Cascade Effect

AU time! This was inspired through a combination of a conversation and plot bunnies wondering why the original DM had so little in the terms of girl power. Thus this was born, out of misery, tears, and feels. Mostly on my behalf because I can't do duels to save my life. But also on your behalf as well because I don't know when to quit on the shipping hints/feels front.

You have been warned.

A handful of notes as well:

1. lot of the dialogue will be ad-libbed, as taking just about every single line from the original would be rather silly and unoriginal. Some lines will be used from the original because feels will usually go along with said lines. There's also going to be a tweak to one of the names. Odion in the dub will be called "Rishid" because I like Rishid better. The name "Odion"? Ehhh. .

2. There is cursing in this story. Nothing overly major, but it will seem like a blend of sub and dub in terms of dialogue.

3. All the chapter names are taken from songs, since this story has its own playlist I built. The artist will at the end of each chapter, in case you're interested.

Chapter 1: Hollow Point Rounds

Simply defined, the cascade effect is an unforeseen chain of events due to an act affecting a system. All it takes is one simple action, one simple choice that can alter the course of the system and that parts that compose of it, forever. Sometimes, especially in the biological sense, this is catastrophic, often times causing the death of the cell or living organism.

Sometimes however, these changes can lead to the start of something more, where evolution takes a guiding hand to make something better than what it was originally.

But for the cascade effect to take a hold-

-there must be an act on the system.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Would the remaining duelists and guests please return to the dining hall for the next duel!" They heard Isono's voice over the PA system as they stood about the unconscious body of Ryou in the hospital bed. The change of events, with Marik supposedly forcing Ryou to the surface and pushing Yami Bakura to the background had unnerved them, particularly Yugi. Could Marik do the same thing to them, forcing Yugi to emerge during a Shadow Game and causing him to suffer whatever evil designs Marik had planned for them?

"Poor Bakura," Yugi said quietly. Ryou's body looked so pale and still under the white blanket; it reminded the young boy more of a body in the morgue rather than his soul being in the Shadow Realm. The fluorescent lights of the room did little to assist Ryou's pallor, making him look more clammy and unhealthy highlighting the sheen of sweat on his brow. His pale hair was spread out around him like a halo, the strands almost the same color as the blankets.

"Will he be alright?" Serenity asked, voice full of concern.

"He will," Joey replied. "We'll make sure of it."

"We will bring him back," Yugi felt the ghostly presence of Yami Yugi on his shoulder. "We will bring them all back and stop Marik from hurting another one of our friends."

Yugi was the last to leave the room, looking back over his shoulder one last time at the still body on the bed before crossing the threshold and entering the hallway.

The dining hall seemed colder and emptier when then they entered, the tension think and heavy in the air. Joey shot a sidelong glance at the man who claimed himself to be Marik, standing off to the side, hood pulled over his face, his black cloak shrouding his body like a fog. He could see the sharp lines of the tattoos on his face, his green-gold eyes were intense like a hawk.

"I'm not sure if I want to duel him," Joey muttered to his breath.

Mai overheard him. "Scared then?" she teased halfheartedly. "Scared that I'll get the god card before you do?"

Joey snorted, rolling his eyes playfully. "Like that will ever happen. I'm gonna get it first! Then I'll wipe the floor with everything."

"Is that a challenge?" She winked, nudging him in his left side with her elbow.

Tristan leaned over to Duke, whispering, "I think they're flirting with each other."

Duke rolled his eyes. "Nah, really?"

"If everybody could circle around," Roland began, standing atop a platform. A bingo machine in the shape of one of Seto's signature monsters, the "Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon". Ping pong balls stamped in numbers floated about wildly in the belly of the machine. "The next two duelists will be selected randomly. Please remember your numbers." The first number landed in one of the heads and Roland plucked it out, holding it in the air. "The number drawn is number four! Mai Valentine!"

"Well, looks like you'll be getting your shot later," she told Joey. "See you in the semi-finals."

"Yeah, yeah."

"And the second will be number seven, Marik Ishtar!"

