Dr. Crowler looked up from some of the homework he was grading to see Arliss Lockehart standing in the doorway, looking rather nervous. The Obelisk Blue teacher frowned at his former favorite duelist. After the way Arliss had behaved yesterday in class, he could care less whether the southern teen stayed in the Blue Dorm or ended up with Jaden and the other slifer super slacker slime students

"What is it Mr. Lockehart? I am rather busy."

Arliss winced at the cold tone and made his way into the office. "Dr. Crowler…I have a problem."

Dr. Crowler didn't look up from the paper he was examining. "Is that so? Why not go to that harlot Vanessa Fox? She seems more then willing to help you do anything you want."

"Nessa is the problem." Arliss said softly, fidgeting.

"Oh, did she break your heart?" Dr. Crowler mocked. "Find out she was only using you? Well, too bad. That is what you deserve for throwing your lot in with women like that. Never trust a woman."

Arliss raised an eyebrow. "What ever are you babblin' about?"

Dr. Crowler frowned. "Your problem…you've come to ask me how to win your little girlfriend back." He gave Arliss a mocking smile, only to look at him confused when the young man burst into laughter.

"You think Nessa and I are datin'?" Arliss gasped with the chuckles. "That is too rich!" he fell into a chair, holding his sides.

"Well, I assumed…"

Arliss stopped in an instant. "Let me tell you what is really goin' on. When we came to this academy, Nessa and I bonded, and I decided to begin trainin' her. You know, like you are me? Give her some tips, try and get her out of that hole she's dug herself into. Then those girls got in the way and Nessa had to help me get away." Arliss sighed. "Now, she thinks she needs to be all tough in order to win duels!" The southern duelist shook his head. "You saw how she acted in class yesterday. She is going down a dark path that's gonna screw up her life."

Dr. Crowler nodded. "Yes…I would agree with that…but what about your behavior Mr. Lockehart?"

Arliss blushed. "Well sir, I overheard Nessa talkin' to someone before we went to class. She thought I was still gettin' ready and all. Well, I say sir, she was tellin' this person that I wasn't tough enough for her, and if I wasn't strong enough to fight off them there girls, maybe she should leave this here school and go somewhere else. Somewhere with tougher duelists."

"And by tougher…"

"Thugs, gang members." Arliss said sadly. "I feared Nessa was one step away from sneaking on the next boat headin' for the mainland. So, I had to put on that routine, in order for her to believe I was really tough and a bad boy." He locked his eyes with Dr. Crowler. "You don't know how badly it pained me to treat you like that sir." He sighed, falling back into his chair once more.

"Yes…yes. Now that I look at things more closely, I can see that it was all an act. You were dropping hints to me as well, weren't you."

"OH yes sir." Arliss said quickly. "But it seems that everything was for nothin'. Nessa now thinks she's the best in the world, and that we don't need the academy. She wants the two of us to leave in a week and hit the pro circuit. Dr. Crower, sir, I just ain't ready for that, and Nessa sure isn't. I don't know what to do!"

Dr. Crowler stood up and walked around to Arliss, patting the young man on the shoulder. "Yes, you are in a terrible dilemma. But I will help you, and Vanessa too, as I can not let even a Slifer ruin their life like that." He began to think. "Now then, what shall we do to get Miss Fox out of this?"

Arliss looked up at him. "I actually had a thought on that sir." Dr. Crowler looked at him. "Nessa believes she is the best…what if we showed her she wasn't. Pit her against the best duelist in the school?"

"Zane?" Dr. Crowler asked. Arliss nodded his head. "No no…while that might work, she would blame her loss on Zane's age and even become mad that she had to duel a male instead of a girl…" Dr. Crowler clapped his hands together in joy. "GOT IT!" he sang. "We'll have her duel Alexis!"

"Alexis?" Arliss asked, running he tongue over his teeth.

"Yes…the best female first year duelist the school has…when Vanessa sees she can't even beat her, she will be forced to break out of this funk! It's the perfect plan Arliss, simply perfect."

"But, will Alexis duel?"

