Going Pro

Chapter 10: The Turning Point

Jesse was having the time of his life. Each duel was more difficult and more exciting. He couldn't even remember what it was like to have this much fun. As he won the last duel before the final round, he was quickly dragged off for an interview for Duel Magazine and the website. It was going to be a small story, from a small tournament, but many people in the dueling world like to hear about the events sponsors went to.

Jesse was simply escorted to an empty hallway outside the waiting area for the duelist, so it was quiet enough to talk. There wasn't a lot of time before the final duel, so both he and the other duelist that made it to the final round were only going to answer a few questions.

"Okay Jesse," the man that was assigned to interviewer him started, "How did you first get into Duel Monsters and how did you get so good at it?"

Jesse had to think back for a second while the interviewer recorded him. "I've been playing all my life, so I don't remember it very well, but I got my first cards from my father and my grandfather used to play with me all the time on the kitchen table until I got my first duel disk, and then we used to play in the pasture behind my house," he said. There were so many memories he had after that, all wrapped up at that house with his grandfather. Jesse wanted to talk about the spirits he had met over the years, the ones that influenced him to one degree or another. He knew better than that. There was a lesson he had learned many times over his life. Until the opportunity opened again, he wouldn't discuss spirits.

"Besides dueling, what do you do?"

"I go to school, play video games, and hunt cool insects, stuff like that," Jesse answered simply.

"What do you like to eat?"

"I'm not picky, but I like noodles, and breads are pretty good too."

"If you win this competition, what do you plan to do with the prize money?"

"There's prize money?" Jesse exclaimed with this mouth agape. He thought this was just a promotional event with no grand prize. He didn't remember anyone telling him about any prize money.

The interviewer gave him a blank stare for a few seconds. "Yes, it's offered by Industrial Illusions, it's –" he didn't get to finish when the arena roared with cheering. "Thank you for answering my questions, I'm afraid we ran out of time," he said loudly over the noise.

"You're welcome?" Jesse offered and hurried back into the waiting area. He thought maybe he was supposed to go duel again, but seeing what was happening the screens, he found the reason for the commotion.

An Industrial Illusions helicopter had landed in the area and the creator of Duel Monsters himself was just stepping off along with a couple men in suits. Maximillian Pegasus had arrived. There was a briefcase in one of his hands as he waved to the audience. He was handed a microphone and then he greeted everyone as he walked away from the helicopter, which left as everyone cleared out of the way.

"I humbly apologize for my tardiness, but I have watched every duel from this event on my way here so I look forward to not only witnessing the final round of today in person, and I am pleased to see more excellent new and hopeful duelists over the course of these events," he said and the crowd cheered. "I think we should carry on now shall we? Let the duel commence!" He passed off the microphone and began towards his VIP seating as a part of the audience in the prospective sponsors section.

"Today's finalists, Jesse and Sora, we ready for you now," the coordinator said and they both headed outside.

Sora was the name of the girl Jesse was in the car with on the way here. She was the one who wanted to go to South Academy, because it was the furthest away from home. Jesse had watched her pervious duels and knew she had a wind themed deck. She was pretty good, very calm, but like him, she was mostly enjoying the game. This was going to be a fun duel.

With that final thought, Jesse inserted his deck into the duel disk and activated it. He was going to give this duel everything he had. It didn't matter if he won or lost as long as he had a great time. He was more than ready for this. Even with the audience, he barely noticed anyone else anymore at this event and wasn't the slightest bit nervous. He was in the zone.

As Sora got her deck ready, Jesse heard a burst of animal-like sounds that sounds like they were coming from right next to him. It was weird, because there was nothing there. The duel hadn't started yet, so it couldn't be monster card sounds. Jesse shook his head slightly and then stared at his deck for a second, something felt weird, but then he focused on the duel.

"Ready?" an announcer asked over the speakers.

"Duel!" Jesse and Sora called together. Jesse had won the coin toss so he was going first this time.

Jesse: 4000
Sora: 4000

"Alright, I draw," he smiled as he did so. Jesse looked over his hand and smiled. "First I summon White Papillion (400/200) and then I place a facedown card in my spell and trap zone, and I end my turn." That would do fine for a first turn.

"Interesting start, Jesse," Sora started. "I draw, and then I play Cyber Falcon (1400/1200) in attack mode!" The wind-type machine monster appeared on the field displaying its large metal wings. "Now I'll take a chance and attack your little monster, go!"

