[Announcement!]
I'd like to Promote: Not_apollo712 on Instagram! He's making a comic strip of Chapter 31! As of now, it has 40+ pages of fan art dedicated to Wilona and Jaden's duel! I highly recommend going there and giving him a follow in any of his other accounts. Huge thanks to him! Go and check him out when you have the time!
Once upon a time, when people heard the name Bandit Keith, they would think of the American champ that took the Dueling World by storm. However, his rise to fame was as quick as his fall. All because Maximillion Pegasus humiliated him in public to promote his Duelist Kingdom tournament. From there, it only got worse: he suffered loss after loss from rising stars Yugi Moto and Joey Wheeler before being disqualified by Maximillion Pegasus himself. He then was used by the then possessed, Marik Ishtar, as a puppet to do his will and tossed aside like trash.
The man did have a chance for vengeance when Yako Tenma fished him out of the gutter—some would argue literally—and gave him a card to help him to help lure in Joey Wheeler. Sure, he may have lied about how it was Yugi's fault Pegasus almost died, but he got his chance: his grudge match with Joey Wheeler.
Try as he might, even with a God Card of his own, Bandit Keith lost. And as if to mock him, Joey Wheeler returned the card he stole when Bandit Keith was first disqualified by Pegasus.
"Face me as a Duelist instead of a Demon [of Vengeance], and I'll duel ya any time." The Duelist that represented eternal potential, Joey Wheeler, said before rushing to help support the King of Games in the battle between the Egyptian Gods and the Wicked Gods.
It was a shame that Bandit Keith didn't hear those kind words.
But what is a Demon of Vengeance without his drive? His attempt at getting back at those he scorned was lost forever. Now? There he was wasting his life in a dirty bar.
"What the hell?" Bandit Keith slurred as he looked in the direction he thought the Bartender was standing in. "Where's my drink?"
"Where's my money for the last tab?" The bartender continued to wipe other emptied glasses.
Bandit Keith growled. But he was getting a headache right about now, so he didn't do anything else but slink into his seat.
"Leave."
The American Duelist turned around to the rest of the bar. "What!? Say that to my face!"
The few patrons in the bar ignored him as if used to his shouts and rants at that point.
"No one said anything, Mr. Keith." The Bartender's voice sounded like he was holding in a sigh. "And I told you to keep your voice low. You haven't even drunk yet. How are you already causing trouble?"
"It was one of those assholes!" Bandit shouted, but he got the feeling that it wasn't anyone of the punks who hung out here.
"Like they haven't taken some of your tongue-lashings before. You're not that immature." The Bartender picked up and cleaned another glass.
"Danger." The American Duelist paused before he felt a headache in record speed. That voice? It feels like he's both never heard it but knows it intimately.
Before he could wonder further, the front door to the bar opened up.
Bandit Keith looked to see a... well... the guy owed him money. But even in his sorry state, the machine duelist could tell Ted Banias was here for something, and it wasn't to pay off his debt to him.
"Bartender, give me a glass." The man behind a counter gave him an empty one as that was all he could afford. Yet, Bandit Keith held it anyway.
"Hey! Keith! How ya doing!?" Ted moved closer to the blonde man.
"Ted. You better have even a fraction of the money you owe me." Bandit Keith turned to the mercenary.
"Oh, I'm going to pay off my debt. But it's not going to be towards you." The spiky-haired man dug his hands in his pockets.
The crowd in the bar was small, but they stopped what they were doing to watch the two men. Bandit Keith continued to stare down Ted, but no one could tell what the man was thinking due to the fact his sunglasses hid his eyes in the dimly lit bar.
The bartender merely sighed and moved some of the other glasses and other valuables out of the way.
Faster than most, Ted took what looked to be a stun gun and shot it at Bandit Keith. Yet, the mercenary overlooked one thing: Bandit Keith wasn't drunk yet. And a sober and disgruntled Bandit was more than quick enough to use the empty glass he held to catch and take the blow from both ends of the stun gun in time before it reached him.
Ted had one second to look shocked before Bandit Keith closed the distance and threw a punch that he reclined all the way back before slugging the mercenary to the ground.
