Jaden's POV

Jaden 4000 - Ary 4000

"Alright Ary! Get your game on!" Jaden said drawing his opening hand.
However he recieved no reply from his sister who merely drew her opening hand, studying it, but almost as if she wasnt all there.
"Whats with you Ary?" Jaden asked. "You normally love to duel!"
However silence came his only response, and with a grunt, Jaden began his move.
"Well if your not talking then lets see if I can make you! Come on out Elemental Hero Stratos!"
Jaden's turbine equipped hero came down from the sky to land in a cloud of dust on the field once more, his turbines revving already.

Elemental Hero Stratos 1800

"And of course comes his effect! I bring Elemental Hero Wildheart to my hand! Ill set two cards and end my turn!"
As his two backrow cards appeared behind his hero, Aryanna still didn't say anything.
"Ary! Its your move!" Jaden shouted.
Drawing, she began her move.

"I play Future Fusion!" She suddenly declared. "On my second standby phase I can summon a fusion monster! So now I send two Eclipse Wyverns, two Dark Horus, and a Decoy Dragon to the Graveyard to bring about Five Headed Dragon!"
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Jaden declared sweatdropping. "Bit overkill on your first move isnt it?" He said.
"If it keeps me out of that dark place then I dont care!" Ary retorted.
Jaden on the other hand immediately raised and eyebrow.
"Dark place?" He muttered
"The effect of the Eclipse Wyverns sent to the graveyard now activate, so I banish from my deck, Felgrand Dragon and Darkstorm Dragon!" She said pocketing the cards. Then taking two cards from her hand she held them high in the air.
"Its time! I remove a total of four monsters from my graveyard! A light and dark monster for each! Eclipse Wyverns and Dark Horus's be gone! I summon Light Pulsar Dragon and Darkflare Dragon!"
The four monsters banished briefly appeared on the field before they were engluphed in a swirling vortex similar to Fusion, and seconds later the two monsters appeared. The first was a silver and blue dragon with a glowing orb on its chest with swirling consetllations surrounding it, with a roar it extended its wings. Its counterpart was similar but was red and black in colour and was instead surrounded by a circling ring of fire that seemed to intensify as it roared alongside its light ally.

Lightpulsar Dragon 2500

Darkflare Dragon 2400

"Both your signature monsters on your first turn!" Jaden exclaimed. "Whats with you Ary!? Since when do you go all out like this!"
"Just shut up Jaden!" She retorted. "You wanted this duel and im going to do whatever it takes to win! I don't care if your my brother! Do you hear me?!"
Taken aback by her anger, Jaden was lost for words and Ary continued.
"Since my Wyverns were banished, I can now add the two dragons that were banished for thier effect to my hand, but they wont stay long since im playing two copies of Trade-In! I discard them both and draw four cards!"
"Even when your angry you still duel like a pro!" Jaden smiled.
"Well see it in action then! Darkflare Dragon! Attack Stratos! Dark flame blast!" Ary declared. Darkflare Dragon reached out and grabbed the ring of fire that was circling it making it almost into a whip and charging across the field he slashed at Stratos withit...
"No you dont! Go Hero Barrier!" Jaden said. "This negates your attack and protects my hero!"
The whip was then stopped by a swirling barrier and Stratos stepped back rather relieved.
"You wont escape that easily! Lightpulsar Dragon! Starstrike Blast!"
Lightpulsar's weapon of choice were the swirling conestellations around it as it grabbed a ring of stars and launched them at Stratos who was unable to save himself from that atack

Jaden 4000 - 700 = 3300 Ary 4000

"Stratos!" Jaden said grunting. "But now I can play Hero Signal! Bringing Elemental Hero Woodsman from my deck!"
The tree like Hero replaced his falled ally on the field taking a knee and crossing his arms.

Elemental Hero Woodsman 2000

"Tch, still persistant arent you? Dragging this out to torture me?!" Ary spat.
"What are you talking about?!" Jaden shouted back. "Im just playing my moves!"
"Well ill set two cards and end my turn so you can show me your moves" She said
"Ary" Jaden breathed. "I dont know whats wrong with you, but im gonna find out and get back the sister I know! I draw!"
Looking at his hand, Jaden saw his move clearly in advance and knew his resolve.
"Firstly, Woodsmand brings Polymerization to my hand! Ill follow it up with Pot of Greed!" Jaden said drawing. "Sweet! Lets go Polymerization! Wildheart and Bladedge fuse together to form a new hero!"
As the two monsters began to fuse together, a new Hero descended, who was a taned hero wearing armor similar to Bladedge, with a helmed, a gauntleted hand and leg coverings. His body rippled with muscles and he drew a very mean looking Scimitar.

