Hello everyone! I'm a relatively new writer on this site and I've really enjoyed using it so far. While I have many passions, storytelling is one of my largest. I'm currently working on two stories at the moment; Yu-Gi-Oh! War of Dimensions and Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Winter Whispers. I typically work on two stories at a time to ensure that I don't get weighed down. Sometimes if I focus on one story to its fruition, it turns into work and loses it fun. Rest assured that I will be uploading a chapter a week for either story. I also would like to take the time to thank you for reading your work and ask that, if you don't mind, you leave a review to let me know what you think of my work. I love constructive criticism and knowing what people think of my work can be a huge motivation. Every word of advice is a way to get better. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
The crisp morning air viciously attacked Jaden's nose as he gazed over the railing of the cargo ship that was steaming towards North Academy. He frowned internally, longing for the warmth he had found while travelling in Italy, most recently in Venice. Plus, the food there was simply marvelous and he doubted he would find similarly delectable meals at his destination. Not that the foo where he was going would be bad just not as good as what he had grown accustom to. In fact, he wouldn't have left so soon had things not have come to his attention. Journeying around the world to aid people and Duel Spirits had been incredibly rewarding work thus far, only with terrible hours and a tendency to land Jaden in some unfavorable situations. Not that he thought his former rival school was an inhospitable place, only that in his line of work there tended to be complications. Yubel materialized behind him, her eyes fixed on the rising sun, invisible to all but Jaden.
"So, why is it we journey so far?" she questioned without taking her eyes off of the gorgeous sight that lay before her. It was the little things that made the world worthy of the sacrifice she had made. Such as watching a sunrise with a beloved friend.
"I'm glad you asked," Jaden piped up with a huge smile despite his chattering teeth, "I'll show you…but only after we get out of this cold!" A chuckle came from Jaden's left as the form of Professor Banner came into existence.
"Perhaps now is a good time to tell you that you forgot your winter clothing!" he jeered as Pharaoh rubbed up against Jaden leg. Jaden glanced down, incredibly jealous of the small creature's fur coat. How could he have forgotten his winter clothes?! This just wasn't fair. His Slifer jacket was more of an accessory than winter clothing.
"Oh, man!" Jaden whined as he darted for the door to begin the slog back to his room, "So much for a pleasant trip!" He began his journey to the belly of the steel beast which bore him passage. His accomodations would have been considered unacceptable by most, filthy and small, but he had always found such things to be cozy. Besides, it was plenty warm in his humble cot. The warm air hugged and seemed to banish all memories of the frigid environment outside. Finally, he entered his room with all of his spiritual companions in tow. It was at this time that he pulled a news article out of his signature jacket and slammed in on his cot.
"You see; I was chilling in that sweet little café on the corner last week. You know, the one with those awesome little chocolate filled bread thingies!" Jaden began before quickly getting derailed by his ultimate distraction; his stomach. Those chocolate filled things sure were good! After a few moments of mentally devouring some of those delicious pastries, he returned his attention to the article that lay on his cot. The article was riddle with various names involved in an apparent scandal that was currently ongoing at North Academy. Several students had simply vanished leaving no trace for the plethora of search teams that had scoured the nearby icy wasteland. The school currently found itself under review for possible closure.
"Ah," Professor Banner exclaimed, "You believe Duel Spirits to be responsible," Jaden nodded his head vigorously as he continued.
"Exactly. When Chazz returned for North Academy he told us all about their entrance requirements. Apparently, you had to construct a deck out of cards scattered around. I don't know about you guys but I wouldn't like to be out alone in that wicked cold all the time!" Jaden explained as the numbness in his hands finally dissipated, the cold weather paling in comparison to the ships heating system.
"I mean, Yubel, don't you feel cold?" Jaden asked as if attempting to prove a point. Yubel turned and faced her human friend.
"It doesn't exactly work like that but I do get a different sensation depending on the weather," she responded. Despite her tolerance of such things, she had been through a lot of pain in her life. Pain which made minor inconveniences almost non-existent. Other Duel Spirits may not be as fortunate.
"I see your points Jaden," Professor Banner added as he shifted his eyes back to his former student, "But what if it is not the Duel Spirits?"
"Bodies disappearing without a trace? Its either Duel Spirits or some nasty guy using shadow magic," Jaden answered with enthusiasm, "Either way, this is our type of gig!" Jaden felt a hand rest on his shoulder. Turning, his eyes met those of a worried Yubel.
"Are you sure now is the time to investigate this?" she began as she gazed into Jaden's eyes, "It has only been six months since leaving Duel Academy and you have already done so much. Plus, you are still recovering from your battle with Paradox. That was quite a struggle!"
"You mean that was quite a game, right?" Jaden rambled as he flashed a huge grin, "That was one of the best duels in my life! Not only did I get to throw down with a villain from the future but I got to team up with my own bro from the future AND the King of Games himself!" Mere thoughts of such experiences were enough to renew the itch that worked its way into Jaden's drawing hand and fill him with excitement. No matter how dire the situation became, Jaden always found a way to have fun with it. That duel, despite its consequences, had quickly risen to be one of his most treasured moments. Seeing him like this was enough for Yubel to temporarily put aside her concerns. It simply amazed her how despite the pain Jaden had gone through and the struggles he had overcome, he always maintained his vibrant, almost child-like, personality. He was truly a remarkable person and she treasure him.
"If I keep jumping through time to duel with idols, I'll end up in the history books," Jaden continued excitedly, "Not that anybody actually reads those!" Jaden let out a hearty laugh as he tussled his messy hair. It was true that he was no academic. That was always Bastion.
"Besides, if there's people in trouble and I can help than I have to. I'm fine," Jaden finished as he snatched up the article from the bed and stuffed it back into his jacket, "Come on, guys, this'll be a blast!" It was true. Ever since he had dueled against Yugi, he had truly reclaimed the joy he used to have when dueling. Something he had temporarily lost during his last year and after the awful experiences in the other dimensions. Deep down he truly loved what he was doing with his life. He was helping people and duel spirits, all the while stumbling from one incredible game to the next. Whenever he fell short of funds, he'd simply win a local "cash'n'go" tournament before moving on. His life was one of constant adventure and he adored every second of it.
