It didn’t take long for the two of them to find a spot in the park, which had ample space. Hunter stood within the shadow of a large oak tree whose breather littered the grounds almost as much as the picnic tables. From where Applejack stood, she could see a jogging trail going past a rather large playground and off into the distance. Far off to her right was a skate park while behind her she could hear the sounds of rackets hitting tennis balls. Finally off to her left was the chain fence with separated the park from the various homes on the other side.
The two weren’t the only ones dueling here either. Scattered here and there were various duelists already deep in their own matches. Small crowds gathered around some of the more intense or flashy duels, awing at the spectacle before them and wishing they had those cards themselves. Others moved between the duels as if to gauge them to see if they were worthy of their time.
“Ok,” said Hunter, getting Applejack’s attention back towards him. He lifted his duel disk upwards, his hand right over the button to activate it. “Remember, this duel is more to see how much you like that deck. And, if you do well with it, I’ll give you two more fusion monsters.”
“Ah remember,” said Applejack as she mirrored his stance. “Think Ah got a good handle on it. Just don’t go bein’ too easy on me, ya hear?”
“Don’t worry,” said Hunter with a grin. “I’m using one of my favorite decks for this, one that I put a lot of time and effort into. The last thing I would ever do is go easy on someone when using this.”
With that said, the pair activated their duel disks. As the devices came to life, both of them placed their decks into the ports which began to quickly shuffle them automatically. After a moment or two their cards became still followed by their own portraits appearing above their duel disk.
“Opponent detected. Streaming data.” Came the mechanical voice of the duels disks in unison. “Duel mode set. Initiating. Commence duel?” At that moment, the other’s portrait had appeared next to the owners with a vs. in between them as well as a question mark.
“This should be interestin’,” commented Applejack as she tapped the yes key.
-Applejack Life Points 8000-
-Star Hunter Life Points 8000-
A beeping noise was then heard as both duelist looked at their duel disks. Both looked down to see who was going first and found that it was Star Hunter.
Turn 1: Star Hunter
“I was hoping I’d go first,” said Hunter calmly, five cards already in his hand. “I draw!” He looked at it for just a moment before placing it with the others. “I’ll set one monster in defense position and set one card before I end my turn.”
Applejack raised an eyebrow while her hands went straight to her hips as the two facedown cards appeared on her opponent’s side of the field. “That’s it? Ah thought ya weren’t gonna be holdin’ nothing back!”
“Trust me, I’m not,” came Hunter’s reply as a wind swept through the park. As leaves were shaken off the trees, the teen crossed his arms calmly. “Before you lies the shadows of the unknown. Did I get a bad hand and this was simply the best I could do? Or could it be that since I know what deck I’m facing, I’m better able to plan my moves to counter yours before you even make them? Who can say really?”
Turn 2: Applejack
“Fine then. I draw!” said Applejack. Briefly she looked at her cards before averting her eyes towards the field.
‘Shadow’s of the unknown? Give me a break there partner! Ah’ve seen this play ever since ah got my first starter deck! But it still don’t mean Ah should be reckless. Her eyes lowered back to the cards in her hand. Got my best play maker here so ah can bring out a fusion monster right away. If this is a trap ah got’s a couple of back-ups.
Applejack pulled one of the cards from her hand and held it up for all to see. “Ah play my Predaplant ‘Ophrys Scorpio’(1200/800) in attack mode!”
In front of Applejack a patch of dirt began to break, revealing a blackish scorpion. However, it wasn’t like any scorpion one would find in a text book. The monster lacked any eyes in which to see with and its pincer claws looked like vines. The green pattern on its back looked like a stem as well as having four leaves on the back end of its stinger tail.
“Now Ah activate my monster’s special ability. All Ah got ta do is discard one card from mah hand and then Ah can special summon any other Predaplant monster to the field. So Ah discard my Predaplant Cordyceps to special summon to the field ‘Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra’(1000/1500)!”
As Applejack discarded her card the ground began to break again, this time seeming to reveal to stems with black budded petals with a red dot on each side. However, the vines of these blooms began to rustle while their red spots began to glow red. The plant lowered itself to the ground as it hissed like a snake. The petals opened up on each to showcase in each of its center was a rounded mouth with row upon row of tiny fangs.
