Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 2: Angel's Assault
"My my, what a pity." Tsukiyomaru said as the duel disks deactivated. "I told you to mind the contract."
"Shut up!" the student snapped. "The only reason I signed up for this student exam help was so I could beat some weaklings, so don't think because you got lucky means that you're better than me!"
"Of course not." Tsukiyomaru said as he left the area. "Luck had nothing to do with it." He added as he walked own the empty hallway leading back to the stands. He walked back into the large room and walked over to a girl a year younger than he. She had black hair and wore a black shirt and jeans. A pair of headphones was in her ears and she didn't seem to be paying attention to Tsukiyomaru as he approached her.
He gently tapped her forehead, making her open her eyes and give him a bored look. She stopped the music and removed one of the headphones. "Loose yet?" she asked.
"On the contrary." Tsukiyomaru answered. The girl shrugged and stood up to follow her friend. "Thanks for all of that wonderful moral support." He added sarcastically.
"I hardly remember how to play this game remember?" the girl answered angrily.
"Yes yes, so you tell me H- I mean Twilight." Tsukiyomaru said, quickly reverting to his friend's nickname.
"It's true! I know I have some good cards, I think, but I don't know how to use them!" Twilight snapped. Tsukiyomaru ignored her, making her a little more frustrated. She stopped for a second and smirked before shooting her leg out and hitting the back of Tsukiyomaru's knee. He gasped and would have tumbled to the ground if his hand hadn't shot out and grabbed somebody's shoulder for support.
"I'm terribly sorry." He apologized to the young man with unruly brown hair. He turned to his friend and glared at her. "What was that for?" he asked angrily.
"I felt like it." Twilight answered with a shrug.
"Why are you so random?" Tsukiyomaru sighed. He pushed Twilight forward, making sure she was in front of him so she couldn't sabotage his waking anymore. He guided the girl over to the area where students were checking their scores. The pair sat back and waited until the newest tier's scores were posted. Tsukiyomaru looked up at the scores, not entirely paying attention to them.
"Oh?"
"What's up?" Twilight asked, seeing her friend's face change.
"Nothing. I just met somebody earlier, Thanatos I believe. It seems he won't be entering the academy after all." Tsukiyomaru answered. "He had potential, but he wasted his time and intelligence on Fortune Telling Witches of all things. He had potential, but well that's what you get for boasting I suppose."
"That last bit wasn't a cheap shot at me was it?" Twilight asked.
"Of course not. You're not a prideful person. Usually." Tsukiyomaru answered.
"If someone fails the entrance exam what happens? Do they flat out fail and have to wait for next year?" Twilight asked, ignoring the last statements.
"It depends." Tsukiyomaru answered. "Students who score exceptionally high on the paper test but fail miserably in the duel have a chance to take a make up duel, and vice versa. However," he paused to look up at the scores again and shook his head. "I'd be surprised if he got a chance since his test score was average."
"Well maybe he just needs a helping hand." Someone suggested. Tsukiyomaru looked over and raised an eyebrow.
"You're that boy with the Lightsworn monsters." He mumbled.
"Hm? Oh no, not at all." The boy answered modestly. "I borrowed that deck from a friend since I left mine at home. It's a bad habit of mine I suppose." He held his hand out to the two and gave a small smile. "My name is Haseo."
"People call me Twilight." The only girl of the three introduced.
"Tsukiyomaru." The other boy answered. He studied Haseo's face for a moment before smirking. "Interesting." He muttered. "So what were you saying about a helping hand?"
"Well, I think he just needs a little bit of help." Haseo answered. "Maybe if there was a tutoring service or something that he could go to."
Tsukiyomaru blinked in surprise. "Interesting you should mention such a thing. Thanatos himself made that very same suggestion earlier today, before his duel."
