When the Herald of Darkness was barely a young man, he met a young woman. The legends, if they had survived, would tell you of a dangerous affair the two kept hidden until the Herald fell in battle with the Princess of Light, leaving her behind to mourn his fate in a world filled with light.
Reality had been much different though.
That young woman was a strong warrior who the Herald could sense a power of darkness within. He trained this young woman in secret, protecting her from his enemies and his people.
The young woman would demand. "Why hide me away, when I can aid in the battle against the Light of Ruin?!"
The Herald would say. "The people already have a messiah. They don't need another one."
The young woman spent years puzzling over this, trying to understand why the Herald kept her powers a secret and encouraged her to do the same.
It was only after he fell that she began to understand.
Yuuna doesn't get up for a long time. She hears her PDA give a ping and ignores it. It pings again two minutes later and she ignores it. Only when it pings a third time does she pull it out of her pocket and look at it. Her eyes are puffy and still hurt from when she'd sobbed, but her heart aches more. She opens the messages, they're just simple texts.
Mindy: hey, where did you and lexy disappear off to? did you two have a date ;)
Mindy: if you need romantic advice, i'm always here to help you out!
Mindy: seriously though, where are you?
Yuuna forces herself to type in her usual way.
Yuuna: sory, got distracted dueling, lexi totaly creamed me! u should've seen her! i'm okay, just resting up after the duel, sorry to ditch u and jasmine. u looked like u were enjoying UR date, mindy, u ain't slick ;) ;) ;)
Mindy: lol, where'd you get an idea like that from silly? glad to know you're okay! take care! :)
Yuuna: will do (thumbs up)
Yuuna puts her PDA down and sits up, rubbing at her face. She hadn't even bothered to put her cards away after her Duel with Alexis. She gently picks up Scarr and kisses him, shuffling him into her Deck. She does the same for Silvia, who she feels pet her head, Beiige, who she hears muttering about ripping Alexis to ribbons and Brron, who is going to talk to Gren about Alexis. She's glad he's doing it because she doesn't think she's got the kind of courage that takes right now.
She finally picks up Winged Kuriboh, who appears in front of her, cooing and nuzzling her face. Yuuna sobs anew and wishes she could hold him and touch him, hug his soft fur and sob into it for real. But she doesn't know enough about her powers to do that, she can't even go up against the Princess of Light when she was wielding an Earth Deck, there's no way she can face her when she uses her real Deck.
"Yuuna? What happened?"
Yuuna looks up at Yubel and hugs herself, shaking. "I… Yubel, I-" She curls in on herself. "Gimme a second, I'll be fine-"
"Hush, hush, it's alright, Yuuna. I promise." Yubel places their hand on her head, gently running their claws through her hair. "I'll protect you."
Yuuna remembers how Yubel simply vanished whenever Alexis would appear and bites her tongue to hold in a bitter comment. She doesn't want to hurt them.
"Let's get you back to the Slifer Dorm, okay?" Yubel looks her over, humming. "Do you need help to stand?"
Yuuna manages to shake her head and gets to her feet, leaning onto the tree just to hold herself. She has to be okay, for them. They can't know how scared she really is, or they'll have to decide if they have to protect her heart or her destiny. Yuuna knows which is more important to Yubel, but she also knows which is more important to the 12 dimensions.
So Yuuna gives Yubel a shaky smile. "I'm alright, I just Duelled Alexis Rhodes and got beat bad. I can talk about it while we walk."
Yubel blinks, narrowing their eyes. "Alexis Rhodes?"
"Obelisk Blue. First year. Powerful Duelist." Yuuna swallows at this, counts to three so she doesn't fall to pieces. "Potentially the Princess of Light."
Yubel gasps and grabs her shoulders. "Yuuna are you certain?! Why didn't you summon me?"
"I couldn't draw you out. You disappear whenever she appears, it's…" Yuuna swallows, looking at her Deck. "It's so strange."
Yubel is looking her over with wide eyes, then looks at their hands, shaking just a little. "I was meant to protect you from her. She killed you. She killed you and I wasn't there-"
"Yubel, this isn't 10,000 years ago, please calm down." Yunna reaches out her hands, hovering them over Yubel's arms. "I'm alive! I'm alive and she didn't kill me! I'm okay!"
Yubel looks her over, eyes frantic. They wrap their arms around Yuuna's head in an imitation of a hug, like they always have whenever Yuuna's needed it. She hugs back as best as she can, arms trying not to go straight through Yubel.
"I swear I won't let her hurt you." Yubel murmurs.
"You can't make a promise like that, Yubel. Otherwise it'll tear you apart when she does, because she will find a way to hurt me. I'll be alright." Yuuna drops her head a little, takes a breath and then says with as much strength as she can muster. "I'll protect you from her too."
Because Yuuna might be scared out of her mind, but the thought that Alexis wants to hurt Yubel is enough to start a small fire in her belly, chasing away her fear with anger and protectiveness. No one is hurting her Guardian. Not so long as she can help it. Yubel pulls back a little to stare at her face and Yuuna smiles for them, holding onto the feelings of anger and protectiveness with all her strength.
Yubel shakes their head and swipes some hair off Yuuna's face, tucking it behind her ear. "You are something else, Little Princess."
Yuuna giggles, smiling genuinely from the affection. "So I've been told. Let's go."
"Class, we have a new student, if you please." Banner says, that evening at the dinner table. "He missed the helicopter and so arrived at school late, but has been working hard to be with you all here. Please be welcoming to Blair Flannigan."
Yuuna lifts her head when she sees the small boy at the top of the hall, standing next to Banner. He's wearing baggy pants and a huge hat, with frightful large eyes and his hands are behind his back.
