Sekhmet: Hello boys! We're baaaaack!
Susano-o: Yo.
Sekhmet: So in recent weeks, I may or may not have unleashed a prototype plague me and Set were working on by accident...I apologize and wish everyone the best of luck as we try to get it sorted out up here.
Susano-o: Neither of us are down with the sickness yet so fingers crossed.
Sekhmet: Even if we were, no quarantine in the world can keep us from publishing. Really the biggest problem is all the crazies around. But enough about that. Lets see what we accomplished in our break.
Susano-o: Less than expected due to insanity. Shit got crazy. -But we have a few ready to go.
Sekhmet: Yep. From here on out, shit gets real. Realler than last season.
Susano-o: Healthy emotional growth what's that? This is grimdark! lol
Sekhmet: Let me explain a little bit about myself. Despite being a goddess of war and pestilence, I hate angst for the sake of angst. I think it's stupid and not a good plot device. Not everything has to be all hunky dory all the time, but just tearing up characters because you have nothing else to do is a travesty in my eyes. So all our angst has a purpose here. I'll make sure of it. That, and I'm bad at being vaguely villainous.
Susano-o: Soka
Sekhmet: So without further ado, let's kick off season 3! Here we goooOOOOO!
The scene opens with the same radio now slightly broken on a table where a clawed hand reaches in from the shadows and turns it on.
I wish I had an angel
For one moment of love
I wish I had your angel tonight
The entire room falls apart in peelings and zooms past a black stardust background, revealing the logo, which shatters into the next scene.
Deep into a dying day
I took a step outside an innocent heart
The scene cuts to Rose looking over the school from the top of a hill. The sun had just set, the stars are out, and the wind is whipping her hair behind her in a dramatic fashion.
Prepare to hate me fall when I may
This night will hurt you like never before
We cut around to see Rose's expression, which is pained. A few seconds later, she clutched one side of her brow and starts to cry.
Old loves they die hard
The scene cuts around to her back again to see her shadow shape into Yubel, who raises her hand.
Old lies they die harder
As Yubel raises her hand, the stars in the sky speed up until they're streaks of light, which brighten until they obscure the scene in light.
I wish I had an angel
For one moment of love
The scene cuts to the gang mowing down monster after monster in the Duel Dimension. Swords of Revealing Light has been played, and Yuko and the crew are using them along with their monsters to do battle.
I wish I had your angel
Your Virgin Mary undone
As Yuko is about to be attacked by a monster she didn't see, a thrown sword pierces and kills it. She looks to who threw it, and is surprised to see Sartorius, looking much better than before.
I`m in love with my lust
The scene cuts abruptly to a sedated, sleeping Rose on the floor of a dorm room.
Burning angel wings to dust
Satorious and Yuko lay so that their heads touch hers, and the three start to glow. The camera slowly spins as this happens.
I wish I had your angel tonight
As the two fall into the white abyss, it brightens and consumes them, then the intro fades to darkness.
Chapter 48: Three to Duel Ready
"For the last time!" Rose yelled at the delivery man. "We did not order a giant trampoline!"
"You know pal you could have told me that before I set it up!" The delivery man yelled back holding out his clipboard. "Just sign for it."
Rose growled as she signed the paper. "There now leave," She said, shoving it back. "We have a lot of stuff to do today and you're holding us up."
The delivery man huffed but left, letting the other delivery man behind him step up. "Yeah I got twelve dozen cans of red paint for a Warren?"
"That's me," Rose said, signing the papers. "Just drop them there and we'll move them."
"Alright, thank you for choosing Three Guys that Paint," He said, tipping his hat.
"Is it the shade I asked for?" Yuko said, popping up behind Rose. Her hair down completely.
"Yes Sky Dragon Red," Rose mumbled. "Do you want me to open it to check?"
"Nah, I got it." Yuko said, wedging a can open with a screwdriver, only to have a look of frustration cross her face. "Wait, this is Chilli Red."
Rose deadpanned as she swirled the paint to mix it together. "Sky Dragon Red," She insisted.
