Episode 118: The Enchanting Field: Ecole de Zone
In Yusuke's kitchen, Salia pours Seth a cup of tea.
Seth: Thanks. It's been a long trip.
Alicia: What's going on? I thought you were out on the fields.
Seth: This tea is delicious. Thank you Salia. I forgot how much I missed your special brew.
Salia: Oh…it's no secret. My grandmother just used to make it that way.
Seth: Heaven. This more than makes up for my time out south.
Axel: Dude, it's a cup of frigging tea! Can we focus on the issue at hand please?!
Seth: Right, sorry. Guess I should explain why I'm here.
Yusuke: Yeah. Let me guess. The Crossed Brotherhood?
Seth: Is that what they call themselves?
Arnold: Does that mean you encountered one of them?
Koga: Yeah, what happened?
Seth: I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start over from the very, very beginning. You see, it goes like this…
Opening
3 days ago
In a field, a rooster lands on a fence and begins cawing. Seth is lying on a bed a he opens his eyes and wakes up, stretching.
Seth: The people get up so early here. It's insane. Well, better get out there.
He stands up and walks over to the bathroom, brushing his teeth. As he does, he sits down and looks at his bedside table. It shows a picture of Seth, Salia, Koga, and Arnold. He looks sad and spits.
Seth: I do miss them.
Woman: Seth, Shimmer's here!
Seth: Be right down.
He leaves his room and rushes down the stairs.
Shimmer: Be careful. Wouldn't want to break your leg again right?
Seth: Yeah, yeah.
Man: Are you guys going out? You know there is work to be done.
Seth: We're going out for a little breakfast. We'll be back soon.
They both leave and walk past a field.
Shimmer: Are you okay? You seem really out of it.
Seth: Guess I just feel a little homesick. I haven't seen the others in a while. I have to wonder how they're getting on.
Shimmer: What do you mean?
Seth: I can't say. It's more recently I got this feeling. Something….something really bad is going to happen.
He pulls out his Fate Crystal, which is glowing and bouncing around.
Shimmer: What's with that thing?
Seth: I don't know. But it's been going crazy as of late. I don't like this at all. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I feel like something's wrong.
Shimmer: Really? Well…
Kid: Yo! Where you guys going?!
Shimmer: Hey Nick. Just out to get some breakfast.
Kid: Really? You're lucky. I have to work now. Promise you'll pick up something for me!
Seth: Will do.
The two keep walking. Nick whistles as he hoes crops.
Nick: It's good to have Seth back. I really missed that guy. Wonder if he can introduce me to Salia…
???: Seth you say?
Nick looks down as darkness is spreading across the ground. Nick's eyes widen and he gasps.
Woman: So the duel king really is here in the boonies. What a tacky little plant. All these trees and plants.
Nick: Uh….uh…who are you?!
Woman: Me? I'm Rooster. And now…
She holds out her arm as a Duel Disk appears.
Rooster: I'll Harvest your soul.
Nick's eyes widen as he steps back. At a café, Seth and Shimmer are standing in line.
Shimmer: I think I'll get the super breakfast burger! How about you?
Seth: Huh? Oh, bacon and eggs.
Shimmer: Come on, relax. I'm sure there's nothing wrong.
A scream is heard and a wave of darkness fires from the fields. Seth and Shimmer turn in shock.
Shimmer: That's Nick's property!
Seth: Damn! Get me something to go!
Shimmer: Seth, wait!
Seth takes off.
Seth: I knew it! Things were way too peaceful. But if the enemy came all the way here, I must be their target!
He runs to the field. A door slams shut as Rooster slowly turns, grinning.
Rooster: Well, if it isn't the former King. You're just as cute in person as they say.
Seth: Don't screw around. Where's Nick?
Rooster: Nick…Nick…oh, you mean the squirt I just crushed? Oh, I wouldn't worry. After all, there's nothing you can do for him now.
