Chapter 19: Duel and surprise inspection
Saturday
Time 16:00
A couple of days have passed since the duel in which Jaden and Red Hat defeated Camula and saved Zane. Things began to return to normal. Right now Red Hat and Blair were in class after a day of classes, the last lesson they had was with Banner.
"Well students, class is over, you can go." Banner said to the students in the room.
"Finally, the lesson is over." Red Hat said sleepily.
"But it's nice to have a bit of normality with all of this thing of the shadow riders." Blair said.
"I can't blame you on that." Red Hat replied.
"Hey, do you feel like doing something now?" Blair asked him.
"I'm going to the card shop to see if I can get some good cards. Do you want to come with me?"
"Why not, better than doing nothing." Blair replied as the two began to leave.
"Hey! Red Hat! Blair!"
A voice called them. They turned to see that it was Syrus approaching the two of them.
"Hey, Syrus, what's going on?" Blair asked.
"I wanted to ask you two if you wanted to come with me, Jaden and Chumley to the cliff near the dorm to fishing." Syrus explained.
"Sorry Syrus, but we already have another thing to do now." Red Hat replied.
"Oh I see, what a shame." Syrus murmured. "I thought if you came too maybe Jaden would cheer up." He said in a low voice.
The last thing he said caught Red Hat's attention. "Jaden? What do you mean?" Red Hat asked.
"Well, you see, ever since that duel where you two faced Camula and my brother it seems like Jaden is down in the dumps, he doesn't seem as enthusiastic as he usually is even if he tries to hide it at certain times. I don't understand what's wrong with him." Syrus replied.
Hearing this left both Red Hat and Blair confused wondering what could have happened to Jaden.
"Okay, since you two can't come then I'll stop bothering you. See you." Syrus waved as he ran off.
"What do you think is wrong with Jaden?" Blair asked looking a little worried.
"I just don't know what to say about it now." He replied.
"Do you… do you think it has to do with the Shadow riders?" Blair asked.
"Maybe, or maybe he's just exhausted from it. When we faced Nightshroud the first time and then dueled Camula after the shadow game we found ourselves completely exhausted." Red Hat said.
"So what do you think he has?" Blair asked.
"Like I said I don't know what to say about that and something only Jaden can explain to us." Red Hat replied, even though he didn't show it, he also was worried about his friend's strange behavior. "What happened to you, Jaden?" Red Hat thought.
"Yeah, maybe you're right." Blair said with a worried expression lost in thought. She also was worried because she didn't understand what was happening to Jaden.
Red Hat had noticed Blair's worried expression. "So? Shall we go to the card shop?" Red Hat said to change the subject.
"What?" At that question Blair snapped out of his thoughts. "Oh sure, let's go." At that point the two left the class.
Time 16:15
Red Hat and Blair were at the card shop, where they had spent most of their time opening packs.
"I got copies of cards that I already have, but this might come in handy in the future." Blair said quite happily as she opened the last of the packages she had taken.
"Well, at least it went well for you." Red Hat replied. "Ugh, but for me it's the opposite." He added looking frowning.
"Didn't you get the cards you were looking for?" Blair asked.
"Not at all. They are cards that I could hardly use for any of my decks." Red Hat replied.
"Hey, try to calm down. I tell you almost all the time, you shouldn't get angry about the cards that come your way when you open the packs. Not everything always goes according to plan." Blair said trying to reason with him.
"Yes you're right." Red Hat replied. "Hey, speaking of plans... have you thought of any yet for what to do about your situation?" He asked.
"Uhm? What are you referring to?" Blair asked confused by this.
"I mean how to tell Zane you like him." Red Hat explained.
"I-I... I'm still working on it." She replied mumbling.
"Are you sure that's the case? You always say the same thing every time." Red Hat said.
Blair frowned at his words. "Hey! Look, it's not like you can rush me on this! I said I just need some time that's all." She said.
"You keep telling yourself this, but in the end you're just putting it off because you're scared of what Zane might tell you, you're putting it off because you're scared." He said to Blair.
Blair frowned even more at his words, she was shaking with anger. At that point Blair stood up as he was walking away from the card shop.
"Blair, where are you going?" Red Hat asked confused.
Blair then turned to Red Hat with an angry look on her face. "Red Hat you're a real idiot." After those words she huff and turned away as she ran away.
Red Hat was confused by Blair behavior. "But... what did I do?" He wondered mentally as he put the papers he had taken aside on his way back to the dorm.
Time 16:30
After returning to his dorm room, Red Hat was lying on his bed, still confused as to why Blair was mad at him. "I don't understand. What did I do to make her angry?" He kept wondering. "Sometimes I don't understand her, why get so heated over something as trivial as a crush." He said annoyed by this story.
For him it seemed useless to discuss this. But the more she thought about how Blair was angry with him, the more he believed that he had treated her coldly for a thing important to her "I'd better apologize when I see her again." He said after sighing. But then he noticed that Blair hadn't returned to their room yet. "But where has she gone? I'd better go and look for her." With that said he ran out of the room to go find Blair. "I hope she hasn't gotten into trouble or that anyone has discovered her true identity."
Time 16:45
Red Hat leaves his room to go find Blair. Start looking for her in the forest near the dorm.
"She's not here. Where could she have gone to?" Red Hat thought as he left the forest at a run. While he was running off to look for her elsewhere, Syrus was passing near to him and he noticed Red Hat leaving.
"Hey, Red Hat!" Syrus shouted for him but received no response, so he started running to follow him. "Red Hat wait up!"
After a few seconds Red Hat noticed that Syrus was following him, noticing that he was out of breath as he ran, he decided to stop. "Syrus, I'm busy right now I don't have time to talk, I'm in a hurry." Red Hat said.
"Wait. It's... it's something urgent." Syrus said as he tried to catch his breath. "When I was out walking earlier... I saw a girl in a Slifer uniform. But when she saw me, she just took off." Syrus' face began to blush at that moment. "She had long hair... She was kinda cute." Hearing this, Red Hat's eyes widened. At that point Syrus face seemed to be filled with confusion. "But I don't get it. There are no girls in Slifer. I think I imagined it." Syrus explained.
Red Hat was agitated at first but quickly calmed down. "Thank goodness he didn't understand anything." He thought to himself.
"Oh right, I almost forgot." Syrus said as he grabbed something from his uniform which he handed to Red Hat. "She dropped this when she ran off." He said handing him a hat. Red Hat recognized it immediately as it was Blair's hat. "If you find the person who belongs the hat can you give it back."
"Thanks for telling me Syrus, I'll see if I can find the owner of the hat." Red Hat said as he took the hat. Red Hat looked ready to set off again to search for Blair, but stopped for a second and turned to Syrus. "Syrus, can I ask you a question?" He asked him.
"Sure."
"Have you by any chance seen Blair around somewhere?" Red Hat asked him.