With a grin, Applejack tipped back her hat as a card was pushed out from her card tray. “When Darlingtonia Cobra is special summoned, Ah get ta add one ‘Polymerization’ or any other fusion spell card to mah hand. So here she is; Polymerization. Now I’ll use it ta fuse my two Predaplant monsters on the field.”
As Applejack slipped the spell card into the proper slot, her extra deck slot opened up while a vortex above her appeared. Both of her monsters were turned into brightly colored lights as they shot up to the sky before Applejack began her chant.
“The fearsome blooms unite the sting of the scorpion and the bite of snake. Together, their fangs breed a new flower. Fusion summon! ‘Predaplant Chimerafflesia’!”(2500/2000)
From the vortex a light shot down hard and hit the ground. From that spot vines began to grow, thick vines that looked like they could hold an a fully grown adult. A red bloom began to grow with red petals that had white marks on them and in its center was another mouth, just like her Darlingtonia Cobra’s. Branch-like vines began to grow out of its sides, two of them ending with the mouths of a venus flytrap.
“Think ah like this here fusion summoning,” said Applejack with a grin. “Wouldn’t mind having one of these things in the orchard. Might keep away them blasted fruit bats during harvest time.” She then thrust her hand out to point at Hunter who just stood there. “Now atta-”
“Before you begin your attack phase, I activate my face down trap card: ‘Sinister Shadow Games’!” announce Hunter as his face down was revealed. “This card allows me to send one Shaddoll monster in my deck to the graveyard. Then I can flip all face down cards I control.”
“What’s the point of that?” demanded Applejack as a hologram appeared before Hunter, no doubt showing his list of options.
“To activate my monster’s flip effect,” replied Hunter as he selected his card. “That and a few other things. First, I’ll send my Shaddoll Hedgehog to the graveyard.” A card was ejected from his deck slot, which he took and sent to graveyard while his auto shuffler when to work. “First, reveal: ‘Shaddoll Dragon’ (1900/0)!”
In an instant, Hunter’s face down card was replaced with a purplish dragon-like monstrosity. To Applejack, it looked more like a wooden puppet as there were strings of purple energy rising towards the sky from its four legs, back, and head. She could see the segments of its body where the links and screws were that held it together. Yet its eyes looked so very real.
“When Shaddoll Dragon is flip summoned, I can send one of your cards back to your hand,” said Hunter as he pointed towards the fusion monster. “However, since it can’t go back to your hand, it instead returns to the extra deck.” Applejack grumbled as she took her card off the duel disk and returned it to the fusion slot. She had thought that the face down card would have destroyed it with the plan of using the Monster Reborn in her hand to bring it back. But with her monster back in her extra deck that plan was now made pointless for now.
“Next, the effect of my Shaddoll Hedgehog activates allowing me to take any Shaddoll spell or trap card and add it to my hand,” continued Hunter. “I think the best choice would be Shaddoll Fusion.”
“A fusion deck, huh,” said Applejack as her opponent took his card. “Given all that stuff you said back at school, Ah would have thought you’d be usin’ something else.”
“Just because I have an issue with how the school sets its rules doesn’t mean I have anything against fusion decks,” replied Hunter. “Besides, just because this is a fusion deck doesn’t mean it can’t surprise you. So, are you going to continue your move?”
Applejack frowned as she looked over her hand. How could she continue her move? She had already done her normal summon and had no cards that she could special summon right now. What’s more, she didn’t want to waste her Monster Reborn right now to bring back one of her low level monsters. Thankfully, she did have a backup plan so she doubted she would lose during her opponents turn.
“Ah place one card face down an end my turn,” she announced, gaining an eyebrow raise from Hunter.
Turn 3: Star Hunter
“If you’re sure,” said Hunter, his voice sounding odd. Applejack watched as he drew his card and looked at it for a moment. Hunter then raised his head to look at Applejack. “I hope that face down can protect you. Because if it can’t then this duel is over! I activate the spell card ‘Shaddoll Fusion’ to fuse together the Shaddoll Beast and Shaddoll Squamata in my hand!”
The two cards in Hunter’s hand turned into dark spheres of energy as another vortex appeared above their heads. Purple strings, much like the ones connected to Shaddoll Dragon lowered from the sky and connected to them before pulling them upwards.