"I'm surprised you went for it, I activate my trap card, Negate Attack, which stops the battle phase and cancels out your attack," Jesse said.

The announcer's voice was heard over the speakers. "What a bold move, what could Sora have been thinking?"

"I was getting your trap card out of the way, that's what, now for Main Phase 2, I play these cards, Dian Keto the Cure Master, which gives me a 1000 Life Point boost. Then I play Ookazi which inflicts 800 points of damage to you. See now? I was going to get to your Life Points one way or another," Sora smiled.

Jesse grinned in response. "I knew this was going to be a great duel, I expect nothing less."

"I end my turn, have at it, Jesse!" she cheered.

"Right!" Jesse nodded.

Jesse: 3200
Sora: 5000

"What a move!" the announcer said as the audience cheered.

"I draw," Jesse continued. "I summon my Rose Papillion (1400/800) to the field in attack mode, and then I equip her with Laser Cannon Armor, which raises one insect-type monster's attack and defense points by 300."

The colorful monster appeared on the field and the cannon attached to its back.

"Now attack Cyber Falcon!" Jesse declared. The monster was defeated and Jesse still had one other monster on the field. "Now White Papillion, attack Sora directly!"

"What a marvelous comeback already!" the announcer cheered. "Will it be enough?"

"Then I place a facedown card in my spell and trap card zone and now I end my turn."

Jesse: 3200
Sora: 4300

"Nice move, and now I draw," Sora began. "I summon Sonic Duck (1700/700) in attack mode and then I play this spell, De-Spell, and I choose to get rid on your cannon."

The equip spell burst into data and was sent to the graveyard.

"Now I equip my monster with Black Pendant, which raises its attack points by 500 points."

Jesse knew what that card did. He had seen it used in her previous duels. When that card is destroyed, he would take 500 points of damage. It was a cool card. He wasn't sure if he could get away from the damage it will inflict on him when he destroys it.

"Now I attack the monster that poses the greater threat to me at the moment, meaning your Rose Papillion, go!"

"I activate my trap card!" Jesse interrupted. "Wing Stream, so by reducing my monster's attack points by 500, it negates its destruction in battle!" Jesse still took the difference as damage, but he saved his monster.

"Doing that to save your monster makes me nervous, I look forward to see what you have in store," Sora said. "I place my last card in my spell and trap card zone and end my turn." She now had an empty hand.

Jesse: 2400
Sora: 4300

"Well, you did see my other duels, but I haven't had the chance to make this move all day," Jesse said as he drew another card. "Now, by sacrificing both of my Papillion cards, I can play this card, Butterfly Fairy (2900/2000)!"

Sora had to admit, it didn't look like a strong card because of the elegance the creature before her displayed.

"Now I attack your Duck!" Jesse declared his attack.

"Hold it!" Sora called out. "I activate my Negate Attack, saving my monster."

"Darn," Jesse said. "Okay, well I place one facedown in my spell and trap card zone and end my turn."

The audience was going nuts. It was really anyone's game right now, even with the life point difference.

Jesse: 2400
Sora: 4300

"I draw," Sora said and then looked up at the monster. "I place a monster face down in defense mode and then I switch my Sonic Duck to defense mode to protect my life points, and then I end my turn."

Jesse: 2400
Sora: 4300

Jesse drew his card and looked at the facedown monster, unsure how wary to be of it. Looking at the card he just drew, he decided to take a chance. "I play this spell card, Stop Defense, and I change your facedown monster to face-up attack position."

The monster was revealed to be Skull Red Bird (1550/1200).

"Now I'll attack it with Butterfly Fairy!"

Jesse ended his turn after the damage calculation.

Jesse: 2400
Sora: 2950

"Somehow I'm still in the lead, barely though," Sora mused. "I draw, and then I play the card I just drew, Block Attack, and I use it on your monster. Now my monster is strong enough to take it out when I change it back to attack mode thanks to the Black Pendant."

Sora changed her card's position as Butterfly Fairy was forced into defense mode with 2000 defense points protecting it against Sonic Duck's 2200 attack points. Jesse didn't worry though, even though he was getting nervous.

"Now attack!"

"Nice move, Sora, but I activate my trap card, Mirror Force, which negates the battle phase and destroys your monster!"

"No!" Sora braced herself against the gust. "But don't forget about my equip spell, when it goes to the graveyard, you lose 500 Life Points!"

He took damage and she ended her turn.

