He cursed the universe when he first saw her.
A girl, a child even, with the Gentle Darkness flowing through her as she stands in the crowd, a humble peasant just enjoying the festivities. Nevermind that he was a child as well, nevermind that he had only just learned of his powers and his best friend destroyed their own humanity because of him.
The Gentle Darkness had chosen a second vessel and he would not allow his father to find her. He would not allow any harm to come to her.
So he hid her, right under his father's nose. The girl's mother was soon working in the kitchen and he was able to eavesdrop enough to learn about the girl. That she was poor and worked in the fields with her father, because they did not always have enough food on the table.
He did what he could to try and raise the money for field workers, even if the aristocrats complained about having slightly less coinage than usual. As if any of them had ever seen a day where they didn't have food or shelter.
He'd thought if the girl's family had more money, she wouldn't come to the castle to work, where his father might find her.
He'd been wrong.
Blair sits on her bed, waiting for the sun to rise as she looks through her Deck. Overhead to her shock, Syrus and Chumley are sleeping safe and sound. How can they sleep after everything that happened earlier that night in the Abandoned Dorm?
Blair sighs and looks at one card in particular. House Dragonmaid.
Of course the boys fell asleep as soon as they all got back in their Dorms at 4am. They didn't see what she saw. They didn't see how Yuuna's honey brown eyes turned a terrifying and bright gold, like a monster lurking in the dark and trying to drag you into it's jaws.
But Yuuna would never hurt anyone!
Blair assured herself of this truth, remembering every comforting thing Yuuna has ever said to her. Promising to be there for her, protecting her secret, saving her from Titan-
Titan spews black smoke and snarls at her. "1500 life points is nothing to me!"
Well… she hurt Titan, but he doesn't matter, he hurt them first!
"House…" Blair murmurs. "What happened out there?"
Her card doesn't answer. Of course she doesn't. Or maybe she did, Blair just can't hear her like Yuuna can. Or maybe House didn't answer because Blair already knows the answer to that. Her world got turned upside down in the Abandoned Dorm.
She learned the Shadow Games are real.
She learned that Yuuna already knew that.
She learned that Yuuna…
Golden eyes stare at her, glowing darkly, as if a demon had possessed her friend.
Might not be entirely human.
Blair shudders and tries to shake those golden eyes out of her head, but then she just thinks of the black blobs or the way Yuuna and Titan would vomit that black smoke and-
Blair whimpers and opens her eyes, looking at House Dragonmaid.
Then she starts to cry and hold the card to her chest. "House, please. Help me."
Blair continues to sob quietly, covering her mouth with one hand to hold back the screams trying to break out of her throat. She learned to cry quietly at home, she hasn't had to do that yet at Duel Academy. But it's just one of those skills you never lose. Not after living with her step mother.
"Blair."
She freezes up and looks at the card. "House?"
"I'm here, Little Love." House's glasses twinkle on the card. "I'm here."
Blair sobs harder and bundles herself up in the blankets, holding House closer to her chest. She pretends she's in her old bed and that Papa is running his fingers through her hair, telling her he loves her and it'll be okay after she had a bad nightmare.
"It'll be okay, Little Love. You're not alone and it's okay to be scared." House continues to speak. "We're all here for you. It's going to be okay."
Blair doesn't know how long she lays there crying, feeling Papa's fingers in her hair, hearing House soothing her. The room gets lighter and eventually her tears dry up.
"Sleep in, Blair. It's a weekend, you need it." House hums. "I'll protect you."
Blair's eyes flutter closed.
SCREACH!
Blair's eyes snap open and she looks at the door.
"Hut, hut, hut, hut-"
What the?! Who's playing soldiers at 8am on a Saturday morning?!
Knock-knock-knock- "Open up! Open this door right now or we'll bust it down!"
Blair gasps at the sight of the woman in the doorway.
"Huh?" Chumley yawns, sitting up. "Is that so?"
Syrus groans. "Her and what army?"
Blair gulps and sits up. "Guys. That's the Disciplinary Action Squad."
The school's security and police, dealing with internal threats and eternal ones. They were meant to only be called if a student had done something especially dangerous, such as put themselves or another student at risk.
"What?!" Syrus and Chumley sit up and shout.
"I'm coming, please don't break the door down!" Blair calls.
Blair climbs out of bed and whimpers as she walks to the door. Why are they here? Have they found her out? Oh no, they have! She has to try and keep calm, just play the game and try to win.
She takes a breath.
She opens the door.
The woman at the door is twice her height and glares down at her. "Are you Blair Flannigan?"
Blair's heart appears in her throat, choking her, so all she does is nod.
"You and your accomplice Yuuna Yuki are under campus arrest!" The woman declares.
Blair's world crumbles down.
"Hey, what's going on?!"
Blair gasps and looks down the hallway to see- "Yuuna!"
Yuuna is standing in the doorway, looking at the soldiers and Blair in confusion. "What's happening?! What are we being arrested for, we didn't break, steal or maim anything!"
"It'll become clear once we're conducting the interrogation!" The woman snaps. "Now get dressed and come with us, or we will take you by force! You have exactly 3 minutes, starting now!"
Blair numbly nods and closes the door.
She looks up at Syrus and Chumley, who are staring at her in worry.
Blair lowers her head, grabs her clothes and ducks under the bunkbed, sobbing as she dresses.
It's over.
It's all over.
"What?! Suspended?!" Yuuna gasps.
She and Blair are standing in a dark room, under a spotlight together while looking at the faces of all their teachers, each of them on imposing massive screens, plus the woman from the Disciplinary Action Squad. Yuuna's kinda just been calling her Das just to make it easier.
"That's what I suggest as the lightest possible option!" Das shouts. "You both trespassed into the Abandoned Dorm, footage from the scene, items discovered there and an anonymous letter from one of our faculty proves it! You must be punished so an example is set for the students!"