Yubel hums as they cross their arms, looking at the new student. "He looks awfully young."
Yuuna nods and looks at Syrus. "Who do you think he's going to be rooming with?"
Syrus shrugs. "I don't know."
Yuuna sees the boy looking at her, his eyes wide and she wonders….
"Hi Blair!" Yuuna stands up, waving to him. "Do you want to sit with me and my friends?"
Blair blinks at her, but nods, running over to take a seat by her.
"I'm Yuuna Yuki." She offers her hand.
Blair coughs once and then takes her hand. "I'm Blair. Nice to meet you."
His voice sounds like he's forcing it to be deeper than it actually is. His hair doesn't show much in his hat and his face is soft.
"Hi Blair, I'm Syrus!" Syrus leans over the table, offering his hand.
Blair takes it and soon enough, he's deep in conversation with Syrus and Chumley about how they're going to room together, since Syrus is the only one with a free bed in his room, besides Yuuna. Yuuna joins in and does her best to make Blair feel welcome. But he freezes up at the thought of washing his back with the boys and asks them to let him change on his own. His voice goes higher pitched whenever he's scared or surprised and he coughs to get deeper again. Yuuna's got a theory.
But she'll ask later.
Yuuna's door opens late at night, about an hour after Banner sent everyone to bed. Yuuna has her eyes closed and her breathing calm, waiting for the door to close and the footsteps to fade before opening them. She sits up in bed, pulling the covers off. She's glad she wore black jeans and a black shirt when she ran away from home, because her skirt would have stood out in the night. She doesn't bother with the socks and the bra this time around, no one's going to see her.
She has a mission to accomplish. She has to get into the paperwork and change it before it gives her away.
"You sure you want to do this now?" Yubel hums, sitting in the top bunk.
Yuuna turns to them, nodding. She has to do this now. It's dark, she's in her element and if she leaves it any later, she may risk her identity. She can't afford to do that.
She heads for the window and climbs out. There's another window right below her, but it's completely dark and the curtains are drawn, so whoever's there shouldn't be able to spot her sneaking out. So Yuuna drops. She lands perfectly, rolling once. She watches Yubel float out the window behind her, until they're at her side. Yuuna nods to them.
"What are you doing?"
Yuuna gasps and turns around to see- "Blair? Why are you awake this late?"
The new student stands before her, narrowed eyes, still wearing his hat. "I asked you first."
Yuuna giggles and rubs the back of her neck. "Would you believe me if I said I was just going to have a stroll?"
Blair narrows his eyes further. "No, because most people don't jump from two story windows if they're just having a walk. Especially just after Banner did his final checks to make sure everyone was asleep."
Yuuna blinks and smirks. "So we're both sneaking out to do something we shouldn't."
Blair stiffens. Right on the nail. This is starting to encourage her theory.
"Yuuna." Yubel warns. "Don't antagonise him."
"It appears we are. The question is…" Blair walks over to her. "Will you try to get in my way?"
Yuuna shrugs. "I might. But maybe we can help each other instead."
Blair blinks at her.
"You've got a secret. But so do I." Yuuna puts her finger to her lips. "It can be easier to hide secrets if you have someone to back you up. An alibi so to speak."
Yuuna doesn't know the first thing about forging birth certificates or anything else that the school may have. If her theory about Blair is true, then maybe Blair can help her.
Blair glares at her. "You don't know a thing about me. Why should I agree to tell you anything?"
"Because I know what it's like to be afraid." Yuuna says.
Blair gasps.
Yubel murmurs softly, their heart broken. "Yuuna…"
Yuuna steps forward. "I know what it's like to hide who you are to keep yourself safe. To take the drastic decision to run away to a place no one knows you so you can finally be free." She walks until she's in front of Blair and kneels before him. "I'm not going to tell anyone anything you share with me here Blair. But I can tell you're hiding something. Secrets get easier to hide if you have someone you can help hide them."
Blair stares at her, he's shaking.
Yuuna offers her hand. "I'll share mine if you tell me yours."
Blair gulps and looks at Yuuna's hand nervously. Then he sits on the ground in front of her, arms around his legs. Yuuna waits patiently, sitting cross-legged. Yubel stares at the two, tense and worried.
"I'm a girl." Blair whispers.
Yuuna hums. "I figured as much."
"I can't believe you were able to tell." Yubel murmurs.
Yuuna shrugs and gives them a small smile. It takes one to know one, it seems.
Blair gulps and looks up at her. "Do you think anyone else has it worked out?"
Yuuna shakes her head with a soft smile. "Nah, I'm just perceptive and used a little woman's intuition to figure this out. You did a good job for a disguise but you won't be able to wear that hat all the time. Weren't able to get a haircut or you just like having long hair?"
Blair groans and holds herself close. "But now everyone's going to work it out and they're going to take me back to my stepmom because I just couldn't cut my hair."
Yuuna freezes, memories of terror and fear grabbing at her throat. "Your stepmom?"
"Don't tell me." Yubel whispers, wings fluttering.
Blair swallows and hides her face in her legs, "I... I don't wanna go back home. Not when she hates me. My dad's been sick for a long time too. He can't protect me from her."
Yuuna feels the ice that froze her slip over her heart, forming a protective shield around a place she knows will go to Blair. "I won't let her then."
Blair gasps, looking up at her. "What?"
"Blair, I promise that your stepmother won't find you on Duel Academy Island. I'll do whatever it takes to help you, okay?" Yuuna gently rests her hand over Blair's, smiling reassuringly.
Blair's eyes drip with tears and she wipes her face. "Why?"
