Hey all...sorry for missing my monthly update. Reason? Well, the holiday rush for one. Hope you had all had a happy Thanksgiving, to those that celebrate it. Another reason was getting this chapter to gel just right...I had to literally work on this several times before I decided to combine all of my ideas into one on this.

Hope you all enjoy!

The next few days after the quarter finals was to rest and relax. Ten of the sixteen that remained were reworking their decks. Sartorius, Zane, Ian, Jerome, Amelia and Aster were not, thinking their decks were perfect. But despite the primary storm going still, many smaller storms were brewing.

One such storm was all of the actions of Edgar finally coming back to bite him in the ass.

EODGX

"Probation!?"

The nasally voice cried out in horror, many of those inside clutching their ears. Once he was done squealing, they uncovered their ears. Sheppard nodded, his face grim.

"Yes, and that is Seto Kaiba being generous. Edgar, you nearly made a MOCKERY of this school with your schemes! We do not just make the next generation of professional duelists and so called stars. We make the next generation of card designers, duel disk makers, computer programmers, and professors!" Sheppard snarled. "Allowing the SoL into power, trying to remove the red dorm...you should be glad that you are still keeping your job! But as of right now, you will be a TEACHER ONLY. No more mad schemes to turn Central into a circus. I hear one more scheme...one more plan to remove the Red Dorm...I remove you."

Everyone knew Sheppard to be a jolly man...but now they were seeing a side that he kept under lock and key. Sheppard was furious with Edgar's hare-brained schemes and the consequences that have come from it. Edgar wisely kept quiet. His uncle sighed, rubbing his head.

Where had he gone wrong with the boy?

EODGX

Of course, with everything bad happening to bad people, good things were happening to good people. Case in point, Fiona and Miles. The pair were sitting under a tree, Fiona playing with his hair. The two looked out at the sea, not saying a thing, just letting their actions speak the words. Miles was full of regret for the things he had said to Fiona in his time in the SoL. Sensing this, Fiona looked down at him.

"I don't blame you, Miles. Sartorius had you say those things to try and break my spirit. All it did was galvanize me to save you."

"I know...but I feel I should make it up to you...and I know how." Miles said, sitting up.

Fiona watched him rummage around in his backpack, confused. He came back with a small box. He walked back over, kneeling down on both of his knees. He opened the box to show Fiona what it was.

A promise ring.

Fiona gasped, seeing the small band. She picked it up and slipped it on, kissing him deeply.

"I will, someday, Miles." Fiona said, smiling. "I'll get you yours later on. For now...let's just continue to enjoy this day."

Miles nodded, settling back down, but this time, he had her head in his lap. Unawares that two other couples had done the same thing they had just done.

EODGX

Elsewhere, Jasmine and Mindy were with Alexis. They told her they wanted to talk. Alexis had a sneaking suspicion about what. She walked with them into the forests near the Red Dorm. Jaden was off getting ready and they had told him it was 'girl talk' which had him going in the other direction faster then a direct attack.

Once they were a good ways away, the two turned to their blonde sister with glares and arms crossed.

"You caused a LOT of pain to Jaden, Lex." Jasmine said, her tone dead.

Alexis winced and looked away in shame. Mindy took over.

"We know you weren't yourself, that it was that fucking Light of Ruin. But that still does not excuse you...Jazz and I are working out where Jaden is gonna be summering. There, you will pay back all that you did to him."

"Yes, yes, I understand! Anything...well...almost anything." Alexis whispered.

The two girls understood what she was getting at and nodded. That was all that they wanted to hear.

EODGX

But not all things were rosy. Another storm was brewing. While the storm wasn't as fierce, it was just as worrying. Syrus was a nervous wreck. Why? The chance on dueling his brother. He knew he had come a long way from the nervous wreck he was back in the first year, but Zane...Zane had changed. He was no longer the same duelist.

He was brutal, harsh and above all, still able to pull off impressive moves. Especially with these Cyberdark monsters he now had.

"Sy?"

The little teen looked up, seeing Jaden. The King sat down, propping up one of his legs.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Jaden asked.

Syrus sighed, pushing up his glasses.

"Its the match-ups tomorrow...I get the feeling I'll be dueling Zane. I'm terrified if that happens. He's nothing like he was last year." Syrus ranted, Jaden just listening.

Zane had gone from respecting others to wanting to demolish them. Gone was his aloof but still loving brother and in its place was that...monster. Syrus wasn't sure his new cards would be enough. That HE wouldn't be enough. Jaden placed a hand on Syrus' shoulder.

"Syrus...you are more then able to handle this. You have something Zane has forgotten. You got friends and family who look after you. You CAN beat him. Trust in your deck, trust in your allies. But most important of all. Trust yourself."

Syrus frowned. Trusting himself was the hardest thing to do. But...he would try. He wanted his old brother back. He would get him to wake up. DMG appeared next to him, concern on her face.

"I know you can do it, Sy! Your brother won't know what hit him!"

Syrus chuckled, hearing his spirit ally. He was grateful for hearing her words of encouragement. He stood up, Jaden watching.

"You're right...I have to trust in myself and my deck. We will win against my bro. He thinks power is the way to go...but no. It takes both power and technique to win."

Syrus looked at Jaden.

"Help me remake my deck to do just that?"

Jaden stood up, smirking.

"I'd be honored to Sy."

The two friends headed back to the Red Dorm, Syrus determined to win his duel against his brother.

EODGX

The next day was electric. The sweet sixteen stood in the main arena, arms crossed for some. Others just stared with arrogant smiles on their faces. As the students and staff poured in, Jason noticed several men and women in suits. He knew right away who they were.

Pro Scouts.

They were clearly looking for new blood for the ring. But as he remembered, the contract would go to the runner ups. Still, they would be here to evaluate talent. Sheppard, Kaiba, and Pegasus walked in then, everyone standing up. After the three ascended to the top of the stands, they turned around.

"Duelists! Students and Professors! We have before us the top Sixteen duelists of the schools! Now we will see who is dueling whom!" Sheppard announced.

Everyone turned to the large Screen. Two boxes appeared with sixteen brackets. Everyone watched as the faces began to appeared running through. Tension was thick, the duelists sweating a little.

It finally landed on a face, showing Jaden. His name appeared in the first bracket. A few moments later, the other box paused on David Rabb. The pair looked at one another, stepping off to the sides.

One by one, the duelists were paired off. Jason got Aster, Sartorius Chazz, Bastion Reggie, Jim Adrian, Jessie Ian, Amelia Jerome. That left only two. And it was the final pair that had everyone murmuring. Syrus stared at the board, both resigned and dreading what was to come.

He and his brother were facing off against one another.

Whoa, not good for Sy. Next chapter will have him and his brother face off, free of the shock collars. It might take some time again so I ask you all be patient with me. Have a safe and happy holidays.