Isabel Marias (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
naturalcure) wrote2015-03-10 01:47 pm
naturalcure) wrote2015-03-10 01:47 pm
(no subject)
"ISABEEEEEELLL!"
"Hu - hmmmph!"
That was the sound Isabel made as, about a second or two after she started coming to, a pink butterfly hooked on to her face. Isabel lost her balanced and fell back on to her back, rolling around, clawing at the obstruction that was currently stopping her from seeing, speaking or somewhat, more pressingly, breathing.
"I was so worried, you went to sleep and you didn't wake up and I know you go to sleep a lot after you fight but this time I was really worried even though I know you told me not to get worried I was still worried! But you're okay now I'm so happy - oop."
Enzo trailed off at the end as he was plucked off of Isabel's head, allowing her to suck in a couple deep breaths. She slipped on her glasses (on a chain around her neck. It made her look like an old lady, but her cool factor could take the hit to make sure they weren't always flying off), looked up at the one who had taken Enzo off and blinked a couple times.
"...s...Suguru?"
"Hm?" Winda blinked a couple times. She turned her head. "Um. Is that a word from the human world?" She asked the other one.
"I think that was a name," came the amused response. Isabel looked around. With her vision finally starting to clear, she could actually make out what she was now realizing was the two who had picked up her and Enzo before. One had green hair and was in a robe and skirt. There was a small bird on its shoulder that kept pecking at Enzo's head. The other was wearing a blue robe and had a white, featureless face with two bright blue eyes. Isabel blinked at the former a couple more time.
The hair and skin were a different color, but that aside, she was a dead ringer for Suguru. Isabel was both a little embarrassed for mixing them up and a little stunned at how much they actually did look alike.
"So . . ." She pointed at the green-haired one. "...you're Winda."
"Oh - yes!" Winda nodded. "How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," Isabel grunted as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She looked over at the other one. "Who're you?" The blue one actually seemed a little offeded that she hadn't been recognized.
"Hm. I am the one who carried you all this way. So you could call me 'Thank You', were you so inclined."
"That's a dumbass name," Isabel said instead, looking away.
"Isabeeeell!" Enzo waved his six arms around, annoyed at his parnter's conduct. "This is Lady Lapislazuli! She's one of the Gem-Knights!"
"Never really got the point of that deck," Isabel grunted. "Fusion's too slow. S'why I ditched the Evil Heroes and went for Synchros." Winda gave Lapislazuli a little knowing smile at that sentiment. Lapislazuli didn't seem to notice.
"But they took care of us! They looked after us while we were asleep!" Enzo snapped. Isabel blinked. Enzo usually didn't get like this with her - he must've been pretty bothered. "They took care of our wounds and even made sure you got water while you were asleep!"
Isabel blinked a couple times. She looked at the two other duel monsters again. Only now was she aware - usually when she woke up after a fight made her sleep for a while, her body was still really sore for a while and her throat felt like it was filled with lava. Right now, she felt fine - good, even. There were bandages on her body and her throat felt fine.
"...how long was I out?" She asked.
"Hmn." Lapislazuli looked at Winda. "Six days or thereabouts, right?" Winda nodded. Isabel grimaced. They'd taken care of her while she was asleep for a solid week. Now she really felt like a heel.
"Um. Thanks." She rubbed the back of her head. "Thanks for that." Lapislazuli just waved a hand and Winda gave a breezy shrug. That seemed to be enough for Enzo as he floated right back over to Isabel and perched on her shoulder.
"It was nothing," Lapislazuli said. "You got like that dealing with the Lavals, which is supposed to be my job."
"Yeah well. S'what they get for harassing the veggies." Isabel pushed herself into standing position. After a few seconds, she found her footing pretty solidly. "So. Thanks for your help. I'll just. Get out of your hair. I don't want to be a burden on you guys anymore than I already have."
"Hm. That's a shame. We were wondering if you wouldn't mind traveling with us a bit longer," Lapislazuli opined. Winda nodded.
"Yeah, well," Isabel picked up her bag. "I don't really do companions, sorry. Just this little loudmouth." She poked Enzo. He seemed, if anything, to take the acknowledgment as a compliment, letting out a satisfied little 'hm hm!' Winda glanced at Lapislazuli. The Gem-Knight Lady let out a little breath (somehow) and decided to ditch the niceties as they were getting them nowhere.
"It's admirable to not want anyone else to be at ground zero of your next incident," she suddenly said. Isabel stopped what she was doing. "But have you considered not running off to try and get yourself killed again instead."
"..." Isabel quietly clenched a fist at her side. She suddenly regretted talking to this person while she was in a haze earlier - they were a bit more perceptive than she'd thought to give them credit for. "It's none of your concern," she said quietly.
"All I'm saying is that if you travel with us for a bit, you may find a bit more purpose for yourself and your talents than using them to vaporize random scum, injuring yourself, rendering yourself temporarily comatose, waking up and doing the same thing all over again." The Gem-Knight crossed her arms. "Perhaps it is not my concern - but I'm not going to stand here and pretend that's not a terrible waste for the simple sake of politeness."
"You're a Signer, aren't you?" Winda chimed in. There was a small grimace on her face. "That's not any way for someone like you to live." Isabel blinked. She looked down at her arm and pulled up her sleeve. There were bandages partially covering her Tail mark - they must've seen it while they'd been tending to her. That seemed to be all the confirmation Winda needed. "Where's your Dragon?"
"We - we split up a while ago," Isabel said. When she noticed both of them were shocked, she waved a hand. "No - we're still partners. I just decided to travel by myself. She's back on Earth taking care of things there."
"...a Signer who split from its Dragon," Lapislazuli said. "You really don't want anybody to see what you're doing to yourself, do you?" Isabel sighed again. She was really considering just running away at this point. Again, Lapislazuli seemed to be just perceptive enough to preempt that by letting out a sigh herself and taking a few steps away from Isabel and Winda. "I suppose it can't be helped. Winda?"
"...yeah." Winda took a few steps as well. Isabel looked at both of them, confused. Both Duel Monsters held up their arms.
"If it's the heat of battle that you're looking for," Lapislazuli started.
"Then you can fight us," Winda finished. Winds gusted around Winda's arm as a gem set in Lapislazuli's arm glowed brightly. The winds and light took solid shapes and they were both facing Isabel down with Duel Disks.
"..."
Despite herself, Isabel grinned.
"So you took care of me and now you're challenging me?" She asked. She was already sliding her own Duel Disk on.
"I was hoping we could just talk, but this seems to be more your speed." She put a deck into her disk. Winda did the same. "We'll duel with Battle Royale rules. If you win, you can leave. We won't say or do anything. If one of us wins, perhaps just consider staying with us a bit longer?"
"Cheh. That sounds like a crappy deal for me," Isabel said. "You two are friends and you both want the same thing. How do I know you won't just double team me?"
"Somehow, even if we told you right now that's what we were planning, I don't think it'd dissuade you," Lapislazuli said. "But, for the record, Gem-Knights never indulge in such underhanded tactics."
"Heh..." Isabel placed her deck into her disk and activated it. "Guess you've already got me pegged."
"And I'm gonna be trying to beat Lapis just as much as you!" Winda said, grinning. "I still owe her for the last time we dueled."
"Hm? Last time?" Lapislazuli asked. "Winda-chan. If I didn't know better, I'd say you'd meant to use that word in the singular sense."
Winda grimaced.
"The last...couple of..." She kept staring at her companion, who just kept staring right back. "Last few...ugh. Can we start, please?!" Isabel looked between the two of them as they kept talking. Something about it, between Winda's appearance and the casual way the two of them spoke to each other - it really reminded her of two girls she'd known back home.
She blinked a few times. She realized she'd drifted off when Winda was saying something else.
"Alright. I guess I'll start it, then?" She asked.
"By all means," Lapislazuli said, gesturing. Winda cleared her throat and held an arm out.
"Duelists locked in battle! Kicking through the ai-"
"Uh." Isabel held a finger up, interrupting her. "...what the hell are you doing."
"Oh." Winda paused. "Hm. I guess they probably don't have this type of duel where you're from." She rubbed her chin. "Well, just follow along if you can - it'll make itself clear pretty soon!"
"Al...right." Isabel quirked an eyebrow. "Uh. Go ahead then, I guess." Winda smiled and nodded and brought her hand back up.
"Duelists locked in battle!"
"Kicking against the Earth and dancing through the air!" Lapislazuli continued. "They storm through this field!"
"Behold! This is Dueling's greatest evolution!" Then, together, they both spoke, "ACTION..."
"DUEL!"
Winda (8000) vs. Isabel (8000) vs. Lapislazuli (8000)
"I'll start!" Winda grabbed a card from her hand. "I summon Gusto Codor!" A green and white condor appeared, wearing a helmet and a suit of armor (1000/400), letting out a sharp caw. "Turn end!" Isabel started to put a hand to her deck, but paused.
'With Battle Royale rules, nobody can draw or attack the first turn,' she reminded herself, instead grabbing another card from her hand. "My turn. I set a monster in face-down defense position. Turn end."
"My turn." Lapislazuli made the same movement as Isabel. "I'll set one monster and end my turn."
"You guys are playing really tentative," Winda said, pouting a bit. "Starting from this turn, I can draw!" She tore the top card off her deck. "I summon Harpy Lady 1! This monster gives all my WIND monsters 300 ATK!" A pink-haired harpy appeared on Winda's field (1300/1400) and flapped its wings, releasing a gust of wind that empowered both itself and Gusto Codor (Codor: 1300 ATK, Harpy: 1600 ATK). "Gusto Codor attacks your set monster!" Winda said, pointing towards Isabel. The condor swooped down on Isabel's monster - it was revealed to be a pair of cherries that cowered for a second before the bird chomped both of them.
"When Naturia Cherries are destroyed, I can set two more from my deck." Two cards ejected from Isabel's deck. She set them both face down.
"When my Codor destroys a monster, I can Special Summon a Psychic-type monster with 1500 or less defense from my deck!" Winda grinned as her deck ejected a card too. "Come! Windaar, Sage of Gusto!" She dropped the card on her disk and a much more powerful wind roared to life on her field. A man somewhat resembling Winda, wearing the same kind of cloak and with the same color of hair, appeared on her field, wielding an ornate staff with a green gem set at the top of it. He spun the staff a few times, dispelling the gust (2000/1000) > (2300 ATK). Winda pointed her hand over at Lapislazuli's field. "Lapis! Windaar attacks your set monster!"
"Hm." Lapislazuli looked up as Windaar leaped into the air, pointing his staff down at her monster. She did something Isabel didn't expect - she started to run away.
'...the hell's she doing?' Isabel wondered. She stared at Lapislazuli, who seemed to be looking around on the ground.
"Ah - found one." The Gem-Knight slid down, swiping at the grass beneath her and then swinging a hand into her disk. "Action Magic - Miracle!" A Spell card appeared in front of her just as Windaar's attack struck her monster - it was revealed to be a monster hiding in a large gem-encrusted shell (0/2000), but despite its higher ATK, Windaar failed to pierce through it. The Gusto monster and its duelist clicked their tongues at the same time as Windaar returned to its side of the field.
"You got one that quickly - were you looking around before the duel, Lapis?!" Winda demanded.
"Hmmmm." Lapislazuli neglected to answer. Instead, she pointed to her monster. "Gem-Turtle's flip effect. When it's flipped face up, I can add Gem-Knight Fusion to my hand." Her deck ejected a Spell Card - she held it up for them to verify.
"Gah! Whatever - Harpy Lady 1 destroys one of the other Cherries," Winda said sourly. The Harpy clawed one of Isabel's two remaining Cherries. "Turn end!"
"Uh - " Isabel looked from one of her opponents to the other. "...th' fuck was that?!"
"Hm?" Winda asked.
"Rude," Lapislazuli commented.
"You just - how did you do that?! Her monster had a higher ATK and you had no set cards, but it's still there?!" Isabel sputtered. "And that card! Where did that come from - you can't just activate a spell card out of your hand during the opponent's turn!"
"Ah. I didn't." Lapislazuli held up her hand. It was at five cards. Her starting hand, minus Gem-Turtle, plus the Gem-Knight Fusion she'd just added. "See? It'd have one less card if I had, wouldn't it?"
"...then where did that card come from?!"
"Hmmmm." Lapislazuli rubbed her chin. After a couple seconds, Isabel realized no answer was coming.
"Aw - aw man, does she always do this?" Isabel asked.
"Yyyyyyup," Winda said, sounding equally annoyed. "Well - like we said, it'll make itself pretty clear soon!" She assured Isabel. "It's your turn!"
"Hrmg." Isabel put a hand to her deck. 'Does this have something to do with that weird chant they did...?' She narrowed her eyes. 'I gotta figure this out.' "My turn! Draw!" She drew and nodded, throwing her set card down. "I summon Naturia Dragonfly!" (1200/400) "And flip summon Naturia Cherries! I'm tuning my level 1 Naturia Cherries and level 4 Naturia Dragonfly!" She called. The Cherries let out a little call and together split into one ring that surrounded the Dragonfly.
