"What

"What?!" I said. "I failed the written portion?!"

Standing there was a tall, blonde-haired man with purple lipstick, wearing a blue robe. "It's actually quite disappointing…you are quite the skilled duelist, and you have an extremely strong deck. We were unsure of what to do with you, because you are a great talent, but you're at a failing grade. However, you're lucky, kid-I pulled through for you. I think you have a lot of potential as a competitor, but you need to study more. You'll get that precious study time as a student in this school. However, we're putting you in the rookie dorms as punishment." He handed me a red uniform.

"…I see." I mused. "Thank you for believing in me, Mr…"

"That's Dr. to you, Slifer." the man retorted, offended. "I, Veilan Crowler, have a PhD in dueling, for your information."

"Dr. Crowler. Thank you, sir. I'll work hard and do my best to keep up in my studies, I promise."

"Good." he said. "I don't want my efforts to go to waste…" He then glared at me. "And I'm going to make sure that you keep up…the hard way."

I then left the office as I headed to the Slifer Red dorms. I entered there, and saw a few other people. I managed to recognize Andrew, and there were two others sitting there.

"Hey, Andrew." I said, relieved that I was with a friend through this. It made the experience…bearable.

"Hey, Leon." he replied.

"Who are our friends here?" I asked. I looked over to them. One of them was a short kid wearing a winter cap, and the other was a rather large kid. They both were looking at us, but were far away from each other.

"I'm Josh." the big one answered.

"I'm Emmanuel." the short one answered.

"So, Leon, how the hell did you end up here?" Andrew asked. "You did so well in the exam, I thought you'd be in Ra Yellow for sure!"

"I nearly didn't even end up here." I replied. "I failed my written exam. Thing is, Crowler believes that I have great potential, so he wants to keep me here."

"Well, I'd like to get to know you two better…" Andrew said, referring to Josh and Emmanuel, "but we have to go to class. We should head out now."

The four of us headed out towards the main building, heading to our class. Arriving there, we saw Adam. He was wearing a Ra Yellow uniform, and was sitting with his fellow Ra Yellow students. However, we couldn't talk to them due to the fact that we were supposed to sit with our fellow Slifer Red students.

"Greetings, students." Crowler said. "I first want to welcome all the first-years. The first question I think is all on your minds is 'Why are none of the first-years in Obelisk Blue?' The answer to that question is simple. Despite some of your amazing scores, nobody ever makes Obelisk Blue initially. Mid-term or second-year exams can boost your school profiles and put you in better dormitories. Now, with that through, we'd like to train some of you by pitting you against some of the more experienced duelists."

One of the Obelisk Blue students stood up. I immediately recognized him. "Sir, I would like to request a match with Adam Icarus of Ra Yellow."

"Andrew Icarus, you want to duel your brother." he said. "Personally, I'd like to see the skill your brother has, and want to see if he'll be following in your footsteps. There isn't a doubt in my mind. Please, the two of you, step up to the dueling arena."

The two of them headed to the arena. Immediately, Andrew and I knew this was a must-see match.

"It's been a while since you and I last had a duel." Andy said. (A/N: Because there's two Andrews, I'll refer to Andrew Icarus as Andy for parts where it's confusing for the readers to tell which Andrew is speaking.)

"No kidding." Adam replied. "I'm actually stoked that you wanted to duel me. Still, don't think that just because he we're brothers!" He readied his new Duel Disk for the match.

"I expected nothing less." he replied stoically, extending his Duel Disk.

"Game on!"

Adam: 4000 L.P.
Andrew: 4000 L.P.

"The challenger goes first." Andrew said, drawing his sixth card. "I summon my Sand Snake in Attack Mode!"

Sand Snake
EARTH
Level 4
Reptile/Effect
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1000
When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent, destroy 1 Set card on the field.

"Now, I play one card face-down, then end my turn."

"I draw!" Adam said. "I summon my Cannon Mirror in Attack Mode!" A white mirror appeared on the field. A large laser cannon protruded from it.

