Outside Duel Academy: Night…
Kai, Jaden, Syrus, Greg, Alexis, and Dimitri were checked over by Fonda. When she determined they were fine, each of them were questioned on the events which transpired at the abandoned dorm. They were told to report back around noon to be reexamined.
Beyond that, none of them would be expected anywhere near the academy. As for Crowler, despite what he did, he was deemed unfit for questioning due to his present state. He was admitted to the Nurse's office.
Fonda was told to do everything to ensure the ancient gear user could be questioned first thing in the morning. After finding all this out, the six students were free to go and walked outside to discover night had fallen.
As they walked into the courtyard, Jaden got their attention. "Hey, I just wanted to say something before we part ways."
The other five stopped and turned to look at the hero user.
"What is it Jaden?" Alexis questioned.
"Look, Crowler wasn't in the right." Jaden began. "At the end of the day, I'll leave the decision in yours and Dimitri's hands because you were the people most impacted by what happened. If you don't want what I'm about to say, I'll drop it."
All five people looking at the hero user and wondered where he was going with this.
"I'm not going to pretend Crowler working to correct a mistake makes it any better; however, I will say he seems to have genuinely changed from this experience." Jaden continued. "He probably doesn't deserve it, but I think the guy could use a second chance."
"You want Alexis and I to speak up on behalf of Crowler." Dimitri summarized.
"I would like to speak up as well; however, like I said, if you two don't want it, I'll understand and won't speak up." Jaden stated sincerely. "Whatever would happen, will happen without my interference."
"I don't know Jaden." Alexis sighed as she shook her head. "I think I need to sleep on it."
"Yeah, not sure I could give you an objective answer right now myself." Dimitri added.
"That's fair." Jaden nodded. "You don't even need to tell me your answer. If you don't bring this up again, I'll just assume you refused. I just brought this up because I knew I'd regret not doing it. Come on Sy, let's get back. Chumley's probably worried.
"Uh, right." Syrus followed. "Coming Jay."
The Slifer pair left.
"I'll say this," Kai sighed as everyone looked at him. "I couldn't imagine Ryuga doing what Crowler did, maybe that only puts him one latter rung above the man at this point, but perhaps that's enough to mean he gets a second chance."
He looked at the two most affected. "Whatever the two of you decide, I'll accept it. Regardless of all that, I'm glad you are alright." The heroic user then walked up to Dimitri and put a hand on his shoulder with a small smile. "My guy, no more strange paths for you."
Dimitri managed a small chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."
Kai patted the shoulder before dropping his hand and walking off.
"Well, we should get going to our room Dimitri." Greg stated.
"Yeah, let's go." Dimitri stated.
Alexis was the only one left, and she turned to the academy as her mind pondered what Jaden had said about the good doctor. "Does he really deserve a second chance?"
Alexis found she couldn't answer that right now, so she merely took to walking back to the female Obelisk dorm.
Nurse's Office
Fonda Fontaine had displayed coldness the ancient gear user didn't think her capable of, but he deserved it after how he conducted himself. Crowler had to wonder just when had he slipped so far? Ultimately, as he now laid in the empty room, he concluded it wasn't just a sudden shift.
Such a thing would have been noticeable and preventable. It was a gradual decline; those were harder to spot until it was too late. Slowly, he lost sight of what it meant to be a teacher. At the end of the day, he only had himself to blame and would accept whatever came from this.
He was taken out of his thoughts as the door opened and Mokuba entered the room looking none too pleased with the good doctor. "Crowler, what exactly was going through your mind when you brought that man to this island?"
"Petty thoughts and no concern for the children he could have harmed." Crowler answered honestly, having already reflected on all he did wrong.
Regardless of how much reflection Crowler had done, Mokuba wasn't content to give this man any slack.
"Seto and I have soft spots in our hearts for children, Crowler." Mokuba began. "We made Kaiba Land to give them a fun place to experience their youth. We opened these academies to give them a bright future, whether it be in dueling or some other field they want to enter.
If anyone asked, I wouldn't deny places like these make money, and the Kaiba family lives a luxurious life. There are people who have, do, and will take issue with that. At the end of the day, we donate quite a lot to give less fortunate children a future.
