The Gambler and The Cold-Hearted Father
Another perfect day was starting over Academy Island. The morning sun was shining brightly, the water was sparkling and the grass was perfectly green. Over at the Obelisk girl's dorm, its residents were getting out of bed, preparing themselves for what seemed like it would be an ordinary day. It's been two days since everyone celebrated the Duel Monsters Spirit Day, and nothing crazy occurred ever since.
In her own room, Jenny Siegrain just got out of her bathroom, with nothing more than a towel covering her body. Meaning she just showered. As she was about to get dressed, she turned to the table next her bed, where a light-blue cellphone was ringing. Wondering about who would be calling this time of the day, she walked over to the table, picked up the phone and answered. "Hello?"
"Hey, Jenny." A feminine voice spoke up on the other end of the line. "How are you doing?"
"Oh, hey mom." She replied. "I'm pretty fine."
"That's good to know. Look, I called you because... I've got some bad news."
"What is it?" Jenny frowned curiously as she sat down on her bed.
"It's about your father."
Jenny flinched at those words.
"I know things haven't been so good with him, what with we split apart over a year ago. However, last week, we sorted out most of the particulars... except for one thing."
"... Is it... me...?" Jenny asked hesitantly.
Leila sighed. "I'm afraid so. Even though you've stopped living with him since he and I split apart, he's still determined to make you join his family business. I tried to convince him to drop it, but he won't listen."
"That's..." Jenny trailed off, feeling her anger building up.
"And that's not all... if your father manages to win this, he has all intentions to force you out of Duel Academy."
"What!?" Jenny gasped in horror. "No way! He can't just... isn't there anything you can do!? I don't want to leave Duel Academy, and there's no way I'm gonna live with that... that... monster again!"
"Well... there is one thing."
"What is it?"
"Your father and I have come to a possible agreement of sorts. I'm actually coming over to Duel Academy later in the day to discuss this with him and Chancellor Sheppard."
"... Okay. I'll see you then." And with that, she hung up, putting her phone away and covered her face with her hands, feeling like she was about to cry.
Later in the day, after having finished their classes, the students started to leave the classroom. Andrew just got out of the classroom when he saw Jenny a bit away. "Hey, Jenny!" He called out with a smile. "Do you want to hang out a bit?"
When she turned to face him, he was surprised to see the sad expression on her face. "I'm sorry Andrew, but I need to be somewhere else."
"What's wrong?" He asked, concerned.
"Nothing. Just something important to talk about with the Chancellor." At that, she walked away, fast.
"Jenny." Andrew muttered, looking at her retreating form.
And right behind him, Alexis witnessed the scene, and was concerned as well.
Not so long afterwards, Jenny arrived in the Chancellor's office, where the Chancellor himself was sitting at his desk. Accompanying him were two women. One of them had grey eyes and black hair held together in a bun on the back of her head. She was wearing a pair of glasses and a black business suit. This was Mira Kageyama, Michael's mom.
The other woman had sapphire blue eyes and long, light-blue hair. She was wearing a white bluish t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. This was Leila Siegrain, Jenny's mom. "Hey, Jenny." She greeted in a kind tone.
"Hi mom." She replied in a low tone.
"Are you going to be alright?" Leila asked with concern visible on her face.
"Don't worry, I'l be fine." Jenny assured her before glancing around. She noticed that a certain someone was missing. "Where's my father?" She asked Sheppard. "I thought he was going to be here and discuss about this thing."
"Actually, he'll be coming online in just a moment." Sheppard replied, pointing to the television screen hung up on the wall.
A moment later, the screen showed the image of a man with short black hair and a mustache. Like Mira, he was wearing a black business suit, complete with a white shirt and a black tie. He had a stern, no-nonsense look on his face, showing that he meant business. Serious business! "Hello... Leila." He said with a touch of contempt, addressing the blue-haired woman.
"Hello, Wyatt." She replied with a flat tone in her voice, obviously not too happy to see her ex-husband again.
"Hello, Jenny." He turned to the Obelisk Blue girl, looking at her with a similar expression of contempt.
"It's been a long time... Wyatt." Jenny spat out, not happy to see him either.
"Instead of calling me 'father', you're using my name instead?" He noted with a sneer. "So you still haven't learned some manners yet?"
"Like you have any right to teach me some manners!"
By clearing his throat, Sheppard interrupted the father and daughter. "Settle down. I believe it's about time we turn our attention towards the issue at hand."
"Indeed." Mira agreed as she picked up some papers and glanced. "Now then, despite of Ms. Siegrain and Mr. Barnes' divorce already being in effect, the issue of Jenny's custody has not yet been solved. And from what I've learned, Ms. Siegrain had been living away from her ex-husband for over a year now, with Jenny having chosen to stay with her since then. And not just that. Jenny even changed her last name from Barnes to Siegrain..."
"But that doesn't change the fact the she's not legally under Leila's care only." Jenny's father interrupted. "And I will have her leave Duel Academy behind and work with me."
"Not gonna happen!" Jenny snapped.
"Mr. Barnes, Jenny is one of the finest students here at the academy." Sheppard said. "And given that the issue of which of you get custody over her has not been resolved yet, she will continue to remain a student here. However, it appears that we're not any closer to resolving this problem now than we were before."
"Indeed. In case we would come to this, I had an idea that should solve this matter." Wyatt proposed. "Since Jenny likes dueling so much, I believe a duel should be in order."
"A duel?" Jenny repeated. "What exactly are you up to? As far as I know, you've never dueled once your entire life."
"I was getting to that. I never said that I was going to duel you. I'll find someone capable enough to be your opponent. Feeling up the challenge?"
"Fine! I'll do it."
"Very well." Leila spoke up. "If your duelist wins, you'll gain custody over Jenny. But, if Jenny wins, not only get I sole custody over her, but you'll leave her alone and never try anything like this again."
"So be it." Mr. Barnes nodded.
"In that case..." Sheppard spoke up. "Let's have the duel tomorrow afternoon. If that's okay with you, that is." He turned to Mr. Barnes.
"Yes. Tomorrow it is then. Good day." And with that said, the screen turned blank again.
"I can't believe he would be this stubborn." Jenny muttered, very upset.
"It's okay, Jenny." her mother reassured her. "I'm sure you'll be alright. I know you can win this."
"Yeah..." She said, not as enthusiastic, as she started to walk out. "If you don't mind, I need to be alone for a bit."
Leila nodded as she watched her daughter leave the room.
"I wonder what's wrong?" Andrew said. After watching Jenny heading to the Chancellor's office, Andrew and Alexis sat on one of the school's stairways, worrying about the fairy duelist. There, they met up with Michael, Shiori and Matt. "I've never seen Jenny look so sad before."
"Man, that doesn't sound good." Shiori said.
"What could have happened?" Matt wondered.
"Alexis, you and Jenny have known each other since you were kids." Michael turned to the blonde Obelisk girl. "Do you know what the problem is."
She shook her head. "I don't know. She's been like this since the morning. I asked her what was wrong, but she insisted that she was fine. I'm really worried."
Andrew sighed. "Just what is going, Jenny?"
"Is that you, Andrew?" A feminine voice asked. The students looked in the direction it came from and saw Marie and Mira standing at the bottom of the stairs.
"Leila?" Andrew blinked.
Michael stood up. "Mom?"
Mira smiled to him. "It's been a while, Michael."
"What are you two doing all the way here?" Shiori asked.
Leila hesitated for a moment before answering. "We came here because of an issue that involved Jenny."