"White tiger, guardian of the west, raise your claws! Shred your enemies!" Light flooded through the ring. "SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 5, Naturia Beast!" When the light parted, a tiger had appeared on Isabel's field, green foliage making up its coat and thick bark making up its legs (2200/1700). The tiger roared challengingly at Winda. She grimaced somewhat and leaped into the air, a gust of wind carrying her towards a tree.
'She's moving now too...che.' "Naturia Beast attacks Harpy Lady 1! TIGERLILY SLASH!" The Beast darted forward, bringing its claws down on the Harpy.
"Action Magic - Avoid!" Winda threw her arm out. "This negates one monster's attack!" Harpy Lady 1 swerved out of the way of Naturia Beast's attack, a grin on its face.
"I don't think so. Naturia Beast's effect! By discarding the top two cards of my deck, the activation of a Spell card is negated!" She took two cards from her deck and placed them into her graveyard. Naturia Beast immediately caught up to Harpy Lady 1 and ripped it in two with a flick of its claws (Winda: 7400 LP).
"Sheesh...I thought you'd be too distracted to think to do that," Winda admitted
"Hrmph. You shouldn't underestimate me. Back on Earth, I was pretty good at this." She looked back up at the tree Winda had just been in. "...you're picking cards up and immediately activating them, huh?" Winda smiled.
"...you're pretty quick."
"Well, you made it pretty obvious that time," Isabel said, a little annoyed. "So is this what that 'Action Duel' stuff meant?"
"Heeeh - yup!" Winda nodded. "An Action Duel is a duel where monsters and duelists work together to do battle! And the duelist can move around the field with their monsters and pick these up." A card ejected from her graveyard, it was the spell she'd just tried to activated. "These are Action Cards. They're bits of floating Duel Energy that take solid form when a duelist gets near them and turn into a card when a duelist touches them!"
"Did you have to explain the whole thing at once?" Lapislazuli asked.
"Well, she was already most of the way there," Winda said back, frowning and putting the spell card back in her graveyard.
"...heh." Isabel grabbed a card from her hand. "...that's pretty interesting. Set one card. Turn end."
"Draw. Reverse card, open. Soul Transition." Lapislazuli's Gem-Turtle immediately burst into bright, colorful flames. "By tributing a normal summoned monster, I can draw two cards. But I can't Special Summon this turn." She drew two more cards. "Summon Gem Armadillo." An armadillo with several garnet gems set into its body, coiling itself into a defensive posture (1700/500). "When Gem-Armadillo is summoned, I can add a Gem-Knight to my hand." Her deck ejected a card. She held it up. "I add Gem-Knight Lapis."
"When you normal summon that card, I special summon this. Naturia Cosmobeet." A little beetroot with several flowers blooming out of it appeared on Isabel's field, also crouching defensively. (1000/700)
"Turn end," Lapislazuli said.
"My turn. Draw!" Winda grinned at her drawn card. "Tuner monster - Gusto Egul!" (200/400) "I'm tuning Gusto Egul and Gusto Codor!" The smaller of the two birds became a ring that surrounded the larger. "Spread your wings of "Hope" and bring power to our allies! SYNCHRO SUMMON!" Winda held her hand up. "Level 4! DAIGUSTO FALCOS!" A much larger green-feathered armored falcon with a young man riding it appeared, screeching loudly (1400/1200). "Falcos' effect! All of my Gusto monsters gain 600 ATK!" Winda declared as both of her monsters gained strength from the winds Daigusto Falcos' was kicking up (2600 ATK, 2000 ATK). Winda didn't waste any time, pointing at Isabel's own Synchro monster. "Windaar attacks Naturia Beast!"
"Reverse card, open! Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" Isabel's card flipped up. A scarecrow made of junk and scrap metal appeared, taking Windaar's staff upside its head.
"Guhhh, you guys are never gonna let me use Windaar's effect, are you..." Winda pouted, then still a litte sour, ordered, "Falcos destroys Naturia Cosmobeet!" The Falcon swooped down and grabbed Cosmobeet in its claws, crushing it. "Set two cards. Turn end!"
"My turn!" Isabel drew. "I summon Naturia Marron. Its effect sends Naturia Butterfly from my deck to my graveyard!" Her deck ejected the card, which she immediately slid into her graveyard. "Then I activate Naturia Marron's other effect, sending two of my Naturia Cherries back to my deck to draw 1!" She shuffled both of the monsters back into her deck and drew. "Then, reverse card open! Powerful Rebirth! Tis secial summons a level four or lower monster from my graveyard and increases its level by 1 and its ATK by 100! Revive, Cosmobeet!" (1100/700/LV3)
"Aaaahhh...I know where this is going," Winda muttered, flipping one of her set cards. "Fiendish Chain." Very matter-of-factly, a bunch of chains came out, snaring up Naturia Beast.
"Cheh. You interrupted my move!" Isabel snapped.
"Well if I'd waited a couple more seconds, you would've negated it," Winda shot (more like 'lobbed') back.
"Guh...whatever! I'm tuning my now level 3 Cosmobeet with my level 3 Marron!" Cosmobeet's flowers perked up as it split into three rings that surrounded Marron. "Azure Dragon, guardian of the East, bear your fangs! Shatter all defenses! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 6, NATURIA BARKION!"
This time, the light parting was accompanied by a loud roar as a large, serpentine dragon flew on to Isabel's field, (2500/1700). Isabel wasted no time leaping on to the monster's back.
"Go through the field with your monsters, huh...? Alright, then! Let's go, Barkion!" She said, giving her monster a pat. It flew up and into the trees. Isabel scanned them until she saw one of them - nestled in a tree branch. It almost looked like a normal card, but had an 'A' emblazoned on the back. She reached out her hand and snagged it, flipping it over. When she saw what it was, she grinned.
"Here we go. Action Magic - Forest Charm! It increases my monster's ATK by 800 during the battle phase!" Barkion began to let out another roar as the Action Magic took effect and a clip with a bright pink flower appeared on its head. The dragon very abruptly stopped roaring and turned to look back at Isabel. It was grimacing.
"...I didn't design the card, dude," she said. Barkion narrowed its eyes at her. Isabel scratched her head. "...w-well it's already on, so...y'gotta deal with it?" The dragon-type let out a breath through its snout, before turning its head. Apparently, it was relenting. Isabel smirked a little and pointed at Winda. "Alright, Naturia Barkion attacks Windaar! BARK BURST!" Barkion roared and fired a green blast of breath down at Windaar. Winda was already in motion.
'There!' Winda jumped into the air and snatched a card from a tree, snapping it into her disk. "Action Magic - Dive Save! When you declare an attac, I can special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard and change the attack to that monster! Revive, Gusto Egul!" Suddenly, a tiny little bird leaped out valiantly in front of Windaar, taking the brunt of Barkion's attack. When it was destroyed, Winda smiled. "When Gusto Egul is destroyed, I special summon Winda, Priestess of Gusto from my deck!" She dropped a card from her deck on her disk and a monster that looked exactly like her appeared, kneeling down with its staff held defensively (1000/400).
"Cheeeeh...s'why you used Fiendish Chain, huh?" Isabel asked.
"Yuup! My speed and sight are my best attributes," Winda said, wagging a finger, sounding just a little satisfied with herself. "I'm really good at finding Action Cards! That Beast was really cramping my style."
"Hrmph. Set one card. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw," Lapislazuli said. "I summon Gem-Knight Sardonyx in defense position." An onyx Gem-Knight wielding a large flail appeared, kneeling down next to Gem-Armadillo (1800/900). Winda frowned and started running again. Lapislazuli didn't seem to pay it any heed. "Turn en-"
"Oh no you don't!" Winda said, snapping up another card. "Action Magic - Forest Lure! I can target one monster you control - it has to attack this turn! And you can't skip your Battle Phase! I target Sardonyx!" She declared as the Gem-Knight abruptly stood into attack position.
"Ah. I see," Lapislazuli said evenly.
"Heeeh. You can't stay on the sidelines forever, Lapis!" Winda crowed.
"I suppose you're right. Equip Spell - Supervise. This treats Sardonyx as an effect monster and grants him his effect," Lapislazuli explained as Sardonyx began spinning his flail. "Sardonyx attacks Winda, Priestess of Gusto." The Gem-Knight ran forward. Winda made no move as the flail came down, crushing her double. "When Sardonyx has its effect and destroys a monster by battle, I can add a Gem-Knight to my hand. I'll add Gem-Knight Topaz."
"When Winda is destroyed, I can Special Summon Gusto Gulldo in defense position!" Winda declared in turn (500/500). Then, she held up another card. "Here comes another - Action Magic: Forest Lure!"
"Ehhh, she wasn't kidding," Isabel muttered. She hadn't even seen when Winda had picked up that one.
"I'm targeting your Gem-Armadillo too!" Winda said as the small Rock monster stood into attack position.
"Alright then. Gem-Armadillo attacks Gusto Gulldo." The armadillo pounced on Gusto Gulldo, destroying it, again accomplishing exactly what Winda wanted.
"I special summon Gusto Egul in defense position!" (200/400)
'She's using the Action Cards to make us attack the smallfry Gusto monsters...so they can search out new ones and she can load up her graveyard.' Isabel narrowed her eyes. 'She's probably all set up now.'
"I set two cards," Lapislazuli said. "Turn end." Winda grinned and put a hand to the top of her deck.
"I'll hit you both on this turn," she said. "It's my turn. Draw! I summon Caam, Serenity of Gusto!" (1700/1000)
'Here it comes. She's gonna tune them...!' Isabel thought, bracing herself. Winda brought a hand up.
"I'm overlaying my level 4 Caam and Daigusto Falcos!" She declared. The two Gustos became purple motes of light that flew into a yellow vortex that had opened in front of Winda.
"Overlay?!" Isabel repeated.
"With these two monsters, I construct the overlay network!" Winda said. "Legendary blade, come rest in my hand! Cut down everything with the roar of one thousand birds! XYZ SUMMON!" The vortex pulsated and a bolt of lightning came roaring out of it, striking Winda. In her waiting hand, a sword formed. She swung the sword once and the lightning bent and took shape in the form of a crackling blue bird (1900/1600). "Lightning Chidori's first effect!" Winda snapped the blade at Isabel's field. The bird shrieked and flapped its wings, sending a gust of lightning-tinged wind at Isabel's set card. "I can send a set card to the bottom of my opponent's deck. I choose that Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" She declared. The gust knocked the card off the field. Isabel grimaced and placed it at the bottom of her deck. "Lightning Chidori's second effect! I detach one of its overlay units!" One of the blue orbs circling the bird burst. Winda swung the sword again. The Chidori sent a bolt of lightning at Naturia Barkion, causing it to immediately buckle. "Then I return one card to the top of your deck!" Barkion roared in pain as it vanished out from under Isabel, causing her to drop to the ground.
"Barkion is a Synchro monster...it returns to my Extra Deck," Isabel muttered, knowing that was the point.
"With him gone, you can't seal my traps anymore. Reverse card open, Blessings for Gusto! I can return two Gusto from my graveyard to my deck to Special Summon a third Gusto from my graveyard!" Isabel grimaced, knowing this was why she'd loaded up her graveyard with so many small monsters. "I return Gusto Codor and Winda, Priestess of Gusto to revive Caam, Serenity of Gusto!" (1700/1000) "I'm tuning my level 4 Caam, Serenity of Gusto with my level 1 Gusto Egul!" Egul split into one ring and surrounded Caam. "Spread your wings and release the divine wind that will shatter your enemies! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 5!" Winda leaped into the air as light flooded her field. When the light parted, she landed on her summoned monster, a massive green bird of prey wearing war armor. "DAIGUSTO GULLDOS!" (2200/800)
"Xyz, immediately followed by Synchro, huh...?" Isabel had a small smirk that immediately turned to a grimace. She started running.
"I'm coming for you first!" Winda grinned. "Gulldos' effect! I retun Gusto Egul and Caam to my deck to target 1 face-up monster and destroy it!" As Winda added the two cards to her deck, Gulldos let out a shriek and flapped its wings at Isabel's field, sending a violent whirlwind at the pinned down Naturia Beast.
"Isabel - here y'go!" Enzo called out, getting Isabel's attention. He tossed a card to her. She immediately threw it into her disk.
"Action Magic - Mirror Barrier! This stops a monster from being destroyed by an effect once!" A spherical barrier appeared around Naturia Beast, intercepting and dispersing the whirlwind. Isabel grinned and gave a thumbs up back to Enzo.
"Hrmph - but that only stops one effect destruction! Get it, Windaar!" Winda called. Windaar leaped at Naturia Beast. Isabel kept looking for another card, but came up empty as Windaar struck her Beast upside the head, destroying it (Isabel: 7600 LP). "When Windaar destroys a monster by battle, I can special summon a level 3 or lower Gusto from my graveyard in face-down defense position! I set Gusto Egul from my graveyard!" Winda smiled and pointed at Isabel's field. "Now, you're wide open! Let's go, Gulldos! DIRECT ATTACK!" Gulldos spread its wings again and dove down at Isabel. Isabel looked around another second and let out a curse, giving up on getting an Action Card.
