Yu-Gi-Oh! The Thousand-Year Door (Act One)

[Dark Sage]

[I][B]A wise man once said, crime doesn’t pay.

He wasn’t really a very wise man, when you look at the big picture.

Sure, police tend to catch criminals, but for each one they catch, many more slip through the cracks. Crime can indeed pay if you’re good at it. Criminals in history have gotten wealth… power… in one case, even the Presidency. (He was eventually caught, but he never had to answer to his crimes.)

Stories tell of some criminals who justify their actions – Robin Hood for example. His victims were bigger crooks than he was, and his spoils went to charity. Many stories are told that romanticize the life of the bandit, highwayman, or pirate… (I sometimes like to watch an anime show about pirates called “One Piece”; it isn’t the best anime, but it’s decent.)

I’m not sure what to make of my current opponent. She’s certainly a criminal, but is she selfish… or simply misunderstood?

One thing’s for sure…

Her deck packs a wallop…

[size=3][B]CHAPTER TWELVE



Honor Among Thieves

The sun was going down, and the bright lights of Glitzville were lighting up the streets as the four teens walked out of the restaurant.

“So,” muttered Francesca, “we’ve taken care of three of the Shadow Spawn…”

“Leaving three more…” added Andy.

“We can take them,” said Stan, confidently. “I think we can do it so long as we stay together…”

He leafed through his deck and removed the three special Monster Cards he had.

“Maybe there’s some truth in Merlee’s story, you know,” he said. “Maybe we are the descendents of some greater powers…”

He expected Andy and Francesca to object, but they didn’t. The words from Flurrie and Koops still echoed in their minds.

Stan shuffled the cards back into his deck.

“So, who’s up for some ice cream?” he asked.

“Good idea,” said a voice. “A man always told me that the best dishes are served cold…”

They paused, and saw the creepy girl in the black cowled cloak in front of them. Her cape whipped in the wind, revealing a curved figure in a tight black leotard.

“Look,” said Stan, narrowing his eyes, “I’m getting enough of this, spook-girl! Who are you, and what do you want?”

The girl chuckled.

“My real name is something that I keep secret,” she said. “Aside from me, only my parents know it – that is, if they’re still alive. You may call me Raven…”

Stan’s eyes narrowed again.

“As for what I want,” she continued, “I want what every contestant wants – to duel and gain another Crystal Card. I have three already…”

“Really?” said Andy, suspiciously. “No other strings attached?”

“I’m not a vampire!” she chuckled. “But it wouldn’t be sporting to duel you or Francesca, Andy – I’ve seen what’s in both of your decks…”

She pointed to Stan.

“So how about it Stan? Care to match wits with the Princess of Thieves?”

Princess of the Thieves? thought Stan. This is seriously weird.

“I’m not scared of you,” muttered Stan. “I’ll take you on…”

“Perfect,” said Raven with a smile.

She took her deck and began to shuffle.


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

A hundred yards away, Crump was watching.

Interesting, he thought. Stan looks like he’s about to have the gauntlet thrown in his face.

That’s quite an odd opponent he’s got. Maybe I should keep a close eye on this… It might be useful later…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

“I have to warn you,” said Raven, with a smile, “my particular deck strategy is one that has rarely been perfected… however, my win-loss ratio is well over 90-10!”

“I like those odds,” chuckled Stan.

“What kind of a deck do you think she has?” asked Andy. “Spellcasters?”

“Zombies?” pondered Yumi.

“My bet is some strange type of Fiends…” suggested Francesca. “Man, we’ve seen a lot of those…”

The holo-imagers shot out, and the Disks flipped into position.

The scores set to 8,000.

“It’s time to duel!” laughed Raven, as she drew her first hand. “The first move is yours!”

“Awfully nice of you,” said Stan, drawing his first card.

He looked at it.

“And I’ll summon my Illusory Gentleman, in Attack Mode!”

He threw the card down, and the colorfully dressed Dark Spellcaster with his beady eye appeared, brandishing his staff. (1,500/1,600)

“Now it’s your move, spook,” he said.

“The name’s Raven!” she snarled, drawing a card.

Not bad, she thought.

She fit a card into a slot.

“I’ll place one card facedown,” she announced.

A card appeared in front of her.

“And then I’ll uproot this,” she said, placing another card down. “Mystic Tomato, in Defense Mode!”

A huge tomato-o-lantern with a lolling tongue appeared in front of her, and made a goofy face. (1,400/1,100)

“Your move…” she said with a smile.

Andy drew.

I know that thing’s effect, he thought. If it’s destroyed in battle, she gets to summon a Dark Monster with an Attack Score of 1,500 or less from her deck…

He considered his options.

I don’t have any other way to get rid of it, and if I don’t attack, she might sacrifice it for something powerful… Well, this guy should be able to handle whatever low-Attack Monster she summons…

“I summon Skilled White Magician in Attack Mode!” he shouted.

He threw the card down, and the sorcerer of Light appeared, holding his gleaming staff. (1,700/1,900)

“Illusory Gentleman, squash her tomater with dark illusion!”

The Illusory Gentleman thrust forth his staff, and blasted a steam of colored lights, reducing Mystic Tomato to pulp!

“Heh, heh…” chuckled Raven. “Impressive…”

A card flew out of her deck. She placed it on her Disk.

“I summon Dark Scorpion Chick the Yellow in Attack Mode!”

A form materialized in front of her. It was a teenage boy wearing black leather – a black top and red pants, as well as a red headband. He had blonde, wavy hair, and carried a wooden mallet. (1,000/1,000)

Stan drew back.

“A Dark Scorpion?” he mused.


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Well, this is odd… thought Crump.

I truly doubt that Chick the Yellow is the only Dark Scorpion in Raven’s deck… but she’ll have a hard time ahead of her…

After all, the strongest member of the Dark Scorpions has only 1,800 Attack Points, and Stan has Monsters far stronger than that…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

“I don’t know what your game is, Raven…” said Stan.

“Maybe my strategy is too complex for your simple mind,” commented Raven with a sneer.

“In case you didn’t notice,” explained Stan, “my Skilled White Magician has 700 more Attack Points than Chick there…”

Raven was silent, but Chick grinned at Skilled White Magician, daring him to attack…

That facedown card worries me, thought Stan, but I could get ahead if I took a risk…

“Skilled White Magician,” ordered Stan, “attack Chick the Yellow!”

Skilled White Magician aimed his staff.

“Not quite, Stan!” laughed Raven. “I activate my Trap!”

He card lifted.

“Great Escape!”

Chick the Yellow pulled a grappling hook and rope from his belt and threw it upward! He yanked himself out of the way of the Spellcaster’s blast!

“Surprised?” asked Raven. “The Dark Scorpions are the best thieves in the world, Stan – they always have a few tricks to keep themselves away from the law. This Trap protects one of them from attacks for one round.”

Chick leapt back onto the field.

“Ugh, I end my turn…” grunted Stan.

“Don’t worry, Stan!” called Andy. “Both your Monsters are still stronger than that weakling!”

Raven drew.

“Chick may be too weak,” she said, “but he’s only the first of a team that will destroy you! I sacrifice Chick the Yellow for his powerful teammate, Dark Scorpion Gorg the Strong!”

Chick the Yellow vanished into the shadows, and a larger form emerged. The new Warrior was dressed in the same outfit, but was far more muscular, with a bald head. He carried a heavy mace in his hands. (1,800/1,500)

“Eek!” stammered Stan.

“Gorg, attack his Skilled White Magician with Scorpion Crush!”

Gorg hollered, and charged forward, clobbering Skilled White Magician with his mace – not to mention to pieces.

Stan’s Life Points fell to 7,900.

“And that’s not all!” exclaimed Raven. “Now I get to enact one of Gorg’s effects… and I’ll enact the one which sends one of your cards from the field to the top of your deck!”

The Illusory Gentleman vanished, and his card flew off of Stan’s Disk and onto the top of his deck.

“Now it’s your move, flyboy…” she dared.

Stan drew, getting The Illusory Gentleman again.

Not many options… he thought.

“I’ll summon my Illusory Gentleman again, this time in Defense Mode,” he said, “and that will end my turn.”

He put the card down, and the Spellcaster appeared again.

“I see you’re running out of moves, Stan,” said Raven with a smile, “but a good thief always has plenty!”

She drew.

She put a card down on her Disk.

“You met the strength of the Dark Scorpions,” she exclaimed, “now meet the heart! I summon Dark Scorpion Meanae the Thorn!”

Another Warrior arose. A lovely, leggy female appeared, dressed in the same leather outfit. She had long, black hair, had tattoos on her arms, and carried a bullwhip. (1,000/1,800)

“Gorg, wipe out his Illusory Gentleman!” shouted Raven.

Gorg charged forward, and made short work of The Illusory Gentleman.

“Meanae, attack him directly! Scorpion lash attack!”

Meanae yelped with glee and leapt into the air… she vanished in a blur…

“Huh?” said Stan, looking around.

“STAN! Behind you!” screamed Francesca.

Too late. Meanae appeared behind Stan and lashed him across the buttocks with her whip! Stan screamed!

His Life Points fell to 6,900.

Meanae gave a cruel laugh, and leapt back to Raven’s side.

“Are all your Monsters so cruel, that they have to humiliate me?” growled Stan.

“Stan,” scolded Raven, “the Dark Scorpions learned a long time ago that fate dealt them a bad hand – that’s why they had to become thieves in the first place. Enemies aren’t worthy of their respect – to them, respect has to be earned. It’s a cruel world, and there are few people you can trust…

“But they watch out for each other. For instance, since Meanae damaged your Life Points, I get to add another Dark Scorpion to my hand from either my deck or Graveyard…”

A dark orb flew out of her discard slot and transformed into a card. She took it.

“I’ll retrieve Chick and save him for later. Any questions?”

“Yeah, I have one,” stated Stan. “Why exactly did you decide to base a deck on the Dark Scorpions, of all themes?”

“Well, not that it’s any of your business,” responded Raven, “but I grew up in Madripor.”

Stan, his three friends, and everyone watching gasped.

“You can’t be serious!” gulped Andy.

“That county has been on the U.S. embargo list for decades!” shouted Francesca.

“Yes, due to human rights violations that the ruling class don’t care about,” sneered Raven. “In Madripor, there are two kinds of citizens – the very rich, and the very poor. The rich upper class are a group of spoiled rotten snobs who never earned a red cent of the wealth they have, and they only rule the county by default. They treat the poor like animals, hardly caring about their welfare. It’s a common sight for one of the lower class to drop dead in the streets and a member of the upper class to walk right over him!

“I was born into that lower class… And when I was ten, my parents left me out on the streets, because they couldn’t afford to feed me! I suppose I can’t really blame them…

“I thought I was doomed… but after starving and shivering for two nights, I was saved by a ragtag man in with a quarterstaff who called himself Stick. He offered me a chance to survive – and also wreck revenge against the upper class that had put folks like me in my position. I eagerly accepted…

“You see, Stick was the leader of a gang of young thieves who struck back against the corrupt establishment of Madripor. He reasoned that most of the rich didn’t deserve the wealth they had, so if you could take it from them, you should try. He trained me and a great deal of others in burglary, pilfering, pickpocketing, anything to filch wealth from anyone who had too much – and I soon became one of his best.”

She chuckled.

“Stick loved calling me ‘The Princess of Thieves’. I was pretty much his heir!”

She paused.

“You know the expression ‘Honor Among Thieves’, Stan?” she continued. “We lived by that term. We had to watch each other’s backs. In Madripor, thieves were hanged, and trials were nonexistent. I was arrested nine times – once I came so close to execution that I saw the gallows that had been prepared for me. But each time my family got me out before it could be done. And I repaid the favor many times – I took part in rescue missions every week, it seemed.

“Eventually, my family raised enough money to bribe a merchant vessel to take us away from Madripor and take us to the States. It was there that I discovered Duel Monsters… and in doing so, I found the Dark Scorpions. They so much reminded me of my own family – the way they were a team that stood by each other… a group of thieves who dared to challenge the establishment.

“So now, stealing from spoiled snobs is just a secondary hobby… dueling is my life.”

She paused again.

“And I believe it’s your turn.”

Stan didn’t know what to think. Raven was a criminal… but she made a good point. Who were worse criminals? Those who stole, or those who horded wealth like the world owed it to them and neglected those who truly needed it?

But he still had to try to win. He drew.

“Try to get past this,” he dared. “I summon Mystical Elf in Defense Mode…”

He set a card down, and the peaceful, blue-skinned elf appeared, kneeling. (800/2,000)

“Humph,” chuckled Raven. “She kind of looks like your friend there…”

Francesca gave her a dirty look. Stan ignored her.

Stick had taught her how to survive in a corrupt country, but he hadn’t taught her many manners…

“I’ll also place this card facedown,” he said, placing a card into a slot. “Make your move.”

Raven drew.

Hmm, she thought. I can’t break that Elf’s Defense yet, and he likely intends to sacrifice her for something stronger…

Fortunately, I can buy myself some time…

She put a card down on her Disk.

“I’ll summon back an old friend,” she said. “You remember Chick the Yellow, don’t you?”

Chick the Yellow reappeared, holding his hammer. (1,000/1,000)

“And now,” she said, fitting a card into a slot, “I play Swords of Revealing Light!”

A rain of Swords crashed down upon Stan!

“Clever,” grunted Stan. “But you activated my Trap…”

His card lifted. A card showing a Grecian emperor in a toga holding a scroll and holding his right arm in a commanding manner appeared.

“I activate An Eye For An Eye!” he exclaimed.

To Raven’s surprise, a cage of Swords surrounded her!



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued From Last Post:



“Surprise!” shouted Stan. “My Trap Card can be activated whenever a Normal Trap or Normal Magic Card is played that doesn’t have a trigger. You may have kept me from attacking for three turns, but now you have to suffer the same restriction for three of your turns!”

“Okay, one point for you,” snarled Raven, “but the Swords around me will wear off before yours do, in case you didn’t know. So make your move.”

Stan drew.

Now that’s just what I need! he thought.

“I’m summoning this little spitfire in Defense Mode!” he exclaimed, putting a card down.

A shower of pixie dust fell upon his side, and a small form appeared in a burst of light. It was a little girl with blonde hair tied in long, pink braids. She wore a white robe with arcane symbols on the front, and carried a slender scepter topped with a shining orb. (1,200/0)

“Meet White Magician Pikeru!” chuckled Stan.

“How cute…” muttered Raven.

“I’m not done yet!” exclaimed Stan, choosing a card from his hand. “With Pikeru on the field, I can play a special Magic Card…

“You see, not many people know this, but Pikeru has a sister. Word hasn’t gotten out, because she rarely talks about her. Pikeru practices magic of Light, but her sister practices magic of Darkness. The sisters despise each other, each thinking that the other chose to study the wrong craft…

“But they can’t deny, in the end, that they are blood-related, and if the cause is great enough, one will come to the other’s aid…

“So I play the Magic Card… Sibling Rivalry!”

He threw a card into a slot. A card flew out of his deck.

“Sibling Rivalry can be played when one of the sisters is on the field, and let’s me Special Summon the other one… Thus, I summon Ebon Magician Curran in Defense Mode.”

A dark shadow formed next to Pikeru, and another young girl stepped out. She had long, dirty-blonde hair, and wore a black, fancy dress and a hood with “bunny ears”. She carried a leather switch in her hands. (1,200/0)

Pikeru and Curran gave each other dirty looks, and then turned to face Raven.

“Oh, they’re both adorable!” cried Yumi.

“True…” pondered Andy. “But this is… odd. I know what Pikeru does, but what secrets does Curran have inside her?”

“Your move, Raven…” said Stan, with a snide look.

Raven drew. She looked at the card.

Pikeru can increase his Life Points, she thought. and the more Monsters both of us have on the field, the more he gets… And I don’t even know what Curran does…

Playing this gal might be risky, but she may put me up for the perfect way to strike back once these Swords are gone…

She put a card down.

“I summon…” she announced, “Dark Scorpion Shanna the Quick, in Attack Mode!”

A new Dark Warrior appeared. This one was a teenage girl, wearing the same outfit as the rest of the Scorpions. She had short, black hair, and carried two long daggers. (1,300/500)

“Huh?” said Stan, in astonishment. “I’ve… I’ve never heard of a member of the Scorpions called Shanna the Quick…”

“She was a later recruit,” said Raven, with a smile. “And this is a rare card. Wait until you see her special talents!

“Your move…”

“Then I draw,” said Stan, “and now the two sisters can get to work!”

White Magician Pikeru waved her scepter and chanted.

“First,” said Stan, “Pikeru’s white magic increases my Life Points by 400 for every Monster on the field, and there are seven of them!”

Stan’s Life Points went up to 9,700!

Then, Ebon Magician Curran swung her switch over her head and chanted a different spell…

“Second,” explained Stan, “Curran’s black magic strikes you directly, blasting away 300 of your Life Points for each Monster on the field!”

Raven gasped! Curran swung her switch forward, and a beam of dark magic plowed into Raven, knocking her down!

Her Life Points fell to 5,900.

“And I think I’ll just pass for this turn,” he concluded.

“Whoa!” shouted Andy. “Talk about a combo!”

“Too bad those two hate each other,” commented Francesca, “they make a great team.”

Raven got up and drew.

“I’ll play my Pot of Greed…” she stated, placing a card into a slot.

“But don’t get the wrong idea,” she warned, as the jar handed her two cards. “I was never greedy – the folks who we stole from were much more avaricious than any of us…”

She looked at the two cards.

“I’ll pass as well,” she said.

The Swords of Revealing Light around her vanished.

Stan drew.

“Pikeru, Curran…” he said, “GO!”

Pikeru chanted again, and Stan glowed. His Life Points shot up to 12,500!

Curran cast her dark spell… Raven braced herself as the energy slammed into her! Her Life Points fell to 3,800.

“And now,” continued Stan, “I’ll sacrifice Mystical Elf for Dark Magician Girl!”

He switched cards, and lovely music started playing. Mystical Elf vanished, and the lovely female wizard spun out of the ground, brandishing her scepter! (2,000/1,700)

“My turn is over, which means your Swords are gone,” said Stan, as the Swords around him faded, “and Dark Magician Girl is stronger than any of your Dark Scorpions…”

“Not for long…” snickered Raven.