Yuuna smiles and gently tightens her grip on her hand. "Because my Mom doesn't like me either."
Blair stares at her, eyes wide. "You mean she-"
"Yep. And my father." Yuuna presses a finger to her lips, winking. "That's my secret. Can you keep it?"
Blair stares at her and nods. "I will." She smiles hesitantly. "Thanks, Yuuna."
Yuuna smiles. "Not a problem." She gets to her feet and offers Blair her hand. "Do you still want to do whatever you were up to? Or will we save the mischief for another time?"
Blair shakes her head, taking Yuuna's hand and getting to her feet. "I'm a little too emotional for that. I'll put in the forged birth certificate another time."
Yuuna blinks at her. "You know how to forge a birth certificate?"
Blair shrugs and nods. "Yeah, I'm eight years old, do you really think I'd be able to be here if I couldn't?"
"You think you could forge one for me too?" Yuuna smiles, winking at her. "Can't have the professors learning my biology doesn't match my identity."
Blair blinks at her and nods. "Sure thing. It shouldn't be a problem, if you know what's on the original."
"Lucky for us, I do." Yuuna doesn't actually, but it shouldn't be hard for Yubel to sneak a peek at her birth certificate. "I can give you a note with the information another time?"
Blair nods. "Let's get to bed then, before we're caught. Night, Yuuna."
"Night, Blair." Yuuna smiles, waving to her.
With that, the two take different staircases to return to their rooms, their shared secrets held tight to their chests.
Yuuna yawns, head in her arms. She's exhausted.
Alexis is answering Crowler's question about Duel Monster Card Types and Groups, but Yuuna can barely listen to her yabbering.
"You!"
Yuuna blinks, shaking the sleep from her head. On both her sides, Syrus and Blair squeak, jumping to their feet.
"Syrus Truesdale!" Crowler barks. "Explain to the class what a Field Spell is."
Yuuna sees Syrus starts mumbling, struggling to get the words out while Blair sits back down, groaning as she hides her face, while the Obelisk Blues giggle. Yuuna gives them a half hearted glare, then pats Syrus's hand. He turns to blink at her.
"You can do this, Syrus." Yuuna smiles at him, giving him a thumbs up. "I know it!"
Syrus gulps and looks up at the ceiling. "A, uhh, a Field Spell is a spell card, that uhh-"
"Even Grade Schoolers know this!" Chazz shouts. "Hurry up and sit down, Slifer Slime!"
The class breaks out into laughter and even Crowler chuckles behind his wrist.
Yuuna feels protectiveness flare in her gut and she stands up, turning around to glare at Chazz. "Leave him alone, Blue Blood, he's got this!"
"Yuuna, calm down!" Blair squeaks.
Chazz snarls, hissing at her. "Who told you to stand, Slifer Slacker?"
"Miss Yuki, sit down!" Crowler calls, hissing., "Or do you want detention?!"
Yuuna ignores him, pokes her tongue out at Chazz and turns to Syrus, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Try again, you can do this, Syrus. I know you can."
Syrus stares at her like she hung the stars and nods, making little fists in front of him and turns to Crowler. She sits down, Blair looking at her in confusion. Yuuna smiles at her, then turns to watch Syrus do his best.
"A, a Field Spell is a type of Spell card that changes the playing Field. It normally can, uhh, it supports a certain type of Monster, like supporting Water Monsters with more ATK points or Dragon Monsters with more DEF points!" Syrus sits down then, hiding his face in his hands.
Yuuna beams and puts her hand on his shoulder. "You did an amazing job, Syrus, well done."
Syrus removes his hands and smiles at Yuuna a little shakily. "Thanks."
Yuuna nods and turns to the front, nestling her head in her arms. Crower is glaring at her. Yuuna is tempted to show him her middle finger, but she'd much rather be sleeping, so she does that instead. She doesn't see him biting his handkerchief, intense hatred in his eyes as she passes out. Blair does though.
Chazz huffs as he walks through the corridor. "Stupid Slifer."
That damn Slifer Slime needs to get out of his school, who does she think she is, pushing him around like she's some big shot?! He's Chazz Princeton, he's the youngest Princeton brother and he's got a job to do and that's become the King of Games. She's got no right to think she can have his throne when he needs it most!
Chazz lifts his head and blinks. Huh, Rhodes is standing there, looking at a card. And… is she talking to it?
"Rhodes you off in lala land or something?" Chazz walks over, huffing.
She's the reason he couldn't cream that Slifer yesterday, he hates her.
Rhodes turns to him and puts her card back in her Deck slot. "Hi Chazz."
"Don't 'Hi Chazz' me like we're old friends." Chazz scoffs, putting his hands in his pockets. Then he smirks. "But if you wanna be my friend, that can be arranged. All you have to do is ask."
He looks her over and hums. Maybe even more than friends, but that's unlikely. Not with his fucked up body.
"No thanks." Rhodes turns and walks away from him.
Chazz bristles and calls out. "Hey, don't just walk away from me when I'm talking to you, Rhodes, I'm the number one Duelist for a reason and I'll prove it right here and no-"
"Except you're not." Rhodes stops and looks over her shoulder at him.
Chazz feels the hallway suddenly get colder, but he ignores it, curling his hands into fists at his side.
"Yuuna Yuki beat a teacher before she even became a student." Rhodes doesn't smile, she just says it like it's a fact and it's an annoying one. "Beat her and get back to me."
Chazz growls as she goes back to walking, curling his hands into tighter fists.
"Oh yeah?!" Chazz shouts after her. "Well once I beat that damn Slifer, I'm coming after you, Rhodes, just you wait!"