Dr. Crowler grinned. "I can arrange it." He patted Arliss on the head and motioned towards the door. "Now you go and get her ready for her duel Arliss. Leave everything to me."

"Thank you, Dr. Crowler sir." Arliss said politely, leaving the room. Dr. Crowler hummed to himself. Everything in the world was back on track. Arliss was still a good man and putty in his hands, Vanessa would be punished for treating him like she did, and the school would see that Obelisks always beat Slifers…

'Hmm…' Crowler thought. 'Obelisks always beat Slifers…maybe I should use this tactic on another pesky duelist…'

&&&

"Well?" Nessa asked, leaning against a wall outside Dr. Crowler's office. "Did he go for it?"

"Like a catfish in the muddy Mississippi." Arliss said with a snicker. "Just like I planned it."

"I still can't believe he fell for it." Nessa said as the two shadow realm duelists headed outside.

Arliss smiled as he looked up at the sky, enjoying the warm sunrays as they danced along his skin. "As my daddy always taught me, 'when it comes to the long con, you have to get the people to do what you want them to do, and make'um think they thought it up themselves."

Nessa grinned and nudged him. "I don't suppose some rare hunter did that to an innocent girl? You know, make her decide on her own to take on the dark magic and become his queen?"

Arliss shrugged innocently. "Maybe."

Nessa growled and leapt onto his back, playfully batting his head. Arliss laughed as he ran about, trying to shake her from her perch. The rest of the students that had filled the lawn outside the main building watched on with interest as the two duelists playfully attacked each other, eventually leading each other into the forest.

After a few minutes, knowing that they were well out of side of any peeping duelists, Arliss nodded his head and Nessa slipped from his back, landing on the ground. He gave her a sharp nod; his eyes glazing over a they turned pure black, the dark aura returning around him. Nessa did the same, and with a burst of super-human speed, the two began to race through the forest.

This was one of their many train exercises. Nessa had discovered early on that the transformation had not only aged her and given her a sexy body and sharp mind, it had also increased all her senses and skills. As such, Arliss had been taking her out into the forest to test her speed and agility, to get her up to snuff. The young duelist from Wisconsin understood that one day, these training exercises would become full on hunts for duelists. Unlike the rare hunters of the past, that merely waited around for a duelist to appear, Arliss planned that his hunters would live up to their name. They would be like a pack of wolves, stalking their prey together, pouncing on anything they could get, and sharing the spoils, be it wealth or cards.

She was pulled form her musings when she realized that Arliss had taken the lead, using a tree branch to swing himself up into the canopy and was now leaping about, almost running on the wind. Not to be outdone, Nessa leapt up, grabbing a branch and doing a full spin before launching herself into the air, twigs snapping against her skin. Her dark aura shot out and formed a shield, protecting her as hurtled towards Arliss…just as he landed in the clearing and won the race.

"No fair!" She shouted when she landed. "I was so close."

"You got distracted." Arliss said calmly, all business. "You needed to focus on the chase."

Nessa nodded glumly. "I know."

Arliss frowned and grabbed her chin, bringing her eyes to meet his. "None of that girl. No time for poutin'. We got 2 days to get you ready for Alexis, and I will not have my queen lossin'."

Nessa nodded firmly, and the two of them sat down, legs crossed as they entered their meditative state, tapping into the dark power of the shadow realm. All around the island, students hurried inside as the sudden rainstorm hit. Arliss and Nessa didn't notice, their auras whipping about violently, making the clearing even bigger as a stray tentacle of dark magic would wipe out a tree. Only when they had tamed the magic that coursed through them did Arliss begin the lesson.

&&&

The shadow realm.

It truly is the best place to teach a new student how to master their powers. For one thing, everything is real. That teaches them never to be overly cautious or headstrong. Because both will get you hurt.

'And trust me, it hurts'

I don't remember invitin' you into this conversation. How 'bout some privacy, Nessa? Besides, I believe someone is suppose to be focusin' on readin' her deck and not making conversation.

'Yes dad.'

I swear, that girl has some spunk in her. That's why she will make a fine queen. Of course, she'll be better if she lost 10 pounds…

'What!'

