Black Dragon Reborn!
Chapter 1: The Stranger.
In the small town of Palm City, a game of Duel Monsters is underway. Two boys faced each other. One was significantly shorter than the other, hinting that he was younger. He had blue hair with wide eyes. The other was tall, with brown hair and a menacing demeanour.

The younger one had 2000 life points, and controlled one Monster, the Beaver Warrior in defense mode,(1200/1500) while the other had 6700, and controlled a much newer monster, Mad Archfiend(1800/0). He also had a face down card.

"It's your move, Lucas!" The older boy declared.

The younger, now known as Lucas drew his card. He nervously observed his hand. "Okay...since this is a Level 6 monster, I can Tribute Beaver Warrior to summon it! Go, Wattaildragon!" A wyvernlike dragon with blue scales appeared. It's tail was curled and coated in electricity. (2500/1000) "Attack!"

The dragon attempted to ram Mad Archfiend, who began to kneel in defense as per it's effect.

"I activate my Trap Card!" The older boy said. It flipped up, revealing itself, Magic Cylinder.

"Oh no!" Lucas cried before the dragon was turned around by the Trap, attacking it's own master. He fell backwards as his cards scattered.

Lucas Stringer- Lp. 0 LOSER. Akuma- Lp. 6700 WIN!

The older boy, Akuma walked up with an evil smirk on his face. Lucas scrambled to pick up his cards and run, but was caught!

"You know the rule, pipsqueak!"

"No, please, not my deck!"

"A duelist's deck is like their soul..." Akuma said, showing his teeth. "Even one filled with common, hand-me-down trash like yours! And you know my rep around here! I'm the taker of duelist souls!"

And with that, he delivered a punch to Lucas's face.

Later, the boy was sitting on a park bench alone in the evening. He had numerous bruises and scrapes, as well as a black eye. He had stowed his Duel Disk away in his knapsack. He thought he didn't deserve to wear it.

Later, a girl and another boy with glasses came up. "Hey, Lucas...are you feeling okay?"

"Hi, Skye, Aiden...no. I lost to that jerk Akuma and he took my cards."

"That guy..." Aiden said. "Sorry. I'd like to help you out, but I just got some new booster packs yesterday. I don't think i'd stand a chance though."

"Let's go get some ice cream!" Skye said. "That'll cheer you up!"

Lucas waited a while before nodding and getting up.

The three children walked into town but there was a rather long line. It was 6:40 now, and all the street vendors shut down at 6:45.

"Aww, man!" Aiden groaned. "At this rate, they'll be closed!"

"Maybe tomorrow?" Skye asked.

Lucas frowned again. "Never mind..." He began to walk away but stopped when he heard shouting.

"Ah! Perv!" A female voice said. A very attractive older girl wearing red pants, stilletos, a yellowt-shirt and green earrings with long blond hair was talking to a young man with black hair and hazel eyes wearing a red jacket with a blue shirt and black pants. He was rubbing his cheek, indicating he'd just been slapped.

"Ow! What was that for!" He asked.

"For grabbing my butt, you creep!" She yelled before walking off in a huff.

He turned to see the three children staring. "What the heck are you looking at?" Then, he noticed Lucas's bruises, and got concerned. "What happened to you?"

"I...fell, so my friends and I were gonna get some ice cream..."

The older boy shot them a look of disbelief and walked over to the line. He tapped on the guy's shoulder.

The guy turned around. "What?" The black haired boy retrieved a Duel Monsters card from the case on his belt and showed it to him. He drew back in a fusion of awe, amazement and fear.

"Please...go right ahead..." The man said, forfeiting his place in line. The boy did this until he came back with three ice cream cones for the children.

"Wow!" Lucas said, "thanks, Mr.!" He went for one, but the guy held a finger up.

"Not until you tell me how you REALLY got those bruises. And the names Takashi."

Lucas held his head in shame...he remembered the grin. "I...I lost a duel to this jerk Akuma! He beat me up and stole my cards!"

"What!?" Takashi growled. He began to seethe in rage. He grabbed the kid's shoulders. "Show me what he looked like!"

"What?"

"I don't tolerate thievery, especially from kids! So tell me what this Akuma bastard looks like!"

Lucas was at a loss. Was a total stranger offering to help him just like this? He pondered it for a moment before taking off! "Follow me!"

Skye followed as did Takashi and Aiden.

"Hey, Takashi, can I ask you a question? What was that card you showed those people?" Aiden asked.

"That card?" Takashi asked. He smiled, winked, and gave a thumbs-up. "It's a secret!" The younger boy tripped over his feet at the reply.