Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Lady of Dragons ❯ PEGASUS, Virtual Creator ( Chapter 12 )

Yugi: "I will find a way to save my friends!"
Pegasus: "But Yugi-boy, you can't even save yourself!"

- "Match of the Millennium: Yugi vs. Pegasus, Part III", Yu-Gi-Oh!

 

CHAPTER TWELVE: PEGASUS

VIRTUAL CREATOR

The afternoon news had some interesting things to say that day.

"…was assisted in his escape by three men dressed in dark suits. Police are confident that Underwood will not be free for long.

"Still no leads on the disappearance of Bianca Hawkins, who vanished from her home in Maine last month. Miss Hawkins, aunt of former U.S. Duel Monsters champion Rebecca Hawkins, retired from modeling four years ago following a fight with her boyfriend that left her with severe scarring.

"Miss Hawkin's disappearance occurred at the same time as the last public appearance of Felix Alacoda, better known as the Astonishing Sage. Following a performance in Berlin, Alacoda was reported missing after failing to check in with his tour manager the next day…"

0000000

In the years following its creation, Kaibaland had changed dramatically. The building had swelled in size, with two more wings extending off of the main building. However, time had not changed one thing: the famous Blue-Eye White Dragon statues still flanked the door as they always had. Over the door, a mural depicted the Dark Magician Knight locked in combat against the Berserk Dragon. Derik managed to catch a glimpse of it before Isis pulled him through the door.

As always, the main hall of Kaibaland was filled with arcade machines, with paths clearly defined by the positioning of the games. Signs scattered here and there throughout the main hall read, "Virtual Dueling Hall - Right Wing, VR Chamber."

Passing between the machines, Derik's attention was drawn to a little girl at an UFO Catcher cabinet. The girl was sniffling, having apparently run out of money. Her gaze was on a Mystical Elf plushie that, it seemed, she had just missed with the claw.

Derik's hand slid from Isis's grasp, and he fished 100 yen from his pocket, handing it to the girl. She smiled, then turned to the UFO Catcher and resumed her efforts.

The two duelists were almost at the right wing when they heard a squeal. Turning, they saw the little girl cuddling her new plushie.

Isis gave Derik a look that wavered between annoyance and admiration, and then she grabbed his hand and yanked him into the VR Chamber.

0000000

Since its creation five years prior, the VR Chamber had changed little. The metal stalks still reached from the floor to the ceiling, gleaming with the power running through them. Each stalk sprouted six pods at the floor level, some closed and containing a duelist within, some open and waiting. A number of panels around the room allowed those not in the VR program to watch as their fellow duelists battled the computer's best.

Two cards suddenly appeared in Isis's hand, and she set one on Derik's palm. Looking at it, Derik read, "One free duel - Virtual Dueling Hall." He then asked, "Why do you even have these? Your dad runs the tournament, last I checked."

"I told him not to give me any leg-ups. I'm going to win this tournament because I'm the best, not because my father started it," Isis replied. "However, any duelist could have received those cards from the demo guys, so I decided not to spend my own money."

The two young duelists descended a short flight of stairs, wandering up to one of the stalks. A technician on duty took the "free duel" cards, and Derik and Isis both stepped into open pods.

"I assume you know what you're doing, but what is the point of coming here?" Derik questioned.

Isis sat up quickly in her pod, and then leaned forward as if to reveal a hidden secret. "Do you know anything about the third Battle City Tournament, Derik?"

Derik nodded. "The finals were canceled because of possible technical failure on the blimp, right?"

Isis chuckled and said, "Not quite. Because of the single-loss elimination rule, people sometimes still had locator cards when they were disqualified. Because of the uneven number, only three people ever made it to the finals. My dad made them keep their mouths shut, but he felt that the embarrassment would ruin the company. Well, to make a long story short…"

"Too late," Derik interrupted with a giggle of his own.

Isis cleared her throat in obvious annoyance before moving on. "Duelists with extra cards turn them in here, then the ones remaining can duel virtual opponents to fight for them."

It made sense to Derik, but he had one more question. "What if someone just decides to keep the extras?"

"We have ways to track them down," Isis replied as the pod snapped over her head.  Derik saw a slight unease in her eyes as the pods began to close.

