It was early in the morning at Duel Academy, and Bastion was enjoying the fresh air by the coast.
Bastion: Ever since Michael's duel with Camula, things have been eerily quiet. When the next Shadow Rider arrives, it could be my turn to duel, and I must be ready.
He opened his jacket and pulled out one of his decks before flipping through it, stopping when he found a copy of White Magician Pikeru in it.
Bastion: That's odd. I don't remember putting this card in my deck. Silly distraction. Well, I won't let anything distract me.
He made his way to the red dorm where he found Jaden, Chumley, and Syrus still asleep.
Bastion: Well, this won't do.
He turned on his duel disk and pulled out his Barrel Dragon, placing it in the monster zone before covering his ears.
Bastion: Alright. Ready, get set, and fire!
Barrel Dragon fired off a shot from each of its cannons, scaring the room's sleeping occupants awake.
Chumley: Hit the snooze button.
Syrus: More like the snooze trigger.
Jaden: That's getting up with a bang. Bastion?
Bastion: Good morning sleepy heads.
Syrus: It was a good morning.
Bastion: Now that you're awake, it's time for some daybreak duel exercises.
He led them to the coast where they began drawing exercises.
Jaden: Yeah, this was worth getting up for.
Syrus: Quiet, you'll make me lose count.
He was so focused on the exercises, he accidentally hit Chumley in the arm and dropped some of his cards.
Syrus: Sorry Chumley.
Chumley: It's alright. Let me help you pick these up. Wait, is this a Thunder Nyan Nyan card?
Syrus: Yeah, I got her a while ago. I kinda have a bit of a card crush on her.
Chumley: Card crush? That's so lame Syrus. At least havin' one on that card. Check out mine: Dian Keto the Cure Master.
Syrus: Yeah, she's real pretty Chum.
Chumley: Totally reminds me of my girlfriend back home. Sally, no wait, Adrianna.
Syrus: Hey Jaden, you got any card crushes hidden away in your deck?
Jaden: You'd better believe it. They bring loads of luck.
Bastion: Beg your pardon?! We are training here! And training does not involve standing around talking about birds!
Syrus: Did he say birds?
Chumley: Know what, I'm thinking Bastion doesn't have a card crush.
Bastion: A crush on a card? Of course not! That's just plain irrational, illogical, and ridiculous!
Just then, his mind wandered to his White Magician Pikeru card, a blush crossing his face for a moment.
Bastion: Look, let's just get back to our dueling exercises, alright?
Syrus: Okay, but I do have plans to play Solitaire with Thunder Nyan Nyan in about 15 minutes.
Bastion: WHAT?! You'll be breaking that date. And soon, breaking a sweat. Now gentlemen, back to our duel training.
Syrus: And into the doghouse for me. She hates it when I cancel on her.
Jaden: Somehow, I think she'll understand.
Syrus: You think so?
Chumley: Totally, it's not like she's a real girlfriend. Which reminds me, I need to call Adrianna later.
Later on, they were in Banner's class, except most of the class was absent.
Banner: Hmm, that's strange. Perhaps there is a bug going around.
Bastion: None that I've heard of. There's definitely something strange in the air.
Just then, one of the staff members came in holding a duffel bag.
Banner: Can I help you?
Staff: Do you recognize this bag?
Banner: Yes, it belongs to one of my students. Why?
Staff: Well, it was found near the woods.
After class ended, Banner led the group to look for the bag's owner.
Jaden: I wonder why that pack was left all the way out here.
Michael: Don't know, but I've got a bad feeling about this.
They kept walking and came across something none of them had seen before.
Syrus: I don't remember that coliseum being on the academy brochure.
Lily: Probably because it looks new.
Chazz: Yeah, but who would build a coliseum way out here?
Bastion: I say we go in and find out.
Banner: Alright, but let's be careful.
They ran inside and saw the students missing from class working inside the coliseum, but that's not all they saw.
Chazz: Crowler?! What are you doing here?
Crowler: A man's work.
Banner: My, they must have been very short on men.