She drew.

“Let’s narrow the gap,” she said. “And this Magic Card should do the trick…”

She showed it to him.

“It’s a powerful card called Seventh Inning.”

“Seventh Inning?” quizzed Stan. “What kind of a card is that?”

Raven placed it into a slot, and the card appeared, showing a picture of an umpire behind a home plate. The umpire appeared on the field, and held out seven fingers.

“You know how in baseball games, when the seventh inning comes around, the teams are given a few minutes to rest and get their second wind? This card lets both duelists do just that.

“Seventh Inning can only be played when I’m behind in Life Points. It takes the difference in our Life Points, divides it in half, and adds that to both our scores. Do the math.”

Stan did a quick calculation.

“That’s nuts,” he mocked. “You’ll gain 4,350 Life Points, but so will I!”

“It doesn’t work that way,” said Raven, with a smile. “Simply resting can never make you stronger than your full strength. In game terms, this card can’t increase your Life Points beyond the starting point – so as it stands, this Magic Card won’t benefit you at all!”

Raven’s Life Points went up to 8,000!

“Now that my Life Points are restored,” continued Raven, “I’ll start working on yours…”

She placed a Monster Card down on her last slot.

“I summon Dark Scorpion Tornas the Joker!” she announced.

Yet another Warrior appeared. He looked even younger than Chick the Yellow, and while he was dressed in the same outfit as his teammates, the outfit was torn and ragged. He had unkempt hair and a dirty face. (300/300)

“Ha, ha!” laughed Stan. “That’s the weakest one I’ve ever… Wait… you summoned that guy in Attack Mode…”

“Uh huh…” stated Raven. “Tornas, attack Dark Magician Girl!”

Tornas stretched out his arms and made a flying leap at Dark Magician Girl! She gasped in surprise…

Then she lifted her staff and blew him to pieces.

“Are you nuts?” gasped Andy, who was wondering if Raven had lost her mind.

Raven smiled as her Life Points fell to 6,300.

“No,” said Raven with a grin. “You see, when Tornas the Joker is destroyed in battle, all other Dark Scorpions on the field have their Attack Scores increased to 3,000 for the remainder of the turn!”

Gorg, Meanae, Chick, and Shanna glowed with a dark aura, as their Attack Scores skyrocketed!

“Chick!” shouted Raven, “wipe out Pikeru with Scorpion smash!”

Chick lifted his hammer and slammed it into White Magician Pikeru, blasting her into particles.

“Meanae, obliterate Curran with Scorpion lash!”

Meanae lashed her whip forward, and Ebon Magician Curran screamed. She was blown apart.

“Gorg, attack Dark Magician Girl with Scorpion crush!”

Gorg slammed his mace into Dark Magician Girl’s gut, and she groaned. She fell to floor and shattered into pixels.

Stan’s Life Points fell to 11,150.

“And by the way, Stan…” continued Raven.

Gorg snatched the card off the top of Stan’s deck.

“HEY!” yelled Stan.

“I’m enacting Gorg’s other effect now,” she said, “enabling me to make you discard the top card from your deck when he damages your Life Points.”

She paused, and took a card from her hand (it was another Mystic Tomato).

“Now then,” she said, “now that you have no Monsters to defend yourself, I can activate Shanna’s special ability…”

She threw the card into her discard slot.

“By discarding one Monster Card, Shanna can attack three times in one round!”

“NO!” screamed Stan.

“Oh… my… God…” gasped Francesca.

“Shanna, attack him directly!” shouted Raven.

Shanna leapt up and made a slash at Stan!

“Again!” shouted Raven.

Shanna laughed and made another slash!

“One more time!” yelled Raven.

Shanna made a quick stab, knocking Stan down!

Stan’s Life Points sank like a stone, falling all the way to 2,500.

Stan took some deep breaths… he slowly pulled himself to his feet.

“Wow…” said Raven. “I’ve never done that before without reducing an opponent’s Life Points to zero. You just took 9,000 Life Points worth of direct attacks in one blow… what are you made of?”

“I’m starting…” gasped Stan, “to wonder that… myself…”

“Then make your move…” dared Raven. “I could have finished you off, you know…”

“Say what?” croaked Stan.

“If I had attacked Dark Magician Girl with Gorg first, I’d have gotten rid of another one of your Monsters – but hitting you for 12,000 points of direct damage would have been too much, so I decided to wait before winning.”

“How thoughtful…” groaned Stan.

The Dark Scorpions’ Attack Scores returned to normal.

“Give me… a minute…” gasped Stan.

Slowly, he drew. He couldn’t believe he was still standing – what was he made of?

“I’ll place… a card facedown…” he stuttered.

He fit the card into a slot, and it appeared.

“And then I’ll play my own Swords of Revealing Light!”

He threw another card into a slot, and the cage of Swords crashed down on Raven again!

“Not again…” sighed Raven.

She frowned.

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll just draw, and pass this turn.”

Stan made a draw.

“All right,” he said. “I play Monster Reborn!”

He threw the card into a slot, and Dark Magician Girl reappeared.

“Guess who’s back?” he sneered.

(2,000/1,700)

“Crud…” sighed Raven.

“Now,” he said, “I reveal my Trap Card… a little thing called Gift of the Mystical Elf!”

The Trap lifted, and the huge image of Mystical Elf appeared behind him.

“This raises my Life Points by 300 for every Monster on the field – that’s 1,500 extra Life Points!”

His Life Points went up to 4,000.

“Bet you’re sorry you didn’t finish me when you had the chance!” exclaimed Stan.

“That’s what I get for being such a softy…” said Raven, sarcastically.

“Now, Dark Magician Girl, attack Shanna!” shouted Stan.

Dark Magician Girl aimed her scepter at Shanna and fired! Shanna the Quick screamed, and was blown to pieces.

“One down…” muttered Stan. “And it’s your move…”

Raven’s Life Points fell to 5,600.

Raven drew.

She turned the cards on her Disk.

“I’m moving all my Monsters to Defense Mode,” she stated.

Chick, Gorg, and Meanae knelt.

“And that will be all,” she said.

“Good,” said Stan.

He drew.

Now this is more like it! he thought.

“I summon my Gemini Elf!” he exclaimed.

He put a card down, and two twin elves in blue and purple with their arms around each other appeared. (1,900/900)

“Gemini Elf!” he ordered. “Wipe out Gorg the Strong with dual magic attack!”

The elves raised their free hands, and shot bolts of lightning at Gorg. He groaned, and burst into dark shards.

“Dark Magician Girl, attack Chick the Yellow!” he shouted.

Dark Magician Girl spun her staff, and blew Chick away.

“Your move…” said Stan, with a smile.

Raven drew.

Terrific… she thought, looking at the card. Where was this when I needed it?

“I have to pass this turn…” she moaned.

The Swords vanished.

Stan drew.

“Now to seriously take you down!” he exclaimed. “I summon Pixie Knight in Attack Mode!”

He put the card down, and a pretty female pixie in a green and blue suit and a witch’s hat with gossamer wings appeared. (1,300/200)

“Gemini Elf, take care of Meanae the Thorn!” ordered Stan.

The elves cast forth their lightning, and Meanae gasped. She fell and vanished.

“Now, Pixie Knight, attack Raven’s Life Points directly with pixie dust!”

Pixie Knight giggled, and shot forth a stream of sparkling dust! Raven shielded herself against the wave of energy, and her Life Points fell to 4,300.

“Dark Magician Girl, attack her directly with dark magic blast!”

Dark Magician Girl cheered and leapt into the air! She cast her dark spell, striking Raven dead center! Raven screamed and fell over.

Her life Points fell to 2,300.

“Yes!” shouted Andy. “Now Stan is winning!”

“He’s got this duel cold!” exclaimed Francesca.

“It’s your move, Raven…” dared Stan.

“I’ll draw one card…” said Raven, drawing.

She looked at the card, and smiled.

“Time to meet another member of the gang, Stan!” she exclaimed. “I summon Dark Scorpion Fandral the Dashing in Attack Mode!”

She put the card down, and a slim Warrior appeared. He wore the usual outfit, and had long, blonde hair tied in a ponytail, and wore a black domino mask. He carried a long rapier. He made a fancy thrust with the rapier. (1,500/800)

“And now,” continued Raven, “I’ll Equip him with a Dark Scorpion’s second favorite weapon – the Dark Scorpion Shiv!”

She fit a card into a slot, and a long knife appeared in Fandral’s left hand.

“This Equip raises the Attack Score of any Dark Scorpion by 700 points, so now he’s stronger than any of your fairies! Fandral, attack Dark Magician Girl with Scorpion’s blade!”

Fandral leapt forward and thrust with his rapier, stabbing Dark Magician Girl in the belly! She gave a cry, and shattered.

Stan’s Life Points fell to 3,800.

“And also,” said Raven, “now Fandral’s effect comes into… well, effect. When he destroys an enemy Monster, I gain Life Points equal to 300 times the fallen enemy’s star level. Since Dark Magician Girl is a six-star Monster, that means I gain 1,800.”

Her Life Points went up to 4,100.

“This is crazy!” shouted Andy. “They just keep bringing their Life Points up again and again!”

“Someone has to give soon…” muttered Francesca.



Continued…

[Dark Sage]

Continued From Last Post:



Stan drew. He looked at the card strangely.

“I’ll place a card facedown, and that will end my turn,” he sighed.

He fit a card into a slot, and it appeared behind his two Monsters.

“Stan!” screamed Yumi. “You forgot to move your Monsters into Defense Mode!”

“Heh, heh,” chuckled Raven, “it’s his own fault.”

She put a card down.

“First I’ll summon Cliff the Trap Remover in Attack Mode,” she stated.

Another member of the Dark Scorpions appeared. The same outfit was present, and this one had slightly long, dirty blonde hair, and carried a dagger. (1,200/1,000)

“Fandral,” shouted Raven, “attack his Gemini Elf!”

Fandral leapt up and closed in on Gemini Elf…

“Not so fast!” shouted Stan. “I activate Spellbinding Circle!”

His Trap lifted, and Fandral was caught in the magical pentagram! His Attack Score fell to 1,500.

“What? No!” shouted Raven. “You kept your two Monsters in Attack Mode on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Uh huh,” said Stan, nodding.

“I admit, I am impressed,” said Raven. “It takes a lot to trick a trickster. But I’ll just have to try harder. It’s your move.”

Stan drew.

Double Spell, he thought. I know I can use this against her somehow, but how? Trouble is, I don’t have another Magic Card to activate it!

“Gemini Elf, wipe out Fandral!” he shouted.

Gemini Elf blasted their lightning blots, and Fandral the Dashing was no more.

“Pixie Knight, attack Cliff the Trap Remover!”

Pixie Knight shot forth her sparkling dust. Cliff gasped, and vanished.

Raven’s Life Points stood at 3,600.

“Your move again,” chuckled Stan.

Raven drew.

“I’ll play Card of Sanctity!” she announced.

She fit the card into a slot.

“Now we have to…” she started.

“I know what it does…” said Stan, “and you helped me a great deal.”

They each drew until they had six cards. Stan grimaced. Double Spell was still the only Magic Card in his hand!

But he had drawn a powerful Monster…

“Time to, as we thieves say, ‘take you to the cleaners’, Stan!” laughed Raven.

“First I’ll summon the fearless leader of the Dark Scorpion Gang…”

She put a card down.

“Meet Don Zaloog!”

One more Warrior materialized. The bandit in front of Stan was slightly muscular, and his uniform was covered with pouches and a bandolier. He wore a patch over his right eye, and his hair was platinum blonde. He held a rapier in one hand, and a long dagger in the other. (1,400/1,500)

“You’d think their leader would be a little stronger…” muttered Andy.

“Hey, don’t knock it, pal!” shouted Raven. “To me, this Warrior represents my mentor Stick, a thief who’s brave and daring, and not afraid to tear the establishment down.

“And I’m not done yet. I’m equipping Don Zaloog with a powerful card – also my rarest card. Scorpion’s Sting!”

She placed a card into a slot. Don’s weapons vanished, and two long blades appeared attached to his wrists.

“To play this card, I have to spend 2,000 Life Points…” chuckled Raven.

Her Life Points fell to 1,600.

“But it’s worth the price, because it raises any member of the Dark Scorpion’s Attack by his or her original Defense.”

Don Zaloog’s Attack rose to 2,900.

“Now, Don Zaloog, destroy his Pixie Knight!”

Don Zaloog leapt forward, and stabbed his blades into Pixie Knight! She screamed and burst!

Stan’s Life Points fell to 2,200.

“And one more thing, Stan,” she said.

Don Zaloog reached out and snatched a card from Stan’s hand!

“HEY!” shouted Stan.

Don threw it into the discard pile.

“When Don damages your Life Points, I can make you discard one card from your hand,” explained Raven.

“Clever,” said Stan, with a smile, “but now that you’ve destroyed my Pixie Knight, you have to chose a Magic Card from my Graveyard for me to put at the top of my deck!”

Raven laughed out loud.

“Silly,” she chuckled. “I knew all about Pixie Knight’s effect. So I choose your Sibling Rivalry card!”

“Oh no!” gasped Francesca.

A glowing orb shot out of Stan’s discard pile, and it transformed into a card, which was placed on the top of his deck.

“Both Pikeru and Curran are in your Graveyard,” laughed Raven, “and I truly doubt you have more than one Pikeru and Curran in your deck! So by choosing that card, I’m more or less making you skip your draw phase, because what you’re about to draw is useless!”

“Oh, is it now?” asked Stan, drawing.

He looked at the Sibling Rivalry card.

“Don’t be so sure,” he said, taking another card from his hand.

He fit it into his Disk.

“I play… Double Spell!” he exclaimed. “Now I just need to discard one other Magic Card…”

He discarded Sibling Rivalry.

“…and now I can duplicate the effects of any Magic Card in your Graveyard. I choose your Pot of Greed!”

The Pot of Greed appeared on his side of the field, and handed him two more cards.

Sweet! he thought. I couldn’t have asked for better!

“I play Premature Burial!” he exclaimed. “To bring back Pixie Knight!”

He fit the card into the slot. His Life Points fell to 1,400, and Pixie Knight reappeared.

“And now,” said Stan, placing a card on his Disk, “I sacrifice both her and Gemini Elf to summon Dark Magician!”

His friends cheered, as the two Spellcasters vanished, and Dark Magician arose.

“Nice,” said Raven with a smile. “But even he isn’t strong enough.”

“He will be once I use this Equip,” exclaimed Stan, taking the other card he had drawn.

He fit it into a slot.

“Magic Formula! This raises his Attack Score by 500 points!”

And ancient book appeared in front of Dark Magician, and his Attack went up to 3,000.

“Now, Dark Magician,” yelled Stan. “Dark magic attack!”

Dark Magician spun his staff, and blew Don Zaloog away.

Raven’s Life Points fell to 1,500…

But she was smiling…

“Heh, heh…” she chuckled. “Sucker. You didn’t know about the other effect of my incredibly powerful Equip Card…”

“Other effect?” gasped Stan.

“Yes,” giggled Raven. “When a Monster Equipped with it is destroyed in battle, the attacker loses Attack Points equal to half of the Monster’s original Attack Score. Since Don Zaloog’s original Attack was 1,400, your Dark Magician loses 700 Attack Points!”

Dark Magician cringed, and his Attack fell to 2,300.

“Ugh, make your move,” said Stan.

“I will,” said Raven, drawing.

She grinned a wicked grin.

“Time to finish you off!” she laughed. She fit a card into her Disk.

“I’ll play Monster Reborn!”

Gorg the Strong materialized on the ankh, holding his mace. (1,800/1,000)

“Look familiar?” mocked Raven. “And now I’ll Equip him with my second Dark Scorpion Shiv!”

She fit another card into a slot, and Gorg’s mace vanished, replaced by the long dagger. His Attack Score went up to 2,500.

“Now then,” continued Raven. “I’ll play the Magic Card… Spell Reproduction!”

She fit the card into the slot.

“I may have to discard two other Magic Cards to play this card, but since it lets me play Monster Reborn again, that’s a small price to pay!”

She discarded the rest of her hand, and the ankh appeared again; Don Zaloog reappeared! (1,400/1,500)

Stan gulped…

“Gorg,” laughed Raven, “attack Dark Magician!”

Gorg leapt forward and stabbed his dagger into the Spellcaster! Dark Magician groaned and shattered.

“Don Zaloog!” laughed Raven. “Attack Stan directly with Sting of the Scorpions!”

Don Zaloog leapt into the air and did a flip. He drove his dagger into Stan, and he fell.

Francesca, Andy, and Yumi gasped.

Stan had lost…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Two hundred feet away, Lord Crump was watching.

So… he thought. There is a weakness…

He took out his cell phone…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Stan pulled himself to a sitting position, and saw Raven standing over him.

“Well,” she said with a smirk, “the Dark Scorpions have won the day, and it’s time to seize the spoils…”

Stan grimaced and removed one of his three Crystal Cards from his jacket.

There was nothing he could do… Raven had won fair and square…

“It’s unprofessional to gloat, Raven…” he sneered.

Raven snatched it.

“Well,” she said, “to each his own. I’d love to stay and chat, but I need my beauty sleep. Maybe we’ll see each other again – I’d love to take any of you down.”

She turned tail and vanished into the shadows.

Stan bowed his head.

“Hey, bro…” said Andy, coming up to him, “don’t let her get you down… you’ll get it back…”

“I hope so, Andy…” muttered Stan.

Inside, he was worried…

He was back to where he started, with two Crystal Cards…

And he wondered what would happen if he lost them all, especially after what Merlee had said.

Would the Queen be given some sort of special power if he could no longer compete?

He had to get back on the horse soon…

But for now, Raven wasn’t the only one who needed sleep…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Deep within the Palace of Shadow, the Shadow Queen chuckled to herself.

“Interesting,” she said. “Stan has taken the bitter taste of defeat. Perhaps I should focus on him next…

“And should my next child fail, this Raven is an interesting duelist. She might make a useful pawn… knowingly or not.

