Sekhmet: Hello, and welcome to Generation Next, a reimagining of Yu-Gi-Oh! GX written by yours truly and Susano-o. But mostly Susano-o. I'm more of an idea person.
Susano-o: I just wrote it down, Sekhmet gave a lot more than what she's implying. Over half the ideas in this are theirs as well.
Sekhmet: Either way, this story is co-authored. There's a lot to unpack so I'll get right to it. This story is an AU, so there were extensive changes made to the script and lore. First off, two OCs are taking the spotlight, Rose and Yuko. Rose is replacing Jaden all together, and Yuko was spliced in as Yugi's sister. Secondly, because these two are much more violent and in some cases just more genre savvy than what's par for Yu-Gi-Oh!, some of the chapters have edited scripts, or they were scrapped all together for one reason or another.
Susano-o: We went beyond Manga levels of violence for this.
Sekhmet: Punches will be thrown, shins will be kicked, nobody is safe. Especially not shins. Also, there's some implied mature content (the actual content will be released at a later date), so this might get an M rating eventually. For now though, it's T for language.
Susano-o: Sometimes you just can't settle things with a children's card game. (Also we took a lot of inspiration from multiple abridged series, and in some cases ripped them off lovingly)
Sekhmet: Exactly. Also, we're not putting up with too much anime bullshit here. Obviously it's going to be needed for the final battle of season 1, seeing as how bad the Sacred Beasts are IRL, but for the most part, we're doing this with real life rules.
Susano-o: Which means any card that has a real life counterpart we used that version, with a few exceptions. We also used 8000 life points, as close to the rules back in 2006 as possible, and we used only fusion monsters. The only buff main characters have is the occasional use of Manga and Anime only cards, and the fact Rose and Yuko's decks have more modern cards. (This is because Rose uses 'Masked Heroes' and while they existed in the Manga back in 2006, they didn't become real cards till much later)
Sekhmet: Indeed. Can you think of anything else to add?
Susano-o: Remember we are just humble writers tending to our fields, we made this for OUR fun first and foremost, so it's not to be taken completely serious.
Sekhmet: Good note. And with that last disclaimer out of the way, Sekhmet and Susano-o proudly present Generation Next! So we kick off the season with the classic first episode. As par for any first episode, it's all about getting the characters together. It's a bit like a DND session.
Susano-o: We also realized we had completely different writing styles, that took a few chapters to iron out.
Sekhmet: Yep, it was mostly just me ironing out paragraph format and the like. Still, I had my issues too, being stiff as a board when it came to dialogue.
Susano-o: And sticking extremely hard to the actual episodes script. I'd seen DM and GX all the way through as a kid (Minus season 4 RIP to dub only people) so I knew where we could break off without trouble, it was hard sometimes to be railroaded into the original episodes script.
Sekhmet: That too. Before starting the story, I had never actually seen GX. I grew up with reruns of DM and weekly episodes of Zexal. But enough of me, let's talk about the theme song. Since this is an anime, at least the way I imagined it, we gotta have a theme song. This season's theme is 'Hit Parade' by Bradio. It reflects the relatively laid back and cheerful nature of the season. I really suggest checking them out. They did the intro to 'Death Parade' as well, which is like Season Zero except everyone's already dead.
Susano-o: *Whispers* Yugi is an even bigger cheater in season 0 than normal.
Sekhmet: Stop ruining my childhood. Anyway, let's get into chapter 1: The Princess and the Queen!
(Hit Parade-Bradio)
(Uh-huh HITTO PAREEDO
Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme Tonight
Ohohoh
Uh-huh HITTO PAREEDO
Todomaruna otona yo asobe)
The opening starts with Rose's hand coming into view to turn on a radio and the song begins to play as the camera pans over a table various cards strewn about, mostly Rose's normal cards, and a duel disk before Rose reappears to grab the duel disk and run out a nearby door, where the camera then pans up quickly to the sky and shows the title.
