Someone to Protect
A/N: Some jokes are added here and there, but what can you do. Some things in this chapter may not please you as it feels contrive, but what can you do. Since I never done something is such a similar vain there's a lot you may not like. Eh can't please everyone. Hope this meets up to standards.
Tuesday
Time 6:30pm
Today was another day at Duel Academy. Only today was the 3rd exam Duel Academy was having. Blair decided to wake up Red Hat early so the both of them can study together. Red Hat wanted to decline and instead go back to sleep, but he knew Blair wasn't gonna leave him alone, so he agreed to study with her. Despite him having little reason to study unless it's something he isn't aware of yet, which he found very unlikely.
"So there's a lot of rulings huh?" Blair asked, as she was studying up various rules of the game and summonings.
"A lot of rulings you have to remember. Cards that miss timing, properly special summoning, difference between discard by cost and effect, and many more." explained Red Hat.
"Man, so many rules. And you have to remember all of this?" Blair asked in disbelief.
"Yes you do. Better learning them now, then in the middle of a duel." replied Red Hat. "They even changed some rules. Such as searching, you can not activate a search effect like King of the Swamp or ROTA if you have no targets or any of those copies left, just to look through your deck. Unless something happens as a cost."
Blair's eyes widened at the explaination. "So many rules duel monsters has doesn't it?"
"There's gonna be even more rules too." states Red Hat. "There's a reason Duel Monsters game is a carrer path, both dueling in the Pro Leagues and teaching."
"Maybe someday I can reach that level too." said Blair.
"If you keep learning and improving, you'll make it to the top." encouraged Red Hat.
"But I'm a Maiden in Love. Besides, you already know why I'm here." Blair reminded him.
Red Hat shoock his head, but kept a warm smile. "Yes I know Blair. You came here to see Zane and find love. What better way then to impress him in a duel."
"Really? I can do that? Can I impress Zane with a duel?"
"I'm sure of it." Red Hat asured her. "Say how about a practice duel. Been meaning to test out a deck. It still needs a bit of fine tuning."
Blair smiled and nodded. "Yeah! A practice duel can help with todays exam, but also to prepare my duel with Zane."
"Then let's get out there and practice then." said Red Hat. 'Will you get that duel with Zane is another question.'
The two of them leave their room with their decks, as they stand on opposite sides of the field. They soon began to start practice dueling. After dueling for a while, the many attacks and explosions of their monsters caused everyone else at Slifer Red to wake up and see what all the commotion was about.
"Hey, what's with all the commotion?" One of the Slifer Reds asked.
"We are practicing dueling for the exam." stated Red Hat.
"Can you be more quiet about it? We want to sleep a bit more." another Slifer Red complained.
"Yeah, we had to study late at night for the exam. Let us sleep for a bit longer." another Slifer Red said. Soon they returned to their rooms to continue sleeping.
"That happened..." commented Red Hat, as he turn to Blair and help her get up. "You are getting better. You lasted longer then you did before."
"Thanks... You always help me out to further improve." Blair then had a thought. "Hey, how come you always stick by my side, even after I always put you through so much?"
Red Hat remained silent. 'I can't answer you Blair...'
"Hey! Why are you so silent all of a sudden? I won't leave you alone until you tell me!" Blair whinned. Red Hat then began to walk off to the main Academy building. "Hey! Don't leave me hanging!" Blair follows Red Hat close by, not leaving his side.
'Blair... before I met you... I have low views on others. Besides Jaden, I have friends and those I enjoy dueling... I also now care a lot more, before I couldn't care less.' Red Hat thought as he kept walking. He had another reason, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "I just like hanging with you Blair. You're a fun person to be around."
Blair looked at him and just stared at him. 'Something is telling me, that's not entirely true. I won't push it though. You rarely openly talk like this, unless you're with Jaden.' Both kept on walking to the main academy building. Their first stop was the card shop and got some sandwiches or breakfast before the test begins.
Time 8pm
After finishing their breakfast, Blair and Red Hat entered the classroom, where it was filled with students. Red Hat spoted Alexis and Bastion, but Jaden, Syrus, and Chazz have yet to arrive. "Strange? They havent arrived yet."
Red Hat and Blair sat down next to each other and waited for their teacher to arrive. Soon, they spot Jaden, Syrus, and Chazz enter the room. "I swear, if I'm late for class, I'll blame it on you two." Chazz scowled.
"Hey, Crowler isn't here yet. We made it in time." Jaden points out, as he and Syrus were sweating and breathing heavily. Chazz sat down calmly.
"Big whoop. Least we're spared from detention." Chazz muttered as he looked up. "Even those dorks made it on time."
Red Hat was about to retort, until Blair pulled on his sleeve. "Please don't, you'll just make it worse. It's like you love picking fights with him."
Red Hat took a deep breath and calmed down, before causing a scene. The front door slammed all the way opened, but emerging from the hallways and into the classroom was Crowler. All students stayed silent the moment they noticed his presence.
"Alright class!" announced Crowler. "Today is the 3rd exam of the year. You have an hour to complete this exam. Do not waste it, as any answers writen down after the bell rings will be marked as incorrect. You may all begin." Crowler states, as he hands out their papers. Crowler watched them carefully spotting two studets in paticular. 'Those two are very supicious. I'll have to pull some strings to expose them. Professor Wade wants to get back at that red hat boy too. A great opportunity.' Crowler snickered as came up with a plan.
