It was a few days after Sartorius joined the school, and the Society of Light members were cheering for him inside the Obelisk dorm. "Do you like the white paint master? It was all my idea," Chazz said, and Miranda said that what Chazz meant was that they hoped the accommodations were to his liking.
"Please, I deserve cheers no more than you. After all, I am but a humble student in the eyes of destiny. Each one of us is a mere pupil waiting for the hands of fate to mold our future. That time is now here," Sartorius said before the whole society began chanting his name, and they were so loud that Jaden and the others could hear him from across the lake.
Alexis said it was like he had brainwashed the whole dorm, and Michael said that with almost all of the top-ranked dorm under his control, there was no telling what Sartorius could do. Hassleberry said he wanted to know why Sartorius decided to come to the school, and Bastion said that whatever the reason was, they needed to stop him quickly, but Jaden said that was probably easier said than done.
Soon after, Crowler and Bonaparte were discussing the class trip in the chancellor's office, but they couldn't agree on where to go for the trip. "You seem to have forgotten that I'm in charge here, and I say we're going to Italy! A whole week of pasta, and maybe even a gondola ride. I can just taste those cannolis, can't you?" Crowler asked, and Bonaparte said he preferred creme brulee, which is why he was proposing a trip to France.
Their argument was interrupted when a group of society members entered the room. Crowler asked what they wanted, and Chazz asked them if they were deciding where to go on the class trip, Crowler confirming they were and that they didn't want to be disturbed. "No need. Master Sartorius has already foretold where it will be," Chazz informed as the group parted and Sartorius walked up to the desk.
"Forgive me, I had no intention of intruding, but I have already used the Tarot to determine our destiny," Sartorius informed. Crowler began to object, but there was a sudden shift in attitude in the student's eyes, and Bonaparte picked up on the message, saying they were willing to hear him out.
Crowler began to object again, but Bonaparte pulled him down to his level. "Crowler, now's not the time. I don't know if you've noticed the looks in these kid's eyes, but I can tell you, it means bad things," he warned. "If you're done interrupting, Master Sartorius can declare the location of the trip," Miranda said, but they were interrupted by Jaden, who said he had somewhere he wanted to go on the trip as well.
Chazz told Jaden to scram and that destiny can't be opposed, but Jaden suggested they settle it with a duel, and the winner got to choose the location for the trip. "Interesting. But if you are coming to me with a challenge, it must entail an accompanying risk. If you lose, you will join the Society of Light," Sartorius said, and Syrus said he didn't like the sound of that.
Jaden said they couldn't let the things going on lately scare them, and Sartorius informed them he wouldn't be the one to duel Jaden, saying that as a new student, he'd rather not stand out. Hassleberry said that if that was the case, he should get a new haircut, but Sartorius skipped over the insult and asked Jaden if he accepted the challenge, although he already knew the answer.
Jaden said it didn't take future vision to know he never turned down a duel and accepted the challenge. Soon after, Miranda was walking through the hall towards one of the rooms of the white dorm. She arrived and knocked on the door, the woman asking who was knocking.
"Master Sartorius has selected you to be Jaden's opponent for the upcoming duel, Princess Rose," Miranda informed, and the woman inside said she would get ready immediately. Soon after, Jaden was waiting in the arena for his opponent to arrive. Syrus noted they were taking a long time, and Hassleberry said it was the same strategy Musashi used at Ganryu Island.
"Wow Hassleberry, I didn't know you were a history buff," Lily commented, and Hassleberry said that you weren't raised as a general's son without learning combat history. Bastion wondered what kind of opponent Jaden would face, and Alexis just hoped Jaden would be alright. "I guess Sartorius isn't going to show up to watch. Does he really believe in destiny so much?" Jaden wondered to himself.
Miranda walked up to the stage, apologizing for the wait, and when Jaden asked if Miranda was going to be his opponent, Miranda said she wasn't Jaden's opponent, as that honor had been reserved for Princess Rose, gesturing to a girl wearing a blue dress and silver jewelry.
Syrus asked if she was actually a princess, and Hassleberry said she certainly looked like royalty. Rose walked past Miranda, taking a duel disk from her as she stepped into the arena. Rose said she dueled at the request of Sartorius, and Jaden said it was nice to meet her. "When it comes to dueling, my motto is 'Dueling is beauty'. Let us have a beautiful duel," Rose encouraged, but Jaden said that for him, duels are fun, saying that they should both have a good time.
