AN: Alright, Here is a chapter I hope to get out before or on Christmas.
Let's not waste any time as we get our first duel to the death.
CROWNLANDS-KING'S LANDING-RED KEEP-TRAINING GROUND
ROBERT I
R: 3500 B:1700
"Alligator Sword, Attack his Tyhone!" The lizard like being that was said to resemble the alligators in the Neck of the North ran forward on only two legs and used it's sword to cut right through the strange greenish yellow bat like creature.
"Now Vorse Raider, finish him off!" The Monster that looked humanoid save its fangs and horns brought its axe down on the defenseless Baelish, and his Life Points hit zero
R: Victory B: Defeat
The monsters faded from sight as the duel ended.
"An excellent victory Your Grace." Ser Barristan said as Stannis helped Baelish up.
"Hopefully I can repeat it against Trant." Robert muttered.
As time drew near for them to officially judge Meryn Trant, Robert- who had in the years of peace idealized his war experience- was suffering a reality check. The anticipation, the realization that there was a chance he could die, they say the waiting is the worst part of war, and right now, Robert knew it was true.
He had been training ever since that day, making small changes to his deck, and had cut back to a skin or two of wine per day. All so he could focus entirely on the upcoming battle.
He had dueled each member of the Kingsguard and the Small Council several times. If he lost, they went over what he did wrong and duelled again. But sometimes there was simply nothing he could do. Sometimes his hand was just filled with high level monsters stopping him from making any move. It did not happen often, but it was concerning when it did.
In the meantime, they had filled Trant's position with Balon Swann. Ser Barristan praised his honor and he was a good duelist and swordsman.
"Your Grace, for the last time, let me duel him." Robert turned around and watched as Jaime approached them. He had a dark look on his face, but it was different than what he looked like when Trant was usually concerned.
"I suppose they are not coming?" Robert hazard a guess to why Jaime was like that.
"No, it's probably for the best they do not appear." Jaime said with a sigh.
Tommen and Myrcella would be barred from watching the duel, on account of their age. Robert did not want them to watch him die or even just injured. But Joffrey and Cersei as heir and queen would be more expected to show up. But it seemed they as well would be missing.
"If anyone asks, they are in private prayer for your victory." Baelish suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Now then, let us not waste any more time. We can do one more duel before the trial." Robert said, wanting to get his mind back into the duel.
"Very well then. I shall take you on." Jaime said as he walked over to where Baelish stood before.
CROWNLANDS-KING'S LANDING-RED KEEP-THRONE ROOM
Robert sat upon the Iron Throne. It was as uncomfortable as ever, but it was a symbol of his power.
Trant would be brought up last. If Robert was to die today, he would take care of all the immediate business.
There was little things but for the most part three things stood out. A merchant arrested for not paying taxes claiming the tax collector must have pocketed it. He ordered a search of the collector's house while he was in the Red Keep. A brothel not owned by Littlefinger was being accused of also catering to Trant's perversion. Varys whispered that he would have a little bird check it out while Robert feigned ignorance and said without proof they would not act. And a Septon was going around claiming any who used a Dark attribute monster was in service with demons had popped up. By the time Robert had heard of it he had already left King's Landing. Though concerningly he took a handful of smallfolk with him.
After all of these issues well recorded or dealt with, it was time. Meryn Trant was brought in by two gold cloaks holding chains, flocked by Ser Jaime and Ser Boros behind them. He was marched to the center of the throne room, and made to kneel before the throne.
"Meryn Trant, formerly Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard, you have been accused of attempted rape of a child by myself, Sers Jaime and Barristan, and Lord Varys. Do you deny these accusations?"
"Aye, I deny them." Trant spat out. "You did not see me do anything to the bitch."
"You held her against a wall and were about to tear her clothes off."
"I am a Kingsguard, I'm supposed to interrogate suspicious people who could do you harm." Trant yelled.
"A girl of five is someone you think can endanger the royal family?" Robert yelled. After a moment of silence he continued. "We have word you frequented a brothel. The gold cloaks went there after your arrest and found half a dozen girls less than six years old working there. The man in charge admitted they were kept specifically for you and others who share your perversion. We also have the word of many of handmaid's that this was not the first girl of noble birth that you had chosen. We even have word from your nephew, the current Lord Trant. He said the entire reason your brother recommended you for the Kingsguard was to protect his daughter, who would have been seven when you joined."
"Lies, all lies." Trant yelled as the crowd around them all looked at him with condemning eyes. "If my word is not enough to prove my innocence, then the gods shall prove it for me. I demand a Trial by combat! With the Cards!" The room went silent for a moment, before whispers filled the throne room with more sound than when they were yelling.
