Hearts are Wild

*Late at night, on a cruise ship...*

A poker game was in progress.

Inside the ship, in a gambling parlor filled with men and women dressed in expensive clothes, two men were sitting at a table playing poker, a fat stack of chips sitting between them. The older man in a black suit looked at the cards in his hand, then at his opponent. "I call." He declared, laying down his cards, revealing a straight flush of hearts. "Read em and weep." His opponent, a younger brunette in a white suit with spectacles, stared back silently. "Looks like the Gambler's finally lost at something." He went to grab the chips, only for his opponent to throw a red scarf on the pile.

"Not quite, mon ami." He said with a heavy French accent. Laying down his own cards, he revealed a royal flush of spades, chuckling at his opponent's look of surprise. "I win again, non?" Picking up the scarf, he called for a staff member to collect his winnings for him, casually flipping a chip to the man and making his way outside, taking the time to wink at a trio of beautiful women who'd been watching the game. Leaning against the rail, he reached into his jacket for a package of cigarettes and pulled one out. A lighter appeared in his field of vision, lighting it for him.

Despite having just lost, the Frenchman's opponent showed no sign of resentment. "That was… well played in there." He complimented him, putting away his lighter. "I doubt I've ever seen a better gambler. Congratulations."

The Frenchman nodded and blew out a smoke ring. "Merci."

"But, my friend… if you want a true challenge, check out that island on our Portside." The older man pointed out at an island with a volcano in the distance. "It happens to be the most famous dueling school on the planet. Home to the best of the best."

"Duel Academy?" The Frenchman said, his interest peaked. Inhaling another puff, he flicked his cigarette over the edge and started to walk away. "Then I must bid you au revoir."

"Where are you going?"

He turned back to look over his shoulder and smirked. "To challenge ze only person who's ever gotten ze best of me."

Over on Academy Island, Jaden was sitting near the cliff's edge by himself, looking out at the sea when Alexis approached him. "Hi Jaden."

"Alexis? What brings you here?"

"Looking for you, actually." She replied. "Sy said you'd be here. I hope you don't mind some company."

"No problem, Lex. I could use a friendly face." Jaden patted the ground at his side and Alexis obliged, crouching down next to him. "All this stuff about Shadow Riders, Spirit Keys and saving the world… I just felt like I needed a break from all that. You know?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean." She said understandingly. "Having this kind of responsibility… it's a lot for anyone."

Jaden breathed out loudly at this. "Tell me about it. Nightshroud, Camula, Titan… these Shadow Riders are serious stuff. I know there's only one left, but we've had some close calls. And sometimes… sometimes it feels like the weight of the world on my shoulders."

Alexis tentatively placed a hand on Jaden's shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "Just remember… you're not alone in this. So… if you ever need someone to, you know, talk to about all this…" The Obelisk girl trailed off as Jaden placed his hand on top of hers and gave her a sincere smile.

"Thanks, Lex."

"Have you heard anything about Prof. Banner?" Alexis asked.

"None that I've heard." Jaden answered. The two of them realized they could heard a sound in the distance, and when they turned to look, they realized it was a man riding a jet ski and approaching the island. "Unless that's him…"

*Chancellor Sheppard's Office*

Sheppard was sitting at his desk with Crowler next to him, looking at the cocky frenchman standing before them. "Would you please care to repeat that?" Crowler asked, clearly irritated.

"I want to duel your school's bon student, Alexis Rhodes." He said confidently.

"And why should we agree?" The Frenchman sighed dramatically and reached into his jacket for a card which he held out for Crowler. The Obelisk headmaster grabbed it, seeing that it was a regular playing card with a name signed across it. "The Gambler… what is this?"

"It is my… how do you say… nom de voyage, monsieur. And you should know… I always get what I desire. So… where is she?

Sheppard cleared his throat and spoke to their guest politely but firmly.

"Sir, my school is not a gambling parlor. I don't care who you are on the outside, but when you come to my academy, you obey my rules. Understand?"

