Yay, chapter 3!
Disclaimer: Wolf doesn't own Yu-Gi-Oh GX. She only owns her OC's. She's also going to use some of Princessanime08 and ShadowSpirit020's (formerly Lightclaw's Shadow) cards that they made so credit goes to them.
Chapter 3: A Hassleberry Hounding and a Gangster Pounding
It was the afternoon and classes were out for the day, so mostly everyone was going about their business. Well, except a for a certain trio of Slifers, who were now walking through the woods with three bags of duel disks.
"So, remind me again why we're lugging these replacement duel disks across campus?" Cecilio groaned, shifting the bag on his shoulders.
"It's because the Slifer storage was out of duel disks, so we had to get them from the main building," Syrus explained. "We have to do it because Jaden slept through one of Crowler's classes."
"Gracias, hermano, gracias." Cecilio said, sarcastically.
"Why's everyone losing theirs, anyway?" Jaden asked.
"Well…" Both of them turned to Syrus, who had a guilty look on his face.
"What's wrong, Syrus?" Cecilio asked.
"You know something, don't you?" Jaden deduced, Syrus now looking more reluctant to say anything else. "Come on, spill it!"
"I don't know for sure. But I've heard things," The Vehicroid duelist admitted. "You know the west river, right? Over by the main bridge?"
"Yeah, what about it?" Jaden asked.
"Well…" Syrus hesitated, before continuing. "There's this bully who hangs out over there, ah, so I hear, and he forces you to duel him. Uh, so I'm told."
"Yeah… And?" Cecil said, knowing there was more to the story.
"And, if you lose, his gang takes your duel disk away!"
"What else do ya know? Come on." Jaden said.
"I'm just tellin' ya what I heard!" Syrus got defensive. "He might not even exist. For all I know,
this guy's just a myth. The big, ugly musclehead."
"Hey, where's your duel disk?" Jaden asked, noticing Sy's arm was bare.
The shorter Slifer, looked down and avoided the question. "Sy! Did you duel this guy and lose?"
"Yes! And he took my lunch money, too!" Syrus admitted.
"You know what this means, Jay?" Cecilio said, looking serious.
"Sounds like a job for the Enforcers!" Jaden smiled. "Let's take the long way home!"
"Wait! Do you mean-?" Syrus started, though he didn't need to finish.
"I sure do! Let's go!" Jaden said, as he and his hometown friend started into the woods. "We've got some duel disks to win back!"
"Oh, boy. I was afraid he'd do this," Syrus muttered, before running after them. "Be careful! He also gives wedgies! Ah, so I hear!"
West River
After some walking, they reached a large clearing with a small river running through it. Spanning the river was a large yellow bridge.
As they got closer, they heard someone call out to them.
"Stop right there, civilians!" Standing in the center of the bridge was a muscular, Ra Yellow student with a dino bandana, and the sleeves ripped off his blazer. On his back were some duel disks, probably some of the ones he stole.
"That's him, Jaden. That's the guy," Syrus confirmed, sounding nervous. "Maybe we should just go. Who needs lunch money, anyway?"
"We're not gonna run, Sy." Cecil hissed, ready for an altercation.
"Draw your duel disk!" The stranger commanded.
"Sure." Jaden grinned as the guys helped him with his load.
"Hold on. Aren't you scared?" The Ra asked.
"Of a duel? No way! It's what we do." Cecilio answered, taking note of the six large bags next to the bully.
"Now, let's throw down!" Jaden exclaimed.
"But I haven't given my speech yet!" The other guy complained.
"What speech?" Jaden asked.
"My intro!" He clarified. "Now, then. Name's Hassleberry! Codename: Tyranno."
"Whatever you say." Jaden said, dismissively.
"Hey! What's with your goon squad?" Cecilio commented, seeing as five other guys with similar blazers joined their leader on the bridge.
"Show some respect!" Hassleberry snapped.
"That's right. You tell 'em, Sarge!" One of the Ra's praised.
"State your name!" Another one commanded.
"Well, I-" Jaden started, but Syrus cut him off.
"Was just leaving!"
"Roll call, boys!" One of the Ra's called.
"Who are we?"
