Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Ah…it feels nice to say that after three months, but I suppose it shall soon get tiring again!
Happy Anniversary to me! I've been here for a year!
I'm back! After summer break spent in a hot, humid, and miserable place, I can finally return to the safety of my computer chair. I hope all of you have had a better summer than me, and are ready to read this new story. For those of you who have read some of my other Yu-Gi-Oh! stories, namely CinderSerenity, you will recognize the characters in this fanfic. All of their personalities should be the same, except for Svrion who is a lot nicer. For those of you who haven't read my other stories… then… I hope my writing style is to your liking.
Now… a little note about this story. It's set in a land where there are two kingdoms, Light and Dark. The attributes the residents of each kingdom have don't necessarily have to do with the kingdom they are in. That means Dark monsters can be in the Light kingdom, Light monsters in the Dark kingdom. Of course, almost all the characters and places in here are Duel Monsters cards. If there are any cards that I use that you don't know, feel free to ask me what they are and their effects.
Okay… time to start the story! Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Time for School!
It was a beautiful morning. The sun was just rising in the Light Kingdom, casting its rays into every little nook and cranny of the land. The yellow streams found their way into the bedroom of a certain blonde teenager sleeping so soundly that even the rays didn't disturb her as they crept over her delicate eyelids. But the alarm clock did.
It's sudden shrill ring nearly made the young girl jump to the ceiling. After a moment's panic, she rounded on the alarm clock with a snarl. However, her expression softened when she noted the calendar behind it.
"Oh my gosh! Today's the day! Today's the day! WHOO!" The sudden flight of the bright pink comforter signaled that the teenager had rushed to the bathroom.
It was no ordinary, dull Monday. It was the end of the holidays and the start of school for all the future Duel Monster warriors. When each resident of the Kingdom was sixteen, they would start their training to become the Duel Monster they were destined to be. For this certain girl, today was the special day.
Cyrrielle, or Cy as her friends called her, had awaited this day ever since she had seen her older siblings off to their own paths. Her older sister, Clarrisa, had now completed her training as a Magician of Faith, expert in healing. The next in line, Celton, was a year away from being an official Dark Magician. Cy was expected to be a Duel Monster that would be normally expected of a female. Perhaps a Mystical Elf – like her mother – a Magician of Faith, a Lady of Faith, a Spirit of the Harp, or a Forgiving Maiden. Anything but the occupation she chose…
A Dark Magician.
For days and months her parents pleaded with her to change her mind. Actually, her mother pleaded. Her dad yelled, stomped, and threatened. It was no surprise. It was okay for Celton to be a Dark Magician since he was a male. There were no female Dark Magicians in the land. Cy wondered, why not?
Because, Celton had retorted, girls weren't strong enough!
Again, Cy wondered, why not?
Because, Clarrisa had explained, it didn't seem like a female occupation!
Cy wondered, why not?
Because, Cy's mother had pleaded, I want you to be like me, a Mystical Elf. It isn't proper of you to be a Dark Magician.
Cy wondered yet again, Why not!
Because, threatened her father, I said so! Cy stopped wondering. She concluded her parents didn't want her to be different. So, Cy made up her mind. She would be a female Dark Magician, the first in her kingdom, and show her family.
That was why this day was so important. It was so important that Cy managed to brush her teeth and shower in less than half an hour. Then, she wore her new Dark Magician costume.
To her horror, it didn't fit. It wasn't made for a female body. It was way too long with shoulders that were way too wide. The waist was also too large, but the chest area was too tight. The helmet was shaped in a way that Cy couldn't wear a ponytail, braid, bun, or upturn. Her long, blonde hair had to fall freely on both sides of her shoulders. The boots were also a size to big, with no heels! Cy was too scared to look in the mirror.
I must look like an idiot! It was too late to do anything now. At least the color was nice. Purple looked pretty good. Perhaps another day, she could ask her mother to alter it a little. But for now, there was no time.
It was time for breakfast. Cy hurried out of her room to the stairs, tripping five times. As she climbed down, her helmet dropped into her eyes and her feet slipped in the new boots. She slid down the majority of the stairs. When she arrived in the kitchen, Clarrisa and Celton were already eating their breakfast. Cy's mother was pouring juice into several cups and Cy's father was reading the paper.
Celton was the first to look up and spot Cy. For the first few seconds he stared at her like she had just walked in wearing a rubber dragon suit. Then, he made a few gagging sounds before launching into laughter. Clarrisa had been alerted at this time and she added her quiet chuckle. Cy's dad gave a stern, disapproving look.
"You are an embarrassment to the family!" he announced.
"What is it, Neo dearest?" asked Cy's mom as she turned with full glasses of juice. Seeing Cy, she dropped two of them. "Oh…my…RA!"
"It's a tiny bit big…" Cy started.
