" Just because something looks weak doesn't mean it is. A warrior with a stick will always beat the novice with a sword. Do not assume just because you hold the newest weapon that you are the better warrior."

-Geno Roads

Power

"Attention all duelists. The next match will begin in 7 minutes. Please return to your seats in 7 minutes. Thank you."

Owen cracked his neck and looked over at Lilka and Tressa. Lilka was looking around carefully, trying to decide to stay or go. "You get to your seat Lilka. Me and Tressa will be fine down here."

"You sure?" She asked, looking at the two of them.

"You have to keep Kenji company." Tressa said with a grin. "I'll be ok sis, Owen is here to make sure I am fine.."

"Are you sure you don't want to sit with me before you duel?" Lilka asked, watching another duelist as they walked by. She didn't like the idea of Lilka staying down here all by herself for the first time.

Tressa shook her head. "I'll just have to run down here and get all ready. It's easier if I wait down here." She placed her hand on Lilka's shoulder, knowing her sister was only being protective. "I'll be fine."

Lilka took one last look at her little sister, and finally nodded. "Alright…Owen, You make sure she is safe, ok?"

"I promise, alright?"

Lilka smiled, trying to put on a happy face. "You two have fun." She gave them a hug and hurried to her seat. Owen watched, and when he was sure she was gone, sat up.

"Ok, let me show you where the green room is."

Tressa nodded, and the siblings moved through the underground tunnels, past a few guards and techs, flashing their ID badges. In a minute they came to the green room, the place all duelists wait in before they had to come duel. It was large complex with TV screens everywhere, some tuned to the stadium cameras, some to the TV networks that were covering the duels. All around were headphones for listening to the matches, as well as catering in case your stomach was well enough to handle it. Finally, there were a few bathrooms.

Tressa looked around the large room, noticing a few duelists going over their cards, making last minute changes, guarding their binders and glancing at everyone nervously. She didn't like the looks of a few of them, what with their black clothing and hair hanging in her eyes. Sure, she could take care of her self just fine, but she didn't want to try and do it if she could afford to.

"This is where you can watch the duels, get your deck ready, talk to people…whatever." Owen said, looking around. He glanced at a pair of duelists, both dressed in orange jerseys that were approaching them, their duel disks activated. Owen cracked his knuckles, and they turned away, returning to their seats to look for new duelists to come in. "Just don't accept duels in here….some of these guys duel for cards, and since there aren't any computers to stop cheating….it can be rough. Besides…even if you win, they might now be happy to give you the cards. As civilized as dueling is…there are still some very bad around here."

Tressa nodded. "I'll remember that." She glanced over to see one duelist cramming his face with food, bits and pieces dribbling from his lips and onto the floor and bit her lip. "This is a side of dueling they don't tell you about."

Owen nodded. "They shouldn't bother you too much, if you make them avoid you…."

"Hey Owen!"

Owen turned and grinned as the owner of the voice entered. "We might just be in luck!" He walked over to the door. "Tressa, this is Kelli Moto. She and I had dinner last night, remember?"

Tressa nodded and held out her hand, and the shorter woman shook it. "It's nice to meet you in a less…crowded area."

Kelli smiled. "Thank you. So, you two are dueling today?"

Owen nodded. "I go on in about 5 minute, so I was showing Tressa where to wait for me." He shrugged. "You?"

"Ya….everyone else dueled yesterday, so I am stuck all by myself."

"You can hang out with us." Tressa said. Kelli smiled and nodded, and Tressa grinned. "it will be nice to have someone to talk to about my brother's duel."

"You can talk to me little ladies."

All three turned to see a short little guy standing there. He was about 5 foot 7, with red hair and a plain face. He wore a t-shirt and jeans, and ran a finger in his hair.

"I'll be glad to tell you everything about duel monsters."

"We know enough about it, thanks." Kelli said.

"I'm sorry shorty. Just trying to be nice." He looked at Tressa. "Mmm….what about you amazon? Would you like to learn a few things?"

Tressa frowned. "No thanks." She turned back to Owen, when the man grabbed her arm.

"I don't think you understand sweetie…I wasn't exactly asking."

Tressa shook him off. "What is with these male duelists? Are you all pigs, or do I just draw them to me."

