There won't be any Duels in this chapter, but it is important. See you at the end of it!
I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh ARC-V, only my character and the cards she uses. Any mention of other characters, shows and concepts are simply to help you understand the situation my character is in, nothing more, nothing less.
Chapter 8: Preparations For The Arc League Championship
It's amazing how fast you can heal in an anime. Seriously, yesterday I was hurting all over after taking not one, but three double damage attacks from Odd-Eyes. The fact I could barely get up afterwards was testament to that. But here I am now, completely unmarked. Even my clothes were undamaged.
Anyway, once again I found myself at Yuya and Zuzu's school waiting for them with the three kids. I also noticed Yuya seemed a bit down.
"Yuya… is something wrong?" Asked Tate.
He then explained that he couldn't enter the Arc league.
"You cannot enter the Junior Arc League Championship?" Asked Frederic in disbelief.
"Not this year." Said Yuya as we walked to You Show. "In order to be able to qualify and register, your yearly record has to show a minimum of 50 Junior Arc League-sanctioned Duels with at least a 60% win rate."
"So what does your yearly record show?" Asked Allie.
"46 Duels, 26 wins." The boy said dismally.
"Let's see." Tate said. "26 divided by 46… that's 56.5… That's not quite good enough."
"You're like a human calculator!" Observed Frederick.
"But if you've only Dueled 46 times," continued Tate, "you still need four more to get to 50, and if you win all four of those Duels, you'll have 30 wins, which is exactly 60%."
"That's what I told him." Said Zuzu. "So we went around school to see if anyone wanted to Duel him, but, um…"
Cue the flashback of everyone not wanting to Duel Yuya.
"I'm not getting a free pass!" Said Yuya after it was over. "People just don't get it. The Sledgehammer Duel wasn't for his title, so winning didn't make me a pro."
"And to be a pro, you gotta do well in the Junior Championship." Said Tate.
"And then there is the Qualification Test to enter the Senior Arc League." Continued Frederick.
"And then you need enough wins there to take the Pro Test." Finished Allie.
"I've got a protest for ya!" Punned Yuya clutching his head in frustration. "Everyone thinks I'm a pro, but I can't actually become a pro until I qualify, and I can't qualify because no one will Duel me because everyone thinks I'm a pro!" Then his face lit up as an idea came into his head. "Oh… You said I need four more Duels, right?" He asked looking at the five of us.
"Forget it!" Said Allie
"No way!" Said Frederick, crossing his arms in front of him.
"No way in heck!" I said.
"Why not?" The Performapal user asked.
"We're in elementary school," pointed out Tate, "so we're in the Youth Arc League. You need to Due four Junior Arc Leaguers."
"Right, Junior Arc Leaguers… Like Zuzu and Luna!"
"Not gonna happen, Yuya." The pink-haired girl responded.
"Why not?"
"'Cause right now I'm sitting at exactly 60%. No way am I gonna throw that away by losing to you. There's no point."
"Then what's your excuse Luna?" The tomato asked.
"Because I would mop the floor with you." I said bluntly. "The only reason I lost to you is because I was holding back. If I went full force against you, you would be needing even more wins to enter. Besides, I can't enter either because I have had a total of 3 Duels with 2 wins and 1 loss. Which means I'm gonna have to work even harder to qualify than you."
"Well, then who am I supposed to Duel?" The boy asked.
"Why don't you go talk to Gong about it?" Suggested Zuzu. "He's the reason you're even close to the required 50 matches this year, all the tips and pointers he's thrown your way… Not to mention all the Dojo students he let you battle from his school."
"I'm grateful for all the help Gong's given." Yuya said. "If it wasn't for Gong's training and support, I might've lost my Duel against Dipper, and then, after Zuzu lost, and our backs were really against the wall, Gong stepped up and managed to keep our school safe by tying Kit. I've gotta get strong enough to stand on my own two feet. I have to get better, starting today, there's no time like now."
"'There's no time like now…'" Whispered Zuzu to herself. She then smiled as she got an idea. "I gotta go!"
"Hey, where are you off to all of a sudden?" Asked Yuya as Zuzu started running off.
"It's nothing," she called back, "just things to do and errands to pay and bills to run."
"Bills to wha…" Asked Yuya.
"What about class?" Asked Allie.
"Tell my dad I can't make it today!" The pink lemon replied.
"Anyone know what that was about?" Asked Yuya.
"You gave Gong all the credit for your training." Answered Allie.
"And said you and he were the only ones who put up a fight yesterday." Continued Tate.
"Those were not very smart things to say." Finished Frederick.