“The corruption spreads deep, turning heart and flesh into wood. Oh once mighty champion, fight for your new master to destroy his foes! Fusion summon El Shaddoll WINDA!” (2200/800)
Up above them, a figure was lowered down to them by the purple strings. No, make that two. The first was of another dragon puppet, made of purple painted wood with ring shaped eyes and massive fangs. The other figure looked like a girl holding a staff. She wore purple clothing over her pale white wooden skin and her green hair was tied up into a ponytail.
“Now the effects of Beast and Squamata activate,” continued Hunter as Winda hovered several feet off the ground to his right. “First, Beast allows me to draw one card.” He paused to do so. “Second, Squamata allows me to send another Shaddoll monster to the graveyard. So, I’ll send another Shaddoll Hedgehog there in order to gain his effect and add El Shaddoll Fusion to my hand. Now I put my Shaddoll Dragon into attack position and begin my attack. Go, Shaddoll Dragon!”
Applejack didn’t even try to go and activate her trap card as Shaddoll Dragon lunged at her, its claws coming down on her in a downward sweep.
-Applejack’s Light Points: 6100-
“I have to say Applejack,” said Hunter as he looked at her with a frown. “I was expecting better from a duelist who was in the top eight. Perhaps you need more time with that deck.” He then paused to shrug. “Oh well. El Shaddoll Winda, attack!” The arm holding the girl’s staff was raised, her staff beginning to glow as the dragon she rode upon flapped its wings.
“Not so fast there sugarcube!” shouted Applejack as she held up a card. “Ah activate the effect of my ‘Predaplant Sarraceniant’! When ya attack me directly, Ah can special summon this little feller to the field in defense mode!” When Applejack slapped her card onto her duel disk the ground once again broke to reveal her monster. Sarraceniant was a green, insect like monster a large pincer like mouth. Large green trumpet-like flowers grew on its back with the end trimmed purple.
Hunter’s frown turned into a grin. “Decided to use that to block the stronger of the two, not bad Applejack. I continue my attack,” from Winda’s staff came a blast of purple energy that looked like it was made of thousands upon thousands of tightly woven strands. The attack hit Applejack’s monster, the impact causing the ground to erupt. Yet, there was an odd lingering of purple mist hanging over the spot where AJ’s monster once stood.
“Ya shouldn’t have done that partner,” said Applejack with a wide grin. “Cause now my monster’s effect activates! See, Predaplant Sarraceniant is a poisonous little critter an your monster just got a heapin’ dose. So it gets destroyed too!” At once the mist flew towards El Shaddoll Winda’s mouth, looking to enter her body. Yet another glow from her staff dispersed the mist as soon as it got too close. “Hey, what gives?”
“Your plan was good in theory,” said Hunter. “Had this been one of my other fusion monsters, save for one, then it would have been destroyed for sure. However, Winda has a continuous effect that prevents it from being destroyed by card effects.”
Applejack slumped at that. “Great,” she muttered. “Anything else she can do?”
“So glad you asked,” replied Hunter. “As long as El Shaddoll Winda is on the field, both of us can only special summon one monster per turn.” Applejack’s eyes widened at that information, the realization of what it meant hitting her like a ton of bricks. If she used any of her monsters to special summon something from her deck, that was it! If she used Monster Reborn or anything like that to bring out monsters from her graveyard then that would be it too. If she wanted to make any real plays from here on, she needed to get rid of that fusion monster.
“Well Predaplant Sarraceniant has another trick up its sleeve,” said Applejack. “When it gets destroyed ah can also add one Predap monster from mah deck to mah hand. So I’ll be addin’ mah Predaplant Spinodionaea.”
Again, Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Interesting,” he muttered with a shrug before holding up two cards from his hand. “I’ll just place these two cards facedown before ending my turn. Your move.”
Turn 4: Applejack
“Thank ya kindly,” said Applejack as she drew her card. Looking down at it, she grinned unable to believe her luck, “I’ll start off my playin’ my Predaplant Spinodionaea (1800/0)!”
More earth broke near Applejack as a much larger creature appeared on her side of the field. At least double her size, Spinodionaea looked very much like a dinosaur with a wicked looking jaw and six pure red eyes. Its skin was green and its back looked like it was carrying the mouth of a venus flytrap.
