To fans of my other series: Fair warning now that this might not be for you. This is pretty hardcore yugioh nerdom.

This is just something that came to me out of nowhere, and I figured I might as well get it down on paper. I might continue it, I might not. Probably will, but you never know.

And I will plead the fifth on what parts of this might be based on reality. But anything that is, I've changed names and certain details anyway.

I sighed aloud, wondering what I was really doing.

I don't even know how many of these decks I've built on here now.

The "here" was Dueling Network, and the decks were for the Yugioh trading card game.

"This is your entire fault Jack." I muttered. "I'm a bloody junior in highschool now, and you got me back into this kid's game."

I knew that it wasn't really a kid's game, but I'd mostly considered it such. I subconsciously grouped the adults who played it into the same group as a lot of games: nerds.

Jack was several years younger than me, still in middle school, but our dads worked together and we'd known each other for as long as we could remember.

A few months back we'd been hanging out, and he asked me if I'd ever played Yugioh.

I shrugged. "Kinda. When I was younger I did, but I don't even know what happened to my cards."

He proceeded to run and grab his cards, several decks of them, showing them to me proudly. "You want to play Mark?"

I groaned internally, but didn't show it. "Actually, I have to go. Homework and stuff."

I was lying through my teeth. I am way too old for this.

He looked dejected, and before I could stop myself I promised to look for mine for next time.

I cursed myself for an idiot the entire time I was driving home. But I told myself that a promise was a promise and dug them out of my closet.

I spent about five minutes putting a deck together and brought it next time.

He went first, playing a monster in defense mode.

I drew, then I played my Labyrinth Tank. And by that I don't mean I fusion summoned it. I didn't know it was a fusion monster, I just plopped it down.

And it was level 7, so even if it wasn't a fusion monster, I would have needed two tributes.

In my defense, I'd only really watched the duelist kingdom arc, which was completely wrong in terms of gameplay.

After about ten minutes, I'd gotten refreshed on how to play, and changed my deck so it was legal.

And with a relatively ancient deck (including 'magic' cards instead of spell cards) I did pretty well, and I thought I had him on the ropes.

All he had out was one weak level four monster.

"Alright Jack, you better make this move count."

He just smiled and played another level four. "You're going down Mark."

I scoffed. I might not have known how to play all that well, but I could do math.

"That thing only has 1400 attack points, and my guy has 2300"

"I overlay my two monsters to xyz summon-"

"Xyz what?"

"Xyz summon."

"… what's that?"

"It's where you play a monster. Come one, this is like not knowing how to synchro summon."

"Synchro what?"

Ok, it didn't happen exactly like that, but I blame littlekuriboh for such a description.

Anyway, after that I got really back into it and I ended up watching every episode of the original series, finding dueling network, and finding yugioh abridged.

In short- I became more obsessed then Jack.

I played on Dueling Network whenever I couldn't play against him in person.

(Full disclosure, I quit a lot of duels when the guys had cheap broken decks, but that's beside the point)

I sighed again and looked back at my computer screen. I closed Dueling Network and looked at the other window I had open"And now I'm here actually looking at how much Jinzo would be on Ebay. Along with Obelisk, marshmallon, black luster soldier and about 2 dozen others."

I shook my head. And I'm even trying to work up the courage to ask how to find a tournament around here.

I shut the window in frustration.

Heck, I finished Gx and 5ds, and now I'm actually considering watching Zexal just so I can get more!

I sighed. And I didn't even think the synchro summoning was all that cool. Let alone xyz summoning.

I'd had fun at first, but then Jack introduced me to some of his friends who completely handed me my ass.
And don't even get me started on dueling network pros.

I groaned aloud. "Why couldn't I have gotten into it while it was still good, before all this new BS?"

I imediately answered my own question when I tried to tear my gaze away and it landed on my homemade duel disk. The cardboard and duct tape seemed to mock me.

"Oh, right, because we don't have holograms or big tornaments or any of that stuff. It's just a card game here, not the biggest sport there is like in the tv show."

I sighed. "I'm going to a college, not duel acadamy."