"Blair you say?" Syrus thought about it before answering. "No, I don't think I saw him after class today."
"I see. Well, I'm searching him, if you or Jaden and Chumley see him you can tell me where he is with the PDA." Red Hat said.
"Oh sure. Well in that case I'll go, I'll let you know if I find him." With this Syrus leaves.
Meanwhile, Red Hat stood still in the forest for a few seconds while holding Blair's hat. "I better hurry and find her." He put his hat in his uniform and started running again to find Blair.
Time 17:00
Red Hat had arrived near the lighthouse while looking for Blair. "Not even here. I have to find her and fast." He thought to himself because he didn't see Blair around, as he prepared to leave to look for her elsewhere.
"I didn't expect to find you here now." A voice behind him made him stop.
Red Hat turned and saw that it was Alexis approaching him. "Alexis? What are you doing here?" Red Hat asked.
"I usually come here to be alone and think." Alexis replied. "But what are you doing here?" She asked him.
"Blimey, I'll have to be careful how I respond." Red Hat thought trying to find an excuse. "Well I was looking for Blair because we were supposed to meet, I came here to look for him but I couldn't find him." Red Hat said.
"Now that you mention it, before I came here I have encountered a Slifer Red, and if I'm not mistaken it was Blair." Alexis explained. "He asked me... So what's going on with you and Zane?! I heard all about you two secretly meeting up! At the lighthouse, right? Legend says, if a girl confesses her love there, the boy will fall in love with her!"
Red Hat's eyes widened at hearing those words, but Alexis hadn't noticed because of his hat. "Blair! What are you up to! They'll find out about you right away!" He screamed in his mind.
"Talk about a chip on the shoulder!" Alexis sighed then closed her eyes for a second. "What does he mean by the lighthouse legend anyway?"
"I really have no idea." Red Hat replied. But in his head he breathed a sigh of relief about this. "That's better. It seems Alexis hasn't found out about Blair's secret."
After a few seconds, Alexis' eyes widened. "I almost forgot... He dropped his bandana." Alexis handled to Red Hat a bandana.
"Oh blimey. don't tell me."
"Will you give it back to him?" Alexis asked.
"I'll make sure of that. Didn't you see where he went next?" Red Hat asked her.
Alexis thought about it for a few seconds. "If I'm not mistaken, I saw him heading towards the main building." She answered.
"Thanks for the information." Red Hat said before starting to run again.
Time 17:15
Red Hat had arrived at the central building to look for Blair following what Alexis had told him. He looked around most of the building but still couldn't find her. "It's not neither here. But where could she have gone." Red Hat said. Before he could go look for her elsewhere, the sound of his PDA stopped him. He looked at his PDA, seeing that it was Syrus calling him. "Syrus, what's going on?"
"Red Hat, you need to come to the duel arena immediately! It's urgent!" Syrus shouted.
Red Hat seemed confused by Syrus' request further. "Wait, Syrus. Because I have to go to the duel arena?" He asked.
"It's Blair. He's about to duel an Obelisk Blue right now." Syrus replied.
"What?!" After hearing this Red Hat put the PDA back in his pocket and started running as fast as he could to reach the duel arena.
Time 17:30
After a few minutes of running Red Hat managed to reach the duel arena. When he arrived he noticed that Jaden, Syrus and Chumley were already there. "Guys." He called them.
The trio of Slifers heard someone calling them and turned to see Red Hat coming near them. "Hey man, you've arrived." Jaden said.
"Yeah, just in time." Syrus added.
"You look like you ran a marathon." Chumley commented.
"Guys, can someone explain to me what's going on?" he asked. He then noticed Blair that he had a hat identical to the other one that Red Hat currently had in his jacket. "I don't know how she has another hat but at least they didn't find out she was a girl." Red Hat thought. And then he noticed three Obelisk Blues, with one standing in the center of the arena preparing to duel. "And why Blair is about to duel an Obelisk Blue."
"Well, you see..." Syrus began to tell everything.
Flashback
Jaden, Syrus and Chumley were at the card shop.
"Wait, let me get this straight... you say you saw a girl in a Slifer Red uniform?" Jaden asked.
"Yeah."
"Um, Syrus, not to offend you buddy, but there are no female students at Slifer Red. The only dorm that has girls is Obelisk blue." Chumley said.
"I think your imagination is getting to your brain a little buddy." Jaden joked.
"I guess you two are right, Red Hat said the same thing when I told him about it earlier. Even I know that at the Slifer Red there are not female students." Syrus said.
The three of them were eating some sandwiches they had picked up at the card shop.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going now?!"
Jaden and his friends heard someone screaming very loudly, they went to where they heard the source of that noise to see what was happening. They found themselves in front of three Obelisk Blues who were picking on another person.
"Hey, but that's...Blair." Jaden said pointing to the person the three Obelisks were picking on which was Blair.
"First come on me without even apologizing. You're in front of a high-ranking person, I'm a part of the elite." The Obelisk said.
"You're the one who came on me! You should be the one apologizing!" Blair replied frowning.
"You little..." The Obelisk was shaking with anger.
"Hey, wait a second... I think I've seen this one before." The second Obelisk Blue said, his eyes widening.
"Yeah, I recognize him too. He was with that Slifer Red with the red hat that time." The third Obelisk Blue said recognizing Blair.
Hearing these words, the first Obelisk began to smile sinisterly. "But look, what a coincidence that you're here, and apparently you're alone without your friend. Maybe this time I'll duel with you, or do you prefer run away with your tail between your legs without having that other loser near you."
"I don't need his help in a duel, especially against an idiot like you." Blair replied.
The three Obelisks began to get even more angry. "Okay, this is too much! You and I will duel now and I will show you what you get for disrespecting people who are part of the elite!"
The three Obelisk Blues and Blair thus headed towards the duel arena without realizing that they were followed by Jaden, Syrus and Chumley.
Flashback end
"And here's how things went." Syrus finished explaining.
Red Hat could only sigh after hearing the explanation. "I should have expected that Blair wouldn't stand silent if someone makes fun of her." He said to himself.
"Hey guys." Chumley called them. "That Obelisk Blue that Blair is dueling with isn't the same one that Red Hat dueled with last time?" He asked.
At this point everyone turned their attention towards the arena.
"Now that you point it out... they seemed familiar to me." Syrus said.
"It's true. It's the same Obelisk Blue that you dueled using Blair's deck." Jaden said remembering that time.
Red Hat clenched his hands for the anger. "Those three idiots. The words last time were of no use then, it means that I will remind them what they are another time in the harshest way." Red Hat said as he was about to walk to the arena only to be stopped by someone putting their hand over his shoulder, he turned around and saw that it was Jaden stopping him.
"No, wait Red Hat." Jaden said.
"What should I wait for? I'm not going to let Blair duel just because he hurt the pride of three poor idiots, so I'll duel him."
