A picture of Ruri appeared with the word WIN in front as Melissa began talking.

"Kurosaki Ruri graces the opening match with her victory!"

Ruri looked down at the ground as she left the stadium, thinking about what had just happened. Crow was taken away. Is that what happens to those who lost?

Brother, Yuto, everyone else, be careful. Ruri wished the best for her comrades. But she already knew that 14 of the other contestants would end up like Crow.

"I was on the edge of my seat at first, but that was a great win!" A man with shades raised his fist out of satisfaction.

"That was amazing!" A woman joined in on the cheering.

"Keep it up, Ruri!" Another person called out to Ruri as she left.

"That Duelist Crow could Duel so well with his manipulation over multiple Special Summons a turn." A fat Tops man in a yellow suit complimented the loser.

"Pff! He's just a Commons!" The person sitting next to him scoffed. "I would rather die than sponsor him."

"It's a good thing that we won't be seeing any of him anymore." A Tops woman in a white dress agreed with the man.

"What a spectacular sight! This is what the Friendship Cup should be! Without a doubt, the City is one! We are all friends!" Melissa cheered as she rose her finger to the sky. Unfortunately for her, that was not the case.

"Crow...he was just taken away like that…" Yuto whispered in his quarters. He got off his couch and walked to the window, which showed him a view of the stadium where Ruri and Crow had just Dueled.

"He won't be staying here anymore is all I know. Remember the council said that you have to keep winning to stay." Yuya reminded Yuto.

"Yeah. I know." Yuto nodded his head. "My question is though…"

"Where was he taken?" Yuya finished for Yuto. He suddenly had a bad thought come to his head. "You don't think he is being taken back to the detention facility, do you?"

Suddenly, Yuya and Yuto heard a key opening his door.

"Our match is next?!" Yuto looked at the door, expecting to see Sam coming in ready to tell him that it was his match.

To both Yuya and Yuto's surprise, Sam didn't come through the door. It was Tokumatsu.

"Yo! How've you been, Yuto?" Tokumatsu waved.

"T-Tokumatsu!?" Yuto widened his eyes, he just had his fears sucked out of him. He felt like his fears just slapped in the face just now. Or was that Yuya?

"Shhhh!" Tokumatsu slid over to Yuto, signaling him to be quiet. "You're too loud! Who knows what will happen if someone hears us. You know I really should have waited for Ruri to come back! I mean, she is still gone so I cannot go to her now which is why I am here instead."

"Wait, I thought we couldn't leave our rooms! How the hell are you here?" Yuto questioned Tokumatsu's presence.

"The shrimp knows the path of the serpent." Tokumatsu answered metaphorically.

"What?" Yuto paused at Tokumatsu's statement. He had never heard anybody say that before.

"Hm? Am I wrong? Throw a shrimp to catch a sea bream? Three years on a shrimp will make the shrimp warm...no shrimp, no pardon…"

Yuto sweatdropped while this was going on, so he decided to jump in. "Please...just stop with the proverbs."

"Please hurry." A voice spoke. Yuto and Tokumatsu looked at the entrance of the door to see a guide dressed in the same clothes as Sam, he was a little taller and skinnier though. He was keeping his voice low so no one except them could hear him. "If we're found, they won't let me off the hook either…"

Yuto noticed a Card in his Hand.

"Hey! What is that Card for?!" Yuto exclaimed out of shock, accidentally raising his voice.

"Shhh! I said you're too loud!" Tokumatsu shushed Yuto once again,

"But our rooms are monitored by the Executive Council right?" With that, Tokumatsu froze in his place. He took a couple of seconds to process what Yuto had just said.

When it finally clicked…

"WHAT?!" Tokumatsu jumped, raising his voice. He cleared his throat and regained his composure. "Ahem. W-well, there is no helping it. We can't meet if I don't do this."

"This is bad!" The guide cried out suddenly. "Let's go back at once! This is really bad!"

"Shut up!" Tokumatsu shunned the guide. "In for a penny, in for a pound! As the saying goes...in traveling, a companion. Right? Give up!"

"No way…" The guide's jaw dropped out of disappointment.

"Who go through all of this trouble?" Yuto decided to get to the point at last.

"Hm? Right." Tokumatsu turned around and whispered to Yuto. "Actually, I caught wind of a rumor. Not from that guy, but from some goons I heard chatting outside my room."


Flashback-Tokumatsu's Quarters

Tokumatsu was lying on his bed with his eyes closed, when he started to hear people talking.

"It's just for the tournament, but living in such luxurious apartments really elevates their status. Even though Crow, Shinji, and Tokumatsu are Commons like us."

"Just being in the Friendship Cup gets them Tops treatment. I don't like this. Those guys are better off losing."

Tokumatsu got off his bed and slid on his sandals.

"I was about to tell those little punks off, when…"

Tokumatsu walked to the door and took a deep breath, he paused when he heard another person say more.

"Don't you guys know where the defeated Duelists go?"

"Eh? Well, I heard they're kicked out of here…"

"They're not just kicked out." Tokumatsu went up to his door and put his ear on it to listen in. "Rumor has it that they're sent to some place."

"Like the detention facility?"

"Even worse."

"Worse? Where?!"

Tokumatsu narrowed his eyes.

"It's only a rumor though…" The owner of the voice grinned. "Deep in the City Underground, there is a huge garbage disposal plant where people do forced labor."


Now

"Forced labor?! In the underground garbage disposal plant?" Yuto repeated out of shock.

"Yeah. That is what he said. But he also said that it was only a rumor. Still, I'm certain I am not mistaken. I heard similar rumors in the detention facility. It's where escaped prisoners go."

Yuto listened on in shock. Forced labor?

"They're forced to work until they collapse. When you think about it, it's obvious why something like that exists in the City Underground. It's because of this city. The City has always been huge, but it's only grown larger in the ten years I spent in the detention facility. A population of over ten million cluster and live in a small area."