Jesse: 1900
Sora: 2950

Her field was wide open, but she still had enough points to withstand Butterfly Fairy's direct attack. Jesse needed another monster card or something just as good. Sora hoped luck was on her side and he wouldn't draw a useful card.

"Alright, I draw," Jesse said. "It's over," he said.

"Oh really? Draw just the right card?" Sora mused.

"You bet!" Jesse smiled. "I play this card, Forbidden Substance, which allows my monster to attack twice in one turn."

"Bring it! I'm seeing this through to the end!" Sora braced herself.

"Attack, Butterfly Fairy!" Sora's Life Points dropped to a mere 50. "Now end this duel and attack one more time!"

Jesse: 1900
Sora: 0

Jesse won and ran over to Sora, who had been knocked to the ground. "Are you alright?"

Sora laughed. "Oh yeah, never better!" she said as she wobbled as she got up. "That was fun!"

Jesse was slightly surprised at first before he grinned. "Yeah! We should duel again someday!"

"That's for sure! You're on," she nodded.

Jesse was about to say something else, but he was then surrounded by people while Sora was escorted to another place on the field.

"Today's champion!" the moderator said loudly into the microphone as they held up Jesse's arm.

"Uh, wha…" Jesse had forgotten that was the last duel of the day. He won each match. Time flew by because he was having so much fun.

Jesse laughed when he was handed a ribbon and a card with an odd picture on it. It didn't appear to be an actual playing card. He didn't get to read it when he was told to move over next to Sora again while the announcer and moderator talked about the duel and what to expect next. The sponsors were apparently quite impressed with the duels today and would be contacting many of the duelists soon about future opportunities in dueling and duel education.

By the time Jesse was allowed to go back towards the waiting area, he first stopped at the wardrobe area he was in before. There he was assured he was allowed to keep the clothes he was wearing and the new academy duel disk for participating in the tournament.

"Thank you," Jesse smiled as he looked at the duel disk. He turned around to go back to the waiting area, but realized he forgot which way he was supposed to go. Left, right, or straight were his options. He shrugged and went right.

Many minutes and hallways passed before Jesse stopped walking. He wasn't sure if he was passing the same pictures on the walls, or if they were repeated throughout the various halls. This place couldn't be that big, could it?

"Well… it's official, I'm lost," Jesse scratched his head. He hadn't even seen another person so he couldn't ask either. "How does this always happen when I leave home?" He couldn't be more disoriented.

His hand patted his pocket to check his cell phone. He wanted to check the time and possibly call somebody to help him, as embarrassing as that would be. Much to his own personal shame, it wouldn't be his first time he resorted to doing that. His horrible sense of direction was one of the reasons his mother got him a cell phone in the first place. She had many near heart-attacks when he would get lost at the grocery store, parks, or any other public place, and end up in the lost and found or customer service. Luckily, he was able to get to school and back, but that was about it. Despite being a good duelist and intelligent, he still failed at life sometimes.

"Bi-bii!"

"What?" Jesse turned around when he heard a strange but somehow familiar sound. "Is someone there?" he called out and his voice echoed down the empty hall. He wondered if everyone left already. It was evening by now too, so he was getting hungry. "Must have been my imagination." Jesse thought aloud and turned back around and started walking.

"Biiii!"

Jesse whipped around at the sudden loud and seemingly desperate call. "Seriously, what is that?" Without really thinking about it, he went towards the sound. If it was a person messing with him, he could still ask them where to go. If it really was an animal, then Jesse would help it. It didn't sound like any animal he knew though, but it's not like he knew of every animal on the planet.

As he walked through the hall, he thought it was strange not to find any people. Where did everyone go already? This place was almost bustling when he came in.

There was a flash of colorful lights that sprang from a door not ten steps away. It was weird. His mind started to feel hazy. Those animal sounds in the back of his mind started up again, like a distant memory or a dream. Invisible strings pulled him towards that door.

"Excuse me, boy," a voice said from behind him, causing Jesse to startle and it jerked him out of his haze.

"Oh, um," Jesse turned around and wasn't prepared for what he saw. Right there, within arm's reach was the creator of Duel Monsters himself, Maximillian Pegasus. "Uh… uh…" Jesse managed to stutter incoherently.

"Your duels were quite splendid," Pegasus began. "I watched all of them on the way here, and had a suspicion about you from the moment I saw you."