Owen looked at Tressa and Kelli, then stepped between them. "You do know that's my sister you just touched. Do you know what I did to the last guy that touched one of my sisters?"

"Ya…got lucky."

Owen's eyes flashed. "What?"

"I have heard about you…your Owen roads…the wuss."

Everyone in the green room grew quiet, from those that were making trades to the orange jerseys. Everyone looked over as Owen leaned down to look at the red head. You could hear a pin drop.

"Wuss?"

The teen nodded. "Ya…you run a girly fairy deck. Oh, I'm so scared, one of the fairies will tap me on the head with their magic wand and sprinkle me with pixie dust." The guy frowned. "No wonder your sister doesn't know when to hook up with a good man. The only man she knows is a wussy little woman."

Tressa grabbed Owen's arm. He's not worth it.

Owen nodded. I will not kill him…for your sake. Owen looked at Kelli. "You watch my sister, ok? And all the rest of you….if you bother her, I will personally call the hospital and have them arrange for a bed neck to Andrew Brace."

Owen stormed off.

"Must be his special time." The red head said with a smirk. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a duel to get ready for."

"ladies and gentlemen, we are ready to begin our first duel of the day."

Tressa and Kelli had sat down, watching the close circuit TV. "You think Owen will be ok?" Kelli asked. The kind man she had dinner with seemed miles away when compared to the man she had just seen.

Tressa shrugged. "Owen is very protective. IF something hurts him or his family….he tends to be a powder keg. We all are."

"You seem a lot calmer though."

Tressa adjusted the volume on her headphones. "I am. My brother and sister were always fighting for me. They were super protective of 'their little sister'. When I was born, mom tells me Owen and Lilka would play quietly in my nursery, not wanting anything to happen to me. They also talked to me."

"You mean they would stand over your crib and speak baby talk?"

Tressa nodded, but was lying. The truth was, they literally talked. Owen and Lilka would be playing, and then mental begin talking to her, asking her if she needed anything. And, as strange as it was, Tressa would answer. Tressa remembered it perfectly, remembered being able only to say 'Fo!' when she was hungry or 'po!' when she needed to be changed, and then her brother and sister was scamper to their mom and tell her what she had asked for.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are ready to present our first duelists for this first block. The starting match is as followed: Jake Zime."

Tressa and Kelli frowned as the red haired man that had hit on them took the field, motioning to the crowd. The announcer blared out stats: He was from Minnesota, he was 16, and this was his first tourney.

"That explains his lack of respect." Kelli looked at Tressa. "There are two types of people who start dueling: There are people like you that are out to learn and are respective. And then there are people like Jake, who only want to make a name, and either burn bright or die in a blaze of failure"

Jake waved from the field, waiting to see who his opponent was. The announcer cleared his throat. "And the challenger."

The lights faded….and the voice pierced in. "Let's Get it Started…in here…"

Tressa's eyes went wide. "Oh no."

Owen stormed out of the entryway as his music played, the crowd cheering his name. He ignored them, focusing on Jake. "Ladies and Gentleman, the challenger, last year's King of Games….Owen Chitoshi-Roads!"

Jake yawned, ignoring Owen as he jumped onto the field and activated his shimmering black duel disk. He took out his deck and nodded to Jake. "Let's do this thing."

The ref came out. "Gentlemen, we want I good fight."

"It won't be goo with this guy dueling." Jake said with a smirk, shuffling his cards."

"Your right Jake…this won't be a duel…this will be a massacre." Owen's eyes flashed red for a moment, too fast if you didn't know him well enough to be looking for it, and then drew his hand. "Make you first move fool."

Jake smiled. "I hope your sister is watching as I show her how a real duelist plays. I am going to slaughter you and your little fairies." The crowd laughed, and Jake smiled. Unfortunately, they weren't laughing with him. They were laughing because they knew Jake was as good as dead if he thought all Owen used was petite little fairies.

Jake smiled. "I will start this match off…give you a chance to actually attack me before I totally wipe you out." Jake sighed. "Too easy…I will pass. You may have an empty field for your first turn. Think of it as a gift."

