AN: So, my laptops in the shop, I had to write this on my tablet which wasn't too hard, but the dictionary isn't up to the standard that my laptop is. So I actually implore all my readers to look this over with a critical eye and tell me my mistakes. Otherwise enjoy this bit of fluff, filler, and drama.
The next morning, the sun shone brightly over the buildings of duel academy. Students rose from their beds be they high quality or not with a smile on their face. For today was a day worth enjoying even though they had class.
For Harry Potter, he rose from his bed and enjoyed a long shower in place of the half arsed one he had had the morning before. Deciding to not wear the traditional long jacket Harry stood in his room in a black shirt and grey trousers tying a silver tie around his neck when the door was knocked. Opening the door he was unsurprised to find Alexis standing on the threshold.
"Good morning my dear." He said by way of greeting. His good mood allowing some of his English accent to slip through. Startling her with the difference from the normally bland tone of voice. "Just a second while I get this stupid tie on right and we can go."
Alexis raised an eyebrow at his lack of a blazer but said nothing as she watched him fail again and again at trying to get his tie on straight and proper. After what seemed like the fifth time, she stood from her chair, walked over, and stood behind Harry in the mirror.
"I don't see how you can do all the things you can do but can't tie a tie." She told him as she wrapped her arms around his chest and tied it for him.
Harry was speechless. The close proximity to Alexis was sending his newly awakened thoughts into overdrive. What a day ago would have been a mere gesture of help now made him think of things he had never thought of before. What made it all worse, was that as she did his tie for him, he stared into the reflection of her eyes which were looking right at his.
'Quick you idiot' Harry thought to himself. 'Think of something or else this gets awkward really fast' Looking into her eyes Harry settled for the truth instead of a smart comment.
"Before I was adopted I never had to wear a tie, well, I did but never properly, I was eleven after all. When I was adopted I had to go to a lot of functions like the one we met at. My Dad tried to teach me, but you try getting a twelve year old to wear a suit and tie. Kaiba insisted that no matter what his protégée had be dressed to impress, but it was Yugi who just smiled and said I'd understand one day. They'd all be laughing now if they found out."
Finishing his tie and wrapping her arms more tightly around his chest Alexis whispered in his ear. "You're secrets safe with me" Before grabbing hers and Harry's bag and walking to the door.
Looking at himself in the mirror Harry saw the ghost of himself four years ago staring back at him. Small, scrawny, and looking like a good gust of wind would blow him over as opposed to now. Now he stood tall confident and with eyes glowing with power he had yet to begin to understand. He couldn't be more content with his life and yet he knew, he knew Alexis would find out about his origin someday. He would tell her everything from his home, to his powers true nature, to his destiny. But not today, today will be a good day.
If he had seen the red pair of eyes watching them as they left the room. He would know his good days come at a cost.
As they sat down to a class Harry's thoughts turned from the beautiful woman beside him to the events of the night before. He knew he would be getting his deck back soon enough. He knew he would do anything to protect Alexis and his friends. But he also knew there would be no room for error. If he lost, they would be in danger.
Unknown to him in his little world of his own Alexis was watching him. She saw the frown appear on his face and his eyes narrow in thought but she was helpless to do anything about it. Whatever was causing it, she knew had something to do with what happened yesterday. She also knew he would tell her in his own time as he always did. But that didn't mean she wasn't worried about him. Reaching across their desk and placing her hand on his she smiled when his eyes landed on her.
"Smile, it won't happen." She told him.
"What won't?" He asked bemusedly. Not once moving his hand away from hers.
"Whatever bad thing it is you're thinking about." She clarified just as Professor Banner walked in making a response impossible. But nonetheless he smiled and squeezed her hand in turn before taking it away.
When Banner looked in Harry's direction he nodded once before commencing with his history lecture. Harry barely listened. He only took snippets of notes instead beginning to draw on a sketch pad he had in place over his notebook.
He didn't know how he did it. He didn't even know how he had started it. But somehow he had begun to draw Hogwarts. Despite it being years since he had last seen the castle he remembered every single detail as if it was only yesterday he had floated over the black lake. A wave of nostalgia swept over him but as he looked around, and saw Jaden sleeping, Syrus watching Banner as if he was afraid of missing a single word, Alexis watching Banner and taking notes. As he watched them, he was grateful to be in this world. With a family, with friends, and no pressure of fame.