"Very well," Yubel reluctantly relented with a sigh, "Just promise me that if that changes, you will tell me."
"Of course, Yubel!" Jaden exclaimed as he began to assemble his items and prepare for his departure, "You worry too much!"
"Attention! We will be arriving at North Port in five minutes!" a voice boomed over the intercom. Jaden couldn't fight the grin that spread across his face as he imagined his upcoming adventure. This was sure to be awesome. His thoughts were interrupted by Professor Banner.
"Is not Miss Rhodes currently attending her next level of schooling here?" Professor Banner inquired as Jaden shifted to pack Pharaoh back into his bag. The cat growled and hissed as it dodged Jaden's hand. A mighty struggle broke out between him and the small, furry beast and quite a comical one at that.
"What?" Jaden asked, slightly out of breath, as he finally managed to catch the agile cat in his grasp, much to the distress of Pharaoh. It had been so long since he had thought of Alexis. She was an incredible duelist and her skills were only matched by her beauty. That's why she had been known as the Obelisk Queen back at Duel Academy. The boys wanted her and the girls wanted to be her. Not to mention she was one of Jaden's dearest friends. A pang of guilt stabbed at his heart as he came to realize that he recalled nothing of Alexis' plans.
"No," he sputtered as he stuffed the cat into his bag, "Wait! How would you know?"
"I believe Miss Rhodes put such information in her letter to you, like many of your former classmates," Professor Banner replied. It was at that moment it all came flooding back to him. All of his friends, and even some of his teachers, had written him a farewell letter, placing it on Pharaoh's collar and it had contained such information. Jaden felt more guilt creep in for overlooking such a detail regarding a close friend but that guilt would quickly be washed away by excitement.
"Well this is great!" Jaden began as his smirk evolved into a face-splitting grin, "We'll take care of this problem and then kick it with 'Lex at North Academy for a few days! This'll be a blast!" Yubel shifted her gaze back to her youthful friend, whom she had guard for all of his life. He was everything to her. Within him once lay the spirit of the Prince she had sacrificed everything for. He had even sacrificed parts of his humanity, with no regard for what that could have meant to him, to reunite her with that spirit, the spirit of her love. For that she would be eternally grateful. Unfortunately, some older habits were hard to break and she still found herself feeling overprotective of Jaden. Even thinking of that girl was enough to put Yubel in a state of unease. She couldn't bare it if something bad happened to him. However, if she made him happy then she would hold her tongue.
"So, are we going to North Academy, first?" Yubel asked in an attempt to rejoin the conversation. It startled her how quickly Jaden could transform from cheerful to solemn and serious. In an instant, she could see all the pain and trials flood back into his eyes.
"No," he spoke flatly, losing the cheer in his voice, "We'll head to the barren wastes that lay between the mountains and the school, figure out what is going on, stop it, and then we'll go to North Academy." Professor Banner and Yubel shot each other a brief look of concern. Both of them knew it was unwise to make such a decision but they could understand why Jaden would act in such a manner. Deep down, he still felt guilty for all the trials and ordeals that he felt he had put his friends through. All the pain and suffering inflicted on them were, in his eyes, his fault. Danger seemed attracted to him and his friends always appeared to suffer for it. He had even succumbed to darkness, itself, and been the direct cause of such pain. As a result of that traumatic experience, he was committed to ensuring he never put his friends through such trials again. Despite the numerous times that Professor Banner, Yubel, and even his friends had told him it wasn't his fault, that was what he continued to believe. Although he had reclaimed the fire and joy that once lit up his heart, he kept the darkness of memory.
"Very well. Just know that you never walk alone as long as I am here," Yubel replied warmly as she mustered the sincerest smile she could. No harm would come to this boy under her dutiful watch.
"Thank you," Jaden murmured with his eyes firmly shut before he turned to see his spirit friends fade away. The time had come for him to embark on his next adventure. There would be peril, yes, but there would also be thrill with outcomes both good and bad. It would etch another chapter in the continuing saga of his life and he was anxious to get it started. He never even liked English class! One thing he was certain of, however, was that with his Duel Spirits by his side he would never go it alone. It was a fact for which he remained truly grateful. As long as that remained true, he knew he would prevail.
"Well, time to get going!" Jaden announced as he began his stroll out of his room. Truthfully, a part of him was anxious to get off of the sea-faring vessel. His accommodations had been more than acceptable to him but he always preferred being on dry land. He never would have made it as "First Mate" of that Sea Duel Academy. That experience was problem what encouraged his discomfort with the water. As he walked through the ships interior, several sailors scrambled about as they frantically worked to ensure a safe docking. Along the way, Jaden noticed a faint glimmer, almost an aura, around one sailor in particular.
The man stood tall, much taller than Jaden, with the physique of a man molded by the sea. Sweat glistened off his brow and sullied his long, greasy, black hair. He sported a full-grown beard that was as messy as his hair and not trimmed in the slightest. He wore a large fluffy coat to protect him from the outside air and it seemed apparent that he had merely forgot to doff it upon beginning his duties. It was obvious that this was a well-seasoned sailor and it was also apparent that he hadn't bathed in several days. Still, Jaden felt compelled to engage the man and began walking towards him.
"Excuse me, sir," the man spoke humbly as he finally took note of the strange young man before him, "It isn't safe for ye' to be down here. Best you up top!"
"Oh, of course," Jaden replied with a light hearted chuckled, "I'm sorry about that. Do you think you could show me the way? I'm a bit lost!" The man's brow furrowed in a mixture of thought, frustration, and conflict. He was extremely busy but he couldn't just let a passenger wander around down below and get hurt.
