Testing Time

It was the day before the first exams of the year as Claudio was in Professor Satyr's Class, finishing up another lecture. After the first day, the students were in different periods with different people. Claudio was lucky to have Bastion in his class, but felt cursed with being with Chazz and his goons. As the class ended, Satyr spoke up before the students left.
"As a reminder to everyone, the promotional exams start tomorrow morning, headed by Professor Banner." He informed us. "It'll be similar to the entrance exams instead it'll consist of 45 questions and 5 five Duel Puzzles. And there will be a thirty minute reprieve before the dueling exams, where duelists will be paired off in order to promote to the next dorm up or in the Obelisk's case, staying were they are. So with that, I hope you are studying well and wish you all well!"
The class was dismissed and everyone cleared out, talking among themselves. And among those was Chazz...
"I shouldn't have to take these exams..." He said. "I'm already the best duelist here."
"You the best!? Hah, that's Zane's spot, loser!" Claudio recognized the voice as Jasmine's, one of Alexis's friends. Not exactly a friend of his, seeing that she wasn't too keen on him when he introduced himself. He figured that being a friend of a nice gal like Alexis, he could to have another friend to hang with. But all she told him was...
"Get lost, Ra! I wouldn't be caught dead with a duelist, with less experience than me..."
"She acted like I was asking her on a date..." Claudio muttered to himself.
"Well this is Zane's last year!" Chazz yelled. "And after that, I'll be the Kaiser of Duel Academy!"
"Ambitious little guy, ain't he?" Claudio said to himself.
"Alright there, old chap?" I felt a pat on the shoulder, coming from Bastion.
"Yeah, just thinking about the exams tomorrow." Claudio said.
"Well, no worries then..." Bastion said. "The written exam should a breeze for someone with your marks! And your dueling skills are admirable, just make sure you don't get paired up with me."
"Is that a challenge, Einstein?" Claudio smirked. "We could go anytime you want!"
"Another time, shouldn't we get to studying?" He asked.
"Oh, right!" Claudio said. "Let's go take our butts to the library, and get reading!" Bastion laughed as they left.
----After about a few hours of reading, the Ra Yellow boys left and went separate ways. Bastion said he had to go to the card shack for card that benefitted one of his decks. Claudio found it weird to have as much decks as Bastion does, but after seeing them in action in a dueling session against Dimitri, he wouldn't question that logic. Claudio was heading back to the dorm cafeteria for some food.
"Hey Ra reject!" He turned around to see the Obelisk from the lake, Torimaki. "I've got a bone to pick with you!"
"Didn't I leave you lying on the ground last time?" The Ra yellow duelist asked, casually. "Do you and your machines wanna get recycled, again?"
"Hah, that was a practice deck to throw you off!" Torimaki boasted as he held up his duel disk. "Now I'll show you my real skills, with my real deck!"
"I could but, I don't have my duel disk on me so..."
"Well, I guess I'll fight you the old fashioned way!" Torimaki interrupted, assuming a boxer's stance.
"Do that, and the Disciplinary committee will come down hard you." We were interrupted by a girl wearing clothes like the Obelisk girls, except the colors were yellow. She had black hair styled like a certain female magician and brown eyes.
"Who the heck are you?" Torimaki spoke to the girl rudely.
"Man, I bet you don't have a girlfriend." Claudio retorted. "Be nice to the girl; or is it because she's a Ra, as well."
"It's okay," The girl spoke. "I'm Melody Hikarii, and from overhearing the conversation between you two, I'd like to step in for my fellow Ra..."
"Claudio."
Melody smiled. "... Nice to meet you." She said and turned back to Torimaki. "I'll duel you in Claudio's place."
"Fine by me, as long as get to stomp a Ra!" Torimaki declared activating his duel disk. Melody complied by activating hers.
"Let's duel!" They shouted, drawing their opening hands.
Melody: 4000
Torimaki: 4000
"Ladies first!" Melody said as she drew her sixth card. She looked over the choice cards, before settling on three of them. "I place two cards face down." Two spell/trap cards appeared at her feet. "Then I'll summon Apprentice Magician in defense mode!" From a purple flash, a blonde woman in a purple outfit appeared. It consisted of a cloak, boots and arm guards. She also had a red headband and a white belt and a magician's staff that she defended herself with. (400/800) "I end my turn."
"She's using a spellcaster deck?" Claudio asked himself.
"My draw!" Torimaki drew. "I summon a spell-caster of my own, the Lord of Dragons!" From a dark blue light, a man in white bone armor appeared, from the name it was dragon bones. He also had a blue cape that blew across the field. (1200/1100)
"And a dragon deck?" Claudio said.
"That's right; once I get rid of this girl, I'll unleash them on you!" Torimaki said to the male Ra.
"Hey, your opponent's over here!" Melody shouted. "Hurry up!"
"You're in a hurry to lose!" The Obelisk taunted. "I play the Flute of Summoning Dragon!" A bronze horn with the ending resembling a dragon's head, appeared in the Lord of D.'s hands. He started playing a low tone. "I'll summon two more dragons to the field! So meet Spear Dragon and Luster Dragon!" Answering the call of the flute, two dragons flew onto the field. The first dragon was blue with a tan underbelly and a long nose. Its arms were also its huge wings and its head had two white horns. (1900/0) The second dragon was also blue but it was actually sapphire diamonds. It flashed a jagged snarl at its opponent. (1900/1600)
"Oh boy..." Melody muttered.
"Spear Dragon, attack with Cyclone Burst!" The dragon in question shot a sharp, wind blast that cut through the magician, shattering it to pixels. "And when it destroys a monster in defense mode, it still deals damage!" The wind blew over to Melody as she guarded herself with her duel disc.
Melody: 2900
Torimaki: 4000
"Well, I still got Apprentice Magician's effect to use!" Melody said. "When she's destroyed in battle, I get to take a Level 1 or 2 Spellcaster from my deck and set it on the field!" She took a monster card from her deck and set it face down in Defense Mode.
