Staying in the Background
Clash of Ideals – Butterfly Effect
Lighting cracked overhead as Chancellor Foster descended the steps of North Academy's central building. Beneath him, in the campus square, stood the small number of students who had proven themselves strong enough to remain at his academy. They stood among the construction and scaffolding, looking up and waiting for his grand announcement. Confidently, he strode down to an elevated platform and held his arms wide.
"My students, the time has come yet again. Our battle with Central Academy is nigh!" His declaration was met with thunderous cries and the rhythmic stamping of feet. "We have suffered many defeats in recent years; however, the winds of change have arrived! In the last few months, our school have experienced many changes. We approach a new age backed by our generous sponsors; we now go forth to make our names known. Gone are the days when we stood at the bottom of the duelling world. It is time for our voice to be heard!"
Again, his students cried out in unison, voicing their approval.
"Our champions are ready!" Foster continued, turning and gesturing to the two standing behind him. His prized pupils. Both first years and yet so strong. The first stood with his arms crossed against his black coat, his pride not allowing for a sign of weakness as he stood on ceremony. The second merely stood with his hands in his jacket pockets, a bashful grin tugging at his lips. Foster knew he did not like the limelight, but this was too important for him not to attend.
"For our top student, I present our highest honour! The cards passed down through those we call King at this academy! May they bring him victory for what is to come as he takes us to new heights!"
The first student stepped forward, taking the cards Foster offered him. He looked through them momentarily before holding the cards towards the heavens, playing his role and bolstering his people's spirits.
"And for our second representative, I present him this! A card gifted to our academy long ago at its founding! I know that in his hands, it will bring us victory!"
The second boy stepped forward, graciously accepting the prized card. He looked it over, taking the time to read its text before his smile grew wider.
"Thank you, chancellor," he said. "I won't let you down."
Foster smiled and nodded. In the back of his mind, he had been reluctant to part with such a rarity, but his new partners had advised him of the pageantry he needed to show for this occasion.
"I know you won't, my boy. Take the experience you gain from this duel to the nationals." With those words, he turned back to his students and again opened his arms. "We say goodbye for now as some of us go in separate directions. However, I have full confidence we will return as champions!"
More lightning cracked across the sky as the North Academy students began heading towards the main gates, making their way to their respective transports. For the first time in a long time, Foster felt a surge of confidence. The fools at Central Academy had no idea what was coming.
I bit my lip as I lightly bounced on my feet, the thrill of the game pushing me forward. My titanic beast hovered above me, magma dripping from its jaws as it prepared to battle the monster before him.
"Bladedge, attack Darkblaze Dragon!" Jaden cried as his golden warrior leapt forward.
My four-winged dragon unleashed a torrent of flame upon the metal warrior for nought as it dodged around the blaze before finally landing a decisive blow at the beast's neck, decapitating it in a single blow. (Ren: 700 LP)
"And you said you needed practice," I said, wrinkling my nose from the smell of smoke. The scent synthesiser, or whatever it was called in the duel disk handbook, must have worked overtime on that one.
"Ha, what can I say? I never hold back," Jaden laughed. "And today is the last day I have to get the work in."
The two of us were alone in the school's duel arena. Outside of special events, it was normally for Obelisk's private use. However, Jaden had been permitted to use it to train. Considering how early it was, the arena was empty. Each declaration and attack echoed around the metal walls and undoubtedly down the hallways.
One may ask why I was duelling Jaden at 10 AM on a Saturday. Well, today was finally the day of the school duel. North Academy was inbound, and Jaden asked me if I could help him get some last-minute practice. I'd normally say that I couldn't think of an excuse but that morning I wanted to blow off some steam.
Jaden's grin widened, clearly loving the game so far. We'd been having a bit of a back-and-forth for the last couple of hours. Jaden won the first match; we stopped to adjust our decks and then went again. That time I won and again we paused to adjust. Time passed by quickly after that, and numerous games passed. We were about even now. It had been quite therapeutic going at it like this. When focusing on my cards like this, all the other problems seemed so far away.
Our current game was proceeding quickly, each of us hasty to bring out heavy hitters and deal damage to the other. Jaden had been particularly vicious, summoning out Elemental Hero Flame Wingman and inflicting me with as much burn damage as possible. I'd attempted to bring out Five Headed Dragon with Future Fusion, but Jaden destroyed the spell as soon as I played it.
I immediately returned the favour by reviving the Darkblaze Dragon I had sent to the graveyard already and destroying Jaden's Wingman, my dragon's burn effect to hit Jaden just as hard as he had hit me. Of course, Jaden struck back by bringing out Elemental Hero Bladedge, leaving me in my current predicament.
Jaden smile persisted as he lowered his disk. "I'll throw a couple of face-downs and call it a turn. Your move, man."
"Well then, here goes something," I said, taking a small amount of joy in utilising one of Jaden's catchphrases against him.
Turn 5: Ren – 900 LP – 3 cards in hand – 0 cards on the field
I looked towards my drawn card and smiled. "Well, how about that? I'll start by activating Monster Reborn! Revive, Red-Eyes Black Dragon (2400/2000)!" Wind swept through the arena as the portal opened, and the legendary monster emerged from the depths of the grave, taking its rightful place beside me.
"I still can't get over that dragon," Jaden remarked.
"Yeah, well, he's not quite enough to take out your Bladedge. At least not yet. I activate Polymerization! I fuse the Red-Eyes on my field with the King of the Swamp in my hand to fusion summon Black Skull Dragon (3200/2500)!"
For a moment, the sentient swamp appeared before its form shifted and took on the freakish appearance of Summoned Skull. The two monsters immediately disappeared into a swirling portal. From it emerged one of my go-to monsters. It was hulking in size with a skeletal body holding tattered sinew together. As it took the field, it let out a hallowing roar that demanded respect.
"Battle! Black Skull Dragon, take out Bladedge!"
Black lightning crackled across my dragon's body as it charged its attack. As the energy reached its apex, it released a burst of energy that raced across the field towards Jaden's hero. However, as I looked across the field, I saw that Jaden was still smiling.
"Nice move, Ren, but I still have another card to play! I activate The Flu -"
"They're here!"
Our monsters froze in place as we both turned to see Syrus charging into the arena, sweat coating his face. I had no doubt he'd probably run here across campus. As he came into the arena, he almost buckled over. "They're… here…" he said between breaths. "And they came… in a submarine…"
Jaden and I shared a look before laughing. "I guess we can finish this another time," I said as the holograms of our monsters began to fade.
"You bet, but just for the record, that was definitely my game."
"Sure, keep believing that."
The two of us hopped down and followed Syrus. As we walked out into the hallways of the academy, I looked out through the window. Squinting my eyes, I could see a rectangular vessel out on the sea making a beeline for the island. I felt a great amount of relief seeing it. Chazz was finally returning to the island. With him back, things would finally get back on track. Considering my interactions with him, it was weird to think he would soon be an ally, but that's life in an anime world.
In fairness, it was crazy to think about all that had happened in the months since Chazz had left the island. Duel Academy had become far more of a home than I could have expected. I had been sceptical about choosing to enter, but now I was so glad I had. Even if I hadn't meant to interfere, the friends I had made had become irreplaceable.
Speaking of my friends, they had settled down since their encounter with Belowski. I'd noticed a definite change in Bastion. He seemed a lot happier this week. Maybe it was a lingering effect of his time under Mokey Mokey's spell, but he was undeniably brighter. In fact, everyone who had been under the effect had had a bit of a mood uplift. Syrus had been more chipper; Chumley had been slightly more active, especially in terms of his creativity. I noticed him sketching a lot in the classroom. And Alexis, well, it was kind of hard to tell with her, but she definitely seemed happier in some way.
She had not said anything regarding our conversation on the stairs. Hopefully, in her drunken stupor, she had forgotten about her wish to return to the abandoned dorm. But with my luck, it was unlikely. Admittedly, we had few chances to talk this week, so I couldn't confirm anything.
Sadie and I had been spending a lot of time together recently. She kept coming up with things to do. We'd had movie nights, gone on café dates and had numerous walks around the island. If I didn't know better, I would think that Sadie was trying to keep me busy. Not that I minded. She'd be busy today. I knew she'd be helping Dorothy set up for the festivities tonight. Win or lose, there was going to be a party, and everyone was invited.