“Now for his special ability,” announced Applejack. “When he is summoned ta the field, Ah get ta place one Predator Counter on one of your monsters. An’ the monster Ah choose is El Shaddoll Winda!” Applejack pointed at Winda, causing her monster to start making a hacking sound before spitting at the fusion monster. The spit stuck Winda…as well as a seed hidden within the flying fluid, shaped like that of an alligator’s head. The seed actually opened its mouth to bite onto Winda’s shoulder. “Next ah activate mah trap card: Predaplanet! Each time when a monster with a Predator counter leaves the field ah can add one ‘Predap’ card to mah hand.”
“I see,” said Hunter as he looked over at his monster. “Trying to reinforce your hand, searching out cards to help give you the advantage. However, while your monster is strong, it can’t match might with either of my monsters.”
“Right now, sure,” admitted Applejack. “But not after ah do this! I special summon my ‘Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra’ (800/2300) to the field in defense mode. Ah can do this by tributing one monster on the field with a Predator counter on it. An guess which one that is sugarcube?”
Hunter turned his head quickly to see that the vines growing on his monster were beginning to rip it apart. Like a chestburster, a small creature came out of Winda as it vanished in a sparkle of golden lights. The monster, Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra, was an odd looking thing. Small vines acted like legs around its body while several thicker ones were up at its front with red dots lining their sides. The vine in its middle had a mouth which was openly hissing while a second mouth could be seen on the main body.
“Now since a monster with a Predator counter left the field, my trap card activates,” continued Applejack. “So I’ll be adding Predaplant Chylamydosundew ta my hand. Not too shabby if I do say so myself.”
“No, not too bad,” admitted Hunter as he looked over again where his Winda once was. “But when Winda is sent to the graveyard I get to add one Shaddoll spell or trap card in the graveyard to my hand. So I’ll be taking back my Shaddoll Fusion.”
“Well then Ah’d better make the best of this turn,” said Applejack. “So now ah activate the effect of mah Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra. By removing one Predaplant monster in mah graveyard ah can lower the attack points of one of your monsters by 500. So Ah removed mah Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra ta lower your Dragon’s attack points!” From Drosophyllum Hydra’s upper mouth shot a bright purple goo that splattered over Shaddoll Dragon’s face causing its attack point to lower to 1400.
“Now time ta attack,” said Applejack as she pumped out her fist. “Predaplant Spinodionaea, attack his Dragon!” Spinodionaea stomped over to where Shaddoll Dragon stood motionlessly before several vine like tentacles erupted from the flytrap mouth on its back. They lifted Dragon off the ground, pulling it into the open mouth that chomped down on it.
-Star Hunter’s Light Points: 7600-
“Now since mah Spinodionaea has his handy ability that lets him special summon a Predaplant monster if he destroys a monster equal or lower level ta his own,” continued Applejack. “An if ah ain’t mistaken, Shaddoll Dragon was level four. Same as mah monster. That mean ah can special summon another Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra. An when its special summoned, ah can add another Polymerization ta mah hand.” Applejack paused she held up her card. “Pity ah can’t use it right now. But, ah can attack your life points directly with mah Darlingtonia Cobra!” AJ’s plant snake hissed as I began to quickly slither towards Hunter, when he pressed a button on his duel disk.
“A good idea, but not good enough. I activate my trap card: ‘Shaddoll Core’!” With that, an object shaped like a human chest appeared in front of him halting the attack of Darlingtonia Cobra. From the chest came several phantom long-necked dragons as they glared at the still snake, “When Shaddoll Core is activated, it becomes a level nine monster on my side of the field that I can use as part of a fusion summon that lists an attribute.” (1450/1950)
“Well then,” said Applejack as she nodded to her Darlingtonia Cobra which came slithering back to her. It was a blow since she had hoped to get in a direct attack. That was the reason she had summoned her Darlingtonia Cobra in attack mode. But at least she got another Polymerization in her hand. With this, she could fuse her two attack position monsters together to form Predaplant Chimerafflesia again. Even if it got destroyed the damage she took would be lessened and she would get another fusion card from her deck. “Ah guess Ah end mah battle phase.”
