Chapter 1 -- The Perfect Solution

[Pug]

(I like writing, so I may continue this line of fiction for a while -- however the more probable outcome is that I will write two or three chapters and then lose motivation. Encouragement may deter this course of action, so feel free to criticise my work as much as you like).

 

Sunlight streaked through the forest canopy, casting a dappled pattern across the grass. Peter stretched his arms out wide and yawned, wincing as an audible crack resounded from his shoulder blades.

"That didn't sound right," he murmured worriedly. Just then Zack tumbled into view, twigs and leaves clinging to his clothes.

"I heard that!" he gasped in exhaustion.

"Heard what?" responded Peter, perplexed. "My back cracking? It concerned me too."

"Not -- you --" Zack stammered, catching his breath. "You're supposed to help out Garth with his Deck, Pete!"

"You and I both know that Garth is ... well, hopeless at Dueling, Zack," answered Peter lightly. "He doesn't even know the rules."

"That's not true -- he just needs practice." Despite his words, Zack didn't sound altogether sure.

"It's true alright! Last time I mentioned 'Main Phase 1', he grabbed a piece of wood and ran into the woods!"

"I'll admit that Garth is ... well, insane at times, I'll give you that," argued Zack. "I -- actually, he's pretty much like that all the time ..."

Peter watched Zack trying to get his thoughts in order, before deciding to interrupt. "Look, Zack -- I tell you what. I'll help Garth construct his 'Deck', if it can so be called -- if you can beat me in a Duel."

"Ah, a Duel, eh?" Zack rubbed his hands together in eager anticipation. "Great! Everything can be resolved with a competition."

"Well, I don't know about that," replied Peter as he fumbled around in his bag for his Duel Disk. "But it is a darn good solution in any case."

Zack readied his own Disk, shaped like an iron shield. "Still using that soldier Deck?"

"Still reading 101 Ways to Throw a Frisbee?" answered Peter with another question.

"No, I finished it yesterday."

"Oh. Well I'm still using my soldier Deck, anyway. You ready?" queried Peter, as his Disk (moulded in the image of a gauntlet) rippled into duelling position.

"Whenever you are." grinned Zack, adjusting his wrist straps.

 

--DUEL--

PETER: 4000

ZACK : 4000

 

Peter's Turn:

"Let's get this party started, eh?" Peter snatched up the cards proffered by his gauntlet, eyes darting over them before his strategy began to form. "OK. First up, I'll activate a Spell, Reinforcement of the Army!" Peter slipped the card into his Disk. "This allows me to move one Level 4 or lower Warrior-type monster from my Deck to my hand."

"Don't I know it," muttered Zack, having duelled Peter before. "I can guess what's going to happen now."

"I'll Summon Marauding Captain, in Attack Position!" grinned Peter as a soldier dressed in plate armour rose from the earth between Zack and himself in a shower of light, brandishing two swords that glinted in the sun. (MARAUDING CAPTAIN: ATK/1200, DEF/400). "Then I'll activate his effect, which allows me to Special Summon Mystic Swordsman Level 4 by his side!" Another swordsman appeared on the field, wielding a double-bladed katana. (MYSTIC SWORDSMAN LV4: ATK/1900, DEF/1600). "Here's a weapon for you: Lightning Blade! I'll equip it to Marauding Captain!" added Peter, casting down the Spell card, and suddenly the two swords were replaced with a single one, electricity dancing along its edge. (MARAUDING CAPTAIN: ATK/2000, DEF/400). "Finally I'll put this face down." Peter placed a card in the Spell & Trap zone of his Disk. "And end my turn. Your move, Zack."

"Yeah, you can cram it with walnuts ugly." Zack mumbled, irritated by the efficiency of Peter's turn.

 

PETER: 4000

ZACK : 4000

 

Zack's Turn:

"I'll draw a card, shall I?" said Zack testily as he examined the newest addition to his hand. His face lit up. "Heh heh, prepare to lose spectacularly, my friend! I activate Dark Hole! All monsters on the field are destroyed! Put that in your pipe and get cancer!"

"I'd rather not." said Peter quietly as his two swordsmen were sucked into the air, flailing wildly as they vanished into the centre of a pitch-black cloud.

"I'll play a Field Spell, Mausoleum of the Emperor!" Zack slammed a card into his shield. "Now, instead of tributing monsters, I can just pay Life Points to Summon my rough customers! So get acquainted with Hieracosphinx!" A creature sprang into existence, a large monster with the body of a lion, the head of a hawk, and powerful-looking wings. It pawed the air and gave a shrill, piercing cry. (HIERACOSPHINX: ATK/2400, DEF/1200). "Attack Pete directly, Hieracosphinx!" The monster leapt toward Peter, raising its giant paws in preparation for a devastating rake attack.