As we left the main academy building, it suddenly occurred to me that now we weren't duelling, Jaden was being uncharacteristically quiet. His head was down, and I saw that his fists were clenched. My relief quickly turned to worry. If I knew anything about Yu-Gi-Oh, it would be that a negative Jaden was something no one wanted.
"Hey," I said, giving the Slifer a friendly nudge that snapped him out of his stupor. "Last minute nerves?"
Jaden seemed monetarily taken aback before shaking his head, plastering on a smile. "You caught me," he laughed. "Just got a lot on my mind."
"You'll do great today," I said. "You're one of the best duellists on the island, hands down."
"It's not about the duel," he admitted. I waited for him to continue, but it seemed he didn't want to talk about it. Instead, I decided to take a different route. Fishing out my cards, I thumbed through before finding the thing I was after. Again, I nudged Jaden's shoulder.
"Take this. For the duel," I said, holding out the card.
Jaden looked at my offering sceptically. "Thanks, but I think I'll be okay with my normal cards. The others offered cards too, but…" he trailed off, looking towards Syrus guiltily.
"Let me guess, the others offered cards, but they didn't go with your deck. Like, at all."
"This does." Again, I pushed the cards towards him. Warily, he took it and looked it over, his eyes widening.
"Woah… Are you sure?" he asked, his prior nerves forgotten.
"I've other copies, and no offence, but while you always seem to draw what you need, that may offer more versatility."
Jaden smiled and inserted the card into the deck box on his hip. "Thanks, man."
"No problem. Now, come on, we'd better hurry, or Crowler will have your hide for being late to the welcome."
Logan trudged down the path towards the harbour. Lumina had told him the moment the North Academy vessel came within sight of the academy. Around him, excited students were rushing down towards the port, hoping to get the best view. While he knew this was supposed to be an exciting day for the academy, Logan just couldn't feel the mood.
He'd faced too many setbacks; now, everything he had planned and every action he'd taken was for nothing. Sheppard was undoubtedly choosing who would guard the spirit keys, evaluating students for when he received the call that the darkness was coming. He'd ensured he had a powerful archetype, cards that could beat each of the Shadow Riders. He'd made sure to be placed in the Slifer dorm to show that he could be like Jaden.
However, all he'd done was prove he wasn't capable. He'd lost to Chazz; he couldn't defeat Ren. He'd become a bad joke. His only saving grace was that he was known to regularly challenge and defeat the students in the Obelisk dorm, targeting older students and those he knew to be getting good grades in class.
Ren had put a stop to his plan to show his skill in the school duel in favour of letting the established canon take course. But he was a fool. He stubbornly refused to see the changes going on around him. And now it seemed that he at least had some potential to see spirits. During their duel, Ren had seen Lumina. Ren knew that not only Logan had been lying to him but also that he'd been using his spirit to spy on him and the island. And now, he was left with nothing. Ren had cut him off, and the only thing he had left was to look watch on as an onlooker.
As he came closer to the harbour, he could hear the loud chatter of students as they scrambled to get good looks at the submarine that had pulled into port. In truth, the vehicle did Logan. It was larger than he expected, easily exceeding the length of the port. Humorously, Logan noticed that someone had painted a set of eyes onto the dome of the vessel. Under the water, he could just about make out a fanged mouth as well.
As he reached the red, yellow and blue crowd, Logan carefully moved through the cracks between the students until he got a good view of the people at the front. Of course, both Sheppard and Crowler were there, ready to greet the chancellor of North Academy. Jaden was at Crowler's side, bouncing on his feet in anticipation. No surprise there. However, towards just behind them, he got a good look at Jaden's entourage. Standing with Syrus and Chumley was Ren.
He stood patiently, texting someone on his PDA. It infuriated Logan. He was a complete hypocrite. He claimed to hate interfering, yet he stayed close to the main protagonists. He'd heard from Chumley that Jaden had asked Ren to help train that morning. If Ren truly wanted to leave the protagonists alone, all he had to do was just say no. Instead, there he was, standing side by side with Jaden's closest friends, watching the Slifer fulfil his purpose from the front row.
His hands balled into fists, both arms shaking. Ren hogged all the limelight, leaving him ever-hungry to prove himself worthy. All the while, Ren interfered, collecting friends like cards like they were pieces to wield for a battle that may or may not come. And he didn't even realise he was doing it.
Hypocrite, hypocrite, hypocrite.
Suddenly, the hatch on the top of the submarine was thrown open and outclimbed a man Logan remembered to be chancellor of North Academy. He was a thin man, made to look slightly larger by his bulky coat. While he was balding, he possessed some scruffy hair hanging on to the edge around the side of his head, the white headband he wore almost holding it into place. He briefly covered his eyes from the bright sunlight before cleaning his glasses and scratching at his five o'clock shadow.
He took one look at the waiting teacher, and a large smile spread across his face. "Sheppard!" he called out, walking across the gangway and onto dry land.
"Foster, it has been far too long," Sheppard replied, reaching out and shaking the man's hand. "How have you been?"
"I've been well ever since I got over the defeat you handed us in the previous school duel." His words were cordial but possessed an undeniable venom.
"It was a close match," Sheppard said, sounding far more amiable.
"Not really," Foster dismissed. "But this year, I feel a wind of change brewing."
"Perhaps," Sheppard replied. "Either way, it will be another interesting match between our two schools."
"Sorry to interrupt," Jaden interjected, putting himself in between the two administrators. "But I was just wondering when I get to meet my opponent."
"How 'bout right now?"
Logan froze. Even after so many years, he recognised that voice. That southern drawl. The pure excitement that matched a certain Slifer. He just wasn't expecting to hear it again for another two years.
Running down the ramp was an enthusiastic boy with spiky blue hair. Unlike the shirt Logan was familiar with, he wore a black shirt under a black coat with what looked like fur lining. Much like he had been in the show, he had a bright smile that matched the Slifer who would be his opponent.
"Sorry, y'all, but I could not wait to meet the guy I'd be throwing down with." He looked at the faces around him before setting his sights on Jaden. "And you must be him. The name's Jesse. Jesse Anderson. I've got to say, I've been looking forward to our match."
Jaden's grin grew. "Same dude. It's nice to meet you. I'm Jaden Yuki."
"Well, Jaden, I look forward to getting to know you in our duel."
As the two spoke, more members of the North Academy student body climbed out of the submarine. They slowly trekked out, all calling out their support for Jesse.
Logan watched this display with momentary disbelief before a grin grew on his face. Finally, proof everything he'd been saying was true. He turned his gaze towards Ren and took great joy in the sheer look of panic on his face. He'd turned white as a sheet, his mouth agape and eyes darting between Jaden and Jesse.
"Your elect certainly seems lively," Sheppard continued, smiling at the chattering pair.
"Yes, well, I must admit, we did have someone else in mind," Foster said. "However, he is representing North Academy on a stage far greater than this."
"Oh? And then, why are you not with him?" Sheppard asked.
"Ha! And give up the grand prize. Not on your life. Besides, young Jesse here is just as strong. Why, after this, he will be representing North Academy in a tournament in Norway. I hear that Maximillion Pegasus will even be in attendance."
"My, that is certainly impressive," Sheppard said thoughtfully.
"Well, shall we get moving? No time like the present, as they say," Foster said enthusiastically.
"Not just yet. Have you forgotten about the special guest you discussed?" Sheppard remarked.
Foster's expression immediately changed to one of delight. "Ah, yes. How could I forget? Especially after North Academy's new benefactors arranged her visit." He turned to look back at the ocean, and his smile brightened. "I believe that should be them now."
The attention of all those present turned to the horizon, where Logan could make out a single helicopter heading straight for the academy. Around him, Logan could hear the other students murmur in excitement about just who was about to arrive.
Finally, the wind picked up as the helicopter came in to land atop the helipad-laden storage units. The central academy students began to murmur, edging closer to get a good look at whoever had just arrived.
As the spin of the rotor faded to a light sputter, Logan managed to just see a head of long blonde hair exit the vehicle. The woman came close to the edge, followed by a cameraman, and Logan almost lost his breath.