"Dammit, Bambi," The Bartender said in a monotone voice. "Those glasses are worth 20 bucks."
"Shut it, old fart." The American Duelist tossed away the shattered glass and picked Ted up by the collar. "Shit. He's out cold. Since when did this asshole have the stones to pick a fight with me?"
"Did you check your phone?" Bandit turned back as the bartender spun his phone towards him. "Looks like you pissed off someone real good this time, Bambi."
"Stop," He swore in between, "calling me that!" As he got to his phone, Bandit Keith's eyes widened when he saw the picture of him in a wanted poster, especially when he noticed the number of zeros to his name.
"Stop not paying your bills." The Bartender put down his glass and started cleaning another one. "Who the hell did you cross this time?"
"No one with the greens to put this kind of hit on me." Bandit Keith took his jacket and slung it over his shoulder before he made his way out through the back door. "Tch! I'd rather deal with this drunk."
"Take out the trash with you." The Bartender said aloud, motioning to the fool unconscious, bleeding, and drooling on his semi-clean floor.
"Why the hell should I?" Bandit Keith reached the door.
"Who else will tell you about this new asshole out for you?" Bandit Keith's hand froze over the exit handle. The blonde man groaned before he walked back and slung the unconscious Ted Banias over his shoulder.
As Bandit Keith walked by, the Bartender said, "If ya do get captured, make sure the guy spends some of your bounty on your tabs, Bambi."
To show his appreciation, Bandit Keith gestured one finger towards the bartender before leaving.
Afterward, the Bartender looked over to the rest of his patrons. "Well? Either go after him if you think you can take him, or get back to drinking. Show's over."
The patrons all just continued to drink.
...
"I know nothing! I swear!" Ted cried out as Bandit Keith held him over a bridge.
"You know, you're really not helping your case right now." Bandit Keith was monotone despite how held the man's life over dark waters.
"Look, all I know is that someone put out a hit for you. Wait, no! He wanted your deck for some reason!"
To the American Duelist, things were starting to go somewhere. "My deck?" Sure, he had rare cards, but nothing worth putting one million on his head... wait a dang second.
After glancing at his deck for a second, Bandit looked back to his totally willing informant. "If you did capture me, where were you going to collect the bounty?"
"F-Funny enough. The guy said to bring ya and your deck to..."
After hearing the location, it took a lot of willpower for Bandit Keith to not 'accidentally' lose his grip after hearing those words. Instead, he grunted and threw him back to the ground.
"The next time we meet, you better have money, or else I'll really throw you off a bridge!" Bandit Keith fixed his jacket before he left on his motorcycle.
Bandit Keith rode off. As he did, he reached for his deck pouch. His hand felt for a single card that he knew was different from the rest of his deck and picked it up.
The Wicked Eraser.
"Return."
Bandit Keith clicked his tongue. He thought he heard a voice in his head for a second there. "I get the feeling all this trouble is your fault." He put the card away and looked forward. "Return. This has got to be some sick joke. Who the hell wanted me back in Duelist Kingdom? There's no way it was Pegasus and his adopted brats. They'd handle me themselves." He was surprised that the guy who put the bounty on him was hiding in the same cave he first ambushed Yugi and Joey.
Yet, despite now being a wanted man, Bandit Keith felt... happy? Around ten years of wasting away, and it feels like the winds have blown in his favor once more. He was wanted—needed for something.
A small part of him realized: he found his purpose in life again.
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
"~Welcome to Kaiba Land! The happiest place in the world!~" The show tune played in the locker room for employees. But of course, I was anything but happy now.
Funny enough, I should be happy.
"Wilona?" Honest appeared by my side. "If I may ask, why are you troubled? The news you received this morning is wonderful, is it not?"
I sighed as the Duel Spirit had a point. To explain my new situation: I had recently come back from a will reading. Not my mother's; that was the first week after Summer started, and after I separated from everyone.
No, it was Professor Banner's will reading. Apparently, when Sheppard had officially written him off, he stated that professor had died in an accident. I'm assuming his higher-ups handled his cover-up and other formalities because I was surprised when more lawyers found me and told me that Professor Banner had written me in his will.
