Card of the Day: Mirror Labyrinth
Episode 231: Nightmare Lord Caius.
In a dark room, many bottles with colored liquids are bubbling fiercely. Caius is pouring a liquid into another bottle and it turns green.
Sir Caius: Now, let's see.
He reaches into a cage and pulls out a rat. It struggles in his hand as he holds it down and holds up a syringe with the green liquid.
Sir Caius: Easy now. This'll hurt little guy. But don't worry. You are advancing science. Now then….slowly….slowly.
He slowly moves the needle closer when Raiza opens the door suddenly.
Sir Raiza: Good morning!
Sir Caius reacts in shock and drops the syringe, which shatters on the ground. The rat bites his hand and rushes out of the room.
Sir Caius: No! Argh! You moron! Do you have ANY idea of how long that took to prepare?! Months of research….down the drain! Who the hell raises you like that?! You don't barge in without permission!
Sir Raiza: Well sorry your highness. I just thought you might have been hungry sitting in your dark room all day reading nasty books and performing cruel experiments.
Sir Caius: If I want to eat, I'll eat. I don't need you to babysit me you brain-dead oaf.
Sir Raiza: Well, whatever. The King says he wants to see you.
Sir Caius: Oh good, and he sent a monkey to tell me. I'm so happy.
Sir Raiza: I'm surprised you're acting so bitter. From what the King said, he'll let you pick your test subject,
Sir Caius: Oh….is that right?
He grins and rubs his chin
Opening
At school, students are working hard on a test. Yuji and Luna seem to be working hard while Takimaru is tapping his pencil against his desk and Enzan is hurrying with a panicked look on his face. Tyson appears to be drawing something with a happy expression. The teacher is walking through the classroom and stops in front of Tyson's desk, looking down and swiping the paper.
Teacher: What's this?
Tyson: Well, I was finished early so….I was just drawing.
Teacher: What on earth is this thing?
Tyson: Well, Takimaru had problems with his Duel Disk's hologram system last night and I helped him fix it. So after I looked at it, I was thinking maybe it would improve the system's overall capability to have the….
Teacher: That's enough. You are allowed to draw pictures, but not in class. Please, save the toys for after school.
Tyson: Y-Yes sir…
He looks sad as the teacher walks off. After school, everyone is walking home
Enzan: My brain feels numb….at least I got a 70…
Luna: These tests jus keep getting harder. I only scored a 91.
Enzan: A 91?! And she's disappointed by that?! Hey Yuji, Takimaru, what about you?
Yuji: 96.
Takimaru: 84.
Enzan: So I got the lowest score!?
Tyson: ….I only scored a 63.
Yuji: Huh?
Takimaru: Are you serious? You usually do so well.
Tyson: I think it was because I stayed up too late working on your Duel Disk
Takimaru; Jeez, didn't I say just to go to bed and not worry about it?
Tyson: I couldn't though. I like helping out anyway I can. Besides, I think the Duel Disk is built all wrong. If the hologram projector was moved further up, it gets closer to the card slots and that makes the holograms appear a little less fuzzy.
Luna: Wow. You know a lot about this kind of stuff.
Tyson: I like to know a broad array of things. That way, I can help anyone who's confused about something.
Luna: I think that sounds really sweet.
They pass under the shadow of a tree as hands appear to come out of the ground at them.
Yuji: It sounds like a nice trait to have.
Takimaru: Well….yeah. But Tyson, it's impossible to know everything. Besides, people might see that as selfish. You taking pity on someone who doesn't know as much as you do.
Tyson: That's a rather morbid way to look at it.
They walk off as Caius sits in the tree. He grins.
Sir Caius: Oh yes. He's the one. He'll make a very fascinating test subject.
That night, Takimaru is studying with Alice.
Takimaru: Gah! This is so stupid!
Alice: Come on, you need to work at it a little harder
Takimaru: Science has never been my strongest point. At this rate, I'll never pass the test. I'm so totally doomed!
Alice: Well if you keep up that attitude, then you will fail for sure. Come on, go over it one more time.
Upstairs, Tyson is writing in a sketchbook. He is smiling as he writes it down and jumps up, running down the stairs.
Tyson: Takimaru, Alice! Check it out! I came up with a great idea!
As he runs, he trips slightly on a step and falls down.
Alice: Tyson!?
She runs over to him
Alice: How are you feeling?! Is something wrong?!
Tyson: That's odd….it feels like something grabbed my foot.
Alice: Grabbed your foot. But there's nothing there now.
Tyson: How weird….
Takimaru: What happened?
Tyson: It was nothing. I tripped and fell.
Alice: Do you want us to check a doctor or something?
Tyson: Look, I said I was fine alright? I don't need to see a doctor.
Alice: Well…okay, if you're sure.
Tyson: Oh, are you studying science? That's my best subject! Do you need some help studying?
Takimaru: Nah, that's fine. I have enough help from Alice.