"Very well then. Guards, remove the accused's cuffs." The Gold Cloaks did so, and Robert walked down the steps of the Iron Throne. In their shock that king himself would be risking his life, the crowd was pushed either back or to the side, until there was a clear area from wall to wall between the two. Robert's two squires- Lancel and Tyrek Lannister- came out with two tables on wheels, Each one filled with cards. A regular trial by combat allowed both combatants to choose from the same weapons and armor, so a trial with cards included given them a chance to improve their this was happening, the High Septon-who had been summoned before hand- blessed the duel and said the gods shall favor the just. Robert scanned the cards but chose none, trusting the ones he already had. Trant on the other hand, grabbed a few that Robert could not see. Once Lancel and Tyrek were out of the way, Robert and Trant summoned their disks, shuffled their decks, and began the duel as their disk's flashed their Life Points
R: 4000 T: 4000
"As the accused, Meryn Trant shall have the first move." Stannis said as the highest royal besides Robert stood between them before walking to the side.
"My move then." Meryn Trant said as he drew a card before looking at his hand. He grabbed three. "I play two cards face down, then I summon Furious Sea King!" A blue man like creature with the head of a fish appeared with a red cape, in his hands was a trident. It had 800 Attack and Defense.
"I end my turn." Trant declared.
"Very well then, It's my turn!" Robert yelled as he drew a card. He looked at his hand: Guardian of the Throne, Machine King Prototype, Queen's Knight, Drain Shield, Machine Assembly Line, and he just drew Waboku.
'He summoned such a weak monster. If it was the only monster in his hand, he could have played it in defense mode. It has to be a trap. Would it be better to let it stay on the field, or should I trip it to get it out of the way while I can still afford to make mistakes? I have my own traps to protect me as well.'
"I will do as you did, and place these two cards face down. But I summon Queen's Knight!" A woman with blonde hair wearing red armor appeared on the field. She held a sword with a red crossguard in her left hand, while her right held a decent sized shield with a red diamond on the top, a heart on the bottom, a black clover on the left, and a spade on the right.
"Now Queen's Knight, Attack Furious Sea King!" (Live out Cersei's wildest fantasy went unsaid).
"I activate my Trap card :Mirror Mail!" Suddenly, Furious Sea King was covered in armor made out of Myrish Looking glass. "This makes his Attack equal to Queen's Knight."
"So they shall both be destroyed then?" Robert queried.
"Not quite, my other trap activates: Mirror Wall! This lowers your monster's attack by half when it attacks me."
Queen's Knight's sword hit a wall of looking glass that popped up in front of the Sea King. suddenly she could not move, and Sea King skewered her with his trident. Part of her armor went flying backwards, and cut Robert's arm.
R: 3250 T: 4000
Robert looked at the blood dripping down his arm. It hurt but no worse than a regular cut. If he won he knew it would disappear as if it never happened.
"I end my turn." Robert declared.
"My move then." Trant said as he drew. "In order to keep Mirror Wall on the field, I need to give up 1000 Life Points every turn, else it is destroyed.
R: 3250 T: 3000
Unlike Robert, who had a physical injury, Trant just looked a bit winded. Like he had been in a good spar.
"First I play Double Summon! This allows me to summon two monsters this turn. First I summon Kojikocy!" A shirtless man with a sword and strong arms appeared, he wore no shirt but did wear a helm with a spike on it, as well as leggings with pieces of metal and spikes.
"Next I summon a monster face down. Next I attack with Furious Sea King!" The Sea King charged at Robert with it's Trident, only to be stopped by a group of Septas wearing blue robes.
"This is my trap card, Waboku, it makes any damage I receive this turn 0."
"Then I end my turn." Trant said.
"My Move." Robert drew his card. 'That Mirror Wall is a problem. If I wanted to destroy one of his monsters, mine would need to have at least 3050 Attack points, and its likely he could just destroy those. But if I do not attack, then he can't halve their strength.'
"I summon Bull Blader, in attack mode. Then I end my turn." A man-shaped creature appeared, but any hint of flesh was obscured by metal. Its head was that of a bull, with red metal horns twice the size of the head. It had 1600 Attack.
"My Move then." Meryn Trant drew a card. "Due to Mirror Wall, I lose another 1000 Life Points."
R: 3250 T: 2000
'I have the advantage for now, but I can't hurt him myself' Robert thought to himself.
"I summon Dark Blade in Attack mode." A warrior in black armor covered in spikes and cloaked in shadows appeared on the field.
"Now he shall attack your Bull Blader!" Dark Blade ran forward only for Bull Blader to pull out a shield and block the attack.
