AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. This one is a very intense match between Teacher and Student of Slifer Reds. This also means you see who the new Headteacher of the dorm is. Her deck is one of the harder decks the keep track of, but one that fits too well not to ignore. Also, while I am posting this one earlier than I thought, the next one will be a while. I have two remakes I have been waiting a long time to play and they will eat up my free time. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.

Chapter 22 – The Next Year: Red Pt. 2

Standing before the plain and small Slifer Red dorm, Ruby waved to an approaching Jaden and Blair. The two waved back before seeing someone behind the hooded Slifer Red. However, Ruby first noticed something rubbing against her right leg. In looking down, she saw a plump cat with light brown fur, "Oh, hi Pharaoh." Ruby said with a smile forming.

"Meow," Pharaoh responded before moving behind Ruby. In the hooded Slifer Red turning around, she saw the person her friends witnessed. It was a woman with darker skin, yellow eyes, and a red gem in her forehead. Over her black sleeveless top, she wore a Slifer Red jacket around her shoulders like a cape. Like Blair, she wore boots, shorts, and high stockings. However, the sides of her thigh showed darker horizontal lines, like ones on Pharaoh's back. What was probably the oddest choice of fashion, she seemed to have a set of brown cat ears over her short black hair. As the plump cat rubbed against this woman's right leg, she scowled at the approaching Slifer Reds.

"You took your time." The woman said as Jaden and Blair joined Ruby.

"I'm sorry, I got caught up a duel before I could tell him about you." Ruby responded.

"I'm more of my fault," Blair added on, "I'm the one who challenged her." However, the woman glared back, causing the maiden Slifer Red to step behind Jaden out of fear.

The woman then sighed before looking to the spirited Slifer Red, "You must be Jaden Yuki."

"You bet," Jaden responded, "And are you the new Slifer Red Headteacher?"

"Correct," The woman responded, "My name is Sienna Khan, I was the student-teacher to the late Lyman Banner."

"Late?" Jaden responded in shock, "You mean, he's dead?" He said with Sienna walking towards the dorm.

"Let's discuss this inside," She said with the Slifer Red Students following, but Jaden still had a look of disbelief.

Upon taking residents in the cafeteria, The four had the room to themselves. They sat at a table while Pharaoh slept on one of the high support beams, "So, what happened to him?" Jaden asked Sienna.

"I'm not entirely sure, but they found his remains in a cave. At least, what they identified as his remains." Sienna said with a sigh as she crossed her arms, "As you could tell, I wasn't around here for a while." She said before taking a sip of green tea, "The day I left, was the day right before the missing student's incident." She said with Ruby and Jaden gasping.

"What is she talking about?" Blair asked.

"Well," Ruby tried to think of an answer that would not scare her friend, as well as not tell her of the incidents that had happened last year.

"Ruby, why don't you help Blair unpack her stuff. You two will be sharing the same room this year." Sienna suggested, then turned to the spirited Slifer Red, "I wish to talk to Jaden alone."

"Oh okay," Ruby said before standing up, bowing, and then taking Blair's hand, "Come on, I can show you where our room is."

After the two girls left, Sienna then had a focused gaze on the spirited Slifer Red, "I know everything about last year," She said with Jaden remaining silent, "The incident, the Shadow Riders, and even the death of Adam Taurus." The headteacher of Slifer Red said with Jaden gasping, a line of sweat running down his face.

"You knew him?" Jaden asked.

"I had seen him around, tried giving him some dueling advice," Sienna responded, "But he was always set in his own ways of doing things." She said before sipping her tea, "Frankly, it does not surprise me that this was his fate. I'm glad he's dead."

"How can you say that?" Jaden said with anger in his eyes, "He…He was still a person, and no one deserves to die."

