Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

Note: Some of the cards used in this story could be made up, or a real card.

Note 2: I'm going to say that Alexis is a second year at Duelist Academy on the TV show.

Time: Alexis – Year Three, Jaden – Year Two, Chazz – Year Two, Zane – Year Four, Bastion – Year Two, Atticus – ?Fourth Year?

Summary: It's been a year since they became official Key Holders. The war against the Shadow Riders is still going on, but it's a new school year, meaning new students…

Chillin' Out With the Crew in the School Yard

Fightin' Trouble

Never Workin' Too Hard

We're Back at Class

They Never Taught Us This

Some things You Gotta Let Hit This

Tough Times

Hard Climbs

We'll Take 'Em on Together

Right Now

Let's GO

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Generation X

Game On!

Get'cha Game On!

Come on Now

Battle

Play Your Cards Right

Game On

Get'cha Game On

We'll Make the Grade and Win this Fight

We'll Make the Grades Some How

YEAH!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

Game On

Get'cha Game On

Come on Y'all

Battle

Play Your Cards Right

Come On and Get'cha Game On!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX

The Bird That Can't Soar

Chapter One

New Students

"Alright!" Jaden shouted, stretching leisurely. "Today's supposed to be the final examination day, right?"

"Yeah," Syrus answered.

"That means there'll be more students coming to Duel Academy." Alexis stated.

"Which means there'll be more students to watch out for." Atticus stated.

Their group of friends watched as many new students walked into the test room. There were so many of them! There were too many to count!

"Looks like there'll be a lot of them this year," Zane stated

"That is if they all pass," Bastion said.


"Alright, settle down now," Dr. Crowler shouted. "Now, Ekaterina Akilina, you'll be testing in Test Area Four." (Ee-ca-ter-ee-nuh Ah-kill-ih-nuh)

A girl around the age of fourteen nodded. She walked towards the test area she was assigned to, her shortish long hair flying behind her slightly. Her gold brown eyes were bright and piercing, like an Eagle's, as she entered the test area.

The tester addressed her, and told her his name, and the duel began.

Ekaterina smiled harmoniously as she drew a card, "For my first turn, I'll place a face down card. Next, I'll summon Harmony Tiger to the field in defense mode!"

Harmony Tiger was a large, white Bengal Tiger, with a peaceful look in her eyes; she sat, quietly awaiting. Atk: 2400/ Def: 1100

"That defensive position won't do you much good, at least not with this Duel Monster. I summon Software Child in Attack Mode!"

A little boy holding a laptop appeared on the field. Atk: 1400/ Def: 1000

"Now, my Software Child, attack Harmony Tiger!" The proctor shouted.

Software Child typed some buttons on his laptop and a blue beam shot from it.

Just before it hit, Ekaterina yelled, "I activate Harmony Tiger's first special ability!"

Software Child's beam disappeared in a flash of lights.

"What?" The proctor asked

Software Child began to sway and soon fell, asleep.

"Harmony Tiger's first special ability is when attacked in Defense Mode, the attack is automatically reduced to zero, and all your Monsters fall harmoniously to sleep for four turns. If you summon a Monster, it will automatically be placed in Attack Mode as well."

"What does that mean?"

"It means your Monsters can't attack me for four turns. And, if you summon your creatures, they can't attack me, and I can attack them. Ready? Since it's my turn, I'll switch Harmony Tiger into Attack Mode. Harmony Tiger, attack! Silent Strike!"

Harmony Tiger suddenly stood, tail lashing, the peaceful look in her eyes gone. She pounced onto Software Child, in which promptly broke into pieces.

"Err…" The proctor faltered slightly as he was hit with a minor sting.

Proctor's Life Points: 3000

Ekaterina's Life Points: 4000

"And, I end my turn." Ekaterina said with a giggle.

"Alright then," The proctor drew.


"Hey, look over there," Jaden suggested. He pointed to Ekaterina's Duel. "She's got her Game On."

"Yeah," Syrus agreed.

"Hey, guys!" Chumley shouted, running up to them. "You should see what's going on in Test Area One!"

"What is going on?" Alexis asked.

"This girl named Astrea Eurayle just beat one of the best proctors they have for the Battle part of the Duel Academy Exams!" (A-stree-uh Your-ayl)

"Really?" Bastion asked.

"Yeah, and she just started like fifteen minutes ago, too!"

"That's really quick!" Jaden commented.

"Yeah, it's awesome, too!" Chumley said.


