Author's Note: I own nothing in relation to Yu-Gi-Oh GX.
CHAPTER 16 – ALISTAIR'S INTERVENTION
Oh lucky me. Alexis, in such a rage, really gave Chazz a bad smacking – so bad, in fact, that he was carted off to the hospital wing. Strangely this got absolutely no reaction from the teachers. I guess they too realized that every idiotic action has its price. However, now I was stuck with the task of doing the commentary with Alexis, and she wasn't exactly pleased with my trickery either. I reluctantly made my way down to the broadcast table, and grinned sheepishly at Alexis.
"Hi?" was all that I could say. Alexis's gaze lightened, and my punishment was reduced to a playful shove, which I promptly returned.
"I hate doing commentary," I grumbled, crossing my arms. Alexis mimicked my pose and answered, "Well so do I." I narrowed my eyes and ruffled up her hair just out of entertainment.
"You smell nice today," I commented with a smile. "New shampoo?"
"Right, maple-scented, you jerk," Alexis fussed, shoving me again. "I'll get you back one of these days." I smiled and watched as Mana and Syrus equipped their duel disks, standing at opposite sides of the ring.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Alexis announced, "It's time for Duel Academy's annual Costume Duel! On my right, we have Syrus from Slifer Red, representing Drillroid! And on my left, we have Mana, who is none other than the Dark Magician Girl!"
The crowd cheered wildly, but I, not being one for loud hollering and chanting, merely applauded politely. Alexis then pointed the microphone in my face, catching me off guard.
"So Alistair, what's your take on the matchup today?" Alexis asked. I rolled my eyes but figured trying something new couldn't hurt, so I began to speak my mind.
"While I haven't seen the deck Mana uses, I can only assume her area of expertise would be a lot like mine: spellcasters," I explained flatly. "She would likely have her own card, and perhaps a number of supporting spells and traps. Syrus on the other hand, plays a strong Machine-type deck of Roid monsters. While most of the Roid monsters possess a wide array of useful special effects, a Spellcaster deck has a dangerous balance between effects and sheer power."
Alexis blinked at me before retracting the microphone.
"Not a bad analysis," she admitted, getting a smirk out of me. Our attention turned toward the ring, where the duel now began.
Syrus 4000 – Mana 4000
Syrus made the initial move, drawing a card and quickly summoning his Jetroid (1200 / 1800) to the field in defense position. Mana countered with an Element Magician (1500 / 1200), thus confirming my suspicion that the Dark Magician Girl dueled with magicians herself.
"Okay Element Magician, attack that Jetroid!" Mana declared happily, giving me my chance to "commentate" and explain Jetroid's special ability.
"Unfortunately for Mana, when Jetroid is selected as an attack target, its ability kicks in and allows Syrus to activate trap cards straight from his hand," I explained to the spectators. Syrus was indeed aware of this effect, and wasted no time in countering with Supercharge. That, however, did absolutely nothing to prevent his Jetroid from getting blasted to pieces and his Life Points from dropping to 3700.
Syrus 3700 – Mana 4000
"Since Syrus's only monster is a Machine-type Roid, Supercharge allows him to draw two cards from his deck," I clarified as Syrus drew a pair of cards. "But unfortunately for him, Element Magician has a special effect of its own, dependent on what monster attributes were present on the field."
"That's right!" Mana chimed happily. "And since your Jetroid was a Wind-type, when my Element Magician destroys a monster in a battle, it gets to attack a second time! And this one's a direct attack!"
Syrus, with an empty field, was forced to take the second surging blast from the Element Magician, reducing his Life Points even further to 2300. Mana played with her cards a bit before playing two face-down cards and ending her turn. Control passed to Syrus, who drew a card and seemed to be hesitant.
Syrus 2300 – Mana 4000
"He's cracking," I whispered to myself. I could only be silent as Syrus replaced his destroyed Jetroid with Drillroid (1600 / 1600). If his hesitancy wasn't enough to prove to me that he wasn't capable of attacking Mana, his verbal stumbling was.
"O-Okay… Att.. Attack that Element Magician!" He eventually forced himself to declare. "I can't watch!"
The Drillroid's attack was successful, shattering the Element Magician and dealing a mild hit to Mana's Life Points which now sat at 3900. Despite only doing 100 damage, Syrus looked like he had just committed first-degree murder.