Otona ii ko ni shiterarenai
Machi ni kuridase yotte odotte
Asobenai nara asu nado nai
Mezase itsuka no DISCOnation
The camera then pans down showing Yuko with Yugi standing behind her facing away from the camera as she smiles at him and starts walking forward, away from Yugi and towards the end of the street, the camera then switches back to Yugi and it shows him smiling over his shoulder and giving her a thumbs up.
Fu fu fu fu… Fu fu fu fu…
Kuruma korogashite Back to the future
Fu fu fu fu… Fu fu fu fu…
Sawagi chirashite yuki chi yo maware
The camera then swings back and shows the various students from Duel Academy getting ready for their day and preparing their decks, ending on an image of Crowler in the bath before Rose's hand suddenly grabs the camera and swings it back to face her with a giant smirk.
Neratta ano ko to CHIKU CHIKU CHIIKU TAIMU
Otoshita harisaki Mary jane Mary Jane
Kotoba takumi ni BUGIUGI Drivin'
Kitotte naide One ! Two ! Shout it out !
The camera goes black as Rose covers it with her hand and when it's uncovered it shows her with 'Mask Hero Dark Law' behind her, it then shows the rest of the main cast with their boss monsters standing behind them before it ends on Yuko summoning Dreadroot and covering the camera with a purple mist, Rose then wipes it off and laughs before counting down with the song and then singing Shout it out with the singer before throwing a fist in the air that the camera follows.
Uh-huh HITTO PAREEDO
Gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme Tonight
Ohohoh
Uh-huh HITTO PAREEDO
Todomaruna otona yo asobe
The camera then pans down again showing Rose and Yuko singing and dancing together on stage dressed in their Slifer Uniforms with the rest of the Main cast dancing behind them as backup singers. All of them are smiling except for Zane who has no emotion and Chazz who is snarling. They sing the chorus one more time together before grabbing each other around the shoulders and spinning around when the camera turns it shows them ready for school walking towards the main building before the camera finishes by panning up one more time towards the sky.
Duel 1: The Princess and the Queen
"I don't know, what if something happens?" A young girl asks. She and her big brother were standing outside one of many buildings that made up Domino City.
"You'll be alright. I promise." He assures her.
"What if they crowd me, ask me questions about you and your friends? What if they expect me to be just as good as you?"
"You'll be fine, Yuko. I know you can do this, trust in the heart of the cards."
Before the two part, they hug each other tightly. Tears fall from Yuko's face.
"I love you, big brother." She sniffed. The two part ways, and while the brother walks back home, Yuko wipes her eyes, and clutching the straps of her backpack, turns to a small table, tended to by staff of Duel Academy.
"Name, please?" One asked.
"Yuko Muto." She replied.
…
"I swear this is the last time I stay up late strategizing," Rose huffed running through the streets of Domino city. "Stupid entrance exams at the edge of the damn city, out of my way!" She yelled throwing another passerby out of her way as she bolted across the crosswalk. Taking a shortcut through a back alleyway Rose smiled as the convention center came into view; before she slammed face first into someone sending both of them sprawling onto the ground.
"Ah damn it," She hissed rubbing her head as she fumbled with her askew sunglasses and her now scattered cards. "Sorry, but I'm in a bit of a rush," She explained.
"No problem," The man said grabbing a card Rose missed. "Ah I see you're a duelist, you must be heading to the Duel Academy exams?" He asked inspecting the card.
"Yeah," Rose nodded checking over her duel disk, already being an outdated off-model she was worried it would shatter into pieces at the drop of a hat. "Though I'm running a bit late, I'm scheduled to duel in ten minutes."
The man chuckled. "Well then," He said opening his deck box and grabbing a card out of it. "I'd better not hold you up, but here take this, a good luck charm if you will," He asked holding out both cards.
"What, why?" Rose asked turning around to face her new companion, then nearly collapsed when she realized who it was.
"Having someone else with you, even in spirit, can make even the toughest of challenges easier to face," Yugi said with a smile as he flipped over the cards, revealing Rose's 'Masked Hero Dark Law' and 'Winged Kuriboh'.
"Oh my Ra," Rose whispered. "S-Sure thank you!" She said grabbing the two cards and sliding them into her deck.
"No problem," Yugi said patting her shoulder. "You'd better go, don't want to be late."
