Yu-Gi-Oh! Armageddon - Birth of the Ice Queen

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

.....

..... well this sucks. :(

But as ever, I have an idea. I was gonna do a couple of these little interactive games anyway, but since no-one either spotted our unnamed guest or mentioned him (or mentioned anything else about Chapter 7) to set me up to mention it, I'll just do so anyway. I've got two challenges for readers of this fic to keep in mind and do whenever that might be, I dunno, fun? And might garner me some comments on the promise of reps in reward.

Game 1: Tonight Matthew; I'm Going to Be...
In Chapter 7, there was one additional character from the original Armageddon turn up in the background that might not have been originally spotted, but was definitely there. He didn't speak or do anything, but he was present at the scene, and he won't be the last. There are going to be various 'guest' characters cropping up across the story as little easter eggs, characters from the first story, approximately 4 per arc (not including Arc 1). Basically if you see a person turn up somewhere with no name attached to them, but who gets described physically in a suspicious amount of detail, that's probably one of them. Some may speak, some might not. Some are more obvious than others. Keep your eyes peeled and see if you can identify any of these former heroes and villians now mystery guests appearing in the background. Obviously this is no good to people who haven't read the original, but there is a second game.

Game 2: What's in a Name Anyway?
Pretty straightforward one this, and doesn't require examining chapters line for line to spot stuff. I've mentioned in the past or other threads that in these fantasy settings that I like to make up weird names based on random stuff, be it foreign languages, references to other books, people, or anything really. Simply guess correctly where the origins of a characters name might have come from, and you too could win a naff prize! Given examples are Melanc, who with his cartoon deck is named after the Looney Tunes actor Mel Blanc, and Vardus Jackson, whose name comes from the rebel group in the Inheritance Cycle The Varden, the leader of which Ajihad he is modelled far too closely on. Some are simpler than others. A few names you could make a go at for now: Nataka, Chetema, Clove, Skaro, Alex, Doyle, Reckage, Alpha & Omega, Urusula, Jeremiah Gawp, Longinus, Sister Joanne. Although you could go for anyone really. Good/funny guesses may also be rewarded.

Just gonna point out now that you do actually have to comment about a chapter/the story as well when you submit answers for these games. Even if it's a short courtesy one about general stuff you do/don't like and then submit guesses, that's cool and fair. Oh and don’t go nuts and whoever posts next guess at every single characters name or anything silly yeah? Save some for others to have a go. But what I don't want to see is:
 

Erin is named after/because.... and I think that guy in Chapter 10 who did that thing was.... from the original, gimme reps.

Because you won't get reps. In fact you'll probably just get a load of abuse, the mood this is putting me in. Games section's over out that door, close it on your way out if you just want to find a thread to gain cheap reps in.

*and breathe*

Anyway, despite everything. I want to post Chapter 8 now. Mainly because I'm out tomorrow, and because I'm hoping a few of my IRL friends might have a glance at this one and a couple of scenes in particular I'd like to show off. There's good stuff in this one. Good dark, depraved, bloody...

... I've said too much. ;) Enjoy.

[spoiler=Chapter 8]Chapter 8: The Magician

“More tea Tessera?”

The silvery haired noble nodded politely, the Emperor snapped his fingers for a servant to come pour his guest a fresh cup, whilst another refreshed his own wine glass. The pair were sat in a comfortable sitting room that backed onto the throne room; a stark contrast to where Nero received most of his subjects, this room was well lit and airy and fine. A few portraits, a great golden chandelier overhead, in fact most of the decorum was gold in here, though only a chosen few ever saw it. The Emperor was lounging on a plush velvet settee, while his guest was sat quite upright in a comfortable armchair, with his legs daintily crossed as he took the cup gently, careful not to spill any on his fine silk white gloves or gold outfit, and sipped at his drink. Nero took a big swig of his glass of red, before continuing. “Finest import from Citta del Cascata this is. Can’t understand why you don’t drink it.”

“It’s too rich for my personal tastes, sir” the noble replied smoothly and politely, unruffled by the Emperor’s jovial laugh. “I prefer the crisp white wine of the northern regions.”

“Ah yes, of course. It must be a fine life of luxury you lead, able to just live off the inheritance your parents left you and do as you please; without worries and responsibilities like I am burdened with.”

“On the contrary, it’s not as exciting as you might think” Tessera replied, putting down his tea and sitting back, gently resting his chin on his fingertips, his golden-coloured eyes closed. “Sometimes it is really rather dull; having no-one around besides the servants, now my parents have gone and with no other family and such. Still, I’d like to think I can use my free time to help you with anything you require sir.”

“Ah, and you do, especially the other week. Fine suggestion that was” Nero laughed again and took another swig of wine, ignoring his guest’s imperviousness to it. However thinking about the subject darkened his own mood. “Damned Resistance. I know they’re out there in the city, crawling around, conspiring with those devil spirits and plotting against me. I hope my vizier finds them quickly, and makes a good example out of them to anyone else thinking about challenging me.”

“Are you sure that dark fellow is up to the task?” Tessera asked without changing his expression at all.

“Can’t do any bloody worse than Longinus’ mob did” the Emperor growled, beckoning for another refill. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you two don’t get on, but trust me on this. He has done quite well over the last few years, he’s certainly been useful to me, even though my patience is starting to thin when it comes to his lack of success with his main objective. Anyway, what might you suggest be done about them other than using him to hunt them down? You think you could take his place? Ha! I’d like to see that!” The Emperor laughed again as he tried to get a reaction, but none was forthcoming.

“If you believe he is skilled and shall act as you desire, then I do not object. However I find it very hard to place trust in a man who openly refers to himself as Demon.”

“Bahh, that’s understandable I suppose. I was like that at first, until I learned more about him and what he can do, and what he will do for me. I blame cruel parenting.” Nero shrugged off the issue. “But he has proved his loyalty. He has provided me with strength in my growing age. He killed off the Extermination Squad before they could turn unchallenged against me. Oh, is that why you don’t like him?”

For the first time the lord’s expression flickered. “You know it was necessary Tessera. They were needed at the time, and they did their job, but they couldn’t be left alive. I couldn’t allow any of their kind who could challenge me alive; even them. We had to deal with them before they turned; something you had no trouble with at the time. Demon provided the solution to the problem. You just can’t give common folk that sort of power, and especially them, with those damned duel spirit things as well. Best leave the power to those born and bred for it like we are” Nero laughed in conceitedness again.

Tessera simply continued to sit in silence and wait for him to finish. “Anyway, enough unpleasantness. I’m sure it will all be dealt with in due course. What are your plans for the rest of the evening?”

“Nothing special sir” the noble shrugged. “Unless of course you have further use for me in mind?”

“I suppose I could find something for you to do” the Emperor had a think about it. “I’m in meetings all day tomorrow, which will be boring. See if you can organise some entertainment for the evening for me. You do throw some wonderful parties at your estate I hear, that seems more your line than that dirty work Demon’s commissioned with. Get all my officials and dignitaries from across the city to come to a banquet or something in my honour. After all, we must treat our favourites well.”

Tessera paused, then stood, curtly smoothed out the creases in his perfect attire and bowed to the Emperor. “...I’ll arrange something for you sir. See you tomorrow evening.” Then he left the sitting room to make his preparations, leaving the Emperor alone in his luxury with his drink.

...

At the other end of the spectrum, the soaking wet and thoroughly miserable Erin was sloshing her way back into the underground headquarters. By chance she had managed to stop herself and hold her head above water on some rocks in the river, until help came and she was fished out by a local farmer. The man paled when he saw the duel mechanisms attached to her shield, recognising her from her televised fight with the guard the week before. He didn’t say anything though, and although she was thankful for the help, through mutual silence they agreed it was probably better for him not to speak of each other again. An hour later, freezing cold and feeling terrible from the disgusting river water she’d swallowed, she’d found her way back mercifully without further incident, shivering as she hobbled through the central area. The place seemed unusually empty and quiet. She was meant to report to Vardus first thing, but she couldn’t imagine he’d begrudge her a towel first, and the showers were on route anyway. Picking one up along with a fresh cloak to try and get some warmth back into her stiffening muscles, she continued to hobble along, looking around and wondering where everyone else was.

She found them when she reached Vardus’ office. All her fellow charges, along with her brother and Chou, were huddled outside the office, most in urgent whispered discussions and trying to get a look round through the door that Chetema was blocking. As she approached, Dorian turned and noticed her.

“Oh hello. What happened to you?”

“Someone decided I needed swimming lessons” she grumbled as she tried to get her hair sorted out, before turning her attention to the crowd. There was something odd about it, some kind of nervous energy rippled through to her. “What’s going on?”

“Dunno for sure. We just saw Chetema running around to the medical bay with an anxious look, which was odd enough in itself, and then he came rushing back here with Doyle and some of his kit. Apparently someone found out where we are and decided to have a pop at Vardus.”

“A pop?” It took a moment for her to translate his rough talk, but when she caught up with what he meant, what little colour existed in her face completely drained. “You mean someone tried to kill him?” His nod meant she was unfortunately correct. “Is... is he alright?”

“I think so” though he didn’t sound by any means certain. “It’s Mia I’m more worried about. Anyone trying to get to Vardus has to go through her office first, and it’s not like she’s a fighter or anything. Plus it’s the fact that someone found us to begin with, and slipped through all of us being around without being noticed. The others are worried about this guy, and what might happen next, if there are more coming and so on.” Indeed, he was armed and ready should anything else out of the ordinary happen.

At this point Chetema had noticed the two of them talking. “Erin, you’re back. You can go in now.” He spoke in a deep slow voice, but she was surprised at the order. “Vardus said you’re to go in when you came back. No-one else yet, but he need to speak with you. Go in.”

As he pushed the fraught Aerial aside to make room for her, Erin nervously stepped through the gap he’d opened and past the group. She could see Clove, who despite what was happening was scowling as ever at her as she passed, Alex behind her was extremely anxious, and down beside him was Mel. He looked beside himself, almost on the point of tears as he made eye contact with her. Trying to look as reassuring as she could for him, she stepped around Chetema and slipped through the door behind him.

Inside the secretary’s office, there indeed was the stricken Mia, her bloody head propped up against the knees of Goro. She looked like she’d taken a nasty blow to the back of the head, but given the gruff nod the chef gave her accompanied by her groaning, she seemed like she’d make it okay. Beyond the thick oak door behind them, she entered the leader’s office. Inside was an even bigger mess than usual; a couple of books and the big globe had been knocked over during the fight. Vardus was standing by his upturned desk, still holding his bloodied golden sword by his side and in deep conversation with Nataka beside him, never once taking his eyes off the dead body lying at his feet which Doyle was examining. The appearance of the assassin surprised her. He was a short, flabby man, dressed in a tight blue wetsuit that covered most of his skin, except for his extremities and a large bloody hole in his chest where Vardus had stabbed him. His wide eyes and mouth were open in a permanent look of shock. In the slightly webbed fingers of one hand he held a long, wicked looking dagger, in the other a few cards of similar appearance to him that belonged to the sleek blue duel disk on his arm. Using a prong-like tool Doyle lifted up some of the loose skin under the man’s neck, to her shock revealing a small set of gills.

“What the hell is this guy?” he asked in disbelief.

“For once, I have no idea” Vardus replied simply. There was so many conflictions in his voice; disgust for the assassin, a furiousness like a simmering volcano, but concern and worry also evident. “In all my years and travels I have never encountered anything like him, not even in books. Have you Nataka?”

“Never Vardus” his advisor was just as grave. “I guess these unique features explain how he got in here undetected.”

“Hmmm. Only question now is if there are others like him, and are they skulking around our waters as we speak...” Everyone (except Vardus) shuddered at the prospect. Wiping his sword clean on the dead man’s wetsuit and seating himself down behind his upended desk, he turned his attention to Erin. “As you can see, things have been eventful in your absence, so I’m relieved to see you are back safe. I’d have been worried had you been missing for long given this attack, although from the look of you I guess you ran into difficulties as well, unless I’m much mistaken and you fell in on your own accord.” She shook her head, and his expression became even more serious. “I thought as much. Tell me what happened.”

“Well, I went to Reckage as you ordered, and he showed...” she started nervously, but jumped when suddenly Vardus shouted at her.

“Forget about the meeting with Reckage for the moment! Tell me what happened to you after.”

“S-s-s-sorry” she whimpered. She’d never seen Vardus react that way, and he looked really scary when he was angry. “When I was coming back, there was this... this swarm. There was a swarm of hornets that just appeared from nowhere while I was walking through the warehouses and they attacked me.”

Everyone looked surprised at this, but nobody said anything to dismiss it as ridiculous as she had feared. “I kept running, but they kept chasing me. They chased me to the edge of the forest and surrounded me, it was like they were an intelligent being, or someone was controlling them. I tried using my duel disk to protect me, but there was too many and their stings even affected the monsters I summoned. I only escaped because I... fell in the river.” She hung her head as Vardus looked at her.

“I see...” He seemed to have calmed down after his outburst, but he was still very tense. “And this swarm... it attacked you shortly after leaving the workshop? Did anyone see you go in? Was there anyone around when you came out?”

“No, there was no-one. We both had a good look before I came out. I’m positive no-one saw me.” She was absolutely certain of that. “There were a few customers left when I went in, but they were busy talking to the other workers, they couldn’t have noticed me, and no-one was around his office or could see us go into his secret garage. I was concealed at all times. I don’t understand what went wrong...”

“Hmmm. And you saw nothing unusual at all before you were attacked? Anything at all.”

She shook her head again. “I’m sorry. There was nothing.”

“Sir, I think it is safe to assume that these attacks are connected” Nataka summarised. “But given the rather... unusual... nature of these attempts, who are these people? Could they be forces working for the Emperor, and if so have you any memory of anything strange like this from your time in Nero’s court? Also on a more pressing note, if Erin was attacked shortly after leaving Reckage, do you think...?”

“Yes, I think we should be very concerned for the safety of our friend” he replied, drumming his fingers as he thought about how to react. “We must get someone out to him as soon as possible and bring him here, for his own safety. Send Chetema and Alex; I’m sure that the stubborn old mule will not budge without being able to bring at least a few pieces of equipment.”

“Sir, that would be dangerous, especially for them to carry a load back with them” Nataka protested.

“I know. But I can’t just leave him. We will have to try to find a way to facilitate him and his work down here somehow. At the worst we might have to sacrifice his work entirely, which would be a regrettable loss. But he is too important an ally to us, and a friend to me, to leave unprotected.”

“I want to go to” They were all surprised with Erin’s sudden outburst as she stepped forward without a second’s hesitation. “I know you’re going to say it’s too dangerous, but I’ve met Reckage. His work; his machines would be a huge plus for us. Our actual meeting went well, he’s willing to come to terms on a deal for the runners he’s making, and he also seems to like me. If I tell him what happened to me, he might be more willing to listen. Besides, if that swarm attacks again... I will... will...” Her fists clenched and shook as she thought about what she would do. Vardus paused to think about it, but he agreed.

“Alright. You get Alex and get yourselves ready while I brief Chetema; you leave as soon as you can. Do whatever you have to; just make sure you get him to come back with you.” Erin nodded and turned, trying not to look at the dead man whose appearance creped her out and sprinting out, telling Chetema to see Vardus and grabbing Alex to get ready, chased down by the rest of the group all eager to hear what had happened. Meanwhile Vardus sat with his men and the dead body, thinking. ‘Insects...?’

...

Within an hour, the three cloaked figures were making their way across town in the back of a horse drawn cart they had ‘obtained’. It was dark now, and regular civilians were meant to be off the street by this late time and there were plenty of guards on patrol to enforce that curfew. However commercial vehicles like theirs, although not common, were allowed out should the Emperor’s needs must, although they would probably be challenged and potentially searched. That’s why Erin and Alex were hiding under piles of lumber (the wagon being stolen from a lumber yard), and Chetema was up front driving, under the cover story that the delivery to the workshop was essential for an urgent order by the Emperor. Hopefully their theft wouldn’t be reported for a few hours, and no-one would search them coming back and have them try and explain the runners they were transporting. The plan to smuggle them into HQ seemed to be readymade for when a deal was struck for them, albeit forwarded in dire circumstances. Erin’s heart stopped every time the wagon did, every time she heard the voice of what might be a guard talking to Chetema. But mercifully no search happened, and they reached their destination unchallenged as the wild senior pulled up in the courtyard outside and rapped on the cart.

“We’re here. Get ready and come out.”

Alex jumped down first, twin swords in hand and duel shield slung across his back, and helped Erin down after him. Stealthily they made their way to the little adjoining house at the back of the shop. Peeking through the windows into the shabby single kitchen and sitting room everything was in darkness; there was no sign of the cooker being used or a fire being put on. No sign anyone had come back at all that evening. Chetema looked apprehensive. They went back over to the barn, Erin jumped out of her skin as the horse whinnied nervously. Cursing the blasted animal she took up watch whilst the elder picked the lock. After a few moments they were in, sliding the door closed behind them, sealing them in darkness.

“Erin, think you can lead us in dark?” Chetema asked as their eyes adjusted to the gloom. The workshop was eerie in the dark, with plenty of places for someone to jump out and attack them. Sword in hand she felt for the warrior and pulled him along, Alex at the back, and nervously guided them across. Slowly they felt out the way she had came a few hours ago, and came to the back office. Not only was the door unlocked, it was ajar. Pushing it fully open with her sword as Chetema brandished the massive blade slung over his back, leaving Alex on guard, they crept inside. Flicking on the light, she held her breath...

There was nothing there. Nothing about the office appeared to be out of place, everything was just as she remembered it from earlier. Chetema cast around, searching for an enemy he was sure was here. “I don’t like this. Unless maybe someone took the old man away without struggle. What do you think?”

“Hang on, there’s somewhere left to check.” Erin ducked and groped under the desk for a second until she found the switch. The appropriate filing cabinet shuddered across, revealing the set of stairs down to the hidden garage. “Come on, let’s just see down here.”

This time Chetema took the lead, taking cautious steps down to the garage, leading with the sword. The garage was in similar darkness as Erin followed, again fumbling around for the lights. They snapped on, and Erin choked, and immediately wanted to be sick as they saw what had become of Reckage...

Where once were a missing wheel and set of jacks on the first bike, now the bloody stump of a leg was wrapped round the front axle and propped it up. The other leg was jammed into the kick starter of the same runner. In the heart of the next machine, layers of stomach and organs and intestines had been stuffed into the open engine bay and sticking out the gap where the fuel tank had been ripped out. The five once pristine runners had all received a new paint job in blood, the ground was a pool of red and the rest plastered the walls with various horrific threats and warnings; “Hail to the Empire”, “Price of Treason”, “Pound of Flesh in Greed.” Erin felt faint; she had to lean on Chetema for support. Even the fearless warrior was staggered; he’d never seen anything as horrifying as the dismembered parts of the old man who had been taken apart and stretched across the five runners. Lastly on the end machine was the head and torso, melded onto the front of the bike; arms hung out like a grotesque scarecrow for the handlebars, the head rolled forward lifelessly dripping with more blood from his mouth. Except...

Erin froze as the head groaned and rolled towards them. The glassy, fearful, helpless stare; begging for help, or even mercy, locked her in place.

“Oh my god he's... He's still alive? Chetema... we have to...”

Chetema, although surprised, thankfully wasn’t as frozen by this. He knew it wasn’t possible for the old man to still be alive. Glancing around, he suddenly noticed a little bundle of black cloth in the corner - half hidden by the darkness and a bench. There was a little girl in a black dress, staring at the body and with a hand raised to him. Realising she’d been noticed the girl’s eyes darted to the big warrior. Her hazel eyes flashed malevolently as she grinned and dropped the hand - as she did so Reckage’s head followed. The girl waved at him and mouthed ‘bye bye’. Then she simply vanished into the dark.

Blind to this, Erin was a step away from Reckage when Chetema’s arm wrapped around her waist, scooped her up over his shoulder and was carrying her at full tilt away from his helpless body, out of the garage and crashing up into the office. He ignored her furiously hammering on his back and shouting at him. “What the hell are you doing? We have to help him!”

“It’s a trap! We leave now!” was the reply as he smashed out of the door, the stunned Alex following after them. The pair sprinted across the workshop, burst out of the door and dived behind their wagon, just as the whole workshop exploded behind them. The heavy cart shuddered and rocked from the blast, thankfully mostly kept in by the building, a few bits of debris thudding into the side of it (although thankfully avoiding the screaming horse) and flames spurting out wherever it could. Coughing and spluttering, the rebels got up from their cover to see the shop ablaze.

“Damn it! What the hell happened?” Alex swore. Chetema quickly filled him, minus a lot of the more gruesome details, whilst Erin was leaning against the cart and panting between sobs.

“That was... that was... awful...! He was... Who does something like that?”

“We work out later” Chetema ordered. “For now we need go. Guard will be swarming place soon.” He was right; lights were on in nearby houses and people were looking out at the fire, and they were out in the open at the scene! Patrolling soldiers would be honing in on the fire like a beacon within minutes to investigate. So they sprinted off to find somewhere to hide, Erin having to be dragged along after them. As they ran off into the streets, something shifted in the darkness, as the little hazel eyed girl in black reappeared in the doorway of a house near to the burning building. The girl watched them run away with a curious expression, before floating along after them...

A few minutes of hard running and some evasive dodging of soldiers later, the three rebels were stood hunched over panting and sweated in an abandoned warehouse a few streets away from the burning remains of the workshop, much similar to the ones Erin had been running around trying to escape the hornet swarm earlier. That fact was not lost on her, but she was too exhausted physically and emotionally to argue against where Chetema was going. Hopefully the swarm didn’t fly at night.

“I think.... we lost them....” Alex puffed, lying flat on his back.

“What now?” Erin sniffed to the senior leader. A terrible thought crossed her mind at what his answer might be. “What... what do we tell Vardus?”

“Tell him what we found...” Chetema replied slowly. “What that was... what happened to the old man, it disturbs me greatly. That was not the work of the guard. Not of any sane human being. Truly there are forces at work against us that are of deep concern. We need to get back as soon as we can.” She might have only known the man a week, but she wasn’t accustomed to seeing the powerful warrior look so very anxious. Rolling upright as he regained his breath, Alex wasn’t so much upset as incensed.

“I don’t get it. You said the guy was still alive when you found him, but given what you described, surely that’s not possible? And the workshop exploding just when we happened to be there? C’mon, there’s something wrong there. But whatever did this, if it’s in league with the Empire, I’m gonna fight it!”

The boy cracked his knuckles as he spoke. His sudden resolution took Erin aback slightly. She was about to ask how Alex could suddenly be so brave in the face of what just happened, but Chetema cut her off. “I realised too. When Erin went to body, I knew from blood he should not be alive. That’s when I saw...”

Chetema’s eyes widened as something behind Alex caught his eye. Suddenly he dived on top of him, just before a volley of small fireballs shot through the air his head had just vacated. Erin leapt out of the way as the intense flames whizzed past her, each thudding into a storage unit behind them, setting it ablaze. The three scrambled to their feet with weapons drawn as the shooter - the brown haired girl in the black dress - floated out of the darkness. As she did the group noticed things about her; like the black bunny-eared hat she was wearing, which there seemed something familiar about, and that she was holding a small whip which was laced with fire, but it didn’t burn her little hands as she floated to a spot a few feet away. Her eyes flashed as she grinned at the trio.

“Hi. Did you mean me just now?” The girl’s tone was snotty and sarcastic, but it had a sort of musical note to it, even with the edge of bratty nastiness. “My name’s Curran. It’s so very nice to meet you all.”

“Curran?” Alex blinked. “As in the duel monster Ebon Magician Curran?” To their astonishment, the girl smiled sweetly and nodded. Erin looked at her in amazement, she couldn’t believe it. A duel monster was here, floating around on its own as real as they were and talking to them? What kind of ridiculous trick was this? Alex seemed equally surprised, although beside him Chetema’s expression had hardened. “What is a duel monster spirit doing here? And what the hell are you attacking us for!? We’re on your side, not the Emperor’s!” The little girl simply laughed at him.

“Silly Billy, of course that’s why I’m attacking you.” she grinned wickedly. “I’m so very sorry, but you guys have to die now. Please be so kind as to lie down politely for me so I can make it quick for you.”

“Alex, Erin. That is what I was going to tell you about” Chetema growled to the enraged Alex. “She was in the garage with the old man who you did not notice. She was doing something to make him react to us, and then she disappeared when I saw her. She must have triggered explosion.”

“She was...? What the hell?!” Erin shouted. “You did all that to Reckage? How could you do such an evil thing? Why would you? He’d done nothing. We’re all fighting against Nero who shut you out from this world as part of his tyranny. Why the hell are you on his side?” Curran just giggled, in that mocking ‘I know something you don’t know’ way intended to make her feel incredibly stupid and rile her further.

“Silly rude girl. Who said anything about me being on his Royal Highness’ side?” she asked. “And who said I did anything to the old man either? I sure didn’t. I didn’t do anything to hurt him at all. I just sorta kept him alive until you guys showed up like I was told, and then blew the place up like a good girl.”

“You were told? Who told you to do that?” Alex demanded, but the girl just shook her head at him.

“Sorry but there’s really no point telling you. That would be very disobedient of me. I’m a good little girl, and part of that means I do whatever is asked of me, which right now would be killing you three. Since you avoided it the first time, I’ll just have to finish you here.” With that the girl swung her whip round and released another set of fireballs, forcing everyone to scatter. Fortunately, possibly out of youth and inexperience, her aim wasn’t very good, as flames went pretty much everywhere in a scattergun way as she stuck her tongue out and continued to swing wildly, but no-one wanted to take the chance of being hit as they dived for cover. Furious, the two young charges armed their duel shields. Erin had no idea if this would actually work, but it seemed rational that a duel spirit would be vulnerable to its own kind.

“I don’t care what you say, I’ll make you pay for what you did to our friend!” she swore, activating her shield. But to her shock, the disk sparked and failed. Swearing she kept hammering it, but nothing. It was obviously more damaged from her dunk in the river than she’d first realised. “Oh damn it not now!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” She blinked as beside her Alex got his disk fully operational. She could see in him that his anger, something more personal, was starting to boil over. “I dunno what it is you’re doing or who for, but you act on the side of the Empire. The Empire that took all my family away. Let’s fight.”

The magician girl stopped flailing with the fire whip to look at his armed duel shield, and her childish smirk only widened at the prospect. Recoiling her weapon, a dainty little ebony model appeared out of thin air on her wrist. “Hmm, this works okay. You think you can take a duel spirit herself on at her own game? Foolish challenge, but I’ll accept.” Erin and Chetema stood back as the two opponents faced off; willing their comrade and student on against the malevolent spirit as the randomizers flashed and the two snatched their opening hands. “But in this duel, I’m promise you won’t know what hit you.”

“Duel!”

“We’ll see spirit! I draw!” The green light lit up on Alex’s disk; something that prompted a sudden and immediate scowl from the young girl as he studied his hand. Only one monster, but the cards in hand...