"Troop Tyranno!" They all yelled together.
"These guys are a few ingredients shy of an enchilada." Cecilio mumbled.
"That's what scares me." Syrus agreed.
"Sound off! Ready?! Sarge Tyranno is the best."
"He likes to wear his jacket as a vest. Sound off, one, two!"
"Sound off, three, four! Now, let's go!"
"Hold on!" One of the Ras looked at Syrus. "You look like the kid whose undies we hung on the flagpole yesterday."
"Yeah, what's your point!?" Syrus snapped, embarrassed.
"Juvenile, anyone?" Cecilio sweatdropped.
"Does it really matter?" Jaden interrupted. "Let's just throw down."
"Well, first…" Hassleberry said, his boys setting the bag on his back to the side. "Lemme lay down the rules of battle. Ya see those duel disks? You lose, those things is mine."
"And if I win…" Jaden interjected. "You give me… the ones you stole!"
"Say what?!"
"Who are you?"
"Just another wimp!" Their leader said, dismissively.
"Hey! Take that back! Hear me!?" Syrus demanded.
"Easy, Sy." Jaden whispered, he and Cecilio surprised by the sudden outburst.
"No one insults my best friend!" Syrus glared, proverbial flames coming off of him.
"Control your subordinate, will ya!?" Hassleberry commented.
The LA boys just sweatdropped.
"Yeah!"
"Or else we will!"
"Forget that pipsqueak. Eyes on the prize." The largest of the boys said.
'When I'm done with this runt, they'll have to scrape him off the ground with a squeegee!' Hassleberry thought, thinking of victory with fire in his eyes.
"All right! You got a deal! And a duel!" He agreed, now having fire of his own, making his sidekicks back up a bit.
"Are you always this dramatic, bro?" Jaden asked, bluntly.
"Atteeen-tion!" Syrus called. "Time for combat, sarge!"
"Clearly you're not the only one," Cecilio muttered, before smirking. "Well, since everyone's being dramatic, let's add in a little flair of our own."
"I'm in!" Jaden returned the smirk, before turning back to the gang, with a nearly sinister look on his face. "You asked who we are. We're a couple of boys from the south side of LA. I'm Jaden, street name: Rogue."
He gestured to Cecilio, who had the same look on his face. "And this is my partner, Cecilio, street name: Venom. Now, we're going to show you how we do things back home."
Everyone was surprised by the change in the both of them. They definitely looked like they were ready for a fight.
A few seconds later, Hassleberry's group, Syrus, and Cecilio stood on the bridge while Hassleberry and Jaden stood across from each other, with the river in between them.
"Ready for boot camp, son?" Hassleberry called out.
"Hey, you! Stop calling him "son"!" Syrus yelled at him. "He's in his second year!"
"Then he's number two!"
"And who's one?!"
"Troop Tyranno!"
"Will you give it up?" Syrus snapped at them. "You're not in the army!"
They ignored him. "Who's the best? Troop Tyranno! And who's gonna win!?"
"Troop Jaden!" Syrus interjected.
'Idiotas!' Cecilio rolled his eyes.
"Are Cecil and I the only ones here who haven't gone insane?" Jaden muttered.
"Rally up! All hands on deck!" Hassleberry called at random.
"He just answered that question loud and clear," Jaden sighed, before smiling again. "Fine. If you can't beat 'em, you gotta join 'em. Game on, General!"
"You mockin' me?! I'm a Sergeant, junior!" Hassleberry growled, activating his duel disk. "And this ain't no game! This is combat!"
Hassleberry: 4000
Jaden: 4000
"All right, then get your "combat" on!" Jaden drew his sixth card. "Ready, Chief!? I declare war, by summoning Elemental Hero Wildheart in defense mode!"
A muscular wild man in a loincloth with a large sword appeared in a defensive crouch (1500/1600). "Now, I'll call it a turn."
"Not a bad start." Cecilio stated.
"Who's the best? Troop Jaden!" Syrus cheered.
All that did was spark some pep in Hassleberry's followers as they brought out instruments and a flag and became more obnoxious than before.
"Ya call that a cheer!? Well, step to the rear!" They shouted.