"I understand, but let to Blair this duel." Jaden replied.
"What?!" Red Hat was shocked by Jaden's words as were Syrus and Chumley.
"Look, I understand that you're worried about Blair. But you should give him some trust, We all know that he's gotten better at dueling thanks to you. So I think you should let him duel." Jaden explained.
Red Hat was confused by all this. He didn't want Blair to participate in this duel also because he thought that with what had happened today someone might find out that Blair was actually a girl, but on the other hand he knew that Blair will be able to win this duel with that Obelisk Blue with his deck, since he had done it the other time too. After a few seconds spent in silence, Red Hat spoke. "Okay, then let's let him have the duel." He said.
Jaden smiled at his friend's response as they all focused on the duel that was about to begin.
"You still have time to retreat Slifer slacker." The Obelisk teased.
"I won't back down." Blair replied activating the duel disk.
"Show him he's worthless." The second Obelisk Blue said.
"Let him see that we Obelisk Blues are the best." said the third Obelisk Blue.
"I tried to be nice but it's your funeral." The Obelisk said as he activated the duel disk.
"DUEL"
Blair: 8000 LP
Obelisk Blue: 8000 LP
"I'll go first. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 6
"I set a monster facedown and then set a card facedown. I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 4
"A weak move from a weak duelist. Now I'll show you how it's done. It's my turn. I draw!" The Obelisk draws.
Hand 6
"I start by summon Marauding Captain in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 400) With his effect I can special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my hand. I special summon Gearfried the Iron Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1600)"
"I'll stop you right here!" Blair interrupted him. "I activate my trap card. Bottomless Trap Hole! Since you summoned a monster with more of 1500 attack points, Gearfried is destroyed and banished." A deep hole opened under Gearfried, a pair of hands came out and dragged him underneath, and the hole closed.
"What were you saying a second ago?" Blair said smiling.
"Yours was just a stroke of luck." The Onelisk replied frowning. "I'll play the equip spell, Fusion Sword Murasame Blade to give an extra boost of 800 attack points to Marauding Captain. (Atk: 1200 – 2000 – Def: 400) Now Marauding Captain attack his facedown monster!"
When the warrior rushed to attack, destroying the opposing monster, Blair began to smile. "Thank you for this. The monster you attached was D.D. Warrior Lady. (Atk: 1500 – Def: 1600). After the battle, she and the monster she fights are banished." A portal opened above the field, sucking in both monsters.
"I end my turn." The Obelisk ends his turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 5
"I summon Shining Angel in attack mode! (Atk: 1400 - Def: 800) Battle, Shining Angel attack him directly!" The angelic monster created a javelin made of light in his hands which he threw at the Obelisk and struck it.
Obelisk Blue: 8000 – 6600 LP
"This end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 4
Meanwhile the group of Slifers watching the duel from their seats.
"What? He only left one monster on the attack. And without even leaving any facedown cards. What is he thinking?" Syrus asked.
"Don't ask me." Chumley replied.
"Maybe he's just trying to buy time." Jaden said.
Meanwhile, Red Hat watched the duel more attentively than anyone. "I hope it's as you say, Jaden. Even though Blair's move is risky without leaving something for protection I think I know why she did it, and I'm sure that guy will definitely take the bait." He thought.
"My turn. I draw!" The Obelisk draws.
Hand 4
"I activate the spell, Graceful Charity to draw 3 cards and discards 2. I continue by activating the spell, Pot of Greed to draw 2 more cards. Next, I activate the equip spell Premature Burial. I pay 800 life points to special summon Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke to field in attack position. (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1000)"
Obelisk Blue: 6600 – 5800 LP
"I summon Command Knight in attack mode! (Atk: 1200 – Def: 1900) With her on the field, all of my warrior-type monster gain 400 attack points. (Atk: 1200 – 1600 – Def: 1900) (Atk: 1800 – 2200 – Def: 1000) Command Knight, attack his Shining Angel!" The female knight struck the opposing monster with his sword, destroying it.
Blair: 8000 – 7800 LP
"You triggered my monster's effect. When Shining Angel is destroyed by battle ans sent to the graveyard, I can special summon a light monster with 1500 or less attack points. Like this one, another Shining Angel. (Atk: 1400 – Def: 800)" Blair explained, while a monster similar to the first appeared on the field.
"That means I'll destroy that monster too. Sasuke attacks his monster!"
Blair: 7800 – 7000 LP
"Once again, I use Shining Angel's effect again. This time I special summon Silent Swordsman LV3 in attack mode. (Atk: 1000 – Def: 1000)" A beam of light was pointing at Blair's side of the field, after a few seconds where the light was pointing was Silent Swordsman.
"Hahaha. And you call that a monster." The second Obelisk scoffed.
"Why? Did you really think that an Slifer slacker like that could have better cards?" He also added the third Obelisk while laughing.
"Do you think you're that little shrimp is going to scare me? That little monster can't even do scratch on me." The Obelisk teased her.
"Why don't you come and find out for yourself." Blair replied.
"Whatever. I end my turn." The Obelisk ends his turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 5
"Silent Swordsman LV3 effect activates, since I'm in my standby phase, I send him to the graveyard to summon his next form. Here comes Silent Swordsman LV5! (Atk: 2300 – Def: 1000)" Silent Swordsman glowed as he grew in size like his sword. "But he won't be alone for long. I summon Silent Magician LV4 in attack mode! (Atk: 1000 – Def: 1000)"
"So what? Only your Silent Swordsman is capable of destroying one of my monsters." The Obelisk stated.
"Who said I stopped here? I activate the spell Level Up! With this I send Silent Magician LV4 to the graveyard and special summon ignoring his summon condition her next form. Here comes Silent Magician LV8! (Atk: 3500 – Def: 1000)"
"Yeah! Now Blair can go on the counterattack with two monsters like that." Jaden said.
"I knew it. That's what Blair was aiming for." Red Hat thought, smiling.
"Battle, Silent Swordsman LV5 attack Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke! Silent Sword Slash!" Silent Swordsman charged and slashed Sasuke.
Obelisk Blue: 5800 – 5700 LP
"Now it's the turn of Silent Magician to attack! Strike with Silent Burning!" Silent Magician charged his power into her wand, shooting a ball of white light at Command Knight causing a loud explosion.
Obelisk Blue: 5700 – 3800 LP
"With this, I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 3
"Yeah! Blair has the upper hand now!" Syrus cheered.
"Totally licious!" Chumley added.
"Okay. I'm tired of this. Now I'll stop going easy on you." The Obelisk said angrily. "It's my turn. I draw!" The Obelisk draws.