Cannon Mirror
DARK
Level 4
Machine/Mirror
ATK: 2000
DEF: 0
During your Standby Phase, place this card in your Mirror Deck, and Special Summon 1 "Reflected Cannon Mirror" from your Mirror Deck. When this card is Special Summoned, decrease the ATK of a face-up monster by 900 points, then decrease the ATK of this card by 300 points.

"Go, my Cannon, destroy his Sand Snake!" Adam commanded. The cannon charged a laser, and fired it. (A/N: It also grew a large red mouth with deranged eyes and screamed, "IMMA FIRIN MAH LASER!", directly before unleashing its attack. :P)

"I activate my face-down card; Dust Shield!"

Dust Shield
Trap/Continuous
EARTH monsters you control are not destroyed in battle. Battle Damage you inflict to your opponent is halved. Destroy this card during your 3rd Standby Phase after activation.

A cloud of dust enshrouded Andrew's Snake. The laser that the cannon fired hit the cloud of dust, but the Snake emerged from it completely unharmed.

Adam: 4000 L.P.
Andrew: 3600 L.P.

"I set one card face-down and end my turn."

"I draw." he said. He smirked as he opened the field spell slot on his Duel Disk. "I activate Sanctuary in the Sands!" The field changed to a desert with a temple behind Andrew.

Sanctuary in the Sands
Spell/Field
Increase the ATK of all EARTH monsters by 300 points. Battle Damage inflicted to the controller of an EARTH monster in a battle involving that EARTH monster becomes 0.

"Now, my Sanctuary gives my Sand Snake an extra 300 points." he said.

"Not enough to beat my Mirror, I'm afraid." Adam replied.

"I'm not done." he said. "With my Sanctuary in play, I can Special Summon my Sandtrap Larvae in Attack Mode!" A section of the sands began to sink in. A large mouth of ravenous teeth appeared in the sinkhole, and the creature who it belonged to emerged from the sands; however, it was much smaller than I expected.

Sandtrap Larvae
EARTH
Level 3
Insect/Effect
ATK: 1000
DEF: 1000
When there is a face-up "Sanctuary in the Sands" on your side of the field, you can Special Summon this card from your hand. When this card is Special Summoned, your opponent selects and discards one card.

"Now, since my Larvae's been summoned, you discard a card." he said.

"All right." Adam said, looking over his hand. He eventually chose a card.

"Now, my Larvae gains 300 attack points, and I can still summon a monster. Why not tribute both my monsters for my best card?" The winds of sacrifice enveloped his two monsters. "Meet the Dune Dragon!" The sands shook, and emerging from it was a giant dragon covered in sand. It crept up the sands slowly, then spread its wings, taking flight. The sand it had dusted off from spreading its wings combined with the gust of wind caused by it caused a few sandstorms to occur.

Dune Dragon
EARTH
Level 8
Dragon/Effect
ATK: 2700
DEF: 2500
If this card is Summoned while "Sanctuary in the Sands" is face-up on the field, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent. This card can attack all monsters on your opponent's side of the field once each. If "Sanctuary in the Sands" is face-up on your side of the field when this card declares battle against a Defense Position monster, if the ATK of this card exceeds the DEF of the opponent's monster, inflict the difference as Battle Damage to your opponent.

"Now, my Dragon gains 300 attack points due to my Sanctuary, and gives you 1000 damage because I summoned it while my Sanctuary was in play!" he said.

The Dragon whipped used the sandstorm it had whipped up and sent it hurtling towards Adam.

Adam: 3000 L.P.
Andrew: 3600 L.P.

"Now, my Dragon, attack his Mirror!" he commanded. The Dragon whipped up another sandstorm.

"Activate face-down; Reflection Bend!"

Reflection Bend
Trap/Normal
Activate when your opponent declares an attack on a Mirror monster you control. Negate the attack, then place the Mirror monster in your Mirror Deck, then Special Summon the appropriate Mirror monster from your Mirror Deck.

"Now, your attack gets negated, and I get to flip over my Cannon!" The cannon withdrew into its mirror as the sandstorm passed. The mirror turned over, becoming black, and another large cannon emerged from it.

