I've got absolutely nothing to say here. Enjoy the chapter.

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Newt groaned. "I've been running around the ship for an hour and I still haven't found anyone who wants to duel me! It's totally unfair!"

Samantha frowned. "Maybe everyone on the boat just wants to wait until we get to Duel Academy…..I mean, if I tried to duel someone on a boat, I'd probably get seasick."

"Yeah, well that's you! I wanna duel someone!" With that, Newt ran off.

Samantha sighed.

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At the other end of the boat, a boy was admiring the sky. He was of average height, with short blue hair. He wore a Ra Yellow jacket.

"What a lovely day…."

The boy's eyes started to drift shut…

"Hey! I'm Newt! Do you wanna duel?"

"Wha-," The boy turned around to see Newt. "Who are you?"

"I already told you, I'm Newt! Do you wanna duel or not?"

"You're a Slifer Red…" The boy noted.

"So? What's your name?"

"I'm Manny."

"Well, let's duel!" Newt drew his duel disk. (NLP: 4000)

"You aren't leaving me a great deal of choice…." Manny sighed and activated his disk. (MLP: 4000) "However, as I was the challenged party, I claim the first move."

"Fine, not like I care."

"I summon the Royal Magical Library in Defense mode." What appeared was a large bookshelf, with three unlit lamps dangling from it. (DEF: 2000)

Newt blinked. "Did you just summon a bookshelf?"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" Manny punctuated his remark with a glare.

"Not at all…just sort of a weird Monster…" Newt mumbled.

"Weird monsters are often pretty useful. Ever heard of Mokey Mokey?"

"Um…" Newt remembered hearing something about it, but it was over a year ago, and he hadn't been paying much attention.

"It's a low level Normal Monster that looks like a marshmallow angel, but with the right support, it's quite powerful. But anyway, on with the move. I will activate Pot of Greed, bringing my hand total back to six." Manny drew twice. "Incidentally, because I activated a Spell Card, Royal Magical Library gains one Spell Counter." One of the lamps lit up.

"Next, I activate Allure of Darkness, drawing two cards, and then removing a Dark monster from play to keep my hand." He did so, slipping a card (Newt looked, it was a D.D. Scout Plane) into his pocket. Another lamp on the Royal Magical Library lit up.

"I Set a card and end my turn, at which point D.D. Scout Plane comes back to the field in Attack Mode." The eye-like flying robot appeared in a burst of light. (ATK: 800) "Your move."

"Why D.D. Scout Plane?"

"It makes excellent tribute bait, and with three copies of Allure of Darkness, I often need to remove a card from play."

Newt drew. "Okay, so I have to make sure he doesn't summon anything by tributing that weird little robot, preferably by blowing it up." "I activate the Continuous Spell Banner of Courage, which will raise my monster's attack during my Battle Phase!" A flag appeared behind him. "Next, I-,"

"-Do nothing. I activate Non-Aggression Area, preventing you from summoning this turn." Manny slid a card from his hand into the graveyard, and a purple flame burst up around Newt's field. "Also, my Library gains another Spell Counter." The third lamp lit up.

Newt sighed. "I end my turn."

Manny drew. "I activate the effect of my Royal Magical Library, removing all three of its Spell Counters to draw a card." The light from the lamps went out, and a shower of energy rained down on Manny. He drew again.

"Next, I tribute my D.D. Scout Plane to summon Airknight Parshath." The machine exploded, and a tall, angelic centaur appeared. It wore gold and blue armor, clutching a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, and its flanks were covered in feathers. (ATK: 1900) "Parshath, attack! Holy Strike!" Parshath shot forward, slashing Newt. (NLP: 2100) "Since Parshath damaged your life points, I get to draw one card."

Newt groaned. "Another draw? What are you even looking for?"

"You'll see. I set a card and end my turn."