"Jenny?" Now it was Andrew's turn to stand up. "What's the issue. From what I've heard, she's been depressed since the morning. Just what happened?"
Leila sighed. "How about we go sit down somewhere, then I'll explain everything to you."
Not too long afterwards, the academy students, along with Leila and Mira, were all sitting at a table in the Ra Yellow dorm's cafeteria. There were only a few other students sitting elsewhere in the same room, and none of them were close enough to the small group to overhear their words. "Now then... first I'm gonna tell you a little about Jenny's father."
"Her father?" Andrew repeated.
Leila nodded. "He's a really wealthy man. He owns chain restaurants, clothe stores and also a huge computer company."
"Wow! He might be wealthier than my dad." Michael commented.
Leila sighed. "Unfortunately, all the wealth started to get more important to him, than me and Jenny."
Flashback
"It was a time that he smiled and showed some love and care. For me and Jenny both."
Out in a park, Mr. Barnes and Mira were standing near a pond, with the (ex)husband having one arm wrapped around her. And then, a younger Jenny wearing a blue summer dress ran up to them and hug them both. Her father smiled and patted her head, much to her joy.
"But overtime, from when Jenny was about 11 years old, he started to care about his businesses more than his own family."
An eleven year old Jenny got out of her bed room and saw her father passing. She smiled. "Hey dad! Do you want to..."
But she couldn't finish her sentence as she reached her hand out, which her father shoved away. "I don't have time, Jenny. I have business to attend to." He said coldly and walked away. Jenny watched his retreating form with a hurt look.
Flashback end
"And we started to drift apart from that point." Leila said.
"Poor Jenny." Alexis said with a frown.
"That's just awful." Shiori added.
"Indeed." Mira agreed.
"It wasn't all too serious back then." Leila continued. "But as the years passed, it got progressively worse. One of the main issues is that he wanted her to go into business like him, but she was not interested at all. She was more interested in Duel Monsters. She started to get more and more into the game to the point that she wanted to attend Duel Academy." Leila lowered her head. "Of course, her father wasn't pleased by that idea."
"Well that's really bad." Matt said.
"Worse than you think..."
Flashback
"Absolutely not!" Mr. Barnes said strictly. He was standing in front of a desk in his office. There, he was talking to Jenny, who was dressed in a light-blue blouse and a white skirt. "You are supposed to join my business, not play some stupid game!"
"Duel Monsters is not stupid! It's the greatest game in the world!" Jenny protested angrily. "And I told you many times that I have NO interest in joining you! I'm going to attend Duel Academy, and you have no right to stop me...!"
SLAP!
Just as she finished that sentence, Jenny found herself down on the floor, holding her left cheek that was now red. She then turned to her sneering father who slapped her.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that, young lady! I won't allow you to keep up with this childish nonsense!"
Flashback end
The academy students gasped after hearing this. Mira looked disturbed.
And Andrew started to get angry. "He really did that? That heartless..."
"Yeah, I agree." Leila said sourly before he could finish. "I arrived just in time to witness that scene. And that was the last straw for me..."
Flashback
"As I was saying, you're gonna give up Duel Monsters!" Mr. Barnes continued. "You're gonna work with me and..."
"That's enough, Wyatt!"
He turned and saw Leila enter the office, giving him a really angry glare.
"Leila? When did you..."
"I can't believe that you could do that to our own daughter! Just what is wrong with you!?"
Mr. Barnes started to get annoyed. "This is none of your business, Leila! I was about to..."
"Save it! I don't want to hear another word from you!" Leila interrupted. She then approached Jenny and helped her up. "Are you okay?"
"I-Im fine." She muttered.
Leila nodded as she led her out of the office.
Mr. Barnes wouldn't have it. "Hey! Where do you think you're going!? I'm not through with..." But as he reached out with his right hand...
SLAP!
Leila slapped it and gave him one more glare, surprising him a bit. "Yes, you are! In fact, I'm through with you and your unfair treatment towards Jenny." She then left the office with her daughter, but not without saying one last thing. "It's over."
Flashback end
"And a few days later, we moved out and left my ex-husband. Since then, Jenny and I have been living far away from him for over a year." Leila said.
"Damn." Michael muttered.
Andrew frowned. 'Poor Jenny. I remember that she didn't feel comfortable when I asked her about her father when we first met. No wonder why.'
"Anyway..." Leila continued. "A week ago, the divorce was made official, but he's still clinging to the idea that he can force Jenny to do what he wants."
"That's not fair!" Matt said.
"Isn't there anything you can do about it?" Michael asked before turning to his mother. "What about you, mom? You're the best lawyer we know. Can't you help Jenny get out of this situation?"
Mira sighed. "I may be one of the best lawyers in the world. Unfortunately, Mr. Barnes is rich enough to have a handful of private lawyers at his beck and call. They're so good that even I can have some difficulties. I'm afraid that he's more than capable enough to put pressure towards gaining custody over Jenny."
"Not to mention pulling her out of Duel Academy and force her away from everything she cares for." Leila added.
"This is awful." Alexis said in disbelief.
"Isn't there any way she can get out of this?" Shiori asked.
"Well, there is still hope." Leila said, getting the students' full attention. "Jenny's father and I agreed to let Jenny duel someone tomorrow. If she wins, then she'll stay here, and I gain custody over her."
"So it all comes down to one duel, huh?" Michael noted.
"I know she can win." Alexis said determinedly. "She's strong."
"Very." Andrew nodded, before he stood up and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Shiori asked.
"There's someone I need to find." Was all he said before he left the room.
"Who could that be?" Matt wondered.
Alexis smiled softly. "I think I have a pretty good idea."
After walking around for a while, Jenny stopped when she arrived at the beach. The spot she stayed at was a bit away from a shack. The very same shack where she and Andrew spent some time together on the day they first met.
"It all started here." She muttered, sitting down on the ground, with her arms wrapped around her legs. "When I first met Andrew." She leaned her head against her knees as her memories of her and Andrew together flashed in her mind. "And there's also my other friends." And then, the memories of Alexis, Jaden all the others flashed through her mind.
And then, she bit her lower lip as the image of her sneering father appeared in her mind. And then, she started to cry. "Why? Why can't he understand?"
"Jenny?"
She looked up upon hearing the new voice. Her eyes widened when she saw Andrew approaching her with a concerned look on his face. "Andrew." She quickly wiped her eyes clean. "Why are you here?"
"... I ran into your mom earlier."
The fairy duelist looked down. "She told you everything, didn't she."
"Yeah... about your father." He sat down next to her. "I had no idea you've been through something so awful."
"Yeah. He used to show some love to me. And my mom for that matter. But over the years, he changed. Focusing more on his businesses without caring about our feelings." She started to tremble. "And now... he wants to force me out of Duel Academy and make me join his work. That jerk..." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't want to abandon this school. I don't want to abandon my friends. I don't want to abandon mom. I... don't want to abandon you!"
Andrew couldn't take her current state, so he wrapped his arms around her, comforting her. "It's okay, Jenny. Everyone's here for you. I'm here for you. I've heard that you have to win a duel in order to get your father off your back, right?" Jenny didn't say anything. She merely nodded. "Well I know you can win... no, you will win. We dueled each other before and I've watched your other duels. You're as skilled as you're beautiful." That caused her to face him. Andrew smiled and used his thumbs to wipe out her tears. "No matter who your opponent is, you have everyone's support. You have my support."