"Aye lad, just follow me," the sailor grunted before turning towards the same room, "Oi! O'Brian?! I'll be right back; I'm just taking a civie up top!"
"Al'ight, don't take too long though!" a voice called back as the sailor began to guide Jaden through the hall, walking rather briskly.
"Thanks buddy," Jaden added enthusiastically as he trailed behind the man, "The name is Jaden, by the way. Jaden Yuki."
"Folks 'round here call me Greggor," the man grunted back, ducking under a low hanging support beam above him. The pair continued through the ship as curiosity dug its way into Greggor's mind. Just who was this young man and what had he been doing so deep in the bowels of the ship? There was something else about the kid, too, he just couldn't place it but he felt as though he could trust the lad.
"What is it ya' think you were doing down here anyway?" Greggor finally asked, succumbing to the curiosity. Jaden let out an embarrassed chuckle as he scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, actually my room was down here!" Jaden responded cheerfully, losing neither the speed nor vigor he maintained in his pace.
"But, what little passenger space we have is on the upper deck!" Greggor rebuffed dumbfounded. The lower levels were no place for a kid of his age to stay. He would have been exposed to heat, chemicals, and a wide variety of discomforts. Not to mention substandard chow. Yet this young man acted as if it were a pleasure cruise.
"No joke! Those cabins are sick but I liked it down here. It was cozy," Jaden replied, "Besides, I could never have afforded one of those fancy rooms!"
"Aye, I could understand that. Most of our load is cargo so what little room we have for passengers is expensive," Greggor admitted, "Still, what in the blazes could be so important you were willin' to ride in the belly o' the beast?" Greggor shook his head for a moment. He had no idea why he was being so open with this young man. In over a decade of sailing the waters, not once had he been so engaged with a passenger. Aside for his direct crewmates, he hardly spoke to anyone at all. Jaden twisted his face as he pondered his response to such a question, the pair reaching the bottom of the stairs and beginning their climb
"Checkin' up on a good friend, "Jaden finally replied, "What about you, Greggor? What brings you here?"
"Me? Well, this is me lovely hood, lad, and the only way I can support me family. It doesn't pay much but it puts food on the table," Greggor replied as they began to inch toward the top of the ship. The higher they climbed, the more they left the warmth of the inner ship. The metal walls of the ship quickly morphed, becoming harsh and cold, as they approached a hatchway. Immediately upon its opening, the pair found themselves bombarded by the frigid air. Jade quickly retracted his arms, conserving as much heat as he could. He began to regret forgetting his jacket. The air seemed to pass right through his skin and chilled his bones.
"Here ye are, Jaden," Greggor spoke as he turned to return below to his duties, "Hope ye have save travels."
"Thanks!" Jaden replied cheerfully before he reached out to stop the man, "By the way, do you play Duel Monsters?" Greggor screeched to a halt, startled by the question the young man had posed. It had been a long time since he had held a card. He had never been good and wasn't even able to qualify for a community duel school but that never stopped him from loving the game. However, ever since starting a family he had to change his focus. He had responsibilities now and his deck back home had been collecting dust ever since.
"In me youth, boy, in me youth," Greggor sighed as he hovered at the top steps, the brisk air penetrating the ship. He knew he had to return to his duties below, and he was quite anxious to get out of the cold, yet he felt compelled to stay. Something about this young man enthralled him. He was clearly a different type of person.
"It's never too late to get your game one! I've got something for you!" Jaden began as he dropped his large duffle bag to the ground and began to search for something intensely. Greggor turned around, confused, as Jaden let out cry of triumph as he pulled out what he had been searching for; a Duel Monsters card.
"Here, I want you to have this," Jaden began as he handed him the card, "Something tells me it belongs with you!" Greggor grasped the card timidly as his eyes darted over it.
"The Legendary Fisherman?" Greggor muttered as he gazed at the card. It certainly wasn't the strongest nor rarest card in the game but as he held it in his hands it just felt right. He couldn't explain it. It was as if he was truly meant to possess that particular card but how could a total stranger know that? A kid, at that?
"I know it isn't the best card in the game there but it isn't about that," Jaden began as if he could read Greggor's thoughts, "As long as the right card is in the right player's deck, it becomes the strongest and best card out there. Something just tells me I did just that!"
"T-Thank you," Greggor mutter in disbelief as he continued to stare blankly at his card. He couldn't deny that the young man's-Jaden's- words had hit true to him. Every single word struck to his heart and made absolute sense. Jaden appeared to speak with a wisdom beyond his years. This card seemed to call to Greggor and he couldn't understand why this stranger, a kid, had simply given it to him. Jaden smirked as he glanced to the side of the boat.
"It's chill," Jaden responded cheerfully before a gust of wind assaulted his body, "Literally!" It was at this moment that Greggor noticed the young man's lack of winter jacket.
"Oi! Do ya' have a winter jacket?" Greggor asked, confused as to why he felt such concern for this young man whom he barely knew. Jaden let out a hearty laugh, his breath hovering like clouds in the wind.
"I kinda forgot it at home," Jaden replied with a chuckle as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. It wasn't as it he had intended for it to happen but he was just so forgetful. Greggor shook his head at the kid, a look of conflict on his face. The kid was an idiot but he had a big heart and didn't deserve to freeze. After a few moments, he unbuttoned his own heavy coat.
"What are ya'? Daft?" he began as he tossed his coat at Jaden, "Here, you can borrow this one but I expect it back someday!"
"Really?!" Jaden responded as he caught the jacket, "Thanks! I owe you one!"
"Consider us even, lad. Stay safe out there," Greggor spoke softly as he turned to return below deck to his duties. Though their encounter had been short, he was certain he would remember that quirky young man for the rest of his days.
"Thanks! You, too!" Jaden replied as he watched the sailor disappear below and turned to face the wind. It was at this moment that Jaden noticed the stench that permeated from the heavy winter coat. A week at sea had done it few favors.
