Categories > Original > Romance > Crimson Star Priestess New Version
A young autistic woman is brought to the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's world by the Crimson Dragon and she soon finds herself in a plot somewhat different from the anime. What is her connection to the Signers? Wi...
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Yusei and I were arrested for trespassing in the Kaiba Dome and entering New Domino City from the Satellite without a permit. When we arrived at Sector Security HQ, the two of us were thrown into separate cells to wait for the judge who would sentence us in the morning.
Just as I had suspected, Sector Security didn't just confiscate Yusei's Duel Runner and deck during the arrest, they also took my satchel. Fortunately, the officers didn't frisk me to look for hidden items. At HQ, they demanded that I empty my pockets. All I had in my jacket pockets were some clean paper tissues, which I could keep to blow my nose.
I had been sleeping a bit restlessly in the cell that night, so I was exhausted in the early morning when a officer entered my cell with a plate of simple breakfast. What was going to happen to Yusei? To me? Was I going to get a criminal mark? I heard from Rally how he got his mark. He told me that Sector Security used a laser that hurt like hell when they marked him, and how that small mark contained confirmation of his identity and a homing signal. What would Sector Security do when they find my ID that was in my satchel? I technically didn't exist in this dimension, so there was no information about me.
I could barely eat my breakfast due to nerves while I thought about my fate. What would Goodwin do once he was informed of me?
More questions popped up in my head as I recalled when the Crimson Dragon showed up in the Kaiba Dome. I knew I felt my eyes burn when the dragon god appeared and I knew I wasn't hallucinating when I felt a burning sensation on my right arm. I had seen that pentagram mark on my arm before it vanished, just like Yusei's Mark. Was it possible that I was a Signer as well? If so, then what kind of Mark did I receive from the Crimson Dragon? I couldn't recall reading a article on the official Yu-Gi-Oh Wikia about a Mark shaped like a pentagram. And why did the Signer Dragons call me "Priestess" when I met them in that other dimension.
What the heck was going on?
XXXXXXXXXX - Goodwin's POV
I sat in my office and looked through all the paperwork that needed to be done this morning. I had to sign a contract allowing the judge to sentence and mark Yusei. While I was doing that, I couldn't help but think about his female companion. I could have sworn that her eyes were glowing red when the Crimson Dragon appeared in the stadium, and something had been glowing on her arm before we lost the footage due to the blackout.
I didn't look up when I heard the door to my office slide open before footsteps were heard.
"Director Goodwin, sir." The officer declared.
"Yes, what is it?" I asked as I signed the sentence contract.
"We have some...issues identifying Yusei Fudo's female companion."
The pen I had in my hand stopped moving. I looked up and saw that Officer Kaz was standing in front of the desk with a uncertain expression on his face. He was holding a metal box, which made me raise a eyebrow in confusion.
"What kind of issues?" I asked.
"After inspecting her bag, we were able to find a ID, but..." Officer Kaz began before showing me the ID. "Please take a look for yourself, sir."
I put the pen down and took the ID from the officer before taking a closer look at it. My eyebrows lifted in surprise when I saw numerous flaws. It didn't look like a common ID. It had the wrong layout, but the thing that caught my attention was her date of birth. The ID said she was born in 1997, which was extremely odd. The current year was 2030, and she seemed to be no older than 20.
"The year's not right." I said.
"That's what bothers us, sir." Officer Kaz admitted. "None of us believe someone can live for so long and still look so young...unless they're a sorceress."
I looked at the other details on the ID and spotted her name. Estelle Malmstrom. It certainly didn't sound like a Japanese name and it wasn't because the ID said Estelle's nationality was Swedish.
"Have you contacted a police department there?" I asked him.
"We did, but they couldn't find any records on the suspect." Officer Kaz replied.
I looked at her picture on the ID. Her eyes shined with intelligence and a hidden strength. Could it be possible she was the one I thought she was? Was she the chosen one of the Crimson Dragon? The one who carried the Mark of the Crimson Star?
"Sir, we were also able to find a deck among the suspect's belongings and...she had two cards that raise more questions about her identity." Officer Kaz added.
I looked up from the ID as I put it down on the desk. "What do you mean?"
Officer Kaz put the metal box down before opening it and pulling a deck out. I took it from him and looked through the deck. My hands stopped moving when I came across not just one, but two copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" I muttered in slight disbelief.
"Yes sir. If I recall correctly, the famous CEO Seto Kaiba used to have three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, but he vanished years ago along with them."
"Yes, that is correct." I nodded.
An incorrect ID and two copies of the mythical Blue-Eyes White Dragon. This woman was full of mystery. But I had a feeling she wouldn't tell me anything if I were to interrogate her.
"What should we do with her, Director Goodwin?" Officer Kaz asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I put the cards down on my desk before resting my elbows on it and intertwining my fingers. "Until we can figure out her true identity, she is to wear a ankle monitor. Do not mark her unless we're certain about who she is."
"Yes, sir!" Officer Kaz saluted.
"And another thing." I spoke up. "Escort Estelle to my office."
"So she shouldn't be sent to the Facility with the other female convicts this morning?"
"I want to see her in person. I'll make a decision about the next course of action after I briefly interrogate her."
After the officer gathered Estelle's deck and ID, he left my office with a salute. As soon as the door closed, I turned around in my seat and stood up to look out the window, viewing New Domino City.
"Estelle Malmstrom...who are you?"
XXXXXXXXXX - Estelle's POV
I sat at the edge of the bed in my cell and was a bit bored, but mostly worried about Yusei. I had seen his silhouette when he walked past the cell with two Security officers about a hour ago and I hadn't seen or heard from him since then. My heart beat in fear. Was he sent to the Facility without me? Did this mean I was on my own because Sector Security couldn't identify me?
I patted my chest to check and see if I still had the two cards I had hidden away before the Crimson Dragon appeared. I could feel the shape of the cards against my chest, so it was a relief to know they were still there. I looked up when I heard the electric lock of the cell door beep before it was opening by a officer. I raised a eyebrow when I recognized the officer. It was Officer Kaz, the same Kaz who had been injured in the episode revolving around Syd and his gang stealing expensive Duel Runners. I never thought I would see him already.
Kaz approached me with a ankle monitor in his hand. "Miss, due to special orders, you will not be marked, but you will wear this ankle monitor."
Special orders, huh? I guess Sector Security and Goodwin really couldn't identify me and instead of marking me, they would watch over me with that ankle monitor. Fair enough.
"Which ankle?" I asked as I pulled my right leg up to unzip my boot.
"The left one." Kaz replied.
I switched legs and pulled the zipper down on my left boot before pulling it off. Kaz knelled down as I stretched my leg out to make it easier for him to strap the ankle monitor on.
Yes, I could use the opportunity to fight and try to escape, but that would only escalate the situation. Besides, it would only take seconds for other officers to catch me if I tried to run away. In addition, Yusei needed me. I had to be there for him.
Kaz adjusted the ankle monitor, which was thin and light, before he gave me a nod and told me that I could put my boot on again. I could easily pull it on without any trouble with the device and zipped the boot shut.
"What's going to happen to me and my friend, Officer?" I questioned politely.
"Your companion, Yusei Fudo, will be transported to the Facility to undergo a one month reeducation program before you two are shipped off to the Satellite." Kaz replied as he checked a iPhone like device for the details. "As for you, Director Goodwin asked me to escort you to his office."
I blinked in surprise. I wasn't going to be sent to the women's Facility straight away? And why did Goodwin want to see me? Was it because he wasn't able to verify my identity?
Before meeting Goodwin, I had to see Yusei. "Is my friend still here in Sector Security HQ?"
"Yes." Kaz nodded.
"Can I see him before he has to leave for the Facility?" I requested.
Kaz looked at me like I had grown a second head, but then he nodded with a poker face. I stood up from the bed and followed Kaz out of the cell calmly. I walked behind him to another cell where he used a card key to unlock the door. He then pulled the door open and stepped aside so I could walk in.
Yusei sat at the edge of the bed in his cell with his elbows on his lap, his chin resting on his intertwined hands and eyes closed. He didn't look up when I approached him. I heard the door close behind me, but I didn't care about that. All I cared about now was Yusei.
He didn't even flinch when I sat down next to him. I could see his criminal mark and it pained me knowing that he got hurt when they marked him. I sat there silently for a couple minutes before I slowly wrapped my right arm around Yusei's shoulders. Even then he didn't react to my touch.
"Yusei?" I whispered.
He opened his eyes, but he never turned his head to look at me. I didn't know if he was angry over the fact he got caught and marked, or if he was thinking about last night's encounter with the Crimson Dragon. I could only guess it was a bit of both.