She doesn't turn around, but she better wait, he'll MAKE her turn around. He'll make them all turn around and look at him for once! They'll all see he's the King of Games, they'll see it!
Chazz pulls out his PDA and shoots off a message. Then he smirks.
Yuki will be his first stepping stone to victory.
Yuuna stares at the message in surprise, reading it over a final time. But no, she's not seeing things.
Hey Slifer Slime, you think you're tough, but I bet I can take out all your pathetic little monsters in one turn. If you think I can't, meet me in the Obelisk Duel Arena at 7pm tonight. You can bring your little cheer squad if you like, the more the merrier. Can't wait to see you lose.
-Chazz Princeton
"Yuuna?"
Yunna looks up. Chumley, Blair and Syrus are all giving her concerned looks, all of them eating in the Slifer dorms. It's their mid-day lunch break and they'll have classes again soon. Yubel isn't with them, since they're investigating the going-ons in the forest, as she was this morning.
"Who just texted you?" Blair narrows her eyes. "Are you in trouble?"
Yunna shakes her head and looks at the message again. "No, but I think Chazz wants me to be."
She reads it aloud, making Chumley gulp, Blair narrow her eyes and Syrus fidget with his hands.
Syrus gulps. "Are you going to go through with it?"
Yuuna smiles, shrugging as she pockets her PDA. Is that even a question?
"Of course I will. When someone gives you a challenge, you gotta step up to the plate. There's no choice." Yunna makes a small fist as she stabs her fried shrimp. "Besides, I think it'll be fun to wipe the floor with him."
Blair gapes at her. "But Yuuna, it's forbidden to use the Duel Arenas off hour. If you're caught, you'll get detention at best and expelled at worse! With how much Crowler hates you, you know he's not going to let this slide."
Yuuna blinks, then holds her chin, thinking. She didn't know that, of course Blair would look out for things like that. She came here much better prepared to avoid being expelled than Yuuna is, even though she's so young. It'll be dangerous to accept Chazz's challenge.
Yunna smirks. She'll just have to make sure she's not caught.
That Blue Blood won't know what hit him.
So at 7pm, Yuuna walks into the Obelisk Blue Duel Arena alone, save for Yubel. Chazz is waiting for her with his two lackies from before, smirking at her like he's already won this.
Yubel appears at her side. "Wipe the floor with him, Yuuna."
"Well, well, well. The Slifer Slime showed." Chazz chuckles.
Yunna takes a breath, then lets it out and grins. "You better believe it. I never back down from a challenge, especially when someone insults my monsters. I gotta defend their honour."
Soon enough, Yuuna is on one side of the Duel Field, while Chazz is on the other, his two lackies behind him.
"Time to find out if you beating Professor Crowler was a fluke, or a fact." Chazz grins, baring his teeth. "It was probably a fluke though. No way a slacker girl like you could get him."
Yuuna rolls her eyes. "Yeah, but I did. And more importantly, we'll find out which of us will be the next King or Queen of Games when this is over."
A Duel over that title seems almost silly now, after Duelling Alexis and losing. She can't wait to have a simple Duel though, no risks and no chance of losing. She'll cream Chazz, make him eat those words and even if he beats her, there's no chance of her getting hurt. Well, her pride might be a little bruised, but she can live with that. It'll be a chance for her to learn and work up her skills again.
"Yeah, yeah, just make sure you've got your tissues on hand when you lose, Slifer Slacker." Chazz looks almost bloodthirsty, like a warrior more than eager to see blood spill.
Brron would be proud of him.
"You too, now game on!" Yuuna calls.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 4000
YUUNA YUKI: 4000
The two of them draw their hands and then Chazz takes the first turn. "Alright Slacker, for my first move, I'll summon Chthonian Soldier in ATK Mode!"
A bulky warrior monster wearing tattered clothes takes to the field, with only 1200 ATK to it's name.
"I'll also throw one card facedown." Chazz scowls.
Yuuna looks the Field over, draws and then looks at her hand. Winged Kuriboh "kuri"s to her from her hand, while Yubel appears at her side and Gren, Tactician of Dark World, is looking at his book and then to Snoww, Unlight of Dark World, bowing to her. Dark World Brainwashing, Dark Corridor and Dark World Dealings are in her hand too.
"My lady, it appears you are the only one in Lady Yuuna's hand with enough power to destroy the brute before her." Gren says while bowed.
Snoww sighs and nods. "It would appear so, Gren."
Yunna laughs and shakes her head at the two. "Okay, Gren, cut the back seat Duelling and let me get to it."
Gren straightens and then bows to her. "Of course, Lady Yuuna. Please, proceed."
Yuuna holds back a groan. "Just call me Yuuna, okay?"
"You know it's pointless, Yuuna. Let him have this." Snoww shakes her head.
Yuuna shrugs and looks at her cards again. She has to think carefully. This may be a playful Duel, but her pride is still on the line here and she's not about to let Chazz beat her! She's going to get stronger, strong enough to take on Alexis and save the world from the Light of Destruction, no matter what it takes.
Yuuna closes her eyes and lets the memories wash over her.
In her Duel with Dr. Crowler, he took out her facedown and then attacked her monster, ruining her combo and any hopes she had of building up a good defense. There's no telling what Chazz's facedown card could do, so she has to take it out first.
Yunna nods, opens her eyes and picks her card. "I summon Snoww, Unlight of Dark World!"
Snoww graces the field with her 1700 ATK points, cape billowing behind her.
"I also play the spell card, Dark World Dealings!" Yuuna slips her Spell in her Duel Disk. "We each get to draw a card and then we each get to discard one, sound fun, right?"
