Chapter Forty
40
The Making of a True Friend
"Why didn't my attack go through!?" Chazz huffed as his failed to reduce Jaden's remaining life points.
"Because of my trap Hero Spirit!" he stated,"When this card is activated, if a hero is destroyed all damage goes to zero! Zip! Ziltch! Nada."
"Hmph...Congratulations you can used a thesaurus." Chazz huffed,"But it will take a lot more than that to take on my Armed Dragon." he stated,"And alot more than any card you have!"
"I gotta get something started!" Jaden huffed as he drew his card. A familiar voice soon chirped in his presence,"Ah, hey there Kuriboh!" Jaden grinned,"Maybe you can help get me out of this jam!"
"Why'd you bring him out!?" Chazz asked as Jaden summoned his Winged Kuriboh in defense mode and ended his turn,"What are you planning to dust around here?"
Though, the winged hair ball didn't take too kindly to that remark.
"Aww~ Did I hurt his feelings?"
"It's okay if you did, boss!" Said Ojama as he popped out of nowhere once again,"Those little things give me the creeps..."
"Shut up!" Chazz snipped,"If I want your opinion, I'll tell you! Got that!?"
"I got it boss..." Yellow gulped and hovered back behind his shoulder,"sorry..."
Connar gasped as she saw the yellow orb of light bouncing around Chazz.
No way...is that!?
She blinked and rubbed her eyes.
"It is~" said a familiar husk of a voice from an apparition in the empty seat beside her,"It's a duel spirit~!"
"Kaibaman!?" she squeaked,"What are you doing here!?" She peeked around in a panic trying to make sure nobody else saw.
"...You're the only one who can see me, milady." he stated,"Well...you and...Jaden." he blinked,"And I guess now...Chazz too?"
"Really?" Connar blinked as she looked again. Princeton did seem to definitely be reacting to the yellow ball of light that hovered around him.
So he can see Duel Spirits too...?
"What are you squeaking?" Jaden asked as his furry little friend hopped on his shoulder,"Chazz has got a Duel Spirit!?" Jaden and blinked as he looked closer and took notice of the yellow creature in the red speedo,"Hey! I see him!" he stated,"So Chazz...who's your little friend?"
"Huh!?" he blinked,"Uh-It's nothing!" Chazz stated as he swatted around to try and poof it away,"Just a figment of your imagination! Nothing to see here! No duel Spirits at all-HAH!" He finally caught the bugger and clapped him away with a huff,"It's my turn now and your Kuriboh's turn to get blasted!" he huffed as he went on the attack,"I'll leave it at that."
"My turn!" said Jaden,"And I'll activate pot of greed!"
And with that draw came Jaden's chance to turn things around. With a spell card effect, Chazz's Ultimate beast was off the field at last, and he was alone on it, and open to Wild Heart's direct attack. While he still remained in the lead, he still took the hit for some major damage.
"What does Chazz think he's doing!?" Slade huffed,"We've given him the best cards in the world, and he's not using them!"
"It's...my turn!" CHazz huffed.
But the pressure was weighing him down.
"You've got to be duel monster's best!"
"I'M TRYING!" Chazz huffed as he shot glares to his brothers in the crowd.
"Huh? Trying what?" Jaden blinked.
Princeton...!
Connar winced and clutched her hands together as her glances followed Chazz's.
His brothers...
she thought to herself and sighed.
Repeating the same action as he noticed his pink haired friend do from the crowd he also saw where those onyx eyes rested.
His brothers!
Jaden thought to himself.
That must be why Chazz was flipping out...because of all of the pressure his brothers were putting on him!
he sighed.
Poor guy...he should realize that the only thing worth dueling for...is fun!
"Jaden!" Syrus called out.
"You can do it Jaden!" Connar joined in this time as well,"Please!"
Please...help him!
"Huh!?" jaden blinked as he listened to the cheers of his supportive friends.
That's it...!
He thought to himself.
I've gotta win this duel now...to show Chazz what dueling is really about!
Jaden attacked Chazz's armed dragon that he had previously returned, to which Chazz countered with a trap of his own.
"It's called The Grave if Enkindling!" said Chazz,"Since a monster was destroyed in battle, it lets us both summon a monster from the grave in defense mode!"