"Trench warfare time! Here goes!" Hassleberry stated, drawing his sixth card.
"Gilasaurus, front and center!" They watched as a thin, brown dinosaur appeared on the field (1400/400).
"It could be worse." Syrus muttered, having his ears covered from before.
"And now things are about to get a lot worse. 'Cause that right there was a special summon," The dino duelist declared. "Which, in layman's terms, means I can play another monster! So, Gilasaurus, you are dismissed! Now, Dark Driceratops, report to the field in attack mode!"
The first dino vanished as a green Driceratops with feathers and wings appeared (2400/1500).
"Not bad!" Jaden praised. "You played a monster with 2400 attack points on your first turn!"
"This is war! Don't give the enemy any props!" Syrus shouted.
"Chill, Sy! Jaden's got this under control." Cecil said with confidence.
"It's time to go commando!" The new Ra shouted. "Dark Driceratops, attack! Flying Phantom Nose Dive!"
The winged dino took to the sky, diving straight at Wildheart, destroying him. Before Jaden could recover from the blowback, he was hit in the back of the head by the monster's tail, bringing him to his knees.
Hassleberry: 4000
Jaden: 3200
"At ease, Private!" Hassleberry laughed.
"You okay, Jay?" Cecil asked.
"Get up, son!" The Ra 'sergeant' taunted. "My prehistoric patrol isn't through with you yet! But since I'm nice, I'll give a chance to recoup. But not for long. I'll be layin' on the hurt soon enough! That's what ya get when ya mess with the best!"
Jaden was starting to get annoyed with this guy, growling as he got up.
"Hassleberry, Hassleberry!"
"He's our man!"
"If he can't win…"
"We will!" Syrus countered, shouting at the cheer squad. "Now take it down a decibel!"
"Sorry, Little Man, but the Sarge needs support!" A Ra shouted through a megaphone, making Syrus wince since it was right next to his ear. "If it's too loud, then get lost. Go, Sarge!"
Cecil had had it by this point and proceeded to "Saitama" the guy with the megaphone by hitting him with an uppercut. Said guy then landed on his head and passed out, anime style. This made everyone pause for a second.
"Beat the khaki pants off this guy before I beat up his cheer squad!" Cecilio called to his old friend.
"Whatta ya think I'm tryin' ta do? Let him win so you can go on a massacre?" Jaden asked, sarcastically.
Syrus laughed at the comment.
"Oh, he's only half joking." Cecil told him.
This made everyone take a big step to the side.
"Moving on," Jaden drew his next card. "Hey, Lieutenant! My move!"
"For the last time, it's Sergeant! Now play somethin'!" Hassleberry shouted.
"Monster Reincarnation!" Jaden held up the spell. "So, I'll send this to the graveyard in order to bring back my Wildheart! How do ya like that?"
"You want that wimp in your platoon?" Hassleberry snickered.
"Negative. But what I do want… Is this in my graveyard!" Jaden informed, as a hologram on a red man with bones around its body.
"Sam hill! That's Necroshade!" The Ra cried out when the image appeared.
"Bingo! And I'm guessing you know what that means. Right, Captain?" Jaden said, as the image faded. "That I can automatically summon this! Elemental Hero Bladedge!"
The Hero that appeared was all gold with blades on its arms (2600/1800). "Go, Bladedge! Attack his Dark Driceratops! Slice and Dice Attack!"
Bladedge jumped at the beast and destroyed it.
Hassleberry: 3800
Jaden: 3200
"And that should do for now." The Slifer concluded.
"You haven't lost your touch, mi amigo!" Cecilio smiled.
"Awesome! Way to play, Jay!" Syrus cheered.
"Thanks, guys!"
Syrus grinned at Hassleberry's group. "Oh, speechless, huh?"
The group just looked at each other.
'This civilian ain't half bad,' Hassleberry thought. 'But the Sergeant still has a few tactics up his sleeve.'
When he glanced at his group, they got back to their cheers. "Ra, ra, ra! Go Sarge!"
That was when the megaphone guy got up. "Did we win?"
"Whoa, that was quick…" Cecilio muttered.
Then a "horrible" thought came to mind.
