Yu Gi Oh! Dark Messiah

[jkBAKURA]

OK, I know I'm going to sound like Paradox here, but what the heck was that about!

That was a perfect chance to add some plot tilting drama, but No... every hero is too good to even take a second glance at something like the Orichalcos.

God forbid, he actually wins, and adds some interesting character journey into this.

It might not have been so bad without the voice in his head. It may have been an attempt at drama that just made the character look like completely devine,incorruptable Avatar-like characters. Heck, even the Duel in this one was sub-par!

OK, Level monsters, nice choice, and I did like the change from a tie. There's only one level monster whose attack could be mistaken for a Red-Eyes, so that piece of the puzzle is solved.

But I'm sorry, this was the lowest point in the story so far. It seemed like an awesome chance wasted.

(please let me keep reading)

I judge each chapter one at a time, so I'll keep reading. You've done some great stuff with the story so far, and I doubt that this will be an ongoing trend, but I'm still ranking this along the same lines as "Flatline" and "Final Judgement."

I'm sorry if I'm too harsh, but I cannot express my dissapointment.

[Dark Sage]

Ho-boy... I guess that wasn't my best...

But truthfully, this chapter was to prepare for my real apex, which is next chapter. Next chapter, we get into just how serious the villains are willing to get.

I'm sorry you didn't like it. I'll try to do better.

[Blademaster]

I'll admit, I was a bit surprised with Russell's resisiting the Seal, either, simple because of this:

While Russell being tempted by the Seal and losing would've been somewhat like the anime, I remember specifically in The Thousand-Year Door when Melissa said everyone has an inner demon (balance, yin-yang, light and darkness... You get the idea.), and from what both you and the anime have done with the Seal, I always thought it to be a force of utter evil that could overpower almost anybody and strengthen one's iner darkness - even Yami succumbed to it!

I'm sorry, but I just don't really understand how the Orichalcos would've corrupted Yami, a spirit with 5,000 years of wisdom and who has saved the world on several occasions, and not a mere mortal like Russell, who seems like a good guy and all, but I doubt is no more of a figure of light than anyone else - Heck, I always try to be friendly and kind to people, and I've found myself on several occasions wanting to take a crowbar to someone's head!

I'm not criticizing - I'm just confused, especially since the Orichalcos is an incredibly evil force and therefore (I'd assume.) is likely to not only amplify all a person's inner evils, like anger, jealousy, pride, etc., but also to some extent nullify some morals (Including, but not limited to, the faith in one's deck and vice-versa that may assist them in drawing a certain card at a critical time.), making resistance all the more difficult - like a role-reversal between a person's good and bad sides...

But, all that aside, I will admit that Cassius' Level deck was definitely something new, and I've never even heard of Armed Dragon LV10... Quite a Monster, that Dragon is...

And I'm also glad you stuck to the attacks the anime used - I've never gone nuts for the Armed Dragons, but 'Shrapnel Blast' and 'Serrated Sonic Disks' are quite cool names, and I honestly think that 'Dragon Talon Terror' is the best name for an attack ever - that's one of the things I've loved about GX, is the naming creativity: Skydive Scorcher, Voltaic Thunder, Train Twister, Strident Blast, Outback Attack... So many names that just sound cool and tough...

Oh, I'm getting off-track again. Sorry...

Anyway, the next chapter sounds promising, and I'm curious about this new 'Master Spectre,' as Fortunado called him... I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Peace!

-Blade

[Inferno_Dragon]

Yeah, I didn't understand how the Seal would affect an 5,000 year old spirit. I knew that Russell wouldn't use the seal, because it would cut down one of the main heroes. Sure, the Seal has claimed heroes in the anime (Mai, Joey, Yugi, and Kaiba) but I think this story is different.

Cassius's Level Deck reminds me Giselle's Deck from Sister of Anansi. Even though the Armed Dragons part reminds me of Chazz Princeston's Deck including Armed Dragon LV10 which is funny, because it evolves from Armed Dragon LV7. (Armed Dragon LV3 - LV5 - LV7 - LV10, weird math there.)

I am also interested in the next chapter.

And another good Legendary Dragon Creation, Starjake.

Keep up the good work on this fan fiction.

[Pokemasterkatie]

But, all that aside, I will admit that Cassius' Level deck was definitely something new, and I've never even heard of Armed Dragon LV10... Quite a Monster, that Dragon is...

This big boy debuted in the Manjoume boosters, and Jun himself used it before becoming White Thunder. It's a wonder anyone would manage to get him out, being a NOMI...but Cassius had the right idea, plus all he had to do was kill a monster or use Level Up!.

[Shuppet Master]

I think JBakura and Blademaster are being a bit hard on you, Brian(sorry, Blade, I didn't mean to imply you were being critical, you did say you were just confused). I think that Russell's resisting the Seal was very impressive, considering that the Seal has tempted stronger people into using it(cough-Atem-cough).

To Blademaster: Atem may have been a 5000 year old spirit, but 99% of those 5000 years was spent locked up in a magic puzzle which was broken into pieces rotting in some tomb, so he was very disoriented when Yugi awakened him. When he first started taking Yugi over, he did it without his knowledge and tortured villians with Shadow Games, some of them being very looked-down upon even in Japanese culture(people forget that Domino City is in Japan). In one manga, he created a maze of fire which ignited a gang of bullies! O_O So to say that Atem has no darkness because he's very wise is like saying Attila the Hun couldn't be a barbarian because he had leadership properties or something. (Bad example, I know.)

To Dark Sage: I noticed an error, Brian. You keep telling me I screw up names, but you called Fortunado "Faustus" in the first scene. Just wanted to let you know.

[Dark Sage]

SM has a point. If you read the early manga, you'll see that some of the things Atem did before Duelist Kingdom were pretty sadistic. He even killed one crook once (although truthfully, this guy was likely going to kill Tea).

I maintain that Atem was much more dark than Russell is, even if he tried to do the right thing eventually.

[Blademaster]

I think JBakura and Blademaster are being a bit hard on you, Brian(sorry, Blade, I didn't mean to imply you were being critical, you did say you were just confused).

(shrugs)

OK, fair enough...

I'LL JUST BE HARD ON YOU INSTEAD, SHUPPET MASTER!!!! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

...

Nah, I won't. I'm sory if I sound too critical - I've said before being critical isn't really my strong point, especially since my attention span is so short...

And don't misunderstand - I never said Yami has no darkness in him, I just meant that whether or not the darkness in someone is prevalent/ obvious or not, everyone does have it.

[starjake]

Hello all,

Dark Sage, I am going to have to agree with JKBakura here, but in a much more broad sense. In general, your characters seem to be GOOD or EVIL. I've spoken to you before about how difficult it is for me to differentiate between Russell, Trisha, and Jason (and, now that I think about it, between the three Orichalcos Swordsmen as well), and one of the reasons for that is because they're all equally GOOD or EVIL (respectively). Working some shades of gray into their characters would do wonders for this fic.

And I also agree that the duel was pretty bland. Although Kozaky's Kontraption is a fun card.

[Dark Sage]

I'll work on it, Starjake.

Something's going to happen next chapter that is going to change Russell a great deal. He's going to change from pure hero to a much more merciless hero eventually. (In a sense, he's going to shift from Superman's mindset to Wolverine's.)

You'll see what I mean as the new arc starts... On the 9th.

[Mystic_clown]

We'll have to hold you to that Brian.

[Dark Sage]

Okay, people, listen up...

A lot of you think that last chapter was a bad chapter. Maybe I screwed up. But that chapter was only to lead to this one.

And let me tell you...

This chapter was very hard to write.

Very hard.

I don't know if you'll like it or not. Master of Paradox hasn't even seen this. I dropped him as my beta reader after we had a fight a while back.

Anywho, this was hard work, and it was painful for me to write. If you wanted Russell to play the Seal last chapter, I'm sorry. The reason I didn't was, I had a different apex in mind for this story.

And this is it.

So read on.

[B][I]All right…

When I came here, I expected a duelist who meant us no good. I wasn’t wrong.

I expected answers from him regarding all the craziness. I wasn’t wrong.

I expected a duel in which The Seal of Orichalcos would be used. I wasn’t wrong.

Maybe I kind of even expected a Fiend Deck. Again, I wasn’t wrong.

However…

The biggest part of this whole situation…

Is something that NO duelist could have ever expected.

And right now… Well, I’m starting to expect a lot of other things, most of them very unpleasant…

[B][size=3]CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Saturday, October 2nd, 2106, 5:24 PM



As the afternoon slowly turned into evening, the three Chosen Ones were at a table on the Green.

“He tried to get you to play the Seal?” asked Trisha with a laugh. “Who’d be dumb enough to do that?”

Jason took The Eye of Timaeus from his side deck and looked at it intently.

“Trisha, somehow, I don’t really think it’s all that funny…” he muttered.

He stared at the card.

“And he doesn’t seem to think so either…”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Somehow he’s trying to tell me something…” he answered. “Not with words yet, but with some sort of feeling…”

Trisha turned back to a catalogue.

“Immortal of Thunder…” she read. “Imperial Order, Imperia… No Russell, there’s no card in here called Impact Revive.”

“Must have been some sort of custom card,” muttered Russell. “He said someone named Dartz used it. Odds are that this Dartz guy, whoever he is, is the key to something somehow…”

Valon, Alister, and Raphael were listening behind them, unseen as always, and words couldn’t describe how upset one of them was…

“Maybe you should go tell them…” said Valon to Raphael.

“And do what?” asked Raphael. “Ruin Yugi’s reputation?”

There was a pause.

“Good point…” answered Valon.

“Well, at least Russell didn’t play it…” said Alister with a shrug. “All’s well that ends well, eh?”

“Yeah, well I was scared!” snapped Raphael. “I even tried to grab that thing out of his hand… But I couldn’t… It had some sort of protection spell on it. They must have guessed I’d try something.”

“All’s well that ends well!” repeated Alister. “His plan didn’t work, and those three goons will likely think twice before…”

He stopped short.

“WATCH OUT!” he screamed to the three teenagers.

They fell off their benches, and heard something strike the center of the table.

They slowly got up and saw what it was…

A nasty-looking dagger had been embedded in the table, and impaled on it were three Duel Monster cards and a folded piece of paper.

“Uh…” muttered Trisha.

Jason grabbed the dagger and yanked it out of the table.

He turned white…

The three cards impaled on it were Vorse Raider, Nanobreaker, and Freed the Matchless General.

“Lovely…” muttered Jason, sarcastically. “That’s a subtle hint…”

“More like a challenge…” said Trisha.

He took the note. On it was written a simple sentence:

Be at a computer online at seven o’clock.

“Well…” said Russell. “It can’t hurt…”

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

At six-fifty-seven, all three of them were in Jason’s dorm room, and he was seated at his computer with the two of them watching.

They kept their eyes on the clock on the screen.

Slowly, it moved to six-fifty-eight…

Then to six-fifty-nine…

“Your firewall and anti-virus protection are up to date, right?” asked Trisha.

He nodded.

At seven o’clock on the dot, the ring that signaled the arrival of an instant message appeared.

Puppeteer2B wishes to chat, said the message on the screen.

“Puppeteer2B?” asked Russell. “What kind of online name is that?”

Jason clicked on it.

“Let’s find out…” he said.

”Who is this?” he typed.

[B]”The Puppeteer of Death,” came the response.

Jason paused.

”Interesting name,” he replied.

[B]”It suits me,” was the response.

Jason typed again.

”What do you want?”

Whoever was on the other end started typing a long message.

[B]”I’m someone who would have gotten to know you eventually, and there’s no time like present. I have a deal to make.

I can give you some valuable information about the strange phantasms that have been plaguing you and your fellow students. However, in return, I want a duel once that is done.

If you dare, meet me on the roof of the Milford Plaza Hotel at eleven. I’ll be waiting.

The message vanished.

“The Milford Plaza…” said Trisha. “The best hotel on Broadway…”

They looked at each other.

“We dare!” they all said at once.

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

Broadway…

The most glamorous and ritziest part of the city, just off of Time’s Square, the practical center of New York.

This was the tourist center of the city, and the hotels, restaurants, and theaters were all top notch.

As the night moved closer to midnight, clouds started to move in. People on the streets below grew worried, fearing rain…

…but few knew what was about to happen on the roof of Broadway’s best hotel…

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

It was almost eleven when the doorway to the roof of the Milford Plaza opened, and three teenagers holding Duel Disks walked onto the spacious place. The Plaza wasn’t the type of building where one comes to the roof often, so décor wasn’t much. Ventilation shafts and antennae were the only things up here.

“So, when’s the… Puppeteer getting here?” asked Russell.

A single Duel Monsters card fluttered down and landed at their feet.

Russell picked it up.

“All right…” said Russell, placing it in his jacket, “are you going to come out, or are we going to play games all night?”