"But that's not fair!" Yuuna shouts. "We didn't know we weren't allowed there!"
"There's also the matter of identity fraud!" Das continues, as if she hadn't heard Yuuna.
Yuuna stiffens and looks at Blair, who's staring at the ground and shaking.
Oh no.
Blair grips her jacket, tugging it lower.
No, no, no!
"We received an email from Miss Maria Boyle, containing evidence of your true identity, Blair Boyle!" Das huffs.
Blair closes her eyes.
"Including your real birth certificate, records of your schooling and more."
Tears spill over Blair's cheeks.
"She is coming to the island to take you back-"
"NO!" Yuuna shrieks.
Everything stops for a moment, all eyes on Yuuna.
Even Blair has snapped out of her daze, looking up at her. "Yuuna?"
"You can't do that!" Yuuna takes a step forward.
She can't let Blair be taken by her step-mother! She's gotta protect her!
"I was the one who led Blair to the Abandoned Dorm, I bullied him into going. He is completely innocent." Yuuna declares.
The teachers stare at her in shock.
"Yuuna no!" Blair shouts.
Yuuna continues. "Who's to say this lady isn't trying to trick you guys? Why are you believing an email that could be full of fake photoshops instead of your own student? It's madness!"
Chancellor Shepard holds his hands up. "Now please calm down, Yuuna-"
"Sir, Blair has as much a right to be here as anyone else, more so in fact." Yuuna pleads, turning to him. "He's passed all his exams and gets the highest score out of all the Slifer Red First Years on every assignment and test. He's smart, he's strong, he-"
"Yuuna."
Blair grabs her hand.
Yuuna turns to look at her.
Blair smiles shakily. "It's okay. You've done enough."
"Blair?" Yuuna gapes at her.
Blair smiles, then turns to the faculty with a determined look.
"It's true, I am Blair Boyle." Blair undoes the bandana knot, letting her hair fall over her shoulders. "I knew you were fine with child prodigies, but not ones under 13, so I lied about my age so I could come here sooner."
"Blair!" Yuuna shouts.
No! She can't let her go back to her Step-Mom!
"I lead Yuuna Yuki to the Abandoned Dorm, she's lying!" Blair holds her arms out wide.
As if she's trying to protect Yuuna.
"I knew we could be expelled if we were caught, but I wanted to go anyway! Don't punish Yuuna when I'm the one who's at fault!" Blair shouts it all, shouts everything they've been hiding.
And Yuuna can't let her.
"Stop it, Blair, you don't have to lie!" Yuuna runs up to her, hands on her shoulders. "Don't be stupid, I lead you to the Abandoned Dorm, I need to take responsibility for that!"
"Yuuna!" Blair shouts, turning to her. "No, you stop lying, I lead you!"
"No, I did!" Yuuna turns to the staff. "Blair's innocent, just let her go and expel me if you wanna set an example so badly! I know you hate me Crowler!"
"No, Yuuna did nothing wrong, I'm the one at fault!" Blair also turns to the staff. "Expel me and drop Yuuna of all charges! I know you hate me more, Crowler!"
The staff all look at each other wildly, as if they don't know who to believe.
Yuuna and Blair turn to each other, pleading with their eyes, trying to get her sister to understand.
Then Crowler bursts out laughing, forcing everyone to look at him.
"What kind of example would we be setting if we just suspended two of our best drop out students on account of them going somewhere they didn't know they shouldn't be?" Crowler chuckles. "That we're a bunch of hard-hearted tirants."
Yuuna and Blair turn to him with suspicious glares. There's a catch.
"I say we arrange something more sporting." Crowler's smile turns sinister.
There it is.
Yuuna and Blair blink, look at each other, then back to Crowler. "Sporting?"
"Well, Signora Yuki, how about you and Blair partner up in a Tag Duel and fight for the right to remain in Duel Academy?" Crowler continues. "If you both win, you'll be dropped of all charges, including the identity fraud and you'll both get to stay so long as Blair stops pretending to be a boy. But if you both lose, you'll both be expelled and Blair will face legal action for the identity fraud."
Yuuna and Blair gape at him, then turn to each other. No way.
Blair looks up at Crowler. "You'll give us a chance to stay? Just like that?"
"Oh come on now, do I seem like such a cruel man that I'd expel you both simply because you're Slifer Reds?" Crowler smirks. "I would never do such a horrible thing."
"Because you don't have the power to expel students, only myself and the Chancellor does." Das scoffs.
Crowler's eye twitches.
Yuuna hums, then kneels before Blair and smiles. "What do you say, Blair? You willing to fight by my side to stay at Duel Academy?"
Blair blinks at her, then nods. "If there's even a slight chance to stay, I'll take it."
Yuuna grins and nods.
"Chancellor, I believe they've accepted the conditions?" Crowler looks at Chancellor Shepard.
Chancellor Shepard nods. "Fine, then I'll arrange some opponents."
"Oh no!" Crowler cuts in. "Allow me to do so, Chancellor, it was my idea after all. I'll take care of all the particulars for the event, so you don't have to fret even a little bit."
"Very well then, you all have a week to prepare." Chancellor Shepard turns off the screen.
All the other screens go dark and a light appears, guiding the girls to the door.
Blair looks up at her. "You know that Crowler is going to get the best of the best here to make sure he gets you kicked out right?"
"I know." Yuuna nods and smiles at her. "But if it means saving you, I'd even Duel Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba at the same time. You're my sister Blair. I'll protect you."
Blair's eyes turn teary and she sniffles rubbing at her face with her sleeve.
"Come on, Blair. Let's go tell the boys!" Yuuna offers her hand.
Blair takes it and the two go running to the Red Dorm.
Blair feels almost numb as she walks back to the Slifer Red Dorm after the interrogation. Her whole disguise was thrown off in one fell swoop. She knew going for her mother's maiden name would be a dead give away if anyone did any digging. But she had hoped no one would. That she could just keep her head down and be a good student and hide from Maria for a little longer.