Chazz snarls at her as he draws. "You had a bad hand or something, slacker?"
"No." Yuuna draws and then discards Gren. "Because when Gren, Tactician of Dark World is discarded to the graveyard, I get to destroy any Spell or Trap card on the Field!"
"Say what?!" Chazz shouts.
An afterimage of Gren rises from Yuuna's graveyard and rushes across the Field, jumping over Chthonian Soldier and slamming his book into Chazz's facedown card.
"No way!" The brunette lackey shouts.
The blue haired lackey starts to sweat. "Uhh, Chazz, you gonna be okay?"
"Shut up!" Chazz snarls and turns on them. "I'm going to be just fine, stuff you guys!"
"No you won't be!" Yuuna giggles, throwing a fist forward. "Snoww, take out that Chthonian Soldier!"
Snoww dashes across the field, septer in her hands. "With pleasure, Yuuna!"
She brings it down on Chthonian Soldier's head, completely destroying it, creating a massive dust storm.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 3500
YUUNA YUKI: 4000
"Oh yeah, that's how we do it!" Yuuna cheers, pumping her fist.
Yubel chuckles at her side, then their eyes widen as they look to the sky. "Yuuna look out!"
Yuuna looks up as a sword dives towards her, cutting her straight through, making her scream.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 3500
YUUNA YUKI: 3500
"Opps, did you not know about my Chthonian Soldier's super power?" Chazz snears and smiles, his face a mess of ugly lines. "When he's destroyed in battle, we each deal with the same amount of Battle Damage. Is it too much to handle for a delicate girly like you?"
Yuuna falls to one knee, hand over her heart, breathing hard. That hurt a lot, ouch.
"Yuuna!"
Yuuna gasps and turns around. "Syrus?! Blair?! Chumley?!"
Why are they all here?!
"We were going to invite you for a movie night, but you wouldn't open your door!" Syrus rushes towards the arena. "We got worried and went looking for you!"
Blair stares her down. "You idiot, you said you weren't going to Duel him in the arena, do you want to get expelled?!"
"That's only if I get caught." Yuuna huffs, pouting at her.
Blair snarls, stomping forward. "You better win this Duel, Yuuna, or I'll make you wish Dr. Crowler would catch you!"
Yuuna stares at her, heart aching. She probably really scared Blair, especially after the two of them shared such deep secrets last night. Secrets that could get both of them expelled. Blair might have thought Yuuna was going to tell the Principal or another member of staff.
Her eyes narrow and turn to Chazz.
She won't let that happen. Blair is staying in Duel Academy, away from her stepmom, whatever she has to do to make it so. For now, that means beating Chazz and not getting caught.
"Yubel." Yuuna whispers. "Go stall the guards, ensure they don't come across this fight."
Yubel blinks, staring at her. "But what about you, Little Princess?"
Yuuna smiles at them. "I'll be just fine, but only if we're all not caught. I'm counting on you."
Yubel's eyes widen and they nod, flying out of the room.
"You won't keep me down, Chazz." Yuuna gets to her feet, smiling through the pain. "And I'll become the next Queen of Games, just you wait and see!"
Chazz snarls, waving his fist at her. "Just end your turn, Slifer Slack!"
"Fine, I will!" Yuuna plays Dark World Brainwashing face down. "I'm all set!"
"Yeah." Chazz snarls and draws. "Set up to get knocked down!"
Snoww turns slightly, bringing her staff down with an impressive crack.
"I play Monster Reborn to bring back my Chthonian Soldier!" Chazz's bulky warrior returns to the field.
Yuuna grins as the old monster takes to the Field. "I ain't afraid of what he can do!"
"Yeah, well you don't need to be!" Chazz smirks. "Because my Infernal Dragon is much tougher than he is!"
There's a burst of flames and suddenly, low and behold, a dark green dragon with red wings takes to the Field with 2000 ATK at the ready. More than Snoww.
Yuuna gasps.
"Infernal Dragon, let lose your flames and remind Snoww here what she does best!" Chazz shouts. "Melt her!"
Infernal Dragon roars and flies straight at Snoww, who jumps into the air and raises her staff, meeting the dragon head on. But it's not enough to stop her from being destroyed.
"Snoww!" Yuuna shouts, then screams as the left over flames lick over her.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 3500
YUUNA YUKI: 3200
"Don't think for one second I'm done yet, because more hurt is on the way, Slifer Slime!" Chazz roars, pointing at her. "Chthonian Soldier, get her!"
Chthonian Soldier roars and comes running at her.
"Yuuna!" Syrus and Blair scream.
The monster's blades strike across her chest, as if he tried to cut her in half with his Wind Storm Slash. Yuuna crumbles to the ground, holding her arms over her chest, hair in her eyes.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 3500
YUUNA YUKI: 2000
"Are you starting to know your place here at the Academy yet?" Chazz's voice oozes with confidence and superiority. "You might have beaten Dr. Crowler by accident in the exam, but that's it! It was just an accident! You're a Slifer Slacker Duel Academy Reject who doesn't deserve to be here, so go home, crying to your Mommy and Daddy!"
Yuuna thinks of nights when she tried that. When she was locked in her bedroom, crying and screaming for forgiveness, begging them to just let her out so she could eat.
Her shoulders start to shake.
"Go ahead, Slacker!" Chazz calls. "What wong, baby, are you cwying?!"
She huffs and pants.
"Yuuna…" Blair murmurs.
Yuuna throws her head back and laughs. She doesn't know if she's crazy, if she's scared, her life points are down to half and she has one card on her Field she can't even use. But she…
"This is great!" Yuuna rubs at her chin, smiling. "Just what I came here for."