Jenny stared into his eyes for a moment before she smiled softly. "Thanks Andrew." She then hugged him.
Which he returned. "Anything for you."
They stayed like this for a minute before Jenny spoke up. "Hey... Andrew?"
"Yes?"
"Can I... ask you for a favor."
Unbeknownst to the couple, Alexis and Jenny's mom, Leila, were standing nearby and watched the scene with smiles on their faces.
Later that night, as stars blanketed the night sky, a cruise ship sailed across the sea, light dotting the sides, showing occupied rooms. There was one particular room where three men were sitting at a table and played a card game, and three lovely ladies sat on a couch nearby. But the thing was... this was a poker game instead of Duel Monsters.
"I call." One of the players said, a burly man with slicked dark hair laid his hand onto the table. All of his cards were the suit of hearts. "Read 'em and weep.
His opponent, a young man with brown hair and square glasses, wearing a white suit looked at those cards.
The burly man chuckled. "Looks like finally, The Gambler has lost at something." He began to pull a large pile of poker chips.
"Not quite, mon ami." The young man said in a French accent and tossed a red handkerchief onto the pile of chips. He then spread out his own hand, which turned out to be a royal flush, much to the burly man's surprise. "I win again, no?"
The ladies on the couch gasped due to the fact that this Gambler won another game.
Sometime after his win, the Gambler stood out on the deck, leaning on the railing, looking out at the vast sea. A soft noise and the sound of footsteps made him turn slightly.
"That was well played in there." It was his opponent from the match. The burly walked up to his side, looking out at the sea. "I doubt I have ever seen a better gambler. Congratulations."
"Merci." The brunetter replied.
"But, my friend, if you want a true challenge, check out that island on our port side." The burly man pointed to a large island in the distance. "It happens to be the most famous dueling school on the planet. Home of the very best of the best."
"Duel Academy?" The brunette glanced at the man, smiling. "Well, au revoir."
"And just where are you going?"
"Where else?"
A short time later, the burly man was surprised to see the brunette driving a jet ski, heading straight to the Academy island.
'Finally, the opportunity to challenge the only person who's gotten the best of me. Duel Academy, prepare yourself for The Gambler!'
At a cliff over the ocean, Jaden was just sitting around and taking in the night air.
"Hi Jaden."
He turned and saw Alexis walking up to him. "Alexis?"
"Sy said you'd be here, so what's up or am I interrupting? I mean, if you're busy..."
"You know, I could use a friendly face, Lex. I just thought it might be nice to take a breather with all this saving the world and Shadow Rider stuff that's going on."
Alexis sat right next to him. "Listen, if you ever need... someone to... what I'm trying to say is..." She hesitantly. "No, never mind. Has there been any news about Professor Banner?"
"None that I've heard... unless that's him now!" Jaden saw a jet ski approach the beach below.
A little later, in the Chancellor's office, Sheppard and Dr. Crowler were confronted by the Gambler.
"Would you please care to repeat that?" Crowler said, wanting to make sure that he heard what the young man said.
"I want to duel your school's bon student: Alexis Rhodes."
"And why should we agree?"
"Because..." The young man trailed off as he pulled out a card from his suit and handed it Crowler.
The teacher took the card and raised an eyebrow at the words scrawled on it. "The Gambler...? What is this?"
"It is my... nom de voyage, Monsieur. And I... always get what I desire. So, where is she?"
Sheppard cleared his throat. "Listen, my school is not a gambling parlor. I don't care who you are on the outside, but when you come here to my academy, you obey my rules, got it?"
"Monsieur," The Gambler placed a hand on Sheppard's desk and leaned in. "Either call her, or I swear on my honor... I can make things most uncomfortable for you and your friends."
Just then, the automatic door to the office opened up, causing the three men to look and find no one outside the room before the door closed on its own.
Outside, Syrus and Chumley, along with some other Slifers were pressed up against the wall, eavesdropping.
"Hey guys! What's this? Dorm meeting?"
"SHHHH!" Syrus hushed to Jaden, who showed up along with Alexis. "Can't you tell? we're trying to spy in there."
"You're spying?" Kaito, who happened to pass by, asked.
"And on whom?" Alexis asked.
Inside the office, the three men turned when the door opened once again. But like last time, they didn't see anyone there.
Outside, Jaden and the other four pressed up against the wall like the others. The brown-haired Slifer noticed the worried look on Alexis' face. "Hey Lex, what's the matter?"
Kaito turned to her, curious about her expression as well. "Alexis?"
"Well, mon ami? Call her or things go bad." The Gambler threatened.
"I said no!" Sheppard repeated firmly. "Now walk away, or I'll have you thrown out!"
"I think I detect a bluff!"
"Do you?" Crowler asked.
"Of course." The Gambler replied with a smirk.
"Well then, maybe I'll show my hand." Crowler snapped his fingers and four member of the Disciplinary Action Squad marched in.
The Gambler backed away as the group closed in on him, but as they began to tighten the grid, he jumped high into the air away from them and from his jacket, he threw numerous cards at them, striking two of them on various parts of their bodies, and a cape to keep one of them in place while a fourth member backed away avoiding some of the cards.
Even Crowler became a victim when some cards struck his pants, making them drop to his knees. "How dare you!?"
"Sheppard..." The Gambler plopped himself on the Chancellor's desk, waving red handkerchief idly. "I am not leaving until you get her."
The door opened itself one more time.
"Alexis!" Jaden called out.
"What's she doing?" Chumley wondered.
But she ignored them as she stepped inside and stared hard at the Gambler. "Well, you haven't grown up too much."
The Gambler looked back at her. "My, you have."
"Quit the compliments, Pierre." Alexis said, pulling out her spirit key. "You're here because you want something. Probably something I value most, like this spirit key, or maybe my duel deck? Well, no thanks, you don't have anything that I want."
The Gambler, or Pierre as Alexis called him, smirked. "Oh, but you know that I do. It belonged to you."
"Before you stole it from me, remember?"
"Stole what?" Syrus wondered, turning to Jaden.
"Search me, Sy."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. 'Just what is going on here?'
"You know you want it and I know..." Pierre stuffed his handkerchief into his front pocket. "... that you will duel for it."
Alexis glared at him, having her suspicions that it would come down to this.
Later on, Alexis and Pierre were standing on the platform in the middle of the main dueling arena while Sheppard, Crowler, Jaden, Syrus, Chumley and Kaito were watching.
"Time to see if this 'Gambler' is really that good." Crowler said.
"Or if he's bluffing." Sheppard replied.
"So, who is this stiff?" Jaden wondered. "And why is he got it in for Alexis?"
"It may have something to do what he stole from her, whatever it is." Kaito guessed.
"Shall we, my cherie?" Pierre asked, activating his duel disk.
"Bring it." Alexis replied, activating her her duel disk.
"Duel!"
Alexis: 4000
Pierre: 4000
"Pour commencer, je draw!" Pierre drew his sixth card. "I invoke Gamble Angel Bunny in attack mode!" An attractive brown-haired woman appeared, with fake bunny paw gloves and feet, matching ears, and a skimpy black outfit that not only complimented her visor shades, but didn't leave much to the imagination. (ATK: 1200 DEF: 1200 LV: 4)
"Look at her..." Syrus smiled, face going red.
"Easy, Sy." Kaito smirked and leaned towards the smaller Slifer. "You don't wanna go and make the Dark Magician Girl jealous now, do ya?"
Syrus' face fell and his eyes went wide. "Is she here!"