Tyson: Are you sure? You said that you really needed help
Takimaru: Look, it's fine, didn't I say that? You should focus on your own schoolwork. After all, I'm out to be a Pro Duelist. You want to be an engineer, so good grades matter to you more.
Tyson: Oh. Hey Alice, want me to read your manuscript? You said you wanted other opinions on it right?
Alice: No, I already sent it to a publisher. Besides, you have studying to do.
Tyson: ….You guys just don't get it.
He turns and walks off.
Tyson: I'm going for a walk.
Alice: Hey, hold on…
Tyson: Please, I need to be alone for a minute.
He shuts the door before Alice makes it outside.
Takimaru: What's his problem?
As Tyson walks down the sidewalk at night, he is kicking a can.
Tyson: They still treat me like a child. Don't they know how insulting that is? I'll be graduating soon. Why can't they treat me like an adult? ….Ugh. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. I hate the dark….
Something crackles and he jumps. He turns and sees a streetlight flickering.
Tyson: Oh….heh. They really need to get these things fixed.
He breathes a sigh of relief and keeps walking. Suddenly, the flickering light goes out. Tyson stops for a second and looks back when another goes out. Tyson backs away as more and more go out. The shadows begin to stir
Tyson: Uh….
He begins to run. As he runs, shadows leap at him and his ankles. Eventually, he runs into a playground and tries to get his phone.
Tyson: Need to call someone!
A shadow swipes out and knocks the phone from his hand. He backs away as someone forms from the shadows
Sir Caius: So, afraid of the dark? Interesting. It has such great power, and yet it still has the mental capacity of a child.
Tyson: Who are you!?
Sir Caius: Introducing myself to my test subjects? Well, that's new.
Tyson: I'm not your test subject!
Sir Caius: Yes, maybe that sounded shallow at first. Fine, allow me to introduce myself. I am Sir Caius, the Darkness Controller and rank 10 among the Knights of the Elemental.
Tyson: You're a Knight?!
Sir Caius: So you've heard of me. That makes explaining easy. Now then, how about coming with me? I would love to get started.
Tyson: Get started?
Sir Caius: You see, I'm a scientist. I pride myself on my observation and research skills. For a long time now, I've wanted to examine one of you Seven Stars. It would really help my research. Now then, come with me so we can start the dissection.
Tyson: Sorry, but I'm going with you by free will alone! After all, you are my enemy!
Sir Caius: I had a feeling it was going to come to that. Fine then, I can perform the dissection right here. It doesn't matter. But just so you know, I don't have any anesthesia here. So excuse me if you suffer.
Tyson activates his Duel Disk. Caius draws two daggers out of darkness and combines them into a Duel Disk.
Both: Duel! [Sir Caius LP = 4000][Tyson LP = 4000]
Sir Caius: Go first. I want to observe your dueling style.
Tyson: Fine then! Watch and learn! Here we go. I summon Twin- Barrel Dragon [ATK 1700/DEF 200 LV 4]. Turn end.
Sir Caius: Draw. Now, time to collect some data. Field Spell, Mirror Labyrinth. Now Tyson, let's explore the inner depths of your subconscious.
Mirrors begin to form until they surround Tyson and Caius as he screams. Darkness becomes to appear from the mirrors and blacken everything. Takimaru and Alice freeze up
Takimaru: Whoa….
Alice: Something just sent shivers up my spine. What's going on? Is something going on?
Knee deep in a pond, Tyson is walking.
Tyson: Where am I? Just a second ago I was dueling that Caius guy. Where did he go? Come to think of it, where did I go too?
???: Welcome to the Spring of Truth.
??? 2: Here, only the truth is clear.
Tyson turns and steps back in horror His eyes widen as Takimaru and Alice stand there, smirking and laughing.
Tyson: Sis?! Takimaru!? What's going on?!
Takimaru: You moron. We just said, this is the Spring of Truth.
Alice: We are the "truth."
Takimaru: The true "us."
Alice: And our true….hatred of you.
Tyson: Hatred…of me?
Takimaru: That's right. In fact, we hate you so much….we're going to kill you.
Tyson: Kill me?! Wait, I don't understand this at all! What do you mean kill?!
Alice: We're going to kill you. That way, you won't bother us.
Takimaru: Or annoy us.
Alice: Once you're gone, we can finally be happy. So, are you a wimp like we say?
Tyson: I….I don't know what's going on here….but fine, I'll fight you!
He activates his Duel Disk. Takimaru and Alice laugh and activate theirs. Twin- Barrel Dragon appears on Tyson's field.
Takimaru: Me and Alice will alternate turns. That way, it's fair. Here we go, my turn. I summon Skilled Dark Magician [ATK 1900/DEF 1700 LV 4]. Now then, attack Twin- Barrel Dragon!
Magician fires a blast of magic at it, which blows it up. Tyson recoils in pain [Tyson LP = 3800]
Tyson: Real damage…..
Alice: Excellent work honey!
Takimaru: That's not all. Using the power of Mirror Labyrinth, if there is no level 5 or higher monster on the field, one level 4 or below monster can attack again. Get him!