"Thank you for the birthday present. You can use this. I have no need of it where I'm going. Also, think of this as one of my apologies. Treat everyone to tempura shrimp on me." His last note said. He must have prepared this before his last duel with Yuki.
I mean—I truly thought the myths of turning things to gold was a life metaphor, not a real thing! He left more than enough pounds of gold to pay for my mother's hospital and funeral expenses! My guardian and old friend of my mother, Ms. Aestas, fainted after hearing how most of the money was going to her until I legally graduated and found a job after Duel Academy. And I'm still planning to let her keep some if not most of it.
So. I'm financially set.
My debts are paid.
I... I do not have to work so many jobs anymore.
I no longer have to slog through graveyard shifts into dawn shifts. No longer do I need to travel hours to get to jobs that I need to be at the right time.
I don't need to struggle for money anymore!
... I don't need to get that job I planned for in Duel Tourney management.
... I don't... even need to go to Duel Academy next... year...
My mother is gone, and I have financial stability now.
So... what do I do now?
I heard Honest sigh before he looked over to the clock. "Your break time is almost over."
I suppose that is enough moping for now. "Thank you, Honest." It didn't take long to get into the costume. I worked in Funny Bunny's Wild Escapades, so I wore the costume of an obscure female roadrunner named Ms. Speed. The best part of this costume was that all I had to do was press a button, and all I would need to do was beep for children.
But today? I don't think I would need it too much.
KRACKOOM!
Today is one of the worst storms in a while. If it had rained during Yuki and my duel, it would probably be raining as hard as it would be right now. So most people aren't enjoying Kaiba Land right now.
"W-Wahh!"
I turned to the sound of muffled sobs and whining even with the heavy rain and thunderstorm. An adorable little girl wearing a yellow raincoat was alone with no one else around. Even if this was not my job, I would still be heading towards this girl.
"Hello, little one. What's wrong?" I wish my voice wasn't changed, but I tried to be as gentle as I could be.
Luckily for me, the girl seemed to slow down a bit. "This is the worst birthday present ever!"
Ah. I suppose it would be. "In that case, perhaps your Christmas or next Birthday will have to be twice as good to make it up for you. Now, where are your parents?"
The girl sniffed again. "Gone. I'm here with Big Brother Asty."
I'm thrown off my loop for a few seconds after hearing that. She's so young, but the way she talks of her parents clues me that they've been gone for a while.
"Well, where's this Asty brother of yours?" Whatever his reasons, he should not have left his little sister behind.
The girl only sniffed. "He promised! That stupid head promised to celebrate my birthday, but he left me alone to do his stupid thing even here! I hate him!"
Bollocks. It must be bad between brother and sister. "I'm sure he wouldn't do that. Maybe I can find him. What's your name?"
"Allie." The redhead managed to say through sniffles.
"Alright, Allie." I was thankful this costume came with a bag. "Can I ask you what this Asty person looks like?"
I raised my brow as I heard her say the following: he wore a plaid shirt with a black vest over it, was—for some reason—wearing a wing that gave him long blonde hair, red eyes, and an aura that screamed he was better than everyone else.
Well, at least I won't have too much trouble looking for someone like that. "While you wait here, I'd like to give you a friend of mine to watch over you."
She did look surprised to see I had a Duel Monster card. But she took it with more care than I expected from her. "Honest? Wow! He's so pretty!"
I looked up at the duel spirit. "Watch over her for me, okay?"
"I will, Wilona. Take care." With that, I had to go under the rain and towards where she last saw this bloke. He was going near the Machine Kingdom Dueling arenas? But they're currently under renovation. No one but employees are supposed to be there.
How odd.
[Tag Force Heroes and Villains]
Not many could tell, especially the people surrounding him, but he was in a bad mood.
"Do you have the card or not?" The man folded his arms and fought the urge to tap his foot. He could feel Allie getting angrier even though the little one wasn't here right now.