"So, will we meet up in the Virtual World?" Derik asked as the VR gear slid into place over his head.

"I don't think so," Isis told him, "The program sends those who access it into random locations."

"In that case," Derik said as the pod closed over him, "see you once I'm in the finals…"

Before he could finish that thought, the VR gear flared into life, and his mind and his body separated…

0000000

There was an instant of darkness, and then pinpoints of light came into view. Derik shook the cobwebs from his head and looked around. Booths and tents surrounded him, and hanging lamps filled the night sky. A sign hung from one lamppost, reading, "The Virtual Carnival Welcomes You!" Music played in the distance, and Derik could hear voices. The young duelist walked towards the voices, noticing that the booths were empty.

Eventually, he came upon a large clearing, filled with Duel Disk wearers talking, arguing, and eyeing a large, unoccupied marble square. A man using what appeared to be a combination of Celtic Guardian and Lightning Blade was dueling a Duel Disk-wearing Deep Sea Warrior off on the right.  Something about that sparked a memory in Derik's head.

Still walking, Derik tuned into the conversations. Several men in black coats were discussing the apparent entry of two children in the finals, with a few of the men protesting the fact while the others accused them of overreacting. A girl in a blue dress was questioning whether or not to step up onto the marble square…

Only when all talking ceased did Derik bother to look where he was going. One foot had landed on the marble square in question.

Immediately, the image of a young boy with light blue hair and white clothes flickered into existence. "Greetings, duelist!" the boy said in slightly nasal tones. "You have just opened a challenge line to the PEGASUS dueling program. This program has a difficulty level of: 7. If you wish to challenge PEGASUS, please place your other foot on the square. It is Kaibacorp's duty to warn you that if you are a Battle City participant, the loss of this duel will cause your ejection from the Battle City tournament."

Giving it some thought, Derik firmly placed his other foot on the marble square. "I will challenge it!"

The hologram nodded before disappearing. Seven stars circled around the square, and then with a flash they came together in front of Derik, fusing into another hologram - this time of the most famous man in Duel Monsters history. The boy's voice could be heard once again: "The challenge is accepted. Leaving the square at this time will count as a forfeit. Good luck, duelist!"

PEGASUS looked like the man at his physical prime, seated in a golden chair with Millennium Eye intact. It looked up and smiled, saying, "Well, if it isn't a brave young lad. How many locator cards do you need, boy?"

Counting off in his head, Derik replied, "Four." 

Four locator cards flashed into view on either side of PEGASUS, settling on the ground. A sudden wall of cards surrounded Derik and the hologram, as it spoke again, "Very well, Derik-boy. Now, choose your deck - you can have only one of any given card. I'm afraid that's the rules for this particular program."

Derik's fingers flashed over the cards as he made his selections. In an inspired piece of trickery, he selected the three different pictures of his Dark Magician.

PEGASUS had already selected his deck. With a wave of his hand, he caused four walls of light to shoot up on all sides. "Let's start, Derik-boy!"

D-8000 P-8000

Derik was startled as dueling platforms began to rise. Both he and his digital opponent were raised to their own podiums. It took Derik a moment to realize that a spinner with a spiral pattern in the middle of the arena was the top of a carousel.

PEGASUS began his move with a monster known to few and seen by fewer. "I begin by summoning the Toon Masked Sorcerer in Attack Mode!"

Derik had heard of the Toon monsters, but he had never thought of having the opportunity to play against them. Still, he shrugged off the play, until he saw a comical glove appear over the edge of the ride canopy, springing a hideous floating creature into view. (900/1400)

"Hey, wait!" Derik objected. "What are you doing, playing that thing without a Toon World in play?"

The virtual PEGASUS wagged his finger in the punitive gesture that was familiar to Derik, as it was used by his own Dark Magician. "Nuh-uh-uh, Derik-boy. My Toon Sorcerer is what is known as a Class-C Toon, a cuddly creature that can live away from home, but doesn't mind a visit every once in a while. Unfortunately, my Toons cannot attack on the turn they are summoned, so I have a card to even the odds. Activate Vengeful Bog Spirit!"

 

The spinning ride seemed to spew out a cloud of putrid smoke that stank of decaying flesh.

 

"One card facedown," PEGASUS concluded. "And I believe it is your turn."