Tokumatsu paused before continuing.

"The Commons, who make up 99% of the population, still live in poverty, just like in the past. The 100,000 Tops, who make up a mere 1% of the population. They live a life of luxury incomparable to that of the past. From that, they produce a large amount of garbage." Tokumatsu continued to explain the reason for the underground garbage disposal unit.

"The City higher-ups built that facility deep underground to manage it. But those very people producing garbage in the Tops never get their hands dirty. Needless to say, they force the Commons to do all the work. Forced labor to atone for their crimes."

"That's horrible." Yuto felt sympathy for the many who had to work in the underground.

"Accommodating us in such luxurious apartments, then sending us deep underground once we lose. Certainly a fall from heaven to hell." Tokumatsu raised his arms out of anger before calming down and putting them down.

"Then Crow has been sent to that forced labor facility too?!" Yuto asked Tokumatsu.

"Afraid so."

Before Yuto could say anything, Melissa's voice came through. "Now that we're all fired up, it's time for today's second match! Who are the Duelists chosen for this round!?"

Holograms of a contestant appear. It was…

"Shinji Weber! And his opponent is the former senator's daughter...Izayoi Aki!"

Tokumatsu looked at the screen. "Izayoi Aki…"

"It's the girl from when we were escaping from solitary confinement." Yuto remembered.

In Yugo's room, he recognized the two contestants.

"AHHH! Shinji! I remember him! That guy beat me in a tournament in the Commons once, because of him I didn't make it past the first round! Rin wanted to have my head because I wasn't focusing back then! Also the girl…" Yugo paused as he remembered a certain situation.


Flashback-2 Years Ago-Commons

"Yugo! Where are you? Yugo!" Rin called out to her childhood friend. They had gone to see Izayoi Aki Duel as she recently came to fill the Commons with hope. She gave them supplies, entertained them, anything to make their lives slightly more bearable.

This time, she was Dueling some people so they could have a little bit of fun. The Duel was over, and Yugo disappeared into the big crowd. And Rin was worried…

For Aki.

Before Rin lost him, Yugo had said something about meeting Aki and asking for an autograph.

"Ugh! When I find him I'm gonna cobble up some new boots and use them to kick his butt!" Rin declared as she continued searching. "Yugo!" She went back into the small building where the Duel took place. It was a small square building, but it could fit a bunch of people. There was also a room for someone to change clothes or go to the restroom or even take a shower if they wanted to.

Since it was the Commons, you had to pay to take a shower. As everyone was struggling to survive. But for someone like Aki, it was free.

"KYAAAAAAH!" Rin heard a scream coming from the changing area.

No. Yugo didn't.

Did he?

Rin heard someone getting smacked.

"OW!" A male voice cried out in pain. Rin immediately recognized the voice.

Oh no.

It was...

"YUGO!" Rin shouted out of anger as she made a mad dash for the women's changing room. She went the door and kicked it open.

Inside, she saw Yugo, blushing, and staring at Aki who had herself covered in a robe to cover herself.

"YUGO! I am going to murder you!" Rin bellowed. Yugo shot around and faced Rin.

"Rin! Crap! O-o-o-ok...this is NOT what it looks like! I was trying to get an autograph! And there was a male sign on the door, it looked different from another sign. For some reason, the sign I saw had a piece of clothing draping off the man! How was I supposed to know!?"

Rin facepalmed as she moaned out of annoyance. "The sign outside meant FEMALES. ONLY. THE PIECE OF CLOTHING ON THE GIRL IS A SKIRT! IT MEANS FEMALE!"

Rin proceeded to knee Yugo hard in the stomach. Unfortunately for Yugo, he had eaten breakfast about half an hour ago.

Aki cringed as she heard Yugo puke out his breakfast. Undigested eggs, bread, butter, and milk covered Rin's face, hair, and clothes.

"EWW! YUGO!" Rin slapped Yugo, leaving a red hand mark on his cheek as the boy dropped to the ground on his sides unconscious.

"I am so sorry! My friend here can be such an idiot sometimes!" Rin bowed to Aki as a way to say sorry and to show respect.

Aki merely stared at the unconscious Yugo before breaking out of her trance. "Oh, yeah! It's ok...he just wanted an autograph."

"That is still no excuse! Yugo should know by now to respect other people's privacy!"

As Rin ranted on, Aki thought to herself. Are this boy and girl an item? If not, then they make a cute couple! Aki giggled quietly as Rin said sorry again before dragging Yugo away..

"Oh no! I hope I won't ever have to Duel her or meet her face to face again!" Yugo said as he finished thinking about the flashback and continued watching the television.


Meanwhile

Akaba Reiji, Tsukikage, and Reira were walking along near the doors of the quarters of the contestants. Reiji noticed Aki and Shinji being led out of their rooms and to the grounds. Suddenly, 5 small holograms of the council appeared in front of them.

"Are you sure you don't want the boy participating?" Gale asked Reiji.

"He is a Lancer just like most of the other contestants." Gray continued.

"You also kept the ninja, the purple haired boy and the other one out of the tournament. You didn't even let any of them face the King in the exhibition. Why?" Azul interrogated Reiji, who adjusted his glasses.

"Reira pleaded to me not to participate. He hated participating on the chance that he would have to take out one of his comrades. Especially on the fact that the losers of this tournament get sent to a underground labor facility. And if you're wondering, O'Brien got that information for me. It was the reason why I had Ryoga, Tsukikage, and O'Brien not participate, so they could get information for me." Reiji sharpened his gaze at the council.

The council remained silent. Mostly because Reiji knew about the underground labor facility.

"The reason for the underground labor facility…" Gale started.

"Is so that we can slightly reduce the chance of an outbreak among the Commons…" Gray continued.

"This is so we can stabilize the peace in the City." Azul finished.

"Isn't that right, Chairman?" Boredaux questioned.

