Yu-gi-oh! Duelist Showdown!

Sally and Joseph were about to throw down, but first, Sally explained the rules to Joseph. Sally said, "It's quite simple. We both begin with 2000 Life Points, sacrifices aren't necessary to summon high-powered monsters, and direct attacks are illegal unless they're in the monster's special ability." Joseph said, "And the stakes, Sally?" Sally said, "I wager two coins on this match." Sally put her two coins down, and so did Joseph. Joseph said, "Two coins, agreed." Frank said, "He better win, or he's out." Nick said, "Don't worry, Joseph can duel circles around this girl." Then, their names with their Life Points appeared on the scoreboard above the arena. Then, they both drew their first five cards and started the duel. Sally drew The Head of Exodia, the Forbidden One, Catapult Turtle, Illusionist Faceless Mage, Holding Legs, and Summoned Skull. Joseph drew Musketeer Roll Call, Toronado, The Masked Avenger's Horse, Hall of Lasers, The Warrior Returning Alive, and Palace Control Room.

Sally drew Curse of Dragon from her deck and said, "I'll start this duel with The Illusionist Faceless Mage (1200/2200) in Attack Mode. Frank said, "A three-headed mage?" Nick said, "And it only has 1200 attack points. She must be trying to give Joseph a head start." Joseph said, "My move." Joseph drew Treetop Snake Pack from his deck and said, "I summon Toronado, The Masked Avenger's Horse (1950/1200) in Attack Mode. Back kick attack!" Then Toronado destroyed The Illusionist Faceless Mage, and Sally lost 750 Life Points, bringing her down to 1250. Joseph said, "Ok, I'll end my turn with a face down." Sally drew Masaki, The Legendary Swordsman, from her deck and thought, "This card is useless. I can't be Joseph's horse with this. I'll have to use a different monster." Sally chose Curse of Dragon from her hand and thought, "Here goes nothing." Sally said, "Curse of Dragon (2000/1500). Roast that Horse." Joseph said, "I reveal my trap card, Hall of Lasers." Then, a bunch of lasers appeared between Sally and Joseph, stopping Curse of Dragon in his tracks. Sally said, "What's with the laser grid?" Joseph said, "Hall of Lasers allows me to pick one of the cards in my hand, and then you must guess what kind of card it is. Guess correctly, and your attack goes through. Guess wrongly, and your monster goes to the graveyard." Joseph chose his second card and held it up to Sally. Sally said, "Ok, I guess you're holding a trap card." Joseph said, "Eeeehrr." Joseph showed Sally he was holding a magic card, The Warrior Returning Alive. Sally said, "Oh no, it's a magic card." Then the lasers destroyed Curse of Dragon. Sally pounded her arena and said, "Ok, I'll end my turn."

Joseph drew Kitty The Wizard from his deck and said, "I play Kitty The Wizard (2300/1600) in Attack Mode. Sally drew Sonic Maid from her deck and thought, "Another weak monster, but I still have 1 card that can beat both his monsters." Sally said, "Summoned Skull (2500/1200). Lightning Strike towards the Wizard!" Joseph said, "You're as predictable as you are brainless." Joseph picked up his Hall of Lasers trap and said, "You make the same mistake twice?" Sally said, "The Hall of Lasers?" Joseph said, "That's right." Joseph chose his first card and said, "Now, what kind of card am I holding?" Sally said, "A monster?" Joseph turned the card around, and Sally saw it was Musketeer Roll Call, a magic card. Joseph said, "Wrong again." Then the lasers destroyed Summoned Skull. Sally said, "So wait, your Hall of Lasers is a permanent trap." Joseph said, "That's right. And every time you launch an attack, you guess correctly or send the monster you attacked with to the graveyard." Frank said, "Awesome. I knew he could duel circles around this girl." Nick said, "Yeah, with that trap in play, his field is untouchable." Sally heard what Frank and Nick said and then looked at her hand. She saw The Head of Exodia in it and thought, "I have one monster that can beat him, but the other four pieces are still in my deck. But I think I know how to get rid of his trap."