Derik was startled for a moment, before his own cards came into view. He looked at some of the new and slightly unfamiliar cards, but he did his best to make a play that counted. "One card facedown, and I summon the Witch of the Black Forest." (1100/1200) The new monster was quickly overcome by a sick feeling. Derik could not quite place it, but remembered PEGASUS's magic card when a shadowy shroud materialized out of the fog.

"Don't tell me you have forgotten already," PEGASUS teased. "We have a long way to go. And I think that I'll begin my turn by playing a magic card, the Toon Table of Contents, with the power to bring any card related to the little rascals to my hand. And why not," Derik's opponent continued, "bring out the key to their entire existence, Toon World, which I play now!"

Derik snapped to attention and weighed out his options. He could activate his trap, but that would do nothing but nullify the activation cost of his card. And, effect gone or not, PEGASUS's Toon World would be in play to power all of his Toon monsters.

Comical music began to blare from the carnival speakers, as a brightly colored children's book fell from the sky. The letters glowed in a rainbow as they were lifted off the page and spelt out two words in the air, TOON WORLD. Colors mixed like spilt paint around the letters as a second book faded into view, pages erupting like a pop-up book to form a formidable, if badly constructed, castle with matching graveyard.

D-8000 P-7000

"Now," the computerized duelist said, quoting himself, "let the fun begin!"

Derik was glad that he had his witch to protect him, but he forgot the one flaw in his defense.

The program smiled and said, "Toon Masked Sorcerer, attack him directly."

Derik only then remembered that Toons could attack him directly when Toon World was on the field, regardless of class.  This was drilled into his head when one of the Toon Masked Sorcerer's hands flew across the field and tweaked his nose.

D-7100 P-7000

PEGASUS also drew a card, as his monster shared the effect of its normal counterpart. "Ooo, not bad. I'll just set this too. You know, to keep you guessing."

Derik took the opportunity to strike when he had the chance as his hand grew to five again. "Okay, since any monster I play can't attack right away, I'll just use the monster I do have. Witch of the Black Forest, attack his Toon now!"

Even though the virtual man no longer had the magic that made his living self unstoppable, this duelist seemed to know Derik's every move just the same. "Do you really think that I would leave myself so open to an attack?"  PEGASUS clucked his tongue and then continued, “I activate the trap known as Toon Defense, letting me keep my monster safe from harm."

The floating drawing took a fast dive into his magical home just as chains began to surround it. The end of the chain cracked like a whip and sent the book sky-high, out of the reach of the dark spell now being conjured by Derik's witch.

Derik looked in dismay, but then he saw the spell aim towards PEGASUS himself and break upon his podium.

P-5900 D-7100

The clone didn't seem to mind though. In fact, he seemed more smug than ever. "The power of the Toon Defense card lets me take an attack directly if one of my Toons is in danger. It seems a welcome edition to my nearly full magic/trap zone, wouldn't you say?"

Derik just didn't say anything as the book once again fell into place and the monster again emerged, taking the time instead to analyze the field again. He had waited to summon a monster because he wouldn't be able to use it anyway, but now that he was sure what one of those traps were, it wouldn't hurt in the long run. "I also summon the Gemini Elf in Attack Mode. Now do your very worst!" he announced.

To PEGASUS, it seemed that he already had as the elves spun into view. (1900/900) "A grave error. You have triggered another of my cartoony traps, the Toon Mask!"

 

A hideous green mask with a corny top hat plopped onto the shoulders of the Toon Masked Sorcerer with a sickening crunch.

 

PEGASUS explained, "This card sacrifices one of my precious Toons in order to summon a Toon copy of a monster my opponent summons. In this case, I search my deck for my Toon Gemini Elf!"

Derik had seen only a few American movies, but as cartoonish smoke spewed from PEGASUS's magic book, the caricature of his monster that the mask melted into reminded him considerably of Jessica Rabbit. (1900/900) Derik had no choice but to end his turn, knowing full well what was in store for him now.