"Grr, well since it's not damaging me, Luster Dragon get it, Sapphire Flames!" The sapphire dragon fired of a blue flame at Melody's face down monster, another Apprentice Magician.
"The cycle continues!" Melody smirked as she set a new monster.
'She's playing this guy, like I did the other night...' The jukebox hero duelist thought.
"Lord of Dragons your turn, Dark Spell!" The caped lord crossed his hands, creating a dark orb and flung it at the face down monster... "Another Apprentice Magician!? Are you two related or something?"
"Be thankful, I can't have another Apprentice, but I still have a monster fitting the requirements!" She said, setting a new monster. "Also since your Spear Dragon attacked, he goes into defense!" The long nosed dragon dropped to the ground, panting.
"I end my turn with this!" A face down card showed up at his feet.
"My turn again!" Melody drew. "I activate one of my face down cards, Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying your face down!"
"Then I'll just activate it, Imperial Order!" A trap flipped up on Torimaki's side, having a king ordering his men. "Now you can't use your spells!" The winds of the spell died down.
"Plan B, I flip my monster up: Old Vindictive Magician!" The monster that appeared on Melody's side was an old man in red robes and a blue cape and carried a green staff. (450/600) "And once he's revealed, he destroys one monster on the field!"
"You can't; my dragons are immune to card effects as long as Lord of D. is on the field!" Torimaki said.
"Wasn't aiming at your dragons, destroy HIS spellcaster!" The old man, fired off a green blast, destroying the Dragon lord.
"No way!"
"Oh yeah!" Claudio cheered.
"Now I sacrifice the old guy, for Chaos Command Magician!" The old man vanished as the magician from Claudio's entrance duel appeared. (2400/1900) "Attack Luster Dragon with Chaos Magic!" A red lightning blast was shot from the mage's scepter, blowing the dragon up into many sapphires.
Melody: 2900
Torimaki: 3500
"And then I'll add a face down to cover it!" Melody ended.
"Good!" Torimaki drew. "Now, I'll stop Imperial Order's effect!" The mention trap card shattered. "Then, I'll activate the Field Spell Mountain!" After the card was slid into the field spell slot, the area was changed to resemble a spot where the duelist and spectator were surrounded by tall mountains. "This will increase all dragons' power by 200!" Spear Dragon flew up to a mountain top and perched itself there. (2100/200)
"But, I'll sacrifice Spear Dragon for Luster Dragon #2!" The blue dragon flew away, deep into the mountains. In his place was a dragon related to the first Luster Dragon, but was made of emeralds with crystals on its shins. It roared in delight, feeling right at home with the current field. (2400-2600/1400-1600) "And I'll add more power with Dragon Treasure, raising its stats near 3000!" A blue aura shone around the emerald dragon. (2900/1900)
"Overkill, much?" Melody scoffed.
"It's necessary to show off who's the superior duelist; now take out her magician with Emerald Flame!" The powered up dragon breathed in deeply and exhaled a massive, green flame that torch Chaos Command Magician with one touch, with the rest of flame conversing on the lady Ra. Melody screamed as she dodged the flames.
Melody: 2400
Torimaki: 3500
"And since you hate fire so much, Dragon's Gunfire takes 800 points away from ya!" The giant dragon once again breathed an emerald fireball at Melody, causing her to scream again.
Melody: 1600
Torimaki: 3500
"I think I've done enough damage for now." The Obelisk said feeling pleased with himself.
"Get... over yourself..." Melody grunted.
"You okay, Mel?" Claudio asked her.
"Yeah..." She straightened herself enough before drawing her card. And grinned... "I'm fine..." When Claudio saw that grin, he felt the need to do it as well...
"Blue dude, you're in trouble..." He said, playfully.
"I activate a face down, Call of the Haunted!" Melody declared. "It lets me bring back Old Vindictive Magician from the graveyard!" The old mage appeared from the ground. (450/600)
"Weak!" Torimaki shouted. "My dragon has way more attack power than that crusty old geezer!" The old mage fired off a dark shot at the blue duelist's feet. "Yikes!"
"He really doesn't like the jokes about him." Melody said, as Claudio laughed. "Besides, there's more; next I play Magical Dimension!" A golden sarcophagus appeared behind the old mage. "I can only do this with a Spellcaster on the field. I'll sacrifice my magician and special summon another one!" The sarcophagus opened up, sucked the old man and closed shut. "Come forward, Cybernetic Magician!" The coffin opened up again, revealing an all silver man with blond hair, wearing blue pants, a light purple robe and wielded a silver staff with a hand guard. (2400/1000)
"Bring him on!" Torimaki challenged. "I won't lose much after my monsters are gone!"
"No you won't!" Claudio interrupted. "Or have you forgotten about the second effect of her spell?"
"He's right; Magical Dimension takes out 1 monster after the special summoning, and I pick Luster Dragon #2!" The sarcophagus sucked in the emerald dragon, closed it and disappeared into the ground.
"Hey!" Torimaki shouted.
"And, since I special summoned, I'll normal summon Breaker the Magical Warrior in Attack Mode!" A soldier in red armor appeared wielding red shield and sword. (1600/1000) "And when he's Normal Summoned, I can give him a spell counter that increases his attack power by 300!" A blue glowing symbol appeared on his shield. (ATK: 1900)
"Not again!" Torimaki cringed. "Beaten by two Ras?"
"Breaker, Cybernetic Magician, knock him off his high horse!" The silver mage shot off silver lightning at the Obelisk, shocking him, followed by a swift slice from Breaker, knocking him down.
Melody: 1600, Winner
Torimaki: 0
"Game over, and I thought Obelisk were 'all-powerful,'" Melody boasted.
"But then again, any first years could be powerful." Claudio added. Torimaki picked himself up and glared at the two Ra Yellows. "I don't think you wanna pick on the lady again, unless you feel like being kicked around again?"