“I’ll have to watch her progress very closely…”



AN EYE FOR AN EYE (Trap Card)

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of a Grecian emperor on a podium with his right hand outstretched and a scroll in his left hand. You can activate this Trap when your opponent activates a Normal Magic Card or Normal Trap Card that does not require a trigger or specific condition. Apply the effect of the card as if you had activated it as well.



SIBLING RIVALRY

Card Specs

Type: Magic
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Card Description: Image of a shocked White Magician Pikeru looking into a mirror and seeing an angry Ebon Magician Curran in the image. You can activate this card when you have either “White Magician Pikeru” or “Ebon Magician Curran” (but not both) face up on your side of the field. If you have “White Magician Pikeru” on your side of the field, Special Summon one “Ebon Magician Curran” from your hand or deck. If you have “Ebon Magician Curran” on your side of the field, Special Summon one “White Magician Pikeru” from your hand or deck.



SEVENTH INNING

Card Specs

Type: Magic
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Card Description: Image of a baseball umpire holding up seven fingers. You can activate this card when your Life Points are less than that of your opponent’s. Take the difference in your two scores, divide the result by half, and add the total to both players’ Life Points. Life Point scores cannot be raised more than the score either player started with at the beginning of the duel by using this card.

Note: “Seventh Inning” was created by Starjake for his fanfic “Yu-Gi-Oh: Virtual Disaster”. All creative credit goes to him.



GREAT ESCAPE

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of a laughing Meanae the Thorn escaping from angry guards with a grappling hook while carrying a sack of loot. You can activate this card when an opponent declares an attack on one of your Monsters that has the words “Dark Scorpion” in its name, or is named “Don Zaloog” or “Cliff the Trap Remover”. The attack is negated, and the targeted Monster cannot be targeted by attacks for the rest of the round.



DARK SCORPION SHIV

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of a long dagger held by a hand wearing a black glove. This card can be equipped to any Monster that has the words “Dark Scorpion” in its name, or is named “Don Zaloog” or “Cliff the Trap Remover”. Increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by 700.



SCORPION’S STING (Magic Card)

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of Don Zaloog with long blades attached to his wrists. Pay 2,000 Life Points to activate this card. This card can be Equipped to any Monster with “Dark Scorpion” in its name, or is named “Don Zaloog” or “Cliff the Trap Remover”. Increase the Equipped Monster’s ATK by its original DEF. Also, if the Equipped Monster is destroyed in battle, decrease the ATK of the Monster that destroyed it by half of the original ATK of the destroyed Monster.



DARK SCORPION FANDRAL THE DASHING

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 1,500
DEF: 800

Card Description: This swashbuckler extraordinaire joined the Dark Scorpions out of dreams of glory. When this Monster destroys an opposing Monster in battle and sends it to the Graveyard, multiply the star level of the destroyed Monster by 300 and add the result to your Life Points.



DARK SCORPION SHANNA THE QUICK

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 4
ATK: 1,300
DEF: 500

Card Description: The younger sister of Meanae the Thorn, this young teenager joined the Dark Scorpions out of lust for wealth. If you discard one Monster Card from your hand, this Monster can attack three times in one Battle Phase.



DARK SCORPION TORNAS THE JOKER

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Dark
Level: 3
ATK: 300
DEF: 300

Card Description: An urchin whom the Dark Scorpions rescued, this youngster follows his heroes faithfully – some would say blindly. When this Monster is destroyed in battle, all Monsters on your side of the field with “Dark Scorpion” in their names, or who are named “Don Zaloog” or “Cliff the Trap Remover”, have their ATK increased to 3,000 until the end phase of the current turn.



[B][I]Coming up next:

The team leaves Glitzville, and find themselves exploring a locale that wasn’t in the video game! (However, a place with the same name was in one relatively recent game in the Mario universe that didn’t star Mario, and no, I’m not talking about “Luigi’s Mansion”.)

Francesca duels one of our user characters, a fellow who uses Monsters whom Yugi loves to use! Don’t miss a chapter that I call “Polar Opposites”, coming soon.

[Dark Sage]

Well, it took a lot of work, but all twelve chapters of my fanfic are fixed, and up - again.

Tune in on Sunday for the next new chapter, starring a new user character!

And coming soon - a poll!

Coming soon...

- Dark Sage

[jkBAKURA]

Polor Opposites?! GOT to be the magnet warriors. Maybe some of the new ones from GX as well. Looking forward to this one. Don't see it much.

[Pokemasterkatie]

Relatively recent...didn't star Mario, but considered a Mario game...You can tell I'm thinking hard about this one! Is it...Yoshi's Island(from the sequel, not the original Mario World)? Do remakes count? But I do agree that the Magnet Warriors will be the theme of Francesca's opponent.

How convient that this chapter came out around the same time as the newest GX episode(with the Dark Scorpions!)! ^_^ Raven's an interesting character(though I see the resembelance to another female with the same name. ); and certainly a tough duelist. I admit the first time I saw the Curran card, I mistook her for Fire Princess.:p I need to study up on the Monsters more often...^_^;

[ssj4supernerd]

Wait a second...Polar Opposites...Yugi has actually quite a few Warriors in his deck and a Spellcaster and Warriors are Polar Opposites....or Fiends??*goes to think further*

[The Blue Avenger]

Relatively recent...didn't star Mario, but considered a Mario game...You can tell I'm thinking hard about this one! Is it...Yoshi's Island(from the sequel, not the original Mario World)?

I'm wondering if it's not from a WarioWare game. Diamond City, anyone? Maybe Club Sugar? The Hawt House? Crygor's lab? Diamond Elementary? ...Now that I think about it, maybe not.

[Zcade0]

Cool chapter. It can't be a yoshi game they have baby mario.

[The Blue Avenger]

Cool chapter. It can't be a yoshi game they have baby mario.

Not all Yoshi games have Baby Mario. Yoshi's Story didn't. And besides, I don't think a game with Yoshi running around with Baby Mario on his back can accurately be described as 'starring Mario.'

EDIT: Reread this post, realized I sounded like a jerk, so I apologize.

[Dark Sage]

Well, of all those who tried to guess what the game was, The Ble Avenger came the closest. The location that the heroes will explore next was named after a location in Wario World.

But anyway, it's time for a new chapter, and I would like to thank The Blue Avenger for his contribution of the user character who co-stars here.

Enjoy.


- Dark Sage

[Dark Sage]

[B][I]Being Yugi Mouto’s apprentice…

(Well, I like to call myself that, at least…)

…I’ve studied him in detail. I’ve watched footage of his duels, and I know his strategies… and his deck. And something strikes me as odd.

He has a favorite card – Dark Magician – and he has a couple of other Spellcasters and cards that support this powerful Monster. But in reality, his deck doesn’t have much of a theme.

He has Warriors, Fiends, a few Beasts… a mishmash, basically. A lot of his Monsters are practical and have some kind of effect – others are just powerful.

Three of his Monsters bear especial remark. They aren’t all too great by themselves, but put them together and add a special fourth one… And you’ve got what might be his most powerful Monster.

Now I’m watching Francesca face a guy who’s built a whole deck around these guys… And he’s sure done a clever job of it…

[size=3][B]CHAPTER THIRTEEN



Polar Opposites

Stan didn’t usually mind losing a duel, but after all the strange things that had happened lately, the fact that he could lose had made him, nervous.

As he slept, he dreamed he was in a dark cave…

He heard clicking noises and looked down… A swarm of black scorpions were scurrying towards him!

He gasped and ran in the other direction, but a form blocked his path…

“Where do you think you’re going?” said Raven with an evil smile.

“Raven, please…” he gasped.

Raven chuckled.

“This is our territory, Stan,” she said, “and no-one passes through without paying the toll…”

She waved her hand, and the Monsters from her deck appeared, surrounding him: Don, Cliff, Meanae, Gorg, Chick, Shanna, Fandral, and even Tornas grinned at him, and raised their weapons…

“Raven, please!” begged Stan, sweating. “Call them off!”

“Sure!” chuckled Raven. “Just hand over your deck of cards, and we’ll let you off with just a few bruises… Otherwise…”

The Dark Scorpions chuckled…

Stan looked down, but his deck wasn’t there.

“I… don’t have it…” he gasped.

“Well then,” said Raven with a smile, “the gang and I are just going to have to have a little fun…”

Her eyes glowed red, as did those of the eight Warriors… They closed in on him…

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

Stan gasped as he woke up.

He sat up in bed and then flopped back down.

Note to self… he thought. Dueling weirdoes is dangerous…

He looked at the two Crystal Cards on his bedside table.

I only have two left… he thought. If I lose them all, there’s no telling what will happen… If the next opponent is as tough as she was… How will I recover?

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

Francesca woke up the next morning, and to her great relief, her skin was back to its healthy pink color.

As she got dressed, she was a lot more determined than ever.

“All right!” she said, throwing her Duel Disk on. “Look out Shadow Queen, Francesca Benedict is willing to take on anything you throw at her!”

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

In the Palace of Shadow, the Queen chuckled.

Oh, Francesca, she thought, don’t you know the old saying? Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it!

She changed the scene on her viewing globe.

Best check up on the rest of the kids…

She waved her hand.

“Leopold!” she shouted.

“Yes mother?” said a voice.

“Those three punks will be headed your way by this evening,” said the Queen, “so you’ve got next dibs.”

“Don’t worry about it,” chuckled Leopold. “I’ve made plans – I’ve double-checked my strategy. I calculate I have at least a 90% chance of defeating Stan!”

“Well plan harder!” scolded the Queen. “Because if you screw up like Melissa, Kurtis, and Tyson did, there’s a definite 100% chance that you’ll end up like them!”

“Well, maybe triple-checking wouldn’t hurt…” gulped Leopold.

The Queen waved her hand.

“Maria, where are you?” she asked.

“I be in the grotto, mum,” said a sinister female voice. “It would be might cozy here if the bloomin’ ghost ye locked up in here didn’t keep threatenin’ me…”

“Never mind his threats,” answered the Queen. “He knows what the consequences will be if he hurts you. I want you in Keelhaul Key when and if they get there.”

“Aye,” said Maria. “I’ve been assemblin’ a group ta handle them, and… uh… can I borrow The Sea Witch?”

The Shadow Queen groaned…

“Oh, all right!” she shouted. “But I don’t want to see so much as a scratch on it when you’re done!”

She waved her hand again.

“Vladimir!” she called.

“I’m here mother,” said a low voice.

“Good,” said the Queen. “Listen closely, after your two siblings are done, I’m counting on you to swoop in and finish off whoever is left. You’re the best, and I expect you to do me proud.”

“Humph,” said Vladimir. “I could take them all out now and save you the trouble.”

“Wait a while,” said the Queen. “If Leopold and/or Maria succeed, whoever is left will be incredibly demoralized… your job will be much easier. You need intimidation, confidence, and the skill to back them up on your side. If any is lacking, you will fail…”

She gave a stern look, and the globe went dark.

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

Stan was still a little morose as he, Francesca, and Andy waited in line to get on the blimp. Yumi was with them, but she would be staying in Glitzville.

“Are you sure you won’t come, Yumi?” asked Fran.

“Positive,” said Yumi. “I’d just get in the way – and who knows whether or not the Queen will try to hypnotize me again? And she might come after me too, and put you in danger. I’m safer if I just stay in Glitzville, far among the clouds, until you say it’s safe.”

Andy came up.

“Be careful, Yumi,” he warned. “Don’t accept any challenges for duels. You never know if the Queen will try to get revenge… And you know what she does to defeated enemies…”

He shivered.

“Don’t worry, Andy,” urged Yumi. “Even if they force me to, I can still duel pretty well… And if I am forced and defeated…”

She bowed her head.

“If that happens,” promised Francesca, “we’ll find a way to rescue you. The Graveyard can’t be escape proof…”

“ALL ABOARD!” shouted the pilot.

“Bye!” shouted Yumi.

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

As the three took their seats on the blimp, Stan sighed.

“Ready to get that card back?” asked Andy.

“Maybe I’ll wait a while,” sighed Stan. “I’m still a little sore from taking three 3,000-point direct attacks in a row!”

“Point taken…” muttered Andy.

”Attention passengers,” said the pilot. ”We will be reaching our destination, the Wonky Circus, in half an hour. Enjoy your flight.”

“The Wonky Circus?” asked Francesca. “Where’s that?”

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

They realized what “that” was as soon as the blimp landed, because it landed right in the middle of it.

A huge carnival was around them, and it was a busy day. Children were running about, and the place was awash with performers – clowns, jugglers, stilt-walkers, and fire-eaters. A large roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and tilt-a-whirl were set up in front of them, and various games and vendors were set up.

“Looks like a fun place,” said Francesca, with a smile.

“I hate carnivals…” muttered Andy. “I’ve always been afraid of clowns…”

“Afraid of clowns?” said Stan, strangely.

“I know it sounds dumb,” muttered Andy. “A sixteen-year-old like me, afraid of clowns…”

“Don’t sweat it,” said Fran with a smile, putting her arm on his shoulder. “You can get over your fear of clowns – just like I got over my fear of Elvis impersonators.”

They gave her a strange look.

“What?” she said.

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

Andy wasn’t the only one here who had an aversion to clowns…

Lord Crump didn’t like them much either. He wasn’t exactly afraid of them… but he hated them with a passion.

As he followed the kids, he passed by a female clown who was handing out free samples of cookies.

“Hello!” she said, sweetly. “Care to try our triple fudge macadamia nut crunch?”

Crump seethed…

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pistol…

“Huh?” she said.

ZAAAP!

The clown fell over with her costume scorched.

“You could have just said ‘no’!” she cried.

Heh, heh… chuckled Crump to himself as he walked away. That’s one clown who’s frowning on the outside AND the inside…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

The three kids passed by a booth.

The podium sign said: MARV THE MAD MAGICIAN

On the podium was a clown (they assumed it was Marv), dressed in a purple tuxedo and top hat. He wore blue face paint, had blue clown hair, and a pencil-thin moustache and short goatee. He wore a domino mask over his eyes.

“Attention!” he shouted. “Guys and gals, gals and guys! Come right up and feast your eyes!”

He turned towards a small item covered by a handkerchief.

“I’m one for words, or so they say, so look what you could win today!”

He whipped the handkerchief off, and people watching took notice.

Two Monster Cards were there – they were called “Silent Magician Lv 4” and “Silent Magician Lv 8”.

“I found these cards in old Japan… and you can win them if you can!”

“I dunno…” said a girl up front. “They look… weird…”

“You may have heard the saying, lass, that looks can be deceiving!” he replied. “Try these Monsters in your deck, and then you’ll be believing!”

He called out.

“I’ll offer them, I’ll say out loud, but first we need a larger crowd!”

Stan looked at the cards.

He scratched his chin… They did seem quite useful… if the effect could be pulled off…

After about fifteen minutes, a sizeable crowd had indeed appeared.

Marv slipped a Dueling Disk onto his arm. It flicked into place.

“Here’s the rules, ladies and gentlemen!” he announced. “The first person to answer the question I’ll ask correctly will be the winner! But first, we need to show it to you!”

He placed a Monster Card on his Disk.

“I’ll summon… Berserk Gorilla!”

A furious gorilla with flame pouring out of its nostrils came into view. (2,000/1,000)

“And now, stage two!” he continued.

He drew a second card.

“I’ll sacrifice Berserk Gorilla for a Fiend called Great Maju Garzett!”

He switched cards, and the Gorilla shattered; a hairy, horned demon in violet armor arose! (0/0)

“Due to Great Maju Garzett’s effect,” he continued, “it’s Attack Score is twice the original Attack Score of the Monster I sacrificed to summon it!”

(4,000/0)

He drew a third card.

“And now, I add this…” he exclaimed, placing a card into a slot. “Axe of Despair!”

A huge, ugly axe appeared in Great Maju Garzett’s hand.

(5,000/0)

“Five-thousand Attack?” gasped a boy. “I don’t want to duel this guy!”

“Now,” said Marv, drawing, “answer my question and to my prize be lead, if it isn’t already in over your head!”

He held up the card he had just drawn.

“This is another Great Maju Garzett card!” he exclaimed. “If I were to sacrifice my first Maju for the second, what, what pray tell, would its Attack Score be?”

A lot of folks raised their hands.

“Okay,” said Marv. “You, you, you, and then you…”

Stan cringed… He was third…

“Easy…” said the boy who was first. “He would have 10,000.”

“Ooh, sorry…” said Marv. “It isn’t that simple…”

The girl who was second paused. Apparently that had been her answer…

“I know!” she said. “The Equip Card doesn’t count… So it’s 8,000!”

“Sorry, that’s not it either…” said Marv, shaking his head.

He paused.

“It’s not as easy as it appears; think, you’ll find the answer nears…”

“I know the answer…” said Stan.

“Yes?” said Marv. “You were next…”

“Great Maju Garzett’s Attack Score is twice the original Attack Score of the sacrificed Monster,” explained Stan. “It’s original Attack is zero, and two times zero is zero…

“So the answer is… zero.”

Marv smiled.

“Well, let’s see if you were right…” he said.

He switched cards on his Disk. The first Great Maju Garzett shattered, and was replaced by another…

(0/0)

“We have a winner!” shouted Marv.

“All right Stan!” cheered Andy.


Continued...

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



Stan looked closely at the two cards he had won. They looked like sorcerers in space age clothing. The Lv. 4 one was a child, while the Lv. 8 one was an adult.

These Monsters would be hard to pull off, but if he managed it…

“Okay, I got cotton candy!” laughed Andy. “Fran, you want pink, blue, or green?”

“Either one except the blue,” chuckled Francesca.

As they started walking through the midway, Francesca spoke up.

“Carnivals are nice,” she said, “but I’m ready to start dueling again…”

“Make me an offer…” said a voice to their left.

They turned…

They saw a boy about their age, standing about six feet tall. He was odd, both in clothing and appearance. He wore jeans and a blue t-shirt, but his most distinguishing feature were his tinted green glasses that seemed to take up most of his face. He had long shaggy hair that seemed to droop over them. He also wore large headphones – apparently they weren’t on – and metallic boots that had small wheels printed on them.

His Disk indicated that he was a duelist.

“My Monsters and I are always looking for a challenge, if it’s valid,” he said.

Francesca giggled.

“I hope your dueling is better than your fashion sense…” she chuckled.

