Thought I had to repost this (was thankfully mistaken) LOCK PLEASE

legendhiro · January 2, 2014

A New Pole is Finally Up! *Note: No deck listed here will appear exactly as it is listed. After all, what's the fun in reading a duel where there are no surprises? -Tom: A relatively new Duelist, and a member of the Duel Knights. Tom used to use a Warrior deck like his sister Alexis until he and his friend James put together a Machine deck for him. In his first duel with his new deck, he showed an almost instinctual ability to use it well. This poll puts him up against some of the greatest Machine users of all time. Tom will be fighting either: -"Bandit" Keith Howard: Yu-Gi-Oh!'s original Machine Duelist, Keith is a ruthless, cheating, savvy gamer. His dueling skills combined with his cheating skills make him a particularly dangerous opponent, as does the fact that he has little left to lose. Keith has died a few times now. First he was dropped from a trap door by Pegasus, only to have his body revived and inhabited by Yami Marik. He died again in a fire, but was later revived by the Tenma brothers in Yu-Gi-Oh! R to test their method for resurrecting Pegasus, when Pegasus was still missing and presumed dead after Duelist Kingdom. He fought Jonouchi again, and may have died a third time, but it's unclear, and either way he's back again and reckless. -Espa Roba: Another Machine user who fought and lost in the Battle City Tournament. After his loss, he went on to find a new way to support his large family of siblings, this time without using any of his cheating techniques. His deck has an additional theme of telekinesis. -Kris: One of my own characters from my fic Yu-Gi-Oh! DF (I'll add her to my character list later). Her deck is a "Machine OTK" deck that focusses on powering up her Machine monsters as quickly as possible and striking the final blow. Kris seems out of it most of the time, but this is part of her strategy, lulling her opponent into a false sense of security. While her strategy is pretty straightforward, even so much that she compares it to a "well-oiled machine" building itself up over time, it is a modular machine with multiple methods of reaching its goals. All updates can be found below! [spoiler=Description/Rules] Welcome frequent visitors to YCM to my great experiment. So far the concept is unrefined, and I plan to refine it until it is something for all of us here in the fanfiction section to be proud of. What I plan to do here, in this thread, is something a little different than the traditional fanfiction, but all you mods out there shouldn't worry, it will have a story. It does belong here. What I want to do is create a series of short stories where the greatest characters in Yu-Gi-Oh! canon and fanon can duel in the most epic confrontations ever outside of continuity. Each week (subject to change) I will post a poll here where fanfiction forum visitors can vote between several match-ups, and the winner will become a posted short story duel for all to enjoy! So far my pool of options consists of official characters, and characters from my own fics, so please submit your own characters. You can submit as many as you want, but there are a few restrictions. First, the character(s) in question must be from an established fanfic of your own creation, of at least five chapters, and two, you must PM me the following COMPLETED form: -Name: (the character's name. Can be a nickname if it is what they are usually called) -Description: (a detailed physical description of the character, including approximate age, race, and gender) -Fic: (the fanfiction of origin complete with link, or else no dice) -Deck: (a list of the characters cards, or a link to such a list. If the character uses original cards, please link to them as well) -Play Style: (how does your character duel? Are they reckless and quick to act, or careful and methodical, or something else?) -Mannerisms: (what other traits make up your character's personality? Do they have any catch phrase, or do they have a unique way of behaving otherwise?) -General: (tell me anything about your character that you feel didn't fit into any of the previous categories) In addition to submitting characters, you may also submit multiple versions of the same character, e.g. Yugi in the Anime/Manga and Yugi in Yu-Gi-Oh! R, or Jaden before receiving the Neo-Spacians and Jaden after, but each version must have its own corresponding submission form. I will then post each submission here for all to read, and your character will be free to participate! I've posted some of my characters here so that people can see how it's done. Be part of something great! Be part of the Epic Battles![/spoiler] [spoiler=Submitted Characters] [spoiler=Legendhiro's Characters] -Name: John -Description: Dark brown hair and eyes, a bit taller than average, athletic, Caucasian, fifteen to sixteen years old. Wears dark-colored clothing with little regard for style, and tends to leave his medium short hair unkempt as it is when he wakes up in the morening. -Deck: John uses mostly Dark monsters. He prefers Fiends, Warriors, and Machines. He also uses some Light monsters, most of which are Machine-type "Magnet Monsters". To support his monsters, he uses many quick summon strategies and Different Dimension tactics. -Play Style: John appears to be a very straightforward duelist who focuses on summoning monsters quickly and attacking, and if this is all that you see of him, you may think that his confident attitude is undeserved, but you'd be wrong. John simply believes that a great gamer saves his best plays for last, and so that's what he does. Don't underestimate him. John's Decks: <a data-cke-saved-href="/wiki/John#Deck" href="/wiki/John#Deck">http://fanfiction.wi.../wiki/John#Deck</a></a> <a data-cke-saved-href="#Deck_.28DA.29" href="#Deck_.28DA.29"></a>http://fanfiction.wi...n#Deck_.28DA.29</a></a> -Mannerisms: John might seem like a nonchalant goof at first, but when he sees someone in need, he switches gears, becoming a calm and calculating gamer with great skills both physically (he is a martial artist) and mentally. -General: John is remarkably unobservant for someone who is so observant when gaming. It is almost like he doesn't always know how to pay attention to people, unless he is looking at the situation like a game. John is an accomplished martial artist, holding high ranks in tae kwon do and escrima. He is incredibly skilled at roll playing, and at puzzle games. In fact, his eyes are so trained that he can pick out a single known card within a shuffled deck, just by following its movements while shuffled. He uses this skill to defeat cards like "Ordeal of a Traveler". John possesses the magical item Soul of Darkness, which allows him to manipulate shadows, create Shadow Games, and transform his Duel Disk into a special model capable of forming a sword and shield. John also has a dark side. Though it is well suppressed, it does show through in the darker aspects of his personality. -Name: Karen -Description: 5’6”, slim, athletic, long brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Has an almost instinctual ability to style her clothing well. -Deck: Karen uses a Toon deck built from cards given to her by Maxamillion J. Pegasus himself, but her real power isn’t the Toons, it’s her control tactics. Karen’s Deck: <a data-cke-saved-href="/Karen#Deck" href="/Karen#Deck"></a>http://fanfiction.w...wiki/Karen#Deck</a></a> <a data-cke-saved-href="#Deck_.28DA.29" href="#Deck_.28DA.29"></a>http://fanfiction.w...n#Deck_.28DA.29</a></a> -Play Style: As mentioned above, Karen uses a control deck. She can read the body language and behavior of her opponents and use the information to predict her opponent’s basic strategy. Then she prepares for it by setting up various combos. Her most powerful cards are the monsters from Allure Queen series of LV Monsters, which she uses to steal her opponent’s best monsters. -Mannerisms: Karen almost seems to have two modes; one that is very sensitive, kind and caring, and one that is stronger, tougher, and more serious. Pray that you never anger Karen in this second mode. Karen is also very creative, and she’s skilled at using that creativity to her own benefit. -General: Karen has a dark past that has to do with Duel Monsters, which causes her to sometimes have trouble dueling seriously. She can, however, overcome this restriction when the need is great, though she much prefers coming up with ideas for cards to playing them. Karen is the bearer of the magical Soul of Imagination, which has the power to make changes to reality in times of great inspiration. -Name: Martin Allen Xavier III, Goes by Max -Description: 5’11”, fit and athletic, blond hair and blue eyes. He doesn’t like being looked at, so he wears clothes that hide his face and even his arms and hands from onlookers. -Deck: Max uses a combination of Zombie summoning tactics, direct attacks and hand destruction. His deck has an abstract theme of Death, or more accurately The Angel of Death, and many of his cards resemble the aforementioned mythical figure, or wield a weapon similar to his signature scythe. Max’s Deck: <a data-cke-saved-href="#Deck" href="#Deck"></a>http://fanfiction.w...avier_III#Deck</a></a> -Play Style: Max plays ruthlessly, treating friend and foe the same for as long as they stand against him on the battlefield. He is incredibly strong, able to use fear and other mind games to help him win. If he has any weakness, it is his over-reliance on his favorite card, “Spirit Reaper”. -Mannerisms: Max doesn’t like you. He doesn’t like most people. He doesn’t care if people like him, and he doesn’t care what they think. But max is a good guy who believes in justice, so who knows, maybe one day that’ll all change. Max’s most interesting character trait is probably the fact that he truly enjoys playing mind games with villains, and has even turned it into something of a career. -General: Max also goes by Reaper, a masked vigilante who goes around seeking out wicked people and using the power of the Shadow Games to penalize them for their actions. Max possesses the Soul of Life, which let's him control livelihood through fear. -Name: Paul “Pyro” Tucker. Used to go by Pyro during his time in a street gang, due to the fact that he always carries a lighter. Goes by Tucker now amongst his friends. -Description: 6’2”, fit and athletic, red hair and green eyes. Flashy. He wears bright clothes with flame decals on them to help him stand out. -Deck: Tucker is an aggressive, hot-tempered person, so he uses an aggressive, hot-tempered deck. At first his strategy only consisted of powering up his Fire monsters, but it later evolved into a powerful burn damage/beatdown hybrid deck. Tucker’s Deck: <a data-cke-saved-href="/Tucker#Deck" href="/Tucker#Deck"></a>http://fanfiction.w...ki/Tucker#Deck</a></a> -Play Style: Tucker uses burn cards to soften his opponent up, attacks with powerful monsters, including the mighty “Tyrant Dragon”, and then finishes his opponent with one grand, flashy finishing move, usually through use of his signature card, “Legendary Flame Lord”. He may seem like he’d be unable to bend in his strategy, but he is actually quite good at adapting, and like John, he saves his best moves for last. -Mannerisms: Tucker loves fire. He loves the power that it represents. He also attributes fire to his own more violent side, which he has learned to suppress. In fact, comparing fire to Tucker’s violent side, and his violent past, is an apt analogy. Like fire, Tucker’s temper is harmless when strictly controlled, but once unleashed, is almost unstoppable. Tucker is street smart, with great instincts and a mind for strategy, but he isn’t very book smart, and he tends to act well before thinking. Tucker will do anything to protect the people that he cares about. -General: Tucker believes in loyalty to his friends and family, and would stand up for anyone who fits into these categories, regardless of the stakes, as if his own life was on the line. Even if his friends or family were to betray him, as his deadbeat father has, he would still remain loyal. Tucker is the bearer of the magic item Soul of Fire, which allows him to create and control flames. His magic grows based on how determined he is. -Name: Sarah -Description: 5’5”, small and slight, athletic (though she doesn't look it), blond hair and blue eyes. Tomboyish in dress. -Deck: Sarah uses a water deck that mostly favors “back-line” defensive combos using Spells and Traps and “front-line” offensive strategies using monsters. In this way, her deck is quite similar in structure to her favorite game, Soccer. In addition to the monsters listed below, Sarah might run any Atlantis themed Water monster or A Legendary Ocean related Spell/Trap card in the game. [spoiler=Sarah's Deck:] -Monsters: Levia-Dragon – Daedelus Ocean Dragon Lord – Neo Daedelus Gigia/Gogiga Gagagigo Aqua Spirit Sinister Serpent Orca Mega-Fortress of Darkness Abyss Soldier Torpedo Fish Cannonball Spear Shellfish Deep Diver Maiden of the Aqua Codarus Divine Dragon Aquabizarre Revival Jam Crab Turtle Amazon of the Seas -Spells: Monster Reborn Card of Safe Return Terraforming Terrain Change Big Wave Small Wave A Legendary Ocean Aqua Essence Salvage Acid Rain The Dark Door Turtle Oath -Traps: Tornado Wall Solemn Wishes Torrential Tribute Forgotten Temple of the Deep Aegis of the Ocean Dragon Lord Jam Defender Ultimate Offering Aqua Aura[/spoiler] -Play Style: As mentioned above, Sarah’s strategies revolve around mounting an offence and a defense at the same time. She likes to create a situation in which she is likely not to be harmed, and then wear her opponent’s down until she is able to finish them off, but her strategies can be modified on the fly if the need arises. Sarah has two sides to her deck; calm, pacifistic cards that represent the relaxed mood of the sea, and angry, aggressive cards that represent the sea during a storm. -Mannerisms: Sarah is a bit of a reluctant hero. She’s sarcastic, and she complains a lot. But she will always help you out. Of course she’ll probably call you an idiot while she does it. -General: Sarah can’t stand Tucker, except that sometimes she can. Sarah is John's younger sister. Even though she doesn't have the self defense training that he does, she is a brave and capable fighter who can hold her own with a blade. She is an expert at many physical sports. Sarah is the bearer of the Soul of Water, which gives her power over water and ice. </a>[/spoiler] [spoiler=Joker Guy's Characters] -Name: Tom -Description: Average height, brown hair, 16. -Deck: Plays Machina Force/Machina Gadgets. [spoiler=Deck List] Monsters x21 1x Perfect Machine King (Ace card) 3x Machina Fortress 2x Machina Peacekepper 2x Machina Gearframe 2x Green Gadget 2x Yellow Gadget 2x Red Gadget 3x Heavy Mech Support Platform 1x Scrap Recycler 1x Blast Sphere 1x Swift Scarecrow 1x Machina Soldier Spells x13 1x Solidarity 1x Hand Destruction 1x Mystical Space Typhoon 2x Machina Armored Unit 1x Monster Reincarnation 1x Reload 1x Prohibition 1x Card Destruction 1x Card Trader 1x Swords of Revealing Light 1x Machine Duplication 1x Shrink Traps x8 1x Rare Metalmorph 1x Metalmorph 2x Time Machine 1x Ceasefire 1x Dimensional Prison 2x Roll Out [/spoiler] -Play Style: Tom plays a reckless beatdown deck, rushing mostly but taking his time if he is getting beaten. -Mannerisms: He can focus if he wants to. He is very confident but not cocky. -General: Quite a good duelist[/spoiler] [spoiler=Stigma_Horizone's Characters] Name: Max -Description: From my Fan-fic, Yugioh FE, 15 years old, American, male -Deck: NEXUS Dragons(a deck he receives later in my fic) -Play Style: (Speed-beatdown to cover the real strategy) -Mannerisms: Quick to act, doesn't talk much, has a Partner (Kage)[/spoiler] [spoiler=機皇神龍アステリスク's Characters] -Name: Yamimaru -Description: Tall, slender, blond, bishounen. Wears an Obelisk Blue jacket. -Deck: [spoiler="Relinquished Chaos Deck"] Just a general idea... Relinquished* Dark-Eyes Illusionist* Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands Senju of the Thousand Hands Sonic Bird (?) Djinn Presider of Rituals Djinn Releaser of Rituals Armageddon Knight Chaos Sorcerer Lava Golem (?) Also, possibly as an alternate strategy: Garandolf, King of Destruction Advanced Ritual Art Zoa Ritual Raven Black