I've taken a long break from writing. And now I'm back again with a story idea that I just can't get out of my head. How long will it be before I lose interest in this story? Only time will tell. To the longtime fans of Yu-Gi-Oh GX, please enjoy the stuff that I managed to put down on the keyboard. Please.
I was six years old when the series came out on 4Kids, and I must have watched some episodes when I was seven. With YouTube still new at the time, I became familiar with the AMVs. As they were the only way I'd get an idea of how the story played out.
I also remember back when I was eight years old, I had a very strange dream involving GX, but that's a story for another day.
The Joy In Losing
Duel Academy.
There really is no better school for Jaden Yuki. He's been through a lot since he stepped foot onto the island for the very first time, but he couldn't deny that there have been no shortage of thrills too.
This April weekday morning is just like every other morning for Jaden. If there's one thing he hates, it is the feeling of the days molding together. He only gets to attend this academy once. Then it's off to adulthood where he'll have to deal with problems he couldn't begin to dream of. The last time he paid any attention to the news, the economy of Domino City, and by extension, all of Japan, has been stagnant, if not declining.
But everything will all work out in the end, right? There are worse times in history to grow up in. In the Duel Monster-less world of World War 2, boys his age would be hiding in rice paddys for days at a time looking for Americans to shoot.
The days of the samurai… not much better either. Sure, holding a sword may be cool, but at the end of the day, that is exactly what it was for: holding. He read once that a samurai would rather pick up rocks lying at his feet and throw them at the enemy before he would use the sword at his side. Talk about a real letdown.
Ever since early childhood, he has lived for the game of Duel Monsters. There really is just something about it that makes it almost impossible to put down for good. Statistically speaking, people who play the game never really 'quit,' they just take breaks. These breaks would sometimes last a few years and fun memories of them playing this game always have them coming back.
The memories aren't the only reason either. The Elemental Heroes as they are now didn't exist when Jaden first started playing. Now when the term 'hero' gets thrown around campus, people would also think of him. Duel Monsters is a constantly evolving game. You'll never know what they're going to throw at you next.
This, in Jaden's humble opinion, is where the excitement truly is in the game. One day, you might feel invincible, but the next might bring someone that will have you questioning where to go moving forward.
Right now, he's lying down at his bed and going through his cards for what felt like the ten-thousanth time. Strangely enough, he doesn't feel himself getting tired of it. Probably because it's not a question of 'If?' but of 'When?' new cards are going to be looking back at him.
He then hears a familiar sound. He turns his head to his right to see the eyes of his most dearest partner staring back at him.
The monster spirit of The Winged Kuriboh.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, partner." Jaden said to the spirit. "You know I'll never find it in my heart to replace you. You're just too precious."
The expression that the spirit had given him then changes into a more cheerful one. Jaden then puts his cards down beside him and looks up at the ceiling. He could tell that something big is about to happen. He could feel it in his bones. There's never a dull day at Duel Academy. Whatever may happen, he'll be sure to face it with a smile on his face and a game-winning card in his hand.
Right outside of his dorm building, he would usually find Syrus and Hassleberry waiting for him. And today is no exception.
Syrus, who is now in Obelisk Blue, wasted no time getting to the Slifer Red dorm each morning. It was quite a long walk, but it was always worth it. Hassleberry, on the other hand, ever since he lost to Jaden in their first duel together, has voluntarily stayed at the same dorm as Jaden despite being eligible for the nicer one for Ra Yellow students like him.
Speaking of Ra Yellow, Jaden looks up at the sky. "I wonder what Bastion is doing right now." It's been months since he last saw him. Who would have thought that Bastion of all people would volunteer to stay in the alternate dimension? Finally together with Tania.
He then hears a voice in his head. "Whatever they may be doing, I'm sure they're happy… Just like we are now."
Jaden took a breath. "Yeah, Yubel… It's just… I'm starting to miss him, you know?"
Seeing Jaden stare off into space, Hassleberry couldn't help but smirk. "Come on now, Sarge! They're not going to hold class while you just stand still and stare like that!"
Syrus took a step further. "Come on, Jay. I hear this next lesson is an interesting one! I don't wanna miss out!"
Now snapped out of his thoughts, Jaden nodded his head. "You're probably right, Sy. Although if you really wanted to get to class sooner, you really don't need to wait for me."
"Are you kidding me?" Syrus raises an eyebrow. "It all doesn't mean anything if my closest friend isn't there with me."
"He's right. You know." Said Hassleberry. "We're all in this together. Either we all pass… Or we all fail! Leave no soldier left behind!"
Jaden puts his hands in his pockets. "Okay okay… I'm with you. Let's get this show on the road! We got places to be! Duels to duel! And friends to make!"
As soon as he said that, something caught the trio's attention. But it wasn't just the three of them that noticed. It was everybody else on Academy Island that looked up. A noise, not unlike that of an explosion, could be heard directly overhead. It's as if someone detonated a massive bomb on top of everybody.
But what was even scarier was what could only be described as a large amount of light heading straight towards Slifer Dorm.
"INCOMING NOW!" Hassleberry shouted out as he shut his eyes. Jaden and Syrus ended up doing the same. "AAAAAHHH!" Jaden shrieked out.
Syrus, hearing everything, was fearing the worst. Jaden could be burning alive right beside him for all he knew. "JADEN!? JADEN!?"
And just like that, everything seemed to have died down. A strong gust of wind is now replaced by a gentle breeze. Hassleberry gathered enough strength to peek.
Being careful to not accidentally blind himself. "Has this Light of Destruction personally come here to mess with us… Syrus! Sound off!"
"I'm… I'm right here, Hassleberry… I think I'm alright."
Hassleberry nods. "Okay… Sargent Jaden! Sound off!"
As soon as he said that, however, all he could hear was the sound of somebody coughing. It sounded like Jaden, but he just needed to know for sure. He repeats himself. "Sound off!"
He hears coughing from the same guy again. This time, it has gotten louder. This is when he began to turn around. "You sound like you're hacking up a lung there, Sarge. How 'bout we make a quick stop over to the med bay and get you checked-"
He then stops talking. Right now he isn't seeing the image of Jaden Yuki wearing his signature red jacket in front of him and Syrus. Instead, he's looking at a student from Obelisk Blue. Strangely enough, this is somebody who he's never seen before in all his time at the academy.
Syrus looks at the stranger's hair. Finding it weird that it kinda does look similar enough to Jaden's. This Obelisk Blue student's hairstyle is shaved along both sides with the shortest amount of dark brown hair being visible. In contrast, light brown hair is grown out, resulting in a mohawk-like style never seen on campus. Whoever this student is, he has quite the passion when it comes to looks. (For reference, please look at the hairstyle of Vanquish Soul Razen)
He moves closer to him. "Uhh… Jaden?"
The stranger looks at Syrus. Looking more confused by the second. Finally, he speaks.
"Syrus?"
Floating through the endless void of space, a recently reawakened deity notices that there are pieces missing from himself.