"Why yes!" The hooded man laughed in a way that only he found funny. He reached under his cloak, and the young man's eyes widened when he saw the card in the man's hand. "Here it is," The cloaked man smiled under his hood. "As promised, I found The Despair Uranus."
Even from afar, the older "brother" widened his eyes as he saw the card. After calming himself, he then held out the suitcase he carried. "Here's the money. Now give me the card."
"Well," The man put the card away, and the brother's eyes narrowed to a glare. "About that? We weren't expecting our employer to be THE Aster Phoenix. And to think we were just going to mug you for extra money, but this is a rare opportunity."
Many would get scared at the idea of being surrounded by thugs and beg for their life. Aster Pheonix lost most if not all of his used patience at the thought of a little girl pouting in the rain.
"This is your last chance. Give me the card, and you can get your money and be on your way."
"Or else what?" The guy gave a cocky smile as the other thugs started to close in.
"No. No warnings. You punks have wasted enough time as is." Faster than the closest thug could expect, Aster Phoenix threw his suitcase with enough speed and force to knock the man over. The disguised man put his hands together and cracked his knuckles. "I need to relieve stress anyway."
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
Who opened the backdoor and left it open? Ugh, I swear! And the higher-ups were so adamant about telling me not to do this.
To my surprise, I spotted someone walking out of that door. I know Kaiba Land has many employers, but this guy did not look like he worked here.
"Excuse me," I called out to him. When I did, he turned with a glare at me. Ugh. Don't give me that look. "Are you an employee?"
"I don't have time for this." He started to walk away. Well, isn't he a pleasant fellow? Hold on. Better-than-you attitude? He even looks like...
"Are you Asty?"
The Asty bloke freezes in his gait before he turns to me. "What did you call me?"
"Ah, so you're Allie's stupid-headed big bro."
He had the decency to look frustrated after I said both the name and the insult. "Ugh. Where is she? I thought I left her near the Blue-Eyes Cafe?"
"That crowded area with only outdoor umbrellas? In this weather?" I motioned to the rain a few feet away from us. Luckily, as if to prove my point, thunder boomed after lightning struck. "She's near the Kuriboh Dollhouse. I had one of my friends and coworkers watch her while I search for her stupid-headed brother."
"Don't call me stupid head." Asty narrowed his eyes at me.
Like he had the right to at this moment. "Don't leave your little sister alone on her birthday, tosser."
"She's not my," What? What did he mean by that? "Look, just tell me where she is." The knob demands of me.
"Come along then. We'll have to go through the rain." Huh. Odd. What's that red stuff on the edge of his suitcase?
...
"I HATE YOU!" How fearsome, coming from a toddler.
"Allie, I'm sorry." The one called Asty tries to say. "This was an important meeting for me."
"Stupid head!"
"I'm with her on this one." I may be wearing a costume, but I could tell Asty felt my smirk behind the bird's beak.
"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Asty narrowed his eyes at me.
"No, I like Ms. Speed!" Allie cried out. "She was there when you abandoned me!"
"I didn't abandon you. I just needed to do something at the last second. It was supposed to be quick." He sighed.
When I saw the little redhead pout even harder, I thought of something else. "How about this? Since your big bro is obviously rich, how about he gets to pamper you for the rest of the day? He can buy you as many presents as he can carry."
"Hey! Now, what gives you the right to say—" Asty gets interrupted when Allie gasps.
"Can he also buy presents for Frederick and Tate!?"
"Yep-er-o!~" I give the bird's catchphrase before Asty could even think of saying no.
"Yay! I'm going to go make Kuriboh Dolls for everyone!" The little girl cried out before rushing into the store.
Asty grunted before putting his hand on his head.
"Oh, don't be so glum. I know you're richer than you pretend to be."
He turned to look at me. "Excuse me?"
Even through my mask, I'm pretty sure he could see my pointed look. I then moved over to his 'watch'.
"I worked in a Rollex Store a few summers ago. That watch you have there is a Submariner Blue Dial Steel and Yellow Gold. That's a 10K watch."
He looked over to the item in question. "Crap. If a loser in a bird costume recognized it, then others will too."
