The next morning Alexis was take out of the tank and was given one last check-up before she was given the okay to go home. There was still snow falling down, but it was more of a dusting and the sidewalks were shoveled and salted thanks to the droids from RainaCORP that cleaned up the city. Aster was excited to see Alexis's expression when she saw all the stuff he put under the tree for her, but upon entering the penthouse, Alexis felt her energy drained, a side effect of the medical elixir she had been sleeping in the night before. She took a quick shower to get the strong, minty, smell of the stasis tank's liquid off her skin. Afterward, the exhausted duelist slumped onto her bed and just slept the whole day away. Aster felt bad that Alexis was most likely going to sleep through Christmas but he was relieved to see her safe and sound in her bed.
He stood at the door to her room and just watched her for hours until the sun went down and the city darkened. Aster hoped she would wake soon but still Alexis slept.
"Well, so much for Christmas," Aster said and continued to watch her and watch her. He realized something. His hand. It had been days since it started acting up. And he knew why. Ever since Alexis came into his life, he felt peace. She brought him peace and good company, something he was denied for a very long time. Her presence took all his cares away somehow. "Merry Christmas, Alexis," he whispered. Moments later, he began to grow sleepy and slumped to the couch in front of the Christmas tree in the living room. He just sat there and watched the presents until he dozed off and fell asleep.
"Morning!" a cheery voice said to him.
Aster opened his eyes and saw Alexis standing over him wearing red flannel jumpsuit pajamas and a Santa Clause hat on her head. She had a plat of pancakes in her hand. The stack was coated with syrup and topped with butter.
"Whoa," Aster said. He sniffed the pancakes. They smelled remarkably sweet and he took the plate from her. "Wow, you look...chipper this morning. Nice pajamas."
"Oh!" Alexis jumped back so he could see. "Brandi came by at dawn and gave it to me. Isn't it cute? Oh, yeah. Happy belated Christmas." Alexis cocked her head to one side and closed her eyes. "Sleep well?"
"Uh...yeah. How about you."
"Oh, I can't complain." She stretched and whined. "I feel like a million bucks. I don't know what was in that stuff they put me in but man did it make me tired."
"It is medicine after all," said Aster. He set the plate on the arm of the sofa and looked up at Alexis. "I know why you ran away like that."
Alexis blew air from the corner of her mouth, causing one of her bangs to fling up in the air. "Someone told you about me, huh?"
"Chazz did. He came by at the hospital last night."
"Good ol' Chazz," Alexis said with a roll of her eyes. "Wow. So I suppose he told you everything huh?"
Aster gave a nod. "Yeah, everything. Matthias Helge. The Ten Thousand Dragon and the army of trolls who made your life miserable. Alexis, I'm sorry, if I had only known."
"Don't worry about it, Aster. It's something I have to move on from. Duel Monsters, I mean. I guess it's just not for me anymore."
"How can you say that?"
"It's been nothing but trouble Aster. And I'm sure me running away from my duel with Brandi didn't do me any good. I'm through, I just can't live like this forever."
"You can't quit dueling, Alexis. Come on, you just can't."
"I've made my choice," said Alexis. "Oh, silly me. I forgot your fork and your knife." She turned and walked to the kitchen but stopped halfway when she heard Aster laughing. She turned to look at him. "What? What's so funny?"
Aster suppressed his laughter with a few coughs. "Nothing, nothing. Just something I remembered from last night. So uh...you sure you want to quit Dueling?"
"Yeah," Alexis said. She went to the kitchen and came back with the utensils for Aster to eat. "It wasn't an easy decision to make. Deep down I want to continue playing. But after everything I've been through these past few years and...after what happened the other night. No, it's just not a game for me anymore."
"I'm really sorry to hear that, Alexis," Aster said. Deep down he wasn't worried. He knew he was going to get through to her somehow. "Say, uh, can you get me some orange juice to go with these pancakes?"