PEGASUS drew his virtual hand up to three before preparing his onslaught. "Very well… I summon another cuddly Toon monster, the Toon Goblin Attack Force!" (2300/0)

Despite the card's reputation, only one very fat goblin wandered on to the field. It appeared to be snoring, and Derik knew that between its inherited toon effect, and the Vengeful Bog Spirit still in play, he didn't have to worry about it until next turn. He had been expecting a Toon deck from PEGASUS, but he wasn't aware of all the cards he had to support them.

The virtual man was staring at his diminished hand.  "It seems I'm nearly out of cards, doesn't it? Oh, well, I have a couple open spots left, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to set one more facedown. Now, Toon Gemini Elf, attack my opponent directly!"

The two slinky women each blew a kiss at Derik in sync. Derik let out an open cry of disgust as lipstick flew off of their hands towards him. The boy instinctively held up his hand as a shield. When the young duelist opened his eyes, he gasped to see his original-art Dark Magician burning away as if the make-up was made from acid.

D-5200 P-5900

PEGASUS seemed pleased with the result, knowing that his elf removed a card from his opponent's hand after inflicting damage.

Derik didn't bother with the hows and whys; he just wanted to make a comeback after drawing a fourth card again. "Now this is more like it!" the child exclaimed out loud. "I play Giant Trunade, returning all magic and trap cards on the field to their owner's hands."

 

Normally, Derik would have preferred a Heavy Storm, but the single card rule meant that he had to work with what he got. Derik scanned PEGASUS's reaction as a circular gale picked up.  The virtual man seemed disappointed, but not dismayed. 

Scanning the field after the winds died down, Derik was confused - the Toons were still there, creepy as ever. Even being Class-C, the Toons should have been destroyed.

"Confused?" the digital gentleman asked. "Let me explain. That is a move that I would have pulled myself if given the opportunity. And do you know why, Derik-boy? Because even though Toon World is off the field, it has not been destroyed. So my cuddly creatures remain."

Derik was not deterred in the slightest. "Maybe, but I still want to get back at those Toons. I play Graceful Charity and discard…" Derik was relieved to see both of his Dark Magicians in the draw. With the cards in his hand, it brought out an interesting possibility. "...Dark Core and Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer.  And now I activate Polymerization to fuse my Dark Magician with Versago the Destroyer!" Again, these were cards that Derik would normally not touch with a ten-foot pole, but they were the best he could do with the rules.

PEGASUS tapped at his chin.  "I suppose that you will be using that fearsome Dark Paladin that I hear so much about, hmm?"

"No," Derik countered, "I plan to summon a fusion just as powerful, the Dark Flare Knight!" (2200/800)

 

The creature was a fearsome sight indeed, with its black and crimson armor, and sword curved into a cruel scythe.

PEGASUS didn't have a prayer of saving his monster and he knew it, but that didn't mean that he was out of tricks entirely.  A smile crossed his face.

 

Derik shone with pride as he called his knight to battle. "Dark Flare Knight, do away with the Toon Gemini Elf!"

The knight held a stern expression as it channeled its power into his sword. Dark flames splashed with blood-like crimson encircled the weapon. The sword cleaved the Toon women in half, leaving the flames to devour what was left.

P-5600 D-5200

Derik had no other monsters to try and attack the Toon Goblin Attack Force, but he did have his other magician in his hand. Still, Derik didn't want to lose his monster advantage, and switched his other monsters to defense rather than risk playing anything further.

PEGASUS, on the other hand, did nothing but applaud. "Well done, Derik-boy.  Hmmm... My hand size is six, now. Unfortunately, you know four of the cards I now hold, so why don't I play a few? Two cards facedown, and I summon the last of my Class-C Toon family, the Toon Cannon Soldier!" 

The programmer was no fool. A virtual duelist of this level would not bother with the same old tricks that would be expected and easily countered. Derik would have even uttered a laugh had he not had his full concentration on the duel before him.

 

The toonish robot fit no one's definition of frightening, but any duelist knew of the original Cannon Soldier, and in the right hands, it was not a card Derik wanted to be staring down. (1400/1300)

"Well, now," PEGASUS continued, "I do believe that Dark Flare Knight has to go, and I have a monster all ready to defeat it. Oh, Toon Goblins…" The snoring one opened an eye, and then jumped up ready for action. Unexpectedly, five other smaller goblins poked their head out from behind the one. "Do me a favor and rid the field of that pesky knight, will you?"