Magician hits him again. Tyson screams in pain as the electricity shocks him [Tyson LP = 1900]
Tyson: It hurts….
Takimaru: Now I set two cards and end my turn.
Tyson: You….haven't beaten me. Here we go! I summon Mechanicalchaser [ATK 1850/DEF 800 LV 4]. Now I use Limiter Removal. This doubles the attack points of a Machine type monster [ATK 3700/DEF 800 LV 4]. Go! Strike down Skilled Dragon Magician!
Takimaru: Since you used a Spell card, my monster gains a Spell Counter [SC = 1]. And now, Trap card, Negate Attack. This negates an opposing monster's attack.
The strike is blocked
Tyson: Damn! I…set a card and end my turn. At this time, Mechanicalchaser is destroyed.
Alice: We'll end it soon. And then you'll finally be out of our lives…
Tyson: Alice, why are you saying those things?!
Alice: Because it's true. We hate you. We ALL hate you.
Everyone's faces appear all around him
Raythe: Hate you!
Luna: Hate you!
Yuji: Hate you!
Enzan: Hate you!
Tyson: No….no…..
Alice: I summon Shooting Star Slicer [ATK 1800/DEF 1000 LV 4]. He's wide open! Attack him directly! Shooting Cut!
Tyson: I won't let you! Trap card, Stronghold the Moving Fortress. This lets me summon a Trap Monster [ATK 0/DEF 2000 LV 4].
Takimaru: That won't stop me! Trap card, Magician's Circle. This lets us both summon a Spellcaster monster from our hands. The monster I'm summoning is Chaos Command Magician [ATK 2400/DEF 1900 LV 6]. Now Slicer may not be strong enough to destroy Stronghold, but Chaos Command Magician is! Go, Chaos Stream!
It destroys Stronghold with magic.
Takimaru: End it! Now Alice, attack with Skilled Dark Magician!
Alice: Yes, I will!
Tyson: I don't think so! I use the power of Disrupted Computer. While I have no monsters out and my opponent is going to attack, I discard it and end the Battle Phase. And I get to draw one.
Takimaru: Hm. Lucky.
Alice: You won't last much longer though. I set a card and end my turn.
Tyson: Here we go. My turn. Something's not right. Alice has a fair amount of Spellcaster monsters in her deck. She doesn't have a single one in her hand? And she didn't play many cards. Yes, something's up all right. I use Polymerization. This lets combine monsters in my hand or on my field. I fuse Barrel Dragon and Blowback Dragon into Gattling Dragon [ATK 2600/DEF 1200 LV 8]
The two monsters combine.
Tyson: Now I toss three coins. And if any of them are heads, I can destroy that many cards. Go!
Three coins into the air. One comes up heads.
Tyson: Yes! Destroy Chaos Command Magician!
The monster blows up
Tyson: Now, Gattling Dragon, attack Skilled Dark Magician!
Dragon blasts it apart. Takimaru and Alice scream in pain [Takimaru and Alice LP = 3300].
Tyson: Ah! Are you okay?!
Takimaru: Gr…worry about yourself shorty!
Tyson: You guys….why are you acting like this? Are they….really Alice and Takimaru? Turn end.
Takimaru: Draw. Trap card, Soul Projection. I pay 1000 life points and draw two cards from my deck [Alice and Takimaru LP = 2300]. First I change Shooting Star Slicer to defense mode [ATK 1800/DEF 1000 LV 4]. Next I set a monster and a card and end my turn.
Tyson: My turn. I set a card. I may not be able to use the effect of Gattling Dragon, but its attack will be more than enough! Gattling Dragon, attack Shooting Star Slicer!
The monster fires and destroys it.
Tyson: Then I set a card and end my turn. Nice try! But I know you're not the real Alice and Takimaru! Why don't you show yourself?
Alice: You nasty little boy. I'm going to make you pay for that! Here we go. I flip summon Apprentice Magician [ATK 400/DEF 800 LV 2]. Now I release Apprentice Magician and summon Lunar Blaster [ATK 2100/DEF 1300 LV 5]
Tyson: Nice try. But it's still not strong enough to take me down!
Alice: That's not what I'm after idiot. I set a card. Now I use Emergency Provisions. This lets me release Spell and Trap cards and gain 1000 life points for each one. The card I release is none other than my set card [Alice and Takimaru LP = 3300]. Lunar Blaster's effect! I can destroy a card on the field. I destroy Gattling Dragon! And then you take 300 points of damage!
It fires stardust and blows it up. The stardust hits Tyson as well and he cries our [Tyson LP = 1600]. He falls to his knees
Alice: This is it. Die.
Alice and Takimaru begin laughing as Tyson begins to cry.
Tyson: Why….
All the other faces laughing as well.
Tyson: Why….
Alice and Takimaru are running down the road.
Takimaru: Something feels wrong. Really REALLY wrong.
At the duel field, Tyson is standing with blank eyes and tears falling down his eyes
Sir Caius: Yes….keep this up, please. You're providing me with such valuable research data.
Ending