Battle City Gets Underway

Downtown Domino City was packed full of duelists, all competing for the chance to be named the best. However, only a select few will make it to the finals because it's their destiny to do so. A funny thing, destiny, this cruel mistress works in mysterious ways; bringing together individuals from different walks of life. The select few in question were scattered all over Battle City, only fated to meet when the time was right.

Near an outlet mall, Katerina Pegasus was enjoying her upcoming second victory in the Battle City tournament. Of course, Katerina wasn't an ordinary duelist; not only was she the adoptive daughter of Maximillion Pegasus the creator of Duel Monsters, but she was also the present-day incarnation of an Ancient Egyptian Priestess with deep ties to the Pharaoh. Around her neck was a special item known as the Millennium Charm; a pendent with the Wdjat Eye in the center hanging from a gold chain along with a solid-gold feather. Within this charm resides the spirit of Akela, an Egyptian Priestess who was also the lover of the Pharaoh of that time; who now aids Katerina in her duels.

When Akela took over Katerina's body, a few changes became noticeable. Her hair became a bit longer and her bangs more pointed, and the color lightened a few shades.

Duel

Katerina/Priestess Akela LP: 900/Opponent LP: 1500

Akela's opponent, a young girl with a Fairy-deck, just ended her turn with a facedown card and has a monster by the name of 'Fairy Archer' on the field in attack mode. (Fairy Archer 1400/600)

"I admit, you duel well, young one." Akela praised, drawing from her deck. "Unfortunately, your tournament experience ends here."

"What do you mean?" questioned the young girl.

Akela smiled, "First, I activate my facedown Magic card, 'Piercing Snowstorm'." She flipped the card, which depicted an image of a thick blizzard surrounding a section of a duel monsters playing field. A chilling wind blew through the air. "Since I control one Winter monster, my Winter Soldier, I can use this card to destroy one trap or magic card on your side of the field."

The young girl's eyes widened as the chilling wind grew into a winter storm, coating her 'Mirror Force' trap card in a block of ice before it shattered. "No, my trap." she grunted.

"Now with that out of the way, I sacrifice my Winter Solider to summon her majesty, Mab the Winter Queen in attack mode." Akela continued, the field turning into a Winter Wonderland, with an elegant woman with black fairy-like wings and wearing a flowing purple gown and had long, black hair with a blue tint standing in the center of Akela's playing field. (Queen Mab 3000/2000)

The young girl rubbed her arms, her breath visible in the air. "Whoa." she breathed.

"And now that she's been summoned to the field, I can send one of her subjects, my Winter Wolf, from my hand to the Graveyard, and one of your monster's attack power is reduced to zero." Akela informed. "Which also triggers Mab's second ability, she can automatically attack if you have a monster with 1000 or less attack points."

Realization flashed in the girl's eyes, knowing her time in the tournament were over. Akela's monster created an orb of swirling snow in the palm of her hand, sending the attack towards Fairy Archer. The attack made contact and the little girl's life points dropped to zero, making Akela the winner.

The Millennium Charm glowed, giving Katerina control over her body. The dueling field returned to the outlet strip and as per the tournament rules, the little girl handed over her Locator Card and the rare magic card Fairy's Blessing.

"You were great, sweetie." Katerina praised, kneeling in front of the little girl. "Never give up on your dreams."

"Thank you." the little girl replied, smiling.

Following our two Sailor Guardians, they each stuck to the shadows and only dueled Rare Hunters, slowly weeding out the servants of the evil they were brought to Domino to help defeat.

Sailor V walked the sidewalks with her feline guardian, Artemis, in her arms. "So you already have three Locator Cards." Artemis noted.

"All I need is three more." Mina finished. "That last Rare Hunter was too easy. There has to be one that's a little challenge."

"I'm sure one will show his face eventually." Artemis assured, sighing.

Mina stopped and fished out the Red-Eyes Black Dragon card and her eyes twinkled. "I wonder how Joey's fairing." she wondered. "Hope he makes it to the finals."

The white cat shook his head, sweatdropping. "Never fails. She meets a boy and can't keep her mind off him."

Sailor Rose leaned against a railing on Domino Bridge, four Locator Cards in her hand. Astrate sat next to her. "You're kicking butt Harmony." she noted, her tail swaying back and forth.

"Just two more." Harmony sighed, slipping the four cards into her deck pouch. "Wonder how Mina's holding up."

"I'm sure we'll see her soon." Astrate assured, jumping onto Harmony's shoulder.

She chuckled and scratched her cat under the chin. "You're right. Let's go find us some real competition."

"We find a Rare Hunter with two Locator Cards, we're locked into the finals." Astrate giggled.

"Don't get too excited." Harmony warned. "You and I both know Destiny's never that easy."

A duel had just ended, the victor being a teenage girl with long, chocolate brown hair and crystal blue eyes. An ice-pink ribbon pulled a portion of her hair into a ponytail. She wore a black, leather jacket over a purple crop-top, washed skinny jeans and knee high boots; a locket in the shape of a Duel Monsters card around her neck.

"Never underestimate someone with the last name of Kaiba." Phoebe scoffed, taking the rare card her opponent anted up, along with two Locator Cards. "Especially me."

She walked on down the sidewalk, switching off her Duel Disk. Unbeknownst to her, a trio of Rare Hunters were watching her, evil grins plastered on their faces.

Across the town, a woman wearing a light blue sleeveless top with white shorts and black knee-high boots with gold chains switched off her duel disk and pinned a Rare Hunter to the wall. "Now, tell me, where is the man who hired you?" she asked, her Amethyst colored eyes narrowed into a glare. "Where is he?"

The Rare Hunter just grinned, "Who wants to know?" he questioned.

The woman rolled her eyes and bashed his head into the wall, knocking him unconscious. She took his Locator Cards and went on her way, walking out of the alley and pulling down a cream-colored hood, revealing ebony black hair with red highlights. She unlocked her powder-blue convertible and slid into the driver's seat, leaning back.

"Another useless flunkie." she sighed. She reached over and opened her glove compartment, pulling out a newspaper clipping of an engagement announcement printed in the New York Times. The picture was taken of the couple in Central Park by a fountain, they were both young, ranging in ages 17-19. The announcement revealed them as Marik Ishtar and Clara McCoy.

"Where are you, Marik?" Clara sighed, tracing her finger over the photograph. She eyed her engagement ring, a simple gold band with a clean cut diamond in the center. "What are you up to?"