Jaden laughed at his reaction. Kaito kept his smirk while his duel spirit appeared and puffed her cheeks in anger.
"I play the spell card, Second Coin Toss." A spell card appeared on Pierre's field. "And then with my Angel Bunny's special ability, I toss a coin and guess heads or tails. If I choose correctly, you lose 1000 points. If I'm wrong, I lose the points." He held up a coin, showing one side that looked like a certain eye symbol. "This is heads." He turned it around and showed the other side, which had a single dot. "This is tails."
Alexis looked at the coin and nodded.
"Tell me, do you feel lucky, Alexis?" Pierre asked before he kissed the coin and flipped it high into the air. Everyone watched as the coin rose, then fell down into Pierre's hand, letting him quickly and he placed it on the backside of his other hand. "It's tails." He called before revealed the coin. It was heads.
"Guessed wrong." Chumley said.
"Nice try." Jaden added.
Pierre smiled. "Think I'll go again."
"You what?" Alexis asked, surprised.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Syrus protested.
"Hate to break it to you," Kaito spoke up. "But he actually can, thanks to his spell card."
"How right you are, Monsieur." Pierre nodded and pointed to the card in question. "I played Second Coin Toss, and it lets me toss again. What's more, I can use it once per turn until it is destroyed."
"Oh no, Alexis is in trouble." Jaden said.
"Trouble?" Chumley repeated. "He's like the stuffing in a big smackdown sandwich."
"But he can still get it wrong, even when he gets a second chance." Kaito crossed his arms.
And with that, Pierre flipped his coin again and caught it. "And I choose... tails." He revealed the coin, and unfortunately. he was right this time. "I win! And now, my Bunny's ability activates! Look at it this way, cherie: You finally hit the jackpot!" The bunny girl pumped her right paw in the air and cheered. And right after that, Alexis was forced to cover herself as many coins rained down on her.
Alexis: 4000-3000
She glared at the gambler. 'Okay Alexis, pull it together!'
"For mon finale I lay down a facedown card." Pierre concluded as a card appeared near his feet.
"And now it's my turn!" Alexis drew. "I play Cyber Tutu in attack mode!" The familiar pink-haired ballerina with visor spun appeared, twirling on her tiptoes. (ATK: 1000 DEF: 800 LV: 3) "Check this out. if you don't have any monster with less attack points than my little dancer here, she gets to pull a pirouette on your face!"
"Alright!" Jaden cheered. "Now with that Cyber Tutu effect, she can attack that Frère Jacques directly!"
"You heard Jaden! Attack him directly with Pounding Pirouette!" The dancer spun around in place and created a whirlwind.
"I play my facedown card! Fairy Box!" Pierre's facedown card flipped up. "It activates whenever you attack me. Therefore I toss my pretty coin into the air and if I guess correctly, your damage goes to 0. I choose heads!" He tossed the coin again. And then he removed his and it wasn't heads.
"Hey, it's tails!" Syrus smiled.
"This time." Jaden replied, glancing at his friend.
Pierre smirked. "You are correct. And now mon Second Coin Toss! Remember, I get to flip the coin again." And that's what he did. "Heads!" He removed his hand, and it was heads this time.
And as a result, Cyber Tutu stopped spinning. "I'll place a facedown and end my turn." Alexis concluded and inserted a card into her duel disk.
"And I shall now end this duel!"
Alexis stared at the Gambler, then shook her head, smiling a little. "You haven't changed, have you?"
"You watch your tongue!" Pierre snapped at her.
"I look at you and I see the same scared boy from school." She pressed on.
"What!? I'm not scared! I am a winner! Remember? I never lost a game in school... except to you!"
"Hard feelings." Jaden commented.
"Uh, Jaden? Just what did happen, huh?" Syrus asked.
"Don't know."
Kaito spoke up next. "Hey Alexis, would you fill us in, please?"
"With pleasure. It started when we were both really young..."
Flashback
It all started in a private school, where every child was wearing a uniform. In one of the school's classrooms, a bunch of students, including Alexis, were gathered. "You were the new student. No friends. No clue. Just a cute smile. But we all pitched in and made you feel welcome. We were your new family." Standing in front of the students was a younger Pierre, who simply smiled to them.
"And how did you treat all your new brothers and sisters? You ripped us off, one by one!" Pierre was sitting at one of desks and played a card game with one of his classmates, with many of the others gathered around them.
"I just love your scarf." A girl said.
Alexis looked up from a red scarf the she held in her hands. "Thanks, it was my mother's."
"I won! I beat you!"
They turned around to see Pierre's opponent hold a shiny, red toy car. "Looks like I get your little car, huh?"
"Oui." Pierre nodded before holding up a blue toy car. "So, double or nothing?"
"You just had so much money and so many toys that you kept gambling and gambling and gambling until they finally lost! You ended up taking everything from everybody and I wasn't gonna let you get away with it!"
Alexis confronted Pierre, whose deck was littered with a big pile of toys. "All right, Pierre, give those things back!"
"Well, only if you beat me. But you have to wager." Pierre eyed on the scarf in Alexis' pocket. "Ze scarf de maman?"
"Fine, you're on... in Duel Monsters."
"What?"
Some time later, they were sitting at the desk, using duel mats for the game. Alexis drew a card from her deck, looked at it, and smiled before placing it on the table. "I win again!"
Pierre growled and glared at her. "You cheat!"
"Just know how to play." Alexis said while gathering her cards. "I'd be happy to teach you." She offered, rising from her seat.
But Pierre wouldn't have it. "You can't leave... before I take this!" He reached out and swiped the red scarf from Alexis' jacket, much to her shock. "So who is the loser now?"
Before she could do anything, Pierre took off and left the classroom. And that was the last time she ever saw him.
Flashback end
"You stole it. A gift my mom gave me. Her favorite scarf." Alexis stared down at Pierre. "You know why? I'll tell you. Cuz you're not a gambler. You're a thief! And like all crooks, you're going down!"
Pierre scoffed. "Tres Bien. Of course, your scarf's become..." He pulled it out of his front pocket and lightly kissed the fabric. "... my favorite lucky charm."
"Really? Well, not for long."
"No matter." Pierre tucked the scarf back into his pocket. "To beat you, I don't need luck!" He drew his next card. "I pay 500 life points to keep my Fairy Box."
Pierre: 4000-3500
"And next I activate my Bunny's special ability.
"Not again." Syrus said worriedly.
"One more flip, and she could lose 1000 life points." Jaden added.
"And that guy's Second Coin Toss doesn't make her odds better." Kaito replied.
Pierre flipped his coin. "Heads!" He removed his hand. It was tails. "Encore." He flipped it again. "Tails." He looked at it. It was tails again. "Correct!"
And a whole bunch of coins rained down on Alexis once again.
Alexis: 3000-2000
"And now I summon her cute twin. A second Angel Bunny in attack mode." And identical bunny girl appeared. (ATK: 1200 DEF: 1200 LV: 4) "Now attack that Cyber Tutu!" The bunny girl jumped up in the air.
Alexis watched this and thought something. 'He's not using her special ability.' And right when the bunny girl tossed some cards at Cyber Tutu... "Not so fast! I play my facedown!" She revealed her facedown trap card. "Check it out! Doble Passe sends all that damage to me instead! And, now you take damage that's equal to Cyber Tutu's attack points! So how do you like that?"
Pierre was shocked as the bunny girl''s cards flew past Cyber Tutu and struck Alexis instead.
