A helicopter was on its way to Duel Academy, which was on an island with an active volcano. On said island, there were a few buildings that were to house and teach the various students that had successfully passed their entrance exam.

"Attention Duel Academy students. If you look out the window you will see your own home away from home." Said the helicopter's pilot. Everyone was amazed as they looked out the window to get a good look at the island. "Now, now. Please don't shove. Now, fasten your seatbelts and get your chairs into an upright position. We are going in for a landing. Next stop, Academy Island."

Everyone, including the Mane 6, were gathered together in a room inside of the main school building. Jaden had nodded off while standing up.

"Good morning and welcome my students. My name is Chancellor Sheppard, and you are all the brightest and best duel students in the world. Now please head over to your dorms. I think you'll find yourself comfortable, depending on how well you ranked anyway."

"Don't know about you, Syrus, but I am in the Slifer Red dorm," Jaden said.

"That's cool. Same as me," Syrus said.

"Hello, you two. How's it hanging?" Rainbow Dash asked as she approached the duo.

"Doing great! So, you in Slifer Red then?" Jaden asked.

"Of course! Normally, I'd be in Obelisk Blue, but Chancellor Sheppard thinks that me and my friends should be in a variety of different dorms," Rainbow Dash announced.

Bastion and Twilight started to walk on by the group. "Hey Bastion, you and your friend in Slifer Red too?" Jaden asked.

"Let's see. Yellow sleeves. Yellow buttons. No, I don't think so," Bastion snarked.

"Oh, so I see that you're in Ra Yellow, Twilight," Rainbow Dash figured. "I guess that Slifer Red is the best of the best, huh?"

"Actually, Rainbow Dash, Slifer Red is the lowest of the three dorm colors. You see, Obelisk Blue is the highest in position and are made up of those with the highest grades and/or big connections. Then, there's Ra Yellow, which makes up students with plenty of potential. Lastly, Slifer Reds are on the bottom and are considered having very little potential," Twilight explained to her friend.

"Wait, so we're on the bottom?!" Rainbow Dash was shocked and disappointed that she and her new friends were at the bottom.

"Man, we're really bad aren't we?" Syrus figured.

"Hey, calm down guys. The school year has just started. We can't be the worst yet. Besides, the term red hot comes from red," Jaden tried to calm down his two friends.

"Maybe you have a point, Jaden," Syrus was starting to feel a little better.

"Well, I'm still disappointed. I wanted to be at the top. It would be fitting for my awesomeness," Rainbow Dash wasn't feeling too great.

"Aw, come on Rainbow Dash. It isn't that bad," Twilight comforted. "Think of it this way. You can build yourself up to the top from the bottom ranks, you know."

"Hey, you're right Twilight. I can build myself up to be bigger and better. You'll see. In no time flat the three of us will be in Obelisk Blue for sure.

"Well, if you three are done, I have to go and see my own dorm room. Farewell," Bastion said as he left.

"Well, you heard Bastion. We should probably go to our dorms and check in before we do anything else. Good luck you three," Twilight said goodbye as she walked away.

"Don't worry, Twilight. We won't need luck. They broke the mold when the three of us first formed a group," Jaden boasted.

Eventually, Rainbow, Jaden, and Syrus were able to find their dorm and Rainbow Dash and Syrus were far from impressed. "This isn't a dorm! It's like an outhouse with a deck," Syrus said in disappointment.

"You kidding? Look at this view!" Jaden showed that he was impressed with the view of the ocean he had from the deck.

Eventually, the three of them were able to find their room, which was located on the second floor. "Well, here we are. We found our room," Jaden said as he opened up the door and saw how small the room was. "Wow, this looks like a sweet pad for us to stay in during our first year."

"Well, looks like we're going to have to find a way to make this room work," Rainbow Dash tried to be optimistic.

"Wait, you will be rooming with us?! Syrus was confused. "But, you're a girl!"

"I know, but there weren't any free rooms for me and Applejack to stay in alone, at least from what Twilight said. So, we have to bunk with other students and hope the opposite gender doesn't peek. Don't worry. I wouldn't let anyone look at me like that, so just don't look at me while I change and we'll all be good, okay?" Rainbow Dash warned her friends.

"Um, okay," Syrus started to blush.

"Well, I for one am ready to go look for adventure on this island!" Jaden announced.

"Yeah. Let's go!" Rainbow Dash agreed.

"B-but what about unpacking?" Syrus called out to the two as they left the dorm room.

"Aw, we can get that done later!" Rainbow Dash started to run down the stairs outside.