Sienna didn't respond right away, rather standing up. She started to lift her sleeveless top halfway up, causing Jaden to look away, his face turning red, "Don't be a baby, look." She ordered with him glancing back for a second, then seeing what she was trying to show him. An x-shape scar was seen on her stomach, one that was over an inch wide, "That bastard stabbed me when I wasn't expecting it." She said before putting down her top, sighing while doing so, "I don't know how he got a sword on this island." She then went back to her tea, "I would have died, if not for Banner's medicine. I still needed to be evacuated off the island, but it was thanks to him that I'm standing here today." She said while looking at the cup, then glanced back at Jaden, "To pay Professor Banner back, he asked me to take over his position as Headteacher of Slifer Red." Sienna then looked to her left thigh, reaching for a deck box, "As well, he wanted me to give you this." She said before putting the deck box on the table.

"Huh? Why would he want to give me a new deck?" Jaden asked before reaching for the deck box, but Sienna stopped him by placing her teacup on the container.

"You were his favorite student, the one he saw the most potential in. At least, that's what he told me before sending me on a hunt for these special cards." Sienna responded, "But I am a person who values actions over words. If you want this deck, you will have to beat me in duel first." She then had a slight smile on her face, "I heard you like to fusion summon. Well, I would like to show you a new version of it."

Suddenly, Jaden started to smile back, "Okay Teach," He said with his eyes filling with determination, "You're on."

Meanwhile.

Inside their dorm room, Ruby and Blair were unpacking, "So, you used to room with another boy?" The maiden Slifer Red asked, "Was he your boyfriend?"

"No!" Ruby responded with her face red, "Stop asking me that, I don't have a boyfriend and didn't have one at any point during my time here last year." She then sighed as she looked at the now empty top bunk, "He wanted to build his own room for space."

"Wow, he sounds rich. So, what did you do for fun?" Blair asked while climbing onto the top bunk, causing Ruby to break eye contact, "Come on, you never told me what your first year here was like."

"It was…" Ruby responded, her mind flashing to all the pain she endured in the shadow duels, her head being bitten by a monster, the heart attack that almost killed her, "…a lot tougher than I thought, but I pulled through in the end. Jaden and I both did." She said with a smile forming, "You know, he's the strongest Slifer Red at this academy."

"Well of course, I already know that." Blair responded, laying on her back before hugging a pillow, "There's nobody that can beat My Jaden."

Ruby smiled back before seeing something in the corner of her eye. Out the window, she saw Jaden and Sienna sanded on the opposite side, each readier their duel disk. "Oh, it looks like they're being their match," Ruby said with Blair jumping off her bed to look of the window as well.

"Duel!" Sienna and Jaden said at the same time, being the duel between the top student and headteacher of the Slifer Red dorm.

Sienna: 4000 Life Points

Jaden: 4000 Life Points

"I'll start," Sienna said as she drew, placing the card in her hand before taking out another card, "I summon Gladiator Beast Attorix in attack mode." Appearing of the Headteacher of Slifer Red's side if the field was a feline warrioress, adorn with battle armor. With a massive shield and bent sword, she stood at the ready for combat, (800 ATK / 2000 DEF), "Next, I play the spell card Ties of the Brethren. For 2000 life points, I can special summon two monsters from my deck with of the same level, attribute, and type as Attorix." She said as she scanned her deck, looking for a couple of Level four, Earth, Beast-Warrior monsters. After finding two, she summoned them both, "I choose Gladiator Beast Darius," She said as black mustang with orange horse armor appeared, (1700 ATK / 300 DEF). "And Gladiator Beast Andal." Next to the others was a bipedal bear with purple armor, (1900 ATK / 1500 DEF).

Sienna: 4000 – 2000 = 2000 Life Points

"Wow, that's a gutsy play," Jaden comment, "Can't wait to see what fusion you bring out now."

"Due to Ties of the Brethren, I cannot special summon anymore this turn." She said before tacking two cards out of her hand, "I will set these and end my turn."