"That would be my Drain Shield. It negates your attack and I gain Life Points equal to your attack."
R: 5050 T: 2000
A cheer went up in the crowd. Robert was winning by over double Trant's Life Points.
"In that case, I end my turn." Meryn Trant said, looking worriedly at his Disk showing 2000.
"My move then." Robert declared. He drew a card. 'This may be able to buy me some time, plus I can get another monster on the field.'
"First I play the Spell card Hammer Shot. This card destroys the monster with the Highest Attack on the field." A Giant hammer descended from the ceiling and crushed Dark Blade.
"Next I summon Guardian of the Throne in attack mode." A metallic figure resembling a knight appeared on the field. On its back were long metallic objects that functioned like arrows or javelins.
"That will be it for now." Robert told Trant.
"My Move then. Unfortunately, I must get rid of Mirror Wall." The wall faded from existence.
"But now it's time to clear the field. I flip summon my face down Cyber Jar!" Suddenly a metallic jar appeared. In its opening was a face. It opened its mouth and all the monsters on the field were sucked into it. Then it exploded.
"First Cyber Jar destroys all monsters on the field. Then we each draw five cards and summon as many monsters from them as possible." Meryn Trant did so and got three monsters. "I summon Jinzo #7, Nightmare Horse, and Raging Flame Sprite." A man covered in purple rags with his brain exposed save for some glass, a horse covered in white rags that seemed to be made out of blue light, and a small human like creature in a strange hat and holding a ball of fire appeared on the field.
Robert drew his five cards and summoned two. "I summon Alligator Sword, and Axe Raider." Alligator sword was joined by a muscular man in a yellow chest-plate and helmet, weilding an axe.
"Your monsters may be more powerful, but they will not help you. I play Swords of revealing Light." Swords of light descended on Robert's side of the field, pinning his monsters in place. "This stops you from attacking me for three turns. And while your monsters may be stronger, mine are all allowed to attack you directly. Like this!" All three charged at Robert, Jinzo cutting his stomach, Flame Sprite throwing a ball of fire on his leg, and Nightmare horse Tackling Robert to the ground.
R: 3950 T: 2000
"That will finish up my turn, but you should know, when Raging Flame Sprite deals damage from a direct attack, he gains a thousand attack points." The Flame Sprite grew in size as the turn ended.
"My move then." Robert declared. He looked at the four new cards he had gained since his last turn. 'With those swords in the way, my options are limited.'
"I play my own Double Summon to bring forth both Machine King Prototype, and Aye-Iron." A red metal man appeared on a throne, and to his side was a metal animal that had some sort of instrument in its hands.
"Since I can not attack anyway, I activate Aye-Iron's ability, raising his attack by 400. Also Machine King Prototype gets an extra 100 attack for other machine monsters on the field. That will be it for me this turn." Aye-Iron clapped the instruments together and grew in size.
"My turn then." Trant said as he drew. "First I play Dian Keto the Cure Master, which shall give me another 1000 Life Points. Now I attack with all three monsters again!" A repeat of the last turn occurred, only this time Robert's leg actually caught on fire. This caused him to fall on the ground from the tackle. He did not immediately get up.
R: 1850 T: 3000
"I end my turn. With Swords of Revealing Light still in play, you can not attack me this turn, then I can finish you off." Trant laughed as the Flame Spirit once again grew in size.
'Is this it then?' Robert thought as he tried to stand, the pain of the last attack lingering like his wound from Rhaegar. 'Well, I had a good life. Better than most. Met Ned, became king. May have hated it but it was definitely not something my father would have expected. Maybe it's time. Stannis, Renly and Jon can reign in Joffrey, and even if he wins everyone will know of Trant's crime. He may say he is innocent, but he will end up dead sooner or later. Maybe it's time to see Lyanna again.'
Robert glanced around the room. The Iron Throne, where Stannis stared at him. Most would see it as a disapproving look but being his brother Robert knew it was Stannis' concerned face. Varys was biting his lip, Jon looked like he wanted to jump in the duel himself. A look Barristan shared. He looked into the crowd behind Trant. There were many nobles whispering about if he was about to die, Tommen and Gendry were looking at him with worried looks on their faces, some small folk were watching the duel in amazement, the High Septon seemed to be looking worried.
...Wait.
Robert looked back at the crowd again.
Sure enough, there was Gendry, his bastard he had come across and Tommen. Gendry seemed to be trying to hide Tommen from the rest of the crowd, but Robert could see him easily.
Suddenly a memory flooded back to Robert. Three boys, one just barely a man, watching a ship sink into the bay, carrying both their parents to the Stranger.
