This one took longer than I thought, but I'm pleased with how it turned out. Last time, Flame failed to save a defeated Duelist due to Devil Kaiser intervening. What does this mean for the ones who haven't fought yet? The stakes are higher than ever now that no one is truly safe.
Yugioh: The Hope of Six
Chapter 38: Kaiser Arc – Part 10
Devil Kaiser was pleased. He definitely felt all the life force of David Rabb after his defeat against Edo Phoenix. While he did feel that someone or something was trying to stop him, it wasn't enough in the end. He felt his strength increase from his success. "Yes. That's more like it. If I do this for the remaining Duels, my full recovery will be assured!" He then laughed like the monster he was.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Edo stared opened mouthed at where David stood. He knew something had gone wrong as he turned to look back at Judai and the others. 'The way David vanished… it wasn't the same as with Emi and Chronos. What the hell just happened? Is he even alive?' However, Edo was too weak and injured to think. He could barely stand now. He started to get woozy and began to collapse like David did when he felt himself being caught in time. He looked up to see it was Judai and Johan on either side of him.
"Need a hand?" Judai asked. Edo smiled weakly.
"No thanks. I… can manage." He said, trying to sound tough.
"Yeah, we can see that." Johan sarcastically. "Still, I think we should help you out this time. You know, to be on the safe side." Edo chuckled but moaned from the pain.
"Fine. Just this once." He relented as he allowed himself to be helped out the arena. "And… thanks." He said in a quieter voice, showing his appreciation. Judai and Johan smiled back and nodded.
"That's what friends are for." Johan told him. Edo said no more as the trio walked.
When they regrouped with the others, it was clear the concern on their faces was genuine. For everyone knew that this time, a person actually died. Edo turned to Misawa and Zweinstein, both of whom shook their heads in dismay. He cursed mentally, knowing he had guessed right.
"I don't get it. What went wrong out there? Why wasn't that jackass saved like the others were?" Grace asked softly after the group huddled together at the console.
"That thing with the tentacles… it moved more aggressively this time. It seemed bound and determined to claim the next loser." Asuka noted.
"And it succeeded." Gloria added in an ominous tone.
"So wait, does this mean people will die for real now?" Sho said in great worry.
No one answered him. There was no need. They all knew that whoever loses in the remaining Duels, they would be goners for sure.
Judai wished he could converse with Flame, but he didn't want to risk exposing him with Amon and his team watching nearby. Johan, Edo, Misawa, Zweinstein, and Samejima were the only ones on their side in the dark about the Fire Ignis.
Fortunately, he was spared the trouble with another message from the console, which Misawa read aloud in a whisper. "Everyone, listen to this: "Don't despair. Will be better prepared for next time. Stay strong." Who or whatever is aiding us seems confident it won't happen to the next defeated Duelist."
"Indeed." Zweinstein said, wishing he knew who was making all these messages and helping them. Judai and most of his team knew, and decided they had to not lose hope. They had to believe they would make it out of this somehow, and they would.
Knowing this, Fubuki took a quick glance at Reggie. She did seem to be sympathetic toward their position. The young man still couldn't wrap his head around why his old childhood friend would be involved in something like this. 'Reggie… just what is going on with you? Why are you doing this?'
On the other side, Reggie met Fubuki's eyes before quickly turning away. She shut her own eyes tight, hating this whole situation. Though she hated David, she never wished for him to die the way he did. Though she was curious as to why David's death appeared different than the others, it wasn't her primary concern. She was glad Fubuki wouldn't be dueling here, but it didn't change the fact that his own friends would perish should they fall. Judai's team hasn't lost anyone… yet. 'Fubuki… I wish I can tell you, that you can understand my reasons. But…' She stopped herself from thinking why she could never explain herself. It was just too painful to relive.
"Commander MacKenzie." Reggie automatically snapped to attention when she was addressed by her superior.
"Captain?" She asked, dreading what she was about to hear.
Echo gazed sternly at her. Her softened features from earlier were gone. Now she was back to being all business. "You will duel next. March up there and defeat your enemy. Do not fail. Understand?" Reggie fought to keep her face neutral when she nodded.
"Aye, Captain Echo." She responded before heading out onto the arena. As she did, Echo stared after her and inwardly sighed.
'Reggie… I'm sorry for putting you through this. There is just no other way. You must understand that.'
"Can she pull off a win for us? I mean, if your guy Rabb couldn't…" Amon said, doubt in his voice.
"Reggie MacKenzie is strong. She won't fail us." Echo said to her beloved.
"Alright then." He told her. Of course, it didn't really matter to him who wins or loses in this place. Not if it meant Shido could be awakened once again.
When Johan saw Reggie step up, he knew it was his turn to do the same. "Well guys, looks like I'm up next." He said, about to take out his Duel Disk from his bag.
"Johan, watch yourself out there. If David was that tough, then that Reggie girl must be even tougher." Edo warned.
"Don't lose." Masumi added.
"That makes three of us." Manjome said.
"Guys, relax. Johan is a great Duelist. He'll be fine. Right?" Judai asked as he turned to his friend. Johan smiled.
"Judai's right. I'll be okay. And besides," He said while finally getting his Duel Disk out. "This means I can finally use my new toy." As he strapped it on, Judai and the others noticed it was different compared to other Duel Disks they've seen. Unlike the Disks they were used too, Johan's was shaped like a small white square. There was no visible extension to play cards on either.
"What kind of Duel Disk is that?" Judai asked curiously while staring at it.
"I've never seen one like that before." Serena said.
"Neither have I." Yuri added. Johan chuckled.
"Just watch and see; I think you're all going to be impressed. Now then, I'll see you guys back here when all's said and done." With that, Johan headed up to meet up with Reggie.
"That Johan guy sure is confident." Serena said.
"I'm sure he believes in himself and in his Deck. He'll need that belief to win." Ryo told her.
"Please, be alright!" Asuka called out.
"Good luck pal!" Judai said.
Johan gave them a thumbs up and and one more confident smile. He knew what he had now would blow everyone's minds. As he walked, a spirit of a small purple cat like creature with four ears and a ruby on it's tail appeared next to him. It seemed concerned for him as it made a small "Mew.". Johan smiled at it.
'It's okay Ruby. Everything will be fine. We got this.' He told the spirit. Feeling his confidence, "Ruby" nodded before vanishing. Johan now stood opposite of Reggie, who appeared stone faced. "So, ready to have some fun, Commander?" He asked. Reggie strapped on and activated her Duel Disk.