Newt drew. "I feel like I'm missing something big here…" "I activate the effect of The Fiend Megacyber, Special Summoning it because I have no monsters and you have two!" With a crackle of electricity, a tall warrior clad in yellow armor appeared. Lightning danced across its body. (ATK: 2200)

"Next, because you control two monsters at all, I can summon Power Invader with no Tribute." Another monster appeared, this one an alienlike fiend with bulging muscles and a tiny head. Two yellow eyes stared out with undisguised malice. (ATK: 2200)

Manny blinked. "All brawn, no brains? Especially that fiend; with such a small head, what else could it be?"

"Hah, you wish! Power Invader, attack the Royal Magical Library! Invasion Crush!" Power Invader charged, its attack rising to 2400. It slammed into the bookshelf gigantic back-first, and the Royal Magical Library shattered.

"Looks like your library went the way of Alexandria! Megacyber, take down Parshath! Lightning Fist!" The electric monster was suddenly in front of Parshath, a fist rammed into the angel's chest. Parshath shattered. (MLP: 4000. Wait, what?)

"Wait, why didn't you lose life points?"

"I activated Defense Draw, reducing the damage to zero and drawing a card."

"Humph. Well, it's still two monsters to a clear field. I end my turn."

"I draw." Manny looked at his hand. "I'm only a few steps away from beating you. I Set a monster, a facedown, and end my turn."

"I draw!" Newt barely paused to glance at the drawn card before pointing at Manny's facedown card. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon." As a hurricane whirled up, racing towards the brown-backed card, Manny waved his hand."

"I chain Jar of Greed to draw one card."

"Whatever. Power Invader, attack the facedown monster!" The large fiend charged forward, its attack once again rising to 2400. It smashed one hand into the facedown, which revealed an extremely familiar three eyed fiend….

"You destroyed Sangan, allowing me to take a monster of low attack from my deck and add it to my hand." Manny searched through his deck before finding a monster and adding it to his hand.

"It doesn't matter! I still have another monster! Megacyber, attack!" Once again, the warrior vanished, reappearing in front of Manny with 2400 attack points, and punched the duelist. (MLP: 1600)

Manny stumbled back a few steps before regaining his balance. "Well. That hurt."

"I end my turn."

"I draw, and set one monster in defense mode. My turn is over, and I discard one card to keep the hand size limit."

"Probably something lethal, if it's all he puts down." Newt thought, drawing. "Hey, here's a good card." "I activate my own Pot of Greed." He drew twice. "And now I activate Card Destruction!" Newt discarded his hand and made three draws.

Manny paled. "WHAT?"

Newt blinked. "You know….discard your hand; draw an equal number of cards?"

Manny said nothing. He just stared blankly at Newt, his jaw hanging open.

"I mean, yeah, if you had a good card in your hand, I could understand. I'd be upset too! But what's with the zombie face? I thought you'd probably be happy, given all the drawing you've been doing all duel."

Manny groaned. "Take a look at my graveyard. You'll see."

Newt tapped a button on his duel disk, and the cards of Manny's graveyard appeared in front of him. In addition to the cards he remembered having been sent there, there were six that had been sent by Card Destruction, plus the discarded one. A Monster Reincarnation, a Goblin Decoy Squad, a Big Shield Gardna, and…"

"The first four pieces of Exodia?"

Manny nodded. "Yeah. My facedown card was another Sangan. I was gonna add the last piece with it, but, well….." He trailed off, looking sheepish.

"Yeah, I get it. Either way, duel's over now. I was looking for Nobleman of Crossout to deal with your facedown. I didn't get it, but you've just told me it's only Sangan. Power Invader, attack!" As the large Fiend rushed forwards, Manny's frown turned into a slight smile.

"Psyche."

Power Invader slammed a fist into the facedown, which popped up, revealing something that was decidedly not Sangan, rather a small penguin wielding a sword. As Newt watched, the penguin spun faster and faster, finally slamming into Power Invader and The Fiend Megacyber, sending both flying. Newt picked the cards up from his duel disk. "Penguin Soldier?"

"Naturally. It's such a fun card to spring on others."

"Ugh….I set a card and end my turn."

"I draw," Manny said cheerily. "Incidentally, I have several backup plans in case the Exodia pieces ever end up in the Graveyard, like they did a minute ago. Time for you to meet one of them. I summon Recovery Machine in attack mode." A small robot drone with a long, spindly claw arm appeared. (ATK: 700)

Newt frowned. "Your backup plan is a 700-attack point robot?"