"Coming right up," Alexis said. She turned to leave and, again, stopped when she heard Aster laughing. "What has gotten into you? You're quite tickled this morning."
"I know, I know, sorry," Aster said, coughing into his fist. "It's just...it's just a joke I heard someone tell me. It was a good one."
"Hmm," Alexis said and went to get his juice. When she came back, she sat down on the arm of the sofa and helped him dig into the plate of pancakes.
"These are really good," said Aster. "You're a good cook, Alexis."
"Nah, I just dabble here and there. Besides, pancakes aren't that hard to make. Atticus taught me how to make them."
"You two did a lot together, huh?"
"Yeah. I wish I could go back to him but..."
"Stop thinking things are going to be bad for people if they talk to you, Alexis. You're never going to get far in life second-guessing yourself. That's not something you did a long time ago. You were a valkyrie back at the academy. Now you're just so..."
"Pathetic?"
"No, you're not pathetic. But you're not as strong as I remember you. I know that loss really messed you up, Alexis, and I really want to help. Just let me know and I'll do anything I can for you."
"I appreciate it. But enough of this moping around, huh? We missed Christmas yesterday so let's have our own little yule today. Are most of those presents for me?"
"They all are," said Aster. "I did a little Christmas shopping while you and Brandi dueled. Go on, it's all for you."
"Yay!" Alexis clapped and crawled toward the tree. Once again, Aster started to break out laughing again. Alexis looked over her shoulder and stared at him with a bored expression. "Must have been a funny joke. I'd like to hear it."
"Uh, sure. It's a Yo Mama joke tho. It's kind of stupid."
"Must have been a good one if it's got you laughing like this. So, let's hear it?"
"All right. You mama's so fat when she stepped on the scale it said I need your weight, not your phone number." He pretended to laugh at the joke.
Alexis smirked and sniggered through her nose. "I've got an even better one for you."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah, listen to this. You're mama's so fat and so old when God said: "Let there be light!" he told her to move out of the way."
They both burst out laughing. Aster then sat back on the sofa and watched as Alexis opened her presents, all the while doing what he could to keep from laughing. He buried his face in his pillow just to hide it from her.
"Oh, cool!" Alexis said opening a pack of sleeves for her cards. "Glowing Drytron card sleeves! Wow, Aster, these will look great with my Cyber Angels. So what do you want to do later today?"
"Do? I think we should get you back to training."
Alexis slumped her head, smacking her face on top of an unopened present. "Aster, please. I can't. I'm not meant to duel anymore."
"Yes, you are. And I know just the person who can help us."
"Who?"
"You'll have to wait and see. It's a surprise."
"Hmm, well, when you put it like that, I guess it sounds interesting. Still, I'm sure your friend is a real pro but don't expect her to work any miracles. I'll play one last time for old time's sake."
"Trust me, Alexis, my friend has her ways of convincing people. She's very...persuasive."
"And I'm very stubborn," Alexis said, shaking her shoulders up and down in a playful manner.
"It's a duel of personality then," said Aster. "Nice." He almost laughed again. "Well, if you're pressed on doing something later tonight, how about a movie?"
"Oh, I'd like that. Can we see the Children of Hurin?"
"What the hell is that?"
"It's a movie that takes place in Middle-Earth. You know...Lord of the Rings."
"I never got into that kind of stuff. It's too geeky."
"Geeky! Ha!" Alexis snapped her fingers. "Says the guy who plays with trading cards for a living."
"Touche," said Aster. "All right. The Children of...whatever it is then."
"Great," Alexis said standing up. "Why don't we go get ready now?"
"What? Now? No, no, no, not yet!" Aster pleaded. "Let's stay here a while longer. It's a lazy day. A pajama day. And you look good in those."
"Well, thank you, Aster." Alexis looked at the floor. "Oh...I suppose I should clean all this mess up, huh?"
"Yyyyyeah," Aster said awkwardly. "Definitely clean that mess up. You go do that and I'll go book us our tickets to the movie."
