Yu-Gi-Oh! Epic Battles! New Poll! *Updated 2/2/14*

[Aviv: D's Knight]

I have characters from a non-fanfic story, can give them a deck and submit?

[legendhiro]

So I know I haven't been here for a while, and I have probably lost many of the readers that I did have, and rightfully so. Real life caught up with me fast, and I had to focus entirely on that for a while. Either way, I should have come back here to let everyone know what was going on, and I apologize for that, but I'm back now, and updates will resume to a point.

First of all, this particular thread is put on hold for now. The primary purpose of this thread was always to bring together characters from other fics in epic battles against other fic characters as well as canon characters, but doing someone elses character justice takes time, which I just don't have at the moment. I do, however, intend to resume this thread once my life settles further, so any readers I still have can look forward to that.

Second, my DFR thread featuring the sequel to my original Duel Force series is also put on hold for now, but the reasons are a bit more positive...

Which brings us to my third point of interest, I am reviving Duel Force. I have been talking for a while now about doing one last installment of the Duel Force's story, but I've decided to go beyond that. That's why I'd like to announce a new Duel Force continuity special that crosses over my DA book and my DE book, bringing the old and new characters featured in those stories together against a common threat, and leading into the story of the aformentioned next installment. There may also be another special somewhere down the line, but it's uncertain. I also want to let everyone know that the completely updated Duel Force series is just about complete and should be up in my Duel Force Extended thread within only a few days' time, along with the first of several character art pages that I've been dabbling with for over a year now.

And finally, and most excitingly I think, I've decided to give it a go at turining Duel Force into a web comic. I'm a decent artist, but my illustration skills are a little weak. Still, I think it'll work out well enough, and working on the comic will help me improve. Once I've gotten the details of that worked out I'll post more about it.

So I guess the gist of it is that I'm back, I will try to keep my readers better informed in the future, and I have some fun stuff lined up, so yeah.

[quote name='Aviv: D's Knight' timestamp='1322983711' post='5685090']
I have characters from a non-fanfic story, can give them a deck and submit?
[/quote]

You can, if there is enough backstory that I can write them well, and if you are still interested. Just use the character submission form included in the opening post.

[legendhiro]

So yeah Epic Battles is back. It continues to be what it always was, a medium form characters, cannon or otherwise, who would otherwise never meet to do battle in little one-off stories. If you have a fanfic character, or characters, which you want to be put in the running, please use the submission form in the first post. Otherwise, enjoy the past duels, and the bonus duel posted today. There will probably be more bonus duels like this down the line.

As of right now, the last poll is still up, but that will change in the next few days, and this poll will have to do with submitted OC's for the first time. It's about time I tried my hand at the kind of story that this thread was made for.

[legendhiro]

So yes, it has been more than a few days, but I do still plan to update, though I'm just now realizing that I really should have asked that links to the fanfictions that these characters belong to be included with the submissions. O_o whoops. Let me tell you, the search function on this site really sucks, and its making it really hard to brush up on these characters before posting the poll and getting to work on the potential duels themselves. I'm trying to get in touch with some of the submitters, and f that works out, I actually have a crossover idea planned, with a real storyline and everything! In the mean time, I've decided to use Joker Guy's character in the poll. He will definitely be dueling, but it's up to you who he fights. Meanwhile, anyone who reads this, please consider submitting some more recent characters, of if you know someone else who you think might like this idea, please let them know.

[legendhiro]

Okay, so for some reason I can't remove the past votes from the poll, even though the poll is completely new. Until I sort this out, please leave your votes in the comments instead.

[legendhiro]

Huzzah! Got the poll to work! Please vote for your favorite duel amongst the choices listed in the first post in the poll located above the first post, and we'll get this party started!

[legendhiro]

So, since no one has voted yet, I'm going to pick the winner this time and get things rolling. I've worked out the order of events for two of the three possible duels above. I'm going to pick my favorite of them and get working on fleshing out the story and dialogue. Expect an update with a chapter soon. Also, if I feel like it, I might write the other one out as well as sort of an alternate timeline version.

 

So yeah, stuff's happening.

[legendhiro]

Alright, so it took a little longer than I thought it would to decide, but I decided on the Tom vs. Keith duel. I like my OC, Kris, but I really liked writing for Espa and Keith a lot more, since I've never written for either before. The reason I decided on Keith is simply because he's a ruthless character, and ruthless is fun to write. Expect chapter 1 of 2 relatively soon!

[legendhiro]

Trying to get updates up on all of my threads, as I plan on either continuing or closing down each of them. This one will be continued. I simply got distracted from it by a shiny new crossover idea, and then Pokemon Y. Anyway, update in a week or so.

[legendhiro]

Blugh, it's taking so much longer to update these than I'd hoped, but really that's just because my computer is so filled with malware that it won't even start up properly, making typing for any length of time very inconvenient. In keeping with my desire to keep potential readers up to date by updating these threads even if I have no new content to post, I want to say sorry, and that I assure you all that if my computer issues cannot be sorted very soon, I will find another acceptible way to post updates.

[legendhiro]

Hey! I actually just noticed that there are finally some votes on this! The results, however, are a three-way tie, which means only one thing....I'll just have to write up and post all three!

 

I'm trying really hard lately to get the Crossover Special up in DF Extended, but I'll get back to work on this as soon as I'm through with that, or when I get bored, whichever happens first. Bandit Keith will still be the "true" one, though, as I said before, he was my favorite to write for. Now where did I put my notes for this story...?

[legendhiro]

I tried to update this and had some odd formatting problem. If anyone knows why I'd appreciate it if I was let know, thanks.

[legendhiro]

Not trying to weasel out of anything, but that joke I made a few posts up about having to look for the story notes I made for the next duel here are suddenly less of a joke, as I went to go over them today and couldn't find them. I'm still hoping to have a story up by monday or tuesday, but be aware that there could be a delay.

[legendhiro]

Okay, in all seriousness, did the forum code here change and I just don't know about it? what's happening to my spoiler tags?

 

Anyway, the "true" version of the duel indicated by the current poll is up (kinda), that being Tom, from Joker Guy's Duel Knights, vs. "Bandit" Keith Howard. There will also be the alternate versions. Hopefully the first of those will be up by Monday.

[legendhiro]

Just tried to use spoilers here, outside of the first post, and it didn't work here either. It was a long shot anyway. Guys, I'm really stumped.

 

*Edit* It seems to work with small spoilers, as in spoilers with small amounts of text in them, as well as stuff in spoilers that's been up for a long time. This is getting annoying.

[legendhiro]

So, until I resolve the issue with spoilers here in this thread, this is how I will be posting updates: I'll be posting them spoiler-free in update posts, and linking to those posts in the first post under Winning Duels. This should amount to pretty much the same thing, really.


Tom vs. "Bandit" Keith Howard



An Unexpected Meeting


As Tom rounded the corner he wondered why he'd even bothered driving so far for a tournament without the other members of his team, the Duel Knights. As a sixteen-year-old, he hadn't even had his license long, making this his first ever road trip. He couldn't even remember what it had been about the online add which had so demanded his attention.

And now, he thought, I can't compete. Late for registration. Whatever.

He looked down at the Duel Disk on his wrist, and at the deck inserted into it, as he ran his opposite hand through his swmi-short brown hair. It was still a pretty new deck, and despite the fact that he felt more at home using it than any other deck he'd ever used, he really felt it needed put through its paces, something that he'd yet to do, since the last last tournament he'd taken it to had been cancelled before his turn to compete. Downtrodden, he turned a corner, thinking it would lead to an open street, and instead found himself facing an alleyway between the very same convention center where the tournament was being held, and another, smaller building.

Where did I take a wrong turn? Tom wondered. He frowned, reprimanding himself internally for letting his thoughts distract him, as he rummaged through his pocket and pulled out his phone, hoping that the GPS could direct him to the parking lot where his car waited. As he pecked at the screen, synching up his location, he kept walking, and soon he realized that he was near the back entrance to the convention center. His phone was taking forever, so he decided to slip inside and see if he could get directions from an employee. Tom was nearing the swinging glass doors when suddenly they flew open, and a man stepped out, looking frustrated.

He was hunched over, his hands in his pockets, muttering harsh words under his breath. Tom picked up "rentacops" and several instances of a couple words which rhymed with "spam" and "truck". The man himself was tall and appeared to be in good shape, despite his gruff appearance, which included a black, studded, leather vest, unkempt hair poking from beneath a bandana displaying a skull and a flame, harsh, angular features, and a face that had been several days unshaven. He wore sunglasses, and a scowl. Chains hung from his belt, and a Duel Disk was strapped to his left arm. He noticed Tom, shooting him a scowl. Then he did a double take, catching sight of Tom's Duel Disk.

Suddenly the man's demeanor changed. He smiled in a way that reminded Tom of a car salesman. Looking closely at the man, Tom thought he looked familiar, but he couldn't place him. The man spoke, "He, Kid, they won't let you enter either?"

