Hey everyone. I hope you've all had a good week. In spite of a bit of a rough start, this series has gained a solid footing in followers, and I just wanted to thank you all for your support. I don't own Yugioh GX or its related properties, but I do own this AU story and its ocs. Don't steal, and I hope you enjoy.
Jaden was sitting down in the card shack filling out a duel request form to challenge Zane.
Jaden: I can't believe Zane. I mean it's no wonder Syrus has zero confidence. If my big brother told me I wasn't good enough to use some card, I'd be insecure too. Well, that's all about to change. Man, these duel request forms are such a drag.
Just then, Dr. Maxwell walked up behind Jaden and snatched the form.
Jaden: Hey!
Maxwell: Planning a duel? Against whom? You must be joking. You're going to challenge Zane Truesdale?
Jaden: You bet I am. I'm taking Zane on to help Syrus get over his confidence problem.
Maxwell: Well allow me to do you a favor.
He ripped up the form.
Jaden: Hey! Why'd you do that?!
Maxwell: Simple, you don't stand a chance against Zane, not in a million years.
Meanwhile in the Slifer dorm, Syrus was sitting in his bed staring at the Power Bond card his brother gave him when they were kids. Suddenly, Syrus could hear everything his brother said to him the last time he tried to use it.
Syrus: I don't know anything about duel monsters. I shouldn't even be here.
While Syrus was doubting himself, Jaden was walking back to the Slifer dorm.
Jaden: That jerk Dr. Maxwell. Where in the academy rule book does it say the duel request forms have to be filled out in triplicate? And with a number 8 pencil?
Suddenly, a bunch of cards rained down on him.
Jaden: What the?
He looked up and saw one of his roommates hanging from a tree limb.
Jaden: It's either a giant tree sloth, or it's Chumley.
Chumley: Hey. What up?
Jaden: You by the look of it. Wow Chumley. There's like a zillion koala cards down here.
Chumley: Yeah, they're so cool. Wanna have a pickup duel against them?
Jaden: Hey. A pickup duel, why didn't I think of that?
Chumley: Wait, where are you off to?
Jaden: The Obelisk Blue dorm.
Chumley: Why are you going there?
Jaden: For a pickup duel against Zane.
Chumley: The Zane?!
Jaden arrived at the Obelisk dorm, but before he could find Zane, two Obelisk students shoved him to the ground.
Jaden: What's your problem?
Obelisk 1: I ain't got a problem, but you sure will if you don't beat it.
Obelisk 2: Yeah. Zane wouldn't waste his time with you, you're probably still wet behind the ears from pre-duel school.
Jaden: I am not!
One of them then threw a bucket of water on him, soaking his clothes.
Obelisk 1: Now you are.
He and his friend didn't get to enjoy the moment long, because they were doused with a large amount of water from one of the windows of the dorm.
Obelisk 2: Hey! Who did that?!
Michael: I did.
Obelisk 1: What's your problem?
Michael: Snobby kids like you who pick on my friends, now leave him alone.
Obelisk 2: Fine, but we'll get you back for this.
Michael: You alright Jaden?
Jaden: I'll feel better when I get my duel with Zane.
Michael: Well, take this so you can dry off.
Jaden left and walked back to the Slifer dorm, meeting up with Chumley on his way there.
Chumley: So what are you gonna do?
Jaden: I'm not gonna give up, that's for sure. I'll get Zane to duel me one way or another.
They arrived at their room and saw Syrus was still in his bed.
Jaden: Sy, you're still in bed? Look, I know you're down, but that's no excuse to act like some lazy slug, I mean even Chumley got out of bed today.
Chumley: Yeah, lousy bladder.
Jaden pulled back the covers only to reveal that Syrus wasn't there.
Jaden: Where is he?
Chumley: He left a note.
Jaden: What's it say?
Chumley: Dear Jaden, I'm leaving Duel Academy. Don't try and stop me, it's for the best. I would only hold you back if I stayed.
Jaden: Sy's not going anywhere.
Chumley: Yeah, let's go stop him. After dinner.
Jaden: No, right now.
Chumley: But today is grilled cheese day.
Jaden: If we don't hurry, it'll be Syrus' last day. Syrus!
He ran down to the shore to try and find Syrus when Winged Kuriboh appeared.
Jaden: Do you know where he is?
The spirit nodded and lead Jaden in the right direction. Meanwhile, Zane was standing at the pier and was looking out the academy bridge that connected the main island with the docks and Slifer Dorm. He turned his head to the side and saw Alexis and Michael walking up to him.
Zane: So, I finally get to meet the top freshman duelist face to face.