Alexis: 2000-0800
"Go! Get him!" At her command, Cyber Tutu spun in place and created another whirlwind that blew past Pierre's monsters and hit him directly.
Pierre: 3500-2500
"I am far from finished! My other Bunny attacks your dancing doll!" The other bunny girl tossed some cards that pierced Cyber Tutu and shattered her into pixels.
Alexis: 0800-0600
"You're mine now!"
Alexis glared at him before beginning her turn. "It comes down to this." She drew. "First I'll lay down a facedown." A card appeared near her feet. "Next, I'll play my spell card, Scapegoat! This card lets me summon 4 Sheep Tokens in defense." Four small sheep in different colors appeared. (ATK: 0 DEF: 0 LV: 1) "Try and top that!"
"Looks like Lex finally got some defense." Jaden said.
Pierre scoffed. "You are only extending your play, my cherie, and not even by that long. Now let's dance!" He drew. "500 points maintain my Fairy Box."
Pierre: 2500-2000
"And now I'll summon Sand Gambler in attack mode." A new monster appeared. And it was a man that looked disturbingly like Pierre. (ATK: 300 DEF: 1600 LV: 3)
Kaito grimaced when noticed the resemblance. "Great. Like Alexis didn't have double trouble already."
Pierre turned to him. "It's about to get worse for her, Monsieur." He then turned to Alexis and held up a coin. "See, I get to toss this coin. And if it comes up heads three times in a row, all your monsters are fini. But, if I get tails, my monsters will bid you a swift au revoir."
"Three heads? There's no way." Jaden said skeptically.
"Technically, he could." Syrus replied.
"Especially since he still has the Second Coin Toss in play." Kaito added.
"Shall we?" Pierre flipped his coin. Alexis just glared at him as he caught the coin. And it was... "Heads. And if I get two more, your beasts go bye."
"Just flip!" Alexis said impatiently.
And Pierre did just that. And he got... "Tails. Hold on! Don't you forget my card! With Second Coin Toss, I now get to flip again." And when he did... "It's Heads." He flipped the coin again. And it was heads again. "That makes two." He lightly kissed the red scarf before flipping the coin one more time. He removed his hand and revealed that it was heads again. "Third time's the charm. Who is the lucky one?"
"It's not Lex." Jaden commented.
"No way!" Syrus said.
"Uh, yes way." Chumley replied.
"Sand Gambler, do your thing! Destroy all her monsters!" Pierre's monster counter-part glowed with a blue aura before Alexis' tokens blew up, one by one. "I love it when a plan comes together!" Pierre said triumphantly. "Look at me! I'm unbeatable!"
'We'll see about that.' Alexis thought. "I reveal my facedown! Hallowed Life Barrier!" Her facedown card flipped up. "If I discard just one card, all damage I take goes to 0 for this turn!" She explained while sending a card to her graveyard.
"Sweet! Now that's the Alexis I know!" Jaden cheered.
Pierre scoffed again. "Lucky move. All for naught."
"We'll see about that!" Alexis drew. 'I tried to be your friend, Pierre. I tried to teach you the game that I love. But you just used it to be a thief! Well now you're about to get a lesson that's long overdue!' she looked at her new card before playing it. "I activate the spell card, The Warrior returning Alive! I get to call up one warrior monster from my graveyard!" One monster card came out of her graveyard slot. "Welcome back, Cyber Tutu in attack mode!" The pink-haired dancer appeared again. (ATK: 1000 DEF: 800 LV: 3)
"That's not all! I activate the spell card, Prima Light and sacrifice Cyber Tutu so I can summon Cyber Prima in attack mode!" The petite dancer disappeared as a new monster took her place. A woman wearing a skintight gray catsuit, a strange mask over her eyes, and have long platinum hair. (ATK: 2300 DEF: 1600 LV: 6) "And when she's summoned, her special ability destroys every spell card on the field!" The woman unleashed a flash of light that briefly blinded Pierre as his Second Coin Toss was destroyed.
"And with only your Sand Gambler hanging around to defend you, if I decide to attack you, well then, it'll finally be my turn to say au revoir." Alexis pointed out with a smirk.
"Excusez'! I have my trap card, or did you forget?" Pierre asked and held up his coin. "If I choose my coin toss right one more time, you do no damage and my Gambler destroys you!"
But Alexis wasn't worried at all. "It comes to this. A single coin toss. Cuz after all, your Second Coin Toss was destroyed." That reminder made Pierre grit his teeth. "I was wondering why you didn't use your second Angel Bunny's coin toss special ability. Then I got it. It was clear. You couldn't risk it. Without your Second Coin Toss you'd have lost every time!"
"Don't say that!" Pierre protested.
"You're not a winner. Pierre, you're not even a gambler. You're just a scared kid back in school."
Pierre looked down. "Sacre bleu."
"Cyber Prima, attack his Gambler!" The long-haired woman spun herself and created a whirlwind before approaching Pierre's field.
"It all comes down to one coin toss!" He said as he flipped his coin and caught it. "Tails, please!"
"Sorry, play too much and the house will win."
Pierre removed his hand, and to his horror, it was heads.
"Now finish him off!" The dancer stopped spinning and then executed a double chop to the Gambler, shattering him into pixels. Pierre fell down to one knee.
Pierre: 2000-0000
"Nice job, Lex!" Jaden cheered.
"Yeah, way to play!" Syrus added.
"That was lishus." Chumley said.
"That's our Alexis." Kaito said, crossing his arms.
"I don't care!" Pierre said sourly. "You just got lucky! Femme fatale!"
"Pierre, I beat you because I don't believe in luck." Alexis explained. "I work hard and I play even harder. That's why I won. Luck is a loser's excuse." She turned around and was about to leave.
"Je suis... désolé. I'm sorry." Pierre apologized as he stood up and pulled out the red scarf from his pocket. "The only reason I wanted to duel... was because I loved you."
Alexis stopped in mid-step, her eyes widening upon hearing his confession.
"I thought if I won, that maybe you would fall in love with me, Alexis."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. 'So he thought a duel would let him win her over?'
Pierre tossed the scarf, letting it fly over to Alexis, who turned around just in time to catch it. "Au revoir... unless you want to come with me." He offered. "s'il vous plait?"
"No." Alexis simply said.
Pierre sighed. "Well then, adieu." He then walked away.
"Wow. That's tough." Jaden commented.
"Yeah." Syrus agreed.
"Well, I'm glad you got your scarf back, Alexis." Kaito said.
"Thanks."
"You played great, Alexis!" Jaden added before addressing Pierre. "Pierre, you too! Now bon voyage!" The Gambler stopped and glanced back briefly before leaving the arena. "That's right! I know some French! That is French, right?" Jaden asked.
"Jaden has such a simple soul." Sheppard stated.
"Yes, quite simple." Crowler replied with an awkward look. "...Or stupid."
Everyone walked away, leaving Jaden behind. "Leaving? Sayonara, then! That's French too, right?"
At the same time, Andrew was sitting on the bed in his dorm room, wearing his pajamas, which was nothing more than a light-blue t-shirt and dark blue shorts. He sat there, staring at the door to his bathroom, which was occupied. "Well, I definitely didn't see this coming."
Flashback
"Can I... ask you for a favor?"
Andrew and Jenny pulled apart before the former gave her a curious look. "What is it?
Jenny looked away, with a blush on her face. "Can I... spend the night with you?"
Andrew widened his eyes, starting to turn red "What the what now?"