“And before you do that, I activate my other face down,” said Hunter as his other card flipped face up. “‘El Shaddoll Fusion’. It’s a quick-play spell card that allows me to fusion summon one Shaddoll fusion monster from my extra deck. So I’ll fuse together the Core on my field and the Shaddoll Falco in my hand.”
Once again a vortex appeared above them, purple energy strings descending from it to attach themselves to Hunter’s offerings.
“Can you hear the screams of the fallen knight? His power and soul now rest within the core, empowering the corruption. Fusion Summon El Shaddoll Grysta! (2450/1950)”
A new, more massive figure was lowered down from the vortex. It was a single marionette wearing red armor and long blond hair. At first, Applejack thought he had bright red wings on his back but then she realized that they were in fact his strings.
“Also,” continued Hunter, “since my Shaddoll Falco was sent to the graveyard due to a card effect, it gets special summoned onto my side of the field in defense mode.” Now another face down card appeared on his side of the field.
“Ah’m guessin’ that monster has some sort of nasty special effect,” said Applejack, her gaze shifting from her monster to her fusion card.
“It does indeed,” said Hunter as he gestured to his large monster. “Grysta has the ability to negate and destroy a monster or monsters you special summon once per turn at the cost of me discarding one Shaddoll card in my hand.” Applejack felt her eyes widen as he said this. She looked down at her field and then back to her hand as she realized what this meant. Even if she did fusion summon a monster it would just be destroyed before it even hit the field. Heck, she was willing to bet the farm that if she tried using Monster Reborn to bring back a monster from her grave it would just get destroyed as well.
“Ah end mah turn,” she said, shoulders slumped.
Turn 5: Star Hunter
“Hmm,” said Hunter as he drew his card. “I flip summon my ‘Shaddoll Falco’ (600/1400) to activate its effect!” The face down card on Hunter’s field vanished and in its place was a purple wooden bird with several of the same strings attached to it. “His effect, when summoned this way, allows me to take one Shaddoll sleeping in my graveyard and return it to the field in face down defense mode. Using this effect I choose El Shaddoll Winda,” Applejack took a step back as she saw the face down card appear on his side of the field.
Great, she thought bitterly as she shot a glare at the card. Ah just got rid of the darned thing to. Now if ah don’t get rid of it next turn, Ah’ll only be able ta special summon once pre turn. An that monster will be destroyed thanks ta Grysta!
“Next I play the spell card ‘Instant Fusion’,” continued Hunter as he held up his card so Applejack could see it. “By giving up a thousand life point, I can special summon a level five or lower fusion monster from my extra deck. The downsides are that it can’t attack and its destroyed at the end of the turn. But it will be worth it to summon to the field my ‘Sea Monster of Theseus’ (2200/1800)!”
Appearing on Hunter’s field was the remains of an old wooden ship. There was a whole at the bottom where a white, monstrous skull appeared with glowing red eyes and tentacles reaching out from all around it.
-Star Hunter’s Life Points: 6600-
“Now the stage is set for me to use Shaddoll Fusion once again,” said Hunter as the vortex above them appeared again. Strings reached out from it once again to latch themselves on Falco and the Sea Monster.
“Power of the icy dragon, stolen to serve another. Pulled from the void sending a chill down thy enemy’s spine. Fusion summon: El Shaddoll Anoyatyllis! (2700/2000)”
Slowly descending from the portal in the sky was another massively huge monster that cast a shadow over Applejack. It was of a large female marionette with purple painted on clothing and white skin. It also looked like there was a snake or something wrapped and fused to her body, ending at the back of her head to form some sort of headdress. Strings fanned out of her back to form wings, as well as coming from her fingers.
“Before I attack, I think I should inform you of El Shaddoll Anoyatyllis’ effect,” said Hunter calmly, “As long as she’s on the field, neither one of us can special summon monsters from our hands or graveyards using spell or trap cards. Now time for battle! Grysta will attack Spinodionaea and Anoyatyllis will destroy your cobra!”
Applejack couldn’t help it as she took a step back as both giants moved their arms, energy strings moving with them. Grysta’s seem to glow brighter as they passed right through Spinodionaea, spicing Applejack’s plant into pieces that began to burn as they fell to the ground. Her Darlingtonia Cobra fared no better as strings wrapped around its necks before slicing off their twin heads.
