Chapter 10: Faith In Victory
The duel within the alien ship raged on. On one side was Leo, who had no monsters, only 2700 life points, and the Swords of Revealing Light as the only thing preventing his opponent’s monsters from striking. Those swords wouldn’t last forever though. On the other side was Luna, or rather the Grand High Intellect using Luna’s body. The possessed Luna still had the 4000 life points she started the duel with. On her side of the field was the killer plant known as Mars Fly Trap, and Luna’s loyal servant, Ancient Fairy Dragon. Try as he did, Leo could not penetrate the defenses of his mind controlled twin.
“It’s my turn again.” Luna declared as she drew another card. “Since I can’t do much of anything because of your swords, I think I’ll just summon Nettles in Defense Mode and end my turn.”
An impish clump of weeds possessing short arms and legs appeared next to Mars Fly Trap. Leo tried to figure out what Luna was going to do next. He put it out of his mind for the moment and drew his next card. Leo knew that the first thing he had to do was put up a defense. Fortunately he had just drawn a monster he could use.
“I summon Morphtonic Staplen in Defense Mode!” Leo announced.
A giant stapler appeared in front of Leo. Leo knew that Staplen wasn’t much of a defense, but it had to do until he could summon something that could beat both of Luna’s monsters.
“Finally, I set one card facedown and end my turn!” Leo declared as he set Respect Synchron on the field. He didn’t know if the Trap card would be able to help him, but at the very least, he hoped it could bluff Luna into not attacking.
“Trying to put up a defense, eh?” Luna asked mockingly. “I think I’ll try and make that a more painful task for you.”
Leo stood focused as Luna drew her next card, trying to prepare himself for another devastating move.
“First I activate the Spell card, Star Blast.” Luna announced. “By paying 500 life points, Mars Fly Trap’s level decreases from five to four.”
As Luna’s life points dropped from 4000 to 3500, Leo knew that there was only one reason why Luna would decrease the level of one of her monsters, a Synchro Summon.
“Now, I Tune my level four Mars Fly Trap into my level two Nettles.” Luna declared. Nettles turned into two rings of green light, which surrounded Mars Fly Trap, turning it into four balls of white light. As this happened, Luna chanted: “The garden of evil now comes into bloom, signaling the arrival of its ruler! Synchro Summon! Take root, Queen of Thorns!”
In a flash of white light, a woman with light green skin appeared on Luna’s side of the field. Its hair, dress, and part of its arms were made out of plant life. In place of legs, the Queen of Thorns had a thick green stem that ended in roots that clung to the ground.
“I made that chant up on my own.” Luna commented, seeming pleased with her little Synchro chant. “Anyway, my Queen of Thorns has a rather deadly effect. Both players now have to pay 1000 life points in order to Summon a non-Plant type monster. That means that you can only summon two more monsters without killing yourself.”
Leo did not like Luna’s new monster one bit. He knew that he had to get rid of it somehow.
“Now, to make sure that my Queen of Thorns is protected,” Luna began, “I activate the Field Spell, Proclamation of Union.”
The organic looking round wall of the alien chamber was suddenly covered by a wall of grey brick, making the chamber look like the inside of a castle tower.
“Proclamation of Union turns all monsters on the field into Union monsters.” Luna explained. “Meaning I can now equip one monster I have with any other on the field. That way, if the equipped monster would be destroyed, I can destroy the monster equipped to it instead. So, I equip Queen of Thorns with Ancient Fairy Dragon.”
The Queen of Thorns extended into the air, her roots than lifted up and started coiling around Ancient Fairy Dragon, repositioning until the plant queen was on the dragon’s back.
“That ends my turn.” Luna announced.
Things seemed to take a turn for the worse for Leo. Not only had Luna summoned a very damaging monster, but it was also given a layer of protection thanks to her Field Spell. Suddenly, Leo had an idea about how to turn things around. All he needed was a few extra life points.