"Grr, wait 'til Chazz hears about this!" The Blue duelist ran off to his own dorm.
"Humph, stupid Obelisks..." Melody muttered.
"At least you handled yourself, nice job Mel!" Claudio said, cheerfully.
"Uh, thanks." She said turning her head slightly, hiding a blush.
"Whoa, now I'm definitely seeing another side of you..." Claudio noted. "I mean, first you knock around an Obelisk like a pro, then you start feeling shy around a friendly guy?"
"Well... I don't like it when people are talking about others like that." Melody told him. "It really ticks me off... And, it's tough making some friends around here."
"Hey join the club!" Claudio exclaimed, patting the lady Ra on her shoulder. "I mean, I never liked how the Slifers were treated; and they haze them the most. But with duelist like Hero Boy, they should think twice about that! Also us Ra Yellows, they forgot who's next in line to become Obelisks, if I got there I'm not joining the 'elitist attitude' committee." He then took his guitar off his back and played a few notes. "Besides, I wouldn't have time for playing rock n' roll."
Melody giggled. "I glad you're not like them to begin with!"
"You know, how about we go over to the meal hall and talk about ourselves a bit more?" Claudio offered. "Got finished studying for the promotion exams, and I got a new friend to talk to."
"You mean me?" Melody asked pointing to herself.
"Of course!" Claudio said.
"I'd like that." She smiled as they walked over to Yellow dorm.
They spent the entire dinner talking about how they got started in dueling, why they favor the decks they use and bit about home life. Melody idolized Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl as they were the prominent spellcasters, and started dueling because of after Yugi won with them in Battle City. She wanted to become a great Spellcaster duelist here at the academy. Her home life was pretty normal, raised by good parents, watching duels on the TV and having a good circle of friends. She was pretty shy at first, but gradually opened up. Even beat up some guys who messed with said friends, Claudio was freaked once she told in detail about the last guy who did that.
Claudio told his story about how he loved music and wished how some rock n' roll musicians could be Duel Monster cards, so when a new archetype contest was made by the creators, he started thinking of all of his favorite musicians and songs and drew some pictures, even some young fans of his dueling wanted to had some. Before all that, he used some low level cards but had an incredible assortment of magic and traps to back it up.
Soon sundown came and Melody had to hurry over to the girls' side. But they wished each other luck in the exams.
----(Test day!)
The next day, a fleet of ships and air planes cruised through the ocean. It was like they were heading off to war or somethin "Well, everyone," the Captain spoke to his crew. "It's been a long journey, it seems like everyone's been after us with attack subs, secret spies and air force fighters but it'll all pay off soon. We will arrive at our destination with our payload safe and intact. Now, full speed ahead, this is the moment we've been waiting for, the moment Duel Academy gets their new rare cards!"
----Claudio was snoozing in his bed, not knowing that the sun came up; but he was about to get a rude awakening...
"Blast Magician, Exploding Spell!"
A red cloaked magician with a scepter that doubled as a scythe, flung a red orb under Claudio's bed and...
*BOOM!*
"Aaahh!" Claudio screamed as he was knocked off his bed, and hid under his desk. "Run to the Hills! We're under attack!" He then heard two people laughing; a girl and a boy. When Claudio, peeked out of his desk, he saw Melody laughing her head off and Bastion giving one of those amusing laughs, unlike Melody's. "That was so, freaking wrong you two!"
"It was Bastion's idea!" Melody protested and hid behind the intellectual duelist.
"But clearly it was Melody's monster." Bastion pointed out to the magician that vanished.
"Melody..."
"You weren't waking up after your alarm started playing this song 'Hurtkiller' or something." She said.
"It's 'Painkiller' and don't you forget it." Claudio told her.
"Sor-ry, but we don't wanna be late for the exams, so get dressed." Melody said, walking out the door.
"I met her last night, and already she starts acting like Mom who used a pot and ladle to wake me up." Claudio noted to Bastion.
"She seems nice, a little hesitant when I met her outside your room." He said.
"Yeah, but once you get to know her, she'll be cool!" Claudio noted. "Now I'll go wash up and meet ya outside."
----(At the Silfer Dorm)
"Please, please, please, let me pass this test." Syrus was sitting at the desk with lit candles and wearing a white headband with three Monster Reborn cards on them. He was praying to a poster of Slifer the Sky Dragon; apparently he had little to no faith on passing. "I don't want to be stuck in this red jacket forever… not that anything's wrong with red, I mean it looks great on you, Slifer…"
*RING!*
"SLIFER!" Syrus freaked, but he just heard the alarm clock ringing. "Just the alarm clock..." He walked over where the clock was residing, which was right next to Jaden's head, "...and as usual, Jaden sleeps through it." He started to push Jaden slightly. "Jaden, wake up; the tests are today and we don't wanna be..."
"WRONG!" Jaden yelled, smacking Syrus in the face, knocking the poor Slifer to the floor. "'Because I played a trap!" Jaden was still sleeping and turned over on the bed.
Syrus groaned, "Why can't he ever sleep in defense mode? It'd be a lot safer!"
"Duh, Syrus..."
The blue haired Slifer looked up to see Chumley looking down on him, head propped up on his arms, "You shouldn't be waking him up at all! Let him catch some Z's, and make our day easier. Get what I'm saying?". Syrus shook his head slowly, "Chumley, I don't get anything you're saying,".
"You see, we have two different tests today. A Written Test and then a Field Test. The Written Test should be pretty easy, but the Field Test has you paired up against other students, mostly from the same dorm and I don't wanna duel the same guy that beat Dr Crowler. Now do you get it'?" Chumley added, winking.
"Yeah, I get what you're saying alright!" Syrus glared at Chumley, "It's no wonder you were held back three years in a row!" He turned back to Jaden's sleeping form, "Jaden, wake up already, I'll save you a seat!" And with that he ran out the door.