"Reverse card, open! Limit Reverse! I special summon a monster with less than 1000 ATK from my graveyard! Special Summon, Naturia Butterfly!" A pink butterfly appeared in front of Isabel (500/1200) and waved two of its six arms at Winda. While her monster appeared, Isabel kept moving. "Once per turn, Naturia Butterfly can negate an attack by sending the top card of my deck to the graveyard!" She pitched her top card. "NECTAR BARRIER!" Her butterfly spread its wings wide and a glittering golden shield shaped like a sunflower appeared in front of it - Gulldos rammed into the barrier and then drew back, retreating.
"Cheh...that's a tuner, isn't it...?" Winda muttered. She swung the sword still in her hand. "Lightning Chidori attacks Naturia Butterfly! LIGHTNING CUTTER!" Lightning Chidori screeched and swooped down at the butterfly next in concert with Winda's swing. This time, Isabel was ready.
"Action Magic: Miracle! This halves the damage from one battle and stops one monster I control from being destroyed by battle!" An aura surrounded her butterfly just as Lightning Chidori struck it...
"Eeeehheeeeeeeee!"
...and still shocked it pretty good, leaving little plumes of smoke coming off its antennae. When the attack was done, it let out a smoky cough (Isabel: 6700 LP).
"Aaah, you actually interceped all my attacks!" Winda said, frustrated. She pouted and looked in Lapislazuli's direction. Lapislazuli just waved to her. "I didn't even get to attack Lapis..." she muttered. "Turn end."
"Hey...you're gonna wanna keep your eyes over here." Isabel said. A grin spread over her face. She was fully into this now. "My turn. Draw!" She glanced at her drawn card - a spell, and nodded. "I summon Naturia Fruitfly!" (800/1500) "Then I activate the spell, Naturia Re-Planting! By banishing two Naturia Synchro monsters from my graveyard, I can special summon 2 level 4 or lower Naturia monsters from my deck! But during this turn, I can't special summon anything except EARTH monsters." Barkion and Beast's cards vanished from her graveyard. "I offer Barkion and Beast's souls! Special Summon - Naturia Mantis and Naturia Rosewhip!" (1700/1500) (400/1500) As the number of Naturias on her field grew, the monsters on Winda and Lapislazuli's field started to keel over. Gulldos in particular dropped right to the ground.
"Eh? What's going on?!" Winda asked.
"Naturia Fruitfly's effect," Isabel said, pointing to her literal fruit fly. "All your monsters lose 300 ATK and DEF for each Naturia monster I control. With four, your Gulldos has lost just about everything." It was true, the formerly imposing Gusto now barely looked like it could move. (1000/0) "And when you contol a monster with 0 DEF, Fruitfly can take control of it!" Winda gasped as her Gulldos vanished out from under her and appeared on Isabel's side of the field. Winda grimaced - she knew what was coming.
"Two tuners..." She looked between Rosewhip and Butterfly.
"Now it's my turn to show off. I'm tuning my level 3 Naturia Rosewhip and level 4 Daigusto Gulldos!" Rosewhip giggled as it split into three rings, surrounding Gulldos. "Rise from the trash heap, release your metal roar and rule over a kingdom of scrap! SYNCHRO SUMMON! LEVEL 8, SCRAP DRAGON!" The light parted and a dragon of welded together scrap metal rose over the forest, roaring loudly (2800/2000). Isabel held a hand out towards her other three monsters. "Here comes another! I'm tuning my level 4 Naturia Mantis and Level 3 Naturia Fruitfly with my level 3 Naturia Butterfly!" Her butterfly split into three rings, surrounding the Mantis and Fruitfly. The two insects became six points of light as Isabel leaped into the air. "King of the beasts, cloak yourself in the armor of the ouroboros! When the blood of the wild is spilled, release your earth-shattering power! SYNCHRO SUMMON!" (3+3+4=10) "LEVEL 10! LEO, THE KEEPER OF THE SACRED TREE!"
A massive shockwave shook the forest the three of them were standing in, followed by an equally loud roar. When the light cleared, Isabel was standing astride a giant lion with a mane made of flowers and a shimmering suit of armor covering its body. (3100/1900)
"How's this?!" Isabel asked, a big grin plastered on her face. "I couldn't show you guys my ace because of Naturia Re-Planting's effect, but I like this guy a lot too!"
"Impressive," Lapislazuli conceded. Winda was already on the move.
"Oi! I remember that 'I'll start with you' crap! I'm not letting you get away!" Isabel said. "Scrap Dragon's effect! I destroy Limit Reverse and destroy Gusto Egul!" Limit Reverse, now useless, shattered and Scrap Dragon roared, flapping its wings and sending the shrapnel from the destroyed card at Gusto Egul, wiping it out.
'She used cards like Limit Reverse and Powerful Rebirth to revive her monsters...now they're fodder for Scrap Dragon's effect,' Lapislazuli noted, only to herself. 'And destroying Egul with an effect like that stops its effect from activating and stops Winda's loop.'
"Here I come! Leo, attack Lightning Chidori!" The two horns on the front of Leo's armor began crackling with white energy as it ran at Winda. Winda leaped up into the trees, grabbing a card from one and activating it.
"Action Magic: Avoid!" She immediately leaped out of the tree as Leo tore it into splinters right there. "Your attack's negated!" She knew that wasn't it and dove to another tree.
"Cheh - I'm not letting you use that annoying spin effect again! SCRAP DRAGON!" She ordered. High above, Scrap Dragon opened its mouth. Two pipes came from its wings, exhaling a cloud of gas. A spark came out of scrap Dragon's mouth, igniting the cloud and sending a stream of flame down at Winda. She spun and faced the flames head-o.
"Action Magic: Miracle!" The flames hit her and her Chidori, but with a defensive aura surrounding both of them, they weathered it. (Winda: 6950 LP) When the attack was over, Winda let out a breath. "Now all three of us have used that one."
"Tch...you've been leaning on those things way more than me. Don't act like we're equal in that regard!" She said. She couldn't help but note, Winda had completely intercepted her attacks the same way Isabel had done to her a moment ago. But, she then glanced over at Lapislazuli.
'I've been focusing on the other one. But she's been quietly gathering up cards this whole time. Is she gonna make her move soon?' "...turn end."
"My turn. Draw." Lapislazuli drew her card. "You two have been going at each other quite fiercely," she said. There was respect for her opponents in the tone. "But." She dropped a card on her disk: Gem-Knight Tourmaline (1600/1800). "I think I've been in the background biding my time long enough..." She played a spell next: Ancient Rules. Gem-Knight Crystal appeared on her field (2450/1950).
"Uhhh ohh..." Winda muttered, an anxious look on her face.
"This turn...I'll hit you both the same amount of times." She took a card from her hand. With her next move, she began moving incredibly fast, to the point Isabel was only just able to keep up. "Magic Card - Particle Fusion! I conduct a fusion summon of a Gem-Knight monster with monsters I control, those being Crystal and Tourmaline!" The two Gem-Knights rose into the air and touched their hands together. "Gem tinged with lightning! Crystal of noble leadership! In a whirlpool of light, combine to create a dazzling radiance!" The two gems swirled together, creating a yellow and blue spiral. "Fusion Summon! Level 6, the pursuer of victory! Gem-Knight Topaz!" The new Gem-Knight was yellow, with a brilliantly glimmering topaz set in his chest and a sword in each of his hands (1800/1800). "Particle Fusion's effect! I can banish Particle Fusion and select a card that was used in its fusion! Then the summoned Fusion Monster gains that material's effect! I grant Topaz the ATK of Crystal!" A shilouette of Crystal appeared over Topaz and turned into a white aura (Topaz: 4250 ATK).
"4250...?!" Isabel exclaimed. 'That's bad...that thing can attack twice and has a Flame Wingman effect...!'
"Now - I control two monsters of the same level as well! I overlay Gem-Armadillo and Gem-Knight Sardonyx!" The two monsters became purple orbs of light and sunk into a yellow vortex that opened in front of Lapislazuli. "Stone polished to a shining luster, arise and become a champion of justice! Xyz Summon! Rank 4, Gem-Knight Pearl!" A warrior with glimmering, almost reflective pearl skin appeared before Lapislazuli, arms crossed as two white orbs slowly circled around it (2600/1900). "Supervise's effect activates! When it's sent to the graveyard, I can special summon a normal monster from my graveyard! Revive, Gem-Knight Crystal!" (2450/1950) "Then, activate Oni-Gami Combo! I detach both of Pearl's overlay units!" Both of the orbs around Pearl shattered and vanished, replaced by a fiery orange aura. Lapislazuli turned to Isabel. "Topaz! Attack Leo, Keeper of the Sacred Tree!"
Isabel didn't even have time to turn Leo around and look for an Action Card before Topaz was on top of her, booting her off her monster and cutting right through its armor, neatly bifurcating it. The explosion sent Isabel for a tumble into the ground (Isabel: 5550 LP).
"Topaz's effect! You take damage equal to your monster's effect - 3100!" Topaz swung its blade at Isabel as a bolt of lighting struck her. She grimaced and grunted, but took the hit without anymore reaction than that (Isabel: 2450 LP). Lapislazuli continued on, pointing at Winda. "Topaz attacks Windaar!" Again, Topaz moved blindingly fast, getting in front of Windaar and slicing the sage in two. The shockwave knocked Winda over (Winda: 5300 LP), "Topaz's effect!" and the bolt of lightning got her to let out a squawk of pain (Winda: 3300 LP). "Next - Crystal destroys Lightning Chidori!" There was little Winda could do to defend her monster from her place on the ground, so Crystal swung a chopping arm right through Chidori, the force of the strike knocking the sword right out of Winda's hand and shattering it (Winda: 2750 LP).
"You said you'd attack us the same amount of times, Lapis...!" Winda whined.
"I did," Lapislazuli conceded. She held up an Action Card - in all the fray, neither Isabel or Winda had any clue when she'd picked it up. "Action Magic - Forest Charm. Pearl's ATK is increased by 800." A clip with a flower appeared on Pearl's head and, in defiance of any law of physics, stayed there (Pearl: 3400 ATK). "Pearl attacks Scrap Dragon!" The Gem-Knight kicked off of the ground and soared high into the air. Scrap Dragon released another stream of fire, but Pearl simply raised a fist up and shot straight though it, unharmed and unfettered. Once it was through the flames, it uppercutted Scrap Dragon in the head, destroying it (Isabel: 1850 LP). Isabel released a breath.
"Is that it...?" She asked, dreading that it wasn't. Lapislazuli responded by holding a hand out, flipping one of her cards up.
"Trap card, Fragment Fusion. This card conducts a Fusion-Summon of a Gem-Knight monster by banishing the materials from my graveyard! I banish Gem-Armadillo and Gem-Knight Sardonyx!" The two cards vanished from her graveyard. "Fusion Summon! Bewitching and dazzling splendor, level 8! Gem-Knight Zirconia!" A knight with two massive gauntlets appeared in front of Isabel, a large zirconia set in each one and another in its chest (2900/2500). It was already raising one of its gauntlets up towards her. "Zirconia, direct attack!"
"Gh - when my opponent activates a trap!" Isabel declared. "By sending the top card of my deck to the graveyard - I can summon Naturia Rock from my hand!" She dropped the card on her disk as quickly as she could, placing her monster in defense position (1200/1200). The small rock monster was destroyed instantly by Zirconia. Isabel let out a breath of relief.
"No more monsters and no time to get an Action Card and you still managed to pull out of it," Lapislazuli said. Again, she changed her attention, looking back at Winda. "Oni-Gami Combo's effect. When I detached all of Pearl's Xyz materials, he gained the ability to attack twice in one battle phase." She pointed at Winda. "Pearl, direct attack!"
"G-guh! Hold on! Reverse card, open!" Winda sputtered. "Emergency Teleport! I special summon Pilica, Descendant of Gusto from my deck!" A gateway opened in front of Winda and a small green and red-haired psychic-type floated out, adopting a defensive posture (1000/1500). "When Pilica is summoned, I can special summon a WIND tuner from my graveyard! Revive, Gusto Gulldo!" (500/500) Pearl, who up until that point had been ready to rush Winda and punch the stuffing out of her, stopped short in front of Pilica. Pilica looked up at the Gem-Knight, wide-eyed. Eventually, it let out a sigh and very, very, very lightly jabbed Pilica in the shoulder with its fist. Pilica let out a little 'ah!' and shattered. Winda let out a tangible breath of relief and started to pull herself up.
"You two both survived three of my attacks!" Lapislazuli said. "You're both proving quite tenacious. I guess I'll just have to hope I get another turn," she conceded. "The monster summoned by Fragment Fusion is destroyed during my end phase and the monster empowered by Fragment Fusion returns to its original ATK." Zirconia shattered and Topaz slumped over slightly (Topaz: 1800 ATK). "Turn end."
"Guh...you shoulda finished me off, Lapis! I won't let you get another turn! DRAW!" She snapped the top card off her deck. "I turn Gusto Gulldo to attack position!" Her small, very un-threatening bird monster flapped up into the air and squawked proudly. Isabel squinted, but Winda proceded nonetheless. "I activate One For One! By discarding a monster from my hand, I can special summon a level 1 monster from my deck! I discard Gusto Griffin to Special Summon Gusto Egul!" Another small bird appeared on her field, next to Gulldo (200/400). "And when Gusto Griffin is discarded from my hand, I can special summon one Gusto monster from my deck! Special summon Reeze, Whirlwind of Gusto!" A fierce wind blew to life on Winda's field, heralding a new monster, another Psychic-type, this one green and red-haired like Pilica but considerably older (1900/1400). "Reeze's effect. I can send a card from my hand to the bottom of my deck to switch control of one of my monsters and one of yours! I send Gulldo to your field and take Pearl!"