See, I knew you were listenin'! Now get! And Nessa, don't you dare go on a diet now! You know I was kiddin'!

See what I mean by spunk. That girl is gonna be the death of me, and I think I'm gonna enjoy it. But I digress and rant. Now, would you mind tellin' me where I was?

'The shadow realm is a perfect place to teach someone…OW!'

Thank you Strike Ninja. Now let me have my time with the voices in my head, woulda girl?

Sigh

Anyway, as I was tryin' to tell you, the shadow realm is a perfect place to teach a new student. Everything is real. And here, there are no interruptions, except when I am tryin' to talk. With no distractions, Nessa has been able to spend the last two days focusing on strengthin' her powers. Powers of magic and mind.

First, I taught her how to see the duel spirits properly. Before, she could hear Shadow Slayer, and see it in the card. But now, her slayer can appear beside her and offer her advice. That's an important thing in a duel. Spirits are able to tell us things about duelin' that most of us would never even realize.

Next, I had to teach the girl to duel. No, I'm not joking. With a new deck, and a new personality, she couldn't duel worth shit. I had to reteach her everything, from what would happen when drew, what to expect from each monster, when to play her traps…so on. And in that regard, she has done very well. I am proud at how quickly she has gotten use to this new deck. Already, she has come up with combos that I didn't think of, and she could destroy her old self in a duel. She still needs more trainin', like everyone does, but I would say she's ready to face Alexis.

The only thing I am worried about is her new magical abilities. Right now, we are both pretty close in strength. But while I am a fully trained Shadow Mage, she is a novice. The last thing I need is to have her duelin' Alexis, have the girl pull a good move on Nessa, and have my queen go into a rage and kill everyone in the arena. Though, I can't say it wouldn't be a turn on to see her all black eyes and veiny.

'Is he comparing me to Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer again? I swear, you are such a nerd Arliss.'

If you'll excuse me, I need to go punish Nessa, and trust me, it's going to be bad.

'What are you….stop, that tickles….no…hahahahahaha! Stop it, please…hahahahaha! I'm hahaha sorry! HAHAH! YOU'RE EVIL!'

Damn right I am.

&&&

"good show Jaden. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to a Ra Dorm."

Jaden grinned, taking Bastion's hand. "Thanks!" Bastion, Jaden and Syrus watched as confetti poured from the rafters, raining down upon them. The crowd cheered as Jaden waved to them all.

Finally, after a few moments of celebration, Chancellor Shepard's voice cut in. "While I am sure we would all like to continue, there are still other duels that must take place. I would ask that Jaden please come up here so we may begin to process your placement papers." There was a pause. "In the meanwhile, while the custodians sweep up the confetti, would Bastion Misawa, Hayden McGregor, Robert MacFarlene, Stewart Mewes, Johnny Salerizine, Syrus Truesdale, Hector Garcia, Tyrone Stewart, Franklin Parker, Souta Higurashi, Vanessa Fox and Alexis Rhodes all please come to main floor."

Everyone in the crowd began to whisper as Alexis got up and made her way to the dueling arena. Why was another Obelisk Blue taking on a Slifer Red? Some could understand the previous match: Chazz was a jerk and Jaden was really good. But Alexis vs Vanessa? That didn't make any sense at all.

Everyone made their way and were paired off, with about ready to get underway. Jaden was up with Chancelor Shepard, who wanted to listen to his opinion of the next round of duels. Jaden was an exceptional duelist, and the chancelor was interested to hear his ideas.

"Hey, why doesn't Alexis have an oppenont?" Jaden asked, noticing that Alexis wasall alone. "Shouldn't another Obelisk be down there."

"No." Chancelor Shepard said. "Dr. Crowler arranged for a special duel, just like yours. Alexis is suppose to be taking on Vanessa Fox…though I don't know why she isn't here. I will give her another 3 minutes to show up, orI am afraid I will have to disqualify her from the match."

'Vanessa is suppose to duel Alexis?' Jaden wondered. 'I bet this is all payback for the way Vanessa treated him in class.'