He seemed to appear out of the shadows themselves – the man in the strange costume, hat, and odd mask covering his mouth and nose.

“Nice threads…” said Trisha with a smile. “Where’d you get them, a circus supply store?”

“Actually, yes,” said the Puppeteer. “This was more or less the costume I wore when I did a ventriloquist act for a small circus. I added the mask later for show…”

“So, you’re some out-of-work carnie…” muttered Jason. “I’m so frightened…”

The Puppeteer stared at him.

“The last time I worked at a circus…” he said, “was well over a century ago…”

They stared at him.

“Oo-kay…” answered Jason. “Maybe now I’m a little frightened…”

“Yes, circus life was good,” said the Puppeteer. “I got to travel, see the world, perform for people who found such things entertaining. But I wanted more… adventure, thrills… a bigger paycheck. So I did some research, and learned some things…

“Dark things… Frightening things…

“I delved into the occult, and learned how to summon… Specters…”

“Specters?” said Trisha. “Okay, now I’m freaked out…”

“Well, it was just a few minor manifestations at first…” continued the Puppeteer, “harmless little poltergeists who couldn’t do anything but make noises. But then I was hired by Maximillion Pegasus. He wanted a special specter, so he boosted my abilities with his Millennium Eye.

“What he wanted was an opponent for Yugi to face in his Duelist Kingdom, a special one. He wanted me to channel Seto Kaiba’s dark side… his evil self which Yugi had banished in their first confrontation.

“The plan was that this specter would defeat Yugi, not only through psychological warfare by posing as Kaiba’s restless, undead spirit, but with Kaiba’s powerful deck, which Pegasus had stolen.

“But things went… wrong. First, we didn’t count on the real Kaiba interfering. He wasn’t going to let anyone beat Yugi who wasn’t him, and certainly not some imposter who had stolen his cards. The meddler actually hacked into Pegasus’s system and sabotaged the dueling station where the duel was taking place…

“Not only did that give Yugi an advantage for a moment, I was… distracted, and couldn’t keep up the façade. Yugi saw the specter’s true face.

“I figured it didn’t matter – it was still using Kaiba’s deck, and if Yugi lost, Pegasus would still get what he wanted. So rather than abort the plan – like I would have done if I had been smart – I told the creature to keep dueling.

“Unfortunately, I underestimated Yugi on several factors. Dueling skill, craftiness, and magical power. In those days, I was far from the only one who foolishly underestimated him. He not only won the duel, he used his own Millennium Item to destroy the specter once he had…

“I was connected to that creature though a path of mental energy. When it was destroyed, my body was struck with a massive dose of Shadow magic…

“Darkness consumed my body and my mind… Was I still among the living? Apparently, Pegasus didn’t think so, because he had my body disposed of… He didn’t think much of it. It was one failed plan, and he had plenty more. And I was one less employee that had to be paid.”

“This is creepy…” said Trisha.

“If you think it’s creepy, Trisha, think how I must feel,” answered the Puppeteer. “For what must have been decades, my mind drifted in the ether, neither alive nor dead, and barely conscious.

“Eventually, a powerful individual whose identity I won’t reveal created a new body, a duplicate of my old one, and drew my essence into it. What you see before isn’t truly flesh, but shadows made solid.

“From that point on, I was a specter myself, but I could now be the Master Specter. With my old powers increased tenfold, I gained the ability to call forth the dark sides of deceased duelists from the past. You’ve met many of them so far…”

He paused.

“That’s the how,” muttered Russell. “Now we get to the why. Exactly why did you decide to cast such black magic and bring the spirits of the dead back to haunt the living?”

“Why?” asked the Puppeteer.

He stared at Russell for a few seconds.

He made a shrug.

“Why not?”

There was a long pause.

“That’s your reason?” asked Russell. “’Why not?’ That’s not a good reason…”

“Put yourself in my shoes, Russell,” said the specter. “I’m a regular Rip Van Winkle. My true life ended a hundred years ago. Everything and everyone I once knew is gone. The world I live in is a different and strange place… And my body doesn’t function like it once did. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep, most forms of entertainment don’t amuse me.

“I had to find a way to cope. So when I was brought back, the one who did so needed use of my talents, and frankly, I didn’t have anything better to do. What else could someone like me do in this world? Find a new job?

“I mean, what would I put on my resume? Previous experiences: Using the black arts to call spirits? Reason for leaving old job: Miscast evil spell? If I went back to a circus, I’d scare the kids away.

“Frankly, I’m in a bad situation, and I’m making the most of it. Besides, I like what I’m doing. If nothing else, it gives meaning to my new life…

“Without the Orichalcos, my new life would be meaningless.”

He paused for a second.

“By the way, you might be wondering who Dartz was, since Cassius blabbed out that name…” he added. “We aren’t scared to tell you – we have nothing but contempt for him. I’ll tell you that he was the biggest egotist who ever lived.

“One hundred years ago, he thought that he was the one in charge of the first Orichalcos organization. He never realized that the one who was truly in charge was playing him for a fool and using him. Dartz wanted to destroy the world and remake it in his own image, but other plans were being made behind his back…

“He thought that his personal strategy was perfect. His whole deck of cards seemed unbeatable. His Monsters could not be destroyed or defeated so long as the Seal stood, and he had two additional Seals that gave him added powers.

“The fool didn’t know that those two additional Seals had fine print on them that he couldn’t read, thanks to the true source of their power. If he had won the final duel with the Pharaoh, the Orichalcos would have taken both of them. That was, of course, the true plan…”

They all stared at each other for a minute.

“Unfortunately, the King of Games threw a major monkey wrench into it. He actually found a way to destroy the Seal, something that the Master believed was truly impossible. Apparently, it wasn’t. I guess nothing in this world is impossible. I’m living proof of that.

“Not only was the Pharaoh victorious, Dartz was spared, every soul that the Orichalcos had taken was freed, and the Master’s plans were completely ruined. A new set of plans had to be started from scratch, which have taken a whole century to put to fruition.

“The specters I have created were only cannon fodder in that plan…”

“And they’ve given us nothing but trouble…” said Russell. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, Puppeteer of Death, but these hauntings end tonight.”

“Only if one of you can defeat me…” replied the Puppeteer.

He raised his arm, and a strange Disk appeared on it. Again, it wasn’t the standard Orichalcos Disk… It was bronze, and the tray somewhat resembled the wing of a bat.

The Puppeteer produced a deck and started to shuffle.

“You’ve had a great deal of luck so far, Chosen Ones,” he said, “but tonight…”

He placed the deck in his Disk.

“…it ends…”

“Enough talk!” snapped Russell. “You want a duel, I’ll be happy to oblige. I’ll take you down just like all the others!”

He stood to face the specter and his Disk activated.

“You’ll soon see,” said the Puppeteer, “that I’m not like the others.”

“DUEL!” they both shouted.

“Atten… shun!” shouted Russell.

[B](Russell: 8,000) (Puppeteer of Death: 8,000)

Thunder rolled…

“You may make the first move,” said the specter.

“I will…” said Russell, drawing his first hand.

He threw a card on his Disk.

“I summon Axe Raider, in Attack Mode!”

The armored barbarian holding his axe appeared. (1,700/1,150)

“Next, I’ll place two cards facedown, and end my turn.”

He played the two cards, and they appeared behind Axe Raider.

“Interesting…” said the Puppeteer.

He drew a sixth card, and then placed one on his Disk.

“I summon Gil Garth in Attack Mode,” he said.

An aura of darkness drifted onto the field, and a spooky form rose up. It was an evil looking creature made of metal, hunched over and holding a wicked-looking sword. It had no face, and yet it glared at Russell. (1,800/1,200)

“Oh, a Fiend…” muttered Russell, sarcastically. “What a surprise…”

“From what I can see, he’s a Fiend with 1,800 Attack Points,” said the Puppeteer, “and that’s exactly one-hundred points stronger than your Axe Raider. Gil Garth… attack with doom blade.”

Gil Garth raised its sword and flew at Axe Raider.

A grin appeared on Axe Raider’s face.

“I activate… Reinforcements!” exclaimed Russell, as his Trap Card lifted. “It gives 500 more Attack Points to one Monster on the field. So who’s stronger now?”

Axe Raider’s Attack Score rose up to 2,200. As Gil Garth swung with his sword, the Warrior caught it with his free hand…

Then he slashed his axe into the creature’s “skull”, and it blew to pieces.

“Ergh…” muttered the Puppeteer. “That wasn’t supposed to happen…”

He dropped a card into his Disk.

“I’ll end with one card facedown,” he said.

[B](R: 8,000) (PoD: 7,600)

“My draw!” said Russell, drawing a card.

He placed a card on his Disk.

“I summon Queen’s Knight in Attack Mode,” he said.

Queen’s Knight appeared on the field. (1,500/1,600)

“You activated my Trap,” said the Puppeteer, as his Trap Card lifted. “Selection of Ark.”

The Trap Card was a new one to Russell. The art showed Noah’s Ark under a cloudy sky.

“What does that do?” he asked.

“This Trap is activated when you summon a Monster whose Type matches that of a Monster who is already on the field,” started the Puppeteer, “which you did because both those Monsters are Warriors. Then I pay 1,000 Life Points…

“And as a result… Queen’s Knight dies.”

A blast of energy shot from the Trap Card, striking Queen’s Knight! She screamed in pain, and then was blown to pieces.

“Heh, heh…” chuckled the Puppeteer. “This would have worked against Trisha too, in case you didn’t notice. Bottomless Trap Hole only works on Monsters with at least 1,500 Attack Points. The regular Trap Hole, 1,000 or more. But this card works on anything if you’re facing the right opponent.”

“Seems this guy is no slouch…” said Jason.

“Don’t worry,” said Trisha. “He still has Axe Raider.”

“Right…” growled Russell. “Axe Raider, attack directly!”

Axe Raider lifted his axe and leapt at the Puppeteer, slamming his axe into his chest. The specter grunted and staggered backwards.

“That’s my turn…” said Russell. “Want more?”

[B](R: 8,000) (PoD: 4,900)

“Yes…” said the Puppeteer, drawing a card.

He added it to his hand and chose another one.

“No more fooling around,” he said.

A Field Slot opened on his odd Disk.

“I play the Seal of Orichalcos!”

Lightning flashed, and both Jason and Trisha were thrown back as the evil Field materialized.

“He had that card in his hand from the start!” gasped Trisha. “He was just toying with Russell!”

“You guys catch on fast,” said the Puppeteer, who was now sporting the cursed symbol on his forehead.

Russell glared at his foe.

“I thought you guys couldn’t use the Seal,” he said. “None of your… specters have.”

“You have to have your soul with you to use the Seal,” said the Puppeteer. “The lesser specters don’t have theirs with them. But as the Master Specter, I have mine, and I’m fully capable of using it.

“Next, I will place one card facedown, and also a Monster in Defense Mode.”

A facedown Monster and a facedown card appeared.

“The countdown to your demise begins in earnest. I end my turn.”

Russell drew a card.

“Axe Raider, attack his facedown Monster!” he shouted.

Axe Raider charged…

A slimy, purple sphere covered with filth appeared on the card, and burst.

Purple gas started to cover Russell’s side of the field, and he started to cough.

“What the…” he sputtered.

“That was a Giant Germ, Russell,” said the Puppeteer. “Since you destroyed it, not only do you lose 500 Life Points, but I get to summon two more from my deck.”

Two more Giant Germs appeared. (1,000/100) –> (1,500/100)

“Fine…” muttered Russell, wiping away the residue. “I end my turn…”

[B](R: 7,500) (PoD: 4,900)

The Puppeteer drew a card.

“I activate Call of the Haunted,” he said, as his Trap Card lifted.

Gil Garth rematerialized, and the Seal formed on its forehead. (1,800/1,200) –> (2,300/1,200)

“Well, let’s see…” said the Puppeteer. “I could attack with all my Monsters and deal you 3,600 Life Points of damage this round…”

He took a card from his hand.

“…but where would be the fun in that?”

He held up a card.

Lightning flashed…

“I know that for a guy like me, a Fiend Deck seems a natural,” he said. “But actually, I had a reason for using this theme other than personality.

“I sacrifice all three of my Fiends to summon my ultimate weapon…”

Lightning flashed again…

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

Dr. Artemis sat at her desk with her chin on her hands.

She was startled, as a feeling rushed through her… She stood up.

She turned to the window, and lightning flashed again.

“A force of darkness has been unleashed…” she said. “Unholy energy… Something has been created that shouldn’t have…

“Evil unlike any the world has seen in decades…

“Whoever you are that is facing it…

“God help you…”



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



The creature that stood before Russell – all thirty feet of it – was something that his mind told him should not be there…

Something that could not possibly be in any duelist’s deck…

Something that had been buried, and was never to see the light of day again…

Standing thirty feet tall, it had a rough, muscular hide the color of slate. Its huge feet ended in talons, and its giant arms ended in claws. From its back grew enormous, bat-like wings. It demonic face had a plated forehead, and its mouth was fixed in what seemed to be a permanent frown, and full of razor-sharp teeth.

