Sekhmet: We can all agree that this arc was stupid, can't we? It's corruption at its finest, at least.
Susano-o: No it's not, it just has a lot of filler, but at least we try to make it better.
Sekhmet: Yes we do. And speaking of it, let's begin!
Duel 6: Duel or Death
The Slifer Red dorms were quiet in the early morning sun, as it was Saturday most of the occupants had chosen to take it easy today and slept in well past their alarm clocks. Even Rose and Midori who were well known as the earliest risers had decided to take a break from their normal routine in the hopes of catching up on some missing Z's from their previous night's adventure.
"You're finished Gordon Ramsay," Rose muttered snuggling into her pillow. "Your Hell's Kitchen field spell in no match for my Acid's special ability."
"Cocaine is really popular with uh…the same guy." Yuko muttered in her sleep.
A loud banging at the door sent Rose tumbling out of her bed. "For the last time I don't know where the lamb sauce is!" She yelled scrambling to her feet in a half asleep haze. Yuko remained asleep, mumbling something about Lou Bega. "Alright fine I'll get it," Rose mumbled as she stumbled over and opened the door. " If you're with the government or the church, get the fuck off this deck," She growled rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"We're with the Disciplinary Action Committee," A stern voice replied. "We're here for the three of you."
"The what and what the hell are you talking about," Rose hissed as she finally cracked opened her eyes, before being blindsided by sight of a beautiful women that her sleep deprived brain was convinced was a dream. "A very nice looking dream," She mumbled deliriously.
"You're letting the air conditioning out." Yuko mumbled through her pillow, still half asleep.
"Rose close the door please," Midori said softly rolling her back to the door.
"Ok ok," Rose muttered shutting the door on their guests and locking the door. "Stupid sexy dream woman," She muttered climbing back into bed.
Outside the disciplinary action committee was both confused and slightly angry at the audacity of these students. "Umm ma'am," one of them asked the Chairman, who was fuming at Rose's comments. "What should we do?"
"Bust that door down and drag them out!" She yelled. "I'll go get the other two!"
"Ma'am yes ma'am!" He yelled aiming a kick at the doorknob and busting the door down.
"Hey let me go!" Rose yelled as the committee members dragged her out of bed. "This is kidnapping Obelisk damn you when I get out of here!" She yelled as they threw her in the back of their van. "I will kick your fucking asses!"
"Help! Kidnapping!" Yuko shrieked.
"Rose why didn't you tell us who it was!" Midori yelled as she was dragged out, looking over her shoulder she could also see them escorting Chumley outside, and carrying a stiff Syrus under their arm.
"You're getting kidnapped too?" Yuko asked Syrus.
"This is not licious," Chumley said getting into the van, and then ducking when Rose was thrown back inside, this time with her arms and legs cuffed together. "Yuko they've disabled my ultimate move!" She yelled squirming like a worm on a hook. "I can't kick their shins like this!"
"What are we even in trouble for?!" Yuko asked.
"That will be explained at your trial," The Chairman said as Syrus was laid across her and Chumley's laps and the door was shut behind them.
….
"What suspended!" Syrus yelled nervously.
"That's what I suggested, you five trespassed into the abandoned dorms," The Chairman said looming down upon them from her massive tv screen, around her was also Chancellor Sheppard, Crowler, and the Head Exam Proctor. This made Rose fume at the amount of money that was wasted building this useless room. "An anonymous letter from one of our faculty members confirms it, you must be punished so an example is set for all students."
"But I'm a good noodle…" Yuko whimpered.
"Chancellor Sheppard," Midori said stepping forward. "Don't you think that's a bit harsh?"
"Yeah I got more than a few problems with this farce of a trial," Rose growled stepping in front of Midori.
"Rose calm down," Midori hissed but Rose ignored her.
"Number one!" Rose yelled. "Why is he here?" She yelled pointing at a smirking Crowler. "And not Professor Banner, you know our actual dorm head, number two so an anonymous letter supposedly from a faculty members is all the evidence you have against us because that is some weak fucking evidence," She growled shocking everyone with her language. "And number 3 considering how my and Yuko's reputations precede us, I wonder who would want to frame us for this," She said casting a sideways glance at an smirked Crowler, who's screen seemed to smoke a bit under her caustic gaze. "Yes we did go but we didn't even know it was forbidden! She argued. "We were just told it was abandoned and people disappeared!"