Meanwhile, Alexis was waiting patiently for Vanessa to show. When Dr. Crowler had come to her asking to duel Vanessa, Alexis had at first refused. Vanessa was a good kid,but she wasn't ready to face someone of her calabore. Yet, Dr. Crowler had explained that Arliss had asked for this duel, saying that he wanted to show Vanessa that she wasn't queen of the mountain. Alexis had to admit, she was worried about the girl. The sudden 'growth spurt' she had suffered from had definitely changed her persoanlity for the worse. Maybe lossing in a duel would help snap her out of it. Besides, Arliss had asked for it, and he was a friend.

'Only another minute…' Alexis thought. 'Vanessa probably came to her senses and dropped out…and I was hoping for a good duel.'

Chancelor Shepard sighed. "I guess it was too much to hope for another exicting interdorm duel." He reached over to turn on the speaker, when Jaden's hand shot out to stop him.

"Look!"

Both of them watched as the lights in the arena dimmed, and from the speakers that hung around the crowd, low rock music began to play.

Bastion looked on confused. 'What is going on? Do they expect us to duel with this infernal racket?'

Syrus was to focused on his own fears to worry about the music. 'Maybe everyone won't notice me if this music keeps playing.'

Alexis waslooking around, wondering what was going on, when she heard the first lines of the song sung by a very familiar voice.

"Special….you think your special, you do, I can see it in our eyes…I can see it when you laugh at me…look down on me and walk around on me."

The confused chatter that had been going on at the strange occuarances dulled right away as, from one of the alcoves under the stands, the siloutees of two figures appeared. The two of them continued towards the field, their coats blowing behind them like superhero capes.

"Just one…more fight, about your leadership. And I, will straight up leave your shit. Because I've had enough of this…and now I'm pissed…"

The singer's voice paused as the music sped up,booming throughout the dueling arena.

"Ladies and Gentlemen…may I present th new, the improved ….NESSA LOCKEHART!"

'Lockehart!' Jaden, Syrus, Alexis,Bastion and Dr. Crowler all thought at the same time as the lights turned back on, revealing the two duelist standing infront of Alexis. Both wore the same outfits they had worn to class 2 days before, only now they each sported a purple and black spray painted duel disk. Arliss grinned as Nessa took her spot on the field and he backed away, allowing her to do what she did best. Alexis looked over at Nessa, startled when the girl gave her a predetory smile. Arliss merely smirked, leaning agaisnt a wall.

"UH…yes…" Chancelor Shepard stammered. "You may begin."

The duelists all nodded, trying to get back into their game mindset. Alexis was taking the longest, still startled by the dark duelist in front of her. She finally blurted out the first question in her head. "Why did he call you Nessa Lockehart?"

"Because that is my name." Nessa said, shuffling her deck. "Vanessa Fox was a weakling that allowed others to step all over her. They used her, lied to her, ignored her." She paused a moment to look up at where Jaden was watching. "They abused her friendship with lies."

Jaden gulped. 'Why do I have a feeling that Vanessa heard about my duel against Alexis?'

"But Nessa Lockehart? Oh, she is someone completely different." She slipped her deck into her duel disk, drawing her cards. "She takes what she wants, and doesn't let anyone stop her. And Alexis?" She lowered her gaze, her whole look taking on a sinister tone. "Right now, I want to see you squirm."

Arliss chuckled. "Think everyone would love to see that, just not in the context you're thinking of."

"You better be thinking that one." Nessa shot back playfully. "You only get to think about me squirming in a good way."

"Of course I do." Arliss said,placing a hand to his chest. "You honestly think I would dare have dreams of other women?"

"I seem to remember you mumbling something this morning about Mrs Buttersworth…"

Arliss scowled. "I was having a dream about breakfast."

"Wait a minute…" Alexis called out. "…are you two…?"

"Lovers?" Arliss asked. "No…not yet. But if her use of my last name is any hint at what may come…" he shoved his hands into his pocket and kept quiet, ready to enjoy the duel. He just wished he had popcorn.

"What do you think so far Jaden?" Chancellor Shepard asked. "Some rather interesting opening moves, wouldn't you say?"