The woman was stunning, and how she held herself showed she knew it. She wore a predominantly purple outfit; a blazer and skirt, and a tight white shirt that only served to… exaggerate certain features. There was someone else next to the woman, but who cared about a guy with a camera when a legendary duellist had just stepped foot on the island?
"Students!" Sheppard called out, momentarily distracting the now frantic academy goers. "May I introduce you to our special guest for today's match? Miss Mai Valentine!"
Logan's grin grew. He took a glance back at Ren to see that his jaw had dropped, and he looked truly panicked. His worldview may have well just shattered as the world literally just gave him the biggest 'fuck you'.
And Logan loved it.
What was happening?
How was this happening?
I followed behind as Jesse and Jaden chatted animatedly about the academy's surprising guest. The two walked alongside their respective headmasters, the two speaking in hushed tones to Mai Valentine. Why were they here? And where was Chazz. He was supposed to be here, not Jesse.
If Chazz wasn't here, then he wouldn't rejoin the academy. If he didn't rejoin the academy…
"You seem nervous."
I was snapped from my thoughts to find that Alexis had, at some point, fallen into step with me. "You need a bell," I grumbled.
"Well, excuse me for trying to make conversation," she shot back, turning her head away. Immediately, I regretted my tone.
"Sorry."
Her head turned back an inch before sighing audibly. "So, what's with the attitude?"
"I… It's nothing. How are you feeling, though? How is the new religion going? I hear the followers of 'The Moke' have mostly renounced their faith."
Her cheeks flared, and she turned her head again. "I don't know what you're talking about," she deflected. "Honestly, I don't remember much."
Thank you, Ra.
"Except-"
Fuck you, Ra.
"Except?"
"I remember the promise you made. About the Abandoned Dorm."
Of course, you do…
"Right… Alexis…"
"I'm going tonight."
"You're doing what now?" I stared at her dumbly, too shocked to make a retort. Alexis took that as her opportunity to keep going.
"Regardless of the result, there will be parties all over the island tonight. Campus security will be spread thin, keeping track of them. It's the perfect time to sneak in." She cast another glance at me before focusing on the path ahead. "You're the only person I've told. Look, I know when I was… in that state… you promised to help me. You said it to help me. So… I won't hold it against you if you don't come. I'll be going after the duel, right after the winner's ceremony, as it gets dark." She didn't give me a chance to argue, quickly hurrying ahead without looking back.
She was so brave, fearlessly going into the unknown to find a mere scrap of information about her brother. She was doing what was right, and yet I felt ashamed. She was putting herself in danger again. I couldn't stop her. I knew that once she'd made a decision, she wouldn't stop until she accomplished what she set out to do.
The only thing I could do was inform the teachers, but then Alexis would be expelled. Couldn't have that. Maybe Zane? No, he'd try and talk her out of it but would more than likely end up going with her. Right into his clutches. It was a no-win situation.
I scratched at the sides of my head angrily. Again, why did every protagonist insist on involving me when they wanted to break canon? Do they just go to themselves; 'How can I give Ren an ulcer today?'
I looked back towards where Jaden and Jesse were continuing to gossip and felt my ongoing headache grow worse. At my side, I could feel my hand trembling. I quickly clenched my fist, forcing the shaking to stop.
"I need a holiday…"
The duel arena was loud with the outcry of students from the two schools. Undoubtedly, some shade was being thrown from those who sat next to opposite school members. Chancellor Sheppard has chosen to sit with the northern students with Chancellor Foster so they could talk. On the other hand, I sat with the usual suspects: Dimitri, Bastion, Syrus, Chumley and Alexis. Logan and Mindy also sat close, although they sat on the edge, away from the main group. Jasmine also sat with them, although she did not look too pleased. Surprisingly, Zane and Eve joined us, sitting on Alexis's other side.
Syrus, Chumley, Bastion and Dimitri sat before us, eagerly waiting to cheer on Jaden. The rest of us Obelisks sat behind them. I sat at the end of our little group, doing my best to see enthused even though I was panicking. Thankfully, Alexis, who was next to me, was too engrossed in her conversation with Erin and Zane to notice my anxiousness. Logan, on the other hand, kept shooting me smug glances, which I was desperately trying to avoid. He knew the exact same thing I did, and it seemed he was loving every moment of it. Of course, he would. Everything happening right now was nothing that we could predict. The canon I'd been hanging onto was gone, and there was no way it could come back.
I could hardly think. My thoughts jumbled together carelessly as I tried unsuccessfully to map where to go from here. Without Chazz, so many things suddenly became uncertain, and I could no longer rely on my knowledge to predict certain events relating to him. So many countermeasures to be made now. So many what-ifs. Was Jesse going to stay now? Who was going to be the seventh keykeeper? Who would Sartorius go after to start his Society of Light on the island? I was so certain of Chazz's return that I had no contingency plans. Suddenly, Logan's initial plans were becoming a lot more plausible. That scared me most of all!
"Did you hear me?"
"Hmm?" I looked down to see Bastion and Dimitri staring back at me. They both looked concerned. "Sorry guys, I completely zoned out," I said, shaking my head. "What did you say?"
"I asked if you had an idea why Mai Valentine was here?" Dimitri said.
I looked down towards the duel field where the famous duellist was speaking with her cameraman. A team of people were setting up cameras around the arena, taking up a fair amount of time. At least this seemed familiar as the school duel had been filmed in the original timeline, however without Chazz or his brothers present, I could not imagine why. After Rex and Weevil, I did another check on original series characters on the web.
I knew that in the last ten years, Mai had taken a bit of a step back from duelling. While still considered legendary. She'd remained active on the scene for a few years before deciding to pursue other avenues. From what I had read, she had become more of a professional commentator, appearing on TV during tournaments and remarking on the plays. She was pretty popular, especially with the female duelling audience, which was continually increasing. Not much was known about her private life, surprisingly. Of course, there were rumours that she had been dating someone, but those died down recently, as when she was out in public, she was generally alone.
"One of the headmasters probably asked her to appear," I reasoned. "I think they said that Jesse kid was going to be duelling in a national tournament soon. Maybe this gets him publicity?"
"It's certainly never been done before," Zane unexpectedly cut in. The moment the revered Kaiser spoke up, all eyes fell on him. "During my first two years, the school duel has never been this grandiose. It's definitely not the chancellor's style to do something like this. If I were to guess, I would say that Foster has gained some financial backing and is trying to promote his school over Central Academy."
It sounds like Foster may be enjoying the benefits of the Princeton family fortune. Which only begged the question of where the hell Chazz was. Seeing how Zane had spoken to people other than Alexis or Eve, the others used the opportunity to overload him with questions, giving me a free moment to focus on the two competitors.
Jesse and Jaden were eventually separated by academy staff and taken to prep rooms so they could make final preparations in peace. It seemed the two had already become fast friends. While I doubted Yubel would come into play for a couple more years, their newfound friendship could make Jaden act more erratic when Jesse goes missing. If that even happens now. What was the point in everything I'd done up until now to preserve the future if it was all for nothing? And just how blind had I been to ignore the other changes up to now?
Ugh, I just want to scream!
"Attention duellists!"
Mai Valentine's voice snapped me from my thoughts. At some point, she had walked to the middle of the stage with a microphone in hand. The moment she spoke, she commanded the room's focus. Such was the power of a celebrity. She was looking out across the students, followed dutifully by her cameraman.
"I'm Mai Valentine, and you're watching the Duel Report! It's my honour to be presenting the annual school duel between North and Central Academy! Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, The Princeton Corporation, we can bring this duel to you live across the world. As you can see, the students here are riled up! The atmosphere here is positively electric!"
She was laying on the flattery thick. Had to wonder if this was something she'd been told to say or something she came up with herself. From what I remember from the original series, Mai had a habit of telling people what they wanted to hear and using her natural charm to distract them. It made her a skilled presenter. However, she did confirm my suspicion that Chazz's family had bankrolled her involvement, so Chazz must have gone to North Academy.
"Now, you've all been waiting long enough. On to the main event! In the left corner, he's made a name for himself by climbing academy ranks, and he's going to regionals; Jesse Anderson!"