From a distance, one might have mistaken it for Obelisk the Tormentor… But up close, it was clear that this was actually the evil counterpart of that divine being of Light…

It raised its arms, and let out a great bellow…

(4,000/4,000) –> (4,500/4,000)

“How?” gasped Jason. “How can you have Raviel, Lord of Phantasms?”

“Jaden took the Sacred Beasts down,” whispered Trisha. “Way down…”

“Heh, heh, heh, heh,” said the Puppeteer. “Well, I promised you all answers, so before I take this duel by storm, I might as well explain myself.

“First and foremost, how can I have Raviel in my deck?

“Answer: I can’t.

“This isn’t the real Raviel. Using powerful magic supplied by my benefactor, I constructed a counterfeit version of this Sacred Beast, with all the powers and strength of the original.”

“A counterfeit Sacred Beast?” asked Russell. “I’ve seen people do some dangerous things in the past, but this ranks up there with performing brain surgery on yourself!”

“I’m hardly worried,” said the Puppeteer. “And we have big plans. Very big plans. Once more power is gained with the souls taken by the Orichalcos, I’ll use the magic to create my own versions of Hamon and Uria as well…”

“You’re insane!” shouted Russell. “The real Sacred Beasts will get angry! They might be imprisoned, but they’ll find a way to strike from where they are, and…”

“But that’s the beauty of it…” said the Puppeteer. “I’ll combine the Seal with the three doppelgangers to defeat every duelist I come across, and with each soul taken, more power will be gained, which will flow into the cards. Once all three of my cards gain even more power, I’ll use their might to claim the real Sacred Beasts.”

“No…” gasped Trisha.

“The Sacred Beasts must never be freed!” shouted Jason. “They’ll consume every card on Earth… Duel Monsters will cease to exist!”

“I don’t plan on using them to duel once I have them,” answered the Puppeteer. “I have another purpose in mind for them, but that I will not reveal, on the off chance that any of you leave this rooftop intact. But they will be mine…”

“Over my dead body!” cursed Russell.

“Very well, Russell,” said the Puppeteer. “I can arrange that. Raviel… Attack the Axe Raider with shivering scraper.”

The enormous Fiend lunged with its claw…

“Hold on!” shouted Russell. “I activate… Ready For Intercepting!”

His Trap Card lifted, and Axe Raider transformed into a facedown card.

Raviel’s claw struck the card, crushing him.

“So I don’t take any damage at all…” said Russell.

“Brilliant…” said the Puppeteer. “But now your side is clear, and I know you don’t even have a Monster who’s this powerful.”

“We’ll see…” said Russell, drawing a card. “The bigger they are, the louder they cry to their mommies when they get punched!”

He played a Spell Card.

“I play Reinforcement of the Army, to bring Marauding Captain to my hand,” he said.

“Go ahead,” said the Puppeteer. “Do you think I’m afraid of him?”

“Let’s find out,” said Russell. “I summon him to the field…”

Marauding Captain appeared, and glared at the huge Fiend without fear.

“…and I’ll use his effect to summon my second Marauding Captain.”

The Captain let out a whistle, and then motioned with his hand. His twin walked out onto the field, and stood beside him. (1,200/400 x2)

“Now… huh?”

A black flame appeared on the Puppeteer’s side of the field.

“What’s that?” asked Russell.

“This may not be the real Raviel,” said the Puppeteer, “but it may as well be the real one, because it has all of the real one’s powers. For instance, whenever you Normal Summon a Monster, it creates one Phantasm Token on my side of the field.”

A man-sized version of Raviel appeared. (1,000/1,000) –> (1,500/1,000)

“I can’t attack with it, but it has other uses,” he continued.

“You can’t attack at all, due to my Captain Lock,” said Russell. “So make your move.”

“A mere annoyance for now…” said the Puppeteer, drawing a card. “I believe I’ll simply pass for this turn…”

Russell drew a card.

“I summon Command Knight in Attack Mode,” he said.

Command Knight appeared in a burst of flame. She nodded to the two Captains. (1,200/1,900)

All three Warriors rose to an Attack of 1,600.

“That means I get another token,” said the Puppeteer, as another one appeared in a black flame.

“Well, you can’t attack, but I can,” said Russell. “Captains, smash his tokens!”

The two Marauding Captains charged forward, and slashed the Phantasm Tokens in two.

[B](R: 7,500) (PoD: 4,700)

“And you still can’t attack any of my Warriors,” he added, “since Command Knight can’t be attacked if I have at least one other Monster on my side of the field.”

The Puppeteer drew a card.

“I play Pot of Greed…” he said.

The evil jar appeared, and he drew two cards.

“Now I can defeat your Captain Lock,” he said. “I play this Spell Card… Evil Fog.”

Raviel’s eyes glowed, and a dark mist started to cover the field… A misty skull appeared in it…

Command Knight and the two Captains drew back nervously… And then they fell over, choking!

“What’s happening?” shouted Russell.

“When Evil Fog is played, I choose one Fiend or Thunder Monster on my side of the field, and all Monsters on your side who have fewer level stars die.

“Unfortunately for your three Warriors, Raviel is a Fiend, and he has ten stars.”

The three Warriors gave a last gasp, and then shattered.

“However, I can’t attack on the round I use this card, so I’ll end my turn there.”

“Do something Russell…” moaned Trisha.

“This is unreal…” muttered Jason. “He’s not only managed to create a carbon copy of one of the strongest Monsters ever created, he’s using some of the most lethal Spells and Traps ever made. All that’s missing is Lightning Vortex.”

“Come on guys!” shouted Russell. “Don’t give him ideas!”

He drew a card.

“I play a Monster in Defense Mode…” he said, placing a card on his Disk.

A facedown Monster appeared.

“And one card facedown,” he continued.

A facedown card appeared.

“Your move.”

The Puppeteer drew a card.

“Raviel, attack,” he ordered.

The Lord of Phantasms lunged forward.

“I activate… Shadow Spell!” shouted Russell.

Huge chains sprang up from the ground, and bound the huge Fiend! It roared, and its Attack Score fell to 3,800.

“Bah!” grunted the Puppeteer.

“Now, let’s take care of this…” said Russell.

I only have one Monster in my deck that can bring down this thing… he thought. Come on deck…

He drew…

YES!

“I flip-summon Big Shield Gardna…” he said.

The card flipped up, and Gardna appeared. (100/2,600)

“Next, I play Command Offensive,” he continued. “Now, I can sacrifice Gardna for Freed the Matchless General, and we both draw twice.”

Gardna vanished, and Freed appeared. (2,300/1,700)

Both of them drew two cards.

“And finally, I summon Exiled Force!”

The disheveled band of Warriors appeared. (1,000/1,000)

“That means I get another token,” said the Puppeteer, as another one appeared.

“Like it will matter,” answered Russell. “I sacrifice Exiled Force, to take down Raviel, Lord of Phantasms!”

Exiled Force faded into a gang of spirits, and they flew into the huge Fiend! It groaned, and then fell on one knee…

And then it exploded into shards of blue rock!

“YAY!” cheered Trisha.

“Way to go!” shouted Jason.

“Well…” said Russell. “The only thing left to do is take out that last token… Freed, do the honors…”

The Matchless General leapt up, and sliced the Phantasm Token in half. It shattered.

[B](R: 7,500) (PoD: 3,900)

“So, what are you gonna do now?” asked Russell. “Your trump is gone.”

There was a long pause. The specter stared at him.

“Heh, heh, heh…” he finally said. “That is funny. Did you really think that one card could destroy Raviel for good? That one card would be the end of it?”

“Well… yeah…” said Russell. “The Sacred Beasts are NOMIs. You can’t summon them from the Graveyard.”

“My draw…” said the Puppeteer.

He drew a card.

“That may be true,” he said, nodding, “but I’m well prepared for that.”

“I play Monster Reincarnation…”

He played a Spell Card, and then discarded a card.

“Oh, no!” gasped Jason. “Now he can discard a card to bring a Monster from the Graveyard to his hand!”

“Any Monster at all,” added the Puppeteer, showing them the Raviel card.

“Next, I place these three cards facedown…”

He fit three cards into slots.

“And then… I play Heavy Storm!”

He played the card, and a fierce wind whipped across the field. His three cards – all three the same Trap Card – lifted up and shattered.

“Oh, geeze…” said Trisha.

Three menacing creatures that looked like crosses between bugs and serpents wearing crowns rose up in front of the Puppeteer. (1,000/1,000) –> (1,500/1,000 x3)

“Statue of the Wicked…” muttered Jason. “They create Wicked Tokens when they’re destroyed.”

“Exactly…” said the Puppeteer. “And since Wicked Tokens are classified as Fiends, I can sacrifice them…”

The three Wicked Tokens were consumed by fire and vanished.

“…to summon Raviel once again.”

The giant Fiend appeared once more. (4,000/4,000) –> (4,500/4,000)

“Attack his general,” shouted the specter. “Shivering scraper.”

Raviel slammed down with his claw, and Freed was thrown backwards in pain before he was blasted apart.

[B](R: 5,300) (PoD: 3,900)

“I’ll place one card facedown,” said the Puppeteer, “and that will be my turn…”

Russell looked at him.

He looked at his deck.

Here goes nothing… he thought.

He drew.

“This ends now, Puppeteer!” he shouted.

He played a card.

“I play The Warrior Returning Alive, to bring Marauding Captain back to my hand…”

He played the card, and retrieved Marauding Captain.

“Then I’ll summon Marauding Captain, and use his effect to summon King’s Knight!”

The two Warriors appeared, side by side. (1,200/400), (1,600/1,500)

“And finally… I play The Claw of Hermos!”

He threw the card on his Disk, and the lightning reached a crescendo. Hermos flew from out of the clouds, and landed behind the two Warriors.

“Now, Hermos, merge with King’s Knight once again to form the Monarch’s Mask!”

The Warrior and the Dragon combined, and the golden mask formed. Marauding Captain took it, and it appeared on his face, his eyes glowed…

Marauding Captain glared at Raviel. His Attack rose to 2,200.

“And now…” said Russell.

“Sorry to rain on your parade…” interrupted the Puppeteer.

His facedown card lifted.

The card was a hideous image of a demon draining the energy from a woman who was chained down, and writhing in pain.

“That’s a Card of Sin!” gasped Russell.

“Indeed… a very powerful one…” replied the Puppeteer. “One I included to defeat any creation of your Dragons that you could three could come up with.

“It’s a Trap called Orichalcos Absorption. I simply have to pay half my Life Points, and I get to sacrifice one of your Monsters…”

Marauding Captain vanished.

“And even better, his base Attack Score gets added to one of my Monsters. Naturally, I choose Raviel.”

Raviel’s Attack rose to 5,700!

“Well…” said the Puppeteer. “For someone who was so sure of himself a minute ago… You don’t seem so sure of yourself now…”

Russell looked at the rest of his cards.

He just stared at the Puppeteer for a few seconds.

“I’ll take your silence as a confirmation that that’s all you can do…” said the Puppeteer, drawing a card.

“NO!” screamed Trisha.

She pounded on the wall of the Seal.

“RUSSELL!”

“Well,” said the Puppeteer, “just to make the last part of this more agonizing, I’ll activate Raviel’s other effect. I’ll sacrifice my token, and for one round only, Raviel gains its Attack Points.”

Raviel grabbed the token, and glared at it, draining it dry, and tossing aside dusty remains. Its Attack rose to 7,200.

“And now…” said the Puppeteer.

“Can I say one thing?” said Russell, softly.

The Puppeteer glared at him.

“Make it quick,” he answered.

Russell turned to Jason and Trisha.

“Guys…” he said, “whatever happens here, don’t let this make you lose hope. The war must continue, and I have faith that it will be won.

“I couldn’t win, but learn from what has happened. Remember what he did, and try to find a weakness.

“You have to beat him…”

“Enough!” shouted the Puppeteer. “Raviel, attack directly!”

Russell screamed an unearthly scream as the faux Lord of Phantasms swiped at him with his mighty claw…

[B](R: 0) (PoD: 1,950)

Russell crawled to his knees as the Seal started to glow. The evil specter walked up to him.

“I can hold back the Seal for a few seconds…” chuckled the Puppeteer. “Long enough for you to see me take that card you’re so fond of…”

Rage filled Russell’s eyes.

He took The Claw of Hermos out of his discard slot.

“Don’t count on it, freak-face!” he yelled. “Jason! Trisha! Catch!”

He hurled the card, and it pierced through the Seal! Trisha desperately caught the precious card.

