Dragon Lord's Domain

Disclaimer: Don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! GX.

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Kairi left the computer lab and walked up to the nearest vending machine, hoping to get another drink or a new snack. As she stood there, hands looking for change in her pockets, she could hear Kristerr's voice coming from around the corner.

Leaning to the side, she could see him on his cell phone.

"O, bkit ka tumawag?"

Kairi raised an eyebrow at the strange words coming out of Kristerr's mouth.

Kristerr punched the nearest wall, "Pota...Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin kanina?!" he paused for a few moments, "Dapat ha, yung kapatid ko nasa loob! Kung anu-ano naman ginagawa iyang lecheng iyan...," he paused again, "WHAT?!" Kristerr shut off his phone and punched the wall again.

Kairi gulped and leaned back in front of the vending machines, "Okay...Kristerr's pissed about something because he just lost it...," she looked back at him, "Didn't expect him to be an uber Star Wars fan though,"

-----

"Lessee...with the eighteen hundred we got in Harpie Forest in addition to the hundred coins we won from the temple...we got nineteen hundred gold coins," Siho closed the bag and stuffed it into his jacket, "I'll just keep this safe," he muttered, eyes darting from side to side.

As the group walked through the forest, Christina walked up to Jaden and nudged him, "Why didn't you tell us that you got new Elemental Heroes?"

Jaden grinned, "I thought it'd be a nice surprise...watcha think of 'em?"

"They kickass man," Christina nodded, "Very cool...though, I do miss the ol' Wingman,"

"Yeah, I know what ya mean," Jaden nodded in agreement, "I figured it's just for the summer, you know? I got some new Heroes and I'd spend the summer learnin' how to use them...what better way than to use them in a VR game?"

"I guess so," Christina clicked her tongue and kept walking alongside Jaden in silence. After a bit, she turned her head back to see how the others were doing and suddenly came to a stop.

Everyone else saw her, came to a stop as well and looked behind them. Siho had stopped a short distance away and he now had his back to them, his head turning from side to side. Frowning, his best friend walked over to him.

"Siho?"

"We're not alone...we're being watched," Siho whispered.

Christina looked at him for a few seconds, then began to scan the trees as he did.

"What the hell's the holdup?" Chazz whined.

Christina shushed him and walked back to the others, "We have got to be quiet...real quiet,"

"The hell for?" Chazz snapped.

"Because, something is out there and it's watching us!"

Alexis stared at her, startled.

Christina rubbed her hands together and looked at the rest of her friends, "Trust me...Siho knows what he's talking about. If he feels something is wrong, then we gotta listen to him,"

"What are we supposed to do?" Jordan whispered.

His friend opened her mouth to speak, but as she did, a huge shadow flew over them and a loud roar boomed over head.

"HIDE!" Siho screamed, "DRAGON! HIDE RIGHT NOW!"

As quick as they could, Jaden and his friends darted for any cover they could find. Some of them hid behind bushes, while the rest of them took refuge under logs and behind thick trees. Jaden watched from his hiding place as a huge dragon soared overhead, circling around the forest, roaring as it did.

Uneasiness filled the area as the dragon soared overhead. Everyone watched as the dragon lingered for a short time, then sighed in relief as it disappeared from view, it's roars becoming more and more distant.

"Everyone okay?" Alexis asked as they came out of hiding.

Evan nodded, clutching his chest, "Man, I hate this place...if it weren't for my duel disk getting lost at the Manor, I never would be in here...,"

Chazz scoffed, "Don't get why we had to hide...if this is all virtual reality, what's the danger?"

Khamille whapped him over the head, "Because, dum-dum! Even if this is just a game, it's better to be safe then sorry! We have no idea what would happen to us if we get caught by a wild dragon, and personally, I'd rather not find out!"

Siho cracked his neck, "Alright, that was a close call. We should-," he stopped and looked around.

"Aw man, don't tell me there's another one comin'," Evan whined, "I don't think my heart can take it,"

Siho shook his head slightly, "Where's Christina?"

That's when the rest of the group noticed that their Slifer friend wasn't with them.

"Chrissy?"

"Christina?"