Rose: 4000 LP
Jaden: 4000 LP
"I'll take the first move. I draw. And I summon T.A.D.P.O.L.E. in defense mode," Rose declared.
Level 1/Water/Aqua
ATK 0/DEF 0
Hassleberry noted Rose's monster wasn't beautiful at all, but Rose overheard the comment and was none too pleased, Syrus and Hassleberry feeling the animosity radiating off of her. "A monster with no defense points? It's like she's trying to lure him into attacking," Bastion commented as Rose ended her turn. "My turn. I draw! I summon Neo-Spacian Air Hummingbird in attack mode!" Jaden declared.
Level 3/Wind/Winged Beast
ATK 800/DEF 600
"And now I activate his special ability. Once every turn, he gives me an extra 500 life points for every card that's in your hand. Go, Honeysuck!" Jaden said as five flowers sprouted at Rose's feet, Air Hummingbird drinking nectar from each of them and pouring energy into Jaden.
Jaden: 6500 LP
"And now I'll have Air Hummingbird attack your monster. Go, Slaughtering Swoop!" Jaden shouted as Air Hummingbird dive-bombed T.A.D.P.O.L.E., destroying the monster. "The effect of T.A.D.P.O.L.E. activates. When it's destroyed in battle, I can add another one from my deck to my hand," Rose informed.
Jaden said her deck seemed interesting before placing a card down and ending his turn. Hassleberry asked Bastion what Rose was up to, but Bastion said he had no idea. "My turn. I activate my Frog Resurrection spell card. By discarding a water attribute monster, I can summon another water attribute monster from my graveyard. I'll discard T.A.D.P.O.L.E. from my hand to bring back the one you destroyed last turn," Rose explained.
Syrus and Hassleberry were surprised she used a monster to get the same one back, but Lily noted that Rose just special summoned, meaning she still had her normal summon for the turn. "I sacrifice T.A.D.P.O.L.E. to summon Des Frog in attack mode," Rose declared.
Level 5/Water/Aqua
ATK 1900/DEF 0
Jaden was surprised she summoned a frog, but Rose said it wasn't just one, as when Des Frog is tribute summoned, its effect activates. Her two T.A.D.P.O.L.E.s appeared on the field before they began to change, growing arms and legs. Rose's monsters emitted a bright flash and when the light faded, two more Des Frogs were on her field.
"Due to Des Frog's special ability, I can summon Des Frogs from my hand or deck up to the number of T.A.D.P.O.L.E.s in my graveyard when I summon it," Rose informed, and Jaden said it was a great move. "Do you see? These are the princes who protect me," Rose asked, catching Jaden and the others off guard. "Master Sartorius told me you can see duel spirits. Then you can see them, right? My princes?" Rose asked, but Jaden said they just looked like frogs to him.
"They are princes! I can see them. Right now, they may appear to have the bodies of ugly frogs, but they are handsome princes who always protect me. See? They're right here," Rose declared. In the white dorm, Sartorius was doing a tarot reading in a dimly lit room. "Duel monster spirits… I cannot see them myself. But Jaden has that power. And so does Rose. However this duel turns out… " he mused to himself.
Syrus said it was like that old fairytale, and when Hassleberry asked him which one he was talking about, Syrus said he meant the one where the princess marries a frog. "It is not a fairytale! It is real! And she did not marry a frog! She married a prince who was turned into a frog! And I can see the princes… Well? What do you think of my princes?" Rose asked, but no matter how hard Jaden looked, all he saw were the Des Frogs, but not only him, Chazz, Lily, and Michael couldn't see anything but the Des Frogs either.
"Let's resume the duel. I play the spell Des Croaking. When I have three Des Frogs on my side of the field, I can destroy all cards on your side of the field. Des Frogs, please sing for me," Rose requested before her monsters opened their mouths and sent a barrage of soundwaves toward Jaden, destroying his Air Hummingbird and his face-down. "Since you destroyed my set Dummy Marker with a spell card, I can draw two cards from my deck," Jaden informed. "Very well. Now my three Des Frogs will attack you directly," Rose declared as her monsters unleashed the same soundwaves as before, forcing Jaden to cover his ears from the noise.
Jaden: 800 LP
"Rose definitely has skill. If Jaden hadn't increased his life points, she'd have beaten him in just two turns," Michael mused, growing worried about the duel. "My turn isn't over yet. I use Polymerization to fuse my three Des Frogs into D.3.S. Frog," Rose informed.
