Foreword

"With effort comes result; to obtain result, effort of equal value must be used. To obtain a goal, time of devotion must be lost. To work nothing and expect result—is impossible no matter the circumstances. That is the human nature in contrast to the law of equivalent exchange. Life and life's progress relies on this promise."

Chapter 14 – Reform! Artemis' Deck is Revamped!

Artemis dragged her feet home, in one hand her deck box with the prize check tucked away, in the other, her silver second-place medal. It was a long walk if one realized what Artemis was coming home to. She came to a brick two-level house, and opened the mailbox at the edge of the walkway. She held the deck box in between her chin and collarbone while she sifted through them.

"Cable bill, phone bill, utilities…it's amazing that mom can do math but why do I have to pay for the balance of it all?" Artemis cursed and temptation rose. She thought about tossing the check away in the trash or donating it to charity. However, since she was pinned to the bigger tournaments, there were the paparazzi and media reporting the tournaments. And heavens forbid they read the newspaper, there was no way she could dodge it. She sighed and held a gloom until she came to the last piece of mail.

It was a postcard-size envelope, with the distinct Kaiba Corp logo imprinted on the front and addressed to her. She was shocked, so much that her deck box slipped from her reach and bounced on the sidewalk. After a minute's pause, she bent down to get her box back and stepped through the door.

She walked cautiously inside, trying not to disturb anyone. Artemis walked straight into the living room, which was empty with only the TV running on Nascar, and an aroma of a meal filed out from the kitchen. When she confirmed to herself that both of her parents were in the kitchen, she cut her way through and walked up the stairs to her room and locked the door behind her.

Artemis looked once more at the KC envelope, and it felt like something was inside. She cut an edge of the envelope and a small USB chip fell into her palm. "I doubt I'm the only one that got this…" She mumbled and booted up her room computer. Once loaded completely, she plugged in the USB drive and it went into auto-run.

The program loaded full screen to a helicopter view of an island. It appeared to be an introduction. "If you are watching this, then that means you have received a special invitation to the world's first-ever Duel Academy." A woman's voice introduced. "Established by Kaiba Corp. Duel Academy is a university set on an island two hours' flight from Domino City. The purpose of Duel Academy is to aid the talents of rising duelists and graphic designers."

The scene changed to the largest building which had four colored dome roofs. "Duel Academy provides many opportunity and freedom of classes, including the necessary Math, Science, and History taken in normal public high schools. Duel Academy also provides the most hospitable dorms based upon three classes."

"The Slifer Red Dorm is for the beginner duelists that show potential and begin here to progress in their talents and strategies." The dorm looked like a low-money motel, without looking like a total rat's nest. "Many first-year students begin here." The scene faded to several places within the dormitory. Their cafeteria was small with microwave entrees for meals; the bedroom was roughly the size of any single bedroom in any house and had the necessary dresser and desks, one for each student and on each wall. The fourth wall occupied a triple bunk bed.

Artemis commented to herself, "Not bad…might have a problem with the bunks but microwave meals are a pro…"

"The Ra Yellow Dorm is the next step up. Exceptional freshmen who show great qualities as duelists may begin here." The next dorm looked like an average boarding house. "Many second-year students are here as well, promoted from Slifer Red when recommended." Again there were several shots of the dormitory within. The dorm cafeteria there was a bit more formally set up, like a Hometown Buffet restaurant. The tables and chairs seemed to be kept tidy after every meal. The bedrooms looked like hotel rooms, two beds on either side of a nightstand and a desk on either wall beside the beds.

Artemis' brow arched in interest. "Oh, that's better."

"Finally, the Obelisk Blue Dorm is a unit of unparalleled Duelists with much experience under their belt. Obelisk Blue students are renowned for their expertise and often attend school-functioned tournaments." The last dorm looked like the Las Vegas' Venetian hotel on a one-quarter scale and without the outdoor attractions. Inside was a lobby the size of a ball room and equal in elegance. A marble fountain was the centerpiece of the room and a carving of the Egyptian God Obelisk is mounted to the back wall between the staircases extending to other rooms. The bedrooms are extremely large, each with its single luxury grade bed, full-scale fridge, a television with mini-couch, and an expensive looking bathroom; a three room in one with bathroom on the side.

