"So… let me get this straight."

It was dark. Headmaster Foster's fingers were once again interlocked before him, and he stared down his three students with an eye of judgment.

The Divine Trinity did not falter.

"After some deliberation… you did manage to find the Duel Giant, but you claim that our rival's student Jaden got to him first?"

"That's right, Headmaster." Wisteria offered, being the fastest on the draw. "The situation is unfortunate, but from how Chazz tells it, Jaden was not quite skilled enough to defeat and contain this… Duel Giant fellow. He got away again I'm afraid, though I'm hardly surprised. What would you expect, sending a Duel Academy student to do a North Academy job?"

"Y-Yeah, that's right!" Chazz agreed, knowing the truth about the situation but sworn to secrecy by Konami (and Alexis). "I definitely would have had him, but that Slifer Slacker Jaden got in the way!"

"I see. Well, there's nothing to be done for it I suppose." The Headmaster sighed. "I shall be forced to give the three of you average grades at this point, unless something… particular happens. I'm certain you know what I'm referring to, Chazz."

"Yeah, I got it. I just have to beat Jaden in front of everyone tomorrow, right?" Chazz snorted. "I already told you, there's no way the Princeton will lose!"

"I hope you're right." Headmaster Foster said. "For your sake, if no one else's."

The man sighed then, lowering his hands to drum his fingers along the side of his desk noisily.

"Begone then. I have much to prepare for the Duel tomorrow, and things to discuss with dear old Chancellor Sheppard. Thank you for alerting me to the Duel Giant situation. I'll be sure to make a note of it in the report."

"Yes Headmaster." The three students said in unison, and they turned to leave.

The second the door was closed behind them Wisteria scowled and quickly turned away from her fellow classmates, if they could really be called that.

"I'll be forced to give the three of you average grades!" she mocked, placing her hands on her hips angrily. "Oooh! Just who does he think he is? Does he really think the Fujiwara Foundation will settle for just average?! It seems I'll need to remind him just who's in charge around here!"

"I am." Konami said blandly, strolling past her with a bored look on his face. "Besides, Headmaster Foster is just that, a Headmaster. It's his job to make sure we do what we're told, even if the system at North Academy is a little… unique."

"Che… you're in charge?" Chazz grunted, greeting Konami with a stern glare. "I don't remember to agreeing to that!"

"Well, I certainly don't see anyone around here calling you King, Chazz." Konami said with a small smile.

"That's because Princeton's don't need silly nicknames!" Chazz declared, swooping his arm to the side valiantly.

"Like Manjoume Thunder?" Konami questioned, raising a brow in surprise.

"Wha- You-! That's different!" Chazz snapped. "And you know it!"

"Yeah, yeah, tell it to the judge, Jazz." Konami said, waving him off. "Besides, you can be King all you like after the Inter-School Duel is over. I've already decided to go back to Duel Academy, remember?"

"Hmph!" Wisteria took that moment to remind them of her presence. "Why you'd want to return to this island of brownnosers and bullies is beyond me, especially when you already have a place among North Academy's monarchial society!"

"There are more important things than ranking, Wisteria." Konami explained, shaking his head at her words.

"Like what?" the girl scoffed.

"Friendship and bravery and – oh Red Hat be careful!" Chazz mocked.

Konami frowned. "Stop being a troll, Chazz, or do you want to wind up unconscious in the girl's bathroom with a stick up your nose too?"

"Hmph!" the Princeton scowled, folding his arms imperiously. "The only thing worth staying here for is Alexis! Of course, neither of you are allowed to tell her I said that!"

"Whatever." Konami sighed, parting from the group to leave the Submarine. "I'm going to sleep. I'll see you two tomorrow. With any luck, it'll be the last time."

Wisteria felt the words were directed solely at her, but she paid them no mind. Rather, her thoughts were focused on another fact…

Konami never answered her question.


Yu-Gi-Oh: TAG FORCE


Learning to Duel


Arc Three – Chapter Eight


Duels of Darkness


The Faculty Lounge. Midnight.

During the course of the past week, Konami had found a home in the small, compact space. Certainly, Wisteria's presence just beyond the outer doors was somewhat unappealing, but he cared little for such things. The space he took up, the couch to the table… it was his space, and it was fact alone that kept him sane.