"Tell me you are not going to wear that thing," Professor Banner's voice echoed from Jaden's pack. Jaden pondered it for but a second. The jacket was putrid but it was far better than facing the elements exposed.
"You bet I am!" Jaden replied as he put on the rancid coat, "Sure it smells bad but it beats the cold!" Jaden strolled towards the guard rail, the frigid wind freezing his hair as he gazed at the sea. The ship was floating into dock now but from his angle he could still see the open ocean. As another gust of wind approached, he found himself to be very grateful for the jacket. Sure, it wasn't the most pleasant scent but it sure was warm. Out of the corner of his eyes, Jaden noticed a figure emerge from the frosty depths of the water below. It was the Legendary Fisherman, or his spirit anyway.
"Welcome home, buddy," Jaden whisper as he watched the Duel Spirit disappear back into the ocean, "Glad I could help," The ship finally made contact with the dock as passengers began to flood the gangway. All of them except Jaden who waited patiently by the guardrail.
"See guys? We've already done some good here," Jaden began as he prepared to take his spot in the chaos, "Now, let's get out there and get our investigation on!"
"For today's test, everyone will enter their own unique Duel Simulator," a large, bulky teacher sporting a thick Russian accent began, "Inside, each of you will have a unique simulation but all at the same difficulty level. This is to prepare you for the coming midterms. Your goal? To win that duel in a single turn!" Alexis sat up in her seat, her eyes fixated on her teacher. It had only been six months since she had elected to pursue the next level of dueling education and already she had learned that this level was far different from the one she had left. It was much harder and extremely vigorous. Her class had started with well over a hundred students. Now, only twenty remained but that included her. She had risen to every challenge and set herself apart from her competition. She never boasted about it but, deep down, she felt a great deal of pride. Confidently, she raised her arm to signal the teacher that she had a question.
"Da, Miss Rhodes?" the teacher called out as he looked at his star pupil. Although he was proud of each and every one of his students, he was most impressed with Alexis. He had pushed her harder than any student. She had graduated from Duel Academy as an Obelisk Blue, after all, and that meant she had to be good. As such, he had to challenge her in new ways. He could always count on her to push herself harder than the native North Academy grad students.
"Will we be using our cards, Professor Panchekov?" she asked as she leaned forward, listening attentively. A disturbing smile spread across Professor Panchekov's face.
"Niet," he began as he turned away from his class, "At this level, I would expect you to win with your own decks. Now, it is time for you to prove your mastery of the game but using a different deck!"
"What?" another student cried out, "That's absurd, nobody duels without their own deck! This is ridiculous!"
"Is that so, Mister Ronelli?" Professor Panchekov hissed as he approached the terrified young man's seat, "I should give example, da?"
"Uhm…" the young man shivered as he stared deep into the eyes of his menacing teacher, "Yes, sir?" Mister Panchekov darted way from the man and towards his board, prompting a frightened shriek from the young student. Alexis chuckled and rolled her eyes. She was certain this was all a big show and while Mister Panchekov could frighten the other students, they couldn't frighten her. What concerned her, however, was the prospect of not using her own cards. She had never gone through such a test at Duel Academy. This really was the next level of Duel Mastery.
"The KaibaCorp Grand Championship tournament was held by Seto Kaiba to mark the opening of Kaiba Land," Professor Panchekov spoke through his thick accent as he scribbled on his chalk board, "Before the tournament, a hacker from competitor SchroederCorp had hacked into the Kaiba Dome and held the building hostage,"
"The only way out was to defeat their duel simulation computer which had been set to the maximum difficulty against a novice using a deck with nothing but Dragon-Type Monsters," Professor Panchekov continued, "No Traps, No Spells, No nothing." Alexis shook her head as she struggled to comprehend such a thing. To win without a variety of cards was impossible. You need to have the right balance of magic, traps, and monster cards in order to achieve victory.
"One man, or legend rather, was able to defeat this computer," Professor Panchekov rambled as the class hung on every word, "He did so by holding off until the right moment and then was able to win with but one attack," The classroom fell silent as they pondered such a feat.
"Sir?" one kid asked, raising his hand timidly, "Who was it?"
"His name was Yugi Muto," Professor Panchekov answered before finishing, "Now, who would like to go first," Alexis' arm shot up in a second. This was just the opportunity to see how far she had come in her first semester. She wanted to be a teacher someday and that meant she had to be among the best players of the game. She had studied many strategies and became familiar with many methods to victory. This was the perfect test to see if those long nights had paid off. Professor Panchekov's smile grew as he guided the young lady to her duel simulator. It was a closed off and dark room with a glowing field at its center. There would be no witnessing this duel. It was her against him. On the table sat two duel disks, each already active and displaying a lifepoint counter. She picked hers up and quickly fastened it to her arm as her instructor did the same. The two then took their places in line as she drew her hand. The cards she held were complete strangers and felt foreign in her hands.
"Miss Rhodes," her instructor spoke up, managing to startle her internally and shake her focus momentarily, "You will have one minute to study the cards in your hand, field, and graveyard before the test begins." Alexis gave a confident nod before she leapt into action, scanning every card effect. Her eyes darted from one card to the next in a never-ending cycle of frantic memorization. She had never used these cards before nor had she seen them. At this stage in her education, it wasn't uncommon for teacher's to place fake cards or illegal cards into one's deck to ensure they were paying attention. They also had a tendency to use cards not available to the market yet. Misuse of a new card or playing of a fake or illegal card would result in immediate dismissal. It was simply that competitive. She had to ensure she did everything correctly.
"Time is up, Miss Rhodes. Good luck!" the instructor interjected her thoughts as the dull hum of the holographic projects permeated the room. Immediately, the field was covered in holographic images and things didn't appear to be good. One the other side of the field were two monsters; one of them was the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon. For the first time in a long time, Alexis found herself doubting her abilities. The field then began to morph into a skyline, the ground replacement by soft and puffy clouds, as an ancient temple rose from below. It was the Sky Sanctuary field spell. Alexis continued to gaze across the vast, white expanse that lay before her into the eyes of one of Duel Monster's most powerful creatures.