Time 9pm
"Time is up!" Crowler announced. "If you finished the test, good work. If not then let's see how far you gotten. All of you head to the duel fields and begin the field test." Crowler noticed both Jaden and Syrus sleeping. 'And fail again, you Slifer Slackers.'
Everyone began to leave the classroom, and headed to the duel fields to begin the second part of their test. Red Hat and Blair stayed behind to wake up Jaden and Syrus. Bastion tried to help too, as Chazz left them behind.
"You two may want to consider getting up." Bastion said as he shook Syrus a bit.
"Come on, Jaden! Get up please!" Blair pleaded as she shook Jaden.
Both Jaden and Syrus woke up after all that. "Is it over already? Man if only we can just go streight to dueling, instead of the boring written test."
"Jaden, we're already flunking out. We can't keep this up." Syrus said.
"As much as you are good at dueling. You do have to try and complete the written test." stated Bastion. "It's a good thing you make it up with your dueling skills, Jaden."
"Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get out there and duel!" exclaimed Jaden as he took off.
"Wait up!" Syrus cried out as he and Bastion ran after Jaden.
Blair giggled at their antics. "Jaden being Jaden. I like how he's always so happy go lucky."
"Jaden is a great guy to be around. Never a dull moment with him." agreed Red Hat.
"Hey, lets get going! We don't want to be late for our field test!" said Blair as she pulls on his sleeve.
Red Hat then follow suits as they were the last ones to leave the classroom. "Alright, Alright. No need to rush okay."
11pm
Hours passed since Red Hat and Blair were sitting down in their seats watching the duels of the field test. While Blair was amazed at many duels, Red Hat was mostly bored. While he admited, not to expect a lot from the Slifer Red side and maybe the Ra Yellow side too. The Obelisk Blue side is what made Red Hat groan with disappointment.
'Again this is supposed to be the best in the school. Yet their dueling is no better then amateurs.' Red Hat thought with distain.
Blair noticed this and spoke up. "Are you bored? You look like you're about have headache."
Red Hat shook his head to clear his thoughts. "It's nothing."
"Now I know you're lying." Blair answered. "Red Hat, has it ever occured to you that not everyone is cut out for high levels of dueling like you? They may have other reasons for being here."
"I wouldn't have this problem if dang Obelisk Blues stopped acting like they are best, when in reality they wouldn't impress pros or your average tournament winner." stated Red Hat, as he began constructing his deck.
"Making another deck?" asked Blair.
"This is a ritual deck I'm making. Focusing on one special Ritual monster with some added tech cards." Red Hat adds some cards from his chas deck. "I don't like Ritual decks as they are very inconsistent, even with Manju, Senju and Sonic Bird in the deck."
"So is this like an experiment or something?" said Blair, observing Red Hat arranging his deck.
"Guess you can call it that." replied Red Hat.
Soon the others came back from their duels. "Hey you two, did you have your duels yet?" asked Jaden as he and his frieds sat down next to them.
"No we haven't, Jaden. We weren't even called to the duel fields." answered Red Hat.
"Something tells me someone is plotting something." said Bastion. "The question is why on a test day." Bastion was now thinking about why someone would hold off Red Hat and Blair dueling.
"What ever it may be, you go and knock them down Red Hat." cheered Jaden.
"Thanks Jaden. I'll make sure who ever I duel will be beaten." declared Red Hat.
Blair nodded and smiled. "I'll do my best too. You can count on it."
"Attention, all students! Those who haven't dueled yet must come down to the gym immediatly!" someone spoke through a loudspeaker.
"That's our cue Blair. Lets get down there and duel." Red Hat declared.
"Lets do our best." replied Blair.
As both of them made all the way to the center of the fields. To their surprise, instead of two other slifers or anyone else of their level of dueling. Who was standing before them was Dr. Crowler and Professor Wade. Red Hat then figured out something was up. 'Something is not right here.'
"Huh? Our opponents are... Professors?" Blair asked in confusion.
Wade spoke up. "That is correct! I lost to Red Hat before, and now I come to exact my revenge! I formed some new theories. I call them, the Rainbow Heaven Theories! I'll prove myself with my new theories in front of the entire audience!"
"Huh? Did I missed something?" asked Jaden.
"I heard Red Hat dueled Professor Wade at the Slifer Red Dorm during inspection day. He said, that Blair told him, that all his theories are terrible and he shouldn't be teaching." Bastion observed Red Hat and Blair. He noticed Red Hat wasn't phased, but Blair had a shocked look. "Something doesn't add up though. Red Hat doesn't insult Professors like that. He either stays quiet or doesn't bother coming to class. So Professor Wade's claims are questionable."
"Red Hat got to duel a Professor? Sweet! Then this should be an easy match for Red Hat if dueled him before." said Jaden, oblivious to the situation at hand.
Alexis sighed, knowing Jaden would say something like that. "If Red Hat really did say that, and if Blair was involved, then those two will be in a lot of trouble. Especially if they lose."
Back at the duel field. Blair was now confused. Was this supossed to be a Tag Duel. Or was this supposed to be a single match. "But Professor, you don't even have a partner. Assuming it's even a tag duel."
