Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh GX

(But I do pwn all on YGO world championship 08 wi-fi)

Chapter 7: A Challenge of Pride

Howdy Folks! Sorry it took so long to get this up, but I told you this'd be a long one. Tack on technical difficulties, writers block and my eternal case of incurable lazyness and you get a loong wait for an update...as usual.

As Rusty headed for the nurses office to puck up Issac's Tylenol the Ancient Gear Demon spoke up.

O.K. Spill it. What's going on?

Rusty glowered. Issac's not telling us the whole story. If he really can shape-shift and all that, why didn't he use that against Trace?

We were there The demon replied simply.

Rusty winced. Point. Come to think of it, that might be why he was acting so tense that entire time. Still, there's something he's hiding, there's a lot of holes in his story and I'm gonna find out what.

Rusty kept a close eye on Issac over the next few weeks, but nothing out of the ordinary happened. Issac's grades soared in class as did his popularity. Much to his chagrin he now found himself the center of attention of a small but intense fangirl club. He was sitting in the library trying to finish a paper on the technology used in duel disks, but the small group of girls crowded around his table had other things on their mind.

"Hey Issac" One of them crooned, ridiculously batting her eyes.

Issac raised an eyebrow. "You lose a contact or something?"

At this witty remark all the girls burst into screaming peals of laughter that grated on Issac's eardrums.

"Yeeah, listen I kinda gotta..."

"So where'd you get those cards?"

"I...uh..."

"You've gotta know some kind of big-shot duelists, like someone in the pro leagues right?"

"Well..."

"Or mabye even Yugi Muto!"

"No Waaay! You know Yugi Muto?"

"I don't..."

"Is he really as short as he looks?"

"I..."

"Could you introduce us?"

"Listen! I..."

Suddenly, a new voice sounded over the din. "Hey! Isn't that Zac Effron?"

They all whirled to see a blank wall. When the girls looked back, Issac was gone and the library door was swinging closed.

Issac and Rusty raced away, down the hall.

"Thanks for the save there" Issac panted.

"No problem" Rusty laughed. "After all, Fangirls are a threat to anyone's sanity"

By now they felt safe enough to slow to a walk. Rusty looked around furtively. "So...any sign from the clan yet?"

Issac shook his head. "Damien never took me seriously, I guess my defeat of Trace shook him at least a little, he's regrouping"

"Meaning the next time he tries he'll be harder to stop"

Issac said nothing.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to keep an eye out then..."

However neither had much time to keep an eye out for anything. The first exam date of the year was drawing near and students began to study and duel like crazy in preparation for the upcoming written and practical exams.

On the day of the test Issac blew through his written in record time. He waited outside the exam hall for several minutes until Rusty emergered. The two of them fell in step as the headed towards the arena for their practical exam.

"How's you do on the test?" Rusty asked.

Issac rolled his eyes. "You kidding? I thought at first they gave me a paper intended for pre-schoolers. Honestly, with exams that easy it a wonder anyone get's rejected to go here. You?"

Rusty Smirked. "Even easier for me. All I had to do was put down 'Chuck Norris' for every question I didn't know"

Issac shool his head. "No wonder you got stuck in Slifer"

Rusty laughed.

When they reached the arena the exams were in full swing.

Explosions mixed with the screams and shouts of monsters. Cries of joy mingled with wails of despair.

Rusty closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He was in Heaven!

Issac punched him in the shoulder. "C'mon, let's find a seat while we wait."

As they climbed the stands a girl sitting with a thick book on her lap and a PDA in her hand waved to them.

Issac returned the wave and started over, Rusty in tow.

"Hey, Sara, how's it going?"

Sara beamed. "Great, you?"

"Oh, the same. Allen been giving you any more trouble?"

"Nope. He's actually avoiding me now" She giggled.

Rusty interuppted. "Meanwhile, back at the ranch..."

Issac turned. "Who's this?" Sara asked.

"Oh, this is Rusty, my roommate" Issac explained as the two of them sat down.

Rusty nodded in greeting and gestured towards the book and PDA in Sara's hand. "What're those for?"

