Chapter 1

The Invite

Summer was finally upon the four 14 year olds and two, practically twin 7 year old cousins. The others were all at home not in the mood to tag along. It had been a long year. But they could finally relax and have fun, without worrying about final exams. Copper, Raven, Zoey, and Zachary watched their two friends, John and Lane, duel. Growing bored.

"Would you guys please hurry up!" Raven shouted irritably, with a trait she had received from Crow. "You guys have been at this forever!"

"C'mon we want a turn too!" Zach complained from his upside down position on the bench they were sitting at. He looked incredibly like Leo, light green hair pulled into a small ponytail, had brown eyes. He wore a blue shirt with a light blue jacket on and very light blue shorts and tennis shoes. Very similar to his father.

"Hey we can't help that we got our father's dueling skills." John and Lane said simultaneously.

"You guys are just like your dads, cocky." Zoey sighed. She looked identical to Luna only with blue eyes, and had her light green hair in small pigtails. She had on a red long sleeve shirt with a pink sleeveless jacket on and very light pink shorts, similar to her mother's on with slightly long socks and pink tennis shoes on.

"You are getting all this right, 29? I wanna show my dad how good I've gotten. Then maybe he'll give me a rematch." John grinned.

"For the billionth time, Jonathan Atlas, yes. And my arm's getting tired." Copper sighed. He had a strange personality; constantly asking the same question, like his mom, and yet still being cocky like his dad. Who still hadn't beaten her dad since The Fortune Cup, where Yusei had become the new king of dueling along with seeing a vision of his childhood home being destroyed. Which sometimes still disturbed him. But he had Akiza, her mom, to help him through it. Copper absolutely adored her parents.

"You aren't gonna beat me this time. I place one card face down and end my turn." Lane was saying, snapping Cyli out of her thoughts.

"The only way you'd win is if you became a Dark Signer and summoned one of those Earthbound Immortals, like both your parents." John said. Lane flushed and determination shone in his eyes. This always happened when someone reminded him that both his parents had been Dark Signers. The only response to that he could use against John was the fact that his mother was Misty Tredwell-Kessler, the world's number one supermodel (still(even after three kids)). But he only used that when he reminded his dad, Kalin, had been to the Facility. Not with John, though. When he was reminded that Carly had been a Dark Signer, he would always remind whoever it was that his dad was Jack Atlas. One of the greatest duelists there was. He always said that, though. But no one was better than Copper's parents in her eyes. Raven really didn't have responses, except that her dad used to be a Robin Hood figure, when she was reminded Crow had been to the Facility multiple times. Cyli, herself, had two responses. When she was reminded her dad had been to the Facility, she would remind whoever had said that that her mom used to be the Black Rose. When she was reminded her mother was the Black Rose, she'd say that her dad was still the Dueling champ. But they only needed those a few times. The kids at North New Domino Private Middle School actually thought everything was pretty cool about those four, especially that their parents, mostly, had been a part of the Signer-Dark Signer war. Pretty much everyone knew about that. Lane, John, Raven, Mikaylan, Cadie, Robyn, Jaye, Zoey, and Zachary had learned about it when they were six. Eagle and Gabe had only learned about it a few months ago. Copper had known about since her psychic powers showed up, about the same time she started dueling when she was four. However, they were going to be at North New Domino Private High by the end of summer.

"At least this is only a duel, and not wrestling." Raven whispered in her ear, pushing back a piece of reddish orange hair behind her ear. She had short hair hanging loose and purple and yellow plaid headband on. She had her mother's emerald eyes. As well as short cuffed shorts the same style as her headband on; Raven had pale yellow spaghetti strap shirt on with light purple tie short sleeve vest on over it and tan elbow-length gloves on. She had long black socks and tan riding boots on as well.

"Yeah. Don't say anything or they might get ideas and we both know how that turns out." Copper laughed.

"Here I come! Fortune Dragon Light attaaack! And with 1000 life points left, no monsters, and Fortune Dragon Light having 2000 attack points you are finished!" John said

"Not so fast there my friend," Lane said coolly, "I activate my trap, "Betrayal Attack". Now I can take control of your monster and have it attack you."

The dragon John had been controlling now switched sides but continued to attack only now it attacked John. And he had exactly 2000 life points. That was that. He dropped to 0.