Chumley sighed, "Oh well...Plan B, it is."
----(In the test room, with Prof. Banner)
Thirty minutes have passed, and most students were well into the test already. Obelisks were already getting ahead as were the Ras, but most of the Slifers were having trouble as it is. As expected of themselves, Claudio, Bastion and Melody were sure enough to pass their exams; they were already halfway done, at this rate the field test was a choice for them.
----(Meanwhile...)
"Man that breakfast Chumley cooked, sure was something else!" Jaden had finally got out of bed and was dashing to the testing room despite how late he was. Along the path, a heavy-set woman wearing a pink blouse with blue overalls and glasses was having trouble pushing a van that was out of gas by the look of things. Jaden dashed right by her, kicking up a cloud of dust around the woman. But then Jaden skidded to a stop. "To be late or on time?" He asked himself. "Oh well, seeing as I'm never on time..." He ran back behind the van and gave a helping hand. "Never fear, Jaden's here!"
"Oh good! You must be from the auto club!" The woman replied, thankful for the help.
"Well don't let the red jacket fool you," Jaden responded as he let go of the van. "I'm just your average good deed dude."
"Isn't that nice?" She replied, but without Jaden's help the van started moving back downhill.
"It would be nice, if I pushed!" Jaden said, pushing the back of the van again. "Now I can skip the gym!"
"You're such a sweet boy!" She said gratefully. "I'll remember this!"
----(Back in the test room...)
"You have 45 minutes left." Banner said to all the students, taking the test. Or at least, everyone awake...
"A field spell... counters a normal spell..." Syrus was sleeping his time away, and hadn't even worked on a single question.
"I didn't know this was an oral exam..." Syrus woke up to Jaden's smiling face. "Or maybe you could've done without the all night Slifer séance."
"Hey Slacker, keep it down," Chazz started yelling from his seat up top. "Unlike you, some of us are trying to pass."
"Hey, I try to pass, it just doesn't end up that way." Jaden argued.
"Oh Jaden..." The argument was cut short when Banner called him to get his exam. Of course, he slept through it, too."
After another hour, Banner cleared his throat, "All right, children, the written exam is now over, now please walk don't run to get in line for your new rare cards."
"They're here!?"
"Oh dear."
As soon as those words left the professor's mouth, a mass mob of students ran out from the classroom as everyone took off. Soon, only Jaden, Syrus, Bastion, and Claudio were left.
'Talk about rush hour!' Claudio thought as he as a sweat drop went down his head.
"Everyone's at the card shop trying to improve their decks for the field test." He heard Bastion telling Jaden and Syrus about the new rare cards.
"Hey wait a second, Bastion," Syrus said. "Why aren't you and Claudio in a hurry?"
"Oh please, one errant card and the delicate balance of my deck would be thrown off." Bastion replied.
"Ditto." Claudio added. 'But I guess Mel's off getting her share, though.'
"Well mine wouldn't." Syrus said.
"So let's go, there's nothing like the smell of new cards in the morning!" Jaden exclaimed as he dragged Syrus out of the room.
"Well, I'm gonna find Melody; maybe she'll have some luck on getting some new Spellcasters..." Claudio told Bastion as he left out.
----At the card shack, the students were banging down on the steel door, hoping to get at the cards before anybody else...
There was also some guards forming a fence between them for some reason... a reason about to make itself known...
"Oh children," the officer called to the mob of students who were banging up against the metal door blocking the Card Shop. "Looking for these?" The crowd burst into cheers. He held out the brief case. The metal door slid opened a crack. The officer bent down to enter. "Then come and get them."
The metal doors opened and the card shop was revealed. The brief case was on a table.
It was empty.
A face fault on a massive scale erupted from the students.
Melody pushed through the crowd and saw the empty case. "Where'd they all go?" She asked.
A counter girl was standing by the brief case and so was a man in a long black coat and hat. "You know the rules, first come first serve," the counter girl said.
"And I was here first, so I took everyone!" The man replied.
The crowd melted away, all with negative feelings of the entire ordeal.
"Darn it!" Melody shouted. "Oh well, I better just suck it up and take it with the deck I already have!" She headed off to the field testing room.
----Later, Jaden and Syrus made it to the card shack and found it was a ghost town. Worried that all the cards were gone, they ran to the counter to ask the counter girl, Sadie.
"Excuse me, counter-girl?" Jaden and Syrus went to the counter. "Do you have some packs left?"
"Sure we do, but just the normal ones. Here you go." She slid a single pack across the table.
"We said some, not one," Jaden and Syrus complained.
"I'm done for," Syrus whined. "I slept through the written part of the exam and now I'm going to fail the field part because I can't upgrade my deck."
"Then you take the pack, Sy." Jaden offered.
"You mean you would give me the last pack?" Syrus asked. "But what if… what if you fail?"
"I may flunk from time to time but I never fail." Jaden said with confidence.
Chazz's friends had just explained what happened at the card shop to him. "We couldn't get you a single one, sorry, Chazz."
"You know what's sorry? You two, but it doesn't matter, because there's not a single Duelist at this school who can beat me no matter what card they carry."
"Unless that single Duelist happens to be Jaden Yuki." The three Obelisk Blues turned to see a man in a long black coat and hat.
"Who are you?"
"Somebody who thinks you despise Jaden Yuki as much as I do."
"That's him!" Torimaki cried. "That's the sticky fingers who took all of the rare cards?"
"Rare cards, what rare cards? Oh, you mean… THESE!" He spread his jacket open to reveal row after row of cards.
"Enough of this cloak and dagger," Chazz said. "Tell me who you really are!"
"Don't recognize me, do you, Chazz? Well, how about now!" He threw off his hat to reveal that…
"Oh, it's just Crowler," Chazz said dismissively.
Crowler face faulted. "Is that any way to talk to the one who's going to help you beat Jaden Yuki on the field test?"
