Chapter Text
[Central Academy Island - Slifer Red Dorm - 8:45 AM]
It was a beautiful day; birds were singing', flowers were blooming, and a gentle breeze swept across Central Academy Island, causing the trees to gently sway back and forth. The sunlight kept creeping up until it illuminated a particular room in the Slifer Red Dorm and right into the eyes of an unsuspecting boy.
He tossed and turned for a few minutes before a groan escaped his lips. Begrudgingly, he got up from his bed and, with no small amount of effort, dragged himself toward the bathroom. Once inside, he picked up the toothbrush and toothpaste, which were sitting unceremoniously at the sink's edge, and got right on to getting rid of that morning breath.
Or rather, he would’ve if he hadn’t dropped both objects as he stared at his reflection; instead of being met with himself, he was instead looking at a boy who seemed around 15 years old; his violet hair ended in blue highlights, and his crimson-colored eyes were wide in shock.
He hurriedly stumbled back into his room. Now on high alert, he quickly noticed that he wasn't in a hospital room but rather in a rather barren small bedroom. Swallowing hard and steading his breath, his eyes started to scan the room, and soon they laid on a particular object that he never thought he would see in person, a duel disk.
Waking over to the contraption, he quickly recognized it as a duel disk from the GX-era. He picked up the machine and lifted it, surprised at how light it felt.
Upon further inspection, he noticed a deck neatly placed on its respective slot, and so he placed the duel disk back in the wooden desk and removed the deck to go through it, his eyes widening as he quickly recognized the cards. It was a Predaplant deck, complete with a pristine copy of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, who was sitting at the top of the stack of cards.
He settled the deck down with shaky hands as he yet again started to look around the room, his gaze resting upon a poster depicting none other than Seto Kaiba with a Blue-Eyes White Dragon proudly standing behind him.
And that's when the realization finally fell upon him as he sank to his knees: he had somehow made his way to the world of Yu-Gi-Oh GX. He started to shake from head to toe as a gigantic smile carved itself across his face. It took absolutely every ounce of will for him to not start jumping and cheering.
Taking a deep breath, the purple-haired interloper managed to calm himself, though admittedly he was still a bit gigiddy.
Once he was back on his feet, he proudly walked over to the bathroom for a long and thorough bath; he needed to make a good first impression after all.
[10 minutes later]
Fresh out of the bath, the purple-haired interloper was now sitting on his bed tying up his shoes. His outfit of choice was a pair of ripped black jeans alongside a simple white T-shirt, and to top things off, he put on a pair of purple shoes.
Walking over to his closet, he was delighted to see a fresh Slifer Red jacket waiting for him. As soon as he placed the jacket, he felt something in its pocket. Burying his hand in the jacket’s pocket, he pulled a strange device that vaguely resembled a cell phone.
He pressed one of the buttons on the side, causing the screen to come to life.
Welcome to your Kaiba Corp issued Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
Student Name: Oleander Hemlock
Student ID: 77826734
Dormitory: Slifer Red
Date: 01/04/2004
“Oleander Hemlock…” He muttered his name under his breath; if memory didn’t fail him, oleander is an extremely venomous plant. He snorted in amusement before shoving his PDA back in his pocket as he walked to the door ready to take the new world by storm.
[Central Academy Main Building - Classroom #4 - 9:55 AM]
Arriving at the classroom, every student turned to face Oleander, who simply gave them a nervous little smile before plopping himself down on a random vacant seat near some Ra Yellow students.
“May I know why you arrived so late?” Crowler stopped writing on the chalkboard to give the purple-haired duelist a side-eye glare.
"Well, it’s not like the Slifer Red Dorm is on the other side of the island." He commented in an off-handed way, causing the Obelisk Blue headmaster to audibly huff in frustration before turning his attention to the chalkboard.
But he suddenly stopped as he turned to face the class with a big smile stamped on his face, though it somewhat faltered as he laid eyes on Oleander.