Seth: What's that mean?!
Rooster: His soul is already one with the Inferno. No mortal means will ever being him back.
Seth: That can't be…I refuse to believe it! You won't hurt anyone else!
Rooster: I'm not here to do that. I just felt a little rusty. So I wanted to make sure my skills were sharp. No worries. After all, you're my target, no one else. Get ready.
Seth activates his Duel Disk as darkness swirls.
Rooster: You're not getting away!
Seth: As if I would want to!
Both: Duel! [Rooster LP = 4000][Seth LP = 4000]
Rooster: Heh heh heh. Shadow Game.
Darkness surrounds them, trapping them in a ball.
Seth: Shadow Game?
Rooster: Oh, don't worry. It'll all make sense soon. Or should I say…won't?
Seth: You're not making any damn sense. I'll force you to make senses!
Rooster: Oh I'm sure you will! Draw. No way! It took me turns to draw this last time and I drew it right away! Now you're in for it you little terp…
Seth: Twerp.
Rooster: Huh?
Seth: You say terp, which means turtle. You mean twerp, which stands for "punk."
Rooster: Well aren't you a smart little twit. Well, those brains won't do any good…against my Card of Darkness.
Seth: What?
Rooster: Field Spell, Ecole de Zone!
She puts it in her Field Spell slot. A door opens and releases darkness. Seth covers himself as the darkness surrounds him. He hears birds singing and opens his eyes. He is a distorted world. He looks around in confusion and begins walking.
Seth: Where am I? Wasn't I dueling just a minute ago? Yet this place…
He stops to see water on the side of a building as a fish jumps and leaps back in.
Rooster: Do you like it? This is my world.
She leaps down laughing.
Seth: Your world makes no sense. If you're trying to intimidate me, you'll need to do better than that.
Rooster: No don't worry, I intend to. I set two cards and end my turn.
Seth: No monsters? That's a mistake! Draw. Here we go. I summon Color Warrior- Brawling Burgundy [ATK 1800/DEF 0 LV 4]. And now….
His monster blows up. Seth's eyes widen in shock as a hideous thing appears on his field [ATK 1800/DEF 0 LV 1].
Seth: What…?!
Rooster: That's what you get for summoning so suddenly! Ecole de Zone is a special reality. Any monster summoned is transformed into a Mask Token. Don't worry, it has the same attack and defense points as the monster you summoned. But Ecole de Zone does not allow direct attacks.
Seth: Damn! You wanted me to summon a monster! Looks like I have no choice. I set a card. Turn…
Rooster: Continuous Trap, Changing Costume. At the end of every turn, Mask Tokens change sides. Since you are the only one with a Mask Token, I take it.
Seth: No way! She one-upped me…completely.
Rooster: That's not all little boy! I'm just getting started. Draw. Trap card, Nightmare Archfiends. This summons three Archfiend Tokens to your field [ATK 2000/DEF 2000 LV 6 each].
Seth: Nightmare Archfiends…but..!
Rooster: Ecole de Zone destroys them and turns them into Mask Tokens. And then the power of the Tokens deals 800 points of damage for each one.
All three blow up, turning into Tokens [ATK 2000/DEF 2000 LV 1 each]. Seth screams in pain and is shot back into water [Seth LP = 1600]. He sits up, coughing, dying the water red.
Seth: What…that hurt…
Rooster: The Shadow Game has begun. At the end of this duel, your soul is mine.
Seth: My…soul?
Rooster: Did I forget? So sorry. Anyone in a Shadow Game must bet their soul. As such, the damage you take is real.
Seth: What? You…didn't say that.
Rooster: Must have slipped my mind. I release your Mask Token and summon Chaos Command Magician [ATK 2400/DEF 1900 LV 6]. The effect of Ecole de Zone makes him a Mask Token [ATK 2400/DEF 1900 LV 1]. Battle. Attack one of his Mask Tokens!
