Chapter 21: Challengers Assemble
The next day Skip and his students were in the front of You Show Duel School.
"Surely we only have six students at our school but we lack in our guts, I knew you kids were talented but who knew you guys would predecipate in the Junior Arc League Championship." Skip said proudly. "Let's bring it everybody!"
Skip tried to hug them but they moved out of the way as a person rode of him with a bike. "Let's pretend that didn't happen."
"I don't have a problem with it." Zuzu said. "Shouldn't we make a feline to the Tournament? Ally asked. "Right you are but first let's have a quick refresher, as you all remember that this championship will section off 3-8 pracits, beginning with the Youth divesion with Federick, Ally, and Tate were are competing." Skip explaiend. "Right." The kids answered. "While Yuya, Zuzu, and Sora are competing in the Junior Division." Skip added. "Alright." They said. "If you remember that the last decade, you know these League championships are a titanic deal." Skip conculed. "Of course all the other top duel schools will be representing in the touranement as well as the LID but there will be duelists from around the globe so this our chance to show the world that Dueltaining is the best there is."
"You all made terrific teammates together but right now I want you guys to think as each other potential rivals, pre-join you compendares, burn up the field, be the flames, keeping burning the heat on your rivals until you reached in the dreaming globe of fury!"
Yuya and his friends began to walk to the van.
Everyone buckled up. "All set." Tate said. "I can't wait!" Ally said looking eager. "Time to hit the auto-bun." Federick said. "Let's get rolling." Zuzu said looking determined. "Alright next stop the Arc League Championship." Skip said as his students cheered.
"There's no stopping us now." Skip said as he drove off and then Zuzu screamed. "Aah!"
Skip stopped the van. "What's wrong Zuzu?"
"Sorry dad but we're missing a passager." She said. "Who is it?" Skip asked as he and student look at an empty seat. "Where's Yuya?!" They asked loudly.
"This Joy Jevay reporting from Town Square, the whole city is sizzling with excitment and why cause the exciting events is about happen, I'm talking about the Arc League Championship." Joy reported. "Crowds are filling the arena eager to see their favorite duelists face off in a fantastic realistic enviroment, generated by the Leo Corportation ornamented reality comeback system, this remarkable technolgy has revolution Action Dueling placing the Duelists directlly in the thick of battle, its no wonder that in the past time has the worlds most fanatic fan base, they can't wait to for the tournament to start, neither can I!"
"Any time now the ceremonies will begin soon!"
The crowd then made cheers in the background. "Oh has it begun, no its him, we have a major celebrity, its the one and only Declan Akaba, give it up for the one of the worlds greatest stars!"
Some girls called out Declan name with joy and excitement as the Leo Corp president waved to the coward. "What an electric moment, it seems its been ages since Declan made a public appearance at a Dueling event." Joy said blushing.
"Any luck?" Ally asked. "None, no sign of Yuya." Federick said catching his breath. "I wonder what in the world could've happened to him." Tate wondered.
Skip was outside where crowd was sitting looking around and holding his duel disk to his face. "Keep looking and call me if you spot him."
Skip hung up and continued searching. "We'd better find him before the tournament begins."
Sora was in the lounge licking his lollipop against the wall.
"Hey Sora any sign of Yuya?" Zuzu asked. "Nope, not a lick of him." Sora replied. "What next, Zuzu?" Ally asked. "I'm not sure, I called his house but his mother said he wasn't there, he's hasn't went back to the school, I don't know have a clue where Yuya went off to." Zuzu replied worriedly.
"No problem." A voice said.
They looked to where the voice came from and there was Aura. "Aura." Zuzu said.
"If my boyfriend is lost then I'll be the one to find him." The Fortune teller said holding her crystal apple. "What do you mean boyfriend?" Zuzu asked angrily as flame covered. "Whoa take it easy!" Tate called out as other two kids jumped at their friends fury. "Oh could it be that Yuya went to see my parents to take me out to dinner, oh please mom and dad say yes!" Aura said excitedly.