"Ah." Lapislazuli nodded as Gusto Gulldo floated over to her field and Pearl leaped over to Winda's. "So this is why you turned it to attack position. This is a new tactic for you."
"I'm not done!" Winda said. "I'm tuning Gusto Egul and Reese!" Egul split into a ring that surrounded Reeze. "Powerful whirlwind, accept the power of the angels! Blast back the opposition with your everlasting wind!" Instead of light, a massive whirlwind appeared on Winda's field. "SYNCHRO SUMMON! LEVEL 6, DAIGUSTO SPHREEZE!" The whirlwind exploded outwards as Reeze dropped back on to Winda's field, now wearing a suit of gold and white armor (2000/1300). "When Sphreeze is summoned, I can add a Gusto from my graveyard to my hand!" Once again, Egul came out of her graveyard and went into her hand before immediately dropping on to her field. "Gusto Egul, in attack position!" (200/400)
"Attack position again?" Lapislazuli asked.
"That's right! Pearl! Attack Gulldo!" Pearl raced forward and punched the daylights out of Winda's former monster in one swing (Lapislazuli: 5900 LP). Lapislazuli dusted herself off a bit once the shockwave hit her. "When Gusto Gulldo is destroyed and sent to my graveyard, I special summon Winda, Priestess of Gusto from my deck!" This time, she hopped on to the field herself alongside her monsters.
"...I see," Lapislazuli muttered.
"Winda, Priestess of Gusto attacks Gem-Knight Crystal!" Winda called as she raced forward and swung her staff forward. There was a loud CLANG as Crystal blocked it. But rather than counterattack, it simply released her staff and pointed down at her Duel Disk.
[MAIN PHASE 2]
"E-eh?! What's this?! I'm not done with the battle phase yet!"
"Ah." Lapislazuli held something up. "I activated Action Magic: Great Escape. It ends the Battle Phase." As she and Winda were only a couple feet from each other, she held the card out for Winda to verify herself. Winda stared for a second, before she started fuming.
"Wh-when did you even find that?! Have you been stockpiling these?! You know you can only have on Action Card in your hand at a time, right!"
"Oh, I got it during your Synchro Summon," Lapislazuli explained matter of factly. "You were so dramatic with it, and I didn't recognize the monster. I figured if I let you do as you please with it, it'd end badly for me." She pointed at Winda, then at crystal. "If I had let that attack go through...something bad would've happened, right?" Winda just drooped over, her arms at her sides.
"When Daigusto Sphreeze is on the field, you'd take all damage from a battle with a Gusto monster that I'd normally take..." She muttered.
"Ah. Yes, that would've done me in for sure," Lapislazuli said with a nod. Winda let out a sad, frustrated breath. Crystal gave her a pat on the shoulder.
"Turn end," Winda solemnly muttered eventually as she walked back over to her own field.
"Draw!" Isabel snapped the top card off her deck. "She's right about one thing. I'm not letting you go again. Summon Naturia Pumpkin! And by its effect, Naturia Mosqutio!" A green pumpkin appeared, immediately flanked by a small mosquito (1400/800), (200/300). "Next, I activate Mosquito Bite! By reducing the ATK of a Naturia monster I control to 0, I can special summon one level 4 or lower Naturia Monster from my graveyard! I revive Naturia Cliff!" A rock with pink grass and mushrooms growing on top of its head appeared (1500/1000).
"Ahah." Lapislazuli tapped her chin. "You discarded him earlier, didn't you?"
"Yeah. For Rock's effect," Isabel said. "When he's destroyed, I can summon another level 4 or lower Naturia monster from my deck! And when I control Naturia Mosquito, you take any battle damage I would've taken from battles with other Naturia Monsters! It's not as efficient as that annoying Sphreeze combo, but it's enough to take out the rest of your life points! Pumpkin, attack Crystal!" The pumpkin began weakly rolling towards Crystal.
"Reverse card open. Gem-Enhancement." Crystal began to glow, then shattered all at once. It was replaced with a crouching Tourmaline (1800 DEF). "By tributing a Gem-Knight from my graveyard, I can special summon another from my graveyard. Sorry, but with Topaz in defense position, you won't be able to start a loop on me. You could attack Topaz if you wish, but..."
"It'll deal way more damage to me than I'll deal to you..." Isabel said and let out a grunt of frustration. She knew she was in a bad position now, but at the least, with Cliff and Mosquito, she was protected from battle damage. Best to just get in what she could now. "Pumpkin and Cliff attack Tourmaline!" Both of her monsters ran up and bounced off the defending Gem-Knight, which just looked kind of perturbed by the situation it was in. Again, Lapislazuli seemed nonchalant about the damage she was taking (Lapislazuli: 3700 LP). "...turn end."
"Draw." Lapislazuli glanced around the field. "It seems like I can't damage either of you by battle." Much of a problem as that seemed to be at first glance, she didn't sound worried. "I suppose I'll just have to get involved directly, then." She held a card up. "I activate Gem-Knight Fusion. By sending monsters from my hand or field to the graveyard, I can Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight monster!" She held up two cards from her hand. "I send Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Lazuli from my hand to the graveyard!" Two young Gem-Knights appeared in front of Lapislazuli, both of them somewhat resembling her. "Blue and gem stones that hide mysterious power, become light and appear!" The two knights came together in a spiral of blue and green light. "Fusion Summon! Level 5, Gem-Knight Lady Lapislazuli!" Lapislazuli stepped out on to the field herself, joining her monsters (2400/1000)
"She got on the field herself..." Isabel muttered.
"Lazuli's effect. When it's sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can add a normal monster in my graveyard to my hand. I add Crystal. Then, I activate Absorb Fusion. I can add a Gem-Knight from my deck to my hand and then conduct a fusion summon of a Gem-Knight by banishing monsters from my field or hand." A card ejected itself from her deck. "I add Gem-Knight Alexandrite to my hand. Then I banish Alexandrite, Crystal and Tourmaline!" The three gem-knights all floated up above her. "Gem with facets of day and knight. Gem tinged with lightning. Crystal of noble leadership! In a whirlpool of light, combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance!" The three gems swirled togeher. Lapislazuli brought her hands up together, then pulled them down in front of her. "FUSION SUMMON! My comrade who illuminates all with his supreme radiance! Level 9! GEM-KNIGHT MASTER DIAMOND!" A brilliant light came from the whirlpool above her and out stepped a massive knight with diamonds set all through his armor and a broadsword with seven gems set throughout the blade. He stood next to Lapislazuli, planting his blade in the ground (2900/2500). "Normally, Master Diamond would gain ATK for each Gem-Knight in my graveyard, but as we're not doing any battling right now, I'll skip that," Lapislazuli said. "I activate Gem-Knight Lady Lapislauli's effect." The slot for her Extra Deck opened on her Duel Disk. "I can send a Gem-Knight monster from my deck or Extra Deck to the graveyard and inflict 500 damage to my opponent for each special summoned monster on the field."
"For each Special Summoned monster...?" Winda repeated. She blinked and looked throughout the field.
Lapislazuli's field: Gem-Knight Lady Lapislazuli, Gem-Knight Master Dia, Gem-Knight Topaz (3)
Winda's field: Daigusto Sphreeze, Winda Priestess of Gusto, Gem-Knight Pearl (3)
Isabel's field: Naturia Mosquito, Naturia Cliff (2)
8 special summoned monsters total. and 8 x 500 was...
"Ohhhh, Winda-chan~," Lapislazuli said airily as she turned towards her traveling companion and waved to her.
"....ack." Winda turned and leaped, trying to get back into the trees.
"Lapislazuli's effect, activate!" Lapislazuli placed the card from her Extra Deck into her graveyard. The gem set in her chest glowed brightly and released a burst of blue light that caught Winda in the back before she could get away. She hit the ground on her stomach and let out a groan.
(Winda: 0000 LP - DEFEAT)
"Geez..." Isabel grimaced. Then, something occurred to her. "...wait. What did you discard for that effect?!" She demanded.
"Ah. Seems like you figured it out." Lapislazuli held up her Duel Disk. "I activate Gem-Knight Master Diamond's effect. By banishing a level 7 or lower Gem-Knight fusion monster from my graveyard, he gains that monster's name and effect until the end of the turn! I banish the Lapislazuli I just sent from my Extra Deck to the graveyard!" Another copy of her own card was banished from the graveyard as a shilouette appeared over Master Diamond, cueing it to lift its sword from the graveyard. "Then I activate mmy effect once more! By discarding a Gem-Knight monster from my deck or extra deck, I deal 500 damage for each Special Summoned monster on the field!"
"There's five on the field now..." Isabel grimaced. She didn't move, she just let out a sigh and grabbed her forehead as Master Diamond raised its sword and swung it at the ground, sending a huge shockwave at her. "Crap."
The shockwave lifted Isabel into the air and deposited her back down on her stomach.
(Isabel: 0000 LP - DEFEAT)
(Lapislazuli - WIN)
"Urgh....dammit," Isabel grumbled. Much as she'd gotten into the duel while it was going on, now that it was over, her mood had plummeted in a hurry again. She punched the ground once and started to push herself up, her other hand coming up over her eyes. She paused when she saw a shadow next to her. She turned her head and saw Lapislazuli offering her a hand. "What?" She bit off.
"I'm sorry. When I'm dueling, I have a habit of getting a bit too into it. It's unbefitting for a friendly duel like this was," she said. And, seeming to notice how crappy Isabel was suddenly feeling, she continued, "And if it caused me to offend a pretty maiden like you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself as a knight."
"..." Isabel blinked a couple times. Whatever she'd been expecting the Gem-Knight to say, that wasn't it.
"Ah, boy," Winda said and rolled her eyes. Lapislazuli seemed to expect her to get up on her own just fine, so that's what she did.
"...cheh." Isabel looked away and reached out, grabbing the hand of Lapislazuli, who helped her up.
"Are you alright?" Lapislazuli asked, a tinge of concern in her voice.
"Yeah. I'm...I'm fine," Isabel muttered, wiping her eye with one hand. "It's just - I don't." She sighed. "I'm just kinda hung up over this duel I had a while ago that ended badly. And...I haven't had a duel just for fun in a long time. And now..." She sighed. "It's over. And I'm just kinda bummed out, I guess." Lapislazuli let out a sigh.
"I see. That is a problem." Isabel responded by looping her hands behind her head.
"I dunno what all that crap you guys were talking about was, about finding a 'purpose'. But I guess I can stick with you for a while. If you'll show me more of this Action Dueling stuff, anyway." That got a big smile out of Winda and though her expression was significantly harder to discern, the same sentiment seemed to apply to Lapislazuli.
"YAAAY!" Enzo cheered as he hooked on to the side Isabel's head, getting a small "urk." out of her. "We got some traveling buddies! Oooh, oh, if we meet some Allies of Justice, can they join us too?!"
"NO," Isabel said flatly. Enzo's wings and antennae drooped slightly.
"Oh. So, can I ask you something?" Winda asked.
"Uh, sure," Isabel said as she removed her Duel Disk and then popped Enzo off of her head.
"...what exactly is a 'Suguru'?"
"Oh. Uh. She's a friend of mine from back on Earth. She plays Gusto and she...kiiiiinda looks a lot like you?"
"A human who looks like me? Interesting...! Maybe I should go to Earth some day and meet her!"
"Do you know anybody who resembles me?"
"Well, uh. I know this one girl who plays Gem-Knights, but...she doesn't look that much like you." Beat. "...most humans don't really look anything like you."
"Ah, I see. You're saying my looks are so unique that nobody else can match them...I understand completely."
---
Action Magic: Forest Charm
Normal Spell
Target 1 monster on the field; it gains 800 ATK during the Battle Phase only.
---
Art: A hairclip with a glowing pink flower set in it.
Action Magic: Dive Save
Normal Spell
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can Special Summon 1 level 4 or lower monster from your graveyard and change the attack to that target.
---
Art: A little black caricature diving valiantly in front of another caricature to protect it from harm.
Action Magic: Forest Lure
Normal Spell
Target 1 monster your opponent controls; if that monster is in defense position, change it to attack position and it must attack this turn. Your opponent must conduct their Battle Phase this turn.
---
Art: A little wood nymph being attacked by a big dragon. There's a barely concealed trap hole between the two of them.
Naturia Re-Planting
Normal Spell
Banish up to 2 "Naturia" Synchro monsters from your graveyard to Special Summon the same number of level 4 or lower "Naturia" monsters from your deck. During the turn you activate this card, you cannot Special Summon other monsters the turn you activate this effect, except EARTH monsters.
---
Art: Small Naturias like Rosewhip, Tulip and Sunflower sprouting out of the bodies of a fallen Naturia Barkion and Naturia Landoise.
Mosquito Bite
Normal Spell
Reduce the ATK of one "Naturia" monster you control to 0. Special Summon 1 level 4 or lower "Naturia" Monster from your hand or graveyard.
---
Art: Naturia Mosquito poking an irritated looking Naturia Beans with its stinger.