I snapped out of it when Yusei moved his shoulders a bit. I removed my arm and let him stretch his back.
"Yusei...are you okay?" I asked softly.
Yusei let out a sigh before he turned to me. His eyes seemed to study my face before he frowned.
"Why didn't you get a mark?" He asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Apparently, due to some special orders, Sector Security strapped an ankle monitor onto my left leg instead, and Goodwin wants to see me."
Yusei raised a eyebrow. "Why does he want to see you?"
I shrugged softly. "I don't know. I was never given a explanation."
Yusei stayed silent and looked away. It hurt a bit that he wasn't the same, but I partly couldn't blame him. We were both caught by Sector Security and Yusei could be sent to the Facility any minute now. Me too, if that was what Goodwin planned to do after seeing me. It was a lot for the brain to comprehend.
I snapped my head up when the door to the cell opened again, but it was another officer instead of Kaz.
"Get out, you two! Young man, your 'limousine' to the Facility will leave soon!" The officer demanded. "And girl, your escort is waiting for you!"
I turned to Yusei to see how he was reacting. He was nonchalant as he stood up from the bed and headed to the door. I quickly followed him out of the cell. The unknown officer had a colleague with him so they could escort Yusei to the vehicle while making sure he wouldn't try to run. Kaz had waited for me, but he didn't have a colleague that would watch me from behind. I guess he knew I was smart enough to try to run away.
"Follow me." Kaz said briefly before we walked off.
I cast a glance over my shoulder to see Yusei vanish by a corner. My shoulders sank a bit as I let out a soft sigh. I hoped he would be okay in the Facility.
As Kaz and I walked down the long corridor, I noticed there were many guards walking around with rifles. Security was not lacking to say the least.
I got into a elevator with Kaz that led us to the top floor. I remained silent and watched every single move the officer made. I snapped my head up when the elevator chimed upon reaching the top floor. Kaz and I stepped out and we walked down a long corridor until we made it to a door. It slid open and revealed a big and bright room. There were huge windows in front of a desk where Goodwin sat and did paperwork. He didn't look up when Kaz stepped over to his desk and saluted him. The Director only looked up when he was done writing on the sheet of paper in front of him, before putting the pen and sheet of paper aside.
"Thank you, officer." Goodwin nodded. "You may leave."
Kaz just nodded as a answer before stepping out of the office, leaving me alone with Goodwin. I had to be honest; I was both a bit nervous and scared to be in a room with the man in front of me. I knew he could become violent if someone said something he didn't like hearing. I didn't want to face his wrath. I looked to the side when I spotted my satchel on a table not far away from me. So the Director had brought my stuff here, which meant something was up.
I stood still as Goodwin's eyes studied me from head to toe before he straightened his back.
"So...I assume you wonder why I've asked you to meet me." He began.
"Yes sir." I said with a monotone voice.
One of the corners of Goodwin's lips seemed to twitch for a second, but I could have just imagined it.
"Sector Security has had a hard time identifying you, but I assume your first name is Estelle, correct?" He continued as he held up my ID.
"Yes sir." I nodded.
Goodwin set the ID down before he stood up from his chair and turned around to look out the window, his back facing me, but I could see the reflection of his eyes on the glass. "And your last name is Malmstrom?"
"Yes."
Goodwin turned around and stared at me with a intense glance. "Then how come I found two copies of Seto Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon in your deck? Kaiba vanished thirty years ago along with his three dragons. And records show he never had any children." His lips turned into a thin line. "Are you, by any chance, a Kaiba?"
"No sir, I am not." I replied while shaking my head.
"If not, then how do you have those cards?"
I remained silent after that question. I refused to tell Goodwin the truth of how I obtained the two copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I knew Blue-Eyes White Dragon was one of the rarest cards in the anime universe, but it was a rather common card in my world that everyone could get their hands on.
Goodwin stared at me for a moment before he walked back to the desk and picked my ID up. "I had a feeling that you wouldn't cooperate with me that easily. Since Sector Security is unable to identify you, I've decided to place you under house arrest."
I blinked after I heard that. I wasn't going to be sent to the women's Facility? "Here in Sector Security, sir?"
"No. In my residence."
XXXXXXXXXX
That was certainly a unexpected turn of events. Instead of being thrown in jail, I was going to live in Goodwin's mansion. While his limousine drove us to his private island, he briefly told me that I could walk around the island, but never leave the area. Everything was going to be provided to me; food, clothes, entertainment and other stuff that I could request. Maids were going to look after me and make sure I behaved.
The limousine stopped in front of the mansion where a maid was waiting. The driver of the limousine stepped out to open the door for me. I got out of the vehicle while carrying my satchel, but I quickly realized Goodwin was still in the limousine.
"Sir?" I said, blinking.
"I have business to attend to today." Goodwin explaining, answering the question on my mind. "But I will see you this evening. Until then, take care Estelle."
The driver closed the door and walked back to the front of the vehicle before getting into it and driving off. I watched the limousine leave until it was no longer in view. I let out a soft sigh and turned to the maid who was around thirty years old. She had black hair, brown eyes and fair skin. She was wearing a maid outfit with a long skirt.
"Welcome, Ms. Estelle." The maid bowed slightly. "My name is Hilda, I'm the head maid."
"Hello." I replied softly.
Hilda raised her head up with a small smile. "I've been informed about the circumstances. My girls and I will take care of you. Your room has already been prepared, if you would like to rest and change your clothes. Please, follow me."
I was a bit nervous as I followed Hilda into the mansion. The other maids and a few butlers stared at me while the women gossiped around me. I could hear the term 'Satellite' multiple times and that was said with a poisonous tone. I had a feeling that I would be bullied in secret for a while, but that was something I just had to deal with. Maybe the staff members would realize I wasn't as bad as they first suspected and then leave me alone.
Hilda opened the door to my assigned bedroom. It was three times bigger than the one in my parent's house. It had beige walls and dark red marble flooring, as well as huge windows that provided a gorgeous view of the rose garden and the lake around Goodwin's island. There was a queen bed in the corner with a white night stand and several white wardrobes next to it. There were oak bookshelves on the other side of the room with pens and other things. There was a Victorian coffee table in the middle of the room with two couches on each side and one chair by each of the heads.
It felt a bit extravagant for someone from the Satellite who was under house arrest for trespassing into New Domino City. I wasn't ungrateful for living in a safe place, but a decent house would have been better than this castle.
XXXXXXXXXX
The first two weeks passed by quickly and before I knew it, it was July. Yusei's birthday had passed, but I hadn't been able to celebrate it with him. Goodwin rarely returned home and when he did, we would have dinner together. He did it to try and get information from me, but I kept my mouth shut. Other than that, when it came to other topics, we actually had a nice time, like father and daughter.
As I suspected initially, the maids and butlers were a bit mean, but they slowly stopped messing around when they noticed that I didn't do anything bad, like try to steal valuable items or vandalize things or generally be mean. In fact, when I started to talk to them and ask questions, or even help out in the kitchen, they started speaking to me in a respectful manner. I was glad to see they had a change of heart and some even began questioning if people from the Satellite were really as bad as the rumors said.
I mostly kept to myself in my bedroom to read books or write stuff in notebooks I was provided with. I did spend some time in the living room or garden, but I felt safest in the room. I would have tea and snacks and have a small chat with the maid that came with the afternoon tea. The clothes I wore were mainly feminine and I liked them, so I changed clothes every day to experience the feeling of wearing something nice, elegant and expensive. I knew it sounded like I was being spoiled and I was having my own fashion show, but what else could I come up with while I was under house arrest? My options for activities were very limited.
I would sometimes wander off in my mind and think about my parents in my home dimension. Was time going at the same pace in both worlds? If so, did this mean I was now a missing person in my world? Were my parents looking for me? Were they thinking I was snatched by human traffickers and sold as a slave? I wished there was some way to contact them and tell them that I was okay.
At night, I had several encounters with the Crimson Dragon in my dreams. He explained to me that I was the Chosen One to carry the Mark of the Crimson Star, meaning the Dragon Star. My duty, apparently, was to act like a mother to the Signers and be there for them when they needed someone to rely on.
I often heard that the maids, especially the younger ones, adored Jack and how he was the true champion and hero of New Domino City. Each one of them wanted to become his lover, so every time Jack came over to Goodwin's mansion, they would try to keep their composure, but a few of them would secretly sneak a note with their phone number and address into one of his pockets without him noticing. I wasn't really the type to be a fangirl, and I didn't see Jack with the same eyes as the others. I always made sure to stay out of sight whenever Jack came over, but one day I didn't have that luxury.
