Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: Academy of Chaos

Fan Fiction by: scififan599

Yu-Gi-Oh! (Including GX, 5D's, Zexal, and Arc-V) original creator: Kazuki Takahashi

Chapter 2: The Shifting Pendulum

Yuzuki had been wondering for a long time what IDA would be like, and now she finally had her answer.

It was even better than she imagined it would be.

Tokyo had always been crowded, given the lack of space, but IDA managed to carve out its own little world with far more space than other schools. To Yuzuki, this was an indication of the importance Dueling wielded in the world.

IDA consisted of six different buildings: three of these were dormitories, each designated to one of the three age-groups at the academy: first-years or freshmen, second-years or juniors, and third-years or seniors.

The fourth building was devoted to various duel techniques, including several arenas and stadiums for duels to take place. Because of this, it was the largest and most central building at the Academy, taken up about half of the campus area.

The fifth building was similarly academic, but was instead focused on science, mathematics, languages, and more general academic courses. Contrary to popular belief, Duel Academies did teach the same courses as regular high schools did, they just placed less focus on them.

Finally, the sixth building was a combination of entrance and dining hall, with an entrance area facing outwards towards Tokyo, the cafeteria - along with several different restaurants to buy food - taking up most of the lower levels, and an auditorium where students gathered either for announcements or their own activities taking up the entire upper floor.

It was in this auditorium where Yuzuki now stood in a crowd of several hundred. She had already changed into her new school uniform - a white jacket with red and gold shoulder pads and cuffs with a red neckerchief, a red skirt, black stockings and pink sneakers. If she was right, the entire student body, roughly one thousand teenagers, was gathered here. It was the only part of the Academy she had seen, but it left a good impression. The room was massive, easily able to fit in 4 of the Duel Fields her exam had been in. Most of the room was bare, but there was a raised platform on the far side of the room with a podium. That was where the faculty would be.

"What's taking so long?" Yuya groaned next to her. Unlike her, he had already changed into his IDA uniform - the same jacket as hers along with red pants. Unlike most of the male students, Yuya did not wear the tie, and was in fact wearing the jacket on the shoulders like a cape, held in place by a chain on his upper chest. His orange shirt and brown belt, alongside a necklace in the shape of a pendulum he'd received from his father, were instead the most prominent parts of his wardrobe. "We've been standing here for ten minutes. Who are we waiting for?"

"The director of the Academy," Yuzuki whispered back at him. "He's supposed to give a speech welcoming us. And of course he's late, he's also the CEO of the Akaba Corporation, the company that set up IDA to begin with."

Yuya frowned. "You'd think he'd be satisfied with just one job and get someone else to-."

"Quiet!" the person behind them whispered. "He's here!"

On the stage, a dozen people came from a side door and walked up the platform, taking seats on either side of the podium. Yuzuki only recognized one of them - a pale, thin man in a royal blue uniform with long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. As Dr. Crowler took his seat, he looked in her direction, and apparently he saw her, as his face turned red and his nostrils flared.

Great, Yuzuki thought. I haven't even started and I already have one of my teachers against me.

Yuzuki turned away from Crowler to watch as another man came out of the side door and walked up to the podium, and started to speak. Yuzuki started in surprise. He was not what she expected.

"Welcome, all of you, to the International Duel Academy of Tokyo," the man said. He was thin and pale like Crowler, but that was where the similarities ended. He had layered hair, which despite his youth was very gray, with the front layer being a lighter shade and the ends flicking upwards. His eyes were a rare shade of violet and hidden behind a pair of red-framed glasses. Despite his status as director of IDA, he was dressed casually in a dark-blue sweater, white pants that ended above his ankles, white shoes without socks, and a long red scarf around his neck with both ends trailing after him. "My name is Akaba Reiji, and I am the Director of IDA and CEO of the Akaba Corporation."

Whispers started to break out but were silenced almost immediately. Before they were, Yuya turned to Yuzuki and said, "I didn't think he'd be so young." Yuzuki nodded in response.

Yuya was right. Akaba Reiji was young, in his late-teens or early-twenties if Yuzuki had to guess. She didn't know much about the Akaba Corporation, only that it had built IDA and was, in collaboration with Industrial Illusions in America, responsible for the rise of Solid Vision, the technology that rendered monsters in holograms and had made dueling so popular. She did remember hearing once that the previous CEO had left the company to his son, but she had assumed that the son was, if not as old as her father, at least closer to his age than her's.

Akaba looked out over the crowd and continued his speech. "You who stand before me today are the elite. The best of the best. No other duel academy places as high standards on its students as this one. And just as we place our faith in you, you must place your faith in us. When you leave this academy, you will be prepared for the world ahead. You will be prepared to enter the pro leagues and face the greatest duelists there are. Of course, not all of you will succeed."

Akaba paused, swept the room again, and then continued. "But each of you will be given the opportunity to succeed. Taking advantage of that opportunity will be completely up to you. It is my hope that each and every one of you does just that. I wish all of you luck in your endeavors.

"Now," he added. "I should tell all of you that there will be a major event here at IDA in a few months time, but not all of you will be allowed to participate. Only those of you who I believe have shown the greatest potential will become involved. So until then, do your best to succeed if you wish to be a part of it. If not, then simply speak to one of our staff, and they will inform me of your choice."

Finishing up, he added, "All of you are here because you earned it. I want you all to remember that. I wish all of you a good year ahead, and good luck in your first classes tomorrow." Stopping there, he walked off the platform and out through the side door while the students and faculty applauded politely.

While clapping, Yuzuki leaned in to Yuya. "He's certainly intense," she said. "I don't think he smiled once in that speech."