"Oh no… I'm going soft!" He cried, clutching at his head.
"Get a hold of yourself, Venom!" Jaden called him.
"What's with him?"
"The last guy who was on the receiving end of that blow was out for three days." Jaden explained, like he was talking about the weather.
"Oh, so that's why I have a headache." The Ra realized, rubbing his head.
"Must have messed with his memory, too…" Syrus muttered.
"Back to the duel!" Hassleberry called, drawing his card.
"I play this! It's a field spell card known as Jurassic World!" The bridge and river changed into a prehistoric world with a thick forest and a volcano.
"Jurassic World?! No way!" Jaden gasped. "Pretty sweet move!"
"You ain't seen nothin' yet, soldier! Now get this. Everyone of my Dinos, and Winged-Beasts, gains 300 attack and defense points!" Hassleberry explained. "And not only that! They can't be affected by any of your trap cards. And not only that, guess what!? If they happened to be attacked while in attack mode, then they have the right to dig into the trenches and switch themselves into defense mode."
"Now that's what I call a major advantage!" Syrus commented, wide eyed.
"Oh chico, Jaden's going to have a rough time now." Cecilio added.
"It's battle time!" Hassleberry continued his move. "Archeonys! Report for duty! In attack mode, of course!"
A blue and yellow, prehistoric, bird creature appeared (300/1300).
"And thanks to my Jurassic World, my monster gains 300 more attack points!" The feathered monster glowed (300-600/1300-1600).
"Only 600 points?! Bladedge can beat that!" Syrus said.
"That's not the target!" Hassleberry grinned.
"Huh?"
"You are, Private! Archeonys can attack your life points directly!"
Syrus gasped and Cecilio growled.
"Now, Archeonys! Do your duty! Debilitate the enemy with Screamin' Eagle Attack!" Archeonys flew in close and let out a loud shriek.
Jaden cringed as the sound hit his ears and kicked up the dirt in front of him. "Now drop 'n gimme 600! 600 life points, that is!"
Jaden: 2600
Hassleberry: 3800
"Jaden just got sucker punched!" Cecilio muttered.
"I'll place one card face down and defer to you," The new Ra said. "Face it, son. It's over. Before long, you'll be extinct. Wouldn't you agree, squadron?"
But when he glanced over at his pals, they were all sitting on the ground. "You men were supposed to cheer just now!"
"Uh, sorry," One Ra grinned sheepishly. "We were moved internally. We'll have an outward display next time, sir."
"Yeah, and we'll cheer for ya, too." Added to guy with the megaphone.
'I must not have hit this guy hard enough.' Cecil thought.
"What am I gonna do with you?" Hassleberry groaned.
"Hey, Major? Keep those eyes on the prize." Jaden grinned, taking his turn.
"Ready!? I play… My Elemental Hero Wildheart in attack mode!" The wild hero came back to the field (1500/1600).
"That's really strange," The megaphone guy said, talking through the megaphone. He turned to the Slifers. "Why would he play that Wild-"
"My ears!" Syrus cried in pain.
"You want another go round, buddy?!" The Dragon duelist threatened.
"Ah, whoops," He apologized, lowering the noise maker. "I mean, why would he play that Wildheart card again?"
"Much better!" Syrus replied loudly before explaining. "Here's the deal: Jaden's the best. Ya just don't question his strategies."
"Besides, Jaden knows his deck inside and out like the back of his hand," Cecilio chimed in. "Trying to figure him out only encourages him to be more unreadable."
"Ooh."
"This is insubordination!" The Dino duelist exclaimed.
"Alright, Bladedge," Jaden announced, getting Hassleberry's attention. "Destroy his Archeonys now! Slice and Dice Attack!"
"I'm fortified with this!" Hassleberry countered, revealing a trap. "Amber Pitfall!"
The trap card sprayed some kind of amber substance that forced Bladedge to back off. "Any idea what this does? It deflects an attacking monster and forces it into defense mode! Now, he's gotta stay like that! That means no more offensive from now on!"
"But you're forgetting something!" Jaden shot back.
"What's that?"
"I still have Wildheart! Now attack with Wild Slash!" The wild man hero charged at the bird dinosaur, sword at the ready.
