A/N: I OWN NO PART YU GI OH 5DS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE CREATORS!
Chapter 9: The Acceleration
Era's POV
The next day, I helped Yusei, Jack, and Crow finish up the engine of a duel runner. A knock came at the door just as we finished and Akiza walked in wearing a leather, riding outfit.
"Hey, Akiza," I greeted. "Ready for your test?"
"I'm a bit nervous that I won't make it," she admitted.
"You'll do great, Akiza," Yusei told her. "We made this duel runner for you. It's assembled from parts obtained from a junkyard but it should be enough for your test."
"Thanks," Akiza responded. "I definitely have to get my license now."
They talked a bit more before Crow and Jack had to go out, Crow for a delivery and Jack for coffee, and Akiza needed to head back to Duel Academy for class.
Later on Akiza came asking for help with balancing and riding backwards and Yusei took her to a skating ring for it. The twins and I followed and I had to convince the twins that it wasn't a date and explain to them the meaning of this. I laughed a bit at Yusei who was trying to help Akiza learn how to skate. I knew Akiza didn't know how to roller skate and didn't bother to warn Yusei. I wanted to see how he handled it.
When they were finished and Akiza needed to head back, Yusei came to me and asked, "Did you know she couldn't roller skate?"
"Yep," I answered with a small grin.
"Why didn't you tell him?" Luna asked.
"I wanted to see how he would handle the situation," I answered and Yusei gave me an annoyed look. Leo and Luna laughed a bit at it making him sigh in defeat. "Let's get going."
. . .
The next day, Yusei and I worked on Akiza's duel runner for a bit. Jack and Crow had helped but not being too skilled in mechanics couldn't do much. Crow was a bit more considering he made his own duel runner.
Akiza stopped by just as we finished and was shocked and happy that we remodeled it for her. "Thanks, guys," she told me and Yusei.
"Jack and Crow helped too. But they had to go somewhere," I informed my psychic friend.
"I'll definitely get my license. After all the effort you guys have put into it, I can't let you down," she said.
"You're our friend, Akiza," I told her. "You don't need to thank us." Yusei nodded in agreement.
"Speaking of your license, you're getting the final exam to get it today, right?" Yusei asked.
"Yeah," Akiza answered.
"We'll be there watching and cheering you on," I told her. She nodded with a small smile.
"Just like you've always done for me, right Era?" she asked.
"Yep," I answered. "Why don't you take the new duel runner for a spin?"
Akiza gave a confident grin and pulled it out. Yusei drove on his runner and I took flight behind the psychic who rode her duel runner smoothly.
"Feel good?" Yusei asked Akiza.
"Yeah," she answered. "Feels a lot smoother and stable."
I flew up closer to her. "Good," I told her. "It should be easier to ride."
Akiza's watch went off. "Oh! I need to get to the exam," she stated.
"Perfect timing then," I said making her laugh and Yusei grin.
We drove off with me following by flight to the Duel Academy's riding field. When we arrived, I changed back to my human form and we were met by Jack, Leo, Luna, and Crow. I also noticed three previous students that I remember Akiza telling me they didn't like her because she succeeded over them.
We turned as another guy crashed before the duel even commenced. I was tempted to go help them but I knew Yusei wouldn't like that, for one, and he was already getting up fine.
My attention was taken back to the others when Jack asked Akiza, "So who's in charge of the exam?"
"That would be me," Trudge stated walking up.
"You're in charge of the exam?" Crow asked.
"Didn't really expect that to be something you would do," I told him.
Trudge smirked. "Learn something new every day. Figured that must be true ever since I found out there were angels around New Domino," he stated glancing around Era who shrugged with a grin. "Anyway," he turned back to Akiza, "because of the World Racing Grand Prix, the amount of people requesting a license has increased way up. So, in order you to pass the exam and obtain one, you have to defeat me in a turbo duel."
I noticed Yusei was a bit worried as was everyone else but I stay relatively calm. I knew Akiza could do this. Just like an angel trying to fly for the first time. It's annoying and difficult at first. But you get the hang of it eventually.
"Now I won't go easy of you, Akiza," Trudge said.
"I don't want you to," she responded and they soon left for the duel.
We sat in our seats in the stands with Yusei sitting next to me, Jack sitting behind us and the twins and Crow sitting to the left of me and Yusei. Up further to the right and behind us were the three guys who had a devious smirk. I didn't like it very much. I turned back as the duel started.
Akiza took the first turn and drew his card. "I summon Revival Rose (Attack 1300/ Defense 1300) in defense mode," she declared. "Next I activate the Speed Spell…" she stopped as she didn't have enough speed counter to use her spell.
'Remember the speed counters, Akiza,' I thought. Though I didn't turbo duel, I had been around Yusei with his duels and around other turbo duels enough to know and figure out the rules well.
Akiza shook her head to clear her thoughts. "I end my turn," she finished.