"A Blue-Eyes White Dragon?!" Alexis spat in disbelief, "That is the card I have to take down?"
"Not only that but, as you can see, this is not your typical game," Professor Panchekov replied with a heart life. Glancing at the lifepoint counter, she realized her teacher was not far from the truth. She currently found herself with eleven thousand two hundred lifepoints up against her instructor's twelve thousand six hundred. It was quite an unorthodox situation. No duel would ever become this outrageous. Players start with four thousand lifepoints.
"Over twelve thousand lifepoints?" Alexis spoke while shaking her head, "Even I have to say this is a little ridiculous, sir."
"A true duelist can overcome anything. Your lifepoints are meaningless. You have to drop me to zero in single turn. Now make your move, Miss Rhodes," Professor Panchekov spat back with a grin. Deep down, he truly enjoyed watching his student squirm. He also enjoyed seeing them overcome his obstacles. Alexis' mind began to race as she went over each monster effect, magic, or trap card that was available to her. The more she stared at the field, the more it began to clear up. It was a puzzle and one she felt she could solve. One she better solve. She currently had one Scapegoat token on the field with three cards facedown staring down a Blue-Eyes White Dragon and a Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger. This wasn't going to be easy but she could do it. Ripping a card from her hand, she swallowed any doubt and slammed it on her duel disk.
"I think I've figured out at least part your little puzzle," Alexis began as her graveyard spat out two cards," I'll start off with the special ability of my Soul of Purity and Light! As long as remove two Light-attribute monster's in graveyard from the game, I can special summon him without a sacrifice! Not only that but my Soul Absorption spell card increases my lifepoints by five hundred for each card removed from play!" As she pulled her two chosen cards from her graveyard, her new creature materialized and her lifepoints rose to twelve thousand two hundred. Her new beast was a beautiful creature, a fairy spirit of purity and light. Alexis couldn't help but feel the name was perfect for such a monster.
"We shall see, Miss Rhodes, I think it is not as easy as you think, da?" Professor Panchekov spat back as he eagerly watched his young pupil. She had made the right opening move but it would take more than that to succeed. He almost didn't expect her to but she would be graded on progress either way. Alexis tore another card from her hand.
"Too bad I have to get rid of such a good monster so soon but I sacrifice my Soul of Purity of Light in order to summon my Airknight Parshath!" Alexis announced as her brightly lit monster faded from existed, replaced by a fairy warrior clad in shining armor. Alexis shook her head slightly. This deck had a lot of beautiful monsters but would they be good enough for her to ace this test? Tapping a button on her duel disk, one of her facedown cards rose from the ground dramatically,
"Next, I'll play Miraculous Descent!" she announced as her card shot out a blinding bright light, "Whenever a Fairy-Type Monster Is removed from play, I'm allowed to special summon it with this card. So now, I'm bringing back my Agent of Force – Mars!" The smile on Professor Panchekov's face grew even wider. Perhaps he had underestimated his star pupil. Perhaps she could ace this test and ruin the curve for any remaining slackers.
"But that's not all, I activate the spell card Inferno Reckless Summon!" Alexis continued as she slammed another card into her duel disk, "Whenever I special summon a monster with fifteen hundred or less attack points, this card lets me summon any card with the same name from my deck, hand, or graveyard!"
"True, but now I can summon a second Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger in Defense mode!" Professor Panchekov rebutted as his new creature materialized in existence. Alexis still smirked as three more of her Agents appeared on the field. Although they had zero attack points, they each had an incredible special ability. Still, she had to play every card right in order to pull this off. Her Agent of Force – Mars monster card's attack points would become the difference between her and her instructor's lifepoints if she took the lead. The only question was how to do it. Alexis struggled to find the answer as she re-read each card over and over again. She knew she could solve this puzzle but for whatever reason the answer eluded her. She knew that her Agents would be the key to victory.
"An impressive performance, Miss Rhodes," Professor Panchekov began, shaking his head dejectedly, "But I'm afraid- "
"Now, I'll attack your Blue-Eyes White Dragon with my Scapegoat token!" Alexis cried, cutting off her teacher mid-sentence as her fluffy goat charged the mighty dragon.
"What?!" Professor Panchekov spat out in disbelief as he gazed at his confident young student. Had she figured it out? If not, this would be an incredibly foolish move.
"What?" Alexis asked with a smirk, "I'm only doing what you asked of me. Winning the duel in one turn." Professor Panchekov tilted his head as he struggled to figure out what was running through Alexis' mind. If she had figured out the solution, her next move would be obvious. If she hadn't then her next move would be a complete miss. Her efforts were still admirable and even if she stumbled, she had already done more than enough to pass in his eyes.
"I activate the magic card Inferno Tempest," Alexis continued, "I can only use this card if take three thousand or more points of damage but it has a nasty little effect. Well, nasty for you anyway. This card removes every monster in each of our decks and graveyards from the game!"
"But that means- "Professor Panchekov stuttered stunned that his star pupil had truly discovered the path to victory. Alexis continued to beam with excitement but remained calm and collected on the surface. She truly loved this game and loved the sensation she got while dueling. There was only one person she had ever met that she could believe loved the game more than her.
"That's right," Alexis affirmed as she pointed to her Soul Absorption card, "Which means Soul Absorption gives me four thousand points! Now, time to chip away some of yours! Airknight Parshath, destroy his first Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger!" Her monster sprang into action, brandishing a sword that appeared to be made of pure light. It charged forward and with one swing of its mighty sword it cut the crystal beast in half. A shriek echoed from the creature before it shattered from existence and the first of Professor Panchekov's lifepoints fell. A smile grew on his face as he gazed upon his star pupil. This hadn't been an easy test of skill. To ask someone to use strange cards on short notice in such a dire situation was asking for a miracle. It seemed that Alexis Rhodes was the miracle.