"He didn't," Yuya said while smiling. "What do you think this major event will be?"

"Hopefully a Duel Tournament of some kind," Yuzuki responded. "That would give us both the chance to really show what we can do." Turning towards the exit along with everyone else, she said, "Come on, let's go to the freshman dorm. I want to know who our roommates are."

On their way out, she spotted Leila Thompson, who was already in her uniform, not that far ahead of her. Pushing through the crowd, she came up to her. "Hi, Thompson-san."

Leila turned to her and gave a little smile. "Hello Fujita-san. You too, Sakaki-san," she nodded at Yuya as he came up behind them." Would you mind calling me Leila? I'm used to it back home."

"Alright," Yuzuki said. "Where is home by the way? Yuya told me it was the U.K., but he didn't go into specifics."

"Liverpool," Leila said. "It's in northern England, most famous for its football club. My two brothers are huge fans."

Yuzuki nodded in understanding. "My father and I aren't football fans, but our neighbors are. We could sometimes hear them through the walls when they were watching games." Changing the subject, Yuzuki asked, "Which floor are you on in the dormitories? Yuya and I are on opposite ends of the fifth."

"I'm on the third floor," Leila answered. "The number of the Empress, a sign of growth and fertility."

"Oh yeah," Yuzuki said, grinning in understanding. "Yuya told me you ran a Prophecy deck. Which card is the fifth?"

"The Hierophant," Leila responded. "A bridge between humanity and the divine. A teacher of wisdom."

"I have no idea what that means," Yuya said, entering the conversation. "But speaking of your deck, the Prophecy archetype has Xyz members. Do you know how to Xyz Summon?"

"I just have one Xyz Monster," Leila said. "Why? Do you not have any?"

Yuya's cheeked turned red, and Yuzuki answered for both of them. "Neither of us have Xyz Monsters, or Synchro or Fusion Monsters. We haven't been able to find any that fit our decks. Not yet at least."

Turning to Yuya, Leila asked, "I saw Yuzuki's deck at the entrance exams, but I didn't see your's. What deck do you run, if I may ask?"

"An Odd-Eyes/Performapal like hers," Yuya answered. "But I supplement mine with Magician Pendulum monsters. She doesn't use them. My ace card is also different than hers'."

"Only by one word," Yuzuki responded, a small smile on her face. "Our fathers taught both of us everything we know. I thought his father's deck was cooler, so I set up an Odd-Eyes/Performapal deck of my own."

"Your father," Leila said, turning from Yuya to her. "Fujita Shuzo, one of the co-pioneers of Pendulum Summoning."

Yuzuki's smile became a little forced. "Yeah, him. Yuya's father is Sakaki Yusho, his partner, and the more famous of the two."

"You do not like your father?"

"No, I love him, it's just -," Yuzuki sighed. "Whenever people find out who I am, they look at me with expectations or awe, but it isn't because of what I've done or who I am, it's because of who my father is. I don't want that. I want them to know me because of what I've done. I want to be judged on my own accomplishments, not his." Yuzuki turned to look at Yuya. "Yuya and his dad are similar, but he doesn't want to break away from him. He wants to be just like him."

"Can you blame me?" Yuya shot back. "Someone should try to be like him while he's gone."

"Gone?" Leila asked with a frown. "Is your father on vacation?"

"I don't know," Yuya answered haltingly. "He disappeared about three years ago, just left me and my mother alone. There's been no trace of him since, but I know he'll come back." Yuya said the last part a little louder and firmer. "He wouldn't have left without a very good reason."

"Looks like we're here," Yuzuki interrupted, looking up at the freshmen dorm. It was ten stories high, with each floor divided into two sections, one for the boys and the other for the girls. "We'll walk with you to the third floor, Leila."

"Thank you," Leila said. As they entered, they paused and took in the common area. It was surprisingly spacious, with several tables, each with four chairs, and a couple couches facing a television at the far end. There were hallways on either side that led to the rooms, with a staircase in the middle of the left hallway.

The three of them walked up the stairs to the third floor in silence, partly because they didn't want to talk, but also because there were other people running up and down the stairs, shouting at each other. When they finally reached the third floor, Leila stepped out on the landing and then turned to Yuzuki and Yuya and said, "Goodbye. I'll see the two of you at dinner."

"See you," they responded, then continued up the stairs. Yuzuki noticed that Yuya was looking down at his feet, like he usually did when he was thinking of his father these days. She reached out and took his hand in hers and squeezed. He didn't look up, but he squeezed right back, letting her know he appreciated it.

They broke off holding hands when they got to the fifth floor landing. Like the first floor, and probably like all the floors, Yuzuki suspected, there was a central common area, except this one only had chairs and tables, with no television around. Yuzuki's section was the closer one, with Yuya's being on the other side of the building.

"Meet you in the common area later?" Yuya asked.

"Sure," Yuzuki said. "I'll try and bring my roommate. You try and bring yours."

"Okay."

Yuzuki walked down the hallway to her dorm. It was in the very center of the hallway on the left. When she reached it, she tested the knob to see if it was open. Seeing it was, she opened the door and went into her room.

She'd been told the suitcase of her things she brought with her would be brought to her room while she was at the assembly; and there it was, on the bed on the left. There was a desk and a wardrobe on the same side, both bare, both hers. The right side of the room was a different story.