The group spun about to face the man who claimed to be Marik, his face stony and expressionless. Joey shuddered, unpleasant memories rising to the surface. "Be careful. This guy's up to no good. Nothing good comes out from dueling guys like him."

Yami Yugi advised, "Marik is a treacherous and crafty character to duel."

"Trust me, I'll be safe. I'm the "Queen of Games", remember? I've handled goons like this by the handful back in the day. I've got plenty of tricks up my sleeves."

"'Back in the day'? What was that, like, eight months ago?"

"Joey. . ." Mai warned, eyes narrowing.

"I'm just saying," he shrugged, attempting to diffuse the situation."But still, good luck with him. And be careful."

She shot him a sidelong glance before replying. "Thanks kiddo."

Tristan whispered. "Still flirting. . ."

Tea scowled, sneaking up behind them before tugging sharply on both Tristan and Duke's ears. "Will you two stop that? Really? I mean, really?"

"But it's the truth," Tristan insisted, shrugging helplessly.

"You still don't have to shout it to the world!"

"I was whispering," Tristan protested.

"Yeah, stage whispering, you dorks."

"Not our fault if they don't get the hint," Duke shrugged.

Tea sighed. "I swear, you two. . ."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

She was sitting at the porthole of her room, looking out through the glass when she felt the first rumblings on the horizon. She went to the Necklace at her throat, fingers brushing along the ancient burnished gold. Something wasn't right.

Something had changed.

"Show it to me," she beseeched the Item, her chest filling with dread. "Show me what I need to see, what I wish to see." The Necklace began to glow, soft light emitting from the metal. Rapidly, the light filled the room, blinding any passerby with its rays, should they peek through the gaps of the doors and windows. Within moments, the light vanished and she sighed gustily in despair. So much has changed in a single gesture, one single action. Whatever she had predicted before was now in jeopardy. Everything was altered in that single action. She would have to fix everything, for her family. She would have to change the future, set it right back to its original course, the one it was meant to take.

"Seto," she breathed. She would confront him. He could fix everything.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

To the citizens dwelling in the city below, it would have been the perfect night: perfectly clear, crisp but not freezing and hardly a breeze to interfere with their evening plans.

For the duelists atop of Seto Kaiba's dueling blimp—which really was nothing more than a plan to stoke his ego according to the general consensus—it was more or less the opposite. Swift cold breezes buffeted the zeppelin at random intervals, making it difficult to even hold one's cards or stand, let alone duel, atop the platform that Seto had designed and built. It was essentially in the shape of an oval, with projectors on either side to the field, better enhancing the holographic projections. Metal guard rails lined the edges, preventing the duelists from falling should an errant breeze blow them over. One could hear the sharp clicking of Mai's heels as she stepped on the platform. "Marik" stepped on shortly after her. Both duelists eyed each other like predators entering combat; gauging each other's strengths and weaknesses.

"I expect an honorable duel from you, Marik," Mai practically, spat recalling what Marik's powers had done to her friends, Joey and Bakura. "No Millennium Rod or else there will be hell to pay."

"I can assure you Ms. Valentine, that this will be the most difficult duel you will face," "Marik replied, tone deep and sonorous. It would be almost soothing were it not for the current context. "Whether it will be deemed "honorable" I cannot say, but I can assure you that I have no need for the Millennium Rod here. Prepare yourself Ms. Valentine and brace for the darkness that will consume the field!"

"Duel!"

"I will play first," Mai began, drawing her card. "I place Amazoness Fighter on the field in attack mode and lay two face down cards to finish my turn." Amazoness Fighter was a woman of much taller and more muscular stature, wearing little in the way of clothing save a loincloth and breast band. Bandages were wrapped about her knuckles and wrists.

"Very well then Ms. Valentine." 'Marik' slid a card in the field slot in the Duel Disk. "Prepare to meet the card that will end any chance of you ever winning this tournament. I activate my Magic Card, "Temple of The Kings!" The platform under their feet began to rumble and quake, knocking Mai off balance. She grabbed onto the railing, watching in awe as pillars carved in hieroglyphics and black granite statues of a dog headed dog erupted from the ground. A set of stairs led to a golden sarcophagus not unlike that of the Arc of the Covenant at the top. A statue of a kneeling jackal guarded it protectively.

