ZK Chromedragozoid: Ask no questions I shall tell no lies.
Endermon: I thought emulating it would get a laugh.
lightningstrxu: I thought it was funny to. And I hope to pull the dance off alright as well.
Ninja Wolf 25: Yeah, it's filler. But writing the tournament wasn't easy to do, so a little break was needed.
SMP: Glad you enjoyed it.
Infinite Freedom: I'm working towards all of that, don't worry.
Elemental Balance: Yeah, it's filler. But it's fillING too.
Phantom 1: Thanks man.
Tyjet Ansatsu: Yup. Fin to be him, huh?
ttoad: And you think he's unlucky because?
Guardian Master: Part of the charm I guess.
Keiji-sama: If you didn't like that's fine. However everyone else seems to have enjoyed it. So I may well yet write another like it.
Arashihawk: They'll be on the ground in a daze!
0---0
The sounds of the helicopter's blades cut through the air as the small charter craft flew through the air. "Soon... Soon..." The passenger said, a covered bundle in his hands.
0---0
"Okay, the dance is just a couple days away." Serenity said as she left the academy, glad it was a Friday. "Don't panic, everything will be fine..." She said to herself.
"Hey Sunshine!" J.B. called out behind her, causing her to spin in surprise.
"J-J.B.!" She called back. "You startled me!"
"Oh, sorry about that." He replied. "I just wanted to know... Well am I supposed to pick you up for the dance, or are you supposed to find me?" He asked with a blush.
"I'm picking you up, your dorm is closer." She replied a blush gracing her cheeks as well.
"Oh. Okay. I mean, it's not like we haven't danced or anything before." He said, chuckling nervously.
"And we have... Well kissed... I just..."
"Just?"
"Well I... You see I think I li--"
"Serenity!" They heard someone call out, turning their heads as a boy with dice earrings ran over to them.
"Duke?" Serenity asked as the boy stopped before her, panting. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, though I'd stop by and say hello and all..." Duke said with a grin, package under his arm. "So, you doing anything right now?" He asked quickly as J.B.'s eyebrow lifted upwards slightly.
"Yeah, me and J.B. were talking about the... Valentine's Day dance..." She answered.
"Oh really..." Duke replied with a grin.
"Yeah!" She chirped. "I asked J.B. to go with me!" She added nervously with a blush.
"I see..." Duke replied, an eye twitching, as his grin seemed more strained. "...No one else in mind?"
"No." Serenity replied, looking confused.
"Oh..." Duke replied, scratching his chin, looking at J.B. at the corner of his eye. 'Shoot! I knew this would happen!' He added to himself. 'I waited too long... And she lives so far away from me now... How can I win her heart away from this idiot... I mean this isn't like when I challenged Yugi to... THAT'S IT! If I can show up this guy I might get her attention!' "So... J.B. was it?"
"Yeah?" The dragon duellist replied.
"Ever play Dungeon Dice Monsters?"
"No, why?"
"Well... Why don't I show you, then we can play a game..."
"Sure!"
'Excellent...'
Somewhere in a power plant a man felt his catchphrase being used.
Grinning Duke rubbed his hands together. He recalled Pegasus mentioning that Dungeon Dice Monster merchandise was available here, and he had all of his dice monsters with him. Against an inexperienced opponent who was NOT Yugi Motou he was sure it would be a cakewalk. What could go wrong?
0---0
"How did this go wrong?" Duke asked himself as J.B's Knight of Twins Swords slashed his Monster Lord, destroying the last of his heart points. Gritting his teeth he resisted the urge to pull his hair out.
"Hey, good game!" J.B. said, only one heart point missing.
"Uh, thanks..." Duke replied his eye twitching. "So... What other games are around here?"
"Well each dorm has a number of board games that can borrowed." Serenity responded.
"Oh really?"
0---0
Seeing as he couldn't beat J.B. at the game he made Duke decided on a new tactic. Surely I a game that was not Duel Monsters or had anything to do with Duel Monsters he'd be easy pickings. So he started off with a strategy game, Risk. Although at her instance Serenity was included in the game he planned to decimate the competition. Fortunately the pair of Slifers hadn't questioned his desire to play board games. Grinning at his luck he made the first move.
Shortly thereafter J.B. had conquered the world or at least a game board with a picture of the world on it. Fortifying his resolve he challenged him to a game of chess.
How Duke wanted to pound his head into the board when his King was checkmated by a flipping PAWN.
Next came Axis and Allies, with J.B. controlling Germany, Serenity Japan and Duke the collective Allied Forces. Surely, even fighting his crush, he would defeat his new rival! Now he was glad that the outcome on the game board had not been the one in real life.