It had the same setup as the left - bed, desk, and wardrobe - but none were bare. The bed had a pink blanket over it, and a purple suitcase over that. The wardrobe had a white cloth on top of it, on which there were several toiletries and school books. The desk in turn had a laptop and several Duel Monsters cards spread over it. The most prominent feature was the poster over the desk, which had an image of an idol girl with a few female monsters behind her. The one who all this belonged to - Yuzuki's roommate - was sitting at the desk chair, typing into her laptop. She apparently heard the door open, as she turned to look at Yuzuki and broke out in a big grin.

"Hi!" she said, getting up from the chair. "I'm Milly Jones, from Melbourne, Australia. I take it you're my roommate?"

Milly Jones had a head of black hair in a bob-cut and blue eyes. She wore the same uniform as Yuzuki, only she somehow managed to make it look stylish. She was very pretty in a girly sort of way.

"Yes," Yuzuki answered. "I'm Fujita Yuzuki, from, here in Tokyo, actually."

"Oh, nice!" Milly said, still wearing that big grin. Yuzuki found herself wondering if Milly wasn't able to frown. "I heard of you, you know. You're the duelist who defeated Professor Crowler at the entrance exams!"

"Oh," Yuzuki responded, feeling her cheeks turn a little red. "I, uh, requested the Type 2 test. I wanted to see if I could beat it."

"Well, you did," Milly said. "Is it true that you run a Pendulum deck? I run a Melodious deck myself."

"Melodious?" Yuzuki repeated in confusion. Then she remembered the Melodious archetype. "Oh, I've heard of those monsters. One of the Fusion-based decks." Looking at Milly's poster, she said, "From the poster and the deck, I take it you want to be a Duel Idol?"

Milly's smile somehow got bigger. "You got it! I want to entertain people with a combination of music and dueling! Say, would you like to duel sometime? I would love to see your deck in action."

Yuzuki found herself grinning. Milly's enthusiasm was infectious. "Sure, but right now I want to set my side of the room up, and I promised a friend that I would meet him in the common area after that."

"A friend?" Milly asked. "And a boy? Are you and he-?"

"N-No," Yuzuki said, her face turning even redder than before. "He's my best friend, but that's it." Pausing, she added, "I told him I'd try to bring my roommate. Do you want to meet him?"

"Sure," Milly responded. "I actually haven't made any friends, and I would like to make some."

Yuzuki spent the next half hour setting up her side of the room. It was still sparser than Milly's side, with Yuzuki having brought fewer things since her family lived in Tokyo. Her bedspread was black on one side and pink on the other. Her Duel Disk, which doubled as her personal computer, laid on her desk. As she attached it to her wrist, she turned to Milly, who had helped her with her bed, but who was sitting at her desk again.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Sure," Milly answered, getting up from her desk. "The common area of this floor, right?"

"Yes."

Milly and Yuzuki left their room, locking it behind them. It was roughly 2 pm - they'd have plenty of time to explore the school before going to dinner. As they entered the common area, Yuzuki saw Yuya at one of the tables. She walked up to him.

"Hi Yuya," Yuzuki said, then gestured to Milly. "This is Milly Jones, from Sydney, Australia."

"A pleasure to meet you," Yuya said, getting out of his chair and bowing. "Sakaki Yuya, freshman, from here in Tokyo."

"It's very good to meet you," Milly said, also bowing. "Yuzuki told me you're her best friend and your father is a pro duelist."

Before Yuya could respond, Yuzuki interrupted. "I thought you were going to bring your roommate. Has he not arrived yet?"

"No, he's here," Yuya said, and for some reason looked a little nervous. "It's just, ah . . ."

Milly gave a stifled gasp, looking over Yuya's shoulder. Looking where Milly was, Yuzuki felt herself stiffen. A boy had come out from the boy's section, and he was definitely the largest guy Yuzuki had ever seen. He was a full head taller than Yuya but seemed even bigger, given that he was incredibly stocky and muscular, with black hair done into a large pompadour tied down by a red band. It didn't help that the first-year uniform, which fit Yuya and Yuzuki perfectly, was only a vest on him, with it not even going down to his waist. Underneath it he wore a buttoned white coat with gold trim and white pants. He also wore a white sash tied around his upper body, with the knot being on his left shoulder, and heavy metal sandals.

He stopped in the entrance and looked at the three of them. Narrowing his tiny gray eyes, he asked in a gruff voice, "Are you two friends of Sakaki-san?"

Yuzuki instinctively straightened her back to make herself taller. "I'm Fujita Yuzuki, his best friend."

He broke out a small smile and bowed in introduction. "I'm the manly Gongenzaka Noboru, Sakaki-san's roommate. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Yuzuki let herself relax. The guy looked fearsome, but she could tell he was a nice guy. "Good to meet you, Gongenzaka. This is Milly Jones," she said gesturing to Milly Jones, who bowed in turn. Turning back to Gongenzaka, Yuzuki continued, "I think I've heard your name before. Are you from here in Tokyo?"

"No," Gongenzaka answered. "I come from Nagoya. You likely heard my father's name though - he runs the Gongenzaka Dojo."

"That's it!" Yuzuki exclaimed. "That prep school teaches Steadfast Dueling, doesn't it?"

"Steadfast Dueling?" Milly asked.

"It's a certain style of dueling," Yuya answered. "Gongenzaka can show you sometime, right Gongenzaka?"

"The man, Gongenzaka, would be delighted to," Gongenzaka affirmed. Turning to Yuya, he said, "You said you were planning to explore the campus, right?"

"Yes, with Yuzuki," Yuya said. "Do you want to come too?"

"I have not seen the whole school yet, and knowing is half the battle," Gongenzaka replied. "I'll join you."

"Me too," Milly said. "Let's go!"