"Now you're forgetting something! My field spell card!" Hassleberry reminded him. "When my feathered friend is attacked, he has the option of switching to defense mode!"
"What's the point?"
"The point is: it survives!" The dino crossed it's wings in front of it.
"But Jaden's monster's still stronger!" Syrus pointed out.
"Not exactly, little man!" Hassleberry smirked.
"Why not?!"
"'Cause mine gets a defense point boost!" Wildheart brought the sword down, but due to Archeonys' defense points being stronger, the sword broke and Jaden took damage.
Jaden: 2500
Hassleberry: 3800
"I'll throw down two facedowns and call it a turn," Jaden concluded, smiling sheepishly. "That'll teach me. Oh, well. Live and learn."
Cecilio's eyes widened. 'It's rare to see Jaden openly smile back home. Here, he does it so easily.'
"That's weird."
"He's smiling."
"Jaden always has a good time," Syrus told Hassleberry's troops. "Unlike the Sarge."
That got a laugh from the guys and a glare from the dino duelist. 'My battalion is desertin' me. This always happens. I find a troop of soldiers I can trust, and they end up sidin' with the enemy.'
The angry flames came back with a snarl, making Jaden jump slightly.
"No more Mr. Nice Sarge!" He growled as he drew for his turn. "Now brace yourself. 'Cause I play this! My Earthquake spell card! Now every face-up monster on the field is forced into defense mode!"
"Whoa!" Cecil cried as the ground began to shake.
The area began to rumble as the duelists struggled to stay on their feet. During the quake, Jaden's Wildheart got down on his knees in defense mode, and Cecil feel back on his backside.
"You okay?" One of the Ras asked.
"Si," Cecil nodded. "Gracias."
"De nada."
"You speak Spanish?"
"My family and I lived in Spain for a few years, so I know a few words."
"Oh."
"I'm far from done!" Hassleberry continued, activating another spell. "Modified Ultra Evolution! This card lets me reverse the whole evolutionary process! So, I'll just sacrifice one of my Winged Beasts… To summon a Dino!"
Archeonys started disappearing at that point. "Ya' see, they say some birds evolved from dinosaurs."
"Really?" Jaden asked, curious.
"Yup! And so when Archeonys undergoes reverse evolution, it becomes a dinosaur! A Black Tyranno, to be exact!" The winged beast was then replaced by a giant and deadly looking black tyrannosaurus (2600-2900/1800-2100). "And surprise! Thanks to my Dino's special ability, it can attack you directly!"
"This is gonna hurt!" Cecilio gasped.
Jaden grunted, bracing for impact.
"Alright, Black Tyranno! You're on! Nooooow sic 'em!" The Ra shouted, the giant dino roaring as it stomped towards Jaden, kicking up a lot of dust.
Hassleberry seemed to think that the attack connected and he had won. "Mission accomplished!"
"Look!" One of the squad members called out.
"Look at what?! Huh?!" That's when he noticed that Jaden was still in the game.
Jaden: 100
Hassleberry: 3800
"How is it you still have life points, boy?"
"I activated my facedown card," Jaden replied, glancing over at a card that showed a jewel being heavily guarded. "Insurance! It takes one facedown trap or spell card on the field and returns it to my hand."
"Oh, yeah," He also added. "When Insurance returns to my hand, my life points increase by 500!"
"But it's on the field!" The dino duelist protested. "Not in your hand, son!"
"That's true, but…" Jaden showed a card that was the exact same trap on the field. "I've got two Insurance cards."
"Nice one, Jay!" Syrus cheered.
"Fast thinking!" Cecilio added.
"Sergeant Jaden is the best!" The Ra with the megaphone cheered.
That was a blow to Hassleberry's pride. "Deserted! Again."
This made him drop to the ground, looking defeated. "Oh, it's nothing new. Guess the only person I can trust is me. Time and time again, it's always the same. I gather a battalion of supporters, and when I need 'em most… They just up and desert me. But why? I'm a great leader, and I always win. Who wouldn't wanna root for me? Take this duel. I'm beatin' you the same way I beat my last twelve rivals, and no one's cheerin'!"