‘Good, but too early’ he thought. ‘This isn’t a training duel. But I must remember what I’ve learned from training with Chetema. Against this opponent, I must control myself and be cautious for now.’ “Alright, here I go. I summon XX-Saber Fulhelmknight!”

Before him opened a gateway, through which leapt a blonde and blue-eyed swordsman dressed in fine armour and a red cape, one of twenty of its clan, brandishing a strange chain-linked weapon as it hit the field (Lv3, ATK 1300). “I’ll add to this with just a face down for now, and end my turn.”

“That’s your defence?” the little girl giggled as she drew. “Trust me; that isn’t going to do you any good against me. First I activate the spell card Pot of Duality. This lets me pick up the top three cards of my deck, and choose one of them to add to my hand. The others are returned, and I can’t special summon this turn.” The enlarged images of three cards revealed themselves; two more spells including a second Pot of Duality, along with a monster. Curran’s grin darkened at the sight, as she chose that to add to her hand. “Excellent. Now I’m going to summon my added monster. Come; Rapid-Fire Magician.”

The young duelists blinked as before Curran appeared a young magician dressed in a black and gold-trimmed suit and hooded cape, settling on the ground unruffled before her. The man was equipped with two long claw-shaped weapons, but otherwise seemed unremarkable (Lv4, ATK 1600). Behind him, Curran smirked at them. “Next I activate the continuous spell Dark Room of Nightmare, and with that everything is set. I activate Resonator Call, adding a monster with Resonator in its name to my hand.”

The transaction seemed relatively unthreatening. Indeed she’d already made them aware she would be unable to summon the monster she revealed to Alex. But her confidence was unnerving. And they soon saw why, as a ball of flame burst into life in the clawed sceptre of the magician. “Now the effect of Rapid-Fire Magician activates” the spirit cried. “Each time I activate a regular spell card, you take four hundred points of damage!”

The sorcerer’s aim was a lot better than hers was. Too surprised to react in time with his shield, the fireball caught Alex smack in the chest, sending him flying. To the spectators horror, he groaned as he sat up, and they saw his leather armour was singed and smoking (LP 3600).

“But... but that was only a minor shot?” Erin stuttered. “That looked like it really hurt.”

“You bet it really hurt!” Curran giggled. “You’re duelling me on my terms, of course it’s gonna hurt! Now you know how I feel when you people summon me for your amusement! This isn’t some game now. You just wait until your life points hit zero... But for now Dark Room of Nightmare also activates. Whenever you take damage from effect, this card hits you for an additional three hundred more!”

Suddenly that threat seemed a lot more ominous, as the sorcerer flared up another fireball in his claws and fired. This time Alex made sure he got his shield up from his seated position, but his leathered legs were still exposed to the blast when it struck. He shouted in pain as his points dipped again (LP 3300).

“Next I activate Allure of Darkness” Curran continued mercilessly. “This lets me draw two cards. Then I have to banish the Resonator monster I handily just added. And you know what happens then...”

Curran grinned as the exchange took place, and once more the magician fired. Still crippled by the last barrage, the now desperate looking Alex only just managed to parry away the first shot, but it took so much out of him the second clipped his shoulder. The shot struck like a cannonball! Roaring in pain he rolled backwards, clutching the arm and struggling to get up (LP 2600). Erin swallowed as she caught on.

“She still has four cards in hand. This strategy... If they are all normal spell cards, or let her keep drawing like this...” Enraged, Chetema picked up his sword and went to charge, but at his first step the sorcerer took a threatening aim at him with its clawed staves, making Curran smirk more wickedly than ever.

“Don’t be rude, one at a time” she grinned. “Now where was I? Oh yeah, I think I’ll use the spell Gather Your Mind next! This normal spell does nothing, except letting me add another copy of the same card to my hand, although I can’t use it this turn. Oh yeah... nothing except trigger Rapid-Fire Magician again!”

Panic set in to Alex as he saw the magician charge up a third onslaught of flame. ‘Okay, I think I can see where this is going. I gotta put a stop to it now before I take any more damage. But the only way I can do that is...’ He swallowed as he looked at his face down. Placed only for the sake of it with no real intent on using yet, this was not a good defence. But it was the only defence, the only thing that would stop this burn strategy before it wiped him of all his life points, and who knew what if that happened...

“I activate my trap; Skill Drain. By paying one thousand life points to activate, all monsters on the field lose their effects as long as it’s active.”

A visible purple aura engulfed him as the trap opened. Buckling as the card drained him of energy, he just had to hope Curran didn’t have anything in hand she could chain to immediately destroy it, doing more damage to himself for nothing (LP 1600). Mercifully nothing triggered as the two fireballs in the claws of the frustrated magician faded, but Curran did not relent for a moment. “Oh big deal” she shouted snobbishly. “But now you’ve activated that, your monster loses its ability to protect itself too. You just nullified your own so-called defence. Rapid-Fire attacks Fulhelmknight!”

Another blast at the defenceless warrior this time, and Alex winced from the passed over damage as it disappeared (LP 1300). With a shrug, Curran held out another card. “So you’ll get one more turn; like you’ll do anything with it on this evidence. Certainly not with this in play. I use Nightmare Steelcage.” A giant steel cage appeared with a dividing wall between each of the two competitors, separating them. “This spell remains in play until the end of your turn after this, even though it’s a normal spell... not that this’ll go that far. While it’s play, nobody can attack.”

“Not problem for her, but huge disadvantage to Alex” Chetema growled darkly to Erin as they watched Alex to stagger to his feet, still clutching his shoulder in clear discomfort. “He must destroy it quickly and try to defeat her this turn, before she find way around Skill Drain.”

“Can he do it?” Erin asked. Chetema grunted in reply.

“Believe.”

Back in the duel, Alex was still in pain in a way that no regular duel should be inflicting. At least it was his right arm that was injured so he could still hold his shield up to defend himself, and if it came to sword fighting he was ambidextrous, although his ability to dual-wield might be compromised. Trying to shake some sweat away, he shouted at the smug little spirit. “Grr, why are you fighting us? We’re supposed to be on your side; trying to liberate you to be able to come into this world again. You do know that Nero has made your kind feared and despised in this world right? He’s got it in his head you’d try and destroy his Empire and is terrified of you, and to be honest you’re kind of backing up his argument right now. I didn’t believe in duel spirits wandering around freely like he said when he made all relationships to duel monsters outlawed and the Purge started. He had anyone associated with duel monsters killed... like my brother! He was hunted down and killed just because he played this game that was just a popular sport before Nero got his hands on it, for being associated with you. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“That’s really not my problem” Curran sniffed. Her reaction made Alex choke and shake with fury.

“Then I’ll make me your problem! I draw!” Mystical Space Typhoon; excellent. He could destroy that cage and free up attack. He was just about to do it, when he stopped and thought. He’d only do a little damage, and she’d still have all those other cards left, and his monsters would still be compromised. ‘No, you mustn’t lose your temper and rush in. You have to fight better; you have to be smarter, just like Khan was. This deck, I have to use it better. If you want to avenge him, you have to do better than that...’

“I activate some spell cards of my own; Reinforcement of Army and Fire Formation Tenki. With these, I can add a level four or lower Warrior type and Beast-Warrior type monster to my hand.” Alex revealed his two choices. “Then I activate Mystical Space Typhoon, to destroy one spell or trap card on the field. My target... is Skill Drain!”

“You what?” Curran scoffed as his own trap card was obliterated by a spark of lightning. “You destroyed your own card? You’re either desperate or suicidal. Why would you free my magician like that?”

“Because now I’m free to start my real assault. I summon XX-Saber Boggart Knight!” A warrior general almost completely covered in gold and silver plate appeared before him (Lv4, ATK 2000). “With my trap off the field, Boggart Knight’s effect activates. When summoned, one other X-Saber can be bought out from my hand with it. I summon the tuner X-Saber Pashuul, and tune my warriors. Synchro Summon!”

A stout warrior carrying a large broadsword appeared briefly (Lv2, ATK 100), before the two monsters dissolved into a spiral of hoops and six stars. “I’ll unite my warrior’s powers to create a new and noble fighter in their stead, to avenge the fallen. To arms, XX-Saber Hyunlei!” On the sidelines Erin gasped as the gold plated samurai-like swordsman crashed through the rings above him, landing deftly with a swish of its katana (Lv6, ATK 2300). Given her previously displayed knowledge and now rather soured expression, Curran must have realised what this meant as she scowled at its appearance.

“When summoned, Hyunlei can target up to three spell or trap cards in play, and they are immediately destroyed” Alex informed them as the warrior swung the katana, wiping out both of Curran’s spells and leaving her magician exposed as the cage surrounding them faded away. “Next I’ll play Saber Slash. This destroys cards which are face-up on the field, equal to the number of X-Sabers I have out. I could have used it earlier, but the end result is the same.” Another swish through the air sent a shockwave that cut through the troublesome magician. He fell with a gasp and was gone, leaving the way clear as he punched at the spirit. “Now Hyunlei, direct attack!”

The swordsman obliged, leaping up against the helplessly panicking spellcaster and slashing at her. Curran ran around screaming and clutching her little hat for a few moments, before she came back snarling (LP 1700). “How dare you?! You’ll pay for that!”

“Heh, someone doesn’t like how it fits” Alex grunted before turning to his last card. He wasn’t out of the woods yet, and this card - another one of those inclusions that was all that was available to make do with in these times. In this situation it could be life-saving, but it was a gamble. He hoped he wouldn’t have to use it. “I’ll end my turn with a face-down.”

“Grr, enjoy it while it lasts. This will finish it” the little girl promised as she snatched her card. There was a long pause as she studied it, making them wait and wonder as she stood in silence, staring at her hand. A bead of sweat trickled down Alex’s temple. Erin was shaking. ‘What was it? What has she got now?’

Curran continued to stare at her hand. What she had actually drawn was Summoner Monk. Great for getting access to Rapid-Fire Magician, but not the spell card she wanted now to add to her hand of Monster Reborn, Magical Stone Excavation, and the second Gather Your Mind. If she had drawn a spell, it would most likely have been over. But no matter what combination she used these cards in; each one left her an agonising one hundred points of damage short. The only way she might do be able to do it using her Magicians would be to use Excavation to add Allure of Darkness back to her hand, but that would require the most unlikely of fortunate draws. She had to find another way. She thought about it, keeping them waiting. Until finally a way - a deliciously agonising way - came into her sadistic little mind.

“I activate Monster Reborn” she smirked at their reaction as her key sorcerer rose through the fiery hole in the ground the spell had opened. “Then I use my second Gather Your Mind to add the third to my hand, and get my magician warmed up again.” This time Alex was ready and had Hyunlei to deflect some of the heat for him, although he couldn’t help buckle slightly as Curran added the last unusable copy to her hand (LP 900).

“Next I activate Magical Stone Excavation. By throwing away the last two cards in my hand, I can return any spell in my graveyard back to my hand, as well as triggering my magician again. The spell I’m going to chose is Resonator Call, which I’ll use right away to add my second copy of Dark Resonator to my hand and immediately summon it!” Again and again the magician fired with the continued spell burn. Alex buckled more and more each time, getting weaker and weaker with each shot (LP 100). Each breath was getting harder to make now. His head was swimming so badly from pain that the little horned fiend with the tuning fork appearing on the field was blurred around the edges (Lv3, ATK 1300). He was on the brink of collapse. At least she’d run out of cards at last though. Behind the fiend, Curran was reaching out to it. “Now I tune Dark Resonator and Rapid-Fire Magician, to perform my own Synchro Summon.”

Alex and the others gasped as the fiend struck its fork, sounding the echoing chime like a death knell as the two monsters turned into more rings and stars and soar upwards. From the opening portal emerged something new. Something darker and more menacing than before. A great aerial machine was floating down from the portal, hovering on jet engines and outstretched wings, plated in dark bronze armour and equipped with rockets and guns and every other weapon conceivable (Lv7, ATK 2600). Beneath it, Curran was laughing in triumph. “Appear the unstoppable war machine, Dark Strike Fighter!”

Erin gulped. “That monster... its strong enough to defeat Alex’s and wipe out his remaining life points.” Looking at him struggling to keep standing, he would not withstand any more damage well.

“That’s true...” Curran replied as she paused. “However that might not be the wisest move. It all depends on that face-down...” She toyed with it, thinking about what it might be and about what to do for a moment, before she shook her head. “Probably an attack stopper, this will more likely work. I activate the effect of Dark Strike Fighter. By tributing a monster on my side of the field, you take damage equal to its level times two hundred. So I’ll tribute Dark Strike Fighter itself! You’re finished now!”

The machine started to shake violently as it went into self-destruct. Erin screamed out to her friend as Chetema tackled her to try and cover her, as he desperately went for something.

“Now! I activate my trap; Synchro Barrier!” Everyone stopped as the trap opened. “By tributing my Synchro monster, all damage to me is nullified this turn, by battle or effect!” Hyunlei disappeared, in its wake leaving a barrier just as the aircraft gunner exploded. The metal shrapnel thudded into the barrier engulfing the three of them, but mercifully bounced harmlessly away. Leaving the little girl stunned.

“Of all the... Bah, regardless. We’re both out of cards now. Now it’s just comes down to who draws a monster first, and you need one much stronger than I do. So, you get first shot... punk.” She smirked as he uneasily took a deep breath, drew his card... paused... and flipped it. Everyone held their breath.

“I summon X-Saber Uruz...”

A masked animal in scarlet plate and furs, wielding two swords like his own, leapt on to the field, landing with a fierce snarl as it did (Lv4, ATK 1600). Its savage appearance made Curran jump for a second, but she quickly regained composure. “He he he, looks like you fell just a few attack points short. Unlucky...”

“Actually, I’m just about there.” Curran blinked as Alex shook his head. He didn’t smile, just frowned at her between pants. “You weren’t totally accurate when you said we’re both out of cards. Remember when I searched out my Boggart Knight? Well the card I used, Fire Formation Tenki, is still on the field... as a continuous spell. After searching out a Beast-Warrior, it hangs around, and gives all Beast-Warriors I control a one hundred point boost. Beast-Warriors like Uruz, giving him just that little bit to make it...” The animal swordsman growled to emphasis his point, getting just the additional kick it needed. Curran blinked as she checked her life points (LP 1700), and shook with fury at the result.

“You lucky brat...” she spat. “Alright... you’ve scraped away this time. But don’t get too cocky just yet. My master is going to hear about this, and he won’t be pleased, not one bit he won’t. What happened to the old man is just the start of what’s going to happen to you! We’re going to pick you apart Resistance. Bit by bit, until we get you all eventually. Soon you’ll all be dead!”

‘Ugh, I can’t take much more of this.’ Alex groaned. He was shaking badly from the effort; he didn’t think he’d be able to stand much longer. “Uruz, please... shut her up!”

The beast-warrior howled, lunged, and slashed across the magician girl with both blades. The impact sent her flying, screaming as she went (LP 0). The rebels watched she was engulfed in a cloud of dark smoke before she hit the floor, disappearing into nothingness as it cleared. With the threat seemingly gone Uruz faded away along with the magic fuelled fires around the warehouse, leaving Alex victorious for now, but he was broken. Even after the duel’s finish, the wounds inflicted on him remained. Almost fainting he staggered; Erin and Chetema just caught him under his shoulders in time and held him up.

“Well done Alex” she whispered thankfully.

“To be honest, it sure doesn’t feel like it. I got lucky. Khan would have held up better” he muttered. Whatever mysterious effect fighting an actual duel spirit had, it was clearly lingering. “C’mon, let’s hurry back and tell Vardus. I got a bad feeling about all this.”

Agreed, the three staggered off in an awkward tripod, dragging him along back to home.[/spoiler]

Disclaimer: The preceding chapter contained images of extreme violence and should not have been viewed by young children or those of a sensitive disposition.

[Aerion Brightflame]

Oh... I knew I was forgetting something on here. My apologies as ever, as a treat I'll do both chapters in one:

 

Chapter 7:

Opening scene: Demon felt much to casual there. It's kinda out of place with my memories of his POV chapters, and whilst I could get some of the characters acting differently, Demon seeing this casual about stuff bugged me. Of course I'll forgive this because you know... Like you wrote the original so very long ago. Speaking of that sort of term, it was lovely to see Ursula making a bigger appearance. It'll be nice to have her explored a bit more.

 

Mr Gawp... Hmm... the name almost makes me think of Grawp from HP, but that's much to obvious.

 

Training scene was decent enough, as was elaboration on Nakata (Since I still remember him as just a fleeting cameo from the origional and making him seem... cooler is great). Also Reckage is probably the most hilarious name of a character I've ever seen. Also where is 'rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated from?' because the line sticks out to me (Not anything wrong with the fic, just curiosity getting at me)

 

So no complaints about that part of the chapter.

 

And likewise no complaints about the rest of it, it was a very solid piece of writing. So a chapter I couldn't especially find fault in. A time to rejoice I'd say. Oh and I didn't spot a cameo unless it was in the opening scene, but that wouldn't so much be a cameo as something to be expected given the situation.

 

Chapter 8:

Hmm... I'll miss Reckage. Sincerely will. Though he was but brief, through name and through being the kind of old guy that I feel fiction always should have, I built a connection with him.

 

The rest of the chapter was... interesting. 1) I'd be willing to bet money that Gawp isn't dead (Since unless you randomly put in a fish assassin, the dead one is grap), and that he will return to have some revenge. Or just be interesting at least. 2) Ebon was... odd. I think it was more the lack of you know explanation behind her random appearance and slaughter of a cool guy (Though heavily implied) that made it feel.. odd. I liked it all the same, I just hope you expand upon her beyond a one shot appearance. And that her twin appears at some point. Since, that'll be a hilarious fight.

 

I liked the chapter to say the very least. I just didn't feel like it was sensational (Did like the duel a lot though. Twas very smooth)

 

As for the games: I'm not going to comment on Alpha and Omega, I read the original where you stated outright where the inspiration came from. It would be unfair. And I don't know WHO on this site wouldn't be able to get Skaro.

 

But yeah, have some comments long overdue.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Oh... I knew I was forgetting something on here. My apologies as ever, as a treat I'll do both chapters in one:

 

Chapter 7:

Opening scene: Demon felt much to casual there. It's kinda out of place with my memories of his POV chapters, and whilst I could get some of the characters acting differently, Demon seeing this casual about stuff bugged me. Of course I'll forgive this because you know... Like you wrote the original so very long ago. Speaking of that sort of term, it was lovely to see Ursula making a bigger appearance. It'll be nice to have her explored a bit more.

 

Mr Gawp... Hmm... the name almost makes me think of Grawp from HP, but that's much to obvious.

 

Training scene was decent enough, as was elaboration on Nakata (Since I still remember him as just a fleeting cameo from the origional and making him seem... cooler is great). Also Reckage is probably the most hilarious name of a character I've ever seen. Also where is 'rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated from?' because the line sticks out to me (Not anything wrong with the fic, just curiosity getting at me)

 

So no complaints about that part of the chapter.

 

And likewise no complaints about the rest of it, it was a very solid piece of writing. So a chapter I couldn't especially find fault in. A time to rejoice I'd say. Oh and I didn't spot a cameo unless it was in the opening scene, but that wouldn't so much be a cameo as something to be expected given the situation.

 

Chapter 8:

Hmm... I'll miss Reckage. Sincerely will. Though he was but brief, through name and through being the kind of old guy that I feel fiction always should have, I built a connection with him.

 

The rest of the chapter was... interesting. 1) I'd be willing to bet money that Gawp isn't dead (Since unless you randomly put in a fish assassin, the dead one is grap), and that he will return to have some revenge. Or just be interesting at least. 2) Ebon was... odd. I think it was more the lack of you know explanation behind her random appearance and slaughter of a cool guy (Though heavily implied) that made it feel.. odd. I liked it all the same, I just hope you expand upon her beyond a one shot appearance. And that her twin appears at some point. Since, that'll be a hilarious fight.

 

I liked the chapter to say the very least. I just didn't feel like it was sensational (Did like the duel a lot though. Twas very smooth)

 

As for the games: I'm not going to comment on Alpha and Omega, I read the original where you stated outright where the inspiration came from. It would be unfair. And I don't know WHO on this site wouldn't be able to get Skaro.

 

But yeah, have some comments long overdue.

 

Might as well respond soon as. Thanks for commenting and it's fine, don't worry.

 

Hmmm, maybe. When looking back Demon was very 'generic evil lunatic' in the original, although I don't think he was ever the most uptight or highly strung individual (he is sometimes though). So him being more laidback is something I wanted, he's going to be fairly redesigned for the better I hope. Glad the Nataka/Vardus backstory went well, they definitely need more exploring on thier pasts, Nataka and Chetema hopefully will get a fair bit of coverage this time, as will everyone now I'm more experienced and more organised. There are some fun scenes mixed in with the serious stuff.

 

I... don't actually know where it's from. It's from something, but I can't remember what. :D

 

As for Gawp, nope. The Gawp part of his name is more just a froggy-like noise really, it's the Jeremiah part that's to be guessed at. As for the cameo, not in the opening scene, not the hooded person who didn't speak. All those guys will have their part.

 

Yep, deaths of a horrible and graphic nature. Despite being a slightly pervy old man, he had his heart in the righht place.

 

It was reading your comment though that I thought this is the second time in the Armageddon series where I've killed off 'the nice old man' in a horrible gruesome way, because you just made me remember the fate of poor Father Bartholomew in the original. That was Alpha and Omega too. Good Lord I honestly didn't remember or think about that when I wrote this but geez those guys are vicious! :unsure: Speaking of though, Ebon was telling the truth about that. She didn't touch the old man in terms of hurting him. Omega and Ururusla are responsible for that. I was hoping they'd made that clear enough at the end of the previous chapter. Ebon was just left behind to keep him alive through her magic and set the explosion off when the body was inevitably discovered. As for Ebon's appearance, all will be explained later. You can't expect everything up front. :)

 

But glad these chapters were largely good, and the duel was better. Hopefully Ebon's deck fitted her well. And yes that was Gawp. And he is most certainly dead. There's very little getting up from what Vardus did to him. I was looking forward to seeing comments akin to 'looking forward to Vardus duelling next chapter' and hurr durr nope, just deal with him simply.

 

I think a few of them were explained before, but we'll see, it's a different readerbase now a few people aside. And we'll see :D Thanks for commenting.

[Ren✧]

Just finished reading chapter 8, and I find it slightly worrying that I loved such a gruesome chapter, lol. But in all seriousness, it was a very nice chapter. I guess I'll start with the duel. It ran very smoothly, and I find myself disappointed when it ended, which is just what you want for your readers. Ebon's deck was perfectly fitting, although in most circumstances I find burn decks distasteful. Alex's use of X-Sabers wasn't all that surprising, my suspicions of his deck being X-Sabers goes back to finding out his name, lol.

 

I am kinda sad to see Gawp go. Somehow I grew to like the big-eyed fish freak. I was hoping maybe to see him crack out some killer Frog combos, but alas it was just not meant to be. It was interesting to see Vardus so rattled by the attack and it is going to be interesting to see how he deals with being discovered. Which leads me to my question. Does Demon now know where the Resistance is hanging out? And by extension, does Nero? 

 

Ebon's character was interesting, her sadistic, and yet childish personality is one of my favorite types of characters (reminds me of Lilith from Supernatural, if you ever watched it). Like Horus, I am eager to get more information on her as her appearance was a bit awkward at first, but with the reassurance of more appearances and some more explanation any objections have bee laid to rest for me. 

 

Now, I have been thinking over a few names and so far have come up with a few guesses as to how naming has been done. I'll just throw out one for now so as to give some others a chance.

 

Is Alex's brother, Kahn, named after the Kahn from Star Trek? It seems to fit because from what I can gather, Kahn was a skilled duelist and warrior, a possible parallel to Star Trek's Kahn's superb strategic and combative skills. 

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

I wonder if the whole of Arc 2 will end up on one page of 20 posts...
 
No, let's not try for that.
 

Just finished reading chapter 8, and I find it slightly worrying that I loved such a gruesome chapter, lol. But in all seriousness, it was a very nice chapter. I guess I'll start with the duel. It ran very smoothly, and I find myself disappointed when it ended, which is just what you want for your readers. Ebon's deck was perfectly fitting, although in most circumstances I find burn decks distasteful. Alex's use of X-Sabers wasn't all that surprising, my suspicions of his deck being X-Sabers goes back to finding out his name, lol.
 
I am kinda sad to see Gawp go. Somehow I grew to like the big-eyed fish freak. I was hoping maybe to see him crack out some killer Frog combos, but alas it was just not meant to be. It was interesting to see Vardus so rattled by the attack and it is going to be interesting to see how he deals with being discovered. Which leads me to my question. Does Demon now know where the Resistance is hanging out? And by extension, does Nero? 
 
Ebon's character was interesting, her sadistic, and yet childish personality is one of my favorite types of characters (reminds me of Lilith from Supernatural, if you ever watched it). Like Horus, I am eager to get more information on her as her appearance was a bit awkward at first, but with the reassurance of more appearances and some more explanation any objections have bee laid to rest for me. 
 
Now, I have been thinking over a few names and so far have come up with a few guesses as to how naming has been done. I'll just throw out one for now so as to give some others a chance.
 
Is Alex's brother, Kahn, named after the Kahn from Star Trek? It seems to fit because from what I can gather, Kahn was a skilled duelist and warrior, a possible parallel to Star Trek's Kahn's superb strategic and combative skills.

 
Hi Rene.
 
There's nothing worrying about that. Join us. Join the cult of gruesome. :D And thanks. I'm happy with Ebon because every other characters deck in my entire history doing this has focused on summoning the big Synchro/Xyz/whatever things with huge attacks or whatever, so it was a nice change for me to have someone use a deck that is centered on a low level monster. And no I can't imagine Alex's deck was a surprise. Given that he was seen with an X-Saber Hyunlei in Chapter 3 and all. :P Excellent with Ebon, that's how I wanted her to come across. Wanted her to be quite bratty and naive but still fearsome and sadistic, so I'm glad she did alright.
 
Vardus and Gawp getting into a full scale duel seemed... kinda pointless (like I said, not everything will be card games TO THE DEATH!). The former will get his duels, so that's something to look forward to. Gawp was indeed a bit of a misfit, so glad he did well in his little role. As Demon stated (in that segment you found tiresome) he suggested he could think of a few possible places he thought Vardus might be rather than anything certain, but we'll see won't he?
 
Um, no. It's simpler than that. Think about them together and you should get it.
 
Anyway, suppose now we've had... some feedback, I might as well get it over with and put up Chapter 9. Come on guys this is genuinely depressing watching the views count go up and not the comments please give me something. :(
 
Oh and massive thanks to Demmy for her help with this duel and helping me understand spell speeds and stuff better to get this to work.