"Hu - hmmmph!"
That was the sound Isabel made as, about a second or two after she started coming to, a pink butterfly hooked on to her face. Isabel lost her balanced and fell back on to her back, rolling around, clawing at the obstruction that was currently stopping her from seeing, speaking or somewhat, more pressingly, breathing.
"I was so worried, you went to sleep and you didn't wake up and I know you go to sleep a lot after you fight but this time I was really worried even though I know you told me not to get worried I was still worried! But you're okay now I'm so happy - oop."
Enzo trailed off at the end as he was plucked off of Isabel's head, allowing her to suck in a couple deep breaths. She slipped on her glasses (on a chain around her neck. It made her look like an old lady, but her cool factor could take the hit to make sure they weren't always flying off), looked up at the one who had taken Enzo off and blinked a couple times.
"...s...Suguru?"
"Hm?" Winda blinked a couple times. She turned her head. "Um. Is that a word from the human world?" She asked the other one.
"I think that was a name," came the amused response. Isabel looked around. With her vision finally starting to clear, she could actually make out what she was now realizing was the two who had picked up her and Enzo before. One had green hair and was in a robe and skirt. There was a small bird on its shoulder that kept pecking at Enzo's head. The other was wearing a blue robe and had a white, featureless face with two bright blue eyes. Isabel blinked at the former a couple more time.
The hair and skin were a different color, but that aside, she was a dead ringer for Suguru. Isabel was both a little embarrassed for mixing them up and a little stunned at how much they actually did look alike.
"So . . ." She pointed at the green-haired one. "...you're Winda."
"Oh - yes!" Winda nodded. "How did you know?"
"Lucky guess," Isabel grunted as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. She looked over at the other one. "Who're you?" The blue one actually seemed a little offeded that she hadn't been recognized.
"Hm. I am the one who carried you all this way. So you could call me 'Thank You', were you so inclined."
"That's a dumbass name," Isabel said instead, looking away.
"Isabeeeell!" Enzo waved his six arms around, annoyed at his parnter's conduct. "This is Lady Lapislazuli! She's one of the Gem-Knights!"
"Never really got the point of that deck," Isabel grunted. "Fusion's too slow. S'why I ditched the Evil Heroes and went for Synchros." Winda gave Lapislazuli a little knowing smile at that sentiment. Lapislazuli didn't seem to notice.
"But they took care of us! They looked after us while we were asleep!" Enzo snapped. Isabel blinked. Enzo usually didn't get like this with her - he must've been pretty bothered. "They took care of our wounds and even made sure you got water while you were asleep!"
Isabel blinked a couple times. She looked at the two other duel monsters again. Only now was she aware - usually when she woke up after a fight made her sleep for a while, her body was still really sore for a while and her throat felt like it was filled with lava. Right now, she felt fine - good, even. There were bandages on her body and her throat felt fine.
"...how long was I out?" She asked.
"Hmn." Lapislazuli looked at Winda. "Six days or thereabouts, right?" Winda nodded. Isabel grimaced. They'd taken care of her while she was asleep for a solid week. Now she really felt like a heel.
"Um. Thanks." She rubbed the back of her head. "Thanks for that." Lapislazuli just waved a hand and Winda gave a breezy shrug. That seemed to be enough for Enzo as he floated right back over to Isabel and perched on her shoulder.
"It was nothing," Lapislazuli said. "You got like that dealing with the Lavals, which is supposed to be my job."
"Yeah well. S'what they get for harassing the veggies." Isabel pushed herself into standing position. After a few seconds, she found her footing pretty solidly. "So. Thanks for your help. I'll just. Get out of your hair. I don't want to be a burden on you guys anymore than I already have."
"Hm. That's a shame. We were wondering if you wouldn't mind traveling with us a bit longer," Lapislazuli opined. Winda nodded.
"Yeah, well," Isabel picked up her bag. "I don't really do companions, sorry. Just this little loudmouth." She poked Enzo. He seemed, if anything, to take the acknowledgment as a compliment, letting out a satisfied little 'hm hm!' Winda glanced at Lapislazuli. The Gem-Knight Lady let out a little breath (somehow) and decided to ditch the niceties as they were getting them nowhere.
"It's admirable to not want anyone else to be at ground zero of your next incident," she suddenly said. Isabel stopped what she was doing. "But have you considered not running off to try and get yourself killed again instead."
"..." Isabel quietly clenched a fist at her side. She suddenly regretted talking to this person while she was in a haze earlier - they were a bit more perceptive than she'd thought to give them credit for. "It's none of your concern," she said quietly.
"All I'm saying is that if you travel with us for a bit, you may find a bit more purpose for yourself and your talents than using them to vaporize random scum, injuring yourself, rendering yourself temporarily comatose, waking up and doing the same thing all over again." The Gem-Knight crossed her arms. "Perhaps it is not my concern - but I'm not going to stand here and pretend that's not a terrible waste for the simple sake of politeness."
"You're a Signer, aren't you?" Winda chimed in. There was a small grimace on her face. "That's not any way for someone like you to live." Isabel blinked. She looked down at her arm and pulled up her sleeve. There were bandages partially covering her Tail mark - they must've seen it while they'd been tending to her. That seemed to be all the confirmation Winda needed. "Where's your Dragon?"
"We - we split up a while ago," Isabel said. When she noticed both of them were shocked, she waved a hand. "No - we're still partners. I just decided to travel by myself. She's back on Earth taking care of things there."
"...a Signer who split from its Dragon," Lapislazuli said. "You really don't want anybody to see what you're doing to yourself, do you?" Isabel sighed again. She was really considering just running away at this point. Again, Lapislazuli seemed to be just perceptive enough to preempt that by letting out a sigh herself and taking a few steps away from Isabel and Winda. "I suppose it can't be helped. Winda?"
"...yeah." Winda took a few steps as well. Isabel looked at both of them, confused. Both Duel Monsters held up their arms.
"If it's the heat of battle that you're looking for," Lapislazuli started.
"Then you can fight us," Winda finished. Winds gusted around Winda's arm as a gem set in Lapislazuli's arm glowed brightly. The winds and light took solid shapes and they were both facing Isabel down with Duel Disks.
"..."
Despite herself, Isabel grinned.
"So you took care of me and now you're challenging me?" She asked. She was already sliding her own Duel Disk on.
"I was hoping we could just talk, but this seems to be more your speed." She put a deck into her disk. Winda did the same. "We'll duel with Battle Royale rules. If you win, you can leave. We won't say or do anything. If one of us wins, perhaps just consider staying with us a bit longer?"
"Cheh. That sounds like a crappy deal for me," Isabel said. "You two are friends and you both want the same thing. How do I know you won't just double team me?"
"Somehow, even if we told you right now that's what we were planning, I don't think it'd dissuade you," Lapislazuli said. "But, for the record, Gem-Knights never indulge in such underhanded tactics."
"Heh..." Isabel placed her deck into her disk and activated it. "Guess you've already got me pegged."
"And I'm gonna be trying to beat Lapis just as much as you!" Winda said, grinning. "I still owe her for the last time we dueled."
"Hm? Last time?" Lapislazuli asked. "Winda-chan. If I didn't know better, I'd say you'd meant to use that word in the singular sense."
Winda grimaced.
"The last...couple of..." She kept staring at her companion, who just kept staring right back. "Last few...ugh. Can we start, please?!" Isabel looked between the two of them as they kept talking. Something about it, between Winda's appearance and the casual way the two of them spoke to each other - it really reminded her of two girls she'd known back home.
She blinked a few times. She realized she'd drifted off when Winda was saying something else.
"Alright. I guess I'll start it, then?" She asked.
"By all means," Lapislazuli said, gesturing. Winda cleared her throat and held an arm out.
"Duelists locked in battle! Kicking through the ai-"
"Uh." Isabel held a finger up, interrupting her. "...what the hell are you doing."
"Oh." Winda paused. "Hm. I guess they probably don't have this type of duel where you're from." She rubbed her chin. "Well, just follow along if you can - it'll make itself clear pretty soon!"
"Al...right." Isabel quirked an eyebrow. "Uh. Go ahead then, I guess." Winda smiled and nodded and brought her hand back up.
"Duelists locked in battle!"
"Kicking against the Earth and dancing through the air!" Lapislazuli continued. "They storm through this field!"
"Behold! This is Dueling's greatest evolution!" Then, together, they both spoke, "ACTION..."
"DUEL!"
Winda (8000) vs. Isabel (8000) vs. Lapislazuli (8000)
"I'll start!" Winda grabbed a card from her hand. "I summon Gusto Codor!" A green and white condor appeared, wearing a helmet and a suit of armor (1000/400), letting out a sharp caw. "Turn end!" Isabel started to put a hand to her deck, but paused.
'With Battle Royale rules, nobody can draw or attack the first turn,' she reminded herself, instead grabbing another card from her hand. "My turn. I set a monster in face-down defense position. Turn end."
"My turn." Lapislazuli made the same movement as Isabel. "I'll set one monster and end my turn."
"You guys are playing really tentative," Winda said, pouting a bit. "Starting from this turn, I can draw!" She tore the top card off her deck. "I summon Harpy Lady 1! This monster gives all my WIND monsters 300 ATK!" A pink-haired harpy appeared on Winda's field (1300/1400) and flapped its wings, releasing a gust of wind that empowered both itself and Gusto Codor (Codor: 1300 ATK, Harpy: 1600 ATK). "Gusto Codor attacks your set monster!" Winda said, pointing towards Isabel. The condor swooped down on Isabel's monster - it was revealed to be a pair of cherries that cowered for a second before the bird chomped both of them.
"When Naturia Cherries are destroyed, I can set two more from my deck." Two cards ejected from Isabel's deck. She set them both face down.
"When my Codor destroys a monster, I can Special Summon a Psychic-type monster with 1500 or less defense from my deck!" Winda grinned as her deck ejected a card too. "Come! Windaar, Sage of Gusto!" She dropped the card on her disk and a much more powerful wind roared to life on her field. A man somewhat resembling Winda, wearing the same kind of cloak and with the same color of hair, appeared on her field, wielding an ornate staff with a green gem set at the top of it. He spun the staff a few times, dispelling the gust (2000/1000) > (2300 ATK). Winda pointed her hand over at Lapislazuli's field. "Lapis! Windaar attacks your set monster!"
"Hm." Lapislazuli looked up as Windaar leaped into the air, pointing his staff down at her monster. She did something Isabel didn't expect - she started to run away.
'...the hell's she doing?' Isabel wondered. She stared at Lapislazuli, who seemed to be looking around on the ground.
"Ah - found one." The Gem-Knight slid down, swiping at the grass beneath her and then swinging a hand into her disk. "Action Magic - Miracle!" A Spell card appeared in front of her just as Windaar's attack struck her monster - it was revealed to be a monster hiding in a large gem-encrusted shell (0/2000), but despite its higher ATK, Windaar failed to pierce through it. The Gusto monster and its duelist clicked their tongues at the same time as Windaar returned to its side of the field.
"You got one that quickly - were you looking around before the duel, Lapis?!" Winda demanded.
"Hmmmm." Lapislazuli neglected to answer. Instead, she pointed to her monster. "Gem-Turtle's flip effect. When it's flipped face up, I can add Gem-Knight Fusion to my hand." Her deck ejected a Spell Card - she held it up for them to verify.
"Gah! Whatever - Harpy Lady 1 destroys one of the other Cherries," Winda said sourly. The Harpy clawed one of Isabel's two remaining Cherries. "Turn end!"
"Uh - " Isabel looked from one of her opponents to the other. "...th' fuck was that?!"
"Hm?" Winda asked.
"Rude," Lapislazuli commented.
"You just - how did you do that?! Her monster had a higher ATK and you had no set cards, but it's still there?!" Isabel sputtered. "And that card! Where did that come from - you can't just activate a spell card out of your hand during the opponent's turn!"
"Ah. I didn't." Lapislazuli held up her hand. It was at five cards. Her starting hand, minus Gem-Turtle, plus the Gem-Knight Fusion she'd just added. "See? It'd have one less card if I had, wouldn't it?"
"...then where did that card come from?!"
"Hmmmm." Lapislazuli rubbed her chin. After a couple seconds, Isabel realized no answer was coming.
"Aw - aw man, does she always do this?" Isabel asked.
"Yyyyyyup," Winda said, sounding equally annoyed. "Well - like we said, it'll make itself pretty clear soon!" She assured Isabel. "It's your turn!"
"Hrmg." Isabel put a hand to her deck. 'Does this have something to do with that weird chant they did...?' She narrowed her eyes. 'I gotta figure this out.' "My turn! Draw!" She drew and nodded, throwing her set card down. "I summon Naturia Dragonfly!" (1200/400) "And flip summon Naturia Cherries! I'm tuning my level 1 Naturia Cherries and level 4 Naturia Dragonfly!" She called. The Cherries let out a little call and together split into one ring that surrounded the Dragonfly.
"White tiger, guardian of the west, raise your claws! Shred your enemies!" Light flooded through the ring. "SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 5, Naturia Beast!" When the light parted, a tiger had appeared on Isabel's field, green foliage making up its coat and thick bark making up its legs (2200/1700). The tiger roared challengingly at Winda. She grimaced somewhat and leaped into the air, a gust of wind carrying her towards a tree.