And I'm holding that against you, Asty. "Just pay for your sister's dolls."
"She's not my—" He stops himself. "She's not my biological sister."
After hearing him admit that, I realized something. These two don't look alike, he's rich, and Allie admitted both her parents are gone. "Allie is from an orphanage, isn't she?" So that's why she was getting toys for her friends, it wasn't just because she was close, but because she lived with them! They're also orphans!
His silence is practically a confirmation.
I punch the knob in the shoulder.
"What was that for!?" He yells even though he didn't really react to my hit.
"You broke a promise with an orphan girl that thinks of you as the only family she has left!?" I am so glad that the rain is drowning my voice or the few customers and coworkers would hear me scream. "I'd bloody pound your sorry face in if it wouldn't upset her!"
"Look, it's more complicated than that!" He glared at me with those fake red eyes of his.
"Alright, I'll concede that it sounds complicated. I don't know your life." I let him have that. "But did you at least talk her down and explain that this would happen?!"
He looked away.
"Then you deserve that punch." Is what I wish I told him, but I muttered it under my breath.
"Oh, right!" Allie comes back to hand me back Honest. "Here's your card back, Ms. Speed!"
"Thank you, sweetie." I smiled as I took the card back.
"A Duel Monster card?" Asty turned to me after seeing the card. "You duel?"
"More of a side-job than an expertise or hobby, but yes." I place Honest away in the fanny pack.
Allie seems to have her eyes widen after hearing me. "You play Duel Monsters too? Maybe you have cards Asty is looking for!"
"Allie!" The one called Asty looks alarmed, but the girl looks genuinely confused. I admit that I'm curious too.
"You're looking for cards here?" In one of the most public amusement parks in the world? And not a regular card shop? Granted, there are card shops here, but nothing to write home about. And I doubt someone as loaded as he would look for specific cards here.
Those are a lot of things not adding up for this Asty fellow.
He gives me one look before talking back to Allie. "How did you know I'm looking for cards?"
The little girl—who I am growing to very much like in the few minutes I've met her—put her hands on her hips. "You blabbed on about it on our way here when you thought I was distracted by the sights! You said the card had sad private parts."
I didn't even realize I made a combination of both a gag and a gasp until I saw Asty turn quickly back to me.
"Okay, no! That is NOT! AT ALL! What I'm looking for!"
"Are you THAT lonely?"
"You're not even listening!"
"Sweetie, by all the dolls you can for your friends back home. Hurry." I motioned to the girl, who just seems excited to get all the toys she can. "Buy the expensive stuff!" I yell to her as she leaves.
"She misunderstood!" Asty is doing a fine job of not raising his voice.
"At this point, I don't want to know. Because it sounds like you abandoned her for... whatever it is you've obviously taken precedence over her happiness!"
"You know what? If you're not going to listen, I'm not going to explain myself anymore!" He turns away from me.
"Fine." Lightning flashes behind me.
"Fine!" Thunder booms after he says this.
"Good!"
"Great!"
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
What Wilona didn't know was that Allie watched both her 'brother' and 'Ms. Speed' arguing with great interest.
"Hey, mister?" Allie turned to the cashier. "Do you know Ms. Speed's actress?"
"Fraid I don't. All I know is that she's new."
Allie ended up like the person a lot, and an idea came to her. "Do you know her schedule?"
"Well, I've seen enough Ms. Speeds. That one, I think, is part-time, so she's here around..."
As the man innocently told her the one day Ms. Speed was here, Allie started to get a mischievous smile.
For the rest of her summer job in Kaibaland, Wilona could only gape as Allie, her friends, and an obviously unwilling Asty kept visiting the park whenever she had a shift.
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
Alexis looked back when she saw her brother trail behind her.
"Atticus? Are you alright?"
"S-Sure, sis!" He tried to say, but the sweat dripping down his face told another story.
"Come on, mom and dad are excited to see you." Alexis walked forward to grab her brother's arm and dragged him back to their home.
Alexis wouldn't sugar coat it; they were a rich family, maybe not enough to be considered on par with the likes of the Princetons, but they were rich enough to have their own fancy house.