"What? About me?" Jesse questioned. He knew he wasn't appearing very intelligent right now. Not the greatest impression on a celebrity at all. Granted, the man was probably familiar with worse.

"Yes, Jesse-boy, you have a gift, and after seeing you duel in person, there is no denying it."

"Gift? You mean these?" Jesse held up his ribbon and prize information card, which he still hadn't read through.

Pegasus chuckled. "I am speaking of the spirits, you have the sight which allows you to see duel spirits, even communicate with them, isn't that right?"

Jesse tensed. "How…?" the question died in his throat.

"There is no need to worry, it's not as uncommon as you might think, but I can imagine the troubles the sight has caused you in your young life."

"There really are others like me?" Jesse asked dumbfounded.

"It's a mysterious ability and my research has come to an unfortunate standstill," he shook his head. "However, that is not the reason I sought you out here."

Jesse was surprised because of those words. The creator of Duel Monsters was looking for him after witnessing just one duel? Jesse knew he was good, but also knew he wasn't THAT good. Jesse never really thought there was anything special about himself, especially nothing that would warrant this.

"Have you heard of Julius Caesar?"

"Kind of, why?"

"Legend states he was able to gather seven valuable stones from all over the world, but the ship that was supposed to take them back to Rome met a storm and sunk to the bottom of the sea," Pegasus explained.

"Okay," Jesse nodded. That was interesting and all, but he wasn't sure what the point in all this was. Maybe he should just politely ask where the exit is and be on his way.

"Many of the cards created by Industrial Illusions are not just bits of imagination, if fact, my team and I travel the world looking for rare artifacts and stone tablets so I may revive and give new life to the spirits these symbols represent," Pegasus continued with a smile. "I also found Caesar's rare stones. It was a marvelous find, and they too were inspiration for a new set of cards. Each card was infused with a fragment of the stone they came from. However, I did not expect them to be so stubborn and it turns out they can only be fully awakened and wielded by one duelist in this realm."

Jesse had never heard of a story like that before. Rare stones inside of cards? Was that even possible or was this some kind of urban legend made up to pull his leg? He knew some duel spirits had stronger personalities than others, but to deny even Pegasus, the one who found and revived them, was certainly a mystery. "Are you looking for that duelist so you can awaken them?" Jesse asked.

"I think I might have found him already," Pegasus said as he looked directly at Jesse in a calculating way. "Maybe it would best if we find out here and now, please follow me," Pegasus said and opened the door.

They both walked in and Jesse didn't see cards, but there was something else that definitely caught his eye.

"What's this?" Jesse said as he walked up to what appeared to be shining colored blocks that were on display.

"They are the known as the Crystal Beast cards."

"I don't see any cards."

"They are very special cards, and their spiritual presence is so strong that they have protected themselves in the crystal so no one can able to break the seal they put on themselves."

Jesse looked at the crystals. "So these are the Crystal Beast cards?" They didn't look like cards at all, so he was kind of skeptical.

"Yes, and now they belong to you." Pegasus sounds sure of this.

Jesse was baffled by that. But he had his own deck, one he liked very much, despite that something missing he has been searching for. Not to mention, he never asked for these cards. He didn't win them either. "That's nice and all, but you just said that no one can break their seal," Jesse said.

"No one but the chosen one, and I believe they have chosen you."

"Me?" Jesse looked surprised and Pegasus simply nodded.

"During your last match, I witnessed something awaken deep within them," Pegasus mused. "Go ahead, touch them and see if I'm right," he urged.

Jesse looked at the colorful blocks on display before them. Not only was it worth a shot to touch them and see if all this was true, but he felt like he had to. It wasn't like the feeling when he was a kid and he had to touch things that seemed interesting for whatever reason. It was more like he was being pulled closer by invisible strings again.

As he looked closer, he could see the cards inside. Their images and text were barely visible through the crystal casings. He lifted his hand and gently touched a finger to the bluish-violet one, and as soon as he did, it glowed. Jesse stared as the solid crystal seemingly melted away into nothing, and the card was revealed.

"What do you know, looks like you've got the crystal touch," Pegasus mused, and the other six cards began to glow as their crystal melted away as well.

First the red, then blue, and then pink. Followed by the green, then yellow, and then orange.

Jesse was still trying to figure out what was happening when Pegasus spoke again as the cards continued to glow as they awakened. "Now be warned, with great cards comes even greater responsibility."