-Applejack’s Life Points: 3750
‘Great,’ thought Applejack as her life points fell. ‘Bad enough Ah gotta deal with a monster that destroys the first monster ah special summon, but now Ah got one that won’t let me use Monster Reborn or Predapruning! Also Ah have to deal with El Shaddoll Winda when he flip summons it on his next turn. He…Wait one apple pickin’ moment! One fusion keeps me from special summoning too much. Another keeps me from using spell or traps ta special summon mah monsters from the hand or grave. An one destroys the first monster ah special summon! He’s…’
“Ya know Hunter,” said Applejack suddenly. “Ah really hate fibbers like ya.”
At that, Hunter raised an eyebrow. “That’s an odd thing to say,” he said slowly. “I’m sure I haven’t lied to you about any of my monster’s effects. Nor have I cheated in anyway.”
“Ya keep goin’ on about how ya hate bein’ limited,” said Applejack as she crossed her arms, eyes narrowing slightly as she did and a frown appearing on her face, “Yet here ya are, usin’ monsters that limit what Ah can do. What ya say an’ what ya do are two different things!”
Hunter, for his part, said nothing at first as he closed his eyes before sighing. “That is true. This deck is supposed to slow down my opponent, to hamper what they can do. It is a good strategy these days when so many decks rely on special summoning monsters. However, a good duelist can get around these issues just as you have.” Hunter then opened his eyes while giving Applejack a slight smile. “Just like you did earlier with your Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra. That was a good way of taking my monster off the field. The follow up was also very interesting. It surprised me that you choose to do that, which is what I like to see in duels.”
Applejack was taken aback by this. “It, well, was nothing,” she stumbled as she felt her cheeks burn slightly.
“So far Applejack, you have been using that deck decently up until now,” continued Hunter. “However, I think right now the issue you are having is that you are still looking at it like an older fusion based deck. You’ve been making moves so that you can seek out your fusion card but forgetting the rest of your deck’s support and abilities. But, I know you will figure it out before the Friendship Cup. You are a very talented duelist.”
“Same ta ya, sugarcube,” replied Applejack as she tipped her hat down a bit, hoping the shadow would help hide the blush she had on. She wasn’t used to receiving these kinds of props from a duelist. Not in a long time. Especially not from a boy. It was kind of nice. “Actually kind of glad ya didn’t join in on the Autumn Crown tournament. With skills like yours, ya might of made it to the top four. Could even get into Crystal Prep Ah’d wager.”
“Yes,” Hunter whispered, his voice sounding far off for a moment. “That…is true. I very well could have. To be honest, when I first came to CHS I briefly considered ignoring my feelings on the idiotic rulings and my plans for that day. Very briefly I decided to take the limitations as a challenge to my skills. But seeing the corruption all around me caused me to stick with my original plan.”
“Uh, corruption?” asked Applejack, now raising her eyebrow. But it only lasted for a moment before she realized what he was talking about. “Ya mean how we were all actin’ back then?”
Hunter nodded, “When I arrived at CHS, I saw people who were once friends now at each other’s throats. Anger and inflamed egos walked the hallways side by side. Pride, jealousy, love, hate. So many of these emotions can cause one to become corrupted, twisting you into a mockery of what you once were if you’re not careful. Believe me, I’ve seen it and lived with it enough to know what it looks like. That’s why I like running this deck. Each one of them is a corrupted version of a different monster from the game. They are a reminder of what I wish to avoid becoming again.”
“A-Again?” stammered Applejack, now getting worried. Applejack had been worried about him since she saw the state of his house. But then with what he said after she first arrived, about it being his fault and now this.
“I end my turn,” said Hunter, interruption Applejack’s thoughts.
Turn 6: Applejack
Applejack didn’t say anything at first, just staring at her hand. ‘Something happened ta him,’ thought Applejack, ‘Ah think ah got a good idea that it has something or other ta do with his brother. Did he…’ Applejack shook her head as dark thoughts began to fill her head. ‘No time ta be thinkin’ like that. Best ask his directly an not go makin’ assumptions. But first ah have ta finish this here duel. Thing is, can ah win?’ Slowly she reached over to draw a card. ‘Guess Ah’ll have to draw and see!’
