Growing up the Prince, he was of course trained in combat. He learned how to use a sword, how to move in armour and how to nock an arrow before he learned how to use a quill.

But as he travelled the lands, he learned more rugged styles of fighting from others. He learned how to use the environment to work for him, how to scramble in the darkness to confuse his enemies and how to be the perfect bait before he met the Princess of Light.

It was on one such adventure that he met Yubel.

Yubel who raced through the trees with him, almost flying.

Yubel who taught him how to play fight, to lightly throw blows and tickle skin.

Yubel who acted as his shield against the falling rocks, pretending his skin was scaly.

Haou knew from the moment he had Yubel, he could never let them go. He could never lose them, or he really would lose everything.

So one starry night, he whispered. "Will you please always be by my side? For forever."

Yubel had turned to him and linked their pinkies. "Of course. For forever."

Haou smiled.

And then he cried when he saw how seriously Yubel took that promise to always be together.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 8000

PARA / DOX: 8000

"Get your game on, everyone!" Yuuna calls, drawing her hand.

In the stands, her friends call her name and Blair's, while most of the stadium cheers for the Paradox brothers.

"Here goes!" Blair yells. "I draw and I summon Laundry Dragonmaid in ATK mode!"

Laundry takes to the field with her 500 ATK points, wielding her basket like a weapon. "I'm ready to fight!"

"I activate Laundry's ability!" Blair draws the top three cards from her Deck. "She lets me discard the top three cards of my Deck to the Graveyard. With that, I end my turn."

"You must be joking!" Para, the orange one, snaps as he draws. "I'm surprised that thing even has an ATK mode!"

Laundry snarls. "Just you wait, you big baldy!"

"This on the other hand does." Para roars. "Jirai Gumo!"

A massive orange and brown spider descends on the field, screaming with 2200 ATK points.

Laundry shrieks and dives into her basket. "NURSE, HELP! There's a big scary spider on the Field!"

"Don't worry Laundry, I'm sending in reinforcements to help you deal with that overgrown bug!" Yuuna draws.

She looks at her cards critically. Dual Gate, Broww, Regenerating Rose, Axe of Despair, Monster Reborn and Dark World Brainwashing.

Yubel manifests at her side. "You should start off small, Yuuna, we don't know what these brothers can do."

"You got it." Yuuna picks. "In that case, I summon Broww, Huntsman of Dark World in DEF mode!"

Broww takes to the field, kneeling on his card with only 800 DEF points.

Laundry scoffs. "Gee, some backup."

Broww glares at her.

She squeals and hides in her basket again.

Yubel sighs and shakes their head. "She really needs to learn some manners."

"I play a card face down and that's all she wrote." Yuuna plays Dark World Brainwashing face down.

"The best defence, you fool-" Dox draws. "Is a strong offence! Kaiser Sea Horse, ATK mode!"

The blue, purple and violet Sea Serpent warrior monster with a golden lance takes to the field with 1700 ATK points.

"Now I'll play my spell card, Tribute Doll!" Dox declares. "By sacrificing one monster on the Field, this card allows me to summon a Level 7 monster!" He turns towards Para. "Brother?"

Para smirks and nods. "Please, that's what he's there for."

Blair narrows her eyes. "Why are they sacrificing the strongest monster on their side of the field, especially when Dox already has Kaiser Sea Horse?"

"You'll see soon enough, little girl!" Dox barks.

Hair rises from Dox's card, envelops Jirai Gumo and destroys it.

"Now I am allowed to summon Kazejin!" Dox declares.

Green winds sweep the field, forcing Blair to take a step back, when a green orb with yellow kanji and two long arms appears with 2400 ATK points.

"What the heck is that thing?!" Yuuna yells.

Above in the stands, Yuuna's friends observe the situation.

"They used the same strategy we did." Jasmine murmurs.

Mindy gulps. "Sacrificing your partner's monster to summon a more powerful one for the team is a good call."

"Indeed it is." Bastion nods. "With devastating effects to Yuuna and Blair, because they already have a third of their most powerful creature on the field."

Jasmine and Mindy blink, turning to him.

"The Paradox Brother's ace monster is a beast, built from the combining of three different monsters, each representing wind, thunder and water." Bastion narrows his eyes. "If I had to make a guess, I'd say Kazejin's the wind element."

Mindy and Jasmine gasp, turning back to the field.

"Then that would mean…" Mindy whimpers.

Jasmine grinds her teeth. "Their chances of winning just got better, while Yuuna and Blair's chances of staying here just got slimmer."

Across the stands, Zane and Alexis lean closer, the anticipation thick.

"Once Blair draws, the Duel will truly begin." Zane murmurs. "I wonder if we'll see the Paradox brothers' legendary monster."

Alexis nods. "With any luck, they'll be able to summon it and the Slifer team will beat it."

She can't afford for Yuuna to disappear right now. That Blair kid better not mess up.

Down by the entrance, Chazz laughs maniacally.

"Uhh, Chazz?" Raizou calls. "You doing okay?"

Taiyou leans over to him. "I think he's lost it."

"I'm laughing, you idiots, because I know exactly what these brothers are going to do next." Chazz leans closer in his seat, to get a better view of the destruction about to unfold. "This is going to be fun."

Across from the Obelisk Blues, the Slifer boys are whimpering in their seats.

"I've never seen any monster like that before!" Syrus turns. "Have you Chumley?"

Chumley shakes his head. "No way Sy, this is totally not licious."

Syrus groans and turns to the field. "I hope Blair's Dragonmaids and Yuuna's Dark World army can handle this thing."

Because if not, then he'll be losing both his sisters in one day.

Down by the arena, Vellian can't stop himself from laughing, crouching on the ground as he does, watching the matches.

"Do these girls think they have a chance at beating Para and Dox? Oh they stink worse than dirty socks!" He laughs. "Oh they even have me doing it now."

Oh this is much too fun, he can't wait to see these Slifer Slackers lose and lose hard.

Blair grinds her teeth, hoping with all her heart. They need to get to the battle phase of her turn already, so she can destroy Kazejin with Nudyarl! Yuuna might not have figured it out yet, but they can't allow the Paradox brothers to summon anymore pieces of their ace or they're in for it.