Level 8/Water/Aqua
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Jaden said it was a cool monster, although none of his friends shared the sentiment. "Isn't he? And he's a very handsome prince as well. I end my turn," Rose finished. "My turn. I summon Elemental Hero Bubbleman in attack mode," Jaden declared.
Level 4/Water/Warrior
ATK 800/DEF 1200
"And due to his special ability, since there are no other cards on my field, I can draw two more from my deck. Next, I play Polymerization to fuse Elemental Hero Bubbleman with Elemental Hero Clayman to summon Elemental Hero Mudballman in defense mode!" Jaden shouted.
Level 6/Earth/Warrior
ATK 1900/DEF 3000
Jaden then placed two cards face-down and ended his turn. "My turn. And I play the spell Pot of Greed, allowing me to draw two more cards. Next, I play the spell Foolish Burial. It allows me to send a monster from my deck to my graveyard, so I send Treeborn Frog to the graveyard," Rose explained.
Syrus asked why Rose would want to send her monster to the graveyard, and Lily said it was for her D.3.S. Frog, explaining that it gains 500 attack points for each Treeborn Frog in its owner's graveyard.
D.3.S. Frog: 2500-3000 ATK
"And now I play the spell Flute of Hamelin. I can select one monster that was sent to the graveyard this turn and then we both send all monsters from our hands and decks with the same name as that monster to our graveyards. I select Treeborn Frog, so I send my other two copies to the grave," Rose continued.
D.3.S. Frog: 3000-4000 ATK
"D.3.S. Frog, please get rid of Mudballman," Rose requested before her monster jumped into the air and landed on Mudballman, destroying him. "I play the trap Hero Signal! Since you destroyed Mudballman, I can summon an Elemental Hero from my hand or deck, and I choose my Burstinatrix!" Jaden declared.
Level 3/Fire/Warrior
ATK 1200/DEF 800
"Unfortunately for you, I have this. I activate De-Fusion, which will split my D.3.S. Frog back into three Des Frogs," Rose explained her Des Frogs appeared on the field. Michael noted that if Rose succeeded with her attacks, Jaden would lose. "Go my princes, and defeat that evil sorcerer," Rose said as all her frogs lept at Burstinatrix.
"I play the trap Hero Ring! This card equips onto a warrior-type monster with 1500 or fewer attack points, and with it equipped, Burstinatrix can't be attacked by monsters that have 1900 or more attack points," Jaden explained as a shield appeared in Burstinatrix's hand and she used it to repel Rose's attack.
"Princess Rose, you say that you can see duel spirits, but I don't see them," Chazz thought to himself as he began walking down towards the duel field. "I sacrifice all of my Des Frogs to summon Amphibian Angel - Mifrog in attack mode!" Rose declared.
Level 5/Water/Aqua
ATK 1400/DEF 800
Jaden was surprised it only had 1400 attack points, but Rose said its effects were determined by the number of monsters that were sacrificed to summon it. "Because I sacrificed three monsters, it destroys all spells and traps on the field," Rose explained as Burstinatrix's shield glowed before it shattered.
"In addition, I can summon as many monsters as possible that I previously summoned in this duel that have frog in their name," she continued as the field rippled behind her and her three Des Frogs and her D.3.S. Frog appeared behind her. Syrus noted there were so many frogs, Hassleberry saying they were so slimy, but Lily told them to stop being wimps.
Michael said that putting their reactions aside, Jaden was in a tough spot. Rose then said that Jaden couldn't select Mifrog as an attack target before ending her turn, but before Jaden could take his turn, Chazz said that Rose was to exit the duel and he'd take over. Jaden asked Chazz why he was butting in when they just got to the good part, and Chazz said that he knew Rose was lying and that she couldn't see duel spirits.
"What, exactly, did you say to deceive Master Sartorius? No, that's not right… There's no way he wouldn't see through such a lie. That's it! I will take your place and guide us to victory!" Chazz declared, but Rose said she wasn't lying. "When I was a child, I read the story of 'The Frog Prince.' Frogs were always my princes and my friends. Although I was always alone, they protected me. Then when I found my frog deck, I began to see them… My princes!" Rose declared, but Chazz said she was just hallucinating.