Michael: I'd like to say it's an honor to meet you, but after the way I've heard you treat Syrus, I can't.
Zane: How I treat Syrus is none of your business.
Michael: He's your brother, and you treat him like garbage. I may be an only child Zane, but even I know that brothers are supposed to care about each other and support them. Did you ever stop and think about how the way you treat Syrus affects him?
Zane: Sure I have. And maybe you need to stay out of my business.
Michael: Well, I'm not the only one with a bone to pick with you over this.
Zane: Is that so?
Alexis: Yeah, Jaden's been trying to challenge you to a duel for a while.
Syrus: Stay back Jaden!
The three of them turned their heads and saw the young duelist was about to board a raft and leave the island.
Michael: I hope you're proud of yourself Zane. Because of you, Syrus is about to leave Duel Academy.
Meanwhile, Jaden ran towards Syrus and jumped onto his raft, causing it to break apart.
Syrus: Help me, I can't swim!
Jaden: And you were about to raft out into the ocean? That makes sense.
Chumley: Hang on guys!
He jumped into the water, only to find himself waist deep.
Chumley: It's shallow.
Jaden and Syrus then got to their feet, soaked, but okay.
Syrus: Why are you trying to stop me Jaden? I'm a terrible duelist, you should just forget about me and move on.
Jaden: Syrus, that's your brother talking, you've gotta believe in yourself.
Syrus: You gotta believe me, I'm a lost cause.
Zane: He is right you know.
They looked up and saw Zane, Michael, and Alexis standing there.
Zane: You dropping out?
Syrus: Kinda.
Zane: Well, it's about time.
Michael balled his fist and was about two seconds from decking Zane right then and there, but Alexis grabbed his arm and shook her head.
Jaden: He's wrong about you Syrus.
He turned to his friend, who had started crying.
Jaden: You're his big brother. How could you say something like that to him?!
Zane: Because I know him.
Jaden: Yeah, I bet you think you know it all, but guess what, you don't. And I'm gonna prove it right now, let's duel.
Syrus: Jaden, don't do it!
Zane: Duel a Slifer? Why not, been a while since I went slumming.
Jaden: Then get your game on.
Syrus: Jaden, he's good.
Jaden: I'm sure he is. And I'm sure this duel will solve Sy's confidence problem, without hurting mine.
They made their way to the docks and Jaden and Zane got ready to duel.
Both: "Duel"
Zane: 4000 LP
Jaden: 4000 LP
Syrus: Oh man, my big brother taking on my best friend? There's no way this can end well.
Jaden: Alright, now we find out what's going on between Syrus and Zane, and I find out how I rank with the best. First, I summon Elemental Hero Avian in defense mode.
Level 3/Wind/Warrior
ATK & DEF 1000
Jaden: I place a card face-down and end my turn.
Zane: That all? For my first move, I summon Cyber Dragon in attack mode.
Level 5/Light/Machine
ATK 2100/DEF 1600
Jaden: What? How did you bring out a level 5 monster without a sacrifice?
Zane: Due to Cyber Dragon's special ability, if there monsters on your field, but none on mine, I can special summon it straight from my hand. And now I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy your face-down card.
Jaden: That was fast.
Zane: Not as fast as your monster will vanish. Cyber Dragon, attack with Strident Blast.
His monster fired a laser beam at Avian, destroying him.
Zane: Next I activate the spell card Different Dimension Capsule. With it, I can pick any card from my deck, put it inside the capsule, and then in two turns, I get to take it out and put it in my hand.
Jaden: That's gotta be the strongest card in his deck. I can't wait to see what it is.
Syrus: Well I can, because it's not gonna be pretty.
Zane: It's your move Jaden.
Jaden: Yeah, and I'd better make it count, because I'm starting to get the feeling that not only is Zane as good as everyone says he is, he might be even better. But that doesn't mean I can't beat him. Round two. And first I'll rock Polymerization, so that I can roll out my Elemental Hero Thunder Giant.
Level 6/Light/Warrior
ATK 2400/DEF 1500
Jaden: And due to his special ability, when he's summoned, he instantly destroys one of your monsters that less attack points than he does, so your Cyber Dragon is headed for the scrap heap.
Thunder Giant unleashes a massive lightning bolt on Cyber Dragon, destroying it on the spot.
Jaden: Looks like Thunder Giant just made the big man on campus get a little bit smaller. Now Thunder Giant, attack Zane directly.
Thunder Giant launched a blast of electricity at Zane, who didn't move from the spot or even blink.