The toon army nodded excitedly in agreement before turning sinister grins on the monster. Each one jumped up to an incredible height, and all six crashed down on the Dark Flare Knight simultaneously.  A cartoon "fight cloud" surrounded the battling monsters, and then one of the Goblins smacked the Dark Flare Knight high into the air.  He came down hard and shattered.

The goblins quickly returned to sit at PEGASUS's side, where they began a poker game amongst themselves after switching to defense mode. "Oh, my," PEGASUS overacted, "my goblins have a defense of zero and must wait a whole turn to attack again, whatever can I do to stop you from destroying them?"

Derik was vaguely reminded of Sage, but looked on in hope as the few remains of his knight began to shine and float before him.

"Oh, fellas?" PEGASUS lilted to his goblins; rudely enough, they didn't bat an eyelid as one swept in on a full house. PEGASUS held his head in his hand. "Oh well, I guess I'll have to do it the hard way. Toon Cannon Soldier, do your dirty work for me."

 

Although the monster could not attack, a huge vacuum hose sprung off of its back, creating a bulge through the hose as it absorbed some very annoyed goblins. The barrel on the shoulder of the monster sprung back, before launching the monster like a cannonball.

Derik could not keep track of the movement, and just remembered that sickening goblin grin as it slammed neatly into his face.

D-4700 P-5600

Derik didn't mind the damage so much, as long as the effect of his monster came through. What he did mind was the holographic birds now flying around his head. "Come on," he complained, "don't you think this is a bit much?"

PEGASUS gave a slight hmph as the boy tried in vain to swat the birds away. "Well, I though it was a clever touch, myself. Oh, well, your move I suppose."

Derik gave a triumphant yell as the effect of his knight finally completed. "You've had it now!" Derik exclaimed as he drew his card. "The effect of my Dark Flare Knight you destroyed allows me to summon what could be the most powerful monster in the entire dueling world. You have triggered the summoning of the legendary Mirage Knight!" (2800/2000)

 

The monster seemed nothing short of a godsend, shining with a radiant and holy light.

PEGASUS didn't get to be a Level 7 program by underestimating effects, however. "Tisk-tisk, Derik-boy. I told you I had a surprise ready and waiting. This trap is a little doo-dad called Doppelganger, and it's my personal favorite. For the price of 1,000 measly Life Points, I can play him as any card in your graveyard. And that Dark Core you had before looks pretty inviting to me. Now go, my furry friend!" The cat-like cartoon needed no more than that.

P-4600 D-4700

The navy blue creature spun into the air and formed itself into a dark sphere. In an instant a great wind picked up the new creation and sent it to an early demise. The feline then simply uncurled itself and leapt quickly into its master's graveyard pile.

 

There was a brief pause, and then PEGASUS smacked himself on the forehead.  "Oh, so sorry, I forgot to discard first - my mistake!  My Vengeful Bog Spirit that you sent back to my hand can remedy that mistake in a hurry."

Derik now realized that the taunting act was not a psychological battle at all. This program seriously believed that nothing could beat it.  Derik had a card to prove him wrong. "My turn," he decreed as another card was added to his hand. "And I think I have a way out of this mess, but first I sacrifice Witch of the Black Forest and Gemini Elf to summon my third Dark Magician." (2500/2100)

This one bore the same picture as his father's prized card. He didn't have the actual piece of cardstock with him in this dimension, but just like his dad's philosophy, he felt his heart in the monster. Derik also quickly snatched a Kuriboh due to the effect of his Witch just in case.

The boy finished with, "And now I can attack your monster, so, Dark Magician, destroy his Toon Cannon Soldier with your Dark Magic Attack!"

The blow would have probably clinched the match for Derik if he had not forgotten one simple fact: PEGASUS still had a card facedown. "Sorry, Derik-boy, but I activate a card that should look very familiar to you. Activate Toon Defense!"

 

Once again the chain attached and snapped the robot out of harm's way. PEGASUS still took the blow, but he still had his monster, so it didn't matter anymore.

P-2100 D-4700

The chain still stayed in play, but as PEGASUS drew a second card, light sparkled in his virtual eyes. "Oh, I am so good," he giggled with glee, then just broke into an ear-shattering maniacal laugh. "Well, it's been nice dueling with you, Derik-boy, but this duel is about to draw to a close..."