"Understatement!" coughed Celton, quickly returning to his cereal. Cy glared at him.
"Well…honey…" Cy's mother started carefully. "You know…are you sure you want to do this? Teenagers are harsh these days. I don't know what they would do to you if you went to your first day of the Dark Magic class in that!"
"Mom's saying you look like a freak," Clarrisa explained. "You should either wear a bag over your head or not go at all."
"Clarri's right… you do look like a freak," Celton said.
"Cy, I deeply disapprove of what you are doing. You are disgracing our entire family. As the last child in this family to go to school, I believe you should follow the example others have set for you. Clarrisa has chosen a path that is very respectable for someone like her. Your mother is also in a good occupation. There are certain rules in society, Cy, and you have to follow them." After saying this, her father joined the other three in watching Cy to see her next move. She was leaning against the counter, arms folded and toe tapping.
"Now that you all are done with your comments," she hissed, "I can actually eat a decent breakfast. Society, rules, propriety… that's all everyone thinks about these days! Sometimes people have to break the bounds!" Cy angrily marched over to the table, yanked out a chair, and plopped into it. "I don't look that bad!" On cue, the helmet fell down to her nose. Cy's father was giving his special father-to-disobedient-daughter glare. Cy's mother picked this as the perfect time to intervene.
"Well, Neo, if Cy wants to do her own thing, then let her. Come; tell us about your day at work yesterday. You didn't return till midnight. What took so long?" Cy's father gave his youngest daughter one more stern look before turning to his wife.
"More spies, dear Mysti. Being a Magic Swordsman for the Light Kingdom these days is getting increasingly more difficult." Celton looked up from his cereal.
"Ooooooooo, are you telling us about your job? Keep going! I love this stuff! I wish I could have been a Magic Swordsman." Clarrisa reached over and picked up the newspaper from her dad. She glanced over the headlines.
"Hm… dad is right. There are many reports of war threats and spies… the king and queen have a lot on their hands."
"There might be a war?" Cy asked. Her father nodded gravely.
"We are afraid so… the Dark Kingdom is stirring. I believe a battle is approaching. I don't think there's much hope for any peace negotiations. The rulers of the other kingdom seem very intent on taking over our lands. For a long time the warriors have been idle. Their time has come." A silence fell over the table. Cy stirred her spoon in her cereal absent-mindedly. Finally, Clarrisa spoke up.
"If there is a war, all the warriors, magicians, and healers will be needed on the battlefield, right? Then… I would need to go too."
"You're right," Cy's father said. "And by that time, Celton will be graduating. I will have to go with him and your mother too. Cy will be the only one left. I believe she might have to go with the other students to safety. The war will tear apart many families if it does happen."
"Is there no possible way for it to be stopped?" queried Cy's mother. "For two centuries the animosity between the creatures of the Dark and Light kingdoms has been contained. It was because Jinzo and Cosmo Queen took the throne that this war has suddenly come up. It hasn't even been a year that they have been in power and the battle is brewing."
"That's right," Cy's father said. "They have started all this. However, it doesn't matter. What matters is that we have to be prepared at any cost. I don't think it can be stopped."
"Did you capture any spies lately?" Celton questioned.
"Yes. In fact, just yesterday we found a band of Dragon Master Knights in the forest." Clarrisa and her mother gasped.
"They are planning to unleash the Dragons?" Clarrisa cried. "How dreadful. Our kingdom will be left in ruins."
"There have been many bands of these men. We even found some Lord of Dragons among them. We have to take extra precautions lately. All roads between the Dark and Light kingdoms have been shut off. Communication between them is strictly forbidden. All people living near the border are being forced to move back. There are many patrols running through the forest. And, all our warriors are getting ready."
"It's a good thing we are doing all this," Cy said. "Or else, the Dark Warriors would have already been upon us."
"Yep." Cy's father leaned back and put his hand to his chin. "We are also monitoring the air using Winged Dragons and all of Harpie Ladies' Pet Dragons. However, underground still concerns me. The Dark has many creatures that can burrow in the ground. That's our one weakness."
"Do we have any spies? As in, did we send anybody to the Dark kingdom."
"Yes, Mysti, we have. Where else do we get all this information? We usually send Dark Magicians out in black robes. Plus, there are one or two people in the Dark kingdom who are actually against the king and queen. They help us sometimes." The table turned silent again. Cy turned to look at the clock.
"Well, it's getting late. I'll never make it to school on time if I don't start now."
"Uh, Cy," Clarrisa pointed out. "There's still an hour left."
"I know, but my dress is too long and the helmet keeps dropping. Trust me, it's a long process." Cy finished her breakfast. Then, picking up her Book of Secret Arts, she said her good-bye and went out the door. And tripped.
"Today's going to be quite a challenge."