“You don’t like my clothes?” he asked. “They’re camp!”

“Camp?” asked Stan.

“You know, the tragically ludicrous, the ludicrously tragic?” he said.

He reached into his pocket.

“But the guys in my deck aren’t exactly camp – they tend to leave others in tears! And I’ve got four Crystal Cards to prove it!”

He showed them.

Fran took out hers.

“Join the club!” she said with a grin.

“Great!” he said. “I’ll take ya on. The name’s Jeff… Jeff Azure…”

He pulled a deck out and began to shuffle.

“Now lets…” he started.

His hand slipped, and he spilled the cards on the ground!

“Oops…” he mumbled. “Folks, it’s gonna be a minute…”

“No problems here…” muttered Andy. “Fran could whip this wimp in her sleep.”

“Don’t be so sure,” answered Stan. “He has four, meaning he’s won at least twice already… Don’t forget, Andy, some people are completely different when a duel starts – you of all people should know that…”

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

The word of a duel challenge spread within seconds, and before the two contenders knew it, children and adolescents swarmed into a crowd around them, many of them with parents. They had almost forgotten how amazed the natives of Monster Island were at actual dueling.

As usual, Lord Crump watched from a distance.

Humph, one of the twerps got into a challenge, he thought. Well, let’s see where this leads. Maybe if I’m lucky I can see her fall flat on her face!

Francesca raised her arm, and the holo-imagers shot out of her Disk. Jeff did the same with his. They snapped into place.

“DUEL!” they both shouted.

They drew their first five cards.

Ergh… thought Francesca. Off to a slow start again…

“Why don’t you go first, Jeff?” she suggested.

“Gee, thanks…” he said, making his first draw.

He looked at the card…

Then he flicked his Field slot open and slid a card into it.

“I play my Wasteland card!” he exclaimed.

The slot slapped shut.

“Now watch,” he continued, “as this carnival ground becomes a barren desert!”

The field around them became cracked, parched, and sandy. Haze filled the air.

“Uh oh…” whispered Andy to Stan. “I think I know what kind of deck Jeff has…”

“Yeah…” muttered Stan. “Zombies. They gain power in a Wasteland… but why that card and not Mystic Plasma Zone? Most Zombies are Dark…”

Andy shrugged.

“I’ll also place one card facedown,” continued Jeff, fitting a card into a slot, “and that will end my turn…”

“Huh?” quipped Francesca. “No Monster? What’s your game?”

“You think I’m going to tell you my strategy?” asked Jeff.

Francesca drew.

I can’t risk attacking, she thought, but I’d better summon something of my own… hope that card isn’t a Torrential Tribute…

Jeff smirked slightly.

Go on, Fran… he thought.

Francesca put a card down.

“I summon Amazon Archer in Attack Mode!” she exclaimed.

The short-haired Amazon wearing a halter, jacket, and miniskirt, armed with a bow and arrow appeared. (1,400/1,000)

Aw, nuts! thought Jeff. I can’t spring my Trap on HER!

“And that’s all for my turn,” said Francesca.

Phew, thought Jeff, drawing.

He looked at the card.

“I’ll place a Monster facedown in Defense, and end my turn,” he said.

He placed a card down, and a hidden Monster appeared.

Fran drew.

Andy screamed inside his head.

Fran, don’t! he thought. Don’t attack! That Monster is a Pyramid Turtle!

Fran slipped a card into a slot.

“I play Scapegoat!” she exclaimed.

Four fluffy sheep appeared on her side on the field.

“Now to activate my Archer’s special ability!” she laughed. “By sacrificing two Monsters, she can hit you directly for 1,200 points of damage! And I’ve got enough ammo for two shots!”

“WHAT?” shouted Jeff.

“Fire one!” shouted Francesca.

Two Scapegoats vanished, and Amazon Archer loaded an arrow into her bow. She fired, hitting Jeff in the chest!

His Life Points fell to 6,800.

“Fire two!” yelled Fran.

The other two Scapegoats vanished, and Amazon Archer fired again! Jeff fell over.

His Life Points were at 5,600.

The crowd clapped.

“And she’s not done with you yet Jeff!” exclaimed Francesca. “Archer, attack his facedown mystery Monster!”

NOOO! screamed Andy in his head.

Amazon Archer fired…

And a spherical critter with three eyes, three claws, and a toothy mouth appeared on the card. The arrow struck it, and it burst.

“Huh, Sangan?” asked Fran.

“Yes!” said Jeff with a smile. “And you know what that means…”

A card slipped out of his deck, and he caught it.

“This isn’t good, Stan,” whispered Andy. “Jeff obviously used Sangan to search for a Pyramid Turtle… and if Fran destroys that, Jeff could summon Zombies like Ryu Kokki, Patrician of Darkness, or even Vampire Lord. I should know… I almost lost to a Zombie duelist right before I came here…”

Jeff drew.

“I’ll summon this in Attack Mode…” he said.

He put a card down.

“Here it comes…” muttered Andy.

A blocky humanoid form appeared. It looked like a shiny, silver robot, carrying a sword and a shield, with a crested helmet that had the image of a magnet on it.

“Meet Alpha the Magnet Warrior!” exclaimed Jeff. “And thanks to my Wasteland Field, he gets a little bonus!”

(1,400/1,700) –> (1,600/1,900)

“Hold the phone…” said Andy, startled. “Jeff isn’t using Zombies! He’s using Rocks! They gain a bonus from Wasteland too!”

“But why use Wasteland and not Gaia Power?” asked Stan.

“Because Earth is one of the most common Attributes on Duel Monsters,” replied Andy. “If he used that, he’d help a lot of his opponents…”

“Alpha!” exclaimed Jeff. “Attack her Archer with magnetic sword!”

Alpha closed in on Amazon Archer… She tried to shield herself with her bow, but he shattered it, and then ran her through. She groaned and vanished.

Fran’s Life Points fell to 7,800.

“Cool,” said Jeff. “Alpha is truly grade-A!”

“Yeah?” snarled Francesca, “well even with that bonus, he’s still pretty weak, and I can take him down…”

She drew and added the card to her hand.

Amazoness Paladin will take care of that oversized refrigerator ornament, she thought.

She put a card down.

“I summon Amazoness Paladin in Attack Mode!” she announced.

Amazoness Paladin appeared, holding her sword aloft! (1,700/300) –> (1,800/300)

“Did you forget about my Trap Card?” asked Jeff, smiling.

His card lifted.

“I activate Bottomless Trap Hole!”

A pit appeared underneath Amazoness Paladin’s feet… She screamed as she was sucked into it!

“Wh-what happened?” stuttered Francesca.

“Bottomless Trap Hole can only be activated when a Monster with 1,500 Attack Points or more is summoned,” explained Jeff, “so I couldn’t use it on your Archer. But your Paladin… Well, I don’t envy her, because the pit delivered her to the realm of nightmares called the Different Dimension – I hope she doesn’t get scared easily, because she won’t come back until your next duel…”

“Funny…” snarled Francesca.

She looked at her cards.

“I can’t do anything else, make your move!”

“Nuts!” cried Stan. “She’s wide open for an attack!”

Jeff drew.

“Time to go up the alphabet,” he quipped. “I summon Beta the Magnet Warrior in Attack Mode!”

He put a card down, and a new Magnet Warrior appeared. This one was a cute, yellow robot with magnets for hands and huge horns shaped like a magnet on his head. (1,700/1,600) –> (1,900/1,800)

“It’s not just Rocks…” muttered Andy. “Jeff’s strategy seems to rely completely on the Magnet Warriors!”

“Alpha,” shouted Jeff, “attack Francesca directly with magnetic blade!”

Alpha closed in on Fran. She shrieked as his sword hit her!

Her Life Points fell to 6,200.

“Your turn, Beta!” yelled Jeff. “Attack with magnetic pulse!”

Beta raised his arms and fired a blast of electromagnetic energy! Francesca gasped and fell over.

Her Life Points sank to 4,300.

“I’m in the lead, princess,” chuckled Jeff.

“We’ll see about that,” groaned Francesca.

I’m in trouble, she thought. Most of my Monsters depend on help from others for strength, and most will be wiped out by his Warriors before I can get more than one on the field!

She drew.

Hey… Amazoness Archers!

If I set this Trap and he attacks while I have an Amazon on the field, all of his Monsters will lose 500 Attack Points and will be forced to attack! The perfect way to clear his field!

“I’ll set a card facedown,” she announced, fitting it into a slot.

It appeared in front of her.

“And now, Amazoness Fighter in Attack Mode!”

She placed a card down, and the bulky female Warrior with her huge muscles appeared. (1,500/1,300)

“That will end my turn,” she announced.

Heh, heh, chuckled Jeff. I’m not that gullible Fran. I dueled someone who had an Amazon deck once before… And she beat me.

I have a good idea what that Trap is, and I don’t make the same mistake twice…

He drew. He smirked.

“I summon this guy in Defense Mode,” he said. “Avatar of the Pot!”

He put a card down, and green smoke issued forth from his Disk. A muscular, green genie wearing a kilt appeared. His head looked similar to the Pot of Greed. (1,200/1,300) –> (1,400/1,500)

“Huh?” asked Francesca. “Who’s that?”

“See this?” said Jeff, showing her another card.

It was Pot of Greed.

“Not many people know that this incredibly common Magic Card is also a Monster – and he’s this guy. And by summoning the Monster, I can discard the Magic Card…”

He slid Pot of Greed into his discard slot.

“…and then draw three cards, rather than two.”

Avatar of the Pot gave a throaty chuckle and cast a spell. Dust churned, and three cards flew out of Jeff’s deck. He caught them.

He looked at them.

“Now I’ll place one card facedown, and that will end my turn,” he said, fitting a card into a slot.

A card appeared behind his three Monsters.

“You aren’t going to attack?” asked Francesca.

“Nope,” said Jeff, with a shrug.

Darn, thought Francesca, drawing, he didn’t fall for it…

“I’ll play Graceful Charity!” she said, placing the card into a slot.

The angel flew from her Disk, and handed her three cards.

Ooh, yeah… thought Fran.

She handed her a Dramatic Rescue and her Recruitment Drive card, and the Angel flew into her discard slot.

Francesca took one of the cards.



Continued...

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



“Jeff,” she stated, “you ever hear the stories about the Twelve Labors of Hercules?”

“Um…” muttered Jeff. “I used to watch that show with Kevin Sorbo on it when I was a kid…”

“Then let me explain, because that show had nothing to do with actual myth,” said Francesca, with a smile. “Early in his career, Hercules was driven mad by his enemy Hera, and in his rage, he killed his first wife and children. Although this crime was not truly his fault, he was made to atone for it, by serving his nephew Eurystheus, a cowardly monarch who hated Hercules, mainly because he was jealous of him. Eurystheus forced the hero to perform Twelve Labors, tasks so difficult that most would think they were impossible…

“It’s the Ninth Labor that interests me the most – for that Labor, Hercules had to retrieve a magical girdle worn by Hippolyta… the Queen of the Amazons!”

“Right,” said Jeff. “Interesting. Does this story have any relevance to our duel?”

Francesca fit a Magic Card into a slot.

“I’m Equipping my Amazoness Fighter with this,” she laughed, “The Girdle of Hippolyta!”

Amazoness Fighter glowed, and a large belt made of gold appeared around her waist!

“This Equip Card raises the Attack of any Amazon by 800 points!” exclaimed Fran.

Amazoness Fighter’s Attack rose to 2,300!

“And that’s not all!” laughed Fran. “I’m also summoning… Command Knight!”

She threw a card down, and the beautiful female Warrior appeared in a burst of fire! (1,200/1,900)

Her own attack rose to 1,600, and the Fighter’s rose to 2,700!

“YES!” shouted Stan. “She’s turning this fight around!”

“Now, Amazoness Fighter,” yelled Francesca, “smash Beta the Magnet Warrior!”

Amazoness Fighter flew forward.

“Close, but no banana, Fran!” shouted Jeff.

He hit his Disk and his facedown card lifted.

“Activate Shadow Spell!”

“AWK!” yelled Francesca. She watched in horror as six chains burst out of the ground and seized Amazoness Fighter’s wrists, ankles, and waist.

She struggled to get free, but she was held fast. Her Attack Score fell to 2,000.

Fran sneered.

“Command Knight!” she screamed. “Destroy his Avatar!”

Command Knight’s blade burned with fire, and she flew forth, striking Avatar of the Pot! He groaned and was reduced to dust.

“Feel better?” asked Jeff.

“A little…” grumbled Francesca.

He still can’t destroy my Fighter, she thought. If I can stall long enough to destroy his Shadow Spell…

“My move…” said Jeff.

He drew. He chuckled.

“Time to bring out the star of my deck!” he exclaimed. “First, I’ll summon Gamma the Magnet Warrior!”

He put a card down, and a third Magnet Warrior appeared. This one was pink, blockier, had large fists, feet, and wings, and a big “S” on its chest. (1,500/1,800) –> (1,700/2,000)

“And now,” said Jeff, with a sparkle in his eyes, “I activate their special ability!”

He placed a card down.

The three Magnet Warriors lifted off the air, and all of them separated into pieces…

“I simply sacrifice all three of them…” he said.

The pieces started to fit together…

“…and I can summon one of the greatest Monsters the dueling world has ever seen!”

A huge form crashed down, a giant Magnet Warrior that seemed to be made of parts of all three of the lesser ones. Some of the smaller kids screamed, while others cheered.

“Meet VALKYRION THE MAGNA WARRIOR!” shouted Jeff.

(3,500/3,850) –> (3,700/4,050)

“Impressive, ain’t it?” asked Jeff.

“Depends on your point of view…” gulped Fran.

“Well,” sighed Jeff, “sorry about this, Amazoness Fighter…”

Amazoness Fighter shook in fear…

“…it isn’t nice to strike a lady who’s chained up, but… Valkyrion, attack with magnetic pulse blade!”

The Magna Warrior flew forward, and obliterated Amazoness Fighter.

“Good thing for you,” said Jeff, “her effect prevents you from taking damage…”

“My draw now…” stuttered Francesca.

What am I going to do? she thought, adding the card to her hand. I don’t have my Amazoness Spellcaster, and the only Monsters I have in my hand are nowhere CLOSE to being able to beat that thing!

“I’ll place a card facedown on the field,” she said, placing the card she had just drawn.

The card materialized.

“Then I’ll summon Amazoness Chain Master in Defense Mode,” she continued, placing a card down sideways.

The Chain Master appeared, and knelt in defense. (1,500/1,300) –> (1,900/1,300)

“And now I’ll move Command Knight to Defense Mode as well,” she said, turning the card.

Command Knight knelt.

“And that’s my move.”

Jeff drew.

“I play Card of Sanctity!” he shouted, placing a card into a slot.

A blue flash lit up the sky!

He drew three cards, and Francesca drew four.

“Heh, heh…” chuckled Jeff. “It’s time to finish you with my ultimate combo!”

He slid a card into a slot.

“But first I’ll clear away your Monsters…”

He discarded one of his cards…

“…with Lightning Vortex!”

“NO!” screamed Andy, as the Magic Card revealed. Lightning started to flash in the sky…

“Not so fast, Jeff!” shouted Fran.

She discarded one of her own cards.

“I’ll quell your storm with Magic Jammer!”

Her Trap Card lifted, and the lightning subsided.

“Ah well,” sighed Jeff. “Your Monsters are safe for the moment… I can still play my ultimate combo!”

He reached for a card.

“One question before you play your ‘ultimate combo’ Jeff,” asked Francesca. “I’m curious… Magnet Warriors, Valkyrion, Avatar of the Pot, Lightning Vortex… your deck is packed with rare cards! How did you build such a deck?”

“It wasn’t easy, I’ll tell you that!” answered Jeff. “I’ll say that every card I owned was earned through hard work!”

He paused.

“I grew up landlocked in a very small town – telling you the name would be pointless, because the chances that you’ve heard of it are infinitesimally small. My family lived thirty miles from the nearest shopping mall – and the town had no pizza delivery places, or McED’s.

“I learned about Duel Monsters over the internet, and even though I had few means to get cards, I resigned to build a deck, no matter how long it took. So whenever my town got visitors, I asked them if they were acquainted with the game, and if they were, I bargained and traded for cards, making a collection bit by bit… It took two years to get a good theme.

“And when I got it, I left to find challenges. And I found them…

“And once I get to the Thousand Year Door, the biggest challenge of all will start!”

He paused.

“It’s still my turn, and you’re gonna see my ultimate combo now!”

He tapped his Disk.

“First, I activate Valkyrion’s special ability! By sacrificing him, I can bring the three Magnet Warriors back from the Graveyard!”

Valkyrion vanished, and the three Magnet Warriors reappeared.

“Next,” continued Jeff, placing a card into a slot, “I play Monster Reborn, to bring back the Valkyrion that I just sacrificed!”

The holy ankh appeared, and Valkyrion materialized next to the three lesser Warriors. Francesca gulped.

Jeff placed a card down on his Disk.

“Finally,” stated Jeff, “I’ll sacrifice the three Magnet Warriors again… to summon a second Valkyrion!”

The three Warriors flew to pieces again, and formed into another giant Magna Warrior! (3,500/3,850) –> (3,700/4,050)

“TWO Valkyrions?” exclaimed Stan. “Oh, man, Fran is doomed.”

“Valkyrion #1!” shouted Jeff, “attack her Chain Master!”

The first Valkyrion flew forward, striking Chain Master with his sword and cutting her in half!

“Valkyrion #2, attack Command Knight!”

The second Magna Warrior flew forward, and struck Command Knight. She burst into flames.

“Your move, Fran,” said Jeff with a smile. “But next round, I’ll be able to attack you directly… and it won’t be pleasant…”

Francesca’s hand shivered as she drew…

She looked at the card.

“I play my own Pot of Greed!” she announced, playing the card.

The Pot appeared, and handed her two cards.

Hmm, she thought, looking at them. This might work… if I’m lucky…

“Okay Jeff,” she said, sounding more confident. “I’ll summon my second Amazoness Paladin in Defense Mode.”

She placed a card down, and another Paladin appeared, kneeling in Defense. (1,700/300) –> (1,800/300)

“Then I’ll place two cards facedown, and that will end my turn.”