He smiled.
Alexis looked at his drawing, looked at the smile on Harry's face, and smiled as well before turning back to Banner who was wrapping up his point also smiling. He turned to Harry and lost the smile on his face. "I'm sorry to interrupt your creativity Harry but Chancellor Sheppard would like to see you in his office." Banner called startling Harry and causing him to look up.
"Me?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. Ignoring the mutterings of those around him he stared Banner down. Left unsaid was the question of why it was only him and not the others going.
"Yes, just you for now." Banner answered.
"As you wish" Squeezing Alexis's leg before standing and grabbing his bag Harry walked out and headed towards Sheppard's office.
"Come in." Sheppard called before Harry could knock on the door. Looking down the hallway he spotted the security cameras and smirked ever so slightly before walking through the door. "Welcome Harry, have a seat."
Walking to the desk Harry crouched ever so slightly before a chair flew from its spot to underneath his legs. When Sheppard raised his eyebrows and frowned at the casual display of power Harry merely replied "You left me without a deck, what did you think I would do in my spare time?".
"Yes well," Sheppard hastily collected himself before reaching underneath his desk and retrieving a small box. Harry could sense the power coming from the box and immediately knew what it was. "While you're collection is stored in the campus security building, I personally looked after your deck which is why I am now able to return it to you now. You will have to retrieve your collection yourself though."
"Is this the part where I'm supposed to be thankful and wonder why you're giving it to me a week early?"
Sheppard frowned. "While I won't question you're lack of gratefulness given the circumstances. Your lack of curiosity has me stumped."
"The spirit keys." Harry said in lieu of an explanation causing Sheppard's eyes to widen. "You intend to release them today. The shadow riders were dispersed last night."
"All true facts. But how did you know?"
"Friends in high and low places." Was Harry's answer and nothing else. Reaching across the desk and taking the box he opened it to find his cards wrapped tightly in a cotton cloth. He could sense their power begging to be released and so wasn't surprised that when he gripped the cards in his hand, a rush of power ran up his arm and spread across his entire body. "I understand why you're doing this." He further explained all the while watching his spirits appear on either side of him out of the corner of his eyes.
Before Sheppard had a chance to reply, he door opened once more. In came Crowler, Alexis, Jaden, Zane, Chazz, and Bastion. All of who's eyes widened upon seeing Harry and the Chancellor sitting opposite side of each other, but for different reasons. For Bastion, it was seeing Harry Potter at long last, he had seen him walking the halls, he had heard his reputation, but never had he been in the presence of the son of Maximillian Pegasus, the duelling legend of Duel Academy, and the only other British person aside from him. For Crowler it was a simple reason, Harry was an Obelisk Blue, if he was called to the Chancellor's office he should have been aware. For Zane and Alexis it was a reason of observation, Harry had his deck in his hands. And for Jaden and Chazz, it was something the others just couldn't see, Standing on either side of Harry and behind him, were duel spirits each wrapped in shadow preventing either from seeing who they were, and yet every now and then the shadows would part to reveal a blinding light that forced them to look away. Harry, seeing the number of occupants now outweighed the number of seats, stood and offered his chair to Alexis who took it with a grateful smile.
"Welcome, all of you, please get comfortable as best you can while I try to explain what is about to happen" Sheppard greeted them all, taking another box from under his desk as he did so.
Harry didn't listen to Sheppard as he explained the history of Armatyle, the Sacred Beasts as he used to call them instead he looked through his deck as if for the first time, mentally going through the synergy of the cards, for each card he saw he knew how it could be played how every card in his deck interacted with it and how, if it was the only card he had, it could save him.
He smiled again.
"Harry" Alexis's voice called out causing him to look up from his deck and into her eyes. "Are you in?"
Harry looked at her hand and noticed she was holding a jigsaw like piece in it. He could feel a pulse of weak energy emanating from it, calling out to those who could feel it. Looking around the room he noticed a similar key in every persons hand and one more lying in the box on Sheppard's desk. That key was his, there was no question about whether he was in or not. Gods had decided he was in. The enemy had decided he was in. And for the sake of his friends, he had decided he was in. He walked to Sheppard's desk, looked the man in the eyes, and nodded as he took his key. Then he walked out of the room.