"Just get on with it!" Derik spat across the arena. He was now thoroughly glad that his father had beaten this guy in the flesh.

"You can't rush genius Derik-boy, and this card was in fact a genius of my own design. But first I need to reinvoke the happy home of Toon World." The theme music once again blared throughout the carnival speakers as Derik held his ground. PEGASUS had to have something good if he planned to throw away those Life Points.

P-1100 D-4700

"Now I present to you, in exchange for my Toon Cannon Soldier, the loveliest toon in the set," PEGASUS declared. "I summon the Toon Dark Magician Girl!"

 

And she was cute, there was no doubt about that. The robot backflipped into the pages of the magic book as a spectrum of spotlighted color flooded from its pages, right before the girl leapt out. (2600/2000)

 

"With the power of my girl, every fallen Dark Magician gives her strength. If I remember right, that's a grand total of two.” PEGASUS then grinned, leaning slightly forward. “But let's not forget the power of my Toon Girl to attack you directly. I hope you understand…"

The lady spun a little bit on the edge of the book, and then swung her staff out as if casting a spell.  The head of the staff, however, launched out like a punching glove, almost knocking Derik over in the impact.

D-2100 P-1100

Derik acted tough, but bit his lip. He had been planning a move for a while in case Toon World ever resurfaced, and now was the time to use it. "Sorry, PEGASUS, but you lose - thanks to this card, Knight's Title."

 

The armor on Derik's magician shifted, from that of a spellcaster to that of a warrior, as the Dark Magician Knight rose to his feet. Derik had always wanted to try that move.

The Toon woman's wand swelled as she got another 300-point bonus, but it no longer mattered. 

The young duelist continued, "I suppose you know the effect of my monster. When the Dark Magician Knight comes into play, I destroy one of your cards, and what better than Toon World?"

True to his words, the book began to melt and burn. The once-lovely girl melted in sync, until both were nothing more then a colorful puddle of ink running off the carousel roof.

PEGASUS wasn't programmed to be as sore of a loser as his live counterpart, so he just stood still and waited for the end.

Derik nodded. "Okay, now, direct attack!"

PEGASUS felt the slight breeze as his life points were reduced to nothing.

D-2100 P-0000

0000000

In a shock, Derik awoke in his pod and felt the four locator cards dispensed by the sleeve of the chair. In a moment of confusion, he felt a fifth card and lifted it to his face. It was a Toon Dark Magician Girl. Derik couldn't help but wonder how Kaibacorp could afford to give away such prizes, but though better of it.

 

Opening the pod carefully, he saw who appeared to be his father talking to a shadowy version of himself, but when the glass roof opened, he thought he saw the other person disappear in a flash of light. Must have been a trick of the light, he thought to himself.

"Well, sport," said Yugi after his son rose to his feet out of the pod, slightly groggy, "you've got your cards, so where are we headed?"

Derik shook his head and looked at Isis, who seemed very uncomfortable and scared in her own pod. Derik supposed that was what he looked like in his as well. Yugi wasn't so sure.

"No," Derik replied, "I want to wait for her, to see how she did. Then we can all go to the finals. Together."

Together, Yami whispered back to his partner.

"Yes," Yugi said out loud. "Together."


TOON MASK
Type: Trap Card
Image: A green mask with spout-like ears and a small tophat.
Effect: Tribute one Toon monster on your field, and Special Summon one from your hand or deck with the same name as a monster on your opponent's field.
Note: This card was used by Alistor-as-Pegasus in the original series episode, "Deja Duel, Part 1".  All creative credit goes to the writers of that episode.

TOON DEFENSE
Type: Continuous Trap Card
Image: Toon World, on a chain, snapping back from a pedestal.
Effect: Activate only when a Toon monster you control is attacked.  The attack is redirected to your Life Points.
Note: This is a real card in Japan that has not yet seen an English release.

Coming next chapter: While Derik and PEGASUS rumbled, what was Isis up to?  As we'll see, she was busy dealing with the latest scheme of the Order of Ammit - a dueling computer virus!  Without her Blue Eyes, Isis has to find a new way to shut down this infective opponent.  All this coming in the next chapter, "GREED, Digital Intruder"...