Suddenly, they heard a roar and Jaden found himself staring down a tiger.
Michael: Everyone, back away slowly.
Everyone had only taken a single step when the tiger began to chase them.
Alexis: Forget that, run!
Banner: First a coliseum and now a tiger! What's next, a gladiator?
Crowler: Actually, I think she prefers the term Amazon.
Bastion: Wait, did he say Amazon?
Syrus: Less talking more running!
Michael: Up that column!
They all climbed up out of the tiger's reach.
Chazz: Okay genius, now what?
Michael: You know Chazz, keep it up and we can feed you to him so the rest of us can escape.
?: That won't be necessary. Bass, down boy.
The tiger moved away from the column and stood next to a tall muscular woman.
?: My name is Tania, and thanks to your friends, I've finally been able to complete my glorious arena.
Jaden: Arena for what?
Tania: What else? Dueling. Job well done. I had no idea that Duel Academy students could make such fine workers. Now here are the rare cards you were promised as payment.
Jaden: Hey! Just what is going on here?
Tania: What does it look like? I am setting the stage key keeper. For your vanquishing that is. I am one of the seven Shadow Riders.
Jaden: Oh boy.
Syrus: A Shadow Rider?
Chumley: Not to mention she's an Amazon. They're only some of the fiercest warriors to ever walk the Earth.
Alexis: Wow, you go girl.
Tania: Now that the battleground has been established, it's time that we battle. Of course, I would never fight a sister, so which of you men has the courage to face me?
Michael: Well, I dueled the last Shadow Rider, so I'll sit this round out.
Jaden: Then I'll duel!
Chazz: No, I will!
Bastion: This duel is mine!
Tania: Hm, I appreciate each of you wanting to battle, but I choose you. The one wearing yellow.
Jaden: Well, can't duel 'em all.
Tania: What is your name?
Bastion: Bastion Misawa.
Jaden: Alright pal, go and get her.
Syrus: And don't hold back because she's a girl.
Chumley: Not like any that I've seen.
Bastion: Alright. Let's do this. The only question is, which deck shall I combat you with?
Tania: Really? I have the same problem myself. I have two decks, one of knowledge and one of courage. Why don't you choose which deck I use?
Bastion: Very well, the deck of knowledge.
Tania: Nice choice.
Bastion: Thank you. But it's not nearly as nice as the deck I'm picking for myself. I select my earth deck.
Tania: Then let us begin. And don't worry, this isn't a shadow game.
Bastion: Beg your pardon?
Tania: You heard me. I don't want your soul Bastion, I want you big boy.
Bastion: What?!
Tania: My tribe is all women, so if I want to marry, I have to hunt around.
Bastion: To marry?!
Tania: That's right hun, now let's do this.
Both: Duel!
Bastion: 4000 LP
Tania: 4000 LP
Tania: I'll take the first turn, and I summon Amazoness Swords Woman in attack mode.
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1500/DEF 1600
Tania: I'll place one card face-down and end my turn.
Bastion: Then I'm up! And I summon Magnet Warrior Sigma Plus in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Rock
ATK 1800/DEF 1500
Bastion: Now Magnet Warrior, attack that Amazoness with Lodestone Baton Bash!
Bastion: 3700 LP
Syrus: Wait, Bastion's monster was stronger, so why did he take damage?
Lily: Amazoness Sword Woman's special ability causes her opponent to take any damage from her battles.
Chumley: He walked right into that one.
Alexis: That's not like Bastion at all.
Jaden: Actually, that's just like Bastion. Think about it, he may have fewer life points, but she has fewer monsters.
Tania: Not for long. I play the trap Pride of Tribe. When you destroy an Amazoness monster in battle, this trap lets me summon another one directly from my deck, so I summon another Amazoness Swords Woman in attack mode!
Bastion: I'll play a card face-down and that will suffice.
Tania: Oh my. "That will suffice?" Say it again, it sounded so cool.
Syrus: You know, I'm thinking it's been a couple of years since Tania interacted with a guy.