Of course it didn't last. Her life has never been that easy.
"Blair! Yuuna!"
The girls lift their heads and see Syrus and Chumley running up to them.
"I was so worried!" Syrus shouts, dragging the both of them into a hug.
"Yeah, me too!" Chumley pants, pulling Yuuna and Blair into a hug as well.
Blair stiffens and freezes up. She isn't wearing the bandana. They can see her hair.
Yuuna hugs the boys right back, no hesitation. "I was worried about you guys too! How come the D.A.S didn't take you?"
The boys pull back and Blair hides behind Yuuna a little, pulling her hair into a ponytail to hide it. She's not ready, she can't tell the boys the truth yet, she can't have them hate her yet, she just. Can't.
"What did they take you in for?" Syrus calls.
Blair finishes fiddling with her ponytail, hiding it in her jacket and then popping out from behind Yuuna. "For trespassing into the Abandoned Dorm. Apparently we were caught on camera, a teacher saw us sneaking in and they found my hat at the scene."
"What?! But if it was on tape, then why didn't she bring us in?!" Chumley huffs.
"Yeah, that's not fair!" Syrus nods.
Blair hides her hands behind her back to fiddle with her fingers, hiding her nerves.
"Either way, we got some big news guys." Yuuna grins, putting her hand on Blair's shoulder.
Blair stiffens up, ready for the mic to drop.
"We're going to have a tag Duel in a week to prove we have the right to be here!" Yuuna grins.
Blair opens her eyes, blinking up at Yuuna.
"WHAT?!" Chumley and Syrus shout.
Syrus whimpers. "Who knows what powerful Duelists you're going to be put up against! What if you get stuck with some pro tag team?!"
"Yeah and we're getting off scot free?!" Chumley groans and stamps his foot. "It's not fair! We gotta try and call this off!"
Blair gapes at him. "What?"
"Come on, Chumley, we gotta try!" Syrus starts walking around them.
"I'm with you Sy!" Chumley marches after him.
"What?!" Yuuna gasps.
Blair and Yuuna watch them go, gaping at them.
Blair feels her insides swim with guilt and her feet move before she thinks.
"Syrus, Chumley, wait!" Blair rushes up to them.
The boys stop and turn towards her.
"What's the matter Blair?" Chumley says.
Blair pants. "I did something worse! I…" She whimpers and runs her fingers through the top of her hair. "I…"
Blair curses to herself, tugs out her bandana and lets her hair out, rolling down to her waist. She closes her eyes tight, holding her breath.
"I'm a girl. I gave the teachers false documents. Yuuna's in even more trouble because of me." Blair whimpers. "Please, please don't get in trouble for me too."
She can't take Syrus and Chumley hating her. But it'd be worse if they got in trouble for her too.
She feels the air shift as a hand reaches for her and she tenses up-
A big, gentle hand runs through her hair. "Blair, we knew."
Blair slowly opens her eyes, looking up at Chumley in shock. "What?"
Syrus smiles at her shyley. "It was kinda easy to figure out."
Blair looks wildly between Syrus and Chumley, trying to work out how this happened, if she's dreaming, if they're lying, if everything was just her imaginatio-
"Blair."
A hand on her shoulder, like her Papa used to do.
Blair turns around to see Yuuna smiling down at her, softly with pride. "It's okay."
"We don't think any different of you Blair." Syrus walks over to her.
Chumley nods. "Yeah. You're still the same Blair."
Blair looks at them. Their soft kind smiles, that haven't changed. Their relaxed postures, not ones gearing up to ridicule her, but truly don't hate her or want to hurt her. She expected rejection. That they'd throw all her stuff out a window in the rain and leave her in the cold, like Maria did with her mother's things. Not… not that they'd still be warm to her.
"Blair, you okay?" Yuuna calls, kneeling next to her.
Blair-
She can't help it.
Blair falls to her knees. Sucks in a sharp breath.
She explodes into tears, sobbing and screaming, years of fear and silence shattering along with her whole world view. That she was all alone after Papa stopped moving, that she'd be trapped with Maria or run to someone slightly less cruel.
Blair howls and shrieks and cries for everything she's lost and gained as three pairs of arms wrap around her tightly.
"Blair are you hurt?!" Syrus whimpers, hugging her side.
Blair sobs harder.
"Let her cry it out, Syrus." Yuuna says softly, running her fingers through Blair's hair. "She's been through a lot and it's barely 10am on a Saturday."
Blair nods and screams, the ability to make words lost on her.
"It's alright Blair, we got you." Chumley hugs her too.
Blair lifts her arms to hug back as best as she can and cries and cries and cries.
Blair doesn't remember falling asleep as her screams faded to hiccups and soaked cheeks.
Even on a weekend, it's not uncommon for Duel Academy students to wander the halls, either Duelling in the various Fields and Arenas, visiting the card shop, going to tutoring sessions or even just hanging out with their friends.
So it's not unusual for Alexis to wander the school halls as she heads towards the Chancellor's office. Her teeth still clench as she remembers when Miss Fontaine came back from the staff meeting.
Alexis was just eating quietly in the dining hall, while Mindy and Jasmine talked next to her, laughing as they sipped their flavoured water in champagne glasses. Most of the girls were gossiping and talking, if they'd come down at all. The only person missing who was normally at the table was Miss Fontaine.
But that didn't last long. Soon the head of the female Obelisk Blue Dorm arrived through the doors, sighing as she closed the door.
The chatter paused.
"You okay, teach?" Jasmine called.
Miss Fountaine turned to them. "Yes, I'm quite alright, Jasmine. Sadly, two of the Slifer Red students aren't."
Mindy gasped. "Really?! Who?"
