3rd Person POV

It'd been a few hours since Crowler's loss to Camula.  And everyone was more than a bit on edge.  And out of everyone, Jaden was itching for some action the most.  But, they all knew he was in no shape for another Shadow Game.  He couldn't even win against a bedsheet, as demonstrated by Chazz. 

They all debated who should duel Camula, next.  Alexis suggested they all work together.  It was a solid idea.  But Zane had other plans.  Y/n & Syrus went after him.  "Hey, Zane!  Hold on, man!" Y/n called out.  "Big bro!  Didn't we just decide to work together?  Where are you going?  What gives?" Syrus questioned, receiving a slight smile from Zane.  "If all that matters is protecting those keys and rescuing Crowler, you know where I'm going." he told them, as he walked away.  But little did they know, they were being watched.

Elsewhere

Camula was in her castle, watching through the eyes of her bats from her bath tub.  "One of the men I crave is coming." she said, blowing away some suds.  "And I'm ready." she continued.

Meanwhile

Chazz was in his room, arranging his deck.  Then, his little, yellow "friend" popped in.  "Hey. Long time, boss.  How's things?" Ojama Yellow asked, shaking his butt in his "boss's" face.  So, he swatted the little weirdo into his plasma screen TV. 

"They 'were' fine.  Until, you showed up." Chazz told him.  "Oh.  And now, things are great, right?  Thanks, boss.  You always know how to make me feel good." Ojama Yellow said, not knowing he was being insulted.  "So, what're you doing?  Arranging your deck?  Can I help?" he offered.  But, Chazz gave a response in the form of another slap.  But, Yellow ended up landing on the Crowler doll. 

'Hey!  Fragile, here!' it said.  Ojama Yellow heard that and decided to inspect the doll.  'What are you doing?  Stop!' the doll protested.  He touched the sides a bit, which seemed to tickle.  'Hehehehe.  No, stop it!  Stop!' the doll pleaded.  Then, Yellow realized...  "Boss.  This doll's alive." he informed Chazz.  So, he got off his bed and picked up the Crowler doll. 

'Would you mind easing up on the grip, a tad!?  You're wrinkling my coat!' it complained.  "Oh, yeah.  That's Dr. Crowler, alright." Chazz stated.  Then, he and Ojama Yellow sensed something was amiss.  And they saw it outside his window.  Camula's bats.  "It's starting, again!" Chazz said, before sprinting off.

And it wasn't just him.  The others saw those bats, too.  "She's back." Banner said. 

Bastion just ran off from his dorm room, and headed for the castle.  And the others had the same idea. 

"RUN!!" Jaden yelled.  "Aww, running?" Chumley complained.  "Actually, piggybacking." Syrus corrected, as the camera showed Jaden on Chumley's back.  "Whatever it is, let's get a move on.  Because, I have a feeling.. that vampire is about to bite, again." Alexis told them.

Soon

Zane had arrived at Camula's castle, and the rest of the gang soon followed.  "Explain to me, again, why were going 'to' this place?  Instead of running away from it?  Or, walking away?" Chumley questioned.  "'Cause, we need to beat the vampire lady to get Crowler's soul back.  That's why." Y/n told him.  The castle gate opened up for them.  They entered.  "Aww, now we gotta do stairs?" Chumley complained.  They ascended to the next floor.  "Can't I just drag Jaden, instead of carrying him?  It'd be easier on my back." Chumley complained more.  "Quit your whining, Chumley.  We're almost there." Y/n told him.

And shortly, they'd arrived.  At the top floor of the castle.  Where the vampiric duelist was waiting for them.  "Ah. Right on time." she greeted them.  "Looking for me?" she asked, jokingly.  "Like what you've done with the place.  Let me guess.  You're trying to make the cover of Spooky Decorator Monthly.  Right, Camula?" Y/n quipped, "Funny.  So, what brings you all here?" she inquired. 

"We want Crowler back!" Jaden told her.  "Got that right.  So, hand him over!" Chazz ordered, "Yes.  Or else." Bastion threatened.  "I have no interest in little school boys." Camula said, casually.  "She must mean 'you'." Bastion said to Chazz.  "No. She means 'you'!" he said back.  

"Are you ready, darling?" she asked Zane.  "Let's duel." he answered.  "Let us review.  If you win, you'll get Crowler's soul back and I'll be on my way.  But if I win, I get your soul, your Spirit Key..  and I get to continue my quest to unleash the 3 Sacred Beasts." Camula explained her conditions.

The duelists activated their Duel Disks and drew their 5 cards.  "DUEL!" they said, in unison.

Zane LP: 4000         Camula LP: 4000

"I like to lead." Camula said, lowly, drawing her card.  "I summon Vampire Lady, in defense mode."  (Vampire Lady DEF: 1550)  "And I'll lay one card face down.  That's all." she said, ending her turn. 

