Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh GX. Also if you are homophobic or transphobic this is your last chance to escape to safety.

Trigger Warnings: I haven't fully planned this story out but usually my stories include depictions of some violence, self-harm, abuse, and sometimes mentions of suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Note: Not ALL duels will focus on original cards. Sadly I am not that creative.

Also it's been a while since I've written duels, I feel super rusty but I think I can get back into this eventually. Wish me luck.


"Promise me you'll still call on the phone." Naota Yamaguchi tried to sound enthusiastic and upbeat, but that kind of acting proved to be far beyond the ten-year-old's capabilities. Naota and Yuu were best friends since the day they'd met, and now Yuu was moving away.

The very thought of that was enough to shatter Naota's heart. The poor child hadn't slept well in days, often tossing and turning into the hours of the morning. What little sleep that did come often came with the accompaniment of the most sorrowful dreams.

Naota once dreamt of growing up without ever seeing Yuu again.

So as the snowfall gently covered Akimoto Park in a blanket of white, the two children pushed themselves on the swing, enjoying each other's company for what might be the last time. Naota struggled to keep up with Yuu, who easily swung high into the air despite being one year younger than his friend. Their relationship was like that a lot. Yuu always kept one step ahead of Naota. Once they bought a game on the same day. Yuu finished it weeks before Naota. Naota read a book in two days and leant it to Yuu, who finished it and returned it by that evening. And Naota had never once beaten Yuu at Duel Monsters.

But none of this ever put a single strain on their friendship.

Naota's gentle almond colored eyes peeked out from behind bangs of curly brown hair. Though Naota tried to force a smile for Yuu, there was no way to hide the welling tears. "I'll miss you."

Yuu brushed away a lock of his silver hair and smiled. "Of course I'll always call. We're best friends Ta-kun."

"I have something for you," said Naota. With as warm a smile as possible, Naota hopped off the swing and held something out. Yuu jumped off in midair and landed before Naota.

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"Well I didn't really get it." Naota dropped a star shaped silver necklace into Yuu's gloved hand. "It's just something I had on me."

"But this is," Yuu's voice froze, his words hanging on the bitter wind. "Didn't your dad say you're supposed to save this and give it to somebody you really like?" Yuu held the necklace in his hand, unable to take his eyes off it.

"I really like you."

Children laughed and played on the equipment all around them, running up the stairs, swinging from the monkey bars, and racing down the slides. They threw snowballs and built snowmen. Their parents cheered them on or scolded them for not listening. Naota's brother chatted with his girlfriend a few feet away, trying to earn himself a kiss.

'Thank you so much, Ta-kun." Said Yuu as he put on the necklace. "It's beautiful." His eyes lit up like starlight. "Hey, Ta-kun, do you have your cards with you?"

"Uh huh. My brother's holding it," said Naota, running off quickly.

Yuu smiled as he headed toward the parking lot. "Hey, Mr. Murata," he called out to a man dressed in formal black attire, sitting within a long black limo. "I'm going to give Naota the present now."

Mr. Murata smiled as he stepped out of the limo and opened the door. "I am sure Naota will love it, Master Akimoto."

Yuu hopped inside the car and nearly tripped on landing. With a quick pin wheeling motion he maintained his balance as he shoved something on one arm and grabbed a medium sized box with the other. It was wrapped in green wrapping paper and a red ribbon. "Thank you so much Mr. Murata!"

Yuu returned to the park and found his friend sitting by a bench. "Hey where'd you go?" Naota asked him with a smile. "I was worried I lost you." Snow fell on Naota's hair and quickly melted, dripping down his face like tears.

Yuu adjusted his ski cap and smiled. "Just had to get you this," he said as he handed Naota a box, careful to keep his left arm hidden. "Happy Birthday. I know it's a little early but I wanted to give it to you now."

Naota vigorously tore the wrapping paper off with a smile. "Thanks Yuu," said Naota, throwing all the garbage into a nearby trashcan. Naota removed the last of the wrapping and gasped. "You didn't have to get me a Duel Disk!"

"But you've always wanted one," said Yuu. "And I figure we should duel this way at least once." Yuu revealed his left arm, already equipped with a Duel Disk of his own. "So let's play!"

Naota smiled, putting on the Duel Disk with enthusiasm and shuffling the cards with a smile. The two duelists smirked as their Duel Disks whirred to life and their Life Point counters climbed. "You can have the first move," Yuu announced.

The other children got off the playground and gasped in unison as they saw the duel beginning. Some of them had their own Duel Disks, but many did not. An actual hologram duel was a rare sight for them to behold. Sure you could see them on TV at any time, but to watch one up close in real life! Many were jealous.

"Mommy, I want a Duel Disk!"

"I wonder what kind of cards they use."

"Oh wow, they're so young. I wonder if they're any good."