Reflected Cannon Mirror
LIGHT
Level 4
Machine/Mirror
ATK: 500
DEF: 2000
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned from your Mirror Deck by the effect of a card. During your Standby Phase, place this card in your Mirror Deck and Special Summon a "Cannon Mirror" from your Mirror Deck. When this card is Special Summoned, select one monster on the field. That monster cannot attack while this card remains face-up on your side of the field.

"Now, when my Mirror is put into play, it immobilizes your Dragon!" Adam declared.

"Hmm…intelligent play, brother." he said. "I'll end my turn."

"I draw!" Adam said, drawing his card. "Now, my mirror turns over!" His Reflected Cannon Mirror withdrew into its black mirror and turned over into a white mirror. "My mirror now kicks in. It gives up 300 of its attack points to take 900 attack out of your Dragon!"

The cannon fired a blue laser at the Dune Dragon. Its attack power dropped to 2100 as the Cannon's attack power dropped to 1700.

"Now, I sacrifice my Cannon Mirror to summon my Kaiser Mirror!" My Cannon Mirror withdrew into the white mirror, and it expanded as an armored dragon appeared from it.

Kaiser Mirror
FIRE
Level 6
Dragon/Mirror
ATK: 2400
DEF: 2400
During your Standby Phase, place this card in your Mirror Deck, and Special Summon 1 "Reflected Kaiser Mirror" from your Mirror Deck. When this card is Special Summoned, destroy 1 card on the field.

"Now, I play Single Reflection!"

Single Reflection
Spell/Quick-Play
Place 1 Mirror monster in your Mirror Deck, and Special Summon the appropriate monster from your Mirror Deck.

"Now, my Kaiser Mirror turns over!" he said. The dragon withdrew into its mirror, and another dragon stuck out from it. This one was less armored, and held swords.

Reflected Kaiser Mirror
FIRE
Level 6
Dragon/Mirror
ATK: 2100
DEF: 1700
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned from your Mirror Deck with a card effect. During your Standby Phase, place this card in your Mirror Deck and Special Summon 1 "Kaiser Mirror" from your Mirror Deck. When this card is Special Summoned, select one face-up monster on the field. As long as this card remains face-up, increase the ATK of that monster by 1000 points.

"Now, my Mirror gains 1000 points upon entering the field." Adam said. "Now, I activate Sacred Shard!" He played a Spell Card from his hand. The image of a glowing shard of glass appeared on the field. The shining shard emerged from the card.

Sacred Shard
Spell/Normal
Activate when you control a Mirror monster. Destroy one Spell or Trap Card on the field.

"Now, with my Shard, I'm able to destroy your Sanctuary!" Adam said. The Sacred Shard fired itself at Andrew's Sanctuary, destroying it. Dune Dragon's attack points dropped further to 1800. "Now, your Sand Shield may keep your Dragon alive, but you are now able to take damage. So, my Mirror, attack his Dune Dragon!" he commanded. His mirror threw one of the swords it was holding at the Dune Dragon. It impaled the Dragon, sending it crashing to the ground.

Adam: 3000 L.P.
Andrew: 2300 L.P.

"I then set one card face-down, and end my turn."

"I draw!" Andrew said. He was in a bad position at this point; his brother's mirrors could dismantle whatever he played, and his best monster was one turn away from being destroyed, with his Dust Shield settling in one more turn. Plus, his dragon had pathetically weak attack strength. "I activate the Spell Card, Terraforming!"

Terraforming
Spell/Normal
Add 1 Field Spell Card from your Deck to your hand. Then shuffle your Deck.

"Now, I'll take a second Sanctuary of the Sands from my deck and add it to my hand." he said as he shuffled his deck. "Now, I'll replay my Sanctuary. Now, I'll sacrifice my Dune Dragon for my Dune Worm!" The winds of sacrifice enveloped his now impaled Dragon, and from the sand burst a giant worm.

Dune Worm
EARTH
Level 6

Insect/Effect
ATK: 2200
DEF: 1900
Remove from play the monster Tributed for this card. When this card is removed from the field, Special Summon one of your monsters that is currently removed from play. When this card is Tribute Summoned, if you have a face-up "Sanctuary in the Sands" on your side of the field, destroy one monster on the field.

