Yuuna goes through her Deck as she sits in a tree overlooking the playground. All around her, the other kids are playing games with each other, things like tag, hide and seek and even Duel Monsters. But no one wants to play with her.

Yuuna pulls out the card she wanted. "Yubel?"

Yubel appears at her side. "Yes, Yuuna?"

"How come no one else can see you?" Yuuna calls. "Or the others?"

She usually spends play time playing with her monsters, but the other kids think she's strange when she plays on her own. But Yuuna's never alone, she's always playing with Yubel and Brron and Snoww and everyone else in her Deck. Why can't anyone else see them?

Not even the grown ups can see her Duel Monsters and she doesn't know why.

Yubel smiles and runs their fingers through her hair. "Because you're special, Little Princess."

"You say that like it explains everything." Yuuna groans. "Come on Yubel, please? There's gotta be a reason why!"

Yubel huffs and hums for a while.

Yuuna waits patiently.

"The power of the Supreme King was to manifest Duel Spirits and speak to them." Yubel says slowly. "Not all humans have that ability, so while it's normal for you to talk to us all the time, it's not normal for others."

Yuuna frowns. "That sounds really sad."

She can't imagine a life without her spirits. If she didn't have them then she'd truly be alone.

And that has to be the worst thing in the world.

Yuuna laughs as she salutes Syrus. "And with that last attack, that's game!"

Syrus groans and slumps. "Aww-man. You're too good Yuuna."

"She is pretty impressive." Blair chuckles, sitting next to Yuuna.

Chumley huffs. "Well I still think you coulda won!"

The four of them are in the Red Dorm cafeteria, eating their dinner and hanging out before bed. Most of their fellow Slifers are in their own friendship groups and talking about class, or playing games or still eating. Banner is sitting at the top of the class, mentoring one of the students.

Syrus blinks and turns to him. "You really think so, Chumley?"

Yuuna laughs. "I know so!"

Syrus turns to stare at her, tilting his head.

"What makes you say that, Yuuna?" Blair hums.

Yuuna smiles, rests her arms on the table and leans forward. "Because you're growing in confidence!"

Syrus's jaw drops a little. "You, you really think so?"

"I know so!" Yuuna stands up and points at the field. "You're using your head and engaging in battle with me a lot more than you used to! You used to hide behind your traps and spells a lot, but now you're using them more to help you actually Duel me! You're getting so much stronger Syrus, I just know it!"

Chumley hums, holding his chin. "Yeah, now that you mention it, Syrus is getting braver in his Duelling."

Blair smiles. "I noticed it too. You're just hesitating a little with summoning fusion monsters."

Yuuna blinks. Fusion monsters, huh?

Syrus flinches and sighs, shoulders slumping. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice that."

"Well, don't worry about it for now, we can work to it later." Yuuna claps her hands once. "For now, you know the drill, Syrus!"

Syrus flushes and looks around. "Oh God, Yuuna do we have to do that here, please?"

"Of course we have to do it here, haha!" Yuuna smirks and points at him. "Now say it with me!"

Chumley groans and covers his ears. "Oh great."

Syrus sighs and opens his mouth, saying in time with Yuuna. "Syrus Truesdale is a capable Duelist!"

Blair grins and joins in. "Syrus Truesdale is a capable Duelist!"

The three of them repeat that until Syrus starts saying it with a smile. As if he believes it.

Yuuna smiles and claps her hands. "So who wants to Duel me next?"

The moon shines bright, illuminating her path to the rocky outcropping below she saw on her first day. It looks like there's enough room to Duel, even when the tide is high. No one else is here, good.

Yubel floats across from Yuuna, as if they're going to be her opponent. "Are you ready, Little Princess?"

A wave crashes at Yuuna's feet.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Yuuna lets out a breath and then activates her Duel Disk. "Get your game on!"

She draws her hand and blinks when she sees the monsters in it. Silvia, Beiige, Brron are in her hand, but they're not acting like their usual selves. Brron isn't laughing and cackling, Beiige isn't raging for a battle and Silvia isn't smugly cackling about destroying her opponents. Their cards are warm and it feels like they're standing at her back, ready to protect her from what may come.

She can understand why they're so tense. They were there when she last tried to use her powers and it all ended in disaster. They know how much that hurt her.

Yuuna smiles. "Thanks, you guys. We'll get Alexis, don't you worry about me or her. I'll get a handle on my powers and then you guys will get to show her what you're really made of in our next Duel!"

Brron bursts into laughter, clapping and cheering for her. Beiige roars, ready for a battle, eager to take someone out. Silvia chuckles, a dark and wicked sound that promises defeat for the Princess of Light. Yuuna looks up to see Yubel giving her a proud grin and she grins back.

"I draw!" Yuuna does just that, then glances at the card in surprise.

"Kuri, kuri!" Winged Kuriboh chitters.

Yuuna smiles and nods. "Alright then, little guy, you're up."

Yubel says, as the waves crash, nearly drowning them out. "Remember your power, Yuuna. Feel it deep in your veins. It's right there."

Yuuna takes a breath and closes her eyes. "I am the reincarnation of the Supreme King."

The waves crash on the rocks.

"I am the Herald of the Gentle Darkness."

The moon shines on her.

"It is my destiny to stop the Light of Destruction."

The wind curls through her hair.

"I will not fail again!"

She snaps her eyes open, raising Winged Kuriboh high and then slamming him on her Duel Disk, summoning the little monster. Winged Kuriboh gives a little "kuri" of triumph.

Yubel narrows their eyes. "Is he real?"

"Only one way to find out. Winged Kuriboh!" Yuuna calls.

The monster turns to her, blinking.

Yuuna opens her arms wide, beaming. "Hug!"

Winged Kuriboh cheers and races to her, giggling up a storm. Yuuna holds her breathe, prays she'll feel soft fur or feathered wings-

But she feels nothing. Winged Kuriboh bumps her, but it's little more than a love tap, like she'd feel from her Duel Disk system and a direct attack. She pets him, but her hand goes right through. No fur or feathers.

Yuuna groans and shakes her head. "No dice!"

Yubel sighs and Winged Kuriboh gives a worried "kuri", eyes drooping. She knows the feeling. It was a vital ability in the battle against the Light of Destruction and only the Supreme King could use it. The last time Yuuna used it… didn't go well, to say the least. She came to Duel academy to become a better Duelist, but to also learn to control her powers. She has to get this down, or she won't be able to save the 12 dimensions from the Light of Destruction.