Hand 4
Seeing the card he had drawn, The Obelisk couldn't help but smile. "I would start shaking in fear if I were you. I activate the spell, Monster Reborn. With this, I special summon to the field Gearfried the Iron Knight. (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1600) Then I activate the spell, Release Restraint. Thanks to this card I tribute my Gearfried the Iron Knight, to special summon directly from my deck Gearfried the Swordmaster! (Atk: 2600 – Def: 2200)" Gearfried's armor began to crack. When it was destroyed it unleashed a strong light on the field, when the light was extinguished there was a stronger warrior on the field.
"Oh oh. Guys I think Blair is in trouble now." Syrus said wincing at the sight of the new monster.
"Try to stay calm, Syrus. His monster is still weaker than Blair's Silent Magician." Chumley said.
"Oh yeah. You're right." Syrus replied.
"It's not as simple as you think, guys." Red Hat said drawing attention to himself. "That card might have fewer attack points for now, but it can be annoying in some cases if it has what I think in my hand." He added leaving them confused.
"Well then what do you think of my new monster." The Obelisk strutted. "Actually, no, don't tell me anything yet. Because I'm not finished yet. I play the equip spell Axe of Despair! Now my monster gain 1000 attack points! (Atk: 2600 – 3600 – Def: 2200)" A large ax appeared in Gearfried's hand.
"That doesn't sound good at all." Blair muttered.
"And there's even more. When an equip card is equipped to Gearfried the Swordmaster, I can choose a monster on your field and destroy it. I choose your Silent Magician LV8!" The warrior forcefully threw the axe at the Magician and destroying it. "Next, I equip to him the equip spell, Fusion Sword Murasame Blade to give to Gearfried 800 attack points. (Atk: 3600 – 4400 – Def: 2200)" The warrior grabbed a new sword. "And just like before since Gearfried is equipped with another card, I'm allowed to destroy another monster you control. Now it's the turn of Silent Swordsman LV5!" Gearfried swung his sword at Silent Swordsman causing an explosion. "And now, you're wide open. Go Gearfried, attack him directly!" Gearfried charged his power into the weapons in his hands by launching an energy blast at Blair which caused a powerful explosion sending up a cloud of smoke.
Blair: 7000 – 2600 LP
"That' all for me. I end my turn." The Obelisk ends his turn.
Hand 0
When the cloud of smoke cleared, Blair was on one knee.
"Hahahaha. That's how you should stay. On your knees before of who is superior to you!" The Obelisk said.
"That Slifer slacker thought he had a chance against an Obelisk Blue. It's really funny." The second Obelisk said laughing.
"I bet he'll start crying now." The third Obelisk said laughing even him.
Red Hat clenched his fist tighter and tighter as he heard the three Obelisk Blues continue with their teasing. He wanted to go to the arena and take Blair's place to continue the duel for him and show who was truly superior to those three idiots. But he stopped because he had said before that this was Blair's duel. And he believed she still had a chance to turn the situation around.
After a few seconds, Blair got back to his feet.
"So you decide to continue. Take this advice, stay down and give up. You have no chance of winning." The Obelisk scoffed.
Blair ignored his teasing. "It's my turn. I draw!"
Hand 4
"I set a monster facedown, then set two cards facedown. I end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 1
"Something tells me Blair doesn't have a good hand." Syrus said.
"Yes, I know how it feels when you find yourself in a situation like that." Chumley added.
"Hey you two, will you stop this pessimism. A duel it's not over until the last card is played... and from what I see, it doesn't look like Blair wants to give up." Jaden said with enthusiasm.
"It's my turn. I draw!" The Obelisk draws.
Hand 1
"I equip Gearfried the Swordmaster with the equip spell, Mist Body. Now my monster cannot be destroyed by battle. And since Gearfried now is equipped with another card, I can destroy your monster on the field." Gearfried swung the sword in his hand hitting Blair's monster that was Shining Angel. "And now I can finish you off. Go Gearfried!" The Obelisk announced.
"I'll stop you there!" Blair interrupted him. "I activate a trap card. Threatening Roar! You can't declare an attack for this turn." Blair's card rose above the field, generating sound waves that prevented Gearfried from proceeding with the attack.
"You just delayed the inevitable with this. Next turn I'll finish you off. I end my turn." The Obelsik ends his turn.
Hand 0
"It's my turn. I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 2
"I'll play the spell Pot of Greed to draw 2 cards. Next, I activate my facedown card, the trap Reckless Greed. With this card I can draw 2 more cards, but my next 2 draw phase are skipped." Blair explained as she drew her cards. When she saw what she got in her hands a smile formed on her face.
Red Hat noticed Blair's smile. "I guess Blair has all the resources he needs now. I'm curious to see how this ends." He thought with an amused expression.
"It won't do you any good to keep drawing so many cards. There's no way there's a card in your deck that can help you." The Obelisk mocked Blair. "In case you forgot, Gearfried the Swordmaster has 4400 attack points, and with Mist Body he cannot be destroyed in battle! My victory is absolute!"
"I wouldn't be so sure." Blair said.
"What do you mean?" The Obelisk asked in confusion.
"I mean that your monster is true that it cannot be destroyed by battle, but the same cannot be said due to card effects." Blair said as she took one of the cards from his hand. "I activate the spell Raigeki! With this all of your monsters will be destroyed." Black clouds began to form over the field as a powerful bolt of lightning fell from the sky, striking Gearfried and destroying him.
"T-this can't be true... my strongest monster... destroyed like nothing..." The Obelisk muttered in bewilderment.
"I activate Monster Reborn. To special summon to the field Silent Swordsman LV5 in attack mode! (Atk: 2300 – Def: 1000) I continue playing the equip spell, Premature Burial. Paying 800 life points, I special summon Shining Angel from the graveyard to the field. (Atk: 1400 – Def: 800)"
Blair: 2600 – 1800 LP
"I summon Ninja Grandmaster Sasuke in attack mode! (Atk: 1800 – Def: 1000)"
Jaden, Syrus and Chumley were happy with how the duel was going, even Red Hat was smiling as if he was satisfied as he walked away without anyone noticing.
"Battle! Sasuke and Shining Angel attack you directly!" Sasuke rushed towards The Obelisk slashing at it with his daggers as Shining Angel created a spear of light which he launched at it.
Obelisk Blue: 3800 – 2000 – 600 LP
"Silent Swordsman, give him the finishing blow! Silent Sword Slash!" Silent Swordsman leapt into the air heading towards the Obelisk attacking it with his huge sword knocking him off his feet.
Obelisk Blue: 600 – 0 LP
"He did it! He did it! Blair won!" Syrus cheered.
"Good job." Chumley said.
"Did you see? I told you Blair could win the duel. What do you think, Red Hat?" Jaden asked his friend without receiving an answer. "…Red Hat?" Jaden turned and saw that Red Hat was no longer near them. "Where did he go?" He asked getting the attention of Syrus and Chumley as they also noticed that he was missing.
"I don't know. He was here just a moment ago." Syrus said.
"Hey guys, it's over there." Chumley said pointing to Jaden and Syrus as Red Hat approached the arena.