So why, why, why, why, whydid the old man insist on visiting him?

"The Duel Energy is-"

"-strong tonight yes I know." Konami interrupted, his face sour with the rage of one who'd been woken aggressively. "Now, if that's all, I'd been having a rather nice dream about chocolate-"

"The time is near." the old man explained. "An ancient foe shall make itself known, and with it, a dark and terrible age of madness shall descend upon the world."

Konami listened to the man's words stoically. Once he was finished, the student sighed, and approached the man with a wary eye.

"Are you feeling alright tonight?" Konami asked, cautiously. "You're acting even stranger than usual, old man."

"Tell me, child." The man replied. "What do you know of darkness?"

Konami raised a brow in surprise. "Darkness? It's bleak, gloomy. Sometimes frightening, others not. It can also be comforting, in the right places. I can't see myself getting a good night's rest with a bunch of lights on, for instance, and on that note…"

Konami turned, intending to once again drift to sleep only for the man to speak up yet again.

"Your friends. They too, shall know darkness in the coming days." He revealed, rubbing his chin in deep thought. "Will they have the strength to resist it, I wonder? Or will her infernal grasp be the end of us all?"

"Once again, you make no sense." Konami pointed out.

The old man chortled, and a small smile drifted upon his face as he stared at Red Hat. "It will, in time. Tomorrow is the Duel between Jaden and that Princeton boy, is it not? You should rest. You never know what new events the outcome may bring."

Only receiving an annoyed glare in response, the man laughed once more before turning in his wheelchair to leave.

"Until next time, child. If we are both still around that is."

He left the Faculty Lounge without giving further information, and Konami shivered. His laughs could be heard trailing through the halls, no doubt frightening any students foolish enough to still be up and about.

Konami sighed, gripping his cap tightly and moving to lower it back over his eyes. Now that he was done, he could return to that dream-

"So." A feminine voice said from behind him. "Who was that?"

"Wisteria?" Konami asked, earning an annoyed, determined gaze from the girl. "You were listening?"

"I… wasn't trying to." The Fujiwara admitted, turning her head to the side in annoyance. She mumbled something beneath her breath. "Nonetheless, my question has yet to be answered. Who was that?"

"Just an old wise man doing old wise people things." Konami explained.

"He certainly didn't seem very wise." Wisteria drawled.

Konami frowned. "That's because you're still sleeping." He waved his hand in Jedi-like fashion. "You are still asleep."

"I haven't gone to bed yet." Wisteria revealed, her face curling back in a disgusted expression.

"That's what you think." Konami said, only serving to irritate the girl further.

"Tsk. Fine, if you don't want to tell me who that man was then I won't waste my time any further! At least after tomorrow I won't have to put up with you asinine scenarios any further!" with a soft huff, she turned, making for the door that led to her temporary abode.

"Hang on a moment," Konami called, much to her displeasure. "You knew it was Damon who'd stolen the sandwiches. Why didn't you turn him in? You didn't have to back our story up."

Wisteria turned back to glare at him for a moment, but only just. "You said it yourself," she said eerily, turning away to leave. "Some things are more important than rankings."

With that said, she disappeared from the room, leaving Konami to his thoughts.

Falling asleep after that had been a nightmare in and of itself. Konami could never quite find that right spot on the couch in the dark, and as a result, had taken to unceremoniously stretching himself out to take up the entire space. It was an uncomfortable maneuver, one that he had no interest in repeating in the coming days. Luckily, he thought, it would be the last time he'd be forced to sleep on the couch while in the Academy.

Morning came some time later, and with it, the announcement of the Final Duel. Konami, ever the punctual (not), dressed quickly. Grabbing his padded Slifer Jacket and crimson slacks, he armed himself for battle, and left for the Stadium.

He was not the first to arrive, he noted.

Bastion and the other Representatives who'd already competed were already gathered. Jaden and Chazz were the only ones missing, it seemed.

Konami sighed, wondering which of the two was running late. Jaden, he decided after a moment's thought. Chazz was more likely to sit back and make a scene than arrive late accidentally, Konami knew. The Slifer Jaden on the other hand… well, he was never quite the responsible one, was he?