[spoiler=Chapter 9]Chapter 9: The Raid
 
A week on from the events with the assassins and the runner dealer, and the rebels were all out on an operation in the city, on the main road between where the north-westerly Haman slums and the south-westerly Raviel district met. Split into groups of three; Erin and Aerial, again led by Dorian after Vardus had told them that he was interested in seeing them develop as a unit, found themselves on the roof of a grocery store overlooking a wide main street, hidden behind a load of secured barrels. On the roof of the butchers over and further along the street, the group of Alex, Clove, and their leader Nataka were similarly positioned behind a load of crates, the senior figure looking out from his position through an ornate spying glass - across the rooftops to the gate on the west wall. The capital was fully enclosed in an octagonal wall with a gate in each of the four compassed sides, and built quite symmetrically from there. From each of the main gates ran a long high street that went straight through from the outer wall to slums and industrial areas in the outer ring, through the richer estates and more leisure businesses in the middle ring, straight to the royal palace in the middle. The Resistance was positioned about halfway into the outer ring of this very long street. It was early; the first rays of the new sun were just beginning to spill over the mountains beyond them. The street below was mostly empty as a consequence, only the business owners setting up their shops for the day and a few people heading for the early shift in the factories or the farms were up. That was good for the rebels. Nataka adjusted his looking device, and through the glare of the rising sun, the outline of a cart could just be seen approaching the gate.
 
On the opposite side, Dorian polished his own looking device and turned to his young charges. “They’re right on time. You guys ready? The barrels ready to go?”
 
“Yes sir” Aerial replied, giving the ropes holding the barrels a quick tuck whilst Erin checked the knotting. A quiver of new arrows was slung across his back. “Everything’s good to go.”
 
“Awesome” he grinned, before turning to Erin. “Are you ready?”
 
“Um... Yes...” The quietness of her reply might have suggested she wasn’t, but that was only part of the reason for her shy response. She hadn’t seen much of Dorian since his confrontation with her brother except at meals; apparently he’d been very busy, so she hadn’t had much of a chance to really talk to him. Too much had gone on with Vardus and Reckage last week, and there’d been limited opportunity since. There had been some... but when an opportunity did arise, she didn’t seem to want to take it. Ignoring him she checked the knots again, completely forgetting she’d just done so. He frowned at her.
 
“Hey, it’ll be alright. We’ve been prepping this for a while. Vardus can’t pay for everything we need after all, and why not get the good Emperor to finance his own downfall? Besides, this will make him flip” the boy grinned and fidgeted with excitement as he went back to look at the rising gate, Erin half-blushing and half-annoyed that he had completely misread the cause of shyness. Aerial tapped on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile, before he flicked on his mask and started prepping his bow and loaded arrows. She guessed she should do the same with her weapons. Across the street, the others did similar as the cart and its escort came through the gate and trundled down the street towards them.
 
“Aerial, you really think this plan will work?” she whispered so Dorian wouldn’t hear.
 
“Sure, it’s Vardus’ plan” the youth nodded. “The Emperor is too rigid and set in his ways. All his supplies run to a strict monthly schedule, and rather stupidly that includes gold deposits coming from the other cities, like this one from Sennen’Yama. The schedule hasn’t changed for years; it’s the same one since Vardus worked for the Emperor. Although I suspect the Emperor might change it up a bit after this...”
 
The archer grinned and took a few practise aims to get his eye in with the new arrows. Erin hoped his confidence was well placed. Up front, Dorian was frowning instead. “Ooh, well that’s interesting...”
 
“What’s interesting?” Erin gulped. In her mind, interesting was probably bad.
 
“They’ve got Gaius on escort duty.”
 
“What!?” Erin’s heart stopped. Quick as a flash she was up beside Dorian and snatching the eyepiece of him, ignoring his protests and looking at the convoy heading towards them. There were three carts in the line, each drawn by two powerful shire horses, carrying gold and other taxes from the industrial mountain city. Between each cart, as well as close to the front and back, were a trio of soldiers divided between a swordsman and two pike-men, as well as an archer sat on each cart with the driver and a four more soldiers on horseback in each corner. Three more soldiers on foot, the advance guard, went ahead to clear the streets of civilians in an overly forceful manner. And indeed, there just in front of the first cart leading the procession was the large, scarred general Gaius; looking at the palace far ahead with a impervious expression to the dispersing public and the beatings being dealt out in front of him.
 
“Heh, looks like someone got a demotion” Dorian chuckled in her ear as she continued to stare at him. “Can’t imagine he’s terribly pleased to be on this low level of duty again. He’ll be even more upset in a minute. Although we weren’t expecting him.” Dorian looked across at the senior commander for his thoughts. Nataka had seen Gaius too, and he too was frowning at this unexpected complication. But he met Dorian’s inquiring look and gave him a stern nod; they were going ahead as planned. Dorian nodded back and lowered his own helmet. “Alright, back in place and helmet on. They’ll be here in a minute.”
 
Erin did as she was told, putting on her own large helmet that covered her face and positioning herself by the barrels, hidden with her sword drawn ready until she was to jump out at the last second. Dorian put his eyepiece away and crouched down, the others doing the same opposite, and they waited. Soon there were shouts below them as the advance guard arrived, a few cries and the sound of people being thumped with the backs of gauntlets or shields for not getting out the way. They had to wait for these three to pass. Erin stealthily glanced out from her position. One brute was stood over an old beggar and beating him for not moving, punching him with his steel fists while another shouted at him to “Leave the poor bugger alone would ya!” Her blood boiled; surely Gaius would have the man punished for that! But looking back at him and the paused convoy, he didn’t look at all concerned by what was happening as the defenceless old man, covered in blood from his cuts, was shoved to the side and his thuggish abuser moved on, scolded by his colleague but otherwise unpunished. Erin could feel herself shaking, seething at this cruelty. Her sword was already drawn; she just had to go out, drop down and stab the man in the back of his exposed neck. She didn’t even think about it, her body had taken over. She’d kill that guard...
 
She had barely taken her first unconscious movement to do so, when someone grabbed her arm and bought her back to her senses. It was Dorian. He was equally furious, but firmly shook his head. “No. Get him afterwards if you want, but not now.”
 
“But...” She barely got the word out to protest when she squeezed her arm harder, quite painfully. Maybe it was too make her see sense, but maybe it was also to release a little bit of his own anger.
 
“I know, but no.”
 
He held her in place until the advance guard moved on beyond them, and the restarted procession of carts advanced towards them. Erin gulped as the emotionless Gaius passed underneath her, still looking dead ahead rather than around like he might have been doing, and the first set of three guards was marching underneath them. Across the street, she saw Nataka nod.
 
“Now now NOW!”
 
Too startled and slow to react to his demand, Dorian sighed and cut the rope himself, sending the load of barrels tumbling into the street below just as Alex and Clove tipped the crates on the other side. The guards at the front and back of the convoy screamed as the perfectly distanced avalanches came crashing down on each of them, landing in the chosen area best for their catchment as the second loads went down after them, blocking each end of the main street either side of the train and burying some of them into the bargain. Aerial had jumped out too and was unloading arrow after arrow, aiming for the archers. With precision shots he took two down before having to leap out of the line of the third firing back at him, beginning their shootout. The rest of the guards were scrambling to find a way out of the blockade and up to them, as Dorian and Nataka lit their supply of fire launchers and chucked them after the ready clothed and soaked barrels and crates. The two barriers burst into walls of flame. The war horses carrying soldiers were prepared for this, but the working shires weren’t, kicking and panicking and refusing the command of their drivers trying to steer them down the narrow side streets. Having been a passenger in all this so far, Erin looked down past the first blockade. On the outside the advance guard were running back, and there was Gaius, stood staring into the fire and ignoring the cries of the helpless soldier trapped underneath. He was looking for a way back around or for a gap, but he didn’t seem to be in any great rush to do so. Erin froze as suddenly he looked up and caught sight of her. He looked as menacing as ever, he always did with that scarred face, but when he looked at her for that moment he didn’t seem any more enraged by the sight of her. There was a pause, then he ran off.
 
Something hit her from behind. Knocked out of her trance, she could see Dorian passing by and waving frantically at her, sword in one hand and duel shield armed on the other wrist. On the other side, Clove Alex and Nataka were dropping into the melee. “What are you doing Erin? Come on, let’s get stuck in.”
 
“R-r-r-Right!” Hesitantly she followed with Aerial. The third archer was now slumped dead in his seat, it was just the remaining foot and horseback troops to deal with now, as well as the men who’d found a way back in. Erin tensed as she saw the man who’d beaten the homeless guy and the one who’d pulled him off, but before she could do anything there was an arrow stuck in the neck of the thug and he fell choking to the ground, and the screaming with rage Dorian was in full battle with the innocent one.  The fight was quick and brutal as the man fell against his furious strikes, as he fell clutching his bleeding stomach. She watched as he left him and stood over the heaving body of the dying brute. There was a pause, then with a pitiless look Dorian drove the blade into the man’s throat, and held it there unmoved while she watched him writhe in agony, immune to the world and the battle around him. Until finally the man fell still in death, and Dorian looked up at her and met her terrified expression. His grey eyes danced with the nearby flames, but on top of the dead guard, they were filled with cold hate.
 
There was a shout and she snapped out of her gaze at him, seeing the others fighting the remaining drivers and guards. The pike-men and horsebacks seemed to be giving them the most difficulty, but they had prepared for that. There was a flash, as Naturia Beast, XX-Saber Hyunlei and the Six Samurai Shin En joined the fray. The pike-men quailed, but the ones on horses seemed to be prepared for this and had been commissioned with their own duel shields. There was a retaliatory flash of light as several rather unspectacular monsters, mostly warriors and beasts a few of which Erin recognised;  Battle Ox, Mystic Horseman, Guardian of the Labyrinth and Protector of the Throne, went to do battle. Dorian quickly joined in, throwing a card onto his armed shield, and with a roar appeared the mighty Black Brutdrago.
 
‘I better join in too’ she thought, rifling into her extra deck and running towards the fray, and one of the men on horseback who was summoning another monster. There was a scream behind her as Brionac flew past, releasing an icy breath that not only vaporised the summoned monster before she’d even seen what it was, but striking the stunned soldier and knocking him off his rearing horse, which bolted.
 
“Help!”
 
Glancing for the cry, Erin whipped around. Clove had been knocked down and was backing away from the pike-men about to finish her, looking terrified and crying desperately for help. The others hadn’t heard as they were engaged in their own battles. Even her Beast was stuck being blocked by the plated ox. The man had his spear raised above her as she backed against a cart. She had nowhere to go.
 
“Brionac, help her!” she shouted desperately. The ice dragon duly obliged, unleashing another freezing breath that caught the spear carrier in the back just as he was about to lunge, engulfing his mind with the icy sensation just long enough to distract him. Thoughtlessly in adrenaline fuelled panic she charged straight at him and tackled him in the back, tangling up with him helplessly as they fell forward. The man quickly got his senses together and rounded on her with a swipe of his long weapon, she cried and scrambled away as he missed, and with a stream of curses he tried to get up after her. He never did though. The man choked suddenly as a steel blade came through the back of his neck, falling forward to reveal Clove had reacted best of the three, stabbing him from behind from her seated position.
 
“Clove” Erin gasped, scrambling over and offering a hand to help the girl up. “You alright?”
 
She gasped as her hand was slapped out of the way. Clove just scowled at her and pushed herself up, and passed her by without a word.
 
The fight was over. It had only lasted a minute or less, and been extremely hectic, but very successful. All the remaining guards had either fallen or fled, their monsters gone, and the others were trying to get the horses under control, being helped to calm down somewhat by the shop owners putting the blazing blockades out. However everyone dropped their tasks as the almost forgotten Gaius emerged from one of the narrow side-streets, duel shield armed and frowning at the group that scrambled to engage him.
 
“You took your time getting involved” Dorian noted. Behind him Brutdrago growled threateningly.
 
Gaius simply scowled. “I used the time wisely. So you’re getting bolder with your stunts. Well played.” Erin blinked at this begrudging compliment as he frowned, studying the group of warriors all pointing weapons at him, and the five powerful Synchro monsters behind them. He mustn’t have fancied his chances on his own, as he disarmed his duel-shield. “I recognise when a battle is lost, it would be foolish for me to fight in this position. So it looks like I’m going to have to concede to you this time. I’m going to have to work harder to get these hapless buffoons into better shape for our next fight. So... until then.”
 
With that he turned - to Erin’s sheer astonishment - and simply walked away back into the city.
 
“Yeah, you walk away!” Aerial shouted after him, although he got a stern reprimand off Nataka for doing so. Gaius seemingly dealt with, the rest of the group set to work moving the horses and exiting with the gold. Erin was supposed to join the middle cart with Alex, but she didn’t move at all. She just stood there looking after Gaius’ departing figure, trying to work out what he had meant.
 
“Come on you, reinforcements must be on their way by now” Alex shouted at her. “We have to move!”
 
“I don’t like this” she answered back, grudgingly joining him at their cart. Nataka and Clove were trying to turn the one nearest to them. “Something doesn’t seem right about this. These carts were too easy to get to, and there’s no way Gaius should have just given up like that. He’s had enough failure with the Emperor recently to just let himself to be mugged on his watch. Something’s wrong Na...”
 
“I do not doubt he has some contingency plan” the samurai interrupted before she could blurt out his name in the middle of a public street. “We are out in the open; guards on the gate or at the palace will have realised by now and be storming here any minute. We must move quickly and get underground as soon as possible. Now hurry up and move!”
 
Unsatisfied but keeping her retort to herself, Erin went to her assigned cart in the middle. Alex; a farm boy apparently and thus used to animals, was already in the driving seat with the animals under control, she wasn’t needed there. Instead she went to the back of the canvas covered wagon and pulled herself up. ‘There’s definitely something wrong about this’ she scowled. With that in mind, she checked inside.
 
Erin froze as she looked through the canvas flap. There was no gold inside...
 
“Everyone take cover!” she shouted as she dropped from the wagon and sprinted for cover. Alarmed by her outburst the others did likewise, diving for cover just in time as the explosives in all three wagons went off, blowing up the wagons and sending the world into a whirl of flame.
 
Coughing and dizzy, Erin pushed herself up and looked at the inferno around her. People were running around screaming, as most of the ramshackle shops were catching fire, the blaze contained by their own barricades. The others were similarly groggy and trying to gather themselves, mercifully they all seemed to have got off the carts and down in time to avoid being caught in the blasts. The air was filling up with smoke as the flames quickly began to spread; people were running for escape through the couple of back streets around them. Still struggling to see and breathe, she staggered over to the others. From somewhere behind the fallen crates, heavy metal footfalls could just be heard over the lick of flames.
 
“Damn it, Gaius must be coming back with a ton of them” Dorian swore. “Everyone scatter! Now!”
 
No-one needed to turn to Nataka for instruction. Everyone bolted at random, legging it into whichever alleyway was closest to them and out of the street before they got sealed in by the blaze or the soldiers; Dorian and Alex only just made it into one alley before an overhang collapsed behind them to emphasis the point. Nataka and Aerial did likewise; mixing in with a crowd of shopkeepers tripping over each other and the bodies of the dead soldiers, civilians and horses to escape. Looking for her own way out, Erin spotted Clove rushing into an emptier looking alley. Deciding it was probably best to follow her; she ducked under the smokescreen and made after her, trying not to breathe in the stench of dead burning bodies as she bolted for it, missing the little figure stood in a doorway watching her go as she went past.
 
When she caught up with her, Clove seemed less than pleased to be being tailed. “What the hell are you following me for?” she shouted back. “Find your own way back.”
 
This response was a surprise to her. “I saw all the others pair up. Surely it’s safer if we did too?”
 
“Yeah, I’m not so sure about that...” Clove grumbled under her breath. Erin was too busy running and looking for guards to follow her up on it though. So for a few tense minutes the two continued to run; discarding their incriminating helmets, darting through the emptier streets, taking cover if they saw the shadow of anything that even might be a guard. Terrible thoughts chased around Erin’s head just as fast as she was running. Had the other’s got away alright? Were they safely underground yet? And also...
 
“Gaius... he set a trap for us. The whole thing was a set up...”
 
“Huh. You work that out all by yourself?” Clove sniped back over her shoulder as they paused at the corner of a derelict house, peeking out for anyone who might be watching. She shrunk back into the shadows at the sight of a patrol of guards stood in the square, as Erin bent over catching her breath.
 
“Sorry, it’s just... the way they did it. The explosives I mean. They might have worked, but they wouldn’t have just killed us. All those innocent civilians got caught in it, or lost their shops at best. Even the other soldiers, Gaius planned for us to defeat them. They were just sacrificial, like they were nothing. I can’t believe Gaius... that the Emperor could allow that! How could he do that to his own people...?”
 
“Are you even listening to yourself?!” Erin gasped as suddenly Clove rounded on and grabbed her by the scruff of her jumper, pressing her head into hers. Clove might have been shorter than her, but she was a scrappy little fighter and was no less intimidating when she got in her face. “This is Nero we’re talking about here. Nobody matters to him; he just cares about his own rule. Of course he will throw away the lives of a few unimportant guards if it benefits him in some way, like killing all of us. They deserve it for siding with him anyway. Anyone wearing that uniform under his banner deserves everything they get!”
 
“Aren’t you being a little bit harsh Clove...?” Erin started weakly, only increasing her ire.
 
“No, it’s very simple. Anyone who doesn’t fight for us against Nero is against us in my book, especially the guards. They need to wake up and see the treacherous madman he is. If they don’t then they’re as bad as him. Stop being naive to think otherwise! We’re at war here; either get on board or get off.”
 
Erin was so stunned by her furious outburst she didn’t argue more as Clove let her go and went scowling back to her lookout. The guards hadn’t moved. “Damn it all, they look like they’ll be here for a while, and I’d bet the rest aren’t far behind us. We need to get around somehow, or find somewhere to hide.”
 
“Excuse me? I might be able to help you.”
 
Both girls jumped at the voice, nearly going for swords in their alarm, until they saw the speaker that had joined them. A little girl in a white dress with red markings, with some pink hair peeking out from under her little yellow hat with what looked like a ram designed into it, was sat on a doorstep opposite them having seemingly gone unnoticed by the pair. She was looking at them with a curious expression in her shiny green eyes as she sat there swinging her legs, not that affected by the appearance of these two sweaty teenagers; armed with swords and duel shields, covered in blood and scorch marks, who’d ran past and started arguing in front of her.
 
“That big house behind you is empty” the girl pointed at the rundown building behind them, continuing in the same airy musical tone and oblivious to their amazed stares. “You can get into the next street by going through there, and then follow it to the main marketplace. I don’t know if that helps you at all, but I hope it does.” The girl blinked innocently as neither reacted at first, stunned for different reasons.
 
“Um... right...” Clove started uncertainly. “Sorry, but you’re... why are you helping us?”
 
“Because it’s my good duty to help people in trouble” the girl smiled in reply. Clove still seemed sceptical, but not as much as Erin, who was looking hard at the little girl.
 
“You look very similar to someone I ran into the other day...” she started slowly. She was suspicious, but she had to handle her thoughts and how to confirm them delicately. She couldn’t blurt anything out that turned out to be a mistake and might make an innocent little girl alarmed, and turn to the guard. “That’s a very pretty outfit you’re wearing, but it’s pretty distinctive too. Have I seen you before?”
 
The girl shook her head. “Thank you very much, but I don’t think I’ve seen you before. I’m just trying to help you, but if you don’t want it and want to run straight into these metal-headed bullies over there...”
 
Gulp, well that had got nowhere other than maybe a push far. She was sure something was unnatural about this girl, if that’s even what she was at all. She had serious doubts about her identity now, but she couldn’t tell what her motives were. She turned to Clove for her thoughts. She seemed equally unsure, but the girl had made it pretty clear that they were limited for other options, and by now her patience and willingness to help might be starting to run thin. She looked at the old house. It was dark and empty, without any obvious clue as to whether it would be safe to enter and indeed lead them to safety, or not. Erin took a deep breath; she had to choose one way or the other. If there even was a choice to be had.
 
“Alright. Thank you for the help.” She bowed quickly, before backing down the street to the front door and jimmied the lock. With a creak it swung open. All was dark inside. With an edgy glance back at the unmoved little girl, Clove followed her up onto the porch and in the door. They could hear the telltale footsteps of the armoured guard’s running further back down the street. The pink haired girl continued to sit swinging her feet and looking at them with her big sparkly eyes. Trying not to look too nervous about this, Erin waved to her. “You keep yourself safe from the guard and look after yourself too. Bye.”
 
With that she closed the door, locking it behind them. Once accustomed to the gloom it was clear the place had been empty for some time, all the furniture left was broken and everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. Not good for leaving footprints in. Quickly they hurried through the abandoned sitting room, into a kitchen. Stealthily checking outside, the guards following them had arrived in the square and were consulting with those already here. After a quick discussion, both sets dispersed in opposite directions, away from them. Clove released the breath she’d been holding for a few minutes.
 
“Whew, looks like they’ve gone. C’mon, I know somewhere we get underground from here.”
 
Following her, they moved into the next room; the large abandoned drawing room of the house. And almost walked straight into a volley of thunderballs that came flying at them, just about ducking in time as the sparks of light went flying through the air and thudding into the wooden doorframe. Glancing up from their flattened positions, there she was - having impossibly got around them - the little girl in the white dress, now armed with a small staff and smiling brightly at them.
 
“Bah, so this was a trap too!” Clove swore, rounding on Erin. “Now look what you’ve got us into!”
 
“You trusted her as well!” she snapped, before turning to the girl. “You are a duel spirit aren’t you?”
 
“Yep, I definitely am” the little girl chirped in airy manner, sounding delighted about something. “I’m Pikeru. I’m really sorry for misleading you like that. I really did want to help you get away from those nasty soldiers... isn’t that what you wanted?” The spirit looked curiously at them, as if she thought she’d done something wrong and was fearful of a reprimand. Something they found surprising.
 
“Well, yeah we did, thanks” Clove grumbled. “We could have got away from them ourselves you know, without you attacking us with that little burst just now. What’s it to you anyway?”
 
“Hey, that’s no way to talk! You’re really rude” the little girl puffed up indignantly, and with a swish of her wand released another scatter of thunder-balls they had to dodge, resulting in further cursing from Clove . The spirit must have been offended. “I don’t like rude people, especially after I’ve just helped them. I didn’t think it possible, but you’re just as horrible as I was told. I’m really sorry, but I guess I’m going to have to do what my useless twin sister couldn’t do after all, and defeat you both and kill you.”
 
“What!?” Erin blurted, alarmed at this announcement. “Wait, twin sister? You mean Curran?”
 
“Who cares?” Clove shouted. “Wait, Alex told me about him having to fight a duel spirit called Curran after you found the arms guy dead! You telling me this girl is similar to that thing was?” Erin’s nod only increased her ire. “You knew she was a duel spirit and you still trusted her? How stupid are you?”
 
“I thought it might be a duel spirit, and we didn’t have much choice did we?” Erin protested. “Besides, I thought maybe if she really was like the opposite of the one Alex fought like she looks and says she is, maybe she’d decide to help us and be on our side to be against her!”
 
“I’m sorry, but you’re really very wrong” Pikeru shook her head. “I don’t like my obnoxious twin, but it doesn’t mean I’m automatically going to oppose her and join you people, not when we have nice friends who we like and want to help us out. They’re much nicer than you rude people.”
 
“Please, we’re not horrible people. We’re the good guys” Erin tried to calm her down, but had to duck another wave of thunder-shots. “Look, who are these friends? Not the Emperor and his cronies?”
 
“Of course not silly” Pikeru smiled. “If that was the case, I’d have left you to the guard wouldn’t I? My friends don’t want that. They said there were horrible people who had to be taken care of, and meeting you and looking at you all covered in blood now I see they were right. Now please just stand still and go down already.” The volleys of thunder sparks continued to go on for a minute; the girls unable to escape with the doors locked and Pikeru unable to hit them with her wild aim. Eventually she gave up and changed tactic, as an ornate little ivory duel shield appeared on her arm.
 
“Please, we don’t want to fight. There’s been a misunderstanding.” Erin tried again to calm her down, but before she could say much else something clattered into her side and shoved her down. Grimacing, she rolled over to find Clove stood with her duel shield equipped and ready. “Hey! What the hell was that?”
 
“Bah, like I’m going to trust you with handling this. You got us in this mess; I’m getting us out. My way!” Clove snapped, turning on the little magician. “Alright brat. If you wanna tangle with us, I’ll take you on.”

 

“Duel!”

 
“If that is what you wish, then that will be perfectly fine” Pikeru made a face of childish concentration as she drew her sixth card. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have the right to perform the first move. I activate Pot of Duality. This lets me select one of the top three cards of my deck to add to my hand.”
 
Just like before, three reflected images of the selection appeared available to both of them, if it was anything to judge by Pikeru’s deck was more balanced given the monsters and traps that appeared. The middle one - a low level angel - shimmered as it was selected, something which made the little girl’s expression lighten more. “Wonderful. I summon my chosen monster. Nurse Reficule the Fallen One!”
 
From the portal emerged the bewitching figure of a slim female fairy, although she was far from angelic. She was wrapped almost entirely in bandages, tightly covering everything but one of her eyes, and four long bat-like wings stretched from her back. Curved blades stretched from her gauntlets. She had wild lilac hair and a sharp look of disdain as it looked down at the scrappy rebel girl before it (Lv4, ATK 1400). Behind the fairy, Pikeru was concentrating intensely. “I place two cards face down and end my turn.”
 
“Is that all?” Clove shrugged, snatching her card and ignoring Erin’s protests to be careful. As she caught sight of her draw, a smile finally flickered as she revealed it. “I activate the quick-play spell I just drew during my standby phase; Hand Destruction. Both of us discard two cards. Then we draw two more.”
 
Both performed their chosen exchanges without seeming too concerned about losing anything major. Indeed for Clove, everything was now set for her. “Now since it’s still my standby phase, I can activate the effect of one of the cards I just discarded. Because the only monster in my graveyard at this time is a plant-type; I can special summon it from the dead zone. Naturia Pineapple.” The name said it all as a tiny crack opened in the ground, and a small pineapple with round eyes rose sprouted up through it (Lv2, DEF 100). The magician screwed her face at its appearance, as Clove smugly revealed another card.
 
“Since you’re a duel monster, you should really know what’s coming next. I’m releasing Pineapple to summon this; the key to my Naturia deck and your certain defeat. Naturia Bamboo Shoot!”
 
The pineapple sank into the ground, through which sprouted up a monster more feared than it looked to the untrained eye. The plant produced a pair of chestnut like creatures, with tiny arms and feet as the duo bounced up and down on their little patch of grass in the old mansion. Indeed it was the crux of the Naturia; not only powerful in attack, but armed with the most crippling effect (Lv5, ATK 2000). As indeed Clove was keen to goad about. “When Bamboo Shoot is summoned by tributing another Naturia monster, its effect becomes active. As long as it’s on the field, you can’t activate any spell or traps. And once I run over that monster, they’ll be no way back.”
 
“Oh really?” Pikeru retorted, making Clove wince. “However, I can still chain any cards I have set to the summon before its ability takes effect. I’ll activate both of mine; Dark Cure and Brutal Potion!” Both traps pulled back to reveal their contents. “First Dark Cure activates. Each time you summon a monster, you gain life points equal to half of its attack strength.”
 
