"In this game, it isn't about attack points and combos. It is about the desire to win. Only those that hold that drive to be the best, to meet the challenge shall claim victory. A man with desire can beat the strongest of cards wielded by an unmotivated duelist."

-Geno Roads

Opening Act

Tressa stood just outside the entrance, hidden in the shadows of the opening, listening as the crowd roared faintly with a thousand voices. All of them were talking about nothing in her mind. All that mattered was the now, what was in her hands, what she gripped in her fingers.

She looked at her deck, fingering the box as she focused, blocking out the vendors, the fans, the announcements…only this. She had trained for a year for this. A long, grueling, kick in the stomach year. She done battle against her grandfather using a deck not fit to even be called a deck, as it was less a deck and more random cards. She had lost over and over in the first round, wiped out as he used every style he had.

And the physical pain. He had trained her in other things, strengthening her mind and body. She had hardly slept, ate, thought anything but beating him, proving she belonged.

And she had done it. She learned to perform moves with a sword that would leave the greatest of masters in shock. She could match Lilka in weight lifting, and Lilka had been asked to go to the Olympics. Her mind was sharp, able to recite all of "Taming of the Shrew" or know what to do in a boardroom.

And she had beat Kaos.

He hadn't been using his Marauder deck, and if he had, she would still be training. Only Yugi Moto had managed to beat the legendary Marauder deck, and that was before the upgrades. After…not even Yugi could beat him in a battle.

He had been using an incredible weak deck, with random monsters, and still managed to take her to 200 lp before she had been able to fight back and drop him out, completely in training.

The black duel disk she wore showed that.

Now…now was the time to prove to the world that she could duel for real, that she wasn't a fake and a spoiled brat who had mommy and daddy buy here cards. She was the next Queen of Games, and it was time to take her spot among the others in that club.

She smiled, and stepped out into the light.

"Let's get it started….in here!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, entering the arena for her first duel I an official tournament….Tressa Chitoshi-Roads!"

The crowd burst into cheers as Tressa entered to the beat of the music, smiling and waving to the crowd, then focusing on the field before her.

"As you know Bill, Tressa is the sister of our current King of Games, Owen Roads, as well as our former queen, Lilka Roads."

"And let's not forget Frank that Tressa's mother and father are the legendary Guy and Raia Roads, both former champions, with Guy holding the record for must titles."

"And then there are her uncles, Seto and Mokuba, both famous in their own right, as well as her aunt Galanodel on her father's side, mother to famous duelist Lysandra Moto and wife of Yami Moto."

"Of course, we would be hard press to forget her grandfather, the first king of games, Geno Roads, the living legend."

"It appears that Tressa has made it to the stage, and is now waiting as her opponent enters."

Tressa watched as the man entered, an her jaw nearly it the floor. She knew big men. Her father was build like a tank, with muscle that put most body builders to shame. But this guy….he made her father look like he was a stick.

His very skin seemed to be stretched to it's limit, his muscles bulged that much. The veins were clear all over his body, and it looked as if he couldn't turn his head, what with all the definition. Around his wrist was a modified Battle City style duel disk, designed to better fit his arm without slamming into a bushel of muscle.

There were very few people Tressa feared could actually hut her, and all of those were family who would never lay a hand on her. But this guy….he was looked like he could give her father a run for his money.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Tressa's opponent is Bruno Steiner. Bruno is for being a famous weight lifter, but he is also a Buddhist and when he isn't working out or dueling, he can be found meditating."

"Have to wonder what that inner strength has done for his dueling strength Frank."

"Sure do Bill….looks like Bruno is at the field, and the game is about to begin. Let's watch."

Tressa nodded as Bruno, the more experienced duelist, gave her first right to go. She drew her cards and smiled. "I will start by setting this card, and then summoning Kaiser Sea Horse." The field shimmered, and the Sea Serpent appeared, it's shield and double-edged spear ax ready. "I end my turn."

Bruno had his eyes closed as he drew, breathing slowly in and out. Tressa had learned about this from her grandfather. What he was doing was calling out for the heart of the cards to aid him, to come forth and help him in his time of need. She had seen her grandfather draw the perfect card over and over. He had told her that the stronger you were, the less time you needed. Her grandpa Kaos only need a second to draw the right card.

Bruno finally opened his eyes, inspecting his hand. "Yes…perfect. I summon Muka Muka." The rock crab scuttled onto the field, it's thin claws snapping. "Now, because I have 5 cards in my hand, my Muka Muka increase his attack points to 2100. Enough to take out your Kaiser Sea Horse. Attack with muk screen!"

The crab focused, and fired poisonous smoke from the vents in it's back. Tressa was ready though, and smiled as the crab let out a cry as it was bound to the field. "Reveal Shadow Spell. This card reduces Muka Muka attack by 700, reducing him to 1400. But there is more. My chains will insure he can't attack as long as he remains on the field."

Bruno merely nodded at her. "Well played madam. I will set this card then, and end my turn." He then closed his eyes. "Make your next move child."

"Child? I am 16."
"You can be a child and be 100. For you are a child of the soul. You have yet to grow up, to achieve adulthood. You are a strong woman…but you remain a child."

Tressa frowned. She had worked to hard to fail now, and no mystic mumbo jumbo would stop her in this fight. "I will summon Twin-Headed Behemoth to the field, and have it attack your Muka Muka."