She threw the cards into slots, and they appeared behind Amazoness Paladin.

“Heh, heh,” chuckled Jeff. “I’m not stupid, Fran. “I’m not about to risk both my Magna Warriors, and I don’t have to.”

He drew.

“On the off chance that one of those cards is a Mirror Force, I’ll move one of my Valkyrions to Defense Mode…”

He turned a card, and one of his Magna Warriors knelt.

“Now, my other Valkyrion, ATTACK!”

Valkyrion flew forward.

“That’s just what I wanted you to do,” chuckled Fran. “By attacking, you activated both of my Traps!”

Her cards lifted.

“First, Waboku, stopping your Valkyrion dead in his tracks!”

The three robed priestesses appeared, halting Valkyrion’s advance.

“Second,” continued Francesca, “you activated a little number called A Hero Emerges!”

The card lifted, showing an image of Zombyra the Dark flying out of a portal.

Fran’s four cards floated out of her hands, and lined up in front of her face.

“Let me explain how this works, Jeff,” she said. “You have to choose one card from my hand. If it’s a Monster Card, I get to summon it right now. If it’s a Magic or Trap Card, I have to discard it.”

“All right…” muttered Jeff. “Uhm…”

He looked at the cards.

“The one on the far right,” he said.

“Really?” said Francesca, with a smile.

The card flipped around.

It was Penumbral Soldier Lady.

“Too bad,” she chuckled.

The card placed itself on her Disk, and Penumbral Soldier Lady appeared, holding her sword aloft! (2,100/1,400)

“So how it that going to help you?” asked Jeff. “She can’t beat my Magna Warriors…”

“Well it’s my turn now,” said Fran, drawing.

She looked at the card.

“First I’ll summon my second Amazoness Fighter in Attack Mode!” she exclaimed.

She put a card down, and another Amazoness Fighter appeared. (1,500/1,300)

Amazoness Paladin’s Attack went up to 1,900.

“Now I’ll shift my Paladin into Attack Mode…” she continued.

She turned the card, and Paladin got up, ready to attack.

“And now…” said Francesca, grinning.

She took a card from her hand. She fit it into a slot…

“…I’ll Equip my Paladin with Burning Soul Sword!”

Amazoness Paladin’s normal sword vanished, and was replaced by a much larger blade, made of red metal and shaped in a way that resembled fire. She held it menacingly…

“Burning Soul Sword?” asked Jeff. “What the heck is that?”

“Allow me to explain,” said Francesca with a smile. “To Equip a Warrior with Burning Soul Sword, I have to sacrifice another Monster – and then, the Warrior holding the Sword has its Attack Score increased by the Attack Score of the sacrificed Monster!

“So, I’m sacrificing my Penumbral Soldier Lady!”

Penumbral Soldier Lady vanished into flames, and the flames flowed into the Burning Soul Sword! Amazoness Paladin’s skin and clothing turned metallic and golden, and her Attack Score rose to 4,000!

“Amazoness Paladin,” shouted Francesca, “attack his Valkyrion with flaming soul!”

Amazoness Paladin let out an ear-splitting war-cry, and charged at Valkyrion! She sliced the Magna Warrior in twain, and he shattered!

Jeff’s Life Points fell to 5,300.

Everyone in the crowd applauded!

“YES!” shouted Andy.

“GO! GO!” cheered Stan.

For the first time all duel, Jeff looked worried. He drew.

“I’ll summon a second Gamma the Magnet Warrior in Defense Mode,” he said, placing a card down.

Another Gamma appeared, and knelt. (1,500/1,800) –> (1,700/2,000)

“You might be able to destroy him,” he dared, “but your Paladin is still 51 points too weak to crack my other Valkyrion’s Defense Score.”

Francesca drew.

“Is he now?” she said, snidely.

She put a card down.

“I summon Amazoness Priestess in Attack Mode!”

The beautiful female Spellcaster wearing her long skirt and leather bikini top, carrying her staff topped with a crystal appeared. (1,500/1,500)

“Because I have three Amazons in my Graveyard,” said Francesca, “her Attack rises to 1,800 – and since she’s now on the field, my Paladin gains another 100 Attack Points!”

Jeff gasped!

“Paladin, take out the other one!” shouted Francesca.

Amazoness Paladin charged forth, and struck down the second Valkyrion.

I’ve got to stall until I get the right card… thought Jeff.



Continued...

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:



He drew.

This isn’t it!

“I’ll summon a second Beta in Defense Mode!” he muttered, putting a card down.

Another Beta appeared, kneeling in Defense. (1,700/1,600) –> (1,900/1,800)

Fran drew.

“Paladin, destroy Gamma!” she exclaimed.

The super-Paladin leapt forth and smashed Gamma to bits.

“This is getting boring…” muttered Fran.

Jeff drew again.

“Boring?” he said with a smile. “Well, it’s about to get hotter. You may not know this, but Valkyrion isn’t the only secret that the three Magnet Warriors hold inside them…

“I’ll shift Beta into Attack Mode…” he said, turning the card.

Beta moved into Attack position.

“Then I’ll summon my second Alpha in Attack Mode!”

He put a card down, and another Alpha the Magnet Warrior appeared. (1,400/1,700) –> (1,600/1,900)

“Then,” he said, placing a card into a slot, “I’ll play Premature Burial, bringing back one of my Valkyrions!”

His Life Points fell to 4,500, and Valkyrion rose out of the ground. (3,500/3,850) –> (3,700/4,050)

“And now I’ll activate his special ability, reviving three more Magnet Warriors!”

Valkyrion and the Premature Burial vanished, and another Alpha, Beta, and Gamma appeared. Now, five Magnet Warriors faced Francesca.

Jeff slid a card into a slot.

“Now I’ll combine them again in a different way…” he said. “I play… Polymerization!”

The card appeared on the field, and a vortex opened. Alpha, Beta, and Gamma were sucked into the portal!

“What the…” gasped Stan. “They have a Fusion too?”

A large shape stepped out of the portal. It looked like a muscular, metal, bald creature with seamless, golden skin.

“Presenting,” exclaimed Jeff, “MAGNET WARRIOR OMEGA!”

(2,200/2,800) –> (2,400/3,000)

“That’s weak for a Fusion of three Monsters!” commented Francesca.

“True,” agreed Jeff. “But he has a powerful effect – just by being summoned, he destroys the most powerful opposing Monster on the field!”

Amazoness Paladin screamed, and burst into pixels!

“Now, Beta,” ordered Jeff, “attack her Amazoness Fighter!”

Beta shot forth his magnetic pulse, and Amazoness Fighter was blown to shards.

Amazoness Priestess’s Attack Score rose to 2,000, but she looked frightened…

“I may not be able to attack with Omega this round,” chuckled Jeff, but next round, you are toast!”

“Make your move…”

Fran paused for a minute…

Then she suddenly remembered something…

She drew. She looked at the very beautiful Monster on the card she had drawn.

I’ll save this, she thought.

“I pass,” she said, “there’s nothing I can do…”

“Then I draw…” said Jeff.

He drew and looked at the card.

“I’ll summon my third and final Gamma in Attack Mode!” he exclaimed.

He put the card down, and yet another Gamma appeared. (1,500/1,800) –> (1,700/2,000)

NO! thought Francesca. If he summons a third Valkyrion, I’m finished!

“Now,” said Jeff with a grin, “Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Omega are all ready to finish you off! Magnet Warrior Omega, attack her Priestess with polar wave blast!”

Omega’s hands crackled with electricity…

“Hold it, pal!” shouted Francesca. “You forgot all about the Trap Card I set after I summoned my first Amazoness Fighter!”

The card that had been lying on the field unused during the whole duel started to lift…

“Activate Amazoness Archers!”

A squad of female archers appeared and fired a blizzard of arrows at the five Magnet Warriors!

“Heh, heh,” laughed Francesca, “now, their Attack Scores will all be reduced by 500…”

Omega dropped to 1,900 Attack, Alpha dropped to 1,100, Beta to 1,400, and Gamma to 1,200.

“AND…” continued Francesca, “the poison will infuriate them and force them to attack!”

The five Monsters flew at Amazoness Priestess! She fired five blasts from her staff, and blew them all to dust!

Jeff gasped, as his Life Points fell to 2,100.

The crowd let out a rousing cheer!

Jeff sighed.

“Fine,” he said. “Then just finish it and be done with it…”

Francesca drew.

“You don’t get off that easy Jeff!” she said with a smile. “You tried to finish me with mega-powerful Monsters… So I’m going to finish you with one!”

“Huh?” stammered Jeff.

Fran fit a card into her slot.

“I’ll play Monster Reborn, to bring back Amazoness Fighter!” she exclaimed.

The card revealed itself, and Amazoness Fighter appeared on the ankh.

“Now,” said Francesca, with a great look of triumph, “I’ll sacrifice her and Amazoness Priestess…”

Light struck her two Amazons, and they were consumed…

“To summon the mightiest creature in my deck!”

Lights fell down from the heavens, and beautiful music started playing…

“What on earth has she summoned?” gasped Andy.

“I don’t think ‘on Earth’ is the correct term…” whispered Stan.

A huge, female form floated down. The gorgeous female was dressed in a silvery gown, had golden feathered wings, and an aura of light surrounded her that shone with holy power…

“Let’s have a warm Monster Island welcome,” exclaimed Francesca, “for Guardian Angel Joan!”

(2,800/2,000)

“No way…” said an onlooker.

“She has a…” gasped another.

Jeff gaped.

“Joan is one of the most powerful female Monsters in existence!” proclaimed Francesca. “The Amazon tribe worships her as their goddess!”

“Fancy that…” gulped Jeff.

“Go, Joan!” shouted Francesca. “Finish him off with searing light of Heaven attack!”

Guardian Angel Joan formed a ball of pure light in her hands, and hurled it at Jeff! He screamed, and fell over.

The duel was over.

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

Wow, Guardian Angel Joan! thought Crump, getting excited.

Well, I’ve got plenty of information on Francesca… these notes should be more than enough to…

“That’s him!” shouted a female voice behind him. “He’s the one!”

Before Crump could turn around, a strong arm grabbed him!

He was staring in the face of a six-foot-five man who looked like he was all muscle. Tattoos covered his powerful biceps – and he was furious.

Behind him was the clown-girl who he had shot.

“He’s the one who zapped me!” she cried.

“Uh…” stuttered Crump.

The muscleman lifted him off the ground to eye-level.

“Why did youse hurt my wife?” he snarled.

“Your wife?” squeaked Crump, in panic. “Well I uh… um… buh…”

He paused.

“I uh… temporary insanity?”

The angry husband carried him towards the back of a tent…

“Look…” stuttered Crump, “can’t we just discuss this like mature adults?”

Angry sounds of punches being landed and cries of pain came from behind the tent, terminating in a loud crash.

The muscleman came out and went up to his wife.

“He won’t bother you no more,” he assured her.

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

“Well, you won,” said Jeff, resigned. “So you deserve this…”

He handed over one of his Crystal Cards.

“But I’m not going to give up!” he exclaimed. “I’m going to keep going – and I’m going to reach the Thousand Year Door yet!”

“That’s the spirit!” said Francesca, giving a thumbs up. “Hope to see you again!”

So now I have five, she thought, adding the card to her other four. I’m getting there…

The crowd had wandered away, and the carnival had gotten back to the usual business.

“So Fran,” chuckled Andy, “tell me… were you really once afraid of Elvis impersonators?”

“Just the ones who imitated the ‘older Elvis’,” she responded. “They creeped me out. So, maybe we should think about leaving this dumb place…”

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

Unbeknownst to any of them, Crump (who was right now lying unconscious in a garbage can) wasn’t the only one who had been watching them.

The performer who had called himself Marv the Mad Magician had also taken an interest in Francesca.

That girl… she thought. Can she be…

He walked into a tent. Inside was a painting on the wall…

It showed a female warrior bravely fending off a horde of shadowy demons – the heroine in the painting seemed to be a light in a sea of darkness…

And she looked just like Francesca.

Yes… thought Marv. She is the one… The prophesies were true!

He pulled out a deck, and took out a card.

This Francesca… he thought. She must be the one whom I’m supposed to give this to. Well, not give it to. My father told me that this thing can’t be given as a gift… it can only be won.

Well then… It’s time for Marv the Mad Magician to put on a show…



THE GIRDLE OF HIPPOLYTA

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of a golden belt etched with runes. This card can be Equipped to any Monster with the word “Amazoness” in its name, or who is named “Amazon Archer”. Increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by 800.



BURNING SOUL SWORD (Magic Card)

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of a fancy sword in a bonfire. You can equip this card to any WARRIOR-Type Monster. Offer one face-up Monster on your side of the field (other than the equipped Monster) as a Tribute, and increase the ATK of the Equipped Monster by the original ATK of the Monster used as Tribute.


Note: “Burning Soul Sword” was first used by Joey in the anime episode “Courtroom Chaos (Part Two)”. All creative credit goes to the creators of that episode.


MAGNET WARRIOR OMEGA (Monster Card)

Card Specs

Type: Rock/Fusion/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 7
ATK: 2,200
DEF: 2,800

Card Description: Alpha the Magnet Warrior + Beta the Magnet Warrior + Gamma the Magnet Warrior

This Monster can only be summoned via Fusion by using the above named Fusion Material Monsters. When this Monster is successfully summoned, destroy the opposing face-up Monster with the highest ATK.



[I][color=blue]Before you ask, “Silent Magician Lv. 4” and “Silent Magician Lv. 8” are real cards which will be included with the upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! video game “Nightmare Troubadour”. If the game isn’t out by the time Stan actually uses them, you’ll see what they do when he does.

Coming up next…

Francesca barely has time to relax after her duel with Jeff, when she is challenged by Marv the Mad Magician! And his strategy may be something she’ll have trouble with! And what secrets is he hiding?

Also, if you think Amazoness Priestess was cool, Francesca has another never-before-seen Amazon in her deck who’s even cooler! Who is she, you may ask?

Find out both answers, in “Battle in the Big Top”, coming soon…

[Dark Sage]

Before I sign off, I'd like to say that I have restored Shuppet Master's fanfic, "Yu-Gi-Oh Junior: Sister of Anansi" to its former status. I'd like to recommend his work, being a spinoff of my work. It isn't half bad.

- Dark Sage

[Master of Paradox]

First of all, a minor spelling nitpick. When Jeff says, "I resigned to build a deck...", the word "resigned" should probably have been "resolved".

Other than that, this is a much better step up from the last couple of chapters. It helps tremendously that Jeff isn't nearly as annoying as Tyson or Raven were - in fact, his history reminds me a little of myself, now that I think about it. And the use of Magnet Warriors as the heart of a deck theme is a new one to me.

In addition, Crump once again provided a genuinely amusing bit of comic relief. And given that we all hate clowns...

Two problems, though. First of all, Francesca went out-of-character near the end, unless she was always sadistic. She seems to have played Guardian Angel Joan for no reason other than to publicly humiliate Jeff ("You're not getting off that easy"? What did the poor guy do to her?).

Secondly, counting the next chapter, this makes twice we've had Francesca duel twice in a row. At this rate, we'll all be sick of the Amazons before Act 2 (much like we were all sick of the Archfiends by the end of "Mandate of Heaven").

Other than those relatively minor complaints, this was a good chapter, and a definite upshot from the previous two. I'm looking forward to future chapters.

[Pokemasterkatie]

Yikes; Guardian Angel Joan! She can be deadly when used in the right deck, as Yugi Jr. can tell you. BTW, did anyone else get the strange urge to play Earthbound with all the Greek letters running around(I have a ROM myself...)?:p

The Magnet Warriors aren't the only monsters in this chapter whom Yugi's used...(MAJOR ANIME SPOILERS AHEAD!)
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S:
Yugi-chan(not the Pharoah) will be using the Silent Magician cards in the final arc of the series. Fits his personality quite well, don't you think?

[starjake]

The Magnet Warriors, hmm? How interesting...when played right, they can be deadly, and Valkyrion has stats up there with Gate Guardian and Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth!

I have no idea what Marv's deck could be. Spellcasters? Too easy...plus, Stan's already got that area covered. Clown Control? Maybe...who knows?

I await the next chapter!

[Shuppet Master]

First off, Brian, Paradox is right, don't give all the duels to Fran. Even though she's my favorite of the characters(Andy's my second because I love dragon cards), you should give some screen time to Andy and Stan too.

Wario World, huh? That was the shortest Wario game I've ever played. I'm not into games based on Mario's twisted twin, but Warioware is very popular.

And I have a feeling I know what card Marv the Magician is going to give Fran after she wins. Oops, I mean, IF she wins.

Nice work, keep it up. That nightmare Stan had sort of made his loss even more devastating.

[Dark Sage]

Don't worry people, after the next chapter, Fran will not duel again until Chapter Nineteen (and even then it will be a special duel). The others will get their fair share.

- DS

[The Blue Avenger]

Hehe, cool. I loved this chapter for obvious reasons, but even if this wasn't my user character, I still would have enjoyed it. Francesca's fear of Elvis impersonators... heh, I can understand that. Marv's knowledge test at the beginning was interesting as well - I bet he uses Fairies (wasn't there a magician named Marvin in Pokemon that used Exeggcute?).

But yeah, you nailed the character to a tee. Strangely enough, even though I wasn't trying to model the character after myself, 'tragically' does pretty much describe how I dress. X_x The new Magnet card was cool, and certainly not what I would have expected.

Looking forward to the next chapter!

[Zcade0]

Ya his name was marvin methinks He hypnotized ash...

Seeing the cards he used earlier for the contest maybe he has cards with effects that change their attacks (lame theroy sorry)

(p.s. blue avenger it s'ok I only played 2 yoshi games and they both had baby mario)

[Mystic_clown]

Nice chapter dude. Yeah, I think Marv's deck would either be filled with spellcasters or fairies. Wait a moment. Since he's a magician, maybe his deck is mainly built up of magic cards (kinda like Mai's during Duelist Kingdom). I'll be waiting for the next one *waits patiently*

[Shuppet Master]

Yes, I remember Marvin the Magician frmo the first series of Pokemon. He helped Ash's Charmander burn a clan of Exeggutor and then Ash's Charmander evolved into the unruly Charmeleon, which was sad because Charmeleon is a cool-looking Pokemon; they should have givien it more screentime before evolving it.. Not to say that Charizard's not cool.