Syrus 2300 – Mana 3900
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Are you okay?" he panicked, making me want to pull my hair out of my head. This duel was dragging along endlessly, and it sounded like half the crowd felt the same way. I finally stood up and shouted at Syrus the question I should have asked him before the duel even started.
"Syrus, would you rather step down from this duel?" I asked calmly. All he could do is give Mana a sympathetic look and nod his head at me. I sighed and scratched my head, wondering what I was supposed to do now. Alexis nudged me and made a suggestion.
"Why don't you take Syrus's place?" she said. "At least the crowd will get to see some action."
I grumbled and shrugged. "Might as well," I admitted, grabbing my duel disk and trudged off to where Syrus stood. The two of us shook hands and switched places, Mana's sorrowful eyes following Syrus to the broadcast table. She finally looked back at me, my eyes cold and calculating within the duel ring.
"I'll get him to duel you next year," I apologized. "Consider it a compliment. He couldn't bear to see you in pain." I smirked as we both looked back at Syrus, who was now blushing furiously. I activated my duel disk and looked back over to Mana to explain the new stipulations.
"I'll destroy Syrus's Drillroid since I don't particularly like machines," I stated as Drillroid dissolved and vanished from the field. "Now I'll draw five cards and play as if it were my Main Phase, keeping Syrus's current Life Point total." Mana nodded and chimed, "So what do you have in YOUR deck?"
"Nothing you'll be unfamiliar with," I told her flatly, drawing five cards and fanning them out. Not a bad draw.
Alistair 2300 – Mana 3900
"I summon Silent Magician, Level 4 (1000 / 1000)," I began, as the short teen-aged magician in white emerged onto my side of the field. "I'll add a pair of face-downs to finish off, and hand control to you, Mana."
"Ooh, magicians!" she giggled, drawing her next card. I interrupted her at that point.
"Now I'll activate my Magician's special ability," I cut in. "For every card you draw, my Silent Magician gains 500 extra attack points!" She never stopped smiling as she pranced in place energetically and continued her turn.
"Okay, I'll summon my Magician's Valkyria (1600 / 1800) in attack mode!" Mana decided, calling forth what I believed to be her twin, if Duel Monster spirits had siblings. The Magician's Valkyria had virtually the same armored uniform Mana was wearing, except she had darker hair and a staff that looked different than what Dark Magician Girl would carry.
"Now Valkyria, attack that Silent Magician!" she ordered, "Then…"
We both spoke the next few sentences in perfect unison, making things strangely awkward.
"I activate the trap card, Magician's Circle!"
"What? You have one too?"
"Stop copying me!"
"I mean it!!"
"…"
We stood there for a moment trying to figure out what just happened. We had both activated the same trap, and my Silent Magician was already destroyed. With my Life Points now sitting at 2200 and Mana's at 3900, we both dug into our decks to find the appropriate monsters.
Alistair 2200 – Mana 3900
"I suppose we each summon two Spellcasters," I suggested. "So I'll first summon… well… you. The Dark Magician Girl (2000 / 1700)!"
"What a coincidence!" Mana answered with a determined little smile. "I summon a Dark Magician Girl (2000 / 1700) of my own!"
I was smack in the middle of the strangest duel I'd ever participated in. It was as if Mana's deck mirrored mine. Still, I doubted she had cards that could stand up to my more powerful Spellcasters.
"Secondly, I'll summon my Mystical Elf (800 / 2000), attack mode," I countered, adding some company for my Dark Magician Girl. I glanced back over at Mana who was still trying to decide on her next Spellcaster.
"Then I'll summon another Magician's Valkyria (1600 / 1800)!" she declared, a duplicate Valkyria flanking her Dark Magician Girl. "Dark Magician Girl, attack that Mystical Elf!"
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid that's going to cost you," I sighed, signaling for my other face-down card to reveal itself. "I activate one of my favorite traps, Mirror Force!"
In the blink of an eye, the surging blast of pink energy Mana's Dark Magician Girl had launched was rebounded, obliterating her entire front line. I crossed my arms and absorbed the upset shouts of Mana's fanboys as the smoke across the field gradually cleared up. Mana was shielding her eyes from the dust and floating debris, well aware of what was coming.