"Oh, these? Just working on my database. I'm trying to create a database of every card in the game"

Issac raised an eyebrow. "Sounds hard"

Sara shrugged. "Yeah. But I try to watch major dueling events like these to help me gather information faster"

"You already have your duel yet?" Rusty asked.

Sara shook her head and laughed. "Oh, no. I'm not a Duelist. I'm here studying to be a card designer, so I'm taking a diffrent course of study than you"

Issac was impressed. "Really?"

Sara nodded. "I already took my written test, so I'm just out here to gather information"

They continued to talk for several more minutes, observing the duels going on below and commenting on the various strategies and tactics.

Rusty's name was called during that time. He left and came back five minutes later, Smirking.

"How'd you do?" Sara chirped.

Rusty shook his head ruefully.

"Poor sap tried to pull an Odion from Battle City and ran a deck that was all Traps"

Issac burst out laughing. Sara raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny?"

"I run Ancient Gears" Rusty explained. "Ooohhh" Sara giggled. "Poor guy"

Rusty nodded. "I almost felt sorry for him...almost"

"Having fun?" The three of them looked up to see the amused face of Chancellor Rhodes.

Issac brought his laughter under control. "Oh, Y-yes, Ma'm" He said, wiping a tear from his eye.

Rhodes smiled. "Good. I've set up a special opponent for you, Issac"

"A special opponent?" Sara asked.

"Normally Duelists face opponents from their own dorm in these exams. But I felt Issac is capable enough to handle someone with a higher rank"

"He has before" Rusty pointed out.

"Quite. Which is why his opponent will be a duelist from Ra Yellow. Defeat this opponent Issac, and you too, will become a Ra"

Issac snorted gently. "No offence ma'm. But a Ra won't pose that much of a challenge. I've already taken down a few Obelisks"

Chancellor Rhodes smiled gently. "Pride goeth before a fall. But if what you say is true, you should have an easy match" With that she turned and walked away.

Issac slid his deck into his disk. "Poor guy, He doesn't stand a chance"

"Uh, just one problem, Issac" Rusty said staring down into the arena. "Threre's only one Ra down there"

"So?"

Rusty pointed. "It's Porcupine!"

Sure enough, the long haired brunette from the landing pad on their first day was standing in the arena, tapping one foot and glaring up into the stands at Issac.

Issac stared back, then turned to Rusty grinning. "I'm going to enjoy this"

The girl was waiting at the Arena for Issac when he walked up. "Porcupine?" She snapped as she inserted her deck.

Issac's eyes widened. "Jeez, you have the hearing of a bat."

"Oh, so I'm a bat now am I?"

"That's not what I mean--"

"Just shut up and Duel!" She growled as she activated her disk.

"Do you have a name?" Issac asked as he turned his on as well.

"Sandra"

"O.K. Sandra..."

"LET"S DUEL!

Sandra: 4000

Issac: 4000

"Laides first!" Sandra snarled as she drew.

"First off I'll summon The Six Samurai-Nisashi! (1400/700)"

A burly figure wearing green armor rose from the arena. It clutched two long katanas which it twirled, creating a malestrom of air around it.

"Plus, when I have a monster with 'Six Samurai' in it name in play, I can Special Summon the Grandmaster of the Six Samurai! (2100/800)"

A second warrior rose onto the field. This time it was an old warrior, with long white hair, a single long sword and an eyepatch.

"I'll also play Shien's Castle of Mist to end my turn!"

As Sandra spoke a large, dark, Japanese feudal castle rose on the field, mist pouring off it.

Up in the stands Sara but her lip. "I hope Issac know's what he's doing, the Six Samurai are some of the toughest monsters in the game to beat"

Rusty shrugged. "Ah, Issac can handle 'em"

People in the stands had begun to notice Issac on the field and all attention quickly shifted to his Duel.

"Impressive start" Issac commented as he drew. "I summon Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer! (1800/700)"

Sara groaned. "Issac, no!"

"What's wrong?" Rusty asked.

"Issac's in way over his head. That castle decreases the attack of any monster targeting a Six Samurai by 500!"

"What?" Rusty yelped. "Issac, stop!"

It was too late. Kycoo hurled it's rope at Nisashi who caught it deftly on one hilt. With one swift movement he had pulled Kycoo off balance and towards him where Kycoo was dispatched with a swift swipe.

