Oh my lord, I'm actually posting something! After how long is it? It's been far too long. I've been struggling to get motivated, but I recently started uni and acquired a laptop. I've written this entire chapter on the bus. So maybe now I'll be posting a smidge more often with my daily commute. Maybe. And over to Zane with the disclaimer-

Zane: "..."

...or not.

There was an excited buzz around duel academy that morning in anticipation of the impending tag duel. Speculation was rife as to the identity of the mysterious opponents, ranging from a pair of trained monkeys, to Yugi Moto and Seto Kaiba themselves. Word had also spread of the exhibition match before hand, though less was known, and speculation was more geared to the reason for the duel.

All in all, Crowler was in a very good mood. He finally had the chance to be rid of those two slackers, and not even Jesse would be able to worm his way out of what he had in store for them. He repressed a laugh, as the corridor was filled with students, and speculations about his sanity were the last thing he needed, and nearly didn't notice the student trying to catch his attention.

'What?' He snapped. 'Oh, Mr Princeton. Is there something I can help you with?'

'Yeah, you can let me take on Jaden in the exhibition match first today!'

'While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I'm afraid the day has already been fully planned, and I'm not going to let this chance slip away from me!' Chazz looked puzzled.

'...What?'

'Oh, nothing to worry about my dear boy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go and make final preparations for today's event.' Crowler almost skipped away, leaving a bemused Chazz to watch him go.

'Well, this should be at least mildly entertaining.' Chazz spun around.

'Who... Oh, you.' Chazz almost spat the word. 'Don't think this means you've gotten away with this! I'll still get my rematch, and then everyone'll see who's really on top around here!' Jaden merely smirked.

'Still sore about that? Remind me to sit near you then. Your face might be even more amusing than watching those two get crushed.' He pushed past Chazz, leaving him alone in the corridor for the second time in as many minutes.

'Hey, Alexis! You ready for our duel?'

'As I can be not knowing what deck you use.'

'Sorry. I just want the big debut, you know? I want to give people a show.' Alexis gave him a look that suggested she was seeing a memory rather than him before answering.

'I understand. Better than you'd think.'

'Well, guess we'd better be going. Our match'll start soon, and we can't really be late for that.'

Up in the stands, Jesse, Syrus, Bastion, Chumley, Mindy and Jasmine had settled down to watch the opening match.

'I hope you two are watching this closely. These two have bought you a chance to analyse your opponents, and formulate strategies before you have to fight your opponents.' Chumley gave Bastion something of a look.

'You do know Jesse doesn't do any of that stuff, right?'

'That doesn't mean he shouldn't pay attention!' Bastion was indignant.

'Aren't we here to cheer for Caleb and Alexis anyway?'

'Kind of Mindy, but they're only duelling to give Jesse and Syrus a bit of an edge.' Jasmine replied with the weary tones of one used to explaining to Mindy. 'Of course we want them to win, but it's Jesse and Syrus who matter here.'

On the other side of the stadium Zane settled into his usual spot against the railings. Though he was interested in seeing Alexis duel, most of his attention was reserved for his brother's later duel. But all things considered, he wasn't even sure what outcome he was hoping for. He looked up a shadow fell upon him.

'Jaden.'

'Zane.' The silence was lengthy, neither having any particular desire to break it. Zane cracked first.

'Should I ask which duel you're here for?' Jaden shrugged.

'Neither. But I've nothing better to do, and seeing Caleb crushed would brighten my day a little.' While by most people's standards this would barely be called a conversation, for Jaden and Zane this was quite a lot of speech in one go, especially considering it was civil. And so the conversation was left at that.

Chazz and his groupies had seated themselves at the other end of the arena, though it was clear he wasn't in a good mood.

'Hey, Cha-'

'Not one word.' There wasn't.

'Ahem. Is this thing on? Oh, Welcome, students, to today's first duel, an exhibition match between our very own Obelisk Blue's, Caleb and Alexis, and the top tag duellists in the world, the one, the only, the Paradox Brothers!' The crowds cheered, albeit slightly louder for Caleb and Alexis.

'Gosh, I feel a bit embarrassed. Ready Alexis?' She nodded.

'Oho, these children are confident my brother.'

'Perhaps they have mistaken us for another?' There was a moment of silence.

'Is... everything you two say going to rhyme really badly?' There was another silence. 'Let's... just duel. And if no one has any objections, I'd like to play the first verse.
Caleb+Alexis: 8000/Para+Dox: 8000
 Magical Exemplar, centre stage! And since she isn't one to solo, I'll set the stage with a face down, and finish up by equipping Magical Exemplar with the spell card mist body. As long as she has this, she can't be destroyed in battle.' Two glowing runes appeared above the monster, and began to circle. 'And she gets two spell counters, but you'll see what they do later. Your move.'

