The Eighteenth Year

Redflower, Capital of Gardenrealm

The Blooming Palace

Rain violently tapped against the painted glass window that stood high over the pool she waded. The wind howled and lightning flashed. The thunder, thankfully, was drowned out by the numerous fountains and waterfalls flowing into her pool to add warmth to her bath.

She sat on the edge of the pool and had her eyes closed in tranquility as her five most trusted handmaidens rubbed sweet-scented oils on her soft peach-colored skin. Another one then sprayed lilac perfume on the lips between her legs and two more on the tips of her breasts and neck.

Lady Téa of House Gardner was the name of the fair maiden. She was a princess of the house, but the title meant very little to her. The Vined Throne which her father sat on would never be hers, for she was tenth in line for it behind her cousins.

It didn't matter to her. So long as she remained in the grand company of her friends, she felt like she was the queen of the world. It had been a long time since she had seen them, on the count of the Gate Wars taking place many leagues from her home, but she had a feeling she would see them again soon. Something grand was happening out there. What it was, she would soon find out.

She opened her eyes and looked at the stained glass window overlooking the pool. The glass was just a grand explosion of color around the centerpiece of the display.

A Black Luster Soldier-Evoy of the Beginning locked in combat with a Chaos Emperor Dragon - Evoy of the End. Both of the mighty monsters were stuck in combat for all eternity, neither one giving in. Téa had seen both monsters before.

The Black Luster Soldier she had seen her friend, Yugi, use during the Eredian Grand Prix many months ago. And Seto Kaiba had used the Envoy of the End, not to her surprise. It's often joked that Seto Kaiba had a fetish for dragons.

As she looked at the two monsters above her, she couldn't help but think it represented their tense rivalry. The last time she saw them fight was during the unveiling of his new Generation 3 Duel Disk with its Solid Vision Technology. She smiled as she washed suds off her shoulder, wondering when they were going to Duel again.

A maid was about to wash her breasts, but Téa refused her politely with a slight wave of her hand. She took the cloth from the maid and did it herself with one hand. The other reached for a tray of cupcakes glimmering with sugar crystals. Téa ate the little treat with one bite and continued washing herself.

"You are very beautiful, my princess," said one of the maids, who harbored intimate feelings deep inside.

She rubbed a cloth down Téa's back with tender loving care, hoping that her movements would give the princess some idea of how she felt. But she was oblivious to this sort of thing, as usual.

"Forgive me for being crude, but you've gone up another size it seems."

Téa realized what she meant. True, her bust had gone up but what the hell did the maid care if it did? Why bring it up now? She opened one eye and peered at the maid. "Uh...yeah. What's your point?"

The maid faked a giggle and went red, quickly soaking the washcloth in a bowl of rose-scented oils. "Forgive me, my lady. It's not my place to say. If I may humor you for a bit, I'd say you will attract many young men with your great beauty."

Téa shrugged her shoulders and helped herself to another cupcake. "It's not the time to be worrying about such things. My friends were just rescued from the clutches of Rare Hunters not too long ago. They've been badly hurt."

"Gracious!" cried one of the maids. "Are they all right?"

"They're fine," Téa replied with a heavy sigh. "Just shaken up. But they'll recover soon." She stood up, water dripping from her legs in elegant cascades. At once the maids rushed to dry her and clothe her in a silky white robe with sleeves in the shape of butterfly wings.

"It's about time you got up," Mai Valentine said, leaning against a marble pillar with her arms crossed over her chest. "I thought you'd be stuck in there forever at this rate." She was clad in dark armor with gold accents and a red cape. Her sword and shield were hanging on her back.

Téa laughed as she wrapped the robe's rope around her waist. "Damn it, Mai, can't you let a girl bathe in peace?"

"Not in these times, little lady." Mai helped herself to a chocolate cube from a glass bowl beside her. "The Gate Wars may be closing down, but we've far from won. What about these so-called Neo Rare Hunters? Why would they come back again?"

"Because it's almost that time," said Téa, using a pink beaded hairband to tie her hair into a ponytail. "The Song is going to return. They're scared of him. I know with all my heart they're going to do everything they can to prevent him from coming back to Termnnia again."

The doors to her bed chambers opened. A man clad in periwinkle robes with gold designs walked in and bowed. "Princess Téa. Forgive the intrusion...uh..."

He paused, realizing he had just walked in at the wrong time. Even though Téa was dressed in the robe, its hem was incredibly short, not even reaching her thighs. But Téa kept her composure and looked at him.

"Yes?" she said.

Mai snapped her fingers. "Get a move on it!"

"Of course, my apologies. I have received an urgent letter from Yugi Muto. He wishes to have a session of congress in Rassay discussing the matter on the Rare Hunters and the return of the prince. He requires both your signature of approval and your presence, as you are now the Senator of Gardenrealm."