Yuuna picks his card off her Duel Disk and looks up at Yubel, who is floating towards her. "What could I be doing wrong?"

"It's not that you're doing something wrong, Little Princess. You're just not used to using your powers on command." Yubel looks at their feet, then at Yuuna. "I know you don't like thinking about it, but you remember the last time you used your powers, right?"

Yuuna swallows as memories of panicked screams and broken glass fill her head and holds herself close. "That… yeah, I remember. I just don't know what I did then that set them off."

"It was a life or death situation, so your powers reacted to save you." Yubel puts their hand on her shoulder. "But we can't count on it happening a second time, so don't you dare consider doing anything dangerous, okay?"

Yuuna smiles and shakes her head. She won't, not on purpose at least. But there's a dark power on the island, something she can sense even with her poor understanding of her own abilities. She'll have to deal with it and Alexis soon enough.

Until then though, she has to work out how to make Duel Monsters solid.

Yuuna has to master it now that she knows that battle is coming soon.

"Let's go again! All night if that's what it takes to make it work!" Yuuna raises a fist in determination, clenching it and grinning.

Yubel smiles and nods, floating back. "Okay then, Little Princess. Go for it!"

Beiige roars, Brron laughs and Silvia gives her a nod from his card art. Winged Kuriboh pops out of his card in spirit form, nuzzling her cheek.

Yuuna laughs and tries again. "I summon Winged Kuriboh!"

Yuuna yawns in her class with Banner, rubbing at her eyes. Oh Ra, she's so tired. Maybe she shouldn't have actually stayed up all night trying to summon her monsters in their physical forms.

Blair stares at her, blinking worriedly. "Are you okay, Yuuna?"

Syrus gulps. "Yeah, you look half dead."

Yubel hums, shaking their head. "It's my fault for not telling you to get some sleep. Sorry Little Princess."

Yuuna looks at the three of them, her human friends sitting on either side of her while Yubel floats above her and smiles.

She reaches out to pet Blair on her hat. "Don't worry, I'm all good."

Yuuna then turns towards Syrus, giving him a thumbs up. "Just stayed up playing Duel Monsters last night!"

Syrus and Blair stare at her and groan, hiding their faces in their arms. Yuuna giggles and Yubel smiles, shrugging their arms.

"Miss Yuki?"

Yuuna blinks and turns towards Banner. "Yes?"

"Would you grab Pharoh for me, please?" Banner smiles.

Yuuna tilts her head. "Pharaoh?"

"Unless you'd like to minor in being a scratching post, of course." Banner chuckles.

Yuuna scratches her head, then feels something brush against her leg. A fat tabby cat looks up at her, meowing impatiently, while the class bursts into laughter.

"Awww." Yuuna giggles, leaning down to pet him. "He's so cute!"

Pharaoh, which is presumably the cat's name, meows and jumps at her, forcing Yuuna to take her seat and pet him, gently running her fingers through his fur and cooing at him.

Yuuna accidentally spends the entire lesson petting Pharaoh and Blair gives her a copy of her notes for Yuuna to make later.

"Man, you're amazing at hockey, Jasmine!" Yuuna laughs as she walks into the changing rooms.

She's just finished her P.E lesson with Miss Fontaine with the other girls. For the first school term, the girls are going to be playing hockey while the boys will play football. Yuuna doesn't know what's next, but it was kinda fun to see Syrus doing his best to kick the ball while Blair was struggling to pass it okay and keep her hat in place. Of course though, Yuuna only managed to see this when she wasn't having the hockey ball passed to her or taken from her by Miss Expert over here.

Jasmine smiles, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "Yeah, I used to be a hockey captain before Duel Academy."

"Really?" Yuuna blinks.

Mindy takes off her jacket. "You never mentioned that."

Jasmine blushes a little, smiling at Mindy. "Well, we never did bring that up. But yeah, I was a hockey captain and was pretty awesome on the field."

Mindy looks at her with stars in her eyes. "Ohh, that's amazing! I was never any good at any sports, but I used to be really good at making jewelry."

Yuuna watches the pair as they continue to click like puzzle pieces, changing comfortably. She's happy seeing them get along so well, but it looks like they're quickly becoming more than just friends. She bets it'll be a week before one of them realizes they've got a crush on the other. Until then, Yuuna has to ditch the other girls and change before they notice that she's different.

So she opens her locker door and blinks in surprise when a letter slips out.

"What's that, Yuuna?" Jasmine hums, looking over her shoulder.

Yuuna blinks and bends down to pick it up. "I don't know, but it's addressed to me, I think? My name isn't spelled right."

Yuna Yuky

Really?

"Let me see!" Mindy giggles, taking the letter from her hands. She opens it, reading it and gasps. "O. M. G."

"What is it?" Jasmine and Yuuna call, crowding around Mindy.

Mindy giggles and turns the letter around. "Zane Truesdale sent you a love letter! He wants to meet you at the abandoned dorm tomorrow night, oh how romantic!"

Yuuna blinks in confusion. "Abandoned what?"

"Let me read that." Jasmine holds out her hand and Mindy passes her the letter.

"What's the abandoned dorm?" Yuuna looks wildly between the two girls.

Jasmine reads the letter and sighs, pointing at a word near the bottom. "Zane's name isn't even spelled right, Mindy, someone's trying to pull a prank on Yuuna."

"What?!" Mindy pouts. "Aww, that's so mean! Why would someone do that to her?"

"Seriously you two!" Yuuna interrupts the two, looking between them wildly. "What's the abandoned dorm?"

Jasmine and Mindy blink at her, then at each other, then back to her.

"You don't know what the Abandoned Dorm is, Yuuna?"

All three of them turn towards Alexis, who walks over to them in her uniform. Most of the girls are staring at them now, blinking in surprise, but then go back to their business when Yuuna looks at them.

"I don't." Yuuna says.

Alexis looks at her critically, icy waves rolling off her. Yuuna stands firm against her ice, staring her down.

Finally, Alexis replies. "Just don't go there, okay?"

Alexis walks out of the room.

"What was that all about?" Yuuna murmurs.

Mindy and Jasmine look between each other with guilty expressions.

"Well, either way…" Jasmine shrugs, trying to shake it off. "Yuuna, are you okay about being given a fake love letter?"

Yuuna turns to the girls. "Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're not bothered that someone wrote you a fake love letter?" Mindy looks at her like she's weird.

Yuuna shrugs. "Yeah, uhh, no, not really. No one ever did anything like that before to me, so I don't see why it's so bad compared to other tricks and pranks?"