"Finally!" Zachary yelled excitedly.

"In case you haven't noticed cuz, the sun's starting to sink." Zoey stated in a manner quite like Luna's. "That means we have to get home."

"Aww man." He said disappointedly.

"Hey sorry." They said simultaneously with slight guilt in their voices.

Copper closed the video camera and handed it back to her friend.

"Here. You owe us. Big time!" She laughed

"Yeah. Definitely. Thanks for recording Copper. Although now I can't talk my dad into a rematch." He said with amusement in his voice and rubbing the back of his head with his arm, messing up his spiked blonde hair. He had a white v-neck tee-shirt on, dark blue jeans, white jacket and gloves, and white riding boots on. He looked almost exactly like Jack, except with Carly's gray-blue eyes. Lane, who looked mostly like Kalin, with his light blue, slightly long hair laughed,

"I told you I'd beat you." He had Misty's blue eyes and was wearing also wearing a v-neck tee-shirt, too only green along with dark blue slacks, black gloves, (like one's the Enforcers wore), and arm straps (like the one's the Enforcers wore) on his upper arms, and black sensible shoes, like the ones he'd where during dance practice.

"Oh shut up." John said punching his friend in the arm, lightly.

"Hey, don't start you two. If you go home with bloody noses, we're gonna get the 3rd degree from your parents." Raven said. Although it was serious, she added an air a humor in it, just like Crow.

"Well, we better get going; before the sun sets completely." Copper said.

"I'll see the minis home. See ya later." Raven said turning on her heel with Zoey and Zach.

"Meet here tomorrow?" Copper asked. Her friend gave her the thumbs up.

"See ya." The boys were saying.

"All right!" Copper shouted to make sure they heard her. With that she walked to her duel runner and headed for home. I wonder if dad will get home before me? She wondered. Her dad would sometimes beat her home when she and her friends dueled and forgot about the time. Causing their parents to worry slightly.

She finally reached home and pulled into the garaged. Her father's red duel runner was missing. Dad's not home, she thought as she took off her helmet, letting her long hair fall. She had black hair naturally streaked with red pulled into a braid; she had on a red tank top under her black shoulder strap shirt with light blue jean short cuffed shorts, a red bracelet that doubled as an energy stabilizer to restrain her psychic powers, long black gloves and stockings along with riding boots like her dad's and a blue chocker and goggles around her neck. She had deep blue mixed with indigo and flecked with golden amber brown colored eyes. Mom's home though. At least I'm not alone. She smiled as she walked in and called "I'm home!" Her mother came out of the kitchen, also smiling.

"I was wondering where you were." Akiza said coming and kissing her daughter's cheek and hugging her. She was wearing her normal black dress, black stockings, necklaces, and red shoes, but wasn't wearing her red jacket or long black gloves that covered her Dragon Claw Signer Mark. Her mother had short red hair with long bangs, most of which were held with the energy stabilizer in her hair. But she really didn't need it; she had learned to control her psychic powers about twenty years ago, she also had a better energy stabilizer Yusei had made for her. Copper had a similar one like it. Her mother looked at her with her golden amber brown eyes. "How was the duel?" Still being a duelist herself, Akiza wanted to hear how her daughter was doing.

"Never got to duel. Lane and John were at it again. And—"

"Let me guess, Lane won, since John won last time." Copper nodded. "Those two always keep it interesting, don't they?

"Always." Copper sighed. Her mother smiled again.

"Help me in the kitchen?"

"Of course." Copper replied happily, returning her mother's kiss and hug.

She loved helping her parents whenever possible, since they always helped her. She just simply loved her parents. And she especially loved how much they loved her and each other. Copper didn't think her parents had ever had a fight or gotten angry at her or the other. So she did something special for them on their 15th anniversary. She made them a special candlelit dinner and made a couple CDs of mainly slow songs that pretty much described their relationship for them to dance to; as well as clearing space in the living room for dancing. She also did all the around the house chores she could think of to help them out; she left them alone for the entire night, once they got home from their shops. Sure it took all day, but luckily her it was on a Saturday and had her friends help her out. Copper followed her mother into the kitchen and looked at the wall clock, 7:15. Hmmmm….. That's strange; dad normally gets off at 6:30 and home about fifteen minutes later. Unless he has to inventory. I hope nothing went wrong at the shop. Copper's dad part owned the most popular duel runner shop/auto repair shop in New Domino City.