Two people came out of the front doors, a blonde man and a brunette woman.
"Atty!" The woman, Innes Rhodes, cried out before running up and hugging her son. "You're finally back!" She let go and slapped his shoulder.
"Ow!"
"That's for not giving your mother a call or even a letter! I was worried sick about you!" She cried out in motherly fury before hugging him again.
The father of both Atticus and Alexis, Antonie Rhodes, soon followed after their mother. "It's good to see you again, Atticus. Next time, at least try to contact us."
Atticus stared into the calm man's eyes. "I... will."
"Good. I want a hug too. It's been too long, son."
Atticus felt something as the two held him close in a way that both would never want to let go. Something deep in his soul yearned for this with every fiber of his being. It was to the point that he hugged them both back and started to cry. Yet, as he cried, a minuscule part of his mind nagged on him. Even though this was the first time in years since he's felt so welcomed, why did this part of his mind tell him that this was all wrong?
Alexis was starting to tear up from the side as well.
"I-It's so beautiful!" Someone beside her sniffed and teared up before he blew into a tissue.
The Cyber Angel Duelist agreed with... wait. Who did she just agree with? Alexis slowly turned her gaze to her left, where she saw...
"CK!?" She stopped herself from shouting too loud and grabbed the youngest Dark Scorpion member by his shoulders. "What are you doing here?!"
"Oh, Alexis?" The blonde's mother looked back. "I see you've met our new helper around the house! Chick Yellow is going to be an errand boy for the summer. We also hired a new gardener named Gorg! He looks tough, but he's just the sweetest! You'll love him!"
"Your mother hired them because some strange saleswoman asked for her help," Antoine added in.
"Don't be like that, dear. The more, the merrier!" She motioned to Atticus. "Now, let's get back home, and you can tell me everything about your world tour! Your father even made your favorite food!"
Atticus nodded only once before following after his mother and father. At that point, Alexis turned back to CK.
"Okay, spill. What are you and Gorg doing here!?"
He saluted after standing straight. "We're on a mission by the great Don Zaloog and The 8th Shadow Rider!"
"What mission?" Alexis couldn't figure out why Judai sent a Shadow Rider to her home! Why would he do that!?
"Sorry! We were told to keep it a secret from you!" He then started to shiver as he realized how scary Alexis' glare was.
"Deary, come on! You and Chick can get to know each other over food!" Alexis' mom shouted.
"And with that, I'm gonna go! Your dad is an amazing cook! Your mom? Well, it's a good thing she's a musician."
Alexis could only stand there confused before she sighed and went after her family. She still wondered why CK and Gorg were here and why they had to be here in the first place! Maybe Gorg would be easier to get information about them being here. But Alexis had the feeling that this was going to be a long summer with or without the Shadow Riders telling her what was going on.
Meanwhile, CK thought back to when he received the mission.
"You want me to infiltrate the Rhodes household?" The blonde Dark Scorpion asked. "Why?"
Don Zaloog and Revendread Slayer turned to Judai. The 8th Shadow Rider could only sigh.
"I guess I have no choice in this matter, but everyone's safety is in jeopardy. Nightshroud is not just an identity; it's an avatar. Long story short: he makes several returns in the future, all becoming more powerful than the last. Eventually, he can summon himself and the rest of his kin into the world."
"Why didn't you mention this before? You could have confronted Nightshroud or perhaps even purged him of his lingering connection even after his host was freed?" Revendread Slayer asked.
"I couldn't risk the sleeping powers of Nightshroud reawakening at a direct threat while he was so close to everyone else." Although he said this, Yubel knew Judai didn't want to upset this world's version of Asuka after reuniting with her lost brother, even if it wasn't the right one. "There might be still some hope that this is just nothing but superficial differences in my world and this one, but knowing us? It's unlikely."
"So," Witchcrafter Golem Aruru crossed her arms. "Nightshroud is a sleeper agent and a potential ticking time bomb even without Paradox's interference. And you want to send CK to watch over him? Alone?"
Chick felt offended Aruru would say it like that. Then again, what could he do alone against an avatar of a dark god?