XXXXXXXXXX
Today, I was wearing a shirred off black shoulder top, blue-gray and black tweed-fronted shorts, white socks and black ballet flats. The black straps of my bra were visible, but it looked as if they were one with the top. I was in the living room, sitting in a armchair and reading a book that caught my eye. Katsumi, one of the maids and Jack's fangirls, stood by a corner and made sure to stay there and watch over me. I was so deep into the book that I almost dropped it when the door to the living room opened. I looked up and saw Goodwin step into the room and to my discomfort, Jack was right behind him.
"Master Goodwin." Katsumi bowed immediately to hide the blush on her face from Jack. "M-Mr. Atlas."
Goodwin nodded to the maid before he looked at me. "Estelle, I need you to do me a favor."
I put the bookmark in the book and closed it before getting up from the armchair and walking over to the men. "What kind of favor, Goodwin?"
"I want to see your skills, so will you duel Jack Atlas, the King of Games?"
Jack snorted loudly and grimaced as he glared at me. "I can't believe you've been keeping Yusei's girlfriend like a pet in your house the whole time."
"Charming." I retorted sarcastically while glaring at Jack before turning to Goodwin with a neutral expression on my face. "Why would you want me to duel Jack, sir?"
"The Fortune Cup is coming up, and Jack is constantly Turbo Dueling." Goodwin explained. "So I feel like he needs a change. Besides, it would also be a nice warm-up if he participates in a Ground Duel instead of a Turbo Duel during the finale of the Fortune Cup."
"Are you doubting my skills, Goodwin?!" Jack nearly growled aggressively at the Director.
"I never implied that, Jack. But you have to admit it's been a long time since you've had a Ground Duel."
Jack held back a growl, but collected himself with his arms crossed. "She can't be that good of a duelist. She looks more like a loser."
"Be careful with your words, Jack." I said simply before nodding to Goodwin. "It's been a while since I dueled, so it would be a nice change for me as well."
"Excellent." Goodwin nodded, his poker face still remaining on his face. "I'll have a Duel Disk prepared for you."
XXXXXXXXXX
I received a standard Duel Disk, but it's color system was crystal blue and white with sea blue gems. Blue wasn't really the color that fit me, but I could deal with the device. Goodwin led me and Jack to one of the duel fields outside of the mansion.
Something then crash landed near the duel field.
"This is gonna be interesting." A deep, metallic voice announced.
I recognized him as Iron Man, the costumed identity of Tony Stark.
I also got to meet Mina Simington for the first time. She walked behind us, but she kept trying to get close to Jack while literally burning holes in his back with her deep stare.
Jack and I stood on both sides of the field while Goodwin, Mina, Hilda and a few other staff members stood to the side to watch. Jack and I raised our arms with the Duel Disks and activated them. The Duel Disk shuffled my deck.
"Let's duel!" Jack commenced the duel, both of us drawing the top five cards of our decks. "And don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a woman!"
Turn 1: Jack
Jack: 4000 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP
I got One for One, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Arkbrave Dragon, Enemy Controller and Dragon Knight of Creation. A decent starting hand.
"The king always goes first!" Jack called. "I draw! And I start by special summoning Power Giant to the field by sending Synchro Soldier from my hand to the graveyard! While doing that, Power Giant's level is lowered by one due to Synchro Soldier's level!"
A Gundam like monster with a body comprised of gems appeared on the field, punching the air. Jack surely liked to go strong even at the beginning of a duel.
Power Giant, Level 6 - Level 5: ATK 2200
"Next, I place one card face down and end my turn! You're up, girl!" Jack finished as a face down trap card appeared on his field.
Turn 2: Estelle
"I draw!" I called as I drew my sixth card, seeing that it was Silver's Cry. "I start my turn by summoning Dragon Knight of Creation in attack mode!"
Dragon Knight of Creation jumped out of a gate and drew his sword, ready to fight.
Dragon Knight of Creation, Level 4: ATK 1800
"Next, I play the spell; One for One! I send one monster card from my hand to the graveyard to special summon a level 1 monster from my deck!" I continued as I discarded Blue-Eyes White Dragon while my Duel Disk shuffled the deck until it was done. Then I grabbed the top card and put it on the device. "And I choose the tuner monster, Supay!"
The wooden monster floated out of a gate and landed next to my first monster.
Supay, Level 1, Tuner: ATK 300
"Let me guess, a Synchro summoning?" Jack snorted.
"That's right." I nodded. "I tune Supay with Dragon Knight of Creation to synchro summon Magical Android!"
Supay turned into a tuning circle that my dragon monster jumped into before turning into a bright light. Once the light faded, Magical Android was on the field, looking ready for battle.
Magical Android, Level 5: ATK 2400
"Magical Android, take out Power Giant!" I shouted.
Magical Android raised her sword and sent a fireball at the rock monster. It looked like it would connect, but...
"I activate my trap, Prideful Roar!" Jack called as his face down card flipped up. "Now, by paying 200 life points, my Power Giant's attack increases by 200 and he gains a additional 300 attack points, making him stronger than your Magical Android!"
Jack: 4000 LP - 3800 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP
A red aura surrounded Jack showing that some of his life points were drained, but the aura was then transferred to Power Giant who moved his arms as if he was showing off his muscles.
Power Giant, Level 5: ATK 2200 - ATK 2400 - ATK 2700
The rock monster punched the fireball, causing the flames to spread out all around him before he dashed forward while balling a hand into a fist. Magical Android gasped when the Gundam like monster was in front of her. Power Giant pulled his fist back and punched her so hard she shattered into pieces.
Jack: 3800 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP - 3700 LP
Some of the maids cheered excitedly for Jack making a brilliant comeback while Goodwin and the others remained calm and silent.
"I place one card face down and end my turn." I said as I placed Enemy Controller face down while Power Giant's attack points returned to normal.
Power Giant, Level 5: ATK 2700 - ATK 2200
Turn 3: Jack
"I told you I wasn't gonna go easy on you!" Jack snorted as he drew a card. "I summon Dark Resonator!"
One of his Resonator monsters floated out of a gate and grinned mischievously.
Dark Resonator, Level 3, Tuner: ATK 1300
I knew what this meant, and judging by the fangirl maids excited cries, Jack was bringing out the big guns now.
"And with Dark Resonator, I tune him with Power Giant to synchro summon your doom!" The blonde-haired man continued.
Dark Resonator used his tuning fork and tool to produce a noise before turning into three tuning rings. Power Giant jumped into the rings before a inferno blazed on the field.
"I synchro summon Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The black and red Signer Dragon flew out of the flames and roared to the sky before landing behind Jack.
Red Dragon Archfiend, Level 8: ATK 3000
"Next, I activate Scarlet Security!" Jack continued as said spell card appeared on the field. "I can only activate this when I have Red Dragon Archfiend on the field, and with his power I can destroy all of your spell and trap cards."
Red Dragon Archfiend flew up before diving down towards my single face down and used his clenched fist to destroy it. The dirt flew around me because of the impact in front of me. I shielded my eyes from the dirt until the commotion had calmed down. When I opened my eyes, I jumped back as I was face to face with the Signer Dragon.
"Now, Red Dragon Archfiend! Obliterate her life points!" Jack commanded.
Red Dragon Archfiend flapped his wings and flew up into the air before releasing a stream of fire from his mouth. I shielded my face from the fire with my Duel Disk as I took the damage.
Jack: 3800 LP
Estelle: 3700 LP - 700 LP
Jack stood tall and emitted a aura of pride as Red Dragon Archfiend settled down behind him. "I end my turn, and I promise I'll make my next turn quick."
Jack really went for power in his duels. But I wasn't going to give up so easily.
Turn 4: Estelle
"I draw!" I called before I drew my new card, seeing that it was Vice Dragon. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell; Silver's Cry!" Said card appeared on the field. "With the power of this card, I can summon a normal monster from my graveyard!"
"But you don't have a normal monster...unless it's the one you sent to the graveyard when you played One for One!" Jack retorted.
I took Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the graveyard and slammed it on the Duel Disk. "And that monster is Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
A beam of bright blue energy shot out of a gate and flew up into the sky as it shapeshifted into Blue-Eyes White Dragon. He roared to the sky before he landed behind me.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
Jack's eyes widened in disbelief and I could hear shocked gasps coming from the audience.
"How can you have Seto Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon?!" The blonde-haired man demanded.
I ignored Jack's question as I decided to skip the Battle Phase. If Blue-Eyes White Dragon attacked Red Dragon Archfiend, both dragons would go to the graveyard. I didn't want to lose my dragon. "I end my turn."
"Hey, don't ignore my question!" Jack yelled angrily.
"Jack!" Goodwin called out, getting our attention. "Don't lose your focus."
