Author's Note: It sort of goes without saying that this story will be making numerous callbacks to Ritual of Doom, VR Duelists and Viper's Grudge, so anyone who hasn't read those stories yet may be a bit lost.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX or Strawberry Crisis.
Chapter 1: Heroes of Space and Earth
It was mid-morning as Jaden Yuki stood out on the roof of Duel Academy America looking out at the city. He was once again thinking about his old friend and archrival, Chazz Princeton. Almost a month ago in New York, Jaden along with Chazz, his girlfriend Alexis Rhodes, and his friend Axel Brodie encountered an old enemy from Jaden's past, Professor Thelonius Viper. Viper had captured the four of them and forced them to take part in a survival game deep in the jungle. Jaden had managed to defeat Viper, but an ally of Viper's that appeared to be another incarnation of the Light of Destruction had appeared and captured Chazz.
Since then, Jaden had been spending time at Duel Academy America with Alexis in order to recover from the whole experience. During that whole time, Axel had been off searching for where Chazz might've been taken to, and in all those weeks Jaden hadn't heard a single word from him. Of course he knew that Axel hadn't had a lot to go on when he began his search. They didn't even know the name of this new incarnation of the Light. Even so, Jaden found himself becoming more and more concerned as time passed.
"You really do like this spot, huh?" a voice suddenly spoke.
Jaden turned around to see a young woman in a Duel Academy America uniform with straight dark-red hair that went halfway down her back and striking green eyes. This student was a friend of Jaden's from his last visit to the academy, Sheila Tate. With Sheila was another young woman with long silky black hair, porcelain skin and stunning violet eyes. This was Sheila's girlfriend, Tabitha Greene.
"It's a good place to think," Jaden responded. "So what brings you two up here?"
"Principal Mackenzie sent us here to come get you," Sheila explained. "He wants to see you right away."
"What's it about?" Jaden asked.
"He didn't say, but it seemed important," Tabitha answered.
Jaden suddenly became a little bit nervous. He didn't think he was in trouble with Principal Mackenzie, but he couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility. Jaden let Sheila and Tabitha lead the way to where the principal was waiting for him. In a few short minutes the three were out in the courtyard behind the school. Waiting for them with his hands folded behind his back was a dark-haired man with bushy eyebrows and a strip of beard on his chin. This man of course was Principal Mackenzie. With the principal was a young woman with blonde hair whom Jaden instantly recognized as his girlfriend, Alexis Rhodes.
"Ah! Jaden. Good of you to come so quickly," Principal Mackenzie spoke.
"Hi Mr. Mackenzie," Jaden responded. "I hope you didn't ask me here to tell me that I've overstayed my welcome or anything."
"Not at all," Principal Mackenzie assured him. "I and the academy owe you a great deal for how you saved us from the terror of Electra Darkling and Zott."
"So then what's up?" Jaden asked.
"We have a little surprise for you," Alexis answered with a wink.
"Hello Jaden," a familiar voice spoke from behind.
Jaden turned around, and standing before him was a dazzling young woman with long silver hair, porcelain skin, and mysterious golden eyes. She had on a red leather jacket with a black shirt, blue jeans and brown cowboy boots. A duel disk not unlike Jaden's was on her left arm. Jaden recognized this young woman as his old friend from Astraea Island, Shizuma Hanazono.
"Shizuma!" Jaden enthusiastically responded. "This is a surprise."
"Hi Jaden!" spoke a young woman with red hair and reddish-brown eyes that popped up from behind Shizuma. She had on a pink leather jacket with a white and red-stripped shirt and a short blue skirt and boots nearly identical to Shizuma's. This was Shizuma's girlfriend, Nagisa Aoi.
"Hey there, Nagisa," Jaden spoke. "I knew you couldn't be too far behind. So what are you two doing here at Duel Academy America?"
"We'll get into that here in a bit," Shizuma answered. "For now though, I thought you and I could have a little duel. What do you say?"
Jaden grinned and raised his own duel disk. "Game on!"
With that, Nagisa and the others stepped back in order to watch. Meanwhile, Jaden and Shizuma activated their duel disks and drew their opening hands.
"Nagisa, you and Shizuma couldn't have picked a better time to show up," Alexis told her. "A duel like this is just the thing to cheer Jaden up."
"Cheer him up? What's been the matter with him?" Nagisa asked.
"Now that you mention it, the guy has seemed a little gloomy since he got here," Sheila realized. "Do you know what the deal is, Ms. Alexis?"