Miss Fontaine sighed and looked at the ground. "Blair Flannigan and Yuuna Yuki. Blair's been found guilty of identity fraud and wandered into the Abandoned Dorm last night with Yuuna. Both are set to be expelled in a week, if they don't win a tag team Duel set then."
Alexis' blood ran cold. "What?!"
All heads turned to her and that's fair, honestly. Alexis almost never spoke up or made herself known, but…
"They can't do that!" Mindy shouted, standing up and slamming her hands on the table.
"Who's punishing them?" Jasmine asked.
"Dr. Crowler suggested the punishment, but Chancellor Shepard authorised it." Miss Fontaine blinked at her. "Why do you want to know, girls?"
Alexis walked out of her seat. "To stop it."
Now she walks the hallways. She'd spoken with Dr. Crowler and is walking to Chancellor Shepard's office now.
Yuuna Yuki and Blair Flannigan. Two of the four Slifer Reds that saved her from her kidnapper at the Abandoned Dorm. The Supreme King and one of his disciples.
She can't allow them to leave the island. Or she'll never be able to stop them.
"But we don't have to fight. I didn't know you even had a brother until tonight, but I wanna help you find him."
Alexis groans and shakes her head. It's a lie. White Night Queen said that the Supreme King works through lying and messing with you, all he ever says is a way to play mind games. She can't fall for it now.
Alexis the Princess of Light and she has to save her brother. She needs the Supreme King to stay on Duel Academy island. For now at least.
She stops by Chancellor Shepard's office, but notices the doors are open slightly. Enough to hear the voices inside.
"Chumley, Syrus, what a pleasant surprise. Go ahead and tell me why you're here, boys."
Chancellor Shepard has the other two Slifers in his office now.
"The, the truth is Chancellor Shepard, sir. I just wanted to tell you that! That I was at the Abandoned Dorm too!"
"I was there too, Mr Chancellor Shepard Sir! It's not fair that Yuuna and Blair are being punished like this! We should be able to Duel as well!"
"We should be the ones Duelling, not Blair and Yuuna. Blair might have been the one who wanted to go, but I led us there."
"And I didn't tell them that it was forbidden. Please, let them go, Yuuna even told us all to keep away from the Dorm."
"Look, I realise the stakes are high and it's amazing that you're willing to risk so much for your friends! But the team up has been set. Blair and Yuuna are partners and I'm sure they'll both do fine."
Chancellor Shepard says it as if it's final.
Well, there goes Alexis' chances of changing things. Now she has to rely on Yuuna and Blair to win.
Alexis walks on, as if she'd only been passing by the door.
"So you'll allow them to take the fall for you?"
Alexis stops, turns around and sees Bastion glaring her down.
"What are you talking about?" Alexis narrows her eyes.
Bastion shrugs. "Nothing. I just thought you'd try to help your friends. I've seen you and Yuuna spending time together around campus with Mindy and Jasmine."
Alexis narrows her eyes. Great. How did Yuuna get him to become her ally?
"Chancellor Shepherd won't listen to anyone. Yuuna is strong and that Blair kid is smart. They'll figure it out." She says.
She storms away and Bastion watches her go, then he leaves himself.
Yuuna stares at Blair and groans, tugging at her hair. This is a mess.
Blair is sleeping on the bottom bunk in Yuuna's room, the rest of her very few things brought in by Yuuna after the boys left. All the Slifer Reds are in the Dorm cafeteria or in various other locations across campus, so it's the first time they've had any semblance of privacy since the Shadow Game. She could tell Blair about the truth…
"Yubel, where do I start?" Yuuna huffs, looking at her hands.
Yubel hums and puts a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know Yuuna. I used to tell you about Haou and myself before I told you the truth completely. But I'm not sure if Blair will believe it, or that we have time to explain the whole story."
Yuuna sighs and puts her head in her hands.
She should have never let them go to the Abandoned Dorm. She should have sent them on a wild goose chase throughout the forest or made them all go to bed. Anything that didn't lead to her friends being in trouble and Blair having to see her Duelling in a Shadow Game.
Blair groans and hums.
Yuuna straightens and takes her hands off her face. "Blair?"
Blair's eyes flutter open. "Yuuna?"
Yuuna nods and kneels by her bed. "Hey. You thirsty?"
Blair weakly tilts her head and looks around, then nods. "Yeah."
Yuuna smiles and goes to the desk, where she just got some fresh water. Blair sits up in the bottom bunk and Yuuna brings the drink to her, kneeling.
"Drink slowly, the water isn't going to run out." Yuuna promises.
Blair smiles and takes it. "Thanks Yuuna."
She takes short but frequent sips and Yuuna checks her over. It looks like the sleep and crying session have pulled a lot of the tension and stress out of Blair's body. She looks rung out and exhausted, but satisfied.
"Yuuna?" Yubel calls.
Yuuna turns to them.
"You should tell her. She already knows you have bad parents. She's seen your eyes. You may as well, while you're alone." Yubel nods.
Yuuna gulps and turns to Blair. Yubel's right though. She knows they are.
Blair sets aside her glass. "Yuuna, is everything okay?"
"Yeah. I'm just..." Yuuna lets out a breath. "Trying to work out how to explain the golden eyes thing."
Blair blinks at her and some of the tension returns to her shoulders. "Oh."
Yuuna nods. Oh is right.
"Well…" Blair turns to her, tucking her legs under her. "Maybe-"
The door slides open. "Yuuna? Blair? You two awake?"
Yuuna sighs, half cursing and half thanking the interruption. "We're here and we're awake, Syrus, come in."
Syrus and Chumley walk inside her room and Yubel disappears.
"Sorry Yuuna, Blair, we couldn't convince Chancellor Shepard to call it off." Chumley says. "We even offered to Duel in your place, but he refused."
"It's just not fair." Syrus walks over and kneels by Blair's bed. "You feeling okay after… that?"
Blair flushes and nods. "Yeah, I'm okay. Sorry, I'd kinda been holding that in for the last few years."