“Don’t let him… get it…” muttered Russell, and the Seal shrank. “Avenge… me…”

He collapsed.

Tears formed in Jason and Trisha’s eyes.

Then they noticed that Raviel had not left the field.

“You’d best hand over that card,” said the Puppeteer.

“He never wagered it!” screamed Trisha.

“I don’t care,” said the fiend. “Hand it over, or Raviel will take it.”

The huge Fiend lumbered towards them…

Almost by instinct, Jason and Trisha pulled the top cards off of their decks…

The Eye of Timaeus and The Fang of Critias glowed in front of them…

They threw the cards on their Disks, and lightning flashed more violently than ever. From out of the sky, the emerald dragon and the sapphire one, now burning with anger, flew down…

They breathed burning energy at the huge Fiend, and Raviel screamed! Explosions rocked over its hide, and it burst into fragments!

The Puppeteer hollered as pieces of what had once been the Lord of Phantasms rained down on him…

“You’re next!” yelled Trisha.

The specter’s eyes widened in horror…

“Fine!” shouted the Puppeteer. “Keep the damn thing! I didn’t want it that bad! At least I have his Chosen!”

He turned and ran, and then vanished into the shadows.

The dragons vanished.

Trisha knelt before Russell’s body.

“No…” she sobbed. “How could this have happened…”

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

An hour later, the Puppeteer approached Fortunado, holding an ice pack to his head.

“One down, two to go…” he said, holding up the card that held Russell prisoner. “It could have done without this migraine they gave me, but…”

“Excellent…” said Fortunado, taking it.

“Now just dispose of him like you do all the others,” muttered the Puppeteer, “and we’ll have one less enemy to worry about.”

Fortunado took the card…

He gestured, and black flames surrounded it…

“Goodbye, Russell Majors…” he said.

Then the black flames were replaced by a golden aura…

“Huh?” said Fortunado.

Then he screamed in pain and dropped the card!

He held his hand for a minute…

“My hand…” he groaned.

Then he carefully picked up the card.

It glowed with golden light.

“Well?” said the Puppeteer. “Get rid of him. I worked hard enough to get this far, you know…”

Fortunado concentrated.

“Master?” he whispered.

He waited a few seconds.

There was no response.

He concentrated again. The black flames surrounded it again…

Then it burned with golden fire! He screamed and dropped it again!

He slowly inched towards it and picked it up.

“Like sticking my hand into a furnace!” he gasped.

He looked at it.

“I don’t think I’ll tempt fate by trying to do that again…”

“What’s the problem?” asked the Puppeteer.

“I can’t do it…” muttered Fortunado. “Hermos apparently won’t let his Chosen perish so easily… The card is emitting holy energy that’s countering my magic. I can’t even communicate with the Master when I’m holding this…

“Hermos apparently sensed that Russell was about to lose, and cast some sort of ward on him just in time…”

He glared at the Puppeteer.

“I’m starting to think that Russell’s little goodbye to his friends was actually his way of buying time so that Hermos could do it!

“He’s not going to let what happened to Joey happen to this Chosen One…”

“How could the Dragons do that?” shouted the Puppeteer.

Fortunado walked up to a picture in the wall, and moved it aside, revealing a safe.

“Do the math,” he grumbled. “The Orichalcos evolved over the past century and learned new tricks. Just the same, the Legendary Dragons evolved over the past century and learned new tricks.

“Apparently, Hermos is using all of his energy to preserve Russell’s soul. He’s anticipating a rescue attempt.”

“Take it to the Master personally, then,” groaned the Puppeteer.

“Right…” snarled Fortunado. “That’s probably just what Hermos wants me to do! Who knows what other hexes he put on Russell? Do you have any idea what might happen if his holy magic invaded the inner sanctum?

“We’re going to have to get rid of Hermos before we can get rid of Russell. And I don’t know how we can do that. Maybe if someone had gotten the card…”

“I tried my best…” muttered the Puppeteer.

Fortunado placed the card in the safe.

“Well, next time,” he said, slamming the door, “try harder!”

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

Long after midnight…

Russell’s body had been tenderly placed in the infirmary, while Dr. Artemis wondered just how this new threat would be dealt with. She hoped beyond hope that it wasn’t too late for Russell.

What would she tell his parents?

And in the darkness, Sersei crept into the infirmary. She sat beside Russell’s bed…

And she broke down into great sobs…


Sunday, October 3rd, 2106, 2:10 AM



SELECTION OF ARK (Trap Card)

Card Specs

Type: Trap/Counter
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Image: Noah’s Ark, on land, with storm clouds forming overhead.

Card Description: You can activate this card when your opponent Normal Summons, Flip-Summons, or Special Summons a Monster of the same Type as one that is currently face-up on the field. Pay 1,000 Life Points. Destroy the summoned Monster.



EVIL FOG (Spell Card)

Card Specs

Type: Spell
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Image: A dark mist, forming a skull in the center.

Card Description: You can only use this card during your first Main Phase. Select one FIEND or THUNDER-Type Monster on your side of the field. All face-up Monsters on your opponent’s side of the field with fewer level stars than the selected Monster are destroyed. You must skip your Battle Phase on the turn in which you use this card.



GIL GARTH (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 1,800
DEF: 1,200

Card Description: An extermination machine protected by iron armor. Without mercy, he'll attack with his giant katana.

Note: “Selection of Ark”, “Evil Fog”, and “Gil Garth” are Japanese promotional cards that have not yet been released in the United States. (“Evil Fog” will likely be given a new name if it ever is, but until then, I’ll call it by the original name.)



ORICHALCOS ABSORPTION (Trap Card)

Card Specs

Type: Trap/Card of Sin
Attribute:
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Sin: Gluttony

Image: A fiendish creature sucking the power out of a woman who is chained down and writhing in pain.

Card Description: Pay half your Life Points. Tribute one opposing Monster. Permanently increase the ATK of one of your face-up Monsters by an amount equal to the base ATK of the Tributed Monster.



[B][I]Next chapter…

Russell’s fate hangs not in the hands of the Chosen of Timaeus or Critias, but in the girl who has secretly loved him for some time. Sersei vows to win his soul back, even if she must risk her own to do so. But this time, she’s going in prepared, with a little help from a guest star.

This is not the beginning… This is not the end… But this is the end of the beginning.

Don’t miss “Hero Heart”, coming soon.

[Alucard]

Hmm I wonder if you're the same Bakura from Pojo who got me banned..

[Master of Paradox]

Now all Jason has to do is lose, and we won't have "Invincible Yugi Syndrome" this time around.

Personally, when the three fiends were sacrificed, I was expecting Dreadroot. I'd known about the fake Raviel for a while, but I didn't expect 1) it to show up this early and 2) for it to be what took down a major character in an Orichalcos duel.

Speaking of Raviel: you've set the bar for those of us using Sacred Beasts in our stories. I'm not sure whether Shuppet Master and I should thank or lynch you for that. The duel comes off as one that could happen under the right circumstances, and the Raviel deck was well-built.

I can't be uniformly positive about this, I'm afraid. While Russell's defeat does come off as much darker and a fair bit sadder than anything up to this point, I couldn't help a vibe or two from Andy's defeat back in TYD. I suppose there's only so many ways a character can lose...

And while it would destroy the story to dispose of Russell, I found it slightly irritating that Fortunado instantly knew what was wrong. Even Hades had to think about it for a second when Hercules became a god again.

However, those are concerns that aren't important in the long run. The important part is that this chapter easily trumps its predescessor. I'm almost proud of you. (The "almost" is because I can't be proud of the guy whose worst chapters have double my entire audience. Yes, add Envy to my list of sins along with Lust, Wrath, Greed, and Sloth...)

Next chapter worries me a little because... well, you aren't the greatest with either female characters or love interests, to be honest (although Trisha is your best attempt at both so far). I'll keep my worries in check, however, and look forward to it.

[Shuppet Master]

Oh no.

I guess it had to happen.

That means we'll see more of those damn specters, and Russell won't be dueling for most of the fanfic.

Great job, Brian. I'm sure that something like this was coming up. I only hope Sersei can get revenge.

[Dark Sage]

My lips are sealed on Russell's ultimate fate.

I will say this:

When he returns, IF he does, he will never be the same again.

[Inferno_Dragon]

Good chapter, especially with the Fake Raviel. A Fake Monster Card isn't surprising. Didn't Jaden face a opponent who used a replica of The Winged Dragon of Ra? Anyways, I am surprised that one of the Major Characters got taken down but I knew that he wouldn't be sacrificed. You can't kill a major character off too early in the story. At the end maybe, but never in the middle.

Keep up the good work, Dark Sage.

[Blademaster]

Well, there goes Russell...

I was almost expecting Dreadroot to show up, too, but Raviel did instead...

(Yes! )

This Puppeteer guy... nice backstory, I'l admit - I've always wondered how Pegasus made that kreepy Kaiba kopy...

So...

What's next?

-Blade

[Pokemasterkatie]

Well; in the dub, he was the dark side of Kaiba banished to the Shadow Realm. I think in the original, he was an Eliminator/Player Killer posing as Kaiba since Pegasus thought his guards killed the real Seto.XD

*jaw drops at a main character falling to the Orichalcos* Had to happen sometime, I guess. Also, Monarch's Mask's effect was a little too simple--it only raised MC's attack by 1,000. Guess not all of those Dragon fusions are broken.

[Dark Sage]

Russell used the Monarch's Mask the first time he used Hermos. It also let him pay half his LP to return any card on the field to the owner's deck.

As for the Puppeteer...

Anime fans likely remember the episode where Yugi dueled Kaiba's dark side. However, the manga was different. In that version, Yugi's opponent was this guy. He was a ventriloquist who used a dummy that looked like Kaiba, and he claimed that he was channeling Kaiba's spirit through it. Other than that, the basic plot was similar.

So I simply combined the two versions.

Hope that clears things.

[Mystic_clown]

Finally! The hero goes down! And not at a point where it doesn't mean anything! Great duel by the way. I was wondering when Raviel was going to appear in a fic.

[jkBAKURA]

Hey, I'm posting the 500th Reply!

I meanwhile, am going to hide for a while in shame after my last review. My appoligies.

I don't have anything more to say that hasn't been said already.

[Blademaster]

(uses Dark-Piercing Light to find JKBakura; pats JK's shoulder)

It's OK, JKBakura - there's no shame in telling the truth or speaking what you believe.

[Mystic_clown]

Yeah, you were just saying what we all thought. That doesn't mean you should be ashamed. Just look at Paradox.

Anyway, this is an entirely different chapter, and it's a pretty good one.

[Dark Sage]

[B][I]My name is Sersei Rhineheart, and I have a confession to make…

I’m in love with Russell Majors.

Every time I see him duel, I get excited by his powerful voice, his strong muscles, and his courage. He’s everything I always wanted in a man...

Recently, I was attacked. I was lured into a duel by someone using an evil card, and I was taken hostage. The place they put me was cold, dark, and lonely, but when I was let out, it eased the pain to find that I was in Russell’s arms.

And now… The same thing has happened to him.

Russell…

I may not be as skilled, or have the special card you have…

…but I will save you…

…or I’ll lose my soul again trying.

[B][size=3]CHAPTER THIRTY

Sunday, October 3rd, 2106, 2:35 AM


How long she sobbed, Sersei didn’t know. She wanted Russell to wake up, hoping it was only temporary, but knowing that he wouldn’t only made her cry more.

And then finally, a stern female voice came out the darkness.

“Stop blubbering, honey. Do grown girls cry?”

Sersei looked up.

A woman was in front of her, nearly transparent. She looked young, about early twenties, with large green eyes, and long, wavy blonde hair. She wore a halter covered with a violet jacket, and a short, violet skirt.

“Mai… Valentine?” stuttered Sersei.

“Mai Valentine-Wheeler,” answered the ghost. “Most folks forget that part.”

“But you’re…” started Sersei.

“Dead?” asked Mai. “Oh yeah… I came down from the other side because I thought you needed some help. And I just can’t overlook a fellow Harpie Duelist.”

“Wow…” said Sersei. “I have so many questions…”

“Stop…” said Mai. “If it’s about where I was before I came here, I can’t tell you. You can’t find out until you die…”

She smiled.

“But as you can see, they give you your youth and beauty back…”

She looked at Russell and sighed. She sat down on the edge of the bed.

“So, the Orichalcos is back…” she said. “I hoped I’d never see that awful thing again…”

“Someone used it on you?” asked Sersei.

Mai paused with a sad face.

“I used it myself…” she muttered.

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

What followed was a long and harrowing story, which Sersei found hard to believe.