Illusion Ritual Mystical Space Typhoon Heavy Storm Monster Reborn Allure of Darkness Metamorphosis Foolish Burial Magic Cylinder Draining Shield Call of the Haunted Threatening Roar Mirror Force Extra Deck: Thousand-Eyes Restrict* *These monsters are played with slightly different effects, as follows: Dark-Eyes Illusionist: Once per turn, when a monster your opponent controls attacks, you can negate the attack, and that monster cannot attack while it is face-up on the field. Relinquished: Once per turn, you can equip 1 monster your opponent controls to this card (max. 1). This card's original ATK and DEF become its ATK and DEF. When this card would be destroyed by battle, destroy the equipped monster instead. When this card battles while equipped with a monster and you would take Battle Damage from that battle, inflict that Battle Damage to your opponent instead. Thousand-Eyes Restrict: Identical to Relinquished, plus no other monsters can attack. [/spoiler] -Play Style: Conservative and methodical. Yamimaru is Dangerously Genre Savvy in that he utilizes core concepts of the game - he maintains card advantage, and is well aware of how OP'd Burn is when you're playing with 4000 LP. He does not rely on topdecking. -Mannerisms: Arrogant, but deservedly so. He finds the actions of ordinary people more amusing than anything else. Extremes of emotion, whether anger, sadness, or fear, he finds irritating, because he does not see why people cannot compose themselves. -General: Had I actually finished Raging Gods, he would have beaten her in the tournament finals. Then, at the end of the story, there would be a three-on-one duel against him. He would win again. [/spoiler] [spoiler=Ice Dorago's Characters] -Name: Drake -Description: A tall seventeen year old Japanese male, somewhat athletic. Drake has black hair, usually untidy from being kept under a helmet while D-Wheeling and tends to wear either black or dark red or blue clothing. -Deck: Drake plays a Blackwing deck like his father, supporting them with their own support cards, a few staples, and DARK support cards like Allure of Darkness, using Dark End Dragon as his ace. His strategy usually revolves around swarming with his monsters, and using Vayu in his Graveyard. However, while he has them, he tends to avoid using the Synchro staples. [spoiler=Decklist] Monsters: -Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North x2 -Blackwing - Bora the Spear -Blackwing - Elphin the Raven -Blackwing - Fane the Steel Chain -Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind -Blackwing - Gust the Backblast -Blackwing - Jin the Rain Shadow -Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow -Blackwing - Mistral the Silver Shield -Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn -Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame -Blackwing - Vayu the Emblem of Honor -Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite -Dark Armed Dragon -D.D. Crow -Necro Gardna Extra Deck; -Ally of Justice Catastor -Blackwing Armed Wing x2 -Blackwing Armor Master -Black-Winged Dragon [In deck after Ch. 4] -Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier -Dark End Dragon -Orient Dragon Spell Cards: -Akashic Record -Allure of Darkness -Black Whirlwind -Book of Moon -Burial From a Different Dimension -Foolish Burial -Forbidden Lance -Monster Reborn -Monster Reincarnation -Mystical Space Typhoon -Pot of Avarice -Smashing Ground -Spellbook Inside the Pot Trap Cards: -Bottomless Trap Hole -Mirror Force -Nutrient Z -Shock Draw -Solemn Judgement[/spoiler] -Play Style: Drake doesn't usually go into a duel with a strategy, and just uses whatever is in his hand the best he can. However, after defeating his father, Drake begins to duel more ruthlessly, focusing more on staples like Orient and Brionac, and ignoring his Blackwings, using them and even his favorite monster, Dark End Dragon, only as stepping stones for monsters like those and Dark End. -Mannerisms: Generally a serious person, somewhat fixed on the past. -General: Drake blames his father for the death of his mother and brother, driving him to join an evil organization and even attempt to murder his father.[/spoiler] [spoiler=gimmepie's Characters] Name: Tobias Deck: Illusory Spirits <a data-cke-saved-href="/" href="/">[/spoiler][/spoiler]http://forum.yugiohc...lusory-spirits/</a></a> and general support cards. Personality: Appears shy and timid at first but is really just quiet/soft-spoken and surprisingly confident in his abilities during a duel. He can become reckless if h is made angry enough. Style/Tactics: Uses swarming to his advantage and uses the reviving ability of Illusory Spirits to his advantage. Plays technically using his head and thinking quickly. He often makes strategies quite a few turns ahead. When angry or upset his play can become reckless. Appearance: Short with grey hair down to the middle of his neck. He wears jeans and a plane green button up shirt. He also has green eyes. He wears a standard issue duel disk and is right handed. He has an unseen, thin gold chain around his neck. Closest Friend: Red Rival: Karen (Koyuki, Karen is preferable to her) not yet known in FF though. Era: Between 5D's and Zexal. Hobbies other than dueling: Reading, Tv lazing about and spending time with friends. IQ: 125</a> [Spoiler spoiler=Winning Duels] [spoiler=Jonouchi vs. Tucker, Part One] So my buddy John gave me all of this money to go to school, but then I found this grant program specifically for poor, troubled kids. John didn't want his money back, so I kept it. My break came, and I decided to take a trip to Japan. Specifically to Domino city. Specifically to the parts of Domino that were the site of the famous Battle City Tournament. Every Duelist worth his Duel Disk knows all about the Battle City Tournament. So why do I care about it,you ask? To answer that, I should tell you a little more about myself. I'm Tucker. I'm eighteen, tall, and a little gangly (that's a word, right?). I have spikey red hair, and I'm facinated by fire. It's one of my favorite things. Another of my favorite things is Duel Monsters. I've loved Duel Monsters since John saved me from a violent life and taught me to play as a way of relieving stress and challenging my mind. There's this whole epic destiny thing, too, but that's a whole other story. Anyway, I was in Domino City checking out the sites. Or, rather, I was trying to. I'm not very good at reading maps, and my phone doesn't have GPS, so I'd been wandering around the city. It got to the point where not only had I completely lost sight of my hotel, I'd also lost site of everything around my hotel which could have led me back to it. And I was hungry. I noticed pictures of sushi rolls in the window of a restaurant, and decided what the hell. I'd always wanted to try sushi, and what better place to try it than Japan, right? So I went inside and asked for a sample, only to spit it out violently in my best accidental impression of Matt Smith in the first episode of Doctor Who Series 5. Needless to say, I was asked to leave. I walked outside, still hungry, and saw a pair of familiar golden arches in the distance. Fifteen minutes later I walked out of McDonalds with a bag containing three quarter pounders with cheese, and a funny-tasting Coca Cola. I realized that I'd gone even further from the beaten path, and that I was even more lost that before. I checked my map again, with no luck, and started wandering again, eating as I went. I ate slow. By the time I'd finished my last burger and was on my way toward finishing off my drink, I'd found my way to a considerably rundown part of the city. I'd slurped the last of my soda and begun searching for a garbage can or a dumpster when I stumbled across a suspicious going on in an alley. Two guys who looked to be about my age, or maybe a little older, were standing bruised and a little bloody over a couple of punks who were clearly unconscious. One of them was blond with longish hair and wore a green jacket, and the other had much shorter brown hair, spiked in the front, wearing a brown jacket and jeans. I'd have given then a good job for knockin' out some obvious gang thugs (trust me, I know gangs), except that they were still surrounded by seven thugs who were obviously the previously mentioned thugs' gang-mates. They conflict had paused momentarily, but I got the feeling that it would resume any moment, and that when it did, the thugs would go in with the intention to kill. My hunch was confirmed when the largest of the thugs, a dude who was a good 6'7" and totally ripped pulled out a switchblade, and his lackies followed suite. So, like the dumbass I am, I set my bag, containing my cards and Duel Disk, on the ground next to an air conditioning unit, waded up all of my McDonalds trash together and threw it, nailing Super Thug in the back of the head. He turned sowly to face me and said something angrily in Japanese. "Sorry," I replied, "but the only Japanese I know is 'konichiwa' and 'arigato'. Oh, and 'sushi'." "I said keep out of our business," the thug repeated in better English than some Americans I know, "or I make it your business too." "Then make it my business," I said smugly, and all Hell broke loose. Super Thug came right at me with his knife, alternating stabbing and slashing. I sidestepped, stepping in closer, inside his reach, where I deflected his knife hand with my left hand while I jabbed with my right. The force of the blow caused Super Thug to stumble back, further into the alley and closer to the wall. I grabbed his wrist and swiftly slammed his knife hand into the wall, attempting to disarm him, but he kept his grip and kneed me in the gut. I endured it and stepped in closer, using a trick John taught me. I pushed in on the tip of Super Thug's pinkie finger, which was gripping the knife, sending a sharp pain through his hand. He jerked back, dropping the knife, and I kicked it away with my foot at the same moment that I jump-kicked the thug in the stomach. He stumbled again, but he was otherwise unfazed. I stepped in close and took a swing at his jaw, but he ducked and swung right back. He was faster than I expected him to be, but I still barely managed to avoid his punch, only to take another knee to the gut. I staggered, and Super Thug took the opportunity to sock me in the face. Man did it hurt. I was seein' stars. Before I could shake it off Thug kicked me in the stomach and I doubled over. I knew what was coming; an all out assault against my exposed back and head. Trying to guard myself would do little good, so I reached into my pocket and pulled out my lighter, clicked it on, and held the flame up in the path of my opponent's strike. He pulled his hand back, and I scrambled back, out of his reach, and put my hands up. I was just thinking that things were looking bad when the blond guy stepped up behind Thug and tapped him on the shoulder. Thug turned, surprised, and looked back over his shoulder just in time to see Blondie's fist connecting with his face. He spun back around to face me, and I socked him one myself. He stumbled back in a daze, and Blondie stepped up beside me. We threw our punches side by side, nailing Super Thug square in the jaw, and he finally went down like a sack of potatoes. Needless to say, we got the hell outta there. I grabbed my bag, the two guys grabbed bags of there own from the ground alongside the alley wall, and we took off together, ending up in another alley a couple blocks away. We stopped for a breather, and I heard sirens. The dark haired guy pointed at his cell phone, a smile on his face, said something in Japanese, and I realized that he'd called the cops to come pick up the trash. They high fived, and then they turned to me. Blondie said something in Japanese, beginning with 'arigato'. "Arigato," I said, probably looking as clueless as I felt. "That means 'thank you', right?" "I forgot," Blondie replied, "no Japanese. I said thanks for the save back there. If not for you, we woulda been finished. You're an American?" "Yeah," I answered. "I'm in town to see the locales from the Battle City Tournament, but I got a little lost." "Wait, you're a Duelist?" Blondie asked. " Then you should know who I am." He pointed at himself, beaming with pride, and held his pose, waiting for me to recognize him. "Here we go," his buddy said, facepalming. "I'm Hiroto Honda, and the idiot here is my buddy (lord knows why) Katsuya Jonouchi." "Jonouchi?" I said. "Hey, I do know you! You're Yugi Muto's buddy. You made it to the finals in Battle City, and you came in second at Duelist Kingdom." Jonouchi exhaled sharply, and I realized that he'd been holding his breath along with his pose the whole time. "That's right!" "Oh, wow," I blurted, " you're, like, one of my heroes!" Honda facepalmed again, "Don't tell him that." "But you are!" I exclaimed. "A complete underdog who went so far? When my pal John started teaching me Duel Monsters I would look to you for inspiration. I'm Paul Tucker. Tucker to my friends." "Well, Tucker," Jonouchi said, still beaming, "I'd be happy to sign your cards for you." "That'd be cool," I told him with a smile, "but what I'd really like is a Duel." Jonouchi returned my confident smile, "I think that can be arranged." We took out our Duel Disks and stepped back from each other. "I hope you know what you're gettin' into," Jonouchi told me. "Maybe you should think of this as less of a Duel and more of lesson." "As sweet as that would be," I replied, "I'm the kind of guy who goes all out against every opponent." I drew six cards from my deck (LP: 4000), "I'll start us off with a monster in defense mode." "Pretty good," Jonouchi said, sounding quite knowledgeable, "but you shouldn't defend so caually on the first turn. I'll show you how it's done." He drew (LP: 4000), "I start out with an old favorite of mine. Summon 'Gearfried the Iron Knight', and attack the defending monster!" A hologram of a black metal knight with a blade built into his arm appeared and charged my field (ATK: 1800). My monter, a large turtle sporting a UFO rather than a shell, appeared in the knight's path, and was cut clear in half. "And that's how it's done!" "Not quite," I asserted. "The monster you destroyed was 'UFO Turtle'. When it's destroyed, I get to summon a Fire monster from my deck!" In a burst of flames, my dark-skinned, tatooed 'Flame Ruler' appeared at my side, his arms crossed defiantly (ATK: 1500). "Wha-," Jonouchi began, surprised by this latest developement, but he caught himself, "Of course I knew you were planning something like that." "Sure you did," Honda heckled from the sidelines. "Shut up," Jonouchi snapped, "I know what I'm doing. Besides, his monster can't beat mine, and I've got this. Face-down card!" A hologram of a face-down Duel Monsters card appeared directly behind Jonouchi's knight. "Maybe you did see my 'UFO Turtle' coming like you said," I countered, "but I bet you didn't foresee this! My 'Flame Ruler' here can act as both tributes for a Level seven or higher monster. I tribute him to summon my 'Tyrant Dragon'!" 'Flame Ruler' disappeared and was replaced by a towering copper dragon with a green jewel in its forehead. It let out a mighty introductory roar (ATK: 2900). "I attack your 'Gearfried'," I declared, and my dragon roared in response. "Notsofast!" Jonouchi responded. "I've got this! 'Skull Dice'!" A small, flying devil appeared, carrying a giant d6. "The dice devil throws the dice it carries," Jonouchi explained, "and divides the Attack of your dragon by the result." The devil through his dice, but as soon as it hit the ground, my dragon's jewel flashed and the dice and devil shattered into individual pixels. "What?!" "My 'Tyrant Dragon' negates any Trap that targets it," I explained, beaming. "Awe man!" Jonouchi exclaimed. I smiled uncomfortably. Is this guy really the great underdog duelist that I've heard so much about? The Duelist who most consider third in the world? "My dragon destroys your knight," I declared, and 'Tyrant Dragon' breathed fire, melting 'Gearfried' to slag (4000+1800-2900=2900). "I end my turn," I finished. "Then it's my turn," Jonouchi said, drawing his card. "I may be down, but I'm not out!" And in that moment I saw a fire in Jonouchi's eyes that told me that he was right, and that I might just be in more trouble than I thought.