"It's… a long story," Alexis responded as her expression saddened a bit.
"As they say, ladies first!" Shizuma declared as she drew her first card. "I summon Phantom Magician in Defense Mode!"
Appearing on Shizuma's side of the field in a kneeling position was a small skeletal creature wearing a tattered black hooded cloak. A plain white mask covered his face, and in his right hand was a small magic wand.
"That ends my turn!" Shizuma announced.
Jaden drew his first card. "I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman in Attack Mode!"
Materializing on Jaden's side of the field was a warrior clad totally in a blue bodysuit with gold lines running down the sides of his arms and legs like lightning bolts. A blue visor totally covered his face, and on the warrior's chest was a piece of gold colored armor. Attached to the armor on the warrior's back were two large almost wing-shaped blades.
"I attack Phantom Magician with Sparkman!" Jaden announced. "Static Palm!"
Sparkman dashed across the field as blue electricity began to build in the palm of his right hand. When he got in range, the hero smashed his electrified hand into Phantom Magician's mask. Upon being hit, Phantom Magician shattered into particles of gold light.
"When Phantom Magician is destroyed, I can summon a Hero monster with 1000 or less ATK from my deck!" Shizuma announced. "I summon Elemental Hero Woodsman in Defense Mode!"
Appearing in Phantom Magician's place in a kneeling position was a muscular warrior with light-green skin and orange eyes. His right arm looked like it was made from part of a tree, as did his right leg. He had on a tattered green kilt and a green boot on his left leg.
"Wait, this Shizuma uses Elemental Heroes too?" Tabitha observed with a raised eyebrow.
"A Hero vs. Hero duel, huh? This should be interesting," Sheila declared.
"This duel will be more interesting than the two of you think," Principal Mackenzie told them. "Ms. Hanazono is a professional duelist who's made quite a name for herself. She's defeated the likes of other professionals like my daughter, Reggie. And it's even rumored that she once defeated the legendary Seto Kaiba."
"It's no rumor," Nagisa told them. "I saw Shizuma's duel with Kaiba back in Paris."
"Wait, really?" a stunned Alexis exclaimed. "Suddenly I'm not so sure if Jaden has a chance."
"I lay down a face-down and end my turn!" Jaden announced.
Shizuma drew her next card. "Using Woodsman's effect, I add Polymerization to my hand! Next I activate Polymerization and fuse Woodsman with Elemental Hero Clayman and Elemental Hero Lady Heat in my hand to summon Vision Hero Trinity!"
Appearing on Woodsman's right was a young woman with blue eyes and bright orange hair styled to look like flames. She had on a sleeveless white and red spandex outfit with a flame motif and a very short orange cape. Meanwhile covering her forehead was a large red flame-shaped crest with gold trim and a small dark-green gemstone on the front. Materializing on Woodsman's left meanwhile was a hero clad in bulky stone-like armor with a dark rosy tint. On his face was a round red mask.
The three heroes jumped high up into a transparent vortex in the sky above. Dropping down out of the vortex a few moments later with a loud thud was a large warrior clad in futuristic red armor. He had a pair of blades on his back similar to wings. The front of the new hero's helmet had a large red lens for an eye, and on the front of his chest was another red lens. Two larger lenses were also built into the sides of the hero's shoulder armor.
"During the turn Trinity has been Fusion Summoned, his ATK doubles from 2500 to 5000!" Shizuma announced. "Trinity! Attack Sparkman! Trinity Crush!"
The lens built into Trinity's chest extended out to become the barrel of a cannon, as did the large lenses built into his shoulders. The cannons pointed down at Sparkman, and the lenses began to glow. A loud humming noise could be heard as the cannons charged up.
"I activate my face-down card, Super Polymerization!" Jaden announced. "I discard one card from my hand and fuse Sparkman and Trinity to summon Elemental Hero Escuridao!"
Suddenly the sky darkened and a swirling vortex of clouds appeared above. The wind picked up and both Sparkman and Trinity were pulled into the air, swirling around and around until they were pulled into the vortex's center. Then the vortex vanished with a blinding flash of lightning, and a new warrior dropped down to the battlefield. This new hero had a slender body covered in pitch-black armor. Two long forked and jagged blades jutted out from the hiss back, and in place of his right hand was a weapon with three jagged blades. An unearthly blue aura emanated from the dark warrior's body.
"Escuridao gains 100 ATK for each Hero in my Graveyard," Jaden announced. "Since there are two Heroes in my Graveyard right now, his ATK is at 2700!"