Guess Who? had failed as well, although Duke came damned close.
The less said about a round of Battleship the better in his opinion.
Backgammon was close, but no cigar for Duke again.
After a game of Thirteen-Thirteen Dead End Drive Serenity finally pointed out something.
0---0
"Man, no one can beat you in a board game, huh?" Serenity said as J.B. chuckled.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Duke asked thinking of the next game to play.
"I mean J.B. has insane luck at these things!" She said, mock-glaring at her friend. "Checkers, Stratego, Monopoly, Anti-Monopoly, Scrabble, Snakes and Ladders! He's just... Good at these things! The only time I beat him at chess was the first time we played!"
"Well... You beat me at Twister." J.B. offered.
"THAT'S NOT A BOARD GAME!" Serenity retorted standing up. "I mean at least in Duel Monsters you've lost a couple times..."
"Oh really...?" Duke began.
0---0
A phone rang in a dark room, it's sound filling the air, a hand lazily grabbing it and placing it to his ear. "Who is this? ... Lord Kairai, it is good to hear from you my liege. ... Yes, everything is prepared. I will make him an offer he CANNOT refuse. ... Yes, I had to say that line at least once. ... Understood my Liege, it shall be done. You have my word."
0---0
"What is this?" Skyla asked as she walked up next to Gonda, the clown sitting on the grass as J.B. faced off against someone with dice earrings. Serenity stood off to one side watching.
"Far as I can figure..." Gonda began. "That dude Duke, likes, really likes, Serenity. Serenity, as only the blind and deaf don't know likes, really likes, J.B. Duke don't like that she likes, really likes, J.B. So to prove his worth he's going to duel him."
"Understanding emotions is not my specialty." Skyla replied. "However I doubt defeating J.B. would improve his standing with her. Assuming he could in the first place. Why waste time chasing something you'll never have?"
"Cause maybe, just maybe you'll get it..." Gonda answered as Skyla stroked at something at her chest, hidden inside her blazer.
0---0
"Let's duel!" J.B. and Duke called out as they drew their cards.
J.B.: 4000
Duke: 4000
'Okay Duke, show your stuff!' He thought to himself as he drew. 'Time to impress the girl and SCORE!' "I summon Gradius in attack mode!" Duke called out, a futuristic fighter rising to his field. (4/1200/800) "Now I play Summon Dice! First I offer one thousand life points!"
J.B.: 4000
Duke: 3000
"And by rolling a die I can get one of three effects!" Duke declared, kicking a die that appeared on his field, the object rolling about until it landed on a five. "And now I can summon Spikebot in attack mode!" He called out, a massive machine like monster with balls and chains for arms rising to the field. (5/1800/1700)
0---0
"Ya know, for something that's level five it seems a bit... Under whelming." Gonda muttered.
"According to Edwin Dominic Osborn's Duel Theory in order to 'break even' when tributing a monster it must have a minimum of two thousand attack points, two thousand five hundred defense points or a superior effect." Skyla explained. "Spikebot fails in each division."
"...Wow. Cold logic..."
"My speciality."
0---0
"Well, I draw then!" J.B. said, taking a card. "And I summon Horus the Black Flame Dragon Level Four in attack mode!" J.B. called out, his metallic monster rising to the field. (4/1600/1000) "Now attack Gradius, with Mega Dark Flare!" He called out, his monster gathering dark flame in it's mouth before spitting it out into the opposing machine.
"Yugi was right..." Duke muttered. "I do need to update my deck..."
J.B.: 4000
Duke: 2400
"Now, I set one card face down and end my turn, which activates Horus' ability, letting me offer it for Level Six!" J.B. declared, his dragon growing larger. (6/2300/1600)
"Yeah, I should have updated my deck..." Duke said as he drew. "I set two cards face down and summon Yaranzo in defense mode!" He called out, summoning a zombie hanging out of a treasure chest. (4/1300/1500) "I also move Spikebot into defense mode!" He added, his machine kneeling down. "That's it."
"And now I draw!" J.B. called back. "And I attack Spikebot with my Horus Dragon! Neo Dark Flare!" He called out, his monster spitting it's fireball out at the opposing monster.
"And I activate Enchanted Javelin!" Duke called back. "And now I gain life points equal to that monster's attack points!"
J.B.: 4000
Duke: 4700
"Maybe, but it doesn't help your monster." J.B. replied as the blast struck, shattering the machine.
"But this helps me! Michizure!" Duke cried out, flipping up his trap card. "And now I can destroy one monster on the field, namely Horus!"
"And I counter with the Interdimensional Matter Transporter!" J.B. called back, flipping his own card. "And now I can remove Horus until the turn is over!"