"Yuuna." Jasmine groans, face palming. "This is like, the most insulting thing a girl can get, especially from a guy she likes."

"And you guys think I like Zane or something? I don't even know who Zane is." Yuuna shakes her head. "I'm still confused and I don't know what this abandoned dorm is, so I'm going to grab my stuff and try to find out about it." She grabs her bag and walks out the changing room, where she can change in another place. "Later girls!"

"Later Yuuna!" Mindy and Jasmine call.

Before Yuuna knows it, her first month at Duel Academy is over. Between sneaking around with Blair to change their files, trying (and failing) to pay attention during class and trying to summon her monsters in their physical form, Yuuna has been busy. So busy, she didn't even realise what the day was.

"Little Princess." Yubel calls, trying to wake her up.

Yuuna sleeps peacefully, unaware of the outside world. It's been years since Yubel has been able to see Yuuna sleep so peacefully. But as much as Yubel wants to let her dream, they know they have to wake her up or she'll miss her test.

Yubel inhales deeply and shrieks at the top of her lungs, shaking the whole building, causing everyone to bolt out of bed if they haven't already.

Yuuna yawns and rubs her eyes. "What's ruffled your feathers, Yubel?"

"Nothing really. But…." Yubel narrows their eyes. "You have remembered the Dorm Promotion Exams are here, right? And if you fail both the written and practical exams, you'll be kicked out?"

Yuuna stares at them.

Then her eyes widen and she rushes around her room. "Yubel, why didn't you wake me up sooner?!"

"I tried everything." Yubel holds up their hand.

Yuuna rushes in front of them with a toothbrush in her mouth.

"Calling you, shaking you." Yubel flips up two fingers.

Yuuna hops into her jeans, walking back the other way.

"Promised you fried shrimp, used the fog horn." Yubel flips up two more fingers.

Yuuna stuffs her bra with socks.

"I even tried waking up Blair so she could get you, but she was already on her way to class." Yubel throws up their thumb, then lowers their hand.

"Well, thanks for getting me up eventually." Yuuna smiles, slipping her jacket on. "I better have breakfast, stat!"

"Have a good one, Yuuna." Yubel flicks her finger at Yuuna.

Yuuna's rucksack goes flying at her, but Yuuna catches it just fine. Yuuna smiles at Yubel, then dashes out the door, closing it behind her.

Yubel smiles and looks around the room. Only a month away from her parents and she's so much happier already. They're so glad she got away this time.

Yubel puts their hand over their heart.

They'll make sure it stays that way. Yuuna will never have to see her parents again.

Yuuna laughs as she runs towards school, heart on her sleeve and energy thruming through her bones. She's got this! She's so got this! Who cares if she studied or how much she did?! She's going to get to Duel people and it's going to be awesome, she just knows i-

"What?" Yuuna turns the corner and stops, looking up.

"Yuuna, why'd you stop? You have an exam." Yubel calls, but then they follow Yuuna's gaze.

A heavy set woman is pushing a van uphill, struggling with all her might to get it up. Oh man, she needs help.

Yuuna rushes up to the van. "Hang on, I can help!"

Yubel watches her storm up, then sighs, shaking their head. "She's going to be so late."

True, but Yuuna doesn't mind, this woman needs help. So she puts her hands on the back of the van and pushes with all her might.

"Oh thank you." The woman turns to her. "Are you from the Auto Club?"

"Nope, just your average do-gooder." Yuuna shoves with all her might, her feet almost slipping in the dirt.

Yubel sighs and smiles, rolling their eyes. "If only I were corporal."

The woman laughs and continues pushing. "Isn't that nice?"

Yuuna giggles and gives another big push, moving the van forward just a little. Ra, what's inside it? Bricks?! Doesn't matter, Yuuna's gonna keep on pushing and helping until this lady and this van is just where it needs to be.

"Thank you." The woman smiles. "I'm Dorothy, you?"

"Hey, it's my pleasure." The girl grins. "Yuuna Yuki, at your service."

"Well I'll remember this, Yuuna, I promise you that." Dorothy pushes as hard as she can, getting the van up the hill.

"Please at least try to get to your exam on time, Little Princess." Yubel shakes their head.

Yuuna smiles, heart alight and continues to push, not caring for her exam. She might not have all the technical information down, but she can Duel with the best of them and she will today.

She'll prove she deserves to be at Duel Academy. She'll be just fine.

She's terribly late and finds Syrus sleeping on his test and muttering. "A munch counters a field spell…. With counters…"

"I didn't know this was an oral exam." Yuuna hums.

"Neither did I." Yubel floats overhead.

Blair shakes her head. "He was having a Slifer sayonce, begging the God Card all night to help him study and pass the exams. It's a wonder me or Chumley got any sleep."

Yubel sweat drops, folding their arms. "Good grief."

"Aww." Yuuna giggles, then gently puts her hand on Syrus' shoulder. "Come on buddy, wake up."

"AH!" Syrus shrieks, jumping up. "I failed, didn't I?!"

"Not so long as you stay awake for the rest of the test." Yuuna smiles. "You've been working so hard, I know you got this."

Syrus stares at her and smiles. "Thanks, Yuuna."

"You three stoges want to keep it down?!"

All four of them turn to look at Chazz, who's snarling like a cornered rat, hissing at them.

"Some of us plan to pass this test!" His eyes and arms are shaky, like he's barely containing his rage.

"You pass?" Yubel rolls their eyes. "For that you'd need a brain."

Yunna giggles,

Yuuna huffs, fists in front of her chest. "Hey, I always plan on passing, it just doesn't always work out like that. But I know these two are going to ace it, Blair's the smartest person I know and Syrus is super hard working!" She grins. "Just you wait, they're going to get a high score, I believe in them!"

"Miss Yuki?"

Yuuna stiffens, frozen for a moment.

"Why don't you come down here and get your exam?" Banner calls.

Yuuna laughs nervously. She's screwed.

Barely ten minutes later find her asleep at her desk, while Blair pokes Syrus in the ear once or twice to keep him from meeting the same fate. Syrus tries waking Yuuna up, only for her to swing her fist at his head, making him duck and scream.

Another ten minutes find Syrus passed out on top of Yuuna while Blair starts rubbing her eyes and trying to stay awake.

Another ten minutes Blair pushes her finished test away from her and puts her head in her arms, dozing off, while Syrus and Yuuna continue to snore through the exam.

Finally, Banner speaks up. "Okay children, pencils down please. The written exam is now over. Please walk, do not run, to get in line for the arrival of the new rare cards."