"Yes." White Taki nodded. "You see, we have had reason to believe that the Commons are planning to start a revolution for years now. Another purpose for the Friendship Cup, is to draw out the Commons, particularly the more violent ones, so when they lose, we won't have to worry about them. The lower chance of a revolution, the longer the peace is kept."

"With the rate that this is going, the so called 'peace' in this city won't last much longer." Reiji replied stoically. "Even now, the Commons are planning to revolt. I can bet you that there are some Commons in the crowd who are booing. Booing about the fact that the Tops had looked down on them for years. Because of that, they had to live in poverty. And now, every year, they are expected to buddy up just to keep the society the way it is. Do you not think that would tick off some of the 9,900,000 Commons?"

"It is the only way to keep the peace." Gray said.

"Let me give you one word of advice. You can either keep this wretched society the way it is...or you can all burn with it." Reiji said harshly as he and the other two walked past the holograms, which eventually disappeared.

When they were gone, Reiji put a finger onto his earpiece. "Have you found out anything else, O'Brien, Ryoga?"

"Nothing yet." O'Brien answered after a couple of moments.

"We'll keep looking though." Ryoga assured Reiji.

"Keep it up." Reiji told the two before stopping and turning to Tsukikage. "Tsukikage, I want you to go sneak into the underground facility. Once you are in, report back to me."

"Yes." Tsukikage responded respectfully as he disappeared.

Silence came through the air as Reiji, Reira, the guides, and the contestants in their rooms were the only people left in the vicinity.

"Reira." Reiji spoke the name of his adopted sibling.

"Yes, brother." Reira spoke shyly.

Reiji gave Reira a pat on the head before walking forward. "I am quite pleased with you."

Reiji came across Yuto's open quarters, and he decided to walk into the room, he saw Yuto, Tokumatsu, and a guide, all looking at him out of surprise.

"A-Akaba Reiji!" Yuto mumbled the name of the leader of the Lancers.

Then, Reira caught up to Reiji, hugging his leg.

"Reira is there too!" Yuya acknowledged the girl clinging to Reiji.

"Akaba Reiji. I must ask you, were you aware of the fact that the losers of the Friendship Cup get sent to the underground labor facility before the Friendship Cup started?" Yuto questioned the leader.

Reiji remained silent. O'Brien had given him the info on the eve of the Friendship Cup, hours before Yuto's Duel with Jack.

"You did, didn't you!" Yuto jumped to a conclusion. "Why did you make us participate if you knew that?! Are we just that disposable to you! To the point where you would force us to enter the tournament without telling us the repercussions of losing?! Just how far are you going to go so you can complete your goals!"

Yuto formed a fist with his hand.

"Shun and I had finally reunited with Ruri! After she was taken from us! And then out of the blue you force us to enter the tournament and we get separated again! And now the only way we can see each other is if we all lose and get sent to the underground labor facility!"

Yuto paused. If they all lost…

"Don't even think about throwing your match when it comes." Reiji already knew what Yuto was thinking. "It matters not to me about your complaints in the matter. All that matters is that we get on the good side of the Synchro Dimension, and get allies to fight against Academia."

"That word again...Academia…" Tokumatsu murmured to himself.

"For now, you will have to play by my rules. Do that, and I will make sure you and the others will make it through this conflict safe and sound." Reiji told Yuto calmly.

"Reiji…I don't agree with your methods…" Yuto started with a loud tone before softening it. "But I guess that if we get through this and succeed...then I will go through with your methods for now."

Reiji nodded his head out of approvement. "Good. Let's go, Reira." And with that, Reiji and Reiji turned around to leave Yuto's quarters. On the way out, Reiji paused and glanced at Yuto. "One more thing. You are one of my most powerful allies...however I have yet to see your full evolution. Fusion Summoning could be very viable to you, I recommend you get over that left over fear you have and start using it. Who knows, maybe it will save you sometime."

"You have the same amount of potential that I saw in Sakaki Yuya. Don't disappoint me." Reiji ended it with that and left the room along with Reira.

Then, Sam came into the room.

"Umm...excuse me? Tokumatsu-san, could you please return to your room?" Sam asked politely.

Tokumatsu sighed out of defeat. One was enough, he couldn't handle two. "Fine. Good luck when your match comes, Yuto." With that, Tokumatsu ran out of the room.


On the Grounds-Stadium

Multiple boos came from the Tops at hearing a Commons and Aki Dueling.

The Commons cheered, as both of the Duelists were aligned with the Commons. Albeit, Aki was a former Tops, but she had helped out some of the Commons. She had actually cared for them.

"Alright! First up, we have Shinji Weber!" Out it the cockpit came Shinji riding on his d-wheel and onto the track. He stopped at the starting line. The Commons cheered for Shinji while the Tops either booed or remained silent.

"Our second one, Izayoi Aki!" Aki came out on her d-wheel. She was wearing a riding suit that was exactly like the one she wore when she was in the Commons section. The Tops remained silent while the Commons cheered. Aki parked her d-wheel next to Shinji.

"The Tops never change." Shinji began a speech. "They always just do as they like. Commons like us are treated like worms." Shinji raised his arm as he faced the audience.

From Yuto's quarters, Yuya muttered something, but Yuto could still hear it.

"Idiot. Is this how he will make the Commons have a better life? Cause all I see is him putting targets on all of the Commons backs, including himself. Those targets are just waiting be shot by Security." Yuya ranted out loud. "Bringing people smiles isn't going to change the society, but fighting recklessly is just as stupid!"

Yuto chose not to say anything, at the risk of him and Yuya getting in an argument. But he had one thought after Yuya's words.

This is the son of Sakaki Yusho, the Entertainment Duelist? He's changed way too much. He would have thought that no matter what Yuya would held onto his ideals, but he just defenestrated them like they were a piece of trash.

"Well, how crude." A woman with a white hat and fan said in response to Shinji's words.

"That's why I say Commons are…" Her husband started before pausing, listening more to what Shinji had to say.