Yuuna laughs and pets her head. "Don't sweat it, Blair, we all need to cry every now and then."
Chumley shudders and hugs himself. "I wouldn't call that a cry, I'd call that a meltdown."
Blair groans softly and lays back down, pulling the blankets over her head.
Yuuna shakes her head. "Well either way, I think we need to rest and recuperate after that."
Syrus blinks and turns to her. "But Yuuna, what about you and Blair's expulsion Duel? Shouldn't you be preparing?"
Blair pulls the blankets down, revealing her face.
"Yeah, we should." Yuuna nods. "But I'm hungry, I'm stressed, I'm tired and we can't prep like this. For now, we need rest, food and to do something fun."
She smiles and reaches out to pet Blair's head. Blair smiles and closes her eyes as Yuuna continues to run her fingers through her hair. Blair's exhausted and close to falling asleep again.
Yuuna turns to Syrus and Chumley. "How about we get some food in us and worry about prep later?"
Chumley's stomach growls on cue.
Syrus and Yuuna giggle like little kids.
Chumley flushes and hugs himself. "Damnit."
"The cafeteria should still have some food, if we're lucky." Syrus nods and stands up. "Let's go."
Yuuna nods and then gently picks up Blair. "Come on sleepy head, we need to eat."
Blair yawns and wraps her arms around Yuuna's neck, hiding in her shoulder. "Okie-dokie, sis."
Yuuna's heart thumps and she stands up.
A while later Blair, Yuuna, Syrus and Chumley walk out of the Slifer Dorm, the girls wearing their Duel Disks.
"You sure you're up for a practise Duel?" Yuuna calls.
Blair nods, slipping her Deck into her Duel Disk. "I'm ready as I'll ever be."
She has to do her best to prepare for the Tag Duel. They're in hot water because of her and they have to get out of it together. Blair refuses to let Yuuna drown. She'll show her all the power in her Deck.
"Yuuna!"
The Slifer Reds turn their heads, blinking when they see two Obelisk Blues running towards them.
"Mindy? Jasmine?!" Yuuna calls.
The girls come to a stop, gasping and panting, Mindy bent over with her hands on her knees while Jasmine's back bows slightly.
"What are you girls doing here?" Syrus calls, blinking.
Jasmine straightens. "We heard about the Tag Team Trial from Miss Fontaine." She growls. "What were you thinking, going into the Abandoned Dorm?!"
Yuuna holds her hands up. "Hey, we didn't know it was forbidden, okay? Please don't chew us out."
"Either way." Mindy gasps and stands up tall. "What are you going to do?"
Blair lifts her Duel Disk. "Yuuna and I are going to Duel each other, see how our Decks work against each other. Then we'll see if we can adjust them and have a tag match with someone."
Jasmine hums and Mindy nods.
"Sounds like a good idea." Mindy smiles.
Yuuna's face then lights up. "Are you going to watch our match too?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind us being there." Jasmine shrugs, arms behind her back.
Mindy gasps then tugs on Jasmine's arm. "Hey, what if we Duelled them as a tag team after they Duel each other!"
Jasmine turns to her. "What?"
Blair blinks. That's a surprise.
"Come on, Jasmine, our Decks work really well together!" Mindy grins and turns to Yuuna and Blair. "Plus, I've been meaning to Duel Yuuna for a long time."
Blair hums. Well, this will certainly make practise interesting.
Yuuna smirks, then turns to Blair. "What do you say, sister, you up for dealing with these two after?"
Blair turns to Yuuna with a grin. "Are you?"
Yuuna laughs and pets her head, then gives Mindy and Jasmine her two finger salute. "Looks like we'll be getting our game on later girls."
Mindy and Jasmine grin and high-five each other.
Yuuna's jacket dances in the wind. "You ready?!"
Blair's hair whips in the air. "Are you?"
Syrus, Chumley, Mindy and Jasmine look down on them from the top of the cliffs.
"DUEL!"
YUUNA YUKI: 4000
BLAIR FLANNIGAN: 4000
"Age before beauty, Blair!" Yuuna draws.
Battle Mania, Double Summon, Dark World Lightning, Scarr, Samara Lotus and Zure are in her hand.
Yubel appears at her side. "Looks like a strong opening hand."
"Oh Hell yeah." Yuuna chuckles. This is going to be fun.
Zure growls. "I'm ready and willing to fight, my Queen."
"I got your back too." Scarr nods.
"In that case." Yuuna makes her choice. "I play Double Summon and bring out Zure, Knight of Dark World and Scarr, Scout of Dark World!"
Zure appears on the battlefield, sword raised and wielding his 1800 ATK points ready.
Scarr growls, wielding his knife and his 500 ATK points.
"That's my turn for now, let's see what you can do, Blair!" Yuuna grins. "So get your game on!"
Blair nods. "Alright then. I draw!"
She glances at her drawn card, smirks, then adds it to her hand.
"I'll summon my Laundry Dragonmaid, in ATK Mode!" Blair selects another card, throwing it on the Field.
A flash of light and a child appears on the field, dressed in a blue and white maid outfit. She has two small horns and ears on top of her head, bright yellow eyes and soft blue hair. A fluffy dark blue tail swishes behind her and a woven basket of laundry is held in her gloved hands.
Laundry gives a small panicked scream, her 500 ATK points on display. "Eww it's a big scary knight and an ugly elephant!"
Mindy coos. "Aww, she's so cute."
Jasmine scowls slightly.
Chumley nods safely. "Definitely adorable."
Syrus's face turns bright red.
Zure bristles. "You'll have me fight a child?!"
Scarr rolls his eyes. "Just deal with it."
Yuuna gulps. "Oh geez, please be gentle with her, Zure."
"Laundry lets me take out the top three cards of my Deck and send them to the dry cleaners in the Graveyard!" Blair draws, glances at her cards, then discards them.