Shizuma smirked. "In that case, I'll set a card on the field and end my turn."
Jaden drew his next card. "First I play Pot of Greed and draw two more cards. Then I activate O – Oversoul and summon a Hero from my Graveyard! I summon Elemental Hero Neos!"
Appearing next to Escuridao was a green-eyed warrior in a white alien body suit. Parts of his suit were dark-blue and his hands were black. A red line ran over parts of the warrior's body, and in the center of his chest was a dark-blue gemstone. Three red triangles surrounded the stone on his chest with the points facing away. There were white spikes on his elbows that curved upward, and another large white spike that curved backward grew from the top of the warrior's head.
"Neos! When did you…? Oh. You discarded Neos earlier when you used Super Polymerization," Shizuma realized.
"Yep. Of course now I only have one Hero in the Graveyard, which means Escuridao's ATK drops to 2600," Jaden continued. "Next I play the Field Spell, Neo Space!"
In an instant, the courtyard was transformed into a vast sea of stars filled with swirling multicolored clouds like a nebula.
"While Neo Space is on the field, Neos gains 500!" Jaden announced. "Next I summon Neo-Spacian Flare Scarab in Attack Mode!"
Materializing next to Neos was a humanoid beetle-like creature covered in a navy-blue exoskeleton. He had a cream-colored face and neck, and a large horn attached to the exoskeleton covering his head in the shape of a T. On his back was a split shell covering two sets of transparent wings. The creature's chest and parts of his upper arms and legs were a lavender color.
"I return Neos and Flare Scarab to the deck to contact fuse them into Elemental Hero Flare Neos!" Jaden announced.
Both Neos and Flare Scarab flew high into the air and quickly vanished from sight. A few seconds later, Neos dropped back down to the field in a new form. His body was covered entirely in a black and orange-red exoskeleton. On the sides of his head were horns like the tusks of a stag beetle, and on his back were the two halves of a split shell with an orange-red interior.
"Not only does Flare Neos also gain 500 ATK from Neo Space, he also gains 400 ATK for each Spell and Trap card my opponent has on the field!" Jaden announced. "Flare Neos! Attack Shizuma directly!"
"I activate my Trap, Negate Attack!" Shizuma announced as a ball of flames like a miniature sun began to form in the palm of Neos's hand. "This card cancels Neos's attack and ends the Battle Phase!"
As soon as the fireball he had created became large enough, Flare Neos fired it across the field at Shizuma. Just as the projectile was about to hit though, it was sucked into a transparent vortex that had vanished as quickly as it appeared.
"Guess I'll lay down a facedown and end my turn," Jaden announced.
"This is really turning out to be one heck of a duel," Sheila remarked. "So far neither one of them has lost any life points. I can't figure out who's gonna win."
"It'll likely depend on Shizuma's next move," Tabitha responded. "I get the feeling that she has another Hero just as powerful as Vision Hero Trinity."
Shziuma drew her next card. "I summon Elemental Hero Ocean in Attack Mode!"
Materializing on Shizuma's side of the field was a blue aquatic-looking warrior with yellow eyes and a single fin on top of his head. Pieces of silver armor covered his waist, and in his right hand was an ornate blue spear with two blades at the top that formed the shape of a U.
"I activate the Spell card, Miracle Fusion and fuse Ocean with Woodsman in my Graveyard to summon Elemental Hero Terra Firma!" Shizuma announced.
Ocean flew into the sky alongside a ghostly image of Woodsman into a transparent vortex that had formed above the battlefield. Dropping out of the vortex with a loud thud a few seconds later was a gigantic muscular warrior with a body that looked like it was made of white stone. In the center of his chest was a red gem, and he had three blue gems embedded in the tops of his head and shoulders. From his back grew two spike-like protrusions with flat tips and edges, and from the sides of his waist grew two small rods.
"Whoa! A Legendary Planet monster?" a stunned Sheila observed. "I totally wasn't expecting that."
"You haven't seen anything yet," Nagisa told her. "Shizuma is just getting started."
"Next I activate Parallel World Fusion and return Ocean and Woodsman to the deck to fuse them again into Elemental Hero Absolute Zero!" Shizuma announced.
Another warrior dropped down from above and landed on the field next to Terra Firma. This hero had green eyes and was clad almost totally in shining white ice-like armor. Hanging from his back was a long white cape.
"I activate Terra Firma's effect!" Shizuma announced. "By sacrificing Absolute Zero, Terra Firma gains his ATK until the end of the turn!"