The Gambler leaned forward and placed a hand on Sheppard's desk. "Monsieur, I 'ave two options to propose. One, bring her here so that I may duel her, or two, refuse and I will make things most uncomfortable for you and your friends." The doors to the office opened up, though they couldn't see anyone standing outside.

Unbeknownst to them, Syrus, Chumley and several other Slifer students were standing near the doorway, listening in on their conversation.

"Hey guys, what's this?" Jaden asked. The others spotted Jaden and Alexis coming around the corner.

The would be spies quickly shushed their fellow Slifer. "Can't you tell?" Syrus said. "We're trying to spy in there."

"So, who's in there?" Jaden leaned in enough that the doors opened up, allowing them to see who was occupying the room, though Syrus, Chumley and the others quickly pulled them back before they were spotted.

Jaden looked over at Alexis, seeing that she was standing still with a look of surprise on her face.

"Hey Lex, what's the matter?" Jaden asked, keeping his voice down.

Meanwhile at the Obelisk Blue Dorm...

The Shiba siblings headed over to Ryan's room to have a conversation.

"Why are you coming to my room this time?" He asked.

"We'd like to go over something with you." They said in unison.

"Okay." Ryan nodded.

"What exactly is it anyway?" He asked.

"We want to help you come up with a new deck." The three told him.

"What deck do you have in mind?" They smiled.

"Ever heard of Batterymen."

Back at the main building...

The Obelisk girl motioned for them to quiet down and they continued to listen. The mystery man repeated his demand, then grew irritated when he was refused. The sounds of a scuffle was heard, at which point Alexis stepped forward. As the doors opened up again, they saw several of the school's security guards on the floor, and Crowler pulling up his pants.

"Well… you haven't grown up much." She said, looking at the Gambler with a stern expression.

His eyes widened a little in surprise as he took in her appearance. "My, my… you have."

"Quit the compliments, Pierre." She snapped, pulling out her spirit key from around her neck. "I know you're here because you want something. Probably whatever I value most, like this spirit key, or maybe my deck? Well I have news for you, you don't have anything that I want. So beat it."

"Oh, but I do, and you know it." Giving her a cocky smirk, he pulled a red scarf from his jacket. "After all, it belonged to you."

"Yes, and you stole it from me. Remember?"

"And if you want it back, you vill duel for it!"

"You're on!" She shot back.

"So, who is this stiff, and why does he have it in for Alexis?"

Jaden and the others stood in outer area of the duel arena while Shephard and Crowler took two seats in the stands as Alexis and Pierre inserted their duel decks.

"Shall we, my *Cherie*?" Pierre smugly as his duel disk whirred to life.

Alexis grinned, "Bring it!"

"DUEL!"

Alexis: 4000

Pierre: 4000

"My draw!" Pierre drew his card and placed it on his disk, "I invoke Gamble Angel Bunny in attack mode!"

Gamble Angel Bunny: 1200/1200

What appeared on the field, looked like a cross between a Playboy Bunny and some kind of anime cosplayer, because it was an attractive girl with long brown hair, fake bunny paw gloves and feet, matching ears, and a skimpy black outfit that not only complimented her visor shades, but didn't leave much to the imagination.

Syrus smiled, face going red, "Wow...look at her..."

"Easy, Sy." Jaden smiled and shook his head, "You don't wanna go and make the Dark Magician Girl jealous, do ya?"

Syrus' face fell and his eyes went wide, "She's here?"

"I'll place this card face down, then I'll activate my Angel Bunny's effect." Pierre declared as he inserted a card into his disk, "I toss a coin, and guess heads or tails," he held up a gold coin, "If I call correctly, you lose 1000 Life Points. If I guess wrong, *I* lose 1000 Life Points. This is heads." He showed a side that looked like a knockoff of a certain eye symbol, then turned it to show a single dot on the other side, "And this is tails."

Alexis looked at the coin and nodded, "Alright..."

"Tell me, do you feel lucky, Alexis?" Pierre asked before flipping the coin high into the air. Everyone watched as the coin rose, then descended onto Pierre's hand. Without moving his hand, Pierre smiled, "Tails."

He moved his hand and the coin was heads.