"Really?  Shame." Zane said, drawing his card.  "Because, it won't be enough to protect you from what 'I' have planned." he continued, showing the card he just drew; Power Bond.  Much to the gang's surprise.  "Playing Power Bond?" Camula questioned.  "It allows me to fuse Machine-type Monsters.  And I have the perfect 3 in mind; my Cyber Dragons!  Now unite!  And form the almighty Cyber End Dragon!" Zane commanded.  And, the 3 mechanical beasts fused into his ultimate monster.  (Cyber End Dragon ATK: 4000)  "Zane summoned his most powerful monster on his very first turn." Alexis said,  'Wow.  That's not like Zane.  He usually deals out an opponent 'before' throwing Power Bond.  It's almost like he's using it, instead of playing it.  I hope he knows what he's doing.' Syrus thought to himself, questioning his brother's methods.

"My, I like your aggressiveness.  But, Power Bond has it's risks.  Are you certain you can handle all the consequences?" Camula asked Zane.  "She's right.  At the turn's end, he'll take damage equal to Cyber's original Attack Points.  And, that adds up to 4000 big ones." Chumley pointed out.  "Well, I'm not too worried.  I know Zane, and he always has a backup plan.  Besides, I'm sure he was willing to take the risk, anyway.  Because now, Power Bond doubles Cyber End Dragon's Attack Points." Y/n said.  (Cyber End Dragon ATK: 4000 > 8000)  "8000 Points!?" Camula questioned, "I don't think I'll have to worry about consequences, after this turn.  Now, attack Vampire Lady.  Super Strident Blaze!" Zane commanded his dragon to attack Camula's vampire. But, she was ready for that. 

"Forgetting my face down?  I play the Trap; Red Ghost Moon!  Now, darling.  By discarding 1 Zombie in my hand to the Graveyard, your monster's Attack Points are added directly to my Life Points.  And our little battle ends, right here and now." Camula explained.  So, her Trap Card stopped Zane's attack, before it hit.  "Ha ha ha!  That's 8000 Points.  Plus, the 4000 I have.  Giving me a total of 12000." she boasted.

But, like Y/n said, Zane had a backup plan. "Wrong.  I play the Spell Card; De-Fusion.  Disassembling Cyber End Dragon.  And leaving you..." he started explaining.  "With absolutely nothing.  Red Ghost Moon's target is gone, so it's effect is cancelled." Bastion finished Zane's explanation.  "MY POINTS!!" Camula exclaimed.  And Cyber End Dragon split back into 3 separate Cyber Dragons.  

"And you know what else?  Now that Power Bond is gone..." Syrus started.  "He won't have to pay points for using it." Chumley finished.  "Told you guys he had a backup plan." Y/n said, proudly.  "Now, that's playing a card.  Huh, Sy?" Jaden asked his little, turquoise-haired friend.  "Uh, yeah." he responded.  "I'll end with one face down." Zane said, concluding his turn.  

"Hahahahaha.  Oh, my darling.  I see, now, why you're ranked the top duelist at Duel Academy." Camula said to Zane.  "Actually..  you haven't seen anything, yet." he told her.  "Well, I hope not.  Zane dear.  Precious.  We've only just begun this duel.  And I expect to have a lot more fun with you." she said, flirtatiously.  "Oh, man.  I don't think I'm gonna like her kind of fun." Syrus said, worriedly.

It was now Camula's turn.  "Now then.  Shall we?" she said, drawing her card.  "First, I'll sacrifice Vampire Lady..  to summon Vampire Lord!"  (Vampire Lord ATK: 2000)  "Next, I'll sacrifice 'him'.. to summon... Vampire Genesis!" she declared, trading one powerful creature of the night for another.  (Vampire Genesis ATK: 3000)  "Ugly." Chazz commented.  "Scary." Syrus commented. 

"Darling Zane.  I promised you some fun, didn't I?  And now, we'll have it.  Are you excited?" Camula inquired, expecting a 'yes' or something from Zane.  But, he said nothing. (As usual.) 

'If she's expecting Zane to drum up some excitement.  Cammy's singing the wrong tune.' Y/n thought to himself.  "Ugh.  You're such a bore.  Well, maybe 'this' will rouse you!  Vampire Genesis, attack!" she commanded. 

"As fun as this is, I'm afraid I'm going to have to interrupt it.. with my face down card.  The Trap; Attack Reflector Unit!" Zane declared, activating his face down.  "A Trap?" Camula questioned.  Then, it began to take effect. "One that's evolutionary.  You see, Attack Reflector Unit evolves my Cyber Dragon into... The Cyber Barrier Dragon!"  (Cyber Barrier Dragon ATK: 800)  

"And, when the Cyber Barrier Dragon is in Attack Mode.. once per turn, it's special power allows me to negate the attack of 'your' monster!  So, your Vampire Genesis' attack can go right back to where it started!" Zane declared.  And like he said, Vampire Genesis' attack was shut down by his Barrier Dragon.  "How dare you!?" she questioned, angrily.  "Your bro's got game.  No wonder he beat me.  Though, it 'was' close." Jaden said to Syrus.  "Yeah." he said, in agreement.