Turn 5: Jack
The blonde-haired male Signer held back a growl as he drew a card to commence his turn. "I play Red Dragon Vase!" The card appeared on the field before the vase on the artwork replaced it. "Because I control Red Dragon Archfiend, I can harness his power to draw two more cards, but I can't summon any monsters until the end of your next turn!"
Red Dragon Vase released a fiery aura that enveloped Jack as he drew two more cards. The vase then shattered into pieces after fulfilling it's purpose.
"I place three cards face down and end my turn!" Jack continued while three face down cards appeared on his field.
I raised a eyebrow in confusion. He chose not to attack me? Was he waiting for me to attack him or something?
"I draw." I said as I drew Paladin of Felgrand. "And I summon Paladin of Felgrand in attack mode!"
The warrior jumped out of a gate and swung his sword around before standing in front of me. Some of the maids turned their attention to Paladin of Felgrand because they thought he looked handsome and cute at the same time.
Paladin of Felgrand, Level 4: ATK 1700
"When Paladin of Felgrand is summoned, I can equip a level 7 or 8 dragon type monster from my hand or deck, so I equip him with Arkbrave Dragon from my hand!" I placed the monster card in the spell/trap card zone just as the golden dragon appeared on the field. "While Paladin of Felgrand is equipped with a card, he's unaffected by other monsters' effects." Arkbrave Dragon glowed in a golden aura that was transferred to Paladin of Felgrand who used his sword to absorb the aura.
Now I decided to go forward and let my dragon battle the Signer Dragon. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack Red Dragon Archfiend! Take him to the graveyard with you!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared before he took off into the sky. Red Dragon Archfiend flapped his wings and flew after the sky blue dragon. My dragon charged towards the black dragon with a roar while gathering energy in his mouth as flames appeared in Red Dragon Archfiend's mouth.
"Not a chance!" Jack suddenly shouted. "I activate Nightmare Archfiends!" One of his face downs flipped up. "I sacrifice Red Dragon Archfiend to summon three Nightmare Archfiend tokens to your side of the field!"
The Signer Dragon's mouth stopped burning before he vanished, only for his remains to head over to my side of the field. The remaining energy transformed into three tokens that looked like human-sized fiends with black bodies and tails, white hair, and red eyes and mouths.
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000
I cold sweated when I remembered what kind of effect these fiends have. I would take 800 points of damage for each one destroyed. I had to get rid of them fast, but the Battle Phase was still underway.
"I don't know why you made this sacrifice, Jack, because Blue-Eyes White Dragon will now attack you directly!" I pointed out.
"Not if I activate my second trap, No Entry!" Jack responded as said trap card flipped up. "All monsters in attack mode are switched to defense mode!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon stopped charging energy and got down on the ground before lowering his neck and moving his wings to shield his head. Paladin of Felgrand got down on one knee while still holding his sword and the skin color of the three tokens changed from black to dark blue.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000 - DEF 2500
Paladin of Felgrand, Level 4: ATK 1700 - DEF 300
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000 - DEF 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000 - DEF 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000 - DEF 2000
I growled inwardly, really getting into the duel. I never expected Jack to make such a move. Besides, now that I thought about it, I don't recall him having No Entry! in any of his decks in the anime. Was this a change or something?
"I end my turn." I said, knowing that I was going to lose.
Jack snorted loudly as he drew a new card. "I told you I was going to make this duel quick, so I activate my third trap; Call of the Haunted! I can summon a monster from my graveyard to the field, so come back, my burning soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The final trap card flipped up before flames emerged from it. Red Dragon Archfiend rose up from the flames and roared in joy now that he was back on the field.
Red Dragon Archfiend, Level 8: ATK 3000
"This is it." I mumbled softly.
"Get ready to face your demise, girl!" Jack yelled. "Red Dragon Archfiend, attack Paladin of Felgrand! Go, Absolute Power Force!"
The Signer Dragon balled his right hand into a fist and flew towards Paladin of Felgrand while the fist was enveloped by a fiery aura. Paladin of Felgrand had no chance as he was hit and destroyed along with Arkbrave Dragon.
"And because Red Dragon Archfiend attacked a defense position monster, the rest of your defense position monsters are destroyed!" Jack added. "And when the Nightmare Archfiend tokens are destroyed, you take 800 points of damage for each one of them!"
Red Dragon Archfiend breathed his crimson fire at Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the three tokens, destroying them at the same time. The tokens exploded at the same time creating thick smoke as I lost the last of my life points.
Jack: 3800 LP
Estelle: 700 LP - 0 LP
Jack's fangirls shrieked in joy after seeing him win with Red Dragon Archfiend. The duel field returned to normal after the Duel Disks deactivated themselves. I didn't know why, but I felt a bit disappointed with myself. I only realized this afterwards that I made some mistakes and overlooked some things.
"Such a disappointment." Jack's chilly voice spoke up, snapping me out of my thoughts, as he walked past me with his nose up in the air. "I've dueled many duelists, but you're literally the worst opponent ever. So pathetic, and you even had the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but you couldn't control like a real master." I turned around to watch him walk when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. "In fact..." He turned around so harshly that his trench coat flew around him. "You should just hand it over to me!"
"Excuse me?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"You heard me! Hand it over right now!" Jack walked back to me while reaching for my Duel Disk.
I backed away from him, trying not to let him get my Blue-Eyes White Dragon, while trying to push him back with my right hand. "Stop it! Just because you're the King of Games, doesn't mean you can take other people's cards!"
"I can and I will!" Jack retorted as he managed to grab my Duel Disk, pulling it towards him while forcing my body to lean forward, almost making me drop down to my knees.
"Jack!" Mina called out with a worried tone.
He was then forced away from me by two blue energy blasts. Iron Man had put a quick end to Jack's attempt to take my Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"Don't start getting grabby just because you won a duel, Atlas." He told the blonde-haired man, moving forward with arms raised to make sure he didn't get up and try that stunt again.
"Your actions just now were unacceptable!" Goodwin yelled.
"So what?! She's just some trash from the Satellite!" Jack retorted while still on the ground.
I used this opportunity to run over to Goodwin and hide behind him, knowing he wouldn't let Jack do something low in front of so many people, especially because he had some fans here. He was literally the only one that could keep the blonde-haired Signer in check.
"You should never put your hands on a woman, whether she's from New Domino City or the Satellite, Jack." Goodwin spoke with a calm voice, but I could sense the seriousness. "Besides, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon belongs to her, so don't take it from her by force."
"Well, then how can she have that card?!" Jack growled. "That's Kaiba's signature monster! Is she a Kaiba?!"
"I'm not." I spoke up, answering the question.
"Then why do you have it?!" Jack yelled aggressively.
"That's enough, Jack!" Goodwin intervened.
The blonde-haired Signer growled through gritted teeth and slowly calmed down, but his shoulders were still tense.
"Now Jack, you have a duel this evening, so go home and prepare for it." Goodwin told him. "It would look bad for your image if you don't focus all your attention on the duel. Go and clear your mind."
Jack opened his mouth to argue, but a strict glare from the Director stopped him. His irritated expression didn't fade, though, when he walked past us, each step full of anger. Mina looked a bit disoriented at first before she collected herself and bowed to Goodwin then ran after Jack who took off with his Duel Runner. She got into a car and drove after him.
Once the white Duel Runner was out of sight, I finally relaxed my shoulders and let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks."
"What are you thanking me for?" The Director asked.
"For helping protect me from Jack. I got really scared when I thought he would take my Blue-Eyes White Dragon from me."
"That was highly inappropriate of him. He should have known better." Goodwin replied calmly. "While I am disappointed the duel didn't last longer, I'm glad I got to see Blue-Eyes White Dragon in action."
Once he mentioned Blue-Eyes, the maids and butlers began to gossip. Some cast questioning glances, as if they were trying to figure out if I was a secret Kaiba, or how I obtained the dragon.
"I believe you are much stronger that what you showed us today." Goodwin continued as he turned to me. "Dueling is all about skill, but also a inch of luck. You simply didn't have a good hand this time." Without warning, he reached his hand up and patted my head. "So don't feel down about this loss."
This gesture came out of the blue from Goodwin, if you ask me. It was as if he was treating me like a child, but not just any child. He was treating me like I was his daughter.
Was it possible he wished to have a child of his own? If so, why did he never have a wife? I had heard from the maids that Goodwin had many female celebrity friends who went as his date to sophisticated parties, but nothing came from those dates.
A weird theory formed in my head. What if Goodwin brought me to his mansion to not only watch over me and get answers from me, but also have a opportunity to experience fatherhood. Didn't he do the same thing with Jack when the blonde-haired Signer came to New Domino City to accept the Director's offer two years ago.