"Yes. Here's the deal. While Recovery Machine may not be the strongest in terms of attack, it's got an awesome effect. Once per turn, while Recovery Machine's in attack mode, I get to remove a monster in my Graveyard from play to add another monster with a lower level from my Graveyard to my hand by paying life points equal to its level times one hundred. As such, I'll remove D.D. Scout Plane to add Left Arm of the Forbidden One to my hand." He did so. (MLP: 1500)

"I set a card and end my turn." D.D. Scout Plane appeared, this time in defense mode. (DEF: 1200)

Newt drew. "I activate the effect of The Tricky, discarding a card to Special Summon him!" A tall, masked harlequin appeared, staring at Manny. (ATK: 2000) "Tricky, attack with Kaleidoscope Blast!" The Tricky sent a spray of rainbow light at Recovery Machine as its attack went up to 2200.

"I activate Draining Shield, negating your attack and gaining your monster's attack as life points," Manny replied. A glowing barrier enveloped his field, and the Exodia duelist's life points rocketed up to 3700.

"Humph. I end my turn."

Manny drew, bringing his hand total up to seven. "I set another two cards, activate Recovery Machine's effect, removing Goblin Decoy Squad to get back the Left Leg." (MLP: 3600) "I end my turn."

Newt drew. "Tricky, attack!"

"Negate Attack."

"ARGH!"

"Anything else?"

"I set a card and end my turn."

Manny drew. "Once again, I'll use Recovery Machine to add the Right Arm of the Forbidden One by removing my Library." (MLP: 3500) "I set two and end my turn."

Newt drew. "I discard a card to summon another Tricky!" A second harlequin appeared. (ATK: 2000) "Tricky number one, attack Recovery Machine!" The Tricky fired its colorful blast, and Manny's face split in a smile.

"I activate Magic Cylinder! This duel is-," he was cut off by the Magic Cylinder card exploding violently. "What?"

Newt's facedown card vanished. "Sorry, Manny. Trap Jammer negates a trap that was activated during the battle phase. My attack goes through!" As The Tricky's attack rose to 2200, the rainbow blast slammed into Recovery Machine, shattering it. (MLP: 2000)

Manny's eyes went wide. "When Recovery Machine is destroyed….my hand is discarded..." He slid his hand into his Graveyard.

"Tricky, number two, blast the Scout Plane!" The second Tricky fired a blast at the other robot.

"I activate Chaos Burst, tributing my monster to destroy yours and deal you 1000 points of damage!" D.D. Scout Plane exploded, blasting a hole through the Tricky and bathing Newt in flames. (NLP: 1100)

"That hurt….but you've only bought yourself a turn!"

"A turn can bring a great deal in this game." Manny drew. "I activate Pot of Greed to draw twice. And now…I activate Contract With Exodia!"

All five parts of Exodia appeared on the field, glowing with power.

"WHAT? But….they're all in the graveyard!"

"Exactly. Contract With Exodia can only be activated when all the pieces of Exodia are in the Graveyard. Because the last one was sent there when Recovery Machine discarded my hand, I can bring out the result of a necromantic spell on Exodia. Say hello to….Exodia Necross!"

The parts mummified, sealing together and growing, until the result revealed itself, a rotting, blackened version of Exodia. As Newt's Duel Disk beeped, announcing the monster's attack, Newt closed his eyes. He wasn't sure he wanted to know how much attack Necross had. He finally managed to look…

"Only 1800 attack?"

Manny shrugged. "It only starts at 1800. During each of my Standby Phases, it gains another 500 points. In addition, it can't be destroyed in battle, or by the effect of Spells or Traps."

Newt's jaw dropped. "So….basically, it's invincible?"

"Basically," Manny agreed. "I end my turn."

Newt drew. "Nothing here I can do…"

Manny drew, and a dark aura began to brew around Necross. (ENATK: 2300) "Necross, attack The Tricky!" Necross lumbered across the field, swinging an arm at the harlequin. As the Tricky desperately fired a blast at Necross, Newt smiled.