"Watch your language!" The Chairman yelled. "Fuck you!" Rose yelled back. "You dragged us here like a bunch of criminals without allowing us any defense!" She yelled.
"Now now everyone please calm down," Chancellor Sheppard said placatingly. "It is true it's not a rule on the books, but the dorms did have a sign saying keep out."
"Yes and I have evidence of one of their confiscated PDA's showing they clearly went inside," Crowler smirked as he started displaying photos ripped off one of their PDA's. "So they ignored the sign and broke the rules!"
Yuko gulped, and was filled with rage. The picture was of the carving of the Millenium Puzzle. "That's a breach of privacy!" Yuko said, not sure what it would gain, but deciding it needed to be said anyway.
"Warrant to search the suspect's for evidence," Crowler said dismissively. "So Chancellor Sheppard, I have an idea for how we can deal with these delinquents."
"What do you propose?" Sheppard asked.
"Since she seems so keen to speak for everyone," Crowler said smirking at a glaring Rose. "How about we put her and Syrus in a tag match against opponents of my choosing, they win and we forget this whole thing ever happened, they lose and they are all expelled!"
"-But I'm terrible at this!" Syrus thought screamed as he tried desperately to get his mouth working to argue against him being Rose's dueling partner.
"Wait we're jumping straight from suspension to expulsion, are they really gonna let him get away with this?" Midori thought angrily.
"No more academy means no more eggwich's!" Chumley thought fearfully.
So they're just gonna put someone like Syrus against a couple of Blues like Chazz? He'll faint before his first move!" Yuko thought, casting a fearful glance at her friend. "And if we all get expelled, I'll likely never see him again!"
"We'll not only do it!" Rose yelled. "We'll stomp a mudhole in their ass so hard we won't stop until we're wearing socks made of dried shit!" She yelled grabbing a still stunned Syrus. "Come on guys we got strategies to plan!" She ordered dragging him out of the room, forgetting about everyone else in the process.
"Rose, wait up!" Yuko said, and rushed to catch up with the two. The others quickly left but before she left Midori turned around and sent a glare at Crowler. "You know Dr. Crowler, I use to respect you, but this abuse of Rose and Slifer's in general has gone too far," She said. "Now you're putting us all at risk for your petty revenge, I hope you're never in a position where you need Rose's help because I can guarantee you'll never get it without some serious groveling," She finished before walking away after her friends.
….
"Rose how could you do that!" Syrus whined as he watched Rose tear apart her deck while everyone sat around thinking out strategies. "I'm terrible! I'll get you expelled."
"Syrus it's ok," Rose said smiling. "We can do this, and do you know why?"
"Why?" Syrus asked nervously as Rose stood up.
"Because me and you are gonna work out our kinks right here, right now," She said softly getting uncomfortably close to Syrus's ear.
"I need an adult," Syrus said scared as Rose's breath tickled his neck.
"I am an adult," Rose said smirking softly.
"Rose, you're scaring the poor boy." Yuko said. "Aren't you a lesbian anyway?"
"Oh fine ruin my fun why don't you," Rose said huffing. "And yes of course I am, but that's beside the point, we do need to work out our strategies, and the best way to do that is a duel!"
"Oh phew," Syrus said wiping the sweat off his brow before what Rose said clicked. "Wait what!?"
….
"Ok guys!" Chumley yelled from his place on the Slifer dorm's cliff, extremely high above his two friends.
"What?" The two yelled back not being able to fully understand him.
"What?" Chumley yelled back not being able to hear them either.
"Maybe we should get closer." Yuko suggested.
"Yeah I was gonna say," Midori said helpfully.
"Fine," Chumley said as the three made their way down to the two duelists.
"Ok Syrus!" Rose yelled from across the field. "You ready?"
"No!" Syrus yelled fearfully.
"Well too bad!" Rose smirked. "Lets duel!"
"Alright Syrus," Rose said with a smile as she drew her first card. "Let's do this, I play 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' (1600/1400) in attack mode!" She said as the monster appeared on the field from a lightning bolt in the sky. "Then I'll play one card face down and end my turn."