"But we're not in the same dorm," Chazz pointed out. "So I can't be his opponent!"
"Oh, you just leave that to me, you just be sure to use these rare cards in the field test against him. And once he loses miserably, he'll be kicked out of the school!" Crowler handed Chazz a stack of rare cards.
----Right before the field exam's began, Melody caught up with Claudio again and told him about everything that happened at the card shack.
"Wow! Every card!?" Claudio asked, surprised that anybody would cough up the cash for every rare card sent to the store.
"Yeah, some guy just showed up out of nowhere." Melody replied. "But at least I can duel fine without any upgrades at the moment!"
"That's the spirit!" Claudio praised. "Who do you have to go up against?"
"Some guy named Chester, another Ra yellow." She replied as stepped into the field. "Wish me luck!" Claudio gave her a thumbs up before leaving for his own test.
----The field test had six dueling fields side by side. He saw Bastion and Melody already starting their duels, as he walked up to his field. His opponent, also a Ra Yellow, was the black haired Dimitri, the copcat duelist. But something seemed off about him...
"You ready to duel, wise guy?" He spoke in a fake-Brooklyn style accent. And his hair style was changed to resemble something sporadic.
"Uh, Dimitri?" Claudio asked. "Why are acting like Joey Wheeler, bro?"
"Whatever, let's just duel already!" He shouted turning on his duel disk, along with Claudio.
"Duel!"
Claudio: 4000
Dimitri: 4000
"I'll start!" Claudio drew his card. "I start off with Band Roadie in Defense Mode!" In flash of light a man with a goatee and a mullet hairstyle, in black leather clothes, carrying a toolbox. (700/500) "And I'll leave it at that.
"My move!" Dimitri drew his card. "I'll summon my Little-Winguard in Attack Mode!" In blue light, a small, blue armored warrior with a small shield and sword appeared. (1400/1800) "Attack his Roadie!" The small warrior jumped up and did an overhead slash on the roadie, sending him to the graveyard.
"Well, my Roadie as a special ability!" Claudio said as he took out his deck. "When destroyed in battle, I can special summon a Level 3 or below Jukebox Hero! And I pick Modest Mouse in defense mode!" A two foot mouse appeared wearing a black tie suit, with a banjo in hand appeared. (800/1200) "And since he's alone on the field, I draw two cards from the deck!" After shuffling his deck, Claudio placed his deck back and drew two cards, now with a hand of seven.
"I'll just place two face down cards and end my turn." Two spell/trap cards appeared at his feet. Also Little-Winguard shifted his position to defending. "And at the End Phase, my monster can switch his position."
"Okay then, I draw!" Claudio drew...
"And activates Drop Off! Sending the card you just drew to the graveyard!" Claudio looked at the card he drew, shrugged and sent it to his discard slot.
"Now, back to business, I sacrifice Modest Mouse for Jukebox Hero Kill Master!" The mouse disappeared, and in his place was a cowboy-looking man with a symbol that resembled a plus. He also had black shades, covering his eyes completely. (2400/1700)
'Finally, I get to fight.' Kill Master spoke in a low, British accent.
"Sorry, it took so long." Claudio replied making sure no one heard him. "In fact, how about you attack with Motor Bass!"
'Why didn't say so?' The cowboy Jukebox Hero pulled out a silver bass guitar and started playing a groove that threw light sparks at tiny soldier.
"Not so fast, I play Fairy Box!" A little whack-a-mole booth appeared in front of Little-Winguard. Also, Dimitri pulled out a silver coin with an eye symbol on it. "Every time you call an attack, I call Heads or Tails with this coin. If I'm right, your monster's attack points drop to 0 for the battle! If I'm wrong, your attack pulls through; and with my luck, I'll guess right, heads!" Dimiri flipped the coin in the air.
'This guy thinks he has Wheeler's legendary luck?' Claudio thought. 'He's gotta be...'
"Heads!"
"What!?"
"Oh, bugger..." The sparks backfired and fizzled out as Kill Master's power dropped to 0. (0/1700) This in turn, cost Claudio some life points.
Claudio: 2200
Dimitri: 4000
"Ouch, I'll just place two face downs and that's it." Claudio said, feeling somewhat burned. Kill Master's attack points went back to full power, (2400/1700) "But at least I get a small consolation prize! At each of my end phases, Kill Master lets me get 600 life points!" Kill Master played his bass solo again, surrounding Claudio in a white wind, restoring his life points.
Claudio: 2800
Dimitri: 4000
"Well then, you're hanging in there?" Dimitri asked. "That's good, kid! My move!" As the copycat duelist looked over his current hand, the Jukebox Hero duelist felt irritated somewhat.
'Copying Joey's deck one thing, but the voice and mannerisms are ticking me off!' He thought.
"Okay, I pay 500 life points to keep Fairy Box in play!" Dimitri declared.
Claudio: 2800
Dimitri: 3500
"Next, I switch Little Winguard to Attack Mode and play Rocket Warrior in attack mode!"The blue warrior stood up again as a green rocket appeared and transformed into a small warrior with a yellow face and a shield and sword. (1500/1300) "Next up, is the continuous spell card Attrition!" A spell appeared that had a red dragon and a blue dragon trying to eat one another from their tails.
"You have Attrition in that deck!?" Claudio was worried. "Joey never had that card!"
"Guess again," Dimitri dropped his Joey voice, and into his normal voice. "Joey played this card against Yugi before the Battle City finals started; Marik had them trapped in a dangerous duel and place that card in Joey's deck."
"Oh, never heard of that duel, sorry!" Dimitri face vaulted and quickly got back up.
"Well you're in for a big surprise!" He went back to his Joey voice. "With Rocket Warrior and Attrition, your Kill Master's about to get seriously owned, pal! Rocket Warrior, assume Invincible Mode and attack!" Rocket Warrior transformed back into a rocket and launched itself at Kill Master, neither monster was destroyed but Kill Master was feeling worse for the wear. (400/1700) "With Attrition, I can decrease your monster's attack points by Rocket Warrior's original ATK points."