"But Commons are Commons! We numbed ourselves to the we're treated. We threw away our pride a long time ago! We've been completely tamed." An outburst occurred from the audience as people began to argue.

"Hey, excuse me! Don't provoke the audience!" Melissa exclaimed.

"Shinji! Don't make a scene!" Aki scolded the Commons citizen.

Shinji simply ignored her. "I broke out of the detention facility. But those higher-ups caught me and dragged me here. They want me to put on a show for them. I won't play by their rules. As if I'd let myself become some exhibit!"

Tokumatsu, Yuzu, Yugo and the Lancers in their own rooms looked at the screen intently as they heard Shinji speak.

"I'll turn this society around!" Shinji proclaimed with determination burning on his eyes under his visor.

"Geez, what are you saying? Everyone just came together as one too! Why are you saying these things?! If you call yourself a Duelist then Duel fair and square!" Melissa told Shinji.

"Shinji, you need to calm down!" Aki told the Commons citizen.

"Don't act like you care!" Shinji snapped at Aki, much to her surprise. "You lied to Crow and I! You said to us you were from the Commons, but that isn't the truth! I know that now…"

Shinji felt betrayed. Betrayed that for the past year or so, he has been deceived by someone from the Tops. Aki stripped him of his pride, just like the other Tops had.

"Just like Crow, I had let you into my circle of trust. I let you into my sensitive side. I let you look into my life. And how did you repay Crow and I?! By lying to us after all of this time!" Shinji roared out of anger. "I won't forgive you! And I will make you grovel, to set an example to the Tops, as that will happen to them too!"

"No. Aki isn't like that." Ruri mused in her own room. She could tell that Aki was a good person. Former Tops or not.

Shinji…Aki looked at the Synchro Duelist before looking forward, getting her bike ready.

"Everyone, remember! The City is one. We are all friends! Let's shake off the tension and get pumped!" Melissa tried to ease the tension and arguing going on in the audience.

Despite her best efforts, Aki could still feel the cold air of tension the audience was releasing. However, she could feel hatred coming from Shinji, she could feel that air even more than the audience.

"Alright! Now, since that has been settled, let's get on with the Duel!" Melissa announced. She rose her hand to the sky and snapped her fingers. "Action Field, on! Field Magic, Crossover Accel!"

Duel Mode, on! Auto-pilot! Standby!

A countdown of 3 seconds appeared in front of Shinji and Aki. The countdown started.

3.

2.

"Riding Duel!" Melissa started.

1.

"Acceleration!" A bell rang as the two Duelists started their d-wheels and took off, racing for the first turn.

"DUEL!" Both Duelists shouted in unison, starting the Duel.

Shinji immediately took the lead as he accelerated even further, ready to make the first move. However, Aki wasn't very far behind.

Aki gripped the handlebar and twisted the accelerator, trying to go as fast as she could to take the first. She leaned her body forward and sharpened her gaze. She was going slightly faster than Shinji.

Shinji, who was deep in a trance of sorrow, rage, and determination to win failed to notice Aki until she passed him. As they approached the corner, Shinji gave one last push. He went even faster, he just barely managed to pass Aki.

"Shinji Weber has taken the first move!" Melissa announced as Shinji began his move.

"The Black Rose Witch...and that Commons youngster, ultimately, neither will remain standing." Roget from his office as he glanced at the figure towering over him on the shadows.

"My turn!" Shinji declared as he shifted his hand to the middle Card of his Hand. He lifted up the Card and got himself ready. "I Summon Bee Force-Pin the Bullseye!" A small bee with a pointy nose and a dart like appearance with appeared out of a portal and soared alongside Shinji.

Pin the Bullseye: Level 1, 200 Atk, 300 Def

"I activate Pin the Bullseye's effect! Once per turn, I am allowed to inflict 200 damage to you!" Shinji explained as Aki grit her teeth from hearing it. Shinji's bee turned to face Aki. It pointed it's stinger at the girl and blasted Aki with a green ball of energy which was formed from the stinger. Aki braced herself and endured the blast.

Aki: 4000-3800 LP

"I set a Card and end my turn." Shinji ended his turn with a facedown Card.

"My turn, draw!" Aki drew her Card and looked at it before placing it in her Hand before shifting her now free hand to a Card in her Hand. "I Summon Black Rose Witch from my Hand!" A witch with long purple hair and a wand in a dress appeared.

Black Rose Witch: Level 4, 1700 Atk, 1200 Def

"Hold up! When Black Rose Witch is Normal Summoned, I have to draw a Card. If the Card is not a Monster, this Card is destroyed." Aki revealed as she moved her hand to the top of her Deck.

"I chain the Continuous Trap Bee Force Nest! I target a level 2 or lower Monster Bee Force Monster to activate this Card, I target Pin the Bullseye!" Shinji declared as his Trap was revealed. His Monster glowed purple due to being affected.

"I draw!" Aki ripped the top Card off of her Deck. She took a moment to pray for a Monster. She looked at the Card and smiled, revealing it to Shinji. "The drawn Card is Ivy Wall, a Monster! So, my Black Rose Witch remains on the Field! Time to battle! Black Rose Witch, attack Shinji's Pin the Bullseye!"

Black Rose Witch waved her wand around, she pointed it at Shinji's Monster as a purple ball of energy developed from the scepter.

"I activate the effect of Bee Force Nest!" Shinji countered as he began to explain his Trap. "If the target of this Card or a Monster with the same name as the target is selected for an attack, I am allowed to Special Summon a Monster with the same name from my Deck or Hand and immediately end the Battle Phase! Appear, Bee Force-Pin the Bullseye!"

Another copy of Pin appeared next to its comrade.

"And Shinji has saved himself from damage!" Melissa announced as the Duelists took yet another turn around the track.

"I see. It's like comrades working together to keep each other alive. And when one falls, more comrades will immediately rise up to continue the fight." Aki deduced.