"There is no room for fun, Johan Andersen. Only the battle… a battle I must win." Johan sighed.
"There's always time for fun. Maybe I just need to give you a friendly reminder!" He told her before activating his new Duel Disk, creating a white holographic surface.
"That's new." Amon said, surprised by the new feature.
"Johan's Duel Disk… it works like the Disks from our world." Serena said to Yuri, Masumi, Ryo, Gloria, and Grace. They nodded.
"Where did he get one like that?" Judai wondered.
After the Disk's activation, a computer voice spoke up.
"Field Magic: Crossover K Activated." And then, several blue platforms materialized throughout the arena, earning a surprising gasp from everyone around.
"What is this?" Reggie stared dumbfounded at all the platforms. Yuri and Masumi stared at one another, extremely shocked and having the same thought. 'No way! How is that possible?!' They both knew what those platforms meant… but they didn't see how it could be.
Johan smiled at how dumbfounded Reggie looked. "Believe me, what you see is just the tip of the iceberg! Shall we get started?"
After shaking off her surprise, Reggie regained her composure and stood at the ready. "Yes. Let's do so." She responded as their match started.
"DUEL!"
(Johan: 4000) (Reggie: 4000)
"How's about ladies first?" Johan kindly offered. Reggie frowned.
"I appreciate the gesture, but it is not necessary. Still, I will take you up on it. My turn! Draw!" 'I have to start slow. I need to in order to get an understanding of him and his tactics.' Reggie thought as she studied her cards. "I Summon Seraphim Gunner!" (LIGHT; Level 4; ATK: 1800; DEF: 1200) A golden cloaked angel with a rifle appeared on the Field. "I play Angel Ring! This Field Magic card gives 200 Attack Points to all "Fairy" Monsters on the Field, such as my Seraphim Gunner!"
(Seraphim Gunner's ATK: 1800 + 200 = 2000)
"So she plays with Fairies too." Rei said, having a Fairy Deck herself. Before long, everyone noticed something odd.
"Wait! Two Field Magic cards can't be in play at the same time! Yours should've been destroyed when I played mine! Why is it still activated?" Reggie questioned, surprised that both Field cards were in play.
"Crossover K is unique. During a Duel in which it is active, the Duelist opposite the one who activated Crossover K can play their Field card! So we both can use our own Fields!" Johan told her.
"That's cool!" Judai commented. The others all agreed.
"Well, that is good to know. Moving on. Next I play Heaven's Lost Property! This forces both of us to draw three cards, then discard two!" Reggie and Johan both drew and discarded their cards. "Then I Set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"That's a nice start. I'm up! My turn! Draw!" Johan smiled brightly. 'Alright! I can pull it off now!' He thought excitedly. "Get ready Commander, cause I got something here that is sure to impress everyone, including you!"
"Do you?" Reggie asked him. Johan continued to smile.
"What is Johan talking about?" Masumi asked Judai, who shrugged.
"No idea. He did say he had some new tricks, but he didn't say what tricks exactly. Edo?" He turned to his old rival, who leaned on the console for support.
"He told me the same thing, but he wouldn't elaborate. I assume he was going to reveal it in that Duel we were supposed to have before this nonsense happened." With that, Judai and everyone refocused their attention on the Duel.
"Here we go! With my Scale 2 Gem Protector and Scale 5 Gem Vanguard, I Set my Pendulum Scale!" Johan declared as he placed two cards on opposites sides of his Duel Disk. On the right hand side of the Field appeared a blue caped, blonde man wearing a visor over his face and was holding a sword. On the left stood a dark skinned, long blue haired figure wielding a large purple staff. Both of them stood in a column of light.
Judai immediately recognized what Johan was about to do, and he was both surprised and excited. He also noticed something about the two figures. 'Those Monsters. The one with the sword looks a lot like Johan himself, and the other kinda looks him when he was possessed…'
"By me." Yubel finished his thought. Judai noticed the regret in her voice.
'Hey, that's in the past. Don't dwell on your mistakes, Yubel. Just live in the here and now.' He told her. Yubel nodded without another word.
"Pendulum Scale?!" Yuri said, shocked.
"He can't!" Masumi said disbelievingly.
"Is he really…?" Ryo started to ask.
"What? What's he doing?!" Edo demanded.
"I think we're about to find out!" Judai said, more excited than confused. Reggie didn't say anything, but confusion definitely showed on her face.
"Go for it Johan!" Gem Protector said to his master.
"Show her our power!" Gem Vanguard added with fervor.
"I'm on it!" Johan said to the duo. "With these two in place, I can now Summon Monsters that are Levels 3 and 4! Pendulum Summon! Come out! Gem Beast Topaz Tiger! (EARTH; Level 4; ATK: 1600; DEF: 1000) Gem Beast Amethyst Cat! (EARTH; Level 3; ATK: 1200; DEF: 400) And Gem Beast Sapphire Pegasus!" (WIND; Level 4; ATK: 1800; DEF: 1200) Standing before Johan now were a muscular white tiger with a yellow gem on both sides of the neck and spikes on it's head and legs, a slender light pink cat with wings on it's legs and a purple gem embedded in a golden ornament on it's chest, and a white winged horse with a blue horn on the head and two blue gems on it's wings.
"What the hell is a Pendulum Summon?!" Makoto and Chosaku asked in unison, both equally stunned. Amon and Echo were also speechless.
"Johan Summoned three of his Gem Beasts all at the same time!" Sho said in amazement.
Masumi had no idea what surprised her more; the fact that Johan had jewel-like Monsters like her, or how he Summoned them. 'I don't believe it! We both use Decks that have Monsters with precious gem stones on them! Plus, the way he brought them out! I thought Pendulum Summoning only existed on my world! Where did Johan get his Pendulum Monsters?!'
Yuri was just as stunned. "Okay, I really did not see that coming." He admitted.
Judai was deeply impressed. "Oh man, that's so sweet Johan!" He called out.
"Could someone explain what Johan just did?" Samejima asked, having no idea what was going on.
"Pendulum… Summon?" Reggie asked. Johan smiled widely.
"Pendulum Summoning involves a new type of Monster called Pendulum Monsters. They have Scales with different numbers on them, and if you place them on both far sides of the Field, you would be able to Special Summon any number of Monsters from your hand once per turn as long as their Levels are within the combined Scale of both Pendulum Monsters. Like I said before, I can Pendulum Summon Monsters that are Levels 3 and 4 because they are between the Scale 2 and Scale 5 of my Pendulum Monsters." Johan explained.