'Not them' Robert thought as he got back to his feet. 'They will not go through what we did.' Robert stood up, and to those who fought in the rebellion, the Demon of the Trident had returned.
"That the best you got you sick fuck? My turn." Robert drew a card and then played it the moment he laid eyes on it. "I play my spell card, Mystical Space Typhoon, and now your swords are swept away!" The swords shattered from a sudden burst of wind.
"Now then, I sacrifice my Alligator Sword and Axe Raider, in order to summon Perfect Machine King!" The Larger and improved version of Machine King Prototype appeared, it had red metal for skin, and white metal for armor. Suddenly, pieces of Aye-Iron and Prototype flew off of them, and became part of Perfect Machine King.
"That would be his effect, it's the same as Prototype, but he gets an extra 500. And of course Prototype also gets a 100 more as well. Now then. Prototype will destroy your Jinzo #7." Prototype let loose a punch that removed his arm and struck Jinzo #7 with enough force to decapitate him.
R: 800 T: 1800
"Next, Aye-Iron will destroy Nightmare Horse." Aye-Iron brought its instruments together, and the resulting sound wave dissipated Nightmare Horse's body.
R: 800 T: 300
"Now then, Perfect Machine King, destroy his Raging Flame Sprite!" Machine King simply walked up to the sprite, and just crushed it with their hands.
R: Victory T: Defeat
"Meryn Trant, you have been found guilty of the rape and attempted rape of multiple children. May the gods send you to the Seven Hells. Perfect Machine King, finish him off." The Machine King walked up to Trant.
"No...This can't be...I don't deserve this. Merc-" Perfect Machine King grabbed Trant's head and squeezed it until it exploded, covering itself with blood. The monsters faded, and the blood and gore from Trant fell to the ground.
The crowd went into a cheer at the sight of their king's victory. They watched as his previous injuries seemed to fade away the moment the duel ended.
"Clean this filth at once! The rest of you get out of here." Robert yelled to no one in particular. Everyone began to disperse, but Gendry and Tommen stayed to side and when most of the crowd left approached Robert. Stannis, Jon and the rest of the Small Council came to him as well.
"Tommen! Why are you here?" Jaime exclaimed in concern at the sight of his nephew.
"Ser Pounce found a hole in my room!" The young prince explained. Everyone looked at Varys.
"Maegor built the keep and killed all the builders, even I do not know every single tunnel or secret room." Varys tried to point out.
"Pardon me, uh...Your Grace." Gendry started to speak. "I was making a delivery to the armory here, when I found Prince Tommen here outside. He came up to me and asked me to help find you. We followed the crowd and I tried to keep him close so no one got any ideas." The boy was obviously nervous from being surrounded by so much nobility.
"No-no it's fine lad, you did well. Ser Jaime, maybe you should bring the prince to the royal chambers, I'm sure his absence has been noted by now."
Jaime nodded and grabbed Tommen's hand and guided him back to the royal quarters.
This left Robert and Gendry with the small council and kingsguard. Those not already aware of Gendry's existence by now have picked up on his identity.
"W-uh well then Y-Your Grace, my master Tobho Mott is probably wondering what is taking me so long. So I guess I'll uh… be on my way back." Gendry said as he started to walk away. The only one not knowing he was speaking to his father.
Robert looked at the small council. Baelish had a neutral expression, Varys was looking as uncomfortable in the situation as Robert felt, Ser Barristan looked at him, as did Jon and Stannis. Renly had seen his old squire Ser Loras and snuck off to talk to him.
Robert began to approach Gendry "Now wait lad. Your master can't quite complain about you being late if I tell him you were doing something to help my family. Besides I can thank him for giving me the cards I used in that duel."
Gendry nodded along to the idea of walking through the city next to the king, and they began to walk out of the throne room, flanked by Barristan and Blount.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Robert decided to break it by questioning his son.
"So, then lad, how do you like being a blacksmith."
AN: And Happy Holidays to all my viewers.
This chapter kept getting interrupted by holiday activities, hopefully it works.
If anyone is interested in making fanart of this story, feel free to send it to me and I can use it for the cover image. I will of course credit any who do so.
First Life or Death duel ends in Robert's monster executing Meryn Trant.
Not sure where I am going to place the next chapter, may just do several small pieces from all over. So I will just explain a random character's deck that I have finished.
Might as well continue with this chapter's focus on Baratheons.
MYA STONE: Lives in the kingdom of the Sky, but her name brings her down to the Earth. She duels using a mix of Wind and Earth Attribute cards.
Signature cards: Harpie Lady and Stone Statue of the Aztecs.
These are not her strongest, just ones she tends to start off with.