"Really?" Haseo asked, his face lighting up in surprise. "Wow, what a coincidence! Great minds think a like I suppose. This Thanatos sounds like a good guy. He's smart, sounds exciting, and uses a fun strategy in his duels. The Fortune Telling Witches are normally looked down on but I think they are pretty strong with the right cards. This Thanatos guy sounds like someone I should try to meet!"
"Yes well, you go do that." Tsukiyomaru said. "He's probably in a corner somewhere crying." Haseo gave the two a happy smile before walking away from the two, leaving with a small wave. Twilight gave a small wave back and turned to Tsukiyomaru.
"I kind of like him. He seems like a good guy." She said.
"Perhaps." Tsukiyomaru answered. "But don't be fooled by appearances alone." He looked back up to the large screen that had the scores displayed. It dimmed down and suddenly lit back up again, displaying new names written in Japanese characters and their scores and dorm placement. Tsukiyomaru raised an eyebrow in suspicion and sighed. "Well that is unexpected." He said blankly.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
"I'm ruined." Thanatos whined. As Tsukiyomaru had suggested, Thanatos was sitting on a chair in a corner, curled up on the chair and sulking. A dark cloud hung over the young boy as he whined to himself. "I can't believe I didn't get in." he whined pathetically. "I'm so pathetic, I shouldn't even exist."
"I don't think that at all."
Thanatos looked up and saw Haseo staring down at him. Haseo put out a hand that Thanatos hesitantly grabbed. Haseo smiled and pulled the other boy up, out of the dark and depressing corner. "I saw your score. Too bad huh?" Haseo said sympathetically.
"Leave me to whither." Thanatos answered as he drifted back to his corner.
"Hold on for a minute!" Haseo said, grabbing the boy's shoulder. "I met Tsukiyomaru and he told me of the idea you had. A tutoring service right?"
Thanatos blinked thoughtfully. "Hm? Oh yeah, it's just a small idea I have. Duelists at the Duel Academy get together and help one another depending on what sort of strategy the person being tutored needs to learn or grow with. The tutors would all be picked because they excel at said strategies and would be the best people to team up with the tutored."
"That sounds like an amazing plan." Haseo said brightly, earning a smile for Thanatos. "That idea is truly a stroke of genius. You are definitely smart enough to at least get a second chance at getting into Duel Academy."
"You really think so?" Thanatos asked happily. His mood changed though as depression took over again. "It doesn't matter though. You won't be able to change the teachers' minds no matter what. I lost and I suck."
Haseo frowned when he saw Thanatos so sad. He put a hand to his chin and a look of deep thought came over his eyes. "I think I might be able to persuade them to. Just trust me okay? Out your faith in me." Thanatos looked up at Haseo's reassuring eyes and smiled.
"Okay, it's up to you." The other boy agreed.
Haseo took Thanatos to one of the officials. He politely asked if he could find Meiga for them and the man agreed. He walked away, leaving the two boys to wait. Thanatos had a happy smile on his face as he waited for Meiga to come. Haseo watched him with a blank face, not seeming to care about the situation.
"Well well, you're Haseo correct?" a familiar voice asked.
The two looked over and saw Tsukiyomaru and Twilight standing near them. "You were the one who delivered a decisive blow to Meiga, correct? A one turn kill."
"Yes that's right." Haseo answered with a smile. "And now I'm trying to help Thanatos. He wasn't quite as lucky."
"Yes I saw. Such a shame." Tsukiyomaru answered.
"It's like to evil monsters sizing each other up or something." Twilight whispered to Thanatos.
"So you're the neophyte that wanted me?" Meiag sneered as he approached the group. "What does a cheating piece of filth like you want?"
"Cheating? I have no idea what you mean." Haseo replied casually. "However, now is not the time to compare dueling skills. I would like my friend Thanatos to have a second chance at his Entrance Exam."
Meiga glared at Haseo viciously. "You think that because you want it, then I'll drop everything and let it happen? You get one chance per exam. If your foolish, useless friend failed it is his own fault."