Yuko took out a color chart. "Sky Dragon Red and Chilli Red are five shades apart, they're not the same thing." As to prove her point, she dipped a fingertip in the paint and put it on the Sky Dragon Red square. "See?"
"Oh my Ra here you fix this then," She said handing the order forms to Yuko. "So picky," She muttered. "I'll go help Hassleberry purify the lobby."
As Yuko started going back and forth with the delivery man, Rose walked into the hazy lobby where Hassleberry dressed as 'Necroid Shaman' and a few other kids dressed as 'Wildheart' were chanting around a circle.
"Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fai Di Zao!" They all chanted in unison waving pufferfish.
"Keep it up!" Rose yelled as she helped destroy one of the many statues to Sartorius Bastion had made, this one was made of soup cans for a reason Rose didn't want to know.
"Sarge," Hassleberry said, stopping the chant. "Is this really an exorcism chant? Because I'm pretty sure I heard it on Jackie Chan Adventures."
"Yeah and this circle is the Human Transmutation Circle from Fullmetal Alchemist," One of the 'Wildhearts' pointed out.
"It's the best we could do," Rose insisted. "The only other one involved summoning something called an 'Earthbound Immortal' and I don't want any more super demons on this island," She shuddered. "Now back to it," She ordered, clapping her hands together. "I've got a church to demonish."
….
Outside, Yuko had just taken what she had gotten due to return policies for a hidden island being way too complex to deal with, and had rallied most of the other red students to start painting over the horrid white of the former dorm.
"So how's everyone coping over the summer?" Yuko asked Syrus.
"Mostly everyone has gotten better over the summer." Syrus replied. "We still have a few people lagging behind, but I think the school year will be good for them."
"Good. If you don't mind me asking, how's Zane doing?" Yuko asked.
"Still scrubbing toilets. Apparently he had an underlying heart problem that came up pretty suddenly, so he's being treated for that as well. The doctors still don't know what caused it." Syrus explained. Inside his deck, the 'Cyberdarks' gulped as 'Cycroid' aimed his gun at them again, shaking it's eye in warning.
"Oh, sorry to hear that." Yuko said.
"It's ok. They caught it early, so he's got a good chance of survival." Syrus replied.
"Well it's good to hear." Yuko said, and gave him a peck on the cheek. Syrus turned nearly as red as the paint.
….
"I can't believe we have to live here now!" One of the Obelisk students whined as they trudged towards the old Red dorms, now christened with blue paint. "What did we do to deserve this!?"
"Really," Chazz said, turning to glare at the offending student. "Do I really need to list what happened last year to you in bullet points?" He asked annoyed.
The student, now properly chastised, looked down in embarrassment.
"Relax," Alexis said, trying to sound positive. "After the renovations, Ro- Eh, The Slifers did, they're not that bad, even if we're gonna have to bunk up."
"Wait we don't even get our own rooms!" A female student yelled. "How are we gonna survive."
"Same way they did," Alexis said, shrugging.
"And why aren't Mindy, Jasmine, Princess and the rest with us?" Another asked annoyed.
"They were grandfathered in by some decree that means they're staying with the Slifers," Sartorius said smiling, despite everything he was excited that Sarina and him were allowed to go to school and get a real education, even if the stares got a little uncomfortable.
The Blues just groaned as they started dividing up who was going to bunk with who.
…..
Rose sighed as she sat on the tallest pillar she could find in the main building, today was hectic and the fact Chazz, Alexis, and the rest had been invited to the Slifer's annual start of school party was not making it better on her annoyed psyche.
"What little you have left," The voice taunted with a haughty laugh. "You can't stand to be in the same room as them, how do you expect to be able to handle them when you're drunk?"
"Will you shut up?" Rose snapped, and got another laugh in return.
"Hey!" a voice called from below. "Ya'll seen a Carbuncle walking around here?"
Rose looked down to see a boy with teal hair wearing what looked like an Obelisk Blue outfit with a lavender shirt with frilled cuffs at the wrists of his sleeves, and black pants which are held up with a white belt, all in all it looked fairly ridiculous. "Umm, no?" She said sliding down the pillar to talk to him.
"Ah shoot," He said, crossing his arms. "Darn Ruby always runs off to explore when we come to a new place," He chuckled.