Syrus wanted to just stay here and unpack. However, leaving Rainbow and Jaden alone concerned him enough that he decided to follow after them.

Fluttershy and Rarity had no difficulty with finding their rooms in the female Obelisk Blue dorms. In fact, the two were excited to have these high quality rooms to stay in. After finishing unpacking, the two of them decided to check in with their friends and look around the campus.

"Ah, the beauty of this island is pretty great, don't you think so Rarity?" Fluttershy asked her friend.

"Well, I suppose there is some beauty to… nature," Rarity was less enthusiastic than her nature loving friend. "At the very least, I guess I can think up some more outfit designs while I'm here.

"I guess that is a good way of looking at it, Rarity," Fluttershy tried to agree with her friend.

As the duo were walking towards the main building, they ran into what appeared to be a dalmatian on a skateboard. Following her was another male dalmatian. Curious as to what these two were doing, Fluttershy followed after them with Rarity reluctantly following right behind her.

Eventually, the two girls found the two dalmatians sitting in front of a three story house, arguing with each other.

"Relax, Dylan. What exactly is the problem with me skateboarding around the campus anyway? What, the fun police are going to come and give us a strike?" the female dalmatian was questioning.

"Listen, Dolly. If you keep up this behavior, there is a good chance that we will no longer be able to stay on campus. We'll lose our current home!" the male dalmatian, named Dylan, warned.

"Um, hello you two," Fluttershy interrupted the two dogs. "Listen, there is no need to argue you know. Dolly, you can have fun on campus as long as you keep safe. Dylan, don't worry too much about your mate's behavior. At the very least the two of us won't say anything, right Rarity?"

"To be fair, I have no idea what these two are saying so I can't really answer you properly, but I guess we won't say anything about the skateboarding dog," Rarity responded to her animal loving friend.

"Wait. You think we're-" Dolly realized what Fluttershy was thinking.

"A couple?! Ew! We're step siblings!" both Dolly and Dylan said at once. "Wait, you can understand us?"

"Of course. I can understand animals of all kinds from dogs to birds to snakes," Fluttershy explained.

"Wow, cool. Maybe we can talk some more sometime. I would love to talk more about Duel Monsters with someone at some point. None of my other siblings are interested," Dylan said.

"Yeah, like she would like to hear some of your nerding out over a card game," Dolly teased.

"Actually, I would love to talk with you at some point and maybe I can talk with your other siblings as well," Fluttershy said, trying to be polite.

"Um, Fluttershy? I don't know about you, but I would rather we get going soon. These two do seem sweet, but we should probably look around campus more before the welcome dinner," Rarity tried to convince her friend to leave for now.

"Oh, well, I'll see you later!" Fluttershy said as she left the outside of the home of the dalmatians, with Rarity following after her.

"Aw, look at this duel arena, guys," Jaden was amazed upon seeing the duel arena for the school.

"Yeah, I know. It looks totally state of the art," Syrus complimented the arena.

"Well, I guess it's cool," Rainbow Dash simply said, not knowing what to think seeing as how she hadn't seen any other duel arena before.

"It's beyond cool. Hey, Rainbow Dash, maybe the two of us could have a duel here," Jaden goaded on his friend.

"Really? Do you think we are allowed?" Syrus asked.

"Well, I think it sounds like an awesome idea, Jaden. Besides, this is our campus so we probably would be allowed to duel here," Rainbow Dash said ecstatically.

"Wrong! This is the Blue Obelisk's campus you Slifer Red rejects," A blue haired kid said to the three of them.

"You Slifer Reds aren't allowed here. See the crest?" A brown haired kid pointed out. Upon turning around, the trio saw a carving of the head of Obelisk the Tormentor above the entrance.

"This arena is our turf, you three so leave," the blue haired kid said.

"Don't get mad. We were just looking around. We'll leave now, right Jaden?" Syrus meekly tried to avoid conflict.

"Well, we don't have to leave. Not so long as one of you agrees to duel me," Jaden boasted.

"Or me. I don't take well to bullies, you two," Rainbow Dash warned the duo.

"Hey, it's that kid!" the blue haired kid said.

"Yeah. Hey, Chazz, it's the applicant that defeated Dr. Crowler and that girl who also beat him afterward," the brown haired kid said.

Chazz simply sneered at the trio, not really interested in them at all.

"Oh, hello there. Chad, was it?" Jaden checked for the name.

"His name is Chazz Princeton and he was the best duelist back at duelist prep school," the blue haired kid said.

"Yeah. Show your respect to him. He's going to be the future King of Games, baby," the brown haired kid said.

"That's not possible," Jaden said matter of factly.

