Zane: 2000 LP
Jaden: 1900 LP
Zane's field: Cyber End Dragon (8000 ATK/2800 DEF)
Jaden's field: Wildedge (2600 ATK/2300 DEF), three face-downs
Zane: So what now Jaden? My Cyber End Dragon has over three times as many attack points as your monster. It's over.
Jaden: It can't be over. I know I can think my way out of this, and I'd better start or I'm finished.
Zane: What's wrong Jaden? Are you afraid? If so, let me put you out of your misery. Cyber End Dragon, destroy Wildedge!
Jaden: Not so fast, I play the trap Soul Union, which will power up the attack points of Wildedge by the same amount as the Bladedge in my graveyard.
Wildedge: 2600-5200 ATK
Zane: That's pointless Jaden. Since I summoned him using Power Bond, Cyber End Dragon has a total of 8000 attack points.
Jaden: He's right. Guess I'd better put my thinking cap back on. Oh wait, I didn't take it off. Come on brain, think! You've got to figure this out!
Zane: Farewell Jaden. Cyber End Dragon, end this duel with Super Strident Blaze!
Cyber End Dragon unleashed a massive energy blast on Wildedge, wiping him off the field.
Jaden: Man up Jaden. Your whole year comes down to right now. Sorry Zane, but we're not done here yet.
Jaden: 100 LP
Zane: That's impossible. That attack should have eliminated all your remaining life points.
Jaden: It would have if I hadn't played Emergency Provisions to send Soul Union to the graveyard to gain an extra 1000 life points. And next I play the trap Hero Signal, which will let me summon a level 4 or lower Elemental Hero from my hand or deck, so I summon Bubbleman in defense mode!
Level 4/Water/Warrior
ATK 800/DEF 1200
Jaden: And since he's the only card on my field, I can draw 2 more from my deck thanks to his special ability.
Zane: Very well then. I summon Cyber Kirin in attack mode.
Level 3/Light/Machine
ATK 300/DEF 800
Zane: And now I activate his special ability. By sacrificing this monster, all effect damage I would take this turn becomes 0, meaning the damage from Power Bond is canceled.
Michael: Now he can keep that 8000 attack point Cyber End Dragon on his field without risking his life points.
Zane: Come on. Where's the Jaden that almost beat me before?
Jaden: He's right here. I think. I don't know.
Zane: Of course you don't, because your heart isn't in this duel.
Suddenly Jaden's stomach groaned.
Jaden: And neither is my stomach. I kinda skipped lunch.
Zane: Huh?
Jaden: Ms. Dorothy, are you around? Could you maybe make me some grub please?
Dorothy: Sure, coming right up.
Alexis: What's he doing? Having a snack?
Atticus: They say the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach. You jealous?
Alexis: Oh please.
Bastion: Very odd, don't you think Chazz?
Chazz: It's Jaden, everything he does is odd.
Syrus: Maybe, but at least he's being himself.
Jaden: Sy's right, I wasn't being me. And what better way to be Jaden than having a big meal? So how about it Zane? Do you mind if I scarf?
Zane: Why not.
Jaden: I owe you one.
Zane: You can thank me by fighting the rest of this duel like yourself.
Jaden: Can do.
Crowler: Just when you think you know what Jaden is going to do next, he throws you a curve ball.
Sheppard: Well I suppose that's one way to put it.
Michael: Jaden never ceases to amaze.
Lily: Amaze isn't the word I'd use to describe this.
Jaden had scarfed down the food Dorothy made for him and turned to continue his duel with Zane.
Jaden: Alright, let's do this. I draw! And I play Pot of Greed, so I draw 2 cards. Next I summon Elemental Hero Avian in defense mode.
Level 3/Wind/Warrior
ATK & DEF 1000
Jaden: And now I play the spell Spy Hero! I can play it by sending two random cards in my deck to the graveyard, and now I can take a spell from your graveyard and put it in my hand.
Zane: Is that so?
One of his cards flew out of his graveyard and straight into Jaden's hand.
Jaden: And now I play Future Fusion! I send Burstinatrix and Clayman from my deck to the graveyard to summon Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster in defense mode.
Level 6/Earth/Warrior
ATK 2000/DEF 2500
Jaden: Next I'll throw down a couple of face-downs and call it a turn.
Zane: Impressive. But too little, too late. I summon Cyber Phoenix in attack mode.
Level 4/Fire/Machine
ATK 1200/DEF 1600
Zane: While this card is in attack mode, I can negate the activation of any spell or trap that targets a machine type monster I control, and you know what that means.
Jaden: That I can't use spells and traps on Cyber End Dragon.
Chazz: Would Jaden hurry up and lose already?
Bastion: This is a tough spot. What to do?