"Do you actually think you know anything of this game?" Para demands.

Dox snarls. "You're losers, you're jokes, in other words you're lame!"

Yuuna groans. "Stop the rhyming and finish your turn some time this century, please!"

Blair sighs, but she agrees.

"I play Dark Designator!" Dox continues. "This spell allows me to call out any monster I can think of and if my brother has it in his Deck, it goes to his hand."

Blair tightens her fist. This isn't good, those two will know each others' Decks inside and out and considering they've already got Kazejin out...

"Sanga of the Thunder!" Dox declares, pointing at his brother.

Para laughs, as if he's surprised. "What do you know? It's right here, ready to tear them asunder."

"You gotta be kidding me, another Level 7 monster?" Yuuna murmurs. "That's gotta be what it is, right Yubel?"

"I will set one card facedown and end my turn." Dox declares.

Blair glances at her Duel partner. Looks like she's starting to catch on.

"The Duel's just started!" Para raises his left hand.

Dox raises his right hand. "And yet it is almost done!"

"For your demise-" The Paradox brothers point at the girls. "Has already begun!"

Blair snarls. "Oh, bite me for all I care."

She is getting sick of these guys.

"Chill out Blair, they're just saying that stuff because it rhymes." Yuuna calls, winking at her.

Blair looks at her, but manages a nod.

She's got to get this done, she can't lose this Duel. There's too much at stake.

"I draw!" Blair does just that and looks at her hand.

"Blair…"

Blair gasps, as one of her cards slides forward. Chamber Dragonmaid.

"Put me on the Field, please. Let me help you."

Blair stares at the card, then looks around. No one else is talking and that definitely wasn't what little she's heard of House Dragonmaid's voice.

It was scary enough realising she could her House's voice, now she's hearing more?!

Blair groans, shakes herself off and selects her card. "I summon Chamber Dragonmaid, in ATK mode!"

Chamber takes to the field with her 500 ATK points and feather duster.

"I activate Chamber's ability!" Blair pops out her Deck. "Whenever I summon her, I get to clean out my Deck while searching for a Dragonmaid Spell or Trap card that would really come in handy!"

"That's the way to do it Blair!" Yuuna laughs.

Blair adds Dragonmaid Clean-Up to her hand, then selects another card. "Now I'll play my Continuous Spell card, Dragonmaid Welcome!"

Her card pops up on the field.

"With every Dragonmaid monster I have on my field, all our monsters gain 100 ATK and DEF points for each!" Blair smirks.

Chamber, Laundry and Broww glow as their points raise to 700 ATK, 700 ATK and 1000 DEF each.

Yuuna gasps, then she laughs. "Nice going Blair!"

Blair looks over her hand and Field one last time. Laundry's all ready to transform, with Nudyarl chilling in the Graveyard.

"It's time to hit up the battle phase and with Para completely defenceless, I know who I'm going after!" Blair calls. "Laundry! Dragonmaid! Make up!"

Laundry glows and rises, transforming into Nudyarl, her usual 2600 ATK points rising to 2800 ATK.

People gasp and shout in the stands but Blair ignores it all, tunnel vision focusing in on Para.

"Nudyarl, directly attack Para!" Blair orders.

Nudyarl roars, preparing a strike-

"I activate Kazejin's ability!" Dox declares. "Once per turn, I can take one of your Monster's ATK points and reduce it to zero!"

"No!" Blair screams, looking at her cards, trying to find a quick-play spell-

"I got this!" Yuuna calls. "Because I've got a trap card, Dark World Brainwashing!"

Blair turns to her, watching the card pop up.

"By returning one Dark World monster to my hand, your monster's effect becomes to force your opponent to Discard one card from their hand!" Yuuna calls.

Dox snarls. "How dare you!"

With that, Broww bursts into gold dust and returns to Yuuna's hand, leaving her completely defenceless.

"So come on Dox, pick a card, any card." Yuuna winks, brandishing her hand like a magician.

Dox snarls. "The one on the far left."

Yuuna winces slightly as she discards that card. That wasn't one she wanted to get in her Graveyard.

Blair's eyes widen in horror.

Yuuna wasted one of her cards to save her, again.

"Blair, go!" Yuuna yells.

"Right!" Blair focuses on the Field. "Nudyarl, don't stop!"

She can't afford to waste Yuuna's sacrifice!

Nudyarl roars and blasts water straight at Para, making him shout as he's soaked.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 8000

PARA / DOX: 5200

"And to follow it up, I'll have Chamber attack you directly as well!" Blair punches the air in front of her.

Chamber swings at the air with her feather duster, sending waves of darkness at Para, which hit him head on, making him yell.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 8000

PARA / DOX: 4500

"Yeah!" Yuuna laughs, punching the air. "That's how you do it!"

Blair doesn't stop. "I can't attack anymore."

Nudyarl turns back into Laundry with her 700 ATK points.

"But I can use my spell card, Dragon's Gunfire!" Blair plays her spell. "To deal yet another 800 points of damage!"

"WHAT?!" Para and Dox shout.

Laundry roars, blasting a fireball from her mouth and smacking Para dead on, making him scream as he burns.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 8000

PARA / DOX: 3700

"I know this turn was painful, so I'll just set two Facedowns and end my turn." Blair sets Dragonmaid Clean-Up and Negate Attack.

She glances at Yuuna, heart in her throat.

Yuuna saved her again. This time Blair was going to protect and help her, but Yuuna rescued her again.

Yuuna turns to her, smiling and waving. "That was amazing, Blair!"

"But I only managed to do anything because you put yourself at risk." Blair clenches her fist.

Yuuna is totally vulnerable now. No facedowns left and no monsters on her Field.

If Blair had been stronger, Yuuna wouldn't have had to risk everything for her.

"It's fine." Yuuna smiles, giving her a thumbs up. "We can take the heat, spitfire, just keep going."

Blair nods. There's not much she can say to convince Yuuna otherwise, so for now, she just has to protect her.

"You cursesome brat!" Dox declares angrily.