She came here to learn to save the world, that's true. But it wasn't her only reason. She wanted to escape her parents. She wanted to make new friends. She wanted to Duel with the best of them and prove just how tough she is. Yuuna was ready for this.
"The trash talking, the action, it's all so great! I don't care what happens, there's no way you can get me to leave Duel Academy now!" She stands tall, smirking.
She glances at Blair, who's staring at her in complete and utter awe.
"I promise." Yuuna smiles at her.
Blair blinks and her shoulders slump in relief, smiling as she does that.
Syrus cheers. "Don't give up, Yuuna!"
"This is a totally licious Duel." Chumley calls. "I'm almost glad I got out of bed for it!"
"What the?" Chazz glares at her. "You're crazy, Slifer."
"Maybe, but all the best people are crazy. Do you end your turn yet, Blue Blood?" Yuuna rolls her shoulders, shrugging off her fear.
Her parents can't get her here. Duel Academy is safe. It doesn't matter what Chazz or Dr. Crowler, or anyone else does to her. She's safe here and she is staying here, no matter what.
Chazz snarls. "I play two facedowns and because it's the end of my turn, my Infernal Dragon destroys itself."
Infernal Dragon bursts into flames, leaving Chthonian Soldier on the field along with two facedown cards. It's not a good look, but Yuuna knows she can do it.
"I draw!" Yuuna does just that.
Immediately her ears are filled with the sound of cackling and laughing. Yuuna giggles and looks at her card, seeing Brron wriggling in his chains, ready to get some hits in on Chazz and his Chthonian monsters. She has Dark World Brainwashing on the field, Dark Corridor in her hand and Winged Kuriboh prepared to protect her. Oh! And the card she got when she played Dark World Dealings. She forgot to look at it.
Yuuna gasps.
Broww, Huntsman of Dark World is in her hand, silent as usual, waiting to be noticed before making himself known. Of course he wouldn't say anything when she drew him, he's always so shy.
"All right then, let's go!" Yuuna giggles and then- "I'm summoning Broww, Huntsman of Dark World!"
The silent archer takes to the field, his 1400 ATK at the ready as he death glares Chazz and his Chthonian Soldier.
"Now, Broww, show that Chthonian Soldier why you're-" Yuuna punches the air. "Silent but deadly!"
Broww draws back his arrow and fires right through the Chthonian Soldier, causing the hologram to burst into pixels and smoke.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 3300
YUUNA YUKI: 2000
"Nice try, dweeb!" Chazz cackles. "But did you forget my facedown and my Chthonian Soldier's special ability?"
His card pops up and a fireball hurls itself at Broww, destroying him and leading to a massive explosion that covers the whole field.
"Chthonian Blast destroys the weakest monster on your side of the field and then we each take damage for half it's ATK points!" Chazz howls with laughter. "Problem is, Slacker, you hardly have any left to spare!"
Then Chthonian Soldier's sword comes flying at Yuuna, in flames as it strikes her from above, making her scream.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 2600
YUUNA YUKI: 1100
Yuuna holds her chest tightly, gasping for breath.
"It's almost all over, I don't know why I expected the girl who beat Dr. Crowler to be all that impressive." Chazz yawns and holds his hand over his mouth. "End your turn already, so I can finish this."
"It's not over yet, Chazz." Yuuna looks at her hand, then selects. "I play my Dark Corridor spell card, to get one Dark World monster from my Deck and then Discard one of my cards."
Her Deck pops out a monster for her and she hopes with all her heart it's the one who can get her out of this jam. She can't afford to discard Brron or Winged Kuriboh, since neither of them benefit from being discarded.
Yuuna looks at her card and smiles. Her Deck always pulls through.
"Since I'm discarding Silvia, he gets to take to the Field!" Yuuna laughs as she plays him. "He's just the kind of fighter you can't keep down!"
Silvia bursts onto the scene, standing regal and tall, giving a mighty battle roar with his 2300 ATK on standby.
"He'll take out any more Chthonian Soldiers you summon on this turn, Blue Blood, just you wait!" Yuuna pumps her fist high, her excitement rising. This is so great, she can't believe she pulled that off!
"Ha, my grandmother's scarier than that guy! My next move is going to finish off your life points!" Chazz draws. "I play my Call of the Haunted trap card to bring back my Infernal Dragon!"
The ghastly dragon returns to the Field, all 2000 ATK points of it.
Silvia scoffs. "Another weakling?"
"I ain't done yet, Slacker. Normally I'd have to destroy Infernal Dragon at the end of my turn if I have him attack your monster." Chazz laughs. "But not with this card! I equip Axe of Fools to my Infernal Dragon!"
A goofy looking golden axe appears out of thin air and Infernal Dragon snaps it up in it's mouth, raising it's ATK points to 3000.
Yuuna gasps.
"Axe of Fools may cost me 500 points at the end of each turn, but it's a small price to pay to keep my Dragon on the field, since this cancels all of his abilities, including his self destruction!" Chazz roars. "Infernal Dragon, take out the Slifer Slacker's monster!"
Infernal Dragon roars around the axe in it's mouth and comes flying at Silvia, who raises his sword to defend himself.
"Silvia!" Yuuna calls, helpless.
Silvia manages to push Infernal Dragon away, but then Infernal Dragon makes another swing for him and Silvia bursts into pixels.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 2600
YUUNA YUKI: 400
"Yuuna!" Blair shouts.
"She's in big trouble!" Syrus whimpers.
Chumley curses. "Yeah and so will we if we're all caught. We should just end the Duel and go now!"
Yuuna turns to them in shock. Are they serious?