"Oh yea!" Jaden said with a grin, turning his attention from Nessa and Alexis' conversation to watch the other duelists. Bastion had summoned some strange winged dino, and was now equiped it with spell called Heating Current, which allowed him to keep his monster on the field if it would normally be destroyed. Syrus had summoned a weird car with eyes, and was setting some card, obviously nervous. He didn't know the other duelists too well, though he couldn't help but laugh at the enthusiasum Souta Higurashi showed when he summoned Nin-Ken Dog.

"Any predictions for the matches?"

Jaden laughed. "I predict these are going to be some cool duels, Chancellor!"

From where he was now standing, Dr. Crowler looked on as the duels began,growing nervous. Already,Chazz had made a fool of him, and now he found out that Arliss was considering becoming invovled with Nessa? 'Unless it's part of his ruse!' His mind tried to reason. 'Yes, that's it.'

"Make your move." Nessa said. "Old before the new."

Alexis scowled but drew anyway, looking at her hand. 'Alright, Vanessa uses an angel deck that focuses on Mudora. That means that she is going to start off with some weak angels, build up her graveyard. I need to either start out with a bigmonster to do damage quick, before that angel comes out, or set some stuff and wait for an opening.' Making a decision, Alexis selected two cards.

"Etolie Cyber, rise!" On her side of the field, the graceful ballerina monster appeared, spinning infront of Alexis. "I'm also gonna play one card facedown. Your turn Vanessa."

"The name is Nessa." She countered, drawing a card. She grinned at the mosnter she drew. "I think nows as good enough time as any to bring you out." She turned back to Alexis and put the card on her duel disk. "I'm going to summon ShadowSlayer, in attack mode!" The horse-skulled fiend let out a neigh as it dropped from the rafters, landing beside the dark duelist.

Dr. Crowler frowned. "ShadowSlayer? How do I remember that card?"

"It's the one Vanessa used to win in her exam duel." Dr. Crowler turned to see Zane walking towards him, the Kaiser of the school looking on with only mild interest. "Strange that she would use it now."

"Why is that?" Crowler asked.

"Vanessa's deck is all angels. The appearance of one fiend is strange, but to use it as an opening move?" He frowned ever so slightly. "I have a feeling there have been more changes to Vanessa then a new name and a growth spurt."

"And now, I will have my ShadowSlayer attack your Etolie Cyber with Shadow Hatchet!"

As the monster leapt towards the dancer, Alexis pressed a button on her duel disk. "Not so fast. I actiavte the trapcard Doble Passe." She let out a grunt as the ShadowSlayer's blade sliced into her shoulder. "Ugh…Doble Passe turns your monster's attack into a direct attack on me. Then, Etolie Cyber gets to wage a direct attack on you." Alexis smirked. "And when she attacks directly, her attack increases to 1800." The monster spun in the air, leaping past ShadowSlayer and delivering a hard kick to Nessa' head. The teen let out a cry as she fell to the ground.

"You ok Nessa?" Arliss asked, not liking that hit. He forced himself not to rush to her side. This was her battle, and he would not interfer. Doing so would never allow his queen to rise.

Nessa rubbed her cheek. "Oh yea…glad to see Alexis is taking this seriously." (Alexis: 2600, Nessa: 2200)

Jaden watched on in interest. 'That's the same wicked move Alexis pulled on me. Last time, she was able to use that monster to summon Cyber Blader…I wonder if she has somethine else up her sleeve."

"For my next turn, I will summon Cyber TuTu, in attack mode." Next to her first ballerina, a second dancer appeared, doing a little spin before coming to a rest. "Cyber TuTu also has a special effect. When all of your monsters have a greater strength then her, she is allowed to attack directly." The TuTu warrior nodded and leapt gracefully onto Nessa's head, before delivering a hard kick right to her skull. Nessa let out a cry as she tumbled back, clutching her forehead. "And now, I will activate the spell card Performance Review." The card flipped up, revealing the Etolie Cyber waiting on a bench, her fingers crossed and eyes screwed shut. "With this card, I can shift all monsters that attacked this turn to defense mode." The two cyber sporty girls shifted to defense. (Nessa: 1400)

"How about now Nessa?" Arliss asked.