"I'd be happy to take you out with one whack!" Zuzu said angrily as she took out her fan. "Save that fury for your opponent." Tate suggested. "What shall we do the ceremony is about to begin." Ally added worriedly.
"No problem my crystal will tell me where Yuya is!" Aura said as she took out a hanky and placed her apple on it. "Where are you my darling sweetie pie, oh speak to my heart honey dearest!" Aura chanted as Zuzu prepared to whack her and the kids tried to prevent her from doing it. "I see him!"
Zuzu and the kids stopped abruptly. "Where is he?" Ally asked. "Over there!" Aura replied pointed out the window and there was the city and bridge. "I don't see him." Tate said looking in the direction where the Fortune teller pointing. "That's because you're not looking hard enough, he's way over there on that bridge."
She was right Yuya was there gazing off into the distant with his goggles on.
"(Well dad you'd knew this day was coming, you'd tried your best to prepare me.)" He thought.
A flashback scene.
Yuya was sitting the bridge's rail when he was younger with his dad standing next to him on the bridge.
"You're suppose to be dueling Sledgehammer and he's suppose to be strong, isn't he?" Young Yuya asked. "Yeah but don't you worry Yuya, as long as I stay true to myself and keep the audience entertained I'll be just fine, try to remember that when you duel in a tournament yourself." Yusho advised. "Yeah someday I'll become a professional and duel like you." Yuya replied happily. "its great to hear you say that but don't be afraid to be Yuya, when the time comes you compete in your own way." Yusho added patting his son on his head.
end of flashback.
"Compete in my own way." Yuya said as he held his pendant.
"You certainly know how to put everyone's life upside down mister." A female voice said as the dueltainer turned to the direction of the voice.
"Mom." He said. "It seem while you were here daydreaming, your friends have been looking for you, is everything okay?" Mrs Sasaki asked as Yuya turned away gazing off into the distant. "I needed alone time." He answered.
"Yuya, you're dad was the same way before a duel, its time for you take the stage, all your fans are waiting for you over there." Mrs Sasaki said pointed at the stadium.
At the stadium.
"I heard Yuya Sasaki went awol." A kid said. "He's just like his father." A second kid pointed out.
"If he doesn't show up then it'll be too late." Ally said.
"Oh great I finally found you!" Yuya called out heading towards his friends. "Yuya!" The kids called. "You're back." Zuzu said as she made worried look. "Did you miss me?" He asked. "Miss you, we drove ourselves crazy trying to track you down." Zuzu answered seriously. "Well you can call of the search, now come on let's not be late." Yuya said as he walked away. "You can be so annoying." Zuzu muttered. "Me, annoying?" Yuya asked as he bumped into a muscle man.
The big muscle man turned around and revealed himself. "Watch where you going small fry."
"Grizzlepike." Yuya said remembering the boy that picked on him and Gong stood up to the bully. "I'm surprised that you didn't flee out of the tournament like your old man did." Grizzlepike mocked. "What'd you say?" Yuya asked angrily. "I just can't figure out how a duelist like you could beat the Sledgehammer." The big muscle man added.
"Who's that? Sora asked. "Don't have a clue." Tate answered looking worried. "No Sasaki is worthy to be dueling in this stadium, how's about I show you and your cards where the exit is?" Grizzlepike asked as he grinned sinisterly. "Back off Grizzlepike!" A voice said as the bully felt a hand on his shoulder. "Gong!" Yuya said surprisingly. "Hah, you still this wimps bodyguard, that figures, once a coward always coward." Grizzlepike said rudely.
"Now be carefull what you say about my best friend." Gong said.
"The Dueling ceremonies will begin shortly, so duelists take your places on the team utters!" The announcer said over the speaker. "Heh, tough talk means squat to me see you later." Grizzlepike said as he entered the arena walk way. "So he's the bully that your dad told me about." A voice said.
It was Jenna Jetsam. "Oh Yuya this Jenna Jetsam the cook I was telling you about." Gong said. "Oh nice to meet you." Yuya said offering his hand but Jenna was looking at the direction where Grizzlepike walked. "He gives skunks a bad name."