They spent the next two hours walking around campus and exploring the buildings. They didn't go into the junior or senior dorms, but did spend time looking at them from the outside. They spent most of the time in the academic building, seeing which classrooms they would go to. Along the way, the four of them shared the stories of their entrance exams. Milly found Gongenzaka's story particularly incredulous for one reason.

"Your deck has no Spell or Trap Cards in it?" she said for the third time.

"No," Gongenzaka answered for the third time. "My Steadfast Dueling works best without Spell or Trap Cards."

"Still, I can't imagine a deck built that way," Milly said. "I'm looking forward to seeing yours' in action, Gongenzaka."

"As I am to yours', Ms. Jones," Gongenzaka replied. "I have never heard of a Duel Idol before."

"That's because there aren't any," Milly said. "I intend to be the first."

They walked into the central building while talking, and soon got distracted by all the arenas. If Yuzuki had to guess, there were about nine arenas total in the building, with the last one being four times as large and having space in the center for four Dueling Fields. The main feature of this arena was the racing track around it, which made Milly frown.

"Why does this arena have a racing track?" she asked.

'It's for Turbo Duels," a voice said behind them. They turned back to look, and saw three boys hanging around in the stands above them. The one who had talked had layered brown and blonde hair with gray-blue eyes. He wore the same uniform as the rest of them, but wore a buttoned-up dark blue shirt. He had an arrogant look in his eyes as he looked at Milly, Gongenzaka, Yuzuki, and Yuya. "None of you will be participating in those, sadly. You don't learn them until second-year."

"Who are you?" Yuya asked.

"Show respect!" one of the other guys said. He had brown eyes and purple-brown hair. "He is Sawatari Shingo, and he's going to be the best duelist of the freshman class!"

"Doubtful," Yuzuki said. "That's going to be me or Yuya. Though," she added, "he might get into the top ten."

"Oh really?" Sawatari said with a smirk. "Then how about a duel right now?"

"I'd love to," Yuzuki said.

"Not you," Sawatari said. "Him," and pointed to Yuya. "You said it would be you or Yuya, and I saw your duel with Professor Crowler. I want to know what your friend can do."

"Sure, I'll duel you," Yuya said, then checking his watch, started and added, "but dinner will start in 20 minutes. Could we duel after that?"

Sawatari smirked again. "Sure, I'll meet you at Field 4 after dinner. Oh," he added, remembering something, "I don't know your names. What are they?"

"I'm Sakaki Yuya," Yuya answered for them. Gesturing to the others, he said, "This is my roommate Gongenzaka Noboru, and my friends Milly Jones and Fujita Yuzuki."

"Sakaki," Sawatari said, narrowing his eyes. "And Fujita? I see now how you got into the Academy. Your fathers are both good duelists. Though," he added. "I'm going to surpass them one day."

"We'll see about that, won't we?" Yuzuki said. "Come on, we should go to dinner."

Both groups ended up going to the dining hall, but stayed separate the entire way. Sawatari and his friends went to their own table, while Yuzuki and Yuya looked around for someone in particular. Seeing her, Yuzuki waved at Leila, who waved back and motioned them to her.

"Good to see the two of you," Leila said. Looking at Milly and Gongenzaka, she said, "I take it these are your roommates?"

"Yeah," Yuzuki said. "This is Milly Jones, from Australia, and Gongenzaka Noboru, from Nagoya."

"A pleasure," Leila said to them. "I'm Leila Thompson, from England." Turning back to Yuzuki, she said, "Did you pick a fight with those boys in the corner? They've been shooting glares at you."

Yuzuki looked around and saw Leila was talking about Sawatari and his friends. Sawatari himself was eating, but his two friends were occasionally taking turns to glare at Yuzuki and Yuya.

'We met them at one of the Duel Arenas," Yuzuki answered. "The tallest one, Sawatari Shingo, challenged Yuya to a duel after dinner."

"Oh," Leila said, her eyes widening. "Do you mind if I come watch? I'd like to see another Pendulum deck in action."

"Sure," Yuzuki said, smiling. "But right now, it's time to eat."

Dinner lasted about an hour, after which the five of them headed back to the arenas, specifically Arena 4. Leila had looked up the rules on their way there, and told them that students were allowed to duel in them until 9pm, which was about 3 hours away, so they would have plenty of time to duel.

When they entered the arena, Yuzuki took it all in again. They'd briefly passed through it earlier in the day, and thus she hadn't had time to study it. Now that she had time, she could see that the arena was massive. There was a central raised platform where the Duel Field was, surrounded by stands on all sides that almost went up to the ceiling. Sawatari and his friends were already there, with Sawatari on the platform wearing a forest green Duel Disk while his two friends were sitting in the front row.

"Well, well," Sawatari said as Yuya got up onto the platform. "I was starting to wonder whether you'd show. Thought perhaps you might have chickened out."

"Not a chance," Yuya said. "I never pass up a duel."

"Good to know," Sawatari said with another smirk. "Ready?"

"Ready," Yuya said. He placed his Duel Disk, a red model, on his wrist and then activated it, projecting a yellow blade. Sawatari likewise activated his Disk, projecting a lime green blade.

"Duel!" they shouted.

Sawatari Shingo: 4000 LP

Sakaki Yuya: 4000 LP

"I'll take the first turn!" Yuya said. Looking at the cards in his hand, he picked one and placed it on his Duel Disk. "For my first move, I'll summon Performapal Whip Snake in Attack Position!"

A hologram formed on Yuya's field, taking the appearance of a purple cobra wearing a polka-dot bow tie and top hat.