Jaden: A couple of years? Try her whole life, Sy. This lady is man crazy.
Bastion: I'm quite flattered, but I'm well aware of what you're trying to do. You're trying to distract me, and I can tell you right now my dear, it's simply not going to work. I'm too focused.
Tania: Oh, are you? We'll see. I play the Amazoness Blowpiper in attack mode.
Level 3/Earth/Warrior
ATK 800/DEF 1500
Bastion: And I play my face-down card, Magnet Force Minus! This card equips itself onto your monster, giving it a negative magnetism, turning it into a minus monster. And from there, it gets interesting. You see, two minus monsters or two plus monsters cannot battle each other, but if a minus monster and a plus monster are on the field, they must battle each other.
Tania: So since my Blowpiper is a minus monster and yours is a plus monster-
Jaden: It's on!
Michael: This will help Bastion even up the life points in his favor.
Bastion: You've heard that old quote "opposites attract"? Well, I'm afraid it's true.
Tania: I know it. After all, just look at the two of us.
Bastion: Stop it.
Tania: Better idea. I'll stop you from winning this battle by playing the spell Amazoness Spellcaster! This card switches the original attack points of your warrior and my Blowpiper.
Blowpiper
ATK: 800-1800
Sigma
ATK: 1800-800
Syrus: This is bad. Now Bastion's monster is outmatched.
Lily: Not to mention outnumbered.
Tania: Amazoness Blowpiper, attack!
Her monster shot a dart from her blowgun at Bastion's monster, piercing it straight in the chest.
Bastion: 2700 LP
Tania: And now my Amazoness Swords Woman will attack you directly. Go, Amazon Slash Attack!
Bastion: 1200 LP
Tania: That was fun.
Bastion: But how? That's twice she's managed to out-think me.
Tania: I guess we know where our kids are going to get their smarts from then.
Bastion: What?! Our kids?! We are enemies! Rivals!
Tania: During this duel maybe. But afterwards, we'll be betrothed to each other. Just think about it, you'll Mr. Tania the Amazon woman.
Bastion: You're relentless. Are you truly that smitten with me?
Tania: I prefer in love.
Bastion: You hardly know me!
Tania: I know enough.
Bastion: Keep your cool Bastion, she's just trying to distract you, like how those silly card crushes distract Syrus and Chumley, but you've always been above all that.
His mind flashed to White Magician Pikeru, and he clutched his head, trying to get a hold of himself.
Bastion: No! Get out! I'm above all this!
Jaden: Bastion sure is acting weird.
Syrus: Love works in mysterious ways.
Bastion: I am not in love! And I'll prove it by taking her down. My move. I activate the spell Magnet Conductor Plus, which will allow me to return my Magnet Warrior Sigma Plus from my graveyard to my hand. And now I shall send him along with the Magnet Warrior Omega Minus in my hand to the graveyard to summon Conduction Warrior Linear Magnum Plus Minus in attack mode.
Level 8/Earth/Rock
ATK 2700/DEF 1300
Bastion: And now I activate his special ability. When he attacks, he gains half the attack points of a plus or minus monster until the end of this turn, so he gains half the attack points of your Blowpiper.
Magnum: 2700-3100 ATK
Jaden: Talk about bringing in the big guns.
Bastion: Now Linear Magnum, attack the Amazoness Blowpiper with Polarizing Pulverizing Blast!
His monster fired twin beams of energy from its cannons, destroying Tania's Blowpiper with ease.
Tania: 1700 LP
Bastion: Next, I'll place two face-downs, and I think that'll do.
Tania: What a move! No wonder I love you. And sweetie, because I do, I must beat you. And thanks to the effect of my Swords Woman, since all damage is redirected to you, I will. Now Swords Woman, attack Linear Magnum!
Lily: Bastion better think fast, or this duel is over!
Bastion: I play the spell Power Off! This will send Linear Magnum to the graveyard and revive the monsters I sent to the graveyard to summon him.
Tania: No fair!
Jaden: Tight move.
Bastion: Thank you.