You ended up putting this island direct danger because you lost to one child. The unintended consequences of your actions only escalated things. What happened in that dorm was a shadow game Crowler, one we have no idea who or what was heading.
Let me tell you, dark magic of that caliber doesn't ask your age." His mind turned back to when he was trapped in a card. "People like Titan don't care about age either." His mind flashed to the countless times people like that had kidnapped him in his youth. "They care for the end goal.
Whatever means they deem necessary, they'll use. At the end of the day, you were someone entrusted to act in the best interest of every child on this island. In the end, you failed your role in every conceivable way that matters."
"You're right." Crowler stated simply.
"By tomorrow evening, your fate will be decided." Mokuba turned and headed for the door. "I suggest you consider coming clean about everything if you want even an ounce of sympathy from anyone involved in deciding your fate."
With his piece said, Mokuba took his leave, and the good doctor was left to contemplate over the events of this year once more. He would work to recollect everything, to give as accurate an account as possible of his misdeeds as a teacher.
Chancellor Sheppard's Office: Late Afternoon…
Kai, Jaden, Syrus, Greg, Alexis, and Dimitri returned to the academy at the scheduled time where they were each requestioned on the events surrounding the incident with Titan. They were then placed within the Chancellor's office while further discussion was had about them.
Eventually, Sheppard and Mokuba entered the office with the former taking a seat while the latter stood at his side. Between last night and this morning, some conclusions were reached. Now, the conclusion has been refined.
"Alexis and Dimitri, your involvement in things is finished." Sheppard announced. "You two are free go while we have more to discuss with your classmates here."
"Before I go chancellor, I would just like to say something." Dimitri voiced.
"I think I would like to say something along the same lines." Alexis added.
"Of course, proceed." Sheppard stated.
"Concerning Crowler, he made a mistake which could have ended badly." Dimitri voiced. "There's many what ifs; however, it bears mentioning what happened. Crowler dueled to stop Titan himself and finished in a shadow game with his life on the line."
"As I'm told, he then protected three Slifers from being sucked in as the space of the duel was collapsing in on itself after he was injured." Alexis continued. "We're not opting for absolute forgiveness, but Dimitri and I think he deserves some form of second chance."
"I agree." Jaden now spoke up. "Crowler was wrong, but this event seems to have genuinely changed him. I believe if he were given a second chance, he'd work every day to be better than he's been."
The chancellor and vice chancellor looked at one another.
"Your words will be noted and taken into consideration." Mokuba voiced.
"Now, if that is all Alexis and Dimitri, I would ask you take your leave as we address those who will be left." With their piece said, the pair dismissed left, and once they were gone, Sheppard addressed those remaining. "As for you four, you willingly entered the Abandoned Dorm.
As we have come to learn, there are extenuating circumstances. It seems every head of each dorm has not been stressed on the importance of informing their students about important rules, such as not entering the abandoned dorm.
Additionally, you were acting to save your fellow classmates which his quite noble; however, we cannot dismiss the fact you four still broke the rule, regardless of your knowledge of it or not. As such, we have come to a compromise."
"You've each been paired off to participate in tag duels I will be arranging." Mokuba informed. "If you win, everything concerning this matter will be closed. Any of you pairs who loose will be suspended, and it will be added to your records."
"A tag duel?" Jaden grinned. "That sounds sweet."
"Jaden, he said we'd serve suspensions and have them added to our permanent record." Syrus voiced worriedly.
"Who's paired with who?" Kai asked.
"Jaden is paired with Syrus while you have been paired with Greg." Sheppard informed. "For now, you four are dismissed."
Evening…
Crowler entered Sheppard's office; however, Mokuba was waiting for him.
"I asked Sheppard if I could handle you personally, and he allowed it." Mokuba answered what the ancient gear user would have asked before proceeding. "Now, your actions have been reviewed and discussed. Initially your employment was to be terminated.
You'd then be turned over to the police, and they'd deal with you from there; however, something came along. There was further discussion and leniency was decided. The two people most at fault for your actions these past few days seem to think you deserve a second chance."