This was becoming very confusing, so I dropped those thoughts and followed Goodwin back into the mansion.
Just as I had suspected, Sector Security didn't just confiscate Yusei's Duel Runner and deck during the arrest, they also took my satchel. Fortunately, the officers didn't frisk me to look for hidden items. At HQ, they demanded that I empty my pockets. All I had in my jacket pockets were some clean paper tissues, which I could keep to blow my nose.
I had been sleeping a bit restlessly in the cell that night, so I was exhausted in the early morning when a officer entered my cell with a plate of simple breakfast. What was going to happen to Yusei? To me? Was I going to get a criminal mark? I heard from Rally how he got his mark. He told me that Sector Security used a laser that hurt like hell when they marked him, and how that small mark contained confirmation of his identity and a homing signal. What would Sector Security do when they find my ID that was in my satchel? I technically didn't exist in this dimension, so there was no information about me.
I could barely eat my breakfast due to nerves while I thought about my fate. What would Goodwin do once he was informed of me?
More questions popped up in my head as I recalled when the Crimson Dragon showed up in the Kaiba Dome. I knew I felt my eyes burn when the dragon god appeared and I knew I wasn't hallucinating when I felt a burning sensation on my right arm. I had seen that pentagram mark on my arm before it vanished, just like Yusei's Mark. Was it possible that I was a Signer as well? If so, then what kind of Mark did I receive from the Crimson Dragon? I couldn't recall reading a article on the official Yu-Gi-Oh Wikia about a Mark shaped like a pentagram. And why did the Signer Dragons call me "Priestess" when I met them in that other dimension.
What the heck was going on?
XXXXXXXXXX - Goodwin's POV
I sat in my office and looked through all the paperwork that needed to be done this morning. I had to sign a contract allowing the judge to sentence and mark Yusei. While I was doing that, I couldn't help but think about his female companion. I could have sworn that her eyes were glowing red when the Crimson Dragon appeared in the stadium, and something had been glowing on her arm before we lost the footage due to the blackout.
I didn't look up when I heard the door to my office slide open before footsteps were heard.
"Director Goodwin, sir." The officer declared.
"Yes, what is it?" I asked as I signed the sentence contract.
"We have some...issues identifying Yusei Fudo's female companion."
The pen I had in my hand stopped moving. I looked up and saw that Officer Kaz was standing in front of the desk with a uncertain expression on his face. He was holding a metal box, which made me raise a eyebrow in confusion.
"What kind of issues?" I asked.
"After inspecting her bag, we were able to find a ID, but..." Officer Kaz began before showing me the ID. "Please take a look for yourself, sir."
I put the pen down and took the ID from the officer before taking a closer look at it. My eyebrows lifted in surprise when I saw numerous flaws. It didn't look like a common ID. It had the wrong layout, but the thing that caught my attention was her date of birth. The ID said she was born in 1997, which was extremely odd. The current year was 2030, and she seemed to be no older than 20.
"The year's not right." I said.
"That's what bothers us, sir." Officer Kaz admitted. "None of us believe someone can live for so long and still look so young...unless they're a sorceress."
I looked at the other details on the ID and spotted her name. Estelle Malmstrom. It certainly didn't sound like a Japanese name and it wasn't because the ID said Estelle's nationality was Swedish.
"Have you contacted a police department there?" I asked him.
"We did, but they couldn't find any records on the suspect." Officer Kaz replied.
I looked at her picture on the ID. Her eyes shined with intelligence and a hidden strength. Could it be possible she was the one I thought she was? Was she the chosen one of the Crimson Dragon? The one who carried the Mark of the Crimson Star?
"Sir, we were also able to find a deck among the suspect's belongings and...she had two cards that raise more questions about her identity." Officer Kaz added.
I looked up from the ID as I put it down on the desk. "What do you mean?"
Officer Kaz put the metal box down before opening it and pulling a deck out. I took it from him and looked through the deck. My hands stopped moving when I came across not just one, but two copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" I muttered in slight disbelief.
"Yes sir. If I recall correctly, the famous CEO Seto Kaiba used to have three Blue-Eyes White Dragons, but he vanished years ago along with them."
"Yes, that is correct." I nodded.
An incorrect ID and two copies of the mythical Blue-Eyes White Dragon. This woman was full of mystery. But I had a feeling she wouldn't tell me anything if I were to interrogate her.
"What should we do with her, Director Goodwin?" Officer Kaz asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I put the cards down on my desk before resting my elbows on it and intertwining my fingers. "Until we can figure out her true identity, she is to wear a ankle monitor. Do not mark her unless we're certain about who she is."
"Yes, sir!" Officer Kaz saluted.
"And another thing." I spoke up. "Escort Estelle to my office."
"So she shouldn't be sent to the Facility with the other female convicts this morning?"
"I want to see her in person. I'll make a decision about the next course of action after I briefly interrogate her."
After the officer gathered Estelle's deck and ID, he left my office with a salute. As soon as the door closed, I turned around in my seat and stood up to look out the window, viewing New Domino City.
"Estelle Malmstrom...who are you?"
XXXXXXXXXX - Estelle's POV
I sat at the edge of the bed in my cell and was a bit bored, but mostly worried about Yusei. I had seen his silhouette when he walked past the cell with two Security officers about a hour ago and I hadn't seen or heard from him since then. My heart beat in fear. Was he sent to the Facility without me? Did this mean I was on my own because Sector Security couldn't identify me?
I patted my chest to check and see if I still had the two cards I had hidden away before the Crimson Dragon appeared. I could feel the shape of the cards against my chest, so it was a relief to know they were still there. I looked up when I heard the electric lock of the cell door beep before it was opening by a officer. I raised a eyebrow when I recognized the officer. It was Officer Kaz, the same Kaz who had been injured in the episode revolving around Syd and his gang stealing expensive Duel Runners. I never thought I would see him already.
Kaz approached me with a ankle monitor in his hand. "Miss, due to special orders, you will not be marked, but you will wear this ankle monitor."
Special orders, huh? I guess Sector Security and Goodwin really couldn't identify me and instead of marking me, they would watch over me with that ankle monitor. Fair enough.
"Which ankle?" I asked as I pulled my right leg up to unzip my boot.
"The left one." Kaz replied.
I switched legs and pulled the zipper down on my left boot before pulling it off. Kaz knelled down as I stretched my leg out to make it easier for him to strap the ankle monitor on.
Yes, I could use the opportunity to fight and try to escape, but that would only escalate the situation. Besides, it would only take seconds for other officers to catch me if I tried to run away. In addition, Yusei needed me. I had to be there for him.
Kaz adjusted the ankle monitor, which was thin and light, before he gave me a nod and told me that I could put my boot on again. I could easily pull it on without any trouble with the device and zipped the boot shut.
"What's going to happen to me and my friend, Officer?" I questioned politely.
"Your companion, Yusei Fudo, will be transported to the Facility to undergo a one month reeducation program before you two are shipped off to the Satellite." Kaz replied as he checked a iPhone like device for the details. "As for you, Director Goodwin asked me to escort you to his office."
I blinked in surprise. I wasn't going to be sent to the women's Facility straight away? And why did Goodwin want to see me? Was it because he wasn't able to verify my identity?
Before meeting Goodwin, I had to see Yusei. "Is my friend still here in Sector Security HQ?"
"Yes." Kaz nodded.
"Can I see him before he has to leave for the Facility?" I requested.
Kaz looked at me like I had grown a second head, but then he nodded with a poker face. I stood up from the bed and followed Kaz out of the cell calmly. I walked behind him to another cell where he used a card key to unlock the door. He then pulled the door open and stepped aside so I could walk in.
Yusei sat at the edge of the bed in his cell with his elbows on his lap, his chin resting on his intertwined hands and eyes closed. He didn't look up when I approached him. I heard the door close behind me, but I didn't care about that. All I cared about now was Yusei.
He didn't even flinch when I sat down next to him. I could see his criminal mark and it pained me knowing that he got hurt when they marked him. I sat there silently for a couple minutes before I slowly wrapped my right arm around Yusei's shoulders. Even then he didn't react to my touch.
"Yusei?" I whispered.
He opened his eyes, but he never turned his head to look at me. I didn't know if he was angry over the fact he got caught and marked, or if he was thinking about last night's encounter with the Crimson Dragon. I could only guess it was a bit of both.
I snapped out of it when Yusei moved his shoulders a bit. I removed my arm and let him stretch his back.
"Yusei...are you okay?" I asked softly.
Yusei let out a sigh before he turned to me. His eyes seemed to study my face before he frowned.
"Why didn't you get a mark?" He asked.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Apparently, due to some special orders, Sector Security strapped an ankle monitor onto my left leg instead, and Goodwin wants to see me."