Owen frowned and drew. "I will first set one card, and then summon Hysteric Fairy. Finally, I will equip Cestus of Dagla." The bookkeeper grabbed the double-handed blades and spun it, and she nodded. "attack." (Jake- 3700, Owen-8300)

While the rest of the crowd watched silently, amazed at the rapid increase of lp, Jake yawned. "Is that all? You think I am scared of a fairy with a butter knife? How did you become the King of Games with these sad move."

Tressa looked at Kelli. "Is he nuts?"

"He's trying to prove himself. If he beats Owen, it proves that he is one of the best duelists here."

Tressa frowned. "And if Owen wins?"

"Then it proves he is a fool."

"I set this monster, and activate the magic card "Force Reveal!"" The magic card filled up, the image of a man-eater bug burst from a down faced card. "This card allows me to flip all my down face monsters face up each turn."

"So…you are running a flip effect deck."
"That I am…good of you to figure that out." Owen frowned at the condescending tone. "So, I reveal Night Assailant!"

The Hysteric Fairy looked down at the card, only to get a sword right through her gut. She grunted, and shattered. Jake smiled broadly. "So much for that weakling….attack my Assailant!"

Owen sighed and said, his voice monotone and bored. "Draining Shield." The massive shield appeared in front of the Assailant, and it crashed into the metal, the ring going through the arena. "IS this all?" (Owen-8500)

Jake sighed. "Oh, don't get all cocky just because you got lucky. So far, you have done nothing to prove yourself."

Owen tried to keep his jaw from rolling out and on the field. "You're joking, right? Kidd…I am at 8500? You're dancing at the 3000 line. You can't win!"

"This duel is about over, for you! My deadly monsters will take out the weak little fairies and teach you to stop playing kids games and grow up!"

Owen began to breath hard. "Grow up? Oh, you want me to grow up?"

Jake nodded. "Of course. You come out here, dancing your little dances and summoning your weak little fairies….you're a duelists, not a pansy. Act like it."

Tressa looked at Kelli, who simply drew a finger along her neck. Kelli knew what that meant, and turned back as Owen drew his card.

"Then let's end this."
"You plan to forfeit? Smart move." Jake said. He waved to the ref. "He's done, declare me the win…."

"I activate Sanctuary in the Sky!"

Jake watched as the arena filled with clouds, obscuring his view. He frowned. "I don't have time to…" He paused as the clouds parted to reveal Owen standing at the steps of a massive temple, floating in the air. "Is that all you have?"

Owen shook his head. "You are a fool Jake. You have dared to insult my deck, my monsters and myself. Well…it is time for you to meet my key card."

Jake yawned and stretched. "What…a ball of fluff? A cherub?"

"I summon The Agent of Force-Mars!"

From the clouds came the sound of wings flapping, and Owen looked up as Mars flew overhead, his purple wings shining. He flew along the crowd, dipping and swaying carefully, till he landed next to Owen, taking out his hard, spinning it.

"Fancy. No bad his attack is 0."

Owen nodded, looking at the stats on the big screen. "Wait for it…." The Sanctuary began to glow, and suddenly Mars let out a war cry. Jake did a double take as Mars' attack increased to 4800.

"HOW?!?" Jake screamed. "How can your fairy become that strong!"

Owen chuckled. "For someone who understands my fairies sooooo well, you truly are clueless. Mars gains an attack increase based on how low your lp is."

Jake's eyes went wide, as he realized he was doomed. He slowly, quietly, slipped his hand on top of his deck. Owen shook his head and sighed softly. "I give up."

"Ok." Owen looked at Mars. "Destroy him."

Jake whipped around. "But I give up!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, but if you want to insult Mars, you have to feel his attack. MARS! ATTACK NIGHT ASSAILANT WITH FORCE FROM THE SKY!"

Mars nodded and leapt straight into the air, disappearing into the clouds. Jake looked around, nervous, trying to find the monster. "Please..I give..I'm sorry."

Owen's face twisted. "You disgust me. You come here, insult me and my monsters, then wish for forgiveness when we are ready to destroy you?"

"Come on man I was…"

Mars came down hard, his hammer smashing Night Assailant's skull like a watermelon. The monster shattered and Jake screamed as he flew back from the force, crashing to the field in a heap.

Owen looked at the big screen and merely nodded as his monster faded. His face broke into a grin as his score came up: 90 points.

Kelli looked at Tressa, who just shrugged. "That's my brother."