The vice chancellor could tell Crowler was surprised to hear that. "Jaden Yuki, who you've targeted at every instance, by your own word, also spoke in favor of this." That further surprised the ancient gear user. "Soon enough, the four boys who willingly entered that dorm shall duel.
That shall determine what we do with them, so we have decided to throw you the same bone. I will arrange an opponent for you. Win, and your employment here will continue with some restrictions for the rest of the year. Lose, and you will merely be let go."
"I…I don't know what to say." Crowler stated.
"Then, don't say anything." Mokuba stood. "The kids most impacted by what you did spoke in favor of you Crowler. Don't let them down by potentially thinking you deserve to lose a place here they seem to think you deserve. You've bragged of your skill before, now you will show it."
Crowler processed Mokuba's words before nodding firmly. "Win or lose, I won't waste this opportunity by giving any less than my best."
Mokuba took a deep breath before turning his back on Crowler and walking up to the window. "If Seto were here, he'd be your opponent." He did not look back at the teacher. "Feel lucky you got me instead as I'll at least ensure you have a chance. You're dismissed."
Crowler took his leave before the man could change his mind.
Obelisk Arena: Morning…
There was nothing left for it now but to get to training for the respective pairs. Though Syrus seemed apprehensive to be paired with Jaden, Kai and Greg had to focus up right now on their own tag team synergy. The fastest way to cultivate that was to duel.
They could worry about training and combos between their decks after getting an initial feel for the other as opponents. As such, Kai had invited Greg down to the Obelisk Arena to be his opponent while Dimitri was here as despite the situation, he wanted to see this duel.
"After the things I've heard and seen of you, I'll admit I've had a desire to duel you." Greg called out as they faced off. "I just wish it weren't under these circumstances."
"Not much we can do to overturn the decision, so let's roll with it." Kai returned.
"Let's duel!"
(Kai 4000/Greg 4000)
"Since this is the Obelisk arena, I'll take the first move." Kai drew. "I summon Heroic Challenger – Spartan(LV 4/1600/1000)." A beige and gold spartan appeared. "Earthen warriors stick together as I can special summon War Rock Gactos(LV 4/1900/1900)."
A man with two stone clubs appeared. "I now construct the overlay network with my two level 4 monsters. Xyz summon Gagaga Cowboy(R 4/O 2/1500/2400) in defense mode." A cowboy with twin guns appeared kneeling before his duelist.
"Alright, he got out his perfect turn 1 monster!" Dimitri thought.
"Depending on this monster's battle position, I can detach one overlay unit to use one of two effects." Kai continued. "When he's in defense position, I can detach that overlay unit to dole out eight hundred life points of damage."
One of Gagaga Cowboy(R 4/O 1/1500/2400)'s overlay units flew into his gun and he fired the bullet through Greg (Kai 4000/Greg 3200).
"Good to see you aren't holding back." Greg stated.
"We don't know yet when our tag duel will come, so every move we make until then will be crucial." Kai retorted. "Now, I set one card and will call my turn good."
"Alright, my move!" Greg drew. "I'll summon Gladiator Beast Retiari(LV 3/1200/800)." A bipedal, green lizard man wielding a trident appeared. "Since I control a face up Gladiator Beast, I can special summon Test Tiger(LV 3/600/300)." A tiger in blue and orange armor appeared.
"Now, I can tribute Test Tiger to shuffle any one Gladiator Beast I control back into my deck and exchange it with another from there which will be summoned as though through a Gladiator Beast's effect." Test Tiger shattered.
"I return Retiari to special summon Gladiator Beast Murmillo(LV 3/800/400)." An aquatic, bipedal fish appeared. "What Test Tiger did is important because whenever Murmillo is summon through the effect of a Gladiator Beast, I can destroy any one monster you control."
"I'm not ready to say goodbye to my Cowboy." Kai retorted. "I activate my face down Xyz Reflect. Any card that targets one of my Xyz monsters is now negated and destroyed while you take another 800 life points of damage for the attempt."
Murmillo shattered as a wave of energy washed over the gladiator beast user (Kai 4000/Greg 2400).
"Er, he's just chipping away my life points." Greg looked at his hand. "I'll set one card and end my turn."