"You'll pay for that!" Para declares.

"You were lucky in your last turn!" Dox hisses.

"But now you shall burn!" Para declares, angrily drawing. "My draw!"

Blair stands tall, ready for anything.

"I play Monster Reborn and bring back my Jirai Gumo!" Para declares. "But she won't stay for long, because now I will play my own Tribute Doll!"

Blair curses in her head. "Not again!"

"Yes again! And again!" Para folds his arms. "I now sacrifice Jirai Gumo to summon another Level 7 Monster, Suijin!"

The field floods with water, splashing Yuuna and Blair as the new monster shows up, another orb with two stocky legs and 2500 ATK points.

"Oh no!" Blair gasps.

Down on the ground, Vellian can't stop laughing to himself, dancing on the spot. "Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes!"

The moment he's been waiting for!

High in the stands, everyone worries.

Chumley whimpers and holds his cheeks. "Oh no."

"Two Level 7 monsters with over 2300 ATK points?!" Syrus groans and pulls at his hair. "And Yuuna's wide open for an attack!"

Chumley groans. "I should've asked them for their meal tickets."

"Chumley!" Syrus starts sobbing, gently hitting Chumley in the arm.

Chumley yelps and tries to defend himself, but Syrus continues to gently punch him in the arm.

Across the field, Chazz laughs.

Near the middle of the Arena, Zane narrows his eyes. "It's almost here."

Alexis nods.

Across from the members of the Society of Light, Bastion, Jasmine and Mindy gasp.

"Bastion, you said that it was a wind, water and thunder monster, right?" Mindy whimpers.

Bastion nods. "Two of the three are already on the field, I'd place their odds of winning at 500 in 1."

"And it's about to get a lot worse!" Jasmine says. "Because of Kaiser Sea Horse's ability!"

Yuuna grits her teeth. Here it comes.

"And I am not done yet." Para turns to his partner. "Mind if I borrow a monster, brother?"

Dox nods. "Please, that's why he's there."

"I sacrifice Kaiser Sea Horse and because he is being given up for a LIGHT monster, his sacrifice counts as two!" Para laughs. "Allow me to introduce you too, Sanga of the Thunder!"

Lightning strikes the field, nearly hitting Yuuna, as a brown upper torso with two long arms, red shoulder armour and a ring behind it's back grumbles with it's 2600 ATK points.

"Damnit, they're all here!" Blair gasps.

Yuuna blinks, turning to her. "What do you mean?"

"It looks like we're about to find out, Yuuna." Yubel declares. "Brace yourself!"

"Three monsters on our side, what could be better?" Para chuckles.

Dox grunts. "I know what brother, when they come together!"

Yuuna gasps. Are they going to fusion summon?!

"Prepare yourself!" Para orders. "I sacrifice Suijin, Kazejin and Sanga of the Thunder to summon forth-"

The three monsters glow and with a big flash of light combine into one.

"Gate Guardian!" Para announces.

The new monster has Suijin for it's legs, Kazejin for it's stomach and Sanga for it's torso, with 3750 ATK points to spare.

"Gate Guardian?" Yuuna gasps.

Blair growls. "It's their Ace Monster!"

Laundry squeals. "He's enormous!"

Chamber gasps, turning to Yuuna. "And he's coming straight for Yuuna!"

"Go! Tidal surge attack!" Para orders.

Gate Guardian crackles with electricity, gathers water from Suijin's mouth and the wind rises all around it

"Yuuna!" Yubel cries.

Yuuna raises her arms, digging in her heels. "Ready!"

Gate Guardian launches it's attack-

"I won't let you!" Blair screams. "I activate my trap!"

Yuuna, Para and Dox gasp, turning to her.

"Negate Attack!" Blair punches the air. "You're not touching my sister!"

A shield bursts up, creating a barrier around Yuuna, sending Gate Guardian's attack in every direction but at her.

"Blair!" Yuuna calls, smiling.

Blair nods, giving her a grin.

"HA!" Dox laughs. "You think that will stop us?!"

Blair, Yuuna, Yubel, Laundry and Chamber gasp.

"I activate my trap, Dark Bribe!" Dox's trap flips up. "You must draw a card and stop the activation of your trap, destroying it!"

Blair screams. "NO! YUUNA!"

But her Deck pops out a card and Negate Attack is destroyed, allowing Gate Guardian's attack to hit Yuuna dead on, making her scream and land on her back, bouncing once.

"YUUNA!"

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 4250

PARA / DOX: 3700

Up in the stands, Jasmine and Mindy scream.

"YUUNA!" The girls leap out of their seats, grabbing the ones in front for balance.

They ignore the stares from the other students.

"Can you see her?!" Jasmine gasps. "I can't see her clearly!"

"Is she going to get up?" Mindy whimpers. "YUUNA!"

"This isn't a Duel." Bastion scowls as he sits in his seat, holding his arms tightly to stop himself from leaping as well. "It's target practice for the Paradox brothers and they've decided Yuuna's the bullseye."

Around the arena, Syrus is also crying.

"YUUNA!" Syrus starts climbing down the seat. "Hang on, I'm coming-"

"Sy, are you crazy?!" Chumley grabs him by the arms, picking him up and pulling him back. "You can't interrupt their match, or it's an automatic expulsion!"

Syrus cries in frustration. "But, she… they're-"

"Look, they're going to turn things around, okay?" Chumley puts Syrus into the seat next to him, hands on his shoulders. "Just hold tight little man."

Syrus sits down, hugging himself tightly.

"At least, I hope they can turn things around." Chumley keeps that thought to himself, holding Syrus tighter.

Further around the arena, Alexis is holding the railings tightly.

"Alexis." Zane says cooly, his arms folded. "You appear upset."

Alexis sucks in a deep but quiet breath and releases the railing. "I'm fine. I'm not upset."

She isn't.

So why did she so badly want to stop this Duel in that moment?

Finally, by the entrance, Chazz is laughing so hard, he's bending over.

"Finally!" He sits up. "That Slifer Slacker is getting what she deserves!"

It's about time. That is the highlight of his week-

No, it's going to be the highlight of his week when he finally sees her destroyed and walking out of here.