"Incredible." Reggie had to admit in awe. "How recent is this new Summoning method?" Johan chuckled while scratching the back of his head.
"Well, actually there's an interesting story behind that…" Johan started before he got interrupted.
"Commander MacKenzie! Do not allow yourself to be distracted! Focus on the Duel and win!" Echo ordered firmly. Flinching from her error, Reggie turned to her and nodded.
"Yes Captain. My apologies." 'She's right . I have to win this. I must!' She thought before facing her opponent again. "You heard my Captain! Let us proceed! It is still your turn!" She barked like high ranked officer she was. Johan sighed.
"Whatever you say, Commander." He then picked up where he left off. "When Sapphire Pegasus is Summoned, I can take a "Gem Beast" from my hand, Deck, or Graveyard and place it in my Magic and Trap Zone as a face-up Continuous Magic card! I'm choosing Gem Beast Ruby Carbuncle from my Deck! Sapphire Calling!" With a flash of blue from the winged horse's gems, a red stone appeared behind it and it's fellow beasts.
"He can put his Monsters where he plays Magic and Trap cards?" Serena asked interestedly.
"That's one way." Judai said vaguely, earning a curious look from the teen.
"Okay guys, ready for some action?" Johan asked his Monsters, whom all nodded.
"Just say the word and we'll pounce!" Amethyst Cat said eagerly.
"Then let's do it! I'll have my Amethyst Cat attack first! Battle!"
"Your Monster is too weak to destroy mine!" Reggie reminded him.
"I know… that's why I'm having her go after you instead!" Johan revealed to the surprised Commander. "By cutting her Attack Points in half, Amethyst Cat can attack you directly! Amethyst Nail!" With a great leap over Seraphim Gunner, Johan's Monster extended it's claws and swiped at Reggie, who raised her arm in time to not get hit in the chest.
(Gem Beast Amethyst Cat's ATK: 1200 / 2 = 600)
(Reggie: 4000 - 600 = 3400)
"Sneaky one." Yuri said in amusement.
After a quick look at her barely scratched arm, Reggie prepared for the next attack.
"Your turn, Topaz Tiger! Attack Seraphim Gunner! And since he is attacking a Monster, my bigger feline gains 400 Attack Points during the Damage Step! Topaz Bite!"
"You won't escape from me!" Said the great tiger as he pounced on the golden fairy.
(Gem Beast Topaz Tiger's ATK: 1600 + 400 = 2000)
"But then both Monsters will be destroyed!" Asuka said since the two Monsters' Attack Points were the same. Reggie wasn't going to allow that.
"Trap card open, Sacred Revelation! When my opponent's Monster attacks, I can send two Level 4 or lower "Fairy" Monsters from my Deck to the Graveyard to negate the attack! I'm sending my Level 1 Sacred God Parmal and Level 1 Tiny Angel to the Graveyard to stop you!" Two shadowed angels briefly appeared to block Topaz Tiger's attack.
"Good protection." Gloria said.
"Yeah, at least Johan still has his Monster." Grace added with relief.
Just then, a bright light had shined for a brief moment on one of the upper platforms. Once the light faded, a card was revealed laying on the platform's surface.
"Wait, did a card just… materialize out of nowhere?" Reggie asked, stunned once again.
She wasn't the only one. Nearly everyone else was also surprised. Yuri, Masumi, and Ryo were the most surprised.
"It makes sense for that type of card to appear if these platforms are also present… but why did only one appear?" Masumi wondered. Johan was ecstatic.
"Alright! The first one's shown up! Sapphire Pegasus, fly me up to that platform!" He said as he hoped on to his Monster (earning a gasp from Reggie in the process).
"You got it! Hold on tight!" Said the pegasus. At once the pair flew up and within seconds, arrived on the desired platform. Johan thanked his Monster, jumped off, and picked up the card.
"Got it! Thanks!" He exclaimed. The winged horse nodded in return.
"Hey! What are you doing now?" Reggie called out to Johan. He waved the card at her.
"You see this? It's called an Action Card!"
"Action Card?" Almost all present murmured.
Johan nodded. "It's a special type of Magic card that can be used when this particular Field card is active! The thing is, only one Action Card appears at a time and it's at random. You never know when or where one will show up! Also, each Duelist can only hold one Action Card at a time! The next card won't appear until the current one is used, so you gotta keep your eyes open and move quickly if you want one of these! And like you just saw, you can actually interact with your Monsters to help you get Action Cards! One more thing Reggie. This type of Duel, with Action Cards involved… is called an Action Duel!"
"An… Action Duel?" Principal Samejima muttered softly.
"So this is an Action Duel?" Serena asked in wonder. She remembered Yusho Sakaki mentioning Action Duels on the day they met. Of course, she never got the exact details or even seen one herself… until now.
"Since when have "Action Duels" become a thing?" Sho asked.
"No clue. I've never heard of them until now." Manjome said.
"First Pendulum Summoning, now Action Duels? Johan Andersen a very surprising person indeed." Ryo said, sounding impressed. Reggie couldn't hide her own amazement.
"I've never heard of a Duel like that. Have you been doing Duels like this for a while?" Johan smiled as his Monster flew him back down to the ground.
"See, there's a story behind that too along with my Pendulum cards. But now's really not the time to go into it. I Set one card facedown and end my turn."
Reggie was really intrigued with Johan's surprises. If the circumstances were different, she might actually take the time to enjoy this. Alas, she had to stay focused and do what was required of her. Considering what was at stake for her personally, she cannot allow herself to lose this Duel. "As interesting as all this is, I must not hold back to defeat you! My turn! Draw!" Her eyes widened slightly. 'One of them is here!'
"What is she up to?" Asuka asked.
"Probably planning to Summon her Legendary Planet." Her brother guessed.
"Quick-Play Magic open, Angel's Soldiers! This allows me to Special Summon two Angel Tokens since I control a "Fairy" Monster!" (LIGHT; Level 1; ATK: 100; DEF: 100) A duo of small winged children in white robes appeared. "My Seraphim Gunner gains 300 Attack Points for each other "Fairy" on the Field! My two Tokens qualify!"
(300 x 2 = 600)
(Seraphim Gunner's ATK: 2000 + 600 = 2600)
"That thing is now stronger than any of Johan's Monsters!" Serena said, now worried.
"So that was your plan? To make your angel tough enough to tango with my Gem Beasts?" Johan asked.
"You couldn't be more wrong! Now by Sacrificing both Tokens and Seraphim Gunner, I Advance Summon this Legendary Planet: The Tripping Mercury!" (WATER; Level 8; ATK: 2000; DEF: 2000) A blue armored, caped warrior holding two swords of ice blue energy appeared before the Commander.