"I guess it's my turn then," Syrus muttered drawing a card. "I'll set one monster then play one facedown card," He said setting the cards. "I guess I'll end my turn."
"Knowing Rose's deck, a defensive move like that is probably the best way to go." Midori said.
"It's what I would have done." Yuko said.
"Come one man," Rose said with a sigh. "Get excited this is a duel not a funeral!" She yelled drawing her card. "I summon 'Elemental Hero Clayman' (800/2000) in attack mode and then I'll activate my facedown 'Mask Change'!" She yelled as a mask appeared in 'Clayman's' hand. "Allowing me to sacrifice my 'Elemental Hero Clayman' and summon 'Masked Hero Dian' (2800/3000)!" She announced as 'Clayman' became encased in a rock that slowly became smaller and smaller till it became a diamond that then exploded into her new monster in a dazzling light show. "Dian attack that facedown Crisis Crusade!" 'Dian' kicked off the ground into a high jump and aimed her rapier at the facedown, then with a flash she teleported down to the ground with her sword impaled in the facedown card. The card then flipped up and a small anthropomorphic helicopter appeared.
"Once per turn my 'Gyroid' (1000/1000) isn't destroyed by battle," Syrus explained.
"Good move," Rose said smiling. "-But I still have Sparkman and he'll attack again with static shockwave!" She ordered as Syrus's 'Gyroid' was fried by Sparkman's lighting. "I'll end my turn here then."
Syrus gulped as he drew his next card. "I play 'Pot of Greed' to draw two cards," He said drawing. "And then I'll play 'Steamroid'(1800/1800)!" he yelled as the anthropomorphic train appeared in a burst of steam. "And now I'll attack your 'Sparkman' and when 'Steamroid' attacks he gains 500 ATK (1800-2300/1800), go 'Steamroid' Steam Slam!"
'Steamroid' hunched over and charged forward with a burst of steam to punch Sparkman with it's wheel hand (Rose LP: 8000-7300). "I'll set a card and end my turn."
"That was a good move." Chumley said.
"Yeah, I don't see Rose take damage often." Yuko said.
"Nice move Syrus," Rose smirked as she drew her next card. "-But now your monster is open for mine and I know about 'Steamroid's' second effect," She said. "For now though I play 'Polymerization' to fuse my 'Elemental Hero Bubbleman' and 'Elemental Hero Bustinatrix' to form 'Elemental Hero Absolute Zero' (2500/2000)!" She yelled as her monster appeared on the field in a burst of freezing air and ice. "Now then Dian attack 'Steamroid' (1800-1300/1800)!"
"I play 'Supercharge'!" Syrus yelled. "When you attack one of my monsters and all mine are machine-type 'roid' monsters I get to draw two cards!" He yelled as Dian's rapier impaled 'Steamroid' (Syrus LP: 8000-6400).
"Nice move," Rose said smiling. "Now Absolute Zero attack directly with Instant Freeze!"
Absolute Zero held his hand out and Syrus was hit with a blast of freezing cold air (Syrus LP: 6400-3900). "I'll end my turn there."
Syrus whined as he dropped to the ground and started scratching through the dirt. "Ok I'm just gonna sit here and play in the dirt," He said softly. "It's all I'm good for."
Yuko frowned. "This isn't the time to pull a me." She thought.
"Syrus you got this!" Midori yelled. "Just calm down and think your moves over!"
"Syrus I swear to Ra," Rose growled. "The duel isn't over till the last card is played!" She yelled. "So draw your card!"
Syrus whined as he drew his card, Rose could see his eyes widen slightly as he looked at the card, but she could also see he was having a very heavy debate within himself as well. "I set one monster and place two card facedown and end my turn," He said after a minute of debate.