"B-but that means I have to destroy my own monster!" Duke replied his Yaranzo shattering.
"It's not going to get better." J.B. responded. "Cause I end my turn, and not only does Horus return..." He began, the dragon returning to the field. (6/2300/1600) "But since he destroyed a monster I can offer it to summon Level Eight in attack mode!" He added, his monster growing even larger. (8/3000/1800)
"Great... That thing negates spells too, if I heard right..." Duke muttered as he drew. "I set my two cards facedown and end my turn!" 'And I need to thank Joey for that double he gave me...'
"Then I draw, and I summon Masked Dragon in attack mode!" J.B. called out, his mask covered dragon rising to the field. (3/1400/1100) "Now Horus, attack directly! Giga Dark Flare!" J.B. called out.
"And I counter with Widespread Ruin!" Duke responded, flipping up his card. "And this destroys the monster with the highest attack on your field!" He called out, the opposing monster exploding apart. "What can I say, the older cards still shine!"
"Great... Go Masked Dragon!" J.B. called out. "Attack with Masked Rage!"
"And I activate Scapegoat!" Duke countered, four sheep rising to his field. (1/0/0 x 4) "And now my life points are safe." Duke said as the dragon rushed across to slash a token in half.
"Not bad." J.B. said. "Your turn."
"Good, I draw!" Duke called back. "And I play Pot of Greed to draw two more cards!" He added, drawing from his deck. "Great! I activate the field spell card Dice Dungeon!"
"Dice Dungeon?" J.B. asked as a checked field rose up underneath them.
"Yeah." Duke replied. "Now whenever our monsters battle we roll a die. And we get effects depending on the roll! Next I activate Dimension Dice!" He added, playing a spell as two of his tokens vanished, a large die rising to the field. "Now I offer two scapegoats to summon Orgoth the Relentless from my deck!" He called out, the die unfolding to reveal the armoured monster, broadsword in hand. (7/2500/2450) "Now I attack Masked Dragon! But first my Dungeon kicks in! Roll that dice!" He added as two dies rolled on the field, both showing a six. "Wow, both our monsters double in attack. Of course that means I do even more damage to you than before... (3/1400/1100-3/2800/1100) (7/2500/2450-7/5000/2450) Now go, Relentless Assault!" He cried out, his monster charging, beheading the opposing dragon.
J.B.: 1800
Duke: 4700
"Ouch." J.B. said as Orgoth returned to normal. (7/5000/2450-7/2500/2450) "That was good, but now I can summon The Dragon Dwelling in the Cave thanks to your attack!" He called back, a massive dragon rising up to the field. (4/1300/2000) "And now I draw!" J.B. called out, taking a card. "Sweet! I summon Kaibaman in attack mode!"
"Uh oh, here it comes..." Duke said as the warrior rose to the field.
"Hoo-rah!" It cried out. (3/200/700)
"And I offer it to summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!" J.B. called out, the warrior vanishing as the massive dragon rose up to take it's place. (8/3000/2500) "Now I attack Orgoth with my Blue Eyes White Dragon!"
"And my Orgoth is ready to do battle with it!" Duke replied. "Now dice, go!" He cried out as J.B.'s die rolled about, stopping on a two. "Great, he gets a thousand more attack points..." Duke muttered. (8/3000/2500-8/4000-2500) "And I get..." He began, his jaw dropping as his die landed on four.
"So what does four do?" Serenity asked.
"Drops my attack... To nothing..." Duke muttered. (7/2500/2450-7/0/2450)
"Go! White Lightning!" J.B cried out, his monster charging it's attack before blasting at Orgoth, blasting it apart instantly.
J.B.: 1800
Duke: 700
"Now go Cave Dwelling Dragon!" "J.B. called out. "Attack with Mountain impact gust!"
"I'm only going to last if he hits a four..." Duke muttered as a die rolled, landing on a one, his own die landing on a six. "Crap... He loses attack, and my goat doubles it's attack... Not that it has any attack, or is even in attack mode... So much for my goat..." Duke sighed as the blast of wind struck his token from the weakened monster. (4/1300/2000-4/300/2000) "And my Dungeon falls apart without any monsters on my field..." He added as his card shattered, the filed returning to normal.
0---0
"Now THAT, has got to hurt!" Gonda said with a wince.
"Indeed." Skyla replied. "His hand is exhausted, his field is empty, and while J.B.'s turn is over and his monsters back to their normal statistics (8/4000/2500-8/3000/2500) (4/300/2000-4/1300/2000) he still has two monsters out, including one of his prized Blue Eyes White Dragons, and a nearly full hand."