Judai nodded. "Right, Don Zaloog, do you want to send anyone else?"
"I'd rather that we be all together." The Leader of the Dark Scorpions rubbed his chin. "But I know! The severity of our other missions too! Gorg, help out CK!"
"You got it, boss! But uh?"
"There's going to be more food there than the other missions." It spoke volumes that everyone, even those outside the Dark Scorpions, said that at the same time.
CK shook his head as the flashback ended. He had to keep an eye on Atticus. And if he was doing dark avatar kinda things, he'd alert the others asap!
What CK didn't know was that Atticus eyed the Shadow Rider with an almost empty stare. For half a second, his eyes flashed red before turning back to normal. Then, Atticus blinked twice before he enjoyed the company of his parents.
(But no matter how much he tried, a small piece of him couldn't feel at ease.)
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
Dr. Crowler giggled not unlike a school girl as he spun Chancellor Shep—no. Chancellor Crowler's chair. Ooh, he loved the sound of that even in his mind.
But now that he was in charge, he had to think big! He was going to get rid of the Slifer Dorm for good this time and really put Duel Academy on the map! He'd do such a fine job that Chancellor Crowler imagined Seto Kaiba himself bowing in his greatness!
Crowler played with the idea of outright destroying the building while there was no one in it. But that would get him into trouble with Human Resources if he made a bunch of kids forage in the wild.
"What? It worked well for Damon Taizan."
No, wait. If Human Resources even found about Damon's self-exile, he'd be in trouble.
...Now that he thought about it. He probably broke more safety rules than he thought he did.
He digressed. How could he get rid of Slifer Red?
After brainstorming for a minute or two, Dr. Crowler could not think of anything. Annoyed, the Dueling Professor slinked to his seat. When he did, he happened to see two cards on the desk: a synchro monster and an Xyz monster.
"Wait, a second! It's not a way to get rid of the red dorms, but perhaps this will be a way to further promote Duel Academy!" Inspiration struck as the new Chancellor reached for the phone.
"Hello? Duel Monsters Toruney Associate and Management? This is the current Chancellor of Duel Academy. I would like to propose a collaboration."
He'd have to thank Wilona personally for making him aware of this company. He almost forgot: he'd also make sure to get her out of Slifer Red before he destroyed it.
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
Jaden Yuki put his head out of the car as they arrived in a place many would describe as the boonies, even if it had a beautiful view of the ocean. "Wow! No matter how much time passes, it's like this place never changes!"
"That's how Lapis Port always is, Little Roo," Jaden's mother, Airi Yuki was a woman with brown-colored eyes and long raven-colored hair. As she said this, she typed on her laptop without moving her eyes up to the area around them.
"Mom!" Jaden groaned back into his seat. "Stop calling me, Little Roo!"
"Let her have it, sport," The driver, Jaden's father, was as casual as his mother was all business. Tobias Yuki loved wearing Hawaiian shirts everywhere he could, much to the love of his life's exasperation. "We missed ya the whole year, especially Doug."
"Awwwwrooo." Jaden's beagle yawned before putting his head back on Jaden's lap.
"It's still a silly name." The Slifer Red's face became as red as his dorms while he pouted. "I don't look anything like a Kangaroo!"
"Tell that to 3-year old you who could stay jumping on the couch for hours." Tobias laughed in a way that was both youthful and booming. "I can't wait to see how Kei's doing! I've been practicing my fishing, and this time I won't cast off my own pants!"
Jaden chuckled as he thought back to the memory.
"And to your right," Tobias started to sound like a tour guide, "We can see the lovely Lapis Port. Home of my beautiful wife and my awesome father-in-law!"
Jaden petted Doug's head as the beagle started to realize they were going to stop soon. When they did stop, the building they arrived at was but a humble store in the area.
"Ahh?" The man that walked out of the store looked as old as anyone would late in their life, but the light in his eyes showed he would give the reaper quite the fight if it tried to take him. "Is that Jaden?"
"Grampa!" Jaden yelled as he waved his free hand over to the old man. After putting his stuff away, Jaden gave the store owner a big hug. "It's great to see you!"