"I could live with that, Slacker, if you're okay with giving me your best monster." Chazz smirks, holding his chin. "Maybe if you call me Master Chazz I'll even forget this Duel ever happened and no one else will ever know of it."
Yuuna gapes at him. Then she bursts out laughing. Everyone stares at her once again as if she's insane, but she really doesn't care.
"Chazz, you're the crazy one if you think I'm going to surrender. I'd sooner lose a Duel than surrender to the likes of you!" Yuuna smirks. "Do you end your turn yet, Blue Blood?"
Chazz snarls. "Fine!"
The Axe of Fools bursts out laughing, lighting shooting off it and hitting Chazz.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 2100
YUUNA YUKI: 400
"My turn then!" Yuuna draws and looks at her card. Then she laughs. "I play a Monster in Facedown DEF mode and end my turn!"
Her card appears on the Field and then it's over to Chazz.
"Are you crazy?!" Syrus, Blair and Chumley shout, tipping over.
Yuuna laughs and throws them finger guns.
"Enough wasting my time, Yuki!" Chazz draws. "Infernal Dragon, destroy that weakling she has hiding under there!"
Infernal Dragon roars and charges, swinging the Axe of Fools straight through Yuuna's card. Which then flips over to reveal a green jar with a big pink eye in it.
"That's my Morphing Jar, Chazz!" Yuuna grins. "He may be gone, but now we have to discard our hands and draw until we have five cards!"
"Whatever." Chazz snarls and slips his cards into his Graveyard, then draws. "There, that's my turn. Hurry up and discard your useless cards and take your turn, Slacker."
Axe of Fools gives another laugh and strikes Chazz with lightning again.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 1600
YUUNA YUKI: 400
Yuuna ignores Chazz and kisses Winged Kuriboh and Brron before drawing her own cards. This has to work. She took a gamble and this is all she has left. She can do this. She knows she can.
She is Yuuna Yuki, the incarnation of the Supreme King and she is not losing to some stupid Blue Blood with an ego and a grudge.
Yuuna opens her eyes and looks at her hand. She smiles.
"I draw!" Yuuna pulls out her card and grins. "First of all, I play the spell card Foolish Burial! I get to send any monster I want that's in my Deck to my Graveyard!"
Yuuna pops out her Deck and looks through her cards, smiling, excitement rolling off her in waves. Oh, it's been so long since she summoned him, she can't wait!
"What is she planning?" Blair murmurs.
Yuuna discards her card, then plays. "I summon Scarr, Scout of Dark World!"
The red monster with a blade in his hands and a trunk growls as he appears, all 500 ATK points ready should she call on them.
Chazz bursts out laughing. "You're crazy if you think that little weakling is going to be enough to stand up to my Infernal Dragon! It's like you're trying to lose!"
Scarr snorts and turns to Yuuna. "Are we calling upon the Dragon Lord?"
"We are, so you okay with seeing the action another day?" Yuuna tilts her head, smiling gently.
Scarr growls and smirks. "If it means we win this war, I'm all in."
"Let's go then!" Yuuna shouts. "Now, I'm going to return Scarr to my hand in order to summon the monster I just sent to my graveyard!"
Everyone stares at her, gaping in shock.
Scarr bursts into purple clouds and lightning, two lasers coming from his eyes, lighting up the storm brewing on her Field.
"He's the strongest monster in my Deck and the Dragon Lord of Dark World!" Yuuna chants, reaching into her graveyard. "Ladies, Gentlemen, Dogs and Frogs, I give you… Grapha!"
Purple lightning strikes the stage from the storm and out of the smoke, a shape begins to appear. Mist pouring from his black jagged teeth. Mighty wings sending the smoke everywhere, causing the lights in the room to flicker suspiciously. A blood red tongue and blood red eyes appear in the mist.
Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World roars and the smoke disappears, revealing him in all his 2700 ATK point glory.
Everyone stares at the monster in horror and awe.
Yuuna smiles at her old friend.
"He…" Chazz stammers. "He doesn't have enough ATK points to beat my Infernal Dragon."
"Chazz, I'm not done, so don't interrupt me, okay?" Yuuna grins, brandishing her spell. "Next I use my Double Summon spell card so I can get my Zure, Knight of Dark World onto the Field!"
The silver armoured Fiend takes to the field, throws his cape and holds his sword at attention, wielding his 1800 ATK points at the ready.
"So what?!" Chazz shouts. "Neither of them have the power to take down my Infernal Dragon!"
"You're not the only one who can use Equip Spells." Yuuna slides it in the slot. "Axe of Despair goes to Grapha, raising his points too…."
The ugly and mighty axe appears in Grapha's hand, giving a roar as his points rise.
"3700?!" Blair shrieks.
Chazz's lackies scream in terror.
Yuuna smiles. "Grapha, show him how we Duel! Destroy Infernal Dragon!"
Grapha roars and flies straight for Infernal Dragon, who growls around his Axe of Fools. The two take to the skies, where their axes clash for a moment, before Grapha blasts Infernal Dragon with his black flames, setting the monster ablaze and making him pumet to the ground, bursting into pixels.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 900
YUUNA YUKI: 400
"Alright!" Syrus cheers, pumping a fist.
Chumley gasps. "Wow, talk about a come back!"
Yuuna throws the three of them two fingers up.
"More like lucky moves if you ask me, you Slifer School Scum!" Chazz snarls.
Yuuna turns to him. "You're absolutely right. I got very lucky when I drew my Morphing Jar and the five cards that came from him."
Chazz blinks at her, narrowing his eyes.