"So... Could he win?"
"We'll sooner see dogs drive."
0---0
"I draw!" Duke called out, taking his card. 'Dice Jar!' Duke thought. 'Yes! If I get a four or more with this I could win the DUEL! And maybe her heart too!' "I set one monster in face down defence mode and end my turn!"
"And I draw!" J.B. called back. "And I attack with Mountain Impact Gust!" He called out as his monster sent it's gust of wind out, flipping the Dice Jar (3/200/300) and shattering it.
"And now, my Dice Jar's effect activates!" Duke called out. "We each roll a die--"
"I've noticed the theme..." J.B. muttered.
"And whoever rolls the highest can do damage to his opponent equal to the level times five hundred! Unless you roll a six, in that case it's six thousand!"
"Six Thousand!?" Serenity exclaimed. "That's overkill!"
"And now we roll those dice!" Duke cried rolling his die, a five coming up. "YES! A five! Top that sucker!" He cried out before looking across at his opponent's die...
It stoppied while showing a six. "You gotta be flipping kidding me..." Duke muttered. "That IS overkill..."
J.B.: 1800
Duke: 0
"That didn't go so well..." Duke muttered.
"Hey, it was still a fun game!" J.B. replied, scratching the back of his head. "You just hit a bad string of luck is all!"
"Yeah... Fun... Right..."
"I mean I don't know many guys who'd take a chance with those dice cards of yours!"
"Oh, did I miss all the fun?" Walker asked as he approached the trio. "Hmm, a guest?"
"Uh, yeah." The dice duellist said. "I'm Duke, a friend of Serenity's."
"Ah, I see. I'm Walker Orville, headmaster for the Slifer Red Dorm for Boys." Walker replied. "And girls, until Waltman finds that replacement... Too much work for me..." He muttered to himself. "Are you staying awhile?"
"Oh, just a couple days, I've got a tent." Duke replied.
"Non-sense, I have an extra room you can use for a bit, but it's a tad under kept…" Walker insisted.
"Oh... well sure!" Duke replied.
"Excellent." Walker responded. "And J.B., may I have a moment of your time?"
"Sure." The dragon duellist replied, nodding his head.
"Well I wanted to have a word with Duke anyway." Serenity replied, missing J.B.'s wince. "I'll... See you later."
"Uh, yeah. Sure."
0---0
"Hmmm... Judging by his wounded expression he hasn't entirely missed that Duke's intent." Skyla mused. "Perhaps he is unsure of his feelings, or he is even sure and unable or unwilling to express them. Or acknowledge them? Is that right? Perhaps it is a fear of change? Or of the risk involved? But if there is a risk is there a reward?" She sighed shaking her head. "I am not good with these things... What say you Gonda?" She asked. "Gonda?" She said again after no response before looking down and behind her, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the clown looking up her skirt.
"Blue lace?" The clown muttered. "I expected plain whites ones, not lacy ones."
"The comforting feel is practical." He heard.
"Ah, I see..." The clown muttered before blinking. "Uh oh..." He said as Skyla raised her leg bring the foot down atop of his head, pushing it into the ground before grinding it with her heel. "Ai-Chi-Wa-Was!" He cried out as Skyla turned and left.
"Hmmm... I felt... Offended? Yes... Offended as he saw... What he was not meant to..." Skyla muttered to herself. "Then anger... A desire for... Payback? Yes, illogical, but that was it. Then a feeling of... Satisfaction? Yes, that's it... Perhaps emotions are easier to understand than I once thought."
0---0
"Well, that was a major losing streak..." Duke chuckled nervously as Serenity giggled, the pair walking along, and Duke's package under his arm.
"I know, sometimes he's so lucky it's scary." Serenity said. "It's like some game god just told him 'you will be good at all games!' Well almost... He sucks at horseshoes..."
"Horseshoes?" Duke parroted. 'I'm good at horseshoes...'
"And soccer isn't his sport either. Or hockey... Which is weird, he's pretty good at skating..." She added.
'Great...' Duke thought to himself, slumping slightly. 'I could have picked horseshoes or something and kicked his ass, but no, I had to stick to the dice! Idiot!'
"Anyway, can I talk to you about something?" She continued.
"Oh yes! Of course!" Duke replied. 'Okay Duke, your chance is coming up! She came to YOU about this, not HIM!'
"Well you know the Valentine's Dance is coming up? And I'm going with J.B..." Serenity said with a nervous giggle, a blush on her face. "Well, I..."
"Yeah?" Duke pressed.
"I think I might... Well... Like him..." She said tapping her chin, turning her face away, missing Duke's face as his expression fell. "I mean... Like-like him, not just like him... You know..."
