WARNING: This chapter is the start of many LONG duels. May become boring if uninterested in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Game. Please bear with me; I am trying to make it more interesting. Cards used may or may not exist, I made up some used by Nabe. ^_^

Silver Dragon: YAY!!!!!!! Reviews!! THANK-YOU SO MUCH for taking time to read my story Sarah and SDrive. I will use all tips to further my writing abilities.

Devil's Wyrm: Woo hoo. A review. And you mean OUR story and writing abilities, right?

SilverD: Yes, yes, of course. How could I forget you Mr. Pessimist? Without your "help" this story would have never got off the ground.

DWyrm: Uh huh. Speaking of which, let's get on with it before the readers fall asleep.

SilverD: OK, OK. The plot is really starting to heat up. Nabe is getting to know the gang while Sebak is still plotting, when will he make a move? For those confused, the story starts just before the Battle City Tournament begins. ^_^

DWyrm: We hope you'll enjoy. R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!, the show or card game. I am just borrowing them for the amusement of myself and anyone else who care to read this.

/ . . . \ : Nabe mind speaking to Sebak.

//. . . \\ : Sebak mind speaking.

(. . . ) : Yugi mind speaking to Yami.

((. . . )) : Yami mind speaking.

+ . . .+: Dreams, visions

' . . .': Speaking to self.

*: Original cards.

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Ch.3 After School Duel

+Pain. Excruciating, burning, blood-boiling pain. Then nothing, no pain, no feeling, no body at all; just a spirit.+ 'Foolish pharaoh, he should have never opposed ME! Me, the most powerful being over all! And the pharaoh dare fight me; defeat me! Well, I will strike back; beat him at his own game! That stuck up, self-righteous, son of Ra probably does not realize who I am, if he even knows I am here. Yami WILL fall! If it costs me my meager existence he will taste the Shadow Realm!'

Sebak's rant went unheard. His vessel was in chemistry, paying close attention, and gave him no heed. Annoyed, the spirit turned his attention to Yugi. Using his powers, Sebak opened a window to the outside in his soul chamber and proceeded to watch the younger teen. 'I have to learn as much as I can before I initiate my plans.'

Though his intentions were for the better, Sebak underestimated Yami's power. Sitting as his desk, Yugi had no idea the evil spirit was watching, but Yami did. As he was wondering his soul room, the ancient pharaoh felt a familiar power near by. Peering into the outside world, just as Sebak was doing, Yami searched for the source. He almost caught the dragon in the open, but the bell rang. Not able to be separate from his host, Sebak was forced to close the window, disgusted at his dependence on the teen. Through this minor encounter, he learned one important thing: Yami is more powerful then he seems. 'I must be more careful next time,' mused the old beast, 'That shrouded crocodile is very perceptive.'

Throughout the school day, Sebak paced in his chamber, trying to find a way to learn more about this new world. 'I cannot just take control, not yet. I must observe and learn.' Meanwhile, Nabe had survived another day and was walking to the Muto's Game shop. Yugi had invited him over for a study session with the gang. The older teen was quickly becoming good friends with them. Together the team finished all their homework and studies. Looking for something to do, Tristan prodded Nabe about his earlier after the duel.

"Yeah Nabe," interjected Joey, "Ya said your a duelist. You any good?"

"Well...I guess so."

"Do you have your deck?" questioned Ryou, "I would love to see you duel."

"Actually," the muscular teen coolly replied, running a hand through his night black hair, "I did bring it."

"That's great!" exclaimed Yugi, "You want to duel me?"

"Sure, let me see just how good the Duelist Kingdom champ really is."

Tristan cleared a table while the others placed chairs around it. Nabe and Yugi sat opposite each other with the gang sitting around the table. Bringing out their decks, the two began.

"You can go first," started Yugi, "How does 4000 life points a piece sound?"

"All right," replied Nabe, glancing down at his hand, "I place two cards face down and set a monster in defense mode; your move."

"Right," Yugi said, worried at what could be hiding, "I'll place one card face down and set a monster too."

In his soul room, Sebak sensed the pharaoh's aura close by. Curious, he looked through Nabe's expressionless face to find his vessel dueling with the pharaoh's. Interested in this game based on his ancient brethren, the spirit continued to watch.

Meanwhile, the duel was at a standoff, each player had gone through another turn the field did not look good for either side. Yugi had two facedown cards and two set monster; Nabe had three facedown cards and two set monsters a well. It was Nabe's turn.