Elemental Hero Wildege 2600

"No" Ary breathed
"Go Monster Reborn! Stratos come back!" Jaden continued as his monster reappeared.

Elemental Hero Stratos 1800

"Now for a change I use his second effect! Since I control two other hero's I now destroy two of your magic and trap cards! Future Fusion and one of your face downs are destroyed!"

Stratos charged up his turbines and fired off an air blast that took out the two cards while Ary grimaced and almost began to hold her head.

"Please no..."
"Field magic! Skyscraper Activate!" Jaden continued.
As the field transformed into the metropolis, Ary continued to revert into herself.
"I cant go back there!" She shouted.
"I'm sorry but this is tough love Ary! Wildege! Attack Lightpulsar Dragon! Scimitar Slice!"
Wildedge with a roar jumped forward and with one easy swipe decapitated Lightpulsar Dragon!

Jaden 3300 Ary 4000 - 100 = 3900

"Nooooo!" Ary screamed "Lightpulsars effect activates! Since you sent it to the graveyard I can summon Darkstorm Dragon to the field!"

A swirling vortex from the ground kicked up suddenly as a skeletal black dragon who's lower body was hidden in the storm roared onto the field.

Darkstorm Dragon 2700

"Sorry Ary but Wildedge can attack all your monsters in a round! Wildege! Use the power of the Skyscraper to edge out Darkstorm Dragon!"

Elemental Hero Wildedge 2600 + 1000 = 3600

After Wildedge powered up in a green energy force, it charged forward again the made an overhead swipe against Darkstorm Dragon to bisect the new dragon to destroy it instantly

Jaden 3300 Ary 3900 - 900 = 3000

"Do it again Wildedge!" Jaden said thrusting a fist forward

Elemental Hero Wildedge 3600 - 1000 = 2600

As Wildedge powered down, it still didn't stop it charging towards Darkflare Dragon and slicing its wings off first before impaling it before it exploded.

Jaden 3300 Ary 3000 - 200 = 2800

"Stratos! Direct Attack!"

Elemental Hero Stratos charged forward and punched Ary directly in the face, knocking the girl to the floor where she began whimpering unbeknownst to Jaden.

Jaden 3300 Ary 2800 - 1800 = 800

"I set a card and end my turn" Jaden said, only just now noticing his sister. "Ary are you alright? I'm sorry I had to do that sis but you need to snap out of it!"

Ary was slowly getting herself to her feet and she was gripping her fist almost cutting off the circulation.

"I wont go back to that dark place! Do you hear me Jaden?! I wont loose again! I don't care if I have to take you down to do it! I wont go back! Trap card activate! Chaos Implosion! A light and dark monster destroyed this turn return and they gain one thousand attack points until my next end phase! Return Lightpulsar Dragon and Darkflare Dragon!"

Ary's two signature monster returned to the field with a roar as their strength increased.

Lightpulsar Dragon 2500 + 1000 = 3500

Darkflare Dragon 2400 + 1000 = 2400

Jaden grimaced at her powered up monsters but looked towards his set card.

You can't win Ary He thought. Change of Hero Reflector Ray will activate the second you destroy Wildedge, dealing you damage equal to its level multiplied by three hundred. With eight levels your gonna take twenty four hundred points of damage... more than enough.

"Jaden," Ary suddenly said. Looking up, he could see she was walking across the field towards him.

"Ary?" He said moving to meet her in the middle. As they met, he was unsure what was happening. Until she suddenly wrapped her arms around him a hug.

"I'm sorry Jaden" She said, hearing she was crying. "I shouldn't take this out on you, its my own cross to bear" She said

"Just tell me what's wrong" He said.

"That shadow duel... it reminded me of... a dark place I've been to before... and all I could think about was winning to get out of there... I'm sorry for what I said to you... your a good brother"

"I'm the best!" He smirked. "So are you gonna finish this duel properly now? I don't need to find out anything else now as long as your happy again"

Letting him go, she wiped her eyes and smiled.

"I'll be happy when I beat you" She smirked.

"Ary, if you win, challenge Zane after all. You deserve to," Jaden smiled.

Thinking about it, she nodded.

"Deal," She said turning and walking back to her spot while Jaden did the same.

Ary, Jaden thought as he returned to his spot. Show me why your the best he thought.

Drawing her card, Ary pointed forward commanding her monster.