"…Um…too much for me." Artemis mumbled, startled by the Obelisk room size and quality.

The introduction continued, "After three years, students graduate with recommendations to higher tournaments, such as state, country, and regional. Graphic Designer graduates are recommended to smaller branches of Kaiba Corporation around the world."

Artemis had her attention held since the beginning of the movie, her mind marquee about the dorms. "I…I could leave home…but what about my parents?" Artemis questioned in thought, but pros outweighed the cons immensely. "I could leave home, I wouldn't have to listen to them, and I wouldn't have to pay for them…once I change my PIN number."

The introduction clip continued talking about the good qualities of the Academy, all of which Artemis hadn't paid attention to for the most part. The clip concluded, "The Duel Academy Entrance Exams are at Kaiba Corp on August 12, 12 to 4pm. The Entrance Exams include a written exam and a duel exam. Those that receive this invitation will face a proctor of higher status. We hope to see you there." The clip finished and scrolled the credits of the film's production.

Artemis' eyes narrowed. "That's it. Duel Academy, I accept the invitation." She stood up and grabbed the rest of the mail along with the prize check. Artemis left her room and stepped back downstairs, her mind ticking with how she can persuade her parents to let her go. She needed to only say one aspect from the clip she saw.

She reached the bottom where her father, in his late 30's and rugged homely features, took his recliner and ate a bowl of ramen. His dark eyes went to Artemis and huffed. "Didn't hear you come in." he said in a deep, jagged voice, "You got the money?"

Artemis held back from rolling her eyes. "Second place. That should take care of these." She handed him the bills and check and moved on into the kitchen.

He grumbled behind her back, "It better. And you better go to first place and fast, the utilities are rising." Artemis inhaled deeply, trying to repress the massive urge to strike physically. After she exhaled, that weight was off.

She passed through into the kitchen where her mother was finishing up cleaning the meal. She looked up, "Oh welcome home."

Artemis nodded, "Thank you." She got to the point. "Mom, you're a teacher, you can appreciate this. I got an exclusive invite to Duel Academy."

"Duel Academy?" She repeated.

"Yes. It's a school established by Kaiba Corp for duelists." Artemis explained and raised her voice just slight enough for her dad to hear. "It heightens my status as a duelist to enter the bigger tournaments such as state and regional. More cash money."

"Send her!" Her dad boasted from the living room. "We have no son, so we can only count on her!"

Artemis' teeth grinded across her jaws while her mother thought about it. "There…there should be some drawback."

"Actually there is, the Duel Academy course itself is three years on an island so I'd be living there." Artemis answered. Her eyes narrowed. My parents are too dependent to have me leave for more than a month. I can just hear him…

"Absolutely not! She's not leaving this house and us in the lurch!" Almost on cue, he roared from the living room. "That damned son left us with nothing, so she's everything we have!"

"This is her choice!" her mother yelled. "It was his choice and it's her choice as well!"

"Women! Both of you! Fighting for no reason at all!" He stormed into the kitchen. "You belong at home!"

"What home!" She shrieked. That just made the house explode. Artemis carefully stepped back as her parents began a verbal argument.

Her father's glare landed on her and his hand grasped firmly on her shirt collar. "And where do you think you're going!" She was jerked off her feet and thrown sharply into a wall.

Artemis' eyes flashed open, and her heart rate skyrocketed. Her hand flew and caught the back of her head, feeling for any abrasions; but the "no news" wasn't good news, as the saying would go. She trembled, choking on her breath. The leap of her heart rate seemed to alert Aria and the intern rushed to her.

"Artemis? Artemis?" Aria tried to calm the student down.

Saphira looked over her shoulder, seeing Artemis suddenly jerk to awakening. "Are you OK?"

Artemis tried to catch her breath, "I…I think so…" she exhaled, taking off her mask.

"You're still not fully recovered." Aria cautioned. Artemis looked at the mended injuries on her arms and her tattered blazer off to the side with her Duel Disk. "You need at least one more night's rest."

Artemis winced from the pain in the burns. "I'll be fine…they're just scrapes." Aria raised a brow of skepticism before poking one of the bandaged injuries. "GAH!" Artemis screeched, strangely she didn't disturb Fubuki. "All right…all right, you proved your point." She grumbled while babying her injury.