A loud snapping sound made them spin around to see Christina fall to the ground from behind a tree, a nervous look on her face.

Siho sighed in relief, "Thank the gods...," he muttered and started walking towards her, "Chrissy, you baka, I'm gonna-,"

The male Slifer came to a stop when he saw Christina back away from the tree as a large figure in a cape stalked out into view. It wore some kind of bone as armor around his body and a disturbing helmet on it's head, made out of the same thing. From his shoulders, beginning just under the bone armor, was a long cape that fluttered behind him as he walked.

Evan's eyes widened, "Lord of Dragons...!"

Jaden looked back at him, then at the bone-covered man that approached them. He stepped forward, "Can we help you, dude?"

Leave it to Jaden to offer help to a creepy guy that just came outta nowhere! Christina thought as she rose to her feet and joined her friends.

"I had a feeling that there was something else to the dragon,"

Everyone turned to see Siho step forward as Jaden had.

The ebony-haired Slifer pointed to the Lord of D., "It was you...you were watching us. The dragon was a diversion...I don't know why, but you caused it to scare us,"

The Lord of D. chuckled, "My, for an enslaver, you are quite perceptive,"

"An enslaver?" Jaden frowned, "Now hold on. What do you mean by 'enslaver'?" he demanded.

The Lord raised an arm and pointed to Evan, "Ask him...he knows quite well of what I mean by it,"

Everyone turned to Evan, who looked nervous.

"What's he talking about?" Alexis raised an eyebrow, "Evan...you're not one of those people who capture the monsters around here, are you?"

"No way in hell!" Evan snapped defensively, "Drogoth is lying!"

"Dro-who?" Chazz blinked in confusion.

"Drogoth...that is my name," the Lord of D. explained, taking out a duel disk from behind his cape, "...and this part of Dracon Forest is my domain. I protect the great beasts that live in this domain and in return, they serve me. Unlike Lord Revastan, I actually give the dragons a choice to serve or not. I do not force them,"

"Neither does Lord Revastan!" Evan snapped at him, "He protects my village when it comes under attack! All you do is hide, Drogoth, right here in the Forest! You claim to be a protector, but all you do is hide when people need strength to protect their homes!"

"Enough!" Drogoth attached the duel disk to his arm, "I am not here to defend myself...I am here to duel,"

"To duel?" Jaden repeated, a slow grin on his face, "How come?"

"As I said, this part of the Forest is my domain...you are trespassers and enslavers. You must be punished,"

"But we're not-,"

"LET US DUEL!"

-----

Outside in the real world, Kairi sat down in her chair and tore open a bag of chips she had gotten from the vending machine, "What I miss?"

"Jaden and the others just got into another duel,"

"Oh, I got good timing,"

-----

"How come he gets to go again?" Chazz whined, "C'mon, lemme kick that dork's butt!"

Alexis shoved Chazz away from her and Jordan, "Look, Jaden volunteered to duel and we all know there's no talking him out of it," she sighed and shook her head, "I just hope he doesn't hog all the fun while we're here,"

Jaden shuffled his deck and placed it in his disk, "Ready, Drogoth?"

"I was always ready, enslaver!"

"Okay, first off, I ain't a slaver," Jaden frowned, "Second...dude, I have a name. It's Jaden Yuki!"

"I don't care!" Drogoth snapped at him as their disks whirred to life, "Let us commence!"

"Took the words right outta my mouth,"

"LET'S DUEL!"

D: 4000
J: 4000

"I'll go first," Drogoth drew his hand, then his sixth card, "I play the Spell card Cost Down! I now discard my Exploder Dragon (1000/0) to the Graveyard and now, every other monster in my hand has their level decreased by two levels," he plucked a card and held it up, "Which is good for me, because I can now summon Des Volstgalph (2200/1700) in attack mode!"

As soon as the card hit the disk platform, a loud roar ripped through the air and a large dragon with black and red scales appeared from the sky, flapping it's large wings.