'Very well. I summon Kaiser Sea Horse, in attack mode. And I shall attack your monster! Go!' The attack impacted, but Magical Exemplar turned to mist beneath the blow.

Caleb+Alexis: 7900/Para+Dox: 8000

'My monster's got an encore yet.'

'True, but your lifepoints cannot say the same. I end my turn.'

'My move! I summon Cyber Tutu, in attack mode! And because she has a lower attack than your monsters, she can attack you directly!'

Caleb+Alexis: 7900/Para+Dox: 7000

'I'll finish with a face down. Your move.'

'And a move it shall be!' There was another brief silence. 'I summon Jirai Gumo, in attack mode. However, he shall not stay for long, as I activate tribute doll, sending Jirai Gumo to the graveyard, in order to summon Kazejin, in attack mode! Now, with my Kaiser sea horse, I attack your Cyber Tutu!'

'I'll activate Doble Passé, making both of our monsters attack directly!'

Caleb+Alexis: 6200/Para+Dox: 6000

'Fine. I end my turn.'

'My part? Then I'll draw! This stage's looking a bit drab, so I'll play terraforming, letting me add a field spell from my deck to my hand, and putting two more counters on my exemplar. So let's change the stage to the Magical Citadel of Endymion!' Around them, the usual arena fell away, to be replaced by a collection of gleaming ivory towers. Torches lined the courtyards between them, with the same glowing runes as before instead of flames. "And of course-" He said as two more runes appeared over magical exemplar, "Magical exemplar gets two more counters. But she's looking a bit crowded out on stage there, so I'll remove them all to special summon Magical Marionette from my hand!" Said monster apeared before him, animating a puppet idly with one hand. And we've time for one last number, so my Marionette will attack your Kaiser sea horse!"

"A valiant attempt, but I block your attack with my Kazejin's effect. Harder than that you will have to try-"

"Don't bother. Really. Just take your turn, please?"

"As you wish. I draw!" Para smiled at the newly drawn card. "I tribute Kaizer sea horse to summon Sanga of the thunder! And you will find I play monster reborn to bring back Jirai Gumo, only for him to be given to tribute doll, to summon Suijin. But he too is not to stay, for I tribute Suijin, Kazejin and Sanga to summon the almighty Gate Guardian! And your Marionette shall feel its fury!" With an almighty blast, Magical Marionette exploded, leaving only a single floating rune.

Caleb+Alexis: 4850/Para+Dox: 6000

"But what is this? Should you have not lost more? And why does a rune remain there?" Caleb smiled.

"Forgotten the last line already have we? You played tribute doll and monster reborn, both spell cards. My exemplar got four counters, and my Marionette and my citadel both got two." He pointed to a pair of runes drifting lazily around the towers.

"But why do those two remain? Should they not have faded with their bearer?"

"Not with my citadel. If a monster dies with spell counters, it doesn't let them go to waste, and sucks them up for itself." They watched as the two runes joined the others around the citadel. "Now, are we quite finished?" Para shook his head.

"I shall play a duo of cards face-down. Now, I am done."

"It's over to you then Alexis. Let's bring them down!"

"It doesn't look good for them out there..." said Bastion quietly up in the stands. He glanced at Syrus. "Sorry chap, I imagine that wasn't what you wanted to hear." Syrus shook his head.

"It's okay... I've got used to the idea that- hat I won't be staying here..." He sniffed, and Jesse glared at him. "Now what're y'all talking about? All we gotta do is win this one li'l duel. Piece of cake!"

"But Jesse, even Alexis and Caleb are struggling, and they're in Obelisk! What can we do?"

"Sy, y'all know those colours don't really say how good a duellist is. And I sure as hell ain't givin' up yet, y'all hear me?"

"That's just you all over, Jesse. Totally 'liscous 'till the very end!" Piped in Chumley.

"Hey, thanks y'all... I think." Mindy and Jasmine looked at each other.

"Jas, I hope Lex'll be okay..."

"She's strong Mindy. She'll be fine." reassured Jasmine, but neither of them looked convinced.

"I hope you're right..."

"All right then, I draw!" Shouted Alexis. "I summon Etoile Cyber, in attack mode, and because I summoned a monster, I can play Allegro Toile, letting me destroy a spell or trap card, so you can say goodbye to your first facedown!"