[/spoiler] [spoiler=Jonouchi vs. Tucker, Part Two] "Traps may not work on your monster," Jonouchi began, his eyes gleaming with excitement and pride, "but there're other ways to slay a dragon, and I just found one. I start by changin' your 'Tyrant Dragon' to defense with the Spell card 'Block Attack'!" What? I wondered. who still uses that card? And he used it effectively, too, as I was about to find out. My dragon changed to defense mode (DEF: 2500). "Next up," Jonouchi continued, "I summon out one of my best cards, the mighty 'Axe Raider'! He may not prefer a sword, but I'm gonna give him one anyway; 'Sword of Dragon's Soul'!" My heart sank as I realized that my dragon's brief time on the board was already ending, as the axe-wielding warrior holstered his axe on his back and took up a gleaming blade (ATK: 1700 -> 2400). "Now I bet you didn't know this,"Jonouchi lectured in a tone that was more than a little condescending, "but when a warrior holding this sword fights a dragon, the dragon dies after battle, even if the warrior loses." "Actually, I did know that," I replied. "Oh," Jonouchi replied, surprised, regaining his composure after a moment to continue, "then you know what's comin'. 'Axe Raider', attack 'Tyrant Dragon'!" The warrior lunged at my dragon and swung his anti-dragon sword, but my dragons defenses were too much. 'Tyrant Dragon' swung his clawed arm and knocked the warrior back, and Jonouchi lost Life (2900 -> 2800). The warrior's blade, however, made a bigger mark than the warrior himself. A moment after the warrior was swatted away, a glowing slash mark flashed across my monster's chest, and he let out his dying roar. Okay, so maybe this guy is better than I gave him credit for, I decided. "My move," I declared as I drew my next card and examined it along with my hand. I only see one way out of this, I realized. My plan was a good one, or else it would be if Jonouchi took the bait and attacked. "I set one card and one monster," I said, beginning and concluding my turn in an instant. My face-down card was a bluff. It looked like a bluff. It was supposed to look like a bluff, so that my opponent would call it and attack me in my apparent desperation. John uses tricks like that on me all the time. "You won't get off that easy," Jonouchi assured me. "I won't fall for your bluff and give you a chance to Tribute Summon. I set two cards, and 'Axe Raider', attacks!" 'Axe Raider' swung his sword, cutting my hidden monster, a shadowy humanoid figure, before he could fully appear. "Who said I didn't want you to attack?" I asked, shooting my opponent a prideful smile. "The monster you just destroyed was thing in the crater, which gives me the power to summon a Pyro monster from my hand!" "Not this again," Jonouchi protested, as my new monster, a pair of serpentine red dragons fused together by their midsections, appeared before me. "Katsuya Jonouchi," I said smugly, enjoying myself, "I'd like you to meet my good friend Twin-Headed Fire Dragon' (ATK: 2200)!" I drew again, "Here comes my comeback. Reveal my face-down Spell, 'Advance Force'!" "Awe, man," Jonouchi groaned, recognizing my card, which would allow my yo treat my monster for two tributes for any tribute summon. "Reveal 'Level Reduct'. I tribute 'Axe Raider' to summon a monster whose Level is one lower than his." He must have realized that I was about to summon a monster capable of overwhelming his, I decided, and came up with the plan to summon a weaker monster in Defense mode to absorb the hit. Very smart. I might use that one myself sometime. 'Axe Raider' disappeared, and an odd little warrior that looked a little like a stick figure appeared, carrying a short sword, "I replace 'Axe Raider' with 'Swordsman of Landstar'!" "I'm about to replace my monster as well," I declared. "I tribute my dragon," the two halves of my monster split apart and disappeared, giving way to a sphinx-like creature with wings, made entirely of flames, "to summon 'Infernal Flame Emperor' (ATK: 2700)! Using his effect, I remove 'Thing in the Crater' from play to roast your last face-down, and I attack the swordsman!" My monster rushed forward to strike, but just before he could, 'Swordsman of Landstar' swept past him and cut him down with his sword. "No way!" "Oh yeah," Jonouchi cheered, "now you fell for my trick! Not only did I summon 'Landstar' in Attack mode, I was also ready with a Spell that I could activate even as it was bein' destroyed." Still stunned, I looked around, and I saw it. In the air above Jonouchi floated another dice carrier, this time an angel. I should have realized he'd use 'Graceful Dice', I thought. I looked down and saw the result of his roll, just as the dice and the angel faded away; a six. "'Graceful Dice' can only be played on a monster with five hundred Attack points or less," Jonouchi explained, "but five hundred times six equals three thousand (ATK: 500 -> 3000/LP: 4000 -> 3700)! "Now I draw," Jonouchi continued, "and 'cuz I don't have any monsters in my hand, I'll just attack directly with my super-powered swordsman!" 'Swordsman of Landstar' slashed at me, and my Life Points plummeted (3700 -> 700). This is bad, I realized. I was doing so well, and I really wanna win this one. But if I don't get something right now, I won't even last one more turn. I drew. "I play 'Pot of Greed'," I declared, drawing two more times. At first I just stared at my new cards, and I couldn't believe my good luck. I'd drawn the two cards that made up my ultimate combo. A combo so strong that it could win me a duel using eightthousand starting Life Points in just one turn. I selected those two cards, and one other, for good measure. I smiled as I set them, "Oh yeah! As soon as you draw, you lose!" "We'll see," Jonouchi said, drawing his card, and that was it. "Reveal," I declared, "Ring of Destruction' and 'Barrel Behind the Door'! I destroy your 'Swordsman of Landstar', but instead of dealing damage to each of us, 'Barrel' sends the damage I would have taken and sends it back at you!" A gleaming pistol,appeared in my hand, absorbing the flames from the explosion of Jonouchi's monster, and I pulled the trigger,sending the flames back at my opponent, "Bet you didn't see that one coming." "You're right," Jonouchi answered from behind billowing flames, "I really didn't. But lucky for me there's a guy I wanna beat who uses that 'Ring of Destruction' card, so I put somethin' in my deck special for him." I watched as the flames began to swirl around Jonouchi menacingly. "My Instant Spell Card 'Effect Reflect' negates all effect damage I would take from effects activated in the same chain," Jonouchi explained, "and sends it right back at you." The flames errupted forward, heading right for me. I looked down at my last face-down, the card that I'd thought I wouldn't need. Now it was my ony chance. "Reveal my last act of desperation," I declared, mostly to sound dramatic, "the Trap card 'Damage Divergence', reflecting half the damage I'm about to take back at you!" The stream of oncoming flames split, one half circling back toward Jonouchi. We were both hit, and when the flames finally disapated, neither of us had any Life Points left. After an intense exchange, the Duel had ended in a draw. Jonouchi and I stood there for a few moments in silence, staring intensely at each other, until finally we couldn't help it, and we started laughing. After the Duel, Jonouchi and Honda helped me find my hotel. They even walked me all the way there. They were cool guys. Honda even helped me figure out my map before the two left me at my temporay home, with a promise that Jonouchi and I would Duel again somewhere down the road.[/spoiler] [spoiler=John vs. Yugi, Part one] I'm not one to brag (okay fine, I actually am), but I'm pretty good at games. Sometimes I even have a little glimmer that I'm the best, or at least very close to it. That, my good readers, is called arrogance, and if I were a Greek mythological figure, it would be listed on Wikipedia as my fatal flaw. I am not the best, I'm just lucky enough to be naturally talented at games, and I'm thankful for that. It's just that sometimes I allow my talents to go to my head. Lucky for me, this particuar story has very little to do with that. I just wanted to introduce myself a bit. I'm John. I'm twenty-one, and I'm an ex-member of a Team Duel team of Duelists from North America (the only part of the world that really plays team duels, really) known around the country as the Duel Force. Even though we only competed a few times in an actual Team Duel (it only just now occurs to me that I've only written about one of those times), my friends Tucker, Kimi, Rocky, Monty, and Lawrence, my girlfriend Karen, my sister Sarah, and my cousins Jen, Kris and Amanda managed to retain our status as a Team Duel team by entering in tournaments around the U.S. under the team's mantle. In case you care, I have brown eyes, no fashion sense, and brown hair that wouldn't stay in place if I glued it. Aparently I'm the best known member of my team, because after I disbanded my Duel Force and allowed my sister to carry on in my place, I was invited by Seto Kaiba and Maxamillion Pegasus to attend a school that they were creating for Duelists. From there I managed to earn a place on a Team Duel team being assembled by Pegasus. I'm glad for my success, but deep down I know that it all stems from one event; during the second Grand Championship held by Kaiba Corporation, I defeated Yugi. This bothers me for one simple reason; I didn't defeat Yugi. It's a whole thing. A whole thing that I've already written about once and don't plan on writing about again here. Let's just say there were...unique circumstances. I also held the Egyptian God cards once. That's not really important to this story, I just think it's cool. Anyway, this particular story takes place during a rough patch in my life. I was still in school, at Duel Academy. It was just before my second year, so i was nineteen. Karen and I were in the middle of the worst fight we'd ever had. One of the first fights we'd ever had. Needless to say, I was depressed, but when I was offered entry into a tournament in Japan, sponsored by a subsidiary of Pegasus' company, Industrial Illusions, along with round-trip plane tickets, I accepted. At the very least it would give me a chance to blow off some steam. I got on the plane and rode in complete silence. Then I rode in a company car to the arena in complete silence. Once I arrived I defeated my opponents with as few words as possible until I finally got fed up and let myself be eliminated. I was leaving the arena, planning to roam the town until it was time for me to catch my plane home that night. But before I could get very far, my self-loathing was interrupted by a voice. "I don't mean to talk down, but when I heard that you were going to be in this tournament, I expected more." "Sorry to disappoint you," I snapped, turning toward the source of the voice, "but-." And then I paused, because where I'd expexted to see a random fan, of which I have far too many, I instead saw myhero; the greatest Duelist of them all, Yugi Muto. "What-," I began, but I was too surprised to continue. "Sorry," Yugi said, "I didn't mean to startle you." "No," I said, "that's fine. What are you doing here? Not that you shouldn't be here. You can be here if you want." I was rambling, and I stopped when I realized that Yugi was blushing. For the first time ever, it occured to me that Yugi didn't enjoy all of the fame. "Well," Yugi said, answering my previous question, "I was in town. Some guys at Industrial Illusions wants me to let them send my tournament deck on tour for a few months each year, to give my fans a chance to see it for themselves. I was in town to discuss it, and I saw that there was a tournament going on. I decided to watch." "Not compete?" I asked. Yugi looked thoughtful, "No. I like to wait for something big to come along before I duel these days." I nodded. I could understand what he meant. The last time I'd met Yugi, he'd suggested to me that he, like me, used to fight darkness, using Duel Monsters as a weapon. I could understand how something like that could make relatively small tournaments like this seem insignificant. "That's why you only ever really compete in big name events now?" I asked. Yugi nodded, "That's right." By then the shock was wearing off, and I recalled what Yugi had said to me to start this entire conversation, "Wait, what do you mean you 'expected more'?" "Well," he answered, "I just expected you to be stronger. When we fought at the second Grand Championship, you were clearly a formidable Duelist. You were able to handle the Egyptian Gods, after all." "To be fair," I interjected, "that was a unique situation." "Still," Yugi continued, "you were strong enough that you worried me, to a point that only a few Duelists ever have. You should have won that tournament." "I'm sorry," I said, turning again to walk away, "but I don't care who you are, you don't get to say things like that to people." "Wait," Yugi snapped. "I'm sorry. There used to be someone to be forceful for me, but he's not around anymore. I have to be forceful for myself now. I can't just sit and watch such a strong person break down like this. Maybe if you tell me what's wrong, I can help." I didn't want to, and I was angry at this stranger for suggesting that I would. I turned to tell him just that, but when I met his eyes I saw a sincerity there that I'd never seen on anyone before, and behind that, a wisdom that could only come with great experience. This guy had been through a lot. So I said, "Fine. I'm having girl troubles." "Oh," Yugi responded, laughing a little, "I don't know much about that." "Not only that," I continued, pacing back and forth and gesturing wildly as I ranted, "but I keep going through more and more Duel Monsters related crap. Life and death stuff. I used to be able to get through it by remembering that I really love dueling, but lately I just don't know anymore!" "Now that I know about," Yugi replied, a smug look on his face as he adjusted the Duel Disk on his arm. "How about this," he proposed. "You duel me, and we'll see if you still aren't sure about dueling by the time the duel ends." "You want to duel me?" "Sure," Yugi replied. "You did say you'd duel against me again, after our Grand Championship match. Why not right now?" I considered it, grumbling to myself until I came to a decision. "Fine," I said, stepping back from Yugi and standing to face him,"but if we're gonna do this, let's do this right." I brandished the Duel Disk on my arm, and in a flash of deep violet light my Duel Disk changed shape and color, turning black, and elongating until it looked like a blade. "Impressive," Yugi taunted, "but flashy tricks like that won't matter once our duel gets started. Oh, and just so you know, I'll be using my real deck today." "Real deck?" I asked. "The deck you and everyone else knows," Yugi explained, "was built with the help of a good friend. It's powerful, but it isn't really me. Let me show you what is." He drew his cards (LP: 8000), "I begin my turn with the monster card 'Toy Tank', in attack mode!" Yugi's monster, a small tin tank reminiscent of a Roid monster, appeared at his side (ATK: 1600). It looked harmless, but when I saw the look in Yugi's eyes, when I saw the fierce determination there, I knew that I was in more trouble than I could possibly imagine.