“You... what?” Clove’s confidence was replaced by confusion. “You’re using a card that increases my life points? What kind of dumb card is that?” Pikeru’s smiled at her ignorance.
 
“Nurse Reficule’s effect now activates. Whenever an effect would increase your life points, you take the amount you would gain through it as damage instead! Bamboo Shoot has two thousand attack points and Dark Cure activated, so you take one thousand points of damage!” Clove barely had time to react when a hazy violet aura enveloped her body, and immediately went rigid. Erin was helpless to intervene as the haze locked her trembling body in place, sapping her strength as her life dipped (LP 3000). After a few moments it parted, leaving her shaky and breathless. This made Erin shudder. So it seemed, just like the battle Alex had endured, the effects of damage in this duel were more than just effects on the mind. Damage was now very real to them. Across the field, beaming with delight, Pikeru continued mercilessly.
 
“Now Brutal Potion activates. This trap equips to a monster on the field. Then once a turn when you take effect damage; the equipped monster gains one thousand attack points until the end phase. This makes Reficule stronger than your monster.” Around the delicate wrists and neck of the angel appeared a set of spiked steel manacles, pumping her with the monstrous medicine to bulk her up (ATK 2400). Clove scowled at her inability to get around this as she restudied her hand.
 
“Grr, alright. I guess I’ll have to leave it with a face-down card and end my turn, at which point Brutal Potion wears off and your monster returns to normal strength.” Still, as the angel returned to its normal slim demeanour, with Bamboo Shoot on the field, Pikeru would find it difficult to activate anything that would trigger it again and put it over her monster. Indeed the girl looked concerned about this dilemma and drew her card, but if Clove felt comfortable, it was cruelly misplaced.
 
“Hmm, I concede your Bamboo Shoot is a very tricky monster to get around” the girl sniffed. “But I have ways at my disposal for such difficulties. I activate the effect of Volcanic Queen in my hand. By releasing a monster you control, it is special summoned to your side of the field!”
 
Clove jumped as her monster was replaced by a great fiery serpent, a tall winged creature emblazed with flame and screeching horribly (Lv6, DEF 1200). Pikeru beamed again at her reaction.
 
“Fortunately for you Volcanic Queen still counts as my summon - even if it is to your side of the field, so Dark Cure doesn’t activate. Otherwise this would already be over. But now that your pesky plant is off the field, I’m free to use spells and traps again. I activate Rain of Mercy. Ordinarily this increases both players’ life points by one thousand. However with Nurse Reficule out, you take that amount in damage instead!” Clove buckled as the haze enveloped her again, her shield useless to protect her, draining her of more life (LP 2000). Opposite the little girl was engulfed in soothing blue light, increasing her points and winning margin (LP 5000). “Now because you took effect damage, Brutal Potion is triggered - increasing the strength of Reficule until the end phase. Then I activate the spell Soul Taker. This targets your monster and destroys it. Then thanks to Reficule, you take another thousand points of damage!”
 
The draining mist engulfed her a third time as the flaming serpent writhed and faded, and Clove swayed dangerously. She felt like she was slowly being put to sleep, her senses were dulled and heavy, she was struggling to keep standing as all the life was sucked out of her. Eventually she conceded to the fatigue and slumped to one knee as the only way to keep her balance (LP 1000). Horrified Erin wanted to help her, but before she could move the pumped up Reficule shot her a threatening glare, just to remind her not to interfere (ATK 2400). Behind it Pikeru, excited by her foe’s collapse, went for the finishing blow.
 
“You like duelling, huh? You still like it now? Well unfortunately, it’s all over now! Reficule, attack directly!”
 
The angel took off towards the high ceiling on its four wings, a ball of energy materialised and grew in its clawed hands as it took aim at the half-conscious girl. “Clove, watch out!” Erin shouted.
 
“Huh?” Clove dragged herself out of her stupor at the dulled sound of her name. Blearily looking up, she jumped at the sudden sight of the angel charging up a direct, finishing attack, suddenly very awake at the thought of what that might result in. “Oh hell! I activate my set spell card; Seed of Deception. This quick play spell lets me summon a level two or lower plant type straight from my hand.” The ground opened up just in time as a strange half plant, half winged insect thing rose out (Lv2, DEF 700).
 
“Dark Cure activates!” Pikeru retaliated undeterred. “You take damage equal to half that monsters attack strength.” Clove shuddered as the effect took hold once more, halving her remaining life (LP 500). “Now Reficule smashes that monster.”
 
The energy ball in the fairy’s hand rained down on the forest creature, obliterating it. Clove shirked from the blast, but was mercifully unharmed this time. “The effect of Naturia Eggplant activates. When it’s sent to the graveyard from the field, I can add any other Naturia monster in there to my hand.”
 
“So you get your Bamboo Shoot back, big deal” Pikeru sniffed as her angel floated down to rejoin her. “It’s too late now. Your life points are too low for you to summon it. Soon you’ll lose them all, and my friend will be very happy with me and all will be wonderful. I’ll definitely defeat you next turn.”
 
“Bah, what the hell are you talking about?” Clove lost her temper at the little spirit. “That’s really annoying. You can’t keep referring to this mysterious friend and not tell me who it is or what it is you want. Why would you want us dead? What do you possibly get out of that?”
 
“You’re nosey and rude, never you mind” Pikeru yelled back. “I just do what I was asked to by my nice polite friends by killing you wicked people, and I get something nice in return. You’re clearly a very bad person, but I’ll take care of you. I’ll use Ancient Leaf. Because my life points are a thousand up on what I started with, I can pay two thousand to draw two cards.” Pikeru’s scowl tensed at the payment in her life points as she snatched two cards (LP 3000). “I’ll set one of these and end my turn.”
 
“Grr, whatever! I draw.” Clove snatched wildly at her card, her frustration only increased by the sight of a weak Naturia that was not exactly helpful in this situation.
 
“Come on Clove” the worried Erin tried to sound encouraging. “You can find a way. I know you can.”
 
“You think I need a cheerleader or summit? Of course I can” Clove snapped, making her recoil. Shrugging off her meaningless support, she tried to regain focus. ‘Stupid girl, I know what I’m doing without your kind of help. I’m a better duelist than you and that obnoxious spirit brat, and now I’m going to prove it.’
 
“I activate the effect of the other card I discarded with Hand Destruction; the trap Breakthrough Skill. By banishing this card from my graveyard, a monster on the field has its effect negated until the end of the turn.” Pikeru blinked as crackling static sparked around her monster. “And since it’s still my standby phase, I’ll activate the revival effect of Pineapple once more. Something that now Reficule is null and void means not only is its equipment redundant as well, but I also gain life points through Dark Cure.”
 
Albeit small, but a blessed relief as light aura returned to her a little strength (LP 550). Pikeru’s strategy exposed, she turned to the remaining hand. She could summon Bamboo Shoot safely now, something that would gain her more life and overpower Reficule. But then again, as she looked at the set card on her field, was it safe? ‘She set that knowing I have it again. If she chains that card to the summon again, I could end up in real trouble, and I can’t afford more damage. The rest of my hand is no real good either.’ Undecided she turned to another card in her hand, a spell card that would refresh her weak hand, but at a gamble. She shook herself. This was ludicrous. She was defeating herself by second guessing. Bamboo Shoot was there, ready, now. She should just summon it and attack that damn nurse regardless of the trap which would then become redundant, and she’d be back in control. It was obvious, doing anything else was stupid. But then that plan had failed once. The longer she took over it, the more infuriatingly uncertain she became. ‘This is stupid. You’ve got your best monster in hand. What kinda miracle are you expecting to pull by throwing it away? That’s the dumb kind of belief that idiot brother of mine Skaro...’
 
“C’mon, do you mind? Stop making me wait already” Pikeru whined impatiently as Clove froze up. “Do something or just pass and give up please.”

She had to make a decision, and she didn’t like the one she was making. The image of her brother swimming across her mind, she passed over Bamboo Shoot and to her other card. Hopefully for this one time, his style of play would channel through to her. ‘Ah hell... I think I’m going to regret this...’
 
“I activate Magical Mallet. This returns any number of cards in my hand to my deck, and lets me draw an equal number back. I’ll return... my entire hand.” Erin and Pikeru were shocked as Clove returned all three cards, shuffled and lost into the deck, and with a deep breath drew three more. The results were...

_________________________________________

 

“Great. Spell card; ‘Barkion’s Bark’. Now for the rest of the turn, none of your trap cards can be activated. Then I summon the tuner monster ‘Naturia Rosewhip’, and immediately tune it with my Pineapple. Synchro Summon!”

 

Pikeru scowled as the small rose sprouted out of the ground (Lv3, ATK 400), before disappearing with the other plant in a blossom of earthy brown rings and emerald stars. Clove smirked as her key Synchro monster, her trusted ‘Naturia Beast’ came crashing out of the portal, landing with a thud and snarling at the enemy (Lv5, ATK 2200). Once more the blue light of the backfiring Dark Cure gently healed her for the two summons, restoring her strength as her beast gave her encouragement (LP 1850). More than Erin’s cheering was worth anyway. “Alright now Beast, destroy that troublesome fairy for good!”

 

The emerald lion roared and leapt, slashing the bandaged angel across the stomach. She screamed and vanished; behind it Pikeru jumped around as she took damage (LP 2200). Something she was accordingly stroppy about. “Hey! That’s not supposed to happen. You’re supposed to go down, no fair!”

 

“Too bad brat. You started this fight, stop whining that you can’t handle it. I’ll end my turn with a face down. Either grow up or run away like the poor excuse for a duel monster you are.”

 

“Ooooh! Believe me... growing up is the last thing you want me to do...” Pikeru whispered threateningly, shaking and crying with fury as she drew. “You think you’re something special huh? Well you’re not. I’m special, I’m noble, and you’re a wicked vindictive little girl. I activate my own copy of Breakthrough Skill!” Both Erin and Clove jumped as the ghostly image of her own card appeared opposite them.

 

“You’re not the only one who can use discarding effects. Now by banished Skill from my grave, Naturia Beast’s effect is negated, so it won’t be stopping any spells now. Next I’ll activate my face down ‘Call of the Haunted’, to resurrect Reficule.” Clove scowled at her self-doubt in the light that the trap had been no threat after all. Until now, as the mummified fairy rose through the hellish portal beside the furious spirit. “Now I summon ‘Trust Guardian’, and tune it with Reficule to summon my own Synchro monster!”

 

A small fairy appeared before the mage (Lv3, ATK 0), before the two fairies disappeared in a flash of light, rising up into the air and opening a starry portal in the ceiling. A portal to the heavens, from which an unearthly screech echoed through. Unnerved, the two girls watched as a long slender white dragon descended through. Its sleek body was covered in runes, all down its back to its tapered tail. Awkward wings stretched from its arms. A long golden mane blew around in its generated wind, as the serpent fully emerged and let go another powerful ear-piercing shriek above the white mage. “Behold the culmination of my real strategy. Descend my heavenly ace. ‘Ancient Sacred Wyvern’!” (Lv7, ATK 2100)

 

“Wait a minute, but that monster is weaker than mine” Clove started in panic.

 

“Not for long” Pikeru retorted childishly. “Wyvern’s effect. Because my life points are higher than yours, it gains attack equal to the difference.” The dragon shrieked again as its strength rose (ATK 2450). Pleased at Clove’s frustrated reaction, the little mage revealed her last card.

 

“Finally, I activate the equip spell ‘Nitro Unit’. This spell can only be equipped to a monster on your side of the field, something your beast is now powerless to prevent. So sorry.” The device strapped itself around the back of the helpless beast, several explosives clearly visible on it. “When the monster equipped with Nitro Unit is destroyed by battle, you take damage equal to its attack. Enough to blow you apart, just like I promised I would. He he he.”

 

Pikeru beamed at her furious and Erin’s terrified reaction. “Clove...”

 

“Alright, here I go. Ancient Sacred Wyvern, unleash your holy breath and attack Naturia Beast.” The dragon unleashed a divine misty breath, bathing the helpless Beast in smoke. Erin choked as her ally just stood there; Clove’s face down hadn’t activated. She had nothing! Howling the beast exploded, leaving the ticking time-bomb behind, hanging in mid-air and slowly dropping to the ground, bleeping furiously. She was going to lose. Across the field Pikeru jumped and dancing with joy. “Yes! Now Nitro Unit goes off, and you take your own Beast’s attack strength as damage. You’re dead! Bye bye nasty girl!”

 

The bomb was falling, millimetres from hitting the ground, when Clove suddenly reacted. “I don’t think so brat!” Pikeru almost fell over herself in shock as she moved just as the explosion went off; blowing the ground apart, the force about to bring the house down around them as her face-down finally revealed. “I activate my trap; ‘Nature’s Reflection’. When I would take damage through a card effect, this trap bounces it right back to you instead!”

___________________________________

 

Erin dived behind her as the barrier formed just as the force of the blast hit it, the shockwave bouncing off the wall and rebounding back across the room straight into the helpless mage before she could even get in a remark of shock or threat, throwing her through the air. Pikeru screamed until she hit the wall, the impact with it knocking her out (LP 0). As she fell forward, a cloud of white smoke opened beneath her, and she disappeared into it. The smoke cleared and she was gone, leaving no trace of her existence.

With the duel spirit gone, the shaking and collapsing around them ceased. Nervously the girls got up and dusted themselves off. The effect on the house had stopped with Pikeru’s disappearance, but the duel’s effect on Clove had not gone away. She clutched her arm and winced in pain, and was taking deep breathes to try and regain some strength. Nervously Erin approached to have a look at her wounds, but furiously Clove pushed her off. “What are you doing? Get off me!”
 
“What is your problem with me?” Erin finally snapped, exasperated with her behaviour. “That fight was totally avoidable if you weren’t so snappy. I know you don’t like me, but we’re supposed to be a team.”
 
“Yeah, but you only want that on your terms” Clove snapped. There was genuine anger in her eyes as she glared up at her. “Why would I want to be in a team with you when disaster seems to follow you everywhere? Look at what’s happened with you following me. With the raid today. With the runners deal, and with your stupid insistence on getting your useless brother out of jail; something that cost mine his life if you remember. Ever since you joined everything has gone wrong for us. Yet I’m sure Vardus won’t see it that way; not when you’re his favourite. You’re a jinx on all of us!”
 
“That’s... that’s not fair Clove” Erin swallowed and hung her head. There was going to be no deterring her from her thoughts, but she was sort of right. She was responsible for what happened, more than Clove really knew. “I never meant for any of this. I never meant for that to happen to Skaro...”
 
“Yeah, well life in the Empire isn’t fair, so it did” Clove snapped. She might have continued, but she swayed and had to regain her balance, clutching her ribs as she did so. “C’mon, we need to get out of here and back to safety. Let’s just go.”
 
Feeling awkward, battered, angry and miserable; the two girls left the mansion in uncomfortable silence and made for a safe way back to headquarters, hoping they’d seen the last of both the guard and these malevolent spirits for a while.
 
...
 
The little spirit girl herself groaned and pushed herself upright as she regained consciousness. She had appeared in a dingy candle lit room, the image of those around her was blurred as she shook out her stupor and tried to gather her bearings. “Ugh... what happened?”
 
“It appears that you too lost your duel” someone said in the darkness. As the blurriness faded, the two masked men appeared in focus, each sat in high backed chairs corresponding with their black and white robes. It was the dark one who had spoken, his accursed weeping mask barely visible in the gloom unlike her cheery friend sat opposite who stood out. Her twin sister Curran was sat at the dark one’s feet, she looked quite miserable.
 
“I... oh damn it!” Pikeru cursed as the memory of what happened returned. “Of all the lucky get outs that snot-nosed girl could pull! I’ll get her back double for that I will! I want a rematch! Right now!!”
 
“But of course you can have one” her ally in white assured her smoothly. “We are very encouraged by what we have seen from you and your sister. Both of you can consider yourselves very unfortunate to lose to those terrible and dangerous people. You both have real potential. As long as lessons are learnt from these rehearsals we’d be delighted to continue with our arrangement into the real show. However rushing straight out to fight them now is not the most advisable act. You may want to get stronger first.”
 
“Yes, we do!” Curran stood up and clenched her little fists. “We know what we are facing now; we have seen what these terrible people can do. We can beat them; we just need to get a little bit stronger. Please, help us get stronger so we can fight them again. We will defeat these monsters. We swear!”
 
There was a pause as the two masked sorcerers considered her vow. Slowly, the happy white mask began to giggle, dancing up and down in the darkness. Opposite a low menacing cackle came from the dark mask. The two fits of laughter rose and grew louder - wild and free versus dark and ominous – comparable only in their matching insanity.[/spoiler]

[Aerion Brightflame]

Well I believe I owed a comment of some kind.

 

Firstly: I spotted the cameo. Not that it was a subtle one of any kind. The name escapes me, but I think it was the main guard in the first fic who dueled Junuro at the Gallows.

 

Secondly: What actually happened at the end of the duel? I mean, it says that Nature's reflection bounces the damage back... but what damage? It's also trap card...

 

It feels like something just randomly got hacked out there...

 

I feel kinda dumb for not guessing that Pikeru would appear immediately. I certainly wouldn't have thought she'd be... 'evil' so that was a nice twist, if not anything amazing.

 

The duel I didn't like, but that's more because I find Naturia really dull as a protagonist deck. Like I mean it's great for the antagonist putting the protag in a tough spot but otherwise... no, I don't like it.

 

Rest of the chapter was good, with nothing much I feel the need to remark upon. Exposition on Clove was nice, since well... It's exposition on an otherwise lacking character.

 

Apologies if this seems brief, I'm just a bit shattered atm, and there wasn't a lot that needed commenting on

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Well I believe I owed a comment of some kind.

 

Firstly: I spotted the cameo. Not that it was a subtle one of any kind. The name escapes me, but I think it was the main guard in the first fic who dueled Junuro at the Gallows.

 

Secondly: What actually happened at the end of the duel? I mean, it says that Nature's reflection bounces the damage back... but what damage? It's also trap card...

 

It feels like something just randomly got hacked out there...

 

I feel kinda dumb for not guessing that Pikeru would appear immediately. I certainly wouldn't have thought she'd be... 'evil' so that was a nice twist, if not anything amazing.

 

The duel I didn't like, but that's more because I find Naturia really dull as a protagonist deck. Like I mean it's great for the antagonist putting the protag in a tough spot but otherwise... no, I don't like it.

 

Rest of the chapter was good, with nothing much I feel the need to remark upon. Exposition on Clove was nice, since well... It's exposition on an otherwise lacking character.

 

Apologies if this seems brief, I'm just a bit shattered atm, and there wasn't a lot that needed commenting on

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz....

 

*jolts awake* Huh, whut's tha? Oh... this got a comment. Right...

 

Hmm? *checks the chapter* Oh jeez, you're right. What the heck happened there? Presumably something got muddled with the Nature's Reflection or Barkion's Bark links and swallowed up a whole section, or something. It's not the first time; the link to Magician's Circle played up in the first couple of chapters but I caught that. Must be something to do with apostrophes in links. Fixed it up now and highlighted the section that went missing, (and not put hyperlinks in) so if anyone else was baffled by that weird error please feel free to read through it again.

 

But then again, this thread has had 100+ views since it was posted, and this glaring messup has only just been pointed out now after 2 days. No-one could even point that out.

 

Yeah, thanks for caring guys. Thanks a bunch <_<

 

As for your comments on the chapter: You (and Renegade and Fusion) don't owe me anything. You've been awesome. Yes, someone vaguely remembered. Although Osborn did not appear himself, those were his monsters. This doesn't count as his guest appearance, although you can be sure he will be one to keep an eye out for (in Arc 3).

 

Pikeru's... not evil. Um... keep reading future chapters. :D

 

Um, we'll see how you feel after reading the fixed duel if you still dislike it, but if it's still a case of 'Naturia is a villian deck' then I guess that won't change. Originally I picked Naturia, X-Saber and Worms for the other rebels simply because they were the only 3 DT archetypes I'd not used in previous fics. But Clove will go places with them. Yes she needed an exposition chapter. I'm introducing the new faces in the Resistance fairly steadily with these chapters after early on was about setting the scene and Erin and everything like that, so this arc sees things get expanded on wider. The next chapter contains a lot of development on Alex, Clove, Aerial and Dorian, amongst others, and a lot of their pasts and personalities are explored further. So hopefully she won't feel lacking as a character for long and be less underdeveloped, because I like where she goes.

 

Thanks for commenting on this and picking up that glitch. Everyone else who noticed it and still didn't bother to point out for me to fix as quickly as possible, quite frankly... well I can't publish what I frankly think to that. But I find that's really bad support and you should feel bad. <_<

[Ren✧]

Finally read through this last chapter, and I found myself enjoying it from start to end. There is one thing that I noted, merely a flaw in logic that is most likely there for the continuation of the plot line,  is that Aerial(assuming that he still has some arrows left) could take a shot at Gaius when he appears to surrender. It only makes sense that he would try, as Gaius, while a low man on the totem pole now, has caused them quite a bit of trouble and he obviously carries some wait in the Empire. But, aside from that, the Resistance operation scene went off without a hitch.

 

I was expecting an appearance from Pikeru, but not so soon, and you really caught me off guard when she attacked Erin and Clove. So, kudos there. I also really love what you did with her character. I can see how she isn't an inherently evil character, but is merely doing what she thinks has the best possible outcome for her. While Curran, on the other hand, seemed much more sadistic and evil. 

 

When Pikeru appeared, my mind immediately went to a Simochi-Burn-esque deck and it looks like that is exactly what happened. Honestly, wasn't too keen on it. I mean we just go through reading a burn strategy duel with Curran, so going through another wasn't too enjoyable, BUT I did notice that you don't pull out of the big hitters in that strategy(i.e. Gift Card and Simochi itself), so it went better than I expected such a duel to go. Like Horus, I also wasn't too keen on Clove's deck, but mostly because I don't really see how it fits her. I imagined her with something more along the lines of Traptrix than Naturia(of course I probably should have picked up by now that she used Naturias, but it seemed that all that went over my head, lol), but I also realize that you are limited as to what decks your characters can use without the introduction of Xyz Monsters.

 

The ending I particularly liked, as it confirmed what I had expected, but also captured the characters of Alpha and Omega in a light that I hadn't quite put them in yet. I am eager to see where this leads. Good chapter, decent duel, wonderful character development! :D

 

 

EDIT: Oooo, wait. I didn't put in my next guesses for names. Seeing as my Kahn guess fell through, I guess I'll focus on one of the main characters in this chapter. Could Clove perhaps be named after the Clove in the Hunger Games? I know that you had an interest in those books, considering that I won your Hunger Games mafia-style game, and the two characters share a menacing, little girl character type, so...

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Finally read through this last chapter, and I found myself enjoying it from start to end. There is one thing that I noted, merely a flaw in logic that is most likely there for the continuation of the plot line,  is that Aerial(assuming that he still has some arrows left) could take a shot at Gaius when he appears to surrender. It only makes sense that he would try, as Gaius, while a low man on the totem pole now, has caused them quite a bit of trouble and he obviously carries some wait in the Empire. But, aside from that, the Resistance operation scene went off without a hitch.

 

I was expecting an appearance from Pikeru, but not so soon, and you really caught me off guard when she attacked Erin and Clove. So, kudos there. I also really love what you did with her character. I can see how she isn't an inherently evil character, but is merely doing what she thinks has the best possible outcome for her. While Curran, on the other hand, seemed much more sadistic and evil. 

 

When Pikeru appeared, my mind immediately went to a Simochi-Burn-esque deck and it looks like that is exactly what happened. Honestly, wasn't too keen on it. I mean we just go through reading a burn strategy duel with Curran, so going through another wasn't too enjoyable, BUT I did notice that you don't pull out of the big hitters in that strategy(i.e. Gift Card and Simochi itself), so it went better than I expected such a duel to go. Like Horus, I also wasn't too keen on Clove's deck, but mostly because I don't really see how it fits her. I imagined her with something more along the lines of Traptrix than Naturia(of course I probably should have picked up by now that she used Naturias, but it seemed that all that went over my head, lol), but I also realize that you are limited as to what decks your characters can use without the introduction of Xyz Monsters.

 

The ending I particularly liked, as it confirmed what I had expected, but also captured the characters of Alpha and Omega in a light that I hadn't quite put them in yet. I am eager to see where this leads. Good chapter, decent duel, wonderful character development! :D

 

 

EDIT: Oooo, wait. I didn't put in my next guesses for names. Seeing as my Kahn guess fell through, I guess I'll focus on one of the main characters in this chapter. Could Clove perhaps be named after the Clove in the Hunger Games? I know that you had an interest in those books, considering that I won your Hunger Games mafia-style game, and the two characters share a menacing, little girl character type, so...

 

Awesome. That's nice to hear.

 

Hmm... yeah, I guess he could have. But they'd already won and Gaius had already admitted he wasn't going to fight them so, I guess it wouldn't have looked good for them or he'd have felt right if he'd have still stuck an arrow between his eyes. That's more the Empire's sort of thing. What? I'm British' I believe in chivalry and things being cricket! :D And yes Gaius is a little down the totem pole atm, and will be opening the next chapter to address as such (and it will also mention how your favourite lady knight is doing).

 

I'm really liking the reception for Pikeru and Curran, because I really enjoyed writing about them. There was a gap to fill during the planning stage as I wanted opponents for Clove and Alex and the original ideas for this arc were pretty bad, and them coming in was kind of a lightbulb moment. I just love them. I love how they sulk and pout when they're losing, and how prim and proper Pikeru tries to act, and how they try with their magic wands and can't aim with them for toffee and it's all been quite fun, even if they are posing the Resistance problems (and will be continuing to do so, not really much of a spoiler). As for duel things, yeah, valid critisism of having two burn decks back to back. I'd like to think Pikeru has more to her game as will be seen and is more about LP gap increasing for stuff like Wyvern and maybe Agent of Saturn (although she doesn't use that in the story) but yeah, Anti-Cure just seemed different. As for Clove, hmm... we'll see if this can be improved.

 

Thanks dude. :)

 

Um, will give you that as Saber also made the same guess and there are some similarities. I dunno why, Clove just seemed the right name just as a plant user (kind of like Camilla in that cheap anime way of ironic names) but maybe it was rattling around in the back of my head at the time. When we were discussing names the Hunger Games came up a bit. Originally one of Dorian's early names was Finn, as in Finnick, when I was considering giving him a Water deck. He went through a few name changes. Although there is another more Hunger Games reference that no-one has mentioned yet. Dunno why, it should have been the first thing you'd notice *hint*

 

Ah, that game. Was considering doing a new Quarter Quell version, but I don't think it would be successful especially without Cinnabon to help. :mellow:

 

Anyone else want to comment? Anything?

[Ren✧]

Well I'll give you that Pikeru's Anti-Cure Deck is definitely more interesting when you put in Ancient Sacred Wyvern, which probably saved the whole duel in my opinion. 

 

Something did just occur to me with the name 'Alex' whom uses X-Sabers. Could it perhaps be a mix-up of the word Axel, as in X-Saber Axel? Kinda a long shot, but something that kinda popped out at me.