[Pokemasterkatie]

Uh guys, his name was MELVIN.^_^; And I agree wholeheartedly with Shuppet Master--Ash's Charmeleon should've been given a little more screentime before evolving. Oh well; that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes, especially if the Pokémon responsible for Charmeleon's breathtaking evolution is the previously thought extinct carnivore Aerodactyl(who was ready to separate the main character's head from his body)!

[Zcade0]

Sorry I haven't seen that one in a while

The magic card thing sounds cool and it's possible also .....

[Dark Sage]

[B][I]Deep in the Palace of Shadow, an infamous villain lurks, waiting to prey on one of the Shadow Queen’s three foes. Once he was human, but his evil scheme left him a bodiless phantom, and his only salvation is to steal the body of another…

Who is this fiend? He’s one of five… And which of the five is up to you!



[B]THE BIG FIVE



If you work for a living, you probably don’t like your boss.

But what you probably don’t realize is, your boss probably doesn’t like his boss; and that guy likely doesn’t like his boss. Nearly everyone has a boss whom he doesn’t like…

Unless you’re a guy like Seto Kaiba. As the Chief Executive Officer of his own company, he’s the top of the ladder, and doesn’t answer to anybody…

Not that he doesn’t have problems in KaibaCorp. His biggest problem, company-wise, was his original board of directors.

Better known as the Big Five.

See, the Big Five never liked their boss, for various reasons. They plotted to take over the company, first by allying themselves with Pegasus. But that plan failed when Yugi defeated Pegasus.

When a furious Kaiba found out about their betrayal, the Big Five had another plan – they tricked Kaiba into testing his virtual reality pod, which they had booby trapped. But Yugi, Joey, Mai, and Mokuba came to his rescue, and when the Big Five entered the Virtual World themselves, taking the form of the five-headed Mythic Dragon, Yugi and Kaiba defeated them, trapping their minds in cyberspace.

But that wasn’t the end of them. The Big Five came back in a big way, teaming up with Noah, the true son of their former boss Gozaburo Kaiba. Having spent so long in cyberspace, the corporate tycoons’ true bodies had been destroyed – but Noah promised them that they could defeat Yugi, Seto, and their allies in Duel Monsters (using a special system called a Deckmaster system) they could seize the bodies of their fallen foes. So a trap was set, and Yugi, Kaiba, Joey, Tea, Tristan, Duke, and Serenity were drawn into a Virtual Nightmare…

Where dueling like never before occurred…

To better understand the Big Five, let’s take a look at them individually…


[U]Gansley: The former vice president of KaibaCorp, Gansley was NOT the type of boss you’d ever want to work for. He was a corrupt tycoon who knew every sleazy business trick in the book. He started from the bottom, but not honestly. He proudly told Yugi that the first business he owned was a distributor of frozen lemonade that started with one lemonade stand – which he stole from a neighbor.

More than likely, Gansley backstabbed a lot of people to get to the top. He valued power among everything, and thought that it could gain him anything. If someone got in his way, he could easily crush them.

He also thought of those lower than him as expendable. As a top executive, he had a very large workforce; so he thought nothing of firing an employee who had outlived his usefulness. In his opinion, there were always more where they came from. This was reflected by his choice of Deckmaster, Deepsea Warrior, whose ability required destroying his own Monsters to damage his opponent.

Being the ambitious man that he was, Gansley chose to challenge Yugi himself, and he gave the King of Games a serious run for his money… But like most of Yugi’s opponents, he underestimated him. Yugi taught Gansley a lesson that businessmen should know (but Gansley apparently didn’t) – don’t disregard the small folk, because they can topple men in power. Yugi proved this by combining his weak Kuriboh with a Magic Card called Rainbow Blessing, which completely ruined Gansley’s strategy and defeated him.



[U]Krump: Of all the Big Five, Krump, former head of accounting for KaibaCorp, almost had somewhat of a justification for his rage against Seto Kaiba. As a child, Krump was an only child, and his parents were unloving and neglectful. To occupy himself, he spent his time counting things… and as a result, became a whiz at math. One day, while counting books on the shelf, he found a book about penguins, and discovered, to his surprise, that mated penguins shared a close family system that was rare in animals (male and female penguins, for example, take turns keeping eggs warm). He grew up loving these Antarctic birds, and he dreamed of a career that would combine his love of them with his love of math.

When he climbed to the top of the accounting department of KaibaCorp, he thought of an idea that he believed would triple their profits – a penguin theme park. However, Kaiba shot down the idea, saying it had nothing to do with games. Thus, Krump’s anger is somewhat justified – but his means of expressing it were not.

In Noah’s Virtual Nightmare, Krump naturally took the form of Nightmare Penguin, and most of Monsters were penguins. He also had a lot of cards dealing with cold and snow. Noah assigned him to challenge Tea, and Krump eagerly accepted (if you watch the Japanese version, Krump was a downright pervert who made a lot of indecent remarks).

However, Krump made a crucial error. Being an accountant, he thought that facts, figures, and probability were the keys to winning a duel. He was wrong… Duel Monsters is more than that. In the end, Tea’s Heart proved far stronger than his, and she defeated him soundly.


[U]Johnson: Johnson was the legal expert of KaibaCorp, and he was the type of lawyer who symbolized the very reason that most people don’t like lawyers. Although he had never lost a case in his career, he rarely deserved to win. He’d use any method, no matter how sleazy, underhanded – or illegal – to make a jury agree with him.

Johnson chose to challenge Joey, and naturally took the form of Judge Man as a Deckmaster. Johnson chose Joey as a victim because he knew that Wheeler used a lot of cards that involved risk and luck – and Johnson knew how to use the virtual technology to control dice rolls and coin tosses. Why not cheat? He had done so in courts several times.

Due to his ability to tamper with every risk Joey made, Johnson probably would have defeated Joey if it weren’t for one thing – Noah would not tolerate cheating. Noah could not prove himself superior to Seto if his henchmen were as much scoundrels as he thought Seto to be. Noah interrupted the duel, and was about to end it in Joey’s favor. However, Joey offered to let Johnson continue, so long as he didn’t cheat any longer – this puzzled Noah, but he agreed. (Apparently, Joey didn’t like the idea of a duel victory being given to him for free.)

Joey played one final card that involved a gamble, and in doing so, defeated Johnson at his own game – tricking him into believing that a bluff was the truth. Unlike most trials that Johnson attended, fair play prevailed in this one.



[U]Nezbitt: When Gozaburo Kaiba ran KaibaCorp, it was a military company. Nezbitt, the head of research and development, loved his work back then – designing and building weapons of war was his greatest joy.

But Seto would have none of his adoptive father’s legacy. While he loved dueling, he hated true weapons, and turned KaibaCorp into a more benign gaming company. Once he did that, he destroyed all the weapons Gozaburo had created – as well as Nezbitt’s research lab. He told Nezbitt that if he couldn’t adjust, he could find a new job.

Anger grew in Nezbitt. He tried to adjust, programming video games and other recreational software… and hating every minute of it. He was only too happy to try to bring Kaiba down, in hopes that KaibaCorp could be restored to what it once was.

Nezbitt took the form of a Machine Monster called Robotic Knight, and that wasn’t the only way he was like a machine – he seemingly had no soul. He purposely targeted Duke, Tristan, and Serenity, because he knew they were amateurs in dueling and would be easily defeated. But he had one quality that machines don’t have – machines know no fear, and like most bullies, he was a coward. He intentionally tried to take out Serenity first, hoping to pick off the weakest first. (Noah didn’t like Nezbitt much – he called him a “scared little man”.)

Fortunately, Nezbitt didn’t understand things like friendship and loyalty too well. Just when he was about to deliver the killing blow to Serenity, Tristan sacrificed his Deckmaster to protect her, purposely losing.

Fortunately, Tristan’s noble sacrifice was not in vain. Serenity gained a boost of confidence from it, and eventually remembered the crash course in dueling that Tristan had given her when he was taking her to Battle City. With that faith and knowledge, she managed to summon the powerful St. Joan. Then, thanks to the Monster and Trap Card that Tristan had left behind (which Duke activated with his own Deckmaster’s ability), St. Joan became just strong enough to wipe out Nezbitt, sparing Serenity and Duke from Tristan’s fate.



[U]Leichter: Acting as the leader of the Big Five, Leichter’s hatred for Seto Kaiba knew no bounds. As Gozaburo’s right-hand man he thought he was next in line to take over KaibaCorp when Gozaburo retired. (He was likely wrong.)

When Gozaburo finished educating his adoptive son, he decided to test him. He gave him a small fortune in money (the equivalent of ten million U.S. dollars) as a loan. Seto would have one year to turn it into one-hundred million – if he managed to do so, he would earn the right to be Gozaburo’s son. Leichter was the only one allowed to help him.

Seto was crafty, and didn’t need one year – with a clever plan, he accomplished it in one day. Leichter felt that he deserved most of the credit, but in truth, it was almost all Seto’s idea. As far as Seto was concerned, Leichter was only good for doing what he was told to do.

When Noah recruited them, Leichter insisted on dueling Kaiba himself, and used one of the most deadly Deckmasters – Jinzo! His deck was both Beatdown and Control, with such deadly Monsters as Satellite Cannon and Injection Fairy Lily. However, Leichter forgot one important thing about dueling – unless your name is Yugi Mouto, challenging Seto Kaiba is a good way to lose.


What happened to the Big Five? Using Tristan’s stolen body (they thought), all five of them dueled Yugi and Joey. Using a combination of all five of their decks, starting with double the normal amount of Life Points, having use of five Deckmasters, and even being able to summon the Five God Dragon, they thought they were unstoppable…

They weren’t. They lost.

In the end, Noah was so disgusted with them that he shoved them out of his sight for good, throwing them each into a separate corner of his virtual world. Presumably, when the virtual world was destroyed, they were destroyed forever.



Now, you may ask, what does this have to do with our story? Well, in Act Two, the evil Shadow Queen will use a ritual that will bring back one of the Big Five to duel one of the heroes… but only one…

Which one will it be?

All registered members who read this fic, I’m asking you to vote! Even if you don’t normally respond, vote anyway!

And if you’re lucky, you might find your favorite virtual villain going up against Stan, Andy, or Francesca in the future.

This poll will run until August 10th – you have thirty days to decide.

Don’t delay…


- Dark Sage

[The_Missing_Link]

I'm voting for Leichter cause I thought he was a very interesting character. I liked his deck a lot and why not revive the leader himself? I thought the others were boring and Shuppet Master is using Krump's descendent in his fic so we're seeing most of the same deck


btw, when is fic set? Is it way before Yugi Jr. or close to it?

[Dark Sage]

As I said before the first chapter, this story is set shortly after the Doma Arc. So it is long before the events of Yu-Gi-Oh Junior.

[Shuppet Master]

I'm voting for Johnson because Johnson was probably my favorite of the five(and he dueled Joey, which was a plus). Johnson was a guy who loved to cheat and bend the rules for his benefit. He even defied Noah a bit by screwing around with the rules so that all of Joey's cards came up snake-eyes. Anyone who can make Noah PO'ed enough to pop up and threaten to terminate the duel was interesting in my book.

And his law puns were classic.

[Dark Sage]

Well, I was getting restless, so I thought I'd submit the next chapter.

Before you start asking questions abouts Marv's deck and how it fits into the anime world, remember that A) this story is not necessarily in the same world as my earlier fics, and B) there is more to Marv than meets the eye.

With that in mind, enjoy!

- Dark Sage

[Dark Sage]

[I][color=pink]When you start a duel, you have to analyze your enemy… Duelists usually have themes, and by learning them, you can attempt to think up strategies to counter them.

The only problem comes when you encounter strange themes that you’ve never seen before. “Strange” doesn’t mean “ineffective”. In fact, the more unusual something is, the more deadly it likely is.

It’s human nature to fear the unusual.

The guy I’m facing right now – he has a theme that is used by a famous duelist. But it isn’t a very popular theme. So basically, I’m a Stranger in a Strange Land…

Or should I say a Strange World?

[size=3]CHAPTER FOURTEEN



Battle in the Big Top

It was eleven AM, still early.

In the middle of the Wonky Circus, the three teenagers were sitting on a bench, looking at a map.

“So where to now?” asked Francesca.

“Well, I guess the closest place to go to now is… Twilight Town…” muttered Stan.

“Well, I’m not scared just because it has a creepy name,” stated Andy. “And we promise, Stan, the next duelist we meet is yours.”

“Well, we’ll just have to…” started Stan.

Then a cloud of purple smoke started to appear in front of them.

“Wha…?” said Stan, startled.

A coughing was heard, and Marv the Mad Magician appeared from out of the cloud.

“Oof!” he choked. “I wish they’d invent smokeless magic! Hello folks!”

“Uh, hi…” said Stan. “Thanks for the cards by the way.”

“You earned them, sport!” laughed Marv. “But now I have an offer for Francesca!”

“ME?” asked Francesca, surprised.

“Yessir!” exclaimed Marv. “I’m putting on an exhibition duel in the big top in fifteen minutes, but my assistant quit. The ingrate… I want you to take his place…”

He paused.

“Win, and you’ll win a card even rarer and more powerful than those cards that Stan won!”

“Uh…” muttered Fran. “Why me?”

“I saw you duel that guy with the Magnet Warriors,” he replied. “I think it would make a good show…”

She looked at him strangely.

“Give me a minute…” she said.

She, Stan, and Andy went into a huddle.

“This might be risky, Fran,” warned Andy. “This guy might be working for the Shadow Queen for all we know…”

“And he’s pretty weird…” muttered Stan. “And don’t forget, we saw him summon a Monster with 5,000 Attack…”

“Yeah, but he drew those cards on purpose,” reminded Francesca. “A rare and powerful card… it’s tempting…”

She turned to Marv.

“Two questions,” she stated.

“Shoot,” answered Marv.

“First, what is this card?”

“Can’t tell you that,” answered Marv. “But trust me, it’s something that would add firepower to practically ANY deck.”

Francesca rubbed her chin.

“Second,” she asked, “what happens if I lose?”

“Then you’ll only get a smaller consolation prize for your efforts,” answered Marv. “And that one I can show you…”

He pulled a card out of his coat…

It was a Monster Card called Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys.

Fran was shocked. She had heard of Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys; it didn’t exactly fit her deck, and she wasn’t exactly sure of what it did, but she did know that it was incredibly rare.

If this was the consolation prize, what on earth would she get if she won?

“Okay, Marv, you’re on!” she said with a grin.

“Great!” he exclaimed. “We’re on in ten minutes… its showtime!”


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Meanwhile, the Shadow Queen was beside herself with anger. Her crystal ball had gone on the blink again shortly after Francesca’s duel with Jeff.

“OOH!” she cursed as she pounded on it.

She sighed.

“Is there some higher force at work?”

She picked up her cell phone and dialed Crump’s number.

A message was the response: ”The extension you have dialed is no longer in service. Please make sure you have dialed correctly.”

“What the…?” she said in surprise.

She dialed another number.

“Yes my liege?” said a voice.

“Sir Grodus,” said the Queen. “I need you to find Crump – I have the feeling he’s gotten into trouble again. Those kids might have even discovered him. He was last at the Wonky Circus.”

“Right away, my liege,” answered Grodus. “What should I do with him when I find him?”

“Find out what the problem is, report to me, and THEN I’ll decide what to do with him!” she replied.

“If those kids have forced anything out of that coward, he’s going to be sorry he was ever born!”


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Wow, thought Stan, as he sat back in a seat, déjà vu…

The main circus tent of the Wonky Circus was loaded with kids, most of them with their parents. It was a much different arena than the Glitz Pit – jugglers and clowns were providing the entertainment at the moment, as was the case in any circus.

“So,” mentioned Andy. “What sort of deck does a clown use?”

Stan thought for a minute.

“I have absolutely no idea, Andy,” he replied. “There are a lot of Monsters with a comical theme, but you really can’t expect to put them all together in a deck and have success with it…”

A ringmaster mounted a podium with a bullhorn.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” he shouted. “Children of all ages! We now present a special treat, courtesy of the tournament going on amidst Monster Island!

“Presenting, the baron of buffoonery, Marv the Mad Magician!”

Marv appeared, and the crown cheered.

“And his opponent for this special exhibition duel, a contestant who already has five Crystal Cards to her name, Francesca Benedict!”

Francesca walked up to the podium, as did Marv, and the crowd cheered again. The ringmaster hopped down.

Marv produced a deck, and placed it on the podium.

“Well Fran,” he stated, “let’s shuffle and cut!”

He started to shuffle his deck like a blackjack dealer.

“Marv, you could damage your cards that way…” warned Fran.

“Hee, hee,” chuckled Marv. “Don’t worry… I’m used to shuffling like this.”

He loaded the deck into his Disk.

“Let the show begin!” he announced.

The podium sank into the floor, and the two backed up…

The holo-imagers shot out, and the Disks snapped into position.

“It’s time to duel, as everyone is so fond of saying!” laughed Marv. “The first move goes to our guest…”

Fran drew her six cards.

Amazing! she thought. This is the best opening draw I’ve had in weeks!

She put a card down.

“I’ll summon Amazoness Paladin in Attack Mode!” she shouted.

The general of the Amazons appeared, brandishing her sword. (1,700/300) –> (1,800/300)

“And now I’ll place this facedown,” she continued.

She slid a card into a slot, and a facedown card appeared.

As soon as he attacks, my Amazoness Archers Trap will clear the field of whatever he summons… she thought.

Marv drew.

“Well, well…” he said. “Prepare Francesca…”

He held his hands up high.

“Prepare to enter a whole new world of dueling… a world of chaos… a world of mystical, magical mayhem!”

He threw a Magic Card into a slot…

BOING! WHIZ! POW!

[B]”A world of Toons!” he shouted.

A large green book appeared above the field, and opened, like a spooky children’s popup book. Magical energy coursed from it…

“Toon World?” gasped Francesca. “What the heck is that?”

“An important card in my deck,” chuckled Marv. “I’ve always admired Maximillion Pegasus… the creator of this game. So I decided to create a deck just like his!

