"The Epilogue of the Masked Duelist"

By: Von Stupor

Yeah, okay," said Tristan to the restraunt manager. "but you may also want to talk to your employees about respect for your customers."

"Excuse me? He showed you disrespect?" asked the manager, intently.

"Yeah, he leans down real close to me and says, 'Either make your order or get out of the damned store.' I don't know if he has other things to tend to, but I don't think that's any way a paying customer should be treated."

"I'll tell you what. Forget the discount, the meal's on me."

"You're sure about this?"

"I can't risk losing customers, so I'm hard on showing respect. You can eat tonight for free, and I'll have a serious talk with the waiter."

"Alright, thank you so much!"

The manager then walked away.

Thanks, Von Stupor. Tristan thought to himself with a smug look. Heh, heh, what a pal.

"Alright, I'm not going to teach you how to be me. I find it rather creepy and you already seem to have that down already. However, if you manage to survive my training, you'll probably be just as good a wind duelist as I am, okay?" said Mai to Nina.

"I'll do whatever you want, Master! If you tell me to do anything - anything at all - I'll do it! I'll wash your clothes, I'll give you manicures and pedicures, I'd lick your boots! If you really wanted, I'd even"

"Hey! No getting weird on me, either, you know I hate it."

"Oh... Okay."

Nina then looked towards the sky and thought to herself, Thank you so much, Baron Von Stupor. You've... given me more than I could have ever imagined... Thank you...

"Hey, Joey!" Yugi happily said as Joey appeared at his door. Beside Joey stood Sailor Mercury in casual attire.

Joey noticed Yugi staring at her in confusion and said, "Well, she's a friend, right? We certainly know she's not evil, right? Ha, ha."

"Yugi!" shouted Solomon. "Come quick, you won't believe this!"

The trio ran into the living room to find Von Stupor on the television.

"Holy crap!" shouted Joey. "Von's the vice-president and CEO of Industrial Illusions!"

"What? No way! Pegasus must have been really grateful or something." exclaimed Yugi. "I guess if Von Stupor decides to contact us, we'll have to ask him how all this happened."

"Hell, I'd still like to know how he summoned Amy here into existence."

"Actually, I'm still rather confused about everything that's going on here," Amy chimed in.

"Yeah, I'm not too good at explaining things... maybe Yugi here can do a better job," commented Joey.

"Shhhhhhhh!" Solomon shushed. "Von Stupor's going to talk."

"We have footage from a recent press conference," stated the reporter on the television.

Von Stupor appeared on the screen.

"Exactly where was Mr. Pegasus this whole time?" asked a reporter.

"'Tis not a matter of where he was, but where he wasn't. He certainly wasn't in Russia. He is actually a man of great taste, as he likes 'Funny Bunny'!" Von Stupor stupidly replied.

"Why did he choose you as vice-president and CEO of his company?" asked another.

"Well, I believe that it's quite obvious that there aren't any coins in my pocket. Do any of you have money for me to fetch some snacks from the vending machine?"

"You're just making simple ramblings! Why aren't you giving us any answers?"

"Oh, I have been giving you answers this whole time, just not the ones you're looking for. Thank you all for coming, it's been fun!"

Von Stupor then stepped down and walked away while a company official came to the podium to make closing statements.

"I sure hope Pegasus knows what he's doing," said Joey flatly.

"You listen here, Mr. Stupor. We've had enough of your beating around the bush! It's about time we got down to business or the deal's off," said Jay Crawford, owner of a rival company.

"Very well, then," Pegasus agreed, leaning back in his chair and drumming his fingers together. "So you wish to purchase the rights to Duel Monsters, do you?"

"Yes, and we are willing to pay you very well for them."

"Hmmm... what kind of money are we talking about, could you give me a figure of some sort?"

"We are willing to give one hundred thousand American dollars for the game rights."

"Very intriguing offer. Perhaps"

"Are you sure?" Von Stupor jumped in, cutting him off. "Duel Monsters is facing a massive decline in supporters. You may wish to pick another game, perhaps Capsule Monsters?"

Crawford snorted and said, "Your choice in executives is very poor, Mr. Pegasus. Do you really think we haven't done any research? Duel Monsters sales are rising exponentially!"

Pegasus rubbed his temple with his finger in irritation.

"Perhaps that is all the more reason that we should keep the Duel Monsters rights, then?" Von Stupor said bluntly.

Pegasus sat forward and gave Von Stupor a look. Von Stupor read from it that Pegasus was asking him what the hell he was doing.

