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This is a non-canon chapter that doesn't follow any current events of the story's narrative, it's just something sweet and wholesome for these two dweebs.

A Second Chance for the Soulless

Special Chapter: A Gift of the Magi-stus

It was an awkward day for two duelists on this bitingly cold afternoon: the former vampire Camula and the timid scatterbug Orion.

They were doing their usual routine during a weekday, skipping a lecture-ridden class to hang out and explore what the island has to offer, but instead of friendly banter and warm cheer, the two were as cold as the frosted grass and leaves.

When one tried to speak, they retreated without uttering a single word. When one tried to look at the other, they would dart back to the ground. This tension was not unearned, though neither student intended for this to happen.

It was a special holiday in Duel Academy, where students gave gifts to those who impacted them the most.

Neither Camula nor Orion knew of it until Chancellor Sheppard announced it in the academy. The pair was too distracted by Camula's quest to revive her vampiric soul to trifle with such an occasion.

So not only did they miss it, but they didn't have a gift to give each other, resulting in an incredibly awkward afternoon, especially after seeing other students give gifts to one another.

So when the two met outside of class, they exchanged their apologies for their lack of foresight on the holiday. Orion did the usual, bowing profusely and clumsily spilling whatever his belt carried all over the floor. Camula only scrunched her nose and glared back, hiding her shame through a scowl as she silently cursed herself for her selfishness.

This mishap created a tense awkwardness between the two, a stiff chill in the air that made their skin crawl.

As they walked in silence. There was only one thing in both of their minds.

"I need to get a gift."

But the next hurdle in their quest lies before them: what should they get?

Orion glanced over to Camula to notice something that she may need. But instead of thinking up potential gifts, he began to notice things that he admired about her.

Camula composed herself like a queen, refined and elegant, full of grace, yet underneath this noblewoman's demeanor was a heart full of tenacity. He noticed her striking eyes, deep in a shade of amber that shone with conviction. He glanced at her beautiful green hair and how it trailed down the back of her neck like an evergreen waterfall. While it fluttered from the breeze, it did not falter, determined to keep going forward despite the harsh winds ahead. It matched Camula perfectly.

Her hair...

'Cammy must spend hours getting her hair all so proper and pretty. I'll get her something that'll make it easier for her.' Orion promised.

As Orion was distracted, Camula was doing an investigation of her own, trying to devise a gift that would be worthy enough for Orion. But as she gazed upon the boy, she noticed things she admired about him.

Orion was shaped and built like a statue, tall and strong, yet he had a warmth of gentleness that his heart of gold held onto. His eyes were a deep purple, a royal color for such a humble person. She then glanced at his tattered shawl. The raggedy mantle wavered and shivered from the light breeze, yet it remained firm despite the chilling winds ahead. It matched Orion perfectly.

His shawl...

'That mess of rags is not good enough for Orion. I shall find a replacement for him," Camula promised.

"I have to go!" They both announced suddenly. There was a pause between the two as they both felt their faces heat up, only realizing now that they both caught the other staring.

"I n-need to..." Camula looked away before she came up with a flimsy excuse, "Go edit my deck back at my lodging."

"O-Of course! and I need to..." Like his friend, Orion stammered out a weak reason to leave, "G-Go bake a pie,"

Neither questioned the other as they parted ways. When they were far enough, they sighed in relief, wholly believing the other fell for their little white lie.

As Camula walked eastward, she could only growl, "How am I to find a tailor on this godforsaken island?"

On the opposite path, Orion pondered what he could do, "H-Hmmm, I c-can't just b-buy it off from s-some random obelisk girl..."

Camula walked through the hallways of the academy's main building, hoping to find something to help her on this quest, but to no avail. The doors that littered the hallway walls only led to empty lecture halls, storage closets, and maintenance rooms.

"Damn it, I'm wandering around aimlessly while Orion is baking something for me..." Camula cursed herself.

"Even as I failed him...He's still being so kind to me..." Camula mumbled sorrowfully.

But when all hope seemed lost, something caught Camula's eye. A little sign was plastered over one of the doors, decorated in wire spools and art pieces made of thread needles.