"Apparently I should get myself a whip and satchel," Mai joked weakly.

"This is no joke Ms. Valentine, for this card holds many secrets, far more than you will ever realize."

Joey shouted from the sidelines, hands cupped over his mouth. "Then stop blathering, Belloq, and show us!"

"All in good time, Mr. Wheeler. I place two cards face down and end my turn."

"Hmph," Mai smirked. "All talk and no show huh. Then I play my Dunames Dark Witch, also in attack mode! Now I activate my Set card, Harpie's Feather Duster!" A tornado of feathers swept onto the field, blowing dangerously closer to the ancient Temple.

"Yeah!" Tea exclaimed. "Now Marik has nothing on the field!"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that,"Yami Yugi warned cautiously.

"Judgement of Anubis!" Marik interjected. The windstorm disintegrated in an instant, feathers blasted everywhere. "This cancels out any of your trap of magic cards that target mine and when I discard one of my cards," he slid the unknown card into the Graveyard slot, "Then I can destroy both Harpie's Feather Duster and your monsters, costing you half of their total attack Points! And don't worry about your Amazoness Fighter Ms. Valentine, you still take damage." Mai flinched as her Life Points ticked down to 2350.

Serenity turned to Joey, in somewhat of a panic. "That's almost half her Life Points!"

"Mai's a smart girl," Joey explained. "She'll find a way out of it. She always does."

"Pity that this duel is going to end so shortly," 'Marik' remarked, almost woefully. "I had heard so much about your dueling prowess."

Mai snorted, "You're gonna wish it was quick once I'm through with you. I place my Unfriendly

Amazon in attack mode as well as one face down and end my turn."

'Marik' eyed her cautiously. She was leaving herself wide open for an attack; she was planning something; what he wasn't sure, so he would have to play it safe for now. "I place one card and end my turn."

"Hmph. You know, for a guy who runs an evil organization, you're sure acting a little tentative," Mai remarked disdainfully.

"You have very little understanding of the workings of such things."

Mai swore she heard a slight hesitation on his behalf, like he had issues stating it. "Something's not right here," she thought to herself. She would have to watch more carefully to pick up on more clues. "Looks like if you won't make a move, then I will! Next I play my Amazon Scouts in attack mode." The Amazon Scouts didn't seem like much compared to The Unfriendly Amazon, comprised of two young girls, one in red and one in blue, bearing a short sword and short bow. "Unfriendly Amazon, attack Marik directly!"

"I activate Eye of Ujat! This allows me to redirect your attack to another one of your monsters. "Unfriendly Amazon", attack her "Amazon Scouts"!" An Eye of Wadjet materialized in front of 'Marik'. The sword blade of Mai's monster bounced off the stone Eye, the harsh sound of metal ringing off of stone jarring everybody's ears. The Unfriendly Amazon then spun about, blade raised over her head and charged the Amazon Scouts.

"Pfft! You wish. I play my card Trap Jammer which cancels out your attack." Marik's Eye of Ujat shattered, allowing The Unfriendly Amazon to attack him once more. Marik winced as The Unfriendly Amazon slashed across his head and torso, cutting his Life Points by half, to 2000.

"And that's how you do it!" Joey high fived Yami Yugi, taking him by surprise. "You got this Mai!" As he finished, she turned to her side, flashing him a wink and a thumbs up.

"Fllirrrtingg-" Duke whispered dramatically.

"What was that?" Joey asked.

"Nothing, nothing at all." Tea sighed melodramatically as Duke and Tristan snickered.

"And now Amazon Scouts, attack him as well!"

"So you think Ms. Valentine. I activate the Embodiment of Apophis!" Marik's field became filled with monsters, one of which slashed the Amazon Scouts in two, causing Mai's Life Points to drop by another eleven-hundred points, from 2350 to 1250.

