Chapter 36, The spirit keys.
Chancellor Sheppard was sitting in his office doing some paper work when the phone rang, "Hello, Duel academy, Chancellor Sheppard speaking" said Shappard, "Hello Samejima, it's been a long time since we last spoke" said the voice on the phone.
Sheppard gasped, he instantly recognised the voice, "Kagemaru" said Sheppard, "Yes, I'm pleased that you remember me after all these years" said Kagemaru, "Well what can I do for you old friend" asked Sheppard.
"Samejima I would like you to give me the spirit keys" said Kagemaru, a frown appeared n Sheppard's face "We talked about this years ago, the Sacred beasts are too dangerous to be unleashed" said Sheppard.
"I am aware of the risks, but I'm afraid that I am out of time Samejima, I need those cards" said Kagemaru, "I'm sorry but the answer is no" said Sheppard, "I'm sorry too old friend, I didn't want it to come to this" said Kagemaru.
"What are you talking about" asked Sheppard, "If you will not give me the spirit keys then I will take them" said Kagemaru, "You're not strong enough to beat me" said Sheppard, "Perhaps, but the Shadow riders are" said Kagemaru.
"Who" asked Sheppard, "The Shadow riders, seven associates of mine, each one is powerful in their own right, if you do not hand over the keys willingly then they will take them, by force if necessary" said Kagemaru.
Sheppard's eyes widened in fear, "Kagemaru please, millions of people could be killed" begged Sheppard, however it seemed that Kagemaru took little notice, "Good bye Samejima" he said as he hung up.
Sheppared didn't move for a few seconds, there was sweet forming on his forehead and he was breathing deeply, finally Sheppard picked up the phone and made a call, "Professor Banner we have an emergency" said Sheppard.
Far away from Duel academy Kagemaru was having a meeting with the seven Shadow riders, "I'm sad to say that Samejima was unwilling to corporate" said Kagemaru, none of the Shadow riders looked bothered by this.
"I told you that he would refuse" said the first, "Ha, I'm glad, now I can tear that academy apart" said the sixth, "Please try to calm yourself, charging in head first won't get us anywhere" said the seventh, "I personally like going in head first" said the third.
Before anyone else could say anything Kagemaru spoke up, "That's enough, if we are to acquire the spirit keys we must do so with careful planning" he said.
"I'll do whatever you say, just as long as I get payed" said the fourth, "Don't worry, you'll have your money" said Kagemaru, "And what about me, will I get what I want" asked the second, "Relax, once the Sacred beast have been freed you will all receive what you have been promised" said Kagemaru.
"Now then, who will go first" asked Kagemaru, "I'll go, I will show them that nothing can resist the power of darkness" said the first as he left the room.
Later that day Robin was sitting in his room doing his homework, it was beginning to get dark outside and Robin planned to go to bed soon, just as Robin was finishing his work he heard a knock on the door.
"That's weird, who would be knocking at this time" thought Robin as he stood up to answer the door, Robin opened the door and saw Dr Crowler and Zane standing outside, "Mr Thorn please come with us, Chancellor Sheppard would like a word with you" said Crowler, "What does he want" asked Robin, "I don't know, all he said was to come quickly" said Crowler.
Robin grabbed his jacket and followed Crowler and Zane, "Any idea what this is about" Robin asked Zane, "No idea, but Dr Crowler said it was important" said Zane as the two followed Crowler out of their dorm.
Soon both Robin and Zane noticed that they wasn't heading towards the main building, "Dr Crowler this isn't the way to the Chancellor's office" said Robin, "I am aware of that, however the Chancellor also asked me to bring Ms Rhodes as well" said Crowler sounding rather annoyed at Robin's question.
The three arrived at the Obelisk blue girl's dorm, "Wait here" said Crowler as he entered the dorm and left Robin and Zane outside, after a few minutes Crowler returned with Alexis who looked just as confused as Robin was.
"What's going on" asked Alexis, "I don't know, I'm don't even think that Crowler knows" said Robin, Crowler felt like denying this, but as much as he hated to admit it, it was true that he had no idea what was going on ether, "Enough dilly-dallying, the Chancellor wants to see us now" said Crowler.
Sheppard was in his office feeling increasingly nervous, he was afraid that a Shadow rider was going to break into his office at any moment and kill him, Sheppard took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself.
There was a knock on the door and Sheppard's worry returned, "Who is it" called Sheppard as he reached into one of his desk draws and placed his hand on a loaded pistol.
"Sir, it's me Dr Crowler, I've brought the students you asked for" said Crowler from behind the door, Sheppard sighed in relief as he stood up and unlocked to door letting Crowler, Robin, Alexis and Zane in.
"What did you want to talk to us about Sir" asked Zane, "I'll explain soon, we're just waiting for the others" said Sheppard as he sat back at his desk, "Something seems very wrong here" thought Robin.
Soon there was another knock at the door, "Chancellor, it's Professor Banner, we're here" came Banner's voice, Crowler opened the door and Banner walked inside followed by Jaden, Chazz and Bastion, Jaden was wearing the pendant he had received from Gravekeeper's chief around his neck.