To which Chazz chose another armed dragon of the 5th level. Jaden chose a card called Hero Kid, whose special ability helped him bring out two more from his deck.
"So you think by playing three monsters, I will have to discard 3 cards to destroy them, right?" Chazz scoffed,"You wish! I don't have to discard 3! I just need to play one!" he smirked,"I activate the spoell card level up!"
And with the activation of this spell card...
Guess who was back on the field once again.
"HaHaHaHa~" Chazz laughed, feeling triumphant for the first time,"I've been waiting a long time to tell you this Jaden...so I hope you're listening!" Chazz smirked,"I got my game on~ and now...I'm about to turn yours off!"
The North Academy crowd didn't hold back a single cheer.
With that...Chazz can destroy all of Jaden's monsters once again!
Connar gasped as the duel played out, and Armed Dragon's ability ridded the field of Jaden's Hero Kids.
His life points now were down to 300. And Chazz was on top of the world.
"Tell you what, Jaden!" he smirked,"If you surrender now, I promise not to humiliate you on global tv!" he blinked,"Oh wait-Oops~" he smirked,"I already did!"
"Don't give up Jaden!" The Duel Academy supporters called out.
"Who's giving up!?" Jaden laughed,"I'm having way too much fun to give up...win or lose!" he grinned,"Because if you're having fun, you win every time!"
"Gag me." Chazz scoffed
"But it's true!" said Jaden."If I can stand here and have fun, losing...shouldn't you be able to have fun winning?" he chuckled,"It's not that hard you know...despite what your brothers may want you to believe.
"What do you know about my brothers!?" Chazz snapped.
"Well for starters..." Jaden blinked,"I know they're the ones you're dueling for." he said,"And the ones putting all that pressure on you too..."
Chass let out a low growl.
"Come on, Chazz~" Jaden chuckled,"Don't you remember when you dueled for the fun of it?"
Chazz took a moment in silence as the flashes of his time with Connar back in Duel prep school played into his memories. When she challenged him. When he teased her. And when they used to smile and laugh together...
"...I only play to win."
"Welp." Jaden shrugged,"Let's see where that gets ya~!" he said as he drew and activated his spell card The Warrior returning it, he brought back Avian which he then fused with Burstinatrix, bringing back the Jaden Yuki Classic: Flamed Wingman.
"So what!?" Chazz huffed,"He doesn't stand a chance against my monster." he said,"My Dragon has 2800 attack points! You're out matched."
"Not for long~" Jaden smirked," Because I am inviting my hero kids to come out and play~" he grinned,"With his points!"
"What!?" Chazz snapped.
"I play Mericle Kids!" he claimed,"And here's how it works, for every Hero Kid I have in my grave, your dragon loses 400 attack points," he stated,"And since I have 3, that means your monster loses 1200 points!"
This move brought the beast down to an attack of 1600, which was just enough under Wingman's attack for Jaden to take the win.
"Quick cut the transmission!" the film crew demanded,"Cut it now!"
"Noooooo!" Chazz huffed as he fell to his knees in defeat and the Academy crowd cheered. It was a celebration worthy match, but there's no way his brothers would stand for that...
"You loser!"
"You Dog!"
They spat out insult after insult as they approached their youngest brother who now groveled on the floor in bitter defeat.
"You've disgraced yourself!" Slade huffed,"You've disgraced the Princeton name!"
"...You are no brother of ours, anymore." said Jagger.
"Please...just give me another chance..."
"Another chance!?" Jagger huffed,"Do you know how much we spent on this duel!?"
"The Cameras!? The rare cards!?" Slade huffed,"None of which you used, by the way!"
"I'm...sorry..." Chazz said softly,"I thought I could win on my own..."
"On your own!?" Jagger huffed as he gripped his younger brother by the scruff of his shirt and lifted him off the ground.
"Since when could you do anything by yourself, Chazz!?" said Slade.
"Put him down!"Connar's voice shouted from the audience and suddenly a white headband came flying out of no where making contact with an audible smack against Jagger'sshoulder, to which he winced from its sting and glanced at the direction it flew from, being met with a pink haired girl who ran fearlessly ready to jump in.
