Okay, on to Chapter 6, where we finally get to see Alexis duel. And after this, we finally get to see Syrus duel. I don't have much to say but enjoy and REVIEW really. Hope you all like this chapter…Oh! I nearly forgot the review responses!

Mikachoze: Unfortunately no. This Jaden is a little different from the one in the anime. There might be reference or two to his gluttony but otherwise we won't be seeing it.

AspergianStoryteller: Yes, it has been a while hasn't it.

Guest: His crush on Alexis' is pretty cute isn't it? I have to agree.

Okay, now for the chapter. Hope you all enjoy and remember, PLEASE REVIEW!

Duel 6: Miss Duel Academy

"What's all the fuss about?" asked Jaden as he and Syrus came upon a group of students crowding around a TV secreen mantled on a wall in the hallway.

Syrus shrugged. "I have no idea," he replied as he and Jaden approached the group of students.

"What are you all looking at?" Jaden questioned as he pushed his way through the group so that he could see the screen properly. On it were face-shots of five female Obelisk students, one of which was Alexis. The title on the screen read, 'Miss Duel Academy Final Nominees.'

Jaden narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Huh?" he mumbled. "Miss Duel Academy? What's that?"

"What!" Syrus cried from behind Jaden. The Roid duelist had already caught on to what was happening. "You don't know bro? It's a competition where the entire school votes for who they believe to be the prettiest female in the school. It's a beauty pageant, like Miss Universe.'

Jaden raised and eyebrow. "…And…"

"How could you not know?" deadpanned Syrus. "They put a call out for this a month ago!"

Jaden rubbed the back of his head. "They put a call out for it?" he noted, confused. "I don't remember seeing it anywhere."

"It was on the Academy website," replied Syrus.

"Oh," laughed Jaden. "Now I know what I missed it. I don't do computers."

Syrus sighed. "Kay then."

"I knew Alexis would be a finalist," Bastion beamed as he appeared next to Jaden and Syrus with his arms folded. He grinned with delight at the picture of Alexis on the television screen.

"Where did you come from?" Jaden asked, a little stunned from Bastion's sudden emergence.

Bastion ignored Jaden's remark and looked at him with dead seriousness. "Of course, you voted for Alexis right?" he warned. "They decide on majority. Every vote counts in this competition."

Jaden back off, as he was a little creped out by Bastion's bizarre change of behavior.

"Give me a break," was all the HERO duelist could muster.

-A Week Later

The academy had gathered outside near the forest where a theatre like structure had been built. The sign above the theatre read 'Miss Duel Academy Contest.' The crowd in front of the stage waited eagerly to see who the victor would be. Four female Obelisk girls were on stage with a number from 1 to 4 strapped to their hips. A male Ra student with short hair and glasses was running the show.

"And now to declare the winner of this year's Miss Duel Academy competition!" announced the Ra MC via his microphone. "The candidates have been narrowed down to these five candidates."

The MC seemed to ignore the fact that the fifth girl, Alexis, was missing.

"In a moment," continued the MC. "One of these fine young women will become this year's Miss Duel Academy. Which one will take the Queen's Crown?"

By this time the crowd was going crazy. Jaden stood in the center of the crowd with Bastion and Syrus by his side. The Ra had literally dragged Jaden out of bed and forced him to come.

"Hey Bastion!" Jaden shouted to the Ra duelist over the roar of the crowd. "I'm out of here! This really isn't my thing!"

"Why?" responded Bastion loudly so that Jaden could hear. "You're going to miss the best part! Alexis is about to win!"

'I bet she doesn't care that much either,' Jaden noted in thought as Bastion grabbed him by the wrist to stop him from leaving.

In the time Jaden and Bastion had been squabbling, the MC had been going through every candidate on stage bar Alexis who was still absent.

"And lastly, the spotlight falls on Sierra Kohinata," the MC declared as light shined down on the girl with a number 1 on her hip. Sierra was a tall girl with short black hair and green eyes. She had ruby lips and wore black leggings with her Obelisk uniform.

"Sierra was the winner of the last two contests," the MC added. "Can she make this her third win in a row?" Sierra had her eyes closed and relished in the glory of having large amounts of her classmates cheer her name.

As the spotlight vanished, another Ra student appeared to hand the MC a laptop with the results.