Crowler came up to them and spoke up. "Actually, I'm his partner! Ha ha ha!" Crowler laughed as he faced the two slifers.
Both Red Hat and Blair were shocked by this. "You got to be joking! Dr. Crowler!?" called Blair.
"Red Hat! Blair!" Crowler called out. "If you lose this duel, I'll be taking those caps off your heads. Right in front of everyone."
"What!?" Blair was stunned at the sudden turn of events. If she had to take off her cap in front of everyone, her gender would be exposed! Red Hat was now very angry. No one takes his hat away from him.
"I've felt that you two were suspicious for some time now!" admitted Crowler.
That's when Chumley decided to speak up. "Well, they DID get all riley when me and Jaden ask them to come with us to the wading pool."
"Really?" Jaden asked obiviously.
"Uh, Jaden... Did you forget about all of that already?" Chumley sweat dropped at Jaden's forgetfulness.
"So that's when it hit me!" Crowler realised.
"Oh...no..." Blair gasped.
"Red Hat! Blair! I realized that there must be something under your caps! Now, with your caps on the line, come and duel like good little boys!" Crowler demanded.
"Alright! A cap-strip duel! This should be interesting!" said Jaden, laughing happily.
Blair got close to Red Hat and whispered to his ear. 'This bad... Why did Dr. Crowler have to say that about our caps?' Soon everyone in the entire school was watching them. 'Now everyone's focused on getting our caps off!'
'I won't let that happen.' Red Hat whispered to her.
'Hey, I really need your help with this one! If we lose and I end up having to take my cap off... Everyone in this entire crowd will find out I'm actually a girl! We can't lose this duel no matter what!'
'We will win Blair. You can count on me. I won't allow Crowler to get his way!' Red Hat assured her.
"What could you two POSSIBLY be whispering about?" Crowler demanded.
Blair jumped at being called at. "N-Nothing Dr. Crowler! Ack!" Soon a gust of wind began blowing at Blair's cap and was about to be blown off.
"Oh my! A gust of wind!" Crowler gasped.
"AAAaaahhhh!" Blair tried to hold on to her cap. As it was about to be blown off. Red Hat quickly held down Blair's cap as he held down his own hat.
"Whoa! Red Hat held the hat down right before it blew off!" Syrus gasped as he saw the exchange.
"Huh?" Blair looked up and saw Red Hat holding down her cap. Blair then saw something she never thought she see. A genuine smile from Red Hat. "Er, thank you Red Hat." said Blair slightly embarrassed.
"AH! How disappointing! Red Hat, you should be minding your own business!" scowled Crowler. "I really wish that cap HAD been blown away! That would've been lovely!"
Blair then looks at Dr. Crowler. "This... This proves our friendship!"
"Blair..." Red Hat muttered.
"You've always supported me, no matter how selfish I was! You protected this cap... You protected ME, as hard as you could! Which is all the more reason why this cap can't be blown away here!" Blair said to Red Hat.
"What are you talking about? I have no idea what you're saying, ha ha ha!" Crowler laughed as he ignored Blair's speech. "Anyway, it won't be the wind that blows away that cap! It will be this duel!"
"Bring it on Dr. Crowler!" Red Hat declares as he and Blair readied their duel disks.
"We'll both take you down!" Wade said as he readied his duel disk. Crowler readied his special duel vest.
DUEL
Red Hat & Blair: 8000 LP
Crowler & Wade: 8000 LP
"I'll go first. My turn, I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 6
"I summon Silent Magican LV4 in attack mode! (Atk: 1000 Def: 1000)" Silent Magician appears on the field. "Now I play the spell card Level Up! With this I send Silent Magician LV4 to the grave and summon her evolve form. Appear my maiden, Silent Magician LV8! (Atk: 3500 Def: 1000)" The young spellcaster glowed and soon grew taller and older into a young woman spellcaster.
"Ah yeah! Blair already has 3500 attack monster monster out!" Jaden cheers.
"Impressive. That should put them in a huge lead." Alexis comments.
"And she's cute!" Syrus compliments the monster.
"I set one card facedown and end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 3
"Very well, my turn. I draw!" Crowler draws.
Hand 6
"I play the spell card Graceful Charity! I draw 3 cards and then I discard 2." Crowler draws his cards and discards Wave Motion Cannon and Trojan Hourse. "Now I play the spell Premature Burial! By paying 800 LP I can bring back a monster. I special summon Trojan Horse! (Atk: 1600 Def: 1200)" A large wooden horse appears on Crowler's field.
Crowler & Wade: 8000 - 7200 LP
"Not good." commented Jaden.
"No kidding, with that Crowler can summon his best monster." Alexis points out.
"Now I play the spell Giant Truenade! With this all spell and traps return to our hands! In case you don't know. If Premature Burial is returned to the hand. The monster stays on the field, as the card 'says if destroyed'." Crowler explained, as a tornado surranded the area blowing away the both Premature Burial and Blair's facedown back to their respective hands.
'As if I needed to know that. Cause I already did. Wording is important people.' scoffed Red Hat.
"Now I tribute my Torjan Horse, to tribute summon Ancient Gear Golem! (Atk: 3000 Def: 3000)" His giant, mechanical ace monster rose on the field. "Next I play the spell Ancient Gear Drill! I discard a card, then I can set any spell card from my deck onto the field. It can not be activated this turn." Crowler discards Ancient Gear Engineer and sets his spell facedown. "With that I end my turn." Crowler ends his turn.