"They're here?!" Everyone in the room shouts.

"Oh dear." Banner whimpers.

Soon enough a stampede of students barrel out of his classroom like wild animals, dashing for the card shop on campus. All but Yuuna, Syrus, Blair and Bastion.

"You three may want to give some serious thought to waking up." Bastion calls, gently shaking Syrus' shoulder.

Syrus practically jumps from his seat then starts crying. "I flunked, didn't I? I'm a complete failure."

"Syrus, if they were grading on melodrama, you'd get an A." Yuuna lifts her head, stretching her arms.

Blair groans and rubs her eyes with the balls of her palms. "Oh man…. What time is it?"

Her hat starts slipping off her head and her hair starts spilling from it. Yuuna gasps and jumps up, causing everyone to look at her.

"Where'd everybody go?!" Yuuna reaches up and scratches her head, making very intense eye contact with Blair.

Blair gasps and pulls her hat down, tucking her hair under it.

"That's what I was trying to tell you." Bastion leans on the table. "The new rare cards have arrived and everyone ran to the card shop to spruce up their Decks before the practical tests. Since everyone wants the best cards for themselves, it appears no one told you lot."

"What, rare cards?!" Syrus shouts. "Thanks Bastion, but why aren't you getting any?"

"Please, one errant card and my Deck's delicate balance will be thrown completely off chart." Bastion smiles, patting his Deck.

Syrus turns to Yuuna. "Mine wouldn't!"

"So let's hurry and get to the card shack!" Blair climbs out of her seat. "Thank you Bastion!"

Yuuna laughs. "Yeah, thanks!" She giggles and holds her fists to her face. "There's nothing like the smell of new cards in the morning!"

With that, the three of them make a run for it-

Only to find the card shack empty. Not a soul or pack in sight, besides the counter girl.

"They couldn't have…." Syrus trails off.

Blair, Syrus and Yuuna all look at one another. "Run out of cards already?!"

Yuuna hadn't realised everyone was going to be so feral about the new cards.

The three rush up to the counter girl, Blair leaning towards her to ask. "Excuse me, Miss? Are there any card packs left?"

"Just the regular ones." The counter girl calls, sliding one pack across the counter.

The three say all together. "We said some, not one!"

"I'm doomed." Syrus whimpers, tugging at his hair. "I slept through my written test, if I don't ace my practical test, they're going to kick me out!"

He's breathing quickly and harshly, in out, much too fast to be normal. He's hyperventilating.

Yuuna kneels at his side and gently takes his hands. "Syrus, breathe for me, okay?"

Syrus looks at her, still breathing rapidly, still panicking.

"In…" Yuuna inhales deeply, filling up her chest and stomach.

Syrus breathes in, choking on his own air.

"Out…." She exhales, relaxing her stomach and chest.

Syrus breathes out, looking panicked still.

Yuuna repeats this for a while, until Syrus seems calm. Blair pats his back soothingly, rubbing it in gentle circles.

"Syrus, you can have the pack." Blair says.

Syrus turns and gapes at her. "Seriously?"

"Yeah!" Yuuna smiles, standing up. "I know my Dark World Army won't let me down, so I don't need it."

"I know I passed my test too, I finished it early in fact." Blair shrugs, putting her hands in her pockets.

Syrus looks between the two of them wildly. Then he breaks out crying and hugs the two of them tightly. Blair stiffens initially, but hugs him and Yuuna, continuing to rub Syrus's back the whole time. Yuuna smiles, wrapping her arms around her two short friends and holding them closely. She's so… grateful to have these amazing people in her life, she can hardly believe it.

"Yu-hoo, Auto Club?"

Yuuna blinks, pulling back from the hug a little to see. "Oh, hey Dorothy! How are you?"

"I'm just fine, sweetheart!" Dorothy winks. "You're all pretty excited for your promotional exams, aren't you?"

"Yeah." Yuuna grins and pumps her fist. "I can't wait to see what I'm made of and who I'm Duelling! Do you work at the card shop?"

Syrus blinks up at her, looking from Dorothy to Yuuna. "You two know each other?"

"Met earlier today!" Yuuna grins.

"Yep, she was such a helpful girl and since I own the card shop, I figured I may as well stash one pack away just for you!" Dorothy calls, smiling wide.

"Ya mean it?" Blair gasps.

Syrus turns to Yuuna. "Yuuna, that means you still have a chance to do well on your field test!"

Yuuna laughs. "Come on, Sy, it's not like I was going to fail anyway. I never fail when it comes to Duelling!"

Still, she walks over and accepts the cards from Dorothy-

"Not this one."

Yuuna blinks, looking at the pack. Do the cards in there not want to be with her?

"You okay, Yuuna?" Blair walks over.

"This one." That same voice whispers.

Yuuna shrugs and smiles. "Yeah, but I think these cards wanna go to you, Blair."

"Me?" Blair points at herself, blinking.

Yuuna nods and offers her the pack. "Open them up, see who's inside."

Blair hesitantly takes the pack and opens it up, gently and carefully. Then she pulls the three cards out and gapes at them for a while. Yuuna starts to sweat.

Blair lets out the loudest and most unholy shriek Yuuna's ever heard.

"IT'S HER!" Blair holds the card close to her face then far away, as if trying to see if it's real. "IS THIS REAL?! OH MY RA, IT IS REAL, I DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE PRINTING HER!"

Yuuna watches with a small smile as Blair continues to freak out, feeling a laugh bubble up to her throat.

"YUUNA!" Blair suddenly lunges for her, Yuuna barely managing to catch her in time. "YUUNA, YUUNA, THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

Yuuna laughs and hugs her tight. "Not a problem, Blair, I'm just so glad you're so happy with your monster."

Blair wraps her arms around Yuuna's neck and hugs her even tighter, excitedly rambling to Yuuna and then to Syrus about all the new strategies she can unleash now that she has this card. Yuuna does her best to focus on not dropping Blair as the three of them exit the card shop to make their way to the exam hall. Syrus talks with her, excitedly discussing his own Deck and the preparations he's made for his Duels.

Yuuna wonders if this is what it's like to have a little brother and a little sister…

"What?!"

Yuuna looks across the field at her unlikely opponent as the crowd has an uproar. "I'm the Slifer Red who won the chance to Duel a Ra Yellow?!"

"Why yes!" Crowler chuckles, standing in the Field. "And it's none other than the best of the best in the Ra dorm, Bastion Misawa! I hope you were able to get a lot of Rare Cards so you could beat him in today's test!"