"This is how true Commons fight." A smile appeared on Shinji's face for a moment before frowning as he glanced at Aki, who was still trailing behind him.

While Shinji said this, the Commons section of the audience paused to th8nk about his words.

"True Commons?" An old man repeated.

"True ones?"

"Since we can only live by supporting our crew, shoulder to shoulder." The old man spoke as he viewed the Duel.

Shinji glared at Aki. "Although you wouldn't get that! You're just another one of those Tops scum!"

"Shinji! I don't want the Commons and Tops fighting each other! They should be living with each other in piece! So no people if not very few people will live in poverty! Everyone can have a good life! Not one of despair and struggle for survival!" Aki told Shinji as she continued. "This society of 10 million people could be a great one! Yet only 1% of the population have money, rights, and power!"

"Shut up! What would you know about living in the Commons for all of your life!?" Shinji snapped as he felt his blood boil. He gripped the handle bar and accelerated his d-wheel, rushing to an Action Card. He grabbed it and activated it. "Action Magic, Single Distraction! If you control only one Monster, I can target it and destroy it!" Shinji turned his d-wheel so his sides were facing Aki.

The Action Card image that appeared in front of Shinji turned into a lightning bolt as it rushed to Aki's Monster. Aki saw an Action Card in the air. She rode her d-wheel and launched herself off the ramp, reaching out and grabbing the Action Card as she activated it.

"Action Magic, No Action! I negate the activation of your Single Distraction and I destroy it!" Aki explained as the lightning bolt disappeared. Shinji grit his teeth in response. He turned his d-wheel back to how it was originally.

"I set 2 Cards and end my turn." Aki concluded.

"Who do you think will win?" A female Tops asked the male Tops next to her.

"I don't know. And honestly I don't give one crap about this match. Honestly, why should they make us Tops go through this. A Tops traitor Dueling against Commons trash who doesn't know how to shut up. For all I care they can go rot in a tie." The male Tops responded.

"My turn, draw!" Shinji paused after he drew his Card. "Did you know? It's said that when bees build their nest low, a typhoon will arrive."

"You should know very well that I am not looking down on the strong bond and will of the Commons! 2 years ago, I went down there, and I saw what it was like for the citizens. Barely any food, no happiness, only hungry people who are ratted out of their life by worrying for it all the time. That's why I came down there 2 years ago to help."

"Quiet! I know you only came down there to make the Tops look better, so they don't seem like bad people, but I'm not having it! I heard it from one of your Tops comrades 2 years ago, after they beat me in a Duel…" Shinji recalled to that moment.


Flashback-2 Years Ago-City

"AHH!" Shinji cried out in pain as he was knocked backwards onto the ground, his Duel Disk hit the ground and his entire Deck was scattered.

The Tops Duelist who beat him chuckled as he walked up to the Cards and examined the ones that were facedown. He got an irritated look on his face before swatting the Cards to the ground, standing up as he started to walk away.

"I would have taken one of your Cards but...I do NOT want to be near those trash Cards any longer! I would tell you to get better Cards, but that is impossible for you Commons." The Tops Duelist said as his friends ran up to him laughing.

"Have you heard? Izayoi Aki is in the Commons." One of the friends whispered, although Shinji could still hear him.

"Yeah, the officials say that she is spying." The Tops Duelist responded as they walked away, they continued the conversation, but Shinji couldn't hear the rest.

Unknown to him, they had said something about waiting to see if Aki really was spying. Which they soon found out by her eventual arrest by Security, that she was not spying.


Now

"Me? A spy? No, my father, the former mayor sent me down there to support the Commons, to give them hope!" Aki argued in denial of the fact that she I am allowed to Special Summon this Monster from my Hand, but as a cost, the Monster's effect is negated since it was Summoned this way!" Shinji explained as he revealed the Card. "I Special Summon Bee Force-Twinbow the Continuous Attacker!"

A purple striped bee with two stingers buzzed to the Field.

Twinbow: Level 3, 1000 Atk, 500 Def

"I switch my two Pins to Defense Position!" On his command, both Pins took a defensive stance. Shinji took his attention to another Card in his Hand. He took out his Card and revealed it to Aki. "I Summon the Tuner Monster Bee Force-Needle the Stinger!" A bee with a large stinger flew to the Field next to the other bees Shinji possessed.

Needle the Stinger: Level 2, 400 Atk, 800 Def

"I'm tired of being pushed down! I will rise up and pierce through! I tune the level 3 Twinbow with the level 2 Needle! Synchro Summon! Come forth, level 5! Bee Force-Azusa the Ghost Bow!" Shinji yelled as he Summoned a female humanoid bee in a dress while wielding a bow.

Azusa the Ghost Bow: Level 5, 2200 Atk, 1600 Def

"Hoh! Shinji retaliated with a Synchro Summon!"

"Now, I activate the effect of both of my Pin the Bullseyes! Once per turn, I inflict 300 damage to you! However, during either player's turn, if a Bee Force Monster were to inflict effect damage, Azusa allows me to double the damage! So 2 doses of 200 damage become 2 doses of 400!" Aki flinched when she heard Shinji's statement.

The two Pins turned around and faced Aki, while charging a purple beam on their stingers. They unleashed the beams at Aki, one hitting her d-wheel, causing it to swerve out of control, and the other hit Aki in the chest, causing her to wince.

Aki: 3800-3000 LP

"Shinji is slowly but surely putting the hurt on Aki's life points! How will the daughter of the former mayor respond?" Melissa asked no one.

The crowd started to cheer at Shinji dealing more damage.

At the place of the council, Reira, who had arrived to the council moments before with Reiji, smiled slightly at Aki losing. However, the smile turned to a frown.

"We will discuss your disobedience later, correct Chairman?" Bordeaux asked, referring to what happened earlier with Reiji and the council.

"Yes. For now, everyone, let us enjoy the display of this Duel that is currently unfolding." White Taki smiled.