“Playing this card costs me 1,000 Life Points…”

His Life Points fell to 7,000.

“…but it’s worth it, because now the creatures in my deck can achieve their full power!”

“This… doesn’t look good…” muttered Andy.

Marv placed a card down.

“Now I summon… Toon Gemini Elf in Attack Mode!”

Toon World slammed shut, and eldritch energy flowed from its covers! It opened again, and two sinister looking elves that seemed to be made of watercolor paint leapt out. (1,900/900)

“What on earth?” exclaimed Andy.

“They look kind of like my own Gemini Elf…” muttered Stan. “But creepier!”

Fran didn’t like the look of this creature…

“So,” she said nervously. “Are you going to attack, or what?”

“Can’t,” said Marv, with a shrug.

“What do you mean, ‘can’t’?” asked Francesca in surprise.

“Most Toon Monsters can’t attack on the same round in which they’re summoned,” explained Marv. “They’re rather powerful, so it’s a trade-off…”

He grinned.

“So make your move…”

Francesca’s hand shook as she drew. She really didn’t like the look of those elves…

She looked at the card. She added it to her hand.

“I’ll summon Amazoness Swords Woman in Attack Mode,” she said, placing another card down.

The scantly-clad Warrior-woman holding her huge sword appeared. A lot of catcalls came from the audience. (1,500/1,600)

Amazoness Paladin’s Attack went up to 1,900.

“That’s my turn,” she said.

My Amazoness Archers Trap is still on the field, she thought. It should be enough…

Marv drew.

“Get ready,” he said with a grin, “because here comes another resident of Toon World!”

He put a card down, and Toon World closed again. A flurry of ribbons and flowers spewed out…

“I summon Toon Masked Sorcerer in Attack Mode!” he exclaimed.

A twisted parody of Masked Sorcerer leapt out of the book. He had a big grin, and flowers in his clownish hair. (900/1,400)

“Now, Toon Gemini Elf… ATTACK!” he shouted.

The two elves locked elbows and leapt into the air…

“I activate… Amazoness Archers!” shouted Fran.

Her Trap lifted, and a squad of female fighters armed with bows appeared, peppering the two Toons with arrows!

“Now both of your Toons will lose 500 Attack Points,” she smiled, “and both will be forced to attack!”

“As you wish…” said Marv with a grin. “But with Toons, I don’t have to target your two Amazons…”

The Toon elves spun around in midair, and then kicked Francesca in the chest! She gasped and fell back.

The elves cackled as her Life Points fell to 6,600.

“How’d you do THAT?” exclaimed Fran. “I had Monsters on the field!”

“Toons don’t care about that!” laughed Marv. “They love twisting the rules! And my elves have an additional effect!”

Toon Gemini Elf laughed, and then snatched a card out Francesca’s hand! They stuffed it into her discard slot.

“And now…” continued Marv, “thanks to your Trap Card…”

Toon Masked Sorcerer chuckled a throaty laugh and cast forth a multicolored beam of energy, bypassing the two Amazons and striking Fran in the chest! Her Life Points fell further, to 6,200.

“And when he damages your Life Points, I get to draw one card…” said Marv, drawing.

The crowd cheered.

“Heh, heh, cartoons are so violent these days…” he chuckled.

“All right!” said one boy.

“Those Toons rock!” said another.

“I was right…” groaned Andy. “This isn’t good…”


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Grodus appeared in a beam of light in the middle of the Wonky Circus.

“All right Crump,” he muttered. “Where the heck are you… I know you’re around here somewhere…”

He heard a groan coming from behind a tent.

“That’s him,” sighed Grodus. “He sounds like that every time the Queen punishes him – and she’s going to do it again if he doesn’t have a damn good reason for this…”

He walked to the back of the tent and saw the henchman stuffed inside a garbage can, beaten to a pulp.

“CRUMP!” he shouted. “You mind telling me what happened here?”

Crump slowly started to come to…

“Ah heh, heh…” he muttered. “Um, this will make you laugh…”


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

“My move now…” grunted Francesca.

She looked at her card.

“I summon my Amazoness Chain Master in Attack Mode!” she shouted.

She threw a card down, and the wild, white-haired Amazon with her bladed chain appeared. (1,500/1,300)

Amazoness Paladin’s Attack Score went up to 2,000.

“Time to send your cartoons back to the sketchpad!” she shouted. “Amazoness Paladin, attack Toon Gemini Elf!”

Amazoness Paladin raised her sword. The two elves screamed and tried to run, but she was too fast. With one swipe of her sword, they burst into a splatter of paint.

Marv grimaced. His Life Points fell to 6,900.

“Amazoness Swords Woman, take down his other Toon!” yelled Francesca.

Swords Woman raised her blade, and lashed out at Toon Masked Sorcerer! He burst into pieces… His guttural laugh echoed over the field before they disintegrated.

Marv’s Life Points fell to 6,300. He stepped back nervously…

“Amazoness Chain Master, attack his Life Points directly!”

Chain Master swung her chain, and hurled it forward, striking the Mad Magician! He gasped, and staggered back, his Life Points falling to 4,800.

The crowd cheered again.

“Hmm,” said Marv, picking up his hat. “Not bad. But this duel is far from over…”

“It’s your move, Toon-head,” muttered Fran.

Marv drew.

“I’ll play an old standard…” he chuckled, “Pot of Greed!”

He played the card, and the jar handed him two more cards.

“Well, this will work,” he said with a grin. “I’ll first play two cards facedown…”

He threw two cards into slots. Two cards appeared in front of him.

“…and now,” he continued, “I’ll summon Toon Goblin Attack Force, in Attack Mode!”



Continued...

[Dark Sage]

Continued from last post:


He threw the card down, and more magical energy flew from Toon World. A green mist floated down, and small troop of goofy looking goblins holding big clubs appeared. They giggled wickedly. (2,300/0)

“And that will end my turn,” he said with a grin.

Francesca gulped…

If those Toon Goblins are anything like the other Toons, they’re gonna hit me for 2,300 points of damage on his next turn! she thought. I’d best draw something good…

She drew.

Well, talk about luck… she thought.

“Okay Marv…” she announced.

“Hold up, Fran!” he announced. “I’m activating both my facedown cards! First, Scapegoat!”

His first card lifted, and four fluffy, multicolored sheep appeared in front of him.

“Next,” he continued, “Gift of the Mystical Elf!”

His Trap Card lifted, and energy flowed from the four sheep, the Goblins and the three Amazons. His Life Points rose to 6,800.

“Oo-kay…” muttered Fran.

She placed a card into a slot.

“I’m Equipping my Paladin with The Girdle of Hippolyta!”

The golden belt appeared around Amazoness Paladin’s waist, and her Attack Score rose to 2,800.

Marv gasped.

“Paladin, take out his Goblins!” shouted Francesca.

Amazoness Paladin leapt into the air and Toon Goblin Attack Force screamed! She landed, and they blew to pieces!

Marv’s Life Points fell to 6,300.

“Swords Woman, Chain Master, take out two of his sheep!”

The two Amazons raised their weapons, and slashed at the little sheep. Two of them were vaporized.

The crowd cheered yet again!

“All right!” yelled a girl in back of Stan. “Her Amazons are kicking A!”

“Don’t you know it…” said Stan, with a smile.

Marv made a draw.

“Okay, girl…” he said. “First I’ll place this card facedown…”

He placed a card in a slot, and it appeared behind the goats.

“And you know there’s a funny thing about Toons – most of them aren’t Normal Summoned. They’re Special Summoned…”

“Your point being?” asked Francesca.

“The point is, since they’re Special Summoned, I can use Scapegoats as sacrifices to summon them!”

Fran gasped.

These Toons are full of surprises… she thought.

“So, I’ll sacrifice one Scapegoat,” he continued.

He put a card down and a sheep vanished.

“And I’ll summon one of my rarest Toons…”

Toon World started to glow with dark energy, and a girlish giggle ws heard. The book opened, and a form was spat out. It looked like a little girl dressed in a Halloween costume… Depicting Dark Magician Girl! (2,000/1,700)

No! thought Stan. A Toon Dark Magician Girl? How could they?

“And guess what, Fran?” chuckled Marv. “This Toon doesn’t have to wait a turn before she can attack! But rather than have her attack you… Toon Dark Magician Girl, attack her Chain Master!”

Toon Dark Magician Girl waved her staff and fired and blast of what appeared to be streamers and confetti! Amazoness Chain Master gasped, and was consumed by it!

The Toon giggled madly. Francesca’s Life Points fell to 5,700. Also, Amazoness Paladin’s Attack went down to 2,700.

Francesca gave him a look.

“Sorry, Marv, but I’m on to you,” she said. “You wanted me to waste 1,500 Life Points to use her ability to take a Monster from your hand, right? Well I’m not going to do that – your Monsters are Toons, and I’m not even certain how to use them…”

“Well then,” said Marv with a shrug, your loss.

Secretly, however, Francesca had hit the nail on the head. Toons couldn’t attack an opponent directly if the opponent had Toons of his own on the field. And right now, the only Toon he had in his hand was pretty weak…

This girl is pretty smart, he thought. I can only hope she wins. I’m not allowed to throw this fight – the prize has to be earned. But if she is worthy, it will bring us one step closer…

…to ending the nightmare.


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

“So,” said Grodus, angrily, “you zapped someone because you thought she was ‘annoying’, and then her husband found you and beat you up? Crump, what am I going to do with you?”

“How was I supposed to know she had a husband who weighed two-hundred pounds?” pleaded Crump.

“I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes when the Queen hears about this…” muttered Grodus.

“Wait!” begged Crump. “I’ve got good information…”

He fished his notebook out of the garbage can. It was somewhat dirty, but still in good shape.

“Here!” he exclaimed. “All the information you could need about Francesca! She’s got a lot of powerful cards!”

Grodus took it and looked through it.

“A Hero Emerges…” he read, “Burning Soul Sword… The Girdle of Hippolyta… Guardian Angel Joan?”

He drew back in surprise.

“This IS pretty useful!” he exclaimed.

He looked at Crump.

“Well…” he said. “This is worth something I guess… If you promise not to do anything else stupid, I’ll just tell the Queen that your cell phone got broken or something…”

“Uh, what’s the catch?” asked Crump.

“The catch is you have to take a shower, pal!” demanded Grodus.

“Right…” muttered Crump. “I’m on it.”

“And once you’re done with that, start following those brats again,” ordered Grodus. “They’re still in this circus, but they might leave soon.

“DON’T mess up again!”

He vanished.


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

“It’s my draw, Marv!” exclaimed Fran.

She drew.

“Activate… Dust Tornado!” shouted the Mad Magician.

His Trap Card lifted, and a gust blew over the field. The Girdle on Amazoness Paladin’s waist crumbled.

Her Attack went back down to 1,900.

Francesca grimaced… but then she saw the card she had just drawn.

“I sacrifice my Swords Woman to summon Penumbral Soldier Lady!” she exclaimed.

She switched cards on her Disk, and Swords Woman shattered. Penumbral Soldier Lady arose. (2,100/1,400)

“Go!” yelled Francesca. “Take out that goofy Magician Girl!”

Penumbral Soldier Lady charged and struck Toon Dark Magician Girl! The Toon gasped and shattered into pixels.

Marv’s Life Points fell to 6,200.

“Paladin, destroy his last Scapegoat!” ordered Francesca.

Amazoness Paladin charged forward and cleaved the last sheep in half!

“Your move,” she said. “So what will you pull out of your bag of tricks now?”

Marv drew.

“What now, you ask?” he chuckled. “I’ll play this Magic Card! A little thing called Toon Table of Contents!”

He threw the card into a slot.

“What is that?” asked Francesca in surprise.

Toon World spun around and its pages flew. It stopped – naturally – on the table of contents. A card spat out, and Marv caught it.

“A useful card that lets me search my deck for any Toon-related card I please!” replied Marv.

“And now,” he said, fitting another card into a slot, “I’ll play Monster Reborn! To bring back my Toon Masked Sorcerer!”

The goofy Spellcaster reappeared. (900/1,400)

“And then,” said Marv, with a wicked grin, “I’ll sacrifice him to bring out my strongest Toon…”

He switched cards on his Disk…

Toon World opened again, and Toon Masked Sorcerer flew inside. The book slammed shut, and bolts of lightning flew from it…

Two claws appeared from inside the book, and it slowly opened. A huge form arose… the most frightening Toon yet. It seemed to be a bony demon of some sort, with horns and a skull-like face twisted in a hideous smile!

It looked at Francesca and made a hideously goofy face!

“Meet my [B]Toon Summoned Skull!” laughed Marv.

(2,500/1,200)

Stan gazed in amazement.

“That is the most hideous thing I have ever seen,” he said. “And coming from a duelist, that is saying a lot…”

“Good grief…” muttered Andy. “How is Fran gonna beat that thing?”

“Make your move, sunshine,” chuckled Marv.

Toon Summoned Skull grinned an evil grin.

Francesca’s hand shook as she drew.

She looked at Penumbral Soldier Lady…

Darn, she thought. You know, I really should look into getting one of those Scroll of Bewitchment cards that Stan has… if I could turn an opposing Monster into a Light Monster, she could take down almost anything…

“Uh…” she muttered, “I pass this turn…”

“FRANCESCA!” yelled Stan as the crowd gasped.

“As you wish, said Marv, drawing. “You know, this big guy comes with a handicap – I have to pay 500 Life Points for him to attack – but it’s a price I’m more than willing to pay! Toon Summoned Skull, attack her Life Points directly with lightning strike!”

His Life Points slipped to 5,700, and Toon Summoned Skull powered up. It shot forth a blast of powerful lightning bolts! Francesca screamed as they hit her!

As her Life Points fell to 3,200, she took gasping deep breaths…

“Are you done?” she sneered.

“Uh huh,” he said. “Your move…”

Fran reached for her deck.

This had better be something good, or he’ll just do that again! she thought.

She drew.

Her eyes narrowed.

“I’ll place a card facedown,” she said, “and end my turn…”

She fit a card into a slot, and it appeared behind her.

Marv drew.

Excellent, he thought. I have the three cards now that I can use later – if I need to… But for now…

“Toon Skull…” he ordered, “attack again!”

The Toon powered up its lightning…

“Not so fast!” responded Francesca. “I activate Waboku!”

Her Trap Card lifted, and the three priestesses appeared. The lightning bolts fizzled.

Marv frowned as his Life Points sank to 5,200.

“Well then,” he said, “I guess it’s your move…”

Fran drew.

“All right!” she shouted.

She placed a card on her Disk.

“I sacrifice my Amazoness Paladin…”

Paladin vanished.

“AND my Penumbral Soldier Lady…”

The Warrior of shadows vanished.

“To summon the almighty… Guardian Angel Joan!”

Beams of light cascaded down into the tent, and heavenly music started playing. The immense, lovely form of Joan descended on her golden wings! (2,800/2,000)

Toon Summoned Skull cringed in fear, but the audience in the tent was excited. They let out a cheer!

“Joan!” shouted Francesca. “Destroy that abomination with searing light of Heaven attack!”

A globe of light appeared in Joan’s hands, and she blasted it forward, vaporizing the demented Toon!

Marv’s Life Points fell to 4,900.

“And I’ve done more than just destroy your Monster,” said Fran with a grin. “When Guardian Angel Joan destroys an enemy Monster, I gain Life Points equal to the original Attack Score of the destroyed Monster… So I just gained 2,500 Life Points!”

Her Life Points rose to 5,700.

“Make your move,” she dared.

Marv drew…

“Take THIS,” he exclaimed. “Swords of Revealing Light!”

He threw a card into a slot, and the glowing Swords rained down on Francesca!

“Super…” she said.

“And now,” said Marv, taking another card, “I’m going to play a Magic Card – in fact, it’s the very card that you’re trying to win, Francesca…”

“Huh?” stated Francesca. “What is it?”

On one side, she was excited that she was going to see it – but on the other side, she was worried – it was likely powerful…

“I play a card called… Art Attack!” shouted Marv.

He fit the card into a slot, and the card appeared. It was a strange image, resembling a painting with Dark Magician Girl sitting as the Mona Lisa would.

“What does it do?” asked Francesca.

“I won’t say yet,” explained Marv. “In order for it to work, it has to remain on the field for three of your turns.

“Anyway, I end my turn.”

Fran drew.

Can’t attack with these Swords in the way, she thought, but I can still summon…

“I’ll summon my second Amazoness Swords Woman in Attack Mode!” she announced.

She put the card down, and another Swords Woman appeared.

“Make your move,” she said, nervously.

Marv drew.

“First,” he said, “I’ll play Dian Keto the Cure Master,” he stated.

He fit a card into a slot, and the god of healing appeared over him. His Life Points went up to 5,900.

“Now,” he continued, “I’ll summon Toon Mermaid in Attack Mode!”

He put a card down, and Toon World glowed again. A large clamshell with eyes on it emerged, and it slowly opened. A comical mermaid with a green hair and a sweet smile holding a bow and arrow appeared from inside it. (1,400/1,500)

Crud, another Toon… thought Fran.

She drew.

“I’ll have to pass this turn,” she sighed.

Marv drew.

“Okay, sunshine,” he said, “I’ll first place two cards facedown…”

He threw two cards into slots, and they materialized next to the Art Attack card.

“And now,” he said, “I’ll summon another Toon Gemini Elf in Attack Mode!”

He put his last card down, and the sinister Toon elves leapt out of Toon World! (1,900/900)

“And I’m not done yet!” he laughed. “Toon Mermaid, attack her Life Points directly!”

Marv’s Life Points fell to 4,400 as Toon Mermaid drew back her bow. She giggled, as she fired, striking Fran in the chest. She gasped and fell backwards.

Her life Points fell to 4,300.

She grunted as she struggled to stand.

“My move now…” she sneered.

Man, I’m taking a beating… she thought. Why did I agree to this?

She drew.

“I play Pot of Greed!” she announced.

She played the card, and the jar handed her two cards.

Mystical Space Typhoon and Mirror Force.

She looked at the field.

I could destroy that Art Attack card… she thought. Whatever it’s supposed to do, it’s going to do after I end my turn…

But wait… his facedown cards… What if one of them is something that can stop me from attacking? What if he can destroy my Mirror Force? Ooh, I don’t want those Toons to attack me again!