Mai pulled a face in displeasure, her plan backfiring on her."What the—Oh good lord they're hideous!" The creatures on Marik's side of the field were an abomination to say the least. Their lower torsos were of serpents, scales of black and violet. A breastplate of gold and black metal rested squarely on their shoulders. The beasts had two heads, one of a human with a shaved pate and black skin, the other of a snake, presumably a viper, looming over the human, weaving and ducking constantly. They bore scimitars and kite shields.

"These are a very rare type of monster called "Trap Monsters". They can function as both a Trap Card and a Monster. I highly doubt you have heard of these kinds of monsters," he added, a slight lilt to his voice that could be taken as a sneer.

"Have you heard of them Yugi?" Joey asked. "'Cuz I haven't."

"To be frank, I haven't heard of such monsters either," Yami Yugi admitted with a shake of his head. "But if they can take aspects of both trap and monster, then they will have as many weaknesses as well."

"Which she'll be able to exploit," Tea finished for him.

"Exactly."

"They're still a monster," Mai added. "So they can be just as easily beaten. I summon my Amazoness Paladin." She looked identical to Mai, from the long blonde hair streaming down her back to the fierce violet eyes; they were even near identical in height. The only difference was that the monster was dressed in cream colored garments that did little to cover her lithe figure.

"Wow, is it me or does the Amazoness look a lot like Mai?" Joey whispered to Yami Yugi.

"Do you really have a problem with it?" Tristan asked slyly, nudging Joey in the side.

"Aw, shut yer piehole, Tristan!" Joey hissed, trying to fight the blush that was blooming on his cheeks as he placed Tristan in a temporary headlock.

"Sadly she's not as strong as she could be, but she will eventually," Mai offered with a wink. "But she's plenty strong enough to take your monsters out! Amazoness Paladin, take out his Embodiment of Apophis! You too, Unfriendly Amazon!" 'Marik' watched as both women swung down their blades. His monsters made an attempt to deflect the blows with their shields but they were cracked asunder with a single blow. The creatures went next as the blades tore through them as easily as a knife through silk. There was still a single Embodiment of Apophis still on the field; Mai would deal with it shortly. Marik's life Points dropped down to 1500.

"A noble effort, Ms. Valentine, but they shall be in vain." Marik drew a card from his deck. "I activate Swords of Revealing Light which prevents you from attacking for three turns." Mai watched as swords crafted from a mystical light rained down from the heavens, forming a ring about her side of the field. "You should be grateful Ms. Valentine, for this prolongs your defeat just a little bit longer."

"Really laying on the whole "villain" spiel aren't you?" Mai asked, arms crossed. "Any thicker and you should be in a Chuck Norris film. You see, three turns for you is three turns for me as well. I summon Cyber Harpie in attack mode, then I activate my magic card, Elegant Egotist, which turns one Harpie into three. I end my turn."

Marik drew his card. For a moment, Mai saw the man's face pale, giving him an unhealthy pallor. His eyes flickered one way, then another before straightening himself."I activate one of the abilities of Temple of the Kings and remove it from play. Then I will end my turn."

"All talk and no show," Mai drew her card, the corner of her lip curling into a smirk. "I sacrifice my Unfriendly Amazon and Amazoness Paladin to summon Harpie's Pet Dragon! And thanks to its special ability, she gains 300 attack and defense points for each Harpie on the field. And since there are three, that ups Harpie's Pet Dragon attack to 2900!"

"Sweet, once those Swords of Revealing Light go away, she'll be able to wipe him out and win the game!" Joey crowed. "You go Mai!"

Marik said nothing, instead drawing his card. "I pass my turn."

"Pass your—what?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "Now there is definitely something wrong here. Marik would at least play something. Better play it safe for now. As her turn ended, the swords formed of light faded. "Now do your worst."