Yubel blinks, then hums. "Do her cards benefit from a Graveyard discard then?"
Yuuna was wondering that too.
"I'll throw down a facedown and call it a turn for now." Blair does just that and folds her arms, grinning.
Yuuna grins. "Well that's one way to start." She draws Battle Mania and holds up a spell. "But it's time to get to the action. I play my Dark World Lightning to destroy your facedown Blair!"
Thunder clouds gather overhead.
Blair gasps. "No!"
Laundry shrieks. "Nurse, help!"
Lightning strikes the facedown card and it's no more.
"Sorry Blair, but that's just the way the fortune cookie crumbles." Yuuna discards Samsara Lotus. "Zure, attack!"
"Apologies child." Zure rushes forward, sword raised high.
Laundry gasps, then turns around. "Blair!"
"Not so fast, Yuuna!" Blair throws out her hand. "Because when we enter the battle phase, Laundry's second special ability kicks in!"
Yuuna gasps.
"Go!" Blair calls. "Dragonmaid! Make up!"
"Is that a Sailor Moon Reference?!" Yuuna calls.
Laundry is surrounded by a bright blue light, smirking gently as she does so and the Sailor Moon opening theme starts playing. The ball of light grows bigger and bigger, until it towers over Zure by a head at least.
Then it pops like a bubble, revealing the dragon inside.
Covered in dark blue fur-like feathers along her back, wrapping around her tail fully while a main of white fur-like feathers covers her chest. Two pigtails of the feathers hang on both sides of her head, which is adored with light blue feathers. Her claws are shiney like blue gems.
"Dragonmaid Nudyarl!" Blair cheers.
Nudyarl gives a small roar, showing off her 2600 ATK. "Liked my acting, everyone?"
Yubel gasps, taking a step back. "My word!"
Jasmine gasps. "Incredible!"
Mindy gapes at the Field.
"No joke!" Syrus shouts.
Chumley gulps and takes a step back.
Yuuna shouts.
Scarr gulps.
Zure roars and continues to charge at Nudyarl. She gives a shout and water blasts out of her mouth, hitting Zure straight on and soaking Yuuna too.
YUUNA YUKI: 3200
BLAIR FLANNIGAN: 4000
Yuuna looks in the camera like she's in The Office while Scarr hides his face in his hands.
Nudyarl laughs. "The look on your face, it's, it's priceless, haha!"
Yubel growls. "Little brat."
Yuuna shakes herself off like a wet dog and growls too.
Blair raises an eyebrow. "Had enough yet, Yuuna?"
"Not even close!" Yuuna smirks. "Thanks for the bath, I needed it."
Blair shrugs. "It was my pleasure, don't get used to Nudyarl yet. Because at the end of the battle phase…" Nudyarl starts to glow and shrinks. "She goes back to my hand and Laundry shows up again."
The light fades and now Laundry stands in place of Nudyarl, giggling as she holds her basket and her 500 ATK points.
Yuuna hums and looks at her hand. Battle Mania and Axe of Despair. That won't help much.
"I switch Scarr to DEF mode and end my turn." Yuuna does just that.
Scarr takes a knee with his 500 DEF points and his knife in hand as he scowls at Laundry.
Laundry giggles and pokes her tongue out at him.
"I draw!" Blair calls. She looks at her hand and giggles. "Up for some tea and cake, Yuuna?"
Yuuna blinks. "Huh?"
"Because Parlor Dragonmaid would love to treat you!" Blair winks and summons the new card.
The new Dragonmaid is slightly older than Laundry, if appearances mean anything. She wears a slightly more traditional black and white maid's uniform, plus light green stockings and a green choker. She has dark green horns, two light green pigtails, soft green eyes and a long scaley green tail with a white underside. She's holding a teapot on a tray and a plate of cake on the other hand.
Parlor giggles and flicks her tail, displaying her 500 ATK points. "Oh wow, our guest sure is ugly."
Laundry giggles. "You should've seen the other guy who was here, he was almost as ugly as him!"
Scarr growls. "How dare you!"
Yubel shouts. "Show some respect for your opponents, you children!"
Yuuna groans and rubs her face. "Why me?"
Syrus blushes. "Oh wow, she's even cuter than Laundry."
Mindy shrugs. "I mean, agreed, but she's not that cute."
Jasmine flushes and smiles, turning to Mindy. "I don't know, Mindy, I think she's almost as cute as you."
Mindy flushes and smiles, brushing some of her hair behind one of her ears.
Chumley rolls his eyes, looks at Pharoah in his lap and pets his head.
"Parlor also has a special ability relating to the Graveyard." Blair grins and pulls out her Deck. "She can send one Dragonmaid from my Deck to the Graveyard, with some complimentary tea."
Parlor offers her cake tray to Laundry. "Hungry?"
"Thank you, Parlor!" Laundry giggles, snacking on a cake.
Scarr and Yubel growl, while Yuuna sighs at them.
"And now it's time to enter the Battle Phase!" Blair cheers. "Laundry, you know what to do!"
"Dragonmaid!" Laundry giggles. "Make up!"
The transformation music kicks up and Laundry transforms into Nudyarl once more.
"I'll get the ugly one!" Nudyarl charges.
Parlor giggles and races after her. "Wait for me!"
"Nudyarl, destroy Scarr!" Blair shouts.
Yuuna shouts. "Brace yourself!"
Nudyarl shoots another water blaster, destroying Scarr on impact.
"Scarr might be gone, but he's calling for backup on his way to the Graveyard!" Yuuna pulls out her Deck. "Because I get to add any Dark World monster to my hand from my Deck, so long as it's Level 4 or below!"
"Go ahead and add them, Yuuna, but I'm not done yet!" Blair shouts. "Parlor, direct attack!"
Parlor giggles. "With pleasure!"
She throws one of her cakes into the air and then slams it with her tail, like a baseball bat. The cake goes flying into Yuuna's face, making her hit the ground hard.