"Darkflare Dragon! Attack Stratos again!"

This time Darkflares whip was not stopped as it mercilessly whipped the hero who exploded in a grunt of pain.

Jaden 3300 - 1600 = 1700 Ary 800

"Lightpulsar! Attack Wildedge!"

Charging up its own star energy ball, Lightpulsar launched it at Wildedge who took the ball full in the chest and was destroyed.

Jaden 1700 - 900 = 800 Ary 800

"I activ..." Jaden started.

Looking across the field Jaden saw something he hadn't seen since this duel started, Ary was smiling at him across the field. That warm smile he remembered when they were kids that always made him feel safe...

"Never mind" He smiled.

"In that case I activate the Quick play Spell Chaos United! Since my two monsters have already finished their attack I send Darkflare to the graveyard to allow Lightpulsar to attack again and deal Piercing damage! So attack Woodsman and win!"

As Lighpulsar launched its second attack at Woodsman, Jaden was smiling despite the end coming. Woodsman was destroyed and Jaden's life points dropped.

Jaden 800 - 2500 = 0 Ary 800

"I win!" Ary said punching the air.

"You sure did!" Jaden said as the holograms disappeared.

Taking his trap from his duel disk, he looked at Change of Hero Reflector Ray.
I could have played this and won the duel... But I won something better... my sister back He thought to himself.

She ran across the field and launched straight into Jaden's arms. I'm so glad she's back. Aryanna stepped back and put her hands on his shoulders.

"Jaden, you have no idea how much you mean to me. I'm sorry i took out all of that on you, i feel like i owe you an explination."

"Nah, you don't have to do that." Jaden grinned at her.

"Yeah I do."She took a deep breath, took her hands away and launched into her story. "In my first year I went on a field trip back to Domino City. I went off on my own, not for any reason, just to look around. I was challenged to a duel in the middle of the city and you know me Jaden, I never turn down a duel. I gave it my all and I lost. I... passed out and when I woke up I was in a dark room and I didn't recognise anything . I couldn't see anything at all, apart from myself. I tried calling out but it was like I'd lost my voice." She stopped and looked down, taking another deep breath.

"You can stop Ary, it's OK."Jaden placed a hand on her arm but Ary continued anyway.

"A light to her left caught my attention and I could see a doorway leading outside or... at least what I thought was a doorway. Without thinking I ran for it and suddenly someone stepped out in front of me. I tried to speak again but my words failed me. Turns out it was Zane Truesdale that stepped out. He held his hand out to me and as I reached to take it, his eyes turned black and he grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. I let out a silent scream and closed my eyes..."

Jaden could see her tearing up, She was so happy she won, is that gone already? I can't believe this happened to her, why didn't she tell me?

"When I opened my eyes I was sitting in a chair, actually, strapped to a chair would be a better word, I looked around for Zane but instead I saw you."

Ary looked up at Jaden, waiting for his reaction. "Me?"

"You don't have to panic Jay, you didn't hurt me you just said some stuff but I knew it wasn't you so its OK." Aryanna smiled and hugged him again. Jaden hugged her back tightly, I'll never let that happen again Ary, your safe now. "Ary? What did I say?"

"It's not important Jay, I'll tell you another time." She stepped back from him and grinned.

"How did you get back?"

Her grin faded "Actually I don't know, I woke up in the duel academy infirmary about a week later."

"Strange, well..."

"Well, I'm gonna head back to my dorm, it's getting late and I've got a duel to prepare for," She laughed as she started to walk away.

"Ary?" Jaden called after her. She turned back to look at him. "I'll never let you down,"

"I know," She winked at him and headed off.

She's gonna be OK Jaden smiled to himself as he walked away.

Aryanna POV

Aryanna left the area and headed through the trees, she was still smiling, thank god for you Jaden, I needed to get that out. As she walked she heard a twig snap from her right, she whipped around to see Ethan leaning against a tree, grinning at her. She breathed out a sigh of relief.

"You creep! What you doing out in the middle of woods like that?" She joked with him but she was curious.

"I was looking for you Ary and I just happened to catch the tail end of your duel. Congrats." He grinned at her. Oh god, did he hear everything I said to Jaden? Ethan clearly noticed her fear across her face. "Don't worry, I saw you guys talking but I couldn't hear it."

"Oh, OK Ethan. Why were you looking for me?"

"Ary, you know I like you right?"

"Of course, we're best friends," Ethan rolled his eyes at her, what's the deal?