Issac: 3900

Sandra: 4000

Horror dawned in Issac's eyes as he realised what had happened.

"Not so tough now" Sandra sneered.

Issac growled. "So I made one mistake. I'll set a card and end my turn"

"And I'll end this!" Sandra shouted as she drew. "Grandmaster, Attack him directly!"

The grizzled warrior unsheathed his sword and charged, leveling a devastating blow at Issac.

"Not this time!" Issac cut in. "I activate Draining Shield!"

The Grandmaster's sword struck a green force field, sending shockwaves across it.

Sandra growled as Issac continued. "Now I get Life Points equal to your Grandmasters Attack" As he spoke a green aura surrounded him.

Issac: 6000

Sandra: 4000

"Don't forget" Sandra said pointing to Nisashi. "I still have him, and since there's another monster with Six Samurai in its name on the field, he gets to attack twice!"

Nisashi charged, dealing Issac a swift blow from each sword before retreating to Sandra's field.

Issac was clutching one arm and panting from the aftermath of Nisashi's assualt

Issac: 3200

Sandra: 4000

The arena was buzzing as Rusty remarked nervously. "Issac better start playing like he means it soon, he can't take much more of that"

"I'll set a card and leave it to you" Sandra said, inserting a card. "Everyone said you were all tough and everything, but from the look of things your're just another Slifer"

Issac looked up a dangerous look in his eye. "Watch what you say" He snarled pulling the top card from his deck with more force than was really needed.

"First I'll Summon Breaker the Magical Warrior (1600/1000)"

A figure wearing elaborate blood red armor and holding a shield and sword strode out of the mist.

"Plus, when he's summoned he get's a counter which raises his attack by 300!"

Breaker glowed for a moment as a gem on his shield lit.

"But that counter has another effect too! I can remove it from Breaker to destroy a spell or trap card. Breaker! Give her a live demo and destroy that sand castle!"

Breaker raised his shield and beam shot forth from the gem, lancing straight through the castle which crumbled.

All around the arena people had started to cheer for either Sandra or Issac. Even the other Duelists having their practical exams had stopped to watch.

Sandra showed no emotion as her castle crumbled behind her. "You done yet?"

"No" Issac sneered. "Funnily enough I'm not. I'm also playing Premature Burial, so I cough up 800 life points and the grave coughs up Kycoo!"

Issac: 2400

Sandra: 4000

Issac continued before Kycoo even fully finished materializing. "Now I play Magician's Unite which increases Breaker's Attack to 3000!"

Breaker glowed again as his sword grew. "Time to show this chick what swordfighting's all about!"

Breaker raised his sword and charges Nisashi. Suddenly the Grandmaster jumped in front of Breaker, sword raised as if to block. Breaker's sword sheared straigh through the Grandmaster and his sword both. The old warrior groaned for a second then exploded into pixels.

"What was that?" Issac demanded.

"That was another effect of the Six Samurai" Sandra explained "If one of them would be destroyed I can choose another to be destroyed instead, however I still take damage as if you had attacked Nisashi"

Issac: 2400

Sandra: 2400

Rusty pumped a fist. "Yeah, now that's the Issac I know!"

Sara however was frowning. "Why did Sandra destroy the Grandmaster? He was way stronger"

Rusty shrugged. "How should I know?"

Sara shook her head. "Sandra's got something big up her sleeve"

Sandra drew and barely even glanced at the card.

"I'll Summon the Six Samurai-Zanji!(1800/1300)"

A figure wearing golden armor similar to Nisashi rose to the field, grasping a long spear.

"Next, I'll equip Nisashi with the Legendary Ebon Steed! This increases his attack by 200!" An armored jet-black horse trotted onto the field, smoke pouring from it's nostrils, it's eyes as red as a flame.

The Six Samurai-Nisashi: (1400-1600/700)

Nishashi put one foot in the stirrup and swung into the saddle.

"Finally, I'll activate my facedown trap: Swift Samurai Storm! Now, after a Six Samurai battles all Six Samurai gain a bonus 300 attack points!"

Rusty looked worried. "I'm assuming that was the big thing up her sleeve"

Sara nodde mutely.

"Time for a spot of payback! Zanji! Wipe out his Breaker!"