"It looks like we have a winner!" cried the MC. "This year's Miss Duel Academy is…"

"It's Alexis! It's Alexis! It's Alexis!" chanted Bastion and Syrus in union. Jaden, who was forced to watch his friends, couldn't help but look at them like they were total freaks.

"…With 198 votes," the MC finally finished as he gestured to the four women on stage. "Entry Number 1! Obelisk Blue Third Year Sierra Kohinata!"

The spotlight came down on Sierra, who looked to the crowd and smiled as the crowd went wild.

"She's got a three-peat!" the MC acknowledged whilst Sierra began waving to the crowd. Suddenly, the MC added, "Oops. It seems that we have another candidate with the same number of votes."

"What!" snapped Sierra from her position on the stage. "No way!"

The MC gestured to the empty space beside him. "Also with 198 votes, Nominee Number 5 is Obelisk Blue freshman Alexis Rhodes." The spotlight came down upon the place where Alexis should have stood.

The crowd became quiet as the students in charge of the competition rushed to find Alexis. The crowd grew quiet and began to chat amongst themselves.

"See," said Bastion smugly as he nudged Jaden. "I told you all she'd win."

Suddenly, Alexis appeared at the side of the stage with two female Obelisk students holding her arms.

"No way!" snapped Alexis at the two girls. "I'm not going out there!"

"Here she comes now," explained the MC as Alexis was dragged onto the stage.

As she passed Sierra, the third year gave her a dirty look and stuck her foot out. Alexis cried out as she stumbled forward and barely managed to avoid falling over. Sierra quickly brought her foot back and changed her expression before Alexis could notice.

"Miss Rhodes, tell us how you feel," said the MC before he held the microphone out to Alexis.

Alexis sighed and face-palmed herself. "Listen…" she replied slowly, trying to decide what to say. "...I..."

"Hold on!" interrupted the Ra assistant from before who was looking over the data on the laptop. "There's one student who hasn't voted."

A big smile grew on Sierra's face. "Really?" she asked with joy now that the chance of her winning was once again in reach.

"Well who is it?" demanded the MC, who was beginning to lose his patience with the entire contest.

The assistance studied the laptop again before answering. "A freshman from Slifer Red," he responded. "Jaden Yuki."

The entire crowd turned to stare at Jaden, who gave an awkward look in response.

"Bro!" groaned Syrus as he turned to the HERO duelist. "You didn't vote?"

Jaden folded his arms in defiance. "I told you," he replied bluntly. "I'm not interested and I don't do computers."

"Mr. Yuki please come up to the stage!" the MC stated via his microphone. Before Jaden could cut and run, two more Ra assistances came up behind him and began dragging him to the stage by his arms.

"You're coming with us sir," declared one of the assistances as Jaden was forced up to the stage.

Alexis rubbed her eyes and sighed at the sight of Jaden struggling against the Ra students. "Here comes trouble," she groaned.

Sierra's eyes snapped to Alexis. 'What?' she thought in frustration. 'That brat is Alexis' friend! That's a vote against me!'

The third year scowled at the back of Alexis' head in anger. 'My three-peat – my chance to leave my mark on the history of the Academy is being threatened! This upstart is in my way, and she's not even close to being in my league.'

"Hey Alexis," chuckled Jaden awkwardly with a small wave to his friend as he was forced up the stairs of the stage. Alexis merely sighed in response and lowered her head.

"You've got a decision to make Jaden," the MC said. "Who will it be: Alexis or Sierra? The choice is yours."

Jaden shrugged. "Uh…" he stuttered. "...Can you just count me out? I have literally zero interest in this thing."

"Every other student has voted," responded the MC quickly. "We can let the entire competition be voided because one student decided he wasn't interested."

"Hey Rhodes!" Sierra snapped suddenly, having lost her patience. "Put a stop to this will ya?" She dabbed a finger in the Obelisk freshman's direction. "First you have the late entrance and then your friend shows up without having voted. This whole thing stinks of a fix. Are you that desperate?"

Alexis raised an eyebrow at Sierra. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "I couldn't care less about the contest. Being Miss Duel Academy means nothing to me."

Sierra scowled in response. 'The nerve of this girl!' she grumbled in thought. 'What makes her think that she's so special? Don't tell me she actually thinks she's the prettier one out of the two of us!'

Sierra turned her attention to Jaden and pocked him in the chest. "You better make this decision quick!" she roared. "Everyone else in the entire school has already voted!"