"My move!" Kai drew. "If my field is empty or only contains Warriors, I'm allowed to normal War Rock Orpis(LV 5/2100/2100) without tribute." A lanky man whose battle stance was on all fours appeared. "Now, I use Gagaga Cowboy(R 4/O 0/1500/2400)'s remaining overlay unit."
The last overlay unit flew into his gun before he fired once more on the gladiator beast user (Kai 4000/Greg 1600). "Now, I'll switch Cowboy to ATK before having him attack you directly." Cowboy fired both his guns on Greg (Kai 4000/Greg 100). "Orpis will move to end this."
"It's not that easy." Greg countered. "I reveal my face down Dimension Wall which will cause you to take the battle damage I would take from this attack."
An invisible barrier appeared as Orpis lunged forward to slice at Greg with his blade. It took the attack and redirected it to the war challenger's user (Kai 1900/Greg 100).
"Oh, I thought Greg was going to bite it there." Dimitri smiled. "Looks like he still has a little fight to him."
"Alright then, I'll activate the continuous spell Damage Off Zone." Kai declared. "For now, all you need to understand about this card is that it'll halve all battle damage either of us take."
"To think I'd be left with nothing more than one hundred life points." Greg looked to his deck. "I'll need to make this move something else because I may not get another turn." He drew. "This should do the trick. First, I activate Monster Reborn.
With its power I return Gladiator Beast Retiari(LV 3/1200/800) to the field. Then, I summon Gladiator Beast Bestiari(LV 4/1500/800)." A bipedal green bird with green armor appeared. "Now, I reshuffle Bestiari and Retiari into my deck to conduct fusion without the aid of a spell.
I call upon the beast of destruction. Descend, Gladiator Beast Gyzarus(LV 6/2400/1500)." The green, bipedal bird appeared now wearing thick armor. "Whenever Gyzarus is special summoned, I can destroy two cards you control. I choose Orpis and your continuous spell."
"I chain the secondary effect of Damage Off Zone." Kai retorted. "During either of our turns, I'm permitted to pay half my life points to send this card to the grave. Now, for the rest of this turn, all battle damage will be reduced to zero."
(Kai 950/Greg 100)
As a result of Damage Off Zone's effect, only Orpis was destroyed.
"Er, Gyzarus will destroy your Gagaga Cowboy." On Greg's orders, Gyzarus rushed forward and dispatched Gagaga Cowboy; however, Kai was protected by an invisible barrier from taking any damage. "I'll set this one card and end my turn."
"My draw." Kai drew. "I'll normal summon Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades(LV 4/1300/1100)." A silver armored warrior, with blades on his back, appeared. "Once per turn that this monster is in attack position, I can discard a Heroic card from my hand.
Then, I can special summon any Heroic monster from my deck, and Thousand Blades goes to defense position." He sent War Rock Fortia to the grave and switched Thousand Blades' position. "I'll special summon Heroic Challenger – Night Watchman(LV 4/1200/1000)."
A leather armored, blue caped warrior appeared. "Lastly, due to this effect, I'm only permitted to special summon Heroic monsters. That's no problem as I now construct the overlay network with my two level 4 monsters. The most noble of knights is clad in lights!
Xyz summon Heroic Champion – Excalibur(R 4/O 2/2000/2000). By detaching 2 overlay units, Excalibur can double his attack until the end of your next turn." Heroic Champion – Excalibur(R 4/O 0/4000/2000 effect). Finish this, Shock Sword Slash!"
Excalibur held his sword aloft and collected electricity before surging forth.
"I was hoping he wouldn't summon that monster." Greg thought. "I activate my face down Concentrating Current. This quick-play grants my monster an ATK boost equal to his DEF until the end of the turn."
Gladiator Beast Gyzarus(LV 6/3900/1500 effect)
"That makes it just enough damage to only deal the one hundred life points." Dimitri thought.
"That's actually a pretty cool card I should look into." Kai thought.
Excalibur sliced clean through Gyzarus, destroying him (Kai 950/Greg 0).
As the Excalibur faded, Kai approached Greg. "You surprised me a few times there."