“After it was over,” muttered Mai, “I did some soul searching and traveled the world. I did some dueling to keep my blood flowing. I made friends with Vivian Wong in China, and we teamed up to duel the Paradox Brothers… We beat them good…

“Vivian could be a little spacey at times, but she wasn’t a bad duelist… She comboed Rush Recklessly with a Quickplay called Flying Dragon Whirl to cut down Gate Guardian with her Dragon Lady… but they countered with an ugly thing called Dark Guardian.

“Once they destroyed Dragon Lady, I was able to use Phoenix Formation, and the duel was ours…”

She sighed.

“It was a year before I had the courage to face Joey. I intended to simply fall on my knees and beg him to forgive…

“But you know… I didn’t have to. Before I could say a word, he just kissed me… deeply. And no more needed to be said.

“Of course, it wasn’t over even then. We found out that the Orichalcos had branded me with a curse. But Joey was more than willing to do what he had to do to lift it. When the next crisis reared, he had the opportunity…”

She grinned.

“You know, he always depended on luck, but before he and his two pals officially teamed up, it tended to wane. In Duelist Kingdom, he came in second, right after Yugi. In Battle City, he was fourth. But in the KC Grand Prix, he was taken out in the second round…

“It was during this crisis that he finally got a chance to be the hero…”

“I’m listening…” said Sersei.

“Well, about a year after the thing where he, Yugi, and Seto officially ‘teamed up’, so to speak,” said Mai, “Kaiba started to have trouble with a businessman named Kyodi. Now, all of Domino knew that Kyodi was the leader of the biggest Yakuza crime family in the city, but no one could prove it…

“But Seto eventually came close to being able to. Kyodi wasn’t about to let Seto ruin him. Kyodi had his wife kidnapped…

“Then Kyodi called Seto, and told him that since he and his ‘accomplices’ as he called them liked dueling so much, they would play a game, a scavenger hunt of sorts. Kyodi had many of his henchmen who were able to duel scattered around the city. He told Seto to take Yugi and Joey to a place where they’d find the first. If one of them could win a duel, they’d get the location of the second one… And so on, until they got to Kyodi…

“With Ishizu’s life at stake, they had little choice…”

“Ishizu?” asked Sersei.

“Seto’s wife…” answered Mai. “She… well, how they fell in love is another story.

“Anyway, the three of them took down Kyodi’s men rather easily at first, but it got harder. And eventually, they found Kyodi… In a bunker with Ishizu chained to the wall. From what Joey later told me, he had never seen Kaiba angrier. But Kyodi wouldn’t duel him. He told them that he would duel Joey, and if they refused, he would kill Ishizu.

“Joey almost expected it, and he agreed… And he took Kyodi completely by surprise. See, Kyodi thought that Joey had the weakest deck, and his deck was prepared to counter it. But Joey wasn’t using his deck for this duel – he was using mine. And he secretly dedicated it to me.

“Kyodi was overwhelmed, and was soundly defeated. He tried to escape, but Kaiba had prepared in advance himself – the mobster ran right into the arms of the police.”

She chuckled.

“Of course, once I was free from the curse, there was one small thing I wanted to do,” continued Mai. “I wanted to duel Yugi once more… As I promised I would when he beat me way back in Duelist Kingdom. He agreed…”

Sersei looked surprised.

“How’d it go?” she asked.

Mai smirked.

“I thought I had him,” she said. “He had one card in his hand. His side: Obnoxious Celtic Guardian, Queen’s Knight, Beta, and Gazelle in Defense Mode, and 1,100 Life Points left… My side, Harpie Ladies 1, 2, and 3 and Harpie’s Baby Pet Dragon, Harpie’s Hunting Ground, and 3,000 left…

“His Swords of Revealing Light wore off… I used the Dragon’s effect to destroy Beta, and then took out his Monsters with the Harpies… One direct attack from my Dragon would finish him…

“…sadly, the last card in his hand was his Kuriboh.

“Then on his next turn, he played Card of Sanctity. With the cards I got, I drew Phoenix Formation. I thought I’d win for sure…

“But then, he Fusion Summoned his Dark Paladin. With my Dragon there, he had 3,400 Attack Points…

“And he had just enough Life Points left to use one of his other cards – Diffusion-Wave Motion.

“I was beaten.”

She sighed.

“But, it didn’t hurt as much any more,” she continued. “I had all I needed now, and the dueling didn’t matter as much.”

She looked at Russell.

“But it seems the horror is back…”

Sersei paused.

“I want Russell back…” she muttered. “I’ll do whatever it takes… I’ll duel anyone. There has to be a way to destroy that Seal…”

“Well, possibly…” answered Mai. “But it takes cards you can’t get. But still, the Seal can be defeated… You have to just dispose of it before your opponent plays it.”

She reached into Sersei’s knapsack.

“This your binder?” she asked.

Sersei nodded, and Mai looked through it.

“This is quite a reversal of roles, you know,” said Mai, looking through it. “In fairy tales, the handsome prince always risked life and limb to rescue the beautiful princess from a fierce dragon or evil sorcerer. But now, it’s the handsome prince who needs rescuing, so now the beautiful princess is going to do what she can to rescue him.”

Sersei blushed.

“You know…” said Mai, looking at a card, “I’m already starting to see a strategy that might work…”

She giggled.

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

At noon the next day, Sersei walked up to a large restaurant in Brooklyn Heights. Mai was close behind her.

The restaurant was a popular sushi joint called Won Ton’s.

“You sure she’s in here?” asked Sersei.

“Positive,” answered Mai. “Now take a deep breath, and go get her…”

Sersei paused for a minute, and then walked in.

Sure enough, Cleo was sitting at the counter, impatiently tapping her fingers on the counter.

“Come on…” she muttered. “You going back to the Yellow Sea to get the fish?”

“Hey! Bitch!” shouted Sersei.

Cleo looked over her shoulder.

“Oh, it’s you…” she said with a grin. “Get lost…”

“I don’t think so,” said Sersei. “I want to deal with you…”

“Get real…” said Cleo, as a waiter set a tray of sushi in front of her. “I have better things to do than mess with losers.”

“Loser?” said Sersei. “See the blue blazer? I didn’t get to Obelisk by being a loser.”

Cleo’s cell phone rang.

“Can’t even eat lunch in peace…” she muttered, answering it.

“Yeah, hi… You’ll never guess… That bimbo that Alphonse caught is here yelling at me. Yeah, she never learns, I guess.”

Sersei looked at the piece of sushi that Cleo had her eye on…

Then she took the small jar of greenish mustard, and spread a huge amount of it on the piece with a butter knife. Mai gave her a thumb’s up.

Cleo put away the phone.

“Scram!” she snapped. “I’m eating!”

She picked up a pair of chopsticks and lifted the piece to her mouth…

And then her eyes almost popped out of her head. She clutched her throat, and fell to her knees.

She reached for the beverage on the counter… Sersei grinned, and moved it out of her reach.

“Aw…” said Sersei. “Looks like someone put way too much wasabi on that sushi. Now who could have done that?”

Cleo coughed for a minute. Then she got up and stared at her.

“You’re either very brave or very stupid, kid,” she said, angrily. “I’m going with the latter right now. What do you want?”

“A duel,” said Sersei. “And a wager. If I beat you, you let Russell go.”

Cleo glared at her.

“You’ve already been in our dark prison once, Sersei,” warned Cleo. “Are you so anxious to go back?”

“I can beat you…” said Sersei.

“That seems unlikely…” said Cleo, picking up her phone again.

She turned and speed-dialed a number.

“Boss?” she said. “Listen…”

Sersei couldn’t hear most of the conversation, but after five minutes, Cleo hung up.

“Very well, Sersei,” said Cleo. “I’ll give you one last chance to simply walk away, and if you do, we can forget this incident ever happened. You have no idea what you’re up against here…”

Sersei just glared at her.

“Fine, then,” replied Cleo. “I’ll duel you if you want… But I fully intend to have the Seal in my deck. If you lose, you find out what happens to Monsters who are used to activate Bazoo the Soul Eater’s effect.”

Don’t panic… thought Sersei, closing her eyes.

“If you win, which you won’t, I don’t have the authority to release Russell, since I didn’t take him. However, since I’ll be out of commission if that happens, someone will arrange for a chance to win his release.

“That’s the best offer you’ll get. Either take it, or...”

She reached into her pocket and took something out. A switchblade.

Sersei nervously stepped back as she replaced it.

“All right…” muttered Sersei. “I agree...”

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

Sersei faced Cleo in the center of the sushi bar. The two Disks activated.

“You know, Sersei,” said Cleo, with a sly look, “I think I know why you’re doing this… I can read people pretty well. Call it a gift…”

She stared at her.

“You’re in love with Russell, aren’t you? You have been for some time…

“Touching… But are you willing to risk your soul to get him back? If by some miracle, he returns, what if he rejects you? What would you do then?”

Sersei angrily looked at her.

“It’s sad, Cleo,” she replied. “I’m beginning to think that the only reason you do these horrible things is because you want to feel… big.”

Cleo frowned.

“And what if I do?” she asked. “Let me tell you something, Sersei, when I was poverty-stricken and begging for my next meal, people looked down at me like vermin. I had nothing…

“When Lewis made the offer and I married him, I had money, and I was well-fed, but everyone still looked down on me. I was a sham wife, and people thought I was no better than some fancy car he owned. I was an object, and as far as the big picture was concerned, I was still nothing.

“But you know something? When my boss offered me the Orichalcos, I got the one thing I truly wanted…

“Recognition.

“I was respected. I was appreciated. I was feared. After that, when I walked into a room, people took notice. People knew that if they crossed me, I could force them to duel, and they’d be sentenced to a pit of darkness. I got what I wanted after so long…

“And right now, you’re gonna find out why… After this duel is over, you’re gonna find out what it’s like to be nothing…

“This time, you won’t escape.”

[B](Sersei: 8,000) (Cleo: 8,000)

“This shouldn’t take long,” continued Cleo, drawing five cards. “To show I’m not so bad, I’ll let you move first.”

Sersei drew six cards.

Wow… she thought. I couldn’t have asked for a better hand.

She turned to Mai and grinned.

“I’ll start with a Spell Card,” she said, playing it. “It’s called, Topdeck Quiz.”

“What does that do?” asked Cleo, annoyed.

“Let me explain,” said Sersei. “Each of us names a card. If her opponent has the card she names in her deck, her opponent has to place it on the top of her deck. If she doesn’t have it in her deck, she gets to place any card she wants on the top of her deck.”

“Sounds interesting…” said Cleo, with a smirk.

“And since I played it, I get to name one first,” said Sersei. “The card I name is…”

She paused.

“…The Seal of Orichalcos.”

Cleo looked dumbfounded.

A loud “ding” came from her Disk.

“That means you have it,” said Cleo. “So put it on the top of your deck.”

“Why would you want me to put that on top of my deck?” asked Cleo, searching through her deck. “Don’t you know what it does?”

She placed it on the top of her deck.

“Well, now I get to name a card,” she said with a smile. “And I’ll name the card in your deck that’s the most useless – Harpie’s Pet Dragon.”

A “buzz” sounded from Sersei’s Disk.

“Oh, I’m sorry…” said Sersei, “but I’m afraid that card isn’t in my deck. Like you said, it’s rather useless nowadays, especially with Baby Pet Dragon, so I took it out.”

Cleo frowned.

“So now,” said Sersei, looking through her deck, “I get to place any card I want on top.”

She found what she wanted, and placed it on top of her deck.

“Still my move…” she continued. “Next, I’ll place two cards facedown…”

She fit two cards into her Disk, and they materialized.

“And then, I’ll summon my Sonic Shooter in Attack Mode.”

In a gust of wind, a bird-man with silvery skin and large, silver wings appeared, his head crowned by a feathered plume. He crouched down, ready to pounce. (1,300/600)

“Scared yet?” asked Sersei.

“Ha!” laughed Cleo. “Scared of THAT? Don’t make me laugh!”

“Then I end my turn,” said Sersei.

“And I start mine!” laughed Cleo. “Look out, because here it comes!”

She snatched the card off of her deck...

“I activate… Drop Off!” shouted Sersei.

Her Trap Card lifted.

“Drop Off?” gasped Cleo.

“It sends that card straight to the Graveyard,” said Sersei. “Now do you see why I put it on top?”

Cleo smirked, and discarded it.

“You think you’re so smart…” she said. “But you haven’t won yet…”

Especially since I have my Magician of Faith right in my hand, she thought.

“I place one card facedown,” she said, “and a Monster in Defense Mode.”

A facedown card and a facedown Monster appeared.

“I activate my other Trap!” shouted Sersei. “Icarus Attack!”

Her other Trap Card lifted.

“Now, by sacrificing one Winged Beast, I can destroy two cards on the field!”

Sonic Shooter’s wings turned to fire, and he flew forward, trailing a blazing stream…

In an explosion of flame, Cleo’s two cards were incinerated!

Cleo looked at her in hate as the flames died down...

“Even better, whatever Monster that was doesn’t get its Flip-Effect activated,” added Sersei.