“My move!” Leo declared as he drew his next card, hoping for just the card he needed.
Leo looked at the card, and it was just what he needed. It was actually appropriate that it was a card that Luna, the real Luna, had given him.
******************
It was the Saturday after Leo was defeated by Luke. He was in his room, working on his deck when he heard a light knock on his open door. Leo knew that it could only be one person.
“Come in.” Leo called to the person at his door without looking up from the cards on his desk.
Luna walked into her brother’s room and stopped right behind Leo to look over his right shoulder.
“Still working on your deck I see.” Luna observed.
“Yeah.” Leo replied, still looking up from his card filled desk.
“You know, I’ve seen Yusei use some of these cards.” Luna noticed as her eyes looked over the pile of cards on her brother’s desk.
“That’s right.” Leo replied, finally taking his eyes off his desk to look at his twin sister. “Yusei’s been my inspiration for this deck. I’ve been looking for a new way to make my deck stronger, so I thought I’d try out some of the cards I’ve seen Yusei use.”
Luna looked at her twin brother thoughtfully for a moment.
“Well, just remember not to try and imitate Yusei.” Luna told her bother. “They may be cards that Yusei used his deck, but you have to use them the way only you can.”
Leo looked at his sister with a serious expression and gave her a nod.
“Here.” Luna said as she held out a card. “I thought you could use this card in your deck. It can come in real handy in a tight spot.”
Leo took the card his sister was offering and looked at it.
“I think I might just have space for this.” Leo said as he gave his sister a warm smile, which Luna returned.
*******************
“I activate Dian Keto the Cure Master!” Leo announced as he placed the card he just drew into his duel disk. “This card increases my life points by 1000!”
Leo was momentarily showered with white sparkling lights as his life points rose to 3700.
“Aww, you used the card that your sister gave you.” The possessed Luna taunted. “I’m sure that if your sister was actually conscious to see this duel, she’d be quite touched.”
“I end my turn.” Leo reluctantly announced through gritted teeth.
As the alien controlled Luna drew her next card, Leo hoped with all his might that she wouldn’t draw something that would ruin his plan. Leo had enough life points to summon only three more monsters. If Luna did something to damage his life points or destroy his only monster, his plan would be ruined.
“Hmm… it looks like I can’t do anything this turn.” Luna announced. “So I think I’ll just end it here.”
With those words, the swords of light that provided a barrier between Leo’s side of the field and Luna’s vanished. Leo closed his eyes, took a deep breath, announced his turn, and drew his next card, hoping to get the card he needed. After drawing, Leo looked at the card, and a small smile appeared on his face.
“I pay 1000 life points to summon Morphtronic Remoten in Attack Mode!” Leo announced.
A large white remote control appeared on the field. Short arms and legs popped out from the sides and two green circles appeared on the remote’s screen.
“Now I pay another 1000 life points to Tune my level four Morphtronic Staplen into my level three Morphtronic Remoten!” Leo announced. The white remote control robot turned into three rings of green light, which surrounded the giant stapler. As this happened, Leo chanted: “Docking strength with courage to protect world peace! Synchro Summon! Envoy of love and justice, Power Tool Dragon!”
In a burst of white light, Leo’s faithful mechanical dragon appeared. The mind controlled Luna only looked on with a confident smirk.
“Now I activate Power Tool Dragon’s effect and add one random Equip Spell to my hand!” Leo announced.
Leo looked at the card that popped out of his deck and smiled confidently. The card that he got would work.
“I equip Power Tool Dragon with Power Pickaxe!” Leo announced.
The mechanical dragon’s blue backhoe claw changed into an orange pickaxe.
“Now I activated the effect of Power Pickaxe and remove Grass Phantom from your Graveyard to increase Power Tool Dragon’s ATK by 500!” Leo announced.
Luna’s confident expression remained unchanged.