Zanji charged and swung his spear straight through Breaker who dissolved into peices.

Issac: 2200

Sandra: 2400

"Now they both get 300 more attack points!"

The Six Samurai-Zanji: (1800-2100/1300

The Six Samurai-Nisashi: (1600-1900/700)

"Nisashi! Take out Kycoo!"

Nisashi charged forward on the horse, swiping Kycoo to shreds as he passed.

Issac: 2100

Sandra:2400

Nisashi continued his charge, giving Issac the same treatment as Kycoo, before wheeling his horse around and trotting back over to Sandra.

Issac had been knocked to one knee by Nisashi's attack. "I'm really starting to hate that guy" He growled as he struggled to his feet.

The additude in the arena was electric now, anyone would've though that your average pro-league match was going on inside.

"I'll set a card and call it a turn" Sandra folded her arms. "I must say Issac, your not showing me anything new here"

"Keep watching" Issac snarled. "I'll show you plenty, you've never seen before. Draw!"

"I'll play Cost Down! Now I toss a card and all monsters in my hand get demoted by two levels! So now I can Summon Dark Red Enchanter right away. (1700/2200)

A pillar of red fire rose from the arena. The figure of the Dark Red Enchanter becoming visible as the fire died down.

"And now that he's summoned he gets two counters on him, each of which raise his attack by 300!"

Dark Red Enchanter. (2300/2200)

Rusty shook his head. "A move like that? The man's getting desperate, I know he can do better than that..."

"Time to exterminate that pest for good" Issac growled. "Attack Nisashi!"

The Enchanter dashed forward, flames gathering around the tip of it's staff.

Sandra's eyes flashed. "Big mistake! I play Covering Fire! Now a monster on my side of the field gets attack ponts equal to another monster!"

The Six Samurai-Nisashi (1600-3400/700)

Simletaiously Nisashi and Zanji raised their weapons and counter-charged.

Issac's eyes widened. "No! Enchanter! Break it off!"

Sandra's lip curled. "Too late"

The two samurai tore through the Dark Red Enchanter like tissue paper, before continuing on and tearing Issac to shreds.

Issac slumped to his knees as his life points hit rock bottom.

Issac: 0000

Sandra: 2400

The Arena was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"No way" Rusty whispered.

"Issac...gave it up" Sara replied in similar tones.

Slowly a buzz broke out among the collected assembly.

Sandra snorted as she turned and walked away. "You were right about one thing"

"Wha's zat?" Issac mumbled, still in shock.

Sandra flipped her hair over one shoulder and turned to look over the same.

"I've never seen a Slifer suck so bad" She flashed a wicked grin at him and sauntered off.

Issac got to his feet as Rusty and Sara rushed over.

"You O.K. man?" Rusty asked worriedly.

Issac looked at him. There was a dangerous fire raging in his eyes

"Oh, yes" He growled. "I'm fine. But I won't be able to say the same for Porcupine once I'm through with her."

Sara clutched her book to herself and shivered.

Issac's anger showed no signs of abating over the next few days. Whenever Rusty would try to talk to him he would recieve curt replies or thinly veiled threats. This was not helped by the stares and whispers directed his his direction whenever he passed students in the halls. There was one bright side to this though. Issac's fangirl club had abandoned him and started clinging to Sandra like barnacles.

Rusty and Issac were leaving their last class of the day (Issac had broken four pencil leads in one period alone) when Issac suddenly perked up.

"Gotcha" He snarled.

Rusty looked up from rooting around in his bag to see Sandra farther down the hall, surrounded by her fanclub.

"Issac..." Rusty started to say, but Issac was already hurrying towards them.

"Hey!" He snarled. The girls turned and a few kept on turning, trying to mask giggles.

Sandra tossed a lock of brown hair over a shoulder and glared at him.

"What do you want?"

"A rematch"

Sandra snorted. "Forget it, I already beat you once. What fun is taking on someone I already beat?"

Issac's eyes narrowed. "About the same as taking on a coward with a bigger mouth than game"

Several of the girls gasped. Sandra folded her arms and stepped towards Issac.

Rusty started forward as did some of Sandra's friends, in case they had to pull them apart.

"Sandra..." One of the girls said worriedly.