"I activate a Trap!" Peter retorted with a smile. "Nutrient Z! Now I can increase my Life Points by four thousand!"

Peter watched the sphinx bear down on him, tearing away with its claws.

Zack's smile faded. "Hmph. I'll end my turn here then."

 

PETER: 5600

ZACK : 3000

 

Peter's Turn:

"What have we got this time ..." Peter drew his card, weighing up his hand. "Huh. I'll activate Reload! Now I shuffle my hand into my Deck, and draw the same number of cards I put in." The glade was strangely silent, except for the shifting of paper on paper as Peter's Disk rearranged the Deck. Peter examined the new cards he had picked up. "I'll set a monster face down and end my turn."

 

PETER: 5600

ZACK : 3000

 

Zack's Turn:

"A rather uneventful turn for Pete." remarked Zack as he drew. "Say goodbye to your monster, Pete!" Hieracosphinx lunged, and Pete's card flipped face-up.

"I'll activate D.D. Warrior Lady's effect!" Peter grinned, "now both she and your monster are removed from play!"

"No, this ... can't -- be happening!" exclaimed Zack, both the card and Hieracosphinx were dissolving into purple flames. "Ah, dang. Fine. I'll bide my time."

 

PETER: 5600

ZACK : 3000

 

Peter's Turn:

"Here we go!" Peter drew, then immediately began his play. "I'll activate Key to the Armoury! Now I can take an Equip Spell from my Deck and add it to my hand." Peter took the card he selected with a smile. "Now I'll Summon Mataza the Zapper!" A samurai garbed in green rose into position, twirling his katana deftly. (MATAZA THE ZAPPER: ATK/1300, DEF/800). "Now I'll equip him with Longsword of Noble Cause! This increases his attack by two hundred for every Warrior-type monster in my Graveyard!" (MATAZA THE ZAPPER: ATK/1600, DEF/800). "Now, Mataza: attack Zack directly! That rhymes!"

Zack could only watch as the samurai whirled his blade overhead and down in a powerful vertical slice.

"Don't forget his special ability!" Peter added, "Mataza can attack twice!"

"What?!" blurted Zack, aghast. "But that means ..."

"That's right," smiled Peter. "You're finished!"

Mataza whipped the shining sword round for his second attack, and it was over.

 

PETER: 5600

ZACK : 0000

 

--END DUEL--

 

Zack sighed, slinging his shield over his shoulder. "You got lucky that time Pete. Since when did you add Mataza the Zapper to your Deck?"

"He's been in there forever," replied Peter, packing his Disk away and buckling his bag up. "I don't think I've ever used him against you before though."

"Huh. I guess this means you don't have to help Garth with his Deck, then." murmured Zack. "Which means I'll have to do it. And I hate doing stuff!"

"Of course you do." Peter agreed vaguely as he shouldered his pack. "Come on, let's head back to my place. Hazel said she'd visit this afternoon."

"Now you're talking!" Zack always got along well with Hazel. "Is she bringing any of those pastry things that I like?"

"Man, I hope so." replied Peter wistfully as they pushed through the bushes towards his house. "It wasn't just luck that made me win, by the way. I constructed my Deck to perfection, and that's what ultimately decided the victory."

"Bah, mine's just as good as yours, Pete." grumbled Zack. "When we get to your place I'll show you just how brilliant it is ..."

Both of them began to argue, as they usually did when the topic turned to Deck preparation, and they were completely unaware of the shadow-clad figure watching them from a distance.

 

-- End of Chapter 1

 

(As I said before, I'm completely open to constructive criticism.)

[Alex Kemper]

Hey dude, not bad at all. There was one spot that I noticed you screwed up some math. Mataza had 1300 attack, and then you gave him an equip that gave him 200 for each dead warrior. That should have made it 1700, but you only gave him 1600. Other than that, very good. 8.5/10

[Aozora]

It is a good start, I'll say that.

 

Much less creepy than mine was... hehe...

 

Anyway, you really need to make sure you've done all the math in your duels... as mentioned above, 1700 attack points.

 

Well, I'll see when you next post... keep it up.

 

7/10 for duel math error and short chapter. Seriously... that was a pretty short duel.

[Pug]

Yeah, I've never been any good at ye olde mathematics. I'll put up chapter 2 when I can. It'll be longer than the first one, the first one was a pilot to see if anyone liked it. Thanks for your feedback!