"Yeah thanks!" Rose yelled over her shoulder. "Don't worry I'll make you proud!"
Giving a thumbs up Yugi smiled as he watched Rose's retreating form.
"I'm here!" Rose yelled as she slapped her hands down onto the table outside the convention center. "Rose Warren, I'm here for my exam!"
"Ok then," the now nervous worker said ask she looked through her roster. "Ah here you are, you're a little late, but we have plenty of time left so that shouldn't be a problem," She explained sending a message out through her PDA. "And you're good, just go in and wait for your name to be called."
"Ok," Rose said wiping her brow and taking the offered paper. "Thank you."
Straightening her clothes she walked into the center with her head high, ready for the challenges to come.
…
Proctor's LP: 1100.
Monsters: Fire Princess (1300/1500)
Yuko's LP: 1000
Monsters: none
"Alright, kid. I've got a monster that could end you next turn. How are you going to pull this around, especially with that awful swarm deck you've got?" The proctor asked.
"How dare he call this deck awful. My brother and I poured everything we've got into this deck. But his question does stand." Yuko thought. She looked through her hand, and got an idea.
"I'll summon Spell Striker in attack mode, then I'll banish one spell card from my graveyard so I can summon another Spell Striker in attack mode!" She announced.
Two childlike Viking warriors holding wands spawned on the field. (600/200)
"And what'll that do? Fire Princess's attack is way higher than either of them." The proctor attempted to clarify.
"Spell Striker's ability lets it attack directly." Yuko stated. The proctor flinched in realization. "Go, Spell Strikers! Attack directly with Twin Whirlwind Shot!"
Both Spell Strikers bypassed Fire Princess entirely and cast white balls of wind into the proctor's stomach. Proctor LP: 1100-0. Winner: Yuko.
"Good job. I didn't expect that last move. Welcome to the Academy."
"Thank you, sir." Yuko replied, and exited the boxed in field.
As far as duels go, she was relieved to be done with that. Burn decks were one of her weaknesses, and one that desperately needed addressing. Yuko put her deck back in her holster and her duel disk back in her backpack. She chose a seat high up near the aisle, and sat back, watching others duel and internally giving her own advice.
...
"Obelisk kill me," Rose whined throwing herself into the nearest seat, nearly taking out the person sitting beside her. "I'm never gonna run again." Stretching herself out to accommodate her long legs she leaned back and threw her arm across the seats beside her. "Mind if I set my arm here?" She asked raising an eyebrow from under her sunglasses.
"Huh? Oh, sure." Yuko said, readjusting her beanie.
"Thank you," Rose sighed resting her head back onto the seat. "I just ran about a mile to get here, sorry if I'm being rude."
"No, you're fine. I mean, at least you made it, right?" Yuko offered.
"Yeah," Rose chuckled. "Now I'm just waiting for my turn, what about you?"
"I just went. Burn decks aren't my specialty, but I made it. Barely." Yuko confessed.
"Oh so the examiners are using burn decks?" Rose asked gazing over the current matches to see what cards people were using.
"I doubt they're all using the SAME burn deck, but based on what I've seen, yeah. Mine used a nurse burn." Yuko explained. She glanced over in time to see a blue haired kid get attacked by a centipede like monster. Leghul, she thought, although she wasn't sure.
"Oh great," Rose said with a smirk. "This'll be easy then."
"Well, good luck to you when your turn comes." Yuko said.
"Thanks," Rose said as she looked around the area. "So what dorm are you hoping to be in?"
"It doesn't really matter to me. Whatever works, I guess. I didn't do well on the written exam though, so my expectations are low." Yuko said. Written tests were worse than any burn deck in her experience.
"Same here," Rose agreed as she sneered at a few Obelisk Blue students sitting in the upper stands who were laughing at the blue hair kid. "As long as I don't get Blue, I almost went to North Academy until Duel Academy added in more female dorms."
"They didn't have female dorms until just recently? Sounds like an awfully important oversight." Yuko said.
"Nope, the only color that had female accommodations before was Obelisk, so all female students regardless of how they did were automatically sorted into blue, a fate worse than death in my opinion," Rose explained with a shrug.