Pierre's smile only widened, "I think I'll go again."

Alexis blinked at his words, "You'll wha-?"

"Hey, that's against the rules!" Syrus yelled out to him.

"Ever heard of Second Coin Toss." Kaoru said. "It will allow Pierre to flip the coin again."

Pierre flipped his coin again and caught it, "Tails." He looked under his hand and smiled, "I win! Now, Gamble Angel Bunny, you're ability activates!" he eyed Alexis, "Think of it this way, *Cherie*, you finally hit the Jackpot!"

The Bunny raised her paw to the sky and Alexis covered herself as a shower of solid gold coins rained down on her, taking a chunk of points out.

Alexis: 3000

Pierre: 4000

*'Okay, Alexis, pull it together.*' She thought as she glared at the duelist across from her.

"For *mon finale*, I'll lay down a face down card." Pierre finished as he slipped another card into his disk.

"Now it's my turn." Alexis said, drawing a card. "I summon Cyber Tutu in Attack Mode."

Her pink-haired ballerina spun onto the field.

Cyber Tutu: 1000/800

"Check this out. If you don't have any monsters that are weaker than my dancer here, she gets to pull a pirouette on your face." Alexis added. "Now, Cyber Tutu, attack him directly with Pounding Pirouette."

Pierre pressed a button on his disk as Cyber Tutu began to spin rapidly, creating a cyclone. "I play my face-down, Fairy Box. This can be activated whenever you attack me. I toss my pretty coin into the air and if I call it right, your damage goes to zero," he said before flipping his coin into the air again. "Heads!"

He moved his hand away to show that it wasn't heads.

Syrus grinned. "Hey, it's tails."

"For now." Jaden murmured.

"You are correct." Pierre said with a smile. "I play Second Coin Toss once more. Remember, I get to flip my coin again. Heads!"

Alexis scowled as, that time, the coin landed on heads and then watched as the cyclone around Tutu vanished.

"I'll place two cards face down and end my turn." She said.

"And I shall now end this duel." The Gambler stated.

Alexis stared at him before shaking her head with a slight smile.

"You haven't changed one bit." She said.

"You watch your tongue." Pierre snapped.

"I still see the scared little boy you still are." She replied.

Pierre glared at her. "Shut up! I'm not scared. I'm a winner. Remember? I never lost a game, except to you."

Jaden, Syrus, and Chumley looked at each other, shrugged and glanced back at Alexis.

"Mind filling in the peanut gallery?" Jaden asked.

Alexis nodded. "With pleasure. It all started when the two of us were real young," she began.

**Flashback**

"You were the new student. No friends, no clue, just a cute smile. But we all pitched in and made you feel welcomed. We were your new family, and how did you treat your new brothers and sisters? You ripped us off, one by one!"

*"Hey, Alexis, I love your scarf." One kid said.*

*Alexis looked at the scarlet scarf that she held in her hands. "Thanks, it was my mother's," she said.*

*"I won! I beat you!" A voice shouted.*

*Alexis and her friend turned to see a kid holding up a shiny, red toy car.*

*"I guess I get this, huh?" The kid said.*

*Pierre nodded. "Oui. So,"—he held up another toy from his side of the table—"double or nothing?"*

"You just had so much money and so many toys that you kept gambling, and gambling, and gambling until they finally lost! You ended up taking everything from everybody and I wasn't gonna let you get away with it."

*Alexis walked over to Pierre's desk, which was littered with numerous toys.*

*"All right, Pierre, give those things back." She said.*

*"Only if you beat me." Pierre shot back, turning to her and then eyeing the scarf in her pocket. "But, first, you must wager. How about that scarf? It's very pretty, no?"*

*"Fine, you're on, but we play Duel Monsters."*

*"Duel Monsters?"*

*(Later)*

*Alexis smiled as she placed her monster card across from Pierre's weaker monster. "I win," she said.*

*Pierre growled, glaring at her. "You cheated!" he accused.*

*Alexis shrugged as she gathered her cards. "Just gotta know how to play the game. I'd be happy to teach you," she offered as she stood up.*

*"You can't leave." Pierre protested before he looked at her pocket. "Not before I take this." He reached out and swiped the red scarf from her jacket. "So, who's the loser now?"*

*Before she could do anything, Pierre ran out of the classroom, scarf held tight in his hand while Alexis cried.*

**End Flashback**

"You stole it, a gift that my mom gave me. It was her favorite scarf." Alexis said, staring Pierre down. "You know why? Because you're not a gambler, you're a thief, and crooks like you always go down."