"Scuse me! Pardon me! Next King of Games, coming through!"

Ah, speak of the devil.

"Well, he's arrived." Wisteria said with a frown. "I suppose that means we should get moving."

"Huh?" Konami asked. "Aren't we going to the Stadium?"

Alexis shook her head. "Not quite. Remember how during your Duel Wisteria and I weren't beside Jaden and Chazz? All the Representatives who've already had their Duels are to wait in a separate area, that faculty room we used before."

"Right… I get it now." Konami said. "Speaking of Duels though, whatever happened with Mindy and Jasmine? Did you ever find out what was wrong with them? They were acting a bit… strange yesterday."

Alexis sighed, as if annoyed by the reminder. "Those two… don't worry. They aren't going to show up and harass you like that again. They're just jealous that I haven't been able to spend as much time with them as I usually do, but I've already assured them that it's only temporary. This Representative thing has been draining on all of us. They just didn't understand that, I think."

"Hmm… if you say so." Konami shrugged. "Well, if you're sure they're not gonna show up and start screaming about something weird I'm okay with it."

"Indeed." Bastion said. "If they were truly feeling so left out they should have come to see me! I could have distracted them with tutoring lessons… among other things."

Wisteria wrinkled her nose in disgust at that, and quickly led the group to the side room. Stepping inside, Konami realized that the television screen was recording the stadium outside, no doubt to provide them complete coverage of the Duel in real time. Was this where Alexis and Wisteria saw his Duel as well? It would make sense, he thought.

"That idiot Chazz still hasn't shown up." Wisteria whispered, folding her arms angrily. "He better not make us look like a fool out there!"

"It's Chazz." Konami said. "He'll be looking to make a dramatic entrance."

And it was true, it seemed.

No sooner did Konami finish telling Wisteria such a thing did the lights dim, and the sound of roaring thunder flashed across the stadium. Konami resisted the urge to face palm. How much money did Chazz waste doing that…?

"M-M-M-MANJOUME! THUNDAH!"

In a flash of lightning the Princeton appeared, garbed in his new black coat and North Academy gear. He walked to the arena floor with an elitist smirk, raising his Duel Disk powerfully before yelling out to the crowd above.

"It's time to Chazz It Up!"

North Academy roared and cheered at the announcement, though Duel Academy was understandably… unimpressed.

"Oh, Chazz…!" Konami groaned, no longer resisting the urge. He slapped a palm against his face in embarrassment, listening to the small chuckles of Bastion beside him.

"Well, that was… quite the entrance, Mr. Princeton!" Chancellor Sheppard exclaimed, his voice calling out over the crowd's noise. "Alas, now that you have arrived, it is time to start the last, but not least, Inter-School Duel!"

The crowd's cheers rose higher at the declaration, and Jaden laughed sheepishly at the announcement.

"Looks like it's finally time for us to throw down again, hey Chazz?" he asked.

"That's right, loser!" Chazz said. "But this time, I'll be the one coming out on top! Believe it!"

Jaden snickered, rubbing the bridge of his nose softly. "We'll just have to see about that, won't we Chazz?"

Jaden and Chazz then activated their Duel Disks, grinning and glaring at each other respectively.

"It's time!" the Chancellor's words rang one last time. "Let the Duel… begin!"

DUEL

JADEN VS CHAZZ

JADEN – 4000 LP

CHAZZ – 4000 LP

"I'm going first!" Chazz declared, drawing a card.

TURN ONE – CHAZZ

"Hmph. I'll start by playing a monster in Defense Position!" he shouted then, setting a single card on the Field. "And that'll do for now!"

"Wow, that's all?" Jaden asked. "You may think that's enough, but it won't be once you see what I've got for ya!" he laughed. "Draw!"

TURN TWO – JADEN

"Just what I wanted!" he said, grinning at the card in his hand. "I summon… Elemental Hero Burstinatrix in Attack Mode!"

A pillar of flame rose from the Field at his command, and the pale, red-clothed heroine arrived, standing before her summoner fiercely.