"Yeah, but Kill Master's points was decreased by 2000," Claudio noted. "What up with the extra 500?"
"That's Rocket Warrior's effect, he can't be destroyed in battle while attacking, plus he drains 500 Attack Points from the monster he attacks. But he gets it back at the End Phase." Dimitri explained. "But this turn, Little Winguard's gonna finish him!"
"No he's not!" Claudio activated one of his face downs, "I activate Feathers!" The trap card depicted of a man walking away from a woman with black, feathered wings, unaware that he's about to be attacked with a hammer. Black feathers flew from the card and surrounded the blue solider, and gave him black wings. But instead of embracing them, he hid them as best he could and dropped to the ground. It weakened him, because of that. (600/1400)
"Feathers trap card stops an opponent's monster from attacking or changing battle position, also decreasing the monster attack points by 800. Maybe your Little-Winguard's been a liar!" Claudio taunted. (A/N: If you know how the song goes, you'll get his meaning.)
"I'll end my turn." Dimitri said. Kill Master was still on his knees, even as some power was restored. (900/1700)
"Cool, my move!" Claudio drew his card. "I summon Jukebox Hero KG!" The bald Jukebox Hero from the entrance exams appeared. (1200/1400) "And guess what? Remember the card you made me sent to the graveyard?" Dimitri nodded, not liking where this was heading. "Well, thanks to KG's summoning, the card in the graveyard comes back; Jukebox Hero JB!" From the ground, JB appeared next to KG. (1400/1200) "Finally, I'll do a little more special summoning, by sacrificing my Kill Master!" He turned to the weakened hero. "Sorry, but it's for the best..." Kill Master nodded as he vanished in golden flames. "Now, I summon Soul Guitar!" From the flames, shot out a golden guitar and landed in Claudio's hands. (1000/300)
"What good is that thing?" Dimitri asked.
"When summoned to the field, Soul Guitar gains ATK points equal to the original sacrificed monster's ATK!" The guitar shone more golden light as it powered up. (3400/300)
"Yeah, but Fairy Box has a chance of stopping your attack!"
"Not after I play Dust Tornado!" Claudio's second trap played, sending a tornado to destroy the carnival box. "Now it's time, boys let's play!"
Play Master Exploder from Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny
First solo, Claudio played a solo, which shot golden fireballs at Rocket Warrior, destroying it along with the Attrition card...
Claudio: 2800
Dimitri: 1600
Next, JB screamed at Little Winguard with a sonic wave approaching...
The shout only served to knock off the warrior's blue helmet off, exposing his bald and surprising all-black head with yellow dots for eyes
"Sorry..." JB muttered.
JB and KG walked over to the Little-Winguard as the audience laughed... Only for KG to swing his guitar at the Winguard destroying it.
Dimitri: 1000
A round of solos started as the two Jukebox Heroes returned to Claudio's side, and then JB ended with his last lyrics... Dimitri dropped to his knees as the music affected his duel disc...
(End Music)
Claudio: 2800, Winner
Dimitri: 0
Everyone cheered as the holograms and music faded...
"I never thought I actually do that during a duel." Claudio said as he left the arena. The rest of the duels had ended as well, since Bastion and Melody joined at the stands for the last match.
"That was awesome!" Melody exclaimed. "Did you always play music with those monsters?"
"Nope, first time." Claudio replied.
"Well still, a good match indeed." Bastion praised. "Of course, Melody and I won our duels."
"That's fantastic, now let's see what the next match is... huh!?" He couldn't believe the match that was setup...
Jaden gasped, "You mean I'm dueling an Obelisk and it's Chazz?" He asked Crowler who was judging their exam.
"That's right, Jaden." The teacher confirmed. "Since you always talk such a big game, I decided to pull some strings for you so you got the challenge you deserve." He pointed to Chazz, "So congratulations, you'll be dueling one of the top ranked students at the school, what an honor! I sure hope you were able to snag a lot of today's rare cards so that your deck's up to snuff. What's wrong, aren't you going to thank me?"
This is bad, Syrus thought.
"They can actually put a Slifer versus an Obelisk!?" Melody asked.
"This is clearly a trap," Bastion said. "Crowler hopes to expel Jaden by having him duel a powerful opponent with nothing stacked in his favor. Only a cavalier fool would agree to this."
"I'll do it!"
Everyone gasped at Jaden's answer.
"All right, Chazz, get your game on." Jaden said. "Now we'll get to finish what we started at Obelisk Arena."
"Indeed." Crowler said indifferently. "And in front of the whole school too so everyone can watch."
"Yeah, watch you get slammed by me." Chazz jabbed. They inserted their decks into their Duel Disks.
"Let's duel!"
Crowler ran out of the way.
Chazz: 4000
Jaden: 4000
"No excuses this time, Chazz."
"Bring it, Slifer Slacker!"
"Oh, it's brought!" Jaden drew his sixth card.
"Coooo."
"Well, if it isn't my favorite furry friend," Jaden said looking at his Winged Kuriboh card he just drew. Kuriboh, you're in for a treat, because we're about to rain down some serious moves on Chazz. "You remember this guy from our first duel, don't you, Chazz? Elemental Hero Clayman!" Jaden summoned rock hero in defense mode. (800/2000) "And he'd like to get reacquainted."
"Not after he sees what I got for him. Don't think that overgrown pile of pebbles stand a chance against me, or against this!" He drew a card. 'Appreciate the rare card, Crowler.' "Fresh off the presses, Magical Mallet!"
"What's that?" Jaden asked.
"A redo, all the cards in my hand that I don't want I return to my deck and then I can draw the same number of cards."
"A rare card on the first draw?" Syrus gasped.
"He must have been lucky to get some," Claudio added.