"Let's go there and take a look." Jaden said as he started to walk there followed by Syrus and Chumley.
"It is not possible!" The Obelisk screamed angrily as he slammed his fists on the ground. "How? How... can I lose again... against another Slifer!"
Meanwhile, Blair breathed a sigh of relief at his victory in the duel as he smiled at his opponent. "Well, that's what you get when you're too full of yourself." Blair said.
The Obelisk looked at Blair with an angry look. "Don't think I'm letting this end here. Hey you two! Come here!" He shouted to the other two Obelisks who stood around Blair, preventing her from escaping.
The arrived Slifer trio looked at what was happening. "Hey, what's going on?" Syrus asked.
"Hey, what does this mean?" Blair asked.
"You really thought we were going to let this all go away after humiliating me. Well now you'll have to face your punishment." The Obelisk said smiling sinisterly.
"Yes, now you will have to face all three of them together." The second obelisk said.
"Yes, we will make you pay for disrespecting at us elite." Added the third Obelisk.
"What? This isn't right!" Blair said frowning.
"Like I care. But enough talking and time for revenge. Come on you two, go." The Obelisk ordered to his companions.
Blair began to panic as the two Obelisks were approaching her smiling, Jaden was getting angry at the Obelisks' behavior with Blair and was about to intervene when suddenly the two Obelisks stopped approaching her, when they looked at them and saw that they look worried as they stepped back.
"So what? What's wrong with you two? Why did you stop?" The Obelisk asked.
The second Obelisk said nothing as he pointed with a finger in one direction, while the ringleader looked where he pointed. As soon as he saw who was coming he too began to worry.
Slifer's group looked confused. "Hey, why did they stop? And why did it look like they just saw a ghost?" Jaden asked.
Jaden's thoughts were interrupted by Syrus grabbing the sleeve of his jacket. "Um, Jaden." Syrus said drawing attention to himself, while looking at him Syrus along with Chumley also looked scared. "Look at there." Syrus pointed.
Looking where Syrus had pointed, Jaden saw that arriving in the arena was Red Hat walking with his head down with his hat covering most of his face.
Blair also turned to see Red Hat as well. "Red Hat... you're here." She asked.
"Yeah, I was here the whole time and I saw the whole duel unfold." Red Hat replied as he stood next to her, addressing her with a smile. "I told you the last time you've improved so much that you would be able to defeat an Obelisk Blue on your own, and you do that. You're an excellent duelist, Blair."
"T-thanks." Blair stuttered as she looked away.
After a few seconds, Red Hat's expression turned serious as he turned to the three Obelisks. "And now we come to you three." Sensing that it was them now his attention made them jump. "The lesson last time wasn't enough for you, as far as I can see. Am I wrong, or did I tell you that if you took it out on any of my friends, this time I would be serious." He said, his voice full of venom and anger.
Hearing his words, the three Obelisk Blues immediately ran away. "But it doesn't end here! I swear!" The ringleader of the trio shouted.
"Oh man, Blair. That was such so sweet duel!" Jaden stated as he approached along with Syrus and Chumley.
"Yes, you did exactly what I would have done in your case." Chumley said.
"Yeah, yeah. Of course Chumley." Syrus joked.
"Thank you guys."
"You know, I'm glad Jaden stopped me when the duel was to start. It was fun watching you defeat that Obelisk." Red Hat said amusedly.
"Yeah, funny..." Jaden repeated, also amused. After a few seconds, however, his expression changed, it almost seemed as if he were dejected. "Funny..." He repeated in a lower tone of voice.
Red Hat immediately noticed the change in mood in his friend. "Hey, Jaden, is everything okay?" He asked.
"W-what, w-who? Me? Yes, everything is fine, hahaha." Jaden immediately replied laughing as if trying to hide his change.
"If you say so." Red Hat replied unconvinced, but didn't want to ask.
"Well guys, I don't know about you but I was starting to get a little hungry." Jaden said.
"Jaden, you're always hungry." Syrus said sighing.
"This is Jaden, Syrus you can't do anything about it." Red Hat replied laughing.
"So how about we go to the card shop to get some sandwiches?" Jaden asked the rest of the group.
"I'm in." Syrus replied.
"Me too." Chumley added.
"As tempting as the offer is, I think I'll go back to my dorm room for some rest." Red Hat said.
"I don't understand how you can stay in bed for so long." Blair sighed at his behavior. "But after today's duel I'm a little tired too, so I think I'll rest too."
"Okay, do as you want. Come on Syrus, Chumley, last one to arrive pays for everyone!" Jaden shouted as he began to run away.
"Jaden! Wait for us!" Syrus shouted as he began to chase him.
"But why do we have to run? You know I hate doing it." Chumley complained as he started running too.
While the Slifer trio ran off to go to the card shop, Red Hat and Blair left the arena to go to their dorm.
Time 17:45
As they were on their way to the dorm, Red Hat took Blair's bandana and hat from his jacket and handed them to her. "I think these are yours."
"Where did you find them?" Blair asked surprised that he had them.
"While I was looking for you I met Syrus and Alexis who told me that they had met you and that you had lost these while running away." Red Hat explained.
"What? They didn't find out about me, right?" Blair asked worriedly.
Red Hat shook his head. "No, Syrus thinks he imagined you seeing you as a girl, while Alexis didn't find out." He explained.
"That's better." Blair said with a sigh of relief.
"But if I kept your hat, where did you get the one you're wearing now?" Red Hat asked.
"I had a spare hat with me, when I first lost mine I put on this other one so I wouldn't get caught."
Red Hat seemed to accept her explanation before his expression turned serious. "Blair, you have to be much more careful, today it was almost close that someone discover your true identity."
"I know." Blair responded by lowering her head in embarrassment. "It's just that I was angry before and couldn't control myself when I ran away. I'm sorry for being careless and getting angry and making this mess."
Seeing Blair's displeased expression, Red Hat sighed before speaking. "I was the one who contributed to this mess too, I don't understand at all what you want to do with Zane and all of this story of the love, and that contributed to you almost getting you caught." Red Hat said getting Blair's attention as he looked away. "I am sorry."
A few seconds of silence passed without either of them saying anything, before the silence was broken by Blair laughing. "Ahaha, that's good to hear. The big and bad Red Hat apologizing."
Red Hat frowned at this. "But look, someone says sorry and you start laughing."
"Come on, don't always be so serious, I'll take care of distracting you." Blair said as she walked over to him and jumped up into the air grabbing his hat.
"What?! Blair, don't joke about this give me my hat back right now!" Red Hat yelled.
Blair in response stuck out her tongue. "If you want it so bad come get it." She said as she waved his hat before taking off running with Red Hat chasing after her.