Elemental Hero Burstinatrix – (FIRE/Warrior) – LV4 – (1200/800)

"Actually," Jaden joked, "on second thought I should have said Slayer-mode, because that's exactly what she's gonna do to that face-down!"

Burstinatrix attacked at that, gliding into the air to shoot a hurling blame of flame down toward Chazz's card. The Princeton grunted as an explosion rocked the arena, but he did not falter.

"Heh, joke's on you, Jaden!" Chazz smirked. "You fell for my bait, because that face-down card was a Masked Dragon, and when he's destroyed by battle and sent to the Graveyard, I get to Special Summon a Dragon-type monster with 1500 or less Attack Points from my Deck! And I have just the one!" Chazz declared. "Go ahead and see for yourself! Come out, Armed Dragon Level Three!"

At his words a large yellow dragon rose, his back and fists covered by a metallic substance. It glared at Jaden fiercely, all the while growling softly beside Chazz.

Armed Dragon LV3 – (WIND/Dragon) – LV3 – (1200/900)

-GX-

Meanwhile... in the side room.

-GX-

"So he used those cards after all." Konami thought aloud.

"Yeah, and Level Three is the lowest! If he plays his cards right that thing's gonna get a lot bigger!" Alexis said.

"Indeed." Bastion said, as always. "I just wonder where Chazz ever got such a powerful card."

Wisteria shot Konami a knowing glance. She, as did most of North Academy, knew exactly where Chazz had gotten that card, as well as the others.

Konami noticed her gaze, and turned away sheepishly. Why should she care anyway? She was supposed to be happy that North Academy had such power.

Turning his attention back to the Duel, Konami watched as Jaden placed a face-down and ended his Turn. He sighed. At this rate, Chazz was gonna have even more of an upper hand than before. After all, Armed Dragon's effect was built specifically for the purpose of powering up after surviving the opponent's turn… at least Level Three's was.

"I'm thirsty." Konami said suddenly, stepping away from the others toward the door leading back to the halls. "Anyone want anything while I'm out?"

"While the sentiment is appreciated, I have no needs of liquefied substance at this moment." Bastion replied.

"While I may not have such a fancy way of saying it, I don't exactly need a drink at the moment either." Alexis revealed.

"Nor do I," Wisteria said, feeling the need to throw in her own two cents. "Seems you're the only one who's dehydrated, King."

"Then I'll be the only one who misses out on what happens. Let me know what I missed when I get back?" Konami asked, raising a brow at Bastion in particular.

"Certainly. I shall endeavor to record every move and strategy they make, though I suspect the Chancellor would not object to your use of his TiVo…"

Konami nodded, and reached for the doorknob. "Thanks." he said, and he stepped out into the hall.

As expected, it was empty. Everyone was focused on the Duel in the stadium, and as a result, the rest of the Academy was left desolate and empty, save for the few roaming security guards patrolling the stadium grounds.

Walking down the hall toward the water fountain around the corner, Konami sighed. Regardless of the outcome of the Duel, today was to be his final day as a student of North Academy. He wondered if he should have felt some degree of sorrow at the thought. After all, it was only due to Headmaster Foster's challenges that Konami had managed to return to Duel Academy at the first place, never mind the new cards the boy had received.

Supposing that he could at least thank the man one last time before their departure, Konami turned the knob on the fountain and began to drink the clear liquid that emerged.

Surprisingly, it was even more delicious than he remember. It must have been due to all the foreigners who flew in to watch the Duels live. They were all seated in the VIP boxes… alongside Headmaster Foster and Chancellor Sheppard themselves…

Upon realizing that fact, Konami's eyes widened, and he stepped away from the fountain with a new plan forming in his mind.

Everyone was in the stadium… their eyes focused only on the Jaden/Chazz Duel of the Century. The guards had been instructed to patrol the stadium and the stadium alone, a place that Konami had already left in order to get water.

Simply put, everywhere else, including the Chancellor's Office, was empty.

"The identity of my benefactor…" Konami mumbled quietly, recalling the mass emails he and Bastion had seen during their search for the first "Duel Giant". "It's within reach…"

He glanced over his shoulder cautiously then, and upon confirming that no one else was around, sped down the hall toward the man's office. It was too good a chance to pass up.

"Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, Back one, Ah! There it is!" he thought, coming to a stop in front of the Chancellor's office doors. "Just where I thought they'd be."

They were closed, of course, but not locked. Given the man's cheerful disposition, Konami was hardly surprised. With a soft creak, he pushed one of the doors open, and peered his eye through the crack.

Empty, or so it seemed. That meant it was the perfect time for him to step in and dig through some of those school files.

Tiptoeing into the room quietly and closing the door behind him, Konami snuck toward the man's desk, intending to do just that. He knew he had to work quickly, of course. There was no telling how long Alexis, Bastion, and Wisteria would expect him to be gone, and given Bastion's rational thinking habits, it would not be long before the boy suspected something was amiss.

Whether that meant Bastion himself or security would start looking for him, Konami didn't know.

Best to not have to find out, he thought.

Creeping behind Chancellor Sheppard's desk, Red Hat began digging through the cabinets, searching for whatever container held files on the school's many students. They couldn't have been far, Konami knew. Chancellor Sheppard, among other things, was known immensely among the school communities for his bragging. It would have been just like him to have student records on hand, if only for the sole purpose of showing them off to Duel Academy's many rivals.

"Nothing physical is here." Konami whispered after a moment, turning toward the keyboard. "All digital then?"

It would make sense. After all, why keep hordes of paper in your office when you could change that space to a few hard drives on a computer? Konami grimaced at the thought, and with good reason. If Chancellor Sheppard had kept everything digital, there was no telling how hard it'd be to break the man's passcode. It wasn't like Konami was Bastion after all, and during his first official day in Duel Academy he'd already shown how incompetent he was in using such machines.

It had nearly set fire, for Judgeman's Sake!

He took a deep breath, and brought the chair behind him forward, intending to sit down-

"Ow!"

Konami grunted, as he'd made to push his feet beneath the desk, his toe had stubbed itself against something… squishy. Grimacing, the boy reeled back, knowing full well that he hadn't been the one to cry out. He glanced beneath the desk stoically, just in time to see a small boy dressed in red roll out from beneath it, pushing him out the way.

"A person?! Hold on a second-!" Konami shouted, but the person was having none of it. With a loud cry, they kicked Konami in the shin as they emerged, prompting the boy to stumble back and collapse in response. He grunted in pain at the motion, and quickly glared up at the small figure.

"What the hell was that about – no, before that, who are you? What are you doing in here?" Konami said.

"T-That's supposed to be my line, isn't it?!" the small boy retorted in a voice far deeper than Konami expected. "I know who you are! You're that North Academy Student Guy, the one who beat that Ra Yellow yesterday! What's someone like you doing in the Chancellor's Office?!"

"Something that doesn't concern you." Konami said, taking in the boy's appearance properly as he rose to his feet. "You're a Slifer, right? Funny, I don't remember seeing you during my time there…"

"T-That's because I'm new! A Transfer Student, you could say!" the boy said, backpedaling quickly.

"Ah, so in that regard, you shouldn't be in here either." Konami noted, and the boy flinched.

"T-That's…! Shut up!"

"Right, Right…" Konami said, raising his hands in defeat. "Well, how about this then. Since neither of us are technically supposed to be here… how about you do your thing and I'll do mine, and if anyone asks, this never happened, alright?"

"T-That's fine." The boy said after a moment, having evidently taken the time to think it over. "Don't get any funny ideas though! Just because we're alone together… You better not try to feel me up!"

Konami deadpanned. "Why would I want to feel you up?" he asked, stepping past the boy to return to the computer. "You're a guy."

Though Konami didn't see it, the boy behind him flushed rapidly, and tucked their beanie cap ever lower.

"R-Right! That's right!" the boy said, even deeper than before. "Never mind I said that then! I'm just like you! One of the guys! Ha ha, ha!"

"Nnn…." Konami mumbled, and he sat back down in the Chancellor's chair. "Let's see then. Maybe if I try this I can… no use. Password protected… Let's try… Duel Academy Rox? No? How about… SliferRules2006? Not that either? Hmn…"

"Those passwords are really lame." The small boy said suddenly, having drifted to the bookshelves away from Konami.