She squinted at what it said.

Duel Academy Sewing Club

She curved a brow, befuddled by the discovery, but not wanting to tempt this streak of good luck; Camula entered inside.

It was organized like a standard lecture hall in the academy, but on several of the desks were sewing machines, all sputtering and churning out long pieces of woven felt as a group of Slifer Red Boys was using them.

A small one with a chalk-white face, and a streak of bright orange hair, a leader of sorts, brought several rolls of fabric to his fellow buddies before he guided them through a rough patch or an uneven thread.

He got a glance over the bewildered Camula. Immediately, the boy's face soured, seemingly insulted by Camula's presence.

Camula only glared back, already sensing upcoming hostility from this boy and his motley crew.

"Hey boys! Take five!" The room suddenly went quiet as all the sewing machines stopped.

The rest of the Slifer Red boys exited their seats as they joined their leader's side. They bore the same symbol as their boss, the head of Slifer the Sky Dragon, stitched in their jacket in a thread of gold.

"Name's Wayan Crochet, We're the Slifer Seamstresses, and this is our club. What do you want?" He demanded crankily.

"You lookin' to join the club? Well, you can't, because we don't accept Obelisk Blues or Girls!" Wayan declared before he let out a snicker, proud that he put Camula in her place.

Camula couldn't care less about the pipsqueak's taunts. Not looking for trouble, Camula tried her best to be polite, "I do not mean to interrupt nor impede on whatever you're doing. I need one of you to make a shawl for a friend of mine."

Wayan scoffed before folding his arms, "Oh, look at that,boys! A high and mighty obelisk girlie is asking something from us 'Slifer Slackers!'" Wayan's gang laughed at his words.

"Look sweetie, with the holidays going on, I have a bunch of orders...Go on then, tempt me with an offer," the small Wayan was enjoying whatever authority he had over Camula, milking it for all it was worth.

"I have my deck, I was given some rare cards that I can give," Camula ordered coolly, not caring about the boy's arrogance.

"Haha, you got to offer something better than that..." The shrimpy club president got a glance at Camula's hair.

"Hey, your hair is pretty nice..." He said with a gross-looking grin. "And we got to make a wig for the chancellor..." Wayan's boys laughed.

Camula cringed at the boy's suggestion, "You gross little shrimp..." But Camula sighed, remembering what needed to be done. "But so be it. I shall cut some of my hair."

"Eh, since you insulted me, you got to beat me in a duel, too!" Wayan's gang member quickly fetched his duel disk.

Camula seethed but eventually relented, accepting the terms if it meant an agreement. "Fine! I shall trounce you in a single turn!" She declared in a shout, fuming red.

Wayan's club members fetched his duel disk, cloaked in a colorful crochet that layered over the device like a spider web. Meanwhile, Camula got a shabby old one.

"DUEL!"

Camula's LP: 4000

Wayan's LP: 4000

"It's time to send you back to knitting class! Go, Cannon Soldier!" A machine of plates and grasping claws came to the field in a flash of light. A long-snouted artillery cannon attached to the machine's back leveled to Camula's gaze, ready to fire.

Cannon Soldier

DARK, Machine, Level 4, ATK: 1400, DEF: 1200

"And I'm going to blast you now! Boom!" The cannon-mounted machine fired out a single explosive round over to Camula's way before it faded to dust, sacrificing itself to inflict damage to Camula

Camula's LP: 3600

"You wasted your cannon soldier just to deal scratch damage...You call yourself a seamstress, yet you duel like a broken pinwheel..." Camula growled, unimpressed.

This got Wayan and the rest of his gang members to falter, "Well...Well I wasn't done yet! I then use my monster reincarnation!" A wispy claw etched out of Wayan's graveyard, holding onto the recently discarded monster. "I'll discard my giga-tech wolf to get my cannon soldier back to my hand. How do you like that girlie!?" Wayan boasted as he grinned ear-to-ear, proud of his skill.

Camula. furrowed her brow, unimpressed by the club president. Wayan's fellow Slifer Seamstresses thought otherwise "Hehehe! Girlie! You tell 'im boss!" They cheered their boss on.