Bastion stands at the Field at the ready. "Dr. Crowler, is this really appropriate? It's rather unorthodox for people from different dorms to Duel one another in these exams."

"Well, there have been a few new changes in this Academy. Female students in Slifer Red, the chance for students from different Dorms to Duel in these exams, you get the memo!" Crowler waved him off. "It's been a long time coming really."

Yuuna narrows her eyes. That can't be right. There aren't meant to be female students in the Red Dorm, Yuuna knows this. Crowler's trying to trick her into this Duel.

"Well, are you two ready?" Crowler cackles.

Up in the crowd, murmurs break out.

"This is so weird." Mindy says, bending over the railings to look properly.

"I know, right?" Jasmine hums. "I don't understand why the teachers are doing this all of a sudden, it doesn't make any sense."

Alexis sits next to her, arms folded. Dr. Crowler is clearly trying to get Yuuna expelled through this. If he gets out of this school then Alexis won't be able to make sure the Prince of Darkness doesn't destroy the world. She hates to think it, but Yuuna has to win this match.

"Alexis, Yuuna said you two Duelled each other." Mindy suddenly turns to her. "Do you think she can win?"

"Wait, what?" Jasmine calls, turning around.

Alexis uncrosses her arms. "I don't know, girls. But I hope she can."

Otherwise she'll never be able to find out where her brother is.

A few seats away, Chazz sits with his lackies, Raizou and Taiyou.

Chazz scoffs. "Why'd Crowler put her against that nerd?"

If anyone was going to face Yuuna and it was going to be someone from another Dorm, why that dork?

"Beats me, Chazz." Taiyou shrugs. "I mean, you are the strongest Obelisk Blue."

Raizou hums. "Maybe he knew you lost to h-"

Chazz growls and slams his hand over his mouth. "What. Did. I. Say. About. Mentioning. That?"

Raizou sweats under his palm and Chazz pulls it away to let him speak. "Not to tell anyone!"

"Then don't talk about it where people can hear either!" Chazz snaps.

He settles deeper in his seat and curls his hands into fists. That Ra Yellow better win.

Meanwhile, in a part of the stands that are all red, Syrus, Chumley and Blair worry.

"I got a bad feeling about this." Syrus whimpers.

Blair bites her lip. "No kidding."

Chumley groans. "This is so not fair! Yuuna doesn't have the grades to get away with losing her Field test!"

Blair stiffens. Chumley's right. They're setting her up to fail.

Yuuna won't accept it, right?

"I'll do it!" Yuuna smiles. "If you want to, Bastion!"

Bastion blinks and smiles. "Well, you did say you were the best Duelist here during the entrance exams. I suppose our Duel has been a long time coming."

"Sweet!" Yuuna pumps a fist. "Then let's get our game on!"

Crowler scurries out of the way.

"DUEL!"

BASTION MISAWA: 4000

YUUNA YUKI: 4000

"Ladies first, if you please!" Yuuna calls, drawing her card.

In her hand, Stygian Street Patrol revs his engine while Samsara Lotus coughs and hisses at him. Yubel manifests from their card to appear at Yuuna's side, looking over the other cards in her hand, which include Sinister Seed, Double Summon and Dark World Dealings.

"Oh yeah, I got really lucky now." Yuuna grins, then selects. "I play Dark World Dealings, which lets us both draw one card and then Discard another!"

Yuuna and Bastion draw. Yuuna places Samsara Lotus in her Graveyard, where she can summon herself later, once Yuuna has Yubel on the Field. But until then, she's just drawn Beiige, who's bouncing and cheering and demanding to be put on the Field right this minute, or he'll eat her bones.

Yuuna laughs. "Well Beiige, the stage is yours!"

Beiige takes to the Field with his 1600 ATK points, ready and willing to rip Bastion a new one.

"I'll end my turn with a facedown and that's that." Yuuna puts Sinister Seed on the field.

"A fine start, but you're about to see mine is better." Bastion draws. "First, I'll discard my Duoterion to retrieve a Bonding spell or trap card of my choice!"

Yuuna blinks, turning to Yubel in confusion. "Bonding?"

The crowd murmurs as well, seemingly as confused as Yuuna is.

Yubel narrows their eyes. "Be careful Little Princess. I haven't heard of this before."

Yuuna hasn't either.

"I'll play a face down." Bastion's card appears on the field. "And I'll summon my Hydrogeddon!"

A brown dinosaur takes to the field with a roar and 1600 ATK points to it's name, hissing.

Beiige laughs. "A fight to the death it'll be, little lizard!"

Hydrogeddon roars right back at him.

"And attack!" Bastion shouts.

Yuuna gasps. "You're going for mutual destruction?!"

If she doesn't take any battle damage from Beiige's destruction, she can't activate Sinister Seed!

Beiige roars and charges at Hydrogeddon, who roars right back. Beiige brings his sword down on the monster while Hydrogeddon blasts him with an attack that looks like the rest of it's body and the two explode, with no effects on their life points.

The crowd scream and shout, Yuuna hearing some frantic calls of her name, but she can't tell who.

Damnit.

"But that's not all Yuuna!" Bastion calls. "For you see, if my Hydrogeddon is able to destroy a monster in battle, I'm able to summon another one straight from my Deck!"

Yuuna gasps. "No way!"

Another Hydrogeddon appears on the Field, 1600 ATK points all aiming for Yuuna's Life Points.

"And the best part is, the battle phase continues!" Bastion points forward. "Go!"

The new Hydrogeddon creates a blast just like the last one and hits Yuuna head on, knocking her on her rear.

BASTION MISAWA: 4000

YUUNA YUKI: 2400

The Slifer Red students scream and shout, some calling fowl play while others whimper and worry. The Ra Yellow and Obelisk Blue students cheer and clap, drowning out the sounds of outrage from the Red students.

"Yuuna!" Yubel calls, falling to their knees beside her.

"I'm okay." Yuuna groans, sitting up properly. "Man, that Bastion sure knows how to throw down."

Yuuna smiles. This is going to be a tough Duel, but she believes in her Deck and she believes in herself.

"And that ends my turn." Bastion calls. "Do you wish to continue this Duel, Yuuna?"

Yuuna laughs and pushes herself to her feet with a small jump. "No way am I giving up now! This is too much fun!" She puts her hand on her deck. "I draw!"

"Looks like you're in danger, Coach."

Yuuna gasps and looks at her drawn monster, smiling. "Just a little bit, Renge."

