Chapter 1

Well it's official, my life can't get any worse than this. Although if it somehow did, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. After all this inky black limbo I currently found myself floating in could be anywhere or anything.

Now if you're like me and wondering how I came to be in this dark and dreary wherever this was, than I'm sorry to disappoint you because I have no clue either. And for the record, no I did not do or touch anything strange, I was just packing some bags so I could go on vacation up north with the rest of my family and I'm here without so much as a poof, presto chango, or howdoyado.

"… ey! Aren't you-?" A mystery person spoke.

"Why don't you take this, something tells me it belongs with you." A familiar voice from my childhood cut through the oppressive darkness as if the very presence of its owner had demanded that instead of what was actually said.

"…"

"Good luck! Now if you'll excuse me, I think we both need to be somewhere."

"Oh, you're right! I'll be sure to make you proud!" The first voice exclaimed clearly this time.

"Now then, I think it's time you and I take a shortcut," As the voice said that the shadows suddenly shifted and cleared. I was standing in next to an all too familiar set of buildings with a stranger I both knew but didn't know. "After all, until I can make preparations to send you all back, you're stuck here." The man who would be Pharaoh smiled at me as he held out a duel disc and a backpack.

Needless to say, I was too stupefied to say anything.

"Well, run along now. I have every confidence that you'll make it in. But if I were you I'd talk to the chancellor before you do anything else."

"Um, right sure thing." I nodded dumbly as I turned and followed the future Sliffer Red ace towards the entrance exams.

"Hey! Are you on the list?"

"I sure am, now, if you'll excuse me, I'm running late." I responded to a man with a list of names and presumably test packets as I bolted past him.

"Hey wait! Stop right there!" The man shouted as he easily caught up to me and grabbed me by the shoulder.

"You wouldn't happen to be a walk-in now you?" The man questioned with an inscrutable look.

I nodded silently.

"Figures." The guy muttered. "Here, take these forms to the dueling fields and fill them out then give them to a Dr. Crowler. If he gives you any guff about needing to take the written exam, tell him to take it up with me. Got it?"

"Got it." I replied.

"Good, now, if for some reason you can't find the dueling fields, you should just follow the signs we put up for just that reason." The greeter finished.

"Thanks! Now, if you'll excuse me, I really have to get going." I said as I started to run back into the building.

It should be noted that the signs probably weren't necessary once you were inside the building since Duel Monsters is usually a very noisy game with a lot of explosions.

Boom!

Because of this, I was able to find the place I was looking for and fill out the forms the attendance taker gave me with enough time to see Crowler loose to a boy about my age.

Sadly, because of my perceived tardiness, I was being escorted directly to the aforementioned Dr. Crowler.

"What do you mean another one!?"

Needless to say, he wasn't pleased by my presence or that I hadn't taken the written test yet.

"Alright charity case, my name is Dr. Vellian Crowler and I will be your test proctor, now are you ready to duel?"

"As I'll ever be." I muttered once I figured out how to turn on my loaner duel disc and blushing furiously under the scrutiny of the crowd of students laughing it up at my expense the entire time.

"Alright then, if it's alright with you, I'll take the first move." My opponent said as we drew our starting hands. He grinned at me like the Mad Hatter.

"Well, it seems fortune certainly favors me this time." Crowler called from his side of the field. "Tell me, do you believe you have a good hand?" He continued.

My response was to silently stare at him from my end of the field.

"Ah well, it's not like it matters anyway, not with the hand I've been given. From my hand, I activate Polymerization and fuse my three monsters together to create my Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem!" My opponent exclaimed as everything myself included shook as it took to the field.

"Next I'll play Pot of Greed and draw two cards." He narrated for everyone who, like him, was too busy to notice my lack of experience with holograms.

"And it seems I'm graced again with just what I need, I equip my Ultimate Golem with 7 Complete and Machine Conversion Factory. Then I'll end."

"Alright my turn." I proclaimed as I drew my sixth card and looked at what I had to work with.

What I had was: Catapult Turtle, Threatening Roar, Card of Destruction, Pot of Greed, Rush Recklessly, and Black Pendant.

"I set a card." I proclaimed stoically, deciding that it was best to set Threatening Roar in case this didn't work.

"Next I activate Black Pendant and Rush Recklessly and apply them to your monster." Not bothering to look at my newly drawn card just yet."

"Now I'll activate my own Pot of Greed, I trust that I don't need to tell you what it does though."

"You have an awful lot of spunk for someone who's throwing in the towel, just what are you up to?" Crowler questioned.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" I fired back.

Now let's take a look at what we have here: Catapult Turtle, Card of Destruction, Card of Sanctity, and The Gates of Dark World.

"Next I'll play The Gates of Dark World followed by Card of Sanctity." I continued.

"Dark World eh, I suppose Card of Destruction is next than?" The good Doctor asked rhetorically as he refilled his hand.

The sad thing is that he was right even with three Cerulis and a Silva added to my hand I still wouldn't be able to do anything which meant it all came down to these next five cards.

"You know it." I retorted as I activated my spell forcing us both to draw new hands. This was followed immediately by me activating the effects of my three Cerulis and my Silva.

"Well, well, looks like you not only managed to special summon a monster to your side of the field but to clog mine as well; too bad that move won't win you this duel. Now can we please hurry this up!" Crowler started sounding quite bored until he decided to scream at me.

Thankfully I now had everything I needed to wrap this up.

"Well, if you're so insistent on losing again then, I'll continue by summoning Cannon Soldier and activating the spell card Fighting Spirit and equipping it to your Golem."

"Next I activate Monster Reborn to revive Catapult Turtle, then I'll use the spell card Soul Exchange to tribute your monster as if it were my own."

"I think everyone here knows what I'm about to do, so I'll give you one chance to surrender."

"Yes, well, I suppose you've earned the right to tour our illustrious academy at the very least;" Crowler spoke as he placed his hand on his chest much like he was about say the pledge of allegiance. "But you'll have to ride ahead with me and the other faculty working on the island, which is where you will take your written test, but keep in mind that should you fail than that's all it will end up being, do I make myself clear?" He continued.

"Of course, sir." I replied.

"Good. Now let's get going." Crowler said as he ushered me to the roof of the building where a large helicopter awaited.