"And a very dangerous card at that." Bastion explained. "Now Chazz will be able to pick exactly which cards he wants and which cards he doesn't."
"I didn't even get to the best part." Chazz said, redrawing from his deck and showing Magical Mallet again. "You see, Jaden, I got to shuffle Magical Mallet too! So if I drew it again, which I just did, I can play it again and again. And that comes in handy, know why?"
"Uh… not really." Melody noted.
"It comes in handy when I'm looking for this! V-Tiger Jet, sharpen your claws for attack mode!" A yellow mechanical tiger, shaped like a fighter jet appeared. (1600/1800)
"Crud, not one of those!" Claudio said.
"And there's a lot more where that came from! Check out the magic of Frontline Base, it lets me summon a level 4 or below monster this turn. And I have just the one, W-Wing Catapult!" A blue jet platform appeared. (1300/1500) "Gentlemen, start your engines!" The set of wings took off and the V-Tiger Jet soon joined it. "Now merge!" The Catapult revealed two missile launchers. The Tiger Jet landed on top of it. Thruster units appeared on the back of both the machines. (2000/2100) "All right, the VW-Tiger Catapult!"
"I knew it, a union monster fusion!" Claudio revealed.
"But wait, I'm not done yet, because he still has his special ability." Chazz told Jaden.
"That's not good," Jaden complained.
"Is this guy's turn going to end sometime this century?" Syrus asked.
"By sending a card to the graveyard, I can force one of your monsters into attack mode!" The card face Clayman was kneeling on disappeared as he stood up. "So after this Heat-Seeker Blitz from my Tiger Catapult, your life points are toast!" The Tiger Catapult fired its missiles. Jaden groaned from the smoke produced by Clayman's destruction.
Chazz: 4000
Jaden: 2800
"Ouch, hero boy's in trouble!"
Crowler saw all this from the special viewing box where he was watching with Chancellor Shepherd. "My goodness," he said with fake sincerity. "Looks like Jaden can't play with the big boys after all. I guess he's not as good as he thinks."
Shepherd just stared out the window.
"I'll finish up with one card face-down." Chazz said as a face down card appeared at his feet.
"You go ahead and finish up while I'm just getting warmed up." He drew a card. "Speaking of, here's a guy who can really turn up the heat, Elemental Hero Sparkman in defense mode!" The electric warrior crossed his arms to protect himself (1600/1400). "And I'll throw down a face-down.
"Not much else he can do with all the new rare cards Chazz seems to have," Bastion said.
"No kidding," Melody muttered. "I wonder…"
Alexis was also watching the duel but from behind. This is a complete mismatch, how can Jaden fight back if he doesn't know what he's fighting?
"Ready for round two, Slifer Slime?" A blue machine with a spike ball lower region and two cannon barrels on its shoulders appeared. (1800/1500) "Well X-Head Cannon is and thanks to Frontline Base, so is Z-Metal Tank." A yellow tank that looked more like some kind of cruiser than an actual tank also appeared. (1500/1300)
"Wait, if he has X and Z." Syrus said. "That can mean only one thing…"
"Now I play my face-down card." Chazz said as his trap card was lifted up. "Call of the Haunted, and in case you slept through that class as well, it lets me bring a monster back from the graveyard. And I choose…" A red metallic dragon appeared. (1500/1600)
"No way!" Claudio and Melody cried.
"He has it!" Bastion confirmed.
"It's him!" Syrus gasped.
"That's right, it's Y-Dragon Head! I discarded it with my Tiger Catapult's special ability." The new monsters flew up and began to lock on to one another, with X taking the top, Y in the middle and Z on the bottom. (2800/2600) "And next I'll combine them to create the XYZ-Dragon Cannon!"
"Now Chazz has two monsters out with over 2000 attack points each," Bastion said.
"He could end this right now." Melody said.
"But wait, Jaden, there's more." Jaden gasped. "Actually, less, you see they say that two heads are better than one. But I would have to disagree, especially when the one in question is the ultimate V to Z Dragon Catapult Cannon!" The two machines joined and transformed. The new creation looked vaguely humanoid and was made up of all the machine monsters Chazz had. (3000/2800) "Makes your Sparkman look like a spark plug, or at least it did." Sparkman disappeared.
"My Sparkman!" Jaden cried as the audience gasped.
"Oh, I'm sorry, didn't I mention V to Z's special ability? He allows me to remove one card on your side of the field once per turn." He chuckled. "And if you think that's impressive, wait until you see its attack, an attack that will strike your life points directly."
"Not so fast, Chazz, I have a trap, A Hero Emerges!"
"Blast!" Crowler cried.
"A Hero what?"
"Emerges, as in emerges onto the field. You see, now you have to choose a card from my hand and if it's a monster card, I get to play it. So take your pick, Chazz."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever, the far right."
Jaden sought out the card in question. "Sweet, Elemental Hero Burstinatrix, I'll play her in defense mode." The fiery female hero took a defensive stance. (1200/800)
"That's what you think, you Slifer Slacker, when Dragon Catapult Cannon attacks, I get to switch one of your monsters into attack mode." Burstinatrix stood. "Which means not only will she get zapped!" The Dragon Catapult Cannon fired a lightning blast. Burstinatrix cried out in pain as she was destroyed. "But your life points will too."
Chazz: 4000
Jaden: 1000
The crowd gasped.
"Aww, what's the matter, Jaden, having some test anxiety?" Chazz taunted. "I knew scum like you didn't belong at this academy but don't worry because it will all be over soon!"
"No way, Chazz, I still have a whole army of vicious monsters in my deck ready to get at you. This isn't over, it's only just barely started!" He drew a card.
And gasped.
"What do you think, Winged Kuriboh?" Jaden asked. The card cooed in agreement. "Well, all right, if you say so, let's do it! I summon Winged Kuriboh in defense mode!" The Kuriboh with white wings appeared. (300/200)
Immediately a squeal went up from most of the females in the crowd. Unfortunately for Syrus, Bastion, and Claudio, they were in the thick of it.