And as much as I like Jinzo, I'm not paying just so I can get the card.

Still, part of me wished that I could.

I dropped back on how much I was playing, but the feeling still remained. When I wasn't facing a cheap broken deck, I really enjoyed the combination of strategy and luck that went into it.

I finally put my foot down one Friday and decided I'd stay up all night playing just so I could get it out of my system.

That proved to be a mistake as I ended up playing well into the morning, until my eyes were too tired to keep looking at my computer screen.

I shut it down, angry at myself for becoming so obessessed with the stupid game.

I turned out my light and got ready to crawl into bed.

Then, I saw something weird on my desk, glowing. For a second I looked at it, wondering what it was, then I laughed at my stupidity and realized what it was.

I only had one card protector- and I had no idea where it came from- so I put it on my best card. I knew from the glow-in-the-dark back that it was my Reflect Bounder.

I picked it up and looked at it, though I'd already memorized it. It was the only super rare card I had, and it shimmered as I held it. ATK 1700 DEF 1000. Not my strongest card, but its effect meant that when it was attacked, it did damage equal to the ATK of the attacking monster before it was destroyed. Since I didn't have many strong traps or monsters, it was more or less my best defense.

I went to put it down, then stopped. The back wasn't glowing any longer. I suddenly remembered that one of Jack's friends had said it was cheating to only have reflect bounder in a card protector, and he'd had me take it off to duel him.

So then, why was it glowing?

I turned the card over, and I realized that it was the front that was I hadn't been so tired, I might have been more surprised.

I felt my eyes sliding shut, and the last thing I saw was my card coming closer to me.

"Make your move kid."

I opened my eyes, and I immediately took a few steps back as my heart jumped into my throat.

I was looking at what could only have been a dragon, orange, covered in silver armor and apparently ready to tear my head off.

"What's the matter kid, scared of my friend?"

I suddenly felt a weight on my arm, and looked down to see it had what looked like some sort of half moon attached to it. Then I realized I was holding something in my hand too. The backs were unmistakable.

I looked up, past the dragon and saw someone standing with a similar looking device on his wrist.

I shook my head, laughing at my subconscious. Well, I did say I wished I could duel in real life.

"Alright, let's do this.'

I slid a card from my duel disk and added it to my hand. I fought to keep a pokerface as I saw my cards.

I looked at the other guy.

Hmm, 4 cards in his hand, and one face down card. I'd realized that his monster was Armed Dragon Lvl 3, Atk 1200

I looked at my hand. Monster Reborn, Swift Scarecrow, Mirage Dragon, Amplifier,7 completed…

And the card I'd just added to it was Reflect Bounder

Well, I might as well enjoy this dream while it lasts. And preferably not lose.

I almost went to play Reflect Bounder, then stopped.

I looked at his facedown card again.

"Look kid, I have a lot of-"

I cut him off by making my move. "I summon Mirage Dragon in attack mode!"

I was still a little surprised as a freaking dragon appeared in front of me, next to a little sign that declared its 1600 ATK but I shrugged and moved on.

Mirage Dragon's effect that he can't activate traps during my battle phase, so I don't have to worry about his face down.

"Mirage Dragon, attack!" And then, just because that's how they always did it on the show, I decided to name the attack. "Mirage blast!"

The other guy's dragon was destroyed, and a little meter to the side of him told me that he'd lost 400 life points, now at 3600.

Another thing I think I liked better back here: fewer life points. Although that means this is probably going to not take long. Then again, that means I might be able to duel against someone else before I wake up, once I'm done here.

I looked again at my duel disk. It looked vaguely like the chaos duel disk, which has always been my favorite in the show.

Dartz might have been nuts, but he knew how to make a cool looking duel disk.

I wondered what era I might be in, considering that we were starting at 4000.

"Not bad." The other guy remarked, drawing his card.

He looked at it and smiled. "But not good enough."

He set a card and summoned some villian looking monster, complete with a scary sword and the spikes of doom all over his armor. "I'll play dark blade in atk mode."

I saw with some dread that its atk was 200 points higher than my mirage dragon.