 

As for the Quarter Quell idea, while I would love to say that I'd lend you a hand, I would honestly be much more interested in participating than helping to host. But, if you do decide to host it, count me in :D

[AGATHODAIMON BANGTAIL COW]

Why does it sound like Dorian is going to end up becoming so extreme/violent/something that he ends up becoming an antagonist? It feels Erin is going to, in sympathy for her enemies, end up trying to stop him from slaughtering somebody or something one day. This is probably me being anti-cliche, but doesn't something like this happen pretty often in stories?

 

I don't remember how often you used duel spirits in 24 since it's been so long since I read it, but about how many more spirits should we expect after Curran/Pikeru? I'm not going to expect very many since Skilled Dark/White Magicians (with masks) are going to toss them back into the fray until they predictably defect to the rebels... if I don't suck at guessing.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Answering soon as. Because comments make everyone happier. If I get another one today and given the view count I could be so delighted I might well put up the next chapter. (No spam)

 

Well I'll give you that Pikeru's Anti-Cure Deck is definitely more interesting when you put in Ancient Sacred Wyvern, which probably saved the whole duel in my opinion. 

 

Something did just occur to me with the name 'Alex' whom uses X-Sabers. Could it perhaps be a mix-up of the word Axel, as in X-Saber Axel? Kinda a long shot, but something that kinda popped out at me.

 

As for the Quarter Quell idea, while I would love to say that I'd lend you a hand, I would honestly be much more interested in participating than helping to host. But, if you do decide to host it, count me in :D

 

Noted.

 

Again, nice spot, but no. Having an X in his name definately was relevant though.

 

Er, okay, will think about it.

 

Why does it sound like Dorian is going to end up becoming so extreme/violent/something that he ends up becoming an antagonist? It feels Erin is going to, in sympathy for her enemies, end up trying to stop him from slaughtering somebody or something one day. This is probably me being anti-cliche, but doesn't something like this happen pretty often in stories?

 

I don't remember how often you used duel spirits in 24 since it's been so long since I read it, but about how many more spirits should we expect after Curran/Pikeru? I'm not going to expect very many since Skilled Dark/White Magicians (with masks) are going to toss them back into the fray until they predictably defect to the rebels... if I don't suck at guessing.

 

Oh hai thar.

 

He is a bit... extreme, to say the least. Dorian gets some extended solo scenes for the first time in the next chapter which should flesh him out a bit further. Cliche, maybe it would be if that happened. But things become cliche because they work. Besides you get aggresive and destructive protagonists as well.

 

Erm, they weren't really a 24 thing (despite scope to, given Dead Zone's use of Dryad, etc in a similar environment). In the original Armageddon there were quite a few tbh now I think back; either in the form of intelligent beings, duelists of various cannon-fodder to highly skilled levels, or just companion roles or in the background. Lol, Alpha and Omega are... well, not duel spirits. Human might be a stretch. And guessing is fine, I think I've suggested a few times that Pikeru and Curran won't be disappearing off the face of the planet yet. :) Thanks for commenting.

 

Gonna go write a bit more, we'll see how today and this goes.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Ah heck, I've got a busy weekend back at work and with the Six Nations all day tomorrow, so might as well post Chapter 10. Hopefully there will be no random missing section this time. Comments would be nice having been carried by 3 or 4 people so far. There's a few things in here I hope people will pick up on. Come on, I've seen you. *shifty eyes* Don't feel discouraging from commenting on previous chapters if you're behind either (ie Fusion; sorry I know you said you had just 9 left and now I'm, putting up 10 like a jerk :lol:)
 
Had a lot of fun writing this one for some nice tidbits and such. Think Black's advice with showing people's emotions rather than one chunk of generalised text telling really helped improve one of these scenes, thanks Black.
 
[spoiler=Chapter 10]Chapter 10: The Poison
 
The old honorary army chief Longinus was sat cross-legged on a cushion in his room, eyes closed and breathing in the scented candles in deep meditation. This was his way of thinking things over, of clearing his mind of the muddle in order to see the paths to choose, and at this time there were many clouds to part through to see in full the workings of the current situation. About Nero and his recent decisions, of some of the people he chose to surround himself with, and of the Empire and its direction over the recent years as a whole. Of the Resistance and the threat they posed to the state and its civilians. Of his own charges and their futures. So much to meditate upon, so little time, and so little was clear.
Speaking of his charges, there was a rapt hammer on the door, and they parted to permit admittance to Gaius. The warrior knelt down opposite the elder warrior and saluted, before sitting with him in silence until he was ready to come out of his trance.
 
“I’m glad to see you General Rausenburg” Longinus sounded weary as he returned to the waking world. “You look as troubled as I feel. Tell me, what is it you need to get of your chest? What brings you?”
 
“Please sensei, you know you can’t call me General right now” Gaius muttered in embarrassment. “You’ll get us both in trouble. I’m on my last warning.”
 
“Do not worry. The Emperor’s temper may be short, but I’m sure he will soon realise that he was hasty with your demotion and will reinstate you in time. The young man we’ve promoted temporarily will become a leading figure in the army one day I’m sure, but he is too young for the position right now. If you keep your head down and do well with these tasks you are given for now, you’ll be back leading the men in no time, as will Camilla. Now speak. What would you like to speak to me about?”
 
“I hope your faith in the Emperor’s grace comes to be. But I must confess mine in waning” Gaius began grimly. “I trust you heard the details about the subterfuge yesterday to bait the Resistance out and take them down with the dummy gold import? That plan of the Emperor’s... the orders I was given by him and that vizier. I complied... but that does not mean I agree with it. Several good men were lost, along with many civilian casualties, and for what? Nothing. Something I felt I had to fudge in the report and say we got some of the rebels. I fear the Emperor’s reaction if he knew that we didn’t get any of their members, and what he might do next. I fear he could tear the city apart chasing after them, and that will lead to more unrest, more distrust, swaying the people towards them.”
 
“I share the same worries as you” Longinus sighed deeply, passing the bronze plated soldier the herbal tea he’d poured while he’d been talking and taking a sip. “I only found out after the event happened and was completely shocked about the manner of such a thing, but I suspect however that the lure was not entirely the emperor’s devising. I have known him a long time; he would never have ordered anything like that, not before the war. But since that vizier arrived; he concerns me. He is dark, everything about him feels wrong. But Nero is blinded to it. I don’t know what, but he must have some reason to trust him, but I don’t. I suspect the subterfuge was his plan, and he persuaded the Emperor into approving it.”
 
“Your ability to believe in the Emperor is strong as ever” Gaius muttered. “I wish mine was.”
 
“I have to. Like I said Gaius, I have known the Emperor since we were young, longer than anyone else in his upper circles. He will listen to me. I will make him see sense in the end; that these awful actions and surrounding himself with such people will only lead the Empire to ruin. I’m sure that he will realise the error of his recent ways and restore things. For now we must keep ourselves out of trouble, especially you and Camilla, while I continue to try and talk him around. It might be that the Resistance we have been disgraced by actually help us by foiling the vizier too, if he was to be castigated like we have been.”
 
“We’ll see, but he looks a shifty one.” Gaius frowned at the thought. “He seemed pretty full of himself when he was ordering me around in front of the Emperor. I would dearly have loved to punch his smug face in, but I too felt something about him. Some kind of hidden power that belies his scrawny white...”
 
“Presence...” Longinus interjected calmly before his charge got carried away. Gaius mumbled a hasty apology with another bow, and they finished their tea in silence. Once he’d finished, the elder warrior checked the time. “Alas, I must depart now. I am due to meet the Emperor to discuss the new schedule for gold imports. I will continue to work on him as promised. Please pass on my regards to Camilla, and that I will also continue to appeal on her behalf.” The two men paused briefly, as the sounds of heavy footfalls and rushed, alarmed orders came running past outside of the room.
 
“Certainly sir, I will do that for you.” Gaius stood and saluted the chief again, before leaving to pass on the message. Longinus stood and dusted off his noble robes, before setting off for the cold depths of the throne room once again. Hopefully his resolution was well-placed.
 
...
 
“Everyone down. Forty press-ups to the count. One.”
 
“What? Forty?! You must be joking. I could never do ten, never mind forty.”
 
The grumble that had just about been suppressed at the initial order became widespread groaning at Mel’s outburst. The charges of Aerial, Alex, Clove and Erin, along with the barbaric senior in command Chetema were in fitness training, which was being led by Nataka. Mel was sitting nearby watching proceedings, and could barely believe the impossible effort that the old man had asked of the group. The samurai turned a stern gaze upon him.
 
“As a matter of fact, I was joking young Kazoku... Fifty press-ups.”
 
Amid much puffing and swearing under their breath, everyone just about made it to the fifty (by which time Chetema was showing off by rattling out nearly ninety). Aerial collapsed face-down from the effort, which resulted only in him getting up again with the gentle encouragement of Nataka’s foot, the senior having produced a stopwatch. “You’re going to have to get much stronger than that kids, physically and spiritually. One lap around the perimeter. Anyone not back within the time limit does another fifty. Go.”
 
With no idea what the time limit was, the group set off in a mad scramble after the relentless Chetema, onto the surrounding edge around the underground cavern and around. Clove started sprinting off to try to keep up with the charging senior, while the boys and Erin hung back at a steadier pace together.
 
“It doesn’t... <puff>... matter what time... <huff>... we make... does it?” Aerial panted at the back.
 
“Course there’s got to be a safe time” the very sweaty Alex replied, although the look on his face suggested that the possibility had never dawned on him until now. “...right?”
 
“Save your breath for running” Erin groaned. “Surely if we catch...”
 
She couldn’t bring herself to complete the sentence as they watched Chetema accelerate and the gap to the barrel-chested warrior increased further and further. Clove was still furiously trying to keep pace with him as they made the first corner, but eventually gave up and came to a heaving stop in which they caught up and passed her. Out of the sight of Nataka’s spyglass for the moment, Aerial shook his head. “I’m gonna be sick before we’re done. And where’s Dorian anyway? How come he gets to skip this?”
 
“I saw him leave early this morning. He’s on solo operation again” Alex grunted. The news wasn’t that surprising. Dorian had been doing a lot of solo stuff all week. “Come on Braids, you gotta work harder than that if you want to take the fight to the Empire again. We all gotta get stronger if we don’t want the like of yesterday happening again.”
 
Aerial grumbled something, but Erin found Alex’s willpower heartening. Indeed the way he had come back to fitness fighting after the night they’d found Reckage and he’d fought for them was a mark of surprising resolution for someone she usually found cheery and easy going. “You are very focused Alex.”
 
“I am when it comes to matters about our cause” the large boy puffed as she tried to pass him. “Things have been going tough for us lately. We have to get stronger to overcome. I guess that’s why the elders are pushing us harder now. I want to get stronger... be like Khan was...”
 
“Khan was your brother right?” Erin asked, to which he nodded. “Was it... the Purge?”
 
Again the nod. “Khan was on pro duel circuit... made him instant target. One day he gave me his deck, he said he wanted me to look after it while he went to market, and went out. Nothing seemed out of place... but then he never came back. Next time I saw him, his body was on a spike on display in town. This was the day after Nero’s decree; he was probably one of the first to be executed under the law...”
 
“But wait, he didn’t even have his duel stuff on him that day...” Erin gasped. “The guards would have had no reason to charge him if he’d got rid of it... unless... You mean he was hunted down specifically?”
 
“Yeah...” Alex bowed his head. “He was marked from day one, nothing anyone could say or do was gonna change it. He’d done nothing and they’d... they’d done him in like that. Our parents wanted to turn in his duel gear after that, fearing further reprisal if they didn’t, but I didn’t want to give away the last thing he’d given me. I dunno if he’d meant it like that, if he knew people were coming for him or not, but I’d like to believe he wanted me to have it to remember him by...”
 
“I can’t imagine he did” Aerial wheezed. “That would just put you in danger surely?”
 
Alex furiously rounded on him. “I don’t know what he was thinking. I just took it as a memory okay?” Fearing the older boys temper the archer dropped off, giving Alex room to calm himself. “I don’t think Khan knew it was coming. He’d have taken the fight and his X-Sabers to them if he had. Either way, I wasn’t giving it up. I was too angry. So I ran away from the farm and started living on the streets, where I was a few years. Then a few months ago I was caught stealing food from a shop. The guards came and beat me up when I tried to get away, and were just about to arrest me. That’s when Chetema appeared and distracted them so I could get away. Afterwards he found me, we talked, and he bought me here.”
 
Erin listened to his story intently, before bowing her own head at his conclusion. “Me and Mel... we lost family to the purge early on too. Our parents... both of them...”
 
They reached the halfway point when Aerial, thinking it was safe now, rejoined them, but looking back as they turned the corner they noticed Clove had dropped off again. She had been frantically trying to catch up, but was now on her hands and knees and looking extremely ill. The trio exchanged worried glances. Chetema was way too far ahead to have noticed her. “We going back to help her?” Aerial asked.
 
“Yeah” Alex decided. “We ain’t catching up anyway. Might as well take the punishment together.”
 
When they rejoined Clove however, she didn’t seem to agree with their thinking. In fact their return seemed to both amaze and anger her at the same time. “What the hell are you guys doing? I’m fine on my own. You need to get going, Nataka will be furious if none of us finish in time.”
 
“Clove, you’re not fine” Alex pulled her up despite her protests. “You’re pushing way too hard, even for you. You shouldn’t even be training, not after yesterday. I felt beat up for days after my duel with that spirit girl thing, you haven’t recovered. Come on... no, don’t argue... I’m carrying you.”
 
With a struggle, Aerial and Erin between them forced Clove to let herself be picked up over Alex’s broad shoulders in a fireman’s carry and set off again. Something she seemed to find insulting, folding her arms and scowling furiously at the pair of them as they ran behind her. “Bah, I don’t need to be treated like I’m some weakling you know. I’ll train if I want, as hard as I want.”
 
“Clove, no-one thinks you’re weak” Erin encouragement was shot down by another predictable glare. “You’ve got to take care of yourself though. The fight yesterday, those anti-healing cards were having a real effect on you. We need you to be fit and healthy to fight with us. You’re a great part of the team.”
 
“Humph, so you are saying I’m weak AND sucking up in the same breath. Typical” the girl continued to huff at her disapprovingly. However she really did look ill even with Alex carrying her, and when she did suddenly kick against him and he dropped her just in time to let her throw up, even she had to concede that. “Alright... maybe you all have a point...”
 
“How did Doyle pass you fit to train like this?” Aerial was astonished, albeit slightly irritated when he noticed that she’d thrown up just outside his room’s door. “Same with Nataka.”
 
“Course he didn’t. I did” she snapped between deep breaths. “I told Nataka I was fine to train, and he accepted my decision. He doesn’t interfere with my decisions unlike you stubborn lot.”
 
“We’re stubborn?” Alex asked, getting the next scornful glare before hoisting her back over his shoulder.
As they continued around the final third of the circuit, Erin asked the question. “Alex was telling us about how he came to join the Resistance. When did you come here?”
 
Clove looked sceptical about her interest, but the threat of throwing up again and needing a distraction won out. “Me and Skaro joined like, about three months ago, when it had just formed. Our dad was a soldier in the army who fought in the war. It’s not what you’re thinking; he came back from that alive. The reality is much worse. What actually happened was he was executed six months ago by order of the Emperor, for refusal of direct new orders from senior authority, thus breaking the law, meaning treason. His offence; refusing to arrest a woman who gave first aid to a protester outside a hospital the Emperor was closing, and one of his troops had beaten. When the young soldier went to arrest the woman for her crime, he stopped him, so the guy went and complained to Gaius, and then Nero found out...”
 
“That’s... that’s insane!” Erin felt sick. No wonder she hated the guard so much. Clove shrugged.
 
“Damn right. It was never a capital crime at all, but Nero came out saying it was ‘one of several offences of insubordination’. Dad was an officer of rank, his questioning the new regime didn’t suit Nero. He just wanted any excuse. He was our only family left after mum’s death years ago, so Skaro and I went into care. Then a few months later, Vardus came. He said he fought with our dad as commander and first lieutenant, and that he had asked him during one dire battle that if the worse should happen and only Vardus emerged, if he’d find and look after us. He promised he would, so once he heard about the execution he sought us out and told us about their friendship and about the Resistance movement he was forming, and invited us to live with him. I jumped at the chance to get revenge against the Empire.”
She finished just as they did the lap. Chetema and Nataka were stood waiting for them, the latter looking extremely disappointed with their time. “Well...?”
 
“I’m sorry sir; Clove went down injured on the way round. She’s still not fit after what happened yesterday. We couldn’t leave her behind, so we went back and fetched her.” Alex bowed politely and explained for them. Nataka frowned sternly at them all and studied Clove, making them wait for his decision as to whether he thought their excuse was good enough.
 
Eventually he softened. “Very good judgement. I’m pleased that you went back for your team-mate and finished together, such a bond is stronger than sheer muscle and stamina. Clove, you are dismissed, go back to the medical bay and stay there. Do not argue. As for the rest of you, we’ll end today’s session...”
 
The samurai smiled briefly. “With... thirty press-ups...”
 
...
 
Back above ground, Dorian was making his way back through the market streets of the Haman district, his bloody dual swords concealed under his coat. His latest assignment had gone well, which given the events of the gold robbery yesterday was heartening. He needed to get the frustration of that out of his system, and being told he could bury it in the neck of the commissioner for the army’s pay and welfare was just the job. Vardus had told him it would be too difficult to go for the honorary Longinus himself and would achieve little anyway, as he saw the old warrior as a reasonable man stuck in his position. Dorian did not share this viewpoint, how could the chief of the armed guard that was hell-bent on exterminating them be reasonable? He guessed he was an old acquaintance who Vardus wished not to harm if he could help it, or maybe part of a long term strategy. Who knew what Vardus thought half the time, had it been up to him he’d have used the confusion across the barracks to get to the chief and kill him too. After all the guards had done to these people all around him in the Emperor’s name...
 
He noticed he was tensing up and shook himself out of it. There were a couple of guards nearby, and by the way they were tearing through the crowd it seemed the death of the woman who cared for and paid these bastards to be brutal enforcers of the oppressors was now discovered. Attempting to look normal he stopped to buy some fruit from a nearby stall, taking time over selection as they looked away, before slipping down the nearest back alley and waiting for them to pass, swatting something away as he ate. They passed without seeing him, as soon as their back was turned he emerged again and went to hurry on away. As he did, he bumped into someone.
 
“Oof, watch it!” he grumbled at the scruffy looking silver haired boy in front of him. The boy looked down and grunted a hasty apology, before running off back down the street, in the exact opposite direction to which he was going when he’d walked into him. ‘What was all that about?’ Dorian thought to himself. It took him about half a second to realise, but then the real cause of his collision clicked.
 
Bang! Gasps went up from the crowd as the long greasy haired boy behind him fell to the floor, blood spurting from his nose where Dorian had just driven his elbow back into his face. Swearing and trying to stem the blood flow the teenager scrambled away, but Dorian, incensed, was coming after him. “Damn pickpocket” he swore, kicking the boy in the ribs before he could get up. The boy roared and tried to get up, but he wasn’t letting him. Ignoring the protests of the crowd, he grabbed the greasy kid by the scruff the neck, pinned him against the floor and lined up another punch, maybe break the thief’s jaw...
 
“Stop, assault!”
 
Dorian snapped out of it at the sound of metal footfalls, to see the four guards he’d just avoided were coming back and running through the crowd at him. ‘Crap, forgot about them’. Indeed, he had just committed assault right in front of them no matter how justifiably provoked - the guards were pretty zero tolerance on such matters - and although they might have only just noticed him for that, there’d be some awkward questions once they found the bloody swords and his duel shield on him. Dropping the pickpocket he ran as the guards fought through the crowd after him and fled into the maze of the slums.
 
Twenty minutes later he was hiding in the base of an abandoned windmill, trying to get his breath back. He’d lost the guards a while ago; hopefully things had been made easier by them splitting up and going after the thief too. It seemed the damned kid had got away with the remainder of his coins, which was annoying, but was a nullified loss given he had relieved them off the deceased commissioner. Heart-rate just about returned to normal, Dorian cursed. ‘Idiot. You and your damn temper. It’s a stealth mission; that includes exit. Until the moment you are home safely you keep it under control and behave, got it?’
 
Scolding himself further, he exited the windmill. A lot of places in the city were disused and abandoned like this, especially industrial areas, as they were bled out of money in taxes and people’s low incomes and were unable to maintain the buildings. If you mainly provided food for the public anyway; if you were an exclusive supplier to the palace you could apply for some funding for essential repairs, the city people weren’t important enough to waste money on that. Still cursing Dorian made his way around, trying to think where the nearest and safest place would be to here for him to go underground...
 
That’s when he heard the distant sound of buzzing...
 
Baffled by the faint noise he turned around, and froze in shock at the swarm of hornets that was pelting out from one of the storage sheds nearby. Panicked he belted for it, in his rush for cover not noticing the blonde woman who was emerging from up on the roof of the windmills outer buildings. The woman who had fly spies all across the city. Who had heard of the commissioner’s assassination through her pets and rushed out knowing the culprit would still be somewhere, and had picked him up during the commotion in the market and followed him here. Where she would make her first kill.
 
“This time I’ll get you” she scowled to herself, before with a horrible, banshee-like scream she released more of the swarm from inside her, shooting out of her mouth and giving chase after the boy.
 
Back on the run, Dorian was sprinting through the streets, trying to find an escape. He could go back to the market, but that’s where the guards were probably waiting, and besides he couldn’t lead this lot to a crowd of innocent people to save himself! The swarm were gaining fast and lining up their stings. On the move he equipped his shield and slammed several monsters in. The weakened Gemini’s of Blazewing, Samurai, Magician, plus the colossal Darkstorm Dragon and the trusty Brutdrago emerged and went for the swarm and its gaining second wave, ripping through their numbers. The hornets that survived flew straight past them, ignoring them completely. He gulped; they had a target and weren’t going to stop or be distracted until they got to it. And they were right on top of him now as he crossed a bridge. Glancing down in panic, he spotted a trail of muddy water seeping from the back of a building ahead and flowing down into the trench, into a large drainpipe in the ground at the bottom, some fifty metres away...
 
‘The sewers. It’s my one shot...’
 
Crossing his chest and bracing himself he dropped over the end of the bridge and slid down the side of the trench, hitting the stream of waste water at the bottom and sprinting towards the pipe, hoping the blockage of the few steel bars across it would not be sturdy enough to withstand a small force. Just as he hit the bottom, the first of the swarm reached him and dug its stingers into his neck. Immediately he felt sick and faint, the whole world lurched sideways as he lumbered towards the pipe and fumbled for the explosive round he had somewhere, more hornets honing down and ramming their stings into his exposed wrist and hips as he searched for it. The pain of each bullet like sting shot through him, with each dose of venom the pipe seemed to get further away in his clouded mind and swam out of focus. He found the explosive, but his fuddled mind and co-ordination struggled with the clip. Something behind him roared, he couldn’t even remember what that would be anymore as he blundered and splashed on, twenty five metres to go. It was Brutdrago and company catching up and trying to take down the second barrage of homing missile like insects. Panting raggedly, trying to cover his head as a fifth sting got him behind the ear and aiming blindly, his vision was fading as well as his energy, he launched the explosive somewhere. The throw was wild; thankfully it bounced off the side of the trench to its target at the end of the pipe, blowing the bars apart as he was fifteen metres away. Barely conscious Dorian took a deep breath and slid through the stream for it feet first, taking one last sting in the hand as he slid into the pipe, disappearing into the darkness. The hornets didn’t follow. He continued to slide for a few more metres before it dropped down. Banging and bouncing off the metal as it went down, the water chute carried him down like a slide, before chucking him out the end into the main waterway, landing in the water with a splash. There the venom took full hold and he lost consciousness, carried away by the flow.
 
Back on the surface, Urusula arrived at the bridge to find the Gemini spirits fading away, and her returning hornets made their way back to her. She saw the broken end of the pipe, but through her pets she could see several had successfully injected him. If he was lost in the sewers without any chance of being found, he was finished. With a sadistic smirk of victory, she returned to base.
 
...
 
After training, Erin returned to the mess hall with the rest of the Resistance (minus Clove and Doyle, who was presumably tending to her) for today’s lunch, which was a chicken and rice based dish. She liked this, as evidently did Alex who probably had a very different diet growing up on a farm; however Aerial was picking over it with a disgruntled look.
 
“Ah man, again? If we’re going to have chicken so often, can we at least have it done different way?”
 
“Cheer up, simple meals like this are nice” Erin smiled. “Maybe we don’t have the most varied diet, but given our situation and compared to most of the poor above us, I’d say we get very well catered for.”
 
“Yeah I know” Aerial sighed, still uneasily picking over his plate. “I like rice. I just don’t like chicken. Can’t that chef do a vegetarian option once in a while? Would that really be that hard? Be cheaper too...”
 
“You’re vegetarian?” Alex blinked, eyeing his chance for seconds. “I thought you were just picky.”
 
“My gran bought me up like that...” Aerial mumbled with embarrassment. “Look I just don’t like eating meat alright, especially bird. It wouldn’t be so bad if they were separate and I could just have the rice and some veg with it, why does the chef have to mash it all together in one congealed mess like this...?”
 
“Um... Aerial...” Erin paused and looked at something behind him. He turned, and quailed as he found himself looking straight into the pudgy, tattooed face of the chef! The others chuckled at his dilemma as the large man looked furiously down at the boy as he tried to stammer his way out of it. Goro however seemed to have more pressing concerns than Aerial’s dietary requirements, as he turned to Erin.
 
“My daughter Chou has not appeared for lunch yet” he grumbled in a low voice. “Neither has that brother of yours who she keeps trying to hang around with. Have you seen them?”
 
She had already noticed neither of them was present, but she had just assumed - given how Mel was not with Nataka when they finished their run - that he had simply made his way to the mess hall before them. However Goro seemed concerned about their absence. “It is not like Chou to be late at all. I assume they are hanging out together somewhere, his influence no doubt. Could you go find them?”
 
“Sure” she replied, leaving the rest of her meal for Alex to finish off or Aerial to try and pick something out of, if he dared before the intimidating and still glowering chef stood behind him. She couldn’t help but chortle at how the quirky young lad seemed to have a knack of putting his foot in it all the time. The more time she spent with the others, even if they all seemed quite frightening and wary of her at first, the more likeable they all really were. ‘Actually, putting the cause aside, this isn’t a bad way to live...’
 
After a few minutes of checking various rooms the length and breadth of the hall, she eventually found the pair at the far end of the cavern, on the far training field where she had first met the others. They were stood either side of the painted out arena, having borrowed two duel shields from the locked rack on the wall and were having a duel. Ducking down to watch, she shook her head. They must be using the opportunity while everyone else was at lunch to sneakily have a play. They weren’t supposed to be duelling under Vardus’ orders, even if Mel was allowed to keep his deck for sentimental sake, and certainly not helping themselves to their store of duel shields. Where Mel had got the key for that rack she had no idea, but no doubt he was the one who’d pinched it. Chou looked very nervous about their little activity, glancing around as if expecting an adult any minute. Mel was little more relaxed, although that might have been more to do with how the duel was looking. Erin couldn’t help but be interested in watching for a minute before breaking it up and preventing them getting into trouble. Mel was using his Toons of course, although he had none out at the moment exept the comic itself, whereas Chou controlled a star-bright lion she recognised as Majestic Mech Ohka. She was sure Chou and Goro didn’t have decks of their own; presumably it was a borrowed deck.
 