[/spoiler] [spoiler=John vs. Yugi, Part Two] "My turn isn't over," Yugi declared, though I really could have guessed that. What I couldn't have guessed was that Yugi was about to do something completely unexpected. "Next I play 'Toy Box'," Yugi continued. What? I wondered. Is he seriously using a Toy deck? Should I feel insulted? But Yugi knew what he was going, I just didn't know it yet. "I place my 'Toy Tank' in the 'Toy Box'," Yugi explained, "allowing me to place one 'Toy' from my deck in the 'Box' as well." A second toy, this time a 'Toy Soldier', appeared as well (ATK: 1500), and both were lifted into a living wooden box, painted bright colors. "Since I no longer have any monsters on the field to defend myself with," Yugi explained, "I set a card." Good, I thought as Yugi's card appeared as a hologram, at least he's not taking me lightly. "And to finish things up," Yugi concluded, "I play 'Gold Sarcophagus', removing one card in my deck from play along with the golden box." A solid gold puzzle box appeared above the field, the Spell card 'Dimensionhole' appearing and falling into it before it disappeared." "In two turns," Yugi explained unnecessarily, "the box will return to play and open, giving me my card." I registered all of Yugi's words, all the while wondering what he could possibly be planning. It doesn't matter, I finally decided after several seconds of pondering. I drew. "Face-down card or not," I declared, "you've given me a bigger opening than I ever expected. I summon 'Diskblade Rider' and attack!" A demonic warrior appeared aback a powerful-looking motorcycle, a sharp-edged disk in hand, (ATK: 1700). He threw his disk, but Yugi was prepared. "Reveal," he countered, "the Field Trap card 'Sand Fortress'." A wall of a sand castle appeared between Yugi and his attacker. My monster's blade hit the wall and was bounced back, but where it hit half of the wall collapsed. "My 'Fortress'," Yugi explained, "has three thousand Life Points (3000 -> 1300), and until they are gone and the 'Fortress' is destroyed, my own Life Points are safe." "Clever," I praised. "There isn't anything left to do for the moment except set one card, and end my turn." "Set as many cards as you want," Yugi taunted. He seemed to mean it, too, and that made me nervous. "I draw," Yugi continued, "and I begin by opening my 'Toy Box' and taking out my 'Toy Tank'." This is it, I thought, he's going to Tribute Summon. But to my surprise, Yugi had something else planned. As soon as the plastic war machine appeared, the air rippled around it, and it was gone. "Next I use the power of 'Aria from Beyond' to activate the removed from play 'Dimentionhole'," Yugi declared, "taking the 'Tank' out of play until the start of my next turn." Is he building for a double sacrifice? I wondered. One thing that I knew about Yugi's dueling style was that he tried to avoid monsters that cost two tributes, even removing his famous 'Gaia the Fierce Knight' in favor of a version that could be summoned tribute-free. The only two tribute monster I knew him to use in recent years was the 'Dark Magician', but this was a completely unknown deck. Would he include the 'Dark Magician' in it? And if not, what other monster could possibly be powerful or useful enough that Yugi, easily one of the world's most formidable strategic minds, would give up two monsters to summon it? "I end my turn," Yugi concluded, leaving me stunned. "You aren't going to set up any other defenses?" I asked. "No," Yugi replied, smugness in his voice, "I'm not." I smiled, "Well then, don't complain when I bust down your sand wall and hit you directly. I summon 'Y-Dragon Head', and destroy the 'Sand Fortress' with Laser Breath!" My monster, a red mechanical dragon, appeared hovering at my side. He fired an energy beam from his mouth, blasting the 'Sand Fortress' apart (ATK: 1500). "And," I continued, "my 'Rider' attacks directly." 'Diskblade Rider' threw his blade weapon at Yugi, scoring a direct hit, and the first Life Points of the duel were finally shed (ATK: 8000 -> 6300). Yugi didn't so much as bat an eye. It was more than slightly intimidating. Gotta play safe, I decided, especially since I can't figure out what he has planned. "I place one more card face-down," I finished. At that point, I had no idea that I was just playing into Yugi's hand. "Then I draw," Yugi declared, his gaming rythme never faultering, "and my 'Toy Tank' returns, and 'Dimensionhole' goes to my hand." Sure enough, the 'Dimensionhole' opened again, and the Toy monster emerged. 'Gold Sarcophogus' reappeared and opened, and Yugi added the 'Dimensionhole' Spell to his hand. "Next," Yugi continued, the lid of his 'Toy Box' opening once again, and another monster emerging, "I set 'Dimensionhole' and one other card, and summon 'Toy Soldier' from the 'Toy Box'. I tribute both of my Toys to summon a mighty power!" The two Toy monsters disappeared. In their place appeared a huge black dragon with red spots, like glowing red eyes, lining its body. That's... I thought. "Summon forth," Yugi announced, "'Gandora, the Dragon on Destruction'! 'Gandora', activate your special effect! I play half of my Life Points to allow my dragon to remove every other card on the field from play and increase his power accordingly." The glowing red spots on his monster flashed brighter. "Go," Yugi commanded (6300 -> 3150), "Thousand Gigarays!" Beams fired from the glowing spots, piercing every card on the field including my 'Mirror Force' and 'Blast Held by a Tribute', and 'Gandora' gained Attack (ATK: 0 -> 1800). "'Gandora'," Yugi commanded, "attack directly!" The dragon turned his beams on me, flooding my field with red light (8000 -> 6200). "But my turn isn't over," Yugi concluded. "I play 'Card of Sanctity'. We each draw until we hold six cards. And I finish with three cards face-down." I'm not gonna lie, at that point in the duel, I was feeling pretty shaken, but I was determined. "Sorry, Yugi," I said, "but I'm not gonna make it so easy for you. I play 'Dealings in Darkness', a Spell that lets me take five random cards from my deck and, without looking, remove one from play, discard one, and add one to my hand, before shuffling the other two back into the deck." Five random cards slid from the deck. "I remove from play," I declared, picking a random card out of the five and showing it to Yugi, "'W-Winged Catapult'." I picked another card and showed it, "I discard 'Giant Orc'." Finally, I chose a third card and added it to my hand, and then shuffled my deck. "Now let's get this show on the road," I declared, putting on my best smug face. "I summon the card that I was lucky enough to add to my hand, my 'X-Head Cannon'!" My monster, a blue and yellow robotic torso with a cannon on each shoulder, appeared at my side (ATK: 1800). "Next I play 'Ties of the Brethren'. I pay one thousand Life to summon two more machines from my deck!" My Life Points fell (6200 -> 5200), but my advantage increased. A yellow tank with a stalk eye attached to the front, and a mechanical tiger with jets and telescopic wings appeared alongside my other monsters. "Meet," I announced, "my 'Z-Metal Tank' and 'V-Tiger Jet'. And I follow up with 'Dimension Fusion'. I give up two thousand Life to summon as many of my monsters as possible that have been removed from play (5200 -> 3200)." A hole opened between the dimensions, and my 'Y-Dragon Head', and the boxy flying weapon platform 'W-Winged Catapult', appeared from within it. "You may have had the edge up until now," I told Yugi, my confidence growing, "but now I control all five of my powerful magnet monsters. My options are limitless!" Of course, I couldn't have been more wrong.[/spoiler] [spoiler=John vs. Yugi, Part Three] "So let's show off some of those options," I continued. I gestured toward the green and yellow robotiger and the blue platform and declared, "'W' and 'V' combine together! Form 'VW-Tiger Catapult'!" The 'Tiger Jet' stacked itself atop the 'Catapult', giving it additional engines and weapons (ATK: 2000). "And next, 'X', 'Y' and 'Z' combine!" The blue torso, 'X', attatched by its base to the back of 'Y-Dragon Head', and 'Y''s wings fell away as it settled down onto the back of the 'Z-Metal Tank', "Form 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon' (ATK: 2800)! "My 'XYZ-Dragon Cannon'," I explained, "can destroy one card that you control for each card I discard." "I won't let that happen!" Yugi declared. "I reveal the Spell card 'Spell into Quick', removing 'Change of Heart' in my hand from play to activate its effect instantly. I gain control of your 'Dragon Cannon' until the End Phase!" An angelic spirit appeared and merged with my more powerful machine, and it moved to my side. "In that case," I continued, "I activate 'Quick Summon', tributing the 'VW-Tiger Catapult' to summon one of my most powerful creatures, the 'Great Maju Garzette'!" My machine disappeared, and a brown-colored skeletal demon with a jewel in his forehead and each shoulder appeared, standing defiantly behind me. "My monster's power," I explained, "is double that of the monster used to summon him. That gives 'Great Maju' a full four thousand Attack! And I'm gonna use that power right now to attack my own 'Dragon Cannon', dealing you twelve hundred damage." 'Great Maju Garzette' waved his hand, releasing a burst of pure black light. Twelve hundred damage isn't a lot, but it was something, and obviously something was too much for Yugi. "Reveal," he declared, "ultimate offering, paying five hundred Life (3150 -> 2650) to tribute your machine for 'Darkred Enchanter', in defense mode." 'XYZ' was replaced by a wizard in red robes, hunkered down to take the full force of the attack. He was destroyed, but Yugi had succeeded in saving himself from seven hundred points of damage. "Next," Yugi announced, "since your Battle Phase is over, I reveal to Trap monster, 'Stronghold the Moving Fortress'." In that moment, I knew what Yugi was planning, and I didn't like it. Worst of all, however was the realization, as the enormous humanoid robot appeared, slumped over, as he was missing three large gears from his chest, that there was nothing I could do, at least not yet. "I end." Yugi drew his next card, "I begin my turn with the monster card 'Red Gadget'." Yugi's newest card, a red robot with a gear on its back appeared. "This," Yugi explained, "allows me to search my deck for 'Yellow Gadget'." A card ejected from Yugi's deck, and he continued, "I pay five hundred Life to summon the 'Yellow Gadget' as well (2650 -> 2150)." A similar yellow robot appeared as well. "This," Yugi explained once again, "lets me add the final gadget to my hand." Another card ejected from my opponent's deck, "I summon it as well (2150 -> 1650). This little combo cost me a lot of Life, but it was worth it, because when I control 'Stronghold' and the Gadgets, the Gadgets take the place of 'Stronghold''s missing gears, and he changes to attack mode!" As Yugi described their actions, the Gadgets connected with the giant robot's chest, and he rose to his feet (ATK :3000). Here is comes, I thought. I didn't know how he planned to do it, but I knew Yugi would kill 'Maju' that same turn, and sure enough, he did. "Finally," Yugi declared, "I activate 'Union Attack'." Yugi's Gadgets glowed, "My Gadgets share their individual power with the 'Fortress' for one turn, but in exchange you to no Battle Damage when he attacks you (3000 -> 6900). 'Sronghold', attack!" 'Stronghold the Moving Fortress' swung a giant steel fist at my demon, killing him instantly with the impact. "You're even better than I remember," I told the King of Games excitedly. "I have to say the same about you," Yugi replied. "Still, I'm gonna win this game." He paused, "But lucky for you, I won't be winning just yet. I end my turn, and the Attack of 'Stronghold' goes back to normal (6900 -> 3000). Make your move." Be careful what you ask for, I thought. "You're gonna wish I hadn't in a minute here," I said, as I drew my card, "because my next monster is my favorite, and my most reliable. Because you control at least two more monsters than I do, I can Special Summon this warrior straight from my hand!" Energy crackled around me, flashing yellow and black. It coalesced in one point at my side, and flared out, forming a tall, powerful-looking man in a battle skirt and yellow and black armor, his arms crossed defiantly. "Yugi," I said, "I'm sure you remember my friend 'Fiend Megacyber' (ATK: 2200). 'Fiend Megacyber', introduce yourself to Yugi's 'Yellow Gadget'!" My monster lunged forward and jumped up, ending up level with the giant 'Stronghold''s chest. He punched 'Yellow Gadget', smashing it to pieces (LP: 1650 -> 650). Missing one of its components, the giant robot shut down (ATK: 3000 -> 0). "And that's not all," I concluded. "I set two cards face-down on the field and I pass thet turn off to you." Yugi drew. I was expecting a big play from him in retaliation, so you can imagine that I was surprised when he simply buffed his hand with 'Pot of Greed', changed his three remaining monsters to defense mode, and set a card. This can't be right, I thought. I can't be overwhelming Yugi. Can I? Despite my disbelief, however, I had to act as if I was. I would never get an opportunity this good again! "Then I'll summon 'Djinn Presider of Rituals'," I declared, the fat demon swordsman appearing beside my warrior, "and I press my advantage. I attack 'Green Gadget' and 'Stronghold the Moving Fortress'!" My monsters attacked together, crushing two more of Yugi's machines. Okay, I thought, sure now, he's gonna make his comeback this turn, I know it. Yugi drew, and he looked down at his hand as if he were disappointed. "I set another card," Yugi declared, "and set a monster, and that's all." I was shocked! I couldn't believe it. This was my chance! I still had another monster is my hand. All I had to do was summon it and attack with all three and, provided that my attacks went through, I'd win! "I draw," I declared, "and I summon another of my favorite cards, my 'Stygian Street Patrol'. And my three monsters attack!" 'Presider' and 'Stygian Street Patrol' attacked first, destroying 'Red Gadget' and the face-down monster, which was revealed as 'Magician of Faith'. Aw, crap. "I add a Spell card to my hand," Yugi explained calmly as my warrior approached him, "via 'Faith''s effect, and then discard 'Kuriboh'!" My warrior swung his mighty fist, but he was blocked when a tiny floating fluff ball appeared and suddenly transformed into more than fifty copies of itself, creating a wall just strong enough to absorb the hit for their master. I was amazed, but I was still determined to win. "You survived this turn," I declared, "but I'll get you soon enough." Yugi smiled, "Sorry, but you won't." He drew a card to begin his turn, "After all, I've already won!"[/spoiler] [spoiler=John vs. Yugi, Part Four] "I set a card," Yugi began, "and I play the Spell that I returned to my hand via the effect of 'Magician of Faith', my 'Card of Sanctity'. We each refill our hands." He drew his cards, as did I, watching closely as he did so. Part way through the draw, a card seemed to catch his eye. Once he was finished drawing, he showed me the card, "Because I drew 'Watapon' outside of the Draw Phase, I can Special Summon it to the field." As Yugi spoke, a small white fuzz ball of a fairy appeared at his side. "Next," Yugi declared, "I play 'Fair Trade'! This Spell allows me to tribute one monster that I control, and then Special Summon a monster of the same Level from my Graveyard. I choose to tribute 'Watapon' for 'Kuriboh'!" As the white puff ball was replaced with a brown one, I wasn't surprised. I'd seen Yugi use his 'Kuriboh' and 'Watapon' cards similarly before. The only real difference was that this time he'd used a combo to summon 'Kuriboh' rather than 'Watapon', and I knew from following Yugi's duels that 'Kuriboh' was often one of his most dangerous monsters. "Good combo," I told Yugi honestly, "but don't expect me to underestimate 'Kuriboh' just because he's small. I've seen enough dangerous Level One monsters, and enough of your duels, to know better." "Then I'll forego trying to bluff you," Yugi replied, "and get right on with it. I play 'Multiply'. When used defensively, this card creates the 'Kuriboh Wall' as I call it, but when used offensively, it copies a week monster two to four times. In the case of 'Kuriboh', its the latter." As he spoke, four more 'Kuribohs' split off of the first. "When holographic Duel Monsters switched from using super-realism stages to using Duel Disks," Yugi explained, "'Kuriboh' lost the ability to use its explosive powers as an offense, but this card more than makes up for it. Activate the Spell card 'Detonate', allowing each of my 'Kuribohs' to self-destruct, taking your cards with them!" The five 'Kuribohs' flew at my three monsters and my two face-down cards. "Good try, Yugi," I countered, "but I expected something like this, so I was ready with 'My Body as a Shield', paying fifteen hundred Life to negate an effect that includes destroying a monster." "And I was ready for something like that," Yugi retorted. "Reveal 'Spell Power Backfire'. I pay half of my Life (250 -> 125) to change the effect of your Spell card to 'Destroy every Spell and Trap card on the field'." The hologram of my Spell exploded. The five 'Kuribohs' advanced. "Then I discard 'Megacyber Armor'," I declared, "a Spell that I can send from my hand to the Graveyard to prevent a Megacyber monster from being destroyed once." 