Sunday
Time 9:00
It was a quiet morning at Duel Academy, since there were no classes, every student spent their free time as they wanted. Red Hat was in his room trying to sleep everything was quiet, or at least it was until Blair quickly entered the room approaching his bed to wake him up.
"Red Hat! Wake up! It's an emergency!" Blair screamed as she shook him. When she saw that he was waking up she let him go.
Red Hat rubs his eyes as he yawned and stood up. "Oh come on, you could have let me sleep for another five minutes." He complained for being woken up.
"How can you sleep so much? I don't think even Jaden can sleep as much, even when he's in class." Blair said sighing for Red Hat behavior.
"Yesterday I stayed up all night working on my decks in case they were needed." Red Hat replied.
"Sorry but how did you do for dinner last night then?" Blair asked.
"I didn't, I ate some sandwiches that he had bought earlier and that I kept as a reserve." He explained as he got out of bed.
Blair shook his head. "I've told you plenty of times. You shouldn't just eat sandwiches, you should eat something else, you could try those recipes Miss Fontaine gave you last time, plus you could avoid sleeping so much that, not helps keep your body healthy."
"I don't see the need to do this. But if it will put you at ease and let me sleep I'll try." Red Hat said. "Now tell me why you were screaming earlier?"
"Oh right, I was forgetting about that." Blair's eyes widened at why she had come into the room looking worried about something. "I heard this rumor about the professors... Apparently, they've been performing surprise inspections of dorm rooms. You're not hiding anything suspicious, are you?"
Red Hat looked at her impassively at this question and scoffed at that. "Who do you take me for? I don't hide anything at all."
Blair then grinned. "How about I take a look under your bed?" Blair suggested as she was doing that.
"H-hey! I already told you I don't hide anything! So what are you hoping to find? You won't find anything under my bed!"
Blair ignored his words as she continued searching under his bed. As she took a look, she began to become a little flustered as well as blushing as she got back to her feet. "Um, maybe I'll just pretend that I didn't see that..."
Red Hat was sweating sighing as he looked at Blair, after a while they both left their room. When they left their room they saw a professor coming closer to their room door.
"Uh... hey, professor..." Blair said as she stood next to Red Hat and saw the professor approaching.
"Oh, perfect! I was just looking for you two." The professor said.
"And why would that be?" Blairs asked.
"I am performing surprise inspections on students' rooms." The professor stated. "And the only room in this dorm I haven't checked is yours. Which means, it's inspection time!"
"Um, sure, uh..." Blair began to worry as she approached Red Hat to whisper to him. "Oh no! I have all kinds of girly stuff in my room! If he inspects our room now, he'll find out that I'm a girl!"
Red Hat was surprised by what Blair told him. "What? You mean to tell me that all this time while we were hiding your true identity you weren't hiding your stuff?"
"I am sorry." Blair whispered apologetically. "Hey, I really need your help with this one! Please buy me some time while I run and go hide everything!" Blair whispered.
"And how am I supposed to keep him at bay while you go into the room to hide everything?" Red Hat said.
"I'll provide you with a diversion, you just have to keep the professor as busy as possible. Leave it to me." Blair told him.
"Why I already know I'm not going to like what's about to happen. What have I gotten myself into." Red Hat thought with a bored expression.
"Excuse me, what are you two whispering about?" The professor asked.
Blair turned to the professor. "Huh? Uh, nothing! Nothing at all!" Blair denied. "By the way, professor!"
"Yes?" The professor replied.
"Red Hat has been saying that your duel theories are totally bogus!" Blair said.
"What?"
"He said your theories are so bogus that they're not even worth teaching!" Blair said.
"I don't understand what you're trying to get at." Red Hat thought as he listened to Blair.
The professor gasped at what Blair was telling him.
"He said that your theories pale in comparison to his own!" Blair proclaimed.
"WHAT?!" Was the only thing the professor said as his face seemed to turn red with anger.
"He can't believe you're actually allowed to teach such worthless theories!" Blair added.
"GGGRRRrrrrrr!"
"Who knows why but I can already imagine how it will end." Red Hat could see that the professor was getting angrier and angrier that it almost seemed like smoke was coming out of his ears. "It's almost like watching Crowler get angry. A funny scene." He thought a little amused.
"He said that it's best to use earplugs during your lecture!" Blair said smiling.
"That's enough!" The professor shouted angrily. "Get ready, Red Hat! We're going to duel! Let's just see who's got the better theories... If my theories-the Rainbow Paradise theories- are just armchair speculation, then let us find out here and now!" The professor declared as he walked down the stairs of the dorm to position himself in the dueling space.
"It worked! I'll leave the rest up to you! Just try to buy me as much time as you can!" Blair whispered.
"You know, aside from the fact that it was kind of funny, don't you think you went too far. He looks like Crowler with Jaden when he's about to explode with anger." Red Hat whispered.
"Hey, I tried to be as credible as possible. I was counting on the fact that if I told him that it was you who said those things about his theories he would believe it immediately knowing the behavior you have." Blair explained.
Red Hat looked at Blair with an impassive expression.
"Hehe, sorry. But it's done now. Now go there and duel with him and remember, try to buy as much time as you can." Blair said as she ran into their room.
Red Hat turned to look at the professor who had already positioned himself ready to duel. "What have I gotten myself into." He thought boredly before sighing. "Okay, let's do this one."
Before the duel began, Blair had run into the room, while trying to hide all her things that might reveal that she was a girl. He looked for places in the room where he could hide more stuff. "Okay, now where do I put this stuff?"
Meanwhile, Red Hat had come down and stood on the other side of the field while activating his duel disk while the professor did the same.
"DUEL!"
Red Hat: 8000 LP
Wade: 8000 LP
"The first move it's mine. I draw!" Wade draws.
Hand 6
"I set a monster facedown. I set 2 cards facedown. I end my turn." Wade ends his turn.
Hand 3
"It's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"I activate my trap card!" Wade interrupted him. "The continuous trap, Tower of Babel! With this card each time a spell card is activated a spell counter is placed on this card." Wade explained as a large tower appeared behind him. "That's not all. Once there are placed 4 spell counter this card is destroyed, and the player who activated the spell card at the time takes 3000 points of damage."
"As if something like that would stop me. "I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior in attack mode! (Atk: 1600 – Def: 1000) When he's normal summoned he gets a spell counter which increase his attack points of 300. (Atk: 1600 – 1900 – Def: 1000) But it won't stay that way long because I use that spell counter to destroy your facedown card. (Atk: 1900 – 1600 – Def: 1000)" The spellcaster's sword glowed with a blue light before slashing the facedown card that was Sakuretsu Armor destroying it. "Breaker attack his facedown monster!" Breaker rushed towards the opposing monster, which turned out to be a monster in the form of a purple plant with tentacles and yellow flowers with faces with glowing eyes. The monster was Magical Plant Mandragola, which Breaker struck with his sword, destroying it (Atk: 500 – Def: 200).