Yusei raised a eyebrow. "Why does he want to see you?"
I shrugged softly. "I don't know. I was never given a explanation."
Yusei stayed silent and looked away. It hurt a bit that he wasn't the same, but I partly couldn't blame him. We were both caught by Sector Security and Yusei could be sent to the Facility any minute now. Me too, if that was what Goodwin planned to do after seeing me. It was a lot for the brain to comprehend.
I snapped my head up when the door to the cell opened again, but it was another officer instead of Kaz.
"Get out, you two! Young man, your 'limousine' to the Facility will leave soon!" The officer demanded. "And girl, your escort is waiting for you!"
I turned to Yusei to see how he was reacting. He was nonchalant as he stood up from the bed and headed to the door. I quickly followed him out of the cell. The unknown officer had a colleague with him so they could escort Yusei to the vehicle while making sure he wouldn't try to run. Kaz had waited for me, but he didn't have a colleague that would watch me from behind. I guess he knew I was smart enough to try to run away.
"Follow me." Kaz said briefly before we walked off.
I cast a glance over my shoulder to see Yusei vanish by a corner. My shoulders sank a bit as I let out a soft sigh. I hoped he would be okay in the Facility.
As Kaz and I walked down the long corridor, I noticed there were many guards walking around with rifles. Security was not lacking to say the least.
I got into a elevator with Kaz that led us to the top floor. I remained silent and watched every single move the officer made. I snapped my head up when the elevator chimed upon reaching the top floor. Kaz and I stepped out and we walked down a long corridor until we made it to a door. It slid open and revealed a big and bright room. There were huge windows in front of a desk where Goodwin sat and did paperwork. He didn't look up when Kaz stepped over to his desk and saluted him. The Director only looked up when he was done writing on the sheet of paper in front of him, before putting the pen and sheet of paper aside.
"Thank you, officer." Goodwin nodded. "You may leave."
Kaz just nodded as a answer before stepping out of the office, leaving me alone with Goodwin. I had to be honest; I was both a bit nervous and scared to be in a room with the man in front of me. I knew he could become violent if someone said something he didn't like hearing. I didn't want to face his wrath. I looked to the side when I spotted my satchel on a table not far away from me. So the Director had brought my stuff here, which meant something was up.
I stood still as Goodwin's eyes studied me from head to toe before he straightened his back.
"So...I assume you wonder why I've asked you to meet me." He began.
"Yes sir." I said with a monotone voice.
One of the corners of Goodwin's lips seemed to twitch for a second, but I could have just imagined it.
"Sector Security has had a hard time identifying you, but I assume your first name is Estelle, correct?" He continued as he held up my ID.
"Yes sir." I nodded.
Goodwin set the ID down before he stood up from his chair and turned around to look out the window, his back facing me, but I could see the reflection of his eyes on the glass. "And your last name is Malmstrom?"
"Yes."
Goodwin turned around and stared at me with a intense glance. "Then how come I found two copies of Seto Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon in your deck? Kaiba vanished thirty years ago along with his three dragons. And records show he never had any children." His lips turned into a thin line. "Are you, by any chance, a Kaiba?"
"No sir, I am not." I replied while shaking my head.
"If not, then how do you have those cards?"
I remained silent after that question. I refused to tell Goodwin the truth of how I obtained the two copies of Blue-Eyes White Dragon. I knew Blue-Eyes White Dragon was one of the rarest cards in the anime universe, but it was a rather common card in my world that everyone could get their hands on.
Goodwin stared at me for a moment before he walked back to the desk and picked my ID up. "I had a feeling that you wouldn't cooperate with me that easily. Since Sector Security is unable to identify you, I've decided to place you under house arrest."
I blinked after I heard that. I wasn't going to be sent to the women's Facility? "Here in Sector Security, sir?"
"No. In my residence."
XXXXXXXXXX
That was certainly a unexpected turn of events. Instead of being thrown in jail, I was going to live in Goodwin's mansion. While his limousine drove us to his private island, he briefly told me that I could walk around the island, but never leave the area. Everything was going to be provided to me; food, clothes, entertainment and other stuff that I could request. Maids were going to look after me and make sure I behaved.
The limousine stopped in front of the mansion where a maid was waiting. The driver of the limousine stepped out to open the door for me. I got out of the vehicle while carrying my satchel, but I quickly realized Goodwin was still in the limousine.
"Sir?" I said, blinking.
"I have business to attend to today." Goodwin explaining, answering the question on my mind. "But I will see you this evening. Until then, take care Estelle."
The driver closed the door and walked back to the front of the vehicle before getting into it and driving off. I watched the limousine leave until it was no longer in view. I let out a soft sigh and turned to the maid who was around thirty years old. She had black hair, brown eyes and fair skin. She was wearing a maid outfit with a long skirt.
"Welcome, Ms. Estelle." The maid bowed slightly. "My name is Hilda, I'm the head maid."
"Hello." I replied softly.
Hilda raised her head up with a small smile. "I've been informed about the circumstances. My girls and I will take care of you. Your room has already been prepared, if you would like to rest and change your clothes. Please, follow me."
I was a bit nervous as I followed Hilda into the mansion. The other maids and a few butlers stared at me while the women gossiped around me. I could hear the term 'Satellite' multiple times and that was said with a poisonous tone. I had a feeling that I would be bullied in secret for a while, but that was something I just had to deal with. Maybe the staff members would realize I wasn't as bad as they first suspected and then leave me alone.
Hilda opened the door to my assigned bedroom. It was three times bigger than the one in my parent's house. It had beige walls and dark red marble flooring, as well as huge windows that provided a gorgeous view of the rose garden and the lake around Goodwin's island. There was a queen bed in the corner with a white night stand and several white wardrobes next to it. There were oak bookshelves on the other side of the room with pens and other things. There was a Victorian coffee table in the middle of the room with two couches on each side and one chair by each of the heads.
It felt a bit extravagant for someone from the Satellite who was under house arrest for trespassing into New Domino City. I wasn't ungrateful for living in a safe place, but a decent house would have been better than this castle.
XXXXXXXXXX
The first two weeks passed by quickly and before I knew it, it was July. Yusei's birthday had passed, but I hadn't been able to celebrate it with him. Goodwin rarely returned home and when he did, we would have dinner together. He did it to try and get information from me, but I kept my mouth shut. Other than that, when it came to other topics, we actually had a nice time, like father and daughter.
As I suspected initially, the maids and butlers were a bit mean, but they slowly stopped messing around when they noticed that I didn't do anything bad, like try to steal valuable items or vandalize things or generally be mean. In fact, when I started to talk to them and ask questions, or even help out in the kitchen, they started speaking to me in a respectful manner. I was glad to see they had a change of heart and some even began questioning if people from the Satellite were really as bad as the rumors said.
I mostly kept to myself in my bedroom to read books or write stuff in notebooks I was provided with. I did spend some time in the living room or garden, but I felt safest in the room. I would have tea and snacks and have a small chat with the maid that came with the afternoon tea. The clothes I wore were mainly feminine and I liked them, so I changed clothes every day to experience the feeling of wearing something nice, elegant and expensive. I knew it sounded like I was being spoiled and I was having my own fashion show, but what else could I come up with while I was under house arrest? My options for activities were very limited.
I would sometimes wander off in my mind and think about my parents in my home dimension. Was time going at the same pace in both worlds? If so, did this mean I was now a missing person in my world? Were my parents looking for me? Were they thinking I was snatched by human traffickers and sold as a slave? I wished there was some way to contact them and tell them that I was okay.
At night, I had several encounters with the Crimson Dragon in my dreams. He explained to me that I was the Chosen One to carry the Mark of the Crimson Star, meaning the Dragon Star. My duty, apparently, was to act like a mother to the Signers and be there for them when they needed someone to rely on.
I often heard that the maids, especially the younger ones, adored Jack and how he was the true champion and hero of New Domino City. Each one of them wanted to become his lover, so every time Jack came over to Goodwin's mansion, they would try to keep their composure, but a few of them would secretly sneak a note with their phone number and address into one of his pockets without him noticing. I wasn't really the type to be a fangirl, and I didn't see Jack with the same eyes as the others. I always made sure to stay out of sight whenever Jack came over, but one day I didn't have that luxury.
XXXXXXXXXX
Today, I was wearing a shirred off black shoulder top, blue-gray and black tweed-fronted shorts, white socks and black ballet flats. The black straps of my bra were visible, but it looked as if they were one with the top. I was in the living room, sitting in a armchair and reading a book that caught my eye. Katsumi, one of the maids and Jack's fangirls, stood by a corner and made sure to stay there and watch over me. I was so deep into the book that I almost dropped it when the door to the living room opened. I looked up and saw Goodwin step into the room and to my discomfort, Jack was right behind him.