Stygian Street Patrol revs his engines. "I can take out that dumb dinosaur in one strike and I can get in the Graveyard so we can get Yubel out, come on, we don't need his help!"

Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World raises an eyebrow at him. "Whaddaya mean you don't need my help, biker boy?"

Yuuna groans and rolls her eyes. "Come on you two, fight later, we've got Duelling we need to do."

Yubel hums. "Street Patrol does have a point though. The sooner I'm on the Field, the better."

Yuuna hums and turns to Renge. "They've got a point. You okay with seeing the action a little later?"

Renge groans and huffs. "Fine. You call the shots, Coach."

"Will do." Yuuna giggles then shouts. "I summon my Stygian Street Patrol!"

Street Patrol gives a rev of his engines and zips around Hydrogeddon a few times, showing off his 1600 ATK points.

Bastion narrows his eyes. "They have equal points."

"That's right, which means mutual destruction again!" Yuuna calls. "Go, Street Patrol!"

"I'm gonna make you see the dinosaurs again, you sucker!" Street Patrol roars.

Hydrogeddon roars back and the two slam into each other, bursting into pixels.

"But this time, it's good for me! When Street Patrol takes out a monster-" Yuuna punches the air in front of her. "You lose life points equal to that monster's level, times 100!"

Bastion narrows his eyes.

BASTION MISAWA: 3600

YUUNA YUKI: 2400

The Slifer Red students cheer while the Ra Yellow students grumble and pout.

"Why go to all that trouble for only 400 life points?" Bastion calls. "Not to mention, you've left your field wide open."

"Not for long!" Yuuna selects the spell. "Because by playing Double Summon, I'm allowed to bring out Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World!"

Renge storms to the Field, 2100 DEF at the ready, slamming is hands on the ground.

"With that, my turn is done." Yuuna grins. "Give it all you got, Bastion!"

"I intend to." Bastion smiles as he draws. "And I've got just the card to do that!"

Yuuna blinks.

"I play my facedown card, Bonding - DHO!" The trap pops up. "When I have a Duoterian, Hydrogeddon and an Oxygeddon in my hand or Graveyard, I can shuffle them into my Deck to summon my most powerful beast!"

Yubel hisses. "I don't like this, Little Princess."

Yuuna's eyes widen in awe as shadows of the monster Bastion mentioned appear on the field.

"Go!" Bastion calls. "Meet my Water Dragon Cluster, Yuuna!"

The three shadows roar and merge, then there's a massive splash, creating water that spreads everywhere. Then the water solidifies, taking on a shape, a shape with two dragon heads bursting out of a mighty body of water, a tail flickering high in the air behind them. The two dragons open their eyes, revealing red gems and give a mighty roar, revealing their 2800 ATK points.

The stadium erupts with shock and awe, the Ra Yellow students chanting Bastion's name, the Slifer Red students calling out for Yuuna in worry, the Obelisk Blue students laughing with glee.

Yuuna stares up at the monster. "Amazing..."

Yubel shouts. "Renge, watch out!"

Yuuna gasps, staring out at her field.

"Go, Water Dragon Cluster!" Bastion calls.

Water Dragon Cluster howls and the two headed beasts shoot waterfalls from their mouths, aimed right at Renge. He holds his arms over his head and tries to withstand it, but he can't take the pressure and is soon destroyed.

Yuuna shouts. "Renge!"

Up in the stands, Yuuna's dormmates watch the battle in fear.

"Aww man." Chumley groans. "This is looking really bad for Yuuna."

Syrus whimpers. "If this keeps up, she's going to lose this Duel and get k-"

"No!" Blair shouts, jumping to her feet.

Everyone turns around to stare at her, shocked at the outburst. Blair has tears in her eyes as she watches the scene, watches Yuuna staring up at Water Dragon Cluster in fear.

Yuuna is the kindest person Blair has ever known. She's done nothing but help her ever since she came to Duel Academy. She knew their secret, but she hasn't told anyone and kept her safe.

"Yeah, but I think these cards wanna go to you, Blair."

She'd given up that last pack so easily. Just because she somehow knew the card inside was meant to be with Blair. Blair had the best grades out of everyone in the Slifer Red dorm, she passed her test, she knew she'd be able to make it through this but Yuuna…

Yuuna has Crowler gunning for her and Chazz wants her dead. This whole match was set up for Yuuna to fail. She knows it in her gut.

Blair holds the card she got from that pack closer to her chest and whispers. "Don't lose, Yuuna. Don't get kicked out. Please…"

In the viewing box though, Vellian is having the time of his life. His love letter plan didn't work for some reason, but that fool Yuuna completely fell for his trap with the Duel Match! Bastion doesn't suspect a thing either once he spouted that nonsense about things changing at the Academy, perfect school boys like him will believe anything their teachers say!

Vellian can't help but laugh behind his hand. "Goodness, perhaps Signora Yuki can't play with the big boys after all."

That old fool Shepard is humming at his side. "I still don't understand how a female student ended up in the Slifer Red Dorm. Her paperwork checks out, but she hasn't got the grades to make it into the Obelisk Blue Dorm. How'd she get into the Academy?"

Vellian huffs and waves him off. "However she managed to get in, one thing's for sure. She's not half as good as everyone thinks she is."

And once that little stain on his reputation is out of this Academy, he can go back to things that really matter. Like getting rid of more Slifer Slackers.

Back in the stands, Chazz is enjoying the show too.

Chazz laughs as he sits with his lackies. "Finally, someone's putting that Slifer Slacker in her place.

Taiyou hums. "Ya really think that Ra Yellow can beat her when you couldn't?"

Chazz stiffens.

Raizou stammers. "Uhh, what he means by that Chazz-"

"Shut up, both of you!" Chazz smacks his hands over their mouths, gaining a few looks before he scares 'em off with a glare. He drags them closer to him. "We agreed not to talk about it, remember?"

No one can ever know he lost to that Slifer Slacker, ever! It's bad enough these two blabber mouths know about it, they're horrible at keeping secrets. Why'd he ever take them on as his lackies?

But on another part of the stands, Alexis is resisting the urge to bite her fingers. "This is a complete mismatch."

Jasmine and Mindy turn to her, Jasmine calling. "What do you mean, Lex?"

"I don't know everything about Yuuna's grades, but Bastion is the top student in the Ra Yellow dorm. He aced the practical and written entrance exams, but turned down a position in Obelisk Blue for some reason." Alexis recounts.