"You activated my monster's flip effect. Which let me place 1 spell counter on a face-up card on the field. Like Tower of Babel." At the tip of the tower a ball of light shone.
"I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 5
"It's my move now. I draw!" Wade draws.
Hand 4
"I'll start playing the spell Graceful Charity to draw 3 cards then I have to discards 2 of them." Wade draws his cards and discards 2 from the hand. "And with a spell card activated, Tower of Babel gains a second spell counter. I summon Skilled Dark Magician in attack mode! (Atk: 1900 – Def: 1700) I activate the equip spell Premature Burial. By paying 800 life points I can special summon from my graveyard the monster I just discarded. Come on out, Buster Blader! (Atk: 2600 – Def: 2300)"
Wade: 8000 – 7200 LP
"Since I activated a spell card, Skilled Dark Magician and Tower of Babel both get a spell counter." One of the orbs on Skilled Dark Magician armor and the tip of the tower a ball of light shone. "Battle, Skilled Dark Magician attack Breaker the Magical Warrior!" The spellcaster created a black sphere with his staff which he launched at Breaker, destroying him.
Red Hat: 8000 – 7700 LP
"Now Buster Blader, attack him directly!" Buster Blader quickly rushed towards the opponent, raised his sword and struck Red Hat.
Red Hat: 7700 – 5100 LP
"With this I end my turn." Wade ends his turn.
Hand 2
"It's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"First I'll get rid of your trap card. For this I play the spell Mystical Space Typhoon!" The typhoon of wind appeared on the field, shattering the tower. "I activate the spell Change of Heart. With this I take the control of your Buster Blader until the end of this turn." A half-angel, half-devil figure appeared on the field, approaching Buster Blader and taking him to Red Hat's side of the field. "Now I'll tribute your Buster Blader to summon, Zaborg the Thunder Monarch in attack mode! (Atk: 2400 – Def:1000) Since he was tribute summoned, his effect let's me destroy a monster on the field. So Skilled Dark Magician is destroyed!" Zaborg fired a bolt of lightning from his hand at Skilled Dark Magician. "Battle,Zaborg, attack him directly!" The thunder monarch generated a charge of electricity in his hands which he launched at his opponent.
Wade: 7200 – 4800 LP
"I set one card facedown. I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 2
"It's my turn. I draw!" Wade draws.
Hand 3
"I play the spell Pot of Greed, that means I draw two more cards." When Wade drew his cards he began to smile. "I play the spell Monster Reborn. I special summon another time Buster Blader to the field. Then I play the spell Polymerization! With this I fuse Buster Blader on the field with King of the Swamp in my hand to fusion summon, Dark Paladin! (Atk: 2900 – Def: 2400)" A wizard with dark green armor with orange features holding a staff with a long swordappeared on Wade's field.
"He used King of the Swamp instead of Dark Magician to summon this monster that also has a negation effect of the spell cards. Not bad." Red Hat thought slightly impressed.
"I haven't used my normal summon yet, but I use it immediately to summon Skilled White Magician in attack mode! (Atk: 1700 – Def: 1900) Battle, Dark Paladin attack Zaborg!" Dark Paladin charged his staff with dark energy, also covering the blade in the same energy, using it to hit Zaborg causing an explosion.
Red Hat: 5100 – 4600 LP
"Skilled White Magician, attack him directly!" The white clothed wizard launched a wave of white magic at Red Hat.
Red Hat: 4600 – 2900 LP
"With this I end my turn. You better try to do something." Wade said ending his turn.
Hand 0
"It's my turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 3
"With the cards in my hand I could look for other resources to use. With the facedown card I left last turn I could take care of his monsters. But Blair asked me to keep him busy until he finishes hiding his things." Red Hat thought, breathing a sigh of tiredness.
"I set one monster facedown. I end my turn." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 2
Just then Blair came running out the room of the dorm.
"Finally. I managed to finish in time." Blair thought.
Red Hat noticed that Blair had arrived while observing the duel, while she waved her hand to say she was done. "So she managed to hide everything. Better, at least now I can finish this duel." Red Hat thought.
"If that's all it's my turn. I draw!" Wade draws.
Hand 1
"I summon Skilled Dark Magician in attack mode! (Atk: 1900 – Def: 1700)" The second black clothed magician appeared on the field near Dark Paladin. "And with these three monsters I am ready to win the duel." Wade stated.
"Not so fast!" Red Hat interrupted him. "I activate my trap card! Torrential Tribute! Since you summoned a monster, all the monster on the field are destroyed!" A powerful wave of water came out of the trap card, destroying all the monsters on the field.
"N-n-no way… all my monsters have been destroyed." Wade muttered in shock.
"And there's more you should know. The monster that had facedown on my field was Dandylion, and when this monster is sent to the graveyard I get two Fluff Tokens on my field in defense mode. (Atk: 0 – Def: 0)" Red Hat explained as two tokens appeared on his side of the field.
"I end my turn." Wade ended his turn.
Hand 0
"My turn. I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 3
"I activate Pot of Greed to draw 2 cards. Then I tribute my two Fluff Tokens, to summon Dark Magician of Chaos in attack mode! (Atk: 2800 – Def: 2600) When this monster is summoned I can get back a spell card from my graveyard to my hand, and my choice is Pot of Greed that I play again to draw 2 other cards." Red Hat draw his cards and smiled. "I banish Breaker the Magical Warrior and Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, to special summon Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning! (Atk: 3000 – Def: 2500)"
"This is no good."
"Battle! Go, Dark Magician of Chaos, attack him directly! Chaos Scepter Blast!" The chaos magician created a sphere of dark magic from his staff which he launched at his opponent.
Wade: 4800 – 2000 LP
"Now Black Luster Soldier deal the finishing blow! Chaos Sword Slash!" Black Luster Soldier struck Wade with his sword, completely eliminating his life points.
Wade: 2000 – 0 LP
"Noooooo! I, I lost!" Wade shouted in shock.
"I'm back!" Blair said in a low tone as she approached Red Hat. "I hid everything that looks girly!" She said.
"Thank goodness, because I was starting to get tired." Red Hat said.
"Ugh, could... could I possibly be mistaken...?" Wade wondered as he fell to his knees feeling frustrated.
"What? No, that can't be true, professor!" Blair said, getting Wade's attention. "Professor, I love your theories... The Rainbow Paradise theories... They're brilliant!"
"Blair..." Wade muttered.
"You never gave us much homework..." Blair stopped before speaking again. "Uh, I mean... Professor, your teachings, they're so full of... Hopes, and dreams, and uh, stuff like that!"
Wade regained his composure and got back to his feet. "Oh... yes I, I suppose you're right. I guess I wasn't mistaken after all!"
"Of course not!" Blair agreed.
"*ahem* Now that I've collected myself, it's inspection time! Dr. Crowler will be here to see the rooms soon. When he arrives, the inspection will begin!" Wade said.