"I've been waiting to use this trap the whole duel! Go, Covering Fire!" The second Tricky fired a blast of its own, and Necross was shoved back. "This Trap adds the attack of my two Trickies together, making them more than a match for your Necross!" (MLP: 300)

"Don't forget, Necross survives…" Manny waved the turn over to Newt.

"Well…..let's see, out of the cards that could end the duel now…I've got about five." He drew. "And I just drew one! I activate Tribute to the Doomed!" Newt slid a card into his graveyard.

Manny groaned. "Didn't I just tell you that that won't work?"

"Well, I'm using it on The Tricky, so I don't see why it shouldn't." A hand reached up from the ground, grabbed the harlequin, and yanked it into the Graveyard.

"What?"

"Now to finish this duel! I activate the effect of Glow-up Bulb, the monster I discarded, summoning it from the graveyard by discarding the top card of my deck!" A small, bulb-like plant popped onto the field. A small eye opened on the bulb. (ATK: 100)

Manny blinked. "It's a 100 attack onion."

"Like you said at the beginning of the duel, don't underestimate weird monsters! Glow-up Bulb's a Tuner!"

"Wait, what?"

"Right! Glow-up Bulb, Tricky, tuning!"

Glow-up Bulb transformed into a ring of energy, while the Tricky became five stars. As the stars flew through the energy ring, Newt began to chant.

"Power resurrected by the Earth, ride out to destroy your foes! Synchro Summon! Strike them down, Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth!"

The monster stepped out of a pillar of light. It resembled Gaia the Fierce Knight, but its armor was better, and it exuded an aura of pure power. (ATK: 2600)

Manny's eyes went wide. "No…"

"Yes! Gaia Knight, attack Necross! Gaia Lance Finish!" The lance-wielding knight charged across the deck of the boat, ramming its lances into Necross. The zombie Exodia let out a roar of agony, as Manny's life points drained to zero.

Manny frowned. "I lost…." The duelist wandered off.

Newt blinked. "Why is everyone I've met so far a weirdo?"

"Probably just you."

"GAH! Samantha, don't sneak up on me like that!"

Samantha smiled. "How should I sneak up on you?"

"You shouldn't!"

"Not a chance. I'm your older sister, it's in my job description to constantly annoy you."

"Whatever. Why'd you follow me? Hoping to pick up dueling tips?"

"No, not really. Actually I was looking for you. While you were dueling that Exodia guy, the boat was about to land. Come on!"

"Wait, we're here?"

"Well, we're certainly here."

"Ugh, not that line. I mean, is 'here' Duel Academy?"

"Yes."

"Finally! What do you think our first class will be?"

"Well-,"

"Who's the dorm head?"

"Well-,"

"Will we get to duel first day?"

"Um-,"

"Answer me!"

"No idea, no idea, no idea. Sorry."

"Humph."

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Somewhere else…

"About time the boat got here! Hanging around with nobody to duel but you two was the most boring experience of my life!" A male voice complained.

"That doesn't really say much, seeing as your only other experience for the past year was watching the master's plan be set in motion," a second voice muttered.

"Nah, that was pretty boring too," a female voice interjected.

"Beside the point. The new students have arrived, and you know the master's orders."

The first voice snickered. "Right. I'm first."

"Well, he did say it was in reverse order of power. Go ahead," the female voice countered.

"Hey!"

"She's right, you know."

"Shut up." In a flash of red light, Somewhere Else's occupants decreased by one, and Duel Academy had a very special guest.

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Original Cards

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Recovery Machine

EARTH/Machine

Level 4

700/0

Once per turn, if this card is in face-up Attack mode, you can remove one monster in your Graveyard from play to add a monster from your Graveyard to your hand with a level equal to or lower than the level of the removed monster. If you do, pay life points equal to the level of the added monster times 100. If this monster is destroyed by your opponent's card (by battle or by card effect), send every card in your hand to the Graveyard.

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This is an ending note. There is absolutely nothing of worth in it. Read something else.