Brothers

Rain woke before the others and wandered into the kitchen of the haunted-looking farmhouse. The old floorboards creaked beneath her feet as she waited for the coffee to finish brewing. Her eyes drifted toward the metal table beside the worn wooden kitchen table. A large map lay spread across its surface.

Curious, Rain walked over. The magical keychain hanging from her belt suddenly began to glow with a soft golden light.

She closed her eyes.

One by one, strange symbols appeared across the map in her mind. They shimmered and shifted until they formed a trail. Rain slowly traced the invisible path with her fingertip, finally stopping at a single point.

"That's it," she whispered as she opened her eyes. "I know where the magic card Nyxara is located."

Just then, Jayden shuffled into the kitchen wearing a pink robe, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Coffee's almost ready," Rain said, deciding to wait until everyone had gathered before sharing the news.

One by one, the rest of the group wandered into the kitchen, drawn by the smell of fresh coffee. Rain poured everyone a cup before speaking.

"I know where the magic card Nyxara is."

Hailey's tired eyes immediately brightened. "Where is it?"

"It's on Stineridge Mountain," Rain replied. "Two Collectors named Rhythm and Rhyme have the card."

Boze groaned and shook his head. "Just great. More of those creeps."

Hailey looked around the room before turning to Rain and Emma.

"Rain found the location, and Emma has already dueled a Collector before," she said. "I think the two of you should be the ones to retrieve Nyxara."

Emma nodded slowly, gripping her coffee mug.

"Then we'd better be ready," she said. "If Riddle and Rhyme are anything like the last Collector I faced, they're not going to give up that card without a fight."

The room fell silent for a moment. Everyone knew what that meant.

Rain and Emma followed the winding trail up Stineridge Mountain. The higher they climbed, the colder the air became, and a thick mist drifted between the trees.

As they rounded a massive boulder, two identical brothers stepped into their path, each wearing a sly grin.

"I am Riddle," said the brother on the left, gesturing toward the other. "And this is Rhyme."

The second brother smirked.

"Or am I Riddle and he's Rhyme?" he asked with a chuckle.

The first brother laughed. "Even we forget sometimes."

Rain narrowed her eyes. "You're the Collectors."

The twins bowed dramatically

"We have the card you seek," said Riddle.

"If you wish to claim it," Rhyme continued, "you must first defeat us in a Shadow Game."

"And afterward," Riddle added with a grin, "you must solve a riddle that can only be answered with a rhyme."

Emma groaned loudly.

"This is worse than a freaking Dr. Seuss Book."

The brothers laughed together, clearly pleased by her reaction.

Rain leaned closer to Emma without taking her eyes off the twins.

"Be careful," she whispered. "I don't trust these two."

Before Emma could answer, the crystal on her necklace began to glow with brilliant blue light. At the same moment, the magical keychain in Rain's pocket shined with a warm golden glow.

The magic surrounded them in swirling ribbons of light. When it faded, Rain and Emma had transformed into teenagers.

Riddle smiled.

"Excellent."

Rhyme's grin widened.

"Now the Shadow Game can begin.”

I'll take the first turn!" Riddle declared.

He summoned Jester of Confusion (1700 ATK) and set two cards face down.

"My turn!" Emma said.

She drew a card and smiled.

"I summon Blazing Valkyrie in Attack Position!"

Her fiery warrior appeared with blazing wings.

Blazing Valkyrie – 1800 ATK

"Blazing Valkyrie, attack Jester of Confusion!"

The two monsters clashed, shattering Riddle's monster.

"I end my turn."

Rhyme laughed.

"Our turn is poetry in motion!"

He summoned Verse Dragon (2400 ATK).

"Verse Dragon, destroy Blazing Valkyrie!"

The dragon's sonic roar destroyed Emma's monster.

Rain & Emma: 3400 LP

Rain smiled confidently.

"My turn!"

She drew.

"I activate the Spell Card Nature's Blessing, allowing me to Special Summon one Nature monster from my hand!"

A pillar of emerald light burst from the ground.

"I summon Forest Guardian Dryad!”

Forest Guardian Dryad – 2500 ATK

"When Dryad is Special Summoned, all allied monsters gain 300 attack."

"I also summon Sylvan Wolf Cub!"

Sylvan Wolf Cub – 1300 ATK → 1600 ATK

"Forest Guardian Dryad, attack Verse Dragon!"