Atticus: Your boyfriend's not doing too well.
Alexis: Jaden's a friend who happens to be a boy. That doesn't make him my boyfriend.
Atticus: Whatever you say.
Zane: I'm glad you got to enjoy your lunch Jaden, just try not to lose it. Cyber End Dragon, attack Rampart Blaster!
Jaden: Not so fast Zane, I play the spell De-Fusion, which will split one fusion monster on the field back into its fusion materials.
Zane: A nice try Jaden, but since I control Cyber Phoenix, it won't have any effect on Cyber End Dragon.
Jaden: Except he's not the one I'm using it on. I use De-Fusion on Rampart Blaster, leaving me with two monsters and you with no attack target.
Burstinatrix
Level 3/Fire/Warrior
ATK 1200/DEF 800
Clayman
Level 4/Earth/Warrior
ATK 800/DEF 2000
Zane: Even if you add up all of their attack points, they don't come close to Cyber End's 8000. What could Jaden be planning with them? Wait a minute-
Jaden: Guess you figured it out Zane. I play the trap Elemental Burst! I can only play this trap by sacrificing one monster each of fire, water, earth, and wind, but in exchange, I can destroy all cards on your field at once.
Jaden's monsters turned into pillars of their respective attributes and ripped through Cyber End Dragon and Cyber Phoenix.
Zane: Impressive Jaden. But since Cyber Phoenix was destroyed, I can draw a card. And that's bad news for you, because the card I just drew was Time Fusion.
Jaden: I've never heard of that card before.
Zane: To activate it, I have to banish a card from my hand, but during my next standby phase, I get to summon a particular monster. Care to guess who Jaden?
Jaden: I have an idea.
Michael: His Cyber End Dragon.
Lily: Jaden better mount a good defense on his next turn, or he's through.
Zane: It's your move Jaden.
Jaden: Okay, I draw! I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Zane: Don't feel bad Jaden. You lost to the best.
Jaden: Already writing your graduation speech? I'm still here.
Chazz: Oh please, not for much longer.
Bastion: Perhaps.
Syrus: You can do it Jaden!
Alexis: I know you can win this Jaden.
Zane: My turn. First, the effect of Card from a Different Dimension activates. Since I banished it to play Time Fusion, it returns to my hand and we both draw 2 cards. Too bad nothing can help you now Jaden.
Jaden: Zane must be pretty confident to be letting me draw cards.
Zane: And now due to the effect of Time Fusion, I can once again summon the Cyber End Dragon!
Level 10/Light/Machine
ATK 4000/DEF 2800
Syrus: Jaden is totally exposed!
Michael: Maybe, but due to the effect of Time Fusion, the monster summoned by its effect has to wait a turn before it can attack.
Bastion: Which means Jaden is safe for now.
Zane: I place one card face-down and end my turn.
Crowler: Dear me, I'm sweating bullets. Can't we just declare Zane the winner yet?
Sheppard: Not yet Crowler. After all, if there's one thing I've learned this year it's to never count Jaden out when it comes to a duel.
Jaden: My move. And first I'll play Fusion Recovery to return Burstinatrix and Polymerization to my hand. Next I'll summon Burstinatrix and play Miracle Fusion! With it, I can banish the Burstinatrix on my field and the Avian in my graveyard to summon Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!
Level 6/Wind/Warrior
ATK 2100/DEF 1200
Jaden: But I'm not done yet, because I use Polymerization to fuse Flame Wingman and Sparkman to summon Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman!
Level 8/Light/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2100
Jaden: And due to his special ability, he gains 300 attack points for every Elemental Hero in my graveyard, and I currently have 8.
Wingman: 2500-4900 ATK
Jaden: Now Flare Wingman, attack Cyber End Dragon with Shining Emerald Orb!
Flare Wingman created a ball of energy in his hands before launching it at Cyber End Dragon, destroying him in one shot.
Zane: 1100 LP
Jaden: And now Flare Wingman's effect activates, which means you take damage equal to Cyber End Dragon's attack points. School's out Zane.
Zane: Not yet it's not. I play the trap Damage Polarizer! Now all damage from your monster's effect becomes 0, and we both draw 1 card.
They both drew a card and couldn't believe what they got.
Both: I can't believe it. I drew Battle Fusion!
Jaden: I place one card face-down and end my turn. So what'll it be this time?
Zane: You'll see.
Jaden: Well, whatever it is, I have a feeling this is gonna be the last round.
Zane: I agree. My move. Perfect. First, I play the spell Cybernetic Fusion Support. By paying half my life points, once during this turn, if I would fusion summon a machine fusion monster, I can banish monsters from my hand, field, or my graveyard to fusion summon.
Zane: 550 LP
Lily: This doesn't look good.
Alexis: I second that.