"I'm glad to see you Gong." Yuya said turning to face his friend. "I was worried that you wouldn't make the cut."
"You can't keep a duelist down just before the registration deadline, Gong's got enough to enter the tournament." Gong said. "You did, alright buddy!" Yuya said as he and Gong shook hands. Jenna Jetsam glanced at Sora slightly who was staring off at her too. "(Hmm what's her deal?)" Sora asked himself.
"Greetings to all my dueling fanatic's both near and far, the day we've been waiting for has arrived as we flip, the on switch for this years Arc League Championship, my name is Nico Smiley and I'm thrilled to be your opening ceremony host!" Nico announced. "So let the Arc League Championship begin!"
The audience cheered.
"Now let's kick off the Arc League championship, Our daring duelists will march in by soon, take away Joy!" Nico announced. "Thank you Nico, First the Leo Institute of Dueling, last year Leo has denominated the championships by three sections!" Joy announced as the students from LID marched. "With the large condition of duelists in this years tournament they're a hands in for another trophy swing!"
Then Yuya and Zuzu gasped at one of students they saw before it was Shay and behind him was a girl with blonde hair, on top of her hair was cat like shaped ears and behind her was a cat tail.
"That guy?" Yuya asked. "He's dueling for Leo now?" Zuzu asked. "(Its that girl I saw coming out of the LID entrance.)" Sora thought. "Also LID has gotten a new student with a beautiful smile and a top Xyz Summoner beside Dipper, give it up for Katt!" Joy announced as the cat girl waved with her arms and hands making the men along with the boys in the crowd to go nuts over her. "Though she won't be competing but LID thought it be good to introduce the new female LID student.
"Man, talk about getting a introduction." Tate said.
"That cat girl is something." Gong added. "(Hmm a new student.)" Zuzu thought then something occurred to her.
a flashback scene.
"LID has gotten a new student." Sylvio said. "Who's going to give Dipper a run for his reputation as the Top Xyz Summoner and is getting a warm welcome."
end of flashback.
"Yuya, remember the new student that Sylvio was telling us about?" She asked. "Yeah that cat girl must be the new student." Yuya replied who seemed to remember too.
"Our second group is a chop for victory, its Bandit Warrior Academy!" Joy announced as the duelists wearing martial arts uniforms entered. "The most powerful Martial arts of dueling, their best student is Iggy Arlow finished in second last year and is out for revenge!"
"Next we have is a team from far off the sea, the mysterious knights of the duel disk!"
"Behind we have another hometown team!"
Shay was marching with LID and he glanced at Declan.
a flashback scene.
"You're saying you're willing to duel me if I enter your tournament?" Shay asked. "Correct that individual will help us seek out duelists willing to fight against my father Leo Akaba." Declan replied. "You're battling your own father?" Shay asked confused. "He is my father but he's our common enemy and I will stop at nothing to take him down." Declan said.
"The other duelists that are competing, one uses the most powerful Fusion Summons I've ever detected, and one uses a summoning method that you'd ever seen, you will be my eyes and ears if they have the skills on the field, I want you determine if they have the skills to join my fight." Declan added. "As addition I can allow your cat friend to watch from the sidelines though she won't be competing but she seems to have the skills to join my fight ."
"However why won't you tell me about this pink haired girl?" He asked. "Look all I can say is that I don't anyone else near her." Shay said who looked serious of avoiding of answering about Sibella.
Declan sighed. "Very well but she seems to have some powerful dueling skills."
End of flashback.
"Entering the stadium now is the Abrakadabra Academy famous for their philosophy of dueling by demolishing, their star pupil is Trick Tagart."
"So you know the guy that just entered the arena?" Zuzu asked. "Yeah I watched him take out LID elite members with a pink haired girl." Yuya replied which got Jenna's attention and Zuzu who remembered the pink haired girl.
"Rolling in now is is the Dueling Domino, who is home to hottest singers, dancers, and duelists, there's Mickey Starlett she's sweet in person but in comeback she's ferocious!"
"Walking into the spotlight now is our students from the small training facility for dueltainers, the You Show School!"