"Say what?!" the brown haired kid was outraged.

"You see, he can't be the next King of Games because that is what I'm going to be," Jaden explained his line of thinking.

"Or, maybe it will be me," Rainbow Dash boasted.

In response, the two kids laughed hard at what Jaden and Rainbow Dash had claimed. Eventually, the laughing stopped and the bullying continued.

"You two? Slifer slackers being the next King of Games? That'll be the day," the blue haired kid put down.

Rainbow Dash was seething, unhappy with the bullying that the Obelisk Blue students were doing. She was about to do or say something when suddenly Chazz stopped his friends.

"Stop it you two. Maybe our mouthy friends are right. After all, they did defeat Dr. Crowler and that rare Ancient Gear Golem of his. I suppose it takes at least some skill to pull that off. Or was it luck? I say we find out right now, starting with our confident friend," Chazz mocked the duo.

"Um?" Jaden and Rainbow Dash were confused, not really sure who Chazz was referring to do.

"Urgh, the boy, okay?!" Chazz growled in annoyance.

"Fine with me. Bring it on!" Jaden boasted, ready to duel.

"This sure is a motley crew," Alexis said as she entered the arena.

"Wow. Who is that?" Syrus wanted to know.

"Hey, Alexis. You want to see me mop the floor with my little friend Jaden? It'll be a short duel, but an entertaining one," Chazz boasted, much to Rainbow Dash's anger.

"I'm here to remind you of the Obelisk's welcome dinner. You're late," Alexis explained.

"Oh. Come on guys," Chazz said as he and his friends left the arena.

"Sorry if Chazz rubbed you the wrong way. Not all Obelisks are like that. He's just a jerk, especially with Slifers," Alexis apologized.

"Hey, it's no big deal. Those types don't really bother me anyway. Besides, I'd have beaten him in one turn," Jaden boasted.

"We need to work on that overconfidence of yours," Syrus said.

"Okay, maybe two turns. Maybe two and a half," Jaden tried to be less boastful, only for the others to laugh. "What?"

"Well, your guys' welcome dinner is about to start too," Alexis explained.

"Well, we better get a move on," Jaden started to run.

"Yeah. I'll race you," Rainbow Dash competitively said as she began to run as well.

"Hey, guys. Wait for me," Syrus said, wanting the two of them to slow down.

Before Jaden and Rainbow Dash left completely, Jaden stopped and turned around running in place, asking, "By the way, what was your name again?"

"Alexis Rhodes. And yours?" Alexis answered.

"Jaden Yuki. Later." Jaden answered back.

"Hey, aren't you going to introduce me?" Syrus complained to Jaden, with Rainbow Dash having gotten ahead of the two. The two began to run after Rainbow Dash and to the welcome dinner.

Everyone went to their dorms to have their welcome dinners. The Obelisk Blue and Ra Yellow dorms had fancy and expensive welcome dinners. Slifer Red, on the other hand, simply had white rice, curry, and fish for the dinner, much to the disappointment of the students. It was here that the students got introduced to their headmaster, Professor Banner. He decided that his students should say things about themselves before they eat. Rainbow Dash and Jaden, on the other hand, started eating their rice and gobbling it down fast. Because of this, Banner decided to just have everyone eat instead.

After dinner, the students returned to their dorm rooms. Rainbow Dash and Jaden were lying down on the floor, stuffed from all that they ate.

"Man, I'm stuffed. That Professor Banner sure can cook, huh?" Jaden said.

"Yeah, and he seems pretty nice too," Syrus complimented their headmaster.

"Yeah. Maybe it won't be so bad being in Slifer Red for a while," Rainbow Dash calmly said.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Syrus walked over and opened the door, with Applejack being on the other side. "Hello there. You must be Syrus."

"Um, yeah. What are you doing here?" Syrus was confused as to why she was here.

"I'm here to talk to Rainbow Dash," Applejack said. "We have important things to talk about."

"Aw, can't that wait until tomorrow?" Rainbow Dash complained.

Before Applejack could protest any further, there was a sudden ring from Jaden's PDA. Upon answering it, Jaden learned that Chazz was the one on the other line. "Hey Slifer Slacker. Don't think that you're off the hook. Tonight, at midnight, it's on. Oh, and why don't we make it interesting? Whoever wins gets the loser's best card."

"Cool. Looks like I'll be able to duel at that arena after all," Jaden was happy.

"Are you sure you should duel this late? After all, it is pretty late and you could get in trouble," Applejack warned.

"And miss the opportunity for a good duel? No way!" Jaden countered.