"It's so cute!" Melody was no acception.
"And I'll throw down a face-down too," Jaden concluded. "That's it."
"That's it?" Syrus asked. "All he's done is play defense."
"If Hero boy has game plan, he'd better use it soon." Claudio noted.
I sure hope Jaden knows what he's doing, Alexis thought staring at the Slifer boy wide-eyed.
"That's all, huh? Good, because now I get to cook that Kuriboh and I like mine well done." Chazz said. "There's about to be a fried furball on the field, you loser!"
"You don't scare me!" Jaden argued.
"I don't have to, that's his job." Chazz pointed with his thumb at the Dragon Catapult Cannon. "Dragon Catapult Cannon attack!" Once again, a giant blast of energy headed right for Winged Kuriboh.
'Secret weapon time'. Jaden stashed two cards in his graveyard. "Not so fast, Chazz, by sending two cards to the graveyard, I can activate my face-down card Transcendent Wings!"
"WHERE DID HE GET THAT?" Crowler cried.
Winged Kuriboh's wings suddenly grew and deflected the blast.
"It can't be!" Chazz exclaimed.
"Oh it be," Jaden confirmed. "Transcendent Wings has evolved Winged Kuriboh into a level 10 monster." Winged Kuriboh Level 10 had its small face wrapped in a helmet that looked like a dragon and extremely large angelic-like wings. (300/200) "And it gets better, by sacrificing itself, Winged Kuriboh destroys all monsters in attack mode and deflects their attack points back as damage to you. Kuriboh, show him how it's done!" Dragon Catapult Cannon's blast was deflected back at the giant machine and it was destroyed, taking a huge amount of Chazz's Life Points.
Chazz: 1000
Jaden: 1000
"Lucky punk," Chazz said glaring daggers at Jaden.
"Lucky?" Jaden asked. "Nah, I just happen to have a soft spot for old ladies. But not for you, Chazz, and that's too bad because with a thousand life points apiece and my turn coming up, all I need is the right monster and you'll be finished."
"Serves Chazz right; he had it won with just those two monsters separately." Bastion noted. "But his arrogance got in the way."
"Big time!" Claudio and Melody said together, and noticed when they did.
"Here goes something!" Jaden drew a card. "Yes! Elemental Hero Avian!" The feathered E-Hero appeared, shocking all of the spectators. " Attack!" The winged hero charged forward and slashed its claws across Chazz's side.
Chazz: 0
Jaden: 1000, Winner
"He did it!" Syrus cried happily.
"There you go, Hero Boy!" Claudio shouted as the crowd cheered as well. "Colors don't matter!"
"Yeah!" Melody added.
"Impossible!" Crowler cried leaning against the glass. "Not with all the rare cards I gave Chazz, this simply can't be!"
"Rare cards, what exactly are you talking about, Crowler?"
Crowler jumped, he hadn't realized he been talking out loud or that Chancellor Shepherd was listening in. "Uh… nothing… I… uh… have to go grade some tests." He quickly walked off.
Shepherd laughed at Crowler's back.
Jaden waved to the crowd who was cheering for him, and pointed at Chazz. "That's game, unless you want to duel again."
"Oh we will." Chazz hissed.
"Jaden!"
"Hey Jaden!" Syrus, Claudio, Melody and Bastion ran up to him.
"That was well done, Jaden." It was Chancellor Shepherd, speaking over a loudspeaker. "Never in the history of our revered academy has a Slifer ever dueled an Obelisk at these exams. Not only did you hold your own, but you won! Your courage against overwhelming odds is… inspiring. It is with great pride that I grant you the promotion to Ra Yellow. Good job!"
The crowd cheered again.
"You're the best, Jaden!" Syrus complimented throwing his arms around the taller boy's waist.
"I do what I can." Jaden said with a smile.
"Good show, Jaden, allow me to be the first to welcome you to the Ra dorm." Bastion offered.
"And I'll be the second!" Claudio added.
"Thanks." Jaden said shaking hands with both of the Ra Yellow students.
----Later that night at the Slifer dorm, Chumley was contemplating on searching for a new roommate after hearing from Syrus that the E-Hero duelist got promoted.
"Hey Syrus, if you're gonna mope around, you might as well make me a grilled cheese." The koala boy ranted.
"I just thought Jaden would say goodbye to us at least..." Syrus said sadly
"Hey, who's talking about saying goodbyes?"
Both Slifers turned to the side to see Jaden leaning against the open doorway of the dorm. Syrus jumped up out of his bed. "Jaden?! What are you doing here?!"
"I wanted to say congrats on passing your field test. Also, in case you've forgotten," he placed his hands on his hips, "I live here!"
"What?!"
Jaden shrugged, "Sure, Ra Yellow has nice, clean sheets, lack of cockroaches, and those spiffy blazers, without you Syrus, it's not my home!" he explained. Syrus sniffed and dove at him, tears falling from his eyes like a waterfall. His roommate squirmed, "Hey! Easy, Syrus, you're getting my jacket soaked!"
Syrus looked up, tears still going, "I thought...I thought I lost you forever! Now I'm never letting go!" Jaden sweatdropped, "Just chill out, Syrus! Come on, get off!"
Chumley laughed at the entire ordeal.
----At the Ra Yellow dorm Claudio, Bastion and Melody were celebrating as well...
"To us!" They said, clinking their soda cans together.
"For our successful exam passes!" Bastion said.
"And showing we are great duelists!" Melody added.
"Too bad Jaden, declined coming around..." Claudio said. "But hey, at least he's showing that the Slifers can kick butt, too!"
"Yes, can't wait to duel him someday…" Bastion said.
----But all was not well in the dorm of Chazz...
"Stupid Slifer, you lucky punk!" He shouted. "I'll show you, who's superior around here!"