"Battle! Azusa, attack the Black Rose Witch!" Azusa formed an arrow and placed it on the bow before aiming at the witch and shooting.

"Like I would let you! From my Hand, I send Hedge Guard to the Grave to nullify the destruction of my Monster. Unfortunately, after the battle, the Attack of my Monster is halved until the end of the turn." Aki explained the effect of her Monster.

"But you still take the damage!" Shinji reminded Aki. The attack hit Aki's Monster, who retaliated by holding its wand up as a way to defend itself. The wand formed a barrier around the witch, the arrow hit the barrier and it immediately dispersed into multiple little light particles, which lashed at Aki's body as she flinched, almost falling off her d-wheel because of the damage.

Aki: 3000-2200 LP

"Aki managed to protect her Monster, but she is taking heavy damage! If this keeps up, Shinji will win the match in no time!" Melissa spoke.

"I end my turn." Shinji glanced back at Aki before looking back ahead of him. "All of those rich Tops might go through the same thing sooner or later. The more they enjoy their luxuries, the more shocked they are when they take damage."

"Speaking to the audience so crudely is a no-go! This is unfitting of the Friendship Cup!" Melissa yelled into the microphone.

"Friendship Cup my ass. There is no friendship going on here. Everything is just forced. The Tops and Commons don't want to be friends at all. The Commons want the Tops heads and the Tops look at the Commons as trash!" Yuya mumbled to himself.

"Remember this, Tops scum! No matter how far I fall, my Bee Force will fly out onto the world! Just like the strong-willed Commons kids!" Shinji exclaimed. The Commons in the audience viewed the Duel in awe. "In this Duel, I will show you what true Commons are…by beating you into the ground!" Aki sharpened her gaze at Shinji, putting a hand on the top of the Deck.

"My turn, draw! Shinji, criticizing the audience who aren't even a part of it, is that the way of a Duelist?" Aki questioned.

"So you are with the Tops! That right there just proved it!" Shinji yelled to Aki. "If you were truly on our side, you would want the Tops to fall!"

"I don't want the Tops and Commons to end up fighting each other!" Aki told Shinji.

"Enough! I won't have any more of your lies! Just do your turn!" Shinji commanded forcefully.

"Fine then...I Summon Ivy Wall from my Hand!" A rock with multiple vines around it appeared to the Field in front of Aki, floating and going forward along with her owner.

Ivy Wall: Level 2, 300 Atk, 1200 Def

"I tune the level 2 Ivy Wall with the level 4 Black Rose Witch! Synchro Summon!Appear, Level 6! Blooming Rose!" Aki exclaimed as she Synchro Summoned a blooming red rose with vines covering forming a t-shape appeared.

Blooming Rose: Level 6, 2200 Atk, 1600 Def

"I activate Blooming Rose's effect! Once per turn, I am allowed to a Plant-Type Monster in my Grave to the Deck, then I can deal damage to you equal to the level of the shuffled Monster times 200!" Aki explained.

"Kgh!" Shinji grunted as he sped up for an Action Card. When he was about to reach one though, Blooming Rose threw out on of its vines and grabbed the Action Card before, bringing the vine back and giving the Card to Aki, who grabbed, she gave her Monster a nod of thanks.

Blooming Rose then used the vine to hit Shinji in the back, causing him to cry out in pain as he lost control of his d-wheel, however, he managed to regain his composure and get back on track.

Shinji: 4000-3200 LP

"I shuffled my Black Rose Witch, whose Level was 4, so you took 800 damage just now."

"And with that, Izayoi Aki has finally retaliated!" Melissa cheered as she held up a fist.

Aki clutched her head out of pain. She could feel her anger rising and her control slipping. Her powers might take control soon if this keeps up. She had to end it fast!

"B-battle!" Aki stuttered as she thrusted her hand towards Shinji's Monster. "Blooming Rose, attack!" Blooming Rose threw a vine at Azusa.

"What? But Blooming Rose has less Attack! Why would she do that?" Melissa asked.

"That Monster has an additional effect." Ruri guessed.

"Alright! I activate Blooming Rose's next effect! Once per turn, when a Plant-Type Monster attacks a Monster with a higher Attack, I can decrease the Attack of the Monster by the Attack of the Plant-Type Monster battling!" Aki revealed, shocking Shinji. Blooming Rose wrapped another vine around Azusa's torso, restraining her.

Azusa: 2500-300 Atk

"Now, finish Azusa!" Aki commanded her Monster as Bloomong Rose proceeded to whip Azusa, causing her to crash to the ground, causing a little part of the road to crack. Azusa broke into many particles, which assaulted Shinji, he stood strong though and tried to manage the control of his d-wheel.

Shinji: 3200-1300 LP

"And just like that, Izayoi Aki has taken more than half of Shinji's life points!" Melissa said.

Damn, I'm being shut out! This always how it was, since I was a kid…


Flashback-An Unknown Amount of Years Ago

3 men in business suitsand glasses on her their faces stood in front of multiple kids who had no parents. One of these kids was Shinji, who glared at the men with a big noticeable frown on his face.

The 3 men were standing in front of an orphanage that the kids used to live in. But now it was being shut down because of no financial support for the poor orphanage. The orphanage fell due to debt. The man in the middle had a darker suit than the other two, and he spoke.

"Got it? This place is no longer your home. Stop loitering and get lost!" The man told all of the kids.

"That's right...the facility took us under its Wing was taken due to debt. We even lost a place to live."


Now

Shinji stopped reminiscing as he spun around out of control. He regained control and kept moving forward, however, now Aki had passed him.

"The Tops took everything away from us in a stacked competition that always went into their favor!" Shinji shouted out of rage.

"So this is Shinji's rage and inner demons. Being treated like trash all of his life…" Yuto trailed off as he continued to watch the Duel. The more he learned about this place, the more he was surprised about how Yugo could live in this city his entire life.

"Shinji! I'm with you!" Someone from the crowd called out as support as the Commons section of the audience began to cheer.