"Harry!" It wasn't Alexis calling him for once. It wasn't Syrus or Jaden, it was Zane. And that was reason enough for Harry to turn around and stop walking. "You have your deck." It wasn't a question and so Harry didn't answer. "I'm glad. It means you and I can duel."
Nearby students actually stopped at hearing the words. Those same students would fall over in shock at Harry's next words.
"Not today."
The two walked out of the main building and along the coastline while Harry explained just why he would not duel the top ranked duellist. He explained about his desire to find Nightshroud before he found any of the others.
"It's not just about protecting them." Harry explained. "It's about getting answers. Nightshroud's name has appeared too many times in too many places for it to be mere coincidence. I have to know why he's doing it."
"That doesn't explain why you have to find him first. Let the others find him and question him then." Zane proposed.
"Because I have faith in all of you. Just like Sheppard. I know you won't give up without a fight. I know when push comes to shove you'll win." Sighing, Harry explained. "When you lose these duels, there'll be no talking."
The two sat in silence. Each one enjoying the companionship of the other. Neither really knowing what to say to the other. In the end, it was Harry who spoke.
"You're lucky you know, it could have been Syrus chosen." He told the older Obelisk. "You would have had to worry about your little brother."
"I already do." Zane told him. "If we lose. If we all lose. Then it's over. The Sacred Beasts will be released and Syrus will never be safe. But even if we don't lose. Do you really think he'll just sit on the side lines while me you and Jaden risk our lives and souls?"
Harry finally saw the brotherly side of Zane. "No I don't." He answered after a while. "I guess it's easy to forget that I'm not the only one with something to lose."
"We all have something to lose." Zane told him. "It's why we're doing this. To protect the ones we love. We may not all have super powers like you do. But we'll do the best we can and be proud of that fact."
Harry levitated a stone over the palm of his hand. Truth be told it was nice to be around someone who understood the weight of the world. "Thank you." He told Zane. "When this is all over. We will have our duel."
Zane nodded and looked at the stars in the sky. The two sat in silence once more.
"Harry!" The voice of the Dark Magician called out. Turning, Harry looked to the black armoured duel spirit and didn't have to even question why.
"Zane." He called to the older Obelisk. "The Slifer dorm!" He explained.
And that was really all he needed to say. In the darkness of night, the Slifer dorm had become a beacon of light towering into the black sky.
"Jaden." Zane breathed. "The shadow rider must think he's the weakest because he's in Slifer. Harry we have to...Harry?" Upon turning to the younger man he saw something he would forever remember but for many reasons.
Harry was doubled over on the ground gasping for air, sweating profusely and clutching his chest, specifically, his heart. "Alexis" He gasped. "What the hell was she doing!"
"What's going on Harry?" Zane asked, half confused and half scared seeing the state of his younger friend.
"Alexis was at the Slifer dorm." Harry explained, getting to his feet. "Whoever did that" He said pointing to the blinding light that was now fading away. "Brought them over there." Pointing to the volcano. Zane and Harry saw the white light had moved. "Take my hand Zane."
"Harry what's going on?" Zane asked instead.
"Zane." Summoning his arcane disk and strapping it to his arm Harry placed his deck inside and felt the rush of power go through his body. "Whatever you'll do to protect Syrus, know that I will do everything and more to protect Alexis. Now. Take. My. Hand."
Seeing the determination is his eyes. Zane knew Harry spoke the truth and nothing more. He took his hand and the two vanished in a flash of purple, not white light.
"You and I are going to duel, key keeper." Nightshroud called to Jaden from the opposite side of the platform he Jaden, and Alexis stood on. "Loose and your soul gets put in this card." Holding up a blank card and showing it. "And to ensure a speedy duel." He trailed off.
Fire burst from the volcano once more behind Jaden and Alexis causing them to turn around in fright. Jaden's eyes widened at what he saw.
Syrus and Chumley where sitting in an orb of magic surrounded by lava.
"So what'll it be key keeper. Better decide fast because that orb won't hold for long." As if to prove his point the orb began to tear right before Jaden's brown eyes. "Duel me, or watch you're friends become bar...What?" Nightshroud was also looking at the orb as he spoke and so trailed off as it suddenly became enveloped in purple light.
"Harry" Alexis whispered seeing the purple coloured magic.
"Who are you!?" He heard behind her.
Zane and Harry appeared at the very top of the volcano. Each looking down as Nightshroud issued his challenge.