Tom shook his head apprehensively, "I was late for registration."

"Me too," the man said, stepping away from the doors, toward Tom, and leaning against the wall of the center, "what a f***in' drag."

Tom flinched at the use of such a harsh word, but the man didn't seem to notice. He just remained leaning casually against the building. Tom was unsure what to do, so he waited to see what the man would do next.

"Dammit," the man said, pulling a ciggarette from his pocket and placing it between his teeth, "I was really lookin' forward to duelin' today. It's been a while since I competed, and I really need to get back in the saddle before my dueling muscles, what's the word? Atrophy?"

Tom calmed down a bit, seeing that, as brash as this man was, he and Tom had something in common. He ignored the man's rhetorical question, and said, "I know what you mean. I built a new deck about a week back, and I just can't seem to find a good way to really test it. I was hoping the tournament could-."

"You need to test your deck?" the man asked, interrupting Tom, but also catching Tom's attention with the enthusiasm in his voice. "I'll help you test your deck. We'll duel right here. I'll get to practice, and you'll get to see how your deck stacks up against an experts. Kinda like a 'I sctratch you scratch' kinda thing."

Tom thought about this, and said, "Sorry, man, but if I'm not gonna be in the tournament I really should be going. I mean thanks for the offer, but really if I'm gonna test it against just one person, I'll challenge one of my friends."

Tom made to start walking again, but the man sprung away from the wall and stood in front of Tom, looking salesman-ly again, "Aw, come on, facing my deck'll be like facing ten decks in the tournament. Promise."

Tom looked the man over carefully, and then, suddenly, it hit him where he knew the man from.

"Holy crap, you're Keith Howard, the American Duel Monsters Champion from when I was a kid. You were at Duelist Kingdom!"

"That's right," the man said, a bit arrogantly, "I ducked outta the tournament scene for a while, but I wanna break back in. But I'm still just as well-versed in the game as I ever was. Unless you've got Yugi Muto on speed dial, you're gonna be hard-pressed to find a challenger tougher than me to test yourself against."

While wondering vaguely what speed dial was, Tom realized that Keith might very well be correct. "Okay," he conceded, "you're on."

"Great!" Keith exclaimed, drawing his opening hand, his and Tom's Life Points blinking to life, displaying eight thousand apiece. "I set one monster," Keith declared, "and I end my turn."

He was smiling, wide and wicked. Tom wasn't sure what to make of such a simple play. He'd read somewhere about Keith, how he used a lot of different decks, but that his favorite was a Machine deck. Having a Machine deck himself, Tom should have been able to make a guess as to what the hidden monster was, but Keith's entire attitude was putting him off, and he couldn't really think. Instead he decided to go ahead and make his move. If the monster was dangerous, Tom would just have to deal with it.

"I set a card," Tom declared, a holographic set Duel Monster's card appearing at his feet, across from the hologram of Keith's card, "and I summon 'Machina Gearframe'."

A lanky orange robot about Tom's height with guns in its arms, and finned legs that resembled rockets appeared at Tom's side (ATK: 1800).

"When I summon this monster," Tom explained, "I can add a Machina card from my deck to my hand."

Gearframe's eyes flickered, and a card protruded from Tom's deck. He added it to his hand. Keith smiled, "Interresting. It looks like you run a Machine deck. You could say I'm pretty familiar with Machine monsters."

Tom didn't respond, instead continuing his turn, declaring, "Next I play 'Card Destruction'. We each discard our hands, and then draw the same number of cards."

Tom discarded his hand and drew four cards, There, now I have the right monster in my Graveyard for my Trap to work when I need it.

Keith also discarded, and drew five cards. He was still smiling, perhaps because he thought it was amusing that Tom had thrown away the card he'd just searched for, or maybe because he'd drawn something worth smiling about. Either way Tom didn't much care. He'd drawn some really great stuff, too.

"Attack," Tom commanded, and his monster took aim, only to have a sphere with metalic legs spring up from Keith's hidden card and grab onto Tom's monster, a light in its round body blinking red.

"You revealed my 'Blast Sphere'," Keith explained with relish, "which means in a turn your monster is blown to bits, dealing damage equal to its Attack to your Life Points."

"I set another card," Tom concluded, frowning, once again reprimanding himself, this time not for seeing something like this coming, and immediately Keith drew.

"I like your deck, Kid," Keith said. "Howabout you show some more of it to me. I play the Spell card 'Pillager'. This let's me steal a card from your ha-."


"Hang on," Tom said indignantly, "you can't play that card! It's been illegal for years."

Keith looked taken aback, "It is, really? But I could use it back in Duelist Kingdom."

He scrathched his head thoutfully, "Sorry, Kid, I guess I've just been out of the game so long I didn't know. But now the card's been played. We either need to do what it says, or restart the duel."

Tom didn't know what to think. Keith seemed to be sincere, and the game was only for fun, so even if he lost it wouldn't be too big a deal. He also really wanted to get this duel over with. Keith didn't seem too bad, but he did seem kinda sleazy, and Tom was anxious to part ways with him as soon as possible.

"Okay," said Tom, "I'll let it go. Here."

He walked over and showed Keith his hand. He already knew what Keith would take. Sure enough, when Keith saw Tom's hand his face grew hungry and he snatched one of Tom's cards away in just more than an instant.

"I take 'Machina Fortress'," Keith said, adding what was easily Tom's most versatile monster to his own hand. Discouraged and a little shaken up, Tom walked back over to his place, and he turned to face his opponent just as a massive blue mechanical tank with a robotic torso and a large back cannon protruding from its back appeared facing him.

"I discard," Keith explained, "'Machina Fortress' itself and 'Machine King' to summon 'Machina Fortress' from the Graveyard, and I attack!"

Energy built into the tank-like monster's cannon (ATK: 2500), and, without thinkning, and forgetting the state of his own monster, Tom hastily activated his face-down card.

"Reveal," he declared, "'Roll Out!', which allows me to equip a Union monster from my Graveyard to 'Gearframe', using it as a surrogate for his destruction."

Another Machina, a red robot that rolled around on wheels, appeared and attached like armor to the 'Gearframe', taking the brunt of the beam attack, though Tom still took damage (8000 -> 7300).

"I search my deck for a Union monster," Tom explained, "thanks to 'Peacekeeper''s effect."

He flipped through his deck and chose a card.

"You also," Keith said, laughing, "seem to have forgotten that your 'Gearframe' is strapped. Your turn starts, and your monster goes kablooie."

"Oh crap," Tom said, as Keith continued to laugh at him unsympathetically, "I forgot!"

Tom was even more shaken now. This guy was keeping him just out of sorts enough that it was hard to concentrate on the duel. It was a valid strategy, and Tom had had people use it on him before, but this guy was almost disturbing. Reluctantly Tom drew, and his monster exploded in his face, taking his Life Points down by almost a quarter (7300 -> 5500).

"I set the monster I searched for," Tom declared, trying to keep up a facade of confidence, his face-down monster card hologram appearing between him and his own powerful monster. It was a flimsy wall, but hopefully Keith wouldn't realize just how flimsy it was.

"Then I draw," Keith declared, not missing a beat, "and I discard 'Megasonic Eye' to play 'Tribute to the Doomed', destroying your monster."

No way, Tom thought as his monster, a flying platform, like an oversized skateboard with rockets on its underside and rear appeared, and the ground beneath it split open. Mummy wrappings rose up from the ground and grabbed the machine, pulling it down into the depths.

"I attack with 'Fortress'," Keith declared fiercely. The giant tank robot fired its canon directly at Tom this time, but Tom had a backup plan. Quickly he sent a card from his hand to his Graveyard pile.

"I discard," he declared, an image of a scarecrow made of scrap metal appearing and absorbing the blast, "my 'Swift Scarecrow', protecting myself from your attack."

The blast and the 'Scarecrow' both faded from the field. Tom, having pulled off a pretty good play and saved quite a few of his Life Points, was starting to get his confidence back. He centered himself as Keith set a card, and then Tom drew to begin his next turn. To say that he was relieved to see his newest aquisition would be an understatement. He played it immediately, "I activate 'Swords of Revealing Light'!"

Swords made of light appeared in the sky and fell down upon Keith's field. As soon as they touched the ground, 'Machina Fortress' froze completely, just as Tom knew any monster to appear on Keith's field over the next three turns would as well. The effect could be lifted by destroying the Spell card early, but it would still, hopefully, grant Tom some breathing room.

"I end my turn," Tom declared, and Keith drew.

"Activate 'Monster Reborn'," Keith declared, a robotic man with powerful-looking fists rising up behind him, "to summon the 'Machine King' that I sent to the Graveyard to summon your 'Machina Fortress'. As a Machine Duelist like myself I'm sure you know that my 'Machine King' powers up by one hundred for every Machine in play."

His monster, frozen amongst the 'Swords', still increased in strength (2200 -> 2400).

"I also," Keith continued, "summon 'Motor Shell'."