"Crowler will take care of the inspection! Oh perfect, as if this whole situation wasn't bad enough already." Red Hat thought.
As if on cue, Dr. Crowler had arrived and stood next to Wade.
"My, my... What do we have here... I'd say these two look awfully suspicious, wouldn't you?" Crowler asked.
"Actually, now that you tell me, Blair didn't arrive until near the end while Red Hat and I were dueling." Wade said.
Hearing them talk, Blair began to worry. "Sorry, we have to go!" Blair said grabbing Red Hat by the arm running away from the Slifer Red dorm.
"Those two are too suspicious. I'll have to keep an eye on them." Crowler thought, before directing his attention to the Slifer dorm. "Ugh, to think that I would have to set foot in the rooms of this sort of shack full of slackers, especially Jaden Yuki's. Oh well, inspections are in the rules, and Sheppard asked me to do it." Crowler thought with a look of disgust on his face.
Meanwhile, Blair was running away, dragging Red Hat with him. They ran as far as they could until they reached the forest near the dorm. "Well, I think we've gone far enough." Blair said.
"More than anything, I'm glad this story is over. Did you manage to hide all your stuff?" Red Hat asked.
"Yeah. Thanks to you I bought enough time to hide everything." Blair replied.
"Good thing. Well, it seems early to go back to the dorm, especially with Crowler still there. Well, at least we could go to the card shop so I could get some more rest for today." Red Hat said.
"I still don't understand how you sleep so much." Blair said sighing at his words.
Red Hat simply shrugged at her words, before starting to walk towards the main building with Blair following.
Time 19:00
After spending most of their time at the card shop, Red Har and Blair decided to head back to the dorm. Going to the cafeteria since it was dinner time, when they got to the cafeteria they noticed Jaden, Syrus, Chumley and Chazz were there too. So they decided to go to them. "Hey, Jaden!" Red Hat called him.
"Oh, hey you guys." Jaden greeted them.
"By the way, where were you guys? I didn't see you today when they came to inspect the dorm." Blair asked.
"Oh right, we didn't tell you guys." Chumley spoke.
"You see today we went to the Academy wading pool. Because we thought it would cheer Jaden up from his nightmare." It was Syrus who spoke.
"Nightmare?" Red Hat muttered, him and Blair looked confused by this.
"Well, you see ever since Red Hat and I beat Camula, I started having nightmares, where I lost a shadow game and not being able to save my friends." Jaden replied.
Red Hat and Blair looked at Jaden and seemed surprised by what he said.
"With what's been going on lately, it's no wonder I had that dream. Before this story I thought duels were meant to be fun, but now with these Shadow Riders in duels our lives are on the line." Jaden explained.
"Now I understand why it didn't seem like you anymore after the duel with Camula." Red Hat said.
"Yeah, but here's where the interesting part start. After we went to the wading pool me and the others were transported to some sort of spiritual realm where duel monster cards were real. And you won't believe it, when we were there I dueled against Kaibaman."
Red Hat seemed to process what he had told him for a few seconds. "Wait... Kaibaman, like the duel monsters card?! You dueled him?!" He asked.
"Yeah man, that's him."
"Well, knowing you, I'm not surprised you ended up in a situation like that." Red Hat said, in disbelief at what she had told him. "And how did the duel go?"
"I lost the duel and passed out. When I woke up I thought I had lost Syrus and Chumley too, but they were fine." Jaden replied.
"With what you went through maybe I would have found myself thinking the same thing if I were in your place maybe. But I still can't believe you dueled with a duel monster card and lost." Red Hat said.
"Well it was a difficult duel. Especially when you find yourself facing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon." Jaden revealed.
"Wait... did he have the Blue-Eyes White Dragon?! The same card that Seto Kaiba uses?!" Red Hat asked in shock.
"Exactly the same card."
"Man, I wish I could have been there with you and maybe dueled him too." Red Hat said a little amused.
"I know, I understand you friend." Jaden said smiling and amused too.
"The two of them are exactly the same." It was the same thing that Blair, Syrus and Chumley thought.
"But you know, this experience has helped me." Jaden said turning to Red Hat. "After I lost the duel Kaibaman told me something. That I was no longer scared because I had faced my fear, that I shouldn't be frightened by defeat but that I should always be ready to accept it. Defeat is nothing to be scared. What it matters, is if I can get up after." Jaden said with his usual cheerful expression.
Chazz said nothing, he seemed to ignore them, while Blair, Syrus and Chumley smiled.
Red Hat also seemed happy for Jaden. "I'm happy for you, and nice to see you back to your usual self, Jaden." He said smiling at his friend.
"Thank you, Red Hat." Jaden said. "Well, now I'm starving, and since today is fried shrimp day I'm going to get some of that to eat." Jaden said getting up from the table.
"Wait up Jaden, try leave some for me too." Red Hat said following him.
Soon they both returned to the table with a plate loaded with fried shrimp and a bowl of rice as they ate as much as they could, their friends unable to do anything but sweat at their antics.
Here is the new chapter. I'm sorry it took so long again, but my old computer broke and it took me a while to find a new one before I started writing the chapter again. But first I want to tell you all something. That my story has reached 6700 views. I didn't expect so many people to like my story, but a lot of credit also goes to the people who point out when I make a mistake in the chapters, or give me suggestions to improve my story. For this I want to say thank you to everyone who reads my story. With that out of the way, let's move on to what I have to say about this chapter. As you may have noticed in this chapter I included the part from Tag Force 1, where Alexis gives you Blair's bandana while Syrus gives you her hat. I wanted to put a duel in this chapter in which Blair dueled against that Obelisk Blue that Red Hat had defeated using Blair's deck for two reasons. The first, to give Blair space in the duels, to reiterate that she was improving and that she could defeat the Obelisk Blue as Red Hat had told her during the field test. The second was because I wanted to highlight the bond between Red Hat and Blair growing a little more, and even though he was worried about someone finding out Blair true identity, he still let Blair duel, or how he defended her from the three Obelisk Blues. A little clarification, if you're wondering why no one discovered Blair was a girl even though Red Hat had her hat and bandana, and why Blair was still in disguise in the game, I used the other hat excuse in this chapter to keep it that way, because Blair was still disguised when you give her the three items in the game. I also used the third episode of Blair disguised from Tag Force 3 and adapted it for this chapter, I only left a few hints of episode 34 The Fear Factor because I couldn't have Red Hat participate, because of the connection it has with the duel spirits he's still weak and can only see Aussa and Hiita but we'll get to that later, that's why I let Jaden tell him about his duel with Kaibaman and the fear he had. The next chapter will be Chazz's duel against his brothers and there will be a little unexpected twist, feel free to try to guess how. That's all for this chapter. Thanks again for your help with my story. If you have any suggestions or want to tell me what you think let me know in the comments below. See you next time.