Performapal Whip Snake ATK 1700 DEF 900 LVL: 4

Milly was surprised. "A Performapal? You mean Sakaki runs the same deck you do Yuzuki?"

"Yes," Yuzuki answered. "His dad ran one while in the pro leagues, and we both built ours off of his."

"I'll end my turn there. Your move, Sawatari!"

Back in the stands, Yuzuki and the others were talking amongst themselves.

"1700 attack points?" Milly said. "He's probably hoping Sawatari doesn't summon something more powerful."

"Won't matter if he did," Yuzuki said. When they all turned to look at her, she explained, "During the Main Phase of either player's turn, Whip Snake can switch the attack and defense of one monster on the opponent's field. Most level 4 monsters with 1800 attack or higher have a much lower defense."

"So Yuya is betting Sawatari won't summon a monster with 1800 or more attack and defense points?" Gongenzaka asked, then turned back to watch the duel. "A risky bet."

Back at the duel, Sawatari had looked up Performapal Whip Snake on his Duel Disk. Seeing its ability, he frowned.

That's going to be tough to get around, he thought. "My turn! Draw!" He shouted and drew from his Deck. Looking at his card, he smiled. Or not.

"For my first move, I summon Lightning Hoverboard!" Sawatari said and placed the card on his Duel Disk. Lightning Hoverboard looked like a darts board stuck in a skull's mouth, with three arcs of lightning at the corners.

Lightning Hoverboard ATK 1400 DEF 1200 LVL: 4

"Next," he said, "I activate the Spell Card Dart Striker's Delight!" placing a card in his Spell & Trap Card Zone. The card appeared on the field, with an image of a dart being thrown at a dart board with three other darts on it already.

"This Spell Card allows me to lower the attack of one monster on my opponent's field by half the combined attack and defense points of one monster on my field," Sawatari said. "My Lightning Hoverboard has 1400 attack and 1200 defense. Combined, that's 2600, so your Performapal Whip Snake loses 1300 attack points!"

"What?" Yuya exclaimed with a panicked look as a dart flew out of Sawatari's card and impaled Whip Snake's tail. Whip Snake struggled to get away, but its tail was pinned to the ground.

Performapal Whip Snake ATK 400

"Furthermore, this card prevents my Lightning Hoverboard's attack from being changed by a card effect until your next End Phase!" Sawatari said. "Hoverboard attack! Lightning Shots!"

Lightning Hoverboard launched a torrent of lightning at Whip Snake, which destroyed it and caused Yuya to flinch on instinct as his Life Points lowered.

Yuya: 3000 LP

Sawatari smirked at Yuya's predicament. "I'll end my turn with one card face-down. Your move, Sakaki-san."

In the stands, Kakimoto and Yamabe were cheering for Sawatari, who turned and waved at them. He had to admit, he liked people cheering for him. People cheering for his opponents, however, that made him unhappy.

On the other side, Yuya's friends were worried for him. All except Yuzuki. She knew that Yuya would bounce back from this. In fact, he occasionally liked to let the opponent think they had the upperhand so as to make his victory be more entertaining.

Yuya himself was contemplating his next move, looking at the cards in his hand. He had most of the cards he needed, but there was one missing. He'd have to get it on this draw.

Placing his hand on his deck, Yuya shouted, "My turn! Draw!" and drew. Looking at the card he drew, he smiled. Noticing his smile, Yuzuki also smiled. Yuya's going to put on his Entertainment guise.

Snapping his fingers above his head, Yuya shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen!" which confused everyone present - except for Yuzuki. "Behold! My field is empty! But now, I will fill it with monsters!" Picking another card from his hand in addition to the one he drew, he shouted, "With the Scale 1 Stargazer Magician and the Scale 8 Timegazer Magician, I Set the Pendulum Scale!" and placed the cards on the edge of his Duel Disk, which made the word PENDULUM appear on it.

On the field, two pillars of light appeared on either side of Yuya. On his left was a man in black robes with some kind of circular device attached to his wrist. On his right was a man in white and blue robes carrying a staff with a circle around the middle.

Stargazer Magician: ATK 1200 DEF 2400 LVL 5 PS 1

Timegazer Magician: ATK 1200 DEF 600 LVL 3 PS 8

"With this," Yuya continued shouting, "I can Summon monsters with Levels 2 through 7!"

"I wonder about that," Sawatari interrupted with a smirk.

"Huh?" Yuya exclaimed. Sawatari's smirk got bigger.

"You see," he said, "I did a little research on you before our duel. Your father helped introduce Pendulum Summoning to the world and your friend Fujita used it against Dr. Crowler. So I guessed you would use it too. And I was right." Hitting a button on his Duel Disk, he shouted, "I activate my Trap Card, Pendulum Snatcher!"

His Trap Card rose on the field. On it was a picture of a giant hand holding Stargazer Magician in its fist.

"This Trap Card allows me to take control of your Pendulum Monsters and place them in my own Pendulum Zones!"

"What?" Yuya said, taken aback.

Stargazer and Timegazer Magicians disappeared from Yuya's field and then reappeared on Sawatari's field. Sawatari and his friends laughed at Yuya's expression.

"Oh, don't feel too bad, Sakaki," Sawatari taunted him. "It's not all bad. My trap card requires that I give you a card from my hand and you also get to draw a new card." Taking a card from his hand, he threw it at Yuya. Catching it, Yuya widened his eyes.

Block Spider? he thought. With 0 attack and 100 defense, this card is worthless. Shutting his eyes, he shook his head. No, no card is worthless so long as you have faith in it.