'She's moving now too...che.' "Naturia Beast attacks Harpy Lady 1! TIGERLILY SLASH!" The Beast darted forward, bringing its claws down on the Harpy.
"Action Magic - Avoid!" Winda threw her arm out. "This negates one monster's attack!" Harpy Lady 1 swerved out of the way of Naturia Beast's attack, a grin on its face.
"I don't think so. Naturia Beast's effect! By discarding the top two cards of my deck, the activation of a Spell card is negated!" She took two cards from her deck and placed them into her graveyard. Naturia Beast immediately caught up to Harpy Lady 1 and ripped it in two with a flick of its claws (Winda: 7400 LP).
"Sheesh...I thought you'd be too distracted to think to do that," Winda admitted
"Hrmph. You shouldn't underestimate me. Back on Earth, I was pretty good at this." She looked back up at the tree Winda had just been in. "...you're picking cards up and immediately activating them, huh?" Winda smiled.
"...you're pretty quick."
"Well, you made it pretty obvious that time," Isabel said, a little annoyed. "So is this what that 'Action Duel' stuff meant?"
"Heeeh - yup!" Winda nodded. "An Action Duel is a duel where monsters and duelists work together to do battle! And the duelist can move around the field with their monsters and pick these up." A card ejected from her graveyard, it was the spell she'd just tried to activated. "These are Action Cards. They're bits of floating Duel Energy that take solid form when a duelist gets near them and turn into a card when a duelist touches them!"
"Did you have to explain the whole thing at once?" Lapislazuli asked.
"Well, she was already most of the way there," Winda said back, frowning and putting the spell card back in her graveyard.
"...heh." Isabel grabbed a card from her hand. "...that's pretty interesting. Set one card. Turn end."
"Draw. Reverse card, open. Soul Transition." Lapislazuli's Gem-Turtle immediately burst into bright, colorful flames. "By tributing a normal summoned monster, I can draw two cards. But I can't Special Summon this turn." She drew two more cards. "Summon Gem Armadillo." An armadillo with several garnet gems set into its body, coiling itself into a defensive posture (1700/500). "When Gem-Armadillo is summoned, I can add a Gem-Knight to my hand." Her deck ejected a card. She held it up. "I add Gem-Knight Lapis."
"When you normal summon that card, I special summon this. Naturia Cosmobeet." A little beetroot with several flowers blooming out of it appeared on Isabel's field, also crouching defensively. (1000/700)
"Turn end," Lapislazuli said.
"My turn. Draw!" Winda grinned at her drawn card. "Tuner monster - Gusto Egul!" (200/400) "I'm tuning Gusto Egul and Gusto Codor!" The smaller of the two birds became a ring that surrounded the larger. "Spread your wings of "Hope" and bring power to our allies! SYNCHRO SUMMON!" Winda held her hand up. "Level 4! DAIGUSTO FALCOS!" A much larger green-feathered armored falcon with a young man riding it appeared, screeching loudly (1400/1200). "Falcos' effect! All of my Gusto monsters gain 600 ATK!" Winda declared as both of her monsters gained strength from the winds Daigusto Falcos' was kicking up (2600 ATK, 2000 ATK). Winda didn't waste any time, pointing at Isabel's own Synchro monster. "Windaar attacks Naturia Beast!"
"Reverse card, open! Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" Isabel's card flipped up. A scarecrow made of junk and scrap metal appeared, taking Windaar's staff upside its head.
"Guhhh, you guys are never gonna let me use Windaar's effect, are you..." Winda pouted, then still a litte sour, ordered, "Falcos destroys Naturia Cosmobeet!" The Falcon swooped down and grabbed Cosmobeet in its claws, crushing it. "Set two cards. Turn end!"
"My turn!" Isabel drew. "I summon Naturia Marron. Its effect sends Naturia Butterfly from my deck to my graveyard!" Her deck ejected the card, which she immediately slid into her graveyard. "Then I activate Naturia Marron's other effect, sending two of my Naturia Cherries back to my deck to draw 1!" She shuffled both of the monsters back into her deck and drew. "Then, reverse card open! Powerful Rebirth! Tis secial summons a level four or lower monster from my graveyard and increases its level by 1 and its ATK by 100! Revive, Cosmobeet!" (1100/700/LV3)
"Aaaahhh...I know where this is going," Winda muttered, flipping one of her set cards. "Fiendish Chain." Very matter-of-factly, a bunch of chains came out, snaring up Naturia Beast.
"Cheh. You interrupted my move!" Isabel snapped.
"Well if I'd waited a couple more seconds, you would've negated it," Winda shot (more like 'lobbed') back.
"Guh...whatever! I'm tuning my now level 3 Cosmobeet with my level 3 Marron!" Cosmobeet's flowers perked up as it split into three rings that surrounded Marron. "Azure Dragon, guardian of the East, bear your fangs! Shatter all defenses! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 6, NATURIA BARKION!"
This time, the light parting was accompanied by a loud roar as a large, serpentine dragon flew on to Isabel's field, (2500/1700). Isabel wasted no time leaping on to the monster's back.
"Go through the field with your monsters, huh...? Alright, then! Let's go, Barkion!" She said, giving her monster a pat. It flew up and into the trees. Isabel scanned them until she saw one of them - nestled in a tree branch. It almost looked like a normal card, but had an 'A' emblazoned on the back. She reached out her hand and snagged it, flipping it over. When she saw what it was, she grinned.
"Here we go. Action Magic - Forest Charm! It increases my monster's ATK by 800 during the battle phase!" Barkion began to let out another roar as the Action Magic took effect and a clip with a bright pink flower appeared on its head. The dragon very abruptly stopped roaring and turned to look back at Isabel. It was grimacing.
"...I didn't design the card, dude," she said. Barkion narrowed its eyes at her. Isabel scratched her head. "...w-well it's already on, so...y'gotta deal with it?" The dragon-type let out a breath through its snout, before turning its head. Apparently, it was relenting. Isabel smirked a little and pointed at Winda. "Alright, Naturia Barkion attacks Windaar! BARK BURST!" Barkion roared and fired a green blast of breath down at Windaar. Winda was already in motion.
'There!' Winda jumped into the air and snatched a card from a tree, snapping it into her disk. "Action Magic - Dive Save! When you declare an attac, I can special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard and change the attack to that monster! Revive, Gusto Egul!" Suddenly, a tiny little bird leaped out valiantly in front of Windaar, taking the brunt of Barkion's attack. When it was destroyed, Winda smiled. "When Gusto Egul is destroyed, I special summon Winda, Priestess of Gusto from my deck!" She dropped a card from her deck on her disk and a monster that looked exactly like her appeared, kneeling down with its staff held defensively (1000/400).
"Cheeeeh...s'why you used Fiendish Chain, huh?" Isabel asked.
"Yuup! My speed and sight are my best attributes," Winda said, wagging a finger, sounding just a little satisfied with herself. "I'm really good at finding Action Cards! That Beast was really cramping my style."
"Hrmph. Set one card. Turn end."
"My turn. Draw," Lapislazuli said. "I summon Gem-Knight Sardonyx in defense position." An onyx Gem-Knight wielding a large flail appeared, kneeling down next to Gem-Armadillo (1800/900). Winda frowned and started running again. Lapislazuli didn't seem to pay it any heed. "Turn en-"
"Oh no you don't!" Winda said, snapping up another card. "Action Magic - Forest Lure! I can target one monster you control - it has to attack this turn! And you can't skip your Battle Phase! I target Sardonyx!" She declared as the Gem-Knight abruptly stood into attack position.
"Ah. I see," Lapislazuli said evenly.
"Heeeh. You can't stay on the sidelines forever, Lapis!" Winda crowed.
"I suppose you're right. Equip Spell - Supervise. This treats Sardonyx as an effect monster and grants him his effect," Lapislazuli explained as Sardonyx began spinning his flail. "Sardonyx attacks Winda, Priestess of Gusto." The Gem-Knight ran forward. Winda made no move as the flail came down, crushing her double. "When Sardonyx has its effect and destroys a monster by battle, I can add a Gem-Knight to my hand. I'll add Gem-Knight Topaz."
"When Winda is destroyed, I can Special Summon Gusto Gulldo in defense position!" Winda declared in turn (500/500). Then, she held up another card. "Here comes another - Action Magic: Forest Lure!"
"Ehhh, she wasn't kidding," Isabel muttered. She hadn't even seen when Winda had picked up that one.
"I'm targeting your Gem-Armadillo too!" Winda said as the small Rock monster stood into attack position.
"Alright then. Gem-Armadillo attacks Gusto Gulldo." The armadillo pounced on Gusto Gulldo, destroying it, again accomplishing exactly what Winda wanted.
"I special summon Gusto Egul in defense position!" (200/400)
'She's using the Action Cards to make us attack the smallfry Gusto monsters...so they can search out new ones and she can load up her graveyard.' Isabel narrowed her eyes. 'She's probably all set up now.'
"I set two cards," Lapislazuli said. "Turn end." Winda grinned and put a hand to the top of her deck.
"I'll hit you both on this turn," she said. "It's my turn. Draw! I summon Caam, Serenity of Gusto!" (1700/1000)
'Here it comes. She's gonna tune them...!' Isabel thought, bracing herself. Winda brought a hand up.
"I'm overlaying my level 4 Caam and Daigusto Falcos!" She declared. The two Gustos became purple motes of light that flew into a yellow vortex that had opened in front of Winda.
"Overlay?!" Isabel repeated.
"With these two monsters, I construct the overlay network!" Winda said. "Legendary blade, come rest in my hand! Cut down everything with the roar of one thousand birds! XYZ SUMMON!" The vortex pulsated and a bolt of lightning came roaring out of it, striking Winda. In her waiting hand, a sword formed. She swung the sword once and the lightning bent and took shape in the form of a crackling blue bird (1900/1600). "Lightning Chidori's first effect!" Winda snapped the blade at Isabel's field. The bird shrieked and flapped its wings, sending a gust of lightning-tinged wind at Isabel's set card. "I can send a set card to the bottom of my opponent's deck. I choose that Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" She declared. The gust knocked the card off the field. Isabel grimaced and placed it at the bottom of her deck. "Lightning Chidori's second effect! I detach one of its overlay units!" One of the blue orbs circling the bird burst. Winda swung the sword again. The Chidori sent a bolt of lightning at Naturia Barkion, causing it to immediately buckle. "Then I return one card to the top of your deck!" Barkion roared in pain as it vanished out from under Isabel, causing her to drop to the ground.
"Barkion is a Synchro monster...it returns to my Extra Deck," Isabel muttered, knowing that was the point.
"With him gone, you can't seal my traps anymore. Reverse card open, Blessings for Gusto! I can return two Gusto from my graveyard to my deck to Special Summon a third Gusto from my graveyard!" Isabel grimaced, knowing this was why she'd loaded up her graveyard with so many small monsters. "I return Gusto Codor and Winda, Priestess of Gusto to revive Caam, Serenity of Gusto!" (1700/1000) "I'm tuning my level 4 Caam, Serenity of Gusto with my level 1 Gusto Egul!" Egul split into one ring and surrounded Caam. "Spread your wings and release the divine wind that will shatter your enemies! SYNCHRO SUMMON! Level 5!" Winda leaped into the air as light flooded her field. When the light parted, she landed on her summoned monster, a massive green bird of prey wearing war armor. "DAIGUSTO GULLDOS!" (2200/800)
"Xyz, immediately followed by Synchro, huh...?" Isabel had a small smirk that immediately turned to a grimace. She started running.
"I'm coming for you first!" Winda grinned. "Gulldos' effect! I retun Gusto Egul and Caam to my deck to target 1 face-up monster and destroy it!" As Winda added the two cards to her deck, Gulldos let out a shriek and flapped its wings at Isabel's field, sending a violent whirlwind at the pinned down Naturia Beast.
"Isabel - here y'go!" Enzo called out, getting Isabel's attention. He tossed a card to her. She immediately threw it into her disk.
"Action Magic - Mirror Barrier! This stops a monster from being destroyed by an effect once!" A spherical barrier appeared around Naturia Beast, intercepting and dispersing the whirlwind. Isabel grinned and gave a thumbs up back to Enzo.
"Hrmph - but that only stops one effect destruction! Get it, Windaar!" Winda called. Windaar leaped at Naturia Beast. Isabel kept looking for another card, but came up empty as Windaar struck her Beast upside the head, destroying it (Isabel: 7600 LP). "When Windaar destroys a monster by battle, I can special summon a level 3 or lower Gusto from my graveyard in face-down defense position! I set Gusto Egul from my graveyard!" Winda smiled and pointed at Isabel's field. "Now, you're wide open! Let's go, Gulldos! DIRECT ATTACK!" Gulldos spread its wings again and dove down at Isabel. Isabel looked around another second and let out a curse, giving up on getting an Action Card.
"Reverse card, open! Limit Reverse! I special summon a monster with less than 1000 ATK from my graveyard! Special Summon, Naturia Butterfly!" A pink butterfly appeared in front of Isabel (500/1200) and waved two of its six arms at Winda. While her monster appeared, Isabel kept moving. "Once per turn, Naturia Butterfly can negate an attack by sending the top card of my deck to the graveyard!" She pitched her top card. "NECTAR BARRIER!" Her butterfly spread its wings wide and a glittering golden shield shaped like a sunflower appeared in front of it - Gulldos rammed into the barrier and then drew back, retreating.