Yuuna smiles. "But that's part of what makes Duelling so great! You never know how your luck will hold out or what your Deck is going to give you! It's exciting!"
Chazz gapes at her, while his lackies rub their heads in confusion.
"And now it's time for Zure to finish this!" Yuuna shouts, pointing forward. "Go!"
Zure charges at Chazz, who screams and shouts, but there's nothing he can do to stop Zure from striking him down.
CHAZZ PRINCETON: 0
YUUNA YUKI: 400
WINNER: YUUNA YUKI
"Gotcha!" Yunna laughs, doing her two finger salute.
She did it. She beat Chazz!
"Yay!" Blair cheers, waving her hands over her head.
Syrus laughs and pushes the air. "Way to play!"
Chumley beams. "That was so totally licious."
Chazz snarls from his place on the ground, glaring up at her. Well, Yunna doesn't need anymore enemies, considering Alexis will probably call upon an army someday soon. So she walks over to the field and when she stands before him, she offers him her hand and bends down a little.
"Good game, Chazz. Can we not hate each other now?" Yunna smiles, trying to be kind.
Chazz is looking at her like she's mad and he snarls, slapping her hand away. Yuuna gasps and takes a few steps back, pulling her hand to her chest.
Chazz gets to his feet and snarls, barking at her. "This isn't over, Slifer Slime! Just you wait, I'll wreck you and your stupid Deck one way or another!"
Yuuna narrows her eyes and scoffs. Why did she think he'd be fine after one loss?
"Fine, Blue Blood." Yuuna huffs and walks past him, calling over her shoulder. "DM me if you want me to beat you again!"
Chazz snarls and shouts. "Just you wait, you damn slacker!"
Yuuna ignores the rest of his ranting and raving, walking over to the rest of her friends. "Now let's get out of here, before security finds us."
She knows Yubel's distractions won't last forever.
Yuuna ushers the rest of her friends out, as quickly as she can. The main building is like a labyrinth to navigate, but once Blair starts leading them with her GPS, they soon find themselves under the night sky. Yuuna has to smile, feeling the full moon shine on her and gently light their path.
"Nice job Blair, you're amazing." Yunna giggles, patting her on the back.
Blair looks up and blushes, pulling her hat down over her eyes. "It's nothing, I don't wanna get expelled either. I don't know why I followed Syrus out here."
"Yeah me neither." Chumley huffs, catching up to them. "I hate running!"
Syrus appears on Yuuna's other side and smiles. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I know you hate it when someone insults your monsters."
"You got that right." Yuuna pats her Deck gently but proudly.
Syrus smiles at her. "Can I ask why? I mean it always sucks to have your cards insulted, but you…" He fiddles with his fingers and puts them in his pocket. "You're really protective of them, like they're alive or something."
Yuuna flushes a little and feels her Deck warm.
Blair nods as if in agreement. "I noticed that too. You talk to them a lot when you think no one's looking."
"Well…" Yuuna scratches her cheek and looks around, trying to find Yubel, someone to help her decide what to say or do.
But there's no one. She has to decide on her own if she's going to tell them her secret.
Everyone's stopped, as if waiting for her answer.
"You're going to think I'm crazy." Yuuna shrugs, putting her hands behind her back.
Chumley scoffs. "I already think you are, Duelling a Obelisk Blue off hours and nearly getting expelled."
Yuuna takes in a deep breath and lets it out. "Well, I can talk to Duel Spirits."
There's silence.
"Ever since I was a little girl, I could see, hear and talk to my monsters about anything and everything. I was 10 when I realised no one else could see my extended family, as I sometimes called them." Yuuna giggles, rubbing the back of her head.
Chumley is staring at her with wide eyes, Blair looks confused and Syrus has his mouth open wide.
"Hehe. I said you'd think I was crazy." Yuuna lowers her head and goes back to walking, continuing down the path.
Great. Now they think she's a freak.
"Yuuna wait!"
She stops and turns around. "Chumley?"
He's running towards her and puts a hand on her shoulder, gasping for breath. "Me too!"
Yuuna gasps. "You mean you can talk to Duel Spirits?"
Chumley nods. "Yeah, since, since I was little I could hear them and sometimes, I can see some of them, but not all the time. It's mainly Koala monsters I can see and hear!"
Syrus walks up to him, looking at him with wide eyes. "How is that possible?"
"I had heard that some people could talk to Duel Monster Spirits, but I thought it was just rumours." Blair hums, stepping into place beside them.
Yuuna watches in awe as her friends discuss Duel Monster Spirits, which ones Chumley knows, the Duelists Blair has heard of having that ability while Syrus tunes in with which Duel Monsters he'd like to meet and talk to. They don't think she's weird. They don't think she's hallucinating. They think she's being honest.
Yuuna rubs at her eyes as if she's just tired, wiping away the happy tears before they fall.
Alexis watches Chazz as he continues to rant and rave, while his lackies try to cover up his bruised ego. She's surprised with all the noise no one came to investigate the Arena. Unless Yuuna did something to make it so the guards wouldn't get to her.
Under the light of the empty arena, she draws her card. "White Night Queen, do you sense the powers of Darkness in here?"
The card shudders and mist starts rolling from it, spilling across the room. "I do. There's no doubts left in my mind. The powers of the Supreme King were here and they left a mark. I'll purify the arena, before his powers can take hold."
Alexis holds in her shivers and shakes. She should be used to the damn cold by now.
Either way, she did what she came here to do. She's no tech expert, but she's messed enough with the camera. By tomorrow, it'll start looping footage from last week. That will give her plenty of time to investigate the Abandoned Dorm.
And find out where the Prince of Darkness is keeping her brother.