Saphira came back to the infirmary to get more of her wound treated. "So what were you doing near the vicinity of the abandoned dorm? That area is off-limits." She asked after sipping her tea.

"It was? I didn't see any signs on the trails." Artemis replied, "No 'No Trespassing' or 'Keep Out' anywhere."

"And demolition wasn't scheduled, at least not now." Saphira murmured, "However the building was condemned. You probably didn't realize someone was setting to bomb it." She looked out the window to see the sun beginning to set on the ocean horizon. "Artemis…can you walk at least? I'd like to have a short word with you." Artemis nodded and carefully pulled herself out of the bed, Aria biting her lip with worry with each step.

Saphira led Artemis into a nurse office where she asked the head nurse to leave and closed the door behind her. She then set her blue gaze on Artemis and began in a low voice, "Normally this would lead to expulsion." Artemis gasped as it clogged her throat and then plummeted to her stomach. Saphira assured, "Normally. We'll keep it quiet between us, but in exchange I want my questions answered. First off, why did you venture out there in the first place?"

Artemis tried to maintain herself. "I was just wandering the island paths…and it caught my attention. I wasn't going to go inside it I swear; it just felt like I wanted to have a look around it."

Saphira didn't seem persuaded, crossing her arms while Artemis was trying to save herself from getting kicked off the island. "I suppose that's a silly question. Now it seems that you were caught in the explosion, or somewhere by it. Do you know who set it off?"

"Scossa Welle." Artemis replied like popping kernels. "He said it himself he was placing detonators to blow up the building, he was hired to do that after he dueled someone as a sort of payment. But I couldn't reject because he was going to make detonators explode anyway if I said no." Saphira raised a hand to quiet Artemis and think it through.

So someone had the intention of blowing up that building all along. Question is who? Saphira thought it over before looking back on Artemis. "This Scossa character…did he mention who hired him?" She asked. Artemis' shoulder sank and she shook her head.

"He didn't mention the name of who hired him. But he said that he was hired to blow up that old dorm." Artemis answered.

"That old dorm is next to the only lead we have…" Saphira grumbled before unfolding her arms and placing a hand on her shoulder. "Well, at least we know the extents of your injuries are just burns from the explosion; doesn't seem like you had any real trauma. I'll let you off just this once." Artemis head was still low and she brought her wringing hands to her chest. She gasped sharply while searching under her shirt. "…Artemis?"

Artemis broke into a sweat. "I've lost my necklace…" she whispered harshly. "…how could I? How could I lose it?"

"You've lost your necklace?" Saphira cleared it for herself. "You may have lost it in the explosion. Is it dear to you?" Artemis nodded while trying not to break down.

"My…my brother gave it to me." Artemis whimpered.

Brother? …I guess I can feel the same for her. The bracelet I used to have was my mother's deathbed gift. A voice pondered in the back of Saphira's mind. She nodded while trying to keep Artemis from going out of it. "Security might hate it but I'll see if Hidama can send her fox to try and find it. Will that be all right? I can't let you go back to that area, especially after what happened."

Artemis nodded, "Yes. Thank you Saphira-san. Sorry for the trouble."

"Think nothing of it." Saphira replied, "Rather you should thank the classmates who brought you to the infirmary, Iago Lark." She said and had her hand on the knob but had yet to turn it. "You said his name was Scossa?"

"Yes, Scossa Welle." Artemis confirmed. Saphira nodded and opened the door, letting both of them out.

"Go on back to your bed Artemis, Aria will release you once you're well enough." Saphira instructed calmly. "Goodnight. Tomorrow I'm going to see how Miranda and Kenyon are doing." She said and walked out casually.

Artemis pulled the covers over herself back in her bed, still worried about her necklace. Aria's iguana had pulled himself up onto her bed looking for attention. Aria giggled, "I think he's taken a liking to you."

"Heh, seems so." Artemis tried to pry out a smile while running her fingers along his spines.

In the other bed, Fubuki began to stir in his sleep.

After their first night, and nothing on Saphira's schedule for early morning, Miranda, Lyra and Kenyon joined her in the Obelisk lounge. Since most of the students were in class, the large break room was hollow except for a few admin and routine janitorial.

Kenyon gulped down his water for a bit before looking out on Saphira, "You know you've been taking a lot of hits since going on security. And some of those hits weren't pretty."