“Congratulations…” growled Cleo. “You saved your own soul. But you’ll find saving Russell’s to be much harder.”

“We’ll see,” said Sersei. “I’m willing to bet that you’ve played using the Seal for so long, your normal dueling skills have slipped!”

“An interesting theory,” answered Cleo. “We’ll soon see if it holds water.”

“It’s my draw,” said Sersei, “and due to my Topdeck Quiz, I know exactly what card I’ll be drawing…”

She drew a card.

“I’ll play it now… my good old Pot of Greed.”

As she played the card, and the image of the goofy jar appeared. She drew two cards, and it shattered.

“Next, I summon Harpie Lady 2 in Attack Mode.”

She played the card, and the Harpie with bangs appeared. (1,300/1,400)

“And since you’re defenseless,” said Sersei with a grin, “she can go straight for you! Harpie Lady 2, attack that bitch directly!”

Harpie Lady 2 soared into the air, and swooped down on Cleo, talon first! Cleo screamed as she was raked by the Harpie’s claw.

[B](S: 8,000) (C: 6,700)

Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“That ends my turn,” said Sersei, as Harpie Lady 2 alighted in front of her. “How’s THAT for nothing?”

“You’ll pay for that…” growled Cleo, drawing a card.

She placed a card on her Disk.

“I summon Amazoness Swords Woman in Attack Mode,” she said.

The sword-wielding Amazon appeared, looking somewhat pissed off.

“Swords Woman, send her bird to the pet cemetery!” shouted Cleo.

Swords Woman slashed with her blade. Harpie Lady gave a look of shock, and then shattered.

[B](S: 7,800) (C: 6,700)

“Sersei, be careful,” warned Mai. “I know how these Monsters work – my deck in Battle City was a Harpie/Amazon hybrid.

“Even if you summon a stronger Monster, attacking that Swords Woman will cost you Life Points, not Cleo.”

“Maybe…” said Sersei, “but I might have to make a few sacrifices to win.”

“Make your move,” said Cleo.

“I will,” said Sersei, drawing a card. “And you may find this hard to believe, but my duel with Alphonse benefited me. He gave me a few ideas to improve my deck.

“Let me show you. First, I play Monster Reborn.”

She played the card. The holy ankh appeared, and Harpy Lady 2 reappeared. (1,300/1,400)

“Next, I play the Spell Card that good old Alphonse – may he rot in Hell – inspired me to add to my deck,” continued Sersei. “Inferno Reckless Summon!”

She played the card, and the frightening Spell Card that the King of the Swamp had used to instantly summon three Treeborn Frogs and three T.A.D.P.O.L.E.s appeared.

“Now, since I Special Summoned my Harpie, and all the Harpies are considered to have the same name, due to their effects, I can now summon Harpie Lady 1, and Harpie Lady 3 from my deck.”

First, Harpie Lady 1 appeared to her sister’s right. (1,300/1,400) Then the third sister appeared to her left, this one dressed similar to the other two, with spiky blue hair. (1,300/1,400).

“Forget?” asked Cleo. “Now I also get to summon two more Swords Women.”

Two more Amazons, seemingly twins of the first, appeared in front of her. (1,500/1,600 x2)

“Fine…” said Sersei, “but now that Harpie Lady 1 is on the field, the Attack Scores of all Wind Monsters, including her own, increase by 300 points.”

The three Harpie Ladies rose to 1,600 Attack.

“And now, Ladies,” said Cleo, “take out those Amazons!”

The Harpies flew into formation, and swooped at the Swords Women. Harpie Lady 1 clawed one of them in the gut, and she fell over. Harpie Lady 2 dive-bombed another with her leg talons, and she was knocked flat. Finally, Harpie Lady 3 slashed at the last, and she dropped her sword and fell over.

The three Amazons gasped for breath, and then shattered.

“Good job…” said Cleo, with a frown. “But all the damage from those battles goes to you rather than me.”

“It was a small price to pay to clear your field,” said Sersei. “It’s your move.”

[B](S: 7,500) (C: 6,700)

Cleo drew.

Maybe I underestimated this sorority chick, she thought. But this will slow her down…

“I play Nightmare’s Steelcage,” she said, playing a card.

Fire erupted around Sersei and the Harpies, and a domed, iron cage studded with spikes formed around them.

“What better place for your Harpies than a big birdcage?” asked Cleo. “That will hold them back for two turns.”

The three Harpies crossed their arms and looked at her angrily.

“I’ll summon Amazoness Blowpiper in Defense Mode, and that will be my turn,” continued Cleo.

She played a card, and the young Amazon with her blowgun appeared, kneeling in Defense. (800/1,500)

“I draw one card…” said Sersei.

She drew.

“…and I’ll end at that.”

“What more can you do?” asked Cleo, drawing a card.

She played a card.

“I summon Amazoness Fighter in Attack Mode.”

She played the card, and the muscular Amazon appeared. (1,500/1,300)

“Not that I’m leveling accusations,” said Sersei, “but I have the feeling she’s been using growth hormones…”

“Aren’t we funny,” said Cleo with a frown. “I end my turn.”

“One of my opponents in Battle City made the same joke,” said Mai. “He regretted it after she racked him.”

“Ouch…” muttered Sersei. “You, uh… Did make it to Heaven, right?”

“Relax…” said Mai. “Yes, once I married Joey, all the arrogance and egotism fell away. And I can assure you it’s a great place, where this harlot likely will never go. Now don’t let her distract you – you can still beat her.”

Sersei drew a card.

“I play Mystical Space Typhoon!” she shouted.

She played the card, and the cyclone shattered the Cage!

“Now then…” she said. “I’ll Equip Harpie Lady 1 with Arrow Nail.”

She played a card, and a sharp blade appeared on Harpie Lady 1’s wrist.

“The new manicure gives her an extra 300 Attack Points,” said Cleo, as the Harpie’s Attack rose to 1,900, “and should she be destroyed, I can Equip it to another Harpie.

“Now, let’s clean up. Harpie Lady 2, attack Blowpiper!”

Harpie Lady 2 flew into the air, and came down on the frightened Blowpiper with her talons. The Warrior shattered.

“Harpie Lady 3, destroy Fighter!”

Harpie Lady 3 flew forward in a straight line, and slashed at Fighter in the torso with her claw. The Amazon fell backwards with a groan, and then shattered.

“Harpie Lady 1, you know what to do…”

Harpie Lady 1 flew at Cleo and then gave her a savage slash with the Arrow Nail!

Ow… thought Cleo. Ow… ow… ow…

“Next, I’ll place two cards facedown,” said Cleo, placing two cards in her Disk.

Two facedown cards appeared.

“Do your worst…”

[B](S: 7,000) (C: 4,800)

“Whatever you say,” said Cleo, drawing.

She looked at the card.

This will help her as much as it will me, she thought, but I don’t have many options…

“I play Card of Sanctity,” she said.

She played the card, and a bright blue glow flashed over them.

Cleo drew three cards, and Sersei drew five.

“Next, I play Graceful Charity…”

She played the card, and drew three cards.

She looked over the eight cards in her hand, and then discarded two of them.

“Perfect…” said Cleo, taking two cards. “I play both Monster Reborn AND Premature Burial, to bring back two girls you might remember.”

She played the cards, and two Amazoness Swords Women reappeared. (1,500/1,600)

“Smart…” said Sersei. “You spent 800 Life Points to summon two Monsters who can’t even defeat mine.”

“I haven’t Normal Summoned yet,” said Cleo. “And the gal I’m going to summon is a real doozy…”

She placed a card on her Disk.

“I summon Amazoness Tiger in Attack Mode.”

The ferocious tigress appeared.

“And she gains 400 more Attack Points for every Amazon on my side of the field,” added Cleo. “She just loves having friends around…”

(1,100/1,500) –> (2,300/1,500)

“And now…” she said, “Tiger, devour Harpie Lady 1!”

Amazoness Tiger pounced forward.

“Not this time!” shouted Sersei. “I activate… Harpie Lady – Sparrow Formation!”

Her Trap Card lifted, and the three Harpies flew into a triangular pattern, and formed a glowing golden bird. Amazoness Tiger bounced off.

“So they survived one more turn…” muttered Cleo. “But one more thing… So long as Tiger is on the field, you can’t attack any Amazon except her.”

“I’ll place one card facedown, and end my turn.”

She played a card, and it appeared.

Just try to attack my Tiger, she thought. My Amazoness Archers will make it your last mistake.

[B](S: 7,000) (C: 4,000)

Sersei drew a card.

“I activate Call of the Haunted,” she said, as her facedown card lifted. “And bring back Sonic Shooter.”

Sonic Shooter reappeared, in Attack Mode. (1,300/600) –> (1,600/600)

“Before you question why he’s here,” said Sersei, “I just brought him back to sacrifice him. Which I will… For a guy named Swift Birdman Joe!”

Sonic Shooter crossed his wings and vanished…

And a new Winged Beast appeared. It was a tall male figure, dressed in a loincloth with a bare, muscular chest. He had powerful, birdlike legs, and large wings, covered with rainbow-colored feathers. His handsome face was crowned with the same colored feathers rather than hair. (2,300/1,400) –> (2,600/1,400)

The three Harpies looked flustered and started to swoon. Hearts appeared in their eyes, and they gazed at him lovingly…

“Calm down, girls,” said Sersei. “And by the way, when Joe is summoned by sacrificing a Wind Monster, like I just did, all Spells and Traps on the field are blown back to the owners’ hands.”

Joe raised his wings, and flapped them forward. Cleo’s Premature Burial and facedown card were blown off the field.

“All right Joe,” said Sersei, “show that Tiger why they call you Swift! Attack with supersonic swipe!”

Swift Birdman Joe raised his wings, and flew forward in a blur. Amazoness Tiger roared, and then shattered to bits!

Both Swords Women started to panic, and Cleo was pretty scared too…

“Harpie Ladies 3 and 2, attack!” shouted Sersei.

The two Harpies swiped at the Swords Women and cut them down.

“Harpie Lady 1…” continued Sersei.

She paused.

“You know…” she added. “Your normal attacks are boring me. How about you give Cleo a mean purple nurple?”

Harpie Lady 1 nodded, and then flew towards Cleo.

“No… please… don’t…” stammered Cleo.

The Harpie landed behind her and grinned… Cleo screamed as she dug her claws into her breasts and gave a great squeeze! She held on as Cleo was forced to her knees.

Harpie Lady 1 smiled a wicked smile. She flew back over to Sersei’s side.

[B](S: 6,800) (C: 1,800)

“Well…” said Cleo.

She got up, and forced her face into a smile.

“Maybe you aren’t the loser I thought you were… In fact, you’re much better than many of the scrubs in our organization…

“Perhaps you could go far, Sersei… Perhaps as my apprentice.

“Sersei… With the Orichalcos behind you, you’d be far more powerful. More powerful than you could dream. Listen… If we call off this duel right now, we can…”

“Save it,” said Sersei. “I want Russell back, and I wouldn’t give up if you gave me the moon.”

Cleo drew a card.

“Then prepare to be beaten senseless,” she said. “With what I’ve just drawn, Russell will be lost forever.

“First, I play Premature Burial again, which you so graciously sent back to my hand.”

She played the card. Her Life Points dipped to 1,000, and Amazoness Blowpiper reappeared. (800/1,500)

“Next,” she continued. “I’ll place three of my cards facedown…”

She fit three cards into slots, and they appeared.

“…and then, I’ll dispose of two of them, and Premature Burial, using Emergency Provisions.”

She played the card. Two of the facedown cards, revealed to be Sacred Sword of the Amazons and Pride of the Tribe appeared, and then they and Premature Burial vanished.

[B](S: 6,800) (C: 4,000)

“Next,” she continued, “I’ll sacrifice Blowpiper…”

Blowpiper vanished.

“To summon… Amazoness Elder in Attack Mode!”

Another Monster appeared…

It was an old woman, apparently a witch doctor of some sort, dressed in a long, colorful robe with flowing sleeves, her grey hair tied in a long ponytail, and wearing jewelry common to all the Amazons – made of bones and teeth. She leaned on a wooden cudgel. (0/0)

“Zero Attack Points and zero Defense Points?” said Sersei, narrowing her eyes.

She looked at Mai.

“Uh, unfortunately, Sersei…” she answered, “this is one Amazon I’ve never heard of…”

“Don’t let her fool you,” said Cleo. “Yeah, she’s weak… And she knows it. Since she’s way past her prime as a fighter, Amazoness Elder never goes anywhere without a few bodyguards.

“What that means is, when she’s summoned by sacrifice, I can pay 2,000 Life Points to Special Summon from my hand, deck, or Graveyard, one Swords Woman…”

A Swords Woman appeared. (1,500/1,600)

“…one Fighter…”

A Fighter appeared next to her. (1,500/1,300)

“…and one Amazoness Paladin.”