"Ruby is a carbuncle?" Rose asked, confused before 'Winged Kuriboh' appeared beside her, which caused a small cat-like creature stalking the shadows to pouch on him.
"Aww there you are Ruby," The boy said, scooping up the spirit and rubbing it's head in such a way that if it was a card artwork Rose would call it the cutest artwork ever. "So I see you have a spirit too," He said smiling. "Well that's just dandy, I'm Jesse Anderson pleased to meet you!" He yelled sticking out a hand for Rose to shake.
"Yeah, I'm Rose Warren," Rose said, taking his hand awkwardly, this boy gave off some sort of energy that felt like he was going to be shipped with her immediately.
"Rose? We need you to settle an argument!" Yuko yelled from just beyond the treeline. She led the gang to her and Jesse. "Are these curtains Crimson or Scarlet?" she asked, holding up a fabric sheet.
"Well this is great!" Jesse yelled. "More people to meet, Howdy folks I'm Jesse Anderson look at my Carbuncle!" He said holding out Ruby for everyone to see, and making Rose glare at the fact that someone else did a reference besides her.
"You're going through a phase then?" Hassleberry offered. "I'm Tyranno Hassleberry, this is my 'Black Tyranno'," He said as his giant dinosaur spirit appeared behind him.
"My name's Syrus Truesdale." Syrus said, and 'Cycroid' appeared behind him with a menacing glare, that disappeared when Syrus turned to look at him.
"Yuko Muto." Yuko said simply. The Wicked Gods leered over her in pure Stand like menace and laughed at him.
"Well you're all an interesting bunch!" Jesse said giving everyone and their spirits attention, much to the shock of The Wicked Gods and 'Cycroid'. "I'm glad to meet y'all," He said smiling.
"...I'm gonna eat him." Eraser chuckled.
"No." Yuko scolded.
"I think he would be more excited than scared," Dreadroot said, confused at the human's fearlessness, even him and his brothers were wearly around the small boy's bike.
"Logically we should keep him close," Avatar said, copying the boy's look. "He is fearless."
"Would you three stop plotting how to use him?" Yuko said. "Who knows, you might actually scare him. But probably not."
"Illogical" The three said at once with a snicker and some mad cackling, Avatar just stood there.
"Well your friends like me," Jesse said smiling as he looked at his PDA. "Oh shoot I gotta get to the assembly!" He yelled running away, before returning a few seconds later. "Where's the auditorium?" He asked.
"Come on," Rose sighed, leading them away. "Oh and Yuko, they're scarlett."
"Ha!" Yuko exclaimed, pointing at Hassleberry, "Told you!"
…
"Welcome new and returning students!" Sheppard said to the assembled student body. "This year will be a special one indeed, for you see we've been given the honor of hosting 4 representatives from our sister schools and one of the most esteemed professors in the Duel Academy system."
"Oh find me in the Alps," Rose groaned leaning back against her chair.
"This doesn't sound good." Yuko agreed.
"From North Academy Jesse Anderson!" Sheppard yelled as Jesse stepped forward with a smile and a bow.
"Wait that prim is from North Academy!?" Chazz yelled in everyone's ear, making Rose jilt way.
"You know him?" Yuko asked.
"No!" He yelled. "He's a prim! I'm surprised he lasted five minutes in there! They're the meanest bunch of students I've ever seen!"
"Boy must be tougher than he looks then," Hassleberry deduced.
"From East Academy Adrian Gecko!" A boy with red spiky hair, glasses, and a torn up brown uniform stepped forward and took a bow too.
"East Academy is more philosophical in their curriculum," Alexis explained and Rose jilted harder. "More into the subject of why we duel than how to duel."
"Because it's fun!" Syrus said excitedly. Yuko smiled sweetly at his response.
"From South Academy James Crocodile Cook!"
"Call me Jim," A cowboy hated boy with a fake crocodile strapped to his back...oh wait.
"Is that a real crocodile!?" Rose yelled in shock. "Oh my Ra that's amazing!"
"South Academy is just ... weird," Alexis said not really knowing what else to say.
"Well it's in Australia right?" Yuko asked. "I hear that place is super weird as a country."