A robot made up of an engine and two dome-shaped shields perched atop a wheel appeared at the side of the other machines, puffing smoke from its exhaust, which froze in the light of the 'Swords' along with the monster itself (ATK: 1300). 'Machine King' once again grew stronger (2400 -> 2500). The 'Swords' may have given Tom a reprieve, but his need for a repreive had given his opponent one as well. Tom needed to draw something strong enough to handle his own 'Machina Fortress', and he needed to do it fast.

I need my ace card, Tom thought. Nothing else will really do it at this point. I've got to find a way to summon him.

Tom drew, but he was visably disappointed when he didn't draw the monster he'd wanted. "I set two cards," he declared, "and I end my turn."

Keith smiled, "Then it's my turn again Kid."

Tom was taken aback. He heard something almost like contempt in Keith's voice, for just a second.

"I play the Spell I was lucky enough to draw this turn," Keith explained, "my 'Mystical Space Typhoon', destroying your 'Swords of Revealing Light' a turn early!"

A gust of wind pierced Tom's Spell card like a spear, and it and the 'Swords' faded from the field. Immediately Keith's monsters began to move ever so slightly as they awaited their controller's command.

"I equip 'Motor Shell'," Keith declared, "with Engine Tuner, increasing its Attack by half its Defense."

Tiny little men appeared and gave the Machine a tune up (1300 -> 2100) and then hung onto it, maintaining its systems.

"I set a card, and all three of my monsters attack directly!" Keith commanded. 'Machina Fortress' charged its cannon and fired, 'Machine King' launched his fists like rockets, and the 'Motor Shell' closed its shields around itself and rolled toward Tom.

"Reveal," Tom announced, desperately, "Dimensional Prison', on my own 'Machina Fortress' I'm tired of you having it. This trap removes it from play and negates its attack. I have to discard a card due to the 'Fortress'' effect," he sent 'Machina Armored Unit' to the Graveyard, "but its worth it to get my monster back, so to speak, and to make sure I last through the turn."

The 'Fortress' and its blast were absorbed by a ripple in the air around the Machine, and it vanished from the field. Meanwhile the attacks of the other two monsters hit Tom full force, reducing his Life Points to within a stone's throw of defeat (5500 -> 1000).

This is it, Tom thought, without 'Machina Fortress' he's been taking me apart, and now, if I don't draw the right monster, I'm going to lose.

Tom drew, and he frowned. He didn't know whether to feel happy, or defeated. It was a useful monster, but it wasn't the one Tom needed. It would, however, allow his a second chance to draw the card he did need. Having no other choice, Tom declared, "I summon 'Scrap Recycler'."

A monster resembling a white bucket on wheels with two robotic arms appeared at Tom's side.

"When I summon this monster," Tom explained, "I can send a Machine, like my 'Yellow Gadget', from my deck to my Graveyard, and once per turn I can shuffle two Machines from my Graveyard into my deck to draw a card. I shuffle 'Yellow Gadget' and 'Machina Gearframe' into my deck."

Tom shuffled his deck, and he replaced it. He hesitated only a moment before he drew again, and sighed with relief.

"Next I reveal," Tom declared, "the Trap 'Roll Out!', equipping 'Heavy Mech Support Platform' in my Graveyard to my monster, and I separate it from my monster in order to summon it to the field."

The floating platform appeared again, wrapped like armor around the 'Scrap' monster. It separated from him and transformed back into the oversized flying skateboard.

"I play 'Double Summon'," Tom continued, building momentum quickly, "and tribute both of my monsters to summon my ace card," the two weaker machines disappeared, replaced by a huge white mech, standing fifteen feet tall, with huge shoulders and powerful-looking red fists, "my 'Perfect Machine King', a monster which gains five hundred Attack for ever other Machine on the field (2700 -> 3700). I attack your 'Machine King' with mine!"

The mech's giant shoulders opened, and a barrage of missiles launched from them, swarming the lesser 'Machine King', blasting him to pieces. Keith lost Life Points, finally (8000 -> 6800), but he was still smiling that off-putting, wicked smile. The explosion of 'Perfect Machine King''s missiles left a lot of smoke floating around Keith's side of the field, suddenly that smoke parted, revealing a giant black chamber, which opened, revealing 'Machine King' inside. The robot stepped out of the chamber, which faded away.

"My 'Time Machine' card," Keith explained, "snatches my 'Machine King' from the past, just before your attack would have hit him, and brings him to the present as good as new."

"I didn't destroy your monster," Tom conceded, "but I did manage to get my monster off of your field and summon my strongest card. This duel is far from over."

Keith laughed condecendingly, "Not really. For my turn, I tribute both of my monsters to summon 'Fiendish Engine Omega'!"

Both of Keith's monsters disappeared, replaced by a mighty demonic robot with red armor, horns, a tail, giant shoulder pauldrons with smoking exhaust pipes protruding from the top, and huge, fierce metal blades protruding forward from its wrists. Heat tolled off of it, like steam off of a hot engine (ATK: 2800).

"Also," Keith continued, "when a monster which is equipped with 'Engine Tuner' is tributed to summon a new monster, 'Engine Tuner' equips to that monster instead."

The little elvish mechanics appeared again, improving Keith's new monster as they had his last (2800 -> 3800). Tom stared in silence at this monster which so outclassed his, even with its increased power (ATK: 3200).

"And don't think you're gonna survive the turn just because my monster can't kill you yet. My 'Fiendish Engine' has an ability too. Once per turn he can overclock himself and increase his own Attack by one thousand!"

The giant demon engine began to rumble, its massive shoulders shaking, and its power increased again, rising so high that nothing in Tom's deck could hope to overcome it, not that that would matter.

"I attack," Keith concluded, still grinning, and his monster struck Tom's down, slicing through him like butter. Tom's Life Points fell to zero.

"You're not bad, Kid," Keith said walking over to stand right by Tom. "I like some of your cards a lot. That 'Machina Fortress' was particularly powerful," he handed the monster back to Tom, "but I think 'Perfect Machine King' is more my style."

"More your style?" Tom asked, apprehensively. "For what?"

"For my ante of course!" Keith announced, almost gleefully.

"No way," Tom said, quickly stacking his cards together and putting them in the pocket of the windbreaker he wore, "we never agreed to an ante."

It was then that he realized just how sleazy Keith really was. "You just saw that I use Machines like you," Tom deduced, "and now you want to take my best monster!"

"Fine," said Keith, his voice and his posture turning hostile, "if you don't wanna give me 'Perfect Machine King', maybe I'll just beat the Sh*t out of you and take all of your cards."

He advanced on Tom, cornering him against the opposite wall, but before he could do anything, a voice came from back in the alley, and Keith halted.

"I watched that entire duel," the voice said, "and no one said anything about an ante until right now. Even if you had, antes are frowned upon in Duel Monsters nowadays."

Both Tom and Keith turned to look at the source of the voice as he emerged from the shadowy alley. He had medium length, unkempt brown hair and dark brown eyes, and he wore a black jacket, open in the front, over a white t-shirt and jeans, and a purple crystal charm around his neck. He had his hands casually in his pockets as he approached Tom and Keith, stopping a few yards away.

"I guess you didn't know that though," he said, "Keith Howard, or, as you were often better known, "Bandit" Keith. This kid wouldn't know that, though, would he? He was still pretty young before Duelist Kingdom, when you criminal activities ensured that you couldn't even get jobs as a Player Killer."

"Shut up," Keith snapped, "I was U.S. Champion!"

Tom looked from the young man in black to Keith, and he could see that Keith was starting to come unravelled. He used the fact that the young man was causing a distraction to slip past Keith and spring to the young man's side.

"You're a scoundrel, "Bandit" Keith," the young man said. "Leave, now, before you get hurt."

Keith seemed to size the young man up. He looked fit and strong, and at about twenty-one, he was certainly much younger than Keith, who seemed to be in his late thirties. After a moment, Keith threw up his arms and walked away.

The young man turned to Tom, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Tom answered, looking from the retreating figure of Keith to the young man. "Hey, don't I know you from somewhere?"

"I wouldn't think so," the young man said, "I'm in town with a couple of my cousins for the tournament, but I missed registration finding a place to park."

Tom smiled a bit, "Everybody's missing registration today."

The young man chuckled, "It would seem that way."

He shook Tom's hand, "I'm John, with the-."

"The Duel Force," Tom interjected, "right, I do know you, or of you, I guess. Anyway, thanks man. If you hadn't shown up I don't know what woulda happened."

"Always happy to lend a hand," John replied. "Now, whether you mind or not, I'm walking you to wherever you need to go."

John and Tom together were able to figure out the direction of Tom's car, and they set out, arriving within minutes. John waited while Tom got into his car, the two young men chatting. Then, as Tom was about to say goodbye and close his door to drive away, John got serious.

"Listen," he said, "you're good, but you need to get better. I have a feeling that you and I are going to meet again, and when we do you might need to handle stronger Duelists than Keith."