"Called it." Fubuki said.
"I wonder what this one can do?" Rei asked.
"Cool looking Monster." Johan admitted.
"You will think differently after this!" Reggie told him sternly. "Since The Tripping Mercury was Summoned using three Sacrifices, all Monsters on the Field other than itself have their Attack Points reduced to 0!"
"All of them?!" Edo said in alarm. As Reggie said, all Monsters other than her Legendary Planet have been stripped of their Attack Power.
(Gem Beast Sapphire Pegasus' ATK: 0)
(Gem Beast Topaz Tiger's ATK: 0)
(Gem Beast Amethyst Cat's ATK: 0)
"Not good!" Kenzan said.
"Now I will go on the assault! Battle! The Tripping Mercury, attack Gem Beast Sapphire Pegasus! Temperature Change!" A couple of slashes of it's blades and Johan's winged horse was gone.
"Sapphire Pegasus!" Johan yelled in dismay as he felt the impact.
(Johan: 4000 - 2000 = 2000)
Reggie then saw that a jagged blue stone appeared next to the red one in Johan's Magic and Trap Zone. "What is that?"
"When a "Gem Beast" on the Field is destroyed, it instead goes to my Magic and Trap Zone as a face-up Continuous Magic card!" Johan confirmed.
"So it seems. At the very least, you won't be able to fly to the next Action Card!" Reggie confidently declared. Johan smirked.
"Speaking of which, I'm activating mine now! Action Magic, Damage Draw! When I take 2000 points of battle damage or more, I get to draw two cards!" Johan was pleased with what he had drawn. 'Nice! These will really come in handy!'
'This means the next Action Card will appear sometime soon. I must make sure to get it first.' Reggie thought. "You better hope those cards will be helpful, for I plan to defeat you next time. I Set one card facedown and end my turn."
"I can't wait to see you try! My turn! Draw!" With his fourth card, Johan felt he now had everything he needed. "First I play Gem Bond! It let's me add a "Gem Beast" Monster to my hand from my Deck! Then, I place another "Gem Beast" with a different name from my Deck in my Magic and Trap Zone as a Continuous Magic card! I'll add Gem Beast Emerald Turtle to my hand and place Gem Beast Amber Mammoth to my Magic and Trap Zone!" Alongside the Ruby and Sapphire stones, an orange crystal materialized next to them. "Now I will Summon the very Monster I just got in Defense Mode! Come out! Gem Beast Emerald Turtle!" (WATER; Level 3; ATK: 600; DEF: 2000) A big green turtle with an emerald encrusted shell showed itself.
"Don't forget about The Tripping Mercury's Effect! Your sea creature also becomes weak!" Reggie said.
(Gem Beast Emerald Turtle's ATK: 0)
"Well, that won't matter to me in this position. I prefer to play defense anyway." Said the turtle. Johan chuckled playfully.
"That you do, buddy." He said in a soft, affectionate tone before returning his attention to Reggie. "Hey Reggie, I'm about to send your Legendary Planet packing!"
"What?" Reggie gasped, not quite believing Johan's words.
"What's he got up his sleeve now?" Masumi wondered.
"Trap card open, Gem Prayer! By sending a "Gem Beast" card in my Magic and Trap Zone to the Graveyard, I can target and destroy one card you control! I'll send my Gem Beast Amber Mammoth to the Graveyard to destroy The Tripping Mercury!" Once the orange gem vanished from sight, a blue bolt of lightning emerged from Johan's Trap and blew apart Reggie's Monster.
"Take that!" Manjome cheered.
"Grr." Reggie grunted.
"With The Tripping Mercury gone, Johan's Monsters get all their Attack Points back!" Edo confirmed as all the Summoned Gem Beasts regained their original strength.
"My wooly pal won't be in the Graveyard for long! I play another Magic card, Gem Blessing! I can take two "Gem Beast" Monsters in my Graveyard and place them in my Magic and Trap Zone! One of course is my Gem Beast Amber Mammoth, and the other is one that you sent to the Graveyard earlier: Gem Beast Cobalt Eagle!" The orange gem returned to it's previous position, along with a darker blue crystal.
"Johan has all seven Gem Beasts on his Field!" Judai said, his voice full of excitement. 'Now he can bring out his own Ace… if he's drawn it that is!'
"Is that supposed to be important?" Serena asked Judai, who replied with a wink.
"You'll see." He told her.
"Now I activate the Effect of Ruby Carbuncle! During my Main Phase, while she is in my Magic and Trap Zone, I can Special Summon my furry companion to my Field! Come out! Gem Beast Ruby Carbuncle!" (LIGHT; Level 3; ATK: 300; DEF: 300) The Monster floating next to Emerald Turtle was the very same small creature that he reassured before the Duel.
"Aww! It's SO cute!" Grace gushed over Ruby Carbuncle's appearance.
Ruby looked up at it's master and gave a "Mew.". Johan nodded in understanding.
"Got it! Because she's a "Fairy" Monster, Ruby Carbuncle gains the 200 Attack Point boost from your Angel Ring!" Johan pointed out while Ruby gave a faint glow.
(Gem Beast Ruby Carbuncle's ATK: 300 + 200 = 500)
"I hardly think it matters." Reggie told him.
"This will! I activate Ruby Carbuncle's second Effect! After being Special Summoned, she can Special Summon other "Gem Beast" Monsters from my Magic and Trap Zone that I can bring out! I only have room on the Field for one more, and I know just which one to choose! Come out! Gem Beast Amber Mammoth! Ruby Happiness!" With a blast from Ruby's jeweled tail, the orange crystal was shattered and a big grey mammoth with four tusks and an orange gem on it's forehead appeared with the other Summoned Gem Beasts. (EARTH; Level 4; ATK: 1700; DEF: 1600)
"Yes! I've been itching to battle again!" Said the mammoth happily.
"Glad you feel that way." Johan replied softly.
"Commander MacKenzie seems to be outnumbered up there." Chosaku told Echo. She didn't reply, but showed no concern.
"Here I come! Battle! I'll have Amethyst Cat attack you directly again! Amethyst Nail!" Once more, Johan's pink cat leaped into action.
"That won't work this time! Trap card open, Mirror Force! When an opponent's Monster attacks, I can destroy all your Monsters on the Field in Attack Mode!" Reggie countered before she was encased in a purple barrier made to repel and destroy. But to her shock, Amethyst Cat was covered in a rainbow aura. It passed right through Reggie's Trap like it wasn't even there. "What?! Why didn't it work?!"