"Next, I activate the spell card Celestial Transformation!" Alexis continued as her card rose up and began to emit a bright beam of light, "This allows me to summon on Fairy-Type monster from my hand with half of its normal attack strength and I'm using it to summon my Neo-Parshath, the Sky Paladin in Attack Mode!" From her hand sprung another warrior, bathed in blinding light, with armor that shimmered to life. It was clearly an elegant creature with a mighty power and though it would be destroyed at the end of the turn by Celestial Transformation's effect it would be an incredible asset. It didn't need to survive and it didn't need to use all of its attack points, just its special ability.
"Now, I'll attack your second Tiger with my Sky Paladin!" Alexis screamed as her new creature of light demolished the other remaining tiger, "Also, the difference of my monster's attack points is subtracted from your lifepoints!" Alexis glanced over at her three Agents, waiting for their attack point reader would change. This would be the decided factor over whether or not she had truly solved the puzzle. Moments of eternity seemed to slide by before her monsters' attack points began to sharply rise. They continued to rise rapidly before halting at three thousand one hundred and fifty, more than enough to defeat the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Yes!" Alexis cried out as she smirked, "Agent of Force, attack the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" Professor Panchekov watched his mighty dragon, one of the most well-known and fear cards in the game, fell before Alexis' Agent of Force- Mars. He was defenseless and in the position that he had intended Alexis to fight her way into. It was quite impressive. Alexis had picked up random cards and dueled with them as if they were her own. Her next two direct attacks would reduce him to zero due to Agent of Force – Mars' special ability; as his lifepoints fell lower than her own, her monsters would get stronger. She was going to pass this test on the first try with flying colors. He had expected much from his star pupil but nothing like this.
"Then, I'll finish you off with my last two monsters!" Alexis announced as her remaining beasts charged into action, closing the distance before striking Professor Panchekov with their holographic swords. He clutched his chest with a grimace of pain as his lifepoints plummeted to zero. Alexis stood with a beaming smile as the hum of the holographic projectors died down and the field vanished. She had passed the test. She had done something that few students had ever accomplished. She had gotten a perfect score on one of Professor Panchekov's surprise tests.
"Simply amazing, Miss Rhodes," Professor Panchekov spoke with cheer through his overbearing accent as he began to walk across the field, "In all of my years teaching here, I have never seen anybody tackle this test with the ease in which you did!"
"Thank you, Professor," Alexis replied with a respectful bow. Deep down, however, she was ecstatic. Everyone knew about the Blue-Eyes White Dragon as well as its legendary keeper. Few had ever faced this beast and successfully destroyed it and only one defeated its keeper time and time again. Despite the fact that this had merely been an exam with a fictional set up designed to test Alexis' ability to think on her feet, she still felt as though she had joined a small crowd. As she follower her teacher from the exam room, re-entering the classroom which hung in deafening silence, she wondered if any of her classmates would face the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Only time would tell.
"Thank you, Miss Rhodes, that will be all today," Professor Panchekov began, shooting Alexis a warm smile before it turned into grim determination, "Mister Ronelli? Perhaps you would care to go next, da?" The smaller student jumped from his seat nervously upon hearing his name. Swallowing his dread, he took one step closer.
"Uhm, yes, sir?" he asked timidly, hanging his head low as he walked towards his teacher. Alexis felt bad for him. Ronelli always had had confidence issues. It was amazing that he had survived four years of primary at North Academy before this. Still, Alexis had a soft spot for the underdog.
"Good luck, David, I know you can do this!" she whispered to him as he passed by giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He weakly smiled back and looked at her.
"Thanks, Alexis," he muttered before shuffling forward into the duel room. With a loud whisk, the door slammed shut and Alexis was sure that the duel had gone underway. She glanced over at the remainder of her classmates as her thoughts drifted to other things that lay on her mind.
"Good luck, everyone!" she said as she began to walk out of the room, "I have some-uh-things to take care of!" Murmurs mixed with various emotions returned to Alexis as she departed the room and began to walk down the hall. Her arm still shook with the excitement she had felt from acing the test but she had important things to do. The semester was coming to a close. Midterms and papers would begin to flood her time and remove all of her free time. This had the unfortunate result of placing large amounts of stress and expectations on Alexis' shoulder and while she never shied away from a challenge it was taxing. Not to mention, all of this was going down in the middle of a school crisis. Several students had disappeared recently and the school was facing a formal investigation. She had known some of the students prior to their unfortunate fate. It was the Abandoned Dorm all over again and that still brought out some bad memories. Still, if she could help in any way, she would. Turning the corner, Alexis noticed a large group of students shuffling about in the hallway. She gave them a warm smile, greeting them as she walked past. It was a long walk to her dorm room but she had no intentions of talking to anybody. Her thoughts began to drift back to those darker memories and their current parallels. Those thoughts would lead to one person in particular, Jaden Yuki.
She stopped in the middle of the hallway as she thought of her dear friend. It had been months since he had heard from him. Months since he left without saying good-bye. He had important work to do and he was special but she would have preferred one last conversation. He was a constant source of inspiration, a man who found the fun in every situation. She had been devastated when it appeared as though he had lost that and ecstatic when it appeared he would reclaim it. She sighed as she resumed her brisk pace forward. It would probably be a long road until he returned to that happy-go-lucky kid he had been when he first arrived. Undoubtedly, the type of work he did and the things that made him special would delay that recovery and place him in further harm. Wherever he was, Alexis simply hoped he was doing okay.
"Back so soon?" a male voice pierced through the veil thoughts that had besieged her mind as she finally entered the residential area. Her eyes darted for the source of the interruption. It was one of the newer male students. He bore messy blonde hair, reading glasses, and wore a black tee shirt bearing a skull and jeans in lieu of a school uniform. He was on almost every discipline panel and had received every punishment available in record time, barring expulsion. The reason for his unfathomable security was his superior intelligence. He had the smarts to back up his attitude and had quickly become one of Alexis' friends. His name was Jason Blue.