Before Tom could respond, John turned, and he walked away, leaving Tom to ponder his words in silence.

[legendhiro]

The second version of Tom's duel is up. This is literally the same scenario except that Espa Roba walked out of the building instead of Bandit Keith. John stills shows up at the end. He still says something cryptic. I mentioned somewhere that I have a little something special planned for Epic Battles down the road. John being here and his strange words to Tom are alluding to this. Anyway, without further blabbering, I give you...

Tom vs. Espa Roba

An Unexpected Meeting


As Tom rounded the corner he wondered why he'd even bothered driving so far for a tournament without the other members of his team, the Duel Knights. As a sixteen-year-old, he hadn't even had his license long, making this his first ever road trip. He couldn't even remember what it had been about the online add which had so demanded his attention.

And now, he thought, I can't compete. Late for registration. Whatever.

He looked down at the Duel Disk on his wrist, and at the deck inserted into it, as he ran his opposite hand through his semi-short brown hair. It was still a pretty new deck, and despite the fact that he felt more at home using it than any other deck he'd ever used, he really felt it needed put through its paces, something that he'd yet to do, since the last last tournament he'd taken it to had been cancelled before his turn to compete. Downtrodden, he turned a corner, thinking it would lead to an open street, and instead found himself facing an alleyway between the very same convention center where the tournament was being held, and another, smaller building.

Where did I take a wrong turn? Tom wondered. He frowned, reprimanding himself internally for letting his thoughts distract him, as he rummaged through his pocket and pulled out his phone, hoping that the GPS could direct him to the parking lot where his car waited. As he pecked at the screen, synching up his location, he kept walking, and soon he realized that he was near the back entrance to the convention center. His phone was taking forever, so he decided to slip inside and see if he could get directions from an employee. Tom was nearing the swinging glass doors when suddenly they flew open, and a man stepped out, looking disappointed.

He was about the same height as Tom, with pale blue hair which nearly covered his eyes, casting a shadow over the upper part of his face. He wore a red and purple, collared shirt with a black stripe across the chest, gray slacks, and a digital watch on his right wrist, and a Duel Disk on his left. He caught sight of Tom, and he smiled politely.

"Sorry," the young man said, "but registration is closed for the tournament."

"I know," Tom responded, "I got shut out a few minutes ago. I'm on my way to my car so I can head home."

Tom paused, realizing that he recognized the young man from somewhere, "Do I know you? Have you ever been in a big tournament before?"

The man's expression grew proud, though not obnoxiously so, and he said, "It's possible. I dueled in Battle City a few years ago, and I'd already competed in a few duels before that. Name's Espa Roba."

"That's it," said Tom, "I recognize you from footage of Battle City."

He reached out and shook Espa's hand politely, "I'm Tom, a member of a team from my home town, the Duel Knights. We compete together at tournaments and stuff. I came up here myself today, though. I built a new deck, and I want to test it, but there aren't any big events back in my home town for months."

"That's a shame," Espa told him. "It's only by chance that I even heard about this tournament. I have a large family of siblings, and I compete in big tournaments to help support them. We're way better off than we used to be. I was travelling from a tournament in New York to a tournament in Tennesee when I heard something about this one and decided to stop and see about competeing here, too. But I was too late."

"Well," Tom asked, "do you have time for a quick duel anyway? If you were good enough to get into Battle City then you're more than strong enough to help me test my new deck."

He looked almost pleadingly at Espa who said almost immediately, "I don't see why not. The tournament would have taken longer than one quick duel anyway. You wanna use four thousand points or eight thousand?"

"I'll mostly be using eight thousand in official tournaments," Tom answered, activating his Duel Disk, Espa doing the same at almost the same moment, "so I'd better use eight thousand today, too."

"Makes sense to me," Espa replied as the Life Point displays on their two Duel Disks flickered to life, "I'll go first. I set two cards and I summon 'Reflect Bounder'."

Two oversized holograms of face-down Duel Monsters cards appeared at Espa's feet, behind a cloaked robot with a large round mirror on its chest, and smaller mirrors on its hands and forhead (ATK: 1700).

"Cool monster," Tom said. He'd never actually seen someone use Reflect Bounder, but he knew its effect, and that it was as fragile as any mirror. Already he had a plan to get rid of it quickly.

"I set a card," Tom declared, a holographic set Duel Monster's card appearing at his feet, across from the hologram of Espa's card, "and I summon 'Machina Gearframe'."

A lanky orange robot about Tom's height with guns in its arms, and finned legs that resembled rockets appeared at Tom's side (ATK: 1800).

"Your monster may be stronger than mine," Espa said in a showish manner, "but attacking with him will only hurt you."

"Thanks," said Tom, "but I know all about your monster's effect, and I'm not worried. When I summon mythis monster, I can add a Machina card from my deck to my hand."

Gearframe's eyes flickered, and a card protruded from Tom's deck. He added it to his hand, and continued, "I play 'Card Destruction'. We each discard our hands, and then draw the same number of cards."

Tom discarded his hand and drew four cards, There, now I have the right monster in my Graveyard for my Trap to work when I need it.

Espa also discarded and re-drew his hand, "Interesting move. I hope the monster you searched for is powerful, and that you're able to get it from your Graveyard when you need it."

"Don't try to psych me out," Tom said with a competitive smile, "I remember reading all about how you used to play psychic to get the edge in your duels. I won't fall for it just because you guessed my move."

"Fair enough," Espa said with a shrug.

"Attack," Tom commanded, and his monster took aim at the mirror-laden machine and opened fire, unleashing a barrage of beams, which bounced off of the 'Reflect Bounder''s main mirror and struck Tom himself (8000 -> 6200). Some of the shots, however, managed to pierce the enemy machine, damaging Espa (8000 -> 7900) and destroying his monster.

"That was pretty reckless," complimented Espa, "but it was also fearless. You may be a pretty new at all of this still, but you definitely have the attitude of a Duelist already."

Tom beamed with pride as Espa drew for his second turn, "I summon 'Cyber Esper', a monster which actually does allow me to see my opponent's plays before they use them by letting me check each card you draw. But you already said you don't care for my psychic gimmick, so I'll just have to use my monster for something else.

"I equip 'Cyber Esper' with 'Cyber Spear," Espa declared. His monster, a thin, lanky purple robot with blade-like wings which stood a bit taller than its master (ATK: 1200), reached out and gripped the equip card, a technological spear with a jagged tip and glowing green lights.

"This weapon card," Espa explained, "can either be used in the Battle Phase, to increase my monster's strength, or my monster can throw it right now, destroying your monster."

"Destroying my monster won't be easy," Tom countered. "I reveal 'Roll Out!', which equips 'Machina Peacekeeper' in my Graveyard to my monster, using it as a surrogate for my monster the next time he would be destroyed."

Another Machina, a red robot that rolled around on wheels, appeared and attached like armor to the 'Gearframe', its two largest wheels covering 'Gearframe''s shoulders, the 'Peacekeeper''s head becoming an armor panel on 'Gearframe''s chest.

"Just a I expected," Espa announced, just as showishly as before. "I never planned on using the 'Spear' to destroy your monster, I just wanted to force your hand. That way, after my next play, you'll have wasted 'Roll Out!" completely."

Espa took another card from his hand, "I reveal 'Creature Swap' to exchange my monster for yours."

'Cyber Esper', holding the 'Cyber Spear', exchanged places with 'Machina Gearframe', still wearing 'Machina Peacekeeper'. Suddenly Espa controlled the more powerful monster, with the ability to prevent its own destruction. Also, as Tom was about to find out, Espa wasn't finished with him yet.

"Now," Espa announced, "I use 'Double Summon' to Normal Summon 'Cyber Raider', which has the power to steal my 'Cyber Spear' back and equip it to himself."

An android in what looked like a blue and yellow spandex suit ala Super Sentai and a horned helm appeared (ATK: 1400). Static spread from his fingers, hitting the 'Spear' in 'Cyber Esper''s hand and pulling it across the field to land in 'Cyber Raider''s wating hands.

"'Cyber Raider'," throws the 'Cyber Spear'," Espa explained, "and destroys 'Cyber Esper'."

'Cyber Raider' threw his new weapon, piecing 'Cyber Esper' through the chest. He exploded, taking the 'Spear' with him.

"And now," Espa declared, "both of my monsters attack directly." 'Machina Gearframe' unleashed a barrage of shots, and 'Cyber Raider' unleashed a wave of static.

"I discard," Tom declared, an image of a scarecrow made of scrap metal appearing and absorbing the blasts, "my 'Swift Scarecrow', protecting myself from your attacks by ending the Battle Phase."

The blasts and the 'Scarecrow' faded from the field. Tom, having pulled off a pretty good play and saved quite a few of his Life Points, was really starting to get into the duel. He hadn't enjoyed himself this much in a long time. He drew, "That was cool, how you managed to take my monster and build up your field so fast, but I can build my field, too, and I think my method is a bit more impressive. I Discard 'Perfect Machine King' to Special Summon 'Machina Fortress' from my hand."