"That's because of Gem Protector's Pendulum Effect!" Johan revealed while pointing at his blonde haired Pendulum Monster, whose sword was raised up and gave off the same aura that covered Amethyst Cat.
"Pendulum Effect?!" Reggie shouted.
"When Pendulum Monsters are in their Pendulum Zones, the spots where they are now, they become Magic cards with different Effects! In Gem Protector's case, it prevents my "Gem Beast" Monsters from being destroyed by a card effect for the first time each turn! So none of them are going anywhere!" Reggie cursed silently just before she got scratched again.
(Reggie: 3400 - 1200 = 2200)
"She didn't expect that one." Makoto said with a snicker.
"Gem Beast Emerald Turtle's Effect activates! Once per turn, he can switch a "Gem Beast" that attacked this turn to Defense Mode! Take a break Amethyst Cat!" The aforementioned beast took a sitting position, ready to defend her master.
"Dammit. I take it your other Pendulum Monster has it's own Effect?" Reggie inquired.
"Sure does. My Gem Vanguard stops you from targeting my "Gem Beast" Monsters in my Monster Zone with card effects!"
Reggie cursed once more. She had underestimated Johan Andersen again. She expected her Trap card would clear the Field of his Monsters, but that didn't work at all. She needed a new plan to protect her remaining Monster. That's when she saw the bright light a couple of platforms near her. 'The next Action Card!' With no hesitation, Reggie ran and jumped up onto the platform closest to her, ran to the left, leaped off the edge, and gracefully landed on the other platform. She smiled while claiming her prize. "Thanks for the advice on getting these Action Cards, Andersen!"
"Dang! She got to it before I even noticed it was there!" Johan complained.
"Well, she was trained to be a military officer. That had to have given her an advantage." Amber Mammoth said to him.
"Guess so." Johan admitted. "Anyways, moving on! Gem Beast Topaz Tiger, Direct Attack!"
"Action Magic, Underworld Evasion! When an opponent's Monster attacks, I can Special Summon a Underworld Evasion Token to my Field!" (DARK; Level 1; ATK: 0; DEF: 0) A dark purple ring with a demon skull on top appeared to defend Reggie. Johan wasn't too perturbed.
"Okay then, I'll go after your Token! And my Tiger's Effect activates again since he's going after another Monster!" Topaz Tiger's Attack Points went up to 2000 again while running toward the demonic Token.
"Now for Underworld Evasion's other Effect! When Underworld Evasion Token is targeted for an attack, I can negate that attack once per turn!" Before Topaz Tiger could eliminate the little Monster, a black barrier blocked him and pushed him back.
"Ow! That hurt my teeth!" Complained the jeweled creature.
"Sorry about that!" Johan said apologetically before frowning at Token. "Good thing I have more Monsters to attack with! Gem Beast Ruby Carbuncle, go for it! Ruby Flash!"
With a loud "Mew!", the smallest Gem Beast fired a blast from it's tail and destroyed the Token.
(Reggie: 2200 - 500 = 1700)
"Gem Beast Amber Mammoth, you're up! Direct Attack! Amber Stomp!"
"With pleasure!" Amber Mammoth said as it charged forward. Before the big animal could squash Reggie's remaining Life Points…
"I won't be defenseless! By banishing Angel's Soldiers from my Graveyard, I can negate the attack! Plus, I can Special Summon a "Fairy" from my Deck in Defense Mode! I Special Summon Hecatrice!" (LIGHT; Level 4; ATK: 1300; DEF: 1000) A golden fairy sign no arms and legs appeared. Amber Mammoth was forced back by a golden energy field.
"Oh, darn it all!" He said with great frustration.
"Being a "Fairy" Monster, Hecatrice gets 200 more Attack Points from Angel Ring!" Reggie said.
(Hecatrice's ATK: 1300 + 200 = 1500)
"Man, you are strong! Beating you really is a tough challenge! I'll Set my remaining two cards facedown and end my turn." Johan after finishing his turn.
To his surprise, Reggie smiled. A warm, soft smile. "You really care for your Monsters a lot, don't you?" She asked him. Johan nodded.
"I sure do. It may sound strange to you, but the Gem Beasts are more than just Monsters my Deck. I consider them… family." He said while looking at them. The ones on the Field turned back to him and each gave him a smile of affection. The remaining two in their crystal forms gave a warm glow to acknowledge their own feelings.
Reggie looked over at Fubuki, who returned her gaze. "Family…" she muttered to herself. Then, without warning, she began to cry. This caught everyone by surprise.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Johan asked.
"Reggie?" Fubuki asked, wondering what was going on in the woman's mind. She turned her head away.
"I'm sorry. This whole situation is very… conflicting for me." She sniffed. "This Duel is turning out to be more… enjoyable than I expected. I know I shouldn't take such joy given the circumstances, but…" She covered her face with one hand as she sobbed. "Dammit. If only things had not happened the way they did. Then maybe… I wouldn't be here at all."
"What are you talking about?" Johan questioned.
Reggie almost looked behind her to see Echo's reaction to her behavior, but decided against it. She didn't want to see how disapproving she no doubt looked. With a deep breath, she went to explain herself. "The day I learned of Fubuki's disappearance, was where it all started for me…"
Flashback:
Reggie MacKenzie was going through the worst time of her life. She had just learned of the incident at Duel Academy where several students had vanished without a trace. Most likely dead. One of them was her old childhood friend and crush, Fubuki Tenjoin.
She loved Fubuki, ever since they played as little kids. It really hurt her that she and her parents made their big move, but she could do nothing about it. She had not seen or spoken to him since they had separated.
After moving, Reggie was enlisted in a military school. Her father insisted upon it, having been a former navy officer himself. He wanted his daughter to follow in his footsteps. She was still sad about not being able to see Fubuki anymore and really didn't want to be in the navy.
Reggie's mother talked to her and told her that her new life wouldn't be as bad as she thought if she gave it a chance. She also convinced her that maybe one day, she would be able to meet Fubuki again if she followed the path set before her. With that hope in her mind and heart, Reggie finally agreed and entered the school.
As time went by, she dedicated herself to succeeding in everything they had to teach her. Reggie kept telling herself she was going through all because she wanted to find her friend at the end of this. She had earned the trust and respect of those around her due to her perseverance and dedication.