"You've grown a bit since I last saw you. So how was that new-fangled school you went to?"
"It was great!" Jaden yelled out. "I can't wait to tell ya all about it, gramps!"
"I know that loud voice from anywhere." A new voice made the brunette look over to the doorway.
Jaden's smile only grew when he saw her. "Selene! It's great to see you!"
If there was one word that could be used to describe Selene Amada, it would be "sunflower". Her eyes were red, and her hair was brown, but there was a radiance about her that was simple yet elegant.
"Good to see you too, Jaden." The older cousin smiled as she walked out. "And you too, Doug."
The dog shook his entire body before panting at the girl with a sloppy smile.
"Ay! Selly! How are you, girl!?"
"Uncle Toby. Auntie Airi. Good to see you both."
It took a while before the Yuki Family settled in Lapis Port. Jaden couldn't wait to tell his grandfather and cousin all the wild adventures he had in Duel Academy.
Heck, he saved the world! Maybe even the Universe!
"Whaaa?!" The two-tone brunette heard the sound of someone screaming before what sounded like someone landing on his grandfather's boardwalk.
Doug perked up. Not only that, Jaden saw Winged Kuriboh appear before him.
"Wait a second. I know who that is!" Jaden called out to his family that he'd be out for a while before running out the door, his beagle chasing after the energetic teen with his beagle pace.
His eyes widened when he saw who was getting up from the docks, especially when the person wore thick winter clothes.
"Jesse!?" Jaden cried out as he ran up to his friend.
"H-Huh? Well, I suppose that wasn't a bad idea after all!" The North Academy student smiled as he got back up.
"It was perilous of you, Jesse! We're insanely lucky to be back in the Human World! That was a 1-out-of-12 chance!" Jaden never saw Sapphire Pegasus look so angry with his duelist before. In fact, all the other Crystal Beasts looked ticked off with Jesse, and they never look like that towards him!
The Crystal Beast Duelist looked ashamed as he rubbed the back of his head without a smile. "I know! I know, but we had to follow that Kuriboh!"
Jaden's eyes widened before he looked to Winged Kurboh. His partnered Duel Spirit looked just as alarmed.
"Jesse? What's going on?"
The Crystal Beast Duelist sighed. "That's one long story. But uh? Do ya mind if I make a phone call first? I reckon Chancellor Foster needs a report more than anyone." Jesse looked down to see Jaden's beagle sniffing him. "Who here is this fella?"
"Oh right! Jesse, meet Doug, my dog."
"I didn't know you had a dog!" Jesse seemed to light up before his face turned serious. "As nice as this is. I need to make that there call."
Jaden started to lead the way. But obviously, he needed to know what was bothering his close friend. The brunette was especially bothered by a word he just said. "Jesse, you were chasing after a Kuriboh?"
For a second, Jesse seemed hesitant to speak. However, he had no choice but to tell Jaden. "Your duel with Wilona. It did something to the Spirit World, Jay. It ain't pretty, and it's getting worse by the second."
[Author Notes]
Again, another filler, but this should give everyone an idea of how summer is going for several characters. The Summer Arc might be filler-ish, but it's also helping me build up the scope of this world.
I'd like to Promote: Not_apollo712 on Instagram! He's making a comic strip of Chapter 31! That's right! This is worth repeating again! There is a comic version of the Season 1 Finale! You guys should go to his Instagram to go and read it! It's amazing! And don't forget to support him too! He's putting a lot of work into this, and I didn't even pay the guy!
I also want to give a planet-sized shout-out to Witchymagnolia! She let me borrow her OC, Selene Amada for this story. Selene stars in her own Story that is going to come soon, if not around the time this chapter gets posted. Please check her account and give her stories a read! They have a lot of atmosphere to them!
And if anyone is wondering about Allie, she's from Arc-V. But I made her one of the orphans that Aster takes care of in his rare spare time. There are actual orphans in 5ds and Arc-V's synchro dimension, but she was the first one I found when I did a general search.
So that's that. Thank you all for reading and supporting this story! And I'll see you all soon!