"And finally from West Academy we have Axel Brodie and Professor Thelonious Viper!"
"...Thelonious...Viper," Rose blinked as she watched the absolute unit of a man take the stage with another boy who had muscles rivaling Hassleberry and a sleeveless vest and red shirt.
"A thousand yen says he's up to no good." Yuko muttered.
"-So why don't we skip over the pleasantries and get right down to business," Viper said, making them realize they missed most of his speech. "Now let's kick off the year with a little exhibition match."
Rose groaned and with a roll yote herself into her own shadow to teleport to the stage, sending everyone who hadn't seen her powers yet into a small panic. "I already know you're picking me," She said, bringing her duel disk out of a portal.
Viper glared. "Yes, you will be facing Jesse Anderson."
"Yay!" Jesse said smiling. "This duel is gonna be a regular hoot!"
"Before you go," Viper said smiling. "Hold out your arms," The two compled and soon two bands were locked onto their wrist.
"What are these?" Rose asked glaring at Viper with a warning tone, everyone could already see her shadow writing beneath her.
"A little welcoming gift," Viper said vaguely before a tendril of darkness shot out and destroyed the bands.
"Nope, not happening," Rose said as Hassleberry started to stand up.
"Come on you two, Sarge looks like she's about to snap," He said to Yuko and Syrus.
"I've been waiting for a chance to pull off my GLADoS impression." Yuko chuckled, and the three started fast walking to the stage to join Rose at her side.
"Ms. Warren," Sheppard said with a glare, Crowler and Bonaparte quickly hid behind a nearby curtain. "That was incredibly rude, Professor Viper is a guest here and I trust him."
Rose looked at him like he was insane. "D-Did you not hear what happened last year?" Rose asked, nearly shaking in anger.
"To make a long story short," Yuko said, stepping in so Rose wouldn't explode. "We basically took down a cult with guerrilla warfare. If you think we're going to go through some Portal bullcrap right after that, you're sorely mistaken."
"Yeah what do these bands even do?" Hassleberry asked, picking up the broken band.
"If you must know," Viper said glaring. "They measure your energy, dueling spirit, and vitals, as well as give readings about your strategy, dueling ability, etc," He explained. "They will be used in what I call survival duels, where the ones with the lowest readings will be expelled."
Rose's face went blank as the Vietnam flashbacks of first year passed over her at the word 'expelled'. When she returned she found Viper strung up in the rafters and the student body was looking at her in fear. "I'm sorry I blacked out due to sheer rage, what happened?"
"You went on autopilot, I'd say." Yuko said. "How you still managed to make constrictors knots while doing it is a mystery though."
"Oh well," Rose said looking at the students. "Look no one has to put those bands on," She explained. "If you're forced to come to me and I'll get it off for you," She said spinning on her heel to face Sheppard. "You left us last year to fend for ourselves, we stepped up to fix it, we're in charge now," She said firmly gesturing to herself and the other three.
"This is our swamp now." Yuko agreed.
"Yeah sorry sir," Hassleberry said shrugging. "I've dealt with enough stuff and I've only been here a year."
"I nearly died!" Syrus stomped. "Twice!"
"And if need be, we'll try our tactics again. I hate to make this threat, but we can't seem to have a normal school year for five minutes." Yuko said.
"Yeah," Rose said finally calming down. "Ok, come on Jesse," She said smiling. "We're not gonna let this...interaction sour the show," She said, and with a wave teleported everyone in the room to the arena. "So now lets duel!"
"Well let's go then!" Jesse yelled activating his duel disk. "Show me what you got, don't take it easy on me now."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Rose said drawing her first card. "I play 'E-Emergency Call' to add an 'Elemental Hero' to my hand, now I'll summon 'Elemental Hero Stratos' (1800/300) and use his second effect to add another 'HERO' to my hand," She said grabbing the card. "Now I'll use 'Polymerization' to fuse 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' and 'Burstinatrix' to form 'Elemental Hero Nova Master' (2600/2100)!" She yelled as her flaming knight appeared on the field. "Now I'll set one card and end my turn."
"Well that was quite a turn," Jesse said smiling.