"Thank you all for coming, I'm sure your wondering why I called you all here" said Sheppard, "Of course I want to know why I'm here, I'm missing my beauty sleep" said Chazz, although everyone ignored him.
"I don't know how to say this but, the world needs your help" said Sheppard, at this point everyone looked at Sheppard, some with looks of confusion, others with looks of curiosity.
"What are you talking about" asked Robin, Sheppard sighed "Professor Banner would you help me explain" he asked, "Of course" said Banner.
"As some of you may already know Pegasus originally got the idea for Duel monsters from ancient Egyptian tablets that he found while on an archaeological dig" said Banner, while most of the group already knew this, both Jaden and Chazz was surprised is seemed that neither of them had heard the stories before.
"Back in ancient times these monsters was in fact real, and powerful sorceress would summon them to battle in actual wars, unfortunately when Pegasus created the card game it seemed that the spirits of some of these monsters entered the cards" said Banner, "Wait is that why I can see Winged kuriboh" though Jaden, Chazz was thinking the same thing about his Ojamas.
"Many years ago I worked for Pegasus and helped him find more of these tablets so he could create more cards, that was until I found the Sacred beasts" said Banner, everyone looked at Banner in confusion, "The what" asked Alexis.
"The Sacred beast, three incredibly powerful monsters, no one is quite sure where they came from, some think that they may be demons, others think that they may be the result of someone attempting to artificially create copies of the Egyptian gods" said Banner.
"However no matter what their origin is the fact remains that these three beasts was so powerful and uncontrollable that someone sealed them away in a secret tome hidden deep under the sand" continued Banner.
"We didn't know what we was dealing with at the time and Pegasus turned them into cards, however we quickly discovered the these beasts lived only to kill, many of the beta testers who faced them was ether hospitalised or killed" said Banner.
"Finally Pegasus shutdown the Sacred beasts project, he then gave me the only three copies of the cards and told me to hide them away where no one would find them" finished Banner, "Let me guess, someone found where you hid them" said Robin.
Banner nodded, "Unfortunately yes, I brought the Sacred beasts here to Duel academy, then with the help of Chancellor Sheppard and his predecessor Chancellor Kagemaru, sealed the cards underneath the Island" he said.
"The only way to access the cards now is with seven special keys we created called spirit keys" finished Banner, "So who exactly is trying to steal these things, and how did they know about them in the first place" aske Crowler.
"Unfortunately the one who wants the cards is Kagemaru himself, I don't know why he wants them, but he was always very interested with the cards" said Sheppard, "So why did you call us" asked Chazz.
"I would like you all to help me protect the spirit keys, the last time I spoke to Kagemaru he mentioned that he had a group of seven people called the Shadow riders who he intends to send here to retrieve the keys" said Sheppard as he pulled a black metal case out of his draw and opened it revealing seven golden keys connected to small chains so that they could be worn like necklaces.
"Wait a minute, if we take these keys won't that just make us targets for these Shadow riders" said Bastion, "Yes it will, but you will be saving the world, said Sheppard, "Chancellor we can't put children in danger" said Crowler, "I'm afraid we have no choice, the whole world could be at stake" said Sheppard.
"Even if we do take the keys, what's stopping the Shadow riders from just taking them while we're asleep" asked Zane, "They can't, the keys are designed to only activate if they are won in a duel, that's why I chose you seven, you're the best duellists we have" said Sheppard.
At this point Zane walked to the Sheppard's desk and took one of the keys, he then walked out of the room, "Wait Zane don't you want to hear the rest" shouted Jaden, "Not really" said Zane without even turning to look at Jaden.
Sheppard looked at the six remaining keys and the six remaining duellists hoping that they would take them.
"If you wanted the best, then you've gotten the best" said Chazz as he took the second key, clearly swayed by Sheppard calling him one of the school's best dualist "Hey, if Chazz is game then so am I" said Jaden with a smile as he took the third key.
"Facing these Shadow riders could be excellent practice for my next test" said Bastion as he took the fourth key, "Sheppard, I am very disappointed that you would bring children into this" said Crowler as he took the fifth key.
"What the hell, it's not like this is the first time I've had to duel for my life" said Robin as he took the sixth key, everyone except Alexis looked at him with confusion in their eyes, wondering what he meant, "I guess if the world is in danger then I have to do something" said Alexis as she took the last key.
Sheppard placed the now empty case back into his draw, "I'm happy that you have all agreed to help, now them please return to your dorms, and don't tell anyone about this" he said.
"Chancellor its dark out, we can't let the children walk back alone" said Crowler, "Good point, Banner would you walk Jaden and Chazz back to the red dorm, and Crowler could you take Bastion back to the yellow dorm" said Sheppared.
"What about Robin and Alexis" asked Jaden, "Maybe Sheppard could walk us back" suggested Robin, Sheppard's face turned to one of fear, "Oh sorry, but I'm too busy, I sure you two will be alright" he said.
Unknown to everyone the first Shadow rider had just teleported to the island.