"Yeah! I am the boss! I throw down two face-downs and end my turn!" Wayan boasted.

"I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to goad me into attacking you directly..." Camula pointed out as she started her turn.

"Too bad your plan is predictable. I activate Twin Twisters!" A pair of cyclones roared into the field. They scooped up Wayan's cards from where they lay and then shattered under the crushing gale.

"No! My Sakurestu Armor! My Magic Cylinder! They're both gone!" Wayan wailed in shock.

An arrogant smirk etched out of the corner of Camula's lips, "Predictable, as I said," She scoffed before she discarded a card to pay for Twin Twister's cost.

"Whatever you...lemon-head!" Wayan replied, coming up with the weak insult on the spot.

"...My hair isn't even lemon-colored, you fool," Camula pointed out. "But it doesn't matter, for I'm going to end you in a single strike," She claimed confidently.

"Hah! As if! You're nothing but a girlie who can't duel!" Wayan futilely taunted back.

"Then I shall prove it to you...I activate Book of Life!" A stone slab imprinted with a sun symbol rose from the ground. The ancient book shimmered with an aura of gold before something much darker took its place.

A pair of long, grasping hands was the first thing that Wayan could see amidst the darkness, its fingers riddled with thorns. Attached to these fingers was a lingering shadow that bore goat horns, soulless eyes, and a toothy maw.

"By banishing the giga-tech wolf you discarded, I shall summon the Despair from the Dark that I discarded!"

Despair from the Dark

DARK, Level 8, Zombie, ATK: 2800, DEF: 3000

"And since that doesn't use my normal summon, I shall bring out my Vampire Lady!" Bats swarmed the field. When they cleared away, a noblewoman took their place, her skin a deathly green and her dress a royal purple.

"Now, put this fool in his place, my monsters!" Camula ordered. Her monsters obeyed. The first strike was from the shadow; it slammed its fists down upon Wayan, forcing the shrimpy thug to shield himself as the claws phased through him like a dreadful spirit.

Wayan's LP: 1200

"Wait...Wait, hold on-" Wayan tried to plead, but it was too late. He screeched and cried as the lady vampire sunk her fangs into Wayan, delivering the final blow to this easy duel.

Wayan's LP: 0

"Hmph, that was child's play. Now honor your word. I shall cut my hair in exchange for a shawl for my friend," Camula ordered.

The defeated Wayan could only stammer as a response, shocked by his sudden loss. "B-but I had a plan...I w-was going to destroy you next turn!" He whined in protest.

"It was never meant to be. You've lost, now bear the dignity to accept it!" Camula responded as she scoffed at the boy.

"Hey!" One of Wayan's gang members shrilled, "He didn't say anything about us!" Another one of Wayan's crew joined in, a plump, brutish type that contrasted with the skinny and short Wayan, "Yeah, he said you got to beat the entire club to get us to work for you!"

The four other members of Wayan's club got out of their seats and scrambled for their duel disks.

Camula rolled her eyes and sighed, "I don't have time for this...But so be it. I'll trounce you all like how I trounced your shrimp of a boss." Camula reactivated her duel disk.

"DUEL!"

"B-But I d-don't have that much for the set..." Orion protested meekly, opening up his frog-themed coin purse to show Dr. Crowler his scraps of crumpled bills and coins.

The foppish Dr. Crowler clicked his tongue, "What a shame, then begone, you are no use for me," he shooed Orion away with the flick of his hair.

"W-Wait h-hold on! I'm a b-baker, I have some cookies. Maybe that will sweeten the deal? hehe," Orion offered with an awkward chuckle.

"Hah! You really think I want to eat your sugar bombs!" Crowler replied with a cackle before he flicked his hand away.

"Although..." Crowler then looked at Orion up and down, sizing him up. "Their is something that could afford my hairbrush set."

Orion curved his brow. "I d-don't know what you're..." He then realized what Alyssa was talking about. He glanced down at his shawl, not the rag itself but the thing that connected the ends; it was a silver clasp. it glimmered like a diamond in the rough that is Orion's dirty brown shawl.