"Shinji, don't lose!"

"Those Tops bastards took anything and everything from us!"

"Go! Beat her!"

Only a tiny fraction of the Commons didn't cheer. As they knew what Aki had done and they didn't see her as a bad person.

"This Duel is a representation of this society! They call it a free competition, but the winners keep winning! That is the truth of the City! Now, stand! Rise up!" Shinji bellowed to everyone of the Commons who were watching. "Your eyes are no longer dead! Fight! Raise your fists!"

Shinji accelerated toward a ramp and Shinji launched himself high in the air as he raised a first towards the Commons as they cheered.

"Right here! The City is one!" Shinji yelled.

"The City is one…" The Commons spoke in unison with smiles on their faces. And they chanted this two more times as Shinji grabbed an Action Card in midair.

"The City is one! The City is one!" The Commons kept chanting, chanting, and chanting. The Tops, Melissa, the guards, and the people in their quarters all froze. The chanting kept ringing in their ears even after it stopped. Shinji smiled as he accelerated, quickly passing Aki.

"I set a Card end my turn." Aki concluded as she set the Card she drew at the beginning of the turn.

"We're all stubborn. All of us Commons will face this together next turn! Let's go! It's our turn! DRAW!" Shinji and the Commons roared as the audience raised up their fists. Shinji looks at the Card and grins. "The typhoon finally arrives! And it's huge and extraordinary!"

The crowd cheered and whooped at the good news as Shinji activated the Card.

"Magic Card! All-Out Rebellion! I Special Summon level 4 or lower Bee Force Monsters from my Graveyard equal to the number of Monsters on my opponent's Field! Return, Needle the Stinger!" Shinji revived his Monster.

"He can Synchro Summon a level 4 Monster now." Yuzu said as she viewed the Field.

"I activate the effect of both of my Pin the Bullseyes, unfortunately, with Azusa gone, double the damage, but 200 damage each is enough! Take this!" Shinji exclaimed as the bees charged their attacks and shot at Aki, causing her to scream and temporarily lose control of her d-wheel.

Aki: 3000-2600 LP

"Now, I Summon from my Hand Bee Force-Arbalest the Rapidfire!" Shinji swiped his Monster onto Duel Disk as a purple striped bee flew to the Field.

Arbalest: Level 4, 1800 Atk, 800 Def

"Let's go! I tune the 2 level 1 Pin the Bullseye and the level 4 Arbalest the Rapidfire with the level 2 Tuner Monster Needle the Stinger! Synchro Summon! Fight on! Level 8! Bee Force-Hama the Evil-Conquering Bow!" Shinji shouted as he Synchro Summoned his Monster who had green armor with orange linings with a bow like Azusa.

Hama the Evil-Conquering Bow: Level 8, 2800 Atk, 2000 Def

"Let's keep doing it! Let's rage like bees from an agitated nest!" Shinji told the audience.

"He beat me with the exact same Monster…" Yugo murmured, remembering his Duel with Shinji.

"Shinji! Shinji! Shinji!" The audience kept chanting the name. The Tops looked visibly frightened by this unification of the Commond.

"This Card can make two attacks during each Battle Phase! However, I will activate this Action Card I got! Wonder Chance! With this, my Hama can attack again, so it is 3 attacks for this turn only!"

The audience cheered and some people said for Shinji to win.

"It ends here! Battle! Hama, attack Blooming Rose!" Hama turned around and shot a single arrow at Blooming Rose, destroying the Monster immediately, Aki flinched as she took damage.

Aki: 2600-2000 LP

"Now, attack directly and end this!" Hama shot another arrow, but this time aimed at Aki.

"I activate the Continuous Trap Wicked Rebirth! By paying 800 life points, I am allowed to Special Summon a Synchro Monster in my Grave into face-up Attack Position! Revive, Blooming Rose!"

Aki: 2000-1200 LP

Blooming Rose took the hit and was once again destroyed. Aki grit her teeth as she spun, her face darkened.

Aki: 1200-600 LP

"Now, it is over! Attack directly!" Hama shot another arrow at Aki. Aki revealed her face to see full of rage.

"Action Magic! Evasion! I negate the oncoming attack!" Aki drove to her left and avoided the arrow, which exploded on impact.

"Looks like she managed to survive!" Shinji looked back and widened his eyes when he saw Aki. She was giving him a death stare. This sent shivers down Shinji's spine, but he made sure not to show his fear.

"You...I will kill you!" Aki spat with bloodlust present in her voice. "Now...end your turn and for the last moments of your pathetic life, ponder on the fact how you couldn't save yourself by beating me…"

The audience went silent at this, and Melissa was at a lost for words.

"It's like that one time…" Ruri thought

"I-I end my turn…" Shinji gulped. Just what was going on with Aki? Suddenly, Shinji had the feeling to ride away on his d-wheel.

"My turn." Aki spoke coldly as she drew the top Card of her Deck. "I Summon the Tuner Monster Night Rose Knight from my Hand!"

Night Rose Knight: Level 3, 1000 Atk, 1000 Def

"When it is Normal Summoned, this Card allows me to Special Summon a level 4 or lower Plant-Type Monster from my Hand. Appear, Lord Poison."

Lord Poison: Level 4, 1500 Atk, 1000 Def

"That set up...don't tell me…" Shinji gasped, knowing what was going to come out next.

"I tune the level 4 Lord Poison with Level 3 Night Rose Knight! Black rose guided by a pitch-black flower, bloom before us and show us your might! Synchro Summon! Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon!" Aki chanted as she Synchro Summoned her ace out of rage.

Bloomlight Dragon: Level 7, 2400 Atk, 2000 Def

Gales of wind were unleashed as Black Rose was Summoned to the Field, the winds lashed out at the audience, causing them to scream and brace themselves. Melissa held onto her hat to try and keep it from flying away.

"What the hell is going on?" Yuto asked out of shock. Most of the other contestants couldn't hide their surprise either.