Ignoring Thanatos crying in the background, Haseo fell silent. He stared at Meiga calmly and smiled slightly. "I will make a deal then." He said in a hushed tone. "I will duel you again. If I win, Thanatos gets another chance at getting into duel Academy. And if I fail, I drop out and don't go."
Meiga was silent for a moment, measuring the pros and cons of Haseo's deal. He had a thoughtful look on his face, but Haseo seemed to loose patience. "You do want to defeat me don't you?" he asked. Meiga's thoughtful look turned to one of triumph, like a spider successfully capturing an innocent fly.
"Deal." He answered. "You there, boy. Give me your duel disk." He commanded. Tsukiyomaru removed his cards and handed the disk to Meiga.
"Excuse me Twilight?" Haseo said kindly. "I seem to have left my deck at home, could I borrow yours?"
"But what about the Lightsworn monsters?" Thanatos asked.
"Oh I borrowed those from a friend. They aren't mine." Haseo answered sheepishly.
"Go for it." Twilight said with a shrug.
"Let's duel again then Meiga." Haseo said as he drew his cards. He scanned over them and smiled slightly. "I must say Twilight, these cards are pretty good." He said.
"Really? I just threw a bunch that looked like they go together." Twilight admitted with a shrug.
"Yes well, I discard Hecatrice from my hand. This let's me add a spell card called Valhalla, Hall of the Fallen to my hand. Next I activate it!" The inside of the building turned into pure white stone. A long red carpet was on the ground, which lead back to a throne behind Haseo. "Now since I don't have any monsters on the field I may special summon one from my hand. So I summon Athena (2600/800)!"
A beautiful woman wearing a pure white toga appeared. She had long white hair and a stren face. She held a glowing white shield and a strange white trident like weapon. "Next, I'll summon another monster since she was only a special summon. I'll summon Royal Knight (1300/800), which let's Athena's ability take off 600 of your Life Points." A white angelic knight appeared on the field, it's lower stomach and joints made of green crystals.
Meiga: 3400
"Hey Tsuki, why are you smiling at that Royal Knight?" Thanatos asked.
"Oh, no reason." Tsukiyomaru answered with a smile and a stray look at his own deck resting in his pocket.
"My move." Meiga growled. "I play three cards face down and a monster in face down defense mode. Your move."
"Right then." Haseo said as he drew his card. "I summon my Radiant Jeral (1000/2000) to the field." A large glowing monster appeared. It's body had a dome like shape with several lines jutting out. It had a large yellow halo and white wings. "Next I play two cards face down and end my turn."
"You fool!" Meiga laughed. "I my monster, Worm Opera!" A strange, translucent yellow monster revealed itself. It was mostly a large mouth, it's head larger than the bottom. It had black eyes with yellow pupils and was covered in slime. "When he reveals himself all monsters except worms loose 500 attack points!"
Opera covered Haseo's three monsters in slime which visibly weakened them. "Next I offer my Opera to summon Worm King (2700/1100)!" Opera vanished and was replaced by a large centaur like monster. It was covered in a slimy but hard orange exoskeleton. It had a long, spiked tail and the front of it's legs had a separate face on it with a vertical mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. Bother pairs of eyes were black with yellow irises.
"You fool." Haseo whispered. "I activate Intercept! This let's me take control of your King!"
"What!?" Meiga howled in anger. A glowing net covered Worm King and pulled him to Haseo. The net dissolved and the Worm King turned on it's former master. "I end my turn." Meiga growled.
"And I start mine. I offer Royal Knight and Jeral to summon my Splendid Venus (2800/2400)." The two fairies disappeared and were replaced by a glowing angle in golden armor. It's face was covered by blank metal and it's eyes glowed yellow. It carried a golden staff with a red gem in it's hand. It had four glowing white wings that shimmered. Worm King pulled away from the light, clearly upset by it. (2200/600)
"All monsters except fairies loose 500 attack and defense points." Haseo explained. "Now, Worm King attack!" The large Worm charged at Meiga but he smiled.