"I mean as more than that Ary, I don't need a date to see that. I want to know how you feel about me, right now." Ethan was smiling but his tone was deadly serious. How I feel about him? Well, he's funny, kind, great at music, an exceptional duellist and he really cares about me. Could I see my self dating him? Aryanna thought about it and an image of Ethan kissing her flashed into her mind, she liked it.

"Are you asking me out Ethan?" She folded her arms and put her weight on one leg. Ethan's cheeks darkened but he answered anyway.

"Yes,"

"Yes," She grinned from ear to ear.

"You'll go out with me?" Ethan's jaw dropped and she giggled, Aryanna walked up to him, kissed his cheek and started to head for her dorm.

"Keep it between us for now OK?" She laughed as she ran off leaving Ethan dumb struck.

As Aryanna walked into her room she saw Roxxi on her bed, drawing again and with headphones in her ears, Roxxi loved music too. Aryanna picked up a pillow that was on the chair by the door and threw it at her.

"Oi! What yi playing at? That was sare!" Roxxi pulled her headphones out and threw the pillow back.

"It was what?"

"Sare, why?"

"Sare?"

"Aye it's... oh for god sake Ary," Roxxi fell back against her pillow as Aryanna burst into laughter, while she loved Roxxi's accent, it was fun to tease her.

"Sare means sore right?"

"Aye it does, I canny (A/N: canny means can't) help it Ary,"

"I know, so what have you been doing today?"

"Nah Ary, what did Ethan want, he came by here looking fir you, I sent him to the cliff where Syrus ran off, were yi still there?"

"Yeah, I was."

"So he asked yi oot then?!" Roxxi leaped from the bed and pulled Aryanna into a massive hug. "Girl, I knew it! You two were like meant to be together!"

"Wait, wait, wait. How did you know?" Aryanna gasped as she shoved Roxxi away.

"Roxxi knows," She laughed. "Don't worry I willni (A/N: Won't) tell anyone.

Sure you won't, the whole school will know by tomorrow, including Jaden.

Jaden's POV

Jaden had met Chumley on the way back to the dorm, he'd filled him in on his duel with his sister, leaving out the part about the dark place. Now Chumley had just one question.

"So you let her win?"

"Well, not exactly, Chum, it's more like I forfeit to get Aryanna to be happy again.

"That's as good a reason as any, I guess. So now Aryanna's gonna duel Zane?"

"Yep," Jaden grinned.

They open the door to their room, and spot the lumpy blankets on Syrus' bunk.

"Aw, Sy, are you still in bed? Look, I know that you're down, but that's no excuse to act like some lazy slug, I mean even Chumley got up today!"

"Yeah! Lousy bladder. Huh?"

Jaden whips the blankets off Syrus' bed, and finds... nobody there."

"Hah! ... Huh? Where'd he go?"

"Look, he left a note!"

"What's it say?"

Chumley is staring at the note; Jaden reads over his shoulder.

Dear Jaden. I'm leaving Duel Academy. Don't try and stop me; it's for the best. I would only be holding you back if I stayed.

Jaden grabs the note and crushes it in his fist.

"Sy's not goin' anywhere!"

"Yeah, let's go stop him, after dinner."

"No, now!"

"But today's grilled cheese day!"

"If we don't hurry, it'll be Sy's last day!"

Some time later, Jaden and Chumley are still searching for Syrus. Running around they start shouting for him.

"Syrus?! ... C'mon...!"

"Sy! It's grilled cheese day!"

Jaden runs down the rocky coast at the edge of the cliff.

"Where are ya, Syrus?!"

"We missed you, Sy! ...And we'll miss dinner, too... if we don't find you before the kitchen closes...!"

Jaden runs further down the coast toward the water. He runs around a corner and jumps over a rock. Chumley follows at a weary jog. Jaden looks around, then notices that the deck box on his hip is glowing.

"Ah...!"

Winged Kuriboh appears at Jaden's shoulder.

"It's you!"

Winged Kuriboh floats away from Jaden.

"Can you find where Sy's at? Go! (to Chumley) C'mon!"

Jaden runs after Winged Kuriboh.

"Aw, first no grilled cheese and now I gotta run! Oh, why me?!"

Chumley wearily follows Jaden.

Jaden comes running up the path worn in the rocks near the shore. Syrus steels himself and leaps onto the raft, crouching on it to keep his balance. Jaden leaps and lands squarely on the raft in front of him. Jaden stands, then they overbalance and the raft capsizes into the water. Jaden surfaces, pulling Syrus up with him.

"Help me! I can't swim!"