"Huh? But then why did you bring out three monsters like that?" Jaden asked with Sienna crossing her arms. Jaden sighed before drawing, but then smiled at the result, "This is how I like to bring out my fusion monster, right away." The spirited Slifer Red said before playing the spell, "I activate Polymerization, fusing my Elemental Hero Avian and Burstinatrix to for my favorite monster." Jaden declared as his two heroes merged to create the one-winged warrior with a red dragon for a right arm, "Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" Jaden as his monster stood at this side, matching Sienna Khan's scowl, (2100 ATK / 1200 DEF).

From the dorm room, Ruby and Blair watched, "Well, Jaden's got this one." Blair commented, "No matter which one of monster he destroys, Flame Wingman's burst damage with burn away the rest of her life points." She said while blushing, "My Jaden is so cool!"

"Yeah, but that would make this too easy," Ruby said before seeing Flame Wingman jump into the air, his body engulfed in flames. Suddenly, she gasped at the realization of the two facedown cards.

"Now, attack with Skydive Sco-!" Jaden ordered as his monster dove for the finishing blow of the game, but Sienna activated a face down.

"I reveal my trap card, Threatening Roar." Sienna played, causing her monsters to shout their battle cries in unison. The shockwave of the roar pushed Flame Wingman back, stopping his assault, "This turn, you cannot declare an attack."

"Well, I was expecting you to counter with something like that." Jaden said before taking two cards out of his hand, "I'll throw down two face downs and call it a turn."

Sienna drew, then placed the card in her hand, "Now, let me show you my way of fusion summoning." She said before scoping all three of her monsters off her duel disk.

"Wait, you didn't play a Polymerization first?" Jaden commented.

"Because I don't need to," Sienna responded, "I can fusion summon with by shuffling the materials back into my deck." She said before doing so, causing a vortex to appear behind her, "With three Gladiator Beast, I contact fusion summon Gladiator Beast Nerokius!" Appearing from the vortex was a massive humanoid bat with six wings and purple plated armor. He toward over the field, his arms crossed looking down on the one-winged warrior, (2800 ATK / 1900 DEF).

"Wow," Jaden said before grinning, "Alright Teach, hit me with your best shot."

"Gladly, I attack Flame Wingman with Nerokius." Sienna ordered before the bat monster charged into battle.

"Too bad you're not the only one who I can stop attacks." Jaden responded, "I activate my face down, Hero Bar-" However a sudden swam of bats prevented his face downs from flipping up, causing him to gasp.

"When Nerokius attacks or is attacked, you can't actives cards until the end of the damage step." Sienna said before taking out two cards from her hand, "But I can, and since a Gladiator Beast is attacking, I can summon Vespasius from my hand." She said as a deep blue human serpent warrior appeared with a broadsword, (2300 ATK / 0 DEF). "He also gives all my Gladiator Beast 500 more attack points. But I'm not done yet, I active Battle Fusion!" The headteacher of Slifer Red said before playing the spell card, "With it, Nerokius gains attack equal to your fusion monster's attacks point." She said before the massive bat warrior's attack points nearly doubled, (2800 + 500 + 2100 = 5400 ATK). With one right hook, Nerokius effortlessly took down Flame Wingman, creating a massive explosion.

Jaden: 4000 – 3300 = 700 Life Points

"Jaden!" Blair said in a panic as Ruby remained silent, "That one hit took a lot of life points."

Before the smoke could clear, Sienna was already pointing, "Now, Vespasius attacks you directly." Her monster attacked with its attack boosted from its own effect, (2300 + 500 = 2800 ATK).

"I don't think so, let's try this again," Jaden said, looking to his other face down, "I play A Hero Emerges. With it, you choose a card in my hand. If it's a monster, I can summon them." He said before showing the sole card in his hand, "In this case, there is only one option. SO, meet Hero Kid!" Jaden said before summoning a young hero in a with short blue hair, adore with a combat suit made for space, (300 ATK / 600 DEF). "Thanks to his effect, I can summon out even more Hero Kids from my deck." He said before ejecting his cards.