"Yeah, Applejack. Besides, Chazz deserves to be put in his place. This is just getting even with him," Rainbow Dash tried to justify this duel.

"Fine, but I'm going with you," Applejack decided.

A few hours later, the group arrived at the duel arena.

"Well, well, well. He shows," Chazz said with a sadistic smirk.

"Yeah, like I would ever miss this," Jaden was left unconcerned.

"Jaden, wait up!" Syrus rushed after Jaden.

"We're going to see if you defeating Dr. Crowler was a fluke or a fact," Chazz remarked.

"Yeah, well we're going to find out something else too. Like which one of us is going to be the next King of Games," Jaden said full of confidence.

"Yeah, well just be ready to hand over your best card when you lose," Chazz countered.

"Same here, Chazz. Get your game on," Jaden countered, not at all threatened.

"Duel!" both students yelled out.

"I'll start things off," Chazz began to look at his hand as he selected his first monster to summon. "I'll summon Reborn Zombie in defense mode." A rotting zombie was summoned onto Chazz's field crouching on one knee (1000/1600). "I'll also be placing one card facedown."

"Well, that's one way to start a duel. But for my first turn I'm going to go a little bigger," Jaden boasted as he began his turn. As Jaden looked in his hand, he noticed Winged Kuriboh on the far right of his hand. "Oh hey Winged Kuriboh. Maybe I'll use you later, but for now I'm going to use Polymerization in order to fuse Avian and Burstinatrix in order to summon Elemental Hero Flame Wingman in attack mode!" The Flame Wingman was summoned to the field ready to strike (2100/1200). "I told you I'd start big."

"I was hoping you would," Chazz said with a sinister grin.

"Why's that?" Jaden started to get concerned.

"Because the card I played facedown was a trap, slacker. Go Chthonian Polymer!"

"What does Chthonian Polymer do?" Syrus asked nervously.

"Can't tell ya," Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders.

"I thought I'd find you guys here," a voice suddenly said. The voice came from Alexis.

"Alexis?" Syrus was surprised to see her here.

"Chthonian Polymer is a nasty trap that allows for you to take control of an opponent's fusion monster by sacrificing a monster.

"But Jaden just summoned a fusion monster!" Syrus yelled in concern.

"That can't be good," Applejack quipped as she crossed her arms.

"So, I'll be sacrificing my Reborn Zombie in order to take control of your Flame Wingman," Chazz grinned maliciously. As the monster was sacrificed, Flame Wingman was surrounded by flames as he sunk into the ground. He returned onto Chazz's field with a slightly darker design. "You're so predictable Jaden. You couldn't stop talking about your Flame Wingman at the exam, so I knew you would use him soon."

"Yeah? Well don't forget that since Flame Wingman was a special summon I'm still allowed to summon another monster this turn," Jaden reminded Chazz. "I summon Elemental Hero Clayman in defense mode. That'll do."

"Yeah, well get ready to be knocked down. I summon Chthonian Soldier in attack mode (1200/1400). Now, Flame Wingman, attack with Skydive Scorcher!" Chazz called out. Flame Wingman surrounded himself with flames as he dashed into Clayman from above. "And don't forget that thanks to Flame Wingman's super power, you take damage equal to your destroyed monster's attack points." Flame Wingman appeared in front of Jaden and blew out flames from his dragon-like hand. "Don't think I'm done yet either. Chthonian Soldier, attack him directly! Windstorm Slash!" Jaden got slashed by the soldier's sword, causing Jaden to fall onto his knees in pain. "You starting to see your place here at the academy yet, Slacker? Maybe you were somebody back at home, but here in the big leagues, you're nothing but an amatuer, Slifer Slime!" Chazz placed a card facedown. "I'll end my turn with a facedown card. It's your turn, Slacker."

Chazz Princeton

4000

Jaden Yuki

2000

Jaden then appeared to be crying, which got the attention of everyone in the room. Rainbow Dash was angry with Chazz and wanted to punch him, though she was held back by Applejack. Syrus was starting to get worried, while Alexis was similarly concerned. "Aw, what's the matter? You gonna cry, you big baby?" Suddenly, everyone realized that just like his duel with Crowler,
Jaden wasn't crying. He was laughing.

"Aw, man this is so much fun. Exactly what I came here for. The trash talking, the action, it's all so great! Now, I summon Elemental Hero Sparkman in attack mode!" A warrior dressed in yellow and blue was summoned to Jaden's field (1600/1400). "Now, attack with Static Shockwave!" Sparkman proceeded to launch some electricity at Chthonian Soldier, destroying him and reducing Chazz's Life Points from 4000 to 3600. All of a sudden, Chthonian Soldier's sword sliced itself through Jaden, inflicting 400 points of damage to his Life Points.

