Chapter 7 Promotion and Premonitions

Following the events of the Britney and Blair; Brett found himself being led to school with Blair attached to his arm. When they arrived all the students were called to the front of the class right before the stage. Blair met up with Marcel in the front row, and Brett followed having been still attached to Blair. Brett never had met Marcel, but if he was Blair's friend then he was his friend as well.

Professor Viper took the stage and got right down to business; "from this point, all students in the school are required to where a bio band." The professor held up one of the bands some of the students already possessed. Viper continued to speak in a commanding voice. "The bio band will keep track of all your dueling information; you will all take part in mandatory survival duels every day till the end of the year. Any students who perform poorly will be demoted dorms, and if it you continue to show you're lack of skills then you will be expelled. Also I will be monitoring your spirits as well."

All the students were shocked about the news; but the chancellor showed no signs of concern. Brett jumped up on stage; he began to vocalize his concerns about he bands. "What a load of crap! There is something wrong with these bands, and I do not like them. I have noticed that when ever anyone with a band has lost a lot of energy. Explain this Viper!"

The statement caught Viper slightly of guard. "Well your results have been phenomenal so far, as well as anyone else who has been given the band. Every duelist with a band who has dueled has been putting all of their effort into dueling; that is why you are so tired."

"The data we have collected so far says you are far more advanced then we give you credit for. The Chancellor has recommended you to be Obelisk Blue. After all you saved Blair from that madman and the Paradox Brothers, you disserve to be honored. If you do not accept you can leave Duel Academy for the sign of disrespect." Brett paused for a moment, this was not right but he had no choice; he did not want to leave his new friends and Blair behind. "Fine, I accept this great honor."

The Chancellor lead the crowd in congratulating Brett on his promotion; after the crowd finished its applause the Chancellor began to speak to Brett. "Excellent you have made the correct choice, Brett. You will be upgraded to an Obelisk blue. You will also be the male student rep from now on, and you will aid the professors in their tasks. This is quite an honor for your first year here; your father will be quiet proud when he comes here. Now everyone who does not have one, please proceed to the stage and receive your bio band."

Class ended with each student being given a bio band to wear, and the instructions to return to their dorm. Brett left with Blair and Marcel; as they walked Blair praised Brett, but Brett was still concerned with this situation and diversion from his point. "Brett you must be amazing to be promoted two ranks at once; especially zince it has only been a few days into this school year." Marcel finally spoke snapping Brett from his deep train of thought. "Sorry I zoned out. This is wrong; it was a total distraction from the bands. Oh sorry Marcel. Thanks for the compliment but you are probably great duelist as well."

"No I'm not zat good;" Marcel's head sunk down. Brett saw this quickly replied; "maybe I can help you." Marcel was having trouble coming to terms with why a world class duelist would help him but shook his head yes. They came to the point where Brett separated from the Blair; he said his goodbyes and left.

The next two days the professors kept Brett far to busy to see any of his friends. Brett could not even get away to see Jaden when he was sent to the hospital after dueling with Axel. Brett was left to hear about the events transpiring with his friends. He missed his friends; sitting in his new dorm, hearing about events through word of mouth.

Mrs. Fontaine visited Brett; she comforted him telling him that his friends were probably missing him. She apologized for the fact the professors were taking up all her time. Brett was becoming depressed with how much he was missing. Mrs. Fontaine whispered to Brett about a massive duel event. Brett had enough of this; he was being kept away from his friends and he was not going to allow this to continue.

Mrs. Fontaine decided to help Brett sneak out; she distracted the bodyguards outside Brett's room, allowing him to leave quietly. He snuck out the window dropping three floors below, he was out and free. Brett left for the event, his duel disk armed and ready. He had heard nothing from his friends over the last few days; he was starting to become concerned about his friends.

Brett arrived at the event, noticing the banner that displayed the title; "The first Duel For Jewels?" Brett questioned. Suddenly he heard someone coming up behind him; he turned fast grabbing there arm that was reaching out to him. "AH!" Blair screamed, and Brett realized what he had done "Blair I'm so sorry; are you ok?"

Blair calmed down; Marcel came out from hiding behind her. "You scarred me half to death and I was trying to scare you. I never knew you were that fast." Brett breathed a sigh of relief trying to calm his heart down. Blair had questions though "where have you been? I have not seen you in two days; you missed a lot of stuff and none of us could get through to talk to you. None of the professors were aloud to talk to us about you. We were worried" as Blair's expression saddened showing concern for Brett. Brett smiled trying to cheer her up; "yeah they have kept me busy. They never gave me a break once, but I'm glad you guys are here. I was not happy not seeing you Blair; so with Mrs. Fontaine's aid I broke out of my room."