Zane: And now I play Power Bond! Thanks to Fusion Support, I can banish my three Cyber Dragons from my graveyard to summon the Cyber End Dragon!
Jaden: You know, I'm starting to really get sick of this thing.
Zane: And thanks to Power Bond, his attack points double.
Cyber End: 4000-8000 ATK
Zane: Next I play the spell Limiter Removal! This card doubles the attack points of all machine monsters I control, but they'll be destroyed during the end phase.
Cyber End: 8000-16000 ATK
Michael: 16000 attack points?
Chazz: There's no way Jaden can survive a blow like that.
Bastion: Chazz is right, he only has 100 life points left.
Zane: You're through! Cyber End Dragon, destroy Shining Flare Wingman!
Jaden: Don't think so. I play the spell Battle Fusion! This card increases Flare Wingman's attack points by the same amount as triple chrome dome's.
Wingman: 4900-20900 ATK
Crowler: It has over 20000 attack points?!
Sheppard: Looks like Jaden has this duel won.
Zane: Nice move, but pointless, because I activate the spell Battle Fusion! You're not the only one with this card Jaden.
Jaden: What?
Cyber End: 16000-36900 ATK
Jaden: Wow Zane, you really are great. I'm gonna miss ya.
Zane: Likewise, which is why I'm passing you the torch.
Jaden: Huh?
Zane: Once I leave, you'll be the top student at this school. Despite your grades or rank, you'll be the best, so make me proud.
Jaden: I'll give it my all Zane, starting right here, because this match isn't over yet.
Zane: What?
Jaden: I still have a few tricks up my sleeve, like this. The trap Final Fusion!
Zane: I guess you got me.
Jaden: Yep, because now we both take damage equal to our monsters combined attack points, and you know what that means.
Zane: Sure do.
Their monsters collided and set off an explosion, obscuring them from everyone's view.
Chazz: What happened?
Bastion: Who won?
The smoke cleared to reveal both Jaden and Zane on their knees.
Zane: 0 LP
Jaden: 100 LP
Winner: Jaden
Lily: Wait, if they both took damage, then why does Jaden still have life points left?
Jaden: Thanks to a little pal of mine called Interceptomato. He has an effect while he's in the graveyard that I can banish him during my opponent's turn to prevent effect damage dealt to me.
Syrus: When did that card get in his graveyard? He didn't summon it during the whole duel.
Michael: It must've been one of the cards that got sent to the grave when he played his Spy Hero spell.
Alexis: Which means Jaden wins.
All the students began to applaud Jaden and Zane for their duel. While everyone was clapping, Zane walked over to Jaden.
Zane: Well done Jaden. I knew I was right when I said you'd be the best.
Jaden: Yep. Of course we're tied with each other in wins now. Let's duel again sometime.
Zane: Someday we will.
Jaden: Until then, I could use a break.
Zane: Me too.
They lied on their backs and just started laughing.
Michael: Some things never change.
After the graduation ceremony ended, it was time for everyone to get on the boat to return home.
Syrus: I'm really gonna miss you guys.
Bastion: I'm sure next school year will arrive before we know it.
Atticus: I can't wait to finally get home.
Alexis: Mom and dad can't wait to see you. If any of you are near our neighborhood, feel free to visit.
Jaden: Thanks Alexis. Hey Michael, what about you and Lily?
Lily: I'm going with Michael to meet his parents.
Michael: And actually, I'm going to start getting ready to join the pro leagues next year.
Jaden: Really?
Michael: Yeah. It'll be a good way to keep my skills sharp for when we have to battle the Light of Destruction. Don't worry though, I'll stay in touch.
Jaden: I hope so.
Alexis: Um, Jaden, can I talk to you in private please?
Jaden: Sure Lex.
Michael and Lily glanced at each other before nodding and pulling everyone along with them.
Jaden: Is something wrong?
Alexis: Jaden, do you remember how before Kagemaru showed up you asked me who my heart belongs to?
Jaden: Oh yeah, you never got to answer.
Alexis: Well, there's something I've wanted to say to you for a while, I'm just not sure how to put it.
Jaden: You can tell me anything Lex. You're one of my best friends.
Alexis: Jaden, you're the person I'm in love with.
Jaden felt his face heat up as he blushed from Alexis' confession.
Jaden: R-really? Me?
Alexis: Yeah. I thought maybe we could, you know?
Jaden tried to answer, but he couldn't stop stammering to give a response.
Alexis: *sigh* You boys always make things so hard.
She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips before pulling back.
Jaden: T-thanks.
Alexis: So I take it the answer is yes?
Jaden nodded in response as he tried to calm his heart, which felt ready to leap from his chest.
Alexis: I'm glad. Come on.
She grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him onto the ship before it left.