Jenny's face was now completely red. "I don't mean it like that!" She calmed down a bit before continuing. "It's just... I don't feel like that I'm going to sleep tonight. At least, not alone. So, can I stay with you tonight? Please?"
Andrew remained silent for a moment, staring into her pleading eyes. Deciding that he couldn't refuse, he smiled. "Sure."
Jenny smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Andrew.
Flashback end
"The first time I'm sleeping together with my girlfriend. Who'd ever thought of that?"
"Okay, I'm done."
He looked up and saw Jenny come out of the bathroom. Her hair was falling down freely and she was wearing a white, silky nightgown. Andrew was kinda awestruck by her appearance.
She giggled when she noticed the way he stared at her. "Am I really that good looking to you?"
Andrew snapped out of it. "Sorry. It's just... well... you look like an angel."
"You're sweet." She smiled. "But maybe it's time to go to sleep."
"Right." Andrew turned off the light before they climbed into the bed. Jenny cuddled up to Andrew and wrapped her arms around him. The warmth from her body felt good to him as he wrapped his arms around her. And so, they fell asleep slowly.
Somewhere in a tall building, Jenny's father was sitting at a desk inside his office. He was facing a monitor that showed a person he was talking to. "I've heard that you're a professional in dueling." He said.
"There are a lot of things that people say about me. But I don't like taking things too long, so how about we get to the point."
"Very well. I'm divorced, and my wife's clinging to our daughter. I want her to leave the Duel Academy and work with me. The duel tomorrow decides wether her mother gets sole custody over her, or I do."
"So you want me to duel your daughter. Sounds interesting. But, it will cost you a lot."
"Money is not a problem. How much?"
"Hmmm... Let's say... 300 000 dollars and I agree to duel your daughter."
Mr. Barnes nodded. "Very well. It's a deal. I'll make sure to give you escort to the Duel Academy tomorrow."
The following day, about the beginning of the afternoon, Jenny was making her way towards the main dueling arena by herself. She already had her duel disk strapped onto her arm and a determined look on her face. Eventually, she arrived at the arena, where her mother, Andrew, Jaden, Syrus, Chumley, Alexis, Matt, Shiori and Michael were sitting together, with Chancellor Sheppard a few seats below them. "Now, I wonder where my father and his duelist are?"
Not too soon after she asked that, 4 people entered the arena. One of them was her father, with two black suited body guards. The fourth person was a man wearing a light-gray business suit, walking with a crane in one hand. He also wore a matching hat and a monocle over his right eye. He had short white hair and gray eyes.
Jenny raised an eyebrow as the man walked up to the platform.
"Who is that guy?" Syrus asked.
"That is William Wattson." Michael replied, narrowing his eyes. "Not much about him is known. He's more or less a businessman. But there is a rumor about him. Something about that he's some kind of dueling mercenary."
"Like the Paradox brothers." Alexis added.
"Sounds pretty tough." Jaden commented. "So why is Jenny dueling again?"
"Because her father wants her to leave this school and work with him." Andrew explained.
"And that's something she doesn't want to, especially since he's been so cruel to her." Matt added.
"That will happen if she loses this duel." Leila said. "But if she wins, then I'll get sole custody over her, and he won't be allowed to bother her again."
"Got it." Jaden nodded.
"Mr. Barnes?" Jenny's father turned and saw Michael's mother, Mira, approach him, holding a clipboard.
"You're that lawyer helping my wife, right? What can I help you?"
Mira adjusted her glasses. "Nothing much. I just want your signature here on this contract."
He took the clipboard which had a single piece of paper attached to it. He mumbled to himself as he read it. "Lose all rights over Jenny if she wins... her mother gets sole custody... she goes with me if she loses... Very well then." He pulled out a pen from his pocket and signed his name at the bottom. "Let's get this duel started, shall we?"
After taking the contract back, Mira joined her son and the others, while Jenny's father and his bodyguards sat by apart from the students.
Jenny and William were standing in the middle of the platform and shuffled each others' decks. "So you're the one your father hired me to take care of." William noted. "Don't take this personally, young lady. I'm just doing my job."
"Sure, I won't make it personal." Jenny replied with a stern look on her face. "Let's just not waste any more time and get this started." She handed over his deck.
"My sentiments exactly." He took his deck and handed over her deck. After that, they walked over to their ends of the platform. "Now then, shall we?" William asked, activating his duel disk.
"I'm ready." Jenny replied, doing the same.
"Let's duel!" They both said and drew their opening hands.
Jenny: 4000
William: 4000
"I'll go first." Jenny drew. "And I'll start with the field spell, The Sanctuary in the Sky!" Both duelists were now standing near the familiar stone palace in the clouds. "And next I summon Zeradias, Herald of Heaven in attack mode!" The feather winged man with green helmet appeared, his javelin ready. (ATK: 2100 DEF: 800 LV: 4) "Next I'll play a facedown and end my turn." A card appeared near her feet.
"Then I'll begin my turn." William drew his sixth card, looked at it and revealed. "And I'll start by activating the spell card, Night Beam. This lets me destroy one facedown spell or trap card on your field. And you only have one." The spell card fired a laser beam that destroyed Jenny's card.
She frowned at this.
"And now I activate the spell card, Spell Economics." Another spell card appeared on William's field. "As long as this card remains on the field, I don't need to pay life points in order to activate spell cards. Which means I can activate this card without paying 2000 life points." He held up another card. "Final Countdown!"
Jenny gasped as dark clouds appeared above the field.
"Due to its effect, I'll win in 20 turns." William explained. "And to end my turn, I place two cards facedown." Two cards appeared at his feet. And after that, one flame appeared in the sky.
Final Countdown: Turn 1
"So he's planning to win with that spell card's effect." Shiori realized. "Which means he must be using a deck that lets him stall."
"Then Jenny have to win this duel as soon as possible." Matt added.
"My turn!" Jenny drew. "And I summon Harvest Angel of Wisdom." The fairy in marigold armor with winged feet appeared. (ATK: 1800 DEF: 1000 LV: 4) "Now I..."
"I activate my trap!" William interrupted and revealed one of his facedown cards. "Torrential Tribute! As soon as a monster is summoned, this trap card destroys every monster on the field." With that said, both of Jenny's monsters exploded.
Jenny clicked her tongue before inserting a card into her duel disk. "I place one card facedown and end my turn."
A second flame appeared in the sky.
Final Countdown: Turn 2
"My turn then." William drew. He inserted a card into his duel disk. "I place another card facedown and end my turn."
"Before that, I activate the trap card, Solemn Wishes!" Jenny interrupted as her facedown card flipped up. "From now on, I'll gain 500 life points whenever I draw cards from my deck."
"Not that it stops the clock from ticking." William stated as a third flame appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 3
"But I can stop you from winning this duel!" Jenny drew.
Jenny: 4000-4500
"I summon Gellenduo in attack mode!" The green and pink sprites appeared. (ATK: 1700 DEF: 0 LV: 4) "Now, attack him directly!" The sprites dashed forward.
"I activate my trap card, Tiki Soul!" One of William's facedown cards flipped up. "And this is no ordinary trap card. It's also a monster!" At that, some kind of tiki statue emerged from it. It was wielding a sword and a shield. (ATK: 1000 DEF: 1800 LV: 4)
The sprites stopped their attack. "I end my turn." Jenny concluded, a little frustrated. And a fourth flame appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 4
"In that case..." William drew. "I'll start my turn by activating the trap card, Tiki Curse!" His facedown card flipped up. "Like Tiki Soul, this card is both a trap and a monster." And from it, a different tiki statue appeared. This one was wielding two spiky staffs. (ATK: 1800 DEF: 1000 LV: 4) "Now attack her Gellenduo!" The tiki statue quickly approached the two sprites and swung its two staffs downward. But to William's surprise, a barrier was formed, protecting them from its attack.