Hand 2
"My turn, I draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
'I know what that spell is, so attacking is out of the question.' Red Hat thoughtas he observed the board state. "I summon Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands in attack mode! (Atk: 1400 Def: 1000)" A being with many arms appears on the field. "His effect, when he's normal summoned I'm allowed to add a ritual monster or a ritual spell card. I'll choose to add the ritual spell End of the World to my hand." Red Hat explained as he added his card. 'Ritual decks are so inconsitent and needs so much set up. BLS is in my hand, but I need one dark monster in my grave. This deck only has a small handful. I just need 2 more cards. The draw power I have may not be enough.' Red Hat thought as he observed his options. "I end my turn here." Red Hat ends his turn.
Hand 6
"That all? My turn, I draw!" Wade draws.
Hand 6
"I summon the monster known as Don Zaloog! (Atk: 1400 Def: 1500)" The familiar Dark Scorpion leader appears on the field. "Now I play the equip spell Axe of Despair! Boosting his attack by 1000 points! (Atk: 1400 - 2400 Def: 1500)" Don Zaloog grabs the demonic axe as his attack points increased. "Now I activate Dr. Crowler's facedown card. Limiter Removal! Doubling Ancient Gear Golem's attack points! (Atk: 3000 - 6000 Def: 3000)"
"This just took a bad turn." pointed out Bastion. "Now they can beat over their monsters, and they have no protection."
"Battle, Ancient Gear Golem attack Silent Magician LV8! Mechanized Melee!" Crowler's machine pulled it's arm and threw a transparent fist at the female magician, destroying it.
Red Hat & Blair: 8000 - 5500 LP
"Now, Don Zaloog destroy his Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands! Axe Slash attack!" Don Zaloog used his axe and slashed Manju, destroyig it.
Red Hat & Blair: 5500 - 4500 LP
"Now Don Zaloog's effect, you must discard one random card in you hand!" Red Hat discards a card without looking at it. As he looked at his hand again, he slightly chuckled.
'Thanks for discarding a dark monster from my hand. You'll reget it later.' Red Hat thought.
"Now I play the spell Dimensionhole! With this I banish Dr. Crowler's Ancient Gear Golem, and during our next standby phase it will return back to the field. Also that monster zone it was on can not be used until it returns to the field." Wade explained as Ancient Gear Golem was sucked in by a warmhole and disappeared. An X mark appeared on both Wade's and Crowler's duel disk, signaling that monster zone can not be used. "I set a facedown and end my turn." Wade ends his turn.
Hand 2
"Smart move. Thanks to Dimsionhole, Ancient Gear Golem won't be destroyed by the effects of Limiter Removal and will return without any draw backs." explained Bastion.
"Hey, just who side are you on?" Syrus asked.
"What a cool move. This is awesome!" Jaden said.
"Not you too Jay."
"It's my turn I draw!" Blair draws.
Hand 5
'Okay the odds are not in our favor. If I'm correct, Red Hat needs to be at least over 2000 LP. I need to help him out.' Blair thought as she continued her turn. "Okay I play the spell Pot of Greed! So I draw 2 cards." Blair draws her cards. "I set a monster, then I play the spell Swords of Revealing Light! This prevents you from attack for three turns." Dozens of swords of light rained down up and surrounding Crowler's and Wade's field. "I set one card facedown and end my turn." Blair ends her turn.
Hand 2
"Time to put an end to this charade. My turn, I draw!" Crowler draws.
Hand 3
"Ancient Gear Golem returns to the field!" The wormhole opens up and Ancient Gear Golem returns to the field. The X mark on their duel disk was released, signaling that monster zone can be used again. "Now I play the spell Heavy Storm! So all spells and traps are destroyed!" Heavy winds began blowing away the Swords of Revealing Light, and Blair's facedown.
'I can't let that happen!' Blair thought as she held her cap tightly. "Go chain trap card! Threatening Roar! With this you can not conduct your battle phase this turn!"
"You're wasting your time, and you're wasting mine! Now I set a card face down and end my turn." Crowler ends his turn.
Hand 1
"Boku no Turn! Draw!" Red Hat draws.
Hand 6
"I play the spell Graceful Charity I draw 3 cards and discard 2." Red Hat draws his cards and discards Solemn Judgment and Bottomless Trap Hole. "I summon Senju of the Thousand Hands! (Atk: 1400 Def: 1000)" A being with thousnads of hands appear on the field. "It's effect I can add a Ritual monster from my deck to my hand. I add this card, Demise King of Armageddon! Now, I play the ritual spell End of the World! I use Senju and Blair's facedown D.D Warrior Lady to Ritual summon! Mighty king of the netherworld, emerge from the darkness and bring doom to this world! Demise King of Armageddon! (Atk: 2400 Def: 2000)" The field was covered in darkness. Soon a demon with heavy black armor and blue flames rose up from the darkness wielding an axe. The darkness fades as he appeared.
"Where did Red Hat obtain that card?" Alexis asked.
"I don't know, but he looks scary." Syrus commented.
"Man this is to cool!" Jaden said in his usual chipper self.
"Demise King of Armageddon effect! By paying 2000 LP I can destroy all other cards on the field! Go, Reign of Darkness!" Demise King unleashed a blast of blue flames and dark waves. Destroying all cards on the field.