Down by the arena, Vellian is wincing and smiling.

Oh it looks like that fall hurt, but she's only getting what she deserves, really. Plus she's young, she can handle a fall like that.

Meanwhile the Paradox Brothers are Duelling perfectly! They know just what to do and are doing it splendidly! The whole point of a Tag Duel is to destroy the weakest link and right now, it appears that weakest link is poor, little Signora Yuki, who had no monsters on her field and got wrecked.

But it's clearly playing on Signora Flannigan too, who looks simply destroyed that her little trap couldn't protect her teammate.

"I should've bought popcorn." He cackles.

Blair goes to run to her partner's side. "Yuuna-"

"Stop!" The announcer calls. "You are not permitted to leave your Duel location during this Duel, or it will be considered an immediate forfeit!"

Blair growls and turns around, yelling at the ceiling. "You can't be serious, she could be hurt!"

Yuuna groans and Blair turns to her.

"I, I'm fine." Yuuna giggles and whimpers, sitting up slowly, muttering. "Ah fuck."

"I know that it hurts." Para mocks, folding his arms.

Dox smirks, folding his arms. "Bad news is, it will only get worse!"

Blair snarls. If this gets as bad as their rhyming, she's going to break something.

Yuuna stumbles to her feet. "Okay, so that wasn't my most graceful moment." She stands up straight though and points at the Gate Guardian. "But the bigger they are, the harder they fall!"

Blair blinks.

She's really that confident after taking an attack like that?

"Let's take this thing down, Blair!" Yuuna turns to her, grinning. "We're packing some serious Duelling Punch, we got this!"

Blair stares at her, then remembers all the other crazy things she's seen Yuuna do.

It's official.

Her sister's lost it.

"I'd like to see you try!" Para calls. "I play two facedowns and end my turn."

"Then it's time to go to work." Yuuna draws. "Here goes!"

She looks at her hand for a while, looks up at her side.

"Good call, Yubel." Yuuna nods. "I summon my Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World in DEF mode!"

Yuuna's heavyset warrior with massive hands takes to the field, his 2100 DEF points at the ready, rising to 2300 thanks to Dragonmaid Welcome.

"He's got some pretty good DEF, but it's not enough to stand up to the Gate Guardian." Blair murmurs.

Damnit, maybe if she could somehow get more of her Dragonmaids on the field, she could help Yuuna.

"That's okay, he doesn't need to because she can!" Yuuna pulls out a card. "I play Monster Reborn to bring back the creature I discarded earlier! Regenerating Rose!"

A beautiful and massive rose blooms on the field, standing on roots, with four big stubby leaves that look like boxing gloves, a cape and 0 ATK points?!

"Yuuna, are you crazy?!" Blair gasps. "What's she going to do against the Gate Guardian?!"

"Oh come on Blair, don't tell me you've forgotten about Yubel." Yuuna stage whispers, winking at her.

Blair blinks, then thinks back, hard.

Yubel does have 0 ATK points, but that's because she has an incredibly powerful special ability. Is Regenerating Rose the same?

"For now, let's call it a turn and pass it over to the lovely gentlemen we call our opponents." Yuuna grins, taking a step back.

Blair nods and looks at them hard. She'll just have to trust that Yuuna has a reason for leaving Regenerating Rose in ATK mode when she doesn't have any strength.

"It's my draw, now." Dox declares. "I'm activating the Equip spells: Fairy Meteor Crush and Mist Body!"

Yuuna curses.

"Fairy Meteor Crush allows me to deal piercing battle damage and Mist Body prevents our Gate Guardian from being destroyed by battle!" Dox throws out his hand. "Attack that Regenerating Rose!"

"Not yet, boys!" Blair yells. "I still have my trap card out, Dragonmaid Clean-Up!"

Her card flips up.

"By returning one Dragonmaid to my hand-" Chamber turns into gold dust, returning to Blair's hand. "I'm allowed to put one of your cards back into your hand!" Blair punches the air in front of her. "And I pick the Gate Guardian!"

Yuuna laughs. "Nice Blair! Since it doesn't destroy Gate Guardian, Mist Body won't be able to save him!"

Blair grins, as her card blasts a fireball straight for the Gate Guardian.

"Right into my trap!" Para yells.

Blair gasps.

"I activate Judgement of Anubis!" Para holds his finger up, scoldingly. "Foolish girl! By discarding one card, I can now destroy your trap and one Monster on your Field!"

Blair takes a step back. "Oh no."

Her fireball from Dragonmaid Clean-Up gets redirected, heading straight for Laundry and destroying her on impact.

"And now you'll suffer her ATK points as damage to you, fool!" Dox cackles. "That's what you get for being such a tool!"

The fire rages around Yuuna and Blair, singeing them hard.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 3750

PARA / DOX: 3700

Blair growls as she glares Para and Dox down.

It's neck and neck now, the two of them ahead Para and Dox by barely a hair.

"And now I will continue my attack on the Regenerating Rose!" Dox shouts. "Go!"

Gate Guardian charges up his attack, aiming straight for Regenerating Rose.

"Now her ability kicks in!" Yuuna brings her fist up. "Whenever she battles a monster, her ATK points rise until they're the same as her opponent monster!"

Regenerating Rose glows red and inflates until she's the same size as the Gate Guardian, her ATK points at 3750.

"That will not save her, when Mist Body protects the Guardian!" Para hollars.

So even though they lose no life points, Regenerating Rose bursts into flames. And then those flames land on the field, growing into two roses.

"Whenever Regenerating Rose is destroyed in battle, she leaves behind two Regenerating Rose Tokens." Yuuna smiles, turning to Blair.

Blair smiles back, then turns back to the brothers.

She knows Yuuna has a plan. She just has to trust her.

"We know it feels like you have your backs to the wall." Dox pipes up. "But really the wall's right in front of you! I play my Defense Wall and end my turn!"

The monster that appears in front of them is a stone wall, made of grey bricks with it's arms folded and 2100 DEF points in play.

"While he's out on the Field, the Defence Wall is the only monster you are allowed to attack!" Dox explains.