North Academy broke out in cheers for their comrade as the blue-haired boy gave a nervous chuckle, giving a small wave as the cameras zoomed in on him.
"And in the right corner, the hope of the Slifer dorm, the unexpected underdog: Jaden Yuki!"
This time, it was our turn to cheer and holler, the whole of the academy calling out their support for Jaden. It was ironic, given the caste dorm system and the attitudes some of the students had, but given the circumstances, it made sense. They wanted to see North Academy beat even if it was a Slifer leading the charge.
Mai waited for the cheers to calm before beaming a wide smile out at the audience. "In that case, if we are all ready, it's time to duel!"
Jaden and Jesse didn't hesitate. Mai moved back, and the two boys raised their duel disks.
"Game on!"
"Since we're on the home field and all, I'll take the first move," Jaden said, drawing a card.
"Be my guest," Jesse said cheerily. He was too happy about giving up the advantage. Then again, that was completely in line with who he was. Just like Jaden, he loved a challenge.
Turn 1: Jaden - 4000LP - 6 Cards in hand - 0 Cards on the field
As Jaden drew his first card, he heard the familiar coo of Winged Kuriboh. Sure enough, the winged monster was the card he just drew. It made Jaden smile to see his partner. In a match like this, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Hey there, Kuriboh. I guess you wanted in on the action, too," he said softly.
In response, he heard another coo before the Kuriboh's astral form appeared, coming to land on his shoulder.
"Wow… you've got a spirit?"
Jaden's eyes went wide when he heard Jesse say that. He looked over to his opponent to see that he was staring right at Kuriboh.
"You… you can see him?"
"Well yeah… You're quite lucky to have a partner like him," Jesse said, his tone wistful. A confident grin then grew across his lips. "I'm even more fired up for this now."
Jaden returned Jesse's grin with a smile of his own. "Well, then, I hope I don't disappoint." At his side, he felt Kuriboh's presence disappear, but he knew his partner remained at his side, waiting diligently in his hand.
"To start this off, I'll summon Elemental Hero Sparkman (1600/1400) in attack mode!" There was a burst of electricity as the blue and gold warrior emerged on the field on to the field striking a dynamic pose."
"Woah, that guy is looking sharp," Jesse said excitedly.
"Don't you know it? Since I can't attack, I throw a face down and call it a turn. Let's see what you got, Jesse."
"Why, thank you kindly. I hope to impress," Jesse remarked as he drew his first card.
Turn 2: Jesse - 4000LP - 6 Cards in hand - 0 Cards on the field
"I'll kick things off with this guy. I summon my Insect Knight (1900/1500) in attack mode."
Jesse's new monster was a creature that Jaden recognised. He'd seen both Bastion and Weevil Underwood use this monster against Ren. He was aware of the Obelisk's hatred for this monster's appearance. Sure enough, as he snuck a peak towards where his friends were sitting, Ren was looking pale. Logan, on the other hand, looked like he was about to burst out laughing. Mindy was next to him. Maybe she'd said something funny?
"Gotta say, I'm liking the monster, man," Jaden laughed.
"Yeah, he's pretty cool," Jesse admitted. "But this guy is a tad shy with all these eyes on him."
Not that he mentioned it, Jaden noticed that Jesse's knight seemed a tad bashful, looking around at the crowd and shrinking into itself.
"This guy's always felt better amongst the trees, so I'll play the field spell, Forest." Immediately, trees sprung out of the ground, surrounding the two duellists and blocking out their audience. Now in its natural habitat, Jesse's knight stood a bit taller, looking more confident.
"Here, my knight gains a two-hundred-point boost," Jesse explained (1900-2100 ATK). "And to show that sword isn't just for show; my knight will attack Sparkman!"
The bug monster leapt across the field with his sword raised high. Sparkman tried to fend off the attack, firing a volley of electricity. Unfortunately, Jesse's knight was far nimbler, twisting its body in the air and avoiding the blasts before bringing down his sword on Jaden's hero, skewing him. (Jaden: 3500LP)
"And North Academy swiftly takes first blood!" Mai Valentine's voice echoed around them as a cavalcade of cheers and boos followed from the respective schools. Jaden knew that the rivalry here was fierce, but getting such a response from so few points was crazy.
It really got his blood pumping. Was this what it was like to be a professional? He couldn't stop grinning.
"You don't mess around," he laughed. "But by destroying my monster, you activated my trap card, Hero Signal!" As the trap flipped, the forest sky was lit up with a sstylised'H'. "Since you destroyed my Sparkman, I can call out a new hero, and I choose Elemental Hero Clayman (800/2000)!"
The clay-armoured warrior heroically burst from the ground, taking a protective knee in front of Jaden.
"Well, he's certainly a sturdy-lookin' fella," Jesse remarked. "I think for now, I'll go ahead and throw down a face down. Back to you, Jaden. I can't wait to see what you pull off next."
"Yeah… neither can I," Jaden laughed nervously. 'Especially since that knight of his is a lot stronger than what's in my hand.'
Looking down at his deck, Jaden smiled. "Well… here goes something!"
Turn 3: Jaden - 3500 LP - 5 cards in hand - 1 monster on the field
As he ripped the next card from his deck, his confidence was renewed. "Sweetness! I activate the spell, O-Oversoul! With it, I'll bring back my Sparkman!" There was a burst of electricity as the blue and gold hero retook the field, standing tall next to Elemental Hero Clayman. "Now, these guys are great on their own, but they're even better together. And I have just the card to unite them: Polymerization!"
The two heroes were immediately absorbed into a swirling vortex before a new, titanic monster emerged. Draped in purple and golden armour, Jaden's new monster was a certifiable giant. Orbs were embedded in its chest, and the back of its hand sparked with electricity. "Jesse, meet Elemental Hero Thunder Giant! (2400/1500)"
At the call of his name, Jaden's new hero let out a victorious cry, which was quickly met by the cries of the central academy students, who were thrilled to see one of his famed fusion monsters. They were way too loud, but Jaden tuned them out and pushed forward.
"I'll use my hero's superpower! By discarding a card, I can destroy one of your monsters whose original attack points are less than his own. So, I'll send this to the grave and take out your knight!"
As he pitched his card, sparks began to fly between Thunder Giant's hands before unleashing a wave of energy that cooked Jesse's Insect Knight, reducing it to ash.
"Wow! Can't say I'm too happy to lose a monster, but man did that look cool," Jesse remarked.
"If only our monsters could stick around, huh?"
"Yeah, it would be nice knowing they're always there to have your back," Jesse said a little wistfully.
"Unfortunately, that's just the way the game is played, and with your field empty, my Thunder Giant can go in for a direct attack!"
The lightning hero raised his mighty gauntlets as they crackled with electricity and unleashed another blast. However, despite the looming threat, Jesse merely smiled.
"Sorry, Jay, but I'm gonna have to cut this short. I'll activate my face-down, Negate Attack. And just like its name's sake, it stops your attack.
Just before the blast struck Jesse, it was stopped by a transparent membrane. It rippled for a moment before the blast puttered out, leaving the teen unharmed.
"You're just full of tricks, huh?" Jaden laughed.
"I could say the same about you," Jesse said, his grin equal to Jaden's.
"Well, since I can't do anything else, I'll just have to end my turn."
"Wow, this guy seems to have a counter for everything," Alexis remarked, bringing her hand up to her chin thoughtfully.
"He certainly has a strange playstyle," Zane agreed.
"What do you mean, Zane?" Eve asked.
"Most duellists like to go on the offensive, but Jaden's opponent seems to prefer more defensive tactics."
"He must really like his monsters to try and protect them like that," Eve remarked with a smile.
' You don't know the half of it,' I thought, staring intently at the blue-haired boy. Jesse's connection to his monsters is what would make the Crystal Beast cards choose him. All of it was a testament to his inner strength as a duellist. And yet his sudden use of insects made my mind boggle. All this mess was making me feel dizzy. Hopefully, there wouldn't be anything else to complicate matters.
"Hey, guys. Did I miss anything?"
On cue, Sadie suddenly appeared at my left. Apparently done with her job for Ms Dorothy, she had come to join our group. She'd shed her work uniform in favour of her normal Obelisk Girls uniform, a sign she would be free to join the post-duel celebrations immediately.