Sigma Plus
Level 4/Earth/Rock
ATK 1800/DEF 1500
Omega Minus
Level 4/Earth/Rock
ATK 1900/DEF 800
Tania: I'm impressed you managed to dodge that one. I summon Amazoness Paladin in attack mode. While this card is on the field, she gains 100 attack points for every Amazoness monster I have out.
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1700-1900/DEF 300
Tania: Next, I'll place two cards face-down and that'll do for now.
Bastion: At least she's focusing on her dueling and not on me. Alright, it's my move now.
Tania: Speaking of moves, I think it's for the best that you move in with me. You know, after we get married. Oh, we'll just have the coziest home sweet home. Oh, I'm sorry honey, am I distracting you with this talk of how much I love you? Oh, there I go again.
Bastion put his hand over his chest and felt his heart racing.
Tania: I guess I just can't help myself. I'm simply head over heels!
Bastion: Yes, me too.
Chazz: Yuck. Are there barf bags on this flight?
Michael: Uh guys, I'm pretty sure Bastion is actually falling for Tania.
Jaden: Not good.
Bastion: Alright, I draw! First I summon Magnet Warrior Sigma Minus in attack mode!
Level 4/Earth/Rock
ATK 1500/DEF 1800
Bastion: Next I play the trap One Hundred Thousand Gauss. This trap will reduce the attack points of your Paladin by 800.
Jaden: Sweet. With that, Bastion has the monsters and the matchup he needs. This duel is in the bag.
Michael: I'm not so sure Jaden.
Jaden: Why do you say that?
Michael: Because Tania doesn't look worried.
Tania: And I don't need to be worried. Because I have the trap Dramatic Rescue! Since you targeted an Amazoness monster for a card effect, this trap will return Paladin to my hand and let me summon another Amazoness monster from my hand. I summon Amazoness Tiger!
Level 4/Earth/Beast
ATK 1100/DEF 1500
Tania: And due to Tiger's special ability, he gains 400 attack points for every Amazoness monster on my field. So with two out, it gains 800 attack points.
Tiger: 1100-1900 ATK
Michael: In addition to that, as long as that Tiger is on the field, Bastion is only allowed to attack it.
Bastion: I have three monsters out. I can have Omega Minus destroy the Tiger, then Sigma Minus can defeat Swords Woman, which will leave Tania open to a direct attack from Sigma Plus, letting me win the duel. It's been a fun duel Tania, but I'm afraid all good things must come to an end. Omega Minus, attack Amazoness Tiger!
Tania: A valiant effort. You would have won, if not for this. I play the trap Amazoness Archers! This will reduce the attack points of all your monsters by 600, and they all have to attack this turn.
Omega Minus: 1900-1300 ATK
Sigma Minus: 1500-900 ATK
Sigma Minus: 1800-1200 ATK
Syrus: But if they do that, they'll have to attack that tiger.
Jaden: And he has more attack than any of them.
Chazz: He walked right into a trap, what was he thinking?!
Banner: That's just it. With all this love talk, I doubt he was.
Tania: Now Amazoness Tiger, destroy his monsters with Fang Frenzy!
Bastion: 0 LP
Bastion: I'm all yours.
He dropped to the ground and his spirit key vanished, one of the gates opening.
Jaden: Bastion, are you okay?
They all ran to check on him, but were halted by Tania's pet tiger.
Syrus: Now seems like a good time to run.
Chumley: I second that.
Everyone ran out of the arena as to avoid becoming Bass's lunch. When they got outside, iron bars came down from the arch, locking them outside.
Jaden: Bastion!
Tania: Sorry, Bastion and I are officially on our honeymoon, so get lost.
Jaden: This isn't over!
Hey everyone. Happy New Year´s Eve. I hope you´re all doing alright and are staying safe. This year sucked, but we got through it. I hope that my story has given you all something to look forward to in the middle of all this, because I know I´ve enjoyed writing this series. Since it´s the end of the year, I´m going to upload the chapters I have on here. See you all next year.