"It would appear that I will," Marik remarked coolly. "I activate my two magic cards! First, my Cup of Sealed Souls, then I play "Seal of Serket" to summon Mystical Beast of Serket!" The Temple rumbled, and the dueling field seemed to crack asunder as a scorpion of hideous proportions with a gaping mouth filled with multiple rows of shark like teeth, its tail and pincers the color of fresh black ink. An Eye that reminded Mai of the Millennium Eye of Pegasus was in the middle of its back. "Beast of Serket, attack her first Cyber Harpie!" The scorpion skittered across the field, pincers gripping Cyber Harpie's wings before consuming her. Mai watched in horror as its Attack Points climbed from 2500 to 3400. Then the beast began to morph into something more horrific, rearing up on its hind claws, its carapace growing as it increased in size. "Hide behind your defenses all you want, but it won't stop the Beast of Serket from systematically dismantling what little hopes you have left."

"Trust me, I'll find a way to get rid of that creepy little bug in no time!" Mai drew her card, scowling at her hand. There were a couple of cards in her deck that could take out Mystical Beast of Serket, mainly being Gravity Bind and Mirror Wall, but she drew neither, nor did she have them in her hand at the moment. She didn't have any cards that would allow her to seek those cards out either. "Damn," she muttered under her breath. "I place Harpie's Pet Dragon in defense mode and I finish my turn."

"Serket, attack her second Harpie!" Mai had to look away as her second monster was devoured; once again, Harpie's Pet Dragon lost attack points and that accursed scorpion gained another 900, to a total of 4300. The back of the monster split open, revealing four translucent wings like that of a dragonfly. "You might as well give up now, and save yourself the humiliation of a crushing defeat."

"And now I know you're not truly Marik!" Mai said at last, pointing an accusing finger. "If you were the real Marik, you wouldn't have been so polite during this entire duel! The real Marik likes to torture and cheat and find whatever ways he can to get ahead."

He took a step back, a flash of surprise upon his features before he quickly suppressed it, scowl deepening and brows furrowed. "False accusations are beneath you. If you think that I am the false Marik, would I have been able to control Bakura during his duel with The Pharaoh? Would I have been able to use the Millennium Rod?" Mai wavered and he continued. "If you are still so certain that I am not truly Marik, then wait and see and I'll prove it to you!"

"Like it will ever get to that point," She felt an inkling of hope as she drew Graceful Charity. "I activate Graceful Charity, which lets me draw three cards," she elegantly pulled three cards from her deck. "And then discard two." Gravity Bind and Mirror Wall were still not in her hand. She was running out of ideas and Mystical Beast was shredding her lines of defenses. Soon she would have nothing left and she was absolutely positive that the card 'Marik had removed from play earlier was in fact, the Winged Dragon of Ra. "Your move," she spat.

"It's time to strike the final blow. Serket, destroy her Harpie's Pet Dragon!" Serket's Attack Points ratcheted up to 5450 and all that was left between Mai and Marik's monster was a single measly Cyber Harpie. The head of the scorpion, it she could call it that anymore-it was more like some eldritch abomination called from the depths of hell—grew more rows of teeth and the Millennium Eye that was on its back, grew a stalk which bobbed and weaved above the horrific maw. The last time she had felt in such despair was at Duelist Kingdom, with her duel with Panik, the Eliminator. She exhaled, waiting for the inevitable that was to come.

"Mai!" She caught a glimpse of Joey from the platform calling out to her. "Don't give up! We know you can do it! You just gotta believe and we're right behind you every step of the way!"

Somehow, his words gave her a second wind, a burst of encouragement to finish this duel out. Yugi had always preached the "Heart of the Cards" so could it work here? There was only one way to find out. She closed her eyes then drew from her deck. She cautiously took a peek at it and wanted to shout in joy. It was Mirror Wall! "Perfect!" she thought excitedly. If he would attack Cyber Harpie, she would play it and wipe its attack points by half. Not enough for Cyber Harpie to beat it, but enough for a fighting chance. "Maybe this whole "Heart of the Cards" really works. I place one card face down and end my turn!"