"That's what I'm saying you slacker," he clicked his tongue again. "I want that clasp; it'll look good on my collar," Crowler insisted as he smiled to himself,

Orion hesitated momentarily, "T-This, it's f-from my mom...But if it means making C-Cammy happy after a crummy day, then it's a deal," Orion agreed with a tiny nod as he unclasped his shawl, rendering the flimsy scarf as no better than a dishrag.

Before Crowler could snatch the clasp, he paused and pulled back his hand, "Ugh! You're that brat that follows that vampire around!" he screeched, disgusted by this new

"F-Former V-Vampire professor crowler..." Orion corrected.

"Whatever! I'm not just giving my beauty set to someone who tried to kill me! If you can beat me in a duel, then we can make a deal!" Crowler declared as he scuffled for his duel board that lumbered in his desk.

"T-That f-feels kind of unfair...B-But okay," Orion relented as he grabbed for his duel disk.

"Unfair!? You should be lucky that I'm giving you a chance to win a personal item from Professor Crowler!" He fumed and jumped out of his seat, duel board in hand and ready to fight.

"DUEL!"

Camula's LP: 4000

Slifer Seamstress's LP: 2400

Camula pinched the bridge of her nose. She has already trounced three of these Slifer Seamstresses, and thankfully, she's almost done. There was only one left, and, like the others, he was as challenging as their boss.

She tiredly unveiled her trap card, hoping it would end the duel. "I activate my rising energy to give my Double Coston an extra fifteen hundred attack points, destroy this fool's little wolf!" The conjoined spirits surged in a fiery haze before they crashed into the Slifer Seamstress' giga-tech wolf, shattering the mechanical wolf into scraps, ending the duel in another total victory for Camula.

Slifer Seamstress LP: 0

Winner: Camula!

The last remaining Slifer Seamstress bore the same expression of shock, just like Wayan, and, like his leader, he slumped like a deflated balloon and sulked back to the rest of his whimpering kind.

"It's finished!" Camula declared as she scowled at the cowering crew, "Now, get me some scissors and get to sewing!" Camula demanded.

The scrawny and wimpy Wayan muttered some orders to his club members before quivering to a sewing machine, "Yes, Ma'am," Was all the boy could squeak out as he put his head down and got to work.

"My friend is baking me something special for this holiday, so I want this to be just as grand! Got it?!" Camula barked out more orders.

"Y-Yes Ma'am!" Wayan yelped out.

"And what are you four fools doing?" Camula redirected her anger to the rest of the terrified Slifer Seamstresses. "I want this shawl to be the best thing that came out of this silly club, so get to it!" She pointed a thumb to the rest of the inactive machines.

"Y-Yes Ma'am!" The group tripped over each other before they joined in on the work.

"Now..." Camula sighed as she stroked a pair of fingers between her green locks. Her beautiful, long green hair took a long time to grow as immaculate as it is now, and it'll take a long time to grow back. Since returning to the living world, she has lost many things: her powers, soul, and dress. Her long hair is the last trace of her former self. Will she cut it off for the sake of some gift?

Camula shook her head, "...No, Orion's been so kind and sweet to me, I will not let my vanity get in the way." the woman then scuffled through the club supplies in search of a pair of scissors.

The duel at Crowler's office was underway. By the Professor's side was an ancient gear golem. The machine shambled in place, ready to attack at their master's command. Far behind the Professor was a giant castle empowering the Giant with its presence.

Crowler's LP: 3400

Orion's LP: 1700

Orion's field was not nearly as impressive, sporting only a defending gokipon and a single face-down card.

"My word young man! You duel like you're from dueling preschool! End your turn so I can end you!" Crowler taunted as he let out a cackle.

"I-I've seen Cammy put you down easily...To bad..." Orion brushed a hand through his hair, and the scattered green locks curved into a waning crescent, partially covering Orion's face. As his hair changed, so did the rest; his posture steadied, his eyes sharpened, and his voice cleared.

"This won't be any different!" Orion declared, now fully in his showdown persona.

Crowler could only curve a brow at this transformation, unsure of what he had awakened.