"And that's not all. I equip him with Fusion Sword Murasme Blade, raising his atk to 2600 hundred."

Damn it, isn't this supposed to be my dream? Shouldn't I win?

His attack, which left me with a thousand fewer life points and one fewer monsters, seemed to answer that question with a resounding no.

He set two face downs and ended his turn.

Great, now I have a super strong monster to worry about, and two possible traps.

I drew, and I smiled when I saw the card.

"Alright, first I'll play monster reborn to bring back my mirage dragon."

He raised an eyebrow but otherwise didn't comment.

"Now, I'll use him as a tribute and summon Jinzo."

That got a more verbal grunt of surprise.

But I could see he wasn't worried yet.

"And next, I'll take a page out of your book and equip him with Seven Completed, raising his attack points to 3100."

That got an overly dramatic "but, that means he'll be stronger than my Dark Blade!"

I looked at him in surprise a moment. "Uh, yeah, duh, why do you think I played it?" I shook my head and slid another card into my duel disk. "I'll also equip him with Amplifier, meaning that while your traps can't activate, I can still use any that I set."

And why did I explain that? Unlike 4-kids, my brain is smart enough to still have the descriptions on the cards. He can read it as well as me.

"Now then, Jinzo, would you do us all a favor and get rid of that dark blade?"

He obliged me, shooting an orb of energy at the warrior.

My opponent's monster was destroyed, and his life points went down to 3100, leaving him in the lead, though I was still in a strong position thanks to what I had on the field.

"I think that'll do it for my turn." I gloated.

He nodded and drew. Then he smiled, which I realized probably wasn't good.

"I special summon Cyber Dragon." He said, doing just that. "Then I'll summon my Axe Dragonute."

I rolled my eyes. "Cyber Dragon is still 1000 points weaker than Jinzo, and that dragon is too. Plus, if it attacks, it'll go to defense mode and be easily destroyed since it's DEF is only 1200."

"Who said I plan on attacking Jinzo? I play heavy storm, destroying all spell or trap cards on the field."

"That destroys your cards too though." I said.

"I couldn't activate them anyway with Jinzo out." He said dismissively as the holograms shattered. "But since Amplifiers effect means that when it's destroyed-"

I groaned. "Now Jinzo is too."

The duel disk automatically sent all my cards on the field to the grave, and sent his two face downs there as well.

"Not bad kid, but not good enough. Now then, I'll attack you directly with both my dragons."

It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened next. With a combined attack of 4100 hundred, and my life points at only 3000, I'd be toast.

Unless-

I looked at my hand, and smiled. "Not so fast. I discard Swift Scare-crow from my hand, letting me negate your direct attack and end the battle phase."

That took the wind out of his sails for a moment, but his arrogance quickly returned. "You got lucky with a card I haven't heard of, but you'll be gone next turn. So go ahead and draw."

He's not far off on that one. That card didn't show up in the anime until 5D's. I'm lucky it showed up here. Although I doubt that the same applies to any XYZ or Synchro, which means that I'm going to need to be pretty luck to deal with his dragons.

I looked at my hand, which only had one card: Reflect Bounder.

His life points are still at 3100 hundred, which means even if he attacks RB, and loses 2100 life points, he'll still have 1000 left. But I'll be wide open for a direct attack with Axe Dragonute. And that's assuming he can't tribute if for something stronger.

I took a breath. Think this through, there's only so many cards you'd subconsciously put in your deck for a dream. If I get something like mirror force or magic cylinder, I can survive this.

I drew my card, eyes closed. Then I looked at it and smiled.

"You know, I really didn't appreciate you sending my Jinzo and Mirage Dragon to the grave. I don't think they liked it much either. In fact, I'm going to pull them out of the graveyard and remove them from play to make them feel better."

I chuckled. "Well, you know, that, and it's necessary to summon- this!" I threw my card on the duel disk. "Black Luster Soldier: Envoy of the Beginning!" ATK 3000

Now I was the one with the spiky-armored warrior.

He looked shocked, almost to the point that it was unbelievable.