Red Hat & Blair: 4500 - 2500 LP
"So what? You still don't have enough attack points!" Wade retorted.
"Who said I was done? I banish Cyber Jar and Silent Magician LV4 to special summon Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning! (Atk: 3000 Def: 2500)" As Silent Magician LV4 was ejected from Blair's duel disk. The chaos warrior appears on the field. "Now I play the equip spell Megamorph! To double BLS attack points since my LP is lower then yours! (Atk: 3000 - 6000 Def: 2500)"
"Wa... So this was you're plan?" Blair asked in shock.
"This deck was more of an experiment. It only worked by sheer luck as ritual decks are extremely inconsistent." explained Red Hat. "This duel is over! Black Luster Soldier, attack with chaos blast!" The chaos soldier uses his sword and creates a orb of light and dark energy, throwing it at Crowler and Wade.
Crowler & Wade: 8000 - 2000 LP
"Now Demise King of Armageddon end this! Axe of Nightmare!" Demise axe glows a in a dark black aura. The dark king slashes his axe forward creating waves of darkness hitting both Crowler and Wade.
Crowler & Wade: 2000 - 0 LP
"Blair let's scoop now!" Red Hat grabs Blair's arm and both began running away from the duel court, as Crowler and Wade fell to their knees. Annoyed and dishearten in Wade's case, that they lost.
"Where are they going?" Syrus asked.
"Who knows, but something tells me we should follow them." Alexis sugguested.
"Let's follow them!" Jaden said as he, Syrus, Chumley and Alexis left to chase and find Red Hat and Blair. Bastion left the arena on his own to return to his dorm. Feeling he has no reason to be involved in their affairs.
Time 1pm
Red Hat and Blair were still running away through the hallways of the Academy. Trying desperately to get away from everyone else before they got caught. However, this was short lived as they run into Zane in the middle of the hallway with a stern look.
"You two are in a hurry." Zane responded to them flattly. "You two are coming with me."
"Sorry Zane, but we are out of here." Red Hat tried to bypass Zane, but he was having none of that.
"That wasn't a request." Zane raised his voice. "Chancellor Sheppard wants to see you two."
"Uh oh, looks like trouble." Blair muttered as they followed Zane to Sheppard's office.
As Zane escorted them to the Chancellor's office. Sheppard turn around to see them with a disappointed look. Red Hat tried his best to look indifferent, but he knew they were in huge trouble. Blair hid behind Red Hat as to not look at Sheppard.
"It amazes me that your charade lasted this long. Let alone months on end." Sheppard replied.
"What do you mean?" Red Hat asked ignorantly.
Zane closed his eyes and sighed. Knowing Red Hat would try and play ignorant. "Don't play ignorant with us Red Hat. We know Blair is not actually a boy. He's clearly a girl." Zane then pulls out a hair clip from his pocket. "This belongs to her."
"That can belong to anyone! It's for girls." Blair lied.
"Do you really think me as a fool?" Zane glared at them. "Almost all the girls in Obelisk Blue have short hair. The ones with long hair do not tie their hair with a hair clip." Zane then stood next to Sheppard. "We checked the records, there is no boy named Blair Flannigan, but rather a girl."
Both Blair's and Red Hat's eyes widened. Their secret was now completely exposed. 'This can't be! How did we slip up?' Red Hat thought. 'Even when Blair was angry at me that day, she was able to still get away with it. What changed?'
Sheppard coughed and spoke up. "You two are in a lot of trouble for pulling such a stunt like that. Red Hat, her parents must be worried sick about her. Their lone daughter gone for months and without notice."
Red Hat tried to retort, but Zane interruted. "You may not care, but most people aren't wild rebelious teenagers, Red Hat. Unless you can explain why you hid her away here or why she aggreed to stay. Both of you are in threat of expulsion, and you'll be accused of kidnapping"
"If you come clean Red Hat, then the most you'll end up is with at least detention until the Shadow Riders are defeated. You'll also write a 10 page essay on why pulling this stunt is wrong, especially to a child." Sheppard explain.
"Chancellor I..." Red Hat was then interrupted.
"No I can't let this happen! I won't!" Blair released her grip on Red Hat's arm and ran away from Chancellor Sheppards office.
"Blair wait!" Red Hat called out, but Blair refused to listen and ran off. 'Am I really this weak?' he thought as he tried his best to stay calm as he approached Sheppard. "Chancellor, let Blair go without trouble. I'll take full responsibility for this."
"Very well explain yourself then Red Hat." Sheppard replied.
"You see Chancellor. Blair told me, she came here to meet someone. This was before the school duel. On her second day here, I found out she was a girl. I would have turned her in, but..." Red Hat stuttered as he tried to rationalize his reasoning.
'To think she would go out of her way just to follow me.' Zane thought, both impressed and disappointed by Blair's actions.
"I just couldn't bring myself to rat her out. I even promised her to help her out in anyway, even at the expense of myself." Red Hat tried to explain without breaking down in distain.
"So helping out a friend. And that's why you couldn't just betray your friendship. It still doesn't justify what the both of you pulled." Sheppard sternly said.
"Leave him with your punishment Chancellor." Zane spoke up. This surprised both Sheppard and Red Hat.