"I have a better idea; since this is the first day in the school year, why don't we kick things off with a duel?" He clasped his hands together and hummed in a manner as pleasant as glass shattering.
"Looks like we are indeed going to kickstart the year with a clowfest." Oleander remarked while resting his chin on the palm of his hand.
They were then rounded up by Crowler, who led them deeper and deeper into the building. Some were chattering while others were quietly following the Obelisk Blue headmaster, Oleander, who meanwhile was looking left and right with childlike amusement.
So much so that he didn’t notice when his fellow students all stopped moving, causing him to bump into a girl that was standing in front of him, causing her to drop the book she was holding.
"I'm so sorry, I was a bit distracted and..." He crouched down to pick and deliver the book.
"Don't worry about it; accidents happen." She reassured him with a dismissive wave before taking the book from his hands, but stopped after taking a good look at his face. "You're that boy that arrived late, aren't you?"
"Mayhaps," Oleander answered in a nonchalant way while stuffing his hands in his pockets. "The name is Oleander Hemlock, by the way." He extended a hand.
"Sadie Agawa, nice to meet you." She took the extended hand in a firm grasp and shook it.
Oleander rooked his brain back and forth after hearing the name, and that's when he remembered she was that girl who worked at the card shop alongside that old lady, Ms. Dorothy.
"Nice to meet you too; now I would love to talk some more, but I think it's time for me to face whatever Crowler has in store for me." He spoke with a slightly despondent tone.
"I wish you luck; he's famous for dishing out extra hard punishments, especially when there's a Slifer Red involved." Sadie gave him a final nod before walking away and disappearing in the small crowd.
[Central Academy Main Building - Dueling Arenas #1 - 10:00 AM]
The students were all assembled at the stands with all the Slifer Reds filling the bottom rolls, followed by the Ra Yellows and Obelisk Blue in the upper rolls. Crowler, meanwhile, was holding a stack of papers with the names of all students in his class.
“Very well, students, pay attention because I will only explain this once." He snapped his fingers, getting the universal attention of all the students, with the exception of a certain Slifer Red with hair in the shape of a Kuriboh who was busy dozing off.
“Whoever name I call here has to make their way to the Duel Field." He motioned to one of the many empty fields, “And you will duel against another student." He lowered his head and started to run a finger through the paper.
“Oleander Hemlock and Shinji Abiko, please step forward." Crowler loudly announced while making no effort in hiding his gigantic grin.
The students in question rose from their seats and started to make their way toward the designated field. Oleander couldn’t help but notice the Obelisk Blue uniform that his opponent was wearing.
“Make sure to put on a great performance for your peers” Crowler gave each student a little pat on the shoulder before urging them to take their place on the opposite sides of the Dueling Field.
Once on their respective side of the field both students drew their starting hand as the jew on the center of the duel disk went from blue to red.
Duel!
Shinji Abiko: 4000 Life Points
Oleander Hemlock: 4000 Life Points
“I will go first!” Shinji declared while yanking a card from his deck.
Turn 1: Shinji’s Turn - Cards in Hand: 6
“Let’s kick things off with a personal favorite of mine." He picked a card and slid it in his Spell/Trap Zone, “The Spell Card Gold Sarcophagus." Above his head, a see-through visage of the sarcophagus appeared.
“This bad boy allows me to banish any card from my deck, and then after two turns that card will be added to my hand." A card ejected from his deck, but instead of slipping into his pocket, he instead smirked while revealing the card.
“Kaitoptera’s effect activates if it is banished; I will be able to Special Summon it!” He then slapped the card on his duel disk, Monster Zone, causing a pterodactyl to emerge from a flash of bright light.
The dinosaur spread its wings while letting out an ear-piercing screech, causing everyone to cover their ears, except for Oleander, who couldn’t hide the big stupid smile on his face.
“Talk about lateral thinking; you bypassed Gold Sarcophagus’ waiting time." He cupped his chin while whistling all the while his smile grew wider by the second.
"I'm an Obelisk Blue; what did you expect?” Shinji scoffed while tilting his head to the side.