"Cheh...that's a tuner, isn't it...?" Winda muttered. She swung the sword still in her hand. "Lightning Chidori attacks Naturia Butterfly! LIGHTNING CUTTER!" Lightning Chidori screeched and swooped down at the butterfly next in concert with Winda's swing. This time, Isabel was ready.
"Action Magic: Miracle! This halves the damage from one battle and stops one monster I control from being destroyed by battle!" An aura surrounded her butterfly just as Lightning Chidori struck it...
"Eeeehheeeeeeeee!"
...and still shocked it pretty good, leaving little plumes of smoke coming off its antennae. When the attack was done, it let out a smoky cough (Isabel: 6700 LP).
"Aaah, you actually interceped all my attacks!" Winda said, frustrated. She pouted and looked in Lapislazuli's direction. Lapislazuli just waved to her. "I didn't even get to attack Lapis..." she muttered. "Turn end."
"Hey...you're gonna wanna keep your eyes over here." Isabel said. A grin spread over her face. She was fully into this now. "My turn. Draw!" She glanced at her drawn card - a spell, and nodded. "I summon Naturia Fruitfly!" (800/1500) "Then I activate the spell, Naturia Re-Planting! By banishing two Naturia Synchro monsters from my graveyard, I can special summon 2 level 4 or lower Naturia monsters from my deck! But during this turn, I can't special summon anything except EARTH monsters." Barkion and Beast's cards vanished from her graveyard. "I offer Barkion and Beast's souls! Special Summon - Naturia Mantis and Naturia Rosewhip!" (1700/1500) (400/1500) As the number of Naturias on her field grew, the monsters on Winda and Lapislazuli's field started to keel over. Gulldos in particular dropped right to the ground.
"Eh? What's going on?!" Winda asked.
"Naturia Fruitfly's effect," Isabel said, pointing to her literal fruit fly. "All your monsters lose 300 ATK and DEF for each Naturia monster I control. With four, your Gulldos has lost just about everything." It was true, the formerly imposing Gusto now barely looked like it could move. (1000/0) "And when you contol a monster with 0 DEF, Fruitfly can take control of it!" Winda gasped as her Gulldos vanished out from under her and appeared on Isabel's side of the field. Winda grimaced - she knew what was coming.
"Two tuners..." She looked between Rosewhip and Butterfly.
"Now it's my turn to show off. I'm tuning my level 3 Naturia Rosewhip and level 4 Daigusto Gulldos!" Rosewhip giggled as it split into three rings, surrounding Gulldos. "Rise from the trash heap, release your metal roar and rule over a kingdom of scrap! SYNCHRO SUMMON! LEVEL 8, SCRAP DRAGON!" The light parted and a dragon of welded together scrap metal rose over the forest, roaring loudly (2800/2000). Isabel held a hand out towards her other three monsters. "Here comes another! I'm tuning my level 4 Naturia Mantis and Level 3 Naturia Fruitfly with my level 3 Naturia Butterfly!" Her butterfly split into three rings, surrounding the Mantis and Fruitfly. The two insects became six points of light as Isabel leaped into the air. "King of the beasts, cloak yourself in the armor of the ouroboros! When the blood of the wild is spilled, release your earth-shattering power! SYNCHRO SUMMON!" (3+3+4=10) "LEVEL 10! LEO, THE KEEPER OF THE SACRED TREE!"
A massive shockwave shook the forest the three of them were standing in, followed by an equally loud roar. When the light cleared, Isabel was standing astride a giant lion with a mane made of flowers and a shimmering suit of armor covering its body. (3100/1900)
"How's this?!" Isabel asked, a big grin plastered on her face. "I couldn't show you guys my ace because of Naturia Re-Planting's effect, but I like this guy a lot too!"
"Impressive," Lapislazuli conceded. Winda was already on the move.
"Oi! I remember that 'I'll start with you' crap! I'm not letting you get away!" Isabel said. "Scrap Dragon's effect! I destroy Limit Reverse and destroy Gusto Egul!" Limit Reverse, now useless, shattered and Scrap Dragon roared, flapping its wings and sending the shrapnel from the destroyed card at Gusto Egul, wiping it out.
'She used cards like Limit Reverse and Powerful Rebirth to revive her monsters...now they're fodder for Scrap Dragon's effect,' Lapislazuli noted, only to herself. 'And destroying Egul with an effect like that stops its effect from activating and stops Winda's loop.'
"Here I come! Leo, attack Lightning Chidori!" The two horns on the front of Leo's armor began crackling with white energy as it ran at Winda. Winda leaped up into the trees, grabbing a card from one and activating it.
"Action Magic: Avoid!" She immediately leaped out of the tree as Leo tore it into splinters right there. "Your attack's negated!" She knew that wasn't it and dove to another tree.
"Cheh - I'm not letting you use that annoying spin effect again! SCRAP DRAGON!" She ordered. High above, Scrap Dragon opened its mouth. Two pipes came from its wings, exhaling a cloud of gas. A spark came out of scrap Dragon's mouth, igniting the cloud and sending a stream of flame down at Winda. She spun and faced the flames head-o.
"Action Magic: Miracle!" The flames hit her and her Chidori, but with a defensive aura surrounding both of them, they weathered it. (Winda: 6950 LP) When the attack was over, Winda let out a breath. "Now all three of us have used that one."
"Tch...you've been leaning on those things way more than me. Don't act like we're equal in that regard!" She said. She couldn't help but note, Winda had completely intercepted her attacks the same way Isabel had done to her a moment ago. But, she then glanced over at Lapislazuli.
'I've been focusing on the other one. But she's been quietly gathering up cards this whole time. Is she gonna make her move soon?' "...turn end."
"My turn. Draw." Lapislazuli drew her card. "You two have been going at each other quite fiercely," she said. There was respect for her opponents in the tone. "But." She dropped a card on her disk: Gem-Knight Tourmaline (1600/1800). "I think I've been in the background biding my time long enough..." She played a spell next: Ancient Rules. Gem-Knight Crystal appeared on her field (2450/1950).
"Uhhh ohh..." Winda muttered, an anxious look on her face.
"This turn...I'll hit you both the same amount of times." She took a card from her hand. With her next move, she began moving incredibly fast, to the point Isabel was only just able to keep up. "Magic Card - Particle Fusion! I conduct a fusion summon of a Gem-Knight monster with monsters I control, those being Crystal and Tourmaline!" The two Gem-Knights rose into the air and touched their hands together. "Gem tinged with lightning! Crystal of noble leadership! In a whirlpool of light, combine to create a dazzling radiance!" The two gems swirled together, creating a yellow and blue spiral. "Fusion Summon! Level 6, the pursuer of victory! Gem-Knight Topaz!" The new Gem-Knight was yellow, with a brilliantly glimmering topaz set in his chest and a sword in each of his hands (1800/1800). "Particle Fusion's effect! I can banish Particle Fusion and select a card that was used in its fusion! Then the summoned Fusion Monster gains that material's effect! I grant Topaz the ATK of Crystal!" A shilouette of Crystal appeared over Topaz and turned into a white aura (Topaz: 4250 ATK).
"4250...?!" Isabel exclaimed. 'That's bad...that thing can attack twice and has a Flame Wingman effect...!'
"Now - I control two monsters of the same level as well! I overlay Gem-Armadillo and Gem-Knight Sardonyx!" The two monsters became purple orbs of light and sunk into a yellow vortex that opened in front of Lapislazuli. "Stone polished to a shining luster, arise and become a champion of justice! Xyz Summon! Rank 4, Gem-Knight Pearl!" A warrior with glimmering, almost reflective pearl skin appeared before Lapislazuli, arms crossed as two white orbs slowly circled around it (2600/1900). "Supervise's effect activates! When it's sent to the graveyard, I can special summon a normal monster from my graveyard! Revive, Gem-Knight Crystal!" (2450/1950) "Then, activate Oni-Gami Combo! I detach both of Pearl's overlay units!" Both of the orbs around Pearl shattered and vanished, replaced by a fiery orange aura. Lapislazuli turned to Isabel. "Topaz! Attack Leo, Keeper of the Sacred Tree!"
Isabel didn't even have time to turn Leo around and look for an Action Card before Topaz was on top of her, booting her off her monster and cutting right through its armor, neatly bifurcating it. The explosion sent Isabel for a tumble into the ground (Isabel: 5550 LP).
"Topaz's effect! You take damage equal to your monster's effect - 3100!" Topaz swung its blade at Isabel as a bolt of lighting struck her. She grimaced and grunted, but took the hit without anymore reaction than that (Isabel: 2450 LP). Lapislazuli continued on, pointing at Winda. "Topaz attacks Windaar!" Again, Topaz moved blindingly fast, getting in front of Windaar and slicing the sage in two. The shockwave knocked Winda over (Winda: 5300 LP), "Topaz's effect!" and the bolt of lightning got her to let out a squawk of pain (Winda: 3300 LP). "Next - Crystal destroys Lightning Chidori!" There was little Winda could do to defend her monster from her place on the ground, so Crystal swung a chopping arm right through Chidori, the force of the strike knocking the sword right out of Winda's hand and shattering it (Winda: 2750 LP).
"You said you'd attack us the same amount of times, Lapis...!" Winda whined.
"I did," Lapislazuli conceded. She held up an Action Card - in all the fray, neither Isabel or Winda had any clue when she'd picked it up. "Action Magic - Forest Charm. Pearl's ATK is increased by 800." A clip with a flower appeared on Pearl's head and, in defiance of any law of physics, stayed there (Pearl: 3400 ATK). "Pearl attacks Scrap Dragon!" The Gem-Knight kicked off of the ground and soared high into the air. Scrap Dragon released another stream of fire, but Pearl simply raised a fist up and shot straight though it, unharmed and unfettered. Once it was through the flames, it uppercutted Scrap Dragon in the head, destroying it (Isabel: 1850 LP). Isabel released a breath.
"Is that it...?" She asked, dreading that it wasn't. Lapislazuli responded by holding a hand out, flipping one of her cards up.
"Trap card, Fragment Fusion. This card conducts a Fusion-Summon of a Gem-Knight monster by banishing the materials from my graveyard! I banish Gem-Armadillo and Gem-Knight Sardonyx!" The two cards vanished from her graveyard. "Fusion Summon! Bewitching and dazzling splendor, level 8! Gem-Knight Zirconia!" A knight with two massive gauntlets appeared in front of Isabel, a large zirconia set in each one and another in its chest (2900/2500). It was already raising one of its gauntlets up towards her. "Zirconia, direct attack!"
"Gh - when my opponent activates a trap!" Isabel declared. "By sending the top card of my deck to the graveyard - I can summon Naturia Rock from my hand!" She dropped the card on her disk as quickly as she could, placing her monster in defense position (1200/1200). The small rock monster was destroyed instantly by Zirconia. Isabel let out a breath of relief.
"No more monsters and no time to get an Action Card and you still managed to pull out of it," Lapislazuli said. Again, she changed her attention, looking back at Winda. "Oni-Gami Combo's effect. When I detached all of Pearl's Xyz materials, he gained the ability to attack twice in one battle phase." She pointed at Winda. "Pearl, direct attack!"
"G-guh! Hold on! Reverse card, open!" Winda sputtered. "Emergency Teleport! I special summon Pilica, Descendant of Gusto from my deck!" A gateway opened in front of Winda and a small green and red-haired psychic-type floated out, adopting a defensive posture (1000/1500). "When Pilica is summoned, I can special summon a WIND tuner from my graveyard! Revive, Gusto Gulldo!" (500/500) Pearl, who up until that point had been ready to rush Winda and punch the stuffing out of her, stopped short in front of Pilica. Pilica looked up at the Gem-Knight, wide-eyed. Eventually, it let out a sigh and very, very, very lightly jabbed Pilica in the shoulder with its fist. Pilica let out a little 'ah!' and shattered. Winda let out a tangible breath of relief and started to pull herself up.
"You two both survived three of my attacks!" Lapislazuli said. "You're both proving quite tenacious. I guess I'll just have to hope I get another turn," she conceded. "The monster summoned by Fragment Fusion is destroyed during my end phase and the monster empowered by Fragment Fusion returns to its original ATK." Zirconia shattered and Topaz slumped over slightly (Topaz: 1800 ATK). "Turn end."
"Guh...you shoulda finished me off, Lapis! I won't let you get another turn! DRAW!" She snapped the top card off her deck. "I turn Gusto Gulldo to attack position!" Her small, very un-threatening bird monster flapped up into the air and squawked proudly. Isabel squinted, but Winda proceded nonetheless. "I activate One For One! By discarding a monster from my hand, I can special summon a level 1 monster from my deck! I discard Gusto Griffin to Special Summon Gusto Egul!" Another small bird appeared on her field, next to Gulldo (200/400). "And when Gusto Griffin is discarded from my hand, I can special summon one Gusto monster from my deck! Special summon Reeze, Whirlwind of Gusto!" A fierce wind blew to life on Winda's field, heralding a new monster, another Psychic-type, this one green and red-haired like Pilica but considerably older (1900/1400). "Reeze's effect. I can send a card from my hand to the bottom of my deck to switch control of one of my monsters and one of yours! I send Gulldo to your field and take Pearl!"