"Oh, big whoop, you fixed your hair. I doubt any roach you have in your deck could defeat my golems!" Crowler challenged before he stretched his arms to his sides, presenting the challenge before his opponent.

"Are you sure? How about this! I'll give my Danipon Bio-Insect Armor!" The puffball roach suddenly fell to its weedy little legs as it struggled to wear its new cannon-mounted armor, too small to lift the chitin battle armor on its shoulders.

"Then I'll use my spell card! Cocoon of Ultra Evolution! I tribute my Danipon to special summon from my deck!" the armored insect transformed into a golden cocoon.

"Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth!" Moth wings sprouted out of the cocoon, their sinew seeping in yellow ichor. The monster escaped from its silken cage with a flap of its wings, revealing an amber-horned moth with corrosive scales and bone-shattering fangs.

Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth

Level 8, EARTH, ATK: 3500, DEF: 3000

"Haha! That's it? What a load of nonsense!" Crowler believed as he dismissed the monster. 'Little does he know...I have a limiter removal as my face-down. This stuttering twerp is as good as done!' The professor schemed with a devious grin on his face.

"I attack your golem with Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth! Perfect Moth Hurricane!" The moth began to flap its wings. It started slow, like a spring breeze, then it got faster, and faster until a blistering hurricane formed over the duel. The crushing gale yanked Crowler's golem off the ground, throwing the machine high up into the air in a twirling spin.

"Then I'll use this limiter removal! Now my Golem's attack is doubled!" Crowler revealed with a laugh. The Golem suddenly dropped to the ground, now strong enough to withstand the monster's attack. It then threw a fist at the moth, its mallet-like hand driving through the wind with its new-found surge of energy.

Ancient Gear Golem's ATK: 3200 - 6400

"I said this wouldn't be any different...And I never lie! Fortissimo!" Orion revealed as he threw his hand to the sky.

Pianissimo

Quick-Play Spell

Target 1 face-up monster you control; this turn, that face-up monster's original ATK becomes 100, also that face-up monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects.

The golem suddenly dropped to the ground in a groveling , weakened by Orion's spell. It planted its hands to the ground, hoping to steady itself against the wind, but it wasn't enough. The golem slammed into a wall, utterly crushed by the moth's attack.

Ancient Gear Golem's ATK 6400 - 100

Crowler's LP: 0

Winner: Orion!

"No! What?! How!? This can't be happening!" Crowler started to pull his hair out as he lost.

"But it did...S-Sorry!" Orion bowed apologetically, messing up his hair and returning to his usual self.

"Agh! Fine! Take my stupid brush set, I don't need it anyway!" Crowler grumbled before he tossed an ornate box over to Orion's way. Orion yelped as he tried to catch it, almost landing on the ground after the box juggled in and out of his hands.

"Thank you C-Crowler, C-Cammy is g-going to love this! oh wait! Here is the clasp! " Orion gave Crowler his silver brooch before he left his office.

"It's Doctor Crowler, you stuttering dolt!" Crowler screeched back, still salty about the loss.

Having gained a gift for the price of something they hold dear, the two duelists would meet again, this time by the rusty gates of the Obelisk Girl's dorm at sunset. The sun shimmered into the horizon, the bright blue sky blooming into a shining orange.

From the west, fumbling through the wilderness, came Orion, his dirt-stained shawl tied around his waist instead of slumped over his shoulders. Shaking in his hands was a well-wrapped gift, wrapped in gold and red and tied with a big glittery bow.

From the east, behind the gate, stood Cammy, suspiciously wearing a cowl, a little extra from the Slifer Seamstress she cowed them to make. Stashed under her shoulder was a crumpled mass of papers, kept together by a thin white string.

The gifts couldn't be any more different, but they bore the same sacrifice the two duelists made to make the other happy.

"Ah Orion, there you are. I'm glad you got my message," Camula smiled and greeted her friend.

"Yes...But I m-must say that I'm s-sorry!" Orion replied with his usual bow.

"I l-lied t-to you...I wasn't b-baking a pie..." he admitted sorrowfully.

There was a brief pang of disappointment in Camula, for she did crave a delectable treat, but she ignored her petty desires and raised a hand to the boy, motioning to him that there was no harm done, "You know that I like to lie, you are forgiven," She soothed calmly.