However, not everyone treated her that way. That was when she had her first talk with David Rabb. She was heading back for a hot shower after training when he cut off her path and warned her to stay out of his way. She no idea what was on the jerk's mind and couldn't care less. When she tried to leave, David made the mistake of grabbing her arm. After teaching him a lesson, Reggie stormed inside. She didn't know what his deal was, but she hoped he wouldn't confront her again like that.
A while later, she graduated and became a navy officer. One night, with some free time, she searched the internet for information on Duel Academy. Fubuki once told her as kids that he planned to become a big time Duelist someday by going to a fancy dueling school. Duel Academy seemed like the best place to look.
She thought about Fubuki, wondering how much he changed over the years. Would he remember her? Surely he would after they exchanged lockets. She asked herself with a giggle if he still had his good looks. Unfortunately, that was when she came across the report of the dorm incident. Fearing her friend was gone forever, she broke down and wept through the night.
"I was too late…" Reggie kept telling herself. "I was too late to try to find him again!"
The next day, Captain Echo entered Reggie's cabin. She wondered why the younger woman had not reported for duty like she always did. Reggie informed her superior about Fubuki and the unfortunate others who disappeared off the face of the earth. Echo placed a hand on her.
"Listen, MacKenzie. It is never easy to lose a loved one. But you must learn to put this behind you and go on. It is what he would want. Would he want you to suffer like this?" Reggie didn't respond right away.
"No… he wouldn't." She finally admitted.
"That's right. Right now, focus on your career and become the best damn navy officer you can be. Do it in your friend's name. As long as you don't forget him, he will be a part of you."
Thanks to Echo's advice, Reggie pushed forward like she never had before. Sometime later, she achieved the rank of Commander, a position just below the Captain herself. She thought she would experience nothing worse than never getting the chance of seeing Fubuki again. She was wrong.
A week after she became Commander, Reggie's ship came under attack from an enemy ship. She and her crew retaliated and prevailed, but their own ship took too much damage in the process. It had started to sink. Most of her crew had died during the battle; the only survivors were herself and half a dozen officers. They managed to reach the lift boats, but an unexpected explosion erupted and took the lives of those officers. Only Reggie herself managed to escape alive.
She watched with despair as her vessel sank beneath ocean's surface. Feeling more lost and alone than ever, she wept for her lost crew before eventually drifted off into an uneasy sleep. Reggie woke up to the sound of small boat riding reaching her. She was surprised and relieved to see Captain Echo on it with a couple of other officers.
"Are you alright?" Echo asked after helping her onto the rescue boat, clearly concerned. Reggie bowed her head in shame.
"I… I lost them all, Captain. They're all dead. I was the only one… to make it out alive. I am so sorry… that I couldn't save them."
Echo lifted Reggie's face to look her in the eye. "It wasn't your fault. I have no doubt you did all you could. I don't blame you one bit." Reggie then suddenly hardened herself.
"I failed to save my crew. I have failed as Commander. I should resign from my post. I don't deserve it after today." Her Captain, however, wouldn't hear of it.
"Listen to me, Reggie MacKenzie." Her tone was sharp, making Reggie flinch. "Your resignation is something I will never accept. You are too valuable to us. Yes, people have died under your command. Everyone in our position had to deal with it at some point… even me. But despite those losses, I have never even considered the possibility of quitting. Instead I have pushed forward and carried on. So should you."
Reggie was silent for a long moment. She didn't know if she could do that after all the death and loss. But as she stared into Echo's hard eyes, she saw a strength in them that she ever actually noticed before. That Captain, that woman, had strong faith in her. She would never abandon her. She would stay by her side no matter what. Maybe perhaps, some of that inner strength was also within herself?
Without another word, Reggie nodded. "Good. Now let us get out of here." Echo told her as they returned to their main vessel and headed out.
Flashback End
"Oh Reggie…" Fubuki said again after hearing Reggie's tragic story.
"After being rescued, I swore I would never allow myself to get emotional again. I would become as hard as a rock and not let anything or anyone get to me. David Rabb was the only one that never took a hint and always tried to get under my skin. Despite that, I still stayed true to my word… at least until now." Reggie then wiped her eyes before giving a brief smile at a very sad looking Fubuki.
"Man, she's certainly been through the ringer." Yusuke told Fubuki, who only nodded.
'After all this time, she hasn't changed from that day.' Echo thought solemnly.
Reggie went on. "Even though I'm more than happy to see that Fubuki is alive and well, and knowing how wrong this situation is to you, I won't turn my back on Captain Echo. She is the very reason I live today. I will do whatever is required of me to honor her… even this."
Johan nodded. "I hear you."
"I'm glad you do, because I intend to get the upper hand! My turn! Draw! I play Gift of the Divine, which will allow me to draw cards equal to the number of "Fairy" Monsters in my Graveyard! I have five in my Graveyard, so I draw that many cards!" Reggie's eyes widened more than before before. 'Finally, it is here!'
"Got something good?" Johan asked. Reggie stared hard at him.
"Perhaps. I first play Mystical Space Typhoon, allowing me to destroy a Magic or Trap card on the Field! I will destroy my Angel Ring!" A stunned Johan watched as Reggie destroyed her own Field card. "And with it gone, both my Hecatrice and your Ruby Carbuncle lose their power boost!" Both Monsters' Attack Power went back down to normal.
"Why would you destroy your own card?" Johan asked.
"So I can activate my Monster's Effect! When Angel Ring is destroyed, Hecatrice allows me to add "Holy Sanctuary" from my Deck to my hand! Now I activate Holy Sanctuary! All non-"Fairy" Monsters in play lose 500 Attack Points!" Johan grunted as all but one of his Monsters got weaker, with Ruby Carbuncle being the only "Fairy" he had.
(Gem Beast Topaz Tiger's ATK: 1400 - 500 = 900)
(Gem Beast Amethyst Cat's ATK: 1200 - 500 = 700)
(Gem Beast Emerald Turtle's ATK: 600 - 500 = 100)
(Gem Beast Amber Mammoth's ATK: 1700 - 500 = 1200)
'This is starting to look bad for Johan.' Yuri thought. And it was about to get worse.
"I will not hold back anymore, Johan! My Holy Sanctuary also allows me to Summon Level 5 and 6 "Fairy" Monsters without Sacrifices and Summon Level 7 and higher "Fairy" Monsters with only one! With that advantage, I Sacrifice Hecatrice to Advance Summon my other Legendary Planet and true Ace: THE SPLENDID VENUS!" (LIGHT; Level 8; ATK: 2800; DEF: 2400) A legless, feminine, golden armored angel with four wings and adorned with red and blue jewels materialized itself.