He looked to be conflicted over on the other side of the field, gazing down at his duel disk as if awaiting some sort of answer from it. He glanced over to his left once more. Who was he looking at over there? It certainly wasn't Yugi nor the rest of the gang and Kaiba stood on the other side, a permanent frown on his face the entire time. Whatever doubts he had were soon dissipated and he faced her once more. "It's time for you to face your defeat. I activate the final special ability of the Temple of the Kings. By sacrificing one monster from the field and half my Life Points," the amount dropped from 1500 to 750, "I can summon back the monster I removed from play earlier. I summon the Winged Dragon of Ra! In the name of Pharaoh Marik, I command you to come forth from the tomb and finish this duel once and for all!" He turned his back to her, his Millennium Rod outstretched and raised upwards.

"Ah, hell," Mai muttered, watching as thunderheads began to coalesce about the Temple circling it like vultures. The sarcophagus at the top of the stairs opened, the card that had been hiding inside now revealed. Shafts of golden light shot out from it and she turned her face, unable to look directly into it. Shortly thereafter did the heavens open up, an unearthly green light pouring from the thunderheads. Lightning flashed all around them and she braced herself for what was to come. The lightning was to strike the blimp soon, she was sure of it. She gaped in awe as the God that everybody had been talking about emerged from the brewing storm. It was massive, far larger than any monster she had faced before, looking more like a cross between a griffon and a dragon. Ra had an almost mechanized appearance, fashioned from pure gold it looked like. Eyes like rubies glared downwards at the almost miniscule people beneath it. Heat waves rolled off of it, cinders falling down like rain all about them.

"And thanks to the Mystical Beast of Serket attack points, the Winged Dragon of Ra attack points are now 5450, more than enough to wipe you out in these next two turns! Winged Dragon of Ra, wipe out her last Cyber Harpie!"

"Not so fast! I activate Mirror Wall, which halves your flaming chicken's points in two!" A barrier of shimmering frosted glassed sprang forth from the field, shielding Mai for what was to come.

"You have made a terrible mistake, Ms. Valentine! Trap cards do not work on the God cards!" The barrier shattered almost instantly, shards of glass floating about her like dust motes. "Now, attack her once more!" Mai closed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, bending her knees slightly to stand against the glow. She waited for the attack, but it never came.

She glanced upwards, to find the God monster not attacking. "Why isn't it?-" she trailed off, confused by the change of events.

Marik was clearly bewildered as well. "I told you, attack her Harpie!" Still the god card did nothing, instead gazing down in judgment. "Why aren't you attacking!"

Nobody expected for what happened next.

Ra let out an unearthly screech, wings outstretched as it began to disintegrate into ashes. The air turned hot from the heat waves that rolled off, the scent of ozone in the air as the lighting strikes became more frequent. Then the lightning began to strike the field, one bolt dangerously close on her left side. "What did you do?" she snarled, heart hammering in her chest, fear beginning to take hold. "This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't how the duel was supposed to go! What's going on?" She shrieked in surprise as another bolt landed a few feet in front of her. She couldn't hear anything over the wailing winds and the constant rumble of thunder, but she swore she heard Joey scream her name. She took a cautious step forward and she gasped in horror as the man in front of her, the one who called himself Marik, get struck by a bolt. He fell to the earth limply, like a marionette who just had its strings cut.

"Time to get out of here and under some cover," she told herself, moving carefully across the field as the strikes increased in frequency. It was like a dance as she sidestepped and twisted about to avoid it. Then she felt it. It was like all her nerves suffered from an overload of information, sending waves of agony throughout her body all at once. Her muscles spasmed instinctively and she stumbled, landing harshly on her knees. She faintly heard her name shouted once more and she remembered nothing after that as the dark overwhelmed her consciousness.

Looks like we're off to a great start because cliffhangers. I would say sorry, but I have plans for this story and it would be silly to keep apologizing after everysingle chapter. So yes. . .I am a horrible human being. Also many thanks to two friends looking this over before I published this. All and Sundry would let me throw ideas at her and Kohaku no Hime for acting as a Beta of sorts. You two are awesome and I'm uber appreciative of all that you do. The cover for Cascade Effect was drawn by a tumblr friend, kintatsujo. Thank you again for the beautiful art!

"Hollow Point Round" is done by Sonic Librarian.