Saphira winced, her arm still bandaged. "Just another day to heal." Just wait until I get my hands on that idiot! I'm going to jam all that metal so far up his…! Saphira calmed down enough to let her mind go elsewhere. "Miranda, appreciated helping during one of my duels. Really needed Doriado."

The Itako nodded, "Though you would have gotten it anyway. But understood if you need assurance."

"Ah ha! I knew Saphira cheated!" Chronos was in the lounge and just inside earshot. His shrill startled Lyra and she clung to Miranda's arm in a second. "No way could she get Doriado when she did unless someone did something."

Saphira boiled, Kenyon was about ready to keep her from mutilating the European teacher while Miranda had a stiff glare, almost not acknowledging at all Lyra's attempt to hide. Miranda's eyes glimmered with her own internal anger, "Tell me De Mediz. How could I possibly tip off Saphira with Elemental Mistress Doriado when I was nowhere near the island but in fact on the other side of the Pacific Ocean?"

"How should I know, you did it!" Chronos cried.

Miranda in contrast kept a straight face, "All I did was answer Hayasaka's call and told her that she has the best possibility to foil your Ancient Gear Beast." This fumed even Chronos more. "Now could you kindly get out of my face, you are scaring Mirage and Lyra."

Chronos did get out of her face and turned on a heel but threw out his arms, demanding for answers. "Dagda, Hayasaka, Mirage, Fusiki! Who are these people you talk about! I don't see them at all!"

Our cue. The three thought at once and their persons changed enough for Chronos to turn around back at them and he paled.

Kenyon's once cheerful and carefree demeanor turned serious and straightforward. Miranda's eyes turned green, as if to see again like a normal human, and had an aura of innocence like Lyra's. Saphira's eyes when sharp, like cold fire. In a split second, Saphira's left hand was around Chronos' throat, threatening to break his neck by simply squeezing tight enough.

"Her name is Fu-shi-ko. That's 'Colonel Hayasaka' to you, she's Queen Mirage, and he's Dagda." Saphira hissed. Chronos looked over her shoulder as Miranda looked as if she was shielding something on her shoulder.

Kenyon sighed when he wasn't properly addressed himself, "Sage Dagda…"

What…what are they talking about! They claim to be both people! Chronos looked disbelieved, but understood it for the sake of his life.

"Hayasaka…please put him down? I think he believes us." Miranda said with a timid voice. Saphira had a gaze to Miranda before she released him.

Kenyon looked a bit confused and lost his sense of down-to-earth, "Hold on, didn't her hair color change from blonde to black whenever Gema and Hayasaka switched possession?" Miranda looked intrigued herself as her eyes went silver again and Saphira's calmed down.

Saphira asked, "Any thoughts? I didn't dye my hair in the past years."

"You may have had some sort of effect to the possession." Miranda answered the best she could. "In some pairings there are effects to possession."

Saphira shrugged and looked to Kenyon, "Got what I asked?"

Kenyon nodded with a smile as he appeared to be out of his own possession. He took out from his pocket a small disc-shaped USB portable hard drive. "All the cards we have in thought are in here." In the background, Chronos began to slowly back away from everyone.

Who are these people? He asked in his mind.

Artemis yawned out of boredom while staring at the ceiling of the infirmary through the day. She still felt the sting of her burns on her body, but gradually has eased up. She winced that she had lost her necklace somewhere while she was unconscious and hoped to go try and find it.

She groaned, bored out of her mind so she pulled the Duel Disk to her and began to shuffle through the deck, checking to see if she had all her cards. Her movement caught Fubuki's attention, "Hey." Artemis' eyes clicked up. Fubuki sat up in his bed with dark shoulder-length hair and eyes, and a small smile was on his face. "What are you in here for?"

Artemis sighed while counting her cards, "Skin burns, you?"

"Not…sure." Fubuki answer and Artemis stopped scanning her cards.

"What do you mean?" Artemis asked and before Fubuki answered she changed her mind, "Forget I asked, we'd probably be getting nowhere…" She sighed and looked out the window.

"How did you get burns? A science teacher get careless in his class?"

"No. Wrong place, wrong time; an abandoned dorm blew up." Artemis answered and there was a knock on the door. Without answer the door opened and Jade stepped in with some sheets of paper.