Naota's brother Dai stopped making out with his girlfriend so he could watch his sibling duel. "Hey Skye, you like Duel Monsters right. This is going to be pretty fun." Dai smirked. "Wait until you see Yuu's deck."

Naota drew six cards and smiled. "I summon Sylvan Flowerknight," Naota said, placing a card on the field. A young brown haired teen wearing bright golden armor and a green plant like cape. (1800/1000) "Flowerknight allows me to excavate a card from the top of my deck," said Naota, grabbing a card and revealing it to Yuu. "If it's a plant it goes to the graveyard. If not it goes to the bottom of my deck. And the card I excavated is Sylvan Flowerknight and I get to activate my card's other effect. I can take one Sylvan monster from my deck and place it on the top of my deck, so I choose Sylvan Bladefender!" Naota grabbed two cards from his hand. "I'll set these cards face down and end my turn."

Yuu drew a new card and smiled. "I summon Shizen Link- Courage Terrier!" (1200/800) Yuu announced as an adorable dog with brown and white fur appeared at his feet and dashed around the field barking happily. Yuu bent over to pet his new card before grabbing a spell. "Next I activate the spell card Link Summon. This turn, if I summoned one of my S Link cards, I can Special Summon another one of an equal or lower level from my hand. So come on out, Shizen Link Inaba Cottontail!" (700/500) Yuu summoned an adorable white rabbit with fluffy cotton fur.

The rabbit hopped up and down and happily clapped its hands. Some of the children pointed and squealed with delight. "Now their effects kick in. These S Links get power based on the other S Links in play. Level 4 and lower cards like Inaba and Courage get half the original attack of the strongest S Link on my field, so long as that S Link is Level 5 or lower and is a different card." Yuu noticed some confusion in the audience. "So Inaba gets half of Courage Terrier's attack and vice versa!"(1300/500) (1550/800) "Next I use Inaba's effect. While he can't attack directly like his Spirit counterpart, but I can give up his attack for the turn to weaken one of your monsters by half the attack of an S Link I control!"

Inaba Cottontail hopped toward Sylvan Flowerknight and bopped his foe on the head with a cartoonish mallet. Flowerknight spun around feeling dizzy. (1025/1000) "Now Courage Terrier attacks your Sylvan Flowerknight! And as you know, his effect protects me from your traps!"

The tiny dog let out a bark as it charged forward and flipped through the air, landing on Sylvan Flowerknight with enough force to destroy the opposing monster. Naota's Life Points trickled slightly, but not enough to cause any serious alarm just yet.

Naota: 3475

"Next I'll set two cards and end my turn."

Naota reached for the next card and grinned. "Welcome out Sylvan Bladefender," Naota cried out, summoning forth a new plant warrior. (1900/700) "Now it's time for the duel to really get started!"

It was a fierce duel, Naota threw forth everything a Sylvan deck had to offer. The crowd cheered for the two duelists and both duelists smiled. But in the end it wasn't enough. Yuu smiled as his trap card wiped away Naota's field. "And now go, Shizen Link S. Wolf! Attack him directly!" Yuu cried out. A tiny wolf cub with silver fur dashed forward and took a running leap at Naota's stomach, bringing the duelist's Life Points to 0.

Naota: 0

"Hahaha that was fun Yuu." Said Naota as the holograms vanished. "I wish we could do this again someday."

"I know I'll be moving far away, but I promise I'll come visit sometime." Yuu said. "So make sure you practice!

"Are you sure you can make it?"

"Of course. We're best friends aren't we!" Said Yuu.

Years passed and Naota never saw Yuu Akimoto again.


Original Cards

Shizen Link Courage Terrier

Earth/Beast

(3) 1200/800

This card gains Attack Points equal to half the highest Original Attack of a level 5 or Lower Shizen Link monster you control other than this card. Your opponent may not activate Trap Cards in response to this card's attack or the attack of any S Link monster with equal or less Attack than S Link Courage Terrier.

A cute little terrier with white and brown fur.

Shizen Link Inaba Cottontail

Earth/Beast

(3) 700/500

This card gains Attack Points equal to half the highest Original Attack of a level 5 or Lower Shizen Link monster you control other than this card. Once per turn select one monster your opponent controls and reduce its Attack by this card's Attack. Then if you control another Shizen Link monster, you may reduce the targeted monster's Attack by one half the Attack of another Shizen Link monster you control.

An adorable bunny with fluffy white fur like cotton.

Link Summon

Spell

If you Normal Summoned an S Link monster this turn you may Special Summon from your hand or Graveyard an S Link monster with equal or less attack.

Inaba Cottontail hopping after a butterfly.

Author's Notes: For this story I will not be using the real world ban list. Most cards will use their real life effects though some will maintain their anime effects if they work better.