The forest spirit swung her glowing staff, smashing the dragon into fragments.

Riddle & Rhyme: 3800 LP

"Sylvan Wolf Cub, attack directly!"

The wolf leaped forward.

Riddle & Rhyme: 2200 LP

Riddle grinned.

"You may have won a verse..."

"...but can you finish the poem?" Rhyme added.

The twins revealed their Trap Card.

"Mirror of Misfortune!"

Dark reflections struck both of Rain's monsters, destroying them.

"My turn!" Riddle said.

He summoned Puzzle Golem (2600 ATK).

"Attack directly!"

The massive stone creature slammed its fists into the ground.

Rain & Emma: 2400 LP

Emma looked at Rain.

"I've got this."

She drew her next card.

"I activate Fusion Melody!"

A vortex of fire and light surrounded the field.

"I fuse Blazing Valkyrie with Celestial Knight!"

The two monsters merged into a brilliant warrior.

"Come forth...

Solar Phoenix Paladin!"

Solar Phoenix Paladin – 3200 ATK

"When Solar Phoenix Paladin is Fusion Summoned, it destroys one monster on the field.”

A beam of golden fire vaporized Puzzle Golem.

"Now attack Riddle directly!"

The blazing warrior soared through the air and struck both brothers.

Riddle & Rhyme: 1600 LP

Rain drew her final card.

"This duel ends now."

She held the card high.

"I summon Ancient Spirit of the Grove!”

A gigantic guardian made of vines, stone, and glowing crystal emerged.

Ancient Spirit of the Grove – 2800 ATK

"When this monster is summoned while another Nature monster was destroyed this turn, it can attack twice."

"Ancient Spirit of the Grove...attack!"

The guardian released a wave of emerald energy that struck the twins.

Riddle & Rhyme: 0 LP

Riddle sighed dramatically.

"Defeated..."

"...without missing a beat," Rhyme finished.

Now that you have defeated us," said Rhyme, "you must answer the riddle that can only be solved with a rhyme."

Rain had enough of the brothers' nonsense.

"I already know the answer," she said, closing her eyes.

The key chain in her pocket began to glow. The Nyxara Magic Card the brothers had secretly buried rose from the ground and floated gently into Emma's hands.

Rain opened her eyes.

Riddle and Rhyme exchanged nervous glances. They immediately realized Rain had uncovered the trick they had planned from the beginning.

"That's not all," Rain said.

She closed her eyes once more. The key chain glowed even brighter as two more Nyxara cards floated out of the brothers' pockets and into her hand.

Rain crossed her arms, holding the counterfeit cards in her right hand.

"Do you care to explain?"

The brothers stood speechless.

You knew this was a rare and valuable card," Rain continued. "To make sure it stayed in your collection, you buried the real one and made counterfeit copies. Anyone who solved your riddle would receive a fake while you secretly kept the original."

Emma folded her arms.

"You cheated," she said. "And I think you owe us something else, too."

The brothers remained frozen. They knew there was no escaping the truth. Reluctantly, they prepared to hand over their rarest magic cards.

Before they could, a calm voice interrupted.

"Stop right there."

A stranger with snow-white hair stepped forward, dressed in a crimson suit with matching white boots. Standing silently behind him was a towering bodyguard wearing a black suit and dark sunglasses. Set into the stranger's forehead was a single golden eye that suddenly began to glow.

The brothers' magic cards burst from their pockets and flew through the air, gathering neatly into the stranger's waiting hand.

Crochet," the stranger said, "take these scoundrels away. Far away."

Without a word, the bodyguard lifted both brothers by their shoulders and carried them off as they protested in the distance.

The stranger turned toward Rain, placed the two decks of confiscated magic cards into her hands, and quietly walked away without another word.

Emma watched him disappear.

"Who... was that?" she asked.

Rain simply shook her head.

Later that evening, Rain sat at the wooden kitchen table, carefully sorting through the cards the stranger had given her.

Emma entered the kitchen and sat beside her.

"Any idea who that stranger was?" Emma asked.

Rain looked over another beautifully illustrated card before setting it on the table.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "But these are incredible. There are a lot of rare magic cards in these decks."

Emma picked one up and studied its artwork.

"Whoever he is," she said, "he sure left us one amazing mystery.”