Brett was happy to see her, and he was even happier to be with her. He was shocked that none of the professors except for Mrs. Fontaine had told him no one was trying to see him. Brett was beginning to get lost in thought when Blair grabbed hold of him; the three duelists entered the building that was hosting the event. Inside it was very bright and the host was none other then Adrian Gecko.

Adrian was in the middle of talking when he came to a very important announcement. "Now all of you know we have special new duelists here, but one has a gift with other cards as well. I would like you all to meet Mrs. Joan Saint-Claire from France. She is my guest here tonight, and she will read the futures of two duelists in the audience tonight. And she will be using her tarot cards; and I shall let her choose the two people."

Joan came up on stage; she wore a fancy yellow dress and had long blond hair with blue eyes. She began to scour the audience looking for the right people; she was beautiful in her dress and a lot of the male population was immediately drawn to her. When she saw Brett and Blair she was suddenly drawn to them.

"Bonjour mes amis! I would like to call up that lovely couple in the back there. Please come up here!" A spot light shown down on Brett and Blair; Brett was hesitant to do this but Blair encouraged him. She led him up onto the stage, excited to hear if he wa destined to be in your future. "Well look at this couple here tonight, and one just happens to be the famous new Obelisk Blue student."

Blair was the first to get her reading; and it was positive till mixed signs came up. Joan began to speak with a calm voice. "Your future is difficult to say, the cards tell much danger will be present. But there is an angel by your side who will protect you no matter what comes. Light and darkness surround you; but a mighty force shall awaken that shall change the future will be present in your life and they are very close to you." Blair was shocked to hear this, but she smiled confidently and said "I know who the angel is and he will protect me."

Song 08 Deep Darkness of Shinra

Blair turned to Brett but he turned away closing his eyes trying to ignore Joan's prediction. Blair's reading finished; she got up pushing Brett, forcing him into the chair. Joan was overwhelmed when she felt Brett's aura. She leapt out of her chair; an expression of horror pasted across her face. "You have an aura of destruction about you. Your aura is so strong that it cannot be possibly real. I need no cards to tell me you will end up destroying many lives; tearing them apart." Joan backed away before running. Brett was the most shocked of all; Adrian broke the tension by opening the event to the duelists.

Blair comforted Brett; telling him that he was not like that. She tried to tell him that he the angel that was going to protect her, but Brett was just devastated by the fortune teller. Blair challenged Marcel to a duel but Brett was in no mood to duel. He was still questioning why Joan's statement felt correct to him? He walked over to Blair when his gaze looked past Blair, seeing something that interested him. A man in a black cape stood near the stairs. Brett stopped at Blair telling her to stay here were it was safe; he took after the man, leaving Blair to wonder what was going on.

Brett was lead up the stairs till they reached the roof. There was nobody there; Brett went to the ledge as he saw Chazz dueling. While his back was turned the man he had been chasing dropped down behind him silently. "I do not know what to make of you?" Brett turned to see the guy he was chasing just moments ago, while the man continued to talk. "A thing like you having friends and possibly being in love; you are really confusing me?"

Brett looked on confused he began to question the man. "What are you talking about? Who are you?" The man looked to the stars as he said; "I have no identity; it was stolen thousands of years ago by someone who betrayed me. But I digress; I have seen the others like you and you all are so different. You should not exist because of your purpose in this life. The reason you were created was to destroy; but so far you seem to be defying your very fate. You with the other seven are the greatest single threat; she will betray you all and open the gates to chaos. To gain what I have lost, is to end your lives."

He looked back towards Brett, spitting at the Brett before he continued to speak. "You have no memory of why, but you also have no idea of what seeks you, or what is really going on. For now you have not proven that you are the threat I believed you to be." Brett became relieved relaxing and letting down his guard as the stranger continued; "I was betrayed long ago and gave my identity away; now I want it back. I will let you live for now; I want you to lead me back to her. Your death will come on swift wings regardless of whether I leave you a live or not. I will be watching you."

A bright flash of green light emitted from the stranger; the light disappeared revealing the stranger, but Brett could not believe what he saw. The stranger now bore two angelic wings which were bright green and emanated a gentle green glow. In his left hand he held a long black and white blade; it was smooth and sharp on one side while it had large serrated look on the other side. Down the center of the blade where nine gems; all of the gems where the same size and color all embedded in the blade.