"Zane?" Red Hat stuttered.
"You want me to reconsider Red Hat?" Zane threaten.
"Uh... no. I'll take the punishment." Red Hat answered.
"You are dismissed then Red Hat. I expect that 10 page essay to be done as soon as you can." Sheppard said, as Red Hat was dismissed. Red Hat slightly bowed as he left the Chancellor's office. "Mind explaining Zane?"
"That girl Blair, I have an idea why she went out of her way to sneak in to Duel Academy." said Zane. "I'll be back tomorrow to fully explain when all this is set and done. I sugguest you prepare a ferry for tomorrow and call her parents. Blair has to return home tomorrow." Zane explained.
"Very well, thanks for all you're help Zane." Shappard thanked Zane as he started to make preperations. Zane nodded as he left Sheppard's office.
Time 8pm
As time passes after the fiasco that happened earlier. Red Hat remained in the forest and refused to head back to the dorm. He was conflicted on his own thoughts. He couldn't imagine all the accusations he would get after Blair's identity getting exposed.
'Why am I acting like this?' Red Hat thought, not understanding what he was feeling. 'Am I really this weak. Could I have avoided this? Why did I allow her to continue with all of this. Why did I go out of my way to protect her?' Red Hat asked himself, but had no answer to.
Red Hat sighed as he stood up and slapped his faceto snap himself out of his thoughts. He had to face them and the consequences sooner then later. He looked around and noticed that no one has bothered to come look for him, or anyone that just so happened to pass by. Red Hat walked off through the forest and returned to the Slifer Red dorm. What caught his eye was, that Syrus, Chumley, Alexis and Zane where standing or sitting near the cliffslide. Now Red Hat was curious, what were they watching?
"Hey, something going on down there?" Red Hat asked as he approached them. He then noticed at the bottom of the cliffs edge and saw Jaden and Blair dueling. "What's the score?"
"Where were you?" Alexis replied as she turned to Red Hat. "Various plays were made. Blair has taken control of Jaden's monsters. Blair has 1400 LP Jaden has 400 LP." Alexis explained. Red Hat took a look and noticed Blair was playing Maiden in Love and had Avian and Sparkman on her field.
'I thought she abandonded that strategy? Jaden, what were you thinking? You have a Dark Hole and a Cyber Jar in your deck, why not just play that and ignore all that hassle? Even Burst Impact will do the job just as well.' Red Hat thought, as while he didn't like the current board state. He found this amusing for the wrong reasons.
Blair then removed her cap and bandana. Fully exposing herself. Red Hat knew their secret was out, so he didn't comment on this. "A girl becomes stronger when she's in love! There's nothing that's impossible!" Blair said.
'I never seen that in my life. Maybe it's true, maybe it's not. I have nothing to say or add for that matter.' Red Hat thought.
"Chasing after her first love, she's come all the way to this distant southern island." Alexis explained.
"Eh, was that's all?" Syrus said.
"On top of that... she passed the difficult transfer exam." Alexis added.
Red Hat scoffed as Alexis said that. "That exam was such a joke. You have to be a novice or Syrus to fail that exam." Red Hat then smirked at their reactions.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!" whinned Syrus.
"Do you always have to act in such a smug manner?" Alexis asked annoyed.
"I just like messing with you, and you make it WAY too easy." Red Hat smirked.
The duel was continuing, despite some things Jaden was saying, which the others had no idea what he was talking about. Jaden them makes one... questionabe play.
'Burst Return? Why would you even have that in your deck? Talk about the most circumstantial card I ever seen in my entire life.' Red Hat thought as he lowered his hat to hide his disappointment. 'What were you two even playing before I got here that had you go to such a board state?'
Jaden then summoned his ace monster Elemental HERO Flame Wingman and attacked Maiden in Love. Despite not being able to be destroyed, Blair still took the damage and depleted her LP to 0.
Blair: 1400 - 0 LP
Jaden gave Blair his usual two finger salute. "That's game! Thanks for the sweet duel Blair."
Blair sighed and looked at him. "Jaden I..."
"Whoa, stop what you're trying to say. How about you tell that guy behind you, who was here watching the entire time?" Blair turned around and saw Zane and the others including Red Hat standing a short ways behind her.
Alexis smiled and glanced at Zane. "You're up. This is a man's responisbility, right?"
Blair got up to her feet quickly. "Zane, you're here!" She blushed a little. "I'm sorry... about what happened before. You see I snuck in here for a long time. Red Hat wanted to stop me, and I had him to keep everything I did as a secret."
Zane nodded. "I know."
"Ever since you went on to Duel Academy, Zane... I wanted to see you, and I wanted to be here... And I finally came this far..."
Chumley and Syrus let out an 'aww' at that. Red Hat was amussed by this. Though he still felt something he couldn't figure out.
"I lost to Jaden in that duel, but I won't lose my feelings for you, Zane, to anyone! Please accept the true feelings of a maiden!" Blair opened her arms wide and smiled as sweet as Maiden in Love.
Zane took a step back in uncertainty. Red Hat sighed, but not for the reasons the others think. Jaden began laughing. "C'mon even Zane is overwhelmed? At any rate, that's an amazing power. It was just like the duel!"
"It's not from of the duel." Blair told him.