"Now, since my Dune Worm was summoned while my Sanctuary was in played, I get to destroy your Mirror!" His Dune Worm charged at Adam's Mirror, but he had planned that.

"Not so fast! I activate Double Reflection!"

Double Reflection
Spell/Quick-Play
You can only activate this card when you have "Single Reflection" is in your Graveyard. Place 1 Mirror monster in your Mirror Deck, and Special Summon the appropriate Mirror monster from your Mirror Deck. After its effect has resolved, place it back in the Mirror Deck, and Special Summon the appropriate Mirror monster from your Mirror Deck.

"Now, I get to protect my Mirror by turning it over!" Reflected Kaiser Mirror withdrew into its black mirror, and its lighter, more armored reflection popped out. "My Kaiser Mirror then gets its effect in, which lets it destroy a card. So, my Kaiser Mirror gets to destroy your Dune Worm."

Kaiser Mirror fired a burst of flames at Dune Worm, incinerating it.

"Now, my Kaiser Mirror turns over once again!"

Kaiser Mirror withdrew into its white mirror, turning into its darker, more aggressive version of itself.

"Destroying my Dune Worm activates its effect!" Andrew said. "When removed from the field, my Worm brings back the monster I sacrificed to summon it! So, with that, my Dune Dragon returns to the field, this time at full strength!"

The Dune Dragon burst from the sands once again.

"Now, Dune Dragon gives you 1000 damage!" Dune Dragon whipped up a sandstorm that hit Adam.

Adam: 2000 L.P.
Andrew: 2300 L.P.

"Here's how I'm going to win. Since I have two Insect-Type monsters in my Graveyard, I can remove them from the game. In return, I'm allowed to Special Summon my Doom Dozer from my hand!" Bursting from the sand was a giant pink centipede.

Doom Dozer
EARTH
Level 8
Insect/Effect
ATK: 2800
DEF: 2600
This card cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. This card can only be Special Summoned by removing 2 Insect-Type monsters in your Graveyard from play. When this card inflicts Battle Damage to your opponent, send the top card of your opponent's Deck to their Graveyard.

"Now, my Sanctuary gives each of my monsters 300 attack points. If you do the math…"

"Oh no…" Adam said.

"Now, Doom Dozer, attack his Reflected Kaiser Mirror!" Andrew commanded. The Doom Dozer charged at the mirror. It responded by chucking one of its swords at Doom Dozer. The sword impaled it in the head, but didn't stop Doom Dozer from rending Reflected Kaiser Mirror to shreds.

"If you don't remember, my Doom Dozer isn't destroyed in battle due to my Sand Shield."

"…" Adam didn't reply. He knew he'd lost.

"Go, Dune Dragon, attack him directly for game!" he commanded. The Dragon whipped up a giant sandstorm which managed to knock out the rest of Adam's Life Points.

Adam: 0 L.P.
Andrew: 2300 L.P.

"Wow…" Josh said. "That kid's amazing!"

"He's an Obelisk; he's supposed to be." I said. "Besides, those two are both geniuses in their own right."

"Good job, brother." Andrew said. "You don't usually put up a fight when we duel. Nice to see you've improved."

"Thank you, brother." Adam replied. "I'll keep getting better, and one day, I might beat you."

"Well, what a duel." Crowler said. "I expected no less from the Icarus brothers. Well, with that done, why don't we try another match? Let's let one of the Ra Yellow students pick a Slifer to duel?"

"I'll go." said a Ra Yellow woman. I recognized her immediately; she was the woman standing next to Francesca on the boat here. "I want to duel him." she said, pointing to me.

"Huh?" I asked. "Me?"

"What are you, deaf?" she asked sarcastically. She had a lot of sass for a relatively tame-looking chick.

I scoffed. "Fine!" I jumped on the duel field just as the Icarus brothers got off of it. "You've got yourself a duel!"

"So, Scarlet of Ra Yellow wants to duel Leon from Slifer Red? That's perfectly fine with me…" Crowler said. He then looked at me. "It will help me assess your worth as a duelist by seeing your skill first-hand."

I readied my Duel Disk for our match. She did the same.

"Game on!"

Leon: 4000 L.P.

Scarlet: 4000 L.P.