'This is not good,' he thought, 'unless I draw the right card, this waiting will continue.' Nabe drew. 'YES! Burned Offering*! This face-off is over!'
"I'm sorry Yugi," he finally vocalized, "but I have to cut this staring contest short. First I flip one of my facedown cards; it is Firefly*. Firefly's effect makes you flip all your monsters without activating flip-effects."

Yugi reluctantly complied, exposing Giant Soldier of Stone and Gamma the Magnet Warrior.

"Next I'll activate one of my facedown cards, Final Flame, which gives you 600 points of direct damage."

"Not so fast," Yugi retorted, "I activate Magic Jammer to negate your card."

"Yes, I was expecting that, so now I activate another of my facedown cards, Mystical Space Typhoon and use it to destroy your remaining facedown card."

"Geeze Yug," Joey said, "You gonna let him slap you around like that?"

Ignoring his friend, Yugi said, "Are you done yet?"

"Not quite, now I play Burned Offering and sacrifice my Firefly to wipe out your defense monsters. But that's not the end; I sacrifice my set monster to summon my Flame Cerebrus with which I will attack your life points directly with its 2100 attack. That ends my turn."

"Wow," stammered Yugi, "that was a great move. You took out over half my life points."

"Yeah, he totally stomped you," added Tristan.

"Wicked move Nabe," said Ryou.

"Keep it up," quipped Tea, "and you just might win."

"Thank-you everybody," said Nabe, "but really, it's just luck."

"Luck shmuck," grumbled Joey, "Yugi's the master of jumpin' up from behind; besides, he's got the Heart of the Cards."

"He has what? Oh, never mind; whatever you say Joe," Nabe replied. "Go ahead Yugi, it's your turn."

"Yes, yes, I'm going," Yugi said as he drew. 'Hmm, I have a problem. I don't have any good defensive monsters in my hand strong enough to repel that Flame Cerebrus's attack. I hope I drew something helpful.' He looked at the card. 'It's Mind Control! With this I can take that monster and put a serious dent in his life points. Or better yet, I can sacrifice it for my Summoned Skull.' Yugi was about to act when Yami spoke. ((Yugi, be careful.))

(Huh? Why, am I forgetting something?)

((Yes, Nabe's facedown card. It could be a trap.))

(Oh, I almost forgot, thanks Yami.)

((Be aware of your opponent's cards Yugi, we cannot make a mistake like that in Battle City.))

Rethinking his strategy, Yugi instead placed two cards facedown and set a monster.

"Don't have anything strong enough to attack, eh?" teased Nabe. "I'm sure you'll find something. For now, I will summon Fire Drake*. Then I attack your set monster with Flame Cerebrus."

The small hand flipped over the card, revealing Griffore, which he then placed in the graveyard.

"Oh, to bad Yugi, 'cause now I attack your life points directly with Fire Drake."

"Sorry, but I won't let you, I activate my facedown card Waboku, which negates Fire Drake's attack."

"All right, that's it for me, your move," finished Nabe, stretching his shoulders.

Yugi looked into his opponent's face, into his eyes, trying to glean a clue to his facedown card's identity. Failing to penetrate Nabe's stony features, the pharaoh's keeper drew and found a way out of his predicament. With an I-told-you-so look, he played Swords of Revealing Light. Yugi motioned for Nabe to go.

"Ha, you see," piped Joey, "Yugi always finds a way."

"So I see," replied Nabe, "there's nothing I can do; I pass."

"Suit yourself, I summon Beta the Magnet Warrior," said Yugi.

"And I destroy it with my facedown card Trap Hole," countered Nabe.

"Fine, I'm through."

//You foolish vessel, can you not see you are playing right into his hands. \\

"Now I place one card facedown and end my turn," spoke Nabe, ignoring the warning.

'I don't know what that new facedown card is,' thought Yugi, 'but this is the best chance I have.' "I play my facedown card Mind Control so I can use your Flame Cerebrus this turn."

"Go ahead and attack me," said Nabe, "it will be mine next turn anyway."

"No I have a better use for it, I sacrifice it for my Summoned Skull. Now I attack your Fire Drake with it instead of your Flame Cerebrus. Your turn," finished Yugi.

"Err, you took out 900 of my life points," grumbled Nabe, "I set a monster; go."

"I will attack your set monster with Skull."

"It's Guardian of the Embers*, I activate my facedown card Castle Walls to increase its 2000 defense points to 2500, enough to deflect your Skull's attack."

"That's it for me," ended Yugi.

"I set another monster, that is all."

"I summon the Celtic Guardian. Then I destroy your Guardian with Skull and attack your set monster with Celtic Guardian."

"My set monster is Lady Assailant of Flames which gets destroyed, but its flip effect allows me to take the top three cards from my deck to inflict 800 direct damage to you."