"What show do you plan us to see?"
"Somewhere in the evening."
Alexis smirked. "Why do I get the feeling you just wanna hang here all day and do nothing until the movie starts? Well, I guess you're right. It's a pajama day. And these are really snug. Remind me to thank Brandi for these."
Alexis walked away. The pajamas she wore were the kind that had the buttoned flap on the backside. And Aster just didn't have the heart to tell her it was down.
"Yeah, I gotta thank her, too," he said.
Once the evening rolled in Aster and Alexis dressed into their coats and walked to the cinema, which was located by the pier. Despite Christmas was over, the city still sparkled with festive lights and jazzy Christmas songs still flowed like honey in the air, warming everyone's hearts with their soothing tunes. There was still lots of snow all over the ground, but the sidewalks were clear, as were the roads, already bloated with traffic. Aster went on to tell Alexis how lucky he was to have found a place to live with so many luxuries close by so he didn't have to drive. The movie theatre, the hospital, even the Colosseum, and his favorite restaurants, which he promised to take Alexis to after the movie.
"Don't eat too many sweets," he said. "You wouldn't want to spoil your appetite."
"Just a tub of popcorn?" Alexis asked as they walked toward the main entrance. "Come on. I'm buying."
"All right, all right," Aster groaned. "A tub of popcorn it is. Ugh, just don't ask them to put butter on it. The last time they did, my popcorn was soaked and unedible."
"I don't like too much butter on my popcorn either. Besides, this movie is like..." She checked her phone and searched the theatre app for the showing. "Two hours long! I'm sure I'll build an appetite once it's over."
Aster waited near the arcade as Alexis got in line and ordered her tub of popcorn. When she came back, he shook his head in disappointment, seeing that the tub came on a tray with nachos smothered in melted cheese, a large coke, and some candy. Alexis merely laughed at his expression. Aster face-palmed himself and led her to the theatre. They found their reserved seats located at just the perfect place to watch.
"Made it just in time for the previews," said Alexis, already scarfing down her popcorn. "Nachos?"
"No thanks," Aster said, eyes glued to the screens.
The theatre darkened and then ominous music of the first trailer rumbled on the speakers. KaibaCorp Films flashed in silver across the screen and then faded to show an aerial view of mountains.
"Did you ever believe you were something much greater?" asked a man with a Brooklyn accent. It then showed a shot of Joey Wheeler clad in black armor. He was sitting in a tavern talking to a young boy with a glowing green eye. "Ever have those thoughts where you know you're destined for so much more?"
The boy was now standing waist-deep in the surf of a beach at dawn. He looked up at the sky and then the screen faded to darkness. "You're from another world?" his voice said.
The people Termnnia...said a deep voice. (Alexis gasped in her throat) have chosen you to become their High King.
Why me? asked the boy.
The next scene was a close up of the Divine Beasts. The God Cards have spoken. They want you as their master. They heeded your call long ago.
BAM! BAM! BAM! Drums beat as brief images of Slifer, Obelisk, and Ra flashed on the screen. They flew over an army of terrible monsters. Obelisk is standing over a castle and roars as he holds out his arms in triumph while the land burns around him.
THIS DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE! The boy shouted as he walked back in forth in a palatial chamber.
Let me show you something! Said Seto Kaiba, formally dressed in a black and gold medieval doublet adorned with a giant gold Blue-Eyes White Dragon head biting down on his shoulder.
A shot of Serenity Wheeler holding up a torch and lighting up a beautiful platinum pendant glowing with colorful gems.
This is the Pendant of the Kings. The legendary artifact, which is said to contain the soul of Termnnia's mightiest warrior. The very soul who defeated the Dark Lord Anubis. Or so we thought.
What do you mean?
He has returned, Yuri. said Joey.
The camera zoomed in on the boy as he was standing alone in a forest, holding the pendant in his hands. They will seek you out. They will never stop hunting you.