Jaden's heart began racing in panic. 'Oh man!' he cursed in his mind. 'If I knew this was going to happen, I would of just voted.' Suddenly, a thought struck the Slifer Red. 'Wait? She said everyone…even him?'

Away from the roar of the crowd on the edge of the cliff stood Chazz Princeton. He had his arms folded and was gazing out over the ocean. He had no intention of involving himself in this 'Miss Duel Academy' nonsense any further. Him having to vote was embarrassing enough for him.

He glanced in the direction of the theatre and snorted. "Humph. Pathetic," was all he said.

"Well?" erupted Sierra as she grabbed Jaden by his collar and began shaking him. "Who do you choose?"

Jaden's eyes widened in horror. 'I don't know what to do?' he thought in panic. 'If I vote for Alexis, this chick will kill me! But if I don't vote for Alexis, Bastion will kill me! I can't win!'

"This is stupid," Alexis commented as she turned around and began to walk off stage. "I'm out of here. I'll leave the rest up to you guys."

'No way!' fumed Sierra in thought as she pushed Jaden back. 'Now everyone will think she's taking pity on me! They'll think she let me win! I've never been so embarrassed!' She glared at Jaden, who was upset over how upset Alexis was. 'If it wasn't for that Slifer brat!' Suddenly, a thought struck the third year. 'That's it! Slifer Red.'

Sierra grinned at Jaden. "You're Jaden Yuki right?" she asked.

"Yeah," replied Jaden with a slow nod.

"I'll take my chances and duel you for your vote," explained Sierra. "If I win your vote is mine. But if you win your vote goes to Alexis."

Upon hearing these words, Alexis froze in place.

"At this Academy," grinned Sierra. "Any decision should sway in favor of the strongest duelist. What do you say? Are you game Jaden?"

"I don't care about the vote," responded Jaden as he flung his fist out. "But I never run from a duel! Get set to get your game on!"

Sierra's grin grew wider. 'Perfect,' she thought. 'It's a good thing you're a Slifer slacker. No pathetic duelist like you could beat me. Once I beat you everyone will respect me as Queen.'

"Not so fast!" Alexis interrupted as she spun back around. "I can't let you do that!"

"What, now you care?" snarled Sierra as she folded her arms. "What's the big deal? If your friends wins then you win too."

"I don't care about the competition!" Alexis reiterated. "But what I don't like is people making decisions for me."

"Maybe the two contestants should duel then?" the MC suggested. "That would be the quickest solution."

'No way!' cursed Sierra in her head. 'I don't have a chance against Alexis. She's supposed to be just as good as Chazz.' It was at this moment that Sierra realized she had heard Jaden's name before. She turned to the Slifer Red. 'Wait a second! This is Jaden Yuki, The HERO duelist who bet Dr. Crowler in the entrance exam and ended Chazz's winning streak! I have zero chance against him!'

"How about instead you and Jaden duel?" she suggested quickly.

Alexis turned and looked at Jaden. 'A duel between Jaden and me…' she thought before allowing a small smile to appear on her face.

"I'm game!" she declared. "If I win, I get to cancel my entry all together but if I lose, Sierra gets Jaden's vote and I accept the result!"

Sierra beamed. 'Even better! Now I have nothing to lose!'

"I'm fine with this arrangement," she said.

"Listen Jaden," stated Alexis as she clenched her fist. "I'm not going to duel you just as Alexis Rhodes, the girl. I'm going to take you on with everything I have a duelist!"

"I got it Alexis!" responded Jaden as he pulled out his deck. "I accept your challenge!"

The crowd re-located to the Dueling Arena back inside the academy. Jaden and Alexis both stepped up to the field and activated their disks. The two duelists each drew five cards and fanned them out. Sierra was the only one watching who remained outside the stands and instead stood at the side of the duel field.

"Duel!"

Jaden Yuki 4000 VS Alexis Rhodes 4000

Turn 1: Alexis

"I go first!" cried Alexis as she pulled a card from her deck. "I draw!"

"This whole thing has gotten out of hand," groaned Syrus from the seating area as he leaned against the railing. Bastion beside him nodded in agreement.

'I'm sorry that you got dragged into this Jaden,' Alexis apologized in thought as she examined her hand. 'But this duel was bound to happen eventually. So I'm glad this whole situation ends with us facing off.'

"I'll start off with my Cyber Valkyrie in defense mode!" the Obelisk shouted as she slapped a card onto her disk horizontally.