A massive blue mechanical tank with a robotic torso and a large back cannon protruding from its back appeared facing down Espa's monsters.

"I attack 'Machina Gearframe'," Tom declared. Energy built into the tank-like monster's cannon (ATK: 2500), and fired, hitting the orange robot, but blasting his red armor away, leaving him unharmed. Espa still took damage, however (7900 -> 7200), and now 'Gearframe' was vulnerable to further attacks. It also gave Tom a chance to increase his advantage.

"When 'Machina Peacekeeper' is destroyed," Tom explained, "I can search my deck for a union monster."

He flipped through his deck and chose a card.

"Now," Tom concluded, "I set two cards, and end my turn."

"You really are very impressive for someone who says he just built his deck," Espa remarked sincerly, "and I mean no offense by this at all, but it's time I stepped up my game a bit. I play 'Pot of Greed'."

Espa reached down and drew two more cards from his deck.

"Next," Espa declared, "I play 'Graceful Charity' as well, drawing three cards and discarding two," he discarded 'Mind Crush' and 'Mind Wipe', "and I tribute 'Cyber Raider' to summon my rarest card."

The android warrior disappeared, replaced by a tall man in a long green coat with metal shoulder pads and gloves, a spiked colar, and a veiny, deformed face mostly hidden behind a metal mask.

"It took me almost two years to find another copy of this card after Battle City," Espa explained, "but I don't mind, 'Jinzo' is well worth it (ATK: 2400). I'm sure you know that while Jinzo is on the field all Trap cards are useless."

Tom only looked upon the powerful monster, shocked at its appearance. His Traps would do him no good at all now, and he was sure that Espa had something else planned for this turn as well.

Sure enough Espa continued his turn, building momentum fast, "My second set card wasn't a Trap either. Reveal 'Amplifier', equipping it to 'Jinzo'. This allows him to better focus his psychic energies, only affecting your Trap cards, and releasing a little bit more of his latent power each turn."

A helmet appeared over the bald head of Espa's psychic cyborg, inserting several needles through the rare monster's skull and into his brain. He graoned painfully, energy building all around him, and his power rose (2400 -> 2900).

"I play 'Nullification Warp' on your 'Machina Fortress'," Espa declared, Tom's monster being instantly wrapped in waves of light which bent space, holding the machine captive and unable to act, "negating all of its effects for the turn, allowing 'Jinzo' to destroy it without worry, Cyber Energy Shock!"

'Jinzo' lobbed a ball of crackling dark energy at the 'Machina Fortress', blasting it apart (6200 -> 5800).

"Now I finish my turn," Espa concluded, "by attacking directly with 'Machina Gearframe' as well."

Tom flinched as his own monster blasted him with a barrage of weapons fire, and his Life Points dropped yet again (5800 -> 4000).

I'm glad I said eight thousand Life Points, Tom thought with a smile, instead of four, or else this duel would be over already.

Tom drew, and he didn't even try to hide how relieved he was. "I play," He declared, "'Swords of Revealing Light'."

Swords made of light appeared in the sky and fell down upon Espa's field. As soon as they touched the ground, 'Jinzo' and 'Machina Gearframe' froze completely, just as Tom knew any monster to appear on Espa's field over the next three turns would as well. The effect could be lifted by destroying the Spell card early, but it would still, hopefully, grant Tom some breathing room.

"I end my turn," Tom declared, and Esps drew again.

"The 'Amplifier' brings out more of 'Jinzo''s hidden psychic power," Espa explained, energy crackling around his monster (2900 -> 3200), "but I can't do anything yet, so I pass."

Tom breathed a sigh of relief, and looked down at his deck. I need a way to get over his 'Jinzo', he thought. He keeps powering it up, and his deck seems designed to deal with contingencies, so I can't rely on usual methods. There's also the problem of being unable to defend myself with Traps.

Tom drew, but he was visably disappointed when he didn't draw anything capable of doing what he wanted. "I set a card," he declared, "and a monster, and I end my turn."

Espa smiled, "Then I get another chance to improve my position, and to raise the power of my cyborg even further."

Espa drew, and 'Jinzo' crackled with energy yet again, tensing his muscles (3200 -> 3500).

"I'll also summon a monster," Espa declared, "another cyborg, the 'Jinzo - Returner'!"

Another disfigured half-robot, like a shorter Jinzo with two pauldrons rather than shoulder pads and a mask which left a mouth full of sharp, wet teeth exposed appeared alongside Espa's other monster (DEF: 1400). This new arrival, however, was just as bound by the glowing 'Swords' as Espa's other monster, so Espa was forced to end his turn again.

Tom was starting to get desperate. 'Jinzo - Returner' alone wasn't a huge threat, but if he were to become affected by 'Limiter Removal', or used as Tribute to summon a stronger monster, it could make or break the game. Espa's position just kept growing stronger, while Tom's remained the same. He needed to draw something soon. He drew.

"I summon," Tom declared, "'Scrap Recycler'."

A monster resembling a white bucket on wheels with two robotic arms appeared at Tom's side.

"When I summon this monster," Tom explained, "I can send a Machine, like my 'Yellow Gadget', from my deck to my Graveyard, and once per turn I can shuffle two Machines from my Graveyard into my deck to draw a card. I shuffle 'Yellow Gadget' and 'Machina Gearframe', into my deck."

Tom shuffled his deck, and he replaced it. He hesitated only a moment before he drew again, and frowned. 'Double Summon' was a useful card, but it just wasn't what Tom needed at that moment. Once again he ended his turn worried, but at least now he had a second monster to protect him, as weak as it might be

Espa drew again, "For my final turn before your 'Swords' disappear, I tribute 'Jinzo - Returner' for 'The Fiend Megacyber'!"

The second, weaker cyborg disappeared, replaced by a warrior in a heavy battle skirt and yellow plate armor and a horned helm, yellow static energy crackling around his fists (ATK: 2200).

"That's all for now," Espa announced. "I pass, and your 'Swords' pass out of existence."

The glowing swords faded, freeing up the movement of Espa's monsters again.

"The 'Swords' served their purpose," Tom said, projecting a level of confidence that he didn't feel, "they bought me time."

Tom drew, "I activate my 'Pot of Greed', and then I shuffle the card in my hand and one of the cards I just drew back into my deck to draw two cards for the effect of 'Reload'."

Tom shuffled and drew again, and his face lit up. Finally he had an idea as to how he might turn this duel around. "I activate," he declared, "the Spell card 'Monster Reborn', summoning you 'Cyber Raider' from the Graveyard."

"No way," Espa croaked, his eyes growing wide.

"That's right," Tom said, "I summon 'Cyber Raider', and I use his effect to rip 'Amplifier' right off of 'Jinzo''s head, destroying 'Jinzo' in the process."

Energy lanced from the robot warrior, which had just appeared at Tom's side, and struck 'Jinzo' in the head, conducted into his brain via the metalic 'Amplifier' helmet. 'Jinzo' cried out in pain and callapsed, fading quickly from the field.

"Now I can activate Traps," Tom exclaimed, excitedly, "and because I finally have a decent monster out, I can Flip Summon 'Heavy Mech Support Platform' and equip it to him."

a flying platform, like an oversized skateboard with rockets on its underside and rear appeared and unfolded, becoming a jetpack, armor, and shoulder cannons attached to 'Cyber Raider', whose Attack points climbed (1400 -> 1900).

"I power up my monster's even more," Tom explained, "by playing 'Solidarity'." Both of Tom's monsters were wreathed in light and grew more powerful (900 -> 1700/1900 -> 2700).

"I reveal 'Ceasefire," Tom declared, energy building around Espa, burning away a portion of his Life Points for ever monster in play (7200 -> 5700), "and destroy 'Fiend Megacyber'." 'Cyber Raider' fired beams from its new shoulder guns, overwhelming 'The Fiend Megacyber' quickly, vaporizing him (5700 -> 5200). With just a word, 'Scrap Recycler' attacked as well, puttering over to Espa and striking him with its robotic arms, finally bringing Tom into the lead (5200 -> 3500).

"Next I reveal," Tom declared, "the Trap 'Roll Out!', equipping 'Heavy Mech Support Platform' in my Graveyard to my monster, and I separate it from my monster in order to summon it to the field."

Espa was taken aback, "That was a great play. I can't believe you've been playing this deck only as long as you say."

He drew, "All I can do is set two cards, and pass."

Tom drew again, shaking with anticipation, and from the flood of adenaline that came with his previous turn leaving his system. "I attack with 'Scrap Recycler'," he said, and Espa looked visably relived.

"Reveal," Espa declared, "'Call of the Haunted', reviving 'Jinzo' to block your attack."

"Then I'll call off 'Recycler''s attack," Tom countered, the odd little machine halting its advance, "and destroy 'Jinzo' a second time with 'Cyber Raider'."