Jordan whistled, "Damn, dude...awesome dragon,"

"I end my turn,"

"Cool dragon, but I think my monsters are better," Jaden drew his card and looked over his hand," I play the Spell card Polymerization, and I fuse from my hand, my Elemental Hero The Heat (1600/1200) and Elemental Hero Lady Heat (1300/1000) to summon the Elemental Hero Inferno (2300/1600)!!"

Jaden's new flaming giant appeared on the field, steam rising from his shoulders as it stared the large dragon down. Jaden was about to order it to attack, but he noticed something was different about the dragon.

Des Volstgalph (2400/1700)

"Hey, what's going on?"

Drogoth chuckled, "That's an ability of my dragon...everytime either of us plays a Spell card, he gains 200 extra attack points,"

That means he's stronger than Inferno now... Jaden grimaced and looked at his hand, But not for much longer!

"I play the Spell card H - Heated Heart!" Jaden slipped a card into his disk, "This Spell gives one of my monsters a 500 point boost. Even if your dragon gets his boost, Inferno's still stronger!"

Des Volstgalph (2600/1700)

E-Hero Inferno (2800/1600)

"Inferno, attack Des Volstgalph with Blazing Justice Fist!"

The large, fiery Hero slugged the dragon hard in the chest and the beast blew into thousands of pixels.

D: 3800
J: 4000

"Next, I play De-Fusion to split apart my monsters," Jaden declared as he slipped a card into his disk and both Heat and Lady Heat returned to the field, "Now that they're back, I can attack with them both! Also, for each Hero I have on the field, The Heat gets 200 extra attack points!"

E-Hero The Heat (2000/1200)

"Guys, hit him fast and hit him hard!"

Both the male and female Heats landed flaming fists on the Lord of D., who doubled over in pain.

"That's not all...for each Hero monster I have, Lady Heat deals you 200 points of direct damage," Jaden explained as flames covered the Lord's shoulders, "I end my turn,"

D: 100
J: 4000

"YES!" Siho whooped, "GO JADEN!"

"Lucky shot, enslaver," Drogoth rose to his feet and patted the fire out, "All luck...it won't happen again,"

"Bring it on!"

"If you wish," the Lord of D. drew his next card, "I play Pot of Greed!" he drew two new cards, "I summon myself, the Lord of D (1200/1100) in attack mode," he paused for a few moments as he appeared on the field, "Next, I play the Spell card known as Flute of Summoning Dragon. I can summon up to two Dragon monsters with this, but I only need one," he placed a card onto his disk, "I summon, in attack mode, Tyrant Dragon (2900/2500)!"

A huge black dragon with yellow-tinted scales on it's wings descended from the sky and let out a mighty bellow, one that shook the trees themselves.

Jaden stared at it, "Oh boy...,"

"My mighty Tryant Dragon is a rare breed," Drogoth chuckled, "He listens to me and only me...not even the Dragon Prince can control him!"

"Dragon Prince?" Alexis tilted her head, "Who's that?"

"Lord Revastan," Evan answered, his voice quiet, "He has the ability to command dragons and use them in battle," he sighed, "Shame really...all that power and he worries about his kin,"

"What are you talking about?" Chazz looked at him.

"It's nothing, just what we at my village have been hearing lately," Evan scratched his head, "How the hell is Jaden gonna take down that thing?"

"He won't!" Drogoth smirked, "Not only is he powerful, but he has a great ability! Tyrant Dragon!" he looked up at his beast and pointed to the female Hero, "Attack Lady Heat! Tyrannical Fire Bomb!"

The huge dark dragon reared it's head back and fired a huge fireball that was far larger than Lady Heat. The poor Heroine couldn't do a thing against it and her screams echoed around the forest as she exploded into tiny pieces.

D: 100
J: 2400

With Lady Heat destroyed, The Heat's attack strength decreased by 200 points.

E-Hero The Heat (1800/1200)

"That's not all! Remember my Tyrant Dragon's ability?" Drogoth grinned wider, "If there's another monster on the field after he attacks, he can attack again in the same turn! Tyrant Dragon, destroy The Heat with Tyrannical Fire Bomb!"

The male counterpart of Lady Heat suffered the same fate and Jaden's points went down even further.