“Now Power Tool Dragon, attack Queen of Thorns!” Leo commanded. “Crafty Break!”
Power Tool Dragon began to charge at the plant queen, its pickaxe raised.
“Hmph, you forget that I can use Ancient Fairy Dragon to protect my Queen of Thorns.” Luna pointed out.
Ancient Fairy Dragon rose mindlessly into the air and took the hit from Power Tool Dragon’s pickaxe, shattering the dragon into triangles of golden light. Luna’s life points dropped from 3500 to 2300
“I was counting on that.” Leo smirked. “I activate my Trap, Respect Synchron. When a Synchro monster my opponent controls is destroyed by the effect of one of my opponent’s own cards, I can Special Summon that monster. It may cost me 1000 more life points thanks to your Queen of Thorns, but I Special Summon Ancient Fairy Dragon in Defense Mode!”
A circle of white light appeared next to Power Tool Dragon. Ancient Fairy Dragon rose up from the light. The dragon’s eyes flashed to their original red as she let out a familiar roar.
“Finally, I activate the effect of Ancient Fairy Dragon, Plain Back!” Leo announced. “This effect lets me destroy a Field Spell, gain 1000 life points, and add a Field Spell of my own from my deck to my hand!”
Ancient Fairy Dragon let out another roar and shinned with a white light. The brick wall surrounding the field crumbled to dust. Leo added the Field Spell that popped out of his deck to his hand as his life points rose to 1700.
“I end my turn!” Leo announced confidently.
Luna suddenly began to chuckle, causing Leo’s new found confidence to ebb a little.
“What’s so funny?” Leo asked, a bit afraid of the answer.
“I have to admit, I’m impressed Leo.” Luna said as her smile once again turned into an evil grin that was unnatural for her. “I didn’t think you were this good a duelist. It’s a shame that your victory will cause your sister to end up in a coma.”
Leo was suddenly shocked. “What are you talking about?” he angrily asked. “You said that you’d let Luna go if I won!”
“Yes, well…” the possessed Luna began, “I sort of ‘forgot’ to mention that the control implant in your sister’s neck is set like all the other implants. If your sister loses, the implant in her will self-destruct and the shock to your sister’s nervous system will put her into a coma. Not even I can override it. My fault for ‘forgetting’ to change the settings before the duel.”
Luna began to break into an unnaturally maniacal laugh. Leo’s heart sank. There was no hope of saving his sister. The Grand High Intellect was only toying with him the entire time. If he won the duel, his sister would end up like Luke and Roxanne.
“I believe it’s my turn.” The possessed Luna said as her maniacal laugh finally subsided. “First I summon another Grass Phantom in Defense Mode.”
A clump of grass with a hideous face appeared on Luna’s side of the field.
“Next I switch Queen of Thorns to Defense Mode.” Luna announced. “That ends my turn.”
Leo stood there, motionless, not knowing what to do. He could win the duel, but the cost of winning was just too high. Even if he won, he would lose. He would end up hurting the very twin sister that he had sworn to protect.
‘Leo.’ a calming female voice suddenly called out. ‘Don’t give up hope.’
The voice sounded to Leo as if it was coming from inside his head. At first, he though he was starting to hear things, but then he realized that it was Ancient Fairy Dragon communicating with him.
‘Now that I am free of the evil mind that is also controlling Luna, I can use help save her.’ The Signer Dragon told Leo. ‘Have faith in my power.’
Leo shook off the state of depression he was in. If Ancient Fairy Dragon said that she could help save Luna, than he’d put all his faith in her.
“My move!” Leo announced.
“First I activate Junk Box!” Leo announced. “This let’s me Special Summon a Morphtronic monster from my Graveyard. I’ll have to pay 1000 more life points thanks to Queen of Thorns, but I Special Summon Morphtronic Radion!”
The large portable radio reappeared on the field and changed back into its robot form.