'Cyber Raider' sprung forward, energy lancing from his hands, striking the newly revived cyborg, bringing him to his knees. Next 'Cyber Raider' straifed the cyborg, blasting him with his cannons, and once again 'Jinzo' was no more (3500 -> 3200).

"I bought myself time, though," Espa announced as he drew, "time enough to draw this, my 'Brain Control' card. I pay eight hundred Life Points (3200 -> 2400) to take control of 'Cyber Raider' for a turn, and attack 'Scrap Recycler'."

Ethereal hands reached from Espa's Spell and grabbed 'Cyber Raider' by the head, moving him to Espa's side, and he fired at the 'Scrap Recycler', which didn't stand a chance (4000 -> 3800).

"I end my turn," Espa declared, "by revealing my other Trap card, 'Altar for Tribute', sacrificing your monster to restore my Life."

'Cyber Raider' became energy which merged with Espa, and he grew stronger once again, his Life Points tied with his rival's (2400 -> 3800).

Tom took a deep breath. This duel was neck and neck. He honestly didn't feel that he had any big plays left in him, until he saw the card he'd just drawn. He thought about it for a second, and then realized exactly what this card would allow him to do.

"Activate," Tom declared, "'Monster Reincarnation', discarding a card to return 'Perfect Machine King' to my hand, and I discard him to revive my 'Machina Fortress'!"

Behind him arose his robotic tank, bringing its huge cannon to bare at Espa, its barrel glowing (2500 -> 3200).

"Fire!" Tom commanded, and his monster blasted Espa with everthing it had (3800 -> 600). Once again, Espa looked shocked, and then he laughed, heartily and a little hysterically.

"You're unbelievable, Tom," Espa said. "Your tenacity reminds me of a certain guy who beat me at Battle City, who took my first 'Jinzo'. I don't have any monsters left, but I can even the playing field. I play 'Dark Hole' to destroy your monster."

A black hole opened in the sky above the field, drawing 'Machina Fortress' up into it. There was an explosion, and the black hole closed. Espa seemed to relax, but only for a moment before the 'Machina Fortress' fell from the sky, landing heavily behind Tom, who wore a triumphant smile.

"My face-down card," Tom explained, "was another 'Roll Out!'. I used it to equip my 'Fortress' with 'Heavy Mech Support Platform', which accelerated the 'Fortress' away from your 'Dark Hole', and taking its place."

"Then this duel is over," Espa said. He placed his hand over his Duel Disk, his and Tom's Life Points displays turning off, and Tom's monster fading away. Espa stepped forward and said, "That was a great duel. I hope we can do it again some time."

He walked away, leaving Tom to bask in the glow if victory. Finally, after Espa was a good ways away, he took his phone out and once again started to play with the GPS. He was interrupted, however, when another young man of about twenty-one stepped out of the alley behind him, almost as if a moment ago he's been part of the shadows, though Tom knew that was ridiculous.

He had medium length, unkempt brown hair and dark brown eyes, and he wore a black jacket, open in the front, over a white t-shirt and jeans, and a purple crystal charm around his neck. He had his arms casually in his pockets as he approached Tom, stopping a few yards away.

"Hey," said Tom to the new arrival. Then he realized something and asked, "wait, don't I know you from somewhere?"

"I wouldn't think so," the young man said, "I'm in town with a couple of my cousins for the tournament, but I missed registration finding a place to park."

Tom smiled a bit, "Everybody's missing registration today."

The young man chuckled, "It would seem that way."

He shook Tom's hand, "I'm John, with the-."

"The Duel Force," Tom interjected, "right, I do know you, or of you, I guess. Did you need something?"

"I was watching your duel," John replied. "You're really good. But you're going to have to get better. I have a feeling we've going to meet again soon."

"Hey what does that mean?" Tom asked, but John turned, and he walked away, back into the shadowy alley, leaving Tom to ponder his words in silence.

[legendhiro]

Huzzah! It looks like someone else actually came here, seeing how we have another vote now, for Tom vs Espa Roba, which is already up. I should point out that the current pole is closed, and that I'd really enjoy some feedback. Anyway, the final version of this duel will likely be up by tomorrow or Tues.

[legendhiro]

Just a quick update. Yes I haven't updated yet, but I have a super good reason. I'm not finished writing it yet. As to why that is, for that I [i]don't[/i] have a good reason, I'm just kinda lazy. Hopefully I'll have the update up Monday or Tuesday this coming week.

[legendhiro]

Still no update, guys. I want to rewrite part of the duel. It's almost ready to post, though, pinkie swear.

[legendhiro]

Finally its up! This story ended up, for one reason or another, being much more work than I expected it would be, but finally I've managed to get it just the way I like it. I hope you all like it, too. Please remember to leave a comment below!


Tom vs. Kris

An Unexpected Meeting


As Tom rounded the corner he wondered why he'd even bothered driving so far for a tournament without the other members of his team, the Duel Knights. As a sixteen-year-old, he hadn't even had his license long, making this his first ever road trip. He couldn't even remember what it had been about the online add which had so demanded his attention.

And now, he thought, I can't compete. Late for registration. Whatever.

He looked down at the Duel Disk on his wrist, and at the deck inserted into it, as he ran his opposite hand through his swmi-short brown hair. It was still a pretty new deck, and despite the fact that he felt more at home using it than any other deck he'd ever used, he really felt it needed put through its paces, something that he'd yet to do, since the last last tournament he'd taken it to had been cancelled before his turn to compete. Downtrodden, he turned a corner, thinking it would lead to an open street, and instead found himself facing an alleyway between the very same convention center where the tournament was being held, and another, smaller building.

Where did I take a wrong turn? Tom wondered. He frowned, reprimanding himself internally for letting his thoughts distract him, as he rummaged through his pocket and pulled out his phone, hoping that the GPS could direct him to the parking lot where his car waited. As he pecked at the screen, synching up his location, he kept walking, and soon he realized that he was near the back entrance to the convention center. His phone was taking forever, so he decided to slip inside and see if he could get directions from an employee. Tom was nearing the swinging glass doors when suddenly he heard low voices behind him. He turned and saw a young man a few years older and a couple inches taller than Tom, with unruly dark brown hair, wearing jeans, a white shirt, and a black jacket walking through the same alley, talking to a girl several years younger, standing just below Tom's height, with long, silky brown hair a shade lighter than the man's, wearing a long-sleeve striped shirt inder a short-sleeve t-shirt with a tech pattern on it, and a pink denim skirt and sneakers. Both of the approaching figures wore similar spherical crystal charms. The man's was dark purple, a compliment to his dark eyes, and the girls was swirled with blue and silver. The man was complaining to his young companion, while she stared absentmindedly at her own hands.

Tom barely heard that the two figures were discussing the tournament, and looked and noticed the Duel Disks on their arms, before the young man saw him. He looked momentarily annoyed, looking back at the girl and then back up at Tom, shaking his annoyance off and shooting Tom a polite smile.

"Sorry," the young man said, "but registration is closed for the tournament."

"I know," Tom responded, "I got shut out a few minutes ago. I'm on my way to my car so I can head home."

Tom paused, realizing that he recognized the young man from somewhere, "Do I know you? Have you ever been in a big tournament before?"

"A couple," the young man said, "as a member of my team, the Duel Force. But there's not going to any tournament for me today. I took too long parking the car and missed registration. My cousin, Kris," he indicated the girl, "would have made it in time if she'd just gone with her sister when I dropped her off at the door fifteen minutes ago."

Kris frowned, but she said nothing.

"That's where I recognize you from," said Tom triumphantly. "You guys were both in that big Duel Force Tournament a few years back. You're John. I caught the end of that. Your last duel was pretty awesome. My name's Tom. I'm a member of Team Duel Knights."

He looked from John to Kris, "I didn't see you duel, but I heard you use a Machine deck. I'm sorry we didn't get to duel in the tournament. I use a Machine deck, too, and I'd love to test it against a Machine Duelist from a big-name team."

"Well," said John, "we might actually be able to help you with that." He smiled real big and paused, as if waiting for something to happen. Finally, after several seconds, he gave his cousin a quick tap on the shoulder. She looked back at him inquisitively, and John gestured at Tom. It was then that Kris finally realized that John thought Kris should challenge Tom to a Duel.

Kris turned to face Tom and said, "Wanna duel? I was looking forward to fighting today anyway."

"Do you have time?" Tom asked.

"Definitely," John assured him. "We were going to go inside and get seats to watch my other cousin Jen duel in the tournament, but that can wait. Kris could use the practice."

"Nuh uh," she replied absentmindedly.

"Uh huh," John countered. "Besides, you heard Tom, he needs to test his deck against someone who uses similar cards. You'd be helping him out."

"I didn't say I wouldn't duel," Kris argued, "I said that I don't need practice."

As she spoke, she stepped forward and activated her Duel Disk, flashing eight thousand Life Points, and drew her opening hand. She turned to look at Tom, "I set a monster and two cards."