"Yuuna!" Yubel shouts.
"Strike!" Nudyarl cheers.
YUUNA YUKI: 2700
BLAIR FLANNIGAN: 4000
"Battle phase is over, so time to switch again." Blair smiles.
Nudyarl does just that, transforming back into Laundry, who giggles with Parlor.
"I'll throw down a facedown and that's all she wrote for me." Blair does just that. "Your move, Yuuna!"
Yuuna groans as she sits up, rubbing her head. "Geez, those dragon girls hit hard."
"Are you okay, Yuuna?" Yubel kneels at Yuuna's side, resting their hand over her shoulder.
"Yeah." Yuuna nods to them, smiling.
Syrus winces as Yuuna slowly gets to her feet. "Blair sure isn't pulling any punches."
"She can't afford to." Jasmine declares.
Mindy blinks and turns to her. "Why's that?"
Jasmine turns to her. "It's Dr. Crowler who's arranging their opponents. Knowing him, he's going to try and get the best of the best to Duel Yuuna and Blair, so there's no room for screwing around."
Chumley nods, holding Pharoah tighter. "She's right and Blair knows it. Yuuna needs to step it up, or Blair's gonna beat her."
Blair calls out. "You okay there, Yuuna, or do you need to rest?"
Yuuna takes her fighting stance and laughs. "Not a chance, Blair. I'm just getting warmed up!"
Yubel smirks. "Go for it, Yuuna!"
"Draw!" Yuuna shouts and does just that.
Snoww hums in her hand. "I hope you drew something useful, Yuuna."
Yuuna looks at her drawn card and nods. "Sure did, Snoww!"
This might just be enough to take out Nudyarl, when she shows up.
"I summon Snoww, Unlight of Dark World!" Yuuna shouts.
Snoww takes to the Field, her cape flowing, her 1700 ATK points ready.
Laundry hums. "I don't think she's strong enough to take out my dragon form, Parlor. What's the human doing?"
Parlor laughs behind her hand. "Losing her marbles, clearly!"
"Silence!" Snoww snaps, pounding her staff on the ground. "You'd do well to be more cautious of your opponents, children."
"She's right, girls." Yuuna grins. "Especially when I'm equipping Axe of Despair to Snoww and playing a facedown!"
The axe appears in Snoww's other hand and she spins her staff, then holds the axe up high, branding her 2700 ATK.
Laundry and Parlor pale.
"Go!" Yuuna shouts.
Blair calls. "Laundry, Parlor! Dragonmaid! Make up!"
Laundry transforms into Nudyarl once more, her 2600 ATK too weak to stand up to Snoww now.
Parlor is surrounded in a green light, growing bigger as Laundry once did. Then the light disappears in several slashes of wind, revealing a winged dragon, with light green skin, dark green feathers on her shoulders and hips, white feathers across her chest, golden claws and green eyes lit like a fire.
"I'm Dragonmaid Lorpar now!" The green dragon roars, displaying her 2700 ATK.
Snoww continues to charge ahead. "I'll still defeat you!"
"Not so fast, Yuuna!" Blair calls. "You forgot about my facedown!"
Yuuna bites her lip, holding back a curse.
"Dragonmaid Downtime!" The card flips up. "I get to pick one of my Dragonmaids to return to my hand and then I get to put Axe of Despair back in yours!"
Yuuna grinds her teeth together. "That ain't good."
"Nudyarl, come on back!" Blair calls.
Nudyarl vanishes, as does Axe of Despair, leaving Snoww with only her original 1700 ATK and no monster to defeat.
Lorpar growls. "I wanted to fight, so not fair."
She shrinks back down into Parlor, 500 ATK points only.
"Downtime is a continuous trap too, so I can use it once per turn." Blair folds her arms.
Yuuna groans. "Geez Blair, you're too good."
Blair grins. "Hey, we can't let whoever Crowler sends after us beat us, remember? I don't care that I'm a kid." She shouts, pointing at Yuuna. "Come at me with all you've got, Yuuna!"
Yuuna nods. "Alright then, since you asked! I'll hand it over to you!"
She's betting it all on her facedown, the one she hoped Blair hadn't noticed.
"I draw." Blair looks at the card she drew and smiles.
Yuuna gulps.
"Say hi to a not so old friend, Yuuna!" Blair grins. "Laundry's come back to play!"
Laundry takes to the field, waving happily.
"Now let me introduce you to a new one with my Dragonmaid Hospitality card!" Blair holds the spell up. "I get to special summon a new Dragonmaid from my hand or Graveyard and then put one with the same attribute but a different level into my Graveyard!"
Yubel swears. "Yuuna, you're going to get swarmed!"
"I know what I'm doing, Yubel, trust me." Yuuna winks at them.
"Meet my Dragonmaid Nurse!" Blair calls.
The newest Dragonmaid is the oldest so far, appearing almost motherly. She wears a pink dress with a white apron and a nurse's hat. She has two pale horns curling like a ram's on the sides of her head, a scaly pink tail and two small pink wings on her back. She wears her pink hair in a braid over one of her shoulders, purple eyes twinkling as she holds a clipboard.
Nurse kneels on her card with 1600 DEF points. "Laundry, Parlor, I hope you two have been good."
"Yes Nurse!" Parlor and Laundry call, battering their eyelashes. "We've been excellent hosts, just like you taught us!"
Nurse hums and nods, smiling and tilting her head, eyes closed. "That's good then. I'm proud of you two."
Snoww scoffs.
"Nurse has a special ability of her own, but rather than taking anything to the Graveyard, she brings back a Level 4 or below Dragonmaid!" Blair pulls a card from her Graveyard slot. "Say hello to Kitchen Dragonmaid!"