"What would know?" Konami inquired. "Besides, I could totally see Chancellor Sheppard having a password like that. He's just that bubbly. Or is it cheerful?"

"Who cares? If the guy had any sense, the password would be ZaneRoxForever!"

Konami stared at the boy with a bland expression. "Fan, I take it?"

"Of course! Who doesn't love Zane, the Top Duelist of Duel Academy?! His Cyber Style is really amazing!"

Konami had the suspicion that the boy was blushing then, but having been turned away from him, he couldn't verify his claim.

"How annoying." He said instead, tapping away at the keyboard idly. "Zane's not all that special. Bit hardcore though."

"W-What would you know about Zane?!" the boy asked, affronted.

"Well, I did Duel him once, so I think I'd know more than you." Konami shrugged.

"What?! Really?! You Dueled Zane?! That's really amazing! Was it everything I dreamed of?!" the boy asked, then, having discarded his position by the shelves to question Konami thoroughly. "Wait! No! Don't tell me… you beat him?!"

Konami smirked. "Heh…"

The boy's eyes widened. "What?!"

Tears began pooling down Konami's face then, and he turned away in shame. "I was completely defeated."

"Hah!" the boy cheered. "I knew it! Zane wouldn't lose to anyone, even the North Academy Representative doesn't stand a chance!"

"Maybe. But I know his habits now. If we Duel again it won't end the same." Konami decided, turning his attention back to the keyboard.

"You're just jealous! I bet you'd do anything to have skills like Zane does! I bet that once he graduates and joins the Pro Leagues, even Yugi Muto won't stand a chance!" the boy said happily.

"Bit of a stretch there, don't you think?" Konami asked, raising a brow at the boy's confidence. "Zane may be a good Duelist, but there's a difference between good and legendary. The King of Games hasn't held on to the title for years for no reason, after all."

"Maybe, but once Zane's Cyber End Dragon shows up, not even the Dark Magician will be able to save the day!"

Konami sighed then, exiting out the computer and making to stand.

"Huh?! Nothing to say now, huh?" the boy asked.

"Nope. I'm not going to sit here and argue with a midget like you." Konami said, patting the boy's beanie-covered head mockingly. "Besides, I can't get into that computer right now anyway. It's locked out. Too many incorrect attempts or some jazz. I guess I'll head back before anyone misses me."

"Yeah! You do that! Obviously you know when to run from the truth when you see it!" the boy declared. "Face it! You're just leaving because you can't think of any counterarguments to my words!"

"I can think of one." Konami said simply.

"Wha-?"

"BLS. Envoy of the Beginning." He slipped the name of the overpowered monster, and left the room.

As he walked down the hall, he could've sworn he heard the boy's girly scream of frustration behind him. A shame, he'd have liked to see the expression on the kid's face.

Stopping for another long drink from the water fountain (he had to have at least a somewhat drenched expression after all) Konami returned to the side room, just in time to meet Alexis's, Wisteria's, and Bastion's surprised faces.

"Well, look who decided to finally show up." Wisteria muttered, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"You were gone a rather long time." Bastion said. "Did something happen?"

"Not at all. That fountain water… it's absolutely amazing." Konami lied. "What did I miss?"

"Quite a bit, actually." Alexis said, gesturing to the screen. "Here, take a look for yourself!"

Konami did, and what he saw, surprised him.

JADEN – 300 LP

CHAZZ – 2100 LP

"Oh my god. Jaden's losing." Konami whispered, glancing at the screen in surprise.

"I know." Bastion agreed.

Konami turned to face the actual picture, intent on watching the conclusion to the final Duel.

KAIBAVISION

"Hehahahahahahaha! Looks like your Hero Kids just got grounded!" Chazz laughed, tilting his nose to the ceiling happily. "Grounded up! Tell you what! If you surrender now, I promise not to embarrass you on global television! Oh wait, I already did! Hehahahaha, Hahahahahaha!"

"It's not that funny!" Syrus said from the stands, surprising Konami. He hadn't been seen in quite some time.

Jaden!" Chancellor Sheppard shouted from the stands, having been seated beside Headmaster Foster. "Don't give up!"