"Go kids break a duel disk!" Yoko cheered. "Battle your opponents with You Show style!" Principal Boyle added excitedly. "This crowds has its radar screams tune to Yuya Sasaki!" Joy announced. "His Pendulum Summoning has his dueling on the top, I expect him to unleash it early in the tournament!"
Yuya glanced at Declan who stared back at him. "Greetings Duelists, you've battled well to be here, the fact you stand here before me is true to me that you're beyond the elite, I know the coming days the challenges ahead will distinction and dignity." A man announced as the crowd cheered. "Now one of our competitors will re-site the duelists oaf and the honor goes to Yuya Sasaki!" Nico announced. "Uh, what do you mean me?" He asked shockingly. "Re-cite the duelists oaf?" Zuzu questioned. "Does he even know it?" Yoko asked. "Thanks for picking me but I'm declining." Yuya said. "Our martials will escort you to the stage." Nico said as two guys got hold of the dueltainer. "Yuya, take that oaf with pride." Gong said as his friend was thrown on the stage and Nico bended down at him.
"Now, now, this is no time for comedy routines, remember its a great to re-site the oaf so no pressure." Nico said. "Uh oh." Zuzu muttered worriedly. "And now the oaf." Yuya said as the crowd cheered and he approached the microphone. "Ahem I Suya, kaki." He said nervously as the duelists realized he was speaking the wrong way on the microphone. "His brain is shut down." Tate said. "Like its full of sow." Federick added. "I promise.." Yuya began to say. "Yuya stop freaking out!" Zuzu called out. "Say it in your own way!"
"Say it in my own way." Yuya mumbled remembering those words from his dad. "My dad would've done."
He took hold of his pendant. "Yuya's brain is frozen." Skip said worriedly. "Trust me he'll be alright." Yoko said confidently.
Yuya took a deep breathe. "Greeting fellow dueling fans, I was asked to re-site the dueling oaf but since most of us know it by heart, I've decided to let you all know something that you don't, the story you all want to hear, you probably know that I'm the son of Yusho Sasaki, he's was the most popular dueltainers that ever stepped into a stadium and definitely one of the greatest but one day he shot everyone down when he disappeared just before a big duel, some people teased me that I was a coward like my father, so I worked to prove them wrong but I still couldn't face my problems, until I learned to Pendulum Summon, sure my duels were difficult back then but I was having fun again but I still have a lot to learn and have a long journey ahead of me but I'll have fun all the way because that's all we love about dueling, that's the reason we're all here, someday I'm going to be a top dueltainer like my father, I promise to never stop improving my skills that I'll always duel fairly, that I show everyone to love Action Duels as much as we do!" Yuya announced as Declan clapped his hands.
Soon everyone was clapping. "Is he great or what, that was better than the official duelist oaf, take a bow kiddo, you're a hit." Nico praised as Yuya took a bow.
"That was spectacular, Yoko if that boy of yours duels as well as he spoke, he's got the Arc League title all locked up!" Skip said excitedly. "Don't get ahead of yourself, he hasn't won a thing yet there are a lot of talented duelists here." Yoko said. "I guess so." Skip said. "If Yuya going to be the Arc League Champion then he'll have to earn it." Mrs Sasaki added.
"Its time for to learn who you'll be facing in the first round, ok Arc League Champions slot in your competition data cards in your duel disk." Nico explained as the duelists entered their data cards in their duel disks. "What are these for?" Yuya asked. "Their keep track of us on how we're doing." Zuzu answered.
"I'm no tech burst but I was told that central computer things bleeps out tiny info right to your cards tell them your opponent, use to keep track of winners and losers, then use those cards again for the second round." Nico explained. "I wonder if I can use there for snacks too." Yuya wondered as he and his friends slot their cards. "Now let's see who I'm dueling first."
An image came on his duel disk and it was familiar face. "Sylvio." He said shockingly. "My first opponent is..Julia." Zuzu said. "I'm going to be dueling tomorrow." Yuya said. "My duel is this afternoon." Zuzu said. "Gong's going to have his work cut out for him." Gong said. "Why, who's your opponent?" Yuya asked as Gong turned his duel disk around and showing the image of the opponent. "Grizzlepike?" Yuya asked.