Zane was up. "It's my turn, now.  And I play Pot of Greed.  This lets me draw 2 cards from my deck.  Next, I activate.. the Spell; Photon Generator Unit!  Now, by sacrificing my dragons, I can summon the Cyber Laser Dragon!"  (Cyber Laser Dragon ATK: 2400)  "And with Cyber Laser Dragon.. once every turn, I can destroy one monster who has equal or more Attack or Defense Points than Laser Dragon's Attack Points!" Zane explained.  "I bet you talk to all the girls, like that." Camula said, dryly.  "No.  Just ones I really don't like.  Now, Laser Dragon!  Let loose Blue Lightning Lash!" Zane commanded.  And his dragon reduced Vampire Genesis to dust. 

"Now, go ahead and attack her, directly!  Blue Lightning Blast!" he ordered, prompting Laser Dragon to blast Cammy's Life Points.  Camula LP: 4000 > 1600  But he wasn't done with her, yet.  "Oh.  And, don't think I forgot about Cyber Barrier Dragon.  Attack!  Sonic Shriek!" he commanded.  And Cyber Barrier Dragon hit Camula with a powerful shriek.  Camula LP: 1600 > 800  "Alright!~" Syrus cheered.  "That's exactly the move 'I' woulda made." Chumley boasted falsely.  "Yeah, right." Y/n deadpanned.  

"Now, you can see why my brother's never lost.  Huh, guys?  Still.  Mom says I got the looks." Syrus said.  But, everyone just went "Uuuuuuhhhhh."   "I'll place one face down and..  end my turn." Zane said.

It was Camula's turn.  Zane's last attack on her was so devastating, she was struggling to stand up.  "Darling.  You do realize you're forcing me to reveal my ugly side." she told him.  And, it was true.  Cammy had revealed her "monster face".  "You see?  And, it's only going to get uglier.  I play..  Illusion Gate!" she said, playing a strange, new Spell Card. 

"Illusion Gate?" Zane wondered.  "Uh oh.  I've never heard of it.  You guys know what it does?" Jaden inquired.  "No." Bastion replied.  "Not me." Chazz answered.  "I think, we're about to find out." Banner stated, "And I have a feeling.. we're not gonna like it." Y/n said. 

"Behold!  First, this Spell Card destroys all monsters on your field!" Camula informed Zane, as his Cyber Barrier & Laser Dragons were destroyed.  "But, that's not all.  It has twin functions." she laughed, as a double of herself appeared.  "You see.. this card also allows me to summon any monster you've used, during this entire duel." she informed him further.  

"What?" he asked.  "So, even though you defused Cyber End Dragon after only one turn, you did use him during this duel." she stated.  "Oh, please.  No card is powerful enough to let you make a move like that.  There must be some kind of catch." Zane deduced. 

"Yes.  But, it's just a tiny one.  After using Illusion Gate, should I still happen to lose this duel, I must sacrifice..  a soul to the Sacred Beasts." Camula informed everyone.  "That all?" Bastion questioned.  "Well, good.  It's what you get for taking Crowler's!" Chazz told her.  "Beg your pardon?  I said A soul, not 'my' soul.  You see, in the shadows, it's all the same to the Sacred Beasts..  Syrus.  Oh, yes.  Those Beasts will find your soul to be a tasty treat, I'm sure." Camula said, openly stating who the sacrificial lamb would be. 

"SYRUS! RUN!!" Zane told his little brother.  "Oh, no, you don't." Camula said, sending her double to grab Syrus.  But Y/n pushed the little guy out of the way.  So the Cammy-clone ended up grabbing him, instead.  She gave him a little bite on the neck.  "Y/n!" Chazz cried.  The others tried to get Y/n out of the Cammy-clone's clutches, but they were too slow to catch her.  She flew back to the dueling platform.  "Y/n, no!  Please!  Take me, instead!" Syrus pleaded.

"Oh, Y/n dear, I really wish you hadn't gotten in the way.  I was hoping to duel you next, and add your soul to my collection.  No matter, though.  I'm sure The Sacred Beasts will enjoy it, even more." Camula told him.  "Well, better 'mine' than Sy's.  Right, Zane?" Y/n said, weakly to his best friend.  "Y/n." Zane said.  "HAHA!  AND NOW!  I SUMMON THE ALMIGHTY CYBER END DRAGON!!" Camula declared, bringing out Zane's ace monster to use against him. 