"Very well, your move."
"I set another monster and one card facedown; your turn."

"Now I summon Gazelle King of Mythical Beasts and attack with it."

"Stop, I negate your attack with Negate Attack."

"Fine, I'm through."

"I pass this turn," mumbled Nabe.

"Okay, I attack your set monster with Celtic Guardian."

"My set monster is Seed or Fire* which allows me to special summon a fire monster from my deck to the field when attacked. I choose Rainbow Phoenix* and put it in defense mode."

"Fair enough, I'll just destroy it with my Summoned Skull and since that was your last defense I will also attack your life points directly with Gazelle."

Joey, of course, was the first to break the audience's silence, "Some luck, huh Nabe. Maybe if you believed in the Heart of the Cards like me and Yug you'd be doin' better."

"Shut up Joe," murmured Nabe, "I set a monster. That is all."

//Last ditch effort, eh vessel. You are so pitiful. \\

"I will go for my classic finisher," said Yugi, "I sacrifice Gazelle and Celtic Guardian for my Dark Magician. Next I attack your set card with Skull."

Nabe flipped it over slowly, showing a weak Fireyarou card.

"Then I attack your remaining life points with Dark Magician. Looks like I win."

"Yeah, yeah I know," said Nabe. "Good duel, I can see why you're the Duelist Kingdom champion now."

"Don't sweat it Nabe," but in Joey again, "you're a pretty fair duelist too."

"Thanks Joe, my luck just ran out, that's all."

"That's not true," said Yugi, "just believe in yourself and in your cards and your deck will come through for you, that is the Heart of the Cards."

" 'Heart of the Cards' huh, I had better look into that if I'm to enter the Battle City Tournament." "You're going to enter? So am I!"

"Really? Then I'm going to have to watch my back."

"I'm gonna enter too," boasted Joey, "second place at Duelist Kingdom, I hafta enter."

"Is anyone else here going to enter also?" asked Nabe, "I would like to know."

"Nah, they're the only big duelists here," said Tristan.

"Ok, just making sure," replied Nabe, looking down at his watch, "I'd better get home, my little brother must be getting hungry."

"See you this weekend!" they all yelled back.

Nabe waved to them as he walked down the street. The setting sun reflected off something into Yugi's eyes. Momentarily disoriented, he blinked a couple times. When he looked back Nabe was already far down the road. 'What was that?' he thought to himself as he helped close up shop for the night. Later as he lay in bed he recalled the flash of gold he had seen on Nabe's wrist. In the flash of light he caught only a fleeting glimpse of the bracelet. He sat up suddenly, the sheets falling away from him. The band of gold had the Millennium symbol on it.

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SilverD: Phew, long duel. I hope you liked it. If you didn't, please tell me why.

DWyrm: Sorry about the wait, this duel was very hard to write.

SilverD: What do you think about the ending? Pretty sudden, huh. If you have any ideas, suggestions, comments, or any other help, feel free to review.

DWrym: We'll take flames too, if that is what you feel you must say.

SilverD: Lots of thanks to the reviewers:

Sarah- Thanks for the advice; I used it. Tell me more.

Sdrive- I'm glad you enjoyed it. About the senior freshman thing, I kind have lost track on what grade he is supposed to me in. I think I have settled on sophomore but he takes some classes with the freshman too. I have to do the same thing so it does happen. Don't worry, I didn't flunk any classes I just switched schools.

DWyrm: I'm hoping for some REAL action when Battle City starts. Keep reviewing and we'll keep writing. So many possibilities. . . . .

Original Cards:

Firefly- level 3, fire attribute, insect type, 600 ATK, 1200 DEF, Effect= Flip: Flip over all opponent's monsters; flip-effects not activated.

Burned Offering- Sacrifice one fire monster to destroy all opponent's Magic/Trap cards, add 2000 life points to yourself, or destroy two opponent's monsters.

Fire Drake- level 4, fire attribute, dragon type, 1600 ATK, 1000 DEF

Guardian of Embers- level 4, fire attribute, rock type, 1500 ATK, 2000 DEF

Seed of Fire- level 2, fire attribute, pyro type, 1000 ATK and DEF, Effect= If attacked, you can special summon one fire monster from your deck. It face-up on your side of the field during your Stand-by Phase, you can sacrifice it to special summon one fire monster level 5 or higher.

Rainbow Phoenix- level 4, wind attribute, pyro type, 1500 ATK, 1800 DEF

(Any similarities between my original cards and existing ones is purely coincidental.)

^_^ ^;;^