"Go on" Sandra snapped. "I'll be fine"

The girls reluctantly started off down the hall. Sandra leaned in and whispered so only Issac could hear.

"The beach east of the Slifer dorms. Midnight. Be there."

Issac stared into her eyes, not giving an inch.

"I wouldn't miss it for the God cards"

Sandra turned and started after her friends. Once she was out of sight Issac turned and tore off in the oppisite direction.

Rusty shook his head as the Ancient Gear Demon phased into view beside him.

Why do I get the feeling this is going to end badly?

Because it is. Rusty thought grimly.

Rusty lay on his bunk in the dorm that evening, trying to read a book.

The door banged open and Issac stumbled in, weighed down by an insane amount of bags.

Rusty watched in shock as Issac collapsed in the middle of the floor and upended the bags, sending a cascade of booster packs sliding across the floor.

"Geez, Issac wha'd you do, buy out half the shop?"

Issac shrugged and started tearing into packs with an almost demonic energy.

"Gotta be ready" He growled, "There's no way I'm letting Porcupine treat me like that again"

"Treat you like what?" Rusty asked, Issac kept ripping through the packs.

Rusty rolled off his bunk. "Whoah, Issac. Hang on a second." Issac ignored him.

Rusty grabbed his wrist, stopping him from opening yet another pack. "Stop a second, man. What's the deal?"

"What d'ya mean?" Issac growled.

"I mean this" Rusty said, gesturing around at the foil wrapped cards scattered across the floor.

"What's the big deal?"

Issac clenched a fist. "I'll tell you what the deal is, she beat me"

"Yeah, but I beat you too, and you didn't go around acting all homicidal"

"You didn't humiliate me in front of the entire school"

"So you're saying just be cause you got beat in front of some spectators that now you're out for blood?"

Issac went back to opening packs.

Rusty furrowed his forhead. "Is it really so impossible for you to believe that there's someone out there who's better at Duel Monsters than you?"

Issac shot him a look that could've made flies drop dead in mid-air.

Rusty shrugged, climbed back on his bunk and opened his book.

"O.K."

Rusty was in the middle of a dream involving squeeze tubes of chocolate, indians, washed up ex-prize fighters and monkey wrenches when Issac shook him awake.

"Wha--?" Rusty raised his head and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"

"Midnight" Issac whispered "C'mon, let's go"

Rusty was wide awake by now. "Oh, no you don't, you're not dragging me into this" He said and rolled back over.

Issac shrugged. "Fine"

And drug him out of bed instead.

The two Slifer duelists hurried through the night, skirting the forest, heading for the pre-determined location.

"If we get caucht you know" Rusty panted. "We're in serious trouble"

"Then we don't get caught" Issac hissed.

"Easier said than done" Rusty grumbled.

The Ancient Gear Demon and Chaos Sorcerer hovered high overhead, watching to two boys bicker.

The Chaos Sorcerer shook his ruefully. I was hoping Issac's defeat would knock some sense into him.

He was always this proud? The Ancient Gear Demon asked.

In a way. Issac was always very proud of his powers, never arrogant mind you, just proud. He would never flaunt them or try to make others inferior. He was too kind for that. But he came across that way anyway. Even when he was simply practicing, others would accuse him of showing off. He was always glad to help others out though. If they needed help of any sort. But if anyone insulted him or made disparaging remarks...

I see. Don't worry though, Rusty's with him, he'll keep an eye on him.

The Chaos Sorcerer raised an eyebrow. This from the Duel Spirit of the boy who tried to break-dance on asphalt?

The Demon grimaced. Point, but Rusty's a good kid, he's good at thinking on his feet, it's just thinking in general that gets him.

The full moon was high and bright as Issac and Rusty reached the designated beach. Sandra materialized from the nearby forest, her hair blowing in the light wind like a wraith.

"What, no backup?" Issac sneered.

"I didn't see the reason to drag them out of bed for nothing." Sandra shot back. "Once you've seen one Slifer get it's butt kicked, you've seen them all"

Rusty looked from one to the other. "I'm done trying to talk you out of this" He sighed. "I'm just standing back so I don't get caught in the cross-fire"

"Too late" A voice drawled.