"Connar!?" Chazz gasped, shocked by this bold move from the normally so timid girl. It seems Chazz wasn't the only one who's been going through changes. He had never seen such a fierce look in her pure blue eyes. Not to mention the bravery she showed to even dare hit Jagger with anything at all.
"Why you pink haired brat-"
"Connar, stay back!" Chazz cried out, and Jaden stopped her with his arm to keep her back behind him.
"Let him go!" he demanded this quite boldly himself with clear defensive anger in his tone,"Yeah he lost." he stated,"How can he not though with you jerks breathing down his neck!?"
"Jerks...?" Jagger growled,"Do you have any idea who we are!?" he huffed,"We could have you crushed."
"Try it." Connar snipped and the group that gathered all gasped at her sudden bold demand,"No really..." she said as her eyes became a few shades darker,"I fucking dare you."
"Connar!" Zane hissed as he pulled her back nearer to him and Alexis who all joined in on the intervention along with Bastion and Jaden's friends and room mates. It was clear to the older Truesdale however, that Connar was not acting as herself so he felt the need to hold her in place, for fear she might actually come at the Princeton Brothers swinging.
Connar!?
Chazz gasped. He had never seen this type of shift in her personality ever in their time together.
Just what happened to her while I was gone...!?
"Oh, don't you worry, little girl." Jagger hissed,"Yours is coming~" he shot a notifying glare at Chazz who gulped and clenched his teeth.
"Why defend Chazz anyway!?" asked Slade,"He's a nobody! Disowned by us and by the whole world!" he scoffed,"I mean...the cameras caught enough of it! " he stated,"He got schooled and mopped up!"
"That's right!" said Jagger as his grip tightened,"Worst of all...he got beat!"
"I will ALWAYS stand beside him!" Connar declared, and the rest of the group gasped as she stepped forward.
"Because he's my friend."
Chazz widened his eyes and slowly turned toward the girl who stood bravely before the two men who towered over her.
Connar...
He blinked.
"Oh, is that what you think?" Jagger smirked.
"Who knows?" said Connar,"Maybe...he's not." she shrugged,"But I am his." she looked up, giving him a warm smile,"...And I always have been."
Chazz blinked.
"...Connar..." he whispered her name softly and returned a smaller, softer smile.
I know that now...
It just took me so long to see it...
When I should have seen it all along.
"Connar's right." said Jaden as he smiled at her while placing a supportive hand on her shoulder,"And you're wrong." he hissed at them,"You see...there's one fight he did win." he stated,"The fight against you." he glared,"It's true...he didn't win the duel...but he fought it on his own terms! He used his cards...not what your money could buy!"
Connar smiled and nodded in agreement.
With no words left to say the Older brothers huffed in a grunt and tossed Chazz back to his feet.
"That was a tight duel, Chazz." said Jaden,"And call me cheesy...but the truth of the matter is, we both won here."
"You're just saying that!" Chazz huffed holding his clenched fists to his sides, as he hung his head down,"I mean...it's not like anyone else believes that..."
With a warming hum, Connar smiled and took his fist gently and held it up in both her hands.
"...I do, Princeton..."
"Huh!?" Chazz blinked, darting his head around as he met with her flushed cheeked gaze.
"We do too!" said the crowd, and soon, all stood, Duel Academy and North Academy alike, chanting,"Chazz it up! Chazz it up! Chazz it up!"
"Grrh...I don't have time for this garbage!" Slade huffed over the roaring crowd taking his leave with his brother. Chazz looked down and saw Connar's deadly weapon on the ground and chuckled, picking it up gently and slipping it into his Jacket for safe keeping.
XXXXX
Chazz stood watch over the cliff side as his family's chopper flew away with his brothers inside and he sighed.
Now...there's just one last matter to settle...
Everyone gathered at the docks, waiting to see him off.
"Well, Chazz...Guess this is good bye." said Jaden.
"It was good to see you again." Connar said sweetly while her long pink hair flowed around her with the sea breeze.
"Just don't forget to write Connar, okay?"
She twitched and gave him a subtle punch in the arm as she blushed.
"Heh...don't worry...I won't have to." Chazz said with a chuckle,"Because...I'm not going back."
His North Academy Followers gasped in shock, where as Connar, shared hers privately with relief.