Blair narrows her eyes.

So how does she destroy it so she can get to the Gate Guardian?

"It's your turn, what are you waiting for?" Dox taunts.

"I'm not gonna lie, a small miracle would be nice about now." Blair draws.

She looks hard at her hand. She hasn't got a lot of good options right now, especially with Gate Guardian's ability to do piercing damage.

"Dra-Dra!"

"Huh?" Blair blinks.

Another voice? Is the stress from this Duel making her crazy? Or is she becoming like Yuuna and Chumley?

"Dra-Dra, Dra-Dra-Dra!"

"Okay then." Blair shrugs, decides she'll deal with the crazy after. "I'll summon my Baby Dragon in ATK mode."

Baby Dragon takes to the field, getting "awws" from the audience, his 1200 ATK points on display. Taking into account Fairy Meteor Crush and Baby Dragon's weaker DEF points, it's smarter to play him in ATK mode, for now.

"I'll also play a facedown and that's all she wrote for me." Blair puts her trap on the field.

Yuuna is counting on her. She has to get through this.

"You summon a baby?!" Para laughs as he draws. "He should go back to his Mommy!"

Gate Guardian gears up for an attack and blasts it.

"Not so fast!" Blair shouts. "I play my trap card, Dragon's Rebirth!"

Her trap snaps up.

"It lets me banish my Baby Dragon to bring out another Dragon from my hand or my Graveyard!" Blair pulls her buddy from her card slot. "Say hi to Cave Dragon!"

The faded, flat dragon appears on her field in all his 2000 ATK point glory.

"It matters not, he'll still be destroyed!" Para shouts. "Gate Guardian, attack!"

"Blair!" Yuuna calls.

Cave Dragon takes the hit and goes back to the Graveyard hard, while what remains of the Tidal Surge Attack blasts Blair, forcing her to her knees.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 2000

PARA / DOX: 3700

"Your life points are falling!" Para taunts, taking a fighter pose.

Dox takes a different fighter pose, mocking. "Your game play's appalling!"

"There is nothing to be done-" They shout together. "-except give up and start bawling!"

The two break out into maniacal laughter and Blair stays on her knees, trying not to cry.

She's not strong enough. She can't even protect herself, let alone Yuuna.

Above in the stands, Bastion, Mindy and Jasmine worry.

"Gate Guardian on offence and while industctable, with the Defence Wall drawing attacks." Bastion leans forward. "An almost flawless assemble."

Jasmine groans. "Ugh, this is so frustrating!"

Mindy sighs, putting her hand on her shoulder. "I know, Jasmine."

"Even though Yuuna and Blair have the numbers advantage, the Gate Guardian's raw power is strong enough to overcome them all." Bastion sighs, shaking his head. "I'm afraid they'll be knackered."

Jasmine and Mindy stare at him, then turn to one another.

"What the heck did you just say?" Mindy tilts her head.

Bastion blinks. "Oh sorry. Basically they're in trouble."

"We already noticed that much." Jasmine groans, leaning forward in her seat. "Come on. We just have to believe in them."

"I believe in Yuuna, but I'm concerned about Blair." Bastion folds his arms. "She's smarter than the average child, but she's been acting recklessly, rushing into each and every spell, trap and attack the Paradox brothers had ready. It's not like her to act like this."

Mindy laces her fingers together in prayer. "Come on, girls. Please don't go."

Around the stadium, Chumley and Syrus barely manage to sit still.

"Oh please, let them win, let them win!" Chumley shouts, holding onto the bar. "I'll give up grilled cheese for a week, I'll fry them instead, please!"

Syrus whimpers. "Chumley, I don't know if that's going to work, but, ohh-" He claps his hands together in prayer and holds them over his head. "Please Slifer, let them win! Let them win! I want them to stay! Go team!"

"Go team!" Chumley echos.

A few paces away, Alexis has taken to tapping her foot, holding the railing tighter and tighter.

Come on…. Come on!

"Alexis."

She pauses and turns towards Zane.

"I get being invested in this Duel, to ensure that the Supreme King doesn't leave." Zane narrows his eyes. "But you only tap your foot like that when you're worried."

Alexis stiffens up and turns away from him, staring at the field. "I'm not worried about Yuuna, I'm worried about losing the only lead to my brother."

There's no way she's worried about Yuuna as a person, right? She just can't, she hates him! He's faking his entire identity, going so far as to hide his true gender just to hide better! He's lying to her best friends in Middle School, he's the one who took her brother, he's the reason everything is going wrong in her life!

"That was amazing, Alexis! You're something else!"

Alexis scowls. She must clear her mind of her doubts.

"Is it possible that we misfired? Other than the cards she used, I don't think that girl was dark at all."

Alexis shakes her head. Stop it.

"Or maybe she's wrong and this isn't the Supreme King."

Alexis stiffens and looks at Zane out the corner of her eye.

Maybe…

If even Zane thinks Yuuna isn't the Supreme King, then maybe it's someone else on the island?

Alexis feels vaguely sick at the thought and banishes it.

Yuuna Yuki is the Supreme King. It must be true because…

Because if it isn't, then they've been monsters to an innocent person.

While the two members of the Society of Light worry over their morality, the entrance to the arena is completely free of such concerns (for now).

Chazz chuckles as he looks out at the field, holding his hands tighter and tighter together.

"Finally, those Slifer Slackers are getting the beat down they deserve." Chazz narrows in on that Slifer Slime. "I can't wait until they lose and get kicked out of Duel Academy!"

Especially Yuki. Fucking little slacker girl trying to take the title from him.

It's his destiny to be the next King of Games! HIS!

Vellian laughs behind his teeth as he watches the Duel, oh this is going so perfectly! He can barely contain his excitement!

"Dr. Crowler?" Shepard calls. "Are you okay?"

Vellian pauses in his laughter to wave him off. "Oh, I'm fine, I promise sir."

He'll be more than fine once these Slifer Slackers are out of his school.

"Oh then are you enjoying the children's punishment a little too much by any chance?" Shepard laughs.

Shit.