Amazoness Paladin appeared, holding aloft her sword. (1,700/300)

“And let’s not forget Paladin’s ability – she gains 100 Attack Points for every Amazon on the field.”

(2,100/300)

“And my Elder has another ability. So long as she’s in Attack Mode, she can’t be attacked, so long as I have at least one other Amazon on the field.”

“Yeah, well even your Paladin can’t defeat Joe,” said Sersei.

“I can’t attack this round anyway due to that effect,” said Sersei. “So it’s your move.”

[B](S: 6,800) (C: 2,000)

Sersei drew a card.

I can take her down, she thought. First I’ll use Harpie Lady 2 to take out Swords Woman. Then I’ll use Harpie Lady 3 to take out Fighter, and Paladin will be weakened. Then Harpie Lady 1 will destroy her, and Joe can attack Elder and blast her for 2,600 points of damage, and I’ll win!

“Harpie Lady 2, attack Swords Woman!”

The Harpie took to the air…

“I activate… Amazoness Archers!” shouted Cleo.

Her Trap Card lifted, and a squad of Amazons appeared, and peppered Sersei’s four Monsters with arrows!

“These poison arrows weaken all your Monsters by 500 points,” said Cleo with a grin, “and they force them to attack. Need I remind you that your Harpie was still attacking my Swords Woman…”

Harpie Lady 2 fell to 1,100 Attack. Swords Woman slashed with her blade, and she was cut in half! Her remains shattered!

Sersei frowned.

“I can still tell them who to attack!” she shouted. “And in which order! Harpies, attack the Swords Woman!”

The two Harpies swooped down on the Swords Woman…

She made two slashes with her blade. The two Harpies gave surprised looks, and fell to the ground. They shattered.

Joe lost another 300 Attack Points.

“Well…” said Sersei. “I hope you enjoyed that, because Joe still has 1,800 Attack Points!

“Swift Birdman Joe, attack Amazoness Fighter!”

Joe darted forward, and angrily slashed at Fighter with his claw. Fighter held her torso and stared blankly… And was blasted into pieces.

[B](S: 5,900) (C: 2,000)

“Oh, and look at your Swords Woman…” said Sersei.

Swords Woman looked incredibly frightened…

Suddenly, she froze, turning to stone!

“What?” said Cleo, in surprise.

“She found out about Harpie Lady 3’s curse the hard way,” explained Sersei. “Anyone who battles her and survives is helpless for two turns, unable to attack for that amount of time.”

“Fine…” said Cleo. “So your Harpies got in one last jab at me… It makes no difference.”

“My turn is over, and that means that your Trap wears off,” said Sersei.

Joe’s Attack set at 2,300, and Paladin’s lowered to 2,000.

“So make your move…”

Cleo drew.

“I will,” she said, “and now I’ll dispose of Joe too…”

She placed a card on her Disk.

“This next Monster is one I must summon by removing Paladin from play, so say goodbye to Paladin…”

Paladin vanished in a sparkle of light.

“And say hello to Amazoness Princess.”

The Warrior who appeared seemed a lot like the other Amazons – same indecent clothing – but her jewelry was gold rather than teeth. She wore a tiara on her brow, and carried a fancier sword. (2,100/1,800)

“Like Paladin before her, Princess also gains a bonus from each Amazon on the field,” said Cleo, “but in her case, it’s 300 Attack Points for each. Except herself.”

(2,700/1,800)

Oh, come on… thought Sersei.

“Amazoness Princess, attack Swift Birdman Joe with royal scimitar slash!”

Amazoness Princess leapt forward and smite Joe with her blade! He groaned, and exploded in a burst of feathers.

[B](S: 5,500) (C: 2,000)

Was I actually just winning this a minute ago? thought Sersei.

“Be thankful my Swords Woman is still cursed,” said Cleo. “I end my turn.”

Sersei drew a card.

Hey… she thought. I just drew Mirror Force!

“All right, soul-stealer,” she said, “my turn will consist of placing three cards facedown.”

She placed three of her cards facedown, and they appeared.


Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“Now, let’s see what you’ve got…”

Cleo drew a card.

She giggled.

“Time to finish you…” she said. “Now I remove Amazoness Princess from play…”

Princess vanished just as Paladin had.

“…to summon the most powerful Warrior in my deck… Meet Hippolyta herself… Amazoness Queen!”

The Amazon who appeared seemed to be the most regal one yet. She still wasn’t dressed with much decency, but the bikini top was made of bronze, and the loincloth seemed to be silk, and she had a golden girdle. She wore a long, purple cape, golden jewelry, and a golden crown on her head. She held a scimitar that glowed with golden light. (3,000/3,000)

Come on, sucker… thought Sersei. You might look all impressive, but as soon as you attack, you’ll be sent straight to the Graveyard with your pathetic subjects…

“Amazoness Queen…” ordered Cleo. “Attack directly! Sacred scimitar slash!”

Amazoness Queen raised her sword…

“Activate Mirror Force!” shouted Sersei.

The Trap Card lifted, and the holy light shone. Elder cringed in panic as she and Swords Woman were consumed by it…

But Sersei was shocked a second later, as Amazoness Queen’s sword slammed into her like a hammer! She was thrown backwards.

“Ooh…” she moaned.

[B](S: 2,500) (C: 2,000)

Sersei looked up to see the Queen angrily looking down at her, as if to say, “How dare you?”

“She… survived… How?” she groaned.

Cleo laughed, and held up her Amazoness Blowpiper card.

“Did you really think you could slay Hippolyta with a card that was so… old fashioned?” she asked. “If Amazoness Queen is about to be destroyed by a Spell Card, Trap Card, or Monster effect, I can remove one Amazon in my Graveyard from play to save her. Your Mirror Force may have defeated my Swords Woman and Elder, but my strongest Monster is still here to destroy you.

“It’s time to make your move little girl. Best make it, and then say farewell to Russell forever. No Monster you could possibly summon could be this strong, and if I draw a Monster on my next turn, one direct attack from her will finish you.”

Sersei looked at her hand.

It wasn’t the best. Her four cards were Guardian’s Treasure, Harpie Lady Sisters, Harpie Feather Storm, and Pot of Avarice…

The last might have been useful, but if she used it, both of the two cards she had facedown on the field would be useless.

It all depended on her next draw.

She drew.

A grin crossed her face.

“I activate… Hysteric Party!” she shouted.

She discarded her Guardian Treasure card, and one of her Trap Cards lifted. It showed an image of six Harpie Ladies dancing among flashing lights.

“Now, for the cost of just one card,” she continued, “I can bring all three of my Harpies back out to play!”

Harpie Lady 1, Harpie Lady 2, and Harpie Lady 3 appeared in an eruption of flashing light. (1,300/1,400) –> (1,600/1,400 x3)

“Big deal!” shouted Cleo. “I’ll just kill them again!”

“Well, I’ll activate my other Trap, then,” said Sersei. “A little thing called… Aqua Chorus!”

Her other Trap lifted. A beautiful muse appeared behind the Harpies, and started singing… Watery orbs floated among them.

“This Trap can be triggered when I have Monsters on the field who have the same name,” explained Sersei, “and each one gains 500 Attack Points.”

The Harpies rose to 2,100 Attack.

“Still not good enough…” said Cleo.

“Will this do?” asked Cleo. “I play another card that the duel with good old Alphonse convinced me to put in my deck…”

She took the card she had just drawn.

“I Equip Harpie Lady 1 with Chthonian Alliance!”

She played the card, and Harpie Lady 2 and 3 started to glow with green light. Then Harpie Lady 1 glowed with golden light. She grinned, and flexed her muscles, as her Attack Score started to go up…

“With two other Harpie Ladies on the field, her Attack Score rises 1,600 more points, to 3,700!”

“Oh, geeze…” muttered Cleo.

Her face fell.

“The boss… is gonna kill me…”

“Harpie Lady 1…” shouted Sersei. “Destroy Amazoness Queen!”

Harpie Lady 1 flew forward, and made one savage swipe with her claw. Amazoness Queen fell to her knees and dropped her sword...

She lifted her hand, looking up at Harpie Lady 1…

Then she glanced at Sersei, and smiled…

And then she shattered into pixels.

“Now Harpie Lady 2…” said Sersei, “attack directly and end this!”

Harpie Lady 2 pounced on Cleo! She screamed as she raked at her flesh!

Finally, she hit her in the forehead with her open palm, and she fell over.

[B](S: 2,500) (C: 0)

“It’s over…” said Sersei. “I win… So now Russell goes free…”

Cleo stared at her.

“Did you forget the terms of the wager I made?” she snarled. “I said if you won, someone would arrange for a way to win him back…

“He isn’t free yet, little girl…”

“I’ll do anything…” said Sersei.

“Well then, do this…” said Cleo. “Tell his two partners and your chancellor to be near a phone in two hours…

“And take this as a warning, Sersei… You lucked out this time, but if you attempt again to defeat one of us, the Orichalcos will savor your soul…”

She got up, and walked out of the restaurant in a huff.

Mai came over and put her hand on Sersei’s shoulder.

“Hey,” she said in a comforting voice. “You did good, honey. Now at least Russell has a chance.”

“I hope…” said Sersei.

“And Sersei, Cleo may still hate you, but I think her Monsters feel different. That look that Amazoness Queen gave you right after your Harpie struck the blow…

“Call me crazy, but I think it was acknowledgement of some sort. Acknowledgement not only that she had been bested, but that you were better than Cleo was.”

“It was kind of… weird…” muttered Sersei.

She paused.

“So, I guess you’ll be going?”

Mai nodded.

“Anything else I can help you with?” she asked.

“I’m kind of curious…” said Sersei. “How on earth did Kaiba fall in love with Ishizu?”

Mai smirked.

“His exact words were,” she answered, “she was the only woman in the world who understood him.

“Now, you’d best go tell Dr. Artemis. As for me, I have to go…”

She started to fade.

“Once you’ve lived a full life,” said her voice, trailing off, “look me up, okay? After all, when you have eternity ahead of you, you can wait a long time…

“Joey would love to meet you…”

She vanished into sparkles of light.

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

Two hours later, four figures sat in silence in Dr. Artemis’s office.

One was Dr. Artemis herself (now on her fourth cup of coffee), the others were Sersei, Jason, and Trisha. Also, Twinky loyally stood in the corner.

Dr. Artemis had told Sersei an hour earlier that she didn’t know whether to suspend her or let her give a speech at her graduation, but hopefully, what she had done would come out for the better.

Finally, the phone rang. Artemis hit the speaker button.

“Talk to me,” she said, sternly.

“Direct and to the point,” said a voice that they had not heard before. “Fitting.”

“Who is this?” she demanded.

“I’m Cleo and the Puppeteer’s employer,” said the voice. “I can’t give my name at this moment…”

Artemis hit a button by her desk.

“Oh, trying to trace this call, Andorra?” said the voice. “That won’t work. This phone I’m using is of a quality that the CIA would envy. Your device is not nearly strong enough.”

“What do you want in exchange for Russell?” demanded Artemis.

“Now, now, I’m nothing if not fair, Andorra…” said the voice.

“That’s Dr. Artemis to you!” she snapped.

“Fine,” replied the voice. “Anyway, I always like a good duel, and one with good stakes. I’m willing to wager Russell’s soul… However, both Trisha and Jason will have to duel, and they’ll have to ante all three of the Legendary Dragons against it.”

Artemis looked at Trisha and Jason. They nodded.

“They agree,” said Artemis.

“Splendid,” said the voice. “Tell them to come to the Minotaur’s Labyrinth in the Goliath Mountain amusement park at nine-o’clock this evening. The Puppeteer will meet them there and explain the rules. Should they win, Russell’s soul will go free.

“I give you my word as a gentleman.

“Just to make this fair, I’ll assure you there will be no Seal, and no Raviel. However, no Legendary Dragons either. If your students use them, they are disqualified.”

“Fine,” said Artemis. “I accept those terms.”

“Then the Puppeteer will meet them at nine,” said the voice. “Over and out.”

He hung up.

Artemis looked at her device.

”Trace attempt failed,” it said.

“It was worth a shot…” she muttered.

“I don’t trust that guy one bit…” muttered Jason. “His word as a gentleman… sure, right…”

“Then maybe we should bring backup…” said Trisha.

[B]* * * * * * * * * *

Sersei rushed into the infirmary. She hugged Russell’s comatose form.

“It’s going to be okay, Russell,” she whispered. “I did all I could, and now Jason and Trisha are going to get you back…”

She held his hand.

“I’ll stay here with you until you wake up… A little prayer never hurt…”


Sunday, October 3rd, 2106, 5:42 PM



TOPDECK QUIZ (Spell Card)

Card Specs

Type: Spell
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Image: The contestant on the “Question” card, looking at three seemingly identical decks of cards.