"Who's giving up?" Jaden asked, grinning as usual. "I'm having way too much fun to give up! After all, that's what Dueling's all about! Win or Lose! Cause if you're having fun you win all the time!"

"It can't be!" Chazz said.

"It's true!" Jaden retorted. "And if I can have fun right now losing, shouldn't you be able to winning? It's seriously not that hard… despite what your brothers may want you to believe."

Chazz's eyes narrowed at that. "What do you know about my brothers?!"

"Well…" Jaden smiled, "for starters Chazz, I know they're the ones you're dueling for, and they're the ones who've been putting all this pressure on you. Aw come on, Chazz! Remember when you dueled for the excitement of it?"

"I only Duel to win!" Chazz decided, and his eyes narrowed further.

Jaden's too, darkened at the declaration. "Well, let's see where that gets you! My Turn, Draw!"

TURN THIRTEEN – JADEN

"I play, the Warrior Returning Alive!" Jaden shouted, sliding the Spell Card into his Duel Disk. "Now I can bring a Warrior back from the Grave and add it to my Hand, and I think I'll choose… my favorite feathered friend! Elemental Hero Avian! And then… with Polymerization, I'll fuse him and my Elemental Hero Burstinatrix to make… the Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!"

Avian and Burstinatrix disappeared in the swirling vortex as Jaden spoke, their powers combining to create one of Jaden's most well-known fusions.

In a pillar of flame the muscular green hero emerged, carrying a hand shaped like the head of a dragon. It descended upon the Field heroically, before staring down Chazz's Armed Dragon LV7.

Elemental Hero Flame Wingman – (WIND/Warrior/Fusion) – LV6 – (2100/1200)

"So?" Chazz asked. "He doesn't stand a chance against my monster! After all, my Armed Dragon has 2800 Attack Points! You're way outmatched!"

"Wrong Chazz, because I'm inviting my three Hero Kids to come back out and play!" Jaden grinned.

"To play?" Chazz asked.

"Yeah. With your Points!" Jaden exclaimed. "I activate Miracle Kids! Here's how it works! For every Hero Kid I got in the Grave, your Armed Dragon loses 400 Attack Points, and since I have three, Armed Dragon's Attack loses 1200!"

The Armed Dragon slumped tiredly as three ghostly visages entered its being, and it whined in frustration at the notion. Chazz glanced up at the monster in surprise, his face soon contorting in rage.

"What?! No!"

Armed Dragon LV7 – (WIND/Dragon) – LV7 – (1600/1000)

"Now who's outmatched?" Jaden asked. "Actually, don't answer that! Flame Wingman will for you!"

And it did. With a leap into the air the Elemental Hero released its horrid flame, burning the Armed Dragon to cinders. As the dragon roared and snarled in pain, the transmission was suddenly cut.

JADEN – 300 LP

CHAZZ – 1600 LP

"W-What the-?" Konami blanched.

"The broadcast was being held by the Princeton Group…" Bastion recalled immediately. "They must have cut the screens to save face!"

"Well then, there's only one way to see how this ends!" Konami shouted, and the group opened the doors back into the stadium to watch.

Not a moment too soon, it seemed.

"Armed Dragon's been defeated…" Konami whispered.

"And the attack's not over yet." Bastion knew. "The Flame Wingman still has his superpower. That comes next."

"Yeah," Alexis agreed, "and it's really gonna burn Chazz. His Life Points will now take damage equal to his Armed Dragon's Attack Points."

"But… Chazz only has 1600 Life Points left!" Wisteria exclaimed. "His Armed Dragon's were the same when it died, so… that means-"

"That this Duel… is over." Konami realized, wanting to have the last word.

"Nooooooooooooo!" Chazz roared, throwing his head to the sky as his Life Points fell. The crowd watched in muted horror as the Duel came to its close.

JADEN – 300 LP

CHAZZ – 0 LP

"And that's game!" Jaden said, tossing his victory gesture out swiftly.

The monsters faded away.

"You loser! You dog! You've disgraced yourself! You've disgraced the Princeton family name!"

"You are no brother of ours anymore."

Chazz bowed his head, unable to take the insults of his older brothers.

"Just give me… another chance!" he pleaded, sprawled upon the floor weakly.