“I draw!” Applejack announced before looking at the card she drew, “Ah play my ‘Fragrance Storm’ spell card. Here’s how it works. I tribute one plant monster on the field an’ then Ah get ta draw a card. So I choose mah Predaplant Drosophyllum Hydra!” With that, Applejack’s monster vanished as she drew her card, “Ah drew my Lonefire Blossom. Since it was a plant monster, my spell card lets me draw a second card.”
“Now Ah play my ‘Lonefire Blossom’ (500/1400),” she continued as a normal looking plant grew on her side of the field, “Now this here monster is mighty special. By tributing it, Ah can special summon any plant monster Ah like from mah deck. Normally Ah would use this to bring out one of mah plant princesses or my Gigaplant. But this time Ah plan on getting hold of mah Predaplant Flytrap!” The bulb on Lonefire exploded upwards, shooting up into the sky and bursting in colored lights like a firework as a more twisted looking flytrap took its place.
“I think I see what you’re doing here,” said Hunter as he observed the field. “You plan on making use of your Flytrap’s ability to destroy one of my monsters. Then you can use your trap card to get another card in your hand. Not a bad move. Too bad I won’t allow it. I activate Gysta’s effect: by sending my Shaddoll Dragon from my hand to the grave I can negate the special summoning and destroy it! Also, when Shaddoll Dragon is sent to the grave by an effect his effect activates allowing me to destroy one spell or trap card on the field. So say goodbye to your trap card,” The red, burning threads quickly wrapped around Predaplant Flytrap as a ghostly image of Shaddoll Dragon flew across the field into Applejack’s trap card. Within seconds both were destroyed.
Still, Applejack grinned, “Thank ya kindly for using up your monsters effect,” she said. “Now Ah activate the card ah drew on mah second draw: Predaplast! With this card Ah can reveal as many Predaplant monsters that Ah want and then place the same amount of predator counters onto your monsters. As ya can see, ah have two,” Applejack flipped two cards in her hand showing Hunter she had Predaplant Chylamydosundew and Predaplant Pterapenthes. As she did this, two counters flew from the cards she showed and bit into Hunter’s two face up monsters, reducing their levels to one.
“Now everything is set,” said Applejack as she held out her fusion card, “Ah play mah Polymerization card once again to fuse the two monsters Ah just showed ya to special summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia!” After a repeat of her chant, Applejack’s fusion monster reappeared on the field with all its mouths dripping with saliva,
“Now before Ah battle, Ah’m going use here critters effect. Since you’re monsters are a lower level, ah can banish one of them. An ah choose El Shaddoll Anoyatyllis!” With that, vines appeared out of the ground surrounding Anoyatyllis and began to drag her into the soil, “Now attack Grysta!” Applejack’s Predaplant monster reached out with its two ‘hands’ and took hold of Grysta, biting deep into him. Grysta shook violently as it lost 1000 attack points while Chimerafflesia gained 1000. As Applejack’s monster grew stronger the mouth in the middle of its pedals began to grow to an enormous size. The arms began to retract, pulling it into the gaping abyss before it exploded.
-Star Hunter’s Life Points: 4550-
“Since you sent El Shaddoll Grysta to the graveyard, I can add my Shaddoll Fusion in my graveyard to my hand,” said Hunter calmly. “Good move.”
“Thanks, but that was all Ah can do for now,” replied Applejack.
Turn 7: Star Hunter
“Then I draw,” said Hunter as he drew his card. He looked at it for just a moment before holding it up so Applejack could see it, “I play ‘Terraforming’ which lets me go through my deck and add one field card from it to my hand. So I choose ‘Magical Meltdown’! And I play it right away!” As soon as his duel disk spat out the card, Hunter opened up his field card slot to insert the card.
Instantly a red magical circle of charged energy appeared on the field. Looking down at it, the farmer girl had no idea what the markings meant. But she could sense the power coming from them. “When his card is activated, I can add one Aleister the Invoker to my hand. Also, as long as this card is on the field my you will be unable to stop any effect that that allows me to fusion summon a monster. Not only that, you are unable to activate any card effects when a monster is fusion summoned.”