She'd done some investigating into the top students in the year, to see if they may become allies or enemies in her search for her brother. Bastion didn't crop up as someone working for the Darkness, but he may pose a threat if he allies himself with Yuuna.

Mindy gasps. "Really? So he's as good as us?"

"Possibly better." Alexis continues. "Meanwhile Yuuna is in Slifer Red and she was late to her written exam. There's no chance she passed that when she slept right through it."

"I noticed that too." Jasmine hums, turning around. "This isn't right."

Alexis couldn't agree more. She may hate Yuuna, but she hates injustice more.

"Oh, please hold on, Yuuna." Mindy calls.

"For now I end my turn." Bastion calls.

Yuuna holds Yubel's card closer to her chest, breathing a little harder. If she doesn't get something on the Field soon, then she won't make it. She really will be kicked out. She'll have to go back to that cursed house with those horrible people and she can't-

"Yuuna?"

Yuuna opens her eyes to see Bastion calling her.

"You knew from the beginning that this was a trap, right?" Bastion says. "Why did you decide to Duel me?"

Yuuna looks at him, then to Yubel at her side.

"I…" Yuuna takes in a deep breath. Turns to face Bastion. And smiles. "I wanted to Duel you anyway, that's why!"

Bastion blinks.

"I don't care that this is a trap. Or that the odds aren't in my favour. I know my place at the Academy is at stake here." Yuuna looks at Yubel and her smile turns softer. "But I don't care. I Duel because it's fun. Because I wanna make new friends and keep getting stronger. I wanna be the best of the best!"

Yubel smiles at her, reaching out and running their fingers through her hair.

Yuuna smiles at them, then turns to Bastion. "And that means Duelling strong guys like you too! I'm always up for a challenge and this has probably been my biggest one in a while!" Yuuna pumps her fist. "So keep hitting me with all you've got, Bastion! Because I'll hit back even harder, just you wait and see!"

Bastion stares at her then slowly smiles. "Go ahead, if you think you can, Yuuna!"

"Oh I don't think so." Yuuna smiles. "I know so."

She places her hand on her Deck, unaware of the darkness that slips between her fingers and into her top card. It glows a gentle purple before fading and Yuuna never notices it.

But Yubel does.

"I draw!" Yuuna calls, eyes flashing gold for just a second.

Yubel notices that too, though Yuuna doesn't.

Yuuna looks at the card she drew with brown eyes and gapes in shock for a while. Then she grins.

"I set a card face down!" Yuuna plays what she drew. "And now it's time to bring my best friend onto the Field!"

Bastion clenches his teeth.

"I remove my Stygian Street Patrol from play to special summon one Fiend monster with less than 2000 ATK points from my hand!" Yuuna shouts. "And the monster I choose is Yubel!"

Dark clouds cover the field, spilling out onto other matches. Everyone stops to stare as Yubel emerges from the cloud cover, giving a mighty flap of their wings to disperse it.

Bastion stares up at them in shock. "So she's really here."

Yubel bites their lip.

Yuuna growls. "Heck yeah Yubel is here and they're not going to let me down! Let's go!"

Yubel flies across the Field. "This is for Beiige, Range and Street Patrol!"

"Not so fast, Yuuna!" Bastion calls.

Yuuna grits her teeth.

"My Water Dragon Cluster has a Quick Effect. I can tribute it to summon two Water Dragons in DEF mode!" Bastion calls.

The Water Dragon Cluster breaks down the middle before Yubel can attack it, leaving two Water Dragons on the Field with 2600 DEF points at the ready.

Yuuna groans and pulls at her hair. "Oh man, I was so close!"

Bastion chuckles. "Yes, but not close enough. Because I know Yubel's weakness!"

Yuuna hums.

"Yubel can not stay on the Field if there isn't a monster to be sacrificed by the End Phase. Once she destroys herself, your field will be wide open, I will switch my Monsters to ATK mode and that'll be that." Bastion calls.

Yuuna looks at Yubel, who blinks back at her.

Then the two break out into laughter and Yuuna turns to him.

"Bastion, I don't know if you noticed, but in my very first turn, I discarded a card just for that purpose." Yuuna grins. "Because during my End Phase, I'm allowed to summon Samsara Lotus to the Field from my Graveyard in ATK Mode!"

Samsara Lotus blooms onto the Field, hissing at the two Water Dragons, glaring them down.

"And now I sacrifice her to keep Yubel on my field, for your next turn." Yuuna smiles.

Samsara Lotus waves goodbye as she vanishes again.

"You're up, Bastion." Yuuna giggles.

Bastion hums. "I draw."

"And now that you're in your Standby Phase, I can activate my facedown!" Yuuna calls.

Her card pops up, revealing several people being surrounded by auras.

"Battle Mania!" Yuuna shouts. "All your monsters go to ATK mode and they must attack this turn!"

Bastion gasps. "Great Scott!"

The two Water Dragons move into ATK position, giving a mighty roar to show off their 2800 ATK points.

The crowd goes wild, the Obelisk Blues shouting at Bastion, the Slifer Reds cheering for Yuuna, the Ra Yellows split either in joining the Blues or Reds.

Bastion looks at his hand, looking in shock, then he raises his head to meet eyes with Yuuna. Yuuna stares right back at him, Yubel glaring him down.

"Well played, Yuuna." Bastion smirks. "I enter my Battle Phase!"

Yuuna laughs and jumps, pumping a fist. "Oh yeah!" She punches the air in front of her. "Go Yubel!"

"My Water Dragons, attack!" Bastion points.

Yubel and the two Water Dragons meet in the middle, colliding hard. Yubel strikes right through both dragons though and as they burst into waterfalls, they soak Bastion through, getting Yuuna's ankles wet as the water rushes all over the Field.

BASTION MISAWA: 0

YUUNA YUKI: 2400

WINNER: YUUNA YUKI

The crowd goes nuts, shouting and screaming, many Obelisk Blues and Ra Yellows in out-rage, while the Slifer Reds and at least half the Ra Yellows cheer in delight. Yuuna laughs and throws peace signs to the crowd anyway, blasting finger guns to her heart's content. Yubel grins at her and ruffles her hair.

She turns to look at Bastion, who's still on one knee and throws him her two finger salute. "Gotcha!"

Bastion blinks at her, dumb-founded, but smiles. Yuuna walks over to him as Bastion gets to his feet and they meet in the middle of the field.

"That was a fantastic Duel, Bastion, your Water Dragon Cluster was incredible!" Yuuna offers him a hand.