"Sorry, but my Gellenduo can't be destroyed in battle." Jenny said with a smirk. "And since they're a fairy type monster, my field spell protects me from taking battle damage."
William scoffed and inserted a card into his duel disk. "I place one card facedown and end my turn." A fifth flame appeared.
FinalCountdown: Turn 5
"My turn." Jenny drew.
Jenny: 4500-5000
"Now you're about to get it! Because due to Gellenduo's special ability, if I would tribute summon a light fairy type monster, I can use them as two sacrifices."
William looked surprised while Jenny's friends cheered.
"Wicked!" Jaden said.
"Go, Jenny!" Andrew called out.
"I sacrifice my Gellenduo in order to summon Guardian Angel Joan!" The two sprites unleashed a bright light that blinded William and all spectators. When the light died down, a new monster was hovering in their place. It was an angel with short orange hair, wearing a pure white dress. (ATK: 2800 DEF: 2000 LV: 7) "This should take care of your statues! Now attack his Tiki Curse!" The angel held out her palms and fired a beam of light.
"I activate the trap card, Imperial Custom!" William's facedown card flipped up. "Due to its effect, all other continuous trap cards cannot be destroyed. And even though my two Tiki's act as monsters, they still count as trap cards. Which means my Tiki Curse is able to survive your attack."
Jenny narrowed her eyes. "That may be, but you still take some damage!" The light beam engulfed the statue before getting a hit on William.
William: 4000-3000
"I end my turn." Jenny concluded as a sixth flame appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 6
"About time that geezer took some damage." Jaden said.
"Yeah, but she hasn't won yet." Michael replied. "And with that Imperial Custom on the field, this won't be easy."
"That doesn't mean it's hopeless." Andrew said. "I know she can win."
"My turn." William drew. "And I'll start by activating this spell card." He held up the card he drew. "Card of Demise. Now I draw until I have 5 cards in my hand." He drew a new hand. "Next I'll switch my Tiki Curse to defense mode." The statue holding two staffs kneeled down. And then, William held up another card. "And then I activate the spell card, Emergency Provisions. Since I no longer see any use of my Spell Economics, I'll send it to the graveyard and regain 1000 life points." The named spell card vanished.
William: 3000-4000
"Then I'll end my turn with three facedown cards." Three cards appeared at Williams feet, and a seventh flame appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 7
"Then here goes." Jenny drew her next card.
Jenny: 5000-5500
She looked at it before inserting it into her duel disk. "I activate the equip spell, Fairy Meteor Crush!" The spell card appeared behind the Guardian Angel and emitted a golden aura that surrounded her. "Thanks to this, my monster has an additional ability. If she attacks a monster in defense mode, you'll take damage equal to the difference between her attack points and your monster's defense points."
"Perfect!" Matt smiled. "Then she'll be able to cause damage, no matter which mode his monsters are in."
"Now Joan, attack his Tiki Curse!" The angel fired another light beam, aiming for the staff wielding statue.
"I activate the trap card, Shift!" One of William's facedown cards flipped up. "This lets me choose a new target for your attack. Therefore you're attacking Tiki Soul instead." With that said, the statue wielding sword and shield moved and blocked the attack.
William: 4000-3000
Jenny raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't keep you from taking damage."
"Perhaps." William replied, adjusting the collar of his suit. "But you won't be using that Guardian Angel anymore."
Jenny blinked before turning to the monster in question. She then gasped when saw the angel in pain. And then, purple aura surrounded her body before she cried out and exploded. "What happened!?" She then noticed something red. She turned and saw red light coming from the eyes of one of the statues.
"That was the power of my Tiki Curse. You see, young miss, as long as it remains on the field, any monster that battles with one of my other trap monsters is automatically destroyed."
"So he can destroy Jenny's monsters by letting his trap monsters battle them." Shiori noted.
"That's definitely not lishus." Chumley replied.
"Aw man." Syrus muttered.
"And that's not all. Before I let you end your battle phase, I activate the spell card, Turn Jump!" One of William's other facedown cards flipped up. "This card has the power to move this duel 6 turns ahead. And you know what that means."
Jenny gasped and looked up to the dark clouds as six more flames appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 13
"Oh no!" Alexis said. "Now there are fewer turns before Final Countdown takes effect."
"Not good." Jaden added.
Jenny frowned before making her next move. "I summon Nova Sumoner in defense mode!" The green and orange ring with wings appeared. (ATK: 1400 DEF: 800 LV: 4) "And that's all." A 14th flame appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 14
"Then, for starters..." William drew. "I switch Tiki Curse back to attack mode." The named statue stood up. "Now attack her Nova Summoner!" The tiki quickly approached the winged ring and struck it with its staffs, shattering it into pixels.
"You just activated Nova Summoner's effect. After being destroyed in battle, it lets me summon a light fairy type monster with 1500 or fewer attack points. But, with The Sanctuary in the Sky in play, I can summon a certain monster instead. And that monster is Airknight Parshath!" From a flash of light, the fairy centaur appeared. (ATK: 1900 DEF: 1400 LV: 5)
"That monster won't help you. I activate Pot of Greed. Now I can draw two cards from my deck." William drew his extra cards. "Then I'll place two cards facedown." Two more facedown cards appeared. "And then I activate the spell card, Ring of Magnetism." A ring of glowing light appeared, surrounding Tiki Soul. "By adding this equip spell to my Tiki Soul, I can make it so that every attack you'd launch goes to it. The drawback of this spell is that the equipped monster loses 500 attack and defense points." (ATK: 1000-500 DEF: 1800-1300) "Of course, that won't be the issue, thanks to Imperial Custom."
"That's right." Mira said. "Since that card keeps other continuous traps from being destroyed, then Tiki Soul is invincible in battle."
"And what's worse is that Tiki Curse makes it so that any monster that battles other trap monsters is destroyed." Michael added.
"And with that, I'll end my turn." William concluded as a 15th flame appeared.
Final Countdown: Turn 15
"Good." Mr. Barnes said, looking indifferent. "If he keeps this up, then Jenny will come with me."
Jenny gave her father a glare. "I'm not going anywhere. My place is here at the Academy! With my friends! And nothing will change that! My turn!" She drew!"
Jenny: 5500-6000
"And don't think you can protect yourself forever!" She turned to her opponent. "I'll break through your defense and win this before time runs out. I still have a couple of turns left."
William shook his head. "On the contrary. You hardly have any turn left at all. Especially since I have these three facedown cards..." His facedown cards flipped up. "Three copies of Pyro Clock of Destiny! With one copy of this trap, I can move the turn count one, so with three... well, you probably know already."
Jenny gasped again as three ancient clocks appeared with a flaming dial that turned clockwise before disappearing. After that, three more flames appeared above the field, almost forming a complete circle.
Final Countdown: Turn: 18
"No!" Shiori said. "Because of those trap cards, there are only two turns left now! And thanks to his combo, William's trap monsters can't be destroyed, and Jenny's monsters will be destroyed if they attack!"
"And if she can't finish him off this turn, then he doesn't have to do anything on his upcoming turn." Matt added. "He just have to end it, and it's game over."