"It is over! When Black Rose Bloomlight Dragon is Synchro Summoned, I am allowed to target the two Monsters with the highest Attack on the Field, and destroy them! Then, I inflict damage to you equal to half the combined Attack of the Monsters. Now, die! Shinji Weber! I destroy both of our Monsters!" Aki shouted menacingly as Black Rose and Hama exploded, causing Shinji to spin out of control as he lost the rest of the his life points.

Shinji cried out in pain as a big smoke cloud filled the area.

Shinji: 1300-0 LP

"Shinji!" Damon exclaimed from his room.

"Shinji!" The Commons of the audience called out his name.

When the smoke dissipated, Aki was parked at the garage while Shinji was near on the ground unconscious while his d-wheel was far away. Shinji was launched off his d-wheel while it was in the air.

Melissa finally found the words to speak. "Th-the winner is...Izayoi Aki…"

No one applauded except the Tops.

Back on the grounds. Aki breathed heavily as she regained control. She held her head and closed her eyes as she groaned out of pain. She opened them and looked around to see Shinji on the ground.

"Shinji!" She called out of concern as she ran to the unconscious man. She grabbed his body and turned it around so Aki could see his face. She shook his body while calling his name in an attempt to wake him up. He woke up slightly. He uttered out some words before losing conscious once again.

Melissa had come running onto the grounds as she ran to the two. She saw Shinji about to talk and put the microphone near his mouth.

"You really are...a witch…the Commons...they...will continue on without me...and together...they will change...everything…ugh…" Shinji was out.

Melissa examined her body. There were multiple cuts and bruises around his face, there was some blood also. Somehow, his riding suit managed to stay in tact, there was only some dirt on it.

"Get him a stretcher." Melissa spoke into the microphone as two men arrived with a stretcher. Melissa left to see if the grounds was damaged.

Aki was alone as Shinji was carried out on the stretcher.

"I…did that…" She whispered to herself.

"Aki…" Ruri mumbled out of concern.

"What was that? It was like…" Yuto thought to the time where he lost control against Kachidoki and the Obelisk Force. He also remembered losing control against Reiji but breaking out of it immediately.

Yuya merely looked on at the screen.

Yuzu's mouth was open as she put a hand near it.

Yugo was frozen.

Shun was slightly shocked but he still kept his composure.

Damon was concerned for his friend and pissed off at Aki.

Ruri was scared for Aki and Shinji.

Serena was also a little surprised.

The others were shocked as someone would expect.

Meanwhile, Roget had watched the entire Duel. "Have two men apprehend the girl, and bring her to me."

Aki looked at her hand. "What is wrong with me?" Aki suddenly gasped as she felt a can thrown at her. She turned and faced the audience to see them throwing things.

They were calling her the Black Rose Witch and saying to go away and worse things as they kept throwing things at her. Empty cans, partly eaten tomatoes and partly filled up cans with drinks that spilled most of the remainder on the ground and the rest on Aki.

When it was all over, Aki was a mess, she had some liquids from the cans in her hair and dripping from her face and riding suit with the riding suit covered in tomato along with parts of her face.

When she was about to leave, two men came and grabbed her by her arms. She struggled to get out of the hold. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?!"

"A certain man wants to see you." One of the men spoke.

"A certain man…" Aki repeated in a hushed tone as she stopped struggling.

When they were gone, murmurs began throughout the Commons.

"There could be more like her in the Tops…"

"Yeah...poor Shinji…"

"We need to continue on! We need to change everything!"

One member of the audience stood up and shouted at the top of his lungs. "TOGETHER! WE WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING!"

The Commons cheered in response.

"Hey, all of you!" Melissa called out the Commons. But they didn't listen.

The Commons eventually calmed down but then, the same man who yelled started to whisper. The words were carried out through the rest of the audience like a telephone.

The words were…

"We will strike eventually…"


Card Catalog

Blooming Rose, Plant, Dark: Once per turn, you can shuffle a Plant-Type Monster in your Graveyard into your Deck, inflict damage to your opponent's equal to the level of the Monster times 200. Once per turn, when a Plant-Type Monster attacks a Monster with higher Attack Points, the attacked Monster's Attack is reduced by the Attack of the Plant-Type Monster who attacked.


Finished at last.

All right. I decided to give Shinji the axe along with Crow. Honestly, there didn't need to be 4 Commons participating in the Friendship Cup in the anime. The only ones needed were really Crow and Shinji. Crow cause legacy character, and Shinji cause starting a revolution. I had it so the Commons would actually bide their time before actually starting a real revolution.

Either the next time Aki Duels or the next time we see her (which won't have her Duel) will have how she got her powers.

Yuka Kuroshiro: Yuya being pessimists was kind of what I was going for when I gave him his personality change. Really, it is just so he can look at things more realistically.

Skadi: (SPOILERS!) The Duel between Shun and Dennis will still occur. I won't skip the Duel, but I might alter it a bit after it is revealed that Dennis is Academia.

Bridgey: (MORE SPOILERS) I'm keeping Yugo vs Sawatari. As Yugo and Sawatari kind of had a tiny spark of friendship in the anime. They are practically made out to be best buds. Damon against Shinji...sorry. Yuzu against Serena was one of the matchups I had in mind. Glad other people thought of it too.

Matrixnis: I'll take your advice about the bouncing stuff for the Ruri's Cards. (If you people are wondering why I call them Lyrilusc, I thought the latter was the subbed name, and by the time I realized that it was the dubbed name, I was already way far into the fan fiction.) As for the matchups: Yuzu and Serena, I already made the comment in Bridget's response. Yuto vs Ruri, I already have a match planned out for them in the future. Now, Yuya and Yugo, If I were do that, it would be after the Friendship Cup. Yugo vs Dennis, I don't think Dennis had anything to do with Rin's kidnapping.

That's all for now guys. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. See you guys later.

Take care, goodbye!