This was the moment, she wasn't going to lose again, not under the eyes of the boy she liked.
"I was waiting for this... I'll win, and then I'll tell him how I feel" Celina thought with full focus.
"Let's duel!" Celina and Yugo shouted as the duel began and they took their 5 cards.
"Allow me to start! I draw!" Celina drew her card and after some seconds of reflection she knew what to do.
"First thing, I activate Lunalight Black Sheep's effect from my hand, by discarding her I can add Polymerization to my hand, then I proceed by activating it!" Celina announced.
"She's already starting with a fusion, what a great way to kick off the show" Yuya never ceased to be impressed by her.
"I unite my Yellow Marten, my Purple Butterfly and my Blue Cat... Fusion Summon! Come, Lunalight Sabre Dancer!" Celina raised her arm indicating the Polymerization vortex, from which her new creature came out.
"This is a new one, didn't remember about it" Yugo said observing it.
"She can't be targeted by your cards' effects, also she gains 200 more attack points for every Beast-Warrior type monster that is in both graveyards or banished, so at the moment she rise up to 3200 attack points!" She said as her beast received a power up.
"Then, since Yellow Marten was sent to the graveyard, I can add a Lunalight Spell or Trap Card from my deck directly to my hand" Celina did just that showing Lunalight Fusion as the chosen card.
"I'll keep this for later, it will come in handy" Celina though adding it to her hand.
"And last, I set one card face down, it's your turn now!" She said ending her turn.
"A pretty nice opening move from Celina" Zuzu complimented.
"And she already has follow up with that fusion spell, she knows what she is doing" Yuto agreed.
"Yeah, she knows how Yugo's deck works now, she will be prepared" Yuya said smiling.
"Okay, my turn, let's speed up this duel, draw!" Yugo drew his card.
"I summon Speedroid Horse Stilts in attack mode! When it's summoned it lets me special summon a tuner from my hand, so come along Speedroid Tri-eyed dice, this triggers its effect which lets me choose a level between 1 and 6, Horse stilts will become of the level I choose, so 6 it is!" Yugo had now its two monsters on the field.
"We know what he's gonna do now" Rin said with a smile.
"My two monster now tune together, Synchro Summon! Clear Wing Synchro Dragon!" Yugo called his dragon on the field.
"But I'm not done, I activate the spell card Speed Recovery, which lets me summon back a Speedroid from my graveyard, so come back Tri-eyed dice! Then, now my monsters tune together again, so I can bring my pride to the field, Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon!" He raised his arm to the sky as the two monsters tuned together brought Clear Wing's evolution to life, with its 3000 attack points.
"I was waiting for you to bring him out" Celina said with a determined look.
"And prepare yourself! You know how strong he is" Yugo said with a prideful look.
"Crystal Wing, attack Saber Dancer!" Yugo ordered to his monster.
"As you should know, when Crystal Wing battles a level 5 or higher monster it gains attack equal to the original attack of that monster, so he now has 5600 attack points!" He said as Crystal Wing powered himself up.
Crystal Wing effectively destroyed Sabre Dancer sending her to the graveyard, Celina's Life Points took a big hit, losing a big chunk equal to 2400, she raised her arms in defense but looked pretty much unfazed by the dragon's might, her LP dropping to 1600.
"Oh no, Celina!" Yuya was a little worried.
In that moment she looked to her side, flashing him a smile, as to say "Don't worry".
"I then set a card and end my turn, your move!" Yugo said, sure to have the advantage.
"Not bad, but I never lose twice to the same opponent, I draw!" Celina drew her card, it was Lunalight Crimson Fox.
She closed her eyes for a moment, before reflecting on her next move.
"I see a path to victory, YES!" She thought as all came clear to her.
"Okay, to begin I activate my set card, it's the continous trap Lunalight Serenade Dance!" Celina announced.
"That's another new one..." Yugo said in surprise.
"You are the one that told me I have to improvise and find new strategies right?" Celina said with a smile.
"Well, yes... Let's see what you can do!" Yugo challenged.