"Oh my no, you are mistaken Chancellor Shepard." Vellian holds a hand to his face, feigning sympathy. "I'm just laughing because it appears that our students' suffering is almost through. The Duel is almost done now, it seems."

"It doesn't look like they're suffering much to me." Shepard points over.

So Vellian looks as well, bristling.

"In fact, Yuuna looks like she's just getting her second wind." Shepard chuckles.

Signora Yuki is raising her head triumphantly, staring down the Paradox Brothers.

"I'm not giving up!" Yuuna calls.

"Well, well, the Slifer Red forges ahead." Para murmurs in awe.

Dox scoffs. "When a smarter Duelist would have fled."

Yuuna rolls her eyes. "Geez, if I have to hear one more awful rhyme, I swear I'm going to paint my uniform orange just so they can't make it rhyme."

Yubel chuckles and rolls their eyes. "Oh goodness, please don't. Red suits you much better, Little Princess."

Yuuna giggles. "Alright, alright then, I won't Yubel."

Para smirks. "Forget about our rhyming."

"Focus more on your timing." Dox straightens up.

"How about you guys stop being so bossy and let me worry about my cards and my partner." Yuuna rolls her eyes, turning to Blair.

Who's still on the ground, looking defeated and upset. Every instinct in Yuuna is screaming to run over and hug her sister, her best friend. But if she leaves the field, they'll lose.

The best she can do is use her words.

"Blair, do you think you can stand?" Yuuna calls, gently.

Blair lifts her head and turns to her. "I can. But what's the point?" She looks at her feet. "I've played horribly. I haven't been able to protect you. I can't even protect myself." She looks at her Duel Disk. "Maybe-"

"Stop right there, Blair." Yuuna says, sternly.

Blair pauses and turns to her.

"You're my partner and I wouldn't want to be in this Duel with anyone else." Yuuna points at the Gate Guardian. "Because I know you're the one who's going to destroy it!"

Blair gapes at her. "What?!"

Yubel chuckles. "Nice pep talk."

"So stand up proud and take a moment to breathe!" Yuuna puts her fingers over her Deck. "Because you're going to wanna watch closely at what I'm about to do."

Yuuna inhales deeply, closing her eyes.

After the months and weeks of practicing with her powers, she's slowly getting the hang of calling them up on her own, without making it too noticeable. It's like trying to grab water, she finds. It slips right out of her fingers more often than not, but if she's slow and gently puts her hand in, cupping the darkness and then directing it to where she wants it to go then…

She can imagine the darkness inside her, can imagine it slipping through her fingertips, can imagine it bringing her just the card she needs right this minute.

Yuuna exhales slowly, opening her eyes.

"I draw!" Yuuna looks at her card.

She grins.

"I play a facedown and that's that." Yuuna slides the card into the slot.

Blair trips on air. "That's your big move?!"

"Hey, chill out spitfire." Yuuna smiles. "I'm just setting the stage for your big move." Her smile turns softer. "But you gotta slow down, Blair."

Blair stiffens up. "What?"

"How old are you again, Blair?" Yuuna calls.

Blair bunches up her shoulders and looks to the side. "...11."

Yuuna's heart squeezes.

Yubel's eyes widen. "Goodness. I thought she was older than that."

Yuuna did too. Yuuna remembers being 11 and scared of your parents. When you're not sure if you'll get to eat that day or escape with only their words echoing in your head instead of the usual bumps and bruises. Desperately seeking an escape, but knowing it's impossible.

Blair was braver than her. Blair did escape.

"Spitfire." Yuuna smiles for her. "You have time."

Blair tilts her head. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, we're both still young. We have our whole lives ahead of us yet and with the way medicine is going, we'll probably live until we're 80, at least." Yuuna winks. "So learn to chill out. Take a break. Breathe for a while. You don't have to rush growing up."

Yuuna knows she has had to do that, to survive life with her family. Blair probably has too.

But they're safe here. They can be kids. They can forget about the time for a while and just be.

Yuuna's slowly learning to do that. But Blair needs to learn it even more.

"Slow down, Blair. Just breathe." Yuuna nods. "You have time."

Blair's eyes fill with tears and she looks to the side, rubbing at them.

"Enough with the chatter." Dox draws. "Time to turn your partner into a splatter!"

Yuuna growls. Oh flip no.

"Gate Guardian, attack the little girl!" Dox orders.

Blair gasps, looking at her cards frantically.

"Not so fast, I got a trap card!" Yuuna plays it. "Kunai with Chain!"

Chains burst from her card, wrapping around Gate Guardian, bringing him to his knees and weakening him slightly as he enters DEF mode with 3400 points.

"This allows me to force one of your monsters to take a DEF position." Yuuna grins. "I'm not letting Gate Guardian hurt my little sister!"

Dox snarls. "Very well then. I'll place one card face down. No more, no less. Brother, you do the rest."

"Excellent decision, I think it's for the best." Para nods, smirking. "Because I know with our next turn, I can win us this contest."

Yuuna rolls her eyes and smirks.

Blair and her are going to make him eat those words.

Blair feels sick to her stomach.

It's all in her hands.

Yuuna is counting on her to win this for both of them.

She…

She's…

Blair whimpers and closes her eyes.

She can't do this. She's failed so much already. She can't-

"Little Love, don't fret."

Blair gasps, but doesn't open her eyes. She's starting to recognise that voice.

It's House Dragonmaid.

"You have so much power within you, don't you forget."

Wait, who's speaking with her?

"Blair, we choose you for a reason."

A third voice?

"We believe in you!"

Is that a kid?

"So believe in us too."

How many people are talking to her right now?

"Just breathe with me, Little Love. In…"

Blair does as she's asked, breathing in deeply.

"And out, Blair. Good."

Blair breathes out.

"Slow down, Blair. Think about the field. What do you see?"

Blair opens her eyes and examines it.

Para has Gate Guardian, while Dox has Defence Wall. Yuuna has the two Regenerating Rose Tokens and Renge. Blair has Dragonmaid Welcome. Yuuna's Kunai with Chain is keeping Gate Guardian in DEF mode.

Blair's eyes widen.

Wait. That was Yuuna's special card.