"She's getting better at this, though I say that as if she was ever bad." Yuko said.
"She must have gotten a good first hand." Syrus agreed.
"This is gonna be a quick one," Hassleberry said leaning back.
"Well then," Jesse said drawing a card. "I play 'Crystal Bond'" He said playing a card that looked like him petting Ruby and making everyone aww in adorableness. "Now I can add a 'Crystal Beast' to my hand, and set one on the field as a continuous spell card," He explained grabbing the card and setting one on the field, that became a Ruby gemstone. "Now come on out 'Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger' (1600/1000)!" He yelled as a white tiger with a topaz necklace appeared on the field. "Now I'll set a card end my turn."
"To combine a glittering gemstone...and the perfect predator...what talk of madness is this?!" Yuko said, hamming it up.
"Yuko, I think you're taking the name a bit too seriously." Syrus said.
Rose glared as she drew her card. "I play 'Miracle Fusion' and banish 'Elemental Hero Sparkman' and 'Burstinatrix' to create 'Elemental Hero The Shining' (2600/2100)," She said as her monster appeared on the field. "Now he gains 300 for each banished 'Elemental Hero' (Shining ATK: 2600-3200) 'Stratos' attack 'Topaz Tiger'!"
"I activate 'Crystal Conclave'!" Jesse yelled as his Tiger was destroyed. (Jesse LP: 8000-7800) "Now once per turn when a 'Crystal Beast' is destroyed I can summon another from my deck, come on out 'Sapphire Pegasus' (1800/1200) and now my Tiger goes to the spell and trap card zone," He explained as a Topaz gem appeared on the field. "And because of Pegasus I can special summon another 'Crystal Beast' to my spell and trap card zone," a large Amethyst appeared on the field.
Rose clicked her tongue. "Go 'Nova Master' attack 'Sapphire Pegasus' (Jesse LP: 7800-7000) and now I get to draw a card, finally 'The Shining' will attack you directly (Jesse LP: 7000-3800) now I'll end my turn."
"What the actual shit is happening?" Yuko asked as a Sapphire appeared on the field.
"Looks like his monsters go to the back row when they're destroyed by battle." Hassleberry answered.
"What kind of world do we live in where this is a mechanic?" Syrus asked. "Who would do this. Who would DO this?!"
"My move," Jesse said drawing a card. "And now I activate 'Ancient City-Rainbow Ruins'!" He yelled playing the field spell, which turned the entire arena into a colosseum with a rainbow above them. "Now it gets effects equal to the number of 'Crystal Beasts' I have in my spell zone."
"Oh find me in the Alps," Rose muttered.
"Go 4+ effect, I draw one card," He said drawing a card. "Now I'll use the effect of 'Crystal Conclave', by sending it to the graveyard I can target 1 'Crystal Beast' card and 1 other card on the field and return them to the hand, so come back 'Sapphire' and say goodbye to your facedown," He smirked as Rose returned the card. "Now I play 'Sapphire Pegasus' (1800/1200) to play 'Cobalt Eagle', use 'Crystal Beacon' to special summon 'Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth' (1700/1600), and normal summon 'Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise' (600/2000) now I'll just set two cards and that's it for me."
"All this elaborate setup, what's he planning?" Yuko asked.
"With a veritable jewelry store out there, anything could happen next." Syrus agreed.
Rose grit her teeth as she drew her card, this was a trap and she knew it, but she had to do it. "I play 'HERO's Bond' to special summon 'Shadow Mist' (1000/1500) to get a 'Change' quick-play spell card and 'Blazeman' (1200/1800) to get a 'Polymerization' as well, now I'll set a card and send 'The Shinning' to attack your 'Mammoth'!"
Jesse smirked. "Go 'Rainbow Gravity'!" He yelled. "When I have 7 'Crystal Beast' cards with different names on my field or in my graveyard I can special summon 'Rainbow Dragon' (4000/0) from my deck!" He yelled as a giant rainbow colored dragon appeared behind him in a flurry of rainbow lights.
"Oh," Rose muttered as her card destroyed Jesse's, barely noticing the 'Rainbow Ruins' effect to halve the damage (Jesse LP: 3200-2450). "Fuck."