Opening his eyes, he drew the card Pendulum Snatcher let him draw. Looking at it, he placed it on his Duel Disk. "I Summon Performapal Skeeter Skimmer in Attack Position!"

Skeeter Skimmer was a six-legged water strider with white cartoon gloves at the ends of its legs, a top hat, and a blue-white polka dot bow tie.

Performapal Skeeter Skimmer ATK 500 DEF 1600 LVL: 4

"With that, I'll end my turn," Yuya said.

Sawatari smirked. "Not much else you can do, eh Sakaki?" Placing his hand on his deck, he said, "Don't worry, I'll try to make this quick and painless. Draw!" and drew. Looking at his card, he smiled and played it.

"I activate the Spell Card Tribute Trade!" Tribute Trade showed a Deck, the cards Cyber Dragon and Cyber Dragon Drei, and a hand reaching for Cyber Dragon. "By Tributing 1 monster on my field with a Level, I can add 1 Monster from my Deck to my hand that is 1 Level higher than the Tributed monster."

Pointing to his Lightning Hoverboard, he said, "I Tribute my Level 4 Hoverboard to add the Level 5 Power Dart Striker to my hand." Hoverboard disappeared as Sawatari added the card from his Deck to his hand.

"Next," he said with his biggest smirk yet, "I'll do what you were about to do." Waving his hand in the air, he shouted, "With the Set Pendulum Scale, I can Summon monsters with Levels 2 through 7!"

Taking the three cards in his hand, he placed all three on his Duel Disk. "I Pendulum Summon Power Dart Striker, Rocket Dart Striker, and Ultimate Dart Striker!"

The three monsters that appeared were very similar. Power Dart Striker was an orange robot with a dart shooter on its right arm; Rocket Dart Striker was red with a female shape and Ultimate Dart Striker was blue with wings.

Power Dart Striker ATK 1800 DEF 700 LVL: 5

Rocket Dart Striker ATK 1900 DEF 100 LVL: 6

Ultimate Dart Striker ATK 2400 DEF 300 LVL: 7

Yuzuki started to panic. "This is bad!" she exclaimed.

Sawatari, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. "Now, Power Dart Striker, attack that insect!"

"Not so fast!" Yuya shouted. "I activate Skeeter Skimmer's effect! When it is attacked while in Attack Position, I can switch it to Defense Position and negate your attack!"

Skeeter Skimmer did just that, blocking Power Dart Striker and getting a blue aura around it to show it was in Defense Position.

Sawatari threw a tantrum. "No fair!" he shouted. "I'm supposed to win this turn!" Calming down, he smirked and said, "Oh well, at least I'll inflict some damage. Rocket Dart Striker, do what Power Dart Striker could not. Attack!"

Rocket Dart Striker attacked and destroyed Skeeter Skimmer, causing it to explode and Yuya to flinch. Noticing this, Sawatari pressed his advantage.

"Now, Ultimate Dart Striker, attack Sakaki directly!"

Ultimate Dart Striker charged at Yuya and shot him with his dart launcher. Yuya fell to his knees as his Life Points took a massive hit.

Yuya: 600 LP

"I think I'll end my turn there," Sawatari said. "Are you ready to give up yet?"

Getting back up, Yuya shook his head. "No way. I'm not scared of losing. Entertaining the audience is more important than victory."

Sawatari raised his left eyebrow. "Is it? Well, I must admit seeing the expression on your face when I took your Magicians was very entertaining."

"Oh?" Yuya said. "Then I'll have to give an even better show."

Placing his hand on his Duel Disk, he shouted, "My turn! Draw!" and drew. When he saw what his card was, he smiled. This won't win me the Duel, he thought. But it will buy me time.

"I Summon Block Spider from my hand!" Yuya said and placed the card on his Duel Disk. Block Spider, a monster made out of construction blocks, appeared on Yuya's field.

Block Spider ATK 0 DEF 100 LVL: 1

Sawatari frowned, puzzled. "The card I gave you? You do know that card is worthless right? I only included it in my Deck to give it to you for Pendulum Snatcher's effect."

"You're wrong," Yuya asserted. "No card is worthless, so long as the Duelist can find a use for it." Taking the card he drew, Yuya placed it in his Spell & Trap Card Zone. "I activate the Spell Card Mimiclay! This card allows me to switch a Level 3 or below monster in Attack Position to Defense Position, and then Special Summon Mimiclay as a monster with the same name, type, attack, defense, level, attribute, and effects. I target Block Spider for Mimiclay's effect!"

Block Spider switched to Defense Position as a second Block Spider appeared on the field, also in Defense Position.

Mimiclay ATK 0 DEF 100 LVL: 1

"Why would he do that?" Milly wondered.

"To keep Sawatari from attacking," Leila answered. When the others turned to her, she explained, "Block Spider prevents the opponent from attacking other Insect-type monsters. Since Yuya now has two of them . . . "

"Sawatari can't attack either of them!" Yuzuki exclaimed. "An attack lock!"

Sawatari, who was aware of this, scowled. "I'll tear down that lock, don't you worry," he muttered.

Yuya, meanwhile, picked two other cards from his hand. "I'll end my turn by placing these two cards face-down on the field," he said, placing them face-down. "Your move, Sawatari."

"Indeed it is," Sawatari said, smiling, "and also your last! Draw!"

Looking at the card he drew, Sawatari frowned. It would only work if he had two Spell Cards, but he didn't have - wait.

Looking at Stargazer and Timegazer Magician, Sawatari realized he did have two Spell Cards. When they were in the Pendulum Zones, Pendulum Monsters were considered Spell Cards.