Chazz Princeton

3600

Jaden Yuki

1600

"Still think it's so great? Because when Chthonian Soldier is destroyed, you take the same amount of damage to your Life Points that I did. The difference is you have hardly any to spare!" Chazz boasted as he was close to victory.

"Hey! Why do you keep thinking that you are above us anyway?! We're all new students at this school and we all should be treated with respect!" Applejack complained, with venom dipping from her voice.

"Simple. We all may be new students, but we Obelisks are higher ranked than you Slifer Reds," Chazz explained his philosophy.

"Can I punch him now?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Still no," Applejack denied so thay her friend wouldn't get into trouble.

"This duel is almost over. Soon your rarest card is about to be all mine!" Chazz boasted.

"That's what you think! I'll throw down a facedown and end my turn," Jaden said as he set a card.

"Play what you like. This duel will be over with my next attack. Now, go Flame Wingman, attack!" Chazz yelled out.

"Not so fast! I play my facedown!" Jaden cried out as he played his set card Mirror Gate.

"It's Mirror Gate!" Syrus and Rainbow said at once.

"Then Jaden is still in this duel," Alexis was relieved. "Mirror Gate switches the side that both opposing monsters are on. So now that Flame Wingman is back with Jaden."

Both monsters began to clash, with electricity surging throughout the field as they did so. Eventually, Sparkman was destroyed and Chazz's Life Points went down to 3100.

"And don't forget my Wingman's super power," Jaden announced. "You take damage equal to that of the destroyed monster!" Flame Wingman shot out excess electricity at Chazz, with his LIfe Points dropping to 1500.

"Way to go Jaden!" Syrus cheered on his friend.

"Awesome way to fight back! And good job getting back your Hero as well!" Rainbow Dash cheered Jaden on.

"Good moves Jaden," Alexis said.

Applejack nodded, happy to see Jaden counter Chazz's tactics.

"Well, that won't last for long. I play the Quickplay spell card Chthonian Blast. Since you destroyed one of my monsters, I get to destroy one of yours and inflict damage to your Life Points equal to half of that monster's points," Chazz explained as Flame Wingman was destroyed.

Chazz Princeton

1500

Jaden Yuki

550

"Flame Wingman…" Jaden was disappointed that he lost his favorite monster once again.

"Next, I'll play the trap card Call of the Haunted. It allows me to revive a monster of mine from the graveyard in attack mode. Rise, Chthonian Soldier. But he won't be around for long, as I'm going to sacrifice him in order to summon Mefist the Infernal General," Chazz turned the duel around in his favor again.

"Not bad," Jaden simply said.

"Not bad? Man, you are something else Slacker. Still, there is no way you and your monsters are getting out of this," Chazz gloated.

"Well, we'll see about that," Jaden said. Suddenly, he heard a coo from Winged Kuriboh. "I know he's wrong Winged Kuriboh. Because my monsters and I, we have a bond!" Jaden said as he drew his next card. "Speaking of…"

Suddenly, Alexis heard the sound of footsteps from the hallway. "Guys, we're in trouble. It's campus security. If we get caught, we'll be seriously busted.

"Why would we be in trouble?" Rainbow Dash was confused.

"Yeah, besides, we're all students here," Jaden was also confused.

"You see, the rules say no off hour dueling in the duel arena. Chazz knows this, but let me guess. He didn't tell you," Alexis said.

"I'm leaving," Chazz announced as he turned to leave.

"Wait, what about the duel?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Don't tell me you're leaving already.

"Rainbow Dash, now is not the time!" Applejack was enraged at her cocky friend's desire to see the battle end.

"I got what I came here to see. You beating Dr. Crowler was just a fluke. Goodbye, Slacker," Chazz said as he left.

"Jaden, let's go," Alexis said.

"Yeah, come on!" Syrus pleaded with his friend.

"Seriously? Aw, man! I had him on the ropes!" Jaden was disappointed.

Thankfully, everyone was able to leave before they could be caught by the security guards.

"Thanks for showing us the back way out Alexis," Syrus thanked the girl.

"Yeah, some people just had to be stubborn," Applejack said in regards to Jaden and Rainbow Dash.

"Hey! I'm only stubborn when it comes to my dueling," Jaden protested. "But, look on the bright side, I know that I would have won the duel if we continued.

"Really? No offense, Jaden, but it looked like things could have gone either way between you and Chazz," Alexis said.

"No way! Not after I drew this!" Jaden said as he revealed the card he drew on his last turn; Monster Reborn!