"You're just being generous." Greg sighed. "Nothing my gladiator beast did could get past your defenses."
"That's simply how the cards drew." Kai waved it off. "At the end of the day, you adjusted to what I played and came up with appropriate counters. If we can both learn how to do that as a pair, then whoever we tag duel will be in for one tough duel."
"Alright." Greg nodded. "What's say we get to work?"
"I'm with you." Kai declared.
"Man, those two are good." Dimitri stood since he now had somewhere to be. "I got to get on crafting my deck; otherwise, I'll be left behind."
Slifer Dorm: Same Time…
Chumley watched on with concern as Syrus paced the room. Since it was revealed they had to duel in teams, he couldn't help but be worried. Comparatively, Jaden was calm and collected as he fiddled with his deck.
"Why aren't you worried Jay?" Syrus approached him. "Aren't you worried I'll end up getting suspensions on our records?"
"Nah, I wouldn't want any other partner." Jaden responded.
"Are you nuts?" Syrus asked.
"Look Syrus, when the time comes, we'll do our best." Jaden declared. "Know why?" That peaked the boy's interest as the hero user stood. "You and I are going to work out our kinks just as Kai and Greg are right now. Grab your deck buddy because we're dueling."
Below the Cliff
Jaden's had plenty of duels since coming to this island; however, this would only be his third duel below the cliff which was near the dorm. Chumley was above where he intended to watch them go at it.
"Alright guys, remember this is practice for your upcoming tag duel." Chumley called down. "Just take it easy down there." He then spoke more to himself. "Of course, I'm not sure Jaden knows how to go easy."
"That's probably a good thing." Alexis voiced, startling Chumley, as she joined him at the cliff. "Any Kaiba has numerous connections, and they don't seem to be the type to take it easy on anyone. Jaden and Syrus will need to be at their best."
"Alright Syrus, get your game on buddy." Jaden called out. "Let's have some fun."
"Fun." Syrus muttered. "Guess we better before we're stuck in a lone classroom where that's not really allowed."
"What was that?" Jaden asked.
"Oh." Syrus sweat dropped. "Nothing."
"Then, let's duel." Jaden declared.
"Yeah, let's duel." Syrus answered less enthusiastically.
(Jaden 4000/Syrus 4000)
"Here I come Syrus." Jaden drew. "Sweet. I'll summon Elemental HERO Knospe(LV 3/600/100)." A small, green bipedal plant with a serious face appeared. "Then, I'll activate Rose Bud allowing me to tribute Knospe."
The little guy was sucked into a wormhole. "In his place, I can call on Elemental HERO Poison Rose(LV 6/1900/2000)." A bipedal plant woman appeared. "I'll then go about throwing down a face down. Your go."
"Alright, let's see." Syrus drew and looked at his hand before smiling. "Oh, my Steamroid's effect can get over Jaden's Poison Rose."
"What's that smile for?" Jaden called out excitedly. "You got something?"
"Well, uh…I think so." Syrus returned. "I summon Steamroid(LV 4/1800/1800)." A cartoonish train appeared. "Now, destroy Poison Rose."
"Huh?" Jaden questioned. "Syrus, that train of yours is one hundred points shy of harming my hero."
"Whenever Steamroid(LV 4/2300/1800 effect) attacks a monster, he gains 500 extra ATK for that battle." Syrus informed.
Steamroid(LV 4/2300/1800 effect) ran down Poison Rose, destroying her (Jaden 3600/Syrus 4000).
Steamroid(LV 4/1800/1800)
"Not bad Sy; however, destroying a hero of mine activates my face down Hero Counterattack." Jaden declared. "Now, you will choose one card from my hand, and if its an Elemental HERO, I can special summon them."
"I get to choose?" Syrus looked at the three cards in Jaden's hand. "I guess that card in the middle is good."
"You hit my Elemental Hero Woodsman(LV 4/1000/2000) which I'll call out in defense mode." Jaden declared as an earthy green and brown warrior appeared. "Of course, a hero makes an entrance as Counterattack declares one of your monsters is destroyed."
Steamroid blew up, leaving Syrus defenseless.