"Now, I sacrifice Harmony Tiger to summon Peace Dragon!" Ekaterina shouted. Peace Dragon was a large, purple female Dragon. Atk: 2400/ Def: 1400

Proctor's LP: 3000

Ekaterina's LP: 2000

"But, when sacrificed, Harmony Tiger's second special ability activates, letting me Special Summon another Harmony Tiger from my deck to the field, in Attack Mode."

The proctor had used a special magic card to take out 2000 of Ekaterina's life points.

"You should've placed a Monster on the field," Ekaterina stated. "You might not have suffered so much damage! Harmony Tiger, Silent Strike!"

Again, the Harmony Tiger stood and pounced at the proctor. He faltered as the tiger struck him.

Proctor's LP: 600

Ekaterina's LP: 2000

"Now, Peace Dragon, Harmony Blast!" A light purple beam shot from the large Dragon's mouth; inside the beam seemed to be bunnies and butterflies. They flew to the proctor and promptly struck him.

The proctor clutched his chest as a sting came to him as he lost the last of his life points.

"Good job, Miss Eurayle," The proctor stated. "You pass."

"Cool!" Ekaterina said.

"Hey, Ekaterina!" Jaden shouted to her. Her golden-brown eagle like eyes looked up to him. "Great job! You were awesome!"

"Thanks!" Ekaterina yelled up to him, waving.


"Well, that's the last of them," Prof. Banner commented.

"We have an excellent crop this year," Dr. Crowler commented.

"Yes, we do!" The Chancellor agreed. "Now, we should probably post up the people who have passed, and their classifications."


"Hey, Ekaterina!" Jaden ran up to her, "Great duel!"

Ekaterina smiled.

"Jaden, they've posted the scores up!" Syrus told them.

"Well, I guess I should get going," Ekaterina stated. "I wonder which dorm I've been entered into."

"We'll come with you!" Jaden said.

Jaden, Syrus, Ekaterina, and Alexis walked to the board and read for Ekaterina's name.

"They put you in Slyfer?" Jaden shouted.

"Cool," Ekaterina answered. "Hey, that's the same classification you were put in too, right? You are wearing the Slyfer Red uniform, after all."

"Yeah, but with the duel you had, you should be put into Obelisk Blue!" Jaden commented.

"Oh, it's fine." Ekaterina smiled, "I think I should probably go get my uniform; I'll see you three later!"

Alexis scanned the board, "Hey, that girl who Chumley told us about, she's a Ra!"

"Really?"


Zane walked onto the deck of the lighthouse he usually went to for thinking. He noticed that someone else was there, though he couldn't see who. He looked at the person closely: Yellow…Must be a Ra. High cut skirt, must be a girl. Zane inspected her more closely and noticed that she was very pretty.

The planet Venus suddenly rose up beside the girl, illuminating her beautiful figure. She had long, black hair with red tips. Her graceful red-brown eyes were tilted upwards towards the gorgeous night sky that was filled with many sparkling stars.

Zane watched her, a grin on his face; a new reaction for him. He stopped, and looked off towards the sea. However, he could not help but think about the girl on the other side of the lighthouse. Not only was she pretty, but she also looked familiar to him. But where had he seen her before? Usually these things came quite easily to him…

"Wait," Zane whispered to himself. He glanced at the girl one more time and then remembered who she was easily! "You're Lati Terentia, right?" He asked her. (Lah-tee Ter-ehn-tee-uh)

Lati turned to him and smiled. She walked towards him, saying, "I didn't think the best student of Duel Academy would notice a Ra like me."

"I heard you were one of the best." Zane commented

"So, you have heard something about me," Lati said.

"Yeah," Zane answered, "I don't usually see you here."

"I usually come earlier, to see the sun set." Lati stated. "But, what with the new students, I came later than usual."

"I see,"

"I didn't think that an Obelisk of your status would talk to a Ra."

"Not all Obelisk are like that," Zane stated "Just the arrogant ones."

"I see," Lati said with a smile

Lati and Zane talked some more before parting to their separate dorms…


New students, a new year! There'll be a lot more excitement, but what will happen next? What will the Key Holders do? Will the Shadow Riders win? Or lose?
Next time, On The Bird That Can't Soar

Chazz meets a surprising girl in her Third Year at Duel Academy. Questions fly, and Chazz wonders about this girl. Zane and his new friend Lati begin to talk about the Shadow Riders, and the crisis of the Sacred Beasts awakening; but Zane isn't sure, if this is a subject he should discuss with another student…