A scene of horsemen in black galloping through neon-lit city streets in slow motion then appeared on the screen. No one knows I have it? No one knows it's here, do they? The boy turned around. Do they Yugi?
"What the f..." Alexis said when she saw The King of Games standing in front of a fireplace in the next shot.
Next Summer...
Assemble Termnnia's greatest warriors. They will aid the boy. Seven young men standing on a balcony were shown welcoming the main character. Go with him to the Pillar of Termnnia. There will you find the Divine Beasts. Awaken them and fulfill your destiny, Yuri.
The Journey Begins...
There's something out there! Yuri said.
Yuri...a dark and eery voice said. It then broke out laughing.
More clips of the movie showed with the choir of Mother Africa (Reprise) thundering as the soundtrack. There were clips of the boy and his seven companions surrounded by an army of knights in black with long lances. The generic clip of the characters jumping for ledges as they fell. There was a scene of a girl with black hair kissing a handsome young knight with a rose in his hands. A girl waving a staff conjuring powerful dragons. Yugi Muto conjuring Magician of Chaos in a dark cathedral with mosaic windows. Kaiba's Blue-Eyes White Dragon blasted Yuri and another Duelist, sending them flying backward. A raunchy clip of a young blonde seductress slipping off her robes, the scene flashing to a swordfight before any more of her body could be seen.
The names of all the best and most famous players in the world chosen to be in the film appeared in gold letters.
Yugi Muto
Seto Kaiba
Joey Wheeler
Maximillion Pegasus
Mai Valentine
Rex Raptor
Weevil Underwood
The final clip of the trailer showed the boy walking towards a golden pedestal where the three God Cards were laying in a glass case waiting for him.
Our lives rest on your shoulders, Yuri...
A Song from the Divines
The Exiled Prince
"They made that into a movie already?" Alexis said.
"Surprised?" Aster chuckled. "It's going to star only the world's best Duelists. Chazz got a role in the next one."
"No kidding?"
"And so did I."
Alexis's head swung in his direction so fast it was like a blur. "What? No! You?"
"I'd like you to be part of it, too," said Aster. "This project is kind of like the Expendables of the Duel Monsters world. They're going to need talented Duelists in the cast. I see your name up in gold in the credits one day. Wouldn't that be cool?"
"That would be cool but...I don't Duel anymore, Aster. It's a great idea, but I can't be a part of it. No way. There are too many mountains for me to climb just to have a good name. And after that more mountains just to make it to the top. And say I do make it to a big dueling league. What am I going to do? How am I going to get noticed enough for me to earn a championship?"
"It's a lot of work, I know, but you're a hard worker. You're someone who's incredibly motivated. There's a reason why they called you Queen in school, Alexis. You were a force to be reckoned with. You shouldn't let one creep keep you down like this. It gives him power and satisfaction. The satisfaction of knowing he's got you down in the dumps. Of knowing he's got you in the palm of his hand, suffering and flat out being miserable. Break free. Break free and prove him wrong. You can do it, Alexis. I know you can. I believe in you. If no one else out there does, rest assured I do. I truly mean it."
"Aster..."
"Don't say a word, Alexis. Let's just enjoy the movie tonight and then it's off to bed with you after dinner. You've got a duel tomorrow. Trust me, you're going to want to play against the opponent I've arranged for you."
Alexis found herself smiling. "You know something...you're right. I look forward to my match against this opponent you've got for me. You sure she can help?"
"She can give you a motivational ass-kicking but it's going to be up to you if you want to heed her advice or not."
"All right. And thank you Aster. Thanks for not giving up on me." It was a struggle, but she managed to lean over and kiss his cheek leaving him bewildered and...red.
"Yeah...don't mention it."
"I hope you don't mind but can we 86 the dinner tonight? I think we should just go home after the movie so I can get my sleep."
"That you should," said Aster. "See? You're already going in the right direction."