"But that's not what I meant, Zuzu's been great!" Yuya said, panicking. "And she put up a fight yesterday, and… She just lost is all and, and…"
"You blew it." Said Allie.
Yuya then screamed as the three started laughing at his predicament. I, however, knew where Zuzu was going, and I wasn't going to stop her. Besides, I have my own problems to deal with. Like qualifying for the Junior Arc League.
…
"Maybe there's a match-up forum or something you can go to." Said Allie.
The five of us were now in the elevator going up to the main room for the school and the other three kids were suggesting possibilities for Yuya to qualify.
"The problem isn't finding Duelists," Tate said, "it's finding Duelists willing to Duel Yuya!"
The doors opened and we started to get out when we heard someone speak.
"Yuya, my boy!"
A man wearing a black and yellow suit with a red bow tie and glasses with yellow lenses came up to Yuya and shook his hand. He also had a black moustache and was wearing a constant smile.
"So lovely to see you again!" He said while shaking Yuya's hand up and down.
"Yeah, you too." The boy replied.
"Nico Smiley?" The three kids said, quite surprised to see him again.
"What are you doing here?" Asked Yuya.
"He came to bring amazing news Yuya!" Said Principle Boyle, who stood up from the couch he was sitting on. "This is a big one! You've been officially invited to enter this year's Junior Arc League Championship!"
"What? Seriously?" The Pendulum user asked.
"Double seriously!" Nico said happily. "The Paradise City Duel Association took notice of your valiant victory against the Sledgehammer, and, after some meetings and deliberations, negotiated by yours truly, they have decided to offer you a spot in the Championship!"
"Great!" Said Allie.
"This is incredible Yuya!" Said Tate. "Now you don't need to worry about finding four more Duels!"
"I dance with joy!" Cried Frederick
"What's wrong?" Asked Skip, seeing Yuya's downcast face.
"Well, it's a very nice offer and all, but…" He said, remembering what the students who didn't accept his offer said. "Tell them thanks, but I'm gonna say no."
Now this shocked everyone in the room. Yuya refusing a free pass into the Junior Arc League Championship when his said earlier that he couldn't find any opponents willing to challenge him? That was unthinkable.
"But, my boy, why?" Asked Nico, confused as to why Yuya was turning down his offer.
"'Cause it kinda seems like cheating or something." He replied.
"No, it's favouritism!" Said Nico. "Okay, that might've come out wrong, but the point is, you are in!"
"It also feels wrong toward the Sledgehammer." Yuya continued. "Speaking of which, I haven't seen him in a while. How is the champ?"
"I am afraid he is no longer the champion." Said Nico with an ominous look on his face.
"Huh?"
"He didn't even say goodbye," the smiling man continued, "he just left me a sad note. Relinquishing his title and saying he was going to travel overseas to find himself." He suddenly said loudly with anime tears flowing down his face. "I am without a Duelist." Nico said sombrely. "And what is a Duel Manager with no Duelist but an empty shell? But if you sign with me," he said, his expression switching around, "we can start from the bottom together and work our way to the top!"
"Bowing out." Said Yuya, bowing. Nico fell over after hearing that.
"I get it now." Said Tate with a blank look on his face. "That's why you negotiated with the Association."
"So that you can make a name for yourself." Said Frederick with an equally blank look.
"You're the worst." Said Allie with a similar look.
"That's not true!" Nico said, now pleading. "I adore your talent Yuya! I thoroughly believe in you!"
Yuya looked down, apparently considering the offer, as well as the pros and cons of it.
"If that's really true…" He said. "I need you to do something."
"Anything." The man replied.
"Since I'm not taking your offer to enter the League, can you arrange the Duels I need to win for me enter? I want to hone my skills with Pendulum Summoning as much as I can before I am ready to enter the Junior Arc League."
"Of course, my boy!" Said Nico. "I will see to it personally!"
"Thanks!" Said Yuya, smiling.
"In that case," I said, "I would like to talk to Mr. Smiley privately about my Duels for the League."
"Of course!" The smiling man said.
We walked to the side out of earshot as we talked.
"I believe we haven't met before, have we?" He asked.
"Well, yes." I replied. "My name is Luna Midnight. I recently arrived in Paradise City in order to qualify for the Junior Arc League Championship."
"So, I'm guessing you would like to try your hand at winning 6 straight Duels in order to qualify?"
"Yes, I am. However, I am going to Duel people myself in order to have the first five wins. But I would like you to arrange my final Duel to be against someone from the Leo Institute." I said.
"Of course! I'll get right on that and find an opponent that will give you a real fight!"