Terra Firma grabbed the other hero by the shoulder and held on tight. The hero of ice turned into white energy and went into Terra Firma's arm. The red gem in the center of the earth hero's chest began to glow. Soon after, both Flare Neos and Escuridao suddenly became frozen in a thick layer of ice and shattered to piece.
"When Absolute Zero leaves the field, all of my opponent's monsters are destroyed!" Shizuma announced.
"And since Absolute Zero also had 2500 ATK like Terra Firma, his ATK has been doubled to 5000," Tabitha observed.
"This must be the combo that defeated Seto Kaiba," Sheila assumed.
"Terra Firma! Attack Jaden directly!" Shizuma commanded. "Magma Slash!"
Terra Firma grabbed onto the rods growing from his waist and pulled, revealing that they were actually the handles of swords with blades made of blazing hot fire. With both weapons in hand, the hero began to charge towards Jaden, causing the earth to tremble with each step.
Jaden smirked as Terra Firma came in striking range. "I activate my Trap! Negate Attack!"
Just as Terra Firma swung down one of his fiery blades towards Jaden, a transparent vortex appeared in front of Jaden and repelled the attack, nearly knocking the weapon out of the hero's hand.
"Well, looks like I have no choice but to end my turn," Shizuma announced. "And with the end of my turn, Terra Firma's ATK goes back to normal."
"You're really enjoying yourself, aren't you?" a familiar voice asked Jaden. Jaden looked to see his Duel Monster spirit partner, Yubel standing beside him.
"You bet," Jaden quietly responded. "Guess I needed a duel like this after everything that happened with Chazz and Viper."
"Well I'm glad. Alexis and I have been a little worried about you," Yubel told him.
"This really is one crazy duel," Sheila declared. "Neither one of them has lost a single life point so far."
"It may all end on the next turn though," Tabitha responded.
Jaden drew his next card. "I summon Elemental Hero Stratos in Attack Mode!"
Appearing on Jaden's side of the field was a blue-skinned warrior with dark-blue armor covering his chest and white armor covering his legs. On his head was a white helmet with wing-like blades on the side and a green visor that totally covered his face. On the warrior's back was a pair of large mechanical wings with propellers.
"Since Stratos was summoned to the field, I use his effect to add Elemental Hero Neos back to my hand!" Jaden announced. "Now I play the Spell card, Ancient Rules and use its effect to special summon Neos back to the field!"
On cue, Neos reappeared on the field in his original form. Both Neos and Terra Frima looked at one another from across the field as though they were sizing one another up.
"Just like before, Neos gains 500 ATK from Neo Space," Jaden continued. "And now I equip Neos with the Spell card, Neos Force, giving him another 800 ATK!"
Neos clenched his right hand into a fist, which began to glow with an otherworldly blue light. In response, Terra Firma moved to brace himself for Neos's attack.
"When Neos destroys a monster while equipped with Neos Force, he deals damage equal to the destroyed monster's ATK!" Jaden announced. "Neos! Attack Terra Firma! Force of Neo Space!"
Neos charged across the field and leapt into the air as Terra Firma crossed his arms to try and block the attack. Despite the earth hero's efforts though, Neos's glowing fist connected with his face and knocked him onto his back. Terra Firma shattered into particles of gold light and Shizuma's life points plummeted to a mere 200.
"Stratos! Attack Shizuma directly!" Jaden commanded. "Hero Typhoon!"
The propellers in Stratos's wings began to spin at high speed and sent forth two powerful twisters at Shizuma. The silver-haired duelist was hit but remained standing, yet her life points still dropped to zero. With the duel at an end, Neos and Stratos vanished and the surrounding area changed back to its original form.
"That's game!" Jaden declared as he did his trademark victory pose.
Shizuma let out a soft chuckle. "You really got me good that time, Jaden. Next time though, it'll be much different."
"Aw! I really thought Shizuma would win that one," Nagisa spoke. "But at least she had fun."
"So did Jaden," Alexis added.
Suddenly the sound of clapping filled the air, causing Jaden and the others to look. Standing a few feet away was a man with long silver hair that grew to cover the left side of his face, wearing a red suit. Jaden instantly recognized this man as the creator of Duel Monsters, Maximillion J. Pegasus.
"Oh wonderful!" Pegasus praised. "Exactly the kind of performance I was expecting from the two of you."
"Mr. Pegasus? What're you doing here?" Jaden asked.