Suddenly, a chain shot out from the other side of the field. It penetrated through the Hero Kid and into Jaden's deck. He gasped before looking to Sienna said of the field, discover the end of the chain was attached to her other facedown she had revealed, "Chain Destruction. When you summon a monster with 2000 or less attack, I can destroy all copies of that card that are in your hand and deck." Jaden gritted his teeth before tacking two Hero Kids and send them to the grave. With the chain ended, Vespasius slashed the last Hero Kid to send him to the graveyard.

"I cannot believe she stopped all his defenses," Ruby commented.

At the end of the battle phase, Sienna scoped her two monsters, "I now return my Gladiator Beasts to my deck and extra deck, to summon out three new ones." She said before taking three new cards out of her deck, "I choose Gladiator Beast Hoplomus, Laduari, and Octavius." She said as a white clade rhino defended the duelist, (700 ATK / 2100 DEF). Jumping out of a fire hoop was an orange tiger with his ravenous claw at the ready, the strips matching Sienna, (1800 ATK / 400 DEF). Finally, a large humanoid bald eagle in light green armor with his arms crossed, (2500 ATK / 1200 DEF). "When summoned, each gain an additional effect. Hoplomus and Laduari increase their status." She said while the rhino bolstered his defense (2100 + 300 = 2400 DEF). and the tiger sharped his burning claws, (1800 + 300 = 2100 ATK). "As for Octavius, he will destroy your last set card." She said as Jaden's Hero Barrier exploded, leaving him with no cards left.

"H-he can still win, right Ruby?" Blair asked but the hooded Slifer Red remained silent, watching the duel.

"Now, I'll contact fuse again." Sienna said as she scooped her field, looking at Laduari in particular, "You summoned your favorite monster," She said as the vortex appeared behind her. "Now, meet mine!" She said before a new tiger warrior appeared out of the contact fusion. The form resembled Laduari, but his armor was more prominent, a piece from every warrior he has defeated. In his right arm was a battle-ax with a gem-like counterweight. In his left hand, a shield made from hexagon plates, (3000 ATK / 2800 DEF). "This is Gladiator Beast Heraklinos." The tiger warrior roared as he was prepared for any battle.

"Amazing!" Jaden said in astonishment, a large smile on his face. He had no cards left, all plays countered, and barely any life points. Despite all of that, Jaden was still having fun, "You may have my back against the wall, but I'm not out yet Teach. I draw!" Jaden said at the start of his turn, smiling at his result. "With no cards on the field, I can special summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in defense mode." He said as the aqua armored hero knelt with his arms in a blocking stance, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF). "And since he was special summoned this way, I get to draw two cards," Jaden said before doing so. The first card he saw Bubble Illusion. With it, he could activate a trap from his hand for a comeback combo.

However, the other card he drew was not a trap card. Rather, it was a spell card. Sienna noticed Jaden starring at the second card, his teeth slightly grit. At first, she thought it was a result he did not want. But she then realized that was not true; it was a card he did not wish to play, "What's the matter?" The Headteacher of Slifer Red asked, "Why are you hesitating?"

Jaden lowered his hands, "Teach… what do you think of power?" He asked with Sienna having a look of confusion, "I mean, would you sacrifice someone important to you if it meant you could gain a new level of power?"

From their room, Ruby and Blair watched the duel take a slight pause, "What does he mean?" Blair asked, but Ruby remained silent, "Ruby, why aren't you saying anything?"

Sienna sighed as she closed her eyes, "I wanted to duel you, not discuss philosophy." She said before opening her eyes, "But if you want my opinion, I know where a line needs to be drawn." She said with Jaden looking back at her, "Power is needed is you want people to listen. Anger and hatred can make that power very easy to attain. Sometimes, it's the only way. However, too much can cause someone to descend into madness, turning into a monster." She said before feeling the scar on her stomach, "That's what happened to Adam, and I won't let the same happen to me." She then looked back to Jaden with a glare, "If you wish to beat me, you need more power than you have been showing so far." The headteacher said before crossing her arms, make this next comment a direct order, "However, know your line, Jaden Yuki."