"Hey there, you. Everything finished with the prep?" I asked as she sat down next to me. "I was worried you might miss the match."
"Preparations just went on a bit longer than normal, that's all," she explained. Momentarily, her gaze shifted, and I could swear that her expression soured. However, it quickly softened. "So, how is our guy doing?"
"He's on the back foot but holding his own," Bastion chimed in. "However, his opponent seems to be just as tenacious as he is."
"You're kidding? I didn't think anyone could match Jaden's enthusiasm for duelling."
"He does seem pretty good," Alexis said. "However, Jaden's faced bigger opponents and come out on top."
"That's a lot of faith you have in him," Sadie said.
Hmm? That was oddly… bitter.
I looked between Sadie and Alexis. Both had their heads facing forward, staring down at the match. While Alexis's expression was the same as always, Sadie seemed oddly on edge. I don't know how to explain it, but it was like she was trying to avoid looking my, or more specifically, Alexis's way.
It seemed Bastion had also noticed her odd behaviour as he flashed me a concerned look. In fact, I felt a couple of eyes in our group bearing in on me, like they were waiting for me to say something. A chill ran up my spine.
When did this suddenly become so uncomfortable? Am I missing something here?
"Well, Jaden certainly has his work cut out for him. We'll just have to keep cheering him on," I offered, trying to play on the inherited power of friendship that Yu-Gi-Oh was famous for.
Around me, the others let out annoyed sighs before refocusing on the match. I noticed Sadie shaking her head disappointedly. Immediately, I felt the pit grow in my stomach, churning with embarrassment.
Oh sure, Jaden invokes the power of friendship, and everyone is all for it. I do it, and it's cringe? This is BS, man! Ugh… I should have played the oblivious card…
Finally, I looked back to the duel just as Jesse was about to draw.
Turn 4 - Jesse - 4000 LP - Three Cards in hand - 1 field spell on the field.
Jesse grinned as he drew his next card. "That's what I'm talking about. Time to speed things up. To start, I'm going to summon my Pinch Hopper (1000/1200) in attack mode."
Jesse's new monster was a classic. A giant green grasshopper that… no, that was it. It was just a big grasshopper. Ah, simpler times before card designs became way too complicated.
"I'll then activate the spell, Multiplication of Ants! I'll tribute my Hopper to get two Army Ant Tokens (500/1200) (500 – 700 ATK)."
Jesse's monster disappeared in a shimmer of green particles; however, two large green ants emerged in its place. Again, just ants. Nothing too fancy. Of course, they weren't the real issue.
"Now, since my Hopper's gone to the graveyard, its effect activates! I get to call out another one of my buddies from my hand, and this guy is one of my favourites. Meet the Great Poseidon Beetle (2500/2300)! "
The ground ruptured as a golden trident forced its way out of the twisted metal. Jesse's new monster was now free to soar into the air. Despite being an insect-type monster, this monster was more humanoid. It was dressed in stunning white armour with a beetle-esque helmet. The warrior possessed long grey hair and a beard that swayed majestically as he looked down upon Jaden's Thunder Giant. Two fine, film-like wings moved in a blur, keeping the warrior in the air.
Within the confines of the Forest field spell, he looked a little out of place, but he was undoubtedly stronger just for being here. (2500 – 2700 ATK)
"He looks awesome!" Jaden remarked, ever the optimist even in the face of a stronger monster.
"You bet he is," Jesse remarked. "He's one of my favourites. Let me show you why. Great Poseidon Beetle, take out that giant!"
The warrior insect did not hesitate. It swooped down with his weapon drawn. Thunder Giant put up a valiant fight, sending out blasts of electricity to try and knock the monster out of the sky. However, it was fruitless. Jesse's monster closed the gap in seconds, plunging his weapon into the central orb on Thunder Giant's chest.
The hero's arms went limp before falling to his knees. The electricity in his body went wild, striking out in all directions before it finally imploded. (Jaden: 3200LP)
"No, Thunder Giant!" Jaden cried out, bracing himself against the shockwave.
"Woah, that guy went out with a bang. In comparison, these guys aren't as flashy, but they have a bite to them. Sic' him, boys!"
As one, the two army ant tokens marched towards the unprotected hero user. Both bit down hard on each of his legs.
"Ow!" Jaden cried as he hopped from one foot to the other, attempting to nurse both his ankles. (Jaden: 2500 LP) (Jaden: 1800 LP)
Again, the North Academy students cheered as Jaden's points dropped beneath the halfway line. Some were even laughing at his antics. In fairness, solid vision was not supposed to hurt. You may feel some discomfort, but it was generally harmless. Most people flinched when their monsters were destroyed, but that was because one's survival instinct kicked in. All that meant to me was that Jaden was overacting.
"You definitely have a way with your monsters," Jaden laughed, finally finding his footing. "But my pals and I are nowhere near done."
"I'd hope so. Nothing fun about a one-sided battle after all," Jesse agreed. "I ain't got much else I can do for now, so I'll hand things back to you."
"You sure you got nothing else to throw at me?" Jaden chuckled before looking down at his duel disk. I could imagine he was saying something to his cards, some inspirational message to rouse his cards. These moments were far more awkward as an onlooker. It was like Jaden just froze. I was sure many people in the audience who weren't used to Jaden's public duels thought he was either really thinking through his next move or just very nervous.
Probably not the image Sheppard wanted for the school. I looked over to where Mai Valentine was standing in front of her cameraman. I couldn't help but wonder how she was spinning this inaction.
Finally, after a few more moments of awkward silence, Jaden finally drew his card, letting out a dramatic, "Here goes somethin'!"
Turn 5: Jaden - 1800 LP - 3 Cards in hand - 0 cards on the field
"Hell yeah!"
"Hey kid, watch your language, this is a family broadcast!" Mai Valentine suddenly called out. The last person I would have expected to call out language. Jaden was also the last person I would have expected to say a swear, even if it was the mildest thing.
"Sorry! Anyway, I'm gonna bring out my good friend Elemental Hero Bubbleman (800/1200)!" The iconic water-themed hero rose onto the field, striking a dynamic pose with a huge smile. "Now, Bubbleman will just burst if he's on his own. So, if when he's summoned and the only card on my field, I can draw two more cards." As Jaden took his next cards, there was a shift in his posture. He stood a bit straighter, and his charismatic grin returned.
"Oh yeah, I'm gonna activate Fusion Recovery and use it to bring back Elemental Hero Sparkman and my Polymerization. Of course, what's the point of having them if you're not going to use them? I'll activate Polymerization! I fuse Bubbleman, Sparkman and Avian in my hand to bring out Elemental Hero Tempest (2800/2800)!"
The three heroes briefly appeared before disappearing into a swirling portal. From it emerged the familiar warrior who looked like Sparkman, wearing Avian's claws and wielding the weapons of Bubbleman. The wings on his back resemble those of Avian merged with Bubbleman's cape. He had a stock of spiky green hair, and a slim laser cannon was equipped over his right arm.
"Yeah! Go, Jaden!" Syrus suddenly cried out, making those around us jump in surprise. His cry was infectious, and sure enough, the central academy crowd cheered loudly, but none was louder than Sheppard. Man, he was desperate for that kiss from Dorothy.
"Man, Jaden, each of those heroes of yours is cooler than the last!" Jesse chuckled. "Can't wait to see what this guy does."
"Why wait? Tempest, take out that Poseidon Beetle! Attack with powerhouse plummet!" Following Jaden's command, Tempest took to the air, strong gusts of wind blowing through the arena. The hero swooped through the air before clashing with the white armoured monster. Poseidon Beetle tried to strike Tempest with his trident, but with a mighty strike, the winged hero used his clawed weapon to slice it in two.
Poseidon Beetle looked at his weapon in confusion before looking up, or down, the barrel of Tempest's blaster. There was a crackle of blue electricity before a stream of energy fired out, immediately overshadowing the Poseidon Beetle. He may have been named after a god, but within a moment, it was dust in the face of humanity's modern myth. The blast was so powerful that it threw up a cloud of dust obscuring the field (Jesse: 3900LP)
"Yeah! He finally got some damage in!" Dimitri cheered.