"Well, Colonel, maybe they're just bored." Jaden said, getting the first year's attention.
"Yeah, I hate using the same moves every single duel," Cecil agreed. "I like to use different strategies when I can."
"Come on! Bored with my duelin'?" He replied. "Now, that's just crazy talk."
"Think about it, dingleberry," Jaden argued. "You said yourself you've used the same moves for twelve duels in a row. So… don't you think it's time you evolved?"
"Eh?"
"Nice dinosaur reference, Jay!" Syrus praised.
"He knows a few hero references, too." Cecil added.
"I'm not bored anymore." Said megaphone guy.
"You were right." Hassleberry got up with wide eyes.
"I always am." Jaden smiled.
"No, you're not." Cecil looked at him.
"Shut up, Cecil," Jay rolled his eyes, but still smiling. He drew his next card. "Ready?! I play Pot of Greed! So I can draw two cards."
"This outta be good." Cecilio smirked.
"Now, getting back to whole evolution thing, I play this! My own field spell card!" Jaden continued.
Hassleberry gasped, knowing he was losing his advantage.
"Sorry, but the Stone Age is over!" The jungle quickly frosted over, turning into a frozen tundra.
"Is this… the Ice Age?!" The dino duelist breathed, looking around.
"Just wait," Jaden responded, getting his attention. "The field's still evolving."
Just then, a city started sprouting out of the ice, starling the Dino duelist. The battalion was also surprised. Cecilio just smirked, he knew Jaden had this won.
"My spell card is called Skyscraper," The hero duelist explained. "And it changes everything!"
"I hate change! Ya hear me?" Hassleberry growled, before he realized something. 'Wait! That's been my problem all along. I've been stuck in the past, always relyin' on the same old tactics instead of learnin' from my mistakes and evolvin'!'
"Exactly!" Hassleberry heard Jaden say, turning to him with grin. "Don't worry, Corporal, you weren't thinking out loud. I assumed by the look on your face that you figured it out."
"Now, since your field card is gone, so are 300 of Black Tyranno's attack points!" The dinosaur growled lowly as it's strength fell (2900-2600/2100-1800).
"And if you like that, you'll love this," Jaden continued, taking two more cards from his hand. "'Cause it's time for some fusion action!"
"I merge Elemental Hero Avian with Elemental Hero Wildheart in order to create, my newest hero!" Wildheart combined with a green feathered. There was a flash and a new hero appeared. He looked mostly like Wildheart with Avian's hands, wings, and feet. However, his wings had some black markings on them, and he had different markings on his body (1900/2300). "Elemental Hero Wild Wingman!"
"And he's got a pretty sweet side effect! If I toss a card, your trap is automatically destroyed!" Jaden sent a card to the grave, and the image of Amber Pitfall shattered.
"And now that your Amber Pitfall is gone, I can switch Bladedge back to attack mode!" The armored hero got back up, ready for a fight.
"You don't say!" Hassleberry breathed, almost speechless at the play.
"Ready boys?! Make some noise!" Syrus cheered.
"Jaden! Jaden! Jaden!" The Ra's started cheering.
Cecilio looked at this and just chuckled under his breath. These guys may be idiots, but they were fun.
"Thanks to my Skyscraper card, Wild Wingman's attack points increase by a thousand." (1900-2900/2300).
"Ok, Wingman, get your attack on! Wing Impulse!" Jaden commanded.
Wingman flew up and spread his wings wide. Then, his wings seemed to send out sonic-pulses, which destroyed the dino in a big explosion.
Hassleberry: 3500
Jaden: 100
"That's not all! There's Bladedge, and he can attack you directly!"
"Oh, boy." The freshman groaned. This was gonna hurt.
Bladedge jumped into the air and dive struck Hassleberry, nearly knocking him off his feet.
Hassleberry: 900
Jaden: 100
"Troop Jaden rocks!" Syrus and cheer quad cawed.
"The score's even, now all Jaden as to do is bring it home." Cecil muttered, trying to guess what his friend would do.
"I still got 900 life points left," Hassleberry smirked. "Close, but no Medal of Honor for you."
Jaden just returned the smirk and held up a card, catching Hassleberry's attention. "I'm not finished. I still have this. De-Fusion!"