"…Okay Teach," Jaden said before looking down, "You're right." He said with Sienna reading herself for what was about to happen. However, she gasped as Jaden looked up, his eyes changed to a dark golden yellow, "I activate Super Polymerization!" He declared as Ruby gasped, "With it, I discard one card to fuse my Bubbleman with your Heraklinos!"

"What!?" Sienna said before seeing the storm clouds form, followed by thunder and lightning. She then looked at the solo card left in her hand, "I activate Heraklinos, by discarding a card to negate a spell-" However, her monster and Bubble were already being pulled into the vortex.

"Super Polymerization's effect out speeds all other card effects." Jaden said as he looked up at the two-monster spiral, "This is the ultimate fusion summoning card."

Ruby watched in panic as she started to sweat, "Jaden, how could you let yourself-" She was saying until she saw something. Jaden's body pulsated as if something was fighting back.

"AAAAHHHH!" Jaden screamed while shutting his eyes, causing a dark aura to expel from his soul. In opening his eyes, they had returned to normal. While his face was sweating, he still smiled, "I know where my line is, and I'm never crossing it again." He said to Sienna, who was still confused about what happened, but Ruby smiled after sighing in relief. Jaden looked up to see the fusion still taking place, "With my Elemental Hero and your Fire monster," The spirited Slifer Red declared as he raised his fist, "I fusion summon Elemental Hero Nova Master!" He said before the combination resulted in a ball of fire that descended onto the field. As the ball exploded, releasing a heatwave, the hero emerged in blazing armor and his right fist engulfed in flames, (2600 ATK / 2100 DEF).

Sienna put down her arms, closing her eyes, and a small smile forming "Heh, they told me you had a habit of beat your professors." She said before Jaden smirked, pointing to order his hero to attack. Nova Master charged and reeled back for a blazing punch. From the spirited Slifer Red perspective, the punch looked like it landed, but the duel was not over. Jaden gasped upon realizing that someone had blocked the punch. In front of Nova Master was a humanoid cheetah with blue armor, the claws catching the fist, (0 ATK / 1000 DEF). "But I am not so easily defeated." Sienna said as she showed the last card in her hand, the one that would have been discarded if Super Polymerization had not gone off, "During the direct attack, I special summoned Gladiator Beast Noxious in defense mode. He not only takes the attack but cannot be destroyed by battle." She said as the cheetah warrior roared, pushing back Nova Master, "At the end for the battle phase, I can return Noxious to the deck to summon back Gladiator Beast Darrius." She said as her monster was replaced with the returning mustang warrior, (1700 ATK / 300 DEF). "And since he was special summon this way, I can special summon a Gladiator Beast from my graveyard." The headteacher of Slifer Red said as she smiled at the card, the grinning at Jaden, "In this case, there's only one option."

"…Oh," Jaden said as he had an uneasy smile, seeing Gladiator Beast Heraklinos reappear with a hateful scowl, (3000 ATK / 2800 DEF).

Sienna drew with a grin, seeing the result, "I attack with Heraklinos as I play the spell Indomitable Gladiator Beast, giving him 500 more attack points. Go, Attacks with Fangs or Revolt!" She said as her ultimate tiger warrior roared a prideful battle cry before charging, (3000 + 500 = 3500 ATK). Nova Master rushed into battle; his flaming fist reeled back. However, Heraklinos blocked the punch with his shield before pushing back. In leaving Nova Master in a staggered state, the ultimate tiger warrior raised his war-ax, slashing his opponent across the chest. The explosion from the final attack had lowered Jaden's life points hit zero.

Jaden: 700 – 900 = 0 Life Points

As the smoke cleared, Blair and Ruby ran to Jaden, who held his head low. Both girls had a look of worry, but Jaden lifted his head, "Hey, did you see that cool duel?" He said with a smile on his face, causing both of his friends' concerns to fade. The spirited Slifer Red then turned to an approaching Sienna, "That's game, and you got." He said before having a slight chuckle, "Still, I almost had you there, Teach."