"And you were about to raft out into the ocean?! That makes sense!"

Syrus clings to Jaden, thus dragging both of them back under with a splash. Winged Kuriboh flits overhead, looking concerned. The raft is in ruins, its logs floating around separately. Chumley runs and jumps in after them.

"I'm coming!"

Chumley makes an even bigger splash, then, the water runs off of him; it's only as deep as his waist.

"It's... shallow."

Jaden and Syrus surface again and stand up, knee-deep in water. Syrus is coughing up all the water he inhaled. Winged Kuriboh floats over to Jaden and vanishes. Syrus faces Jaden miserably, sopping wet.

"Why're you trying to stop me, Jaden? I stink! Please, just let me go. They'll assign you a new tag-partner, and you'll have a much better shot at winning the match. "

"Sy, that's your brother talkin'! C'mon, pal! Ya gotta believe in yourself! And guess what?"

"What?" Syrus glances up at him.

"Aryanna is gonna duel Zane just to prove that he's all talk and can be beaten!"

"Aryanna's gonna do that for me? But she'll lose!"

"She didn't lose to me, well not that she thinks anyway." Jaden scratches the back of his head.

"What do you mean?"

"Something wasn't right with her so while duelling her I didn't play the card that would let me win, I could have but I didn't because Ary winning would make her happy again. That's what mattered. That's what brothers and sisters are supposed to do!"

"So you let her win?"

"I guess so."

"What?"

Jaden instantly knew who he was going to see when he turned around. Aryanna was stood on the rock Chumley had jumped off of. She had a hurt look on her face and was staring at him.

"Ary, I..." Jaden tried to explain.

"You let me win?"

"Aryanna, please, I..."

"Yes or no, Jaden?"

"Yes," Jaden looked down to avoid his sisters hurt gaze.

"Why?"

"I wanted my sister back. You were miserable and I wanted you to be happy again. I thought winning would help." Jaden looked at her.

Aryanna seemed to be considering this, she folded her arms but the hurt look had left her face. Suddenly she sighed and jumped into the water. It came up to her waist too but it didn't seam a concern. When she reached Jaden she threw her arms around him.

"Thank you, Jaden," She pulled back and smiled at him.

"What? You're not gonna hit me?" Jaden raised his eyes brows.

"No Jaden, I should have lost the duel but you did help me see past all the pain and become happy again, you did help me."

"You both shouldn't be helping me," Syrus piped up from beside them. "I'm a lost cause."

"Rrrgh..."

"He is right, you know."

Jaden and Syrus turn; Zane and Alexis are standing on the cliff above.

"Zane!" Syrus gasps.

The silence holds for a moment. Alexis looks worried as Zane regards the 3 Slifers and Aryanna. Jaden looks sombre and resolved.

"So that's the school's top duellist...!"

"Hello Aryanna,"

"Hello Zane,"

Jaden doesn't normally see his sister in a serious state but now she was.

Zane glances at Syrus "You're droppin' out?"

"Well... yeah, kinda."

"Well, it's about time."

Syrus looks down at the water, shoulders hunched, and turns away, trying to put his raft back together.

"He's wrong...!" Aryanna puts her hands on his shoulders in a kind of hug.

Syrus starts to sob quietly.

"Rrgh, you're his big brother! How can you say that?!"

"Because I know 'im."

"Zane, you can't speak to him like that, he's your little brother." Aryanna had turned from Syrus and was glaring at Zane with her fists clenched. "Do you think Jaden would be as good a duellist as he is if I spoke him to like that?"

"Yeah, I bet you think you know it all, but guess what you don't! An' Ary's gonna prove it, right now in a duel!

(That gets Syrus' attention.)

Syrus: No- Ary...!

(Zane looks a bit thrown by the challenge.)

"Actually, no I'm not, Jaden is."

Jaden swings around to her, "What?"

"You would have one the duel so you're gonna duel Zane, its only fair."

"But..." Ary placed her hand on his shoulder and while looking at Zane, told Jaden, "You can to this Jay, I know you can." She pulled her gaze from Zane and winked at him.

Jaden shrugged "Then get your game on Zane!

Syrus tried to stop him, "Jaden, he's good!"

"I'm sure he is." Aryanna, I hope you know what your doing.

Well everyone, what do you think? I put a lot of work into this one so I hope it paid off. FYI, Roxxi is Scottish which is why she talks like that. My sister RUBEI EMA, has her first fan-fic up so if you could give it a read I'd be grateful :D well don't forget to R/R :D and of course as always My co-writer is amazing XD