"She also has two of them, just like David." Edo muttered, remembering what his enemy said about almost everyone on Amon's team would have more than one Legendary Planet.
"I gotta admit, that card suits you better than the other one." Johan commented.
"On that we can agree. With The Splendid Venus in play, it's own Effect activates! As long as it is face-up on the Field, all non-"Fairy" Monsters on the Field lose 500 Attack and Defense Points!"
"She's making Johan's Monsters even weaker!" Sho said alarmingly.
(Gem Beast Topaz Tiger's ATK: 900 - 500 = 400; DEF: 1000 - 500 = 500)
(Gem Beast Amethyst Cat's ATK: 700 - 500 = 200; DEF: 0)
(Gem Beast Emerald Turtle's ATK: 0; DEF: 2000 - 500 = 1500)
(Gem Beast Amber Mammoth's ATK: 1200 - 500 = 700; DEF: 1600 - 500 = 1100)
"Your army has weakened! Now I shall bring out my own! I discard two cards to activate my Trap, Divine Army! This allows me to Special Summon as many "Fairy" Monsters from my Graveyard as possible! I Special Summon Seraphim Gunner, Sacred God Parmal (LIGHT; Level 1; ATK: 200; DEF: 300), Iofiel (LIGHT; Level 4; ATK: 1000; DEF: 800), and Shatiel!" (LIGHT; Level 5; ATK: 500; DEF: 2000) Now on Reggie's Field were the first Monster she played, a small white armored angel, a silver armored angel with two large wings, and a bronze angel holding a shield.
"Now all the Monster Zones are full!" Misawa pointed out. Both Duelists now had five Monsters in play each.
"My Deck was designed to not only weaken my opponent's Monsters, but to also make mine much stronger!" Reggie stated. "I will start with the Effect of Iofiel! When it is Summoned, I can send a Level 1 "Fairy" Monster from my Deck to my Graveyard to give it an additional 1000 Attack Points! I'm sending another Tiny Angel to the Graveyard make Iofiel stronger!"
(Iofiel's ATK: 1000 + 1000 = 2000)
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Emerald Turtle said in a foreboding voice. Johan felt the same.
"Seraphim Gunner's Effect activates again! Four "Fairy" Monsters times 300 equals 1200 more Points!"
(300 x 4 = 1200)
(Seraphim Gunner's ATK: 1800 + 1200 = 3000)
"Reggie's not letting up!" Fubuki said.
"Now for Shatiel! All "Fairy" Monsters I control gain 400 Attack and Defense Points for each one on my Field! I have five "Fairy" Monsters in play, and that number times four…"
"All her Monsters will now get 2000 Attack and Defense Points!" Edo said alarmingly as Reggie's Monsters all grew stronger.
(400 x 5 = 2000)
(Shatiel's ATK: 500 + 2000 = 2500; DEF: 2000 + 2000 = 4000)
(Iofiel's ATK: 2000 + 2000 = 4000; DEF: 800 + 2000 = 2800)
(Seraphim Gunner's ATK: 3000 + 2000 = 5000; DEF: 1200 + 2000 = 3200)
(Sacred God Parmel's ATK: 200 + 2000 = 2200; DEF: 300 + 2000 = 2300)
(The Splendid Venus' ATK: 2800 + 2000 = 4800; DEF: 2400 + 2000 = 4400)
"To truly assure my victory, I activate my final card, Angel Sing! This increases the Attack Points of one Monster I control by 300 for each "Fairy" Monster I control! With five such Monsters on my Field, The Splendid Venus gains 1500 Attack Points total!" Reggie's Ace Monster glowed brightly from it's final power up.
(300 x 5 = 1500)
(The Splendid Venus' ATK: 4800 + 1500 = 6300)
"Now that's an army." Amon said impressively. Echo nodded with a pleasing smile.
"All of Reggie's Monsters are so much stronger than Johan's!" Serena said.
"Yeah, especially since Reggie weakened the hell out of them." Yuri added.
"Johan's still got this." Judai said, making everyone turn to him.
"How can you be so sure? He's at such an disadvantage." Gloria asked, surprised of Judai's confidence in his friend.
"Because Johan hasn't brought out his own Ace yet." He replied with a smile.
Even though he appeared to be in big trouble, Johan himself couldn't help but smile. This stunned Reggie. "Why do you smile? You have no hope of defeating me!"
"Simple. Not only have I not given up, but I'm actually enjoying our Duel! You should too!" He insisted. Reggie frowned.
"There is no room for fun here! I must fulfill my mission!"
"Then go for it!" Johan told her, still as confident as ever. Reggie narrowed her eyes at him.
"As you wish. Your Gem Beasts may have had the upper hand for most of the Duel, but no longer! It is time for you to fall, Johan Andersen! Battle! The Splendid Venus, attack Gem Beast Ruby Carbuncle! Holy Feather Shower!" At once, dozens of stars began raining down from above, heading right for Johan's little friend.
"Not if Amber Mammoth has anything to say about it! When an opponent's Monster attacks a "Gem Beast" I control, my big buddy's Monster Effect switches the attack target to itself!" Johan countered.
"It doesn't matter! You will still suffer defeat!" Reggie retorted as the star showed shifted toward Amber Mammoth.
"Not today! Quick-Play Magic open, Emerald Defense! This can only be activated when I have "Gem Beast Emerald Turtle" face-up in my Monster Zone! It switches another Attack Mode "Gem Beast" I control to Defense Mode… like my Amber Mammoth!"
"Heh. Tough luck lady." A now kneeling Amber Mammoth taunted before it got blown away and became an orange stone again in Johan's Magic and Trap Zone. Johan smiled big time.
"Alright Reggie! Now it's time for my big play! Trap card open, Ultimate Gem Formation! When a "Gem Beast" I control is destroyed by battle, I can send seven "Gem Beast" Monsters with different names from my hand, Deck, and/or face-up on my Field to the Graveyard to Special Summon a "Ultimate Gem God" Fusion Monster from my Extra Deck!"
"Ultimate Gem God?" A stunned Reggie said. As she and everyone else watched, all seven Gem Beasts glowed their respective colors and shot themselves up into the sky… where a bright light shined forth, accompanied by a mighty roar.
"Feast your eyes on this beauty! Fusion Summon! Come out! Ultimate Gem God – Rainbow Over Dragon!" (LIGHT; Level 12; ATK: 4000; DEF: 0) Descending from above was a enormous serpentine white and gold dragon with a purple underbelly, huge white wings, and a white dragon like faceplate. All who witnessed the Summon were in awe.