Akiza looked at the clock too. "I wonder where your father is. He doesn't have inventory until next month. But I'm sure he's fine. He always ise ." She said as she reached the counter, returning to her work. She had a few roses from their garden in a vase on the table.

"The roses are still blooming." Copper said. Her mother nodded. Akiza had always had a touch with plants; flowers especially. She had been the Black Rose, whose deck was mostly compiled of plants. But those days were gone, thanks to her father.

Copper began setting the table and no sooner had she set it when she heard the sound of a duel runner outside. She and her mother looked at each other, both thinking the same thought. Her father was home. Yusei came in through the garage with a slightly weary expression in his deep blue mixed with indigo colored eyes. He came into the kitchen to join his wife and daughter and sat down in a chair and sighed long and heavily. Both Copper and Akiza looked at each other a little worried.

"Everything okay dad?" Copper asked sitting in the chair next to him.

"What a day! Trudge blew a gasket earlier." Yusei finally said

"What did you do this time dad?" She asked, smiling, slightly joking. Her father smiled back and ruffled her mostly black hair that was much like his own.

"For once, nothing." He replied. Even though it was twenty years later, Yusei and Officer Trudge still occasionally quarreled (Yusei mostly playful and Trudge seriously). Mainly about how Yusei was married to Akiza and Trudge couldn't even get Mina, who he still liked and now happened to have the job Goodwin had had, to look at him. "I meant Trudge blew a gasket in his runner, and it took Crow, Kalin, Tanner, Daniel, Dexter, and I nearly six hours to fix it. And that only left Jack, Blister, and Leo to take care of everything else."

"Sounds like you had a rough day." Akiza said, coming to kiss her husband.

"Not really. Work was going smoothly. At least until Trudge came in about one o'clock."

"Seems to me that Trudge needs you guys to work on his runner more than you work on your runner!" Copper stated. Both her parents laughed. "Yeah, but remember he is Sector Security. So that's his excuse, for now anyway." Yusei told her, still laughing. "I should probably check my e-mail and shower up." He said, standing up.

"Don't take too long. Dinner's in 45 minutes." Her mother stated

"Don't worry. I'll only take a few minutes. Copper could you set my e-mail up for me?"

"Yeah. Sure, dad." She responded, kissing her dad on his marker. She knew why he had been to the Facility, but to her it didn't seem fair. Sure he had been raised in the Satellite, but he had been born in New Domino. So technically, he was a resident of both. Not that it mattered anymore since the Daedelus Bridge had been finished.

"Thanks sweetie." Her father said, kissing the top of her head. Her father left for his and Akiza's master bedroom on the second, (really third), floor. The Fudo's home had an interesting layout. It looked like it only had two stories to it on the outside. But on the inside it was technically three, not including the attic and basement. The stairs went straight, and then turned to the right five steps, with the hallway going back one way. Copper's master bedroom, and spare bedrooms, hall closets and bathrooms were this way. And then the other way, leading up three steps was another hallway where Copper's parent's bedroom was, along with a spare room used for study- or workroom, and supply closet, plus the ladder that led to the attic. Downstairs was the living room, kitchen, spare room used for a music room with several instruments in it, (including a piano that both Yusei and Copper could play extremely well), and hallway that led to the downstairs bathroom and bedroom, garage, laundry room, kitchen, and the stairs that led to the basement that doubled as dance studio for Copper when she and Lane couldn't practice anywhere else. The outside of their house had an all around porch with a swing on it and the backyard was pretty much just the garden Akiza had planted when she and Yusei first moved in after they were married. Only a small bit wasn't used for it, but that was mainly used for dueling. She spent most of her time in her garden when she was alone. She had planted fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, really anything that would grow. Especially flowers, since Akiza was the main owner of Black Garden, a very popular flower shop. Copper's dad spent most of his alone time in the garage, working on either the cars, his runner, or helping Copper learn more about engineering. Throughout the entire house was an intercom system that Yusei had installed shortly after Copper had been born.