'Megacyber''s armor became thicker, reminiscent of a shogun's armor, just as the 'Kuribohs' hit their marks and blasted apart. 'Megacyber Armor' protected its wearer, but it was destroyed in the process. The other 'Kuribohs' were more successful, hitting and destroying my other two monsters and my face-down 'Mirror Force'. "Your strongest monster might have survived," Yugi declared, "but I'm not finished with you yet. The effect of my 'Spell Power Backfire didn't just prevent your effect from going off. It also destroyed my two face-down copies of 'Toy Magician'. And because it was the effect of your card that destroyed them, they're Special Summoned to the field in attack position!" More toy monsters appeared, this time two blue plastic sorcerers, each about a foot tall, wearing plastic capes and carrying glowing, plastic wands (ATK: 1600 (each)). "Your monsters can't beat mine," I said, though I wasn't nearly as sure as I sounded. "These two 'Toy Magicians' can't defeat your monster alone, that's true," Yugi agreed, "but I have a third 'Toy Magician', and together they can win. I activate 'Magical Dimension'!" A coffin appeared, suspended in a steel frame. It swung open, and one of the two Spellcasers settled inside. "One of my 'Toy Magicians'," Yugi explained as the door of the trick coffin closed, "sacrifices himself to summon my third 'Toy Magician' to the field in his place!" The coffin opened again, and the third magician, which was visibly identical to the others, emerged. "Now," Yugi declared, "due to the additional effect of 'Magical Dimension', my monsters can conbine their power to destroy one monster in play." The two magicians crossed their wands and, in a burst of light, 'The Fiend Megacyber' was vaporized. I fought well, I thought, and I had fun. It was then that I realized that I wasn't quite sure when I'd started having fun. "I finish it," Yugi stated. "'Toy Magicians' one and two, attack directly with Block Demolition!" The twin Spellcasters attacked as one (3200 -> 0), and the duel was over. After the duel, I snuck back into the stadium and bought Yugi and myself each a soda. We sat on the curbside behind the stadium and drank silently for several minutes before I finally spoke. "Thanks," I said. "You were right. I was being way too hard on myself. I still need to take some time to really get back to me, to who I am without all of the crap, and even all of the people, that've been following me around for so long, but after our duel I finally feel like things will go back to normal eventually. After all, I was trying to be mad at myself, and you, and the whole damn world, and all it took to change that was a really fun game of cards." "Yeah, well," Yugi said, blushing a bit again and smiling modestly, "if there's one thing I'm pretty good at, it's helping my friends." I was pretty taken aback by that, "We're friends?" "Well, yeah," Yugi replied, "though I'm not too picky when it comes to friends. Still, you seem like a good guy, you're tough, and we've got stuff in common, so as far as I'm concerned, we're friends. And I help my friends. Friendship is kinda a big thing to me." "Thanks," I said, flattered. "And by the way," Yugi told me, taking another drink of soda, "good as you fought today, I still get the feeling that you're still not at your strongest. You're already so strong, and yet you still have room to grow exponentially. That's exciting for a gamer like me who enjoys big challenges, so I'm making you a rival, too." He took one final drink from from his soda can and then stood up. I stood up with him. "Well," he said, "I have places to be. I'll see you around." He offered me his hand to shake, "If you're ever in Domino City feel free to stop by Kame Game Shop. I'm not in town as often as I used to be, but you never know, and my grandpa will be around. He'll give you a discount on cards 'cuz we're friends. And if we do bump into each other, we can duel again. By then you'll be through this whole rough time, and you'll be even tougher than you were today." I nodded, "It's a deal." With that, we went our separate ways, each of us looking forward to the day when we would meet again.[/spoiler] [spoiler=Judai vs. Judai, Part One] Judai Yuki was lying in his bunk in the Osiris Red dorm on Academy island. Of course these days, that's usually what he was doing. He didn't yet see what his friends, human, spirit, and Duel Monster had all begun to see, that since his many life or death duels in the other dimention and then against the entity known as Truman, Judai just wasn't himself anymore. He'd forgotten how to have fun dueling, something that would have been the end of the world to the Judai who'd arrived at Duel Academy only a few years ago. As the spirit of Judai's friend and teacher Lyman Banner watched invisibly, Judai absentmindedly took the 'Honest' card that he'd recieved before his most recent duel and turned it in his fingers, examining it. At that moment, Judai's oldest spirit monster, his childhood favorite card Yubel appeared alongside Banner. The two didn't usually comunicate, but both recognized that their friend was having issues, and that he needed help. "This is your fault, you know," Banner told Yubel. "You went crazy and forced him to duel for his life, and now you've fused with him, along with all of your instabilities and abandonment issues. It isn't healthy." "My past actions were misguided," Yubel admitted, "but it was his choice to fuse with me. Doing so returned me to what I was. My 'instabilities' are no more." As Yubel spoke in her strangly androgynous voice, the plump orange cat, Pharaoh, jumped up onto Judai's desk and looked from Yubel to Banner and back, "Besides, I live in Judai's mind now. I see in him the potential to return to the person he was, but I do not know how to bring him to realize that potential." As the spirits watched, Judai placed the 'Honest' card back into his deck. Even though he no longer wanted to duel, even though he no longer enjoyed it like he once did, he kept dueling out of a sense of responsability, like the responsability of keeping the promise to the spirit of that card, to keep it safe and give it a new home. "It is a shame," Banner said. "At its base level, Duel Monsters is a game. It may be the weapon of choice of modern magic users and spirits, but itis still an instrument to bring fun and enjoyment to as many people as possible. It is a shame that anyone who once loved the game could forget that." Yubel said nothing, and when Banner looked over at her, he saw that she was even sadder than he was. "I can't help him," Banner told her. "I don't have the powers that you do." "How can I help?" Yubel asked. "I may see bits and pieces of the young man that he was before I hurt him in his stray memories, but I didn't know him then." "No," Banner agreed as Judai, having fallen asleep, began to snore lightly, "but he does. Go into his mind and find a memory of the Judai from before and bring it out in his dreams. Let him meet the person he once was face to face, and let him decide which person he really wants to be." Yubel seemed to consider Banner's suggestion, and then, finally, she disappeared without a word, leaving Banner alone with the cat. "Don't even think about it, Pharaoh," Banner said. "I'm no one's lunch." Meanwhile, in the depths of Judai's subconscious, Yubel found what she was looking for and, after using her powers to make it 'real', she returned to her master. She found him dreaming of the river near the red dorm. It was a place he often went to be alone and think. "I was wondering where you were, Yubel," he said. "I don't always follow you into your dreams," she replied. "You know that when you're not dreaming." "Am I dreaming?" Judai wondered aloud. Before his question could be answered, however, he heard something behind him. Yubel faded away, returning to Judai's soul, as Judai turned and found himself face to face with a boy. He had brown hair that was a bit shorter and lighter than Judai's, and the red jacket that he wore was the brighter red that the school had used during Judai's first year. His Duel Disk was also the same drab, gray basic model from Judai's previous years at Duel Academy. Even for a dream, it was unbelievable, but as Judai looked into the eyes of the other boy, the eyes that were so much brighter than, but otherwise the same as his own, there was no mistaking who the other boy was. He was also Judai, but Judai from his first year at Duel Academy. From before everything went wrong. Seeing that forgotten part of himself made Judai sad, and then it made him angry. "Wow," the other Judai said, awestruck, "this is too weird. You look just like me, but older! Are you, like, my future self?" "Go away," Judai told his younger self as he turned to face the river. "There's no place for you here anymore." "Wow," the other Judai said, almost as sternly as his older counterpart, "future me is harsh." Then his voice almost instantly turned playful once again, "But hey, that's fine. I get it. I grew up, right, so I don't wanna live in the past. I'm still in school, in red dorm, but I bet I'm still dueling up a storm and loving every minute!" The other Judai smiled, waiting for a response, and when none came, he said, "I still duel, right?" "I duel all the time," Judai replied, "but it's not because I want to." "What's that mean?" the younger Judai asked, clearly confused. "You wouldn't understand," Judai replied. "What's that mean?" the younger Judai asked, insulted. "Listen," Judai told his younger self, "all I mean is that you're gonna go through a lot in the course of the next couple of years, and through it all you'll realize the truth, that dueling isn't fun for someone like us. It's a responsability. My responsability, to fight to protect other from whatever villain plans to misuse Duel Monsters next." "What about my dream of becoming the next King of Games?" the younger Judai asked. "I forgot about that a long time ago," Judai answered sadly. "What?" the younger Judai demanded. "That's been my dream for as long as I can remember. Since before I built my Elemental Hero deck. Since before I won the chance to send my card designs into space. No way I'd ever give that up." "Well believe it ot not," Judai snapped, turning back to his younger self, "you did." The younger Judai looked warily at his older self, "I don't think I like you very much." "Yeah, well neither do I," Judai told him. "You've forgotten how to enjoy dueling," the younger Judai insisted. "Even when you're in a tough situation, you've gotta remember that. And if you won't remember on your own, I'll make you." He placed his cards in his Duel Disk and switched it on. "Okay," Judai told his younger self, "Maybe when I win you'll go away." He hadn't noticed his Duel Disk on his arm before, but there in his dream, when he needed them, Judai's cards and Duel Disk were there. His eyes glowed bichromatically green and orange to match Yubel's, and he felt her with him there in spirit, ready to lend her strength. "You know, future me," the younger Judai announced, the ghostly image of 'Winged Kuriboh' appearing at his side, "I don't think this duel is gonna be as quick as you think. In fact, let's have some fun and play a full duel." "Fine," Judai agreed, setting his Life Points to eight thousand, "it doesn't matter to me how many life Points I take from you." The two versions of the same Duelist stood face to face, at the ready, and two nearly identical voices wrang out, "Duel!"[/spoiler] [spoiler=Judai vs. Judai, Part Two] "I'll get things started," the younger Judai declared. Judai didn't argue. It didn't matter to him who began the duel. After all, he knew his younger self. He knew his strengths and strategies. There was no way that he could lose. "I summon 'Elemental Hero Clayman' in defense mode, and throw down a face-down!" A bulky warrior made of sturdy clay armor appeared, hunched down in a defensive posture (DEF: 2000). "You should know," Judai said, "that I know your deck as well as I know my own, and I know exactly what's coming. You set 'Clay Charge' so that, when I attack, my monster will be destroyed and I'll take damage." The younger Judai didn't respond, and Judai knew he was right. "My turn," Judai began. "I've come a long way since I used a combo like that. I'm gonna show you how far. I play 'Subspatial Battle'." "Oh," the younger Judai exclaimed, "cool card! I don't have that one." "Anyway," Judai continued, "we each reveal three monsters from our deck, one at a time. Each time the stronger monster goes to it's owner's hand, and the weaker monster is destroyed, and it's owner takes five hundred damage." Each Judai chose three monsters. First, Judai revealed 'Necro Guardna', and his younger counterpart revealed 'Elemental Hero Bladedge'. "Looks like I win round one!" the younger Judai exclaimed. A ghostly image of the powerful-looking, gold-armored, blade-armed warrior appeared and sliced a ghostly image of Judai's monster, a wicked-looking warrior in black and red armor. Judai took damage (8000 -> 7500) but it didn't phase him. Next, Judai revealed a strange creature, like a living demonic wall, the 'Necro Defender', and his younger self revealed the yellow and blue-armored lightning warrior 'Elemental Hero Sparkman'. "I win again!" the younger Judai exclaimed as his monster vaporized Judai's with one blast. Again, Judai took a hit (7500 -> 7000). "This is the last one," the younger Judai said playfully. "If I win this one, I'm gonna be really disappointed." "Then you won't be disappointed," Judai told him, "because my last monster is 'Elemental Hero Neos'." A monster in a white suite with a blue gem on his chest and blades on his arms appeared and blasted the younger Judai's 'Elemental Hero Necroshade' with a beam of light. The younger Judai took his first hit (8000 -> 7500), but he didn't care. "That's the monster I designed! I remember, I based him off of Ultraman, and I gave him the power to fuse with aliens from space. I never thought he'd get made into a real card!" Judai ignored him, "Next I set a monster and end my turn." "Alright," the younger Judai began, "I'm up again! I use the effect of the 'Necroshade' that you put in my Graveyard to normal summon the 'Bladedge' that you put in my hand!" The younger Judai's golden monster reappeared, this time more substantially, posing heriocally. "I don't see any Traps," the younger Judai said, "so unless the game has changed a lot in two years, I think I'll be okay if I attack!" 'Bladedge' lunged at Judai's hidden monster. Don't try to bluff me, Judai thought. I know that you know what my 'Necro Guardna' does. You expect me to use it to stop your attack. Won't you be surprised. After all, that monster is part of my back-up plan. 'Bladedge' struck. Judai's monster was revealed, an evil-looking living tomato. 