The next Dragonmaid appears to be younger than Nurse but older than Parlor. She wears the most traditional maid's uniform of the bunch that reaches her ankles, while holding a brass bowl and a mixing spoon. She has fiery red hair burning down her back with electric blue horns and eyes, smiling kindly. A long, scaly, red tail with a white underside swishes behind her.
Kitchen winks. "Hello there!"
Mindy sighs softly. "Wow, she's cute."
Jasmine growls slightly.
Syrus and Chumley look at the girls, then look to each other, shoulders slumping.
"When I summon Kitchen, I get to send one Dragonmaid card from my Deck to my Hand and another from my Deck to the Graveyard." Blair pulls out her Deck, finds the card she wants and then Discards another in her hand.
Yuuna swallows. "Here it comes."
The moment of truth. Has Blair noticed her facedown, or does she think it's a bluff?
"Go! Dragonmaid!" Blair calls.
"Make up!" The four Dragonmaids call.
Each Dragonmaid is encased in light as the music starts up, Laundry and Parlor transforming into Nudyarl and Lorpar once more, while the two new Dragonmaids take on a new light.
Nurse is surrounded by a pink light, growing in size, until the light crumbles away like rubble. Standing in place is a pink dragon, without a hint of feathers or fur in sight, just smooth scales all across her body. Her wings are tipped with purple claws, while her hands and feet have silver claws and she still wears her nurse cap.
"Ernus!" The pink dragon calls, showing her 2600 ATK points.
Kitchen is engulfed in a red light, doubling in size until the light burns away and reveals the dragon in its wake. The new dragon is mostly burgundy, with a red tint to her colouring and red wings/tail. She's adored all over with a few electric blue scales and a pale pink underbelly. Her claws are the same electric blue as her eyes and horns.
"Tinkhec!" The burgundy dragon calls, displaying her 2700 ATK points.
Yuuna stares up at the four dragons in awe and horror.
Snoww scowls and raises her staff. "Yuuna, I don't like this."
"Attack!" Blair calls.
The four dragons rush Snoww, who holds her staff up high.
"YUUNA!" Syrus, Chumley, Mindy and Jasmine scream.
"I activate my trap!" Yuuna shouts.
Blair gasps. "What?!"
"Mirror Force!" Yuuna calls, grinning. "Say goodbye to your Dragons, Blair!"
The trap blasts the field in a ray of light and all the Dragonmaids are destroyed.
Snoww lowers her staff. "That was much too close."
Blair stares out at the field in schock.
Yuuna wipes her brow. "I can't believe that worked."
Yubel nods. "Me neither."
"But, how?" Blair calls.
Yuuna blinks.
"When'd you play Mirror Force?" Blair's hands shake. "I didn't even remember you playing a facedown."
"I did it just after I gave Snoww Axe of Despair." Yuuna explains.
Blair gapes, then groans, dragging her hand down her face. "And I have Dragonmaid Downtime on my Field. I could have seen it and done something about Mirror Force if I'd just paid more attention."
Yuuna looks at Blair and sees a girl too worried to know what to do with herself.
"It's okay, Blair." Yuuna calls.
Blair lowers her hand, looking up.
"You made one mistake and that's okay. You totally would have won if I hadn't gotten lucky that you weren't paying attention." Yuuna smiles. "Don't beat yourself up over screwing up in practise, okay? I know a lot is riding on this, but if you panic and rush, then you might miss something important."
Blair's eyes widen, as if remembering old advice. "I just need to slow down."
Yuuna nods.
"Okay then. I'll leave the Duel in your capable hands, Yuuna." Blair nods.
Yuuna smiles and puts her fingers over her Deck. "I'll do you proud then."
"Yuuna." Yubel calls.
Yuuna turns to them.
Yubel smiles. "You should slow down too. Even if Alexis is the Princess of Light and she's gunning for you, you've got time. Time to play. Time to prepare. Time to live."
Yuuna's eyes widen and water.
Yubel puts their hand on her shoulder. "It'll all turn out fine."
Yuuna nods and closes her eyes, letting a few tears fall. "Okay, Yubel."
They're right. She's been so worried about Alexis and the future and everything horrible that might happen. Yuuna forgot to focus on the now. On what she can do to make it better.
"Here I come, Blair!" Yuuna calls, darkness slipping through her fingers, into her Deck.
Blair nods, smiling.
"I draw!" Yuuna shouts.
She holds her card up to the light then turns it.
Yuuna's eyes widen.
"I summon Broww, Huntsman of Dark World!" Yuuna calls.
Broww silently takes to the Field, wielding his 1400 ATK.
"And I'll requip Axe of Despair to Snoww!" Yuuna slips the spell into the slot.
Snoww spins her staff, throwing it into the air and trading it for the Axe of Despair that comes flying down at her, raising her points to 2700 ATK.
Blair gasps, taking a step back.
"Snoww, go!" Yuuna calls.
Blair raises her arms up high as Snoww darts across the Field, giving a battle roar as she dashes forward and slices through Blair.
YUUNA YUKI: 2700
BLAIR FLANNIGAN: 1300
Blair screams, holding her heart.
"Broww, you're up." Yuuna nods.
Broww nocks his arrow, draws back his string, aims.
Takes a deep breath.
And fires.
The arrow flies straight through Blair.
YUUNA YUKI: 2700
BLAIR FLANNIGAN: 0
WINNER: YUUNA YUKI!
Blair falls to her knees, panting hard.
"You okay, Blair?!" Yuuna rushes over, kneeling before her.
Blair lifts her head and smiles. "I'm good."
Yuuna smiles softly. "I'm glad."
She'd been so worried then.
Blair yawns and slumps forward, Yuuna rushing to catch her.
"Can we go to bed, please?" Blair mumbles.
Yuuna chuckles. "Of course."
She picks up Blair and cradles her to her chest, walking up towards the Slifer Red Dorm.
Yubel watches the two girls and smiles to themself, then looks out at the ocean.
"I think they'll be just fine in their Tag Duel."