"Man, it looked like Syrus had one over on Jaden, but he just struck right back like it was nothing." Chumley voiced.
"Unless Syrus can recover from this, those two won't stand a chance in a tag match." Alexis stated.
Syrus was crouched on the ground and writing in the dirt after that. "Oh boy, don't you just think dirt is the coolest Jaden?"
"Sy, don't go cracking up." Jaden stated. "You've played your turn well. It's not like you can control what cards your opponent has or how they play them."
"No, I'm just no good." Syrus stood. "I don't belong here."
"Come on, not even greats like Yugi Muto or Seto Kaiba can dictate what their opponent's do with their own cards." Jaden grinned. "The best you can do is play well with the cards you got. Now come on, show me what other sweet moves you can pull off."
"I don't really have anything more." Syrus sighed. "You're move."
"Alright then." Jaden drew. "During my Standby Phase, Woodsman here can fetch me a Polymerization from my deck, and I'll immediately activate it to combine Woodsman with Elemental HERO Ocean from my hand.
Get ready to meet the HERO of the earth. Fusion summon Elemental HERO Terra Firma(LV 8/2500/2000)." A white warrior appeared on the field. "I'll now normal summon Elemental HERO Voltic(LV 4/1000/1500)."
A purple and gold HERO with lightning sparking all around him appeared. "They'll both attack you!" Terra Firma punched through Syrus before lightning followed suit (Jaden 3600/Syrus 500). "That's all from me."
"Can I crack up now because I just lost 7/8th's of my starting life points on one turn?" Syrus lamented. "There's no way I can win."
"Of course you can Syrus, you just have to believe in yourself." Alexis called out.
"She's right." Chumley called out firmly. "Never give up so long as you got life points. So many people we know have come back from life points lower than yours."
"They're right." Syrus voiced. "I can't give up the match like that, especially since I'm not just dueling for myself." He gained a determined look. "The best thing I can do for my tag partner would be to take him down."
"You know Chumley, you're pretty good with words of encouragement." Alexis stated.
"Yeah well, I got all kinds of books on self-motivation." Chumley responded.
"Alright." Syrus drew. "There isn't a monster in my deck that can deal with Tera Firm easily, and that's the main problem. Looks like I need another strategy." He nodded. "I'm throwing down the spell card Pot of Greed. Now, I can draw two cards." He did just that only to be surprised by one of the cards. "Power Bond!"
"Judging by Syrus' face, he must have drawn a sweet card." Jaden reasoned.
"Power Bond is like a supped up fusion spell for machine monsters." Syrus pictured two Cycroid fusing into Pair Cycroid. "Whatever results from this will have its ATK doubled." He sighed. "Oh well, I'm not good enough to play this…At least according to my brother."
Syrus would never forget that day. Back in grade school, he'd dueled this bully to stand up for himself. He had Steamroid and Gyroid on the field while the bully had Gearfried the Iron Knight and a face down. It was his turn, and he drew Power Bond.
With its power, the resulting fusion would be enough to win. Then, Zane stepped in and paid off the kid with a card before revealing the bully's set card was Spellbinding Circle. No matter how strong his monster, he wouldn't be able to attack.
"At the end of the turn, I'd have taken lost due to Power Bond's kick back dealing me damage equal to the original ATK of whatever I summoned with it." Syrus looked at the spell. "Holding this again gives me the chills. What did big brother even mean back then?"
"Syrus sure is struggling with his move." Jaden thought. "Hey, you alright there Sy?"
"Ah." Syrus shook his head as he shifted Power Bond to his hand and exchanged it for the second card Pot of Greed got him. "I'm going to play Polymerization, and I'll use it to fuse the two Cycroid in my hand. Fusion summon Pair Cycroid(LV 5/1600/1200)."
A cartoonish tandem bicycle appeared. "This monster is special because he can simply ride past any monster you have on the field and land a direct attack." Pair Cycroid did just that, taking a significant chunk out of the hero user's life points (Jaden 2000/Syrus 500).
"That's what I'm talking about Sy!" Jaden laughed good naturedly. "Come on, you must have something else in your hand this time around?"