Alexis smiled slightly and spoke to her. "I see. Your wholehearted feelings are lovely. But, like you just said. Unlike with those in the duel, a real woman wouldn't use things like winks or kisses. I wonder if dueling and love both bear and tie feelings together from the very beginning."
"Hey what are you to Zane anyway?! You're not my love rival are you!?" Blair gave Alexis the evil eye.
Red Hat spoke up. "What would you know about love anyway Ms. Wannabe Tough Girl. I highly doubt you even know about love in the first place."
Alexis glares at him. "What's that suposed to mean!?"
"It means exactly what it means. You rather jump off a cliff then find love." Red Hat mocks while smirking at her.
"Enough! The both of you." Zane snaps as he tried to calm the both of them down. Zane walks up to Blair. "Blair, while I'm flattered on how you feel... Right now I'm devoted to dueling."
"Zane..." Blair said as Zane took something out of his pocket.
He took her hand and placed the barrette she had lost some time ago into her palm. "Blair go back to your hometown. Your parents are worried sick about you." Red Hat noticed the sad look on Blair's face and approached her to comfort her.
"You don't have to go that far!" Jaden stepped in. "Even if she's a girl, if she's allowed to get to the Obelisk Blue Girl's dorm..."
"Blair can't stay here."
"Huh? Does Blair have another secret? She dressed up as a guy and showed us she's a girl." Jaden then smiled. "Is her being a guy really the truth?"
Red Hat chuckled at this. 'Sometimes you really are silly Jaden. I like that trait about you. Always lighteing up the mood, even if unintentionally.'
"Blair is still a fifth-grader in elementary school." said Zane.
This shocked Jaden, Syrus and Chumley as Jaden whole body turned white.
"Man what is this!? So I ended up fighting an elementary school student?" Jaden asked while holding his head.
Blair stuck her tongue playfully and smiled. "Sorry, that was a fun duel."
Jaden fell to the ground and laughed hysterically. "This is great! That's why duels are so fun!"
Red Hat stood still trying to process all of this. 'So this whole time I was helping an 11 to 12 year-old girl? Why do I feel so weird yet not weird at the same time... Maybe...' Red Hat did not want to finish that sentence. "Blair, we still aren't done."
Blair turned to Red Hat. "Yes, there's one more thing we must do." Red Hat took her arm and both began running to a certain location.
The others wanted to follow them, but Zane stopped them. "Don't follow them." Zane told them. "They have to face this on their own." Zane and Alexis walk off. The Slifer trio returned to their dorm.
Time 9pm
Red Hat and Blair entered Chancellor Sheppard's office. What they didn't know was, that Blair's parents were already there waiting for them. Blair took a step back after seeing them. Red Hat stood firm as he tried to protect her.
"So you were the one that kept our daughter away. Just who do you think you are and what did you do to her?" Blair's mother asked.
"I did no such thing. If anything, I'm not the one who you should be asking." replied Red Hat.
"For all we know you could have done things to her when no one was around." Blair's mother accused.
Red Hat eye began to twitch, but fought hard to stay calm. "If this is psychological warefare you're trying on me it's not gonna work. I've been called a street rat, Satellite Punk even though I'm not from the Satellite, a deliquent, the list goes on." Red Hat then turned to Blair who was now flustered at what her mother was implying. "Besides... that's not something you should say directly to a girl this young. Even if you were just lashing out or trying to protect her."
Blair's mother, opened her mouth to protest, but the father held his wife back, shaking his head. His wife nodded and stood back, waiting for something else to happen.
"Mom. Dad. I'm sorry for running away from home like that. Listen don't blame Red Hat for me staying." Blair spoke up.
"Blair..." Red Hat was caught of guard by this. He never thought Blair or anyone that wasn't Jaden, would try and defend him.
"Red Hat caught me months ago. I told him to keep my identity a secret until whatever I did was fullfilled. He was the only guy besides a few friends of mine, who stood up to me and even helped me, even when I was selfish." explained Blair.
"Well since you admited everythng yourself. Both of you are held accountable for your actions." continued Sheppard. "Like I said earlier Red Hat, you'll be in detention until further notice and write down a 10 page essay."
"I... I understand Chancellor." Red Hat answered.
"Now, the ferry ship will leave tommorow first thing in the morning. Why don't Blair and her parents stay for the rest of the night until it arrives? If that's everything, then you can leave now."
The four of them left Chancellor Sheppard's office. Blair and Red Hat went the other direction as they were to head ack to the Slifer Dorm. Where Blair will stay one last time.
Time 11pm
Red Hat was outside, staring off into the distance behind the Slifer Red dorm. He couldn't bring himself to sleep. Not like this. He tried to pass the time by thinking of other things, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. Red Hat still lacked understanding why he was feeling like this. He never felt like this before, why now?
'Am I really this weak, Do I feel... lonely without Blair by my side?' Red Hat thought as he stared at the sea.
"Thought I find you out here." Red Hat tured to his left and saw Blair all dressed to leave, but stayed at his room for the night.
"I can't sleep. Not like this anyway." He replied.
Red Hat and Blair stared off into the distance, unable to think of anything to pass the time. Red Hat had many questions, but had no answer to any of them.
"Hey, Red Hat?"
"Yes? Go on."
"Why did you keep my secret for so long? You could have done it anytime. You even put up with everything I did, even if I was being selfish and caused you trouble."