It flies forward, punching the other one. Seth cries out [Seth LP = 1200].
Rooster: Hurts? Not done. Spell card, Creature Swap! Now we exchange monsters. I'll give you Chaos Command Magician in exchange for a Token. Changing Costume's effect! Now I get back my Mask Token and you get hurts back.
Seth: I see. Her deck is all about giving me the weak Mask Tokens and keeping the strong ones for herself. She's…strong. No question about that. But…I can't afford to give up! Here we go, draw! Yes. I use Polymerization. This lets me fuse monsters together. I combine the Mask Token with Colorless Warrior for Unliving Artist [ATK 2100/DEF 0 LV 7]. At this time, he is destroyed and turned into a Mask Token [ATK 2000/DEF 1000 LV 1]
Rooster: Eh? So what was the point of that?
Seth: Battle! Unliving Artist attacks your Mask Token!
It flies forward, punching it, making them both blow up.
Rooster: Hmph. Stupid.
Seth: With that, I end my turn. Now Changing Costume gives me the stronger Mask Token.
Rooster: I see. You're getting used to how Ecole de Zone works. Not bad. But it won't help you at all. Ecole de Zone is more powerful than you can imagine. I'll show you…draw!
Outside, Shimmer sees the dark sphere.
Shimmer: What the hell is this thing? Seth! Seth, can you hear me?! Damn. There has to be something I can do. Maybe…Frost and Flame Dragon?
He summons it. It appears and charges the sphere, getting destroyed.
Shimmer: No! Damn…looks like it's up to you Seth.
Rooster: Heh. Ha ha ha ha! This is almost unfair, it really is! Spell card, Owner's Seal! Now all monsters return to their original owners. Take back your Mask Token. I'll take the stronger one back.
Seth: No! Impossible…right when I claimed it…she took the stronger one…she's good. Very good
Rooster: Battle! I attack your Mask Token.
It plows through Seth's Mask Token, destroying it. He screams in pain once more [Seth LP = 800].
Rooster: Man, if I knew it was going to be this easy, I wouldn't have bothered coming. At this point, doing something like this may seem cruel….but I can live with that. Here we go, I summon Nefarious Healer [ATK 1200/DEF 1000 LV 4]. Now that a monster has been summoned, Ecole de Zone normally replaces her with a Mask Token. But Nefarious Healer has the power to negate her own destruction. And that's not all.
Healer grins. The stronger Mask Token walks over to Seth's field.
Seth: What…?
Rooster: Nefarious Healer lets me give one monster to the opponent or vice versa. If so, the player who gives up the monster gains 1000 life points [Rooster LP = 5000]. You understand what happens next, right?
Seth: Hmph. Now that you have given me the stronger Mask Token, Changing Costume will give it to me at the end of the turn.
Rooster: My, you are a bright boy! Too bad it won't change anything. Even now, Changing Costume activates! Healer now goes to you due to her alternate effect of going to the player I affect. Face it, you've lost! The Crossed Brotherhood will claim this land!
Seth: Crossed….Brotherhood?
Rooster: Hmph. As if I'd tell you anything else. All you need to know is that we will be the future rulers of this world. The precious sun will fade and cast the world into everlasting night. The souls of the mortal world will open the gates of the Underworld and release the ancient Yomishin.
Seth: Yomishin?
Rooster: Oops. I said it. Oh well. You won't be telling anyone. Cause you're about to lose. Turn end. Changing Costume changes the field.
Seth: Looks like it's all done to this draw. Come on deck. At least give me one more win as the King. Draw. I use the Spell card Angel Baton. This lets me draw 2 cards and send one to the graveyard. Color Warrior- Shocking Yellow uses its effect! Now Spells and Traps you try to use can't be used until the End Phase!
Rooster: Damn. He's figured it out. Ecole de Zone doesn't stop monster effects. What did he draw though?