Jade looked in cautiously and smiled when she saw Artemis awake. "Hey Artemis." She greeted and stepped in.

"Jade?" Artemis wondered.

"Just didn't want you to miss Hikari's work for the day." Jade answered, earning Artemis the right to shoulder slump.

"You come to see me…just to give me school work I can make up when I get out?" She asked.

"I thought you'd like this one though, the tactics classes are making new cards." Jade perked up which made Artemis look up again. After a minute she turned in bed.

"I'll do it when I have the ideas. I'm better off just designing the card images anyway." Artemis grumbled, hiding her anxiety of losing her necklace.

Jade sighed and sat bedside. "How much longer are you in here?"

"When else, until I'm free to go." Artemis said blankly.

Fubuki simply watched in the background but when the subject came up, he just had to ask, "What's this about making cards?"

Jade looked up to Fubuki, at first looking confused. She had never seen his face before, but went on to explain. "Well, card shipments keep getting seized somehow. So Headmaster Kaiba thought about the academy making our own cards so we don't have to rely on the outside so much. …And should I ask who you are?"

In the introduction, Artemis pulled the bed cover over her head. I need to find my necklace…it has to be somewhere nearby the abandoned dorm. …Saphira did say she'd have Hidama look for it, whoever Hidama is. Thoughts twisted her head and Jade looked back to her roommate.

"Artemis…" Jade sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. Artemis grunted, it was a burn spot and Jade pulled away quickly. She checked the clock hanging on the wall and stood up. "I have to go to Gym now…" she leaned over to Artemis for a whispering note. "I'll let Sasuke know you're OK." She whispered before leaving, but stopped short when Aria entered in.

Aria walked past, holding a fresh Ra blazer. "Artemis… It seems you can leave now, but I'd like you to come by to get your bandages changed until the burns heal. I've also excused you from your afternoon classes today."

"Ah thanks Aria." Artemis slipped out of the bed and began to gather her things. With Jade helping, Artemis gently pulled the blazer over her bandaged arms. She looked back on Fubuki, "Get well soon."

"No problem." Fubuki smiled as the two girls walked out.

Jade looked a bit bummed while the two exited the main building, the high noon sun gleaming over the island. "I hope the coach can give me a break for helping you get back to the dorm."

"I can go back on my own; all I had with me were my blazer and Duel Disk." What am I saying, holding the Duel Disk or anything bundled in my arms hurt like heck. Artemis suggested, "You go ahead to Gym and let the coach know that I've been excused by the medical staff." Jade was hesitant but nodded and went back to the main building. Once out of sight Artemis looked back where the abandoned dorm was. I need to find my necklace…but I'll get in trouble if I go back. She sighed and paced towards the Ra Yellow dorm, counting her cards. Just as she came to her door, she realized that a good number of her cards were missing.

"Raregold Armor, D.D. Assailant, Amazoness Blowpiper, Spellcaster… Crap." She muttered under her breath as she walked into the room. "What else am I missing…?" Artemis walked into Kiba and Tsume soundly napping on Jade's bed, and Sasuke's meditation broken.

"Artemis!" Sasuke jumped. Artemis winced from his volume.

"Volume please?" She said in a moderate voice and began to flip through her card binder. Sasuke looked intrigued and jumped onto Artemis' desk.

What are you doing? The Samurai asked.

I'm missing cards from my deck when I got caught in the explosion. She answered lowly while shifting through, making note of what card sleeves were empty then searching her deck for the cards. "Dangit, I've lost two Disciples of the Forbidden Spell and one of my Swords Women. Those don't come by easily… Seven Tools of the Bandit, Graceful Charity…" Artemis growled with frustration as she saw some of her more reliable cards turn up MIA.

Her mind was mixed with many things, her missing cards and the despair of losing her necklace. Finally her mind strained so far she got a headache; she grumbled and leaned back on her chair, pulled out her sketchpad and began to bide her time with pencil sketching.

The hours seemed to drag by until the knob was jiggled and Jade walked him, slightly panting from a day's routine. By now Artemis has pencil sketched and shaded several of her monsters, mostly warriors and scribbled in the lower right-hand corners their info. Jade smiled, "Artemis, glad to see you're up and about." She greeted.