A green armored woman with a black visor and blond hair appeared on the field kneeling down and with her arms folded across her chest.

Cyber Valkyrie: Defense 1500

"Then," continued Alexis as she took the trap 'Cold Fusion' from her hand and slid it into her disk. "I'll set a card face down! Turn end!"

Turn 2: Jaden

"Here I come Alexis! My turn! Draw!" roared Jaden as he pulled a card from his deck and immediately slapped it onto his disk. "I summon Elemental HERO Heat in attack position!"

A muscular man wearing full body armor covered red, yellow and white burst from a ball of fire that appeared on the field.

Elemental HERO Heat: Attack 1600

"Your face down doesn't scare me!" Jaden cried as he flung his arm out. "Battle Phase! Heat, attack Cyber Valkyrie with Pyro Palm!"

Heat's hands glowed red with flaming energy as the warrior charged towards Alexis' defense mode monster.

"I activate Cyber Valkyrie's effect!" Alexis retorted. "Any monster that attacks her loses 300 attack points! Go, Hailstorm!"

Cyber Valkyrie raised her hand and blades of ice burst from her palm. The ice blades bombarded Heat, stopping the HERO dead in his tracks.

Elemental HERO Heat: Attack 1600-1300

"Oops," taunted Alexis. "Looks like your monster attacked a defense mode monster with higher points then your attack!"

"No!" panicked Jaden as his monster continued its attack, albeit with lower attack points. Heat struck Cyber Valkyrie in the chest, but its attack did nothing. Instead, there was a blast of blue energy that knocked Heat back and unleashed another hailstorm that slammed into Jaden. The HERO duelist brought his arm up to block the ice shards flying at him.

Jaden: 4000-3800

As Jaden ended his turn, the effect of the hailstorm wore off.

Elemental HERO Heat: Attack 1300-1600

Turn 3: Alexis

"My turn again!" exclaimed Alexis as she drew her card. "I'm summoning out Cold Enchanter in attack mode!"

A woman wearing tight light blue clothing with a white cape appeared on the field. The Enchanter had white hair, a light blue helmet and carried a staff with a snowflake on the end.

Cold Enchanter: Attack 1600

"Then I think I'll keep my face down company by setting another card face down!" finished Alexis as another set card appeared on the field. "I end my turn!"

'I have everything worked out Jaden,' the Obelisk thought. 'With this strategy, I'll freeze you in your tracks.'

'She didn't attack?' Jaden thought in confusion as she examined Alexis' field. 'She could have destroyed Heat with Cold Enchanter then attacked me directly with Cyber Valkyrie. I had no set cards, so there was no way I could block the attack. Did she just not want her Enchanter to be destroyed in the draw as well?' He glanced at Alexis' two facedown cards. 'She might be trying to lure me into a trap. But since I don't know exactly what her plan is, I'll just have to go all out.'

Turn 4: Jaden

The Slifer Red grinned as he drew his card. "My turn! Draw!" He glanced at his card and slid it into his disk. "Get ready Alexis! I play Polymerization!"

"Fusion on only the second turn," Bastion mused.

"I fuse Elemental HEROes Ocean and Woodsman in my hand!" Jaden explained as he slotted two cards into his graveyard. A man composed of wood and grass appeared along with a sea-serpent-human hybrid warrior coloured blue with a staff. The two vanished quickly however into a rainbow fusion spiral.

"Here comes Jaden's best HERO!" cheered Syrus as there was a blast of red energy near the ceiling.

"I fusion summon Elemental HERO Terra Firma!" Jaden roared as his monster emerged from the red light and crashed down onto the arena.

There were gasps from the crowd as they examined Terra Firma, who was a tall, muscular white armored man with blue gems on his forehead and shoulders and a red one on his chest. The majestic HERO glowed red.

Elemental HERO Terra Firma: Attack 2500

"Sorry Alexis!" grinned Jaden as he fist pumped the air in front of him. "But I'm about to wrap this up!"

'Sorry Jaden,' thought Alexis. 'But Terra Firma will be the first to fall at my knees.'

To Be Continued: Next Time – The Real Duelist

Jaden runs into trouble when Alexis' reveals her hidden strategy, which freezes all of Jaden's moves and disposes Terra Firma! Will Jaden overcome Alexis' strategies or will the Ice Duelist prove herself the true Queen of the Duel?

Hope everyone liked this chapter! See you all next time and remember, PLEASE REVIEW!