D: 100
J: 1300

"Next, I'll attack you directly myself!" Drogoth rushed Jaden and slugged him hard in the stomach, sending the young duelist to his knees, holding his side, "I end my turn,"

D: 100
J: 100

-----

Kairi winced, "Ouch...that's gotta hurt. Glad I'm not goin' up against that thing,"

"Tyrant Dragon is a card that should be respected. Almost as strong in points as the legendary Blue Eyes White Dragon and with a powerful effect...,"

Kairi looked up to see Kristerr standing over her. She whapped his arm softly, "Don't sneak up on me,"

"Sorry,"

"No, you're not,"

-----

A dragon with great power and a spelllcaster that can protect it from Spells and Traps Jaden looked at the only card in his hand, I can't do a dang thing to kill the dragon. Unless... he drew his card and as soon as he saw what he drew, he grinned, SWEET! With this card, I don't have to worry about that overgrown lizard!

Drogoth saw the grin and frowned, "What's so funny, boy? Are you mocking me?!"

Christina turned to Khamille, "Why is it everytime Jaden duels and grins at something, people think he's doing something wrong?"

Khamille shrugged, "Don't ask me, I just try to live without working my brain over with things that are better left unexplained,"

"This duel's over!" Jaden slapped a card on his disk, "I summon the Elemental Hero Voltic (1000/1500)!"

Sparks crackled around Jaden as a new monster phased into view, it's shiny body armor coursing with electricity as it stood proudly between Jaden and the large dragon.

Drogoth scoffed loudly, "Fool...that won't make it against my Tyrant Dragon, it's too weak!"

"He may be weak now, but check this!" Jaden slipped a card into his disk and a large lance-like weapon appeared in Voltic's waiting hands, "I play the Equip Spell known as Voltic Spear! With this card, any Warrior-Type monster gains a 300 point boost-,"

"Still too weak!"

"Hey, lemme finish!" Jaden pointed to Voltic as he swung the spear from side to side, "But, when Voltic Spear is equipped to Elemental Hero Voltic, he gains 1000 extra attack points!"

E-Hero Voltic Spear (2000/1500)

Drogoth shook his head, "Still too weak to slay the dragon...,"

Jaden wagged a finger, "Naw...he's just strong enough,"

"What's he talking about?" Jordan looked at his cousin, "He can't take on Tyrant Dragon, he's out of cards and if he does attack, he'll lose the duel!"

"The target's not Tyrant Dragon...,"

Alexis glanced at Christina, "You saw that too, eh?"

"Okay, I'm lost!" Jordan scratched his head, "What the hell's he gonna do?"

Jaden stared Drogoth down, "You call yourself a Lord of Dragons, but you don't live up to the meaning of the word 'Lord'...and that's just sad,"

Drogoth glared at him, "How dare you, enslaver! I protect this forest and the dragons-,"

"Yeah, yeah, I get that," Jaden interrupted him, "You may protect the dragons and that's admirable, saving them from people who want them for bad reasons. But, what kind of Lord leaves himself open in battle?"

"What do you mean?" Drogoth pointed to the Tyrant Dragon, "I'm not open! You have to get through him to beat me!"

Jaden sighed and shook his head, "I guess the bad feelings you have slavers cloud your mind," he pointed to the ground.

Drogoth looked down and he gasped when he realized that he had forgotten a very important detail in this duel. He had summoned himself and was in attack mode! He was wide open for an attack, just as Jaden said.

"Voltic...," Jaden looked at his newest Hero, "Fry him!"

-----

Small screams of pain rang out of the speakers while Kairi, Kristerr and a number of the technicians watched Jaden beat Drogoth in the duel, the Voltic Spear going right through him.

Kairi winced again, "That's gotta hurt...,"

"No kidding," Kristerr nodded, "Glad to see Jaden's still got his wit about him,"

-----

D: 0
J: 100

Drogoth fell to his knees, smoking from the electrical charge he had suffered. With it melted and fried, Drogoth discarded his duel disk, head hung low.

Jaden walked up to him and bent down, "Hey, don't be so down, man. That was a great duel! You have some awesome dragons on your side. I actually thought I was gonna lose there!"