Trudge drew his card. "I summon Stygian Street Patrol (Attack 1600/ Defense 1200) in attack mode. Stygian Street Patrol attack, Revival Rose!" he ordered and the attack hit destroying Akiza monsters. "And now its effect activates, inflicting damage to you equal to the level of your monster times 100." Akiza's life points fell to 3600 with the blow. "I end my turn with one face down."
Akiza drew her card. "I summon Twilight rose Knight (Attack 1000/ Defense 1000) in attack mode and activate its effect. This allows me to special summon my Lord Poison (Attack 1500/ Defense 1000) in attack mode. Now I tune Lord Poison with Twilight Rose Knight in order to synchro summon. Appear, Black Rose Dragon (Attack 2400/ Defense 1800)! Black Rose Dragon, attack Stygian Street Patrol!" she ordered. The attack succeeded in destroying Trudge's monster and bringing his life points down to 3200.
"I activate Final Penalty! This destroys your dragon and inflicts damage to you equal to half the attack of my Street Patrol," Trudge fought and Akiza's dragon was destroyed as said and her life points fell to 2800.
"I activate the effect of Revival Rose to bring itself back in defense mode," Akiza continued. "I then place two cards face down and end my turn."
Trudge drew to begin his turn. "I activate the effect of Stygian Patrol. By removing it from play from my graveyard, I can special summon another Stygian Street Patrol in attack mode. Next I normal summon Stygian Security (Attack 100/ Defense 600)," he declared. "Next I tune Stygian Street Patrol with Stygian Security in order to synchro summon, Stygian Sergeants (Attack 2200/ Defense 1800)! Now Stygian Sergeants, attack Revival Rose!" The attack destroyed Akiza monster. "And now since it destroyed your monster by battle, I can activate Stygian Sergeants' effect. This increases its attack by 800 (Stygian Sergeants: Attack 3000) in attack mode and allows it to attack again. So, Stygian Sergeants, attack Akiza directly!"
"I activate Offensive Guard! This halves the attack of Stygian Sergeants until the end phase (Stygian Sergeants: Attack 1500) and I can draw one card," Akiza defended. The attack continued and Akiza's life points dropped to 1300. "And now since we're entering the end of the battle phase, you monster's effect expires (Stygian Sergeants: Attack 700)."
"I activate the Speed Spell- Speed Demon! This inflicts 1000 points of damage at you," Trudge fought and Akiza's life points fell to 300. "And on my next standby phase, I can add Speed Spell- Speed Demon from my graveyard to my hand by removing three of my speed counters. I'll end my turn with one face down." And since it was the end phase, Offense Guard's effect expires returning Stygian Sergeants to a full 2200.
Akiza drew her card. "I summon Witch of the Black Rose (Attack 1700/ Defense 1200) in attack mode and activate its effect which allows me to draw one card," she declare and drew her card. "And since I drew a monster, Witch of the Black Rose is not destroyed."
"I activate Climatic Barricade! Since you normal summoned a monster, all monsters level four and below can't attack this turn. And you'll be taking 500 points of damage for everyone level four of below monster you control during your end phase," Trudge played.
"I activate the Speed Spell- Summon Speeder to summon Dark Verger (Attack 0/ Defense 1000) in attack mode. Now I tune Dark Verger with Witch of the black Rose to synchro summon. Bloom, Splendid Rose (Attack 2200/ Defense 2000) in attack mode. And now I activate the effect of Splendid Rose. By removing from play Dark Verger from my graveyard, I can halve the attack points of Stygian Sergeants until the end phase (Stygian Sergeants: Attack 1100). Now Splendid Rose, attack Stygian Sergeants!" she ordered. The attack succeeded in destroying the monster and dropping Trudge's life points to 2100. "And now I activate Blossom Bombardment! This inflicts damage equal to half the attack points of Stygian Sergeants straight at you." Trudge's life points dropped again to 1000. "And now I activate the second effect of Splendid Rose! By removing Lord Poison from play, I can halve Splendid Rose's attack points (Splendid Rose: Attack 1100) and it can attack again!"
Just as she was about to win, an explosion hit a frame holding large pipes. The pipes came crashing down after Trudge had passed them. I could see Yusei and I were both extremely concerned by what was happening. After a few, tense moments, Akiza came riding out of the dust fine. I released a relieving breath that I didn't know I was holding.
Yusei grabbed my hand without the others noticing and I turned to meet his eyes. He whispered in Angelic, still careful that the others didn't hear, "She's fine. Don't worry."
"Y-Yeah," I agreed.
We turned back to the duel as Akiza caught up, much to Trudge's surprise. "Splendid Rose, attack Trudge directly and end this!" she ordered. The attack hit making Akiza the winner.
The duel ended and they both stopped. "Nicely done, Akiza," Trudge praised.
We all ran down to meet her as Trudge handed her the license. She turned to us. Yusei offered a hand which Akiza took with Yusei said, "Welcome to the world of turbo dueling."
"Thanks," she responded. I gave her a smile before we all left the Academy.