Which means she set this up so that Blair could finish it off. Gate Guardian is in DEF mode because she has something that can only defeat him like this-

Blair gasps, a memory smashing into her.

The four Slifers up late the night before, laughing over Yuuna's favourite movie ending.

"That was awesome, Yuuna!" Chumley declared.

Blair nodded. "Yeah, it really was."

Syrus suddenly jumped, nearly knocking the blanket fort down.

"Sorry, I'll be right back, I just remembered something!" Syrus scrambled out of the blanket fort and came back a moment later with his Deck.

Chumley, Yuuna and Blair stared at him.

"Here." Syrus opened his Deck and offered Blair a card. "Tomorrow's match is really important, I know. But I really like this card so if you can give it back when you're done, I'd appreciate it."

Blair looked at the card and gasped. "You'd really just let us borrow this?"

"Yeah." Syrus kneeled in front of her. "With the right combo, it could be used to beat anything and if anything is a good combo, it's the Blair and Yuuna team." He smirked. "I just hope this gives you guys an extra edge."

Blair smiled. "Then I'll make sure we win tomorrow's match so I can return this card."

Blair comes back to the present, looking at her Deck.

The card Syrus let her borrow. It's their last hope.

Blair inhales deeply.

Their fun, friendship and future are on the line here.

She places her fingers over her Deck.

Her chance of safety, security and having a sanctuary are on the line.

Blair exhales slowly.

She's going to get this right!

"I draw!" Blair yells, doing just that.

She looks at the card and grins. "I got it!"

Yuuna laughs and points at the field. "Show 'em the drill!"

"After I show 'em the dragon, maybe!" Blair laughs. "I summon Nurse Dragonmaid!"

Nurse rises to the field, her ATK points increasing to 600 with Dragonmaid Welcome, all of Yuuna's monsters also getting a boast.

"Whenever I summon her, I get to special summon a Dragonmaid in my Graveyard, so long as she's Level 4 or below!" Blair punches the air. "Come on back, Laundry!"

Laundry takes to the field, giving a little spin as she lands on her feet with 700 ATK points.

"It's time to ender the Battle Phase, so you know what to do girls!" Blair points to the sky. "Dragonmaid! Make Up!"

Nurse and Laundry transform into Ernus and Nudyarl, ATK points rising to 2800 each.

"Nudyarl, take out that Defence Wall!" Blair orders.

Nudyarl spews a water blast from her mouth and hits Defence Wall head on, destroying it upon impact.

"And now it's time to play my spell card, lent to me by my brother and best friend-" Blair brands the card high. "Shield Crush! It destroys any Monster in DEF mode!"

Yuuna laughs. "Dumbest brothers say what?!"

"WHAT?!" Para and Dox shout.

Shield Crush blasts a green energy ray at Gate Guardian, exploding him on sight.

And Blair smiles because she finally feels like she has time.

The students burst into applause.

Chumley and Syrus being the loudest in the crowd.

"GO YUUNA! GO BLAIR!" Syrus and Chumley shout. "GO YUUNA! GO BLAIR!"

"Fried cheese here I come!" Chumley claps.

Syrus falls to his knees. "Thank you Slifer the Sky Dragon, I'll wear red proudly for the rest of my life!"

Around the ring, Alexis breathes easier, smiling.

The Slifer girls are still in this.

Zane slowly smirks. "Well, that was quite the comeback."

On another side of the ring, the Blue Girls and Bastion stare out at the field in shock.

"Did you see that?!" Bastion gasps, looking wildly between Mindy and Jasmine. "Did you?! Tell me you just saw that!"

"Bastion, we're sitting right next to you, what do you think we're seeing?!" Jasmine gasps.

Mindy starts crying. "Oh my God, I was so scared there for a while!" She sniffles and rubs at her eyes. "But they're pulling it off! They took down that Gate Guardian and it was so amazing!"

"What's even more impressive is the teamwork they used to do it, Yuuna putting Gate Guardian in DEF mode and handing it off to Blair for her to finish it with Shield Crush." Jasmine nods to herself.

"Indeed." Bastion unfolds his arms. "That's what it's going to take to win this. So let's hope they can keep it up."

At the entrance, Chazz's eyebrow twitches, as he watches the match.

No.

No, no, no! She can't beat the same losers Yugi fucking Moto beat before he's even a pro! This is nuts!

What the Hell was Crowler thinking?!

Down at the ring, the good doctor himself is thinking something similar.

"NO!" Vellian mutters to himself. "This is supposed to be a punishment, but the crowd is treating them like heroes!" He turns to Shepard, surely the man will see reason! "Chancellor Shepard, tell me you're watching this!"

"Yes, well done Crowler!" That idiot is just sitting there, smiling and waving. "This match you set up is promoting teamwork and Duelling fortitude! Fine job!"

Vellian growls.

"I had to end the battle phase to use Shield Crush, so I can't have Ernus attack." Blair looks over at her Dragons.

Who have already taken on their human forms.

"I'll play a facedown and call it a turn." Blair does that.

She can't believe it.

"Thanks for the sweet move, Blair, I knew you could do it!" Yuuna smiles, giving her a thumbs up.

Blair grins and returns it. "Thank you for using your Kunai With Chain to set him up for me to knock down."

Yuuna shrugs. "Hey, that's just what sisters do for each other, right?"

Blair feels her face pinken and she grins. "Yeah."

Sisters.

Her heart's all warm and fuzzy.

"Mind if we join in on all the praise you two?" Para interrupts.

Dox follows on. "Because for destroying Gate Guardian we should really thank you."

Blair stiffens.

Oh no.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, this is true." Para draws.

Dox laughs. "And we're about to become more powerful than ever, thanks to you!"

"I play Dark Element!" Para declares. "By sacrificing half our life points, when we have Gate Guardian in the Graveyard, we can summon the ultimate creature that can't be destroyed in battle! Dark Guardian!"

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 2000

PARA / DOX: 1850

A massive warrior half man, half spider beast takes to the field, wielding a mighty axe and 3800 ATK points.

"Unbeatable in battle and has those ATK points?!" Yuuna gasps, staring up in horror.