"What is that?!" Syrus exclaimed.
"It's a 4K beatstick is what it is!" Hassleberry answered.
"That's a huge bitch!" Yuko yelled. The crowd oohed and ahhed, and some were just as stunned.
"I'll also use 'Crystal Pair' to prevent you from damaging me this turn," Jesse smirked. "You done?"
Rose blinked as she looked at her hand. "Yeah I'll send 'Nova Master' to destroy your 'Mammoth' and get a card, I'll set one more card and end my turn."
"Well then," Jesse said drawing his card. "I'll use 'Rainbow Ruins' to draw another card, and summon 'Ruby Carbuncle' (300/300) and when this little guy is summoned I can bring out more from my spell zone, so I'll bring out 'Amethyst Cat' and 'Topaz Tiger' giving me 4," He said smiling. "And now I'll use 'Rainbow Dragon's' effect, I can send them all to the graveyard to add another 1000 attack points for each!" (Rainbow Dragon ATK: 4000-8000).
"Oh boy," Rose muttered.
Yuko rubbed her eyes, looked back to the field, then rubbed them again. "I'm seeing this correct right? 8000 ATK?" She asked.
"Either that or we've both lost it!" Syrus answered.
"It'll be fine. I'm sure Sargent has a plan to counter this move." Hassleberry said.
"'Rainbow Dragon' attack 'Shadow Mist' Rainbow Refraction!" 'Rainbow Dragon' reared back and fired a giant multicolored beam at Rose's HERO.
"Go 'Masked Change'!" Rose yelled as the attack hit. "I send 'The Shining' to the graveyard to summon 'Masked Hero Koga' (2500/1800) and when 'The Shining' goes to the graveyard I get back two banished 'Elemental Heroes'!" (Rose LP: 8000-1000).
"Just by the skin of her teeth!" Yuko winced.
"Why did she let it hit?" Hassleberry asked.
"I don't know what she's planning, but it's gotta be good if she's willing to risk it all like that." Yuko said.
Alexis gulped as she wrung her skirt, Rose was in trouble, and at this point it was leaning towards Jesse's win. "Come on baby," She muttered.
"I use 'Hero Signal' to summon 'Elemental Hero Woodsman' (1000/2000), and 'Shadow Mist's' effect to add a Level 4 'HERO' to my hand."
Jesse smiled. "Good job, but now I'll play 'Crystal Blessing' to add 'Ruby' and 'Sapphire' back to my spell zone, and end my turn, you're up." (Rainbow Dragon ATK: 8000-4000)
Rose drew, then she smiled. "And now it's over, I use 'Woodsman' to get a 'Polymerization' and then I'll activate it!"
"I'll use 'Rainbow Ruins' to negate it," Jesse smirked.
"Ok," Rose said with a big grin. "I use my second to fuse 'Ocean' and 'Woodsman' to make 'Elemental Hero Terra Firma'!" (2500/2000).
"Nice monster, but he's not strong enough," Jesse said looking Rose's field over.
"He doesn't need to be when I use 'Koga's' effect, by banishing a 'HERO' I can reduce the attack of one monster by the banished monsters, so I banish 'The Shining' to reduce 'Rainbow Dragons' attack by 2600!" (Rainbow Dragon ATK: 4000-1400).
"Oh shoot," Jesse said nervously.
"I told you." Hassleberry said.
"All right Rose! Kick him to the curb!" Yuko cheered.
"Great turnaround!" Syrus added.
"Now I'll send 'Nova Master' to the grave to add his attack to 'Terra Firma' (Terra Firma ATK: 2500-5100), attack 'Rainbow Dragon' with Terra Firma Impact!" (Jesse LP: 2450-0). "And that's the game," She panted clearly worn out.
"That was amazing!" Jesse said excitedly trying to grab Rose in a hug, who simply left inside her shadow before anyone could reach her. "Oh, well then," Jesse said confused.
"Something's not right." Yuko thought. "How I didn't notice it right away I'm not sure, but Rose isn't right. I have to ask her about that. Best case is that she's just in a mood, but I don't want to think about the worst case…"