"I wouldn't get so excited about a mere hundred points," Bastion said.
"Hey, it's a start," Syrus added.
At my side, Sadie gave me a nudge.
"Do they normally narrate all of Jaden's duels," Sadie whispered.
"It's an unfortunate habit, yeah," I said.
"Ah, wonderful…"
"Buckle up, I think the commentary is only going to continue."
"Hmm?"
"Jaden's not done," I said, nodding down at the field.
The smoke was beginning to clear, but Jaden's field had changed. Tempest was gone. Sparkman, Avian and Bubbleman were in his place, each primed and ready for battle.
"Hey, how'd your heroes come back?" Jesse asked once he was able to see again.
"Just a little something I like to call De-Fusion," Jaden remarked. Avian moved to reveal the card shining. It did literally what it said on the tin. Jaden's Tempest had gone back to the extra deck, and the materials used to summon it had been returned to the field. "And let's not forget, they can still attack! Get 'em, boys!"
First, Avian took to the air and, with a flap of his wings, unleashed a cavalcade of razor-sharp feathers that skewered Jesse's first token. ( Jesse: 3600LP)
Bubbleman followed suit, taking aim and letting loose a torrent of bubbles that washed away the second token. (Jesse: 3500LP)
"Two down, one to go! Sparkman, attack with static shockwave!"
Electricity crackled over Sparkman's gold plating as he raised his arm and released a burst of cerulean sparks that struck Jesse point blank. The northerner let out his own overdramatic cry as his life points drained even further. (Jesse: 1900LP)
As Sparkman returned to Jaden's side, the hero user lowered his duel disk. "And with that done, I'll go ahead and end my turn."
Yet again, the academy students let out a cheer as the duel returned to a more even footing. Meanwhile, our northern counterparts seemed livid but continued to cheer on their own representative.
"Jaden's back in this!" Eve said cheerily.
"Maybe, but he also hasn't left himself in the best position," Zane remarked. Again, as the Kaiser spoke, our group turned to him for his wisdom. "Jaden's heroes are versatile, but the base elemental heroes lack attacking power. To get at his opponent's life points, he had to summon Avian and Bubbleman in attack mode. Yes, he cleared Jesse's field, but depending on Jesse's next move, he could suffer."
"Oh, I see…" Eve murmured thoughtfully.
Back on the duel field, Jesse drew his next card. It was time to see if Zane's analysis was correct.
The blue-haired boy looked at his card and grinned. "Nice comeback, Jaden. I feel like I'm gettin' to see all your monsters. Only right, I do the same. "So, since you control a monster and I don't, I can special summon my Primitive Butterfly (1200-1400/900-1100) in attack mode."
Jesse's new monster was a six-winged butterfly with a shimmering green pattern and a sleek purple body. Green shimmers of dust fell from its frame as it flexed its wings.
"And that's not all. I'll also go ahead and summon my Beetron (1600-1800/900-1100)." There was a flash of green, and Jesse's monster appeared. It resembled a humanoid beetle with a brown carapace and four arms. That was it. There's not really a lot to cover with this one. Ironically, it resembled one of Jaden's heroes in my eyes.
"Let's skip right to it, shall we? Beetron, take out that Sparkman!"
At Jesse's command, Beetron flew forward. Without wasting a beat, he delivered a wicked, two-armed uppercut to Sparkman's chin. The hero's armour shattered as he fell, causing the Sparkman to burst as his power went unregulated. (Jaden: 1600LP)
"Now it's my Butterfly's turn. Blow away, Avian!"
Primitive Butterfly began to beat its wings, whipping up a shimmering whirlwind that travelled across the field and swept up Jaden's hero. (Jaden: 1200)
As the wind died down, Jaden's field advantage had been completely ripped away, leaving him with only Bubbleman. It appeared Zane's prediction had been right on the money. Jaden, for his part, seemed relatively calm, merely grinning. He was probably loving every minute of this duel. It seemed these two were desperate, one up the other each turn. I was sure that everyone at home watching Mai's broadcast was enjoying the action.
As the winds died down, Jesse's grin did not falter. "Now that the playing field has evened out, I'm going to activate my Beetron's effect. By sending my field spell to the grave, I can special summon an insect monster from my graveyard, so I'll bring back my Pinch Hopper in defence mode."
Jesse's forest disappeared, fading out of existence as the familiar grasshopper jumped back onto the field, laying down low protectively.
"Now that I've got my monsters back, I'll lay a face-down and call it a turn. Your move, Jay."
As Jesse's card materialised, the audience's cries grew louder than ever before as members from both schools' shouts of encouragement nearly drowned out everything else. Jaden could barely hear himself think. His heart was pounding louder than ever before, and his hands were shaking. And yet he didn't feel nervous. No, this was something far greater. Never had he felt this much excitement from a duel.
This duel had been a continuous back and forth. Neither he nor Jesse were willing to give an inch. Just when he thought he had the upper hand, Jesse would come back with something to challenge him. Jesse had been nothing short of incredible. The bond he had with his cards was strong. He could feel it. It seemed that even when things were tough, he had complete faith his deck would give him exactly what he needed. And it made him want to respond in kind and prove his own bond.
He could feel it now. The duel was reaching its climax. Jaden was on the back foot again. His only defence was Bubbleman, who, on his own, was no match for Jesse's monsters. And yet, he knew there was still a chance. He still had a draw, and at times like this, that was when his deck provided him with just what he needed.
Ignoring the cries around him, he looked over at Jesse with his trademark grin. "You're really something, Jesse. I can't remember the time I had this much fun in a duel. But I'm not out just yet. And at times like this, my cards never let me down. It's my move!"
In one swift movement, he ripped the card from his duel disk, feeling nothing but the thrill of the possibility of yet another comeback.
Turn 7: Jaden - 1200 LP - 2 Cards in hand - 1 face-up monster on the field
On bated breath, Jaden peered at his drawn card and felt yet another surge of excitement. "Nice, I activate the spell, Pot of Greed. With it, I'll draw two more cards." Again, he drew, and as he saw one of the cards, he looked back to where he knew his friends were, his eyes settling on Ren.
"Thanks, man," he whispered before turning back to the duel. "I'll start by activating the effect of King of the Swamp! By discarding it, I can add another copy of Polymerization to my hand."
"Getting ready to summon another one of those sweet fusions?" Jesse asked.
"Maybe. The only way, while I'm glad I've got my Polymerization back, I'm even happier to have King of the Swamp in the graveyard. Because now I can activate this… Miracle Fusion!" Behind him, the wind picked up, and he could feel a slight pull as a swirling portal emerged. "With this, I can fuse monsters from not only the field but also my graveyard. And with King of the Swamp in the graveyard, I've got a whole lot of options. So, I'm going to call on an old favourite. I remove Sparkman and King of the Swamp from the play to call on a new hero!"
The spectral images of both Elemental Hero Sparkman and King of the Swamp emerged to stand beside Jaden. Momentarily, the form of King of the Swamp shifted, turning into the spitting image of Elemental Hero Flame Wingman.
The two then disappeared into the vortex. There was a moment of silence before light streamed out. Finally, Jaden's new hero emerged. In essence, it bore a resemblance to Flare Wingman, but he was draped in cybernetic, winged armour whose glow was near blinding.
"And there he is, say hello to the Elemental Shining Flare Wingman! (2500/2100)"
At the call of his name, the new elemental hero unfurled both his wings and let out a victorious cry. Again, Jaden looked back to his friends. Most seemed impressed or happy. His eyes laid on Ren, and for some reason, he looked…worried. No, that couldn't be right.
"Woah, that guy is all kinds of awesome!"
Jesse's voice snapped Jaden out of his musings. He looked back to his opponent and grinned. "Don't you know it, especially with my hero's superpower? He gains 300 attack points for each hero I have chilling in the grave."
Behind Wingman, the spectral images of four heroes emerged. Elemental Heroes Clayman, Thunder Giant and Avian stood tall behind the fusion monster. Alongside them was Elemental Hero Necroshade, who he had discarded to activate the Thunder Giant effect. The glow from Flare Wingman intensified as his power soared. (2500-3700 ATK).