Tom, who was playing catch up and only just now activating his own Duel Disk watched as three holograms of oversized face-down Duel Monsters cards appeared at Kris' feet.

This girl's kinda odd, Tom thought as he drew his own opening hand, watching Kris as she suddenly looked up at the sky, as if counting clouds. Tom almost laughed, Well, odd or not, if she doesn't plan on paying attention to the game, I'm not going to go easy on her.

"I set a card," Tom declared, a holographic set Duel Monster's card appearing at his feet as well, across from the holograms of Kris' cards, "and I summon 'Machina Gearframe'."

A lanky orange robot about Tom's height with guns in its arms, and finned legs that resembled rockets appeared at Tom's side (ATK: 1800).

Kris didn't react at all, only continuing to stare at the slightly overcast sky, tinted gray with smog.

"Alright," said Tom, beginning to fee annoyed, "When I summon this monster, I can add a Machina card from my deck to my hand."

Gearframe's eyes flickered, and a card protruded from Tom's deck. He added it to his hand, and continued, "I play 'Card Destruction'. We each discard our hands, and then draw the same number of cards."

Tom discarded his hand and drew four cards, There, now I have the right monster in my Graveyard for my Trap to work when I need it.

Kris did nothing for a few seconds, and then, without looking, she inserted her own hand of cards into her Graveyard and redrew it.

Unsure what to make of his opponent's unusual behavior, Tom decided to throw caution to the wind and declared, "Attack." His monster took aim at Kris' hidden monster and opened fire, unleashing a barrage of beams, which rebounded at the last second as Kris' monster was revealed to be the 'Machine King's Guard', a black robot with a large transparent shield made of electricity, with Defense points that increase with ever Machine in play (DEF: 2100 -> 2200). Tom flinched despite himself as his monster's holographic laser blasts bounced back at him (8000 -> 7600).

"That was pretty reckless," John commented from the sidelines. He was watching the duel like a moviegoer might an action film. He had a big smile on his face. The only thing missing was a tub of popcorn.

"Maybe it was," Tom replied, "but I really didn't expect something so defensive in a Machine deck." He looked at his opponent with newfound curiosity which bordered on respect. He still didn't get this girl's attitude, but he couldn't help but admit that it was that fact alone which might prevent him from guessing her strategy.

Could that be her strategy, Tom wondered, to distract me and keep me guessing?

He didn't have time to consider the thought much, though, because Kris rightfully assumed that Tom's turn was over. "Reveal during the End Phase," she declared, "the Trap Monster 'Machine King - 3000 B.C.'"

At Kris' side appeared a mechanical man made of mismatched parts which resembled ceramic and clay more than metal. As this new monster appeared, Kris' guard grew even stronger (DEF: 2200 -> 2300), but that didn't matter, because as soon as Kris drew, her monsters disappeared and were replaced by a giant mech with a long serpentine body from the waste down and two extra arms, carrying a sword, a staff, and a shield, leaving a hand free (ATK: 2500).

"Attack," Kris said simply, still sounding disinterested. Her monster lunged forward, its sword raised.

"Destroying my monster won't be easy," Tom countered. "I reveal 'Roll Out!', which equips 'Machina Peacekeeper' in my Graveyard to my monster, using it as a surrogate for my monster the next time he would be destroyed."

Another Machina, a red robot that rolled around on wheels, appeared and attached like armor to the 'Gearframe', its two largest wheels covering 'Gearframe''s shoulders, the 'Peacekeeper''s head becoming an armor panel on 'Gearframe''s chest. Kris' monster swung his sword, destroying the armor instead of 'Gearframe' itself, but Tom still took more damage (7600 -> 6900).

"When my 'Machina Peacekeeper' is destroyed," Tom explained, "I can add a Union monster from my deck to my hand." Another card slid from his deck, and he took it.

Without a word, Kris set a card, but now things had changed: Kris was actually looking Tom in the eye. He'd managed to impress her by preventing the destruction of his monster, an action which had also prevented the activation of her monster's effect.

Worrying for a moment what Kris might be like with her attention actually on the duel, Tom drew and declared, "Your monster's impressive, so I'll have to counter it with an impressive monster of my own. I Discard 'Heavy Mech Support Platform' and 'Machina Fortress' to Special Summon the discarded 'Machina Fortress' from my Graveyard."

A massive blue mechanical tank with a robotic torso and a large back cannon protruding from its back appeared facing down Kris' monster.

"Next I play 'Solidarity'," Tom declared. His monster was suddenly surrounded by an aura of white light which increased its power (ATK: 2500 -> 3300).

"Attack," Tom commanded. Energy built into the tank-like monster's cannon as it prepared to fire.

"No thank you," said Kris. "Reveal 'Forbidden Lance', decreasing the Attack of your monster by eight hundred and protecting it from the effects of all other Spell cards, including your own 'Solidarity' card."

As the 'Fortress' unleashed its mighty blast, a lance appeared and flew into its cannon barrel, causing it to spark and sputter, and dispelling the aura around the machine (3300 -> 1700). The blast itself weakened so much that 'Emes the Infinity' was able to easily wade through it and slice 'Machina Fortress' in half (6900 -> 6100), its sword absorbing some of the 'Fortress'' power on the way through, causing the blade to begin to glow (ATK: 2500 -> 3200).

"You targeted my monster," Tom declared, "so you're forced to discard a card, and when my monster goes, he takes another monster with him!"

Kris did as she was required, sending 'Roboyarou' from her hand to the Graveyard, just as the energy wreathing her monster's sword exploded, reducing 'Emes the Infinity' to smoking scrap metal.

"Even though my attack failed," Tom concluded, "I still got rid of your monster. I set a card, and end my turn."

"You're pretty good," said John from his place nearby, looking truly impressed. Tom didn't respond, however, as his opponent was about to make her next move, and Tom was curious to see what she would do.

"I play 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards, and I summon," Kris declared, placing a monster on her Duel Disk, "'Fusilier Dragon the Dual-Mode Beast' and play 'Forbidden Chalice', negating his effect for the turn, but increasing his Attack by four hundred in exchange. And in the case of 'Fusilier Dragon', negating his effect also makes him stronger."

Kris' monster, a tank with a dragon's head where its front end should have been, cannons attached to the sides of the dragon head, appeared between Kris and Tom, looking imposing enough already. Then a golden cup appeared above the monster, overflowing with silvery, glowing water which fell upon the tank, enveloping him and becoming a white aura. Suddenly, with a shutter, the tank trandformed. Dragon feet protruded from inside the treads, two larger cannons extended from the body just above the treads, and a long mechanical tail and neck extended from the body of the tank. It was suddenly less a tank, and more a towering, deadly, robotic dragon (ATK: 1400 -> 2800 -> 3200).

"Attack," Kris said, and Tom found himself under the combined assault of blasts from all four of the dragon's cannons. He looked down at his set card, frowning at the fact that they were there not to protect him, but to set up a play for later.

Of course, Tom thought as his Life Points plummeted (6100 -> 2900), the way things are going there might not be a later to set up for!

Reluctantly and a little desperately, Tom drew. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw his card, and immediately played it, "Activate 'Swords of Revealing Light', sealing your side of the field and preventing any of your monsters from attacking for three turns!"

Swords made of light appeared in the sky and fell down upon Kris' field. As soon as they touched the ground, 'Fusilier Dragon' froze completely, just as Tom knew any monster to appear on Kris' field over the next three turns would as well. The effect could be lifted by destroying the Spell card early, but it would still, hopefully, grant Tom some breathing room.

"I end my turn," Tom declared, and Kris drew again.

"I end my turn," Kris declared, as if she didn't mind one way or the other that she didn't have anything to do during an entire turn.

Tom breathed a sigh of relief, and looked down at his deck. She didn't have anything to get past my 'Swords', he thought, but that doesn't really leave me in any better position than I was a turn ago. I still need to get over her 'Dragon', and that's not going to be easy.

Tom drew, but he was visibly disappointed when he didn't draw anything capable of doing what he wanted. "I set a card," he declared, "and I end my turn."

Kris began twirling her hair, only remembering a few moments later that she was supposed to be drawing a card. She drew, and once again she declared, "I end my turn."

What is she doing? Tom wondered. Kris' deck had been turning out good cards consistently. Why would she suddenly go two turns without drawing anything that she could use? Tom had an idea what was going on, but he realized how ridiculous it was pretty soon after it popped into his head.

"I draw," Tom declared. He frowned again. Once again the card he'd drawn couldn't get him over 'Fusilier Dragon the Dual-Mode Beast', leaving him only one more turn to draw something that he could use.

"I end," Tom declared. To his utter astonishment Kris drew her card, gave it only a passing glance, and then ended her turn again.

Is it possible, Tom wondered as the glowing swords faded from the field, that I was right, and she thinks that she isn't allowed to play any cards while 'Swords' is on the field? Or is this girl just trolling me?