But, something strange occurred.  It seemed Y/n had begun, literally, connecting with the Cyber End Dragon, somehow.  "Whatever will you do?  Have your best 'monster', and your best 'friend'.  Actually, I suppose they're really one and the same, now.  After all, if you manage to do in the Cyber End Dragon, you'll also be doing in dear Y/n's soul.  So, as I said..  Whatever will you do?" Camula stated, explaining to Zane the tough decision he would have to make;  

Win the duel.  And in doing so, lose his best friend.  Or, Surrender.  Saving Y/n's soul, but giving up his own. 

'The face down card on my field is Call of the Haunted.  If I use it to resurrect Cyber Barrier Dragon, I can stop that Cyber End Dragon and win the duel.  Camula will be defeated.  We'll be that much closer to keeping the world safe from those Sacred Beasts.  And in exchange, we just lose one soul; my best friend's.  The choice is clear.' Zane thought to himself, contemplating the situation.

"So.  What's it going to be?  Save the world?  Or, save your friend's soul?  Which also means losing yours." Camula said, bringing up Zane's quandary, again. 

So, Y/n tried to make it easier.  "Do it, man.  Never mind me.  Just win this." he said, bringing a surprised look to Zane's face.  "My soul's a small price to pay.. to stop Camula.  After all, if she beats you.. you'll lose your soul AND Spirit Key.  And the Shadow Riders will be one step closer to freeing those Sacred Beasts." Y/n continued.  "But, Y/n.  What about 'your' key?" Zane questioned. 

"I'll just give it to someone else.  Like, Professor Banner.  Besides.  You've always had my back.  Even when we were kids.  From when I lost my parents.  To the days we trained together.  To my time in Ra Yellow.  Even to my last Promotion Exam.  So, it's 'my' turn to help 'you', now.  And it's not like anyone else around here would miss me.  Only reason anyone else at this school respects, or even acknowledges me, is 'cause we're so tight.  We may both be Obelisks.  But, you're 10 times the duelist I am." Y/n told his bff, solemnly. 

"You're wrong, Y/n.  It's true.  I may have vouched for you, a little.  But you earned everyone's respect.  You're a great duelist, Y/n.  And a great friend.  The best." Zane said, sincerely.  "Zane." Y/n said, with a smile.  "Goodbye, buddy.  I'll always believe in you." Zane said, disappearing from the mindscape the 2 of them were in.

Zane had made his choice.  "I stand down." he said.  "WHAT!?  ZANE, NO!" Y/n exclaimed.  "So be it.  CYBER END DRAGON, DESTROY HIM!!" Camula commanded.  And so, the Cyber End Dragon blasted it's former master.  "ZANE!!!" Y/n & Syrus cried out. 

And with that, the big man on campus' Spirit Key disappeared.  Along with all his Life Points.  Zane LP: 4000 > 0  Then, everything else from the duel vanished.  Zane had collapsed to his knees. "Big brother!" Syrus cried. 

But, it was too late.  Zane's soul now belonged to Camula.  And, like with Crowler's, she placed it into one of her dolls.  "At last, darling, you're all mine.  A tad smaller.  And a smidge less talkative.  But a darling trophy, nonetheless." she said to the Zane doll.  "And, Y/n dear?  You're next.~" Camula said, as she kneeled down and cupped Y/n's chin.  Then, the vampire mistress vanished with a wicked chuckle.

Outside the Castle

Everyone could not believe what just happened.  Zane Truesdale, Duel Academy's top student duelist, was defeated.  And, turned into a doll.  "Just like that.  He's gone." Syrus said, tearfully.  Jaden was furious.  "That's it.  You hear me!?  NO MORE, CAMULA!  I'm through with you messing with my friends!  GOT THAT?!!  WHAT YOU DID TO CROWLER!  TO ZANE!!  It stops here!  And I'm gonna be the one who stops it!" he declared, setting off some echoes on at the louder parts. 

"No, Jaden.  Camula's mine, got it?" Y/n told him, in a serious tone.  "But, Y/n." Jaden protested.  "This is personal.  It was bad enough when Camula took Crowler's soul.  But, when she took Zane's, and used me as a shield to do it, she crossed the line.  And besides...  it's me she wants.  So, I'm gonna be the one to take her down." Y/n told him.  'About time.' the Crowler doll commented.  "Ugh.  Fine.  I'll sit 'this' duel out, too.  Just don't lose, okay?" Jaden told Y/n.  "I won't.  So, keep the light on, Camula!  'CAUSE, I'M COMING FOR YA!!!" Y/n bellowed.

Inside the Castle

Camula, laying on her bed, shoes removed and Zane doll in hand, watched Y/n challenge her through the eyes of one of her bats.  "And I'll be waiting, my darling Y/n.~" she said, following up with a sinister chuckle.

She'd better be ready.  'Cause now, it was war.

To Be Continued