Chapter Three-Level One

Veronica looked in despair at the Log Bridge that separated her from the island she had to play on. "Oh boy….." She put a foot on the bridge, then backed up again. I know it's only illusion, but the fall would be real. I hate heights! There's no way I can cross this! But if I don't, I'll never be able to start, and if I don't start,I can't finish and get home! She took a deep breath, and allowed herself to step on the bridge again. She took a few cautious steps, clinging to the rope railing. She looked back to where Noa's virtual fortress was. It was gone! Had Noa abandoned her after all? She shook her head. I can't think about him right now. I have to focus on this! Besides, it's probably just my mind playing games. His fortress has to be there still. He lives there, after all. She brought her mind back to the task at hand, her heart pounding. One step at a time, she made her way out to the middle of the bridge. She didn't dare to look down. Below her was a long abyss of darkness, which Veronica was sure ended in sharp rocks.

Halfway across the bridge, it rocked violently, and the girl screamed. She looked to see what had rocked it, and found herself faced with the Thousand Dragon. "Uh….." She fumbled for the deck Noa had supplied her with. "Go away!" To her surprise, the dragon replied, just like a human would've.

"I don't think so."

"What…..How can you talk?!" She demanded her grip on the rope railing tightening so that her knuckles were white. "You're going to break the bridge!" She added, as the duel monster took another step.

"So? I won't die." The dragon replied, ignoring Veronica's first question.

"But I will!" Veronica turned and began to run, never letting go of her grip on the railing. She didn't see the monster return to the beginning of the bridge, and snap the rungs holding it in place. When he did so, the bridge swung away, sending her to her stomach, as she screamed in fear. She hit the island rock wall, still clinging to the railing. Oh no! I'm going to fail before I begin! There's no way I can climb up now!

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Noa was watching everything from his console, just like he'd promised. He chuckled in amusement when the duel monster bit the rungs off the bridge, sending Veronica across, forcing her to have to climb up. "She'll have to climb up, if she ever wants to go home. It would benefit her to learn that things are never what they seem here." He sipped his ice water, watching the girl struggle to hold on to the bridge. "Come on, Doll. Just notice how the bridge is sitting in that form! It's just like stairs!" He shook his head. He realized then that he would have a long four days in front of his computer. Ah well…. This is much more amusing. She has no idea what I have in store for her. She's going to have to work for that Key.

He continued to watch her. Finally, she seemed to realize the position of the bridge, and slowly ascended up the wall. Noa shook his head, thinking it had taken her too long. He snapped his fingers, and a tray of chips appeared in his lap. "Took you long enough, Doll. The fun has just begun, I'm afraid."

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Veronica stood up after she was sure her shaking legs would hold her up after that terrifying climb. She looked around her new environment. This looked nothing like the virtual world Seto and the others had dueled in. She wondered now if Noa had been planning this all out from the beginning. She wished she hadn't been so quick to accept his offer. But it really wasn't like he'd given her much of a choice. She couldn't go home without the Key, and she couldn't get the key just standing there! She slowly moved away from the bridge, and into the jungle ahead.

I wonder when I will meet my first opponent. Noa's already proved that this is going to be about more than dueling skills. I'll probably conquer a few fears along the way! I just hope there aren't any snakes around here. Veronica let her thoughts continue as she walked along what seemed to be a marked path. Soon enough, she found herself in an open field. She blinked in surprise. The jungle scene had changed so rapidly.

"Hello there, Veronica."

The girl turned around, and stared in astonishment at Onyx Madison. "What are you doing here, Onyx?!"

"I'm your first opponent, Little One." Onyx replied. Suddenly, a dueling platform rose from the ground.

Veronica gaped, and took her place in her podium. How had Noa known that one of her biggest fears was losing to Onyx in an important duel?

"What's the matter, Ronnie? You look like you're about faint." He smirked nastily. He was always totally different on the dueling field.

I can't do this, Noa! I can't duel him under this kind of pressure! She panicked silently. She pulled the pre-constructed deck out of her side pocket. She put them inside the duel disk, activating it automatically.

"You may go first." Onyx informed her, as he prepared his own deck.

Veronica nodded, and drew her cards. "I play Flame Swordsman in defense mode, and then I play a card face down."

"You never change, do you? You play the same opening every time we duel." Onyx shook his head, and drew his cards now. "I play Cyber Commander in attack mode to eliminate your Swordsman. Cyber Commander, attack!"

"I don't think so, Onyx! Reveal down card, Block Attack!"

Onyx growled. "Very good, Veronica. It seems you've finally learned something."

"Shut up." Veronica almost shouted angrily. She hated the way Onyx enjoyed intimidating her.

"It's your move." Onyx replied with a smirk.

"Oh really?" Veronica retorted sarcastically. "I summon Dark Magician to the field. Dark Magician, take out his Commander!" She grinned, watching the Commander fade away into nothingness. "If I'm not mistaken, I've just taken out a good chunk of your life points, Onyx."

"Try half of them." Onyx frowned at her. "Ronnie, we only get four hundred life points."

"What do you mean?! We're supposed to have four thousand!" Veronica stared at her duel disk now, in astonishment.

"This isn't your world, Little One. Noa makes his own rules. I draw."

Veronica was dumbfounded for a minute. If I hadn't had that magic card, I would've lost more than half of my life points in his first turn! In the next minute, she pulled herself together with a new realization. She could end this now. "Dark Magican, attack his life points directly!"

"No! No! There's no way you can beat me with that puny Magician!" Onyx exclaimed.

Veronica smirked. "I think I just did." She let out a sigh of relief. Then her eyes widened, as Onyx exploded into a thousand pieces. A hologram! I was afraid of losing to a hologram! I've really gotta keep my guard up around here. The dueling platform also dissipated, and she found herself alone once more. Well….one level down, two to go. I wonder what's next! Veronica found herself excited to continue. She picked up her backpack, and began to walk again. There was much more for her to discover about herself and this strange world.