Jesse didn't even get to think of a response when the spirit of a white pegasus with a sapphire horn appeared before him, then a large pink feline and then a green tortious appeared in front of him as well. Before he knew it three more spirits quickly appeared around him. There was a white tiger, a mammoth, and an eagle with its wings spread out. Just when he glanced at all of them, a little violet colored creature hopped up on his shoulder, and ran across him to his other shoulder before sitting happily as it chirped a greeting.

"Wow," Jesse breathed. He had never seen so many spirits at once. They were all so magnificent. He was speechless as they stared at him. They analyzed and smiled at him.

"You are the one they have been waiting for," Pegasus said.

"Waiting for what?" Jesse questioned as he looked around him.

"To be their master, their friend, and their family, young Jesse-boy."

"Spirits want family?" Jesse blinked.

"Of course, many spirits feel many if not all the emotions humans do, we have much more in common with the spirits than anyone realizes."

Jesse was a little skeptical. "Is this real?" he asked. Was a bunch of cameras going to pop out and tell him this was all a practical joke? However, he knew that wasn't going to happen. For the first time in a very long time, Jesse felt like he was surrounded by family and he knew this was real.

"Of course we're real!" the winged horse laughed.

"I think we just gave the boy quite a start," the large pink cat said as she nosed his hand.

Jesse stroked her head and chuckled. "Well, this was all just amazing, but… you sure you want me as family?" The spirits didn't hesitate when they nodded.

"There is still one missing," Pegasus began and Jesse looked at him confused.

"What do you mean one is missing?"

"The Rainbow Dragon," the winged horse spirit said. "The spirit of the Rainbow Dragon is still hidden away, but I never knew where."

"And I have yet to locate it, despite my greatest efforts, but as soon as I do, the Rainbow Dragon will be made into a card and then entrusted into your care," Pegasus assured. The man had turned to take his leave when he stopped in the doorway and looked back at Jesse. "I look forward to seeing you in future tournaments, I will be contacting you soon about some opportunities," he said. "But I will give you time to get acquainted with the cards I am now leaving in your care before I expect you to duel. The rest of the cards in the case behind them will nearly complete the Crystal Beast deck, learn them well, and let them act as your guides."

Jesse was surprised at first, but then he nodded surely. "I will Mr. Pegasus, you can count on me, I feel like I've known them my whole life," he smiled as the little violet spirit hopped off his shoulder and right into his arms as he caught her without even thinking about it.

The creator of Duel Monsters smiled and then nodded in parting. "Until next time, Jesse-boy, I look forward to seeing what you and the Crystal Beasts are capable of."

Jesse went over to the display case and saw crystal themed cards. He saw Crystal Blessing, Rare Value, Crystal Promise, and more. He found there were three copies of every card, including the Crystal Beast cards when he picked them up too. This meant he was going to have to figure out the best setup to create a balance and powerful deck. This was so exciting! He could hardly wait to read all of them, and talk to them, and learn from them, and…

"Oh…" Jesse suddenly stopped as he about to leave as well.

"What's wrong?" the green tortious asked.

"I'm kind of lost, I can't find my way to the exit," Jesse chuckled in spite of himself. The spirits didn't laugh at him or look mad or anything. Most of them simply smiled and then disappeared, but he could still feel their presence in the deck.

"Bii-bii!" the little one chirped out to him.

"Follow you?" Jesse found he could understand, but didn't question how or why. "You know the way? Well then, let's go!" he grinned and chased after the little spirit down the halls.

It was as if a grey world had gained color for the first time in his life. Jesse felt whole with these spirits, the connection was instant. He wasn't sure why all this happened. It didn't make sense, but he didn't need it to. When he felt these spirits, he knew deep down it was right. He didn't know what kind of duels and adventures awaited him, but he knew he would find out, and hopefully have a blast.

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Author's Note:

Yay! The Crystal Beasts! Crystal Beasts! Crystal Beasts! They're here! They're finally here!

Grah, so nervous about this chapter.

Fun advice: If you're lost or unsure which way to go, try going left first. Always try left. It works like 80% of the time.

Behind the scenes of writing: The duels I wrote for these chapters had only female opponents. Why? Because the rest of the story and series will lack opportunities for not only female duelists, but female characters in general, so I wanted to get some in while I could.
As for the duel this chapter, I apologize if I used any card that weren't supposed to be in GX, I did my best to find the right ones, but things happen and sources aren't always the best. Not a single card is made up though, so you can check the effects and descriptions online at any point.