“Um... I think I end my turn now...” Chou mumbled uncertainly. “Is that right?”
 
“If you’re all done attacking and playing cards yeah” Mel swallowed, looking uneasy at the mech’s appearance. “I still can’t believe you summoned that kick-ass monster so easily.”
 
“Yeah, I’m surprised too. It’s such a pretty creature, and its effect is... oh no!” Chou jumped as she read the consequence of using the majestic beast’s effect. “I didn’t know that... um... oh, what should I do? Oh wait; can I still activate a trap now?”
 
“Oh... um, well... I guess it’ll be alright this once, providing it isn’t one with restricted activation.”
 
“Wow, thanks Mel. That’s really nice of you to let me do that and help me. I activate my face down Skill Drain.” Erin scowled at Mel’s bitter behaviour as Chou used her perfectly legitimate card. He should know full well Chou was entitled to activate a trap now if she wanted and it was appropriate, and was pretending to be magnanimous. He must be losing. “By paying a thousand life points, the effects of all monsters are now negated, so Ohka won’t be sent to the... oh no, I lose life points!?”
 
“Oh come on, you can’t take it back now. Besides you kept your monster, that’s more important” Mel scowled as he drew his card. “I summon Toon Gemini Elf. Because Skill Drain is on the field, the effect that stops her attacking this turn is wiped out.” Chou gulped at the sight of the twin elves, fluttering their eyelashes and winking mischievously at her (Lv4, ATK 1900). “Then I activate the Mystical Space Typhoon I just drew, to destroy Skill Drain. With it gone, Gemini Elf is free to attack directly.”
 
“What? Wait... but... doesn’t that...?” Chou’s question went unfinished as the two blasts of magic bent round either side of the defending monster and straight into her, making her cry in surprise. She flopped backwards, evidently defeated (LP 0). Across the field, Mel was disappointingly ungracious.
 
“Woo-hoo! Oh yeah, I win! Sorry Chou, but you were just a little short this time. Still, you put up a pretty decent fight of it for a newbie. That was fun.”
 
“Um... yes, I guess it was kind of exhilarating” Chou grinned sheepishly as she brushed off her loss. “I like these monsters... But I don’t think we should take these things again without asking in future though. We could be in serious trouble if the elders find out. We should put them back now.”
 
“Relax. We can keep doing this when they’re not looking. You know the elders will never let us join in if we ask. They never let us do any... uh oh...”
 
Mel paled as he saw Erin marching down the steps towards them. The two kids were frozen like rabbits in the eyes of a snake as she approached, neither attempted to run or speak, other than Chou making a little cry. She seemed irrationally fearful of her for some reason. However before Erin could speak she was interrupted, and realised she wasn’t the object of their terror after all. It was Vardus, who had appeared unnoticed and was now stood behind her with a thunderous expression.
 
“Chou... your father is looking for you. Go to him. Now.” His voice was so slow and menacing, Chou didn’t need telling twice. With a scared look at Mel she dropped the duel shield and fled, leaving him to turn to the siblings. “Boy, first you will put those back. Then you will take that key back to Nataka. He is expecting you, and he will determine the repercussions of your light-fingeredness. Erin, my office.”
 
Both siblings exchanged fearful glances, before doing as they were told. Erin followed the leader back through the base to his private study. She shivered; she could sense he was so angry, she could almost see the heat of his rage radiating from him. He ordered her to sit, before stomping around his desk to face her from somewhere she’d be out of his reach. “Vardus I...”
 
“SILENCE!” Vardus roared. He leapt up again; the force of his voice hit her like a tidal wave and she fell silent at once, looking down at her feet as he unleashed his rage. “Have you no control over that blasted child? I could accept him needing a little time to adjust and settle, but your brother’s behaviour has been a constant nuisance around here, sulky and moaning and stropping around the place. I expect you to make some sort of effort to get his behaviour in check, but find you idly standing by allowing him to act as he pleases, stealing and cheating and lying and acting such an ungrateful horrible twerp? If I’d known he’d be this much trouble I’d have damn well left him to the guard! I’d still have Skaro for it!”
 
Defence was futile against his rage, and Erin didn’t feel much like defending herself. So she let him shout the anger out of his system for a minute with her head dropped, until he came to a seething, breathless halt. Before today she’d have been upset enough, but now she really understood how much Skaro’s death affected him and why. “Clove told me about their dad, and your friendship. I’m really sorry.”
 
Vardus blinked in surprise, which must have taken the anger out of him. He slumped back in his comfy chair and groaned. “He was a very good friend, met in difficult circumstances. I never felt it my fate to one day be leading sections of an army, he helped me through it immensely. Any ‘success’ I made during that war, I credit to his help.” Vardus sighed deeply and pressed a button on a remote next to him, and an antique television set that was placed between two of his magnificent bookcases crackled into life. It showed the Empire’s news channel, which appeared to be reporting on the main street where the gold truck explosion had happened yesterday. A rather aloof anchorwoman was speaking:
 
“A day on from the atrocious terrorist acts that took place here this channel can confirm that ten civilians lost their lives in the explosion and ensuing fire, along with several brave military personnel. The group of extremists picked this area to ambush an essential supply train as part of their goal of establishing an anarchic order against the state, and although soldiers responded quickly to repel the attackers from the supply and innocent civilians unfortunately one kamikaze snuck into the carts and set off their explosives which killed so many in a senseless act of violence. The guard have since made arrests of those involved and the Emperor has promised that he will find the rest of these terrorists and bring them to account.”
 
Vardus switched it off, his expression as crestfallen as Erin’s. “I’m sorry for shouting. I only just saw this before seeing you. Doyle and Mia went above ground earlier and returned saying everyone in town was talking about extremists killing people, cursing and spitting on us...” He groaned again and ran his hands through his unusually unkempt hair. Now calm, he looked very tired and stressed. “Things have been going badly around here lately, ever since the assassination attempt on me and the attack on you, and then Reckage. These strange characters appearing and events that keep scuppering our plans, and these spirits of duel monsters we keep running into and attacking us. It feels like the world is working against us at the moment, clinging to the regime in fear of the uncertainty of change. I’m sure they are all connected, and it must be the Emperor’s doing somehow. I just can’t work out for the life of me how. Where on earth is he getting people like that frogman, and siding with duel spirits? It doesn’t add up.”
 
“I know” Erin agreed. “The spirits of those two girls, they kept saying about having friends who wanted us eliminated, but they are not with the Emperor himself. They believe we’re the enemy doing wrong; like that news channel makes us out to the public. But what can we do?”
 
Vardus sighed and shrugged. “Short of capturing one of these characters or spirits working against us alive and interrogating them, I’m struggling for ideas.”
 
Clearly, Vardus was not a man used to struggling with ideas. The two sat in silence for a moment, thinking about their problem. They were interrupted by the buzz of the intercom which Vardus, still frustrated, snapped into a little more forcefully than he meant to. “What now?”
 
There was a pause as the speaker relayed a quick, panicky message. Whatever they had said, it drained all the life from Vardus’ face as he went pale and rigid. “I’m on my way” he exclaimed and slammed the receiver down, jumping up and past the stunned Erin. “Come quickly. Dorian’s body has floated in through the waterways, he is barely alive. Something attacked him and he is grievously wounded.”
 
He stopped as Erin failed to move. She was frozen, icy tendrils gripping and chilling her every fibre as the words sank in. Terrible images blurred her sight as the words replayed over and over, echoing through her head. “Dorian. Attacked? Grievously wounded? Barely alive?”
 
Her heart stopped.
 
...
 
Racing through the base, they quickly found him. On the central weapons training arena, a group of the other rebels were nervously stood together watching, Clove and Aerial both clearly distressed and being reassured by Alex and the apprehensive looking Mia. Neither of the younger kids was present, they must have been kept away. Vardus pushed his way through the haggle, opening up the scene to Erin. Dorian was lying on his back, head rolled back with his eyes closed, a slight froth forming at the edge of his mouth. Nataka was frantically performing CPR on his exposed chest, his shirt cut off to expose much blood from his broken body that had taken a severe beating somehow, as well as the several enormous purple swellings on his neck and arms into which Doyle was applying injections of every potion he had.
 
“Dorian!” Vardus gasped, kneeling beside the unconscious boy. “Here, let me do the CPR.”
 
“Please stand back sir” Doyle ordered. “You’re getting in the way, we need space. Nataka is...”
 
“I SAID LET ME DO THE DAMNED CPR!!! Let me help!” Vardus nearly shoved Doyle over to get past.
 
“Chetema. Goro” Doyle ordered exasperatedly. On the doctor’s orders, the two biggest men in the group grabbed and pulled the leader off. Vardus struggled as he was held, shouting and threatening his allies with everything as he tried to break free of them, desperate to aid his young charge, but they doggedly held firm against him and allowed the medic to work. Erin stood with the others, having to support herself on the boys as she watched helplessly with them and their leader, horrified but unable to look away as Doyle and Nataka continued to try and revive him. The seconds dragged for eternity, turning to minutes, still the swellings restricting his airways wouldn’t go down. Doyle was getting fraught as he resorted to his rarest, most powerful elixirs. All the time he must be slipping away...
 
After ten minutes of exhaustive work and use of every medicine they had, the purple swellings finally began to subside, and there was a long choking inhale as Dorian spluttered out some water and took a deep breath. With a collective sigh everyone eased up, Vardus nearly collapsed in the arms of the two restraining him. The sweaty, shattered Nataka knelt back as the still unconscious boy continued to breathe by himself, and Doyle wiped his brow with his handkerchief and took a great sigh of relief.
 
“Well, he’s still breathing. But he could relapse any second. We need to get him to my office while he is steady, so that I can stabilise him with the proper appliances and monitor him further. Get a stretcher” he pointed at the young lads, who went at once. “Thank goodness that last elixir worked. It’ll be hard to obtain any more of it, I will have to take samples of his blood and see about concocting my own anti-venom from the poisons I can extract.”
 
“Yes, please do that. Thank you doctor” Vardus panted, finally released by the others and immediately shaking Doyle’s hand with a tense, forced smile. “And sorry about my incursions...”
 
“Don’t worry about it. It was a natural reaction” Doyle admitted sheepishly. “I understand.”
 
The boys quickly returned with the stretcher, the two big men carefully moved Dorian on to it and followed the doctor back to his office, passing the others on their way. He looked peaceful to Erin as he lay there. A battered warrior, but not beaten yet.
 
...
 
“Please, can’t I see him yet?”
 
It was late now, and Erin was stood outside Doyle’s office, trying to get past the young doctor and see his patient. All training had been suspended; most of the group thus spent the long hours in their rooms nervously waiting for news. Erin had spent the time with Mel, his punishment suspended, though they hadn’t done or spoken much. Finally she could take no more and come to the medic’s office. He was supposedly stable now, but Doyle was keeping him under surveillance. Vardus had been in obviously, but the doctor was against other visitors.
 
“He may be clear of immediate danger, but he still needs time and peace to recover, please understand Erin. If I let you in, everyone else will be barging down my door trying to see him. It’s not that Dorian is a popular young man down here. Everyone cares deeply about everyone down here; it would be the same for anyone. He needs rest now, I’m sure sometime tomorrow...”
 
“Please Doyle, I don’t think that I can wait til tomorrow. I’ll just explode. Just a minute or two...”
 
“Geez Doc, let her in already for goodness sake. She’ll only break the door down anyway.”
 
“Huh?” Erin jumped as a weak voice came through the door behind Doyle, who’d just pinched his eyes in annoyance for leaving it ajar behind him. “He’s awake?”
 
“Well ... oh alright” the doctor groaned as he stepped aside. “I could really do with using the facilities; I guess I could ask you to watch him for a couple of minutes. When I get back though, I want you gone, alright?” he conditioned sternly, to which she nodded. “Call me on my radio if anything happens.”
 
She stepped aside to allow him relief, and nervously pushed her way inside. Dorian smiled weakly as she entered, visible just about under the oxygen mask, but seemed incapable of little else. He was laid in the far bed, wired up to a heart monitor and several other things as well. The toxic swellings had subdued to little lumps now, but the purple discolouring patches still blotched his skin. As she sat next to him, she could see on closer examination the large skin punctures at the centre of each patch. His other wounds had been bandaged; especially his ribs which were wrapped around heavily. He winced as he looked at her with his comforting smile. “Hey, thanks for coming. I’m still here then?”
 
“Yeah... still here” she repeated, unsure what to say now she was actually here. “I didn’t realise you were awake...”
 
“Only been for a few hours” he sighed. “Vardus wanted to know what happened. Although to be honest, that’s what I’d like to know myself. My memory is a bit wiped at the moment.”
 
“You don’t remember what happened at all?” she asked. He shook his head.
 
“Some of it, it’s just fuzzy” he replied. “I was coming back from my mission... I remember running from... I think they were... hornets?” Erin shuddered, of course! The wounds were obviously sting wounds; how stupid was she to not realise herself. It must be the same swarm that attacked her. So this would have been what would have happened to her had she not fallen in the river... She shuddered again. Scolding herself for thinking about herself, she told Dorian her thoughts. “I see. Oh good, so there is a demonic swarm of insects patrolling the city determined to kills us all for interfering with Nero? Awesome.”
 
He nodded to the desk behind him. A couple of beakers were placed on it, filled with various liquids. “That’s some of the stuff Doyle and Nataka pumped out of me. I can’t think what happened; the stuff must have played with my head. There were guards... but I’d lost them, then the swarm attacked... and then I remember going down a pipe and landing in the water, I guess that’s how my ribs got broken. I must have just floated through the ways and filters back here by chance. Lucky huh?”
 
“Yeah, you were very lucky...” Erin just sat there with him in silence. She’d come here just to see him, and a little part of her had been hoping she could talk to him; even if it was just talking to his sleeping body, and hopefully he’d be able to hear. She’d spent hours thinking of what she wanted to talk to him about, hoping against hope that she’d have a chance to and fearing the worst that she might not get it. But now she was actually here and he was awake, all her thoughts about it had gone and flown out of her head and left her quiet and shy again. He was still smiling at her though; maybe he was just happy to have some company, although he still winced if he tried to move at all.
 
“Hey Erin...” he mumbled and looked down. His hand was twitching. He winced as he flexed the fingers even slightly, he was so drained even this little movement seemed to take him an effort, but he kept trying and nodded down at it. “Would... do you mind?”
 
She nodded and gently took hold of it, and he closed his fingers around her hand. The feeling made him smile a bit less forcedly. “Thanks... That’s nice. Way more effective than the morphine I’m on” he joked, making her blush. “I’m gonna get addicted to the stuff if I keep getting beat up fighting the Emperor like this. Still worth it though, if we win... I’ll happily spend the rest of my life in this bed; wired to machines and drugged up to the eyeballs... as long as my swords are driven through the heart of that tyrant.”
 
“You... really hate the Empire that much?” Erin asked. He nodded. “Are... you a purge orphan too?”
 
He shook his head. “War. Both parents, my older sister, and everyone else in my family old enough were involuntarily drafted into the army for the war. I was just short of seventeen, so I was in the reserves on standby, if it had lasted any longer I’d have joined them. But when the war ended, nobody came back. My life... everything was ripped from me then, just like so many others. I... I can’t believe how much has changed in a few years. How quickly one fools madness can corrupt the entire city. I hear -and this is the drunks at the Goat’s Head talking - that he wants to become immortal, and attempts to increase his life span have warped his mind. Or that he is possessed by the devil, as some jump to. Whatever the reason, I can believe that he’d want to never give up power, not even to time. This... it can’t go on forever Erin! I won’t let it. The Empire took everything away from me with its war, but what was the point? So Nero could make more people miserable under his absolute rule of the world? But I’m gonna take it all back from him... by destroying the Empire, just like he destroyed our lives. I swear... whatever it takes...”
 
“Dorian... “Erin whispered. He had unconsciously gripped her hand a little tightly when he spoke, but she didn’t complain about it. He eased up when he realised he was hurting her and mumbled an apology, although his expression was still much more grim now. “Please don’t think about that now. You need to rest. Your blood pressure’s going up.”
 
“What?” he looked up as he noticed one of the machines was bleeping. “Oh right... sorry doc.”
 
He grinned at her pouting at him. “You frown too much. But you’re really cute, even when you frown.” His embarrassed look returned as he looked into her eyes, his grey ones into her blue. “Since that night at the prison, I’ve been thinking sometimes... about you. I like your determination, the way you train in order to make yourself stronger, and how selfless you are and how you care about everyone and joined into the family here. When you focus on something, your resolve is as strong as mine, maybe stronger. Maybe you’ll even kill Nero and the Empire before Vardus or I get the chance. Would you... if you had the chance somehow... whatever it took to do it... you think you could kill him?”
 
Erin gulped, she’d never thought about anything that far ahead. The thought of being face to face with him. He was the enemy no doubt, but that had already stopped her once before. “I’d... yes. I’d try.”
 
Good answer, it made him smile again. “Yeah, I think you would. That’s why I was thinking... if I was to kill him, and ended up like this again in the process, I’d be happy with that. But I think I’d feel a lot better about it if... if you were still there afterwards... to hold my hand like this again...”
 
She gasped as he winced, having clasped her hand tightly again. He still forced his enchanting smile through it though. “Let’s promise... we’ll both make it through this okay? Let’s both get to the end, so that after the Empire has fallen, maybe then we can... y’know...”
 
He was whispering now, making her lean in to hear him. With great effort and pain, he pulled off his oxygen mask and sat up just a bit, enough to be able to kiss her on the cheek. She blushed nervously, her mind gone into a complete blur and she had no idea to react. He seemed satisfied with this though, sinking back into his pillows with an exhausted but happy smile, so they just sat there holding hands, until fatigue and morphine got the better of him and he fell asleep.
 
...
 
Far above, the blackest of stormy nights had enveloped upon the capital. Rain had driven people from the streets, the loose wooden fittings of some structures groaned in the wind. Thunder rumbled over the palace. Lightning flashed across the sky, lighting up the palace and the slums civic buildings. In the flash, two cloaked figures appeared upon the roof of one abandoned amphitheatre, each stood with their arms folded inside their respective black and white sleeves and looking across the ruinous city through their masks illuminated in the flashing sky - impervious to the weather, cackling to themselves, evil grin and frown dancing in the dark as they looked upon the scene of their planned grand finale...
 
“Ahahahahahahaha... ahahahahahahaha...”[/spoiler]

[Fusion X. Denver]

"Nice, I finally caught u-"

*chapter 10*

hnnngghh I'll get to it. In the meantime

[spoiler=6]

Wow…the orphanage was burned down in the end, eh?  I thought maybe they’d try to run for shelter or something, but I guess they really had nowhere to go. That sucks. Little convenient that Mel’s deck wasn’t burned down with it, though.

 

This chapter made me like Dorian a little more. He played it cool with letting Mel have his way here and there, pretty mature despite immaturely challenging him to a duel in the first place =p

 

I do think Renegade had a point about Mel’s diction. The only other nitpick I’d make is that I wouldn’t think Vardus’ office would be that furnished, given the rebels might have to make a hasty retreat at some point and he’d lose all his stuff.

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=7]

Ah, Demon’s entered the story now. Good to see he’s still interesting and Urusula’s still creepy as f*ck.

Reckage…he’s a new character, isn’t he?  He seems like a funny old man, I found his quirks charming…ish.

Aside from that, the chapter had some down time and fleshed out some characters a bit, which is always good. Nataka seemed cool. Apparently he had a small role in Armageddon? I honestly forgot him, but if I ever go back to reread, that'll be nice.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=8]

Okay, now things are getting intense! Finding Reckage's remains in the [i]reckage[/i] (hurr) of his basement was really messed up, but I got sucked into the gorey imagery and I actually got chills. Something like this was much more effective in establishing the empire's cruelty, nicely done.

I thought Gawp might have a revival gimmick, but you said he did well for his little role, so I guess he's dead. Oh well.

Alex vs Curran was an interesting duel. Frankly I don't remember much now that it's been a few days, but I found her whole dynamic interesting since she's this little girl talking about killing and crap.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=9]

The raid scene was cool. Kinda weird to see Gaius acting all humble and reserved, but I guess that'll happen when the Emperor knocks your ego down a couple pegs. Otherwise, nice imagery with all the action going on; Dorian was cool in that moment he stabbed the guard's neck from behind.

Nice to see Clove get some exposition too. I still don't really like her, though I can understand her having a grudge against Erin after all that's happened. Her duel with Pikeru was okay (interesting to see her as Chaotic Neutral), Pikeru had a nutty burn combo.

Don't know what to think about the end there. I found the image of Curran being a go-getter was kinda funny, but Alpha and Omega bwahahaing was a little silly.[/spoiler]

[Ren✧]

Whew! Just read through Chapter 10, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to finish before school started back up again, but I'm glad that I did. Well as you already know, or will soon figure out, I'm a sucker for any type of angsty, teenage romance so you can bet that I loved this chapter. I did like the exposition at the start about Gaius and Camilla, it's good to know that we'll occasionally get a glimpse at what is happening to that antagonists that kicked this off. 

 

The little half duel between Chou and Mel really made me mad. Not because of the writing, but because Mel's character is so damn infuriating. I can't wait until that kid gets taught a lesson. 

 

All in all, I really like this chapter and because of that I really don't have too much to say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? 

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Slow response is slow. Sorry guys busy few days.

 

 

"Nice, I finally caught u-"

*chapter 10*

hnnngghh I'll get to it. In the meantime

[spoiler=6]

Wow…the orphanage was burned down in the end, eh?  I thought maybe they’d try to run for shelter or something, but I guess they really had nowhere to go. That sucks. Little convenient that Mel’s deck wasn’t burned down with it, though.

 

This chapter made me like Dorian a little more. He played it cool with letting Mel have his way here and there, pretty mature despite immaturely challenging him to a duel in the first place =p

 

I do think Renegade had a point about Mel’s diction. The only other nitpick I’d make is that I wouldn’t think Vardus’ office would be that furnished, given the rebels might have to make a hasty retreat at some point and he’d lose all his stuff.

[/spoiler]

[spoiler=7]

Ah, Demon’s entered the story now. Good to see he’s still interesting and Urusula’s still creepy as f*ck.

Reckage…he’s a new character, isn’t he?  He seems like a funny old man, I found his quirks charming…ish.

Aside from that, the chapter had some down time and fleshed out some characters a bit, which is always good. Nataka seemed cool. Apparently he had a small role in Armageddon? I honestly forgot him, but if I ever go back to reread, that'll be nice.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=8]

Okay, now things are getting intense! Finding Reckage's remains in the reckage (hurr) of his basement was really messed up, but I got sucked into the gorey imagery and I actually got chills. Something like this was much more effective in establishing the empire's cruelty, nicely done.

I thought Gawp might have a revival gimmick, but you said he did well for his little role, so I guess he's dead. Oh well.

Alex vs Curran was an interesting duel. Frankly I don't remember much now that it's been a few days, but I found her whole dynamic interesting since she's this little girl talking about killing and crap.[/spoiler]

[spoiler=9]

The raid scene was cool. Kinda weird to see Gaius acting all humble and reserved, but I guess that'll happen when the Emperor knocks your ego down a couple pegs. Otherwise, nice imagery with all the action going on; Dorian was cool in that moment he stabbed the guard's neck from behind.

Nice to see Clove get some exposition too. I still don't really like her, though I can understand her having a grudge against Erin after all that's happened. Her duel with Pikeru was okay (interesting to see her as Chaotic Neutral), Pikeru had a nutty burn combo.

Don't know what to think about the end there. I found the image of Curran being a go-getter was kinda funny, but Alpha and Omega bwahahaing was a little silly.[/spoiler]

 

 

Haha, sorry Fusion. I knew I'd be able to picture the twitch when you caught up and saw you hadn't. :D

 

Just a reminder to reinforce Nero's evilness and vengeance, and yes it was convenient. Getting worried about Mel's dictation now. Vardus' office is as was in the original, but it's just a physical showing of his character. Besides, can't see him renting out storge lockers. Glad Dorian did well though.

 

Yep he is, and yes she is :D Yes Nataka was (briefly) in the original as a last minute fill in the gaps characterback when I worte a chapter and posted it without proper planning, so him and Chetema really needed working on their characters this time.

 

Yes! Success! Glad these chapters had a good overall impression and thanks for the comments.

 

But... but the evil laughs :mellow:

 

Whew! Just read through Chapter 10, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to finish before school started back up again, but I'm glad that I did. Well as you already know, or will soon figure out, I'm a sucker for any type of angsty, teenage romance so you can bet that I loved this chapter. I did like the exposition at the start about Gaius and Camilla, it's good to know that we'll occasionally get a glimpse at what is happening to that antagonists that kicked this off. 

 

The little half duel between Chou and Mel really made me mad. Not because of the writing, but because Mel's character is so damn infuriating. I can't wait until that kid gets taught a lesson. 

 

All in all, I really like this chapter and because of that I really don't have too much to say. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? 

 

You been on half term then?

 

Cool, glad you enjoyed it for most part. Yep, Mel's still being a jerk though.

 

First, little brother problems, now angsty teenage boy problems, all as well as fighting an epic battle against the oppresive Empire. Sigh. What's a girl like Erin to do? :lol:

[Ren✧]

Slow response is slow. Sorry guys busy few days.

 

 

Haha, sorry Fusion. I knew I'd be able to picture the twitch when you caught up and saw you hadn't. :D

 

Just a reminder to reinforce Nero's evilness and vengeance, and yes it was convenient. Getting worried about Mel's dictation now. Vardus' office is as was in the original, but it's just a physical showing of his character. Besides, can't see him renting out storge lockers. Glad Dorian did well though.

 

Yep he is, and yes she is :D Yes Nataka was (briefly) in the original as a last minute fill in the gaps characterback when I worte a chapter and posted it without proper planning, so him and Chetema really needed working on their characters this time.

 

Yes! Success! Glad these chapters had a good overall impression and thanks for the comments.

 

But... but the evil laughs :mellow:

 

 

You been on half term then?

 

Cool, glad you enjoyed it for most part. Yep, Mel's still being a jerk though.

 

First, little brother problems, now angsty teenage boy problems, all as well as fighting an epic battle against the oppresive Empire. Sigh. What's a girl like Erin to do? :lol:

 

Yep, today is the last day :'(

You have a point, I shouldn't be too hard on Mel given the situation...but for some reason I just want to hit him upside the head :P

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Sigh. 250 views since Chapter 10 was posted. And no comments on the background of Alex, Clove and Dorian.
No comments on silly little enjoyable scenes with Nataka and Goro.
No comments on dramatic Urusula and critically near death Dorian stuff.
One comment on blossoming romance.
 