The cheers of the academy crowd were now thundering. His monster had more than enough power to end this right now and bring the academy victory. He took a breath before throwing out his arm. "Go! Flare Wingman, attack Beetron with Solar Flare!"
Wingman wasted no time. Shining brighter than ever before, he flew across the field and tackled Beetron, sweeping the monster off his feet and taking him high up into the air. Jesse's monster tried to struggle, but it was a pointless effort. Rising higher, the light from Flare Wingman began to burn the monster away.
"It's over, Jessie!" Jaden cried.
"Not quite!"
"Huh?"
Basking in the light, Jesse threw out his arm. "You activated my trap, Defence Draw! This'll not only protect me from the damage of the battle but also let me draw a card." A thin protective membrane appeared, coating itself around Jesse as his monster was finally vaporised
"Looks like my life points are safe, Jay," Jesse remarked.
"Not quite. You see, when my Wingman Wingmans a monster in battle, you take damage equal to your monster's attack points."
"Wha-?"
Jesse barely had time to finish his sentence before Flare Wingman was upon him, the heat from his power piercing through the shielding membrane and burning away Jesse's life points. (Jesse: 300 LP)
Wingman returned to Jaden's side, staring down the opponent he failed to defeat. Jaden let out a sigh, feeling a sense of disappointment but, at the same time, excitement. Jesse had escaped losing by a hair. Was this how it felt when people duelled him?
"Good move, man. For now, I'm going to change Bubbleman into defence mode… and I'll set this monster as well." Bubbleman dropped to his knee whilst a set monster materialised
The monster he had set was Winged Kuriboh. Even if Jesse had a card that would take out his field, Kuriboh would save him for another turn. There was no way he was ready to let this end just yet.
He watched as Jesse stood a little straighter, wiping the dust off his jacket. "Well. I wasn't expecting that. That's quite the powerhouse. But I'm not going to give up."
"I wouldn't be happy if you did," Jaden laughed.
"What is it you said earlier? Here goes somethin'!" With a dramatic flair, Jesse drew his next card, and the crowd finally went quiet to see just what Jesse was going to do.
Turn 8 - Jesse - 300 LP - 2 cards in hand - 2 face-up monsters on the field
As Jesse looked at his card, he froze for the first time since the beginning of the duel, his lips tightening into a frown. Momentarily, he looked to the side, towards where his chancellor was sat. After taking a breath, he looked back to Jaden.
"It's my move, Jay," he said with a little less gusto than before. "You've shown me everything you have. It'd be wrong not to do the same. And I'll start by summoning one of my favourites, Rose Papillon (1400/800)."
Much like his Primitive Butterfly, Jesse's new monster was a pink butterfly with six wings that were like rose petals. A soothing scent wafted over the field that seemed to give a sense of calm.
"Now, this guy is quite the looker, but during my main phase, he allows me to perform an additional summon, as long as it is a level seven or higher monster."
Jaden once again felt a rush of excitement. It looked like Jesse was pulling out another twist. Grinning, he braced himself for what was to come next.
"I tribute all three of my monsters!" Jesse suddenly declared as his monster began to dissipate, becoming streams of water. The stream rose into the air before joining together to create a sphere. "Jaden, allow me to introduce you to one of North Academy's prized cards, The Tripper Mercury (2000/2000)!"
A shape suddenly formed within the sphere. It grew larger until the sphere burst, revealing a blue, feminine warrior in ornate blue armour. From her waist, she produced two sword hilts. As she emerged, the two large pauldrons on her shoulders opened, allowing water to flow out. However, rather than fall to the ground, the water rushed towards the hilts, forming together to create two large sabres.
Jaden's eyes went wide. As he looked at Jesse's new monster, he was reminded of another duelist who used a very similar monster. For a moment in Jesse's place, he saw an older man in a long red coat, a white armoured warrior standing at his side. "That's a legendary planet card…" he gasped.
"I'm surprised you know what this is," Jesse laughed. "This beauty was entrusted to me by Chancellor Foster. He and my friends put their trust in me to show just how far North Academy has come, and I can't let them down. So, I activate Mercury's special effect! When she's tribute summoned, all your monsters are changed into attack mode!"
"What?"
Mercury raised her sword and, in a fluid motion, swept her sword in an arc, unleashing a wave of water that crashed into Jaden's monsters. Bubbleman fell back, unable to fight against the torrent before him. Even Winged Kuriboh was forced face-up, coughing and spluttering. Not even Wingman Wingman, the water crashing against him, throwing up steam due to the heat of his armour.
"I forgot to mention when three monsters are used for the tribute of Mercury, all of your monsters lose attack points equal to their original attack points! Not only that, but Mercury can make two attacks per battle!"
"No!"
Jaden's monsters immediately fell to their knees; their power sapped away from trying to withstand the water current. (300-0 ATK) (800 – 0 ATK) (3700-1200 ATK)
"Tripper Mercury, attack Flare Wingman and Bubbleman with Planetary Slash!"
Crossing her swords, Jesse's monster dashed forward. In the blink of an eye, she was behind Jaden's monsters. With a single slash, Wingman Wingman in two. Just as quickly, Bubbleman was felled, Mercury's sword plunged deep into his chest. Both monsters shattered instantly, and with them, Duel Academy shot at victory.
(Jaden: 0 LP. Jesse wins)
Jaden's arm fell to his side, trying not to fall. He stared at the Tripper Mercury as it returned to Jesse's side. Even now, he could not believe what had just happened. Never in his wildest dreams could have imagined coming across another of the Planet cards in a way like this. For a moment, Jesse's image again overlapped with the man in the red coat.
"Koyo…"
"And it's over!" Mai Valentine cried, walking out to the middle of the field as the holograms faded. "In a complete upset! Both duellists gave it their all, but in the end, it was North Academy that emerged victorious! Jesse Anderson has broken Central Academy's four-year win streak. Does this mark a change in these two rivals' future duels? All I can say is that I am looking forward to how Anderson takes this victory to the upcoming nationals."
"As for his opponent, Jaden Yuki put up one of the toughest fights I have ever seen. If he can keep doing the way he did today, he'll be someone to watch out for. Either way, we wish him luck in the future. This is Mai Valentine signing off."
The students of North Academy erupted with victorious cries and jeers. Across the way, I could see Chancellor Foster laughing at a despondent Sheppard, and while my friends were naturally disappointed in the result, I was more concerned with the final moves.
The two had thrown out all the stops, but that was the issue. Jaden had just revealed Elemental Hero Shining Flare Wingman far too early, meaning that now anyone who watched the broadcast would be aware Jaden had him as a part of his arsenal. This meant Camula would be prepared when she came to duel him…
And then there was Jesse. He possessed one of the Legendary Planet cards, which was just another indication that yet another threat could lie on the horizon. Jaden had recognised it them too, which meant he was familiar with them, again proving to me this world was intertwined with the manga's plot. Did that mean I was going to have to be prepared for the arrival of Reggie MacKenzie and David Rabb? And if I did, just when would they appear? My head hurts just thinking about it.
"Hey, you okay?" Sadie asked, breaking me from my panicked thoughts. She reached out and took my hand, holding it gently. "You're shaking."
I looked down at our hands. Sure enough, it was lightly trembling. I quickly quelled it, forcing myself to remain still. "I'm fine," I reassured her. "I'm just shocked, I can't believe Jaden lost."
"Yeah, and here I thought his victory was guaranteed," Logan suddenly chimed in. He leaned forward, and while he wasn't smiling, matching the atmosphere of our group, I could see it in his eyes. Despite the loss, he had won our little battle. It was the final nail in the coffin that was the history I knew, and he was desperate to let that sink in.
"No victory is guaranteed," Zane chimed in. "While today is a loss, there will be other days. For now, while it was not the outcome we wanted, we can celebrate a worthy performance." With that, the Kaiser stood up and began to clap. It was slow but loud. Sure enough, movement from the academy's top student caught the eye of those around us. No matter how aggrieved they felt, they followed his example. The clap was nowhere near as thunderous as it had been before, but nonetheless, it showed respect towards Jaden and how he had represented the academy. And, of course, we joined in.
I just hoped it was of some comfort to Jaden.