'Bladedge' cut it in half, and his piercing effect dealt Judai further damage (7000 -> 5500). "'Mystic Tomato'?" the younger Judai wondered. "How much has my deck changed?" "More than you can imagine," Judai replied. "You recognized 'Neos'. Let's see if you recognize this one. With my 'Tomato''s effect, I summon my spirit partner, Yubel!" The winged, multicolored demon woman appeared at Judai's side, her arms crossed defiantly. "I do recognize that monster!" the young Judai exclaimed. "It was my favorite for years, but I could never summon it, so I got rid of it. I've regretted it ever since." Judai looked over at Yubel, and she smiled down at him with motherly affection. "Don't worry," Judai said, "we get her back." "I'm glad," the young Judai continued, "but just because Yubel was my favorite card once it doesn't mean I won't fight my hardest against her. I set two face-downs and end my turn." "Then you already lose," Judai declared. "I'm not kidding around. I'm going to summon my most powerful monster. I play 'Fake Hero', Special Summoning 'Neos' from my hand, and I send 'Neos' and 'Yubel' to the Graveyard to initiate a Contact Fusion, combining them together," the white-suited hero reappeared, and in a flash Yubel merged with his suite. His arms, shoulders and chest became encased in armor colored the black and purple of Yubel's body. His head was encased in a black cowl that covered his eyes, Yubel's red third eye appearing on his forehead. Yubel's wings sprouted from the sides of his head. "This is 'Neos Wiseman'," Judai explained, "the monster that's gonna win this duel (ATK: 3000)." With pride, Judai declared his attack, "'Neos Wiseman', destroy 'Bladedge' with Ultimate Nova!" "Then it's time I reveal my first face-down," the younger Judai declared. "It wasn't 'Clay Charge' after all. It was 'A Hero Emerges'! You pick a card from my hand, and if it's a monster it becomes the new target of your attack." As Judai waited, his younger self shuffled his hand. Finally he stopped. Judai took only a second to decide which of the four cards to choose, "The one all the way left." "Alright!" young Judai exclaimed, and he slapped the card onto his Duel Disk, "I summon 'Hero Kid', which summons two more 'Hero Kids' from my deck!" Three identical monsters, kids in futuristic armor, appeared on the younger Judai's field, standing side by side, ready for action (ATK: 300 (each)). "'Neos' attacks the 'Hero Kid' then," Judai declared, and 'Neos Wiseman' summoned up a massive burst of energy. He released it, but young Judai was ready. "Next I reveal 'Kid Guard', tributing one 'Hero Kid' to negate the attack of your monster." The lead 'Hero Kid' lunged at the 'Wiseman''s attack, intercepting it with all of his might, holding it back from the other monsters until it dissipated. 'Hero Kid' disappeared with the attack. "Next I add 'Elemental Hero Avian' to my hand with the effect of 'Kid Guard'," young Judai concluded. Frustrated, Judai placed a card on his Duel Disk, "One face-down, and I end my turn. Good luck getting past my monster. After all, when he battles he deals you damage equal to your monster's Attack, and gives me Life Points equal to your monster's Defense." "Good to know," young Judai replied. "Even with such a strong power, I think I know how to beat your monster. "Draw!" he added a new card to his hand. "And I play 'Polymerization', fusing the two 'Hero Kids' on my field into 'Hero Teen'!" The two diminuitive warriors became one teenage version of 'Hero Kid'. "I know we never use this card much," young Judai declared, "but I'm sure you remember that it gains two hundred Attack for every 'Kid' in the Grave!" The young Judai watched excitedly as his monster powered up via its effect (ATK: 1100 -> 1700). He's so unfocused, Judai noted, justt like I used to be. He has no idea what he's getting himself into. "Sorry," young Judai said, "but as serious as you've gotten, you've lost your Duelist spirit. I reveal my last face-down, 'Miracle Kids', decreasing the Attack of 'Neos Wiseman' by twelve hundred!" The spirits of the three 'Hero Kids' emerged from young Judai's Graveyard and attacked 'Neos' one by one (3000 -> 1800). "My 'Bladedge' attacks!" young Judai commanded, and 'Bladedge' struck with his blade, only to find himself slip right through 'Wiseman' as if he were a ghost and hit Judai instead. "Maybe I did lose my spirit," Judai told his counterpart, "but I've gained a sense of duty, and a willingness to do what needs to be done. Reveal 'Astral Shift' to divert your attack from my monster to myself, and draw a card (5500 -> 2900). "Then let's see what's better," the young Judai said, excited by the prospect, "my spirit or your conviction. I throw down two face-downs and end my turn!" Judai smiled despite himself, This duel is getting interesting.[/spoiler][spoiler=Judai vs. Judai, Part Three] "This duel is as good as over," Judai told his younger counterpart. "I summon 'Sangan', and 'Neos Wiseman' attacks with Ultimate Nova!" Judai's newest monster, the three-eyed fuzz ball 'Sangan' appeared in defense mode. Once again, 'Neos Wiseman' released a wave of destructive light, and this time the younger Judai had no defense. 'Bladedge' was overtaken by the attack, which vaporized him and continued through, hitting the younger Judai full force. He braced himself against the force of the attack (7500 -> 4500). Meanwhile Judai recovered many of the Life Points that he sacrificed (2900 -> 4700), evening things out. "One face-down card," Judai concluded. "Recover from that." "Alright," the younger Judai replied. "Should be fun." He drew, "I summon 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' in attack mode!" The yellow and blue electrical warrior appeared at the younger Judai's side, sparks running up and down his arms (ATK: 1600). "Next up," young Judai declared, "I play another 'Polymerization', fusing the Elemental Heroes 'Avian' and 'Burstinatrix' in my hand into my favorite hero," the feathered warrior 'Avian' and the red-suited female hero 'Burstinatrix' appeared and merged into a tall muscular warrior in a half green, half red full body suite with a single white-feathered wing, and a dragon head for a right hand, "'Elemental Hero Flame Wingman' (ATK: 2100)." He selected another card from his hand, "Next I play 'Miracle Fusion'! I remove 'Sparkman' and 'Flame Wingman' from play to Fusion Summon my ultimate hero," the two monsters merged, and Judai braced himself for what he knew was coming. In the place of the two individual heroes, a new 'Flame Wingman' in shining silver armor appeared, striking a heroic pose. He had two wings, and rather than a dragon head, the new monster had two hands, with a yellow guard strapped to his right arm. "Future me," young Judai announced, "I'm sure you remember 'Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman' (ATK: 2500). He has 'Flame Wingman''s power to inflict damage to my opponent equal to the attack of the monsters he destroys, as well as another super power, the power to absorb three hundred Attack from every Hero in my Graveyard!" 'Flare Wingman' began to shine with a bright light (ATK: 2500 -> 3400). "Last time I checked," young Judai beamed, "that makes my monster stronger than yours." He gestured, his expression filled with pride, "Attack, Shining Shoot!" 'Flare Wingman' rose high in the sky and became wreathed in light. Judai looked at a card in his hand, marveling at the fact that he would need its power twice in so many duels. "You haven't beaten 'Neos' yet," Judai declared. "I send 'Honest' from my hand to the Graveyard to increase the power of 'Neos Wiseman' by an amount equal to your monster's Attack." "Whoah," younger Judai exclaimed, "that is cool!" His monster glowed bright and dropped toward 'Neos'. 'Neos' folded his Yubel wings as he sprouted new, shining rainbow wings from his back and shot into the air to meet his attacker (3000 -> 6400). The two monsters clashed in midair. "Cool," young Jaden said, "but not enough." He selected another card from his hand, "I activate my 'Battle Fusion', increasing my monster's Attack by an amount equal to your monster's Attack." Reckless! Judai thought. He's gonna knock us both out of the duel. 'Flare Wingman' destroyed 'Neos' in a burst of light (ATK: 3400 -> 9800). "My monster inflicts battle damage, and then inflicts another sixty-four hundred damage via his super power," young Judai explained. "And my monster's effect inflict ninty-eight hundred damage to you," Judai countered, a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face. "Then I guess we both lose," young Judai said. As he spoke, 'Flare Wingman' landed in front of Judai, his light blasting Judai with battle damage (4700 -> 1300), and he raised his hand to strike the final blow. "I guess so," Judai agreed, "that is unless I activate 'Effect Shut'. I win." "No way," young Judai exclaimed as his 'Wingman' shattered into pixals, destroyed by Judai's Spell, "because I have 'Effect Shut' too! Both of our effects are negated, and in case you didn't notice, I have more Life Points, and more monsters. I win!" But young Judai had no idea. "Not to mention," young Judai announced, "that it's still my turn. 'Hero Teen' destroys 'Sangan', Hero Kick!" The armored monster crushed the 'Sangan' under foot, leaving Judai defenseless. "When 'Sangan' is destroyed," Judai explained, "I get to search my deck for a new monster." "Line 'em up," young Judai taunted, "and I'll knock 'em down." "Good luck," Judai told him as he chose his card. "Thanks!" young Judai replied, completely missing the point. "You know, you do know your 'Necro Guardna''s effect, right? Well, anyway, another face-down, and its your move. Let's see what else I've got!" "Be careful what you wish for," Judai replied. "I draw, and I get back in the game with 'Monster Reborn' to revive 'Elemental Hero Neos'!" In a flash of light, the white warrior appeared again, the jewel in his chest gleaming as he settled into his place at Judai's side. "You mentioned giving 'Neos' here the power to fuse with alien lifeforms to create new heroes," Judai told his opponent. "Well, I might as well show you that power once before I beat you. Meet one of the heroes of Neo Space, 'Neo-Spacian Dark Panther'!" A black panther wearing a cape appeared at 'Neos'' side (ATK: 1000). "Contact Fusion!" Judai declared, pointing at the sky. His monsters shot into the sky in the suggested direction, and in a flash, the two monsters merged together. The panther's claws became weapons attached to 'Neos'' arms, and his suit turned the black of the panther's fur. 'Neos' gained a helm in the shape of the panther's head, and the panther's cape became sweeping black wings. "Form 'Elemental Hero Dark Neos'!" He chose another card from his hand, "Next let's take this to 'Neos'' home turf. I play the Field Spell card 'Neo Space', taking this fight to a galaxy where 'Neos' and every 'Neos' fusion gains five hundred Attack." Young Judai watched as the sight of the battle changed. The river gave way to an expanse of space filled with bright, swirling nebulae as far as the eye could see. 'Dark Neos'' power grew (ATK: 2500 -> 3000). At first Judai thought that his younger self was intinidated, that he was finally taking things seriously, but he was proven wrong momentarily. "That," the younger Judai exclaimed, clenching his fist triumphantly, "was the most awesome thing I've ever seen!" "Pretty soon it'll be the last thing you see." "Cocky," the younger Judai replied, "aren't ya." "For good reason," Judai told him. "'Neos' attacks with Wrath of the Black Neos!" 'Dark Neos' rose into the air, similar to 'Shining Flare Wingman' earlier, and he fell toward 'Hero Teen', slashing him apart with his claws (4500 -> 3200). "I play 'Contact Out'," Judai declared, and 'Dark Neos' became a point of light from which the original 'Neos' and 'Dark Panther' emerged. "'Neos' finally destroys your 'Clayman'," Judai declared, "and-." "Hold up," the younger Judai interrupted, "you seem to have forgotten about my face-down. This time it is 'Clay Charge'!" Judai frowned. He should have seen something like that coming. But he hadn't, and so he was forced to watch, helpless, as 'Clayman' charged at the attacking 'Neos'. Both monsters shattered, and Judai took another hit (1300 -> 800). Well, Judai thought, it looks like I'm gonna need my back-up plan after all. "I attack directly with 'Dark Panther'," Judai concluded, and the panther slashed the younger man (3200 -> 2200), "set a card, and end my turn. Good luck making a comback with an empty hand." "Thanks again," the younger Judai replied. "Man, maybe I misjudged you. If you keep wishing me good luck, then you can't be too bad. "Anyway," he drew, "one card or one hundred, I'm not outta this yet. I set my newest card and end my turn." Judai smiled, relieved, I'm not gonna need it after all. Still, it couldn't hurt to finish this with a bit of overkill. I don't want dreams like this to become a regular thing. He eyes began to glow again, first gold and then green and orange, and Judai drew his card. "I activate 'Graceful Charity' to draw three cards and discard two." He drew, and sent two monsters, 'Elemental Hero Necroshade' and 'Cross Porter' from his hand to the Graveyard. "Hey," the younger Judai said, scratching his head, "I just realized that you keep putting Dark monsters into your Graveyard. Why is that?" "You're about to find out," Judai answered. "I remove seven Dark monsters in my Graveyard from play to summon one of the most powerful monsters ever, the 'Rainbow Dark Dragon'!" The younger Judai watched in awe as a massive dark dragon appeared. It was serpentine, with jewels all down its sides. It spread its black-feathered wings and roared at the sky (ATK: 4000). "But I'm just showing off," Judai told his younger self. "With what I just drew, I didn't need to summon 'Rainbow Dragon'. Because I have this. I reveal 'Call of the Haunted' to return 'Neos' to the field, and I play 'Polymerization', forming 'Rainbow Neos'." The white hero appeared again, and merged with the dragon, becoming a winged 'Neos' in bejeweled white armor. He rose high into the air, basking in the light of 'Neo Space' (4500 -> 5000). "'Call of the Haunted' remains on the field," Judai explained, "so I can send it to the Grave to return your set card to your deck. And I attack with Rainbow Flare Stream!" 'Rainbow Neos' released a multicolored burst if heat and light. Judai expected to see defeat in his opponent's eyes, but when he looked, he saw his younger self staring 'Neos' in the eye, smiling, his eyes gleaming with excitement. As Judai watched, astonished, a brown ball of fur with white wings flew past the younger Judai and met the oncoming attack in a flash of light, absorbing it completely. "'Winged Kuriboh'? But how?" "Easy," the younger Judai answered. "My face-down was 'Flute of Summoning Kuriboh'. I activated it just as your effect activated, summoning 'Winged Kuriboh' from my deck. My Life Points are safe this turn!" Judai was shocked at the sheer resourcefulness of his younger self, but he only hesitated for an instant. "I change 'Dark Panther' to defense mode and end my turn." "Alright!" the younger Judai exclaimed. He looked up at 'Rainbow Neos'. His eyes lit up as he pondered how he could defeat it. Judai could see his young counterpart shoot down one counterattack plan after another in his head, and each time his eyes got a little brighter. Suddenly Judai felt a twinge of nestalgia for the time when he could bring himself to feel that way. Finally, after several minutes, the younger Judai said, "I can't think of anything. I guess I'll have to come up with something as I go. "I draw," he looked at his newest card and smiled, "and I play my own 'Graceful Charity' to draw three cards, and discard 'Elemental Hero Wildheart' and 'Wroughtweiler'. Next I activate the card I kept, 'Fifth Hope'. I shuffle 'Wildheart', 'Avian', 'Burstinatrix', 'Bladedge', and 'Clayman' into my deck to draw three cards." Young Judai shuffled his deck, and his hand of zero cards became a hand of three. "Something's been bothering me this whole game," the younger Judai confided in his older self. "Seeing you fight alongside 'Neos', the monster we created, I can't help but feel that I should be fighting by his side as well. Like should have always been fighting with him. I bet that's how you felt when you got him. On that note, I think maybe, win or lose, I should have 'Neos' by my side as well. I summon the 'Elemental Hero Avian' that I just redrew in defense mode," the feathered warrior appeared, striking up a defensive stance. "Next," the younger Judai continued, "I play 'Name of a Friend', a Spell that duplicates the form of any one monster in your Graveyard. The monster I choose is 'Elemental Hero Neos'." As he spoke, the form of a white-suited man appeared at his side, looking up at his more powerful counterpart defiantly. "It's like us," the younger Judai said. "I might be younger and less experienced than you, but just like my 'Neos' and yours, we're otherwise the same. The only real chance I have of winning is my desire to win. My desire to win that I have despite the fact that I'm having fun." He took the final card from his hand, "I play 'Card of Sanctity'. We each have an empty hand, so we each draw six cards. This is all or nothing." Both combatants drew their cards. The younger Judai seemed to be forming an idea. He looked over at 'Neos', who nodded. "Alright," the younger Judai said, "'Neos', I'm trusting you here." He played a card, "I activate 'Creature Swap'. We each choose a monster to give to our opponent." "I pick my 'Dark Panther'," Judai declared. "And I pick 'Avian'," the other Judai declared. The two monsters switched places. "Now," the younger Judai explained, "I control 'Neos' and a 'Neo-Spacian'." "Don't tell me you're planning a Contact Fusion," Judai said. "Nothing so simple," the other Judai replied. "I activate my last 'Polymerization', combining 'Neos' and 'Black Panther' on the field with 'Burstinatrix', 'Wildheart' and 'Bubbleman' in my hand." The younger Judai's monsters appeared and merged together with 'Neos' in a flash of light. The light lingered, growing brighter as 'Neos' rose slowly into the sky, until 'Neos' was little more than a form of light in the shape of the white warrior. The light began to fade, revealing 'Neos'' new form underneath the glow. He was still 'Neos', but 'Neos' in golden armor and a golden helm, with six gleaming gold wings. He hung in the air across from his bejeweled counterpart, staring him down. "This is the final round," the young Judai, told his nervous opponent, "your 'Rainbow Neos' vs. my 'Elemental Hero Divine Neos' (ATK: 2500 -> 3000). My monster may be weaker than yours right now, but once per turn, he can absorb the power of one Hero in my Graveyard to gain five hundred Attack and that Hero's effect." Young Judai smiled, "And the Hero he absorbs is my 'Shining Flare Wingman'!" 