And not even a comment on the cameo appearance of one of the original Armageddon's best loved and most popular characters.
 
I am a sad panda :(
 
Chapter 11 then.
 
[spoiler=Chapter 11]Chapter 11: The Imposters
 
Erin slipped inside and closed the door as quietly as she could behind her, trying not to make a sound as she entered the room. When she turned around she realised she needn’t have bothered in her effort to be quiet and not to wake anybody up. Melanc was still up; sitting on the bed looking at his deck, his only reminder of home. When she entered he looked up, crossed his arms and frowned.
 
“It’s past your bedtime” Erin started before he could, as calmly and evasively as she could, trying to take no notice of his dirty look as she washed and started looking for her pyjamas.
 
“So? It’s past yours as well. You can’t tell me what to do” Mel retorted.
 
“I’m your sister, you do what I tell you” Erin tried not to snap and just be firm with him, but he still sat there stubbornly glaring at her as she sat at her dresser and started doing her hair. Something she was starting to realise he knew she did to distract herself. “You’ve got to start doing what I tell you, or else we’re both going to get into trouble like we did today. You realise I got a severe warning from Vardus because of you stealing that key and using those duel shields without permission, you know? We have limited numbers of those, we have to be careful.” Annoyingly, Mel shrugged.
 
“Says you who already broken two of them. Besides, I’m gonna get it way worse when Nataka decides to give me my punishment I bet. It’s not fair. I can duel better than you and your dumb friends if I was allowed to practise, Vardus just doesn’t want his precious do-gooders to be shown up by me.”
 
“Says you who got completely owned by...”
 
Erin stopped mid-sentence and swallowed. She could feel Mel’s eyes drilling flaming holes in the back of her head so intense was his stare, daring her to say it. Combing the same bit of hair over again, she tried to change course without him noticing. “...who was losing to Chou when she’s never played before.”
 
“Yeah well... whatever.” In a huff Mel shuffled up his deck and rolled over in his bed as Erin finished her routine and prepped for bed. She was half about to climb into it, when she stopped, thinking about something Mel had just said. ‘When Nataka decides to give me my punishment.’ She thought Vardus had said he already had one lined up for him.
 
“You haven’t already been disciplined by Nataka?”
 
“No. He was waiting for me in the canteen, and like Vardus said he was expecting me. He made me sit and wait for a few minutes while he was dealing with some other stuff, but then that dummy Alex came rushing in and crying about how that poor punk was unconscious or dead or whatever.”
 
“That ‘poor punk’ and his friends you so dislike are the only reason you’re not still stuck in jail at the Emperor’s pleasure or worse, and that I’m still alive” Erin scolded him, getting an obnoxious huff in return. But she realised something; she had not really spoken to Mel after the incident. She hadn’t spoken to him a lot of times recently, when really she should have. Descending from her halted climb, she clambered into the bottom bunk and snuggled up next to her brother. He scowled and protested, but she wrapped her arms around him and held his back tight to her. “Where were you while... that... was going on? Did you come back here?”
 
“No” the back of Mel’s head replied stiffly. “I was ordered to stay in the canteen with Chou. And that other adult, you know... the armourer guy? The quiet one who works with Chetema? He stayed to look after us and see we didn’t cause any more trouble... as if I was gonna. He didn’t say much, just sat by the door to keep an eye on us and left us to it. Chou was still a bit scared, but I think she’s okay now.”
 
“Oh, that’s good” Erin breathed in relief. The two just lay there for a while, before she broached another subject she really should have raised with him before. “The other night, when that assassin attacked Vardus, I saw the look on your face. You were worried about him, weren’t you?”
 
“No!” Mel replied a little too forcefully. “It just proves me right that the Emperor is on to him and his stupid group; that someone got at him already. I’m just worried for my own safety stuck here with you.”
 
“Heh, you were worried” Erin smirked, prompting more furious scowls from the mess of hair in front of her and increased resistance to her hug. She held tight though. “You know Vardus is a good man. He’s demanding at times, but it’s his right to be. He won’t let any harm come to you while we’re here Mel.”
 
Her brother shrugged without further response, and the two lay in silence for about ten minutes. Erin figured Mel had probably fallen asleep by now, but she was comfortable to stay here with him for the night. As she lay beside him, she noticed her mother’s teardrop necklace dangling out of her shirt.
 
“.... so....... how was he?”
 
“Oh, you mean Dorian?” Erin was surprised that he’d broached the subject; Mel scowled to indicate that of course he meant Dorian. “He’s better now. I think he’ll have to stay in the medical bay for a while, but he’s awake now, and his wounds are healing. I’m sure he’ll be back with us all fighting in no time.”
 
“Back getting you all killed in no time...” Mel grumbled darkly, before hastily correcting his stance. “Not that I care. If you want to thrown our lives away then that’s your own selfish call. I was just expecting you to be going on about him as soon as you walked in was all.”
 
“I didn’t think you’d be interested” Erin tried nervously to evade his inflammatory remarks. But now Mel had got him back in her mind, picturing him lying there and replaying what had happened, and it wasn’t going to go away. But then... she blushed to herself, unintentionally squeezing Mel a little bit as she did. “He’s... um... he’s really nice, when you get to know him... I really like him Mel.”
 
“I don’t like him.”
 
“Is that because I do, or because he completely owned you?” Mel scowled as she finally bit.
 
“I just don’t. He’s weird.”
 
And with that he went to sleep.
 
...
 
A couple of days later, and Erin was busy training with Aerial on the archery range. She’d felt that her sword fighting was slowly getting better, but at this she was truly hopeless. Laughing at her as she fumbled with and dropped the arrow she was lining up for the umpteenth time, the young boy proceeded to show off by dispatching three targets in rapid succession. Something that made her scowl.
 
“Bah, I’m never going to get this. How come you’re so good at it?”
 
“Practise” her young comrade replied unhelpfully, sitting down cross-legged with his usual rapt smile at her. “When it was just me and Gran, we had to live off what we could get. She was the best at finding edible plants and herbs, and I went into the forest to hunt for anything additional she needed. Rabbits mostly. Usually we’d trade them for bread and things though, so I had to get good quick like.”
 
“I see..., but your Gran is no longer...?” Aerial’s smile faded as he shook his head. “I’m sorry.”
 
“It’s alright. At least she died peacefully, unlike everybody else here. She’s in a better place now...”
 
He seemed unusually down, but then she remembered Aerial had only joined the Resistance a little while before her. The death of his grandmother might still have been relatively recent, so it was probably best to change the subject. “So... how did you end up here? How did you come to join the Resistance?” was the best she could come up with on the spot. Bafflingly though, Aerial flushed with embarrassment at the question, which she wasn’t expecting. Before he could answer, he was spared by the interruption of Chetema. The barbarian looked grave as he reached them.
 
“Stop training. Vardus wants everyone in office. We have trouble.”
 
With a nervous exchange of glances, the duo put their weapons away and followed the grizzly warrior to their leader’s stately office. Already inside were the armourer who had looked the kids, standing quietly in the corner watching proceedings, an agitated Doyle glancing from face to face of a perplexed looking Alex, the ever-scowling Clove, Mia, Goro, and the deeply concerned Nataka and Vardus who were stood silently at the front of the ruck with their arms folded and eyes fixated on the object of their attention. The battered old TV was on, again showing the Empire’s news channel, and everyone was staring at the images on the screen. Erin and Aerial stood and watched with the others, and cried in shock as the first video showed a shop being attacked by an icy white hydra, blasting out the windows and everything and everyone inside, her very own Brionac! The footage continued with the icy dragon’s rampage down the busy street, blasting anyone who got in its path. People were screaming and falling down all around it. She watched in disbelief as with a wing-beat a cart was crushed under the weight of the serpent, the wooden frame completely and inexplicably flattened. Finally the rampage was stopped, to Erin’s horror, with the guard arresting some angry looking woman with a duel shield (the news didn’t show exactly how the guard had stopped the Brionac), a woman who didn’t look all that much like her, but had enough similarity with the long if darker blue hair and blue eyes to make her feel uncomfortable. The screaming woman was shoved into a prison wagon and carted off, and the image shifted to a new clip.
 
Thus began a procession of similar recordings. A Six Samurai – Shi En boldly assaulting the barracks, and an old bearded man was tackled by a number of guards, still thrashing and fighting as he was carted away. A huge Black Brutdrago ripping off the roof of a noble’s house and tearing away with its claws, laying waste to the building before it suddenly vanished. The image changed to show the supposed cause of this; a pale young man with a duel shield was lying face down in the street, having been shot by the guard’s archers. Whether he was dead or just wounded was unclear as he was carted off too. Finally, the feed went live, to where the same aloof woman as before was reporting on the destruction outside a grand amphitheatre in the Uria slums by a giant green lion and a samurai in gold armour.  The area around the front of the building had clearly been wrecked, and two still images appeared beside the reporter, depicting a boy and girl who looked poor matches, but close enough, to Alex and Clove.
 
“After another senseless attack on a seemingly random target using these violent monsters, one of several of its kind the last few days, the two terrorists fled as the guard arrived and still remain at large. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and not to approach these extremely dangerous individuals, but to alert the royal guard, who have already successfully apprehended and charged several other members of the group who are reeking terror on the city and its people this morning, and now await sentencing. Now the rebuilding in the wake of this vicious destruction can begin with military aid, and hopefully these devoted, innocent victims of this bloody vendetta, can rebuild their lives. This is Wanda Anika reporting.”
 
The footage wandered over the destruction aimlessly with a continued written feed of the news, so Vardus switched it off. His expression was dark. “Hmmm... how very random indeed...”
 
“Damn it, how dare they!” Clove swore, looking ready to punch something. “And how stupid do people have to be to think that was us? Why on earth would we attack random people for god’s sake!?”
 
“Drum into people enough times, they believe what you want them believe” Chetema said slowly. “After these incidents this morning, Emperor Nero put out statement, apparently from us. Saying we will kill and destroy until Empire and city bought to dust, like wild animals. I don’t know what going on, but stance against duel monsters going to look lot better for people now. Guard made to look good too.”
 
“Who are the people being arrested?” Mia asked while adjusting her glasses. “Another rebel faction?”
 
“Possibly, but it would be quite a coincidence for another group of such striking looking individuals to have acquired a set of shields and decks so similar to our own” Nataka replied. “No, I am sure without doubt that what we are looking at is a reflection of ourselves, as the Emperor wishes to portray us.”
 
“But that wasn’t us. It clearly wasn’t us” Alex protested feebly, getting several raised eyebrows from the elders to convey the thought of ‘exactly’. “Well ok, I get that someone is trying to fit us up. But what I don’t get is, how come those duel monsters on the TV were destroying buildings like that? That’s not right. Dorian said duel monsters can only interact with living things through a mental or spiritual link, and they can’t physically interact with inanimate objects. How did their monsters do that?”
 
“How indeed...” Nataka thought, before turning to Vardus. “What do you think sir?”
 
Vardus paused before replying. “I think the Emperor is trying to smear us and turn public opinion in their favour; that much is clear and understandable. What I find odd is the duel monsters. Over the years the guard have confiscated many duel items, which are now stored under the palace; it’s not beyond reason they’d find duplicates of decks we’ve used in the past. But like Alex said, the effect those rampaging beasts had on the city itself is both perplexing and troublesome. There has to be a trick behind it, with the camera or rigged structures perhaps, but I don’t like it. We all know the army likes to put on a show to make them look good, but something still seems... off. We need to get to the bottom of this.”
 
“How though Vardus?” Doyle asked nervously. “We can’t send Clove and Alex up there when everyone is on the lookout for them, or at least people similar to them. We can’t risk you or Nataka in this sort of unknown situation. That just leaves Chetema and Aerial as our only trained duelists who haven’t been copied, at least so far anyway...”
 
“I don’t care!” Clove shouted over him. “I’m going after these bastards, and I don’t care how many idiots I have to go through first to get them!”
 
Thus the room descended into a large row. Vardus was shouting for silence, but struggled to be heard over everyone else scolding and complaining and arguing. Shoved by Chetema’s large bulk, Erin timidly backed away from the furore and cast around in distress. There had to be a way to stop them fighting.
 
The solution came with not one, but two horrible roars, making everyone stop shouting and look up. Vardus was stood on his desk, his expression thunderous, and just behind him was little more than a shimmer of air. A glistening of reflected light... of a large creature shrouded in mist, only a patch of pale sapphire skin and a glowing green eye visible as it faded in and out of sight, growling menacingly at the great black bull of a dragon in the opposite doorway. Beside his rumbling Brutdrago, Dorian was leaning against a pillar for support. He was still in his bed garments, and looking into the crowd in mild disgust.
 
“Seriously guys, I go down for five minutes and you all turn into a pack of squabbling children? You rely on me to be the hero too much...” With low growls the two creatures faded out of reality at the quelled argument as he turned to Vardus, the two sharing the same intense stares their monsters had before they vanished. “And you man, I can’t believe you held a meeting of this much importance with everyone except me? Ah well, good job I struggled down here myself and got the gist of what’s happening before you all started arguing, and now I’m fit and ready to offer myself as a solution. I’ll take care of it.”
 
“What?” Clove started, looking his bare, blotchy torso over accusingly as he limped forward. “You, fit? After what happened to you a few days ago? I don’t think so. Look at you, you can barely stand.”
 
She would have continued, but Vardus waved a hand and bade her for silence. He still looked angry on the point of scary, but he seemed interested as well. “Go on...”
 
“Thanks, I will” he smirked; now having everyone’s full attention. “Way I see it, whoever’s masquerading as us is being very clever about how they portray things. They must have got all our faces from the failed gold raid despite the helmets, which is why they only look so similar, but have a pretty good grasp of our decks. That’s our own fault; too late to do much about it now, but I might be able to turn it round on them. They’ve also been smart to portray the Erin and Nataka lookalike’s as being successfully captured, but leaving their Alex and Clove ‘at large’. That way we can’t just send them up into the city and say ‘actually we’re right here and that capture earlier was a hoax.’ They must have realised Nataka was a senior figure we probably wouldn’t want to risk exposing and could show him as being captured. As for why they did that with Erin when we could show the city she’s still free, I’m guessing they must have overestimating her rank here. And if the real Erin did reveal herself, it would make her look even more scary and powerful to the people to have bust out of the dungeons. But they made one big mistake, and that was with my double; making him look dead. Whoever attacked me the other day would have seen a lot of my deck after I defended myself, and they must be pretty certain I’m dead after I fell into the sewers. Imagine their surprise, and the public’s reaction, to see me very much alive and still fighting...”
 
With every face avidly concentrating on him, he turned back to Vardus. “You know they’re connected. You’re right; this is too suspicious to be the Emperor. Something else is going on, and I’m the only one who can expose them. If they see me come out, they’ll have no choice but to reveal themselves...”
 
“To silence the one who could most easily expose the Emperor’s deception and turn the public against him for attacking them” Vardus finished the sentence for him, to which Dorian nodded. The idea made Erin gasp, and more so when he continued with “Are you absolutely certain you are fit and able to go?”
 
“Yes sir” Dorian nodded grimly, to which he was met in similar kind as Vardus got down from his desk.
 
“Very well. If you think you can handle it, I’ll allow it. Do whatever you feel necessary, but. Uniting all of the people together against Nero is our best hope of ever overpowering him. We can’t bring down the Emperor and free the people he oppresses if the whole city is sucked in by his lies and turns against us. I’m sorry Clove, but you and Alex will have to stay here and keep a low profile for now. Aerial; since you don’t seem to have been mirrored in this way, you go and assist Dorian. Head out when you’re ready.”
 
Dorian looked like he was ready to go right now, once he’d found and put his clothes on. Clove and Alex protested, as did Doyle on medical grounds, but all were dismissed. The boy turned and made to leave through the crowd of bodies, however he quickly stopped. Erin had stepped across the door with her arms outstretched, barring the way. Neither of them moved as he waited, although she was shaking a lot as she stood there in front of him. She didn’t really know what she was doing; she just couldn’t let him do this. Not after.... not after the other night. She couldn’t believe Vardus was letting him do this. “Vardus please, you can’t seriously let Dorian go out like this. He’s not well...”
 
“Erin...”
 
She gasped. It wasn’t Vardus telling her to stand aside. It was Dorian.
 
“If go out there, it could expose the Emperor for the cruel, savage, manipulative liar that he is. The one that happily kills his own people for his own gain. And if I cause enough trouble to lure out whoever it is working for him and making all these attacks on us... I dunno what will happen, but we might get some answers to what’s been going on, and put ourselves in a better position to fight him one day. Please.”
 
“But...”
 
Erin stopped as he grabbed her hand and interrupted her protest. “Remember what I said last night yeah. I’ll do whatever it takes. Please understand and let me go.”
 
There was a pause as everyone watched the tense standoff. Erin was shivering and looked down, unable to maintain looking into his lovely grey eyes without immediately caving in to him. However in the end, she did not step aside. Instead she grabbed his other hand. Her mind was made up.
 
“Fine, then I’m coming with you. Don’t complain, you said yourself that I’m in the same boat as you with them supposedly disposing of the fake me; I can cause just as much trouble by going out there as you can. Besides you’ll probably need me and Aerial to carry you back here, you stupid mule.”
 
Dorian grinned at her determination and looked to Vardus for permission, which he was all for. So with a few more minutes of conferencing on what they and everyone else should do and how best to equip for any perils they could encounter, and Dorian receiving a lot of medication from the tutting Doyle, the trio were soon ready to venture up into the capital, where none could be certain what would be waiting.
 
...
 
A while later, and the trio were making their way across the Uria slums. Vardus had instructed them to first go to the most recent scene of these attacks, the Uria district theatre house, to look around for any clues that may have been left, as well as putting their faces out there. Hence why neither were wearing cloaks anymore. Dorian had instead elected for a big red and black overcoat with a stiff collar, inside his connecting dual blades were slung behind the back, his Duel Shield clamped over his wrist. Already a lot of people were reacting to them as they passed, Erin could see the paled faces and people whispering to each other. No-one dared confront them though, and Dorian seemed to enjoy the notoriety.
 
“Can’t be too long now before we get some attention. Just be ready” he half-grinned, half grimaced. “We still got Aerial with us?”
 
“Yeah, he’s okay” Erin replied after looking back. Still keen to conceal his own identity, Aerial had to follow them from a little distance behind where he could study people’s reactions and alert them to any trouble, although he didn’t seem too happy about the job.  A scared looking waitress dropped a tray of glasses when she saw her. “You’re right, someone’s gonna call the guard. We’ll be swarmed in minutes.”
 
“Good, then I can ask Gaius how the guy they shot is doing” he grunted, annoying her further. “Relax; it’s the other lookalikes who are the terrorists on the run. You’re meant to be in jail, and I’m supposed to be dead, remember? That’s why people are freaking out. Hopefully they’ll just work it out the way we want them to, with the truth. Besides...” he uttered more darkly. “I’m fed up of just hiding. Let Vardus hide. Now we’re acting. We’re going to do something that will turn this fight against the Emperor...”
 
They continued on for a few more minutes, and Erin felt more and more nervous. She was expecting something. Another street blaze, or an attack by the swarm, or the appearance of the entire army to come crashing around the corner or something. But little changed. Everything seemed normal.

Dorian stopped and turned to her. “By the way, can I see your deck please?”
 
“What? Here?” she gasped, in the middle of a reasonably busy road with a number of people about.
 
“Yeah, I’d just like to have a look” he insisted, refusing to move on until he had. Nervously she removed her deck from her equally exposed duel shield and handed them over, and he began rifling through the set with great enthusiasm. Even more people had noticed them now and realising where they’d seen them before, maybe that was his intention, as he studied her sloppy half-constructed mash of a deck.
 
“I like this build. Very unique” he smiled as he eventually returned it. “Especially given how tricky it is to find good cards to add to it now. You’ve made a decent fist of it.” She was thinking about telling him she had made very few additions to the deck that had mostly all been given to her as a gift long ago, when he reached into his pockets and produced a card he’d had hidden away inside, passing it to her. “Here, I’ve got a spare that I think you might like. I think it could go quite nicely in such a unique deck.”
 
“Oh” she blushed as she took it, suddenly unaware of everyone looking at them. The monster was a powerful sorcerer; in fact the evolution of one of her individual inclusions Dorian had been referring to. It could be perfect, if she could use it correctly. “Um... thank you...”
 
“No problem” he grinned before setting off again, leaving her behind and stunned for a few moments. Until Aerial caught up, nudging her and scowling as he went past her, heading towards their destination.
 
The amphitheatre in the Uria distract was old and intimidating, more like a small coliseum than anything that could seat several thousand. It had once been the arena of many shows, plays, fights, concerts, and indeed duels as a main source of attraction and funding, thus had been closed in the post-war time era. The square around the front of it was just as shown on the news when the reporter had stood, with the pillars and statues knocked down and nearby shops had staff out the front of their businesses cleaning up smashed glass and wood. Dorian went up to one half remaining monument and studied the damage.
 
“Hmmm... No sign of anything being tampered with. The cut where the body over there got separated is too smooth, too precise a strike.” He turned to the others with a grim expression. “This... might actually be what it looks like after all.”
 
“That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence” Aerial grumbled as he looked at the ominously cleaved statue. “So now that your brilliant idea has resulted in nothing, what now? Where do we go next?”
 
“Well that’s obvious” Dorian said, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the old show house. “That’s got creepy written all over it. Let’s have a look in there.”
 
...
 
The group broke in through a rusty spectator’s gate, finding themselves in a long curved tunnel that stretched underneath the seating, containing the concourse areas and toilets. The tunnel was cold and the lights had long failed; the only light coming in through the gaps in the stairs leading up to the main arena. Shaking off his own trepidation, Dorian motioned them forwards across the corridor, towards the stairs. It would probably be advisable to get to somewhere where they could actually see something.
 
They were halfway across, sufficiently away from their entrance, when the sound of scraping metal from the left made them all freeze and tense. Nobody moved as they cast around in the dark for the source of what could be anything, waiting for a second sound, which came as a savage roar from the right, one that confirmed they were in the right place, and that the dark tunnel was indeed a very bad one to be.
 
“Um, maybe we should run?” Dorian’s question was rhetorical, he had already lurched off as fast as he could manage towards the stairs, the others followed as two glowing shapes came hurtling around the bend at each end of the corridor, impossible to miss the spectral like glow of the roaring Naturia Beast pounding from one side and the sword drawn XX-Saber Hyunlei from the other, barrelling towards them in a pincer, the lion lunged as they made the stairwell, falling just short of Aerial’s heels. They crashed up the stairs, frantically trying to draw weapons as they ran and the two monsters resumed chase, up into the theatre proper. The enclosed arena was dimly lit, casting shadows on the dark velvet seating as the group crashed around the curved arc of seats that stretched around the stage at the bottom. Discarding his cloak, Aerial spun and released two arrows on the move back at the monsters. He was shocked as, instead of passing through and dispersing the spirit like he’d expected, the samurai parried both with ease, the tips clanging off the sword! Up ahead Dorian was flagging, still not fully recovered, but had untangled one sword from his coat and threw a card onto his shield simultaneously, the arena shook as the mighty frame of Darkstorm Dragon crashed onto the seating, cramped by the tier above it, but got a shot of black flame off as the Beast jumped for its ally. The lion was caught and snarled as flame engulfed it for a second, but when it dispersed it remained, incredibly unharmed, and renewed chase.
 
“Oh what?!” Dorian exclaimed, redoubling his efforts as the lion kept coming. “How’d it survive that?”
 
“You think I know?” Erin shouted back as she and Aerial went the other way, pursued by the samurai. She herself had just summoned one of her strongest monsters, a mighty warrior whose magical icy blast was met by and shrugged off in the same manner by the relentless samurai. “We’d better figure out quick, otherwise.... huh?”
 
She only saw them by chance as she ran through the seating. At the bottom of the arena was a large half circle stage, backed up a draped curtain and screen and the like, and on the stage that produced into the curved seating were the painted outlines of a duel field, left as it was since the arena was closed years ago. There floating above the stage were two small creatures. One looked like a small white ram, the other a buck toothed black rabbit. Both wore identical smart black suits, making them look like little butlers, and had the same blank expressionless gaze, and both were floating down on the stage, arms raised and outstretched and their hands cast in the same aura as the raging monsters, waving at them.
 
“Aerial, down there. Shoot them.”
 
“You what?” Aerial yelled back, ducking underneath the slash of steel that in light of events he was most anxious not to have connect with his head and spotting the two creatures. “What are those things?”
 
“Who cares, just shoot them?!”
 
“Alright...” the archer said doubtfully, lining up and releasing another arrow at the buck toothed butler. The arrow zipped through the air, then passed straight through the head of the spectral creature and thudded into the ground behind it. Realisation didn’t even register on the inane creature’s face, but no sooner had the arrow hit the ground it immediately faded away and vanished. As it disappeared, so did the samurai. Amazed by his success, Aerial quickly shot the other creature, and it and the beast vanished similarly, the Naturia fading into nothingness just inches short of sinking its teeth into Dorian, who was collapsed and trapped into the end stairwell on the opposite side and looked appropriately panicked. Blinking as his doom disappeared just short of him for no apparent reason, Dorian glanced over at them.
 
“Um... thanks. I wasn’t worried” he muttered in relief, trying to sweep his hair and his previously anxious look away and appear cool and untroubled again, which despite everything made them both chuckle.
 
“Come on, let’s go.” Dismissing her still worryingly ineffective monster, they made their way down the end stair to the stage platform, Dorian jogging down the other side and meeting them in the middle as Darkstorm vanished, trying to catch his breath. They were right where the two creatures had been, but there was no sign of them remaining, no evidence of their existence at all. Erin looked around the whole arena, but could see nothing. All around them was just shadows, which seemed uncomfortably to move in her worry.  “So the duplicated monsters were created by those... things? But why? What were they?”
 
“I don’t know...” Dorian wheezed. “But I think we’ll find out soon enough if we... wait, what’s that?”
 
“What?” Erin and Aerial froze as they heard it too. A short soft laugh that sent chills through them, a musical giggle from someone hidden in the arena. Looking around, suddenly Aerial pointed into the crowd. There was a cluster of shadows in the back of the lower tier that was definitely giving away the movement of something hiding in the dark. They were locked in place as the movements increased in speed and frequency, too scared to react to the things darting just in the corner of their eyes in the shadows of the theatre, and the vindictive, evil giggling that was starting to get louder and louder as the moving shadows got closer and closer coming down the rows of seats. Everyone was tensely on edge, when suddenly two volleys of sparks and fireballs came firing at them from different sides of the dark.
 