"Oh no..." Leila muttered in fear.
"It's not over." The gang turned to Andrew. "Jenny won't lose. I know she won't."
"He's right!" Jaden agreed. "There's no way she can lose!"
"Come on, Jenny! You can do this!" Andrew called out.
Jenny turned to see her boyfriend and the others cheering her on.
"We believe in you!" Leila said.
Jenny smiled.
"They're right." Jenny turned back and saw her duel spirit, Tethys, floating in front of her. "As Andrew said yesterday, you have everyone's support. And that includes mine. You can win this duel. You have what you need to do it."
Jenny looked at the card she drew and smiled again. "You're right." She then focused on the duel. "Time for me to end this!"
William was confused by the declaration. And so was Mr. Barnes.
"Now I sacrifice Airknight Parshath in order to summon Neo-Parshath, the Sky Paladin!" The fairy centaur's body brightly as he transformed. After a moment, the light died down and revealed his evolved form. (ATK: 2300 DEF: 2000 LV: 7)
William scoffed. "What a waste of a move. My wall is impenetrable!"
"Not necessarily. Because Neo-Parshath has a special. If The Sanctuary in the Sky is in play, and my life points happen to be higher than yours, his attack and defense points increase by the difference"
"And Jenny managed to increase her life points all the way up to 6000." Alexis pointed.
"And since William is down to 3000, that means... um..." Chumley trailed off, trying to calculate.
"Which means Jenny's monster gains 3000 points." Andrew said, smiling.
The majestic fairy glowed with a golden aura. (ATK: 2300-5300 DEF: 2000-5000)
"Unbelievable!" William said in shock.
"And that's not the only problem you have." Jenny continued. "My Paladin has another effect. If he attacks a monster in defense mode, you'll take damage equal to the difference between his attack points and your monster's defense points."
"This wasn't supposed to happen!" Mr. Barnes exclaimed. "Do something, Wattson!"
But William was just standing there, with a defeated look. "I can't. There's nothing I can do."
"Got that right!" Jenny replied. "Neo-Parshath, attack his Tiki Soul! Celestial Judgement Blade!" The fairy raised his sword and swung it downward, creating a large arc of energy that struck. And even though it didn't destroy Tiki Soul, the energy caused an explosion that made William skid back before falling down on the floor.
William: 3000-0000
The holograms disappeared, and everyone cheered.
"She did it!" Jaden said.
"Way to play!" Syrus cheered.
"I'm so glad." Leila said in relief.
"Jenny, you did it!" Andrew said as he rushed down to her.
"Andrew." Jenny turned to him before he suddenly put his hands on her waists and lifted her up, spinning in place. She laughed a bit before he put her down.
"I knew you could do it." He said.
"Thanks." Jenny replied, smiling. She then couldn't hold back and pressed her lips against his. And Andrew gladly returned the kiss.
As William recovered and stood up, Mr. Barnes, along with his bodyguards, approached him, and he was not happy. "Imbecile! You were supposed to defeat her! I thought you said you were good!"
William scowled and adjusted the collar of his suit again. "I am... but clearly, your daughter was better. And besides, you already paid me to duel her. Nothing more. And now our business here is over." At that, he walked away.
Mr. Barnes turned to his daughter and slowly approached her.
Which she noticed. "What do you want?" She asked with narrowed eyes.
"What I want... is take you with me!"
"You cant be serious!" Andrew retorted.
"Jenny won this duel, so leave her alone!" Alexis demanded as she and the others approached them.
"There's no way I accept this!" The man persisted.
"I don't think you have a choice for that matter." Mira replied and held up the contract. "Remember this? You signed this before the duel began. And thus, you agreed that if Jenny won this duel, then Ms. Siegrain would gain full custody over her. Therefore you have officially no right to push this matter any further."
"With that said and done..." Sheppard spoke up and joined them. "... I'd appreciate if you leave now."
"Why you..." Mr. Barnes growled.
"You just don't get it, do you?" Jenny spoke up, getting his attention. "You didn't care about anything else but money. You only see me as a way to make more. I'm nothing like that! And I never was!" Her eyes softened a bit. "I remember that there was a time when you saw me as a real person. When you were kind and cared for me and mom. You used to smile back then. But that's not the father I see before me. I just... don't know you anymore."
Mr. Barnes' eyes widened at those words as something flashed in his mind...
Flashback
A bunch of men were moving some furnitures into a truck. And nearby, Leila was talking to her ex-husband.
"You can't do this!" He said aggressively.
"I can and I will." Leila replied firmly. "I'm leaving you and Jenny's coming with me!"
"She's not going anywhere! She's a Barnes! Therefore..."
"She's not some property!" Leila interrupted, her voice higher. "She's a living a person! I won't let you use her as a way to earn money!" She then had a sad look. "When I first met you, you were such a fine gentleman. Despite of how busy you were with your work, you used to show how much you cared for me. And for our daughter. But now I longer see the man I loved. I just don't know you anymore."
Flashback end
Mr. Barnes never thought that he would hear those words again.
"I have won the duel, so you have no right to do anything to me!" Jenny continued, snapping him out of his musings. "Just give up and leave!" She finished pointing her finger forward.
Mr. Barnes stood there in silent for a moment before sighing. "Very well." That was all he said before he walked out of the arena, with his bodyguards right behind him.
Jenny stared at his retreating form until she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and her mother's smiling face.
"Jenny, I'm proud of you."
The fairy duelist smiled back. "Thanks mom." She then gave her a hug. All the others smiled at the scene.
Later on, the gang were gathered at the docks, where a boat was waiting for its passengers to get on board.
And two of those passengers were Leila and Mira. "Now that that's over, it's time for us to head home." The lawyer said.
"Thanks for everything you did." Michael said.
Mira smiled. "Anything for you, sweetie. And your friends, of course."
"Thanks for coming, mom." Jenny said.
"No problem, Jenny." Leila said, giving her daughter a hug. "I'm just glad that this is over. Just take care of yourself, okay?"
"Of course."
Leila turned to Andrew. "And Andrew?"
"Yes?"
She smiled to him. "Keep an eye on Jenny for me, okay?"
Andrew smiled back. "Of course."
After that, the gang waved to the two mothers as the boat took them away from Duel Academy.
"I didn't think you needed to spend another night here." Andrew said, amused. He was currently sitting on his bed in his dorm room. And he was focused on Jenny, who was dressed in her nightgown.
"Maybe I just find it cozy to sleep with you." She replied, winked.
"Fair enough, but Ms. Fontaine might notice you missing if you do that too often."
"Just one more time, please?" She said, giving him puppy eyes.
Andrew chuckled. "Okay, okay. Just come here."
"Thanks." She smiled as she turned off the light and got into the bed with him. "Oh, one more thing."
"What is it...?" Andrew asked and was instantly kissed on his lips. When Jenny leaned back from him , he saw her loving look.
"I love you."
He smiled. "I love you too." After that, they fell asleep slowly.
I'm finally back! Two days ago, I came home from my vacation in Gran Canaria. I was gone for over a week, meaning my computer haven't been used for a while. Of course, I tried to write my chapter using my iPad, but using a computer to write is much smoother. If I haven't gone on vacation, I probably could have finished this chapter last week.
Anyway, I hope you guys liked it. Oh, and if any of you were confused of the number of cards William had in the spell/trap zone at a certain point, along with his trap monsters on the field, then just get to Google and take a look at trap monster rulings in wiki. See you next time.