"Almost, but not quite. As per our deal, I will hold onto the deck." Sienna responded before smiling, putting her left hand on her hip, "But, you can challenge me again when you think you can win."

"Heh," Jaden said before offering his right hand. Sienna looked down on it for a second before extending hers, "Deal." He said as the two Slifer Reds shook on it, a look of confidence their eyes. Blair watched, slightly jealous at the handshake. While Ruby smiled, wondering what else was in store for this year at Duel Academy.

AN: There you, Jaden does take an lose. In my defense, it is canon in Season Two of the show that he loses once before being put on the path to get his next deck. However, you see he already has made some upgrades in that I have given him the Attribute Elemental Heroes so he can use Super Poly more effectively. Still, it was not enough to put down Sienna Khan, who is fun to write here. There are a few decks that work for her. Lunalight because of those orange masks being similar to the White Fang's and Leo Dancer giving off the same aura Sienna does, but Blake already has those cards. Amazoness also fits, but another GX character already has them, and she might show up here as well. And while Gladiator Beast are a little harder to keep track of, they fit so well with the Leader of the White Fang, (This time, a group that will not betray here). Sienna is more interesting of a character than the White Fang in general, which is why I will always hold a Grudge for her mistreatment. And if she is going to be Jaden's monitor this season, she needs the skills to back it up. I do already know how their rematch will go, and it will be crazy. With these two chapters done, the next two will be focusing on Ra Yellow as a certain solider meets his old friend. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.

Now, a lot of question to go through. I saw one that was asking about my favorite GX character. For me, it is hard to pick one. Jaden and Chazz are both fantastic foils and develop in amazing ways in the series. Alexis is still a beautiful and strong-willed duelist. Bastion is the character I relate the most to and think he's cool. However, if I had to say one, it must go to Crowler. Hey him? Because he makes you feel for a character you were supposed to hate and just a joke character. When I watched GX again as an adult, and in sub, he now stood out to me as one of the teachers I had in college who truly cared for his students and wanted them to succeed in life. His Camula duel and speak is amazing, his defending of the Slifer Red dorm is awesome, and his season four duel is as perfect of an episode as the series could ever do. Plus, Ancient Gears are one of my favorite archetypes/aesthetics. He is just side character but given so much growth and meaning in the GX series. (Conversely, RWBY is esay for me to pick my favorite character in Neo. With the other four; Sienna Khan, Roman, Glynda, and the Malachite Twins if you count them as one. May seem like I am trolling, but these are the characters I liked and would have wanted to see different outcome for their character. A character's relevance is not a criteria for being my favorite character, and with this list, the story doesn't matter for why they place so high for me over even the namesakes. If you would want to tell your favorite or even top five for both series, I would be interested in seeing them.

Moving on to more rapid answering. The episode I missioned with Dorthey is the fourth one. Jaden, despite being late, still helps a woman push her car is the best way to explain who he is as a good person. It helps him out as she gives him the pack with Transcendent Wings to win a duel without a fusion summon. Such a nice episode. Elemental and Destiny Heroes fight may not happen here, as I don't think it fits this context as much. Banner is dead like at the end of season one of the show, but I may do a flashback chapter to elaborate more on what happened to him and his soul. The only transfer student will be the ARC-V character, the rest are new ones like Blair. (Who I will just stick with Lightsworn for the moment as her deck). When I get to the pro leagues, you will learn more about Winter. I may do the dance and Miss Duel Academy arcs at the same time in this series, since they are similar events. Glynda will show up next chapter, which already tells you her role here. Salem won't bee seen for a while, as I want things to remain fun without her looming over. Regard a beach episode, I'll consider it. Ironically, Alexis flips through a photo album in season four, showing them all at the beach. And her swimsuit is the most non-fanservice swimsuit in the history of anime, and she still looks cool in it. And if I do more raid duels, it will take a while, because they are very hard to write. That's all I can answer for right now, if you have more, let me know and I can try to answer them in this section.