Bastion smiles and gasps it. "As was your Yubel, she is rather mighty."

Yubel flinches.

"Hehe, I know, right?" Yuuna shakes his hand. "I'm really glad they're on my side of the Field and not yours."

She tightens her grip on his hand, a very mild threat.

Bastion blinks but nods. "Indeed. They're a powerful card and have clearly brought you luck thus far."

Yubel blinks and smiles a little. Yunna grins at her.

"Hey!"

"Yuuna!"

Yuuna laughs and turns around, barely catching Syrus and Blair on time as they run into her arms. She spins them around once and then falls on her bum. Before Syrus or Blair can ask if she's hurt though, Yuuna bursts into laughter and hugs them tightly.

"I did it, guys!" Yuuna laughs.

"I knew you could!" Blair calls.

Syrus hugs her tightly. "You're amazing!"

Chumley huffs and pants as he runs over. "Why are we always running?"

Yuuna smiles and looks up at Yubel, who's beaming with pride.

"Yuuna!"

Yuuna huffs in surprise, looking over her shoulders in shock. "Mindy? Jasmine?"

"We were so worried!" Mindy cries, hugging her neck tightly.

Jasmine pats Yuuna's shoulder. "Mindy was, I knew you'd pull through."

Yuuna laughs. "Aww, I didn't realize you guys cared so much."

She really didn't. She knew Syrus and Blair would be worried about her, but she didn't realize that Chumley, Mindy and Jasmine would too.

Yuuna never thought they'd miss her.

"That was well played, Yuuna Yuki." Chancellor Shepard's voice echoes from the observation booth, causing all students to turn to where his image is projected.

Syrus and Blair scramble off her, while Mindy pulls Yuuna to her feet.

"Not in the history of our revered Academy has a Slifer ever Dueled a Ra in these exams. Yuuna, not only did you hold your own, but you won. Your courage against overwhelming odds is, inspiring." Chancellor Shepard's voice is full of more pride than Yuuna's ever heard in her life.

Yuuna's heart skips a beat and she smiles, holding Syrus and Blair's hands, grinning with Chumley, Mindy and Jasmine.

"It is with great pride that I grant you promotion to-" Shepard continues. "Ra Yellow! Good job!"

The stadium goes crazy once more, more supportive cheering this time, though there's still a few nasty remarks among the congratulations. Yuuna doesn't care one bit about those though.

"Ra Yellow?!" Blair gasps.

"You're the best Yuuna!" Syrus laughs.

Yuuna laughs as well, picking them up into another group hug, all of them cheering as she does.

"That's so licious, Yuuna!" Chumley cheers, patting her back.

"Well done, Yuuna!" Mindy laughs, throwing her arms around her shoulders.

"You've earned that promotion, that was a crazy Duel." Jasmine grins.

"I do what I can! And I know I did better knowing you guys were cheering me on!" Yuuna looks between all her friends.

Wait. Friends?

Syrus flushes bright red while Blair puffs up her chest in pride. Mindy whimpers and rubs at her eyes while Jasmine rolls hers and hands her a tissue. Chumley grins at her.

Yeah. These are her friends. They all came down to cheer her on because they were worried about her.

"Good show, Yuuna."

All of them turn around to see Bastion walking over to them.

"Allow me to be the first," He extends his arm. "To welcome you to the Ra Dorm."

Yuuna laughs, puts down her friends and takes his hand. "Thanks a lot Bastion! It's nice to not have my rivals hating on me for once!"

Confetti falls from the ceiling, Syrus continues to clap and cheer, Chumley waves his arms as if he doesn't care, Bastion continues to smile, Yubel is actually doing summersaults because they're so excited, Mindy and Jasmine dance in a circle with Blair and Yuuna, for the first time in her life, feels brave and important and worth celebrating.

But if she leaves Slifer Red, what will happen next?

Who will help Blair stay hidden?

Who's going to help Syrus with his confidence?

Will Yuuna be as close to her friends or will they drift?

Blair stares into her food and can't help but sigh for the third time. Sure, Yuuna's not the only Slifer Red that got a promotion that day and there's a few new faces she could try making friends with. But she just….

"You miss her a lot, huh?" Chumley says.

Blair stiffens and looks up at him, but nods.

"Yeah, I know how you feel." Syrus pats her back. "Yuuna's really special and it feels weird not seeing her in the Dorm anymore."

Blair shakes her head. "No it's okay, I just… I just thought she'd at least say goodbye."

Maybe Yuuna's just not good at them. Blair never has been, she's always cried whenever she had to leave her Dad in the hospital and go back to her step-mom.

"Who said I was leaving?"

All heads turn towards- "Yuuna?!"

There she stands in the doorway, waving at them like she doesn't have a care in the world. "Hey, why's everyone staring at me like that?"

Everyone is quiet for a bit, turning to look at each other.

Banner states the obvious. "Yuuna, you received the opportunity for a promotion. Did you leave something in your Dorm room?"

"Uhh, of course I left something in my Dorm room, that's where I live!" Yuuna laughs.

Everyone murmurs in confusion.

Then it clicks.

Blair jumps to her feet. "You turned down the promotion to Ra Yellow?!"

"WHAT?!" The entire hall shouts.

Yuuna laughs. "You got it!"

"But why?" Syrus jumps to his feet.

Blair can't blame him, she feels shocked as well.

Yuuna smiles at them, softer and fonder. She walks over and then puts a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Ra Yellow is nice and all and Bastion's pretty cool too, so far, but honestly?" Yuuna grins wider. "It's just not home without you two in it. You're the first best friends I've ever had and I didn't wanna leave you behind."

Blair can't help it.

She starts crying.

Syrus starts sobbing too.

He buries his face in her jacket, making her cry out in shock.

"I thought I'd lost you forever!" Syrus whimpers.

Blair laughs and shakes her head, drying her own tears. "Dumby, it's not like she was leaving the island!"

Yuuna laughs and pulls her closer. "Come on, Blair, group hug! You too Chumley, get over here now!"

Blair finds herself crying into Yuuna's jacket as her arms, Syrus's and Chumley's wrap around her.

Blair once had hugs like this from her Dad, before he was too weak. They were tight and good and he could wrap his arms around her whole body and carry her around like nothing could hurt her.

Now, she feels something almost like those hugs. With Chumley, Syrus and Yuuna keeping her warm and safe, for just a moment, Blair cries and knows nothing can hurt her.

Yuuna came back. She's not leaving her behind.

Blair hugs her just a little tighter and wonders if this is what it's like to have a big sister…