'It's over...' Duke thought to himself. 'You've lost before you even started...'
"It's just, now and then... he smiles at me and I get all... My heart beats faster..."
'If I tell her now she'll fell terrible... She likes him, not me...'
"And I can't really talk to Mom or Joey about it... It'd be... I'd be... I think they'd get really... You know..."
'Hey, I could tell Joey and-- No! Don't! She's a sweet girl... She... deserves to be happy...'
"I mean you're such a great friend I thought I could tell you, since you seem to... Well, know this stuff..."
'Only one thing to do then... Suck it up, be a man and move on... And... Maybe give him some help...'
"I'm just not sure... Well... How to tell him, you know?"
'I guess he's a cool guy... I mean, at least it's not Tristian!'
"So, what do you think... I should... You know, do?"
'Okay, time to be a man and suck it up!' "Well I guess you... Tell him and go from there..." He replied with a nervous grin. "Just don't... Rush into anything, okay?"
"Yeah... That's a good idea!" Serenity said smiling as she hugged Duke. "Thanks, you're a great friend! I'll talk to you later!" She added before running off.
"Yeah... Sure..." Duke said, waving weakly. "There goes my love life..."
"Cupid's arrow didn't hit for you?" He heard, turning his head to see a pink haired young woman, her hair in two buns. Slowly looking her over, he shook his head.
"Ah, no. Not quite..." He replied. 'Well... It'll be a while before I get over her but... Ah, what the hell! You only live once!' "Why don't you have this?" He said passing her the package under his arm, the woman blinking. "I'd... hate to see it go to waste."
"Oh, why thank you." She replied, opening it. "Chocolates! How wonderful! Oh, how rude!" She said, closing the box, tucking it under her arm. "My name is Lilo. Care to join me for a drink? The cafeteria's coffee sucks, but my shop has some good stuff."
"Shop?" Duke asked as he began to follow the woman.
"Yes, I run Duel Academy's store." Lilo replied.
"Oh really?" Duke asked. 'I guess... Life ain't all that bad right now...'
0---0
"Pretty light for a prisoner transfer." One guard said to the second as he drove the van down the dark highway his arm resting on the open window, a lone man in handcuffs in the back visible through the window.
"What, him?" The second said. "Come on! What could happen? He's not that interesting."
"Yeah, I guess he-- Whoa!" The first cried out, slamming on the breaks, the van stopping in front of an eighteen-wheeler that was parked to block the road, a Kaiba Corp emblem on the side. "Hey, wasn't one of those things stolen this morning?"
"How observant you are." A new voice called out as a cloaked figure appeared next to them as he tossed a smoke-emitting ball into the cab, the two officers coughing as smoke filled their lungs.
"What the!?" The second guard said as he fumbled for his weapon and door handle. "We're und-- cough! Under at-- cough! Under attack!"
"Call for-- cough... Knock out..." The first managed before slumping into his seat, his partner joining him.
"Excellent." A dark figure replied, his voice echoing slightly as he walked to the van. The man stood at six foot six easily, his body clad in a tight black jumpsuit, knee length boots with golden soles and elbow length gloves with golden knuckles. An open black trench coat with torn off sleeves covered his frame, a black breastplate trimmed with gold covering his chest, a midnight blue cross with pointed golden caps on each tip adorning the centre of it. His head was covered with a smooth helm that covered his entire face, tinted lenses almost indistinguishable from the black colour of the mask, only the blood red 'N' on the face covered by an Egyptian Eye of the same colour breaking the pure ebony. "Now, open the back." He commanded as the cloaked man walked to the back, a second joining him. The masked being followed them, moving to the centre, his arms crossed as the two underlings grabbed the doors, pulling them open and revealing a man in a bright orange jumpsuit who looked at them, his eyes wide.
"W-who... Are you?" He asked.
"I am called Dark Cross." The masked man replied. "Agent of the Neo Hunters. My Liege has an... Employment opportunity for you."
"What does he want with me?" The prisoner asked, standing up from his seat and moving to the van's doors.
"To continue your work of course." Dark Cross replied, a smirk under his mask. "Chaos, fear, darkness... That sort of thing..."
"I see... So I can stay here and go to jail, or follow your... Liege and rebuild my legacy... Very well... I agree!"
"Then welcome to the brotherhood of the Neo Hunters Professor Edwin Dopplegang!" Dark Cross announced as his followers undid the man's chains. "Or should I bid welcome...
"To Mr. Night Time?"
0---0
Orgoth the Relentless, Summon Dice, Dice Dungeon and Dimension Dice are Anime Only Cards and has not been printed in Japanese or English format to the best of my knowledge.