Joseph drew Wizard's Cottage from his deck and said, "I play Wizard's Cottage." Then, a Wizard's Cottage appeared on the field. Joseph said, "Now, all my Spellcaster-type monsters will get a 100-point power boost with each passing turn because their cottage is where a wizard practices their spells. And with that, I'll end my turn." Sally drew Fortress Whale's Oath, then Kitty's power rose from 2300/1600 to 2400/1700. Sally said, "Your monster just got stronger." Joseph said, "Yes, now that it's your turn, Wizard Cottage powers her by 100 attack and defense points." Sally said, "I'm playing a monster in defense mode." Joseph drew Unmasked Musketeer Daniel from his deck, and Kitty's power rose from 2400/1700 to 2500/1800. Joseph said, "Kitty, magic blast attack!" Then Kitty the Wizard destroyed Sally's defense monster, and Joseph saw it was Sonic Maid (1200/900). Sally drew Black Luster Soldier from her deck, and Kitty's power rose from 2500/1800 to 2600/1900. Sally said, "Catapult Turtle (1000/2000) in defense mode." Joseph drew Waterfall Drop from his deck, and Kitty's power raised from 2600/1900 to 2700/2000. Joseph thought, "The Waterfall Drop card. I can't play this; I'll lose." Joseph said, "I choose to end my turn without playing a card." Sally drew Zera the Mant from her deck, and Kitty's power raised from 2700/2000 to 2800/2100. Sally said, "I'll also pass."

Joseph drew Robin, The Musketeer Horse, and Kitty's power raised from 2800/2100 to 2900/2200. Joseph said, "I play Robin, The Musketeer Horse (1850/1550) in Attack Mode. That ends my turn." Sally drew Dark Magic Curtain from her deck, and Kitty's power rose from 2900/2200 to 3000/2300. Sally thought, "His Wizard now has 3000 points and is getting stronger with each passing turn. If his wizard cottage is in play and The Hall of Lasers destroys any monster, I throw unless I guess what card he chooses correctly. I have the Dark Magic Curtain, but The Dark Magician is too weak to take out his Wizard. Sally said, "I'll lay 1 card face down and end my turn." Joseph drew Ninja's Silver Throwing Stars from his deck, and Kitty's power rose from 3000/2300 to 3100/2400. Joseph said, "Kitty, the Wizard, attack her Catapult Turtle." Then, Kitty, the Wizard, destroyed Catapult Turtle. Joseph said, "I end my turn." Sally drew The Left Arm of Exodia, The Forbidden One, from her deck, and Kitty's power rose from 3100/2400 to 3200/2500. Sally said, "I'll pass this turn." Joseph thought, "There's one card in my deck that can win this duel for me if I can draw it." Joseph drew Monster Reborn from his deck, and Kitty's power rose from 3200/2500 to 3300/2600. Joseph said, "And I did. This card is just the card I needed." Joseph said, "I play Monster Reborn. And I'll return your Catapult Turtle (1000/2000) in Attack Mode. Ok, Kitty, get on the catapult." Kitty then jumped on Catapult Turtle's Catapult. Joseph said, "As I'm sure you're aware, this monster allows me to sacrifice any of my monsters and launch them right at you. Then, half of their points get subtracted from your Life Points. Catapult Turtle, launch." Then Catapult Turtle launched Kitty, the Wizard, at Sally, and she lost 1150 Life Points, bringing her down to 100. Joseph said, "Now I'll sacrifice Robin, The Musketeer Horse. Catapult Turtle, launch." Then Catapult Turtle shot Robin at Sally, and she lost 925 Life Points, bringing her down to 0. Frank said, "Yeah, Joseph, you won."

Sally and Joseph left the arena, and Sally handed over the two coins she wagered to Joseph, giving him 4. Joseph said, "Sally, wait. That last card you had face down." Sally showed Joseph it was The Dark Magic Curtain, and Joseph gasped. Sally said, "The Dark Magic Curtain. It was too risky to play. Besides, even if I did play it, I'm sure you could have beaten it." Sally then gave Joseph the thumbs up and winked at him. Joseph said, "Alright." Joseph said, "Well, that duel was too easy. Maybe we should go and find you a more challenging opponent." Joseph said, "Yeah, but maybe we should go and get dinner first." Frank said, "Sounds good to me." Joseph, Frank, and Joseph all left the arcade and found someplace to eat.

To Be Continued