“Next I activate Power Tool Dragon’s effect and add a random Equip Spell to my hand!” Leo announced and added the card that popped out of his deck to his hand.
“I equip Power Tool Dragon with Junk Barrage!” Leo announced.
Power Tool Dragon’s weapons suddenly began to glow with a green aura.
“Now Power Tool Dragon, attack Queen of Thorns!” Leo commanded. “Crafty Break!”
Power Tool Dragon struck the plant queen with its pickaxe, shattering it into triangles of golden light.
“Thanks to Junk Barrage, you take damage equal to half the ATK of the destroyed monster!” Leo explained as Luna’s life points dropped to 1200.
“Radion, attack Grass Phantom!” Leo commanded. “Cable Mace!”
Radion swung its weapon at Grass Phantom, destroying it. Luna was wide open for a final attack.
“Well go on.” Luna said with an evil sneer. “Finish me off.”
Leo hesitated for a moment, but then he remembered what Ancient Fairy Dragon told him.
“Ancient Fairy Dragon, attack Luna directly!” Leo commanded as tears began to form in his eyes. “Eternal Sunshine!”
From her mouth, Ancient Fairy Dragon fired a beam of white light at Luna.
“Hmph, again you impress me Leo.” The possessed Luna said just before the beam hit her.
At the exact moment Luna’s life points hit zero, sparks began to fly out of the back of her neck and she let out a horrible scream. Leo quickly ran to the other side of the circular room and caught Luna before she fell into the pit in the middle. Luna’ scream soon stopped and she became limp and motionless. Leo tried to wake Luna, but it was no use. Just as Leo was about to start crying, both he and his sister were bathed in a white light. Leo looked up and saw that the light was coming from Ancient Fairy Dragon. Leo looked back down at the unconscious Luna and saw that the implant in the back of her neck suddenly evaporated. The wound where the implant was closed up.
The light disappeared and Luna suddenly began to regain consciousness. Leo repositioned Luna so she was laying on the floor face-up. Slowly, Luna began to open her eyes.
“Leo? What’s going on?” Luna asked in a weak voice. “Why are you crying?”
Leo could only respond with a tearful smile and a hug.
‘I’ve done all that I can’ Ancient Fairy Dragon said, gain the attention of both twins. ‘My healing powers are not as strong as my brother dragon’s. They are meant for purifying the land of evil. Still, it seems that I was able to undo some of the harm done by the alien technology. Be warned Leo, the evil mind you fought has not been destroyed. You have one more battle ahead.’
With those words, Ancient Fairy Dragon vanished. Luna was confused by what Ancient Fairy Dragon had said, but Leo knew exactly what the dragon was talking about. The Grand High Intellect was still a threat.
“Interesting.” A slimy inhuman voice suddenly said. “It seems that I have also underestimated the power of the Signer Dragons.”
“Show yourself!” Leo demanded.
“As you wish.” The voice replied.
Suddenly, a bright green light shot up from the pit in the middle of the room. A bizarre form rose from the light. The light faded, revealing what could only be described as a large reptilian head. The green scaly head seemed to house a large brain. It had two jet black eyes and a fanged mouth. A sort of red gemstone was imbedded in its forehead. Four short tentacles dangled from the bottom of the creature.
“Are you the Grand High Intellect?” Leo asked.
“I think the answer to that question is obvious.” The creature replied. “It seems that you are more of a nuisance than I first thought. Now what is that human expression? Oh yes, if you want something done right, you must do it yourself.”
Leo looked back down at his sister. He took off his academy jacket and draped over Luna like a blanket.
“Luna, can I borrow Ancient Fairy Dragon?” Leo asked. Luna weakly nodded.
After putting the Ancient Fairy Dragon card in his Extra Deck, Leo turned to face the Grand High Intellect.
“I’m going to make you pay for what you’ve done!” Leo declared.
“What is that other human expression?” the Grand High Intellect asked. “Oh yes, bring it on.”