Artemis looked up from her fifth image in progress. "Hey Jade, classes over for the day?"

"For the most part." Jade answered as she put most of her supplies away; then looked to Artemis who seemed to have more gloom than before. "Something wrong?"

"I'm missing cards from my deck from that explosion." Artemis answered bluntly.

She looked shock when Artemis answered. "How many cards are you missing?" Jade asked only to get the checklist handed to her. She grimaced at more of what cards were missing than how many actually were. "Looks like you need to make a run there if you're going back to Chronos' tactics class again."

Jade had a moment of thought while Artemis tucked away her sketchpad. "I know! We'll visit the card shop!"

Artemis' brow arched, "But the card shipment was delayed. What odds are there for me to replace all the cards I'm missing from my deck?"

Jade bit her lip. She's right…and she lost a number of her rare cards. The shop may not have them or be able to get them. Finally her mind struck and pulled out her PDA. "Well you can see about the card shop special this week. Check your PDA."

Artemis sighed and pulled out her device, miraculously surviving the damage from several days ago. Fortunately there weren't any messages except from the faculty; it was the booster pack special. "'Duelists that beat one of the members of the staff will receive booster packs, based on how many Life Points they have remaining on their victory. No Life Point recovery cards permitted for this special.'" Artemis mumbled to herself and continued reading after thinking it over. "'Reply to this notice to earn your chance to duel.' …Sounds like fun, once I get my deck back up in number." She said and replied to the message.

"We should head over there now before it gets crowded." Jade suggested, grabbing her Duel Disk. Then she glanced back at Artemis, remembering the bandages that appeared outside the edge of the sleeves and the small strips on her cheeks. "Are you feeling better?"

Artemis was already getting ready to head out, "Yeah, I'm fine, just a bit tender. That's all." After clicking on her Duel Disk she stepped out with Sasuke on her heels, Jade following and the two headed for the main building.

Booster packs lined the back wall behind the counter of the card shop; a room nearly the size of a gymnasium was currently empty with the exception of two attendants. One of them was the ringleader of the card shop, polishing the glass of the card display. She was modestly rounded, one that could fit the role of Mrs. Claus. She wore a deep blue apron over a pink T-short, gray loose pants, and small circular glasses with her brown hair tied into a braid over her right shoulder.

After wiping the glass without streaks, she looked up into the back. "Winnie? Is the grab bag ready? Those students will be stampeding from class any minute."

"Just need to add a few packs from the last box, Tome-san," A young voice replied from the back.

A girl with very light green hair tied back with a ribbon was opening a booster pack box and put at least five packs into a large bag. Under the blue apron and a tan light hoodie she had a blue skirt and a green sweater and over top it all was her white silver necklace with a Peridot stone in the twisting metal. She placed the rest of the booster packs on the shelf and shook up the bag, mixing the packs.

Tome sighed with a smile. "Well the card shipments may have been delayed but at least you and your friends were able to slip by a couple of boxes before the beginning of the year. Thanks Winnie."

Winnie grinned as she placed the grab bag on the countertop. "Don't mention it." The two card shop attendants stopped what they did as the class toll rang. "Now the names are really going to be ringing in."

"Get your deck ready Winnie! Those students are going to be charging in for the special, it's a hot one and you know it!" Tome warned and Winnie pulled on her Duel Disk from behind the counter and took her position on one side. As Tome swung around back to take the register, they heard the soles of the students' shoes begin to rumble on the floor and coming closer. A blur of red, yellow and blue uniforms filled the store, gazing at the new singles cards, hopping mad for booster packs, and demanding to participate in today's special.

A minute into the students' rowdy manner, Tome whistled loudly and caused the crowd's silence. "Okay, much better. Now for the freshmen, we will explain the rules of the special duels. You were to reply to the notice you got in your PDA e-mail. When you do that, your name will be selected randomly to duel your opponent. Today's special is what we nickname 'Survival.' That is to say, survive and defeat your opponent without taking damage yourself. If you are victorious, you will be able to pick booster packs equal to the number of Life Points you have remaining; a perfect game will get you four booster packs, between three and four thousand Life Points will allow you three booster packs, and so forth." Tome explained while holding out the booster pack grab bag.

