him as he couldn't believe the sight. He looked back at the stadium where his son was battling Rose and saw the destruction in its wake.
The darkness is stronger than we anticipated.
Isaac rushed after the others, got in the car, and drove away. Twilight was in the back with Zipp, and the woman held her son's head and rubbed his hair.
"It's going to be okay, Mario. Just stay with me, sweetie. Stay strong, please," said Twilight as she prayed for her son's condition.
As the car was zooming down the street toward the hospital, a figure was shown standing on top of the stadium. That figure was Rose as she put the hood of her cloak up and smiled, watching Mario having to be carried away.
"See you around, Mario," said the Shadow Duelist as she vanished in the blink of an eye.
To be continued…
Author's Note: It seems things are more serious than expected. Mario who not only lost the duel, but might have some broken bones to go along with feeling his ex's wrath. Now, one has to wonder, how the hell are Sunny and the gang going to be able to contend with Opaline and her forces, when they got giant creatures of darkness on their side and they only have the monsters in their decks to rely on. Safe to say, this war isn't going to be an easy one. Not to mention, not everyone might come back if Mario's performance in this duel is anything to go by.