"I'm afraid not." Bruno replied. "I activate Petrifaction." Tressa watched as the arena was blinded by light.

"What are you doing?"

"When this trap is activated, it reduces the attack and defense of all our monsters on the field to 0, turning them to stone, breakable and weak."

Sure enough, each monster, after the light show, had been reduces to a stony version of itself.

Joey's mouth hung open in pure shock. "I don't believe it…" He said. He turned back his friends. "That's like what the time wizard did to the Red Eyes Black Dragon when I first dueled Rex Raptor!"

Raia nodded. "I heard Pegasus watched the tapes from a few of those duels and based new magic and trap cards on the surprise monster effects. Looks like that petrifaction is one of them."

Seto snorted and closed his eyes. "A small delay for someone of her skill. Tressa will beat this guy down easily."

"Don't be so sure." Guy said calmly. "I have dueled Bruno in the past, before I retired, and strength will not help her here in this match. In fact, strength alone could destroy her."

"You think your own daughter is going to lose?" Tea asked, slightly shocked by Guy's words.

"If she can not discover the power that comes from the soul and not that from the attack points…then she will never win against an opponent like Bruno." Guy closed his eyes. "This is not a duel monster's match."

Bruno opened his eyes as he drew. "I will summon Destroyer Golem in attack mode." The massive stone warrior appeared, towering over the crowd. The 20-foot monster moved its fingers, the sound of breaking stone echoing through the arena. "Attack Kaiser Seahorse with destruction punch!" He golem wound up and threw the hit, blasting past the flimsy monster and striking Tressa, sending her back and onto the field. She grunted and picked herself up. (Tressa-4500)

I didn't come here to fall on my behind. I came here to win! She frowned, and instantly removed that thought. I can't thin like that…..grandpa said there is a difference between wanting something and getting it. Someone who wants stands around for the right moment. The person that gets it claws their way up as if there was no way of winning. I have to claw up now, more then ever.

She steadied her hand and drew her card, and allowed a smile to creep onto her face. "It seems that it is only fair I fight your stone with mine. So, I summon Luster Dragon to the field!" The Sapphire covered dragon roared as it stormed onto the field, it's thin wings managing to get it altitude as it took off. "Attack his Muka Muka with Dragon Crush!" The dragon roared and plowed into the chained crab, shattering it and slamming next to Bruno. The duelist grunted and slide back, but managed to stay put. Show off (Bruno-4100)

Bruno drew again, and once more played the card. "I activate Crushing Blow. This card allows me to add my defense to my offense. The down side is that I lose that defense and my monsters shifts to defense for 2 turns, but it is worth it right now." The golem let out a bellow and charged Luster Dragon. Tressa screamed as the fist blasted through again, hitting her and sending her skidding. (Tressa-3900)

Tea looked over at Guy as he watched the duel, his eyes never leaving his daughter's side of the field, observing her lp and watching as she slowly pulled herself up and back to her spot on the field.

"What did you mean when you said that this wasn't a duel? What is it if it isn't that"

Guy's head snapped over at her, and she shrank back. As use as she was to talking to loud mouths like Joey and her husband….Guy still managed to command respect for her. Maybe it was because he was Geno's son…and Geno still held a very special place in her heart. He was the first lover she had ever had, the man that had taken her into womanhood.

Whatever the reason, she always talked politely and softly when around Guy, making sure to be respectful.

However, her fears drifted away as he smiled softly. "Gald you asked my dear." He shifted slightly. "Because I know Seto and Joey are right now wondering what the heck I mena, but are too scared to ask."

"I am not!" Both fo them said. They glanced at one another and then turned away disgusted.

"Ya, sure…don't lie to the guy that can read minds!" Guy shouted this last part, startling Joey and causing him to jump into Mai's arms. She looked at her husband and sighed.

'What am I going to do with you?'

Raia sighed. "Guy, you were about to indulge yourself by talking about something most of us don't care about. I personally would like to get it out of the way, so would you mine starting?"

Guy smiled, ignoring the sarcasm. "What I meant before is that all that we see in duel monsters is a lie. All this luck, this combos…they don't matter. This came isn't about any of this"

Seto snorted and crossed his arms along his chest. "Not this heart of the cards crap."

"Yes this heart of the cards crap." Guy said. "All duels are about the power of one's soul. Only those with a strong soul can succeed in this game, to call upon the powers needed to defeat others. The stronger their soul, the greater the champion will end up."

Yami nodded. "That makes sense. Each on of us has a powerful essence, and each of us is a great duelist"

"Speak for yourself Yami." Seto said. "You and I may be good, but there are a few here who I would not say have strong souls."

"Would you Seto?" Guy said. "every person here won a tournament at some point. Also, if you look at it, a great duelist is never a plain duelist."

"What do you mean?" Tea asked.

"Look at yourself Tea. You are not an average girl." Guy glanced at Seto. "Only a fool or a strong will would try and marry Seto."

"All of us Chitoshis are like that…what does that say about you, my dear husband?" Raia flashed a grin and stroked his arm.

"But do you see what I mean? It isn't just the cards…it is the heart, the soul…the essence of a duelist."

"And Tressa doesn't have that?"

"She does…the question is…can she tap into it?" Guy closed his eyes and after a moment, turned back to the duel.