"Another chance?! Do you know how much we spent on this Duel?!"

"The cameras, the rare cards! None of which you used I might add!"

"Sorry, I thought I could win this by myself." Chazz apologized, to no avail.

His brothers grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, pulling him up only to beat him back down.

"Yourself?!"

"When could you do anything by yourself, Chazz?!"

"Let him go!" two voices shouted, and for a moment, Jaden and Konami glanced at each other in surprise. For once, Konami would not be denied.

Before Jaden could speak further, he moved ahead, staring at the two older Princetons dispassionately.

"It's true, Chazz lost." he said, staring at Manjoume Thunder thoughtfully, "but did you expect any different with you two jerks breathing down his neck?"

"Yeah, you tell em Konami!" Jaden agreed, having wanted to say something similar himself.

"Two Jerks…?" Slade asked. "Do you have any idea who we are?! We could have you crushed, kids."

"Or, we could settle for crushing you instead." Wisteria said, deciding to make it a North Academy matter. "You say we don't know who you are, but do you know who I am? The Fujiwara Foundation does not take kindly to the Princeton way."

"The Fujiwara Foundation…?" Jagger grunted, turning to eye their former brother once more. "Why would you want to defend Chazz anyway? He's a nobody now! Disowned by us, and the world! I mean, the cameras caught enough of it! He got schooled, and by a Slifer no less!"

"That's right!" Slade agreed. "And then worst of all he got beat!"

"Wrong!" Jaden said then, unable to keep quiet any further. "There's one fight he did win! The fight… against you two! Hey, maybe Chazz didn't win the Duel but at least he fought it on his own terms! It's like he said! He used his cards, not the ones your money could buy!"

Slade and Jagger both grunted then, and tossed Chazz away.

"Tight Duel Chazz." Jaden said to him, "And hey, I know it may sound cheesy, but I think we both won today."

"You're just saying that!" Chazz said, shoulders trembling. "I mean, come on! Nobody else believes that!"

"We do Chazz!" the roars of both Academy's students shouted, raising their fists to the sky powerfully. They were all crying. "Yeah! Chazz it Up! Chazz it Up!"

Slade and Jagger both glared around the stadium then, before stalking off back toward their helicopter.

"I don't have time for this garbage!" they grunted, making to disappear before things could get any more annoying.

As soon as they were gone, Chancellor Sheppard and Headmaster Foster approached the stage.

"Well, now that all that's said and done… there's just one last matter to settle." Headmaster Foster said, staring over the gathered representatives thoughtfully.

"Indeed. It seems we have a tie, Foster." Chancellor Sheppard said, a sinister gleam in his eye.

"Huh? That's right!" Bastion said, eyes widening. "Since Wisteria and Alexis ended their Duel in a Draw, that leaves both North Academy and Duel Academy with one win! Which means… there's no clear winner right now!"

"Oh I think there's an easy way to deal with that, right Jaden?" Konami inquired, glaring at the boy who'd been one step ahead the entire week.

"Huh? Oh I get what you're saying! And for the record, I'm all for it Konami!" Jaden shouted.

The two grinned at each other, formidable battle auras forming around them.

"The Duel Energy is strong huh…?" Konami whispered beneath his breath. "Looks like that guy knows what he's talking about after all…"

The Chancellor and Headmaster quickly shooed the other representatives, including Chazz, away from the stadium, and led Konami and Jaden back to their respective sides of the arena. Once they were settled in, the two teachers stepped toward the center of the room, and grabbed their microphones.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!"

"Duelists and Fans!"

"Due to the situation created in the last match, we bring to you now… a Tiebreaker Duel! The two victors of the former Duels squaring off against one another, to determine once and for all which Academy is the best! Jaden! Konami! The best our Academies have to offer! Which of them shall rise?! Which of them shall fall?! We'll find out, right now, in the Final Inter-School Duel!"

They leapt from the arena then, and the two red Duelists raised their Disks.

The Strongest Slifer.

The Lord of the Red.

It all came down to this.

The Final Battle.

Their eyes gleamed in delight as they readied their stances.

Three… Two… One…

"DUEL!"


Chapter Twenty Nine


END