"It does seem like it would be quite jarring to some." Yuko said. "I never liked Obelisk the Tormentor anyway. Too much blue."
"Too arrogant as well," Rose agreed. "Damn prep-school kids thinking that just because they went to some fancy duel school and can afford the best cards they're better than everyone else, as if this game wasn't half luck."
Yuko chuckled. "I'll attest to that. I know a guy who modeled his whole deck on gambling, and he still wins pretty consistently. If that doesn't prove your point, then I don't know what does."
Rose laughed as she tried to picture how a deck like that would work. "Good one," She said smiling.
"Thanks. I sure wish I had his luck, though. I went through my whole duel without once drawing my favorite card. It put me on edge, to be honest." Yuko said, dampening the mood somewhat.
"Well at least that means you didn't reveal it to everyone," Rose offered. "Always good to keep a royal flush up your sleeve."
"You're right. Besides, if I let everyone see this card, it could attract unwanted attention." Yuko said, which she regretted once the words came out of her mouth.
"Oooh a rare card?" Rose asked getting slightly uncomfortably close to the other girl.
"Eh, sort of. But it's just a basic cut attack card. No big deal." Yuko stammered. A sting of indignation struck her in her heart, but she repressed it.
"Ok then," Rose said moving back away from the girl as an explosion cut through the arena. "Oh well looks like that guy just won his duel," She said watching the kid walk out of the arena. "Who was he and was he playing?"
"Bastion Misawa, and some sort of multiple attribute deck, I think." Yuko said. "Not sure why, but everyone's got their thing."
"Variety is good," Rose shrugged. "That blue haired kid is holding on pretty well too, poor kid looks like he's gonna pass out down there though," she said leaning forward and cupping her hands. "Hey blue kid! You got this!" She yelled loudly. "Kick his ass!"
Yuko joined in as well. "You got this man! That burn deck ain't nothing!" However, when she saw that the rest of the students were looking at the two, she shrunk back in her seat.
The blue haired kid jumped at the sudden noise, but determination filled his eyes as he played his next monster, winning the duel with his 'Submarineroid's' direct attack.
"Hey, good on him." Yuko noted, awfully quiet from her shrunken position in her seat.
"Great another chump to ruin the Academy's name," One of the Obelisk blue's said from the stands. "I swear they're letting anyone in these days."
"Shouldn't everyone get the same opportunity to duel?" Yuko thought, too embarrassed to actually confront the voice directly.
Rose however had no such reservations and turned around to affix the blue student with an acidic glare. "At least he proved his worth and didn't have to use daddies money to get in," She snapped crossing her arms. "And aren't you a first year too," She asked raising an eyebrow. "If anyone's ruining the school's reputation it's jackasses like you."
"Oh please. Look at your duel disk. What is that, a first gen? It's so outdated, it shouldn't even work with the cards." Another blue sneered.
Rose's glare turned from 'radar on a destroyer' level to 'beam duel with Blue Eyes and win' as she took a step forward. "Equipment doesn't mean shit! I could be dueling on a fucking first generation dueling platform from Duelist Kingdom and still kick your ass!" She yelled attracting the attention of more people around them, even some of the skywalks.
"She's right and all, but geez, what a temper." Alexis noted. "If she keeps that up, she'll find herself way in over her head."
"Not to mention her mouth," Zane agreed glancing over at the examiners panel. "Dr. Crowler looks ready to blow a gasket, lets hope she can duel as well as she can talk."
"Calm down! You're going to attract unwanted attention!" Yuko said, looking frantically around at the growing number of eyes on the two.
"If you had half the skill you acted like you had you could maybe be a credible threat!" Rose ranted ignoring her new companions pleas. "-But until then sit there and shut up!" She finished turning around on her heel and sitting back down. Yuko pulled her beanie so far down her head that her eyes were covered. Her face felt like it was dipped in fire.
"Stupid prep-school kids," Rose growled ignoring the stares of the people around her, Including a certain doctor who was trying to kill her with a glare.
"That girl," Dr. Crowler snarled as he grabbed the examine roster. "First she comes late, now she's causing a ruckus, I'm going to have her thrown out of here!"