Winnie perked up. "I'm your opponent today students! And I'll be fair to warn you, I have been designated as one of the Beta Testers for the Academy Card project. Now let's see who my first opponent is?" She said when she turned to a display screen shuffling letters and names.

Artemis and Jade didn't join the rush into the group; they had instead strolled their way to the card shop, already crowded over by students. Hopefully, they were able to slink through the crowd that was forming a ring for a duel to begin with Winnie facing her first opponent, an Obelisk Blue, Harrison Wolfram. Artemis caught sight of Harrison's white hair and cringed, looking away immediately and hoped not to be spotted.

Finally she had made it to the counter where Tome was taking orders. Eventually she was next and she had her list at hand. "Excuse me? I need to replace some cards." Artemis mentioned and handed the checklist to Tome.

Behind those tiny glasses, Tome had a cringing look. "We barely have any of these in singles. How did you lose these?"

"I…I don't want to talk about it." Artemis answered as Tome tried to look for some of the singles Artemis had listed.

"Hm, maybe you might be lucky enough to pull some of these out of our booster packs." Tome suggested.

"I'm below Deck minimum." Artemis added on before she sighed, "I'll…just see what I can make up for it." She said and began to pick cards out of the display case.

Jade watched as a spectator as Harrison was dueling Winnie. He had Skill Drain out on the field which means he was already down to 3000 or less, and an Archfiend Soldier posted strength as usual. And Winnie had several monsters out already, a monster that looked like a Petit Dragon but not quite, a blue-feathered bird, a rainbow-feathered bird of a lesser attack power, and one monster that looked remarkably like her…or vice-versa.

Harrison was ready to attack. "Archfiend Soldier, attack that measly dragon!" His fiendish warrior had sights set on a Petit Dragon who seemed to have more in its ability.

"Go trap card, Hallowed Life Barrier!" Winnie opened one of her facedown cards. "By discarding one card from my hand I negate all damage I'd receive from you this turn!" The activation sprung a trio of monks in front of her dragon. The monks chanted a spell which created a powerful barrier that slid the Soldier's attack like it was a breeze against a brick wall.

Harrison grumbled, "Fine. End turn."

"And end game I'm afraid." Winnie smiled. "First I'll activate another facedown card of mine, Spiritual Wind Art – Miyabi! By offering my Wind Charmer, I send your Skill Drain Trap Card to the bottom of your deck!" The said spellcaster began to chant a spell and a wind picked up. It grew stronger until it was finally gale force. The trap card flew away from the holographic display and the Wind Charmer seemed to have vanished as well.

Wolfram cringed, "No way…"

"Yes way!" Winnie cheered, "With your Skill Drain out of the way my Free Petit Dragon's special ability is active again: all Wind monsters gain 1000 ATK points." The attack points for all three of her monsters climbed. Harrison didn't have any trap cards to protect himself as Winnie moved in for her Battle Phase. "Blue-Winged Crown, attack his Archfiend Soldier with Dive Bomb!"

At her command the blue bird gained altitude and dived in straight for the Archfiend Soldier, sending Harrison's Life Points to 1800.

"Stargezer Bird – Laris, finish it!" Winnie's second monster flew in, this time through Harrison and ended the duel in a square zero. "That's it for opponent number one!"

Jade was looking amazed. They've expanded the Charmers set? Behind her, Artemis had selected and paid for a handful of cards and was shuffling her new deck. Jade turned around, "That Obelisk just got his butt handed to him."

"Harrison got beat?" Artemis asked as she placed her deck into the Duel Disk "…A little surprising."

"You know him?"

"Let's just say that I do when I didn't want to." Artemis replied and her eyes shifted to Sasuke. He had taken up a perch on one of the card shop pillars. Anything unusual Sasuke?

If you don't call a duelist resembling her cards unusual, nothing at all. Sasuke replied as everyone waited anxiously for the next name to appear.

"And my next opponent is…Artemis Minh!" Winnie announced when the name flashed on the display screen.

Man…what is with that Winnie girl? She breezed through my ultimate defense like wind through a screen door. And just when I have my eyes set on some new cards to improve my deck. Now it's Minh's turn? I still haven't forgiven her for the defeat she handed me, so she better not get beat while I'm watching. Next time, "Assault! Can Sword slash the Wind?" Odd…never seen that card before.

Original Characters

Winnie – Gema J. Gall