"Well now, let's not get rash, shall we?" said Crawford, backing down a bit. "We are still giving a rather hefty offer for the game's rights."

"Well, you act as if I speak lies. Think, my stupid friend, can you not see patterns? Duel Monsters sales have been stupendous for months now, far surpassing the sales of even a few top-notch video games. Why, it's even becoming a way of life! However, as the saying goes, 'the bigger they are, the harder they fall,' and there's no denying that the game is merely a fad. Despite its size, it will always be labeled a fad. It has definitely had a long run, but is bound to come crashing down. Where we both have good reputations, should you purchase Duel Monsters rights just for the game to plummet to its doom could not only severely damage your funds, but your reliability in the eyes of the general public. Who wants to buy a game from the company that 'supposedly' killed Duel Monsters?"

"Since when did you start caring about another company's reputation?"

"While we at Industrial Illusions are honest businessmen, we are also honorable. We don't want to sell a game that is potentially destructive. We believe that the competition helps to keep us on our toes, at our best for only making the best of games for eveyone, even if it means we must help the opposition every so often."

Pegasus raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Well then, what do you suppose we do?" asked Crawford curiously.

"I would suggest purchasing something that shows promise. After all, we must accomplish something, hm? How about Capsule Monsters?"

"Capsule Monsters is a poor choice," Pegasus jumped in. "It only appeals to younger children. However, Monster Fighter has been rather bland lately, without many interesting ways to play, and yet it remains a small hit. That in a game shows awesome potential, I believe."

"Interesting point," Crawford concurred. "Fine, we'll settle on that. How much would you like?"

"Well, we aim to encourage competition between companies, so let's settle on the mere sum of thirty thousand American dollars? Nothing too expensive, I hope."

"Not at all, let's simply sign the proper paperwork and I'll be on my way."

"'Twas a pleasure doing business with you," thanked Von Stupor.

After Crawford left, Pegasus turned to Von Stupor and said, "My boy, you are a genius."

"Eh?" he grunted in confusion.

"Your business skills are unparallelled! You protected the largest franchise we have, gave us a wonderful profit, attained the trust of another company, and got rid of a game that was doomed for complete and utter failure!"

"I had your aid..."

"Granted, but I'd have never thought of such a maneuver, it even took me a short while to catch onto your plan."

"Heh."

"You don't truly think Duel Monsters will meet the fate you predicted, do you?"

"In time, it will indeed die, but I am confident that the money made shall be morethan enough to last fpr the remainders of our lives."

"Ha, ha, wise answer. I knew when I chose you that you were perfect for the job."

Kaiba walked into his office and turned on his computer.

"It's time to see if they replied to my offer yet," he muttered to himself.

When he opened his inbox, he saw a message sent from Indstrial Illusions with the subject 'Thankies!'. He opened it, and a virtual Baron Von Stupor marched onto the screen.

"Hello Kaiba! It's still Karp," it said in a grainy, digitized voice, matching that of Von Stupor.

Kaiba grunted in irritation.

"Anyways, on to my point," said the sprite. "'Twas very kind of you to lend me your helicopter. Because of this, the ultimate result is my new position as vice-president and CEO of Industrial Illusions! Grand, isn't it?"

"Lovely," Kaiba sarcastically muttered to the computer.

"Now, I know you're probably still in your usual totally un-good mood, therefore I shall cheer you up! Behold, I shall serenade you as thanks with a song I wrote myself! I call it, 'One Potato Two Potato Red Potato Blue Potato.' Ahem."

Kaiba's eyes opened wide as his computer blared Von Stupor's song.

"I like potatoes, yes I do!

I think I'm gonna name them, just for you!

Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, sweet potato pie,

Scalloped potatoes, raw potatoes, potato chips and fries!"

Kaiba looked up, wide-eyes as his staff came up to his office via the stairs to see what the racket was about. He tried to tell them it wasn't his doing, but Von Stupor's screeching got even louder.

"Red potatoes, fried potatoes, sweet potato, too!

Tater tots and skins, and even potato stew!"

Everyone was now laughing at Kaiba.

Red-faced, he screamed to the heavens, "God damn you, Baron Von Stupor!"

Well, I am sad to say that this is now the end of the story. However, do not cry! For a sequel has been planned! Might take a while, though, I still have to get the storyline down, but expect it to happen! Here's a few things you can expect!

Another baron!

Sailor Mercury duels!

More bad guys!

Lots of Orichalcos action!

With that said,I shall bid you all adieu. Thanks for maintaining your faith! See you around! I don't know how to end this comment, so I'm stopping right... now.