I know Yugioh is an Anime show, but come one subconscious, what's wrong with you?

"What? How'd you get your hands on such a rare card!"

I smiled. "Sorry, trade secret. Of course, I don't feel right sending him out there alone, and since he was special summoned, now I can normal summon my Reflect Bounder."

My second beast also appeared, covered in mirrors and

"Now, Black Luster Soldier, destroy his Cyber Dragon!"

It was more than happy to do so, and his life points dropped to 2800.

"And now that my Soldier's destroyed one of your monsters in battle, he can make a second attack. So go ahead and wipe out his other dragon."

It was sorta disgusting to see his dragon sliced in half, but seeing his life points drop to 1800 was much more satisfying.

"And to finish off my move, I'll have my Reflect Bounder attack directly as well. "

My monster charged up a ball of energy and sent it straight at him, sending him to the ground, and sending his life points to only 100.

He got up angrily, and drew his card.

"So, you going to surrender now, or am I going to have to waste time with another attack?" I asked arrogantly.

"I'm the only one that'll be attacking. I play dark hole, which destroys all monsters on the field."

Well, crap.

"Then I'll play another Dark Blade and attack you directly!"

His sword hit me in the gut and sent me flying.

I got to my feet, seriously annoyed, and with only 1200 life points left.

"Now it's you who ought to surrender." He commented.

I got back to my feet shakily.

"Laugh it up. I've still got 1100 life points more than you."

"For now. Anyway, I'll end my turn."

Yeah, I just hope it also doesn't end the game. Depending on what I draw…

I drew, and sighed. "Alright, I play a monster face down in defense mode and end my turn."

He smiled. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

He drew and added the card to his hand with scarcly a glance. "I summon another Dark Blade!"

I looked at the two monsters, both ugly and armored. "Geez, 3 of them? you need some more variety in that deck. Maybe someone that reflects how tough you are, like say... I don't know, Dark Magician Girl?" I laughed at his expense.

"Oh, now you're laughing. But you won't be laughing for long! Dark Blade! Attack!"

I love it when they take the bait.

His monster lunged forward, and on the field my card flipped up as his sword slice through the monster-

-only to have it bounce off.

"What the-"

I smiled. "Sorry, but my Marshmallon can't be destroyed in battle, so your direct attack with the other one won't be happening. And more importantly, since it was face down when you attacked it, you take 1000 points of damage. But seeing as you only have 100 left…"

The tag next to him went down to zero, and the holograms dispersed. "Better luck next time."

Although, considering that this would normally be about when I'd wake up, I don't think there's going to be a next time.

Suddenly, I got the strangest feeling, like I was being watched by everyone. I looked up, and I was surprised to realize I was in some sort of arena, and that while my duel had ended, others were still going on.

But more importantly, there were- I tried to estimate the numbers- at least a few hundred people watching us all. And there were three colors that stood out among them all: Red, Yellow, and Blue.

"Hey kid!"

I turned and saw a couple of big guys walking towards me. "Come with us. Doctor Crowler would like a word with you."

I blinked. "Who?"

"Doctor Crowler? You know, the lady in charge of all this?"

Big guy 2 turned to him and said in an undertone. "I'm pretty sure it's a guy."

"What? You're nuts. Have you seen that hair? How those clothes?"

"I didn't say he was a normal guy."

Big guy 1 shook his head and turned back to me. "Either way, the doctor wants a word with you. She's-"

"He's"

"Fine, He's curious about some of those cards."

They flanked me on either side, and I decided to go along with them.

After all, this is just a dream… Right?

As I looked around though, I was starting to doubt that assumption.

Because even if they hadn't blatently told me where I was, I'd figured it out.

So, I wonder whether I'm headed for Ra or for Slifer.

And I'm wondering something else too. If this isn't a dream, which I"m starting to think it isn't… then just what the heck is going on?

So, that's chapter 1. If you guys would leave me some reviews, that'd be great.

Like for instance, how to improve/change the dueling descriptions, if there's any cards you'd like to see my guy use- stuff like that.

Anyway, thanks for reading, see you next time.