"I activate now my spell card, Lunalight Fusion! It's even better than Polymerization, since you control a monster summoned from the Extra Deck, I can send a material for a fusion directly from my deck or Extra Deck to the graveyard, and I proceed in sending my Lunalight Panther Dancer as material, together with my White Rabbit and Crimson Fox from my hand! Fusion Summon! My wild lunar beast, descend onto the battlefield! Lunalight Leo Dancer!" She pridely announced as her boss monster come into play, with her massive 3500 attack points.
"I've already defeated that kitty and I can do it again!" Yugo said without fear.
"We'll see about that, since Crimson Fox was sent to the graveyard I can reduce the attack of a monster you control to 0, until the end of this turn!" Celina said.
"Seems you forgot about Crystal Wing's special ability, once per turn I can negate a monster effect activation, and I decide to negate your Crimson Fox" Yugo said as Celina's tactic was neutralised, expecting her to be worried, but that was not the case.
"Just as planned" Celina smiled knowing she had read him right.
"What?" Yugo was the one surprised instead.
"She had planned everything? She's really something else" Yuya was nearly mesmerized.
"You can only negate once per turn with Crystal Wing, that's his limit, and you took my bait" Celina explained before continuing.
"Now my Serenade Dance activates, when a Fusion monster is summoned, it gains 500 attack points for every monster you control, so Leo Dancer has now 4000 attack points!" She said as Leo Dancer got the power boost.
"It still doesn't mean anything, you have to attack Crystal Wing to get to me, and you know that he will gain 3500 more attack points when you will order the attack!" Yugo said knowing that his Dragon could not lose to her Leon.
"I'm aware of that, that's why I have Serenade Dance's second effect, I can special summon a Lunalight token on your side of the field in attack mode!" Celina said as her new tactic was now clear.
"On my field? But... NO!" Yugo realised what he was in for.
"That's smart, now she can attack into the token and deal massive damage" Yuto noted.
"My set card, Compulsory Evacuation Device would send her monster back to the hand, but I can't target her, it's useless..." Yugo thought knowing he couldn't stop this attack.
"Now I can go into Battle Phase, Leo Dancer, attack the token!" She ordered dealing 2000 point of damage to Yugo, who still had 2000 LP left.
"It's not enough to defeat me, I still have my Crystal Wing and on the next turn you are done" Yugo said with a smug look.
Celina had a smug smile too.
"Looks like you are the one who forgot what my monster can do, when Leo Dancer battle a monster I can use her effect, which destroys all your special summoned monster, say goodbye to Crystal Wing!" Celina said as Leo Dancer proceeded to annihilate Crystal Wing.
"And I can't negate that..." Yugo said as he watched his dragon being destroyed.
"Exactly! And one more thing, Leo Dancer can attack twice, so this duel is over Yugo! Leo Dancer, attack him directly, Moonlight Slash" She shouted, and as the attack went through Yugo's LP dropped to 0.
"And it's done, Celina won the duel, but it was a really great match! Congratulations to both!" Declan announced as the crowd cheered.
The two met at the center of the stage.
"Congratulations Celina, you totally outplayed me there!" Yugo said admitting his defeat offering his hand.
"It was not easy, you are one of the strongest opponent I have ever faced, so I needed to be prepared, also I have to thank you." Celina said while shaking his hand.
"Thank me? For what?" Yugo said confused.
"Well, thanks to our duel back in the Friendship Cup I understood what Yuya meant about dueling and having fun. That defeat made me work harder on myself, I knew I had to do better to help everyone." Celina said as she released his hand.
"I see, but in the end you and the others saved us all, I should be the one thanking you" Yugo said with a smile.
"We are even I guess" Celina shrugged it as they then went separate ways, getting off the stage.
She proceeded then to search for Yuya, and he was the one reaching for her.
"That's what I call a fabulous duel Celina, you were great!" Yuya complemented.
"Thanks Yuya, I appreciate that" Celina was so happy of her achievement, but it was now time for her most difficult trial, being sincere with her feelings.
"I'm going on the balcony to relax a little, would you like to join me?" She asked, it should be a place when they would be alone.
"Sure, let's go!" He agreed, having in mind the same idea.
As they walked towards the balcony they could already see a full moon shining on them, only witness of what will be a duel only fought from the heart.