Mai leaned off the pillar and walked towards the man. She swiped the letter from his hand and walked to a desk where Téa went to get a quill and ink. In no time at all, she signed the document.

"Thank you, my lady," said the messenger. "And one last thing. The guests are waiting for you. Ser Max Darrenton of Blue Meadow wishes to challenge you to a Duel. For your hand in marriage."

Téa rolled her eyes. "Great. If he was able to make it that far, my aunt and uncle have allowed it. They're so desperate to get me out of the palace. I'm on the road as a Senator and I fought for months in the Gate Wars. What more do they want? Thank you, Berkins, you may leave."

The man bowed and turned to leave.

"Ahem," Mai said.

The man turned, then froze when he found the tip of his nose being poked by the point of Mai's jeweled blade.

"This is the princess's private bathhouse. The next time you barge in here without knocking, I'll shave your balls off with my blade, got it?"

The man trembled and began to babble. "Gee-gee-Y-yes, my lady. I'm sorry." He hurried out the door.

Just then, Serenity walked inside the bathhouse. She bowed at once when she saw Téa. "Hey, guys," she said, her green eyes adjusting to the darkness of the bathhouse.

Mai bit into one of her fingers when she saw Serenity standing there in the multicolored glow of the stained glass windows. She was clothed in a blue velvet dress accented with gold, which showed off her shoulders and the upper portion of her breasts.

A big blue bow was pinned in the back of her hair, giving her such an adorable appearance; one Mai found to be quite irresistible.

She looked like such a work of art tonight. To think she could have undergone such a horror just a few hours ago and still maintain her timid beauty was nothing short of a miracle to Mai.

"Look at you," said Mai. "Lovely as always."

She took Serenity's hand and kissed it once, two, three times….ugh, make it four. She just couldn't help herself. Serenity was somewhat of her hero to Lady Mai.

Some daresay they shared a little something more than just friendship. The two young women always laughed at that, but the way Mai always outdid herself with her praise of the girl, one couldn't help but think certain things.

"Mai..." Serenity said, turning her head. Her face blushed a bright pink as Mai's lips climbed up from her hand to her exposed arms. "By the Goddesses above, if you keep doing that, people are going to get the wrong idea about us."

Téa's eyes went up and she shook her head. "People already get the wrong idea about you two. Mai, break it up, will you?"

Mai let go of Serenity's arm then planted a big kiss on Serenity's cheek and put an arm around her neck. "Well, sorry if I got a little too worried. How are you?" She ran her fingers through Serenity's hair. "Did they hurt you?"

Serenity shook her head. "No, Tristan got the worst of the torture, but with a little elvish medicine, I'm sure he'll recover. Don't put him out for the count, he's a very strong man."

"And you're a tough lady," Mai said stepping back. "You have learned a lot since the Battle of Rassay; color me impressed. So, Téa, any word on our little prince? How's he doing?"

Téa applied some cream to her hands and applied it to her face as she looked in the mirror lit by six small candles. "Yugi's looking into him. Thankfully, he's safe. Nobody has gone after him yet."

Serenity breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the Conqueror. But this is no time to relax. They know he's been hidden in that world This...Earth. That alone worries me. Is there anything we can do?"

'"Not until the Senate agrees for Yugi's motion to bring the prince back," Téa said, washing away the cream with a damp cloth. "We'll worry about that another time. For now, I've got a cocky knight to take out."

Téa walked in front of a triple table dressing mirror and let the robe slip off her body. Mai and Serenity then helped dress into a legendary gown known as the Venandali, a gown that had been passed from princess to princess since the very foundation of Redflower.

It was black and accented with red floral patterns and was decorated with roses made of rubies crafted to look like their petals and emeralds made into the form of leaves, and there were more than a dozen red and black ribbons.

Mai then fastened large ruby earrings on Téa before she equipped her Duel Disk and hurried down to the ballroom where the guests were eagerly awaiting the Duel between her and quite possibly the one-hundredth suitor to come riding into Redflower looking to take Princess Téa as a bride.

The blond-haired Ser Max was already in position on the other side of a fifty-foot long rectangular pool with six water fountains that shot hundreds of feet high into the air and were lit with multi-colored lamps that made the water glow in all the colors of the rainbow.

Téa saw the look on his face from where she stood and felt her heart twist into a tight knot. Max wasn't here because he wanted to marry her for love. He wanted her for the sport of it. For the honor of marrying a Termnnian Princess. Even though Téa was far behind in the line for the beautiful Vined Throne, Max could still use her as a trophy wife and show her off to his friends.