Zane: 1600 LP
Jaden: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Zane: Nice moves kid. Of course, now that my field is empty again, I can summon another Cyber Dragon. Next I play the spell card Monster Reborn to summon the Cyber Dragon you destroyed last turn. But neither will be here for long. In present form at least. I use Polymerization to fuse my two Cyber Dragons to summon Cyber Twin Dragon in attack mode.
Level 8/Light/Machine
ATK 2800/DEF 2100
Zane: And due to his special ability, he can attack twice each round, which means double trouble for your monster and your life points.
Jaden: Not so fast, I play the trap card A Hero Emerges. Now you have to pick a random card in my hand, and if it's a monster card, I can play it. But since I only have one card in my hand, I can summon Wroughtweiler in defense mode.
Level 3/Earth/Machine
ATK 800/DEF 1200
Zane: You'll need him. Cyber Twin Dragon, attack with Double Strident Blast.
His monster fried twin laser beams at Jaden's monsters, destroying them both.
Jaden: 3600 LP
Jaden: But due to Wroughtweiler's special ability, when he's destroyed, I can add an Elemental Hero and a Polymerization from my graveyard to my hand. And just when you thought you could stop worrying about them, huh Zane?
Zane: I don't worry.
Jaden: Man, you're chill. Not worrying, not even flinching, you are good.
Zane: You too Jaden.
Syrus: Woah. Since when does Zane give props?
Jaden: It's my move, and I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in attack mode, and due to his special ability, since there are no other cards on my field, I can draw 2 new ones from my deck. It's Transcendent Wings and Winged Kuriboh! I can use these to destroy Cyber Twin Dragon and win the duel. But since I normal summoned Bubbleman already, I'll have to wait to use them, but I can still do this. I play Polymerization to fuse Elemental Hero Bubbleman with Elemental Hero Clayman to summon Elemental Hero Mudballman in defense mode.
Level 6/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1900/DEF 3000
Chumley: With 3000 defense points, Cyber Twin Dragon can't beat him, meaning Jaden is safe for now.
Syrus: I don't believe it. Jaden might actually win.
Jaden: Now give me your best shot Zane.
Zane: My best shot? You got it.
Just then his Different Dimension Capsule emerged from the ground.
Jaden: The capsule.
Zane: That's right Jaden. It's been two turns since I played Different Dimension Capsule, which means the card I put in it is now added to my hand. You played well Jaden, but not well enough.
Jaden: Give me what you got. I'm ready for it.
Zane: I'm sure you are. A good duelist is ready for anything, and that means not just knowing how to use all of their cards, but knowing how to play them too. And you play your cards well Jaden.
Jaden: That's a nice compliment, but even better advice. I hope Syrus heard that.
Syrus: Of course, knowing how to use a card and knowing when to play it are two different things. That's what Zane was trying to tell me all those years ago.
Michael: He wanted Syrus to hear that. I guess he's not so bad a brother after all.
Zane: First I activate the spell card De-Fusion, which will allow me to return Cyber Twin Dragon to my Extra Deck in order to bring my two Cyber Dragons back. With them back, I can activate the spell card Power Bond. This card allows me to summon a machine type fusion monster using monsters from my hand or field as fusion materials, so I merge the two Cyber Dragons on my field with the Cyber Dragon in my hand in order to summon the Cyber End Dragon.
Level 10/Light/Machine
ATK 4000/DEF 2800
Zane: And due to the effect of Power Bond, his original attack points double.
Cyber End: 4000-8000 ATK
Chumley: 8000 attack points?!
Zane: And remember, when Cyber End Dragon attacks a monster in defense mode, the difference between his attack and your monster's defense is dealt to you as damage. And with no face-downs to protect you, can guess how this duel will end.
Michael: With Jaden losing.
Zane: Cyber End Dragon, attack Mudballman with Super Strident Blaze!
Jaden: 0 LP
Winner: Zane
Jaden: Thanks for a great duel Zane.
Zane turned around and walked away, with Michael and Alexis following behind him.
Michael: I think I misjudged you Zane. You have my respect.
Zane: And you have mine.
Alexis: So Zane, what do you think of Jaden?
Zane: I think Syrus made a great friend.
Jaden: Your brother's got mad skills.
Syrus: At least I got the looks.
Jaden looked at Syrus in confusion for a moment before laughing.
Syrus: What's so funny?
I hope you all enjoyed the story. Just a heads up, I may not be able to do uploads as regularly as I have been lately. I'm still trying to get my computer fixed, but I'm not sure when that will happen. I'm still going to try to stick to my established schedule, but just know that I might not always upload on the days I've set for it. I hope you all have a great day and stay safe.