Nessa chuckled as she stood up and drew her next card. "You know, your kinda ruining the feminist movement for us all."

"What are you talking about?" Alexis asked, confused.

Nessa rolled her neck. "Look at all your monsters: Girls that play in girl sports. Ballerinas, skaters…what next, a gymnast?" Alexis glared at Nessa. "It's worse then I thought. Why don't you just summon Cyber Housewife? Or Cyber Secretary? Oh, I know, Cyber Bare-Foot-And-Pregnant-In-The-Kitchen-Woman?"

"Cyber Housewife." Arliss said with a snort. "Now that's a good one."

"Arliss, kinda trying to do my thing here."

"Sorry Nessa." Arliss said, waving for her to continue.

Nessa nodded. "See, you pretend to be some perfect little woman. You are smart, sexy, you are independent and free. But you know what? Your deck proves to me who you really are. You are nothing more then some rich little white girl that is looking for some man to sweep you off your feet."

Alexis growled. "You don't know what you are talking about. Besides, what about you, Mrs. Lockehart."

"When did I say I was Mrs. Lockehart? I'm using his name, I didn't take it…yet. Besides, I never sought Arliss out to take away my problems. Arliss sought me…and he sought me as an equal." She turned to look at her friend. "Arliss Lockehart isn't a knight in white armor." She turned to look back at Alexis, her face cold again. "Your very deck is a testament to your true self. It is filled with women trying to act real tough, but staying in their designated spots. So they are violent. Big deal! At the end of the day, they are still ballerinas and skaters. Just like you can be tough, but at the end of the day, you go waltzing back to the big strong man."

"What about you Nessa?" Alexis challenged. "Last time I checked, your deck was filled with angels…a very stereotypical girl deck. At least I am using a deck that isn't used by every Barbie doll playing, gossip spreading, "it's like, you know" saying girl!" She paused, noticing that half the girls in the audience were glaring at her. "Well…that is to say…"

&&&

Give me a C…A…T…F…I…G…H…T! What that spell? Catfight! Go me, it's a catfight. Go me, it's a catfight…Now lean back, lean back…

'Would you concentrate on the duel Nessa!'

Awww….

'Sigh….fine, one more cheer. When I say Cat, you fight. Cat!'

Fight!

'Cat!'

Fight!

&&&

Nessa smiled as she looked at her hand. "Tell me Alexis, and be honest…" On Nessa's side of the field, the monster known as Opticlops appeared, the one eyed giant letting out a roar. "Does that look like an angel?"

Alexis took a step back. "What…"

"You didn't hear? My deck was stolen…so I got this one. What do you think, strong enough? Wait, don't answer that just yet. Let's see what you think after my monsters attack!" the two fiends let out a neigh and a roar, rushing at the two monsters, and with a swipe of an ax and a clawed hand, they were reduced to bits. "Well, what do you think now?"

Alexis shrugged as the turn came back to her. "Not much. All you did was help activate my Performance Review's second effect. When any of the monsters shifted to defense by this card are destroyed, I can do 100 points of damage to you per each level of the monsters." (Nessa: 700)

"Brilliantly played!" Dr. Crowler said with a laugh, clapping his hands in glee. "Not only was she able to protect her life points, but now she has reduced that Vanessa girl's lp to next to nothing."

Zane nodded. "And from the looks of it, I'd say that unless Nessa has some trick up her sleeve, this duel is just about over."

Next time: IN their opening turns, Alexis has come out strong, taking down most of Nessa's lp and stopping any attacks she might perform instantly. However, don't count the Queen of the Rare Hunters out yet. When Nessa infused the spell card Nightmare Cage with part of her new shadow realm magic, the battle of monsters becomes a battle of the mind, with Alexis encountering her darkest fears. Can she overcome Nessa's dark tricks? Or is Nessa too much for the her? Find out in The Long Con Part 2: Nightmares

Author's Note: The song that is sung for Nessa' entrance is "My Way".