Seth: This is the end, Rooster. I use the Spell card Fusion Return. This lets me use a Polymerization from the graveyard and fuse monsters. Now I remove Unliving Artist. Now when I Fusion Summon, I can use monsters in my graveyard for the Fusion. I combine the Shocking Yellow in my graveyard with the Colorless Warrior also in my graveyard.
Both fuse together.
Seth: Come on, Color Warrior- Exploding Orange [ATK 2500/DEF 1000 LV 6].
Rooster: No! And Ecole de Zone is negated, which means it isn't turned into a Mask Token!
Seth: Battle. I attack your Mask Token. Orang Explosion.
It creates a tiny orb and throws it. The orb blows up, destroying the Token. Rooster cries in pain [Rooster LP = 4900]
Seth: And now a new card. Spell card, Second Chance to Strike. Since I destroyed a monster, he can attack again. Go, Orange Explosion.
It hurls another explosion. Rooster screams as she flies back [Rooster LP = 2400].
Rooster: So….what?!
Seth: Now a direct attack from Nefarious Healer. Sinister Smile.
She grins, spitting dark mist. Rooster screams and flies back again [Rooster LP = 1200]
Rooster: Looks like you miscounted. I still have life. And even if you have two monsters, Ecole de Zone reactivates at the end of the turn, destroying your Warrior. Face it, this is the end.
Seth: …Yes, it is the end. I should put an end to it now, shouldn't I?
Rooster: Eh?
Seth: First I use the power of Nefarious Healer. I give my Color Warrior to you [Seth LP = 1800]. Turn end. At this time, the effect of Ecole de Zone destroys my monster, giving me the Token and you Nurse [ATK 2500/DEF 1000 LV 1].
Rooster: You see!? Ecole de Zone is permanent! Even your best efforts haven't done anything!
Seth: Since Color Warrior was destroyed, I can select one monster on the field and destroy it as well. Your Healer is back on your field. I'll destroy that and deal its attack points as damage.
Rooster: What?! You used Ecole de Zone to your advantage.
Seth: You made two fatal mistakes. One was hurting my friends and making me duel you. The second….was making me duel you.
Healer blows up, taking Rooster out with her. She screams [Rooster LP = 0] as Ecole de Zone begins to fade. A door opens and begins sucking in all the darkness and Rooster.
Rooster: This…isn't over you realize? Even as I speak, my plans in Cynemia City are commencing. You won't stop us! Even if you stop me, the Crossed Brotherhood will live on!
She laughs as all the darkness vanishes inside the door, which slams shut. Seth looks on in shock as Shimmer runs over. Seth stands up.
Shimmer: What's wrong?! What's happened?!
Seth: Shimmer….forgive me ahead of time, but I must go.
Shimmer: Go? Go where?
Seth: …To Cynemia City.
His flashback ends.
Seth: I rushed here as soon as I could. I'm glad I came here when I did.
Axel: Hmph. So they are targeting us after all. Bring em on!
Alicia: If they already have Dex, does that mean they'll be coming after the rest of us soon?
Tamika: It would seem likely. What bothers me is what Rooster said. Yomishin.
Yusuke: Yomishin…Cards of Darkness…Shadow Games….just what is happening in this town?
Dante is standing outside the house. He looks down sadly and walks off.
To be continued
Baron: Today we'll be going over Ecole de Zone. This Field Spell destroys any monster summoned and turns it into a Mask Token. Graveyard effects and destruction effects work well with it. But how a Mask Token is scary I just don't get…
A Mask Token tackles him. He screams as it covers its face and he runs around, falling down a massive flight of stairs as Ren and Rika walk up them.
Ren: Since when have the stairs been this long?
Narrator: Avarice is a terrible thing. Greed destroys the soul and corrupts the mind. Most importantly of all, it corrupts what you do love. Next time on Yu-Gi-Oh! Riders of Fate: Episode 119: The Greediest Monster