Without warning the warrior teleported forward and appeared before Brett; his right arm reached out grabbing Brett's neck lifting him up off the ground. Brett struggled in pain; he could barely breathe trying to get any air. The stranger stretched his wings out wide; he spoke in a condescending voice. "I may not be with the organization, but if you become what fate has intended you to be, I will kill you." He threw Brett into the air off the roof Brett watched as the man's wings lifted him up before flapping down sending enough force to hit Brett as it knocked the wind out of him.

With one my beat of his wings the stranger took off like a shoot. Brett fell to the ground landing in front of Jaden, Syrus, Alexis, and Jesse. He crash landed on his left arm; experiencing a massive combination of pain throughout his body. It felt like it was broken from the impact alone. Brett caused a momentary pause in the duel; Chazz and Adrian looked at what happened. Jaden and the bystanders ran over to Brett. Jaden questioned Brett with a very concerned voice. "Brett are you ok? You did just fall off the roof."

"I'm fine; some guy jumped me on the roof, but he is long since gone." Brett looked back to the roof as there were still a few green feathers floating down from the sky, before they vanishing into thin air. Alexis tried to help him up; she spoke to him telling him where they were going. "Come on your going to the infirmary; now." Brett quickly shook his head "no, something is wrong inside, we have to go check. I know something is wrong; I can feel it, and Blair is in there." Brett had felt something coming from the inside, like a massive energy drain.

Alexis agreed without argument; she helped him up to his feet. Together they walked into the building; Brett trying to hurry things along. They arrived at the main hall to see all of the duelists passed out on the floor. Brett struggled against Alexis's grip when he lay his eyes Blair; collapsed and unconscious on the floor. "Brett stop struggling, we will go back and get Jaden to come help; then we have to get you to the infirmary to see if your arm is broken."

Brett thought to what Joan and the man with the wings said; he was going to fight his supposed fate. He broke free of Alexis before he ran over to Blair; he lifted her onto his shoulder. Brett turned back to look at Alexis; he smiled at her. "I told you I'm fine Alexis; I know you are worried but I refuse to leave Blair behind."

Song End

Alexis walked over to Brett; she put her left hand on Brett's right cheek. Slowly she leaned in kissing him on the other cheek; she got even closer whispering gently into Brett's ear. "Just don't forget that there are other people who love and care about you as well. I know you have very strong feelings for Blair; but do not end up pushing your self to the point your life is in danger."

Brett blushed before he put his head down; he was speechless about Alexis having kissed him. She was indeed beautiful; but he had never thought of Alexis like that. "I never got that impression, I thought you guys had forgotten me. And thank you for the kiss." Alexis looked shocked, but was blushing at the same time as well. "You never got are messages? We were concerned and tried getting in contact; but whenever we tried to see you, we were told you were busy. I'm sorry for not trying harder but we were told by Viper's orders you were not to be seen." Brett bowed his head "I'm stupid, I actually doubted my friendship with you guys."

Alexis stood beside him; she put her hand gently on his free shoulder. "Just never forget we are you're friends ok; what that girl said about you is not true. I know who you are; you are Brett, our friend." It was what Brett needed hear, he snapped out of his depressed state. "Alexis I'm glad you are my friend; if there is anything I can ever do, just ask me. Come on let's got but you need to get Marcel; I cannot leave him behind." Alexis nodded to Brett before she picked up Marcel; carrying him in both hands.

Outside they met Jaden and the others; explaining what had transpired inside. Chazz had not yet finished his duel; Jaden offered to help Brett, but Brett refused his help stating that others needed the help more then him. Alexis and Brett left for the infirmary; Alexis glanced over to Brett every few moments to check on him. Alexis was still concerned; but she had already crossed a line with him. She did not want him to know the extent of her feelings; mainly because Brett was clearly in love with Blair.

When they arrived at the infirmary; Blair was put in a bed while Marcel was put in the other. Brett was examined by Mrs. Fontaine, but she found no evidence of injuries. Brett and the others stayed that night as they watched over their friends. Alexis continually kept an eye on Brett; he was constantly putting himself in danger, and she wanted to protect him.

On top of the school stood another man in draped in a black cape. He looked to the sky; his hand brushed his hair before he spoke in a strong male voice. "Numbers 13 and 22 have failed, but they were never good enough to be considered part of our organization. I shall wait for the proper time to strike him down. Unlike those morons I will prove my rank.; and that good planning and overwhelming an enemy is the key. I promise to you my leader, he will fall and his soul will be ours."