'Divine Neos' glowed brighter, a ghostly image of 'Wingman' merging with him (3000 -> 3500 -> 5100). Judai frowned. He knew then that he'd lost. "My 'Neos' attacks yours," the young Judai commanded, "Legendary Strike!" 'Divine Neos' summoned light into the gem in his chest and then released it. 'Rainbow Neos' counterattacked. The two attacks met in mid air, but 'Divine Neos'' beam cut right through his opponents, piercing the other 'Neos' through the chest (800 -> 700). 'Divine Neos' dropped down, right in front of Judai. "I finish it," the young Judai declared, "with the 'Flare Wingman''s Solar Flare!" As 'Neos'' light surged outward, overpowering Judai, his young opponent smiled wide and pointed at him, "Gotcha!" And in an instant, Judai found himself awake in his bed. He looked around, and then looked over at the Duel Disk on his arm. Was it real? he wondered. Then he realized how ridiculous that sounded, even in his head and he decided that, as real as it felt, a dream was a dream. Still, he thought as he took a card from his deck, his 'Elemental Hero Neos', maybe there's something to take away from it, dream or not. Judai Yuki got up out of his bunk and headed for the door. For his first time in a long time, he went into the world with the makings of an open mind.[/spoiler] [spoiler=Yuma vs. Yugi, Part One] Yuma Tsukumo was walking down the street with his friends. Well, by walking, we all know I mean walking and arguing. As good a person as Yuma Tsukumo is, he's many other things as well, including energetic, opinionated, and fast to form conclusions, and while he can be smart when he needs to be, his swiftness to act and his general stubborness more often than not prevents him from listening to the points made by others, to the disdain of those others. Today Yuma was hung up on unlocking more of his powers. As scary as it sounds, Yuma is resposible for leading the fight to protect an entire other world. Don't worry too much, though, because Yuma's story takes place well into our future, so if he fails it won't affect us, thankfully. "I still don't think it's a good idea, Yuma," said Yuma'a friend Tori. Like Yuma, she had two-toned hair, though unlike his with it's stark contrast of black with dark pink, almost red, bangs, all spiked up and crazy, Tori's hair was a more understated green on green, and it was styled more natually. "Come on, Tori," Yuma whined, "I know what I'm doing by now. Stop worrying so much." "Well," Tori asked, "what does Astral say?" Yuma looked up at a spot above his shoulder where the glowing blue alien, Astral, whom only Yuma and a select few others could see or hear, was floating. Astral looked even more annoyed than Tori, and the way he looked down at Yuma said that he, too, didn't agree with Yuma's train of thought. "Astral's with me all the way," Yuma lied, badly and awkwardly. "Look, Tori, it's gonna be fine, I totally know how to use the key by now. I know I can unlock more of it's powers without anything bad happening." He suddenly got serious, "Listen, things are getting tough. Astral world is in trouble, and Astral needs me to help him save it. Somewhere in this key is even more power. The more power I have, the sooner I can find the Numeron Code and protect it from Barian World." He looked up at Astral, who's expression softened. "I understand your desire to help," Astral told him, "but we don't understand the key's power yet, not completely. If you start playing around foolishly, it could cause you harm, or break our bond to each other." "Oh, who asked you," Yuma said. "Alright, fine, I won't toy with the key." He reached up to his chest and clutched a triangular golden charm, like an arrowhead with gaps in it, "I just want to help." "There are better ways to find the strength to help your friends," Tori told him. "Then why doesn't the key show me how to do that? It's showed me other stuff before." He clutched the key harder, wishing on it the way he had many times before, wishing to find true strength, and when that didn't work, he shook the key violently, garnering a sigh from Astral. The key began to glow, and to the surprise of both a narrow beam of pure golden light shot from it, reaching through time, and finding true strength, just as Yuma had asked for. The air around him shimmered, and suddenly Tori stopped moving. In fact everything stopped moving, except for Yuma and Astral. Immediately they were on guard. They'd experienced something like this several times before. "What's going on?" Yuma asked. "Is this that thing that Kite does?" "No," Astral replied, looking at the point where the golden beam ended, several yards away, "It's something from the key. What did you do?" "Nothing!" Yuma replied defensively. "I just wished that the key would show me true strength, and it went all crazy!" Yuma would have said more, but just then the point where the beam ended blossomed out, opening up and formingsome kind of portal. Yuma and Astral were silent, because what they saw through the portal didn't make sense. It was a city street, like the one that they were walking, but it looked less modern. The buildings around it were like the ones that Yuma would often see in history books talking about the old Domino City. "There's someone there," Astral said, surprised, and Yuma squinted, and sure enough he saw a short young man standing in the portal. He was wearing a blue jacket with a black shirt underneath, and blue slacks. His hair was died and spiked a lot like Yuma's, and he wore an old Mk. I Duel Disk on his arm, and a large pyramid-shaped charm on a chain around his neck. Thanks to the backlighting caused by the portal, Yuma couldn't see the mysterious figure's face very well, but he couldn't help feeling that this new arrival was somehow familiar. "Can you feel it?" Astral asked. "Whoever this young man is he is very strong. I think the key heard your wish, but instead of showing you how to find strength for yourself, it showed you someone with true strength. We must duel this person. I must see his power first hand so that I can see where it comes from. Hurry, before the portal closes!" "Well look at you getting all excited," Yuma told his friend. He stepped a little bit closer to the man in the portal and said, "Hey, my name's Yuma, wanna duel me?" He waited a few moments, but the young man didn't answer. It was like he was trying to speak, but Yuma couldn't hear him. He paused, like he was having an internal conversation, and then there was a golden glow from the pyramid charm around the young man's neck, and the young man almost seemed to grow taller by several inches, his posture becoming more serious. The noise of the vortex died down a bit, like it was being held back. "That's better," the young man said, his deep, strong voice barely audible over the swirl of the vortex. "I'm not really sure who you are or how we've been brought together, but I can sense than the two of you are strong. I'll duel you." "Wait, both of us?" Yuma asked. "You mean you can see Astral?" "Of course he can," Astral said, his face alight with excitement, "he has great magic power. Hurry, Yuma, we don't know how much time we have." The young man switched on his Duel Disk. "Alright," said Yuma, holding out his arm, "Duel Disk, go!" A platform for his cards was produced from a device on Yuma's arm, which also held his deck. Yuma reaced into his pocket and placed a green monocle over his left eye, "Duel Gazer, let's roll." Yuma waited while the Virtual Reality Vision Link was established, allowing the images of his monsters to interact with a hologram of the environment, and he drew his opening hand of six card. "Take your time, Yuma," Astral advised, "we don't know how strong he is as a Duelist." "Aren't you the one who said to hurry?" Yuma wondered. "Just leave this to me, I'll handle it, no problem. I summon 'Achacha Archer'!" Yuma placed his card on his Duel Disk, but his monster didn't appear. Instead an error message popped up, saying that the opponent's Duel Disk does not support the vision link. "Oh, right," Yuma said, "you have an old Duel Disk. Okay, I can do this old school." He flipped a switch on his Duel Disk, changing it to Projection Mode, and he tried again. This time his monster, a man in a face mask carrying a crossbow, appeared at his side (ATK: 1200). "When 'Achacha Archer' is summoned," Yuma explained, "it hits you for five hundred damage!" Yuma's monster shot a crossbow bolt at the young man who didn't even flinch when it hit him (4000 -> 3500). "I set a card," Yuma announced, the image of his set card appearing at his feet, "and end my turn." He looked up at Astral, "Good, right?" But Astral looked far less pleased than Yuma, his eyes still flickering between excitement and competitive seriousness, "We'll see soon..." The young man drew, "That was a good move. I've never seen a monster like that one before, but unless I've missed something, this should take care of it. I play 'Graceful Charity' drawing three cards and then discarding 'Alpha the Magnet Warrior' and 'Gaia the Fierce Knight'. Next I summon 'Obnoxious Celtic Guard' in attack mode and destroy your 'Archer', attack!" A sworld-wielding elf appeared and cut the bowman down (4000 -> 3800). "I end my turn," the young man concluded, waiting patiently for Yuma to take his next turn. His confidence was almost palpable. "Be careful, Yuma," Astral said, "his monster-." "I said I've got this," Yuma said, interrupting him. "This was my wish, I'll fight it myself." "Alright," Astral responded, "suite yourself." Yuma, unable to read between the lines, took this as an indication than Astral had accepted his point. Yuma's opponent seemed to find this amusing, but Yuma didn't notice that either. "I set a face-down card," Yuma announced, "and I summon 'Crane Crane'." A crane (the bird) with the neck of a crane (the machine), appeared and reached into the ground. "When 'Crane Crane' appears," Yuma explained, "it pulls another level three monster from my Graveyard and lifts it back onto the field." The odd bird removed its head from the ground, pulling 'Achacha Archer' out with it. "Now," Yuma declared, "I reveal 'Rock Bombardment', sending 'Gogogo Golem' to the Graveyard to deal another five hundred damage to you." A barrel-shaped stone monster with large arms appeared and punched the young man before falling to pieces and disappearing (3500 -> 3000). "Now," Yuma explained, "I use 'Crane Crane' and 'Achacha Archer' to build the Overlay Network!" A swirling galaxy formed overhead, and the two monsters turned to light and poured into it. "I overlay both of my monsters to Xyz Summon," Yuma explained, as a form, like a tower with six wings spaced equidistantly around the top, emerged from the galaxy and unfolded to become a serpentine dragon with three fin-like wings on each side and a fin protruding from the top of its head, two orbs of light orbiting it, and a glowing number seventeen on one of the many horns on its head, "'Number 17: Leviathan Dragon' (ATK: 2000)!" Yuma gestured exuberantly, "I detach an overlay unit from my monster to activate an effect, increasing its Attack by five hundred, and I attack your monster!" One of the orbs flew into the dragon's mouth (2000 -> 2500), and it breathed blue light on the swordsman (3000 -> 1900), but when the attack ended, the elf still remained. "What? But I destroyed it!" "I tried to tell you, Yuma," Astral told his confused young counterpart, "the 'Obnoxious Celtic Guard' cannot be destroyed in battle with a monster with nineteen hundred Attack or greater." "Now you tell me," Yuma replied, looking across the battlefield at the enemy's monster. It was such a simple monster, but it had already caused him trouble. Still Yuma had had to deal with monsters that are hard to destroy before, and he couldn't sense the power practically rolling off of his opponent, so his confidence didn't waver. That would soon change.[/spoiler] [spoiler=Yuma vs. Yugi, Part Two] The mysterious young man drew a card, "Well, it looks like you and I think alike, because we set the same card. I reveal my own 'Rock Bombardment'." He took his deck out of his Duel Disk and actually fanned out his entire deck with just one hand, chose a card, and discarded it. A magnet-themed warrior appeared in the air above Yuma, prepared to strike. "I discard 'Beta the Magnet Warrior'," the young man explained as he shuffled and replaced his deck, "to deal you five hundred damage right back." The magnet monster attacked Yuma (3800 -> 3300) and then crumbled just as Yuma's monster had. "Now that 'Beta' is out of my deck," the young man explained, "and within my reach, I play 'Dark Factory of Mass Production' to return it and 'Alpha' in the Graveyard to my hand." The two monsters slid free of the Graveyard, and the young man took them, flourishing the cards before selecting a third card from his hand and sending all three to the Graveyard at once. "Now," he explained, "I send 'Alpha', 'Beta', and 'Gamma', the Magnet Warriors, from my hand to the Graveyard to form," three magnet monsters appeared, separating into base components and them reforming into a mechanical-looking, tall, slender swordsman with wings, and curved horns upon his head, "'Valkyrion, the Magna Warrior', one of the most powerful Rock monsters in the game (ATK: 3500)!" As the Attack of the monster was displayed holographically above the field, Yuma couldn't help but say to himself, "Yeah it is." He was in awe of the monster that had appeared before him, but he struggled to hold onto his cool. 'Number 17' is a Number Monster, he thought, he'll survive the attack, and I'll figure something out next turn. Astral, however, wasn't so sure. "Be careful, Yuma," he warned, "as strong as that monster is, I have a feeling that our opponent has more planned for it this turn. This feels like a finishing move." "Finishing move?" Yuma wondered, but he didn't have to wonder long, because the mysterious young man was, in fact, not finished. "Next," the young man said, "I play a Spell card, 'Shield Bash', a card which combines the Attack and Defense of a Rock monster for one turn, giving my monster more than enough power to defeat you right now." The 'Magna Warrior' pulsed once with energy, and its strength climbed (3500 -> 7350). "My monster attacks," the young man declared, and 'Valkyrion' swung his sword, unleashing a wave of energy that passed over 'Number 17', exploding on impact, and carrying on toward Yuma. "Quickly, Yuma," Astral called, "your face-down card." A stunned Yuma came out of his stupor at the prodding of his friend, just in time to trigger his set card to activate, "Oh, right, I reveal 'Impenetrable Attack', lowering damage from your attack to zero!" The excess of 'Valkyrion''s attack hit a barrier and died out. The smoke from the explosion of the attack cleared, and the young man was visibly surpised to see that not only Yuma, but his dragon, had survived the attack. "And because my monster is a Number," Yuma explained, his surprise turning to pride, "it can only be destroyed in battle by another Number, so he makes it as well!" "Impressive," the young man said, genuinly, "I didn't give you enough credit. I thought I could end this duel at once, but I was wrong. I end my turn. Let's see if you can surprise me again." The young man crossed his arms. Yuma drew, but even with it's Attack back to normal, Yuma had nothing in his hand that could defeat the Magnet Monster. If I remove 'Leviathan Dragon''s other Overlay Unit, it will still only have three thousand Attack, not nearly enough to defeat his 'Valkyrion', but he doesn't seem to know what a Number is, so that means he probably doesn't have one. "Yuma," Astral began, "you must-." "I know," Yuma interjected. "I change 'Number 17' to defense mode and set a card, ending my turn." 