She looked up at Toon World.

This will be a risk, she thought. But I’m going to bring the curtain down on this blasted cartoon!

She threw the card into a slot.

“I play Mystical Space Typhoon!” she shouted. “Say goodbye to your Toon World!”

The cyclone whipped over the field, and Toon World was blasted into pieces! Toon Mermaid and Toon Gemini Elf screamed, and they shattered into pixels!

“Now, just in case,” muttered Fran.

She fit her Mirror Force card into a slot.

“I’ll place this card facedown, and that will end my turn.”

The Swords vanished.

“Hee, hee,” chuckled Marv, drawing. “The time has arrived…”

The Art Attack card began to glow.

“My Art Attack card can be unleashed!” exclaimed Marv. “Certainly, you’d agree that Duel Monster cards are works of art…

“And when the power of Art Attack is unleashed, I can Special Summon four Monsters from my deck with an Attack Score of 2,000 or less!”

Four cards flew out of his deck and he caught them.

“And by the way, these guys aren’t Toons,” he added. “I put them in my deck to form a lethal combination with Art Attack!”

He put a card down.



Continued...

[Dark Sage]

Continued...



“First, Water Omotics!"

A flash of light erupted and revealed a pretty water fairy with flowing purple hair wearing a scaly blue swimsuit. She carried a earthen jug. (1,400/1,200)

"Next, Fireyarou!"

Marv threw down another card next to Water Omotics’s and a flash of light revealed a flaming teenager wearing shorts with bronze skin. (1,300/1,000)

"Harpie’s Brother!"

Marv slapped down another card and a flash revealed a tall, gangly, man with wild hair, a scarf over his face, and large wings. He wore a brown shirt and pants. (1,800/600)

"And finally, Celtic Guardian!"

Marv threw down his final Monster and an armored elf in a cape holding a longsword sprang up. (1,400/1,200)

“Oh, come ON,” muttered Francesca. “Guardian Angel Joan will take them down one by one…”

“Not while I have my two Trap Cards!” exclaimed Marv.

One of his cards lifted.

“I activate… Fuh-Rin-Ka-Zan!

The image of a grim, kneeing Samurai appeared on the field.

“Let me explain how this powerful, complex, harder-to-pull-off than-a-childproof-cap-on-a-medicine-bottle Trap works,” explained Marv. “To activate it need a Monster of Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth on the field – and now, the conditions are perfect! Water Omotics is Water, Fireyarou is Fire, Harpie’s Brother is Wind, and Celtic Guardian is Earth!”

“So what does it do?” asked Fran, nervously.

“I can activate one of four effects,” answered Marv. “I can draw two cards, make you discard two cards, destroy all your Monsters, or destroy all your Magic and Trap Cards!”

Francesca gulped.

“And I think I’ll use the effect that lets me draw two cards!” he exclaimed.

The Samurai vanished, and two cards flew out of his deck.

“Fool,” sneered Francesca. “You could have destroyed Joan!”

“I will!” laughed Marv. “Thanks to my other Trap! I activate Elemental Burst!”

His other Trap Card lifted.

“This Trap also works when I have Monsters of those four Attributes on the field!” he exclaimed. “And now, I can sacrifice all four of them to wipe out every Monster, Magic Card and Trap Card you have on the field!”

The four Monsters screamed a battle cry and leapt up to attack! They formed into orbs of multicolored energy!

A huge explosion blasted on Francesca’s side, knocking her backwards!

When she looked up, Marv’s four Monsters were gone, but so was Joan, Amazoness Swords Woman, and her facedown Trap Card.

The crowd cheered again. It was hard to see who was on who’s side.

“And it’s still my turn,” laughed Marv. “I’ll set a Monster facedown, and that will be all.”

He placed a Monster Card on his Disk, and the facedown card appeared.

Francesca was burning with fury. She drew…

“I’ll summon Amazoness Fighter in Attack Mode!” she shouted.

She threw the card down, and the muscular Warrior-woman appeared. (1,500/1,300)

“Attack his facedown Monster!” she commanded.

The Fighter charged…

A figure appeared on the card…

“EEK!” gasped Francesca, as the Magician of Faith was blasted apart.

“You know what this means,” chuckled Marv.

“You get to retrieve a Magic Card from your Graveyard…” mumbled Fran.

An orb of light shot out of Marv’s discard slot, and it formed into a card.

“I’ll give ya one clue as to what it is!” he laughed, showing her the Toon World card.

“Fine, make your move,” snarled Fran.

Marv made a draw.

“Perfect!” he said. “First, I’ll play my old reliable Toon World again!”

He threw the card into a slot, and BOING! WHIZ! POW! Toon World appeared over the field again.

His Life Point were deducted to 3,900.

“Now I’ll summon my third Toon Gemini Elf!” he exclaimed.

Toon World glowed with energy, and the sinister elves leapt out. (1,900/900)

“And finally, one card facedown.”

He fit his last card into a slot, and it appeared behind the elves.

“That’s my turn,” he sniggered.

Nuts… thought Francesca.

She drew.

“I play Card Destruction!” she exclaimed, throwing a card into a slot.

Marv shrugged. Fran discarded her hand and drew and equal number.

Francesca looked strangely at one of the Monster Cards in her hand.

Hey… she thought, I’d almost forgotten that this gal was in my deck… Maybe I can use her for this…

She put a card down.

“I summon this Warrior in Attack Mode… Amazoness Snake Charmer!”

A new Amazoness appeared. She had long green hair held by a headband, wore a bikini and boots made of snakeskin, and wore jewelry made from fangs. Most remarkable, a huge python curled around her legs and waist, its head supported by her right hand. (1,300/1,000)

A lot of the folks in the audience gasped in fright. Marv was among them – he never liked snakes…

“Uh…” he said. “I’ve never seen THAT one before…”

He regained his composure.

“But she’s too weak to take down my elves!”

“That’s what you think!” said Francesca with a grin. Amazoness Snake Charmer has a very potent ability!

“But before I get to that, I’ll play a Magic Card…”

She placed a card into a slot.

“Rallying Cry!”

“Rallying Cry?” asked Marv. “What does that do?”

“To play Rallying Cry, I have to have two Amazons on the field, and pay 500 of my Life Points…”

Her Life Points fell to 3,800.

“And in return, I can Special Summon any one Amazon from my hand! So I’ll summon my second Amazoness Paladin!”

She threw a card down, and another Amazoness Paladin appeared! She nodded to her two comrades and turned to face their enemy. (1,700/300) –> (2,000/300)

“Now we get to Amazoness Snake Charmer’s special effect!” she announced. “See, by spending my Life Points, I can raise her Attack Score by the same amount for one turn!

“So, I’ll spend 700 of my Life Points…”

Her Life Points fell to 3,100, and Snake Charmer’s Attack rose to 2,000.

“Snake Charmer,” she ordered, “attack her elves with constrictor crush!”

Amazoness Snake Charmer pointed, and her python slithered forward… Toon Gemini Elf screamed, but the snake grabbed them, and wrapped itself around them! They groaned as it squeezed…

Finally, they burst into pixels. Marv’s Life Points fell to 3,800.

“Now, Paladin, Fighter, attack his Life Points directly!

Marv gasped and cowered. Paladin slashed at him with his sword, and Fighter delivered a great kick!

His Life Points plummeted all the way to 300.

The crowd cheered wildly!

“I don’t get it,” muttered Stan. “If Francesca had spent 300 more Life Points, she would have won…”

“She must have been worried about the facedown card,” noted Andy. “If it was something deadly, like a Mirror Force, she might have been worse off.”

Marv grunted and drew.

“Hee, hee,” he snickered.

“I play… Card of Sanctity!” he shouted.

He plugged the card into a slot, and the blue flash lit up the big top.

“He actually drew Card of Sanctity?” exclaimed Andy. “How lucky can you get?”

Stan pondered this.

“The Heart is strong with this one…” he muttered.

They each drew until they had six cards.

“First,” stated Marv, “I’ll activate my facedown card… Call of the Haunted!”

The Trap Card lifted, and electricity coursed from Toon World again!

The hideous Toon Summoned Skull arose from the pages once more. (2,500/1,200)

“Interesting,” muttered Francesca. “Did you forget that you have to pay 500 Life Points to make that thing attack? You don’t have enough left!”

“Good point,” shrugged Marv. “I’ll also place this card facedown. “It’s your move.”

He slid a card into a slot, and it appeared in front of him.

I already have a strategy in mind, he thought, looking at his cards. She’ll obviously try to use her Snake Charmer’s ability to bring down the Toon Skull… but to do so, she’ll have to bring her Life Points down to 1,800.

And when she tries to attack, my Negate Attack will block the attack!

Then, my second Dian Keto will raise my Life Points to 1,300… and ZAP! One attack and this duel is over.

A pity – I guess I had the wrong person.

Francesca drew.

“I summon Command Knight!” she shouted, placing a card down.

The beautiful Warrior in ceremonial armor appeared with her blazing sword. (1,200/1,900)

Paladin’s Attack went up to 2,400, Fighter’s went up to 1,900, Snake Charmer’s went up to 1,700, and Command Knight’s herself went up to 1,600.

“And now,” said Francesca. “I play the Magic Card… Recruitment Drive!”

She placed the card into a slot, and it appeared.

“This card gives Command Knight the status of an Amazon, meaning that my Paladin’s Attack Points go up to 2,500!

“I hate to send one of my Monsters on a kamikaze strike, but I will win this duel! Amazoness Paladin, attack the Skull!”

Amazoness Paladin leapt at Toon Summoned Skull…

“NO!” shouted Marv. “Activate Negate Attack!”

The Trap Card lifted, and Paladin’s attack was blocked.

“Fine,” said Francesca. “I end my turn.”

“Well this duel isn’t over yet!” yelled Marv.

He drew.

“I play my second Dian Keto the Cure Master!” he exclaimed, throwing a card into a slot.

The deity appeared behind him, and his Life Points went up to 1,300.

“Now I’ll summon another Toon Mermaid in Defense Mode!” he shouted.

He threw a card down, and the cartoonish mermaid appeared, shyly hiding in her shell. (1,400/1,500)

“Now, Toon Summoned Skull, destroy her Snake Charmer with lightning strike!”

His Life Points fell to 800. The Toon Skull blasted forth his thunderbolts, and Snake Charmer screamed. She and her snake blasted into pixels.

Francesca’s Life Points fell to 2,300. Paladin’s Attack Score dropped to 2,400.

“Are you quite done?” asked Francesca.

Marv searched his hand.

“Erg, yes…” he said.

“All right!” exclaimed Francesca, drawing. “I’ll summon Amazoness Blowpiper in Attack Mode!”

She threw a card down, and the teenage savage armed with a blowgun appeared. (800/1,500)

Amazoness Paladin’s Attack Score went back up to 2,500.

“I must admit Marv, it was close…” said Francesca. “If I didn’t have Blowpiper in my hand, you’d have won…

“So let’s try this again! Amazoness Paladin, attack his Toon Summoned Skull!”

Amazoness Paladin leapt at Toon Summoned Skull, who gasped. It formed a ball of lightning around its fist, and threw a punch to meet her sword… There was a huge explosion…

When the smoke died down, both of them had been wiped out…

“Command Knight!” shouted Francesca, “attack his Mermaid!”

Command Knight’s sword blazed with fire, and she charged Toon Mermaid! The Toon screamed as she was struck, and vanished in a burst of steam.

“Now, Amazoness Blowpiper, finish him off!”

Amazoness Blowpiper leapt into the air and delivered a kick to the Mad Magician’s chest! He fell over, and his Life Points fell to zero.

The crowd gave a standing ovation.

“Yeah, Fran!” shouted Andy. “You rock!”

Marv got up…

“Well…” he said, catching his breath. “I must say Francesca… that was one of the best duels I ever had…”

He took the Art Attack card out of his discard pile. It seemed to glow as he held it.

“This card is special, Francesca,” he stated. “Use it wisely…”

His voice sank to a whisper.

“Because I know now, you were destined to use it…”

Francesca stared at the new card in her hand.

It was another Enchanted Card… she was sure of it…

All this must have been a test… and she passed.

So now what?


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

Fifteen minutes later, the three teens were leaving the carnival grounds.

“So, Twilight Town next?” asked Andy.

“Yep,” said Francesca. “And like we promised, Stan, the next duelist is yours…”

“Yeah…” muttered Stan. “Peachy…”

I just hope he isn’t as tough as Raven, he thought. I’m still sore from yesterday…

The started down the road, towards Twilight Town…

Unseen, Lord Crump followed behind…


[B]

* * * * * * * * * *

About a half mile away from them, a duel was in process…

One of the duelists – her name was Sally – had one of the deadliest Monsters of all in front of her – Black Luster Soldier, Envoy of the Beginning!

“Go!” she shouted. “Obliterate his facedown Monster with chaos blade!”

The Soldier slammed his sword down, and her opponent’s Monster was vaporized.

“Why don’t you just give up?” she mocked. “No matter what you summon, my Soldier can erase it!”

“Not if what I summon has more Attack Points…” warned her opponent.

“Yeah, right,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Like I’m really going to let you keep something on the field long enough to make enough sacrifices…”

Her opponent drew.

“Who ever said I needed a sacrifice?” he said.

He placed a card down on his Disk…

A frightening Monster arose…

“What?” gasped Sally. “No! HOW?”

“ATTACK!” shouted her opponent.

A wave of energy shot forward, and Black Luster Soldier was reduced to ashes!

Sally watched in horror as her Life Points plummeted to zero…

“I win…” said her opponent. “But good game.”



AMAZONESS SNAKE CHARMER

Card Specs

Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
Level: 4
ATK: 1,300
DEF: 1,000

Card Description: This young woman has learned the secrets of commanding reptiles. During your Battle Phase, you may spend up to 2,000 of your Life Points to raise the ATK of this Monster by the same amount. This effect lasts until the End Phase of your turn.



RALLYING CRY

Card Specs

Type: Magic/Quickplay
Attribute: –
Level: –
ATK: –
DEF: –

Card Description: Image of Amazoness Paladin blowing a large horn. You can activate this card when you have at least two Monsters on your side of the field that have the word “Amazoness” in their name, or who are named “Amazon Archer”. Pay 500 Life Points. Special Summon one Monster from your hand that has the word “Amazoness” in its name, or who is named “Amazon Archer”.



ART ATTACK

Card Specs

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

Card Description: Image of a painting of Dark Magician Girl, sitting in the pose of the Mona Lisa against a similar background. On your third standby phase after this card has been activated, Special Summon up to four Monsters, each with an ATK of 2,000 or less, from your hand or deck. Then destroy this card and remove it from play.



[B][I]Fran is going to take a break for a while. In the meantime...

What sort of Monster can be Normal Summoned with no sacrifice that could destroy Black Luster Soldier, Envoy of the Beginning AND devastate and opponent’s Life Points in one shot? I’ll tell you right now – it is NOT a made-up card!

Stan comes face to face with this complex Monster’s master in the next chapter – a duelist who’s also a user character. See the premier of his other Enchanted Card, and also one of his other Companions!

I’m not going to reveal the name of this chapter, because it might give away the surprise. But be here for it… very soon…

[Zcade0]

Cool chapter. The toon world theme was interesting. Apperently I was reading this as you were wrighting it because at the 2nd to last post there was just a continued. :biggrin: again awsome chapter

[starjake]

Hmm...the only kind of monster I know of that could possibly wipe out the ever-so-popular Bacon Lettuce Soldier would be a monster that can modify its own ATK. Prime examples would be King of the Skull Servants (who increases its ATK based on the number of Skull Servants and other Kings in the Graveyard) and Muka Muka (who increases its ATK based on the number of cards in its owner's hand). There may also be other cards on the field that increase ATK, such as Gaia Power or The A. Forces; I guess we don't have enough information at the moment. There has to be an effect involved, though; currently, the highest ATK a non-Tribute monster has is 2400 (belonging to Armor Exe), which isn't quite enough to obliterate Black Luster Soldier.

As for the chapter...how coincidental this Toon duel comes out so soon after my Toon chapter? There was on error though, involving Waboku. Waboku does NOT - I repeat, does NOT - negate attacks (that job is already filled by a rather cleverly named card called Negate Attack). Waboku, negates damage done to your monsters and Life Points during the turn it's activated. Therefore, when Marvin activated Waboku, what should've happened was that, since Toon Summoned Skull and Amazoness Paladin had the same ATK, he battle damage to Toon Summoned Skull would've been negated, but the battle damage done to Amazoness Paladin would not. Translation: Amazoness Paladin would have been destroyed, and Toon Summoned Skull would not. Don't worry; Waboku is a tricky card to understand, but those are the rules. You could correct the problem by substituting Waboku with the above-mentioned cleverly-named card.

Other than that, I saw no mistakes. Nice duel! And I can't wait to see this new creature, not mention this new creature's master!

I await the next chapter!

[Pokemasterkatie]

At first, I thought maybe it would be Injection Fairy Lily, but Dark Sage said intimidating and scary, not cute and kawaii! It's also the home stretch in this duel, so I found a monster in Lost Milennium that would fit the situation perfectly. I'm not telling who the monster is, but I think the theme may be a Rock deck(even though we just had a chapter with the Magnet Warriors).

[Master of Paradox]

This was a quick and to-the-point chapter, which is something I do like to see now and again. Toon World duels are hard to keep original nowadays, but you managed to get this one functioning well enough... and other than that, I can't think of a whole lot to say. On the plus side, I can't find anything wrong with the chapter, either, so it's a karmic balance.

Art Attack's effect is a lot different than I thought it would be, but I suppose it makes some sort of sense, and I can see how it would benefit an Amazoness deck.

As for the mystery man at the chapter's end... I ran up and down the Lost Millennium list, and I have no clue what the last poster was talking about. Unless... I'd best not say it either.

Looking forward to the next chapter.

[Loupeitak]

OH! OMG! I DECIDE TO POST!!!

Dude, i've been reading everything, just didnt post lol.

Anyway i loved them chapter but i cant say every chapter which i didnt coment lol.

Oh and Venusaur, u changed ur name to Dark Sage woot. lol