Card Description: Both players state the name of a card. If the card a player names is in his opponent’s deck, his opponent takes it from his deck, shuffles his deck, and places the card on the top of his deck. If the card a player names is not in his opponent’s deck, his opponent chooses any card from his deck, shuffles his deck, and places the card he chose on the top of his deck.



AMAZONESS ELDER (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Spellcaster/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 6
ATK: 0
DEF: 0

Card Description: This aged woman is the advisor to the Amazoness Queen. When this Monster is Tribute Summoned successfully, pay 2,000 Life Points. Special Summon one “Amazoness Paladin”, one “Amazoness Swords Woman”, and one “Amazoness Fighter” from your hand, deck, and/or Graveyard. Monsters summoned by this effect cannot attack on the round they are summoned by this effect. This Monster cannot be targeted by an attack if it is in Attack Position and you have at least one Monster on your side of the field with the word “Amazoness” in its name, or that is named “Amazon Archer”.



AMAZONESS PRINCESS (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 6
ATK: 2,100
DEF: 1,800

Card Description: The heir to the throne of the Amazons, she aspires to lead her tribe to great things. This Monster cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This Monster cannot be Special Summoned except by removing one “Amazoness Paladin” on your side of the field from play. This Monster gains 300 points added to its ATK for every Monster on your side of the field with the word “Amazoness” in its name (except this one), or which is named “Amazon Archer”.



AMAZONESS QUEEN #2 (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 8
ATK: 3,000
DEF: 3,000

Card Description: The absolute ruler of the Amazon tribe. No one dares question her authority. This Monster cannot be Normal Summoned or set. This Monster cannot be Special Summoned except by removing one “Amazoness Princess” on your side of the field from play. If this Monster is subjected to a card effect that would destroy it, you can remove one Monster in your Graveyard from play that has the word “Amazoness” in it or that is named “Amazon Archer” to prevent it from being destroyed.

Note: This card is different from the “Amazoness Queen” that first appeared in “The Mandate of Heaven”



ARROW NAIL (Spell Card)

Card Specs

Type: Spell/Equip
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Image: A feminine hand with a sword-like blade strapped to the wrist.

Card Description: This card can only be Equipped to “Harpie Lady” or “Harpie Lady Sisters”. Increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by 300. If the Equipped Monster is destroyed, you can Equip this card to another appropriate Monster on your side of the field.

Note: “Arrow Nail” was first used by Mai in the anime episode “Fighting For a Friend (Part Five)”. All creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.



SONIC SHOOTER (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Winged-Beast/Effect
Attribute: Wind
Level: 4
ATK: 1,300
DEF: 600

Card Description: Able to fly at speeds reaching 761 MPH in calm weather, this Winged Beast is one of the fastest Monsters alive. If your opponent has no Spell or Trap Cards on his side of the field, this Monster can attack your opponent directly. If this Monster attacks directly, it inflicts damage equal to its base ATK.



HYSTERIC PARTY (Trap Card)

Card Specs

Type: Trap/Continuous
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Image: Six Harpie Ladies dancing among flashing lights.

Card Description: Discard one card from your hand. Special Summon from your Graveyard all the Monsters you can who are named “Harpie Lady”. If this card leaves the field, destroy all Monsters Special Summoned by this card.

Note: “Sonic Shooter” and “Hysteric Party” have been released in Japan for some time. They will be released in English in the “Lord of the Storm” structure deck.



Sersei’s Harpie Deck

After Mai Valentine wed Joey Wheeler, she put dueling aside for the most part and started a job as a fashion designer, only dueling when the temptation got too great. Since most of her life was kept secret to protect her reputation, only a little of her style became known to future generations.

Still, some duelists who heard of her tried, and Sersei has become reasonably successful.

Sersei’s deck naturally revolves around the Harpies, and since she is only allowed to have three Harpies total, and four of them are available, she alternates the lineup. Harpie Lady 1 is always present, as she is the most useful, being the one who boosts the Attack of the others; Harpie Lady 2 can deal with annoying Effect Monsters; Harpie Lady 3 can paralyze an enemy Monster that she battles; and Cyber Harpie Lady has raw power. This alternating team keeps her opponents guessing. Her other Monsters are mostly Winged Beasts and other creatures to help bring her stars out, and she doesn’t object to using male Monsters; she uses Sonic Shooter and Swift Birdman Joe frequently.

She uses a lot of Mai’s accessories. Sparrow Formation and Phoenix Formation are incredibly rare cards that Sersei obtained by winning tournaments, and she couldn’t hope to have more than one of each. Other more common cards include Icarus Attack, Triangle Ecstasy Spark, Harpie’s Hunting Ground, Hysteric Party, and Arrow Nail.

She still considers Guardian Treasure a gift from the beyond. Only seven copies of this card are believed to exist. It is powerful, but can only be used if you have five cards to discard, and is risky – if a duel goes on too long, the user might be decked out. Still, it is priceless, although due to the terms of the contract she signed, Sersei can never trade or sell it, and it is to be returned to Mai Valentine’s estate upon her death or when she gives up dueling, whichever comes first.

Sersei’s most powerful Monster is the Ritual Monster Calypso the Harpie Queen. She doesn’t use her often, but she helps regenerate her Harpies if they get lost and Hysteric Party can’t be used.

After her duel with Cleo, Sersei is certain now that the real Mai approves of her work, and that’s all the approval she needs.



[B][I]The quest to save Russell continues, as Jason and Trisha risk everything on one duel…

And with the Puppeteer orchestrating things, you know that it’s gonna be another blast from the anime past! But this one spans both generations of Yu-Gi-Oh!

You can probably guess what I’m talking about…

Don’t miss “Covering Fire”, coming soon.

[Dark Sage]

Before I go, I want to comment on something that Mai said. The duel with her and Vivian against Para and Dox did indeed happen, but American viewers may not know that.

In the final episode of the original series in Japan, they had special end credits, where they showed various members of the cast in a variety of situations. One of them was Mai and Vivian on the Great Wall of China facing Para and Dox. The outcome of this duel, of course, is left to the imagination - I assume that they won.

Anyway, now you know.

[Mystic_clown]

Interesting, so Kaiba married Ishizu? Kaiba/Ishizu shippers rejoice! I liked the little joke with the harpy lady sisters and swift birdman Joe.

Hmm, special credits huh? Youtube here I come!

[Shuppet Master]

Welp, I'm leaving for Montana tomorrow. Nice to see Dark Sage update this awesome fic the day before I left.

I'm sure that JBakura would be kissing and hugging you for that Ishizu/Kaiba thing. Anyways, this was a great chapter, and how Mai's two favorite monster sets faced off was just nifty.

I was surprised to see you made an effect monster called Amazoness Queen instead of using your fusion monster. This gal would be pretty powerful if it was ever made real.

Nice trick to how Sersei got rid of the seal on the outset. You may have given me some ideas for the final major duel of Anansi. (Of course, Despisaro is much smarter than to let the Seal get discarded so easily, and he has ways other than Magician of Faith to get it back.)

Nice how you loosened your belt straps and used the b-word and even the "dreaded purple nurple" for this chapter. Shows that you're not that prudish.

Keep up the good work. I think I have an idea who the Puppeter is going to use against Jason and Trisha.

[Master of Paradox]

Well, I never expected your female characters to start cursing like Ogre Grunn... However, that feels like a pretty heavy swing out of character for them. Even Cleo seemed to have more restraint than that. (And on the same subject, would anyone be perverted enough to program a Harpy Lady to give a "purple nurple"? And on a woman, no less? Even if someone that twisted worked on Kaibacorp's hologram programming staff, you'd think they'd catch it in product testing.)

Aside from that moment of immaturity, this duel was a slog. We've seen Amazons before, we've seen Harpies before, and this reads like every other duel involving them that we've seen so far. The new additions to Cleo's deck make me wonder if you're stretching for ideas, and as for Sersei, she felt like your attempt to show off the new cards coming out in Lord of the Storm. In short, unimpressive.

...which sums up the chapter as a whole. Mai's backstory is just about what I expected it to be, and felt like filler. Actually, that could go for this chapter as a whole. A lackluster effort, my friend.

But I do like Seto/Ishizu pairings. (And Shuppet, I've known Eric for four years and counting, and while he's emotional, he's not THAT emotional.)

I daresay we can all guess what's coming next, can we not?

[Pokemasterkatie]

-Kaiba married Ishizu, eh? That makes total sense--those two were MADE for each other.

-Yikes, claws in the breasts. That's GOTTA hurt(it's one place I don't ever want to be scratched by a cat, which questions some of the pictures on a site I go to).>_<

-The Harpies have some real taste--Joe is indeed quite hot for a male Winged Beast.^^

-Sonic Shooter is an interesting Monster--sort of reminds me of Black and Dark Tyrannos' effects.

-Nice mention of the epilogue, DS--sadly, we missed out on that. I'd hoped the very end would be kept, but that's 4Krap for ya. Then again, the ending was playing(of which the dub has none; and the full opening score would've been a bit innappropriate.).

[Blademaster]

I... honestly don't know what to say this time. This chapter wasn't great, but I don't think it was that bad, either...

I don't have any clue who's next - I only know 1 character from both YGO and GX that has seen some dueling action (so to speak)... Hmmm...

And I honestly don't care about characters swearing - to quote the famous comedians George Carlin and Lewis Black:

"We've entered a place where words hurt; words don't hurt. They're only words."

"We are adults, and these are the words we use to express frustration, rage, and anger, so that we don't pick up a tire iron and beat the **** out of someone!"

A little excessive, maybe, but I never have figured out why some people react so negatively to certain words... Maybe I'm just slow.

Anyway, like I said, not much to say this time; I'll be back for the next chapter (which I think I'll be really looking forward to ).

Later!

-Blade

[Inferno_Dragon]

Good Duel, Dark Sage. Sersei is pretty smart to find a way to get rid of the Seal so she can have a friendly duel. I like how Mai helped out Sersei with the duel. Amazoness Queen #2 is pretty different from the first one but it does have a good effect. Too bad Francensa didn't have this card in The Thousand Year Door. It really would of helped her. The Ishizu and Kaiba pairing isn't that much of surprise. I have read fanfics where those two are in love.

Well keep up the good work, Dark Sage.

[jkBAKURA]

Wow, 2 good chapters after one not so great one. I may have been hasty before, but I don't feel quite as bad now.

Sonic Shooter and Joe seemed a bit much. It made it look like Sersei had just picked up a Harpy Structure Deck and added about four cards of her own. (and maybe that's the case, I can't be sure)

I personally didn't mind the new Amazon additions, however, I would have thought that the Queen would make her first debut in Cleo's final appearance. Truth be old, I didn't even expect her to duel again so quickly. At least there weren't so many changes to either deck that it seemed like a totally new character.

I thnk you tipped your hand when you mentioned the word "Labyrinth" but Umbra and Lumis got an incredible chapter, and I'm betting this one will turn out just as great. I get the feeling that Jason's Cyber Dragons are going to end up supporting Tricia quite a bit in the next chapter.

[Dark Sage]

Actually, Eric, in the first draft, Sersei used Harpie Girl rather than Sonic Shooter, both to activate Icarus Attack and as a sacrifice for Joe. However, then I reasoned that Harpie Girl was rather useless, so I replaced her with Shooter.

By the way, Sersei does not have Divine Bird Shimurugu in her deck, at least not right now. Whether she will get one in the future, we'll have to see.

[Shuppet Master]

"We are adults, and these are the words we use to express frustration, rage, and anger, so that we don't pick up a tire iron and beat the **** out of someone!"

I agree that while the meanings of those words are stuff that makes proper girls have vapors, I've used them many times and always whenever something doesn't go my way.

I never have figured out why some people react so negatively to certain words

Because they were raised by parents who were raised by their parents and so on and so forth to recognize such words as evil, and when kids as young as five start speaking them, it's bad to them.

[Pokemasterkatie]

I agree that while the meanings of those words are stuff that makes proper girls have vapors, I've used them many times and always whenever something doesn't go my way.

*blushes* I do it for the same reason, but did you have to say it like that, nya~?

Because they were raised by parents who were raised by their parents and so on and so forth to recognize such words as evil, and when kids as young as five start speaking them, it's bad to them.

Doesn't stop the Naruto dub from slipping out 'hell' in a preview. Then again, it was used by Kakashi to describe Orochimaru("What snake pit in Hell did YOU crawl out from?!"), and is probably one of the coolest lines in the dub. What he said is very accurate, so I'll forgive his VA(who's his VA? Crispin Freeman?) for it.

[Dark Sage]

ENOUGH.

NO more discussion on this thread about the evils of swearing, or you WILL hear swearing.

My thread is not a public discussion forum.

I only want discussion about the fic. Discuss anything else via PMs.