"I activate a trap card called Radiant Mirror Force! If you have three of more attack position monsters all of them are destroyed." Meiga cried dramatically. Haseo's eyes widened a bit when his three monsters were annihilated by the glowing golden wall that repelled Worm King. "So much for your early lead! I'll tear you to bits you little,"
"I activate the effect of my Valhalla." Haseo said, not skipping a beat as he continued the duel. "I summon Angel 07 (2500/1500)." A tall white, metallic angel appeared on the field. It's face was covered by purple metal but the rest of it was wearing white armor with an hourglass shape. "Your move."
"You little bastard." Meiga growled. "I activate my face down card, Worm Parasite. This let's me summon a Worm monster in face down defense mode as long as it has half of my King's stars."
"I activate a trap of my own, known as Summon Mirror." Haseo said, revealing his counter trap card. "This let's me summon a monster whenever you special summon a monster, so long as mine is four stars or less." Meiga glared at Haseo as he placed his new monster face down and summoned a new one face down. Haseo skimmed through the deck and selected one. "I summon Bountiful Artemis!"
A large mirror appeared, materializing Artemis into existence. Artemis had the same body type as Royal Knight, however it had an hour-glass like figure that ended in a sharp point. It had strange metal wings, and a purple cape and mantle. "Now each time a counter trap is used I may draw one card." Haseo continued.
"I activate my face down card called Worm Trap Hole!" Meiga announced, revealing his card. A hole appeared under Artemis which it dropped into and was devoured by what sounded like a hideous monster. "This is activated when you special summon a monster. The monster is destroyed and I may flip summon one of my face down monsters. Say hello to Worm Cartaros (1200/500)!"
A brown Worm monster appeared on the field. Like it's predecessors it had a vertically shaped mouth full of razor teeth and yellow and black eyes. It had four moth like wings that looked to be peeled off of it's skin. It had a more humanoid form than the previous Worms. "When he is flipped I can add one Worm monster from my deck to my hand, and since I set Cartaros through my trap card I can summon the monster I picked. Or rather, set him." A face down monster appeared next to Cartaros. "Your move."
"And the last move." Haseo said as he drew his card. "I summon Herald of the Orange Light!" An orange monster appeared, it's main body was circular armor around an orange diamond like crystal. It had small wings and strange arms on the bottom of it. (300/500).
"Oh my gosh, it's a tuna monster!" Thanatos cried.
"Tuner you moron, Tuner." Tsukiyomaru corrected.
"Indeed it is, and I'm going to use him for just what he's mean to be used for! Go Synchro Summon!" Thanatos cried. The Orange Light turned into a storm of white stars that circled around Angel 07, changing it's form. "I Synchro Summon Agent of Death Pluto!" The light faded, revealing an angel. He had deathly pale skin, wore a black crown and toga, and had black angel wings. He carried with him a scythe and had a white mask that covered his face. (0/0)
"A monster with zero attack points?" Thanatos asked.
"Just watch." Tsukiyomaru replied knowingly.
"When Pluto is summoned to the field I can destroy all cards on the field." Haseo began. Pluto formed a large ball of energy that unleashed a storm of waves, eradicating the field of everything but him. "Next, you loose 500 Life Points for every card destroyed." Haseo continued.
Meiga: 1900
"And finally, Pluto's attack is determined by the difference in our Life Points. This means he gets powered up just enough to destroy you." Haseo finished. Pluto (2100/0) Swung his scythe around and charged at Meiga. He slashed down with his weapon, finishing Meiga off.
Meiga: 0
"There now. As per our deal, Thanatos now has a second chance to get into Duel Academy." Haseo said as his duel disk deactivated. He turned to Thanatos and smiled. "Good luck, I hope to see you at school."