"That son of a bitch" They both whispered at the same time. Harry for seeing the look of pure fear on Alexis's face and Zane for seeing his little brother hovering over a pool of lava.
"I'm going down there" Harry growled his body growing dark as shadow enveloped his body like a black cloak. "He'll pay for this."
"Even if you could teleport into a volcano do you really think you should?" Zane asked. "Any waste of time could put Syrus and Chumley in more danger."
"Leave that to me." Harry growled. Standing up. "And you're right. I can't teleport to a floating platform in the middle of a volcano, that'd be suicide."
"Then what're you..." For what seemed like the hundredth time that night Zane became silent as he watched Harry jump into a volcano.
As he fell. The energy that cloaked his body not only unveiled to reveal his Black Luster armour but also poured off his body in waves, slowing his descent like a geyser of water to break his fall. Looking behind him, his eyes flashed green and the dome surrounding Syrus and Chumley was covered in a purple shroud of his own magic.
"Who are you?!" Nightshroud demanded of him as soon as his feet touched the ground. Looking his new challenger over he saw the spirit key around his neck as well as the half pendant that also surrounded his own neck. "You defeated the Grave Keeper."
"Yes, and he warned me about you Nightshroud. He told me of your darkness, of your dragons." Harry called back. "He also told me of your armour. Let's see how well it holds up to this." His sword appeared in his hand in a swirl of purple smoke like magic and Harry charged.
He ran towards Nightshroud with his sword held high. Clearly telegraphing his every move. But just as he was in striking difference. He vanished in a flash of purple light and appeared behind Nightshroud with his back turned. Turning and using the momentum to strengthen his swing Harry struck.
A clash of metal could be heard throughout the platform.
Harry's eyes widened in shock as he saw a sword he had heard about many times before. Yugi had told him of his ventures with the legendary dragons. But it was Joey Wheeler who had told him of this sword. Bound by the magic of Red-Eyes Black dragon a wicked blade with a three pronged hilt had blocked his.
Harry had never even seen him draw it.
"How did you get this." He breathed in shock. Vanishing in a flash of purple light he appeared beside Alexis who gripped his arm to steady him. "That sword. I thought I was the only one."
"You're like him." Nightshroud spoke calmly, his voice becoming hollow and dual layered. "You possess power foreign to this world. You do not belong."
"You have no idea." Harry muttered. "You wanted to duel them." He called back pointing to Jaden and Alexis. "But now you'll have to go through me."
"And I shall." Was his response.
Nightshroud readied his duel disk as Harry did the same. But before either of them could start Alexis stood in front of Harry with her arms outstretched.
"I can't let you do this Harry. You'll risk your soul." She cried wrapping her arms around him and crying into his shoulder. "What if you lose."
"Alexis." Harry whispered in her ear. "I have to do this. Win or lose. Neither of us will come out of this unscratched. I can't let you do this. I can't let anybody do this." Wrapping his arms around her as well he continued. "I will do everything in my power to protect you." He whispered. "Including this."
Throwing her to the side he called out "Dark Magic Attack!" Powerful energy poured from his hands and met the fireball that had been heading towards. He had heard the call of inferno fire blast from Nightshroud further confirming his suspicions.
"You really are like me."
"And you really are like him."
It was true. Harry was the human embodiment of the power of Mahad, the first and true Dark Magician. Just as Nightshroud was the embodiment of Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
"I thought I was the only one in existence. But if you try to hurt her or anybody else during our duel I assure you I will be." Harry warned as he lifted his duel disk once more. A ring of shadow magic encircled the two stopping anybody from interfering but also protecting the others from the attacks that would take place.
Nightshroud lifted his own duel disk sluggishly as if the usage of his powers had drained him of his energy. "That won't do." His now dual layered voice called out and suddenly the red eyes of his mask glowed brighter and shadows began to creep over Nightshroud's armour clad body. "Much better." With energy he did not have a minute ago, Nightshroud quickly drew his cards.
'That power' The voice of the Dark Magician of Chaos called out in his mind. 'That is not the power of Red-Eyes.'
'No' The Dark Magician agreed. 'Mahad spent a great deal of time with Red-Eyes. I know that power as if it was my own and this is not it.'
'Then we have to be careful,' Harry mentally called out. 'Nightshroud may not be all he appears.'
Drawing the five cards each. The opponents waited for the first one to make a move and end this.
Little did they know. It had only just begun.