Tom was starting to get frustrated. He was facing down a powerful monster, and he was too distracted trying to figure out his opponent to give the monster the attention it warranted. With difficulty he put Kris' odd behavior out of mind and drew. Even though his newest card still wasn't something that could beat 'Fusilier Dragon', it was something which might help him draw something that could do the job.

"I summon," Tom declared, "'Scrap Recycler'."

A monster resembling a white bucket on wheels with two robotic arms appeared at Tom's side.

"When I summon this monster," Tom explained, "I can send a Machine, like my 'Yellow Gadget', from my deck to my Graveyard, and once per turn I can shuffle two Machines from my Graveyard into my deck to draw a card. I shuffle 'Yellow Gadget' and 'Machina Gearframe', into my deck."

Tom shuffled his deck, and he replaced it. He hesitated only a moment before he drew again, and smiled. He'd drawn 'Double Summon', which happened to be just the card he needed.

"Next I reveal," Tom declared, "the Trap 'Roll Out!', equipping 'Heavy Mech Support Platform' in my Graveyard to my monster, and I separate it from my monster in order to summon it to the field."
A flying platform, like an oversized skateboard with rockets on its underside and rear appeared, transforming, wrapping like armor around the 'Scrap' monster, before separating from him and transforming back into the oversized flying skateboard.

"I play 'Double Summon'," Tom continued, building momentum quickly, "and tribute both of my monsters to summon my ace card," the two weaker machines disappeared, replaced by a huge white mech, standing fifteen feet tall, with huge shoulders and powerful-looking red fists, "my 'Perfect Machine King', a monster which gains five hundred Attack for ever other Machine on the field, as well as my 'Solidarity' card (2700 -> 3200 -> 4000). I attack your 'Fusilier Dragon'!"

The mech's giant shoulders opened, and a barrage of missiles launched from them, swarming the dragon tank, blasting it to pieces. Kris lost Life Points, finally (8000 -> 6800), but still seemed largely disinterested with the Duel as a whole.

Kris drew, and, as if she weren't facing down a powerful monster perfectly suited to fighting her deck, she very casually declared, "I activate 'Recycling Plant', fusing 'Roboyarou' and 'Robolady' in my Graveyard," pieces of blue and pink armor, bundles of wire, and metallic rods, bolts, circuits and and gears appeared and hung in the air, glowing and then combining into a masculine robot warrior in blue armor with a green visor, pink shoulder pads, and gold spikes protruding from his shoulders and helm, carrying a double-ended blade crackling with electricity, "into 'Super Roboyarou' (ATK: 1200). I set a card, and end my turn."

"Okay," Tom said, finally surrendering to his curiosity, "what's your deal? One minute you seem really good at this game, and then the next minute you do something really strange, like summoning 'Super Roboyarou' in Attack position against 'Perfect Machine King', or not playing any cards while I have 'Swords of Revealing Light' activated. Seriously, are you messing with me, or do you just not understand this game?"

"My deck," Kris replied with something like a sly smile, "is a well-oiled machine, working toward a single goal."

"Uh," Tom said, "that's cool I guess, but it doesn't really answer my question."

Tom waited for Kris to elaborate, but she'd gone back to staring at her hands, so he said, "Forget this, I'm out of here."

"Hold on," John cut in, stepping up next to his cousin, "Tom, I promise, Kris really does know the game, and she really is just like this most of the time."

He looked over at his cousin, who gave him a mischievous look, "Maybe she's playing you a little, but that's one of the things that makes Kris a unique Duelist. She always keeps her opponent guessing until she finally gets serious, right when she's about to make the final move."

"Okay," said Tom, "fine, but let's be serious from here on, okay?"

"Okay," said Kris, looking Tom in the eyes again. Suddenly her attention was laser-focussed, in such a stark contrast to her previous attitude that Tom found himself literally taken aback, but he steeled himself up and continued.

"Alright then," Tom declared, "I play 'Pot of Greed to draw two cards."

He drew again, and placed a card on his Duel Disk, "I summon a second 'Heavy Mech Support Platform' and equip it to my 'Machine King'."

Another of the flying platforms appeared and unfolded into a chestplate and shoulder cannons for Tom's monster, protecting him and increasing his Attack (4000 -> 4500). Tom allowed himself to marvel for a moment. His monster was now stronger than 'Obelisk the Tormentor', as strong as 'Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon'. It outclassed Kris' monster so completely that 'Roboyarou' didn't stand a chance of surviving the coming confrontation, and Tom wasn't even finished yet.

"Next," Tom announced, "I play 'Monster Reborn' to revive 'Machina Fortress'!"

There was a flash of red light, and the blue tank with the robotic torso and giant cannon appeared once again alongside its master. 'Machine King' grew even stronger (4500 -> 5000).

"Attack," Tom declared, and both of his monsters let loose with their full arsenal of weapons, meaning to reduce Kris' Life Points to within a stone's throw of zero. It was only thanks to the little bit of protection offered by her monster that Kris would survive the turn at all, so Tom was shocked when she revealed her face-down card.

"Reveal 'Cybernetic Zone'," Kris declared, "removing my monster from play until the End Phase, when it'll return with double the Attack."

"Then I win," Tom remarked as 'Super Roboyarou' was spirited away from the field in a flash, but just before the various missiles and beams fired by his monsters could reach their target, the fire from 'Perfect Machine King' was caught in a sweeping beam of light emitting from a floating orb which had appeared above Kris' head. The weapons fire was vaporized as the beam passed over 'Machine King', changing him to defense mode, and the beam from 'Machina Fortress' passed over Kris (6800 -> 3500).

"Thanks to my 'Security Orb' Trap," Kris explained, her attention still focussed completely on the duel, "I survive the turn, and 'Super Roboyarou' returns to the field."

"And gets destroyed in the Standby Phase," Tom protested as Kris drew her next card, and her monster reappeared at her side, as if forming out of thin air (1200 -> 2400).

"No," Kris replied, "he doesn't, because in my Standby Phase I play 'Forbidden Dress', 'Limiter Removal', and 'Rare Metal Soul'. They resolve in reverse order."

An orb of light appeared, and was absorbed into the body of the robotic warrior, and he was wreathed in silvery light (2400 -> 3400), and then with a sputter and a spark, her monster's power doubled (3400 -> 6800). Finally a silvery dress appeared, forming a silver sash around the robot's torso, turning his aura silver and causing it to brighten.

"'Forbidden Dress," Kris explained, "weakens my monster (6800 -> 6200), but protects him from being destroyed by any card effects this turn. I attack 'Machina Fortress', activating his effect and ending this duel."

Rockets unfolded from 'Super Roboyarou''s back and it shot forward, its blades crackling (6200 -> 7200). With one slash of its weapon it cleaved the 'Machina Fortress' in half and reduced Tom's Life Points to zero. The other monsters faded from the field as the duel came to an end. Tom was completely speechless. He'd never seen anyone do so much damage with such a weak monster.

"I've had 'Card of Sanctity' in my hand for five turns," said Kris with a knowing smile, "so if not for your 'Swords of Revealing Light' I could have done that a while ago. I also could have gotten my monster's attack even higher, to seventy-eight hundred, just by playing those card in a different order, but I didn't see how it would matter. Still, you did good."

"If you think that's bad," said John with a smirk, "I did way more damage once with a monster that started way weaker, but that was a really weird Duel. Kris pulls off stuff like that every day."

He turned to his cousin, "Don't you?"

Kris ignored him. She was busy walking toward the doors into the convention center, studying the sky as she went.

John laughed, and then turned back to Tom, "Seriously, though, you're really good. Still, I have a feeling that you and I are going to meet again."

Suddenly he was very serious, "And when we do, I get the feeling that you're going to have to be even stronger."

Before Tom could respond, John walked quickly after Kris, leaving Tom to ponder his words in silence.

[legendhiro]

Please let me know which of the three versions of Tom's duel you like best. Also, there should be another Poll up by Monday, huzzah!!

[legendhiro]

Another poll is up, less than a month late! I, personally, consider this a success.

[legendhiro]

okay...it's okay...just because no one at all has voted on the new poll doesn't mean I'm going to allow myself to be...disheartened...

 

...sigh...

 

...

 

Anyway, I'm still trucking forward on this sight despite...things, and, as I did with last poll, I'm going to decide which pairing happens (that...that sounded wrong). In this case, because I actually like the idea of eventually involving Yugi and Jonouchi in the special plan for this thread, I've chosen Jonouchi vs. Yamimaru over the others. I almost chose Kimi vs. Yamimaru just because I absolutely love writing for Kimi and Rocky, but Jonouchi vs. Yamimaru just feels right.

[legendhiro]

Actually, to amend my last post, it looks like we're going with Kimi v Yamimaru, as it actually got a vote! Hurray! Also because, due to some random and unforeseeable craziness in my life over the last week and a half, I have barely even begun writing this story, let alone given much thought to the duel itself. As of now, the pole is closed, and hopefully I'll be able to get the duel up by early next week at the latest.