"Well, then I'll just play one face-down and end my turn!" she concluded. I drew and added a third card to my hand and picked up another one to play.
"This will certainly end quickly, then," I stated sternly. "I activate my first spell card – Heavy Storm!" A massive hurricane-force wind terrorized the field between us, flipping up both of Mana's Trap Cards and destroying them. I continued my assault, playing the card I had just drawn.
"I now play Monster Reborn, in order to summon YOUR Dark Magician Girl!" I declared, stunning the crowd. A second Dark Magician Girl appeared next to my Mystical Elf, and Mana just began to realize the awkwardness of the situation. Her spirit was about to destroy herself.
"Now, Dark Magician Girls! Attack Mana directly!"
Mana helplessly tried to defend herself as a violent explosion blasted her remaining 3900 Life Points away, bringing the Costume Duel to an abrupt conclusion.
Alistair 2200 – Mana 0000
The crowd was noticeably unhappy, criticizing me for picking on girls and the like. I rolled my eyes and crossed the duel ring, helping the fallen girl (well, monster spirit, if you want to be technical) up. I overheard Syrus and Alexis announcing the end of the Costume Duel, and the two of them came running up to us after the crowd began to disperse.
"You could have at least dragged it out a LITTLE bit," Alexis chastised me.
"Sorry for trying to win," I answered, furrowing my brow. "I don't think Mana would have appreciated the duel if her opponent didn't even try." Mana seemed to be in agreement, I guess, nodding her head and smiling like a typical oblivious girl.
"It was just as fun as every year!" she insisted. "But I have to go now… Mahaado's going to be mad if I go missing for too long…"
Syrus seemed to be the most upset by such news.
"But you just got here! You can still enjoy the carnival!" he tried to convince her. "Or at least the bonfire! Hey, I know! You could transfer into the academy and learn how to duel like Jaden and Alistair!"
"Speaking of Jaden," I interrupted, "where the hell did he go?"
"Hmm, maybe he went to his dorm," Alexis considered. "I'll go see if he's there." Before she managed to take one step away, I grabbed her by her shirt collar and held her back.
"Right, and let YOU near my room again?" I asked with a suspicious glare. "In your dreams. I'LL go look for him." I turned and began to head off before stopping and turning back to shake Mana's hand.
"Nice dueling against you, Miss Dark Magician Girl," I thanked her lightheartedly. "I'm not sure if the Shadow Realm has visiting hours, but I'm sure nobody will complain if you visited again. Jaden will probably want a rematch with you anyway, and Syrus will duel you as soon as he gets the guts."
"HEY!" Syrus countered. "I've got PLENTY of courage!" I snorted in amusement and ignored the angry little kid, setting off for the Slifer Red dorm as Mana continued to bid her farewells to everyone. Once I began to head down the hallway that led to his room, I could hear his voice quietly muttering to himself.
"Hmm, that's no good… maybe if I add a couple more Righteous Justice cards… and a Trap Jammer or two… Man, how the heck am I gonna pass exams this term?"
My brain clicked at that last remark as I appeared in his doorway.
"Exams, you say?" I asked, resting my fist under my chin in thought. Jaden didn't look at me, but I could tell he was grimacing at that word.
"Yeah, they start in less than a week!" he answered with a noticeable bit of panic in his voice. "I totally forgot all about them!" I had to admit, I had made the same error. Of course, with a spotless record in Duel Academy so far, I figured a term exam wouldn't be too devastating. It might even be my chance to gain a promotion to the next dorm, and finally ditch my terrible nickname.
"I suppose I should get to work as well," I sighed, trudging off to my own dorm. I opened the door and slumped onto the bed covered with pink and blue frilly sheets, a deep disgust building inside me as a lingering effect of how Alexis permanently scarred my dorm, my pride, and my retinas. Yet somehow we seemed to be getting closer every day.
…What the hell am I saying? If Atticus read this he'd have a field day. What a complicated and bothersome predicament this is becoming.
Just what in the name of Exodia is that girl DOING to me?
I tried to study, but my brain wouldn't stay focused. I tried to sleep, but my eyes wouldn't stay closed.
I simply laid in bed for half the night, my mind racing through thoughts that even I couldn't possibly begin to understand.