"Mr. Crowler sir-" One of the other examiners started before being cut off by him rounding on the man.
"That's Dr. Crowler!" He yelled. "I did not get a PHD in dueling to be called Mr.!" He snapped. "And I will also not let this girl get away with this," He smirked looking through the examiners list. "If this girl thinks she so good, lets she how she does against a real duelist."
"Rose Warren please report to exam field 4," The announcer droned over the arena speakers.
"And that's my cue," Rose said standing up. "Wish me luck?" She asked with a smirk.
"Good luck." Yuko said, uncovering one eye and meticulously brushing stray hairs back under the hat.
"Thanks," Rose smiled throwing off her leather jacket and cracking her knuckles. "Time to get my game on!" She yelled walking down to the arena. "Oh second thought, I'm never gonna say that again," She thought cringing internally.
"Well this is interesting," Zane said looking down at the field. "Look who decided to do her examination."
"Dr. Crowler must really have it in for this girl if he's going to duel her himself." Alexis added.
"I hope that she has better luck than I do." Yuko said, the other eye uncovered.
"She's going to need it. Look who she's dueling." A voice from next to Yuko said. She was startled to have just noticed Bastion next to her.
…
"So you're my examiner?" Rose asked strapping on her duel disk.
"Yes," Dr. Crowler drawled as he activated his duel coat. "I am Dr. Vermilion Crowler, head professor and department chair of techniques at Duel Academy."
Rose's eyes went wide. "Oh sweet!" She yelled. "I get to duel against an actual teacher!"
Crowler smirked as he raised his duel platform and drawing his first hand. "Yes, now get ready."
"All right then," Rose said activating her duel disk, making Crowler chuckle at how outdated it was. "Lets duel," She said drawing a card. "Oh lucky me," Rose said with a smirk. "I activate the spell card 'Fake Hero'," She said playing the spell. "Now I can special summon one Elemental Hero monster from my hand, and I know the perfect one 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' in attack mode (1000/1500)!" She yelled.
Elemental Hero Shadow Mist appeared on the field with in a burst of sparkling black mist before she struck a hero pose with both hands on her cocked out hips.
"And when she's special summoned I get to add a Change quick-play card from my deck to my hand," She said pulling out her deck and finding the card she wanted. "Now since I still have my normal summon, I'll summon my 'Elemental Hero Avian' in attack mode (1000/1000)," She said playing the monster.
Elemental Hero Avian flew out of the ground in a burst of light and feathers as he hovered beside Shadow Mist.
"I'll set two cards and end my turn, and because of the effect of 'Fake Hero', 'Shadow Mist' returns to my hand," She finished putting the card back in her hand.
"My turn then," Crowler said grabbing up his ejected card with a chuckle. "Ok then little girl, I think it's time to show you some real strategy, first I'll set two cards face down and then I'll play the spell card 'Heavy Storm'" Crowler laughed as a massive windstorm swept through the field. "Say goodbye to your spell and trap cards!"
"Damn it," Rose cursed. "I activate my face down card, 'Mask Change'!" She yelled as the wind shattered the set cards on the field. "And because my 'Statue of the Wicked' trap cards where destroyed I get two 'Wicked Token' tokens (1000/1000)," Crowler explained as the two monstrous creatures appeared from a thick haze. "Now I sacrifice my two tokens to summon my ultimate monster the 'Ancient Gear Golem' (3000/3000)!'" He yelled playing the card.
The two tokens disappeared as the Golem appeared on the battlefield in a massive column of light. "Well now slacker, are you ready to lose your Avian?"
Rose chuckled lightly at that. "I think you need some glasses," She said gesturing to her now empty field.
"What, where did your Avian go?" Crowler asked in an accusing tone. "Did you remove it from the field, that's cheating."
Rose laughed and shook her head. "No I didn't," She said as the wind in the arena picked up even more. "I activated 'Mask Change' before it was destroyed," She said holding up said card. "It allows me to target a 'Hero' monster and send it to the graveyard, then summon a 'Masked Hero' monster with the same attribute," She explained. "So I sacrificed my Avian to summon my 'Masked Hero Divine Wind' (2700/1900)!'" The wind broke and Divine Wind landed on the ground, cape whirling in the breeze.