"Oh," Alexis began startled, "Yeah, I just passed one of Professor Panchekov's tests and that was all he had for the day!"
"Really? Well, good for you!" Blue replied as he adjusted the rather large black backpack he had strapped around one arm.
"Where are you off to?" Alexis asked as she took noted of Blue's bag. He was always very private about his backpack and there were several bets going on across campus as to its contents. It ranged from rare cards, to money, to the secret of life. Everywhere he went, he always had that bag.
"Just the shop," he replied curtly with an inviting smile. Alexis chuckled, rolling her eyes as she continued her conversation with her friend.
"Again?" she asked, "You've been there every night this week."
"Well, I'm working on something big right now, 'Lex" he replied with a slight shrug.
"You want to fill me in?" Alexis queried with a raised eyebrow, "What could possibly be taking up so much of your time?"
"You know I can't tell you that," he replied with a wink, "It's top secret!" Alexis frowned, shooting a look of slight irritation to her friend. He always kept his projects to himself. The only people who knew what he was working on were the other students in the technical shop and they were a close knit group. In fact, aside for Blue, Alexis had never actually spoken to any of them. They were typically the recluses of the school but incredibly smart and valued.
"Where are you off to?" he asked, "You aren't going to go back out looking for those students again, are you?"
"Something is going on and it just doesn't feel right!" Alexis explained, "I just can't help but feel like something bigger is going on here. Not just students getting lost in a storm."
"Well, you aren't going anywhere today," Blue spoke firmly as he readjusted his pack. It was extremely heavy due its contents and could wear down his shoulder.
"And why is that?" Alexis asked, slightly annoyed at Blue's tone.
"Haven't you seen the news?" Blue began in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, "There is a huge storm rolling in. With everything going on the way it is, campus is going to be shut down. You aren't going anyway," Alexis let out a deep sigh, hanging her shoulders in defeat. The past several days she had taken to going out and scouring the wilderness for her missing students. Not only was the fiasco effecting her educational aspirations but some of her friends had been named among the missing. She would go to any distance for a friend and would gladly brave the storm for them. However, North Academy had some incredible security so if they truly were locking the place down she was stuck. She would simply have to go out early in the morning.
"Anyway, why don't you get some sleep, 'Lex," Blue added warmly as he squeezed passed her and began to walk away, "I'll talk to you later, man!"
"Later, Blue," Alexis replied as she strolled forth with noticeably less vigor. There weren't many students in the residential area. Some had cleared out due to the fiasco, others were and class, and others were locked in their rooms for fear of being kidnapped. It wasn't the best time to be a student at North Academy but Alexis was determined to make it work. She had faced down far too much to be dissuaded at this point in her life, even though most of the time she had Jaden to help her. Opening her door, she paused for but a moment. Why had she suddenly started thinking of Jaden out of the blue? Alexis entered her room, locking the door, as she gazed upon the two beds.
Her roommate, Marcella, had been one of the missing students. The two had been one of the few girls in attendance at North Academy and forged a quick, but tight, bond. Marcella had aspirations to be an official tournament judge in the Pro League and was pursing an advanced degree in Duel Monster's Laws. It was an incredibly demanding and time consuming endeavor but it was her passion. It had been little over a week since she vanished and Alexis was no closer to finding her.
"Sorry, Marcella," she whispered to herself, "I'll have to go out looking for you tomorrow," With a heavy sigh, she plopped down on her bed. Guilt and a feeling of helplessness crept into her heart. Alexis felt as though she were letting down her friend and abandoning her to her fate. It wasn't in Alexis' spirit to feel otherwise. They were friends and Alexis was loyal to Marcella. They looked after each other, like when Marcella helped Alexis with a young stalker who couldn't understand Alexis' denial. Even though Alexis sprang into action after she vanished, she had gotten no closer to finding her. Jaden would have found her by now. He just had a way with things. Alexis shot up off her bed as a look of confusion and thought overcame her face.
Why was she thinking so much about Jaden today? While it was true he was never far from her mind, she was usually so focused she didn't have time to think about him. Alexis bent down below her bed, retrieving an item from underneath its mattress; her Duel Academy Yearbook. She flipped through the pages as a smile spread across her face. Each page brought with it another memory from her time at the prestigious school; the good and the bad. It had been a memorable experience for sure and deep down she longed to be back in those days. She came across the Slifer Red section of the yearbook and quickly found the boy that was occupying her world. She laughed to herself. His hair was in a mess but his goofy grin illustrated just how bright his soul truly shined. It was also funny how, after four years of being the Academy's finest duelist, he had chosen to remained a Slifer. He could have climbed the rank system voraciously but had simply chosen not to but then again that was just who Jaden was. He was incredible and Jaden had also done something no other boy at the school could do. Jaden had managed to steal her heart.
Alexis let out another sigh, shaking her head slightly at the picture. It had been during the tag team tournament their senior year that she had come to realize just how deeply she felt for the young man. It had come as bit of a surprise to her because she was always committed more to dueling than finding a relationship. She just never counted on finding someone like that during her school years. However, he appeared oblivious to her feelings. This, coupled with the differing paths they were walking, was one of the reasons she had ultimately decided not to tell him during their last conversation. It was one of the few things about her time at Duel Academy she had regretted.
"I should have told him," Alexis admitted to herself with half of a frown, "I guess it is true. You regret the things you don't do more than the things you fail at." She had just been afraid. Afraid of what admitting those feelings would mean for her and her dream and just what it would mean for him. Regardless, it was too late. As she had suspected, the two had gone on different paths. They hadn't even spoken in the six months since they graduated. Alexis suspected that both of them would turn out just fine. Still, she would have preferred it if she had told him how much he meant to her. Rising from her bed, she stared out the window into the growing storm outside.
"Wherever you are, Jaden," she whispered as she placed her hand on the glass, "I hope you're happy!"
"I am really not happy right now!" Jaden cried over the howling wind, "You would think someone in the port would have warned a guy walking towards the mountains about a storm!"