Copper went and turned the computer in part of living room several yards away from the fireplace on and spun up her dad's e-mail. As far as she could see (without actually reading the e-mail, just reading the subject) there was nothing interesting. A couple e-mails from Mina concerning when next his duel or turbo duel was. The weekly one Martha sent seeing how they were; another from Yanagi. I wonder how Yanagi's doing? She wondered. The old man still traveled the world from time to time, like he was doing now. The fourth e-mail in her father's inbox was from Crow with an attachment on it on the inventory, since it was his turn to take it. But that was about it. At least for now.

"Anything else I can help with, mom?" she asked coming back into the kitchen. Her mother smiled.

"Could you go get a little bit of rosemary for me?"

Copper nodded and went outside to her mother's garden. She found the rosemary easily after years of playing while her mother worked in the garden. She took a small twig of what her mother asked for and went back inside.

"Thanks, Copper."

Akiza's daughter smiled again, "Anytime. Anything else?"

Akiza smiled back and shook her head, "Not at the moment, honey."

"Oh, okay. Just call if you need any help."

"Don't worry, I will." She said, kissing the top of her daughter's head.

She walked to her room upstairs to put her decks on her desk and looked at the photos sitting on it after seeing her pet ferret, Fairwin, asleep. One was a picture of her and Raven in their former school volleyball uniforms. Another of her and Lane from their last dance competition where they had won. Others were various photos of her and her friends and family; some concerning competitions and events, whiles others were just because, most of which were taken by John or Carly. One of her favorite pictures was of Copper and her parents. Her favorite of all of the pictures was just of her parents; it had been taken last summer. She didn't think her parents had ever looked happier; Yusei was holding Akiza close and of course both smiling genuinely dazzling smiles at the other. They loved each other so much! It was hard for Copper to believe that for a time in their lives neither of her parents ever smiled like that… at all!

"So I forgot to ask, how did your duel go today?" Copper's father asked standing in the doorway, startling her. How long had she been looking at those pictures? She looked at the clock; she hadn't been looking for more than ten minutes. She turned to her father. His hair was damp from the shower he had just taken and had changed into his normal black jeans and riding boots and had an open soft blue button up shirt over a black v-neck shirt, revealing his Dragon Head Signer Mark.

"Oh, that. John and Lane went first and their duel 'till pretty much sundown." She said, "So Raven, Zach, Zoey, and I never got a chance, much to Zach's annoyance."

Yusei smiled. "That's too bad. If you had gotten to duel, I'm sure you would've beaten those two easily. You are that good of a duelist. And after all you are a Fudo. It's in your blood."

"Thanks daddy!" she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. He hugged her back.

The father and daughter walked down stairs into the living room where Copper's mother waited.

"I was wondering why you were taking so long." She commented, "Dinner won't be ready for another 20 minutes."

"Okay." He shrugged, "You heard how my day was, but I haven't heard about your day." He said, coming over to Akiza to kiss her lightly on the lips before sitting on the couch. Akiza sat down next to him laying her head on his shoulder and Copper sat on the arm of the couch.

"The usual. Arranging bouquets to fit any occasion, helping brides-to-be decide which arrangements to use. Carly and Dove perfected the summer catalogue a week before it's late. Like I said the usual." She smiled at her husband, "And you spent most of the day working on Trudge's runner." He nodded, smiling.

My parents are so perfect for each other! Just by how they're smiling is the perfect giveaway. Copper thought. "And you already heard about my boring afternoon, taping the never-ending duel of John Atlas and Lane Kessler." She said, joining in the conversation. "And John isn't going to get his rematch until he wins again."

"Remind me to ask Jack why he insists on having to be convinced of his son's strength before he duels him." Yusei said, "I certainly don't do that to you, and I definitely know Crow doesn't do that."

"Maybe it's because Jack has too much pride." Akiza put in.

"All I know is that whenever John duels Lane, they take forever!" Copper exclaimed, falling sideways on the couch.

Her father got up and went to the computer to check his e-mail, his wife leaning over his shoulder. Their daughter close behind.

"Anything interesting?" Akiza asked her husband.

"Not really. Just the usual. Yanagi says he's flying in tomorrow from his latest adventure." He started to close out when he received something. The subject read: INVITE, he opened the e-mail. It read:

"Dear Mr. Fudo,

I cordially invite you, your family, and a few others to come visit me to see my latest project and to explain myself.

-Zigzix, former chief of engineering of the Enerdy Reactor under Director Goodwin."

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