"Ah." Lapislazuli nodded as Gusto Gulldo floated over to her field and Pearl leaped over to Winda's. "So this is why you turned it to attack position. This is a new tactic for you."
"I'm not done!" Winda said. "I'm tuning Gusto Egul and Reese!" Egul split into a ring that surrounded Reeze. "Powerful whirlwind, accept the power of the angels! Blast back the opposition with your everlasting wind!" Instead of light, a massive whirlwind appeared on Winda's field. "SYNCHRO SUMMON! LEVEL 6, DAIGUSTO SPHREEZE!" The whirlwind exploded outwards as Reeze dropped back on to Winda's field, now wearing a suit of gold and white armor (2000/1300). "When Sphreeze is summoned, I can add a Gusto from my graveyard to my hand!" Once again, Egul came out of her graveyard and went into her hand before immediately dropping on to her field. "Gusto Egul, in attack position!" (200/400)
"Attack position again?" Lapislazuli asked.
"That's right! Pearl! Attack Gulldo!" Pearl raced forward and punched the daylights out of Winda's former monster in one swing (Lapislazuli: 5900 LP). Lapislazuli dusted herself off a bit once the shockwave hit her. "When Gusto Gulldo is destroyed and sent to my graveyard, I special summon Winda, Priestess of Gusto from my deck!" This time, she hopped on to the field herself alongside her monsters.
"...I see," Lapislazuli muttered.
"Winda, Priestess of Gusto attacks Gem-Knight Crystal!" Winda called as she raced forward and swung her staff forward. There was a loud CLANG as Crystal blocked it. But rather than counterattack, it simply released her staff and pointed down at her Duel Disk.
[MAIN PHASE 2]
"E-eh?! What's this?! I'm not done with the battle phase yet!"
"Ah." Lapislazuli held something up. "I activated Action Magic: Great Escape. It ends the Battle Phase." As she and Winda were only a couple feet from each other, she held the card out for Winda to verify herself. Winda stared for a second, before she started fuming.
"Wh-when did you even find that?! Have you been stockpiling these?! You know you can only have on Action Card in your hand at a time, right!"
"Oh, I got it during your Synchro Summon," Lapislazuli explained matter of factly. "You were so dramatic with it, and I didn't recognize the monster. I figured if I let you do as you please with it, it'd end badly for me." She pointed at Winda, then at crystal. "If I had let that attack go through...something bad would've happened, right?" Winda just drooped over, her arms at her sides.
"When Daigusto Sphreeze is on the field, you'd take all damage from a battle with a Gusto monster that I'd normally take..." She muttered.
"Ah. Yes, that would've done me in for sure," Lapislazuli said with a nod. Winda let out a sad, frustrated breath. Crystal gave her a pat on the shoulder.
"Turn end," Winda solemnly muttered eventually as she walked back over to her own field.
"Draw!" Isabel snapped the top card off her deck. "She's right about one thing. I'm not letting you go again. Summon Naturia Pumpkin! And by its effect, Naturia Mosqutio!" A green pumpkin appeared, immediately flanked by a small mosquito (1400/800), (200/300). "Next, I activate Mosquito Bite! By reducing the ATK of a Naturia monster I control to 0, I can special summon one level 4 or lower Naturia Monster from my graveyard! I revive Naturia Cliff!" A rock with pink grass and mushrooms growing on top of its head appeared (1500/1000).
"Ahah." Lapislazuli tapped her chin. "You discarded him earlier, didn't you?"
"Yeah. For Rock's effect," Isabel said. "When he's destroyed, I can summon another level 4 or lower Naturia monster from my deck! And when I control Naturia Mosquito, you take any battle damage I would've taken from battles with other Naturia Monsters! It's not as efficient as that annoying Sphreeze combo, but it's enough to take out the rest of your life points! Pumpkin, attack Crystal!" The pumpkin began weakly rolling towards Crystal.
"Reverse card open. Gem-Enhancement." Crystal began to glow, then shattered all at once. It was replaced with a crouching Tourmaline (1800 DEF). "By tributing a Gem-Knight from my graveyard, I can special summon another from my graveyard. Sorry, but with Topaz in defense position, you won't be able to start a loop on me. You could attack Topaz if you wish, but..."
"It'll deal way more damage to me than I'll deal to you..." Isabel said and let out a grunt of frustration. She knew she was in a bad position now, but at the least, with Cliff and Mosquito, she was protected from battle damage. Best to just get in what she could now. "Pumpkin and Cliff attack Tourmaline!" Both of her monsters ran up and bounced off the defending Gem-Knight, which just looked kind of perturbed by the situation it was in. Again, Lapislazuli seemed nonchalant about the damage she was taking (Lapislazuli: 3700 LP). "...turn end."
"Draw." Lapislazuli glanced around the field. "It seems like I can't damage either of you by battle." Much of a problem as that seemed to be at first glance, she didn't sound worried. "I suppose I'll just have to get involved directly, then." She held a card up. "I activate Gem-Knight Fusion. By sending monsters from my hand or field to the graveyard, I can Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight monster!" She held up two cards from her hand. "I send Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Lazuli from my hand to the graveyard!" Two young Gem-Knights appeared in front of Lapislazuli, both of them somewhat resembling her. "Blue and gem stones that hide mysterious power, become light and appear!" The two knights came together in a spiral of blue and green light. "Fusion Summon! Level 5, Gem-Knight Lady Lapislazuli!" Lapislazuli stepped out on to the field herself, joining her monsters (2400/1000)
"She got on the field herself..." Isabel muttered.
"Lazuli's effect. When it's sent to the graveyard by a card effect, I can add a normal monster in my graveyard to my hand. I add Crystal. Then, I activate Absorb Fusion. I can add a Gem-Knight from my deck to my hand and then conduct a fusion summon of a Gem-Knight by banishing monsters from my field or hand." A card ejected itself from her deck. "I add Gem-Knight Alexandrite to my hand. Then I banish Alexandrite, Crystal and Tourmaline!" The three gem-knights all floated up above her. "Gem with facets of day and knight. Gem tinged with lightning. Crystal of noble leadership! In a whirlpool of light, combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance!" The three gems swirled togeher. Lapislazuli brought her hands up together, then pulled them down in front of her. "FUSION SUMMON! My comrade who illuminates all with his supreme radiance! Level 9! GEM-KNIGHT MASTER DIAMOND!" A brilliant light came from the whirlpool above her and out stepped a massive knight with diamonds set all through his armor and a broadsword with seven gems set throughout the blade. He stood next to Lapislazuli, planting his blade in the ground (2900/2500). "Normally, Master Diamond would gain ATK for each Gem-Knight in my graveyard, but as we're not doing any battling right now, I'll skip that," Lapislazuli said. "I activate Gem-Knight Lady Lapislauli's effect." The slot for her Extra Deck opened on her Duel Disk. "I can send a Gem-Knight monster from my deck or Extra Deck to the graveyard and inflict 500 damage to my opponent for each special summoned monster on the field."
"For each Special Summoned monster...?" Winda repeated. She blinked and looked throughout the field.
Lapislazuli's field: Gem-Knight Lady Lapislazuli, Gem-Knight Master Dia, Gem-Knight Topaz (3)
Winda's field: Daigusto Sphreeze, Winda Priestess of Gusto, Gem-Knight Pearl (3)
Isabel's field: Naturia Mosquito, Naturia Cliff (2)
8 special summoned monsters total. and 8 x 500 was...
"Ohhhh, Winda-chan~," Lapislazuli said airily as she turned towards her traveling companion and waved to her.
"....ack." Winda turned and leaped, trying to get back into the trees.
"Lapislazuli's effect, activate!" Lapislazuli placed the card from her Extra Deck into her graveyard. The gem set in her chest glowed brightly and released a burst of blue light that caught Winda in the back before she could get away. She hit the ground on her stomach and let out a groan.
(Winda: 0000 LP - DEFEAT)
"Geez..." Isabel grimaced. Then, something occurred to her. "...wait. What did you discard for that effect?!" She demanded.
"Ah. Seems like you figured it out." Lapislazuli held up her Duel Disk. "I activate Gem-Knight Master Diamond's effect. By banishing a level 7 or lower Gem-Knight fusion monster from my graveyard, he gains that monster's name and effect until the end of the turn! I banish the Lapislazuli I just sent from my Extra Deck to the graveyard!" Another copy of her own card was banished from the graveyard as a shilouette appeared over Master Diamond, cueing it to lift its sword from the graveyard. "Then I activate mmy effect once more! By discarding a Gem-Knight monster from my deck or extra deck, I deal 500 damage for each Special Summoned monster on the field!"
"There's five on the field now..." Isabel grimaced. She didn't move, she just let out a sigh and grabbed her forehead as Master Diamond raised its sword and swung it at the ground, sending a huge shockwave at her. "Crap."
The shockwave lifted Isabel into the air and deposited her back down on her stomach.
(Isabel: 0000 LP - DEFEAT)
(Lapislazuli - WIN)
"Urgh....dammit," Isabel grumbled. Much as she'd gotten into the duel while it was going on, now that it was over, her mood had plummeted in a hurry again. She punched the ground once and started to push herself up, her other hand coming up over her eyes. She paused when she saw a shadow next to her. She turned her head and saw Lapislazuli offering her a hand. "What?" She bit off.
"I'm sorry. When I'm dueling, I have a habit of getting a bit too into it. It's unbefitting for a friendly duel like this was," she said. And, seeming to notice how crappy Isabel was suddenly feeling, she continued, "And if it caused me to offend a pretty maiden like you, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself as a knight."
"..." Isabel blinked a couple times. Whatever she'd been expecting the Gem-Knight to say, that wasn't it.
"Ah, boy," Winda said and rolled her eyes. Lapislazuli seemed to expect her to get up on her own just fine, so that's what she did.
"...cheh." Isabel looked away and reached out, grabbing the hand of Lapislazuli, who helped her up.
"Are you alright?" Lapislazuli asked, a tinge of concern in her voice.
"Yeah. I'm...I'm fine," Isabel muttered, wiping her eye with one hand. "It's just - I don't." She sighed. "I'm just kinda hung up over this duel I had a while ago that ended badly. And...I haven't had a duel just for fun in a long time. And now..." She sighed. "It's over. And I'm just kinda bummed out, I guess." Lapislazuli let out a sigh.
"I see. That is a problem." Isabel responded by looping her hands behind her head.
"I dunno what all that crap you guys were talking about was, about finding a 'purpose'. But I guess I can stick with you for a while. If you'll show me more of this Action Dueling stuff, anyway." That got a big smile out of Winda and though her expression was significantly harder to discern, the same sentiment seemed to apply to Lapislazuli.
"YAAAY!" Enzo cheered as he hooked on to the side Isabel's head, getting a small "urk." out of her. "We got some traveling buddies! Oooh, oh, if we meet some Allies of Justice, can they join us too?!"
"NO," Isabel said flatly. Enzo's wings and antennae drooped slightly.
"Oh. So, can I ask you something?" Winda asked.
"Uh, sure," Isabel said as she removed her Duel Disk and then popped Enzo off of her head.
"...what exactly is a 'Suguru'?"
"Oh. Uh. She's a friend of mine from back on Earth. She plays Gusto and she...kiiiiinda looks a lot like you?"
"A human who looks like me? Interesting...! Maybe I should go to Earth some day and meet her!"
"Do you know anybody who resembles me?"
"Well, uh. I know this one girl who plays Gem-Knights, but...she doesn't look that much like you." Beat. "...most humans don't really look anything like you."
"Ah, I see. You're saying my looks are so unique that nobody else can match them...I understand completely."
---
Action Magic: Forest Charm
Normal Spell
Target 1 monster on the field; it gains 800 ATK during the Battle Phase only.
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Art: A hairclip with a glowing pink flower set in it.
Action Magic: Dive Save
Normal Spell
When an opponent's monster declares an attack: You can Special Summon 1 level 4 or lower monster from your graveyard and change the attack to that target.
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Art: A little black caricature diving valiantly in front of another caricature to protect it from harm.
Action Magic: Forest Lure
Normal Spell
Target 1 monster your opponent controls; if that monster is in defense position, change it to attack position and it must attack this turn. Your opponent must conduct their Battle Phase this turn.
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Art: A little wood nymph being attacked by a big dragon. There's a barely concealed trap hole between the two of them.
Naturia Re-Planting
Normal Spell
Banish up to 2 "Naturia" Synchro monsters from your graveyard to Special Summon the same number of level 4 or lower "Naturia" monsters from your deck. During the turn you activate this card, you cannot Special Summon other monsters the turn you activate this effect, except EARTH monsters.
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Art: Small Naturias like Rosewhip, Tulip and Sunflower sprouting out of the bodies of a fallen Naturia Barkion and Naturia Landoise.
Mosquito Bite
Normal Spell
Reduce the ATK of one "Naturia" monster you control to 0. Special Summon 1 level 4 or lower "Naturia" Monster from your hand or graveyard.
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Art: Naturia Mosquito poking an irritated looking Naturia Beans with its stinger.