"Hmm," Crowler said touching his chin. "Interesting, never heard of 'Masked Heroes' before."
"Oh then you're in for a treat," Rose smirked.
Crowler snorted. "Alright rookie, try this on for size!" He growled pointing at Divine Wind. "Gear Golem attack, Mechanized Melee!"
Gear Golem raised his massive fist up and threw a punch at Divine Wind, sending a transparent punch at the flying monster that connected with a massive explosion. (Rose LP 4000-3700)
"So much for your fancy monster," Crowler said with a smirk that caused Rose to raise an eyebrow. "You may want to take a look at the field again Doc," Rose said with gesture of her hand.
Crowler's eyes narrowed as he looked over the field, when his eyes landed on the still standing monster his sneered with the audible sound of grinding teeth. "Oh great," He growled out. "Cannot be destroyed by battle," He deduced crossing his arms.
"Nope," Rose said with a laugh. "My turn then?" She asked raising an eyebrow as she waited for her opponent to give her to ok, seeing his nod Rose drew her next card. "Ok then, I summon 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' in attack mode," She said as the monster practically punched his way out of the ground in a shower of fiery sparks. "When he's summoned I can add a 'Polymerization' to my hand," She said searching for the appropriate card. "Now I'll activate the card fusing 'Elemental Hero Blazeman' and 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist' to form 'Elemental Hero Escuridao' (2500/2000)!" She yelled as the monster appeared from a amorphous shadow in the ground. "Now not only does 'Elemental Hero Shadow Mist's' second effect activate allowing me to add a Hero monster to my hand, Escuridao gains 100 attack for each hero monster in my graveyard, not a lot I know, but its all I need," (2500-2800/2000). "Next I'll activate 'H-Heated Heart' raising my Divine Winds attack power by 500 (2700-3200/1900) and finally I play the field spell 'Skyscraper!'" She yelled playing her final card as a giant city formed around the two duelists. "Now when 'Escuridao attacks a monster with more attack power than her she gains 1000 attack during damage calculation, Escuridao attack Gear Golem, Dark Diffusion (2800-3800/2000)!" Escuridao aimed her large claw at Golem as dark energy filled the center before firing out in a large purplish beam directly at the large automaton, shattering him into pieces (Crowler LP 4000-3200). "Now Divine Wind attack Crowler directly, Sky Drill Strike!"
Divine Wind took off flying towards Crowler, right hand glowing as powerful winds swirled together till he thrust his hand forward, sending a massive hurricane at Crowler that cut him to ribbons (Crowler LP 3200-0).
"And with that I win," Rose said with crossing her arms as the holographic field disappeared, signaling the end of the duel.
…
"That was a two turn KO." Yuko noted, slightly beside herself.
"That was amazing! How did she do that?" The blue haired kid, Syrus, asked sitting down beside Yuko.
"Indeed, that was quite a lucky move," Bastion said not fully believing his eyes.
"I don't think I've ever seen that before. I've made quite an acquaintance." Yuko said.
Zane's eyebrow quirked up slightly as he watched Rose jumped around excitedly. "She's certainly interesting," He said looking around at the reactions of the other Obelisks, namely Crowler and Chazz.
"She's got a future here, for sure." Alexis notes.
"Yes, but she's not the only one," Zane said focusing down on another student in the stands. "Her name was lost in the announcements, but I know I heard the name Muto being called."
"Muto? Like Yugi Muto?" Alexis asked, not entirely believing it.
"Well it's not a common name so I would assume so," Zane proposed in anwer. "She didn't stand out, but that could have been her plan, keep a low profile."
"I wonder why. I suppose she could be shy, but with that kind of heritage, you'd think she'd want to flaunt it, at least a little bit." Alexis wondered.
"Imagine the attention it would attract though, it would be like Syrus telling everyone he's my brother."
"You're right. Looks like she's got a future as well, then." Alexis said.
Zane nodded. "This will be quite the interesting year."