'Leviathan Dragon' wrapped his wings around himself, and another face-down card appeared at Yuma's feet. Astral looked down at his young friend, happy that he was finally taking the duel seriously. I just hope, Astral thought, that our defense holds up. "In that case," the mysterious young man said, drawing again, "I think it's time I found out just how resilient your 'Number Monster' actually is." He smiled confidently, and Astral was taken aback. He was enjoying the challenge. He was fighting a monster that he didn't know and didn't understand, in a duel the nature of which he didn't comprehend, and he was actually enjoying himself. Just who is our opponent? Astral wondered as the young man chose a card from his hand. "I play," the mysterious young man declared, "the Spell card 'Card of Sanctity'. We each draw until we hold six cards in our hand." "What? We draw how many cards?" Yuma asked, but the young man drew his cards, and so Yuma did too. "Now," the young man declared, "I separate my 'Valkyrion the Magna Warrior'," the conbination monster separated into his base components, the three smaller 'Magnet Warriors', "and I tribute 'Alpha the Magnet Warrior' and 'Beta the Magnet Warrior' to summon," two of the warriors were replaced by a sorcerer in purple robes and a purple hood, carrying a green staff with a crystal in the tip, "the 'Dark Magician'!" Yuma actually took a step back, "Th-that's one of the legendary monsters!" The young man didn't seem to notice Yuma's reaction, instead simply continuing on with his turn. "Next," he announced, "I play the Spell card 'Thousand Knives'." The sorcerer threw a knife, which multiplied in the air, becoming one thousand, which all struck the 'Leviathan Dragon' as one. It died with an anguished roar and faded from the field. "My 'Dark Magician' attacks directly," the young man declared, "Dark Magic Attack!" 'Dark Magician' summoned a swirling orb of green light to his staff, and slung it right at Yuma. "Quick!" Astral exclaimed. "I reveal," Yuma announced, "my 'Puzzle Reborn'. Because one monster, and only one, was destroyed, this Trap summons it back to the field, in defense mode!" 'Number 17' appeared again, just in time to absorb the wizard's attack. It roared defiantly. The young man only continued to smile. "In that case," he said, "I set a card, and I end my turn."[/spoiler] [spoiler=Yuma vs. Yugi, Part Three] "Alright 'Leviathan Dragon'," Yuma said excitedly, clenching his fist, "this monster we can handle. Let's take it out!" He drew, feeling the upside of his opponent's 'Card of Sanctity' now. "I equip my monster with 'Xyz Unit'," Yuma declared, an Overlay Unit swirling around the dragon, which until now had had none. "This card," Yuma explained, "acts like an Overlay Unit for my monster. I remove it to increase my monster's Attack!" 'Leviathan Dragon' ate the Overlay Unit and grew stronger (2000 -> 2500). "And because my monster can't be destroyed by yours," Yuma announced, "he can K.O. your monster without being K.O.'d himself! Attack with Shock Stream!" The dragon attacked, overpowering the wizard, vaporizing it in an instant, by inflicting no damage to the opponent. "Oh yeah," Yuma said, "I set two cards. Now that's the power of a Number!" Yuma was happy. His combo had succeeded, but Astral wasn't so naive. Their opponent hadn't even so much as flinched during Yuma's attack, and that made Astral wary. He became even more so in the very next moment when the mysterious young man went so far as to laugh, just twice under his breath. "I'll admit," he said, "your Number Monster really did surprise me, but after our last two exchanges, I know enough about Number Monsters that defeating one isn't a problem. After all, you're not the only one who can revive a monster." He drew, "I play 'Monster Reborn' to revive my 'Dark Magician', and I combo with 'Magical Dimension'. Because I control a Spellcaster, this card allows me to tribute a monster to summon a second Spellcaster, and then automatically destroy one monster on the field, no matter how strong. I tribute 'Gamma the Magnet Warrior' to summon the 'Dark Magician Girl'!" 'Dark Magician' reappeared in a swirl of light, his arms crossed, his face smug. A metal box with a coffin suspended in it appeared beside him. 'Beta' fell into the coffin, and it closed. A moment later, the coffin opened and a female wizard appeared. She had long blond hair and wore a pink dress and witch's hat, and carried a wand the length of her arm (ATK: 2000). The two Spellcasters crossed wand and staff and unleashed a beam of magic light that cut right through 'Number 17', returning it to the Graveyard. "I attack," the young man declared, "with Dark Magic Attack!" The wizard once again released an orb of light from his staff. It hit Yuma and exploded. Unlike the young man, Yuma flinched (3300 -> 800). "Now let's see if you're tanacious enough to survive another finshing blow," the young man said. "My 'Dark Magician Girl' attacks with Dark Burning!" The sorceress unleashed a smaller, pink version of the other Spellcaster's attack. It was more than strong enough to end the duel. Desperately Yuma activated his face-down, "I reveal 'Pixie Gong'! This let's me summon 'Joe the Fairy' from my deck to defend me!" A middle-aged-looking pixie wearing a military uniform appeared between Yuma and the sorceress, absorbing the attack. While he didn't survive, he allowed Yuma to. "Oh no," Yuma cried, "I'm really out of monsters now, and I don't have any way to summon 'Leviathan Dragon' back from the Graveyard again!" "Yuma," Astral said, annoyed, "you shouldn't give away our weaknesses." "Oh, sorry," Yuma replied, becoming steely-faced again. It lasted only a moment before his face was crossed by a wide, exuberant grin, "Oh well, if I can't summon 'Number 17', I'll just summon another Number Monster." "So you have more than one of those Numbers," the young Duelist commented, but still he didn't seem surprised. He could read Yuma so well that even the famously unobservant Yuma was beginnning to notice it, as Astral had long ago. "That's right, and even though I don't know how, I'm gonna summon my best one this turn. Time to high-five the sky!" He drew, "I summon 'Gagaga Magician', and equip him with the Spell card 'Wonder Wand'!" A sorcerer like a 'Dark Magician' in more modern-looking robes appeared, wearing a face mask, and a chain belt with eight small gems on it, the chain wrapping his torso, carrying the 'Wonder Wand' in one hand. "And," Yuma continued, "I send my magician and his wand to the Graveyard to draw two cards!" Yuma drew again, and he was unable to contain his excitement. "Oh yeah!" Yuma cried. "I play 'Gagagarevenge'! This lets me summon 'Gagaga Magician' back to the field!" A magic show coffin appeared and collapsed apart, revealing the 'Gagaga Magician' inside, his hands resting casually behind his back, his posture nonchalant. "This," Yuma explained, "let's me Special Summon 'Gagaga Child' and increase it's Level to match the 'Magician''s Level!" A young girl dressed similarly to the 'Magician' appeared beside him, her expression as uncaring as the 'Magician''s stance. "I overlay my monsters," Yuma declared, "to create the Overlay Network once again." The swirling galaxy formed again overhead, and the two monsters turned to light and disappeared inside. "I overlay 'Gagaga Magician' and 'Gagaga Child'," Yuma announced, a form like a sword with wings emerging from the galaxy and unfolding into a warrior in white and gold armor and white, armored wings, carrying a sword in each hand. Where the number seventeen on 'Leviathan Dragon' had been relatively hard to see, this new monster wore its number proudly on its shoulder pauldron, two Overlay Units orbting it, "to summon 'Number 39: Utopia' (ATK: 2500)! "But that's not all," Yuma continued. "Let's see if you stay so calm when you see this. I build the Overlay Network with myself and Astral!" Yuma and Astral glowed red and blue respectively and rose into the sky, swirling around each other. "When two distant hearts become one," Astral declared, "they reveal a great power!" The two merged together. Yuma was surrounded by a golden aura and his hair and his left iris turned gold. His body was wrapped in a white jumpsuit covered in red body armor. "Behold our power," the two said as one, "the miraculous power of Zexal!" They radiated power, causing the young man's clothes to flutter in the wind that they were producing, but still he stood strong. Yuma and Astral could barely see a bead of sweat on his brow. "And now," Yuma declared, "with less than one thousand Life, I rebuild the Overlay Network," the number on 'Utopia''s shoulder burned red, and he was encased in gray, black and gold armor that replaced the white and gold armor of his previous form, "overlaying 'Utopia' with his Overlay Units to summon 'Chaos Number 39: Utopia Ray'! I remove all three of his Overlay Units to reduce your monster's Attack by three thousand, and to increase my monster's Attack by fifteen hundred, Overlay Charge!" Energy pulsed from the new monster, and the 'Dark Magician' was drained of its strength. Two more arms reaced up from 'Utopia Ray''s back, holding a third, larger sword (ATK: 2500 -> 4000). "I attack and finish this duel," Yuma and Astral declared together, their monsters swinging their swords all as one, "Rising Sun Chaos Slash!" Energy blades errupted from the three swords, cutting a path toward the wizard, but at the last moment the 'Dark Magician' and 'Dark Magician Girl' were encased in two human-sized silk top hats, which shuffled rappidly with each other and then split into four. 'Utopia''s attack hit one hat, but there was nothing inside. "I reveal," the young man said, as calm as ever, "my 'Magical Hats', hiding my monsters inside." The mysterious young man was still smiling smugly, still unflinching, standing behind his hats. Yuma and Astral were completely taken aback. They'd never seen someone stand against an attack so fierce and treat it as if it meant so little. They recoved quickly, though, their monster's Attack returning to normal. "Impressive," the two said together, "I end my turn."[/spoiler] [spoiler=Yuma vs. Yugi, Part Four] The mysterious young man drew, "I pass." What is he thinking? Yuma and Astral wondered, I have a two out of three chance of hitting his monster. I might not be able to destroy him this turn now, and his 'Magician' can match my monster, but right now his monsters are in defense mode. I can destroy either one, and I have a two in three chance of hitting one or the other. He knows this, he has to, but he didn't even set another card? Is he really so confident that he feels that he doesn't even have to defend himself? "I don't know what you're up to," Yuma said aloud, "but I don't plan on letting you keep your monsters hidden forever. I attack the middle of the remaining hats with 'Utopia Ray'!" Once again 'Utopia' attacked, and once again, it hit only an empty hat. For the second time, Yuma and Astral were truly surprised. That's practically impossible, to miss twice in a row with two targets? It's like his resolve is shielding his cards! Who is he? "Well," the young man said, "I guess there's no point in hiding my monsters any longer." Both of the remaining hats disappeared, and the 'Dark Magician' and the 'Dark Magician Girl' emerged. The 'Girl' winked at Yuma, and despite his Zexal form, he blushed, before catching himself and regaining his composure. "I keep my monsters in defense mode," the young man explained simply, "I set a card, and I pass again." "And I'll teach you the error of that decision," Yuma told him. "I end this duel now!" He drew, his will aiding him in his draw. "I play the card that will defeat you, the Spell card 'Rank-Up Magic Limited Barian's Force'. I overlay my 'Utopia Ray' to perform a rank up." A red gate appeared, and 'Utopia Ray' passed through it, "Chaos Xyz Change into," his chest and head appeared much like the first 'Utopia''s, but the rest of his armor was black and red, and instead of two swords, he carried a lance with a full-length blade on each end, "'Chaos Number 39: Utopia Ray V' (ATK: 2600)! "I remove 'Utopia''s Overlay Unit," Yuma finished, "to destroy the 'Dark Magician' and deal damage to you equal to its Attack!" 'Utopia' released a wave of energy at the 'Magician', but it missed as the 'Magician' disappeared in a swirl of smoke. "Reveal," the mysterious young man declared, "'Monster Recovery', returning my monster and my hand to my deck and drawing two more cards." He shuffled his cards and drew, still totally calm. Yuma was dumbfounded now. "How do you keep doing that?" he asked, as Yuma and as Astral. The young man smiled, "You can have all the power you want, but strength comes from within, multiplied by the bonds you share and the confidence that you have in them. I understand those things, so I can stand against any attack with the same confidence." True strength, Yuma thought, the young man's words ringing in his head, comes from yourself, and your bonds with others. He looked down at where the key would be in his normal form, That's right, my strength doesn't come from the key, it comes from me and Astral, and the friendship we share, and from my friendship with Tori and everybody else. As long as I have those bonds, I'll always come out on top. Yuma smiled, "Thanks, that answer actually really helped me out. It made me remember something that I'd grown too desperate to remember. But even though you helped me, I won't give up on beating you. I attack the 'Dark Magician Girl' with Rising Sun V-Shaped Slash!" 'Utopia Ray V' slashed with his weapon, forming a red "V" which tore through the sorceress, reducing her to nothing, but still, with no cards on the field and only two in his hand, the young man was still sure of his victory, or so strong-willed that Yuma couldn't tell the difference. Yuma sighed, Well, I guess it's time to find out which one it is. "I end my turn," Yuma declared, and waited, anxious to see what his foe would do next. "Then it's time I ended this," the mysterious young man declared as he drew, "I pay half of my Life Points (1900 -> 950) to play 'Dark Magic Curtain', summoning 'Dark Magician' back from my deck." A curtain appeared and parted, and the wizard emerged from it, spinning his staff in a grandios fashion. "My monster attacks," the mysterious young man declared, "and I activate the Spell card 'Spell Sword Fusion', removing 'Gaia the Fierce Knight' in my Graveyard from play to give his Attack to my 'Dark Magician' for one turn." A ghostly image of a warrior carrying two lances, riding aback a purple horse, appeared alongside the sorcerer. The sorcerer thrust his staff, wreathed in magical light, alongside the 'Knight''s lance, which was wreathed in swirling wind. The wind spun the magic and accelerated it forward and built it up so much that the swirling portal began to shudder. "Go," the young man commanded, "Dark Magic Spiral Strike (ATK: 4600)!" The spiral of magic energy poured over 'Utopia', tearing him apart. The 'Knight' faded away as the attack carried through and struck Yuma down. He and Astral separated and were knocked off of their feet. They looked up just in time to see the vortex close around the young man, his wizard still by his side. As time resumed, the two of them thought together that one day they would like to become as strong as that young man and maybe, some way, some how, duel him again someday.[/spoiler]

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Thought I had to repost this (was thankfully mistaken) LOCK PLEASE

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