"Something else…" Syrus scanned his hand and realized he'd had a trap. "Magical Arm Shield! It wouldn't have done me any good considering Jaden's trap dealt with Steamroid before, but maybe it'll come in handy now." He nodded. "I set one card to end my turn."
"Alright Syrus, time to show you what I'm made of." Jaden drew. "Oh, Miracle Fusion. With this, I can recover from almost anything Syrus has face down." He grinned. "I'll consolidate my field through Terra Firma's effect. By tributing an Elemental HERO on the field, he gains ATK equal to whatever their ATK is until the End Phase."
"It does what!?" Syrus exclaimed. "Magical Arm Shield allows me to confiscate one of his monsters but not the attacking one! Due that effect, all Jaden will have is an attacking monster."
Voltic was absorbed by Elemental HERO Terra Firma(LV 8/3500/2000 effect)'s gravity.
"You heard me Sy!" Jaden declared. "Terra Firma, destroy Pair Cycroid with Gravitational Force!" Gravity was forced down upon the opposing monster, crushing it into the ground (Jaden 2000/Syrus 0), and resulting in the Slifer collapsing. "That's game! Good duel, Sy."
"I don't know about that." Syrus sighed as he transitioned to his butt. "I didn't put up much of a fight Jaden."
"What are you talking about?" Jaden approached. "Sure, I took the win, but you had some sweet moves there to the point you ought to be proud. That said, I'm curious on just what your hand looked like.
What was that one card you drew but didn't play?" He took the hand. "Power Bond!? Whoa! If you'd used this, the play I decided on wouldn't have ended the duel. We could have kept going, and there's no telling who'd have won then."
"You don't understand." Syrus stood. "My brother says I'm not good enough to use it, and I probably never will be." He snatched the cards back. "It's clear you'll never win the tag team duel if I'm your partner."
He ran off.
"Sy, wait!" Jaden tried.
Syrus didn't stop, prompting Chumley to run after him. "Sy!"
Jaden was left staring out at the ocean until the Obelisk joined him.
"I guess practice doesn't always make perfect, huh Jaden?" Alexis asked.
"I don't get it." Jaden responded. "He's such a cool guy. I just wish he'd see what I see. That the only thing holding him back is himself." He looked to the Obelisk. "I mean, he had this primo move that may have kept him in the diel.
At the very least, it'd have ended a lot closer than it was. He just didn't use it because some brother of his said not to." Alexis gasped as she knew who that was, and her reaction wasn't lost on the Slifer. "What is it, Alexis? Am I missing something here?"
"Yeah." Alexis nodded. "That brother of his goes to this school, and you've heard of him. Third Year Obelisk Blue, number one duelist at the academy, Zane Truesdale. Let me tell you, he lives up to that reputation."
"Well then, sounds like I got someone to duel." Jaden stated. "I mean, Kai got a duel with the guy." By now, he'd heard about it; however, the now Obelisk was tight lipped on how he went about getting it. "Can't be that difficult to achieve."
"Kai's just a strange case as usually no one messes with Zane." Alexis retorted.
"My tag partner isn't up to snuff because of him, so there isn't much choice." Jaden grinned. "Besides, after hearing about him, I want to see how I stack up."
"Well, if he's not going to listen…" Alexis smiled. "You go get him Jaden."
"Alright, look out Zane!" Jaden declared. "I'm coming for you!"
Vital Info: I do want to point out if I had gone with Mokuba, the group never would have gone to the Abandoned Dorm, and that means Syrus misses out on massive development. It also means we miss out on some of that good DM era fanservice by bringing back former characters. Additionally, if it's just Crowler getting a duel, I can't use Para and Dox. Those two got new support.
With the way I've done it, I can bring three more DM era characters for this. As for administrative leave, come on. This the yugioh world where things are decided by card games. Even back in DM cases where people were kidnapping other people were settled in card games. As for the Atticus thing, that comes during the Shadow Riders stuff, and that's still a way off from here.
Threebranch: Thank you.
The Duelist of Dawn: It was all in the service of pushing Crowler into development. As for Alexis being excluded in the original and her & Dimitri here, they were forcibly dragged into the abandoned dorm. I can understand why they wouldn't be in any sort of trouble.