Pierre scoffed. "*Tres bien*, but of course,"—he pulled out the scarf—"your scarf has become"—he lightly kissed the fabric—"my favorite good luck charm."

Alexis raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Well, not for long." She said.

"Hm." Pierre said before he tucked the scarf back into his pocket.

"I don't need luck to beat you." He said as he drew a card. "And I pay 500 Life Points to keep my Fairy Box on the field."

Alexis: 3000

Pierre: 3500

"Next, I'll play my Bunny's Special Ability." He added and flipped the gold coin again. "Heads!"

He caught the coin and looked at it, revealing it was tails.

"All right, once again." He said before tossing the coin again. "Tails!" He caught it before looking at it and smiling. "Correct!"

Alexis shielded herself as gold coins rained down on her again.

"Now, I'll summon my Angel Bunny's cute twin." Pierre added, placing the card on his disk and an identical brunette girl in a bunny outfit appeared. "Now, my Angel Bunny, attack her Cyber Tutu!"

The bunny hopped into the air and began to descend on the pink-haired dancer*. He's not using her Special Ability?* Alexis thought before she pressed a button on her disk. "Not so fast! I play my face-down, Doble Passe. Check it out, this card sends all that damage to me instead, and then you take damage equal to Cyber Tutu's Attack Points." A storm of cards flew at and past her.

Alexis: 800

Pierre: 3500

She pointed toward Pierre before adding, "Go, Cyber Tutu, get him." She ordered and her dancer spun across the field, turning into strong winds that blew past Pierre's monsters and slammed into him.

Alexis: 800

Pierre: 2500

Pierre lowered the arm he had used to shield himself from the winds.

"I'm far from finished. Now, my other Angel Bunny attacks your dancing dolt." He said and his other bunny sent her own flurry of cards at the dancer, destroying her.

Alexis: 600

Pierre: 2500

"You're mine now, *Cherie*." Pierre said with a smile.

Alexis glared at him.

"It all comes down to this." She murmured before she drew a card and then inserted one into her duel disk and saying, "First, I'll place this card face down and then,"—she placed another card on her disk— "I play the Spell Scapegoat. This card lets me summon four sheep tokens in Defense Mode."

Four small sleeping sheep appeared on the field, each one was a different color.

Again, Pierre scoffed at her move. "You're only extending your play, Cherie, and not even by that long. Now, let's dance." He drew a card. "I pay 500 more Life Points to keep my Fairy Box here."

Alexis: 600

Pierre: 2000

"Now, I'll summon Sand Gambler in Attack Mode," he added and brown-haired man in a suit with a bow tie appeared on the field between the Angel Bunnies.

"See, with him on the field, I get to toss this coin," Pierre said, holding up the coin, "and if it comes up heads three times in a row, all your monsters are *fini*. But, if I get tails, then all my monsters will bid you a fond *au revoir*."

"Three heads? And with that Second Coin Toss on the field, Alexis might be in a bit of trouble." Jaden said. "Unless at least one coin toss stays tails after using Second Coin Toss."

"Shall we, *cherie*?" Pierre said before flipping the coin; it was heads.

"If I get two more, your beasts go bye." He said with a chuckle as he flipped the coin again and it landed on tails.

"Hold on, don't you forget my card." Pierre said with a nod at his Second Coin Toss card before he flipped his coin again and it was heads.

"That makes two." Pierre said before he flipped the coin for a final time and it landed on heads.

He smiled. "Third time's a charm. Who is the lucky one?" he said.

"Not Lex." Jaden murmured.

"No way." Syrus murmured with a shake of his head.