"Actually," I said, "I already have someone in mind."
"Really? Who?" Nico asked.
"The Gem-Knight Fusion Duelist Julia Krystal." I said. "Since she is more than qualified to enter, I want to face an opponent that would really push me to the edge!"
"Fine by me!" The man said happily.
"Well, since that's all done and dusted, hey Yuya!" I said, catching his attention. "Let's go give Zuzu the good news!"
"Right!"
…
Naturally, I arrived at the docks first, so I was the one to see Julia enter the warehouse which Zuzu, Sora and the masked Duelist was in. I took advantage of the open door and walked in, trusting that Ka would be kind for once and that Julia trying to interrogate the masked man for answers would provide a sufficient distraction. I watched as Julia tried to get answers from Yuya's lookalike and saw as Zuzu tried to talk Julia out of it. Suddenly, Zuzu's bracelet released a bright pink flash and the Phantom Knights user vanished. The glow dissipated and I looked at the bracelet on my own wrist, seeing a red glow slowly fade away. The three of us looked at where the man was standing a moment before, only to see no-one there.
"Great. He's gone." Said Julia unhappily.
"He… he disappeared." Said Zuzu. "Just like last time."
"Zuzu!" We heard a voice cry. "You in there?"
"Yuya!" The pink-haired girl replied.
"I get it now!" Julia said as Yuya appeared and apologized to Zuzu for what he said earlier. "You teamed up with him and helped him escape!"
"Whoa! Julia?" The tomato-haired boy said, surprised to see her there. "And… Sora?"
"Talk." Julia said, grabbing the poor confused boy by his shirt. "What have you done with Professor Marco?"
"Nothing." He responded.
"Don't play dumb! I know you're working with him."
"Working with who?"
"The guy who Dueled Sylvio showed up again." Zuzu said, separating the two Extra Deck users.
"He did? So then, where is he?" Asked Yuya.
"He vanished right before you showed up, just like before."
"Huh?" Said Yuya, confused. "That's weird."
"You know something, don't you?" Julia told Yuya.
"Hey, there he goes!" Shouted Sora with an alarmed look on his face. "Over there! He's up on the rooftop! You better hurry up and chase him before he gets away!"
"Outta my way Yuya!" Said Julia, shoving the Dueltainer aside.
"Nice save." I said to myself.
"So who'd you see?" Asked Yuya.
"No one." The Frightfur user answered. "I just wanted to get rid of Julia so we could get back to training."
"Training? You and Zuzu?"
"Yeah. Zuzu asked me to help her with…" Sora stopped talking and noticed the downcast expression on Zuzu's face. "Wait," he said, "is it supposed to be a secret that you wanted me to teach you Fusion Summoning?"
"Fusion Summoning?" Asked Yuya, surprised. "Is this for the Junior Arc League Championship? That reminds me! I totally found my next four opponents! Actually, that's not true, but I found the guy who's gonna find them. Nico Smiley says he can hook me up!"
"Yeah? Good for you." Said Zuzu. Although I think she was a little bit distracted by the events that just transpired.
"Thanks!" Said Yuya. "Now I just gotta win 'em all! And if I manage to do that, it's Championship time!"
"Hey, Yuya, what's this Championship you keep mentioning?" Asked Sora. "Can I enter it too?"
"Uh, I dunno Sora…" Yuya said. "Have you Dueled at least 50 times since coming to town? 'Cause you need 50 Duels and 30 wins to enter."
"That many?" Sora said, surprised. "No fair! How come nobody ever wants to let me have any fun?"
"Hey, actually," said Yuya after remembering something, "Nico mentioned a stipulation or something where you can also qualify for the tournament by winning six matches in a row without losing."
"Oh, yeah? All right!" The blue-haired boy said in delight. "Taking down six chumps in a row, that'll be easy! Do you think you could have that Nico Smiley guy line up the opponents for me? Then I can just knock 'em down!"
"Sure thing."
"I guess we'd better start getting ready for our first matches then." I said.
"Wait, you're qualifying too Luna?" Sora asked.
"Of course." I answered. "However, like you, I also have to do the six matches in a row qualification, but I'm sure that most of my opponents will be easy."
"Guess I should be saying good luck then."
"Don't worry about it. Oh, and Zuzu," I said, gaining the girl's attention, "if you need any help with your training, feel free to come ask me for it."
"Thanks." She said with a slight smile.
Luna is now officially qualifying for the Championship! Are you excited? Well, I hope you are!. I didn't change much in this chapter because I believe the episode was fine the way it was. All I needed to do was add in Luna and everything was good to go. See you all back here next time!