"And, as a spell card, my own cards all get extra spell counters," reminded Caleb.

"Right, and I'm not done yet. I play Machine Angel Ritual, letting me sacrifice both of my monsters to ritual summon Cyber Angel Benten!"

"Spell!" Chimed in Caleb chimed in.

"And I'll finish with a facedown. Your turn."

"Then we shall make this quick," said Dox. "Gate Guardian, attack Cyber Angel Benten!" The monster exploded into yet another shower of particles. "Now, your time grows short."

"But hopefully not short enough to stop me bringing out the big guns..." thought Caleb, "And then maybe we have a chance..." "Is it my go then?" Dox nodded, somewhat begrudgingly. "Then I draw!" He looked at the card. "Maybe there is a god of cards after all." He brandished his new card. "I'll start with field barrier, protecting my Citadel from anything you could throw at it, and giving a few more counters out. And then it's time for tonight's headline act! By removing six counters from the citadel, I can special summon the one, the only, Endymion the Master Magician!" Six of the runes formed a circle, and at once exploded in a flash of light. As the glow faded, Endymion stepped forward from the light, and gave a theatrical bow. "Show off..." muttered Caleb, though without any real intent. "Now, when Endymion's summoned this way, I can add a spell card from my graveyard to my hand, so I think I'll be taking back..." He glanced at his graveyard. "Guess it'll have to be terraforming." He slipped it into his hand. "Now let's see. I remove 6 counters from Magical Exemplar, to special summon my Magical Marionette from the graveyard!"

"Is such a move even allowed?" Asked Para, incredulously.

"Oh, yes. It makes for quite the flourish. And Endymion has one more effect. By discarding a spell, namely terraforming, I can destroy any one card on the field. And that Gate Guardian is just such an inviting target."

"Too bad, then, that the card you did not destroy was Judgement of Anubis. I discard a card to destroy a single monster you possess. And so your 'Master Magician' shall perform a disappearing act! Hohoho!"

"No! Endymion!"

"And damage you also take, equal to his attack!"

Caleb+Alexis: 2150/Para+Dox: 6000

"Have you any other action to take?" Caleb looked at his monsters, then looked at the stand, straight at Jesse and Syrus, and simply mouthed "I'm sorry." He sighed.

"I switch my Exemplar to defence mode, and... I end."

"It seems the tables have be turned!"

"You still both have a lot to learn!" Caleb glared at them.

"Was that really necessary? No, it wasn't. Just get on with it."

"As you wish. I play fairy meteor crush, on gate guardian!" Caleb didn't even bother to mention the spell counters. "And with it, we attack your magical exemplar, reducing your lifepoints to zero!" As the field faded, Magical Exemplar turned and gently laid her hand on Caleb's, before fading into mist.

"That was a good game you two. There weren't many things that could have saved you when I pulled out Endymion. If I had a hat, I'd tip it." Alexis nodded.

"You two really are great tag duelists. But I wouldn't count Jesse and Syrus out yet. I think you'll be surprised what those two can pull off." There was the sound of distant, muffled maniacal laughter, coming from the general vicinity of Crowler.

"We shall see then, shall we not?" Said Para, smugly,

"See we shall, my brother," agreed Dox.

"Guess we'd best go see them Alexis. I just hope that we managed to give them some help..."

"Caleb, Lex, y'all played a sweet game out there!"

"Thanks Jesse. I just hope we were some help..."

"'Course y'all were! Now we know what kind of cards they play, and that's mighty better than not knowin' anythin', right Sy?"

"...Y-yeah, I guess."

"I just wish we could have lasted a bit longer, drawn out a few more of their cards... Still, Jesse, I know it's not how you play, but your best bet is to destroy the components of the Gate Guardian before they can summon him at all. The pieces are annoying, but it's still better than something with nearly four thousand attack."

"Guess we should be getting' out there, but thanks for the advice." The two of them started to head out, but Jesse doubled back quickly. "Oh, and Caleb, is Endymion okay?" Caleb raised an eyebrow.

"What makes you ask that?"

"Didn't Magical Exemplar say somethin' to y'all as y'all finished?" Caleb looked at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, though he said it with a smile. "Though I'm sure Endymion appreciates the thought. Anyway, you better go!"

"Right, right! See y'all later then!" He ran after Syrus, but stopped just before entering the arena, and looked back at Caleb's retreating form. "Wait a minute..."

Yay bus writing! And you have now all (finally) seen Caleb's deck. It can smite things. But still lost. See, he isn't a Marty Stu. *goes back to trying to convince himself*

Tally ho and whatnot!