Drogoth gripped the blades of grass under him, "You have beaten me, enslaver...do what you will...this forest is yours,"

"Hey, I said I wasn't a slaver of dragons!" Jaden poked him in the shoulder hard, "We're just on our way to Revastan Manor so we can duel the Game Marshal there!"

The Lord of D looked up at him, "You honestly think you can beat Lord Revastan?" he shook his head, "Impossible...everyone who's tried has been beaten without mercy. You think you could've lost against me? Lord Revastan has extremely rare and powerful dragons on his side! You will fail...there's no hope,"

"Never say never," Jaden rose, dusting himself off, "We're going and that's that. Now, get up and stop feeling sorry 'cause I beat you. You're a strong guy and if you're protecting the dragons of this forest, then they're lucky to have you as a guardian!"

Drogoth looked at him curiously, "You...aren't like most people I've seen come through here," he looked Jaden over slowly, "You're very different,"

"That's great," Jaden rubbed the back of his head, grinning, "If I wasn't different, I wouldn't be me!"

The Lord of D. rose to his feet and bowed, "Jaden Yuki, as you have defeated me in our duel, I grant you safe passage through this region of the forest. None of the dragons here will attack you, but only in this region. Further in, there are regions where I don't have any power,"

So much for Lord of D. perks Jaden thought as he watched the spellcaster monster walk into the treeline, his cape flowing behind him.

"Dude, score!"

Before Jaden could turn, Siho brushed past him and nearly sent him to the ground. Jaden rubbed his shoulder and looked down to see Siho snatch another leather bag and card from the ground.

"Sweet!" Siho opened the bag and counted, "1200 coins and a...," he looked at the card, "A Lord of D.?" he looked up at the sky, "Alrighty, I think I'm finally understanding this game's prize system,"

"Watcha mean?" Jaden asked him.

-----

"Glad someone's finally figured it out," Kristerr rubbed his nose, "Was wondering when that'd happen,"

Kairi looked at him, confused, "Huh?"

-----

After getting another start on their journey, the group found themselves in yet another clearing of the forest. But, they weren't alone. In the clearing were a large group of Kuriboh and they were jumping and climbing all over a man with green hair, dressed in white.

"Uh...what are we lookin' at here?"

"I have no friggin' clue,"

"You never do, Berg,"

"BITE ME, PRINCETON!"

They watched as the man in white fought the Kuriboh off for a bit until Jaden, Jordan and Siho rushed to help him. After a short time of biting and clawing, they drove the Kuriboh back into the trees.

The man in white cursed and wrapped a torn piece of cloth over his bleeding arm, "You'd never expect a Kuriboh to go beserk like that," he looked around the trees, "Something's driving them to madness,"

"Madness? THIS IS-,"

Alexis clamped a hand over Christina's mouth, "Don't you dare...,"

"Are you okay, man?" Jaden asked the stranger, looking at the bites and claw marks, "They sure did a number on you,"

"No, I'm alright, thank you. I'll live," the stranger smiled, "Thank you for your concern. Who are you guys and what are you doing here?"

"I'm Jaden Yuki," Jaden held out his hand and after introducing the others, he looked back at the man with turquoise hair, "What's your name?"

The stranger took Jaden's hand and shook it with a friendly smile.

"My name is Noah,"

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Kilnorc: BUM BUM BUM...it seems things are getting VERY interesting with Jaden and the others now, eh? I've read your reviews and I found it very amusing when you all reacted the first time you saw the new guy. How is he alive? What is he doing here?What did Kristerr say over the phone? Will Christina ever be able to finish her 300 reference? All these questions will be revealed in time, my friends! Later, ya'll!

Oh, but before I go, I should share a very interesting tidbit with you. The Lord of D., Drogoth, his name is a reference to a Dragon in Lotr: Battle for Middle Earth II. In that game, there is a dragon called Drogoth, who is called the Dragon Lord. I love adding little refs to stuff I love in my work

Yami K: You're a nerd, you know that?

Kilorc: Pfft, like I care. I admit and accept who I am. Besides, if I wasn't, I wouldn't be bringing all this goodness!

Yami K: Riiiiiight.