We didn't get the chance to speak with Jaden after the match. Mai had quickly whisked both Jaden and Jesse away to give them private interviews. I was sure Jaden wasn't feeling particularly great and wasn't too fond of the public eye, so the entire thing seemed a bit cruel on both academies' parts, but those types of interviews were common in the professional duelling world, just as it was with sports. He'd have to get used to them eventually.
As the others filed out, I quickly excused myself, making my way to the closest bathroom, where I immediately splashed my face with water. My hair was dripping, and I stared at my reflection. I looked tired. I felt tired. I'd been here a long time, and my brain was working overtime to try to work a pathway through the future I had once known. I had a vague idea of the immediate future, but without Chazz, I had no way of knowing how the second and third years would unfold. I'd have to work out the likely targets for both Sartorius's and Yubel's plans. It would have to be someone close to Jaden. Alexis was a likely option. Bastion too. But what if they went after someone else? Anyone could help start their armies.
"Uhh… this is too much," I groaned, nursing my growing migraine. "Why did this have to become so complicated?"
I splashed my face one more time before finally deciding I'd spent way too much time looking in the mirror. I was nowhere near pretty enough for that.
I had to get it together. There were still going to be the celebrations tonight. Everyone else would be getting ready now. No doubt, despite the loss, people were looking forward to partying with North Academy. Rumours among the blues were that they often brought goodies with them that were normally prohibited.
I had also been looking forward to celebrating with the other, but I had something else to consider. Alexis had made it clear that she was going back to the abandoned dorm. She claimed I was the only one she had told, and I honestly believed her. She would try to keep as few people out of it as possible, especially with the potential of being expelled.
No, she'd take it on herself if I didn't go. The abandoned dorm was terrifying at the best of times, but especially now so close to the Shadow Riders. I knew there'd be nothing to find for her regarding Atticus. The issue was who she could run into. I wanted to say she'd be safe but after today…
I walked out the door only to pause when I found someone else on the other side. She had not been expecting someone to disturb her, as her head shot up when she heard the bathroom door open, but I found myself face-to-face with Mai Valentine. She was standing by the window. I assumed she'd been looking out at the island. I guess that meant Jaden's interview was over. That was quick.
Mai quickly recovered from her surprise. She chewed at something in her mouth before turning back to the window. "I thought everyone had gone home," she said calmly.
"I wasn't feeling well," I said. I didn't dare approach her. Call me star-struck, but I did not dare to approach someone as famous as her.
"Sorry to hear that. Must have been a shock to have your school lose like that," she continued.
"Definitely a shock, yeah," I agreed. "Jaden was one of our best."
"I can tell. The kid's got heart. He reminds me of an old friend," she said.
"Yugi Muto?" I said almost involuntarily. She looked back at me briefly before turning away again.
"Yeah… Are you going to keep standing over there? I don't bite."
I paused, my mouth agape, but no words came. Finally, I managed to find my voice. "I don't want to intrude."
"Hah, you'd be the first in a while," Mai laughed. "Besides, I need a reason not to go back. My boss is on a call with North Academy's new sponsors. Call me a cynic, but I'm not the biggest fan of the Princeton Corporation."
"The Princeton Corporation? They're North Academy's new sponsors?" I asked. Yet another difference. But maybe this would shed some light on Chazz's disappearance. I needed to know where he had gone.
"Oh yeah. From what I understand, they're doing all they can to support their sibling. Making sure he gets the best opportunities. It'd be sweet if it weren't obvious they are only doing it for the publicity."
"Chazz is at North Academy?" I probed innocently. She looked at me with a quirked brow. "He used to go here. When he left, it was quite the surprise."
"Ah, I suppose you kids do love your gossip."
Spoken like someone who wasn't a gossip herself. Either way, she continued. "From what I hear, Chazz arrived at the academy and made quite the name for himself. His brothers then got involved and started updating North Academy's facilities and working on promoting the school's image. That's why even though Chazz is their new top student, he isn't here."
"Huh? So where is he then?" I asked, my curiosity brimming.
"The main team is in America, so I suppose he would have to be there."
"America?" I practically yelped.
"Yeah," Mai said, clearly not too interested. "Those brothers of his talked a deal with America's top duelling school. Got Chazz an expedition match against one of their best. It'll be on TV soon. You should watch if he was your friend."
"He wasn't my friend," I said numbly. My brain was racing again with possibilities. Now knowing he was in America, I had a very good idea of who Chazz would be facing, and it filled me with dread.
"Showing a lot of interest for someone who wasn't a friend," Mai observed. "Was he more of a rival then?"
"I don't know. Maybe… I suppose I won't know now."
"Now?"
"Figure of speech."
"Right." She observed me closely before a wistful smile tugged at her lips. "You know, you remind me of someone too. He was too loyal for his own good too. But he was a good man."
"Was?"
"I don't get to see him too often these days," Mai remarked almost sadly.
"Someone close?" I asked.
Mai merely chuckled. "Bit personal, kid. Don't think I'm ready to share my life story with you just yet."
"Right. Sorry, that was rude of me," I said genuinely. I was letting my curiosity get the better of me and diving too deep again.
"Nah, you're at a school. Curiosity is good, I suppose. Just be careful what you ask."
We both went quiet, merely looking down on the academy island. It was actually quite peaceful. Finally, Mai shook her head and turned away. "I need to get back to my crew. It was nice talking to you, kid. What's your name?"
"I'm Ren, Ren Cambell."
"Ren Cambell, huh? Good luck with your studies, Ren. Keep being loyal to those friends of yours. I'm assuming Jaden was your friend. He seemed a bit down."
She turned to walk away, but what she said stuck with me. "Ms Valentine," I called.
"Hmm?" She turned back to me, her brows raised.
"That friend of yours, if he knew his friend was going to do something stupid, what would he do?"
She paused for a moment before a smile tugged at her lips. "That idiot would be right there with them, no matter what."
"Of course he would," I muttered under my breath. I watched as Mai turned the corner before pulling my PDA out of my pocket.
I waited for the pre-party music to start playing in the dorm before leaving. I wore dark clothing with a hoodie to cover my face. Of course, I ensured my duel disk was charged and safely stored in my bag in case the worst happened. The night was cool but abuzz with activity. I could hear the blaring music and celebrations of the mixed schools from the far path of the forest.
It was only then that I allowed my hood to fall, now sure that I was far enough away from campus security patrols. Maybe it was because of the lively atmosphere, but I didn't feel as much fear traversing this path as on my first visit to the dorm.
Alexis was waiting in front of the dorm. Like me, she had forsaken her uniform for a dark hoodie and practical blue jeans. She had been staring at the dorm, maybe building up her courage, when she heard my footsteps. Her head snapped around, but she relaxed when she realised it was me.
"I'm surprised you came," she remarked.
"You've got me for about an hour. As far as everyone is concerned, my parents called me, and I still need to get ready."
She looked me up and down before raising a brow. "For an hour? Quite the diva."
"Hardy har. You are so funny. I hope it goes without saying that not a word of this reaches Sadie?" I said, pulling up my hood as I stepped over the chain blocking the gate.
"Do I look like I want to be expelled?" Alexis shot back, following me. "I promise. I just want a quick look around, and then we can sneak back to the party."
"I'll hold you to it." I looked up at the foreboding building I couldn't believe I had agreed to come back to and felt a cold shiver run down my spine. In the distance, I could hear the blaring music coming from the Obelisk dorm, where undoubtedly Sadie, Bastion and Dmitri were enjoying themselves. "It's not too late to go back, you know."
Alexis didn't dignify my futile attempt to dissuade her with a response. She marched ahead, making a beeline for the door.
"Worth a try," I groaned as I trudged my feet along, praying that for once in the history of this island, a night at the Abandoned Dorm would be uneventful.
Hello all, it has been a while. Let's see; one, two... eight months. A lot has changed in that time, largely prompting the delay in this chapter. I am sorry for the wait, and I just wanted to say thank you to all the people who checked up on me while I was busy. I really appreciate it.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. This marks a turning point in the story and is the penultimate chapter in the Clash of Ideals Arc before things start getting... weird, hehehehe.
Things are still a bit crazy, but I have more time to write again, so hopefully, it won't be another eight months before an update.
Thank you all again for your support, and I will see you all soon.
Stay safe out there :)