"I'm glad you've arrived, Princess. We were beginning to worry about you. You do know to surrender is still a loss? You will still be my bride. Or perhaps you just want to skip the Duel and get on with our wedding vows?"

Téa looked at the boy in the disgust. "What the hell makes you think I'm in any rush to marry you?"

"Why, Princess, with you being a great hero of the Gate Wars, I would assume you would know who I am. Ser Maxwell Darrenton, the ace of the legendary Thorn Squad. It was my genius in the arts of war and military tactics that single-handedly took down the mechanical forces of House Howard in three theatres of war. Why, without me, your friends Yugi and Yuma would have been slain by the Launcher Spider assault that took the lives of so many of their forces. I also am the first in line to rule the Emerald Garden Estates. All the gold mined on the coasts will be ours. Your uncle sees me as a worthy choice for your hand in marriage."

"Well, allow me to disagree." Téa activated her Duel Disk and placed the eyepiece over her right eye. The Duel Disk was black and accented with pink neon and resembled a cybernetic shield. Razzle dazzle rose-colored graphs and windows projected around her arm and the Duel Disk beeped to confirm it was ready for action. The crowd oohed and ahhed at the sight of it. Being the great hero that she was, and having a seat in the Termnnian Senate, Téa had been to lands were technology reigned supreme. Since their realm was not very technologically savvy, items like the one Téa had were a wonder to look at.

Once Téa stepped onto a platform at the end of the pool, the fountains shrunk and the lights died down. The chandeliers then started glowing in pinks, reds, greens, and blues, splashing the dark ballroom in an amazing display of color.

"Very well, Téa," Max said, placing his cards on an old-fashioned Duel Disk. "If I cannot sway you with my accomplishments, then perhaps I can sway you with my skills. I heard about your skills, however. And I am not impressed. Seriously, little fairies? Téa, do you think Shining Friendship and Happy Lover are going to be enough to stop me?"

Téa wrinkled her nose in frustration. "I've grown a lot since then. Remember, my best friend is the King of Games. He taught me a lot about the game, and I learned a lot more as the years went by to improve my game. Don't go thinking that just because I'm a princess that you're going to get an easy win over me."

"You're not going to win with cards like that, Téa. Just give it up already. If you do, I promise I'll let you decide where to go during the honeymoon."

Téa sighed. This guy clearly wasn't listening to a word she said. That was a sign of a very bad husband. Not that she had to worry about it.

"I draw!" she shouted. Her cards appeared in front of her and were equipped with a unique appearance, for they were shrouded in a flaming rose-red aura. Instead of smoke, the flames turned into rose petals that flew all around Téa. She studied her hand, weighing in her options. She grinned. It was already over for the poor knight.

Téa tapped one of the cards in the hand projected in front of her. "I summon Bountiful Artemis!"

Téa's monster revealed itself in a bright beam of light. It was a cybernetic angel, colored white with turquoise accents over its body that was in the shape of a goblet. It had long wings and a purple cape flowing from the neck of its faceless head.

ATK/1600 DEF/1700

"And to end my turn, I place three cards face down."

Ser Max nodded and drew. "Wonderful. Now we can begin the fun. First, I activate the spell card —"

"— I don't think so, buster! I activate my trap, Rebirth of Parsath."

Ser Max yawned. "Go on."

Téa was annoyed now. But she didn't let it get to her. She already had what she needed to secure a victory over Ser Max. "You're going to regret making fun of my skills tonight. My trap card triggers when you activate a card effect. Then, I pay 1000 Life Points and discard a Counter Trap Card from my hand and I can negate its activation. Also, it lets me summon a Parshath monster from my deck or extra deck and I call upon Celestial Knightlord Parshath!"

A formation of clouds spiraled above the playing field. Then a beam of light shined down from the center of the spiral. From the light came down a massive, multi-legged centaur-like angel with four wings and was armored in blue and gold with green orbs for ornamentation. He flew down and landed gracefully beside Téa.

Knightlord Parshath then bowed when it stood beside the princess. Téa smiled and did curtsey, for she was proud to have him fighting by her side in this Duel.

ATK/2400 LINK-3

"Not bad, not bad," said Ser Max, for he was quite impressed to see the monster. Then again, he had never seen a Link Monster before. But he was far more interested in taking it down than admiring it. It may have been a monster from the West, but it was still a monster, and all monsters could be taken down.

"Watch this! I discard a card to Special Summon—"

"— I activate Solemn Strike, which will negate your monster's summoning at the cost of 1500 of my Life Points, of course. And Bountiful Artemis's effect activates. When I activate a Counter Trap, he allows me to draw one card."

"Argh, well, now I summon —"

"—I activate Solemn Warning. At the cost of 2000 of my Life Points, your monster's summoning is again negated and Bountiful Artemis allows me to draw another card."