Placing the card on his Duel Disk, Sawatari shouted, "I activate the Spell Card Cricket Close! This card allows me to negate the effects of 1 face-up card on your field, and all I have to do is negate the effects of 2 Spell Cards on my field."

"But he doesn't have any Spell Cards on his field," Gongenzaka interjected.

"Yes, he does," Yuzuki said, a touch of dread in her voice.

"The lady is right," Sawatari said with a wink. "While they're in the Pendulum Zones, Stargazer and Timegazer Magicians are considered Spell Cards, so I'll negate their effects to negate Mimiclay's effects!"

Dartboards formed around the three cards on the field, forcing the Magicians to revert back to cards, but Mimiclay disappeared from the field.

"What happened to Mimiclay?" Milly wondered.

"Since Mimiclay is a Normal Spell Card, having its effects negated sends it to the Graveyard," Yuzuki answered.

"And without Mimiclay, Block Spider can be attacked," Gongenzaka said.

Back on the field, Yuya activated one of his face-down cards. "I activate the Quick-Play Spell Card Draw Muscle! This card allows me to target 1 Defense Position monster on my field with 1000 or less defense points, then I draw 1 card, and if that card is a monster, then the targeted monster gains defense equal to that monster's defense!" He then did what the card said and drew 1 card, and then showed it to Sawatari.

"I drew Performapal Kaleidoscorp, which has 2300 defense points! So now Block Spider gains 2300 defense points!"

Block Spider DEF 2400

Sawatari smirked again. "Do you really think that will save you? I activate the effects of Power Dart Striker and Rocket Dark Striker! By tributing them, I can increase Ultimate Dart Striker's attack by 600 and allow it to inflict piercing damage, respectively!"

"What?" Yuya exclaimed.

Power Dart Striker and Rocket Dart Striker both disappeared from the field, while Ultimate Dart Striker's attack increased.

Ultimate Dart Striker ATK 3000

"With piercing damage, if Ultimate Dart Striker attacks, this will be over!" Milly exclaimed.

"Yuya!" Yuzuki whispered.

"Ultimate Dart Striker, attack that silly insect!" Sawatari shouted. "Ultimate Full Shoot!"

Before Ultimate Dart Striker could do that, Yuya activated his other face-down. "Trap Card! Empty Fishing! This card halves the battle damage!"

Yuya flinched as Ultimate Dart Striker's attack hit Block Spider, but thanks to Draw Muscle and Empty Fishing, he was still in the duel.

Yuya: 300 LP

"Oh come on!" Sawatari shouted. "Why won't you lose! You're ruining my moments!"

"I intend to do more than that!" Yuya shouted. "Empty Fishing also allows me to add two cards on your field that have had their effects negated to my hand!"

"Huh?" Sawatari said. "But the only cards on my field with negated effects are," he panicked suddenly, "Stargazer and Timegazer Magicians!"

"That's right," Yuya said with a smile. "So why don't you give me my Magicians back?"

With a grimace, Sawatari tossed the cards back to Yuya. On the field, the holograms of Stargazer and Timegazer burst into light since they weren't on the field anymore. In the stands, Yuzuki, Gongenzaka, Milly, and Leila were cheering.

"Yes!" Yuzuki said. "He got his Magicians back! Now he can Pendulum Summon!"

"It won't be that easy!" Sawatari warned Yuya. "During the End Phase of the turn 'Dart' monsters were Tributed, Ultimate Dart Striker summons all of them back!"

Power Dart Striker and Rocket Dart Striker reappeared on Sawatari's field, while Ultimate Dart Striker's attack returned to normal.

Power Dart Striker ATK 1800 DEF 700 LVL: 5

Rocket Dart Striker ATK 1900 DEF 100 LVL: 6

Ultimate Dart Striker ATK 2400

"I end my turn," Sawatari said. "Show me what you can do, Sakaki!"

"Don't worry Sawatari, the real fun's just getting started!" Yuya shouted back at him as he placed his hand on his deck. "My turn! Draw!"

Looking at his card, Yuya smiled. He had this duel in the bag now.

"Let's try this again," he said, picking two cards from his hand. "With the Scale 1 Stargazer Magician and the Scale 8 Timegazer Magician, I Set the Pendulum Scale!" He placed the two cards on the ends of his Duel Disk, and like before the word PENDULUM appeared on it and the monsters appeared in pillars of light on either side of his field.

"With this, I can Summon monsters with Levels 2 through 7!" While Yuya was shouting, the pendant he wore around his neck started to glow and a giant version of it appeared between the two pillars, swinging back and forth. Yuya continued his chant.

"Swing, pendulum of souls! Draw an arc of light across the aether! Pendulum Summon! Appear now! My monsters!"

Yuya placed three monsters from his hand onto his Duel Disk, which caused a portal between the pillars to open, and three lights - one purple, one yellow, and one blue - to come out of it.

"I Summon Performapal Kaleidoscorp, Performapal Turn Toad, and finally, the dragon with the dichromatic eyes, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon!"

Kaleidoscorp was a scorpion that instead of claws, had shields with stars on them and a bow tie instead of a stinger. Turn Toad was a frog in a vest, bow tie, and top hat. But as Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon had stolen the show at Yuzuki's duel against Crowler, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon drew everyone's attention.

Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon had predominately red scales with yellow armor. Like Phantom Dragon, it had a red and green orb at the ends of blades coming out of its shoulders. It also had similar body proportions and red and green eyes, but the similarities ended there. Pendulum Dragon had less armor and more red to it as well as having smaller arms than Phantom Dragon.