"Really?" Rose said drawing his card. "Ok then," She said with a shrug. "I play 'Form Change' this allows me to switch out a 'HERO' fusion monster with a 'Masked Hero' of the same level with a different name," She explained. "So 'Absolute Zero' will be come on back to me, and when he leaves the field all monsters on your side of the field are destroyed, 'Absolute Zero' activate effect Frozen in the Moment!" She yelled as 'Absolute Zero' left the field in a flash of light and a massive ice wave destroyed all of Syrus's monsters. "And now come on out 'Masked Hero Acid (2600/2100)'!" She yelled as her hero appeared on the field in a column of water with a high pitched trumpet sound. "And now his effect activates, destroying all spell and trap cards on your side of the field and burning your monsters for 300 points off their Attack for each one," Acid pulled out his gun and shot two blasts at Syrus's face down cards. "Now Acid attack directly with Blue Strike!"
Acid aimed his gun at Syrus and fired a blue beam of light at Syrus (Syrus LP: 3900-1300) and then Dian attack directly Crisis Crusade!" (Syrus LP: 1300-0)
"Well that was quick," Chumley said callously.
"Good duel guys." Yuko said.
"No it wasn't!" Syrus yelled stomping his foot. "I was terrible and I'm gonna make us lose and be expelled!" He shouted grabbing his hair and pulling hard. "You should have gotten another partner!"
"Syrus I wanted you as my partner," Rose said walking over and crossing her arms. "Me and Yuko can't duel together because of Dreadroot, Chumley and me don't know a thing about each other, and they would never let Midori and me duel," She explained. "So you were my first choice."
"Well it sounds like I was your only choice!" Syrus argued back. "I'm the worst and I'm dragging you down!" He yelled. "I don't deserve to be here!" He yelled before running away.
"Syrus get back here!" Rose yelled but stopped when she realized the space he ran through was too small for her to get through. "Obelisk damn it what is wrong with that boy!" She yelled stomping her foot.
"I'll go after him." Yuko said, and booked it after Syrus.
"That kid has no fucking confidence!" Rose ranted.
"Well what do you expect?" Midori asked. "He's related to the number one duelist in the school."
"What are you talking about he's not related to me," Rose said raising an eyebrow.
Midori boggled at that statement. "Do...Do you really believe your own hype?"
"I am the hype," Rose said confidently.
"...Anyway," Midori said after a few minutes. "His brother is Zane Truesdale."
"...who?"
"Fourth year Obelisk?" Chumley asked. "Top ranked student at the school."
"He sounds like a douche," Rose responded. "And he probably smells, but since apparently he's the cause of all of Syrus's problems that means I'm gonna have to punch his shins," She said determined.
Midori and Chumley looked at Rose like she was insane before shrugging as the three walked back to the dorms.
….
Syrus pulled the blanket tighter over his head "I can't do this. I'm gonna cost Rose the match and get all of us expelled!"
A knock came from the door. "Syrus, it's Yuko. Let me in."
"No! I'm nothing but a burden." Syrus said.
"No you're not! If you don't let me in, I'm gonna find a way in. You know I will!" Yuko said, jiggling the doorknob violently.
"No!" Syrus yelled, and crawled into the back of his bunk.
"If you don't, I'm going to punch your shins!" Yuko said. She heard a whimper from the other side, and Syrus cracked the door open. Yuko stuck her fingers in the crack and pried the door with more force than necessary.
"Syrus, I don't know how to say this other than you are not the worst duelist I've met. Far from it, actually." She said. "Weevil might hold that title…" she thought.
"Of course I am! I'm nothing but a burden to Rose." He argued.
"No you're not. You made some good moves out there." Yuko said.
"But I still lost! And if I lose, we all lose!" Syrus insisted.
Yuko sighed. "Look, I'm going to show you my biggest secret as a vote of confidence." She said. She peeked out of the room to make sure nobody was around, and then locked the door behind her. She sat both her and Syrus down on the rug and took her beanie off. Her braid fell out and the spherical hair clip that held it together at the end thunked on the floor.
"No offense, but how is elaborately dyed hair going to help?" Syrus asked.
Yuko's eye twitched. "Elaborate dye job…? He completely missed the point!"
She stuffed her hair back into her beanie. "The point is, that even the best of us have confidence issues. It's nothing to worry about. You're going to be fine, and any thought you have saying otherwise doesn't matter."
Syrus didn't understand. -But he nodded anyway. "Ok I understand," He said softly.
Yuko pat him on the back."There we go." She said, and walked back to her dorm.
"Yeah I understand I need to leave," Syrus finished as he started crying.