"Jaden, we must seek shelter!" Professor Banner spoke, his voice flooded with urgency. The harsh winds cut through Jaden's face like daggers of ice. The cold itself had saturated through Greggor's coat and would have cut Jaden down were he only clad in his Slifer jacket. It made Greggor's gift far more meaningful.
"Tell me something I don't know!" Jaden shouted back annoyed as he continued to trudge forward. The snow crunched beneath his feet as each step became a struggle. He had long since lost feeling in his feet which had to be a bad sign. Perhaps this wasn't the time of year to pay a visit to North Academy. Jaden's eyes squinted as he tried desperately to pierce the blinding wall of snow before him. To make matters worse, the sun would soon set.
"Jaden, there should be caves somewhere!" Yubel added as Jaden struggled forth, "If we find one, I can make a fire!"
"Yubel is correct, Jaden. I believe our odds of finding a cave would be highest in that direction!" Professor Banner contributed as he pointed to the east. Jaden shrugged his shoulders in frustration. East it was then. Jaden just hoped that he could find a cave to seek shelter in before he succumbed to the cold. This was not the way he felt that he would go out. He always assumed it would be something awesome like flying into a sun or something.
"You hangin' on back there, Pharaoh?!" Jaden yelled over the roaring wind. Though it was barely audible, Jaden could hear the dire cry from the terrified feline. He couldn't blame the cat. Things really were not looking up for the young man. He continued onward as the sun began its slow descent, dragging the temperature down as it fell. Yubel and Professor Banner struggled to keep Jaden engaged to ensure he didn't succumb to the frigid temperature.
"Who would build a scho- "Jaden began before his eyes locked in on something in the distance, "A cave!"
"Excellence! We may just make it, yet!" Professor Banner exclaimed as he shot a worried look at his former student. Jaden had lost a lot of color in his face and exhaustion would eventually take its toll.
"As long as no one else is in the cave," Yubel added firmly. She had to be cautious. Jaden was in no state of mind to comprehend such possible threats."
"Yubel? Optimism?" Jaden whined as he began to run towards the cave. Exhaustion began to crawl up his legs as he slowly closed the distance. Despite his speed, it appeared as though the cave was actually getting further with each step. Yet, he pushed forward taking huge gulps of the frigid air and leaving behind clouds of breath. This was the single greatest feat of Jaden's life. At least it felt that way at the moment. Finally, he found a reprieve. Stumbling into the safety of the small cavern. It was exactly that, small, and was only twenty feet deep. Jaden fell to his knees as he let out a laugh of triumph, delirious with exhaustion. Though it was only slight, Jaden could tell the difference in temperature.
"You can't rest yet, Jaden, "Yubel began as she looked down with worry at her friend, "You have to get out something I can light ablaze," Jaden nodded in agreement, too tired to respond, before a brilliant thought came to mind. First, he pulled the news article from his coat and place it upon the ground before digging into his pack. Pharaoh let out a cry of pain as Jaden accidently grabbed his tall before his numb hands found their true target; his old Duel Monsters History book. Pulling it out, he slammed it upon the ground.
"I never did like that class and I never read this stupid thing anyway!" Jaden jabbed as Yubel shot a blast of energy at it. In an instant, the book was transformed into a blazing fire. Warmth hugged Jaden's faced and quickly raised the temperature in the cave. Jaden let out an exhausted cry of relief as Pharaoh jumped from the bag and curled up by the fire. Jaden had made it; he would be fine.
"We should wait out the storm in here," Professor Banner spoke softly as he looked down at his cat lovingly. The one thing he missed about being human was being able to pet the soft creature. Still, he was thankful for even having the ability to carry on after death.
"My thoughts exactly!" Jaden muttered as he buried himself back into his bag. After a few moments of struggle, he reemerged with the items he needed to string up a small tent. He began the process of hastily putting up what would be his house. The wind roared just outside the cave and occasional gusts of frigid air would find their way in the small space. The fire crackled and danced as Jaden finally put down the last peg, erecting his humble tent. Jaden plopped down on his sleeping bag as his muscles began to ache from the trials of the day. He was exhausted and sleep would undoubtedly find his way quickly. A foreign object squeezed up next to his side. Looking down, a warm smile spread across his face as he realized it was Pharaoh cuddling up to him for warmth.
"I think I'm gonna rack out guys!" Jaden said with a yawn as his eyelids continued to get heavier. Both Professor Banner and Yubel looked down with a warm look on their faces. Yubel then turned to face the cave entrance.
"Goodnight, Jaden. Rest well. I will watch over you," she spoke softly as Professor Banner disappeared back inside of his faithful cat. Within moments, the battered pride of Duel Academy had fallen asleep.
A small light, barely distinguishable in the blinding flurry of snow, could be seen from the small cave. On a small plateau overlooking the vast snow covered expanse stood a long shadowy figure, unfazed by the storm. He stared down solemnly at the small light. It was as though this small light could represent the small hope that still remained in this region, dwindling in the darkness of the storm. The chosen duelist had finally arrived. It had only been a matter of time but his arrival would undoubtedly complicate matters. It might be best to strike first.
"My lord," the figure spoke as he gazed down at the small cave, "It appears that the one who can talk to the spirits has finally taken notice,"
"Jaden Yuki?" another voice replied.
"Yes, master. Should I dispatch of him now?" the figure asked as the snow continued to race around him. Each gust of wind did little to dissuade his efforts.
"No," the voice responded firmly, "There is little he can do to stop us now,"
"But my lord, he is weak now and I could easily dis- "the figure reasoned before his ominous master cut him.
"It matters not. Return to the temple. It is time to initiate Phase Three," the voice finished. The figure twisted his head about, taking a deep and frosty breath.
"Very well, my lord. It will be done," the figure replied as he took one last look at the cave, "Rest well now, Jaden Yuki, for you too will lose everything in the frozen waste. As have all that have come before you."