Hello, again.

Here's Alexis vs. Bastion.

I don't own Yugioh GX or Fairy Tail.

First Duel-Off

"What do you mean, you're refusing?"

"Exactly that, Professor Crowler." Alexis said. "I haven't found a Synchro deck, and there it's probably that North's contestant will be using one. So-"

Fontaine stopped her there. "You do realize you could easily ask Isabella to talk to Pegasus and get you one?"

"Well, yeah, but I wanted to try and find one myself beforehand." Alexis told them. "But it's been rather hard finding one that would work well with my general style."

Fontaine nodded at that sentiment. "Understandable, but shouldn't that mean that you should at least get a second opinion on what could work? There might be something you missed."

Alexis had to admit to that, which was why she was walking to the Slifer Dorm after classes that day to speak to Bella.

She found the girl bench-pressing a tree outside, and not a small tree at that.

Alexis took a moment before she could clear her throat and get Bella's attention. "Bella? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Putting the tree down, Bella stood up and gestured to where a water bottle was waiting. "Mind if I get a quick drink while we're at it?"

Alexis didn't quite either way as she sat down beside Bella, who took a swig before asking "So what's up?"

Alexis sighed as she started. "It's the School Duel. Crowler and Fontaine are wanting me to participate in the duel-off to choose our contestant, but I don't have a Synchro deck yet that could possibly work well with either my style or the Cyber Girls."

"Who's to say you actually need to get a Synchro deck yet? Even if they use one, doesn't mean you have to." Bella replied. "Synchro Monsters are just really another way to Special Summon, with the biggest requirement being the Tuner. Some of the decks that came out recently don't have Synchros, but they can still handle Synchro decks. Let's try one of those with you in the simulator."

Alexis could work with that.

XXXXX

Bella sighed as Alexis fidgeted some. "Seriously, girl. You're nervous now?"

"Sorry." Alexis replied. "It's just..."

Bella stopped her there. "Just nothing! Either you go in there and truly see how well you do, or you duck out like a coward."

Bella smirked as Alexis numbly stood there for a few moments, then somewhat mechanically walked out to the arena. "Gets them every time."

"Pride is always a problem with most people." Mavis said, popping up right behind.

The entire school heard Bella's response. "DAMMIT, MAVIS! I THOUGHT YOU FUCKING FINALLY STOPPED DOING THAT BULLSHIT!"

By now, everyone pretty well knew what was going on behind that, which served as a great ice-breaker for the mounting tension from the Duel Off, especially for the current contestants Alexis and Bastion.

Mavis giggled as she and a fuming Bella arrived just as the duel was starting.

"DUEL!" Gladiator Beasts vs Six Samurai

Turn 1: "Ms. Rhodes is first." "Okay then, draw...I summon Gladiator Beast Darius in Attack Mode and set a card. End turn."

Turn 2: "Trying something new as well, Alexis?" "Partly because no one really allowed me to decline and leave it with you and Jaden." Bastion shrugs and draws. "I activate Gateway of the Six, then Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki, and thanks to him, Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan comes onto the field as well. Now Kizan, attack!" "Book of Moon!" "Now things are getting interesting. I set a card and end turn."

Turn 3: "Draw! I set two more cards and summon Gladiator Beast Retiari then attack with Darius and Retiari, taking out Kizan and Kageki! With that, I Special Summon in Darius' place Gladiator Beast Bestiari, whose effect takes out you Gateway!" "Not if Musikani Magatama has anything to add!" "Too bad it doesn't stop my other Special Summoned monster, Gladiator Beast Equeste, who just brings Bestiari right back to my hand."

Turn 4: "My turn again. With Double Summon, I Summon The Six Samurai – Irou and The Six Samurai – Zanji and attack-" "Waboku." "...only to be rendered useless. Sigh."

Turn 5: "At least on your end. On mine, however, I now have Gladiator Beast Laquari and Gladiator Beast Augustus on my field, which also grants me a Special Summoned Equeste in Defense Position. What comes next should be obvious." "As obvious as this deck not being my style at all." "Sorry about that, Bastion." "No worries. It's what practice and tests are to figure out after all." "It could also be that these decks are just a bad match-up." "That too." "At any rate, out returns Darius and Retiari as I end."

Back outside of the duel, a good number or people, not just Bella, were sweat-dropping at how 'pathetic' Bastion was doing. "Is it just me, or does he just plain out not care anymore?"

"I don't think he really cared from the start, Bella."

"Weird for him, but he always did like math." Bella quipped just as it was called.

Winner: Gladiator Beasts

That's when Bella noticed Bastion moving specifically to Mavis with a gleam a lot like Lucy and Levy, among others. She chuckled. "Bastion's got magic on the brain, and the new knowledge it brings has him hooked."

The Exceeds smiled conspiratorially at Bastion, knowing just how magic can catch the attention of practically anyone.

Although, of course, Alexis and the others had to be clued in first, but they all shared a laugh at Bastion's sheepish expression when they called him out on it.

...I have absolutely no idea what I was doing with the duel. Or this chapter (Let's face it, my duel scenes are pretty pathetic, at least in comparison to both canon and other half-decent fanfics). Eventually, as Jaden and the others develop magic, the focus will start shifting away from duels being the main thing. Just a heads up.

Until next time. Please let me know what you think.