"Master Goodwin." Katsumi bowed immediately to hide the blush on her face from Jack. "M-Mr. Atlas."
Goodwin nodded to the maid before he looked at me. "Estelle, I need you to do me a favor."
I put the bookmark in the book and closed it before getting up from the armchair and walking over to the men. "What kind of favor, Goodwin?"
"I want to see your skills, so will you duel Jack Atlas, the King of Games?"
Jack snorted loudly and grimaced as he glared at me. "I can't believe you've been keeping Yusei's girlfriend like a pet in your house the whole time."
"Charming." I retorted sarcastically while glaring at Jack before turning to Goodwin with a neutral expression on my face. "Why would you want me to duel Jack, sir?"
"The Fortune Cup is coming up, and Jack is constantly Turbo Dueling." Goodwin explained. "So I feel like he needs a change. Besides, it would also be a nice warm-up if he participates in a Ground Duel instead of a Turbo Duel during the finale of the Fortune Cup."
"Are you doubting my skills, Goodwin?!" Jack nearly growled aggressively at the Director.
"I never implied that, Jack. But you have to admit it's been a long time since you've had a Ground Duel."
Jack held back a growl, but collected himself with his arms crossed. "She can't be that good of a duelist. She looks more like a loser."
"Be careful with your words, Jack." I said simply before nodding to Goodwin. "It's been a while since I dueled, so it would be a nice change for me as well."
"Excellent." Goodwin nodded, his poker face still remaining on his face. "I'll have a Duel Disk prepared for you."
XXXXXXXXXX
I received a standard Duel Disk, but it's color system was crystal blue and white with sea blue gems. Blue wasn't really the color that fit me, but I could deal with the device. Goodwin led me and Jack to one of the duel fields outside of the mansion.
Something then crash landed near the duel field.
"This is gonna be interesting." A deep, metallic voice announced.
I recognized him as Iron Man, the costumed identity of Tony Stark.
I also got to meet Mina Simington for the first time. She walked behind us, but she kept trying to get close to Jack while literally burning holes in his back with her deep stare.
Jack and I stood on both sides of the field while Goodwin, Mina, Hilda and a few other staff members stood to the side to watch. Jack and I raised our arms with the Duel Disks and activated them. The Duel Disk shuffled my deck.
"Let's duel!" Jack commenced the duel, both of us drawing the top five cards of our decks. "And don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a woman!"
Turn 1: Jack
Jack: 4000 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP
I got One for One, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Arkbrave Dragon, Enemy Controller and Dragon Knight of Creation. A decent starting hand.
"The king always goes first!" Jack called. "I draw! And I start by special summoning Power Giant to the field by sending Synchro Soldier from my hand to the graveyard! While doing that, Power Giant's level is lowered by one due to Synchro Soldier's level!"
A Gundam like monster with a body comprised of gems appeared on the field, punching the air. Jack surely liked to go strong even at the beginning of a duel.
Power Giant, Level 6 - Level 5: ATK 2200
"Next, I place one card face down and end my turn! You're up, girl!" Jack finished as a face down trap card appeared on his field.
Turn 2: Estelle
"I draw!" I called as I drew my sixth card, seeing that it was Silver's Cry. "I start my turn by summoning Dragon Knight of Creation in attack mode!"
Dragon Knight of Creation jumped out of a gate and drew his sword, ready to fight.
Dragon Knight of Creation, Level 4: ATK 1800
"Next, I play the spell; One for One! I send one monster card from my hand to the graveyard to special summon a level 1 monster from my deck!" I continued as I discarded Blue-Eyes White Dragon while my Duel Disk shuffled the deck until it was done. Then I grabbed the top card and put it on the device. "And I choose the tuner monster, Supay!"
The wooden monster floated out of a gate and landed next to my first monster.
Supay, Level 1, Tuner: ATK 300
"Let me guess, a Synchro summoning?" Jack snorted.
"That's right." I nodded. "I tune Supay with Dragon Knight of Creation to synchro summon Magical Android!"
Supay turned into a tuning circle that my dragon monster jumped into before turning into a bright light. Once the light faded, Magical Android was on the field, looking ready for battle.
Magical Android, Level 5: ATK 2400
"Magical Android, take out Power Giant!" I shouted.
Magical Android raised her sword and sent a fireball at the rock monster. It looked like it would connect, but...
"I activate my trap, Prideful Roar!" Jack called as his face down card flipped up. "Now, by paying 200 life points, my Power Giant's attack increases by 200 and he gains a additional 300 attack points, making him stronger than your Magical Android!"
Jack: 4000 LP - 3800 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP
A red aura surrounded Jack showing that some of his life points were drained, but the aura was then transferred to Power Giant who moved his arms as if he was showing off his muscles.
Power Giant, Level 5: ATK 2200 - ATK 2400 - ATK 2700
The rock monster punched the fireball, causing the flames to spread out all around him before he dashed forward while balling a hand into a fist. Magical Android gasped when the Gundam like monster was in front of her. Power Giant pulled his fist back and punched her so hard she shattered into pieces.
Jack: 3800 LP
Estelle: 4000 LP - 3700 LP
Some of the maids cheered excitedly for Jack making a brilliant comeback while Goodwin and the others remained calm and silent.
"I place one card face down and end my turn." I said as I placed Enemy Controller face down while Power Giant's attack points returned to normal.
Power Giant, Level 5: ATK 2700 - ATK 2200
Turn 3: Jack
"I told you I wasn't gonna go easy on you!" Jack snorted as he drew a card. "I summon Dark Resonator!"
One of his Resonator monsters floated out of a gate and grinned mischievously.
Dark Resonator, Level 3, Tuner: ATK 1300
I knew what this meant, and judging by the fangirl maids excited cries, Jack was bringing out the big guns now.
"And with Dark Resonator, I tune him with Power Giant to synchro summon your doom!" The blonde-haired man continued.
Dark Resonator used his tuning fork and tool to produce a noise before turning into three tuning rings. Power Giant jumped into the rings before a inferno blazed on the field.
"I synchro summon Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The black and red Signer Dragon flew out of the flames and roared to the sky before landing behind Jack.
Red Dragon Archfiend, Level 8: ATK 3000
"Next, I activate Scarlet Security!" Jack continued as said spell card appeared on the field. "I can only activate this when I have Red Dragon Archfiend on the field, and with his power I can destroy all of your spell and trap cards."
Red Dragon Archfiend flew up before diving down towards my single face down and used his clenched fist to destroy it. The dirt flew around me because of the impact in front of me. I shielded my eyes from the dirt until the commotion had calmed down. When I opened my eyes, I jumped back as I was face to face with the Signer Dragon.
"Now, Red Dragon Archfiend! Obliterate her life points!" Jack commanded.
Red Dragon Archfiend flapped his wings and flew up into the air before releasing a stream of fire from his mouth. I shielded my face from the fire with my Duel Disk as I took the damage.
Jack: 3800 LP
Estelle: 3700 LP - 700 LP
Jack stood tall and emitted a aura of pride as Red Dragon Archfiend settled down behind him. "I end my turn, and I promise I'll make my next turn quick."
Jack really went for power in his duels. But I wasn't going to give up so easily.
Turn 4: Estelle
"I draw!" I called before I drew my new card, seeing that it was Vice Dragon. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell; Silver's Cry!" Said card appeared on the field. "With the power of this card, I can summon a normal monster from my graveyard!"
"But you don't have a normal monster...unless it's the one you sent to the graveyard when you played One for One!" Jack retorted.
I took Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the graveyard and slammed it on the Duel Disk. "And that monster is Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
A beam of bright blue energy shot out of a gate and flew up into the sky as it shapeshifted into Blue-Eyes White Dragon. He roared to the sky before he landed behind me.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000
Jack's eyes widened in disbelief and I could hear shocked gasps coming from the audience.
"How can you have Seto Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon?!" The blonde-haired man demanded.
I ignored Jack's question as I decided to skip the Battle Phase. If Blue-Eyes White Dragon attacked Red Dragon Archfiend, both dragons would go to the graveyard. I didn't want to lose my dragon. "I end my turn."
"Hey, don't ignore my question!" Jack yelled angrily.
"Jack!" Goodwin called out, getting our attention. "Don't lose your focus."
Turn 5: Jack
The blonde-haired male Signer held back a growl as he drew a card to commence his turn. "I play Red Dragon Vase!" The card appeared on the field before the vase on the artwork replaced it. "Because I control Red Dragon Archfiend, I can harness his power to draw two more cards, but I can't summon any monsters until the end of your next turn!"