The three of them turned to see two new figures come striding over a nearby hill.

The voice continued "You're involved"

The newcomers moved into a pool of light. They we're both tall and slender, but the similarites stopped there. The speaker had jet black hair, a black leather jacket, dark eyes and a necklace of a skull. The other had light blonde hair, wora a pale blue button-down and had a cross dangling from one earlobe.

The one wearing black looked easily over the three stunned students. "We're here for Issac"

Issac was in shock. "D-Drake, J-umien! What're you doing here?"

"I'd think it's obvious" The blonde said in a cold, soft voice. "We're here to kill you" He raised a Duel Disk.

Sandra was looking from one to another, shock and indignation written all over her face, her mouth opened and closed as if she was about ot make an objection but nothing came out.

The dark haired one sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Seriously, Jumien, do you have'ta be so dramatic?"

Jumien didn't reply, he was still glowering at Issac.

"I-Issac just who are these?" Sandra sputtered.

"I'd think it's obvious" Rusty growled. "They're from the Clan aren't they?"

Issac nodded.

"Clan? What Clan?" Sandra asked.

"None of you're buisness" Jumien growled.

Sandra's eyebrows shot up. "Ex-ca-use me?"

Rusty groaned. "You just had to get her started, didn't you?"

Drake shrugged and looked over at Issac. "There's no reason we can't solve this peacefully" He said in a reasonable voice. "Just give us the Chaos Sorcerer and we'll be on our way"

Issac started to say something, but Jumien beat him to it. "NO!" He roared. "He killed the elder! We kill him!"

"I don't suppose you'd believe me if I told you Damien killed him?" Issac asked hopefully.

The look in Jumien's eyes was answer enough.

Drake bit his cheek. "I was really hoping to avoid this"

As he spoke the wind picked up, and dark tendrils of mist began to ooze from behind Drake and Jumien.

Issac's eyes narrowed. "Wha-- This almost looks like a transcarnation but..."

"Close" Jumien hissed. "We've bonded with the Fiends!"

Issac's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? The Fiends will eat your souls!"

Drake leered, his eye's distorting unsettlingly as did his voice. "Not quite. This is a new technique of Damiens. We've simply made a deal with the Fiends. They lend us their power in our Duels, and in return they get the souls of the losers. Of course the face that they're Fiends we've bonded with, means they give us so much extra juice, it's almost impossible for us to lose!"

Issac shook his head repulsed and blew through his nose. "You're mad"

"Our orders were to come here and duel you, and if one of us was to fall the other would take his place. But since the lady was about to duel, I see no reason to deprive her of the pleasure"

Sandra narrowed her eyes.

"No way!" Rusty shouted. "Let me duel beside Issac instead"

"Forget it" Jumien sneered. "We've been watching you lately, I'd think you're conqueror dueling beside you should prove quite interesting"

The dark mist congealed and oozed around the four figures forming a ring.

Rusty stepped back. "Oh man, this is not good"

Drake leered. "You have no clue"

"Listen Slifer" Sandra hissed. "I have no clue what's going on here, but don't think you're off the hook. You just stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours, Deal?"

"Deal"

Drake tsked and shook his head. "Now children. that's now way to play, you need to support each other, or as Jumien said so elegantly..." He raised a disk. "We'll kill you...or at least your souls"

"I hate to say it" Rusty clenched his fist. "But he's right, you need to work together"

"And you stay out of everyone's way" Sandra snapped at him.

Rusty winced as the sound of four duel disks activating reached his ears.

"DUEL!"

Issac & Sandra: 8000

Drake & Jumien: 8000

"In the immortal words of Obi-Wan Kenobi..." Rusty whispered to his Duel Spirit who had just appeared beside him. "I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Dun Da DAAAH! O.K. O.K. I know I promised two and a half duels this chapter, but it's such a long one I figured this'd be enough. Besides, I've never written a Tag duel before and I need time to work on it.

I'm starting to notice a pattern of absurdly long waits between chapters (or is it just me) but I promise I'll try to cut those down and get the next chapter up ASAP.

Insert usual A/N's here: please review, any suggestions, blah, blah, blah (It's a bad sign if you can tell what the blahs are from memory, just so you know...) 'Till Then...

GAME ON!