"Besides, I wanted to give you something for a change, here," She stiffly handed Orion the crumpled package, looking away as he did so. She was unsure if Orion would like the new shawl she gave him, so she looked elsewhere to avoid any potential disappointment.

"O-Oh, w-wow... No one gives me anything, at least without s-something in return." It was Orion's turn to shake his head as he blocked out the bad memories. Camula frowned, it was unfair that life had treated Orion so harshly, but that gave her some hope that he would appreciate the gift. But just in case...

"Then you will treasure it, will you not? Regardless of its quality?" Camula questioned, silently hoping for his approval.

Orion gave Camula a comforting smile, "If it's from you, Cammy...I'll treasure it always!" He declared as he winked.

Orion's antics made Camula blush, her cheeks flaring a deep shade of red, "Just open your gift, you fool," She mumbled back as she folded her arms.

With steady hands, Orion carefully opened the gift, unloosening the string that kept the gift together. The crumpled ball of papers instantly unraveled, revealing a new cloak for Orion to wear. It was like Orion's original shawl, a big mantle that covered the shoulders, upper chest, and forearms while ending in two tails trailing down by each shoulder, but instead of worn rugged leather, it was made of silk, tinted in ash black. It was the perfect replacement for Orion's old cloak.

Orion's eyes started to tear up. "I-I..." He bowed to Cammy, not in apology, but in gratitude, "Thank y-you s-so much! I love it!"

"You do?!" Camula exclaimed. Camula then squealed for joy, "Hah! I knew you would love it! Damn, I'm good!" Not wanting to hold it in anymore, Camula cupped her hands together and skipped around in joy, like a dainty schoolgirl.

Camula then realized how she was acting. After a quick, awkward cough, Camula stood straight and cleaned herself up. "I mean...I'm glad my efforts were not in vain." She claimed with a smug smile, coolly regaining her composure.

Orion smirked at Camula's reaction, but it quickly devolved into a somber frown. "B-But unfortunately, Camula...I can't wear this...I d-don't have a c-clasp anymore," He said as he pointed to his old shawl, now poorly tied to his waist like a tasset.

Camula blinked as if she didn't hear Orion right. "Excuse Me? Why would you give away something so vital!?" Camula soured back into her usual scowls and glares, annoyed at the revelation.

"Do you know how many Seamstresses I had to destroy to get that?" She growled. Orion looked at Camula, confused, "S-Seamstresses?"

"Five!" Camula flashed her hand, "I had to beat five of them! All in a row! They all had the same deck and the same strategy! It was droll and tedious!" She ranted.

"I-It's just...I w-wanted to give you something too, but I had to trade my clasp for it," Orion murmured before he sheepishly handed Camula his gift.

"Hmph, Your gift better be grander than mine, or so help me..." Camula then tore the gift open.

What came next was another blush on Camula's cheeks. It was a beautifully ornate collection of hairbrushes made of honey-yellow ox bone, all neatly stowed away in a box of ivory white and gold hinges.

"...D-Do you l-like it?" Orion asked hopefully.

Camula only gave Orion a face full of sorrow as she suddenly took off her hood. Orion blushed as Camula revealed her hair, once as long as an evergreen waterfall, now cut just down to her chin, her long front bang chopped into a thin veil covering her forehead.

"The damn seamstresses forced me to cut my hair down to get you that shawl..." Camula explained somberly.

"So we got e-each other gifts t-that n-neither of us c-could use huh..." Orion mumbled, dejected by the outcome.

"...We gave our prized possessions in exchange for the other..." Camula realized.

"Orion..."

Orion perked up, "Cammy?" before he knew it, Orion was wrapped in a hug.

"We sacrificed a lot for each other...Let's celebrate it..." Was all she could say as she buried her face into Orion's shoulder.

Orion could only smile as he returned the hug. While the shawl and combs are useless, it doesn't matter, for they symbolize something else: that their bond is greater than their own treasures.

The embrace lasted for moments, but it felt like centuries for these two duelists who sacrificed much for the other.