"Look guys..." he said to them,"I don't belong with you." he said,"I belong right here." He glanced over toward the pinkette and smiled before returning his attention to them,"Duel Academy was always my home."
"But you're our best duelist, Chazz!" said one of the North Academy students,"Are you sure?"
"I am." said Chazz,"If Chancellor Sheppard will have me back that is."
"Well, Chazz..." Sheppard smiled,"You were one of the best duelists we had...How could I say no?" he chuckled,"But there is one thing Chazz..."
"What's that?" Chazz blinked.
"Oh Banner~"
"Well Chazz...since you dropped out of Duel Academy and are now coming back...you're technically a new student." Professor Banner stated,"And therefore must start from the bottom." he said,"At Slifer Red."
"Slifer!?"
"That's right!" Banner chuckled,"Welcome!"
"NOOOOO!" Chazz cried out,"I don't want iiiiiiiiiit~!"
"We'll be sure to find you a room mate." said Professor Banner.
"Room mate!?" Chazz huffed,"Listen up! Chazz Princeton rooms alone got that!?"
"Alone, huh?" Connar giggled,"Then maybe we can stay up late and exchange private messages~"
"Huh?" Chazz blinked,"Oh, that's right...you're also in the Slifer Dorm..." he said softly and smirked,"You know..." he chuckled and folded his arms,"Maybe this won't be so bad after all."
"Uhm I actually have to room alone...for obvious reasons." she stated.
"Yeah...no duh-AHHH!" Chazz cried as he was suddenly pulled away by the large crowd of the Slifer students who tossed him around in a celebratory welcome. Connar giggled as she watched, but large crowds like this often made her uncomfortable. She was glad to see that Princeton was back. And since they were in the same dorm now, it meant she'd probably get a chance to spend time with him once again. But as the ruckus worked for a worthy distraction, she soon ducked away from the crowd, and scampered off.
"Man...my new family is already dysfunctional~!" Chazz huffed as he ducked for cover.
"Haha...maybe so." said Jaden as he kneeled down beside him and nudged his head to motion toward the direction Connar was running off to.
"You know...you really should talk to her Chazz." he said softly,"You know..she defended you." he stated,"And she kept defending you... Even while you were gone."
"Hm?" Chazz blinked,"...Really?"
Jaden gave him a smile and said nothing more, rising back to his feet and retreating to his dorm with his room mates."
"Hmmm..." Chazz blinked, and averted his gaze in the direction Jaden said she had gone.
XXXXX
Her hair blew wildly around her as the closer to the shore, the stronger the winds seemed to be.
"Yeah...I thought I'd find you here." a familiar voice startled her from behind and she turned to be greeted by a pouty faced Chazz Princeton,"I can't believe you left me all alone with those nut jobs." He huffed as he took his place beside her while his black tail coats fluttered with the breeze.
"Heh...sorry..." she chuckled awkwardly,"it was...starting to get to be too much for me." she said,"But...I really am glad you're back, Princeton." She blinked as she blushed and exchanged a smile with him,"I mean it."
"Yeah..." he said as he returned her gesture,"I know you do."
A long comfortable and familiar silence fell between them, cradled by the sound of the waves.
"I owe you an apology..." he said softly.
"Hm? What for Princeton?" she blinked.
"I always used to think I deserved praise and admiration. " he blinked,"Constant approval from everyone. All of my so called friends." he stated,"But it took being away from you...to realize that I didn't need all those fake friends...when I already had one true one." He smiled and let out a gentle sigh,"...I wasn't a very good friend to you Connar." he said softly,"To be honest...it's pretty clear now that I never really was your friend...but...I'd like to be." he said to her,"That is...if you'd be willing to have me."
"Princeton..." she blinked and blushed softly as she gave him a gentle smile,"Of course!"
"Heh..." he chuckled lightly, fidgeting with something in his jacket, pulling out Connar's deadly assault weapon of a white headband,"You...uh...dropped this." he chucked as he offered it to her with both hands,"...May I?"
She blushed silently and nodded with bright wide eyes.
He chuckled softly as he moved closer to her, reaching a hand toward her ears and tucking strands of her soft pink hair behind them. He then gently slid the band back into its proper place on her head, while he used this opportunity to lean in close to her and whisper in her ear.
"...Thank you for everything...Connie."
To Be Continued