'Yes!' The Dragon duelist cheered in his head.
"So Wildheart and Avian can separate," Said heroes reappeared on the field, staring down the other duelist. "Which means each one of them can attack now."
"Go, Avian! Quill Cascade!" Avian took flight and flapped his wings, sending a strong gust of wind with arrow feathers at the opposition.
As the attack came, Hassleberry smiled. "What a battle. Jaden, you've got spirit, soldier."
Nobody noticed that his eyes turned into dinosaur slits for a split second.
The attack hit, ending the duel.
Hassleberry: 0
Jaden: 100
"That's game!" Hassleberry grunted, then grinned.
"Way to go, hermano!" Cecil grinned, coming up to his friend and sharing a high five.
"I gotta hand it to ya, son," They looked to see Hassleberry approach them. "That was one of the most intense-"
"Watch out for the-!" Cecil tried to warn him, but it was too late.
"Whoa!" The freshman Ra stumbled and fell into the river, forgetting it was there as the Skyscraper field disappeared and the river and bridge reappeared.
"River." The Dragon duelist finished belatedly.
"Huckleberry!?" Jaden cried, rushing over to the side and kneeling down.
"You ok?" Cecil asked, coming up beside him.
"I owe you some duel disks." The Ra grinned.
"Oh yeah! I was having such an awesome time, I almost forgot!" The Slifer admitted with a laugh.
"Why am I not surprised?" Cecilio rolled his eyes, but he also laughed.
"Thanks, Admiral!" Jaden smiled, missing the title again.
"It's Sarg- oh, never mind." Hassleberry just gave up, knowing he wasn't gonna win this either.
Later that evening
Back at the Slifer dorm, Chazz's construction crew was almost finished with the additions they were adding. Crowler and Bonaparte were spying on the crew with the use of binoculars.
"It appears project "Renovation Red" is almost complete," The chancellor stated. "This oughta drum up some publicity."
"This is all a faux pas," The vice-chancellor argued. "We should demolish that dorm, not let some rich slacker step in and give it an extreme makeover!"
Suddenly, his view was blocked by a giant green bag being carried by Hassleberry as he walked towards the Slifer dorm, more specifically Jaden, Syrus, and Cecilio's room. "What in the name of…"
Once inside, the Ra Dino duelist dumped his stuff in the middle of the floor. It was mostly of pots, pans, canteens, and cups. This made the four occupants, Chazz was also there, look at him confused.
"Uh, Sarge?" Syrus spoke up. "Not to sound rude, but is there a reason you dumped your gear all over our floor? 'Cause I know you don't think you're shacking up with us, right?!"
"Yeah! This place is cramped enough," Chazz added from the top bunk. "We don't need any freeloaders!"
"Yeah, but…" Jaden was gonna say something, but Syrus jumped in.
"You're right, Chazz. And you oughta know about freeloaders."
"He's got ya there, Chazz," Cecilio said from the middle bunk, half listening and half reading a graphic novel. "Now get out of my bed."
"Yeah, well," Chazz tried to correct himself. "What I meant to say was, we don't need anymore freeloaders."
"So you admit it." Cecil replied, exploiting the flaw in Chazz's statement.
Jaden laughed, knowing no one could match witty-banter and sarcasm with Cecilio.
"My mind's made up!" Everyone turned to Hassleberry. "I'm givin' Troop Tyranno some time off for R and R. Anyway, Jaden showed me that I have a lot to learn."
"Oh no ya don't!" Syrus yelled, knowing where this was going. "He's already got a wingman!"
"Yeah, it's me." Cecilio added, making the little Slifer face-fall.
"Besides, if you wanna learn, you should really be following me around." The black coat Slifer smirked.
However, he was ignored. "Hello!? Anyone home?!"
The Ra then stood up and offered a handshake to the E-Hero duelist. "Hassleberry reporting for duty. This is truly an honor, Sergeant."
"You can call me Jaden." He replied.
"Sir, yes, sir!"
Cecilio gave the younger student a smile. Despite the first meeting, he could tell this kid's good.
And this chapter's done. Finally update this one. Read, review, and stay tuned.