"By the Goddesses!" cried Ser Max. "You didn't let me do anything. You negated all my strategies and gained cards and a strong monster to boot? This...this is so unfair!" He looked toward a man standing by one of the columns. "Father! You promised me this deck could grant me victory and get me anything I wanted!"

Mai, who was feasting on chicken wings at the buffet table, started howling with laughter. True, it was funny seeing the young and arrogant Ser Max getting his ass handed to him in this Duel, but it was really Téa's skills that tickled her funny bone.

Yes, a long time ago Téa's were something to be desired. In those times, she summoned cute little fair monsters. But she has grown up since then. She studied the game inside and out until she understood how to use her cards right. She really has bloomed since she first Dueled her in Duelist Kingdom all those years ago; it was truly a sight to behold.

Now, it was her turn.

Téa activated Pot of Greed, granting her two more cards to draw from her deck. Then, she activated her Knightlord Parshath's effect, discarding a card to add a field spell called Sanctuary in the Sky to her hand. But she instead added a card that could be treated like Sanctuary in the Sky.

It was called The Sanctum of Parshath, and she activated it at once. The spell protected Téa's set cards from being destroyed, which was a bad thing for Ser Max.

Being a Counter Fairy deck, he had no doubt in his mind that Téa would be setting up her back row with more Solemn cards, which negated effects and summonings, thereby ruining any chance he had of winning the game, not that he had any chance to win this Duel. Téa had him eating out of the palm of her hand the moment the first card was drawn. And there was no escape.

The Sanctum also increased the ATK and DEF of Téa's fairy monsters by 300 points.

She laughed at the chagrin on the poor boy's face. "Maybe this will teach you not to use the game of Duel Monsters to make girls a prize to be won. Asshole. I summon Guiding Ariadne in attack mode!"

Téa touched the card and then it was rendered next to Bountiful Artemis. It was another cybernetic fairy with a body made of white glass and shaped like a perfume bottle. It had long arms with claws, which could be used as awesome weapons and a long cord-like appendage that whipped around in the air.

Téa then attacked with all three of her monsters, reducing Ser Max's Life Points to a mere 1400. And she had only just begun. The conditions for a Link Summon had been met, and she used Artemis and Ariadne to Link Summon the monster, Herald of Mirage Light.

A few effects were activated and then the summoning conditions for her next monster were met. From her hand, she special summoned Sacred Arch-Airknight Parshath.

Usually, Parsath monsters were depicted as having the upper body of an armored angel and the legs of a white, winged horse.

But the Sacred Arch-Airknight's legs were in the form of a giant angelic face that resembled the head of the old Airknight Parshath. It doubled as a platform, which could shoot out an array of deadly light spells.

To end her turn, Téa set a couple of cards face-down and laughed. "I think you know what these are, don't you? Well, if you want to surrender, now's the chance."

Ser Max held his head up high. "We do not surrender in my House."

"Well, that's awfully noble of you. Your family is a treasured military asset, there's no doubt in that. For your service, you have my thanks. But your Dueling skills" — she made a hissing sound with her teeth and showed off her shoulder, exposed by the dress to taunt him even further with skin— "yeah, they're something to be desired. Go ahead. Make your move."

"I summon —"

"Ha! I activate Solemn Judgement! You know the drill. I pay Life Points, and your monster is gone before it even comes to the field!"

Ser Max ended his turn and waited for the end. Sacred Arch-Airknight Parshath raised his bladed arm and fired a beam of light brighter than the sun at the boy, reducing his Life Points to 0.

When the Duel was over, the lights came back on and the crowd clapped, applauding Téa's victory. Téa bowed and then hopped down from the edge of the fountain. She stopped at once when she spotted the blond-haired Ser Joey Wheeler the Black Dragonknight standing there in front of her.

"Hey!" she said. "There you are. What's up?"

Joey closed his eyes and shook his head. "I just got word from Gramps. Yugi. He's going back in."

Téa covered her open mouth with both her hands. "What...what do you mean? How bad is it?"

"The Prince. He's so close to the darkness. If I told you half the things the kid has done, you'd lose faith in humanity, Téa." He forced himself a smile to calm the princess, so as not to worry her and sour her victory. "Don't you worry," he said, placing both hands on her shoulders. "If there's anyone who can set our boy straight, it's Yugi. We gotta have faith in him. And we've got to have faith in the little guy as well. He'll be all right. You'll see."

Téa smiled and stared out the window at the three moons.

"Yes, I know. It's just that this is his final year in that other dimension. These next months could determine the fates of everyone on the continent. I pray that Yugi and the others are successful in bringing him home. May the Goddess of Victory grant bring us jubilation. Hang on, Yuri. We're coming."