"We were destined to duel." Gong said. "My duel starts after the opening." Federick said. "Then I'm up next." Ally added. "So Federick, Ally, will represent the first wave of You Show." Yuya said. "And you Sora?" Tate asked. "I'm duel tomorrow against some guy from the LID." Sora answered. "A Leo Duelist?" Yuya asked. "Some guy named Shay Obsidian." Sora explained as Yuya and Zuzu gasped. "See for youself." Sora said showing an image of Shay.
Zuzu remembered when she encountered him and he called her Lulu.
"You're going up against Shay." She said worriedly. "There you are Zuzu my first victim of the tournament." Julia said from afar. "Julia, look I know you don't like me and all but I got to warn you there's this Shay guy that's attacked LID tournament team." Zuzu warned. "Shay's been at the Institute all year, he was in my advanced dueling wind-disk last semester." She explained. "What?" Zuzu asked confusedly. "What do you mean?" Yuya asked. "Sora Perse, got it." Shay said as he slightly glanced at Katt who exchanged his glance with a nod.
At the Youth Division.
"I turn your directions to duel port 3 where the fearless Federick takes on the super star Trevor this is the very first match of the Youth League." Joy announced.
Federick: 900
Trevor: 2200
"Federick papa is proud of you!" Federick's dad called out. "Mama is too." Federick's mother added cheerfully. "Go Trevor!" Trevor's mother cheered. "Do it to supers!" Trevor's dad added cheerfully.
"Go Red Mask take out Doodle Beast Stego!" Trevor commanded.
Red Mask Level 4 Attack 1600
Doodle Beast Stego Level 5 Attack 1200
"That's Trevor's best monster." Joy pointed out. "Stop right, I have a trap that'll be stop your monster, its called: Doodlebook Uh-Uh-Uh!" Federick explained as the Red Mask stopped in its tracks. "You forward me for now villain." Trevor said.
"Now I'll snap you like an uncook noodle." Federick said as he drew his card and looked at it. "Perfect, by tributing a sketch beast like my doodle Beast Stego I then can summon another of my doodle Beast monsters and this is the powerful in my deck." He explained as Stego disappeared.
"As you can see that the fields in the Youth League are to add a lot of bounce to the duel." Joy explained.
Federick landed on his Tyranno's back.
"Now face the attack of my Tyranno!"
Doodle Beast Tyranno Level 8 Attack 2400
"Yay!" Federick's dad cheered excitedly. "That's my boy!" Federick's mother added proudly.
"Now use your special ability, Tyranno can automanically destroy one of your monsters and gain half of that destroyed monster's attack points." Federick explained as his Tyranno's swiped Red Mask with its tail.
Doodle Beast- Tyranno Attack 2400-3200
"Ok Tyranno attack Trevor directly with Dino Destruction!" Federick commanded as his Tyranno charged and wiped out Trevor's life points.
Trevor: 0
"There you have it there win goes You Show Federick!" Joy announced. "VICTORY!" Federick proclaimed happily. "That was amazing you scored You Show's first win!" Principal Boyle praised. "You were spectacular!" Yuya praised. "It was a piece of cake." Federick commented. "Don't get overconfident, Gong admits that you took important step little fella but always the saying: One tree is not a forest make."
"Aha that sounds like something from a fortune cookie." Sora chuckled. "Aren't you next Ally?" Zuzu asked. "Yeah its says my challenge is the from the LID." Ally said looking at her duel disk. "From Leo?" Skip asked as he and the rest of the gang looked at a boy from afar wearing a hoody.
Meanwhile inside the stadium waiting room.
Katt was walking inside till Sylvio's three classmates approached her. "Hi kitten." Yamabe said in goofy tone. "Uh, my name is Katt." The Cat girl said feeling a bit weirded out. "Anyway how about having lunch with us?" Kakimoto asked. "Please." Ootomo said begging on his knees and cupping his hands together. "Very well then." Katt said though she was still a bit weirded out.
end of chapter.