Author's Note: I own nothing in relation to Yu-Gi-Oh GX.

Author's Note 2: For future reference, the card I created in the previous chapter is explained here in its entirety…

Trusting the Deck (Normal Magic Card): Pay 2500 Life Points. Send all cards on your side of the field and in your hand to the graveyard and add any three cards from your deck to your hand. After resolving this card's effect, remove it from play.

CHAPTER 13 – THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY

I woke up the next morning with a great deal more enthusiasm than before, mainly because I had reclaimed my prized card collection, foiled Alexis's plans, and obtained three of the rarest and most lethal cards in Duel Monsters all in the same day. There was a spring in my step that many noticed, but only Mindy, Jasmine, and Alexis knew why. Somehow this newfound passion I had unearthed enabled me to pay attention to the entire Ancient Egyptian History class, although I suppose the constant restless whispering that went on as Banner lectured us would have stirred me occasionally.

Word quickly spread that I possessed the two Envoy cards. Apparently some people would do anything to get them, as I received quite a surprising number of ludicrous bribes for my Black Luster Soldier and Chaos Emperor Dragon. My Trusting the Deck magic card went relatively unnoticed, however, likely due to its steep price and limited usability. I held onto my three cards, of course, politely turning down any offers I was given. By the time classes ended for the day, people were suddenly offering to duel me for them. Even Chazz was in on the hype.

"Would you get off my leg, please?" I seethed, trying to shake off the desperate kid clinging to my leg.

"C'mon Alistair! One duel! Just one!" Chazz begged. "I need that Dragon!"

"I said OFF, Princeton!" I shouted, giving one final lunge that smacked Chazz back against the lockers. "I'm not interested in exchanging cards, and even less interested in wagering them. My uncle specifically gave them to me, so my guess is he wanted ME to hang on to them." Chazz looked as if he was going to persist when Atticus showed up out of nowhere.

"Hey Alistair! Been looking for you!" he greeted me. Chazz was on his feet, visibly upset.

"Beat it, Rhodes! I asked him first!" he argued. Atticus just stared at him and blinked. "What?"

"Atticus, if this is about your sister or my new cards, the answer is no," I sighed, the fun quickly being sucked out of my day.

"Well, does getting back at Alexis again count?" he asked me with a smirk. I laughed quietly and walked down the hall, Atticus following.

"Go on," I told him, listening intently until I crossed another stack of school newspapers. I snagged one off the top and glanced at the cover page, seeing a massive collage of various Duel Monsters on the front. The headline interested me, and I cut Atticus off in mid-sentence.

"What have we here?" I mused. "Duel Monster Spirit Day, this weekend. Hmm."

"Oh yeah, we have it every year," Atticus explained. "Everyone dresses up as their favorite Duel Monster… Alexis and her roommates usually go as the Harpie Lady sisters. There's a big carnival on campus, and even a Costume Duel. There's always some rumors flying around that the spirit of the Dark Magician Girl appears every year on that day."

My eyebrows raised with intrigue. "Is that so?" I asked rhetorically, another cunning smile appearing across my face. "I believe I may be on to something, Atticus."

I tossed the newspaper back onto the pile and began writing things down in my notepad yet again. Atticus tried to look over my shoulder at what I was writing.

"So what's your plan?" he inquired with curiosity. I covered up the notepad, keeping it out of his sight.

"Your sister is going as a Harpie Lady, right?" I said, my twisted smile getting broader. Atticus nodded in confirmation, and nearly exploded in laughter when I showed him the diagram I just drew.

"We're going to give Alexis a head start this weekend," I snickered.

"You, my man, are a genius," Atticus complimented, patting me on the shoulder. "Let's get to work."

We set off to gather supplies for our most ingenious plot yet, and for the next two and half days Atticus and I spent our free time in the Slifer Red dorm, expanding on how the prank was to be set up. I don't want to go into detail, because it would ruin the surprise.

"Saturday afternoon, Alexis will be the best Harpie Lady in Duel Academy," Atticus laughed mischeviously.

For the remainder of Friday afternoon, Atticus and I parted so we could each make our own costume. From what I heard, he was going as the White Magical Hat, and I, of course, was going as the Chaos Sorcerer. Being the gifted designer I was, I set out to make my costume as accurate as possible. The black robes and mask were styled to perfection, I admired, as the leather I made it out of gleamed beautifully in the light, just like the monster's wardrobe itself. I crafted the metal accessories the Sorcerer wore out of cardboard and covered it with gold foil, since I wasn't exactly a welder or anything. The parts of the costume I held the most pride for were the gloves, which required the help of Banner and Sheppard to make. They were regular leather gloves, but I had the material covered with tiny light bulbs – white ones on the right hand glove, and purple ones on the left hand. They were all powered by a nine-volt battery which I added into little pockets I made by cutting open the wrist ends of each glove. After donning the entire costume, it seemed to work perfectly. The robes were a perfect match, and the lit-up gloves were an excellent substitute for the searing flames of light and dark energy that the Chaos Sorcerer wielded with its hands.

It certainly looks splendid," Sheppard complimented when it was complete. Banner nodded in agreement. "Yes, it should definitely turn some heads tomorrow!"

I thanked them for their help and changed back into my regular silver uniform after they had left. Picking up the mattress on my bed, I withdrew the plans I had set up for Alexis tomorrow, as well as the walkie-talkie I used last time.

"Silver to Blue," I spoke into it. "Commence with Draw Phase."

Atticus confirmed, and the line went silent. I tossed the walkie-talkie onto the nearby desk, draped my Chaos Sorcerer costume over the chair, and flopped down onto my bed, anticipating the strike Atticus and I would launch tomorrow. Alexis would once again feel my wrath on Duel Monster Spirit Day.