"Sand Gambler, do your thing. Destroy all her monsters." Pierre said and his monster glowed with a blue air and each of Alexis' sheep tokens exploded one by one.

"I love it when things come together." Pierre said with a chuckle as the smoke began to clear. "Look at me. I'm unbeatable.

We'll see about that, Alexis thought as she revealed her face-down. "I reveal my faced-own, Hallowed Life Barrier. If I discard just one card from my hand, all damage I take from this turn goes to zero." She said as she discarded a card.

"Lucky move." Pierre said with a scoff. "All for 'nought."

"We'll see about that." Alexis said before she drew a card. I tried to be your friend, Pierre. I tried to teach you the game that I love, but you just used it to be a thief and now you're about to get a lesson that's long overdue. "I play the Spell, The Warrior Returning Alive, which allows me to add a Warrior-type to my hand." She retrieved a card and placing it on her disk as she added, "And now I summon her. Welcome back, Cyber Tutu."

Her pink-haired ballerina returned to the field.

Cyber Tutu: 1000/800

"That's not all." Alexis added as she held up another card. "By playing the Spell Prima Light, I can now Tribute Cyber Tutu in order to summon Cyber Prima!"

Tutu vanished to be replaced by a tall slender woman with long white hair and a red mask over her face in a pale blue and gray long-sleeved bodysuit; she also had dark blue boots, two yellow hoops crisscrossing around her waist, two yellow hoops around each of her wrists and two yellow hoops around each of her shoulders.

Cyber Prima: 2300/1000

"When she's summoned, her Special Ability destroys all Spell cards on the field," Alexis added and Pierre looked dismayed as his Second Coin Toss card shattered.

"Now, when I attack, it will finally be my turn to say au revoir." Alexis added with a confident smile.

"Excuse! I still have my Fairy Box Trap Card." Pierre reminded her. "If I choose my coin toss right one more time, no damage comes from you and then my Sand Gambler destroys your Prima."

Alexis giggled. "It all comes down to this then, a single coin toss, because your Second Coin Toss was destroyed. I was wondering why you weren't using your second Gamble Angel Bunny's Special Ability and then I got it. It was clear. You couldn't risk it. Without your Second Coin Toss, you'd have lost every time."

"Be quiet!" Pierre shouted.

"You're not a winner." Alexis said with a shake of her head. "Pierre, you're not even a gambler. You're just a scared kid back in school. Now,"—she pointed to the weakest monster on Pierre's field—"Cyber Prima, attack Sand Gambler."

Pierre took a step back as Cyber Prima spun, creating a cyclone that spun across the field toward him, before he gritted his teeth. "It comes down to this," he said before he flipped the coin and caught it. "Tails, please."

"Sorry, but if you play too much, the house will win, Pierre." Alexis said.

Pierre looked down at his hand and saw that he had called the wrong coin side.

"Cyber Prima, finish him off." Cyber Prima landed a double chop on the Sand Gambler, knocking him off the field and destroying as well as knocking out the last of Pierre's Life Points.

Alexis: 600

Pierre: 0

Everyone cheered at Alexis' victory.

Pierre fell to one knee as Cyber Prima vanished from the field along with his monsters.

"You just got lucky." He yelled, "*femme fatale*."

"Pierre, I beat you because I don't believe in luck," Alexis said as she deactivated her duel disk. "I work hard and I play even harder. That's how I won. Luck is a loser's excuse."

As Alexis turned to walk away to join the rest of her friends, Pierre bowed his head and pulled out the red scarf from his pocket. "I'm sorry, *desiree*, but the only reason I wanted to duel you is because I am in love with you."

"I thought if I beat you, that maybe you would fall in love with me, Alexis." Pierre admitted.

Alexis turned to face him, just in time to catch the red scarf Pierre tossed at her.

"I guess this is farewell." Pierre said with a sigh before he brightened. "Unless, of course, you would want to come with me? Please?"

"Thank you for returning my scarf, but the answer is no." Alexis said firmly.

Pierre hung his head in disappointment. "Then… I bid you adieu."

He turned and walked away.