“Yaaaaargh!”  Dorian yelled as he dived out of the way, but was too slow as two of the thunder sparks clipped him. Aerial and Erin similarly scrambled, but the attacks continued to rain down seemingly from every direction, trying to escape from the chaos that was crashing all around them. Aerial screamed as a fireball hit him in the back, with enough force to knock him over the edge of the stage he’d ran for and falling into the orchestra pit. Erin stumbled as she tried to duck under another shot, trying to follow him, and at this moment she was sure they were going to be killed here. As she staggered, someone grabbed her from behind and half carried, half threw her off the stage. It was Dorian, and he came tumbling after her, leaving them all down panting and wincing in the pit. All of them had taken hits and were clutching at wounded shoulders or delicately touching scorch marks on their faces. As they recovered, it sounded like the barrage had stopped for a second. Taking a deep breath, Dorian motioned up to take a look, and the three slowly got up and peeked over onto the stage. There they saw their attackers had appeared. Two young girls, dressed in black and white dresses standing together as a duo, both wielding long staffs and grinning maliciously at them. As they studied them, Erin shuddered as she recognised the distinctive features of the pair. The pink curls of the girl in white under her round mitre. The bows and frills of the black funeral dress of the auburn one. They were different, a lot different, but they were unmistakable.
 
“Oh no, not them again” she breathed, the boys turned to her. “They’re the duel spirits that attacked us before. After Reckage died, and the gold raid. That Clove and Alex fought. They were bad enough the first time, but now they’re... they’re...”
 
“Heh heh, they came” the pink haired Pikeru sniggered. She was slightly hunched over beside her dark sister, and as she looked up, her once bright green eyes now glistened with a white light. Her musical voice was edgier now too - higher pitched, almost demented. Her stave was now long and had a large orb in the tip, her sister carried a matching one having discarded her whip, and her dress was much more fine and lady-like. “It’s so very nice to meet your acquaintance again. Although...”
 
“Where are your friends?” Curran interrupted, snarling and glancing around wildly. Her eyes were veiled by a more violet aura, and she was too sounded slightly warped and much nastier for it, as well as being slightly taller now. “The big boy with the X-Saber deck, and that snot-nosed Naturia girl? They were supposed to come!”
 
“They’re... they’re not coming” Erin stammered in reply, making Curran growl - like an enraged animal. “What happened to you two? You both look... older?”
 
“Yep, we are older now” Pikeru smirked. “Thanks to our friends, we’ve both become fine young ladies now. Well... one of us has anyway.” Curran continued to glower, this time at her sister, who smiled as she raised her weapon. “Our friends love and serve us like the princesses we are, and offered to help us get revenge. We’re much stronger now. They even gave us their cards, so we could win this time.”
 
“Yeah, now where are your friends?” Curran demanded angrily, brandishing her staff. “Tell us damn it, or I’ll really burn you up!”
 
“Of course they couldn’t come out, not when everyone in the city is looking for them after monsters like their signature ones smashed up the city” she shouted. “That was you, wasn’t it? Why did you do that?”
 
“Well duh it was us. You’re stupid” Pikeru stuck her tongue out and made a face at her in an immature way. “They were supposed to come to investigate those guys we set up with the duel shields and sent parading around the city as them, and come here straight to us. For their final performance, just like our friends promised. Oh well, I guess you’ll have to do for now. Maybe they’ll come out to investigate when your bodies don’t return to them.”
 
“Grr, what about those people posing as us?” Dorian demanded. “What did you do to them?” Curran grinned and snapped her fingers in reply, at the summons the two little butlers reappeared, as blank as they were before Aerial shot them at their princesses’ sides.
 
“They’re just people we thought looked enough like you to pose as you. Their duel shields are empty; it was our butlers our friends made for us who conjured the monsters that we’ve seen you use and smash up the place. That’s why they’re so destructive in your world.” She giggled at the boys furious reactions. Aerial raised his bow and shot at the rabbit a second time, but the mage waved her wand dismissively; incinerating it before it reached him. “Temper now. Ooh, I just had an idea sis. We could play with them and test our new powers. Then we’ll be able to get our revenge, and then everything will be perfect.”
 
The sisters giggled and danced around together, annoying Dorian further. Enough to haul himself back up on stage, arming his duel shield. “You stupid brats want a fight then I’ll give you one. We’re in the perfect arena for one, so come on. I’ll take you both down! Let’s go!”
 
“Hey, you can’t insult us like that. We’re princesses!” Pikeru pouted. “You shut your big mouth! You’ll be sorry when we kill you, you will!”
 
“Dorian, look.” Erin clambered onto the stage beside him, pointing at the sisters. At their glowing eyes which were veiled by the white and purple haze. “They’re different from before. Something else must have happened to them during their transformation, they look and sound odd, almost possessed even. Do you think if we beat them we can knock them out of it?”
 
“Huh? Oh, I hadn’t thought about that” Dorian shrugged as his deck shuffled. “I just wanted to kick them around the arena for being annoying and stuck-up little girls. So come on, how are we doing this?”
 
“Heh, you’re pretty confident” Curran smirked as she raised her other arm. Her small ebony duel shield materialised on it. Pikeru took a similarly aggressive stance and summoned her own posh ivory model. “Okay, then let’s have a tag duel. Us two against you and your girlfriend.” Erin blushed furiously.
 
“Here’s how it works” Pikeru snapped, still very angry at his insults. “Both teams will take turns like an ordinary duel, and we share the same field, graveyard, and life points counter. Only our hands and decks are separate and kept out of the loop when it’s not our turn or the following players. We can also use each other’s monsters on the field as our own. So, you really think you can face us?”
 
“You have no idea how ready” Dorian growled at the challenge. “Aerial, you still able to cover us?”
 
The archer nodded, cocking an arrow just in case it was needed as the other four took up positions and activated their duel shields, their decks shuffled. Erin glanced nervously from the twins to her partner. He was putting on a brave face in front of them, but he looked exhausted, their more powerful assaults had taken a lot out of him already. She would have to do everything to protect him from further harm, although if he carried on at this rate, she might need to protect him from himself, as he and the twins snatched out their opening hands and she anxiously followed suit, the first duel in this theatre for years.

 

“Duel!”

 
“As a princess, I’ll go first. Draw” Pikeru declared, still halfway polite and dainty even in her twisted state of mind. “I summon Nurse Reficule the Fallen One.”
 
Erin shuddered as the bandaged wrapped angel appeared once again, floating just in front of the princess on her bat-like wings (Lv4, ATK 1400). “Be careful Dorian, that’s her key card from before.”
 
“Wow, just that thing? Ha, if that’s the best she can do, then I’m not worried about us” Dorian grinned confidently, making both her and Pikeru scowl at him.
 
“Oh really? Well let’s see how much you’re smiling after I use the spell card Upstart Goblin. This lets me draw a card, in exchange for increasing your life points by a thousand.” Dorian was still unimpressed as she snatched her card and smirked at him. “Oh... you don’t know do you? Silly boy, it’s not that easy. Reficule’s effect now activates, turning any effect that would increase your life points into damage!”
 
“Wait, it does what?” Dorian gasped, just before the nurse raised a clawed hand towards him and the same purple aura as before engulfed him. Erin was helpless to do anything to help as the smog drained him of his little strength, his shield completely useless to defend himself against it, making him clutch his head and drop to his knees, leaving him panting and breathless when it faded away (LP 3000).
 
“Huff... huff... wow, Clove and Alex weren’t kidding around, that really does hurt. Maybe I was a bit overconfident after all.”
 
“I think it’s because we’re duelling actual duel monsters” Erin choked as she watched him stagger back up. “The damage we all take is much more real against them.”
 
“Yeah, now you know how we feel when you people make us fight each other” Pikeru snapped. “We hate fighting each other for people like you. Now you’re gonna pay! I activate Cards from the Sky. By banishing a light fairy-type from my hand, I can draw two more cards.”
 
Pikeru revealed a small blob-like monster, before snatching two more cards. She frowned at them.
 
“I set three cards, and end my turn.” The backs of three hidden cards appeared behind the nurse. “You’ll get it soon.”
 
Eager to get going Dorian made to draw, but failed as he needed to stop and take a breath. This made Erin gasp. “No, you save your strength. Let me go first.” He protested, but she just drew anyway, glaring at the twins. “Alright, I’ve had just about enough of you two. Laughing about hurting my friends and those innocent people you set up somehow. This stops here. I summon Strategist of the Ice Barrier.”
 
The bearded elder appeared from his snowy portal, clutching his fan (Lv4, ATK 1600). “I activate his effect, discarding an Ice Barrier monster to draw one card.”
 
“My set card activates” Pikeru interrupted, making her jump. Reacting with a trap to this action, already? “The continuous trap Appropriate. While this card is in play, every time you draw cards outside your draw phase, I get to draw two cards as well.”
 
“Er, right...” she grimaced as Pikeru gleefully took two. “Anyway, I activate ‘Surface’ to summon the monster I discarded; the tuner monster Dewdark of the Ice Barrier.” A dark clad ninja with twin blades rose up beside the elder (Lv2, DEF 800). “Now I’ll tune my two ice barrier monsters. Synchro Summon!”
 
Erin reached out to the two monsters turning to snowy particles, aligning their powers together to give birth to the icy hydra, its yellow eyes flashing at the sight of these enemies who had impersonated it and screeching viciously, the scream reverberating around the hall (Lv6, ATK 2300). “Let’s see how you like it now you’re faced with the real thing. Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!”
 
“Too easy” Pikeru sniffed. “So predictable of an ice barrier user. I discard Effect Veiler from my hand, negating Brionac’s effect for the turn and keeping my cards safe.”
 
Erin grimaced as her serpent’s power was sealed. Bouncing Pikeru’s set cards back into her hand would have been especially effective in this duel, and there were cards in her hand that she wanted in their graveyard. This certainly made attacking risky. But looking at Dorian, and the state he was in, she couldn’t let that stop her. They needed to win and quickly, but then if she made a mistake...
 
“Don’t look at me like that” he grunted, detecting her indecision. “I’m fine. Just do it.”
 
“Right... sorry” she muttered. “Brionac, attack Reficule.”
 
The ice dragon reared and took a breath, before releasing an icy breath upon the waiting nurse. Erin was expecting something to go wrong, but Pikeru didn’t move as the icy mist engulfed and obliterated the demonic creature, destroying it with ease and making the white magician wince and cling to her mitre as she took damage, bringing more or less parity (LP 3100). “Ooh, you troublesome little twerp!”
 
‘Wow, I can’t believe that worked’ Erin thought, turning to the rest of her hand. With Reficule now gone, the card she’d just drawn in particular stood out as being usable now. “I set one card and end my turn.”
 
“Then it’s my go” screamed Curran, taking a wild snatch at her deck. “I summon Rapid-Fire Magician.”
 
Erin physically took a step back as Alex’s tormentor, the young sorcerer with the two clawed staves, leapt delicately out of the portal to face them, grinning slyly (Lv4, ATK 1600). With him out, if Curran had the right hand... she revealed a card that - unwittingly as it may have been - struck a terrible cord.
 
“Now I activate Toon Table of Contents. I can tell from the paler than normal look on your face that you know this lets me add another card with Toon in its name to my hand, including a second copy of itself. Now because I’ve activated a normal spell card, Rapid Fire Magician’s effect activates, striking you for four hundred points of damage!”
 
Two balls of flame appeared in the man’s clawed weapons and he launched them at her, too stunned to defend herself, striking her in the chest and hip. She’d seen it happen to Alex, but nothing could prepare her for how it actually felt. The pain, the searing pain. It was so intense, so real, she screamed as she collapsed, clutching her body were the blasts had struck her so powerfully, leaving her trembling and crying slightly as her strength dipped (LP 2600). The boys exchanged worried glances, whilst Curran just smirked wickedly as she twirled the added card between her fingers.
 
“That’s just the start. Now I activate the second Toon Table of Contents to search out the third copy, and then I’ll activate that to add Toon Cannon Soldier to my hand, all doing another eight hundred points of damage.” Another barrage of shots fired all around her, leaving her on her knees, burned and shuddering (LP 1800). “Then I’ll activate the spell Allure of Darkness to draw two more cards, safe in the knowledge that I can just banish the Toon Cannon to complete its effect and burning you further.”
 
Erin gulped as the sorcerer lined up a forth blast. She’d watched the others take this kind of damage, and they’d fought on. But her skin felt like it was on fire, every enflamed part of her body felt dead and ruined already. She had come wanted to help Dorian, now she just wanted to run and hide away from this malicious spirits. The magician fired, she threw her hands up to cover her face and screamed again.
 
Something grunted in front of her, making her open her eyes when the hit never came. Dorian was stood in front of her, arms crossed to protect his face where the blasts had struck his shield instead. He managed to hold the pose for a moment, before his adrenaline ran out and he collapsed backwards, grimacing and twitching (LP 1400).
 
“Dorian!” she exclaimed, scrambling over to him. “What did you do that for? You’re injured enough.”
 
“Eh, you looked in trouble, I figured I’d take one for you” he shrugged as she propped him up, ignoring her complaint. “Might as well just bang me up a bit further rather than have you injured as well.”
 
Ashamed with herself for acting so pathetically to make him think he had to do that, Erin helped him up. It was then she noticed Curran was giving them an unusually long time to recuperate. She was glaring at the two cards she’d drawn with an angry intense look, making her think. What had she drawn? Was it no good? Maybe she couldn’t use whatever it was to continue this rapid burn strategy.
 
“Grr, stupid traps” she muttered under her breath, before turning to glare at her sister. “Hey loser, you set me something good right?”

“How impolite of you” Pikeru rounded on her. “And ungrateful; of course I set you something good. I’ve left for you a move you can win with right now, if you could be bothered to have a little belief in me.” Erin and Dorian both winced at Curran’s satisfied smile. Winning move?
 
“Well let’s just see shall we? I activate the two cards my sister set...” Both reversed cards pulled back to reveal “... the spell card Soul Taker, and the trap Bad Reaction to Simochi! Ooh, nice work loser, this will do nicely. Thanks. Now Soul Taker targets one monster on the field and destroys it, then you gain one thousand life points. However Bad Reaction to Simochi has the same effect as Reficule, turning all life point increasing effects into burn damage. Plus Soul Taker is a normal spell, so...”
 
Erin gasped as she caught up with the score. This would... she had to do something! Desperately she went for her trap and hoped her knowledge was correct. “I chain my trap card Destruct Potion. By destroying Brionac before Bad Reaction takes effect, we gain life points equal to its attack.” The serpent dissolved into snowflakes, allowing a soothing aura to envelop her and regain some strength (LP 3300). Curran looked mostly unfussed.
 
“So you’ll survive for now, but you’re just prolonging the inevitable. Even though its target went without resolving, Soul Taker still activated, so you still take the effect of Rapid Fire Magician.” Dorian wanted to intercept again but Erin pushed him out of the way, opening herself up before she could raise her shield back up to take both blasts in the torso, making her cry and buckle (LP 2900). The little mage carried on relentlessly. “Now with that annoying serpent off the field, my magician is clear to attack you directly!”
 
Fire. Fire everywhere. The whole stage was burning around her, Erin screamed and collapsed as the magician’s power ripped through her body, sending her senses haywire, and her mind could feel nothing but pain. Somewhere far away Aerial, unable to watch anymore, released an arrow at Curran, which never met its target and earned him a retaliatory shot; he disappeared in a volley of flame as she was released. As she fell, Dorian dived and caught her. She was trembling and whimpering as she looked up into his worried face, his grey eyes as he tried to support her (LP 1700). “Erin, come on. Stay strong alright. We’re nearly through her turn, then we can really fight back. We can still do this.”
 
“No...” she breathed, shaking her head. Through pain, and hopelessness, and looking at him like this, she didn’t know what to do, aside from lying down and hiding. “No, I... I can’t. I’m sorry. They’re too strong, and... I’m... I’m too weak. I can’t do this.”
 
Dorian grimaced at her, turning to face the vindictive twins as they started to giggle and laugh together, a chilling sound that reverberated around the bowls of the dark arena, already celebrating breaking her and their inevitable victory to come, that he and Aerial would be powerless to stop. Victory through their increased powers, combined with and complimenting each other, they were going to become unstoppable and achieve their potential at last. Victory that was the first step towards fulfilling their friend’s wishes, and achieving their deadly revenge...[/spoiler]

[Aerion Brightflame]

Well I've rewritten my chapter 10 write up, with essentially changes to cover the stuff you were miffed people didn't comment on:
 

Was the pickpocket Sabin by any chance? I can't actually remember his description, but it seems like an in character appearance for this time of his story line.

 

The comments on the background... Uuugh... Two many hands spoils the recipe. I mean, yeah backstory is great to have... But three peoples in a single chapter? It just cheapens it for everyone else. I think you could've gotten away with leaving either Alex's or Clove's out. Since Dorian's backstory was the most important, and the one that should've had the most focus given the circumstances. I mean, that might just be personal preference on my part, but it's usually better to allow the reader to connect to each character seperately through having spaced out development for them somewhat.

 

Critically ill Dorian: I'm going to be honest... I didn't feel a lot, simply because I had the impression that he was going to live. Simply because I didn't think you'd be an arse enough to have the romance between Dorian and Erin (Which was essentially flashing with neon signs since his first chapter) cut short before anything happened, despite the fact that would've been such an amazing moment in her character development. I mean, it was a nicely written scene, and Ursula is a much more of a female dog than in the original which I very much like. Since, you know she's possibly one of the better original characters you've come up with.

 

So it might be a bit... cheaty on my behalf, but I couldn't help it. To much R.R Martin.

 

Otherwise, I must say I greatly enjoyed the chapter. Still surprised that Gauis has well... Legs. But, he'll probably lose those and a lot more later on I have no doubt.

 

Also I'll comment on chapter in a bit later. I need to catch up on a few other fics around here first.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Well I've rewritten my chapter 10 write up, with essentially changes to cover the stuff you were miffed people didn't comment on:
 

Was the pickpocket Sabin by any chance? I can't actually remember his description, but it seems like an in character appearance for this time of his story line.

 

The comments on the background... Uuugh... Two many hands spoils the recipe. I mean, yeah backstory is great to have... But three peoples in a single chapter? It just cheapens it for everyone else. I think you could've gotten away with leaving either Alex's or Clove's out. Since Dorian's backstory was the most important, and the one that should've had the most focus given the circumstances. I mean, that might just be personal preference on my part, but it's usually better to allow the reader to connect to each character seperately through having spaced out development for them somewhat.

 

Critically ill Dorian: I'm going to be honest... I didn't feel a lot, simply because I had the impression that he was going to live. Simply because I didn't think you'd be an arse enough to have the romance between Dorian and Erin (Which was essentially flashing with neon signs since his first chapter) cut short before anything happened, despite the fact that would've been such an amazing moment in her character development. I mean, it was a nicely written scene, and Ursula is a much more of a female dog than in the original which I very much like. Since, you know she's possibly one of the better original characters you've come up with.

 

So it might be a bit... cheaty on my behalf, but I couldn't help it. To much R.R Martin.

 

Otherwise, I must say I greatly enjoyed the chapter. Still surprised that Gauis has well... Legs. But, he'll probably lose those and a lot more later on I have no doubt.

 

Also I'll comment on chapter in a bit later. I need to catch up on a few other fics around here first.

 

Hmm... know what it's like when I try to post and it doesn't, so don't worry about it. You Renegade and the rest shouldn't have to singl handedly drag me over the line in terms of motivating me to keep posting this (more on that later for those thinking 'um, what?) <_<

 

A rep for you, because yes, the man the legend that is Sabin Kreiger turned up in that chapter running the distraction. Even though I did have to hand it to you on a plate (or did you get it yourself before I posted?) I'd have thought silver hair might have stuck, but I guess it will take some getting the hang of keeping an eye out in this game. I will say there were two guests in that scene actually, as his old partner in crime was also an Armageddon character (the guy whose face Dorian tried to rearrange) after Sabin made the distraction. But regardless, well done you. :)

 

Yes, arguable. Usually I would have given them all individual development much earlier, but prequel. I wanted them to talk about it naturally rather than me narrating, so Erin kind of got all the information at once. But yes it is a fair point. Well, yes, he probably wasn't going to die there. But still, you could have got a little bit concerned :mellow: You know, given Vardus' panic and all? This scene, along with the opening of Chapter 6, is one of the scenes to get a major facelift after Black's "more character's talk and show, less narrator tells" comments and felt much better for it rather than 'Vardus wanted to get involved but had to be restrained yadda yadda'. So Black, if you're still here, thanks :)

 

I love Urusula. I love her so much.

 

Stop making the RR Martin references that I don't understand! (Even though I reference lots of stuff you guys don't necessarily have reference to. Like the chapter title for example)

 

You think the Emperor would specifically remove his legs as punishment and not his head? :huh: *slowly backs away from Barty* As far as Nero knows though, some rebels were killed in the incident and less citizens, so Gaius got away with that one (it was Nero's and Demon's idea, can't remember if that was revlead in story or not yet).

 

Anyway, thanks for commenting as ever. I've seen there are a few new ones out today, but my motivation to read anything is naught at the mo.

 

-----------------------

 

Now, as for the rest of you. I kill three characters in one chapter, and STILL no level of response from some of you? Come on! And people wonder why this section is dying on it's f***ing arse how? Or maybe the view count is genuinely being generated entirely by spambots, or five people at 40 views a chapter? Well, whatever the case, good job that chapter was a fake and Dorian Clove and Alex aren't really all dead isn't it?

 

Yeah you read that right. Fake chapter ending I threw together because I'm so pissed off I tried to get some of you to remember you have keyboards, seeing as I don't get many benefits from doing this like getting paid or whatever. Any other story but Erin's I would have jacked in by now. I still might, in terms of publishing her is concerned, given how long it takes and how depressing it is. I can happily write this for me *rant rant rant* <_<

 

However since there are five or six people who enjoy this story and have some common courtesy, the REAL Chapter 11 is now in place in the previous post. Only real changes are the opening scene I omitted as a 'sorry for messing you around' to people who know who they are, and obviously the end. I... hope for comments in blind optimism rather than any level of expectation <_<

[Ren✧]

Alright finally found the time and motivation to read through this. I've got to be honest, that I'm tired of burn duels. I know that you have to keep the theme of their decks together, but watching the same type of turns take place chapter after chapter isn't as enjoyable as it would be to see some other duels take place. But again, I recognize the need to keep with the theme of their decks. 

 

I'm glad to see that we'll have a multiple chapter duel here, I was honestly just thinking that something like this should be coming soon. I was happy to see a bit more progression in the Erin x Dorian romance. I am eager to see what happens with Mel, as I figure some type of training is going to be instituted with him that lets him duel. (And I hope he gets his pompous ass beat). The little brother-sister moment between Mel and Erin was nice and I'm glad that you are keeping up with that relationship. The backstory on Aerial was good as well, he is actually turning out to be one of my favorite characters(predisposition to love archers). 

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Alright finally found the time and motivation to read through this. I've got to be honest, that I'm tired of burn duels. I know that you have to keep the theme of their decks together, but watching the same type of turns take place chapter after chapter isn't as enjoyable as it would be to see some other duels take place. But again, I recognize the need to keep with the theme of their decks. 

 

I'm glad to see that we'll have a multiple chapter duel here, I was honestly just thinking that something like this should be coming soon. I was happy to see a bit more progression in the Erin x Dorian romance. I am eager to see what happens with Mel, as I figure some type of training is going to be instituted with him that lets him duel. (And I hope he gets his pompous ass beat). The little brother-sister moment between Mel and Erin was nice and I'm glad that you are keeping up with that relationship. The backstory on Aerial was good as well, he is actually turning out to be one of my favorite characters(predisposition to love archers). 

 

Again, apologies for messing some of you about with my burst of frustration/temper.

 

Completely understandable about 3 consecutive duels with burn decks, the story probably could have done with a full duel of some other nature in between as well as the little Mel Chou thing. Just so much happening in Chapter 10 as it was as an exposition chapter and wanting things to happen besides duelling, and couldn't really think of anything than would enhance the story and not just be filler. Was hoping the easiness of the way Brionac destroyed Reficule might have helped hint "don't worry, this will get more expansive than Reficule/RF Magician". Guess all I can say is don't worry, duel needed obliged Reficule/RF Magician appearances up front and out the way, and it will pick up in its second of three parts, when Princess Pikeru and Curran's duels get more expansive (although I hope the hints of tag moves are looking alright)

 

Mel's development is admittedly slow-burning, but will continue sort of steadily in the background. He does more duel action, but it's a little way off yet. Still, happy for Aerial's impressions, he will get a lot more development in the third arc.

 

Thank you for commenting and repped (yes, it has come to this).

[Ren✧]

Again, apologies for messing some of you about with my burst of frustration/temper.

 

Completely understandable about 3 consecutive duels with burn decks, the story probably could have done with a full duel of some other nature in between as well as the little Mel Chou thing. Just so much happening in Chapter 10 as it was as an exposition chapter and wanting things to happen besides duelling, and couldn't really think of anything than would enhance the story and not just be filler. Was hoping the easiness of the way Brionac destroyed Reficule might have helped hint "don't worry, this will get more expansive than Reficule/RF Magician". Guess all I can say is don't worry, duel needed obliged Reficule/RF Magician appearances up front and out the way, and it will pick up in its second of three parts, when Princess Pikeru and Curran's duels get more expansive (although I hope the hints of tag moves are looking alright)

 

Mel's development is admittedly slow-burning, but will continue sort of steadily in the background. He does more duel action, but it's a little way off yet. Still, happy for Aerial's impressions, he will get a lot more development in the third arc.

 

Thank you for commenting and repped (yes, it has come to this).

 

From the one that Pikeru's first duel went, I kinda figured that we'd see more than just burn tactics. Interesting to see that we'll get three chapters worth of this duel, which makes me wildly more optimistic for how this duel is going to turn out. 

[Aerion Brightflame]

It better not be a 3 chapter long duel of tag team Burn... Those are just depressing to read.

 

Anywho, other things:

 

Is it wrong that I want to strangle Mel? Because seriously, I would love to strangle him for being... Well a kid. But that's probably more because I knew him from the original were he was actually cool.

 

Ah the DorianxErin development was sweet... And is really making me wonder what's going to happen to Dorian.

 

I mean, aside from more burn, I didn't have any complaints with the chapter, I've just being doing a lot of thinking about what's going to happen between now and then, and it's got me on tender hooks.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

From the one that Pikeru's first duel went, I kinda figured that we'd see more than just burn tactics. Interesting to see that we'll get three chapters worth of this duel, which makes me wildly more optimistic for how this duel is going to turn out. 

 

Making you come online to a ton of quoted notifications :D

 

Cool.

 

It better not be a 3 chapter long duel of tag team Burn... Those are just depressing to read.

 

Anywho, other things:

 

Is it wrong that I want to strangle Mel? Because seriously, I would love to strangle him for being... Well a kid. But that's probably more because I knew him from the original were he was actually cool.

 

Ah the DorianxErin development was sweet... And is really making me wonder what's going to happen to Dorian.

 

I mean, aside from more burn, I didn't have any complaints with the chapter, I've just being doing a lot of thinking about what's going to happen between now and then, and it's got me on tender hooks.

 

I'm not that daft (or am I?) Still, could be worse... could be the anime where you can have 3 consecutive months of burn! :D

 

Hey, Mel's just a poor, messed up, kid with his world upside down... even if he is being a little pest! I think that scene was one of my favourites up to that point.

 

That sounds... painful. Hopefully the next chapters will live up to expectation.

 

Any other likes/dislikes anybody? Anybody?