Performapal Kaleidoscorp ATK 100 DEF 2300 LVL 6 PS 4

Performapal Turn Toad ATK 0 DEF 800 LVL 2 PS 3

Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon ATK 2500 DEF 2000 LVL 7 PS 4

On seeing Pendulum Dragon, Leila turned to Yuzuki. "You were right. Your ace is like a mirror version of his."

Yuzuki was smiling. "Wait till you see it in action."

On the field, Yuya was getting ready. "I activate the effect of Kaleidoscorp! If you have a monster that was Summoned via Pendulum Summon, I can target one monster on my field. That monster can attack a number of times equal to the number of monsters you have on the field."

"Oh no!" Sawatari said with worry. Ultimate Dart Striker had been Pendulum Summoned and he had three monsters. So Odd-Eyes could attack 3 times.

"Odd-Eyes, attack Ultimate Dart Striker! Spiral Strike Burst!" Yuya shouted as Odd-Eyes released a torrent of red energy at Ultimate Dart Striker. As it hit it, Yuya added, "Odd-Eyes's effect activates! When it battles an opponent's monster, all battle damage you take is doubled!"

"What!?" Sawatari practically shrieked.

"Yep!" Yuya said cheerily. "Go! Reaction Force!" The blast from Odd-Eyes doubled in strength as Ultimate Dart Striker burst into light, knocking down Sawatari's Life Points

Shingo: 3800 LP

"Now Odd-Eyes, attack Rocket Dart Striker!" What happened to Ultimate Dart Striker repeated itself with Rocket Dart Striker as Sawatari lost more Life Points.

Shingo: 2600 LP

"Finally, Odd-Eyes attacks Power Dart Striker! Spiral Strike Burst and Reaction Force!" For a third time, Odd-Eyes blasted one of Sawatari's monsters, only this one knocked Sawatari off his feet.

Shingo: 1200 LP

As Sawatari got back up, he chuckled. "Impressive, I'll admit, but I still have Life Points left, and you're out of attacks."

"Afraid not," Yuya said with a smile.

"What?" Sawatari said, panicked.

"I activate the effect of Turn Toad! I switch one Defense Position monster to Attack Position, and it then gains attack equal to half its defense! I switch Block Spider to Attack Position, and then it gains 1200 attack from 2400 defense!"

"Oh no!" Sawatari screamed.

"Block Spider, attack Sawatari directly!"

Block Spider shot a web at Sawatari, which knocked him off his feet.

Shingo: 0 LP

The holograms disappeared as Yuzuki and the others came down to cheer on Yuya.

"That was amazing, Sakaki!" Milly shouted. "I never saw a duel like that!"

"I did once," Leila said with a smile. "But seeing another like it was even better."

"The manly Gongenzaka is proud to be your roommate, Sakaki-san!" Gongenzaka said.

Yuya smiled at the three of them and said, "You know what? Why don't you all just call me Yuya? It's simpler."

"They will, Yuya," Yuzuki said, and then hugged him quickly before letting go and looking at the other three. "If you're calling him Yuya, you might as well call me Yuzuki.'

"All right, Yuzuki," Leila said. Turning to Gongenzaka, she said, "So, do we call you Noboru?"

Gongenzaka shook his head. "I prefer Gongenzaka. It sounds better."

"Okay," Yuzuki said with a small laugh. Looking over Yuya's shoulder, she narrowed her eyes and said in a whisper, "Yuya."

Yuya turned around and saw Sawatari and his friends not that far. All three of them looked furious, but Sawatari closed his eyes and calmed himself down. When he opened them, he gave a grudging smile.

"Congratulations, Sakaki Yuya," he said. "Just so you know, I will beat you eventually."

Yuya smiled. "I look forward to that duel, Sawatari Shingo."

Yuya, Yuzuki and their friends left before Sawatari, Kakimoto, and Yamabe and headed back to the first-year dorm. As they did so, none of them noticed the camera that had been watching the match.

On the other end of that camera, Akaba Reiji steepled his fingers in thought. It was difficult to say whether Fujita or Sakaki was the better duelist. It was to be expected of course; Reiji knew both of their fathers, and the two of them had always been around the same skill level.

What he found most interesting though was their dragons: Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Odd-Eyes Phantom Dragon. As far as he knew, they were the only copies that existed, like with Fudo Yusei's ace card. He wondered if the fact they had those cards was proof that they possessed it, though obviously he would need more than that.

Pushing his glasses up his face, he got up from his office chair and made to leave for his bedroom. He had no idea what would happen this year at IDA, but he had a feeling that it would definitely be an interesting year.

Dart Striker's Delight Normal Spell Card

Target 1 monster on your field and 1 monster on your opponent's field. The targeted monster on your opponent's field loses ATK equal to half the combined ATK and DEF of the targeted monster on your field. The ATK of the targeted monster on your field cannot be changed by a card effect until your opponent's next End Phase.

Pendulum Snatcher Normal Trap Card

You can only activate this card is your opponent has two cards in their Pendulum Zones and you have 1 or more card(s) in your hand. Take control of the cards in your opponent's Pendulum Zones and place them in your own Pendulum Zones. You then must give your opponent 1 card from your hand, and they then draw 1 card from their Deck.

Chapter Preview

Yuzuki and Milly Jones adapt to being roommates and decide to learn more about each other through a Duel.

Next Time on Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V: Academy of Chaos. Chapter 3 – The Melodious Duel Idol

Announcements

scififan599: Something I forgot to add in the last chapter was that some cards will have their effects from the anime while others will have their effects from the real world. Character names will be based either off their Japanese names or English dubbed names. In addition, any cards I create for the sake of plot will be explained at the end of the chapter.