Red Dragon Vase released a fiery aura that enveloped Jack as he drew two more cards. The vase then shattered into pieces after fulfilling it's purpose.
"I place three cards face down and end my turn!" Jack continued while three face down cards appeared on his field.
I raised a eyebrow in confusion. He chose not to attack me? Was he waiting for me to attack him or something?
"I draw." I said as I drew Paladin of Felgrand. "And I summon Paladin of Felgrand in attack mode!"
The warrior jumped out of a gate and swung his sword around before standing in front of me. Some of the maids turned their attention to Paladin of Felgrand because they thought he looked handsome and cute at the same time.
Paladin of Felgrand, Level 4: ATK 1700
"When Paladin of Felgrand is summoned, I can equip a level 7 or 8 dragon type monster from my hand or deck, so I equip him with Arkbrave Dragon from my hand!" I placed the monster card in the spell/trap card zone just as the golden dragon appeared on the field. "While Paladin of Felgrand is equipped with a card, he's unaffected by other monsters' effects." Arkbrave Dragon glowed in a golden aura that was transferred to Paladin of Felgrand who used his sword to absorb the aura.
Now I decided to go forward and let my dragon battle the Signer Dragon. "Blue-Eyes White Dragon, attack Red Dragon Archfiend! Take him to the graveyard with you!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon roared before he took off into the sky. Red Dragon Archfiend flapped his wings and flew after the sky blue dragon. My dragon charged towards the black dragon with a roar while gathering energy in his mouth as flames appeared in Red Dragon Archfiend's mouth.
"Not a chance!" Jack suddenly shouted. "I activate Nightmare Archfiends!" One of his face downs flipped up. "I sacrifice Red Dragon Archfiend to summon three Nightmare Archfiend tokens to your side of the field!"
The Signer Dragon's mouth stopped burning before he vanished, only for his remains to head over to my side of the field. The remaining energy transformed into three tokens that looked like human-sized fiends with black bodies and tails, white hair, and red eyes and mouths.
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000
I cold sweated when I remembered what kind of effect these fiends have. I would take 800 points of damage for each one destroyed. I had to get rid of them fast, but the Battle Phase was still underway.
"I don't know why you made this sacrifice, Jack, because Blue-Eyes White Dragon will now attack you directly!" I pointed out.
"Not if I activate my second trap, No Entry!" Jack responded as said trap card flipped up. "All monsters in attack mode are switched to defense mode!"
Blue-Eyes White Dragon stopped charging energy and got down on the ground before lowering his neck and moving his wings to shield his head. Paladin of Felgrand got down on one knee while still holding his sword and the skin color of the three tokens changed from black to dark blue.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Level 8: ATK 3000 - DEF 2500
Paladin of Felgrand, Level 4: ATK 1700 - DEF 300
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000 - DEF 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000 - DEF 2000
Nightmare Archfiend Token, Level 6: ATK 2000 - DEF 2000
I growled inwardly, really getting into the duel. I never expected Jack to make such a move. Besides, now that I thought about it, I don't recall him having No Entry! in any of his decks in the anime. Was this a change or something?
"I end my turn." I said, knowing that I was going to lose.
Jack snorted loudly as he drew a new card. "I told you I was going to make this duel quick, so I activate my third trap; Call of the Haunted! I can summon a monster from my graveyard to the field, so come back, my burning soul, Red Dragon Archfiend!"
The final trap card flipped up before flames emerged from it. Red Dragon Archfiend rose up from the flames and roared in joy now that he was back on the field.
Red Dragon Archfiend, Level 8: ATK 3000
"This is it." I mumbled softly.
"Get ready to face your demise, girl!" Jack yelled. "Red Dragon Archfiend, attack Paladin of Felgrand! Go, Absolute Power Force!"
The Signer Dragon balled his right hand into a fist and flew towards Paladin of Felgrand while the fist was enveloped by a fiery aura. Paladin of Felgrand had no chance as he was hit and destroyed along with Arkbrave Dragon.
"And because Red Dragon Archfiend attacked a defense position monster, the rest of your defense position monsters are destroyed!" Jack added. "And when the Nightmare Archfiend tokens are destroyed, you take 800 points of damage for each one of them!"
Red Dragon Archfiend breathed his crimson fire at Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the three tokens, destroying them at the same time. The tokens exploded at the same time creating thick smoke as I lost the last of my life points.
Jack: 3800 LP
Estelle: 700 LP - 0 LP
Jack's fangirls shrieked in joy after seeing him win with Red Dragon Archfiend. The duel field returned to normal after the Duel Disks deactivated themselves. I didn't know why, but I felt a bit disappointed with myself. I only realized this afterwards that I made some mistakes and overlooked some things.
"Such a disappointment." Jack's chilly voice spoke up, snapping me out of my thoughts, as he walked past me with his nose up in the air. "I've dueled many duelists, but you're literally the worst opponent ever. So pathetic, and you even had the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, but you couldn't control like a real master." I turned around to watch him walk when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. "In fact..." He turned around so harshly that his trench coat flew around him. "You should just hand it over to me!"
"Excuse me?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"You heard me! Hand it over right now!" Jack walked back to me while reaching for my Duel Disk.
I backed away from him, trying not to let him get my Blue-Eyes White Dragon, while trying to push him back with my right hand. "Stop it! Just because you're the King of Games, doesn't mean you can take other people's cards!"
"I can and I will!" Jack retorted as he managed to grab my Duel Disk, pulling it towards him while forcing my body to lean forward, almost making me drop down to my knees.
"Jack!" Mina called out with a worried tone.
He was then forced away from me by two blue energy blasts. Iron Man had put a quick end to Jack's attempt to take my Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
"Don't start getting grabby just because you won a duel, Atlas." He told the blonde-haired man, moving forward with arms raised to make sure he didn't get up and try that stunt again.
"Your actions just now were unacceptable!" Goodwin yelled.
"So what?! She's just some trash from the Satellite!" Jack retorted while still on the ground.
I used this opportunity to run over to Goodwin and hide behind him, knowing he wouldn't let Jack do something low in front of so many people, especially because he had some fans here. He was literally the only one that could keep the blonde-haired Signer in check.
"You should never put your hands on a woman, whether she's from New Domino City or the Satellite, Jack." Goodwin spoke with a calm voice, but I could sense the seriousness. "Besides, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon belongs to her, so don't take it from her by force."
"Well, then how can she have that card?!" Jack growled. "That's Kaiba's signature monster! Is she a Kaiba?!"
"I'm not." I spoke up, answering the question.
"Then why do you have it?!" Jack yelled aggressively.
"That's enough, Jack!" Goodwin intervened.
The blonde-haired Signer growled through gritted teeth and slowly calmed down, but his shoulders were still tense.
"Now Jack, you have a duel this evening, so go home and prepare for it." Goodwin told him. "It would look bad for your image if you don't focus all your attention on the duel. Go and clear your mind."
Jack opened his mouth to argue, but a strict glare from the Director stopped him. His irritated expression didn't fade, though, when he walked past us, each step full of anger. Mina looked a bit disoriented at first before she collected herself and bowed to Goodwin then ran after Jack who took off with his Duel Runner. She got into a car and drove after him.
Once the white Duel Runner was out of sight, I finally relaxed my shoulders and let out a huge sigh of relief. "Thanks."
"What are you thanking me for?" The Director asked.
"For helping protect me from Jack. I got really scared when I thought he would take my Blue-Eyes White Dragon from me."
"That was highly inappropriate of him. He should have known better." Goodwin replied calmly. "While I am disappointed the duel didn't last longer, I'm glad I got to see Blue-Eyes White Dragon in action."
Once he mentioned Blue-Eyes, the maids and butlers began to gossip. Some cast questioning glances, as if they were trying to figure out if I was a secret Kaiba, or how I obtained the dragon.
"I believe you are much stronger that what you showed us today." Goodwin continued as he turned to me. "Dueling is all about skill, but also a inch of luck. You simply didn't have a good hand this time." Without warning, he reached his hand up and patted my head. "So don't feel down about this loss."
This gesture came out of the blue from Goodwin, if you ask me. It was as if he was treating me like a child, but not just any child. He was treating me like I was his daughter.
Was it possible he wished to have a child of his own? If so, why did he never have a wife? I had heard from the maids that Goodwin had many female celebrity friends who went as his date to sophisticated parties, but nothing came from those dates.
A weird theory formed in my head. What if Goodwin brought me to his mansion to not only watch over me and get answers from me, but also have a opportunity to experience fatherhood. Didn't he do the same thing with Jack when the blonde-haired Signer came to New Domino City to accept the Director's offer two years ago.
This was becoming very confusing, so I dropped those thoughts and followed Goodwin back into the mansion.
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