"No. Spirits dwell in the hearts of those who believe in them. Whatever form they take, if they make you feel that you're not alone, they're spirits. If you believe in them, I believe in them as well," Jaden said, and Rose was touched by his words. "Very well. It doesn't change your position Jaden. The destiny that Master Sartorius foretold will soon come to pass," Chazz said before he walked off.
"Let's continue the duel! I'm gonna beat all your beloved princes! Alright, it's my turn, so I draw! And since I drew Pot of Greed, I can draw two more. Sweet, I play the spell Good Hero! This card lets me special summon a normal monster from my deck that has 1000 or fewer attack and defense points, so I'm summoning my Avian in attack mode!" Jaden shouted.
Level 3/Wind/Warrior
ATK 1000/DEF 1000
"And due to Good Hero's other effect, the monster equipped with it gains 300 attack points for every Elemental Hero on my field."
Avian: 1000-1600 ATK
"Next, I play the spell Tag Request. This card lets me choose a monster on my field, and then I can summon an Elemental Hero from my hand that has the same attack points, so I summon my Necroshade in attack mode!"
Level 5/Dark/Warrior
ATK 1600/DEF 1800
"And now I sacrifice my three monsters to summon The Wicked Dreadroot in attack mode!" Jaden shouted as the arena shook and Dreadroot appeared behind him.
Level 10/Divine/Divine-Beast
ATK 4000/DEF 4000
"And due to his special ability, the attack and defense of all other monsters that aren't Divine-Beast type are cut in half."
Des Frog: 1900-950 ATK
D.3.S. Frog: 4000-2000 ATK/2000-1000 DEF
Mifrog: 1400-700 ATK/800-400 DEF
Syrus said Jaden was doing a great job, but Bastion pointed out that even with Dreadroot, Rose would still have life points left if he attacked. "I activate Necroshade's special ability from my graveyard! With it, I can summon an Elemental Hero without having to sacrifice, so I summon Elemental Hero Neos!" Jaden shouted.
Level 7/Light/Warrior
ATK 2500-1250/DEF 2000-1000
Michael noted that Jaden had Neos out with a Wicked God, wondering if he was going to fuse them like he had against Lorenzo. "You bet I am. I join Neos and Wicked Dreadroot with Contact Fusion! Introducing, Wicked Hero Dreadful Neos!" Jaden shouted as Neos and Dreadroot generated a bright light, and when it faded, Neos was wearing Dreadroot's armor.
Level 10/Divine/Warrior
ATK 2500/DEF 2000
Rose asked why he played him over Dreadroot since he was weaker, but Jaden said it was for his special ability. "While Dreadful Neos is out, the attack points of all your monsters are cut in half, and then he gains attack points equal to the highest attack on your side of the field, which in this case would be your D.3.S. Frog's 2000 attack points," Jaden informed.
Neos: 2500-4500 ATK
Alexis pointed out that even with all those points, Jaden still couldn't erase all of Rose's life points. "Maybe not yet, but I've got one more card to play. I play H-Heated Heart, which will boost Neos' attack points by 500!" Jaden shouted.
Neos: 4500-5000 ATK
"Now Neos, attack Des Frog with Neo Shadow Impact!" Jaden ordered as Neos cloaked his fist in darkness and delivered a powerful punch to one of the Des Frogs, destroying it and causing Rose to fall to her knees.
Rose: 0 LP
Winner: Jaden
"And that's game," Jaden said, but he realized he might have overdone it. "My princes are more charming than those heroes of yours," Rose said before she began to leave, but as she did, a frog spirit wearing a crown appeared and bowed to Jaden. Jaden realized Rose was right, and Alexis shouted to him, and Jaden turned around only to be tackled into a hug by his girlfriend.
"Lex, ease up on the iron grip a little," Jaden asked as it felt like Alexis was about to break him in two. Alexis let go, apologizing and saying she was just glad he had won. Michael said that Jaden certainly liked to build up the suspense, and Jaden said that while he may struggle a little, he always pulled out a win in the end. "Oh yeah, this means I get to pick where we go on our trip," Jaden realized, and Crowler said that was the agreement, Bonaparte asking to hear where he wanted to go. "There's only one place I want to go, and that's Yugi's hometown: Domino City!" Jaden announced.
Hey everyone. As you can see, I'm back from my unexpectedly long hiatus. Unfortunately, I'm unable to pay my internet bill at this time, so the times I'll be able to upload won't be consistent. Hopefully, I'll be able to work something out, but I can't promise anything.