Blair grits her teeth. "This is bad."

"Now Guardian, destroy Nurse Dragonmaid!" Para orders.

"I won't let you!" Blair shouts. "Dragonmaid! Make up!"

Nurse transforms into Ernus, but even with her points raised high at 2800, it's no match for the Dark Guardian, which swings it's axe down on her hard.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 1000

PARA / DOX: 1850

Wind and lightning from the attack hits all sides of the arena, making people yell and scream.

"It's cute that you hang on even as we bombard and bombard." Dox chuckles.

Para folds his arms. "But our precious Dark Guardian has kept up his guard."

"He won't be blasted to shards!" Dox folds his arms.

Para says. "And soon enough this Duel!"

"Will be-" The two of them shout. "Ours!"

Blair grits her teeth.

This is bad. This is bad. They have to win. They have to win. They have to win!

"Can it you two, it's my turn!" Yuuna shouts as she draws.

Blair turns to her best friend, her sister, her confidant, her roommate.

It's all up to Yuuna now.

"I'm summoning my Dark Crusader!" Yuuna does that. "And discarding Broww to give him 400 more ATK points and use Broww's effect, which lets me draw one more card!"

Dark Crusader holds his sword high as it glows.

Blair watches in awe as Yuuna draws.

Then she smiles and turns to Blair, winking.

"Now, I'm going to play the spell card-" Yuuna holds it high. "Dragonic Attack! By equipping it to Dark Crusader, he becomes a Dragon type and gets 500 more ATK points!"

Dark Crusader cackles, his sword glowing bright and getting bigger, his points rising to 2500 ATK.

Then Blair realises what she's doing.

"Yuuna?!" Blair calls out. "Can I use Dark Crusader?"

Yuuna beams. "Yes!"

"Here goes something then!" Blair picks a card from her hand. "I play Flash Fusion! This lets me Fusion summon right away, but the monster will be destroyed at the end of my turn!"

Here it is, the moment of truth!

"I fuse together my Laundry Dragonmaid and Yuuna's Dark Crusader-" Blair shouts. "To summon House Dragonmaid!"

Her ace monster takes to the field in all her devastating glory and 3100 ATK points.

"And now I play the Equip spell, United We Stand!" Blair finds her other card. "House Dragonmaid now gains 800 ATK points for every monster we control!"

"And that includes my Regenerating Rose Tokens!" Yuuna laughs.

"WHAT?!" Para and Dox shout.

House glows a gentle gold as her points rise high, all the way to 5500 ATK.

Para smirks. "An impressive number-"

"But it can not destroy our monster." Dox finishes.

"Well it's a good thing we don't need to destroy Dark Guardian to hurt you guys!" Yuuna smirks. "Which is why I'm equipping House Dragonmaid with Axe of Despair to raise her points to-"

House wields the axe in her hands happily, spinning it around, points rising to 6500 ATK.

Para and Dox shout.

"It's time to end this game!" Yuuna shouts. "House-"

"Dragonmaid!" Blair screams.

"ATTACK DARK GUARDIAN!" The girls command.

House rushes the field, wielding her axe high and bringing it down heavily on Dark Guardian's head. It blasts off a golden light that cuts straight through Dark Guardian and hits Para and Dox directly.

BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI: 1000

PARA / DOX: 0

WINNER: BLAIR FLANNIGAN / YUUNA YUKI!

The holargrams fade and the brothers fall to their knees.

And the crowd goes wild!

Blair takes it all in, remembering the audience, remembering the world around her.

She sees Chumley and Syrus cheering, Chumley lifting Syrus up and spinning him around.

She sees Bastion leaning forward and clapping, while Jasmine and Mindy stand up and hug each other, jumping on the spot.

She sees Alexis relax and smile, only to scowl and turn away when she sees Blair looking, with Zane following right behind her.

She sees Chazz walk out as well, stomping like a spoilt child, his lackeys following.

"No, how can this be?! How'd they win?!"

Finally, she sees Dr. Crowler stumbling away from the arena, falling on his butt.

"Blair!"

Blair barely has a chance to turn around before Yuuna is picking her up and spinning her around, Blair laughing with her.

They won. They won!

They get to stay!

Blair laughs and cries and hugs Yuuna tight when she puts her on the ground again. "I knew we could do it!"

"You were amazing!" Yuuna hugs her tightly. "An absolute hero, Blair you were amazing!"

Blair laughs and cries and hides her eyes in Yuuna's stomach, the emotions overwhelming her.

"Hey, Para, Dox." Yuuna calls. "Thanks for the sweet Duel, if you guys ever want a rematch, that'd be cool!"

Blair groans. "Yuuna no, don't you start rhyming too."

She's had enough of those to last a lifetime.

"Excellent work you two." Chancellor Shepard steps over to them. "I'm sure your match would be even better written in a report. Where you discuss how Duelling the Paradox brothers taught you that it was wrong to go to the Abandoned Dorm."

Yuuna stiffens. "Say what?"

"I want a 30 page report on today's Duel by the end of the week. One sided and single spaced." Chancellor Shepard laughs.

Yuuna whimpers and falls backwards. "Noo, my life is ov-"

"Yuuna, you're gonna make me fall!" Blair shrieks.

"Gotcha!"

The girls look up to see Chumley and Syrus holding Yuuna, keeping her from falling back.

"Yuuna! Blair!"

Yuuna and Blair stand up straight, just in time for Jasmine and Mindy to run and hug them, laughing with them all the while Bastion walks over at a much more subdued pace.

"Mindy, save me please, Chancellor Shepard is being mean!" Yuuna sobs, hugging Mindy tightly.

"Oh I'll save you, we're all going to the mall to celebrate your win right now!" Mindy raises her fist. "Who's with me?!"

"ME!" Shout their friends, all of them raising a fist.

Blair laughs, shakes her head and smiles. "Let's get going then."

"Last person who gets to the mall entrance has to buy me a drink!" Yuuna dashes for the exit.

"Wait for us!" Syrus calls, chasing after her.

With that, they all run for the exit and Blair laughs at the top of her lungs.

She has time once more and she's going to enjoy every moment of it.