Applejack let out a whistle, “That’s a heck of a card,” she said.
“It is,” agreed Hunter. “Now I’ll play my Shaddoll Fusion card. Since you have a monster on your side of the field that comes from your extra deck, I am allowed to go through my main deck to get the cards I need for a fusion summoning. So I choose my Shaddoll Beast and Mathematician,” Applejack took a step back at that. She hadn’t expected that he could special summon a fusion monster using monsters from his deck!
“They thought they could bind you; hold back your mighty power. While you are weakened, the corruption can never be contained! Fusion Summon: El Shaddoll Shekhinaga!” (2600/3000)
Appearing on Hunter’s side of the field were four large, curved towers. On one side they were white with a few black lines while on the opposite the colors were reversed. From the towers came energy threads which bound a massive female marionette inside. The colors on each of her sides matched the towers and behind her were bound wings; an angelic white, feathery wing on one side while on the opposite was a demonic, black bat-like wing.
“Next, I normal summon ‘Aleister the Invoker’ (1000/1800) in attack mode,” continued Hunter as a man in a hooded white and grey robes appeared on his side of the field. In one hand, Aleister held a staff while in the other held a book, “Thanks to his effect, I can now add the spell card ‘Invocation’ to my hand which I will then play. It allows me to fusion summon a monster from my extra deck using card from my hand. Or I can use cards on my side of the field as well as either player’s graveyard at the cost of banishing them from play. So I banish my Mathematician and Aleister for my next fusion summon.”
As he played his card, Aleister began to change. His skin growing more rock like and losing an eye.
“Mystic powers of the sage and math, pool your might together so that the earth may rise. Stomp down with a molten fist! Fusion Summon: Invoked Magellanica!” (3000/3300)
Now the person that had been Aleister was gone replaced with another giant made of stone with molten rock around each of its limbs so it would be able to move.
“Finally, I flip my El Shaddoll Winda into attack position,” finished Hunter as his last monster moved into place, “But before I attack, I activate the other of my Invocation spell card. When it is in the graveyard, I can target my banished Aleister and then shuffle Invocation back into my deck,” Hunter’s card slid out of his graveyard slot before he put it back into his deck. “Once I have done that my targeted Aleister returns to my hand.”
Applejack said nothing as she looked at her opponent’s field. Three fusion monsters stared back at her, ready to attack her one. But while their attack points were higher, she felt certain that she could get one more turn if she played her cards right.
“Now I attack,” said Hunter as he pointed at Applejack’s monster, “El Shaddoll Shekhinaga, destroy her Predaplant!” Threads from the towers holding Shekhinaga shot down towards Chimerafflesia, wrapping around it and pulling it out of the ground towards the floating monster in the sky.
“Not so fast there,” said Applejack as she held out her hand. “Ah activate the effect of mah Predaplast spell card sleepin’ in mah graveyard. See, if one of mah Predaplant monsters were to be destroyed in battle Ah can remove this card from play instead! Still take damage, but ah don’t lose mah monster.”
-Applejack’s Life Points: 3650
Hunter smiled as Chimerafflesia broke free of the threads holding it in the air and began to fall to the ground. “I figured you might try something like that. Invoked Magellanica, swat it!” The giant stone man raised both its arms as the Predaplant fell between its open hands. Magellanica then brought them together so fast and with so much force that it created a powerful wind that knocked down both duelists. When the creature began to slowly move its palms apart, nothing was left of Applejack’s monster.
-Applejack’s Life Points: 3150
“Looks like ah’m still in this game,” said Applejack as she slowly got to her feet, her eyes glued at Winda. The farmer girl could already see how this would go. Winda would attack her directly, but lacked the amount of attack points to finish this game.
“Normally I would agree with you,” said Hunter as he held up a card. “However, I had a hunch that you would remember to use your Predaplast card so I made sure to retrieve this one,” the male duelist flipped the card around showing it to be his Aleister, “You see, Aleister has another effect. I can discard him to increase the attack points of one of my fusion monsters by 1000. So…” As Hunter discarded his Invoker, El Shaddoll Winda’s attack points rose from 2200 to 3200. More than enough to finish Applejack off. Without Hunter having to say a word, Winda raised her staff again to blast Applejack directly and ending the duel.