"Totally awesome! I never knew Johan had a Fusion Monster!" Judai admitted excitedly.
"And it's Level 12!" Serena said in amazement.
"It's beautiful." Masumi admitted.
Reggie herself couldn't help but admire the magnificent looking creature. As the dragon finished it's descent to the dueling Field, she regained her composure.
"Well played, but it still won't matter. The Effects of both The Splendid Venus and Holy Sanctuary together will make your Rainbow Over Dragon 1000 Attack Points weaker!" She said as her Legendary Planet took 500 Points from Johan's Fusion Monster, while her Field card took the other 500.
(500 x 2 = 1000)
(Ultimate Gem God - Rainbow Over Dragon's ATK: 4000 - 1000 = 3000)
"Johan had to have known his dragon would still be affected like his Gem Beasts were. And even if that wasn't the case, three of Reggie's Monsters would still be able to destroy it in battle and he has no more cards in his hand or on his Field. What could Johan be planning?" Gloria asked herself.
"I think he's about to show us." Ryo told his fiancée with confidence.
"I'm not worried about it's Attack Points." Johan said, still smiling widely.
"Why is that?" Reggie asked him curiously. Johan pointed up at his Monster.
"Because of it's awesome Monster Effect! During either of our turns, if it is Fusion Summoned, I can Sacrifice Rainbow Over Dragon to shuffle all our cards on the Field into our Decks! Super Rainbow Overdrive!"
"WHAT?!" Reggie shouted, not believing what she heard.
"It can't!" Echo yelled too, unable to hide her own shock.
At once, Rainbow Over Dragon had spread out it's wings, lifted it's head high, and roared again. It then glowed brilliantly white, nearly blinding everyone present. After a moment, the light was gone. Reggie saw with dismay that all her Monsters and her Field Magic card were no longer in play, along with both of Johan's Pendulum Monsters and his Fusion Monster. The Field was completely empty.
"Wow! What an Effect!" Grace said in awe.
Reggie stood in total disbelief, shaken by this huge setback. "All my Monsters… my army. They're gone." She said in a shaky voice. She could not believe this had happened when she was so close to victory. With no more cards to play, there was only one she could do. "There's nothing more I can do, so I end my turn." She said reluctantly after lowering her head. 'I've lost everything… again.'
Johan saw how upset his opponent appeared. "Reggie, it's okay. Like I said, all your Monsters went back to your Deck, not to your Graveyard. None of them were destroyed." Reggie didn't respond. Johan continued. "Look, I know you lost a lot of people you care about, and that had to have been really rough for you. But remember, you haven't lost everyone important to you." He then looked over at Fubuki. "The person you cherish more than anyone is standing right over there. And I know he feels the same about you. He wants you back in his life."
Reggie looked over at a hopeful Fubuki again as well, but she did not feel hopeful herself. "That may be true, but if I lose the Duel…" She couldn't finish.
"Believe, Reggie. Believe in a miracle and it just might happen." Johan advised.
"Believe… in a miracle?" Reggie repeated uncertainly. Johan nodded.
"That's all I can ask." He then prepared what he felt would be his final draw. "Now back to business. There's a certain Monster in here I'm hoping will finish things up, so let's see if my faith pays off! MY TURN! DRAW!" Even before Johan looked at his card, he felt what it was… especially with the faint roar that only he could hear. He smiled once again. "Reggie, I've drawn the card I was hoping for!"
"You have?" Reggie asked, a hint of fear in her voice.
"Yep! And I still have what I need to bring him out! My big Monster can only be Special Summoned from my hand if I have seven "Gem Beast" Monsters with different names on my Field and/or in my Graveyard! Thankfully, all my Gem Beasts are still in my Graveyard, so I can Summon my true Ace as well! Come out! Ultimate Gem God – Rainbow Dragon!" (LIGHT; Level 10; ATK: 4000; DEF: 0) Johan's true Ace Monster finally appeared. It was very much like Rainbow Over Dragon, only it wasn't as white, it's face was more visible, had a smaller set of wings on the lower body, and it had seven gem stones of different colors running up the side of it's main body. It too had it's appearance admired.
"Oh yeah! That's the Rainbow Dragon I remember!" Judai shouted as he pumped up his fist.
"That's Johan's real Ace Monster?" Serena asked. She then remembered Dr. Zweinstein mentioning "Rainbow Dragon" before this whole mess happened. 'This must be the Monster he was talking about!'
"Talk about the luck of the draw." Yuri admitted, impressed that Johan drew the very card he wished for.
Reggie gazed up Rainbow Dragon, open mouthed. The Commander knew she was screwed now.
"This has been a great Duel Reggie, but it's time to end it! Battle! Rainbow Dragon! Direct Attack! OVER THE RAINBOW!" The colorful dragon raised it's head back and gathered energy for the final blow.
Reggie realized it was over. There would be no surviving after this, and she knew it. She stood there, waiting for the end. Suddenly, she and Johan saw another, small bright light on the highest platform.
'Another Action Card!' Reggie thought, now feeling hope. If she could get to it first, she might be able to save herself. She then dashed to the platform.
"One more race, huh? Fine by me!" Johan said as he too took off on a run.
"Come on Johan!" Judai and the others cheered.
"Reach it Reggie!" Echo shouted.
Both Duelists ran, jumped, and climbed over platforms themselves to get to the one with the Action Card. Johan was in good physical shape, but Reggie was older and had her military training to give her the edge. She managed to advance faster than him.
"Oh no! Looks like she's going to beat Johan to another Action Card!" Rei said in dismay.
"Johan!" Serena yelled.
The platform Reggie headed for was now right above her. 'Almost there! Just one more jump!' She thought just before she made her final big leap. 'I'm going to make it!' She didn't make it. The moment she jumped to the final platform, one of Rainbow Dragon's wings blocked her path. 'No!' Reggie could do nothing before she crashed into the wing and fell back down. This allowed Johan to reach the platform and grab the card.
"Thanks Rainbow Dragon!" Johan said to his Ace. The dragon gave him a friendly nudge with it's other wing in return.
"Did you guys see that?! Rainbow Dragon stopped Reggie from getting that Action Card!" Grace said in amazement.
"Now that's something." Kenzan commented.
Reggie got back on her feet, cursing at being "card blocked". She looked up to see Rainbow Dragon finish powering up and firing a rainbow energy beam from it's mouth right at her. Reggie bowed her head and braced herself. 'Captain Echo… forgive me.' This was her final thought before the attack struck her down.
(Reggie: 0)
To be continued.