"Pegasus is actually the one who brought Nagisa and I here," Shizuma revealed.
"It's actually rather convenient that you're here at this academy Jaden, as it saves me an extra trip," Pegasus spoke as he walked towards him. "You see I came to invite you to attend a special event on Astraea Island, the Founders Festival."
"The Founders Festival?" Jaden repeated.
"It's a celebration to honor the founding of the three academies on the island, Miator, Spica and Lilum," Pegasus explained. "And of course as I am one of the founders, I will be attending. Shizuma and Nagisa will be attending as well due to being two of Miator's top students."
"Okay, but why am I invited?" Jaden asked.
Pegasus chuckled. "Oh really Jaden! Do you have to ask? You saved that island not once but twice from the terrors of Zorc and the Orichacos. Because of that, you've become something of a legend on the island. Therefore it's only natural that you be invited to take part in the celebration."
"You are, by the way, welcome to bring Ms. Rhodes along," Principal Mackenzie added.
"Well Lex?" Jaden asked.
"I've always wanted to see the Astraea Island duel academies," Alexis admitted. "But it is up to you."
"Well then, I say let's go!" Jaden decided.
"Splendid!" Pegasus praised. "I just knew that you would attend."
"I have been invited to attend the festival as well, due to being an old friend of one of the other founders, Erich Muller," Principal Mackenzie revealed.
"Erich Muller? Where have I heard that name before?" Jaden asked.
"He's the one who created the Legendary Planet monsters, like Terra Firma," Alexis reminded him. "I didn't know that he helped to found the three academies though."
Principal Mackenzie turned to Sheila. "Ms. Tate, you are invited to attend the festival as well."
"Huh? Why me?" Sheila asked.
"When I told Mr. Pegasus about the honor that I bestowed on you recently, he insisted that an invitation be extended to you," Principal Mackenzie explained.
"Just because of that? Really?" Sheila responded.
"You are of course welcome to bring Ms. Greene along if you wish," Principal Mackenzie added.
"Well babe? How 'bout it?" Sheila asked.
"Um, sure. It might be interesting," Tabitha agreed.
"Then it's settled!" Pegasus declared. "In two hours, the eight of use will depart on a plane for Astraea Island! Now then, I have a few things to get done before we leave, so I'll be off for now. Ta-ta."
"It sure will be great to be back on the island again," Jaden declared.
"I hope so," Yubel spoke as she reappeared between Jaden and Alexis.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Alexis quietly asked.
"Well I don't mean to be negative, but something bad usually happens every time Jaden and I visit that island," Yubel answered. "Plus the fact that Pegasus is involved makes me even more suspicious."
"C'mon Yubel. You're worrying too much," Jaden told her. "I just know that this trip is gonna be a blast."
Akane had been feeling a bit groggy all morning. After her little discovery at the lighthouse the day before, she had gone straight back to the dorms and fallen asleep. Since waking up, it felt like her head was full of cotton. She seemed to have trouble remembering the events of the previous day, other than going into the lighthouse and the sheer fact that it had been the anniversary of Mahiro's death. Trying to remember the rest of the day though had been like trying to remember parts of a dream. As Akane turned a corner in the hallway, she nearly ran straight into Amane.
"Oh! Sorry Akane," Amane spoke. "I didn't see you coming."
"Don't worry about it," Akane responded. "I should've been paying more attention to where I was going."
"So you doing any better since yesterday?" Amane asked. "You seemed like kind of a wreck when we talked."
"We talked?" Akane asked.
"Yeah, at the cliff. Remember?" Amane reminded her. "You feeling okay?"
"Um… yeah. I'm just a little out of it today for some reason," Akane answered. "I probably got too much sleep or something. I'll be okay though."
"Okay. Well, I have a meeting to get to," Amane responded. "It's times like this when being Etoile has its drawbacks. Well, see ya later."
As Amane walked off, Akane reached into her pocket and pulled out her deck. The card for The Invader X had been added to it. As Akane looked at the card again, her eyes began to glow with a strange multicolored light and a small crazed smile graced her face. She suddenly remembered a thought she had from when she had first found the card.
"Soon Amane," Akane whispered. "Very soon I'll show you… and everyone else on this damn island… a hell unlike anything you can imagine."
Author's Note: I hope that everyone enjoyed this first chapter of the story. If all goes well, Chapter 2 should be up either later this week or sometime next week. It all kind of depends on whether or not there are any sudden changes to my work schedule. So until next time, please stay tuned.
In the meantime, please review and let me know what you think.