Red Hat remained silent for a bit before answering. "Unlike Alexis and many others. You don't remind me of her." he repiled. 'You are wild and you have an attitude. You know how to care for someone. You are nice and a good person. I like that about you despite being young.' he mentally admited.
Blair tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean by her? Is it some girl?"
Red Hat shook his head. "It's not some ordinary girl. Rather..." Red Hat stuttered and refused to explained. "I rather not talk about it."
"Does this have to do with your home by any chance?"
"Yes." Is all Red Hat replied with. Not wanting to elaberate further.
"Red Hat, despite what people say about you. You are different." This caught Red Hat by surprise. "You take things way too seriously, but I know you have a soft spot. You just need to be put on the right path. Maybe someday, you'll be a lot nicer and friendlier to others, just in a different manner then how you act now."
"Who knows, maybe that can happen." He simply said.
Blair giggled at Red Hat "The big bad and rude Red Hat is a big softie. Just only when he's around the right person." she teased
"Don't get carried away Blair." Red Hat takes out his deck box and takes out a few cards. "Blair... as a parting gift. Here you go." Red Hat handed her the card.
Blair took the cards and was surprised with what Red Hat gave her. It was one copy of Ring of Destruction, Heavy Storm, Dark Hole, Return from the Different Dimension and Chaos Sorcerer. "Wha... You are giving me these? Why? This is too much. I can't just take these from you!"
Red Hat shook his head. "No Blair, keep those cards. I have a couple more copies. Besides I want you to have them. Improve your dueling skills even if I'm not around."
Blair took the cards and smiled. "Thank you Red Hat."
Red Hat and Blair stared off into the distance a little bit longer. Red Hat signed, signaling he's calm down. "I think some sleep would do us good."
"Yeah was just about to mention that." Both of return to their rooms and went to sleep. Trying to both relax, despite what will happen tomorrow.
Wednesday
Time 7am
The next day, Red Hat, Jaden, Alexis, Zane, Syrus and Chumley stood at the docks to watch leave on a boat. "Bye, bye! Next year, once I graduate from elementary school, I'll take the test again and study over here!" called Blair, waving from out the window of the ship that was slowly dailing away from the island.
Jaden laughed. "Hear that, Zane?"
"Oh please, I'll be long gone y the time she gets here." Zane scoffed.
"Well, we lost out on that power?"
"Wait for me... Jaden my sweet prince! I love you!" Blair called out, making Jaden really shocked. This also shocked Red Hat.
"W-Why's it me?!" Jaden said turning to Alexis.
"I'm sure she is head over heels because of your duel." Alexis replied as she giggled at this.
'She reacted differently with me though... Guess I was too rough on her in our first duel.' thought Red Hat.
"Good luck." Zane said as he walked away.
Syrus and Chumley followed him. "Well, we'll go on ahead you two."
"You'll have to see her off." Zane reminded Jaden and Red Hat.
"Keep waving at her until you can't see the ship anymore!" Alexis said.
"Wait for me! I'll be back Jaden, my sweet prince." Blair called out still waving. "Red Hat, thank you for everything you done for me! You're my Hero!"
"Huh?!" This surprised Red Hat.
"Looks like she has an admirer." Zane said continuing to walk off.
"Who knew Red Hat likes them that young." Syrus said.
"SHUT UP You creepy bastard! Don't even try going there or project your ideas onto me!" Red Hat yelled in genuine anger.
"You're a real piece of work. Aren't you Red Hat." Alexis said with a smile as she walked off.
Jaden wasn't so please with all of this. "This can't be hppening... This is all too weird." complained Jaden.
"Jaden? If it makes you feel any better, I feel weird too." replied Red Hat as he stood next to him.
"Thanks Red Hat, I guess..."
Red Hat and Jaden stared at the boat for a while, waving at Blair as she left. Red Hat felt something else as he waved goodbye to her. 'She called me her Hero...' He thought as his face soften. 'Will I be able to live up to that? Not as a hero, but her Hero?'
That stayed there continuing to wave until they were not able to see the ship anymore. A certain duel spirit was watching Red Hat with a small smile. Red Hat's change has only just begun.
A/N: Blair has now left, but she'll be back. You can count on it. A slight gripe I had is when Alexis talks to Blair. I refuse to believe Alexis has any idea about love in the slighest. This is especially evident by how she acts and her actions later on in the series. It's why this is a big misconception, Alexis knows nothing or very little on this topic, as she tries to be this tough girl. It's why I will die on this hill. Blair is much better girl then Alexis, nothing the general fandom will convince me otherwise. Next up is the Titan duel. With a few twist and turns. See you next time.
Edit: 3/07/2022: As of this point in time. I've change the summery of the story, as the way I want the story to go no longer matches what I originally intended from long ago. It was meant to replicate various other YGO character's but was getting carried away with how unlikeable I made Red Hat cause I take old school competitive YGO too seriously. I also hate the tragic back story and sins of the father tropes in any media as I consider it very lazy writing to make us feel sorry or sympathy for the character. My intention was never to make an underdog character, but rather Lone Wolf type character, but others try to calm him and see value in others aka Jaden and Blair. But at the same time not put up with nonsense unlike other people. I've currently created other projects in the meanwhile as well. Many will have little to do with this fanfic cause they aren't supposed to connect. Least not directly.