Oleander was about to respond but decided against it, his reasoning being that maybe it is not the best of ideas to make an enemy out of the Obelisk Blue on his very first day.
“But I digress. Kaitoptera’s effect while face-up on the field allows me to add Polymerization from my deck to my hand." A card ejected from his deck, but instead of adding to his hand, he opted to play it right away.
“I will now fuse Kaitoptera with the Carboneddon in my hand.” Kaitoptera took flight hovering just above Shinji’s head while a see-through visage of Carboneddon appeared beside it.
Both monsters started to glow in an ethereal red and blue light, respectively, before being sucked into a swirling portal. Shortly after another pterodactyl descended from the portal, this new dinosaur was significantly bigger, and instead of a screech, it let out a ground-shaking roar.
“Say hello to Horned Saurus!” Shinji roared as the black dinosaur stood proud above its master.
“Horned Saurus allows me to Normal Summon a Dragon-Type or a Dinosaur-Type monster from my hand." He picked a card and slapped it on a spot near Horned Saurus. “Say hello to Divine Dragon Ragnarok!”
Horned Saurus’ eyes flashed with green energy as another flash of light emerged beside it. The light transformed itself into the shape of a traditional Chinese dragon, the dragon’s long body shimmered in golden light.
“And now I will use Carboneddon’s effect to Banish itself from my Graveyard to special summon a level 7 or higher Dragon-Type Monster from my deck in defense position." A card ejected from his deck, which he promptly placed on his duel disk.
A dark and oppressive smog seeped from the tiles on the arena, and from it emerged a serpentine dragon with scales as black as the night sky. The creature narrowed its red eyes as it and Oleander locked eyes.
“I will now set one card face-down." He picked a card from his hand and slipped in his Spell/Trap Zone causing a giant hologram to manifest by his feet. “I end my turn.”
“Okay here goes” Oleander took a deep breath before drawing his own card, he had to admit it did feel cool doing all of those exaggerated maneuvers when drawing.
Turn 2: Oleander’s Turn - Cards in Hand: 6
Oleander analyzed his hand, his eyes sparkling with amusement; though his hand could’ve been better, he wasn't about to complain.
"Okay, I will begin by activating Foolish Burial!” He played the card, causing a shallow grave to appear before him. “This card allows me to send a Monster from my deck to the Graveyard” He picked a card that was ejected and dropped on the open grave, which closed itself after swallowing the card.
"Now Byblisp’s effect activates from my grave, it will allow me to add any Predaplant Monster from my deck to my hand." A flower bloomed from the grave, revealing Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio’s card resting at the very center of the flower.
Oleander snatched the card, causing the flower to quickly wither away, disintegrating into nothing a few moments later.
“Now I will summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio!” Oleander slapped the card, causing a plant creature in the shape of a scorpio to burst from the ground.
“When Scorpio is summoned, I can discard a Monster Card." He revealed Predaplant Moray Nepenthes before dumping it, “To Special Summon another Predaplant straight from my deck”
Ophrys Scorpio’s sting started to bulge, and soon the monster shot a batch of seeds that burrow themselves. A few moments later another plant monster, this time resembling a twin-headed snake, appeared.
“Welcome Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra!” Oleander opened his arms wide as the twin-headed snake snarled at Shinji’s monsters.
“And here’s Cobra’s effect; this bad boy searches Polymerization when it’s summoned through the effect of a Predaplant Monster” Cobra spat a singular seed that bloomed into a gnarled-looking flower with Polymerization hanging from its petals.
Oleander snatched the card, and just like Shinji, he immediately played it, causing Scorpio and Cobra to glow in the same ethereal blue and red light before being sucked by the swirling portal that opened itself above his head.
The sportal spat a giant wiggling mass of vines and flowers; the biggest flower of them all bloomed to reveal rolls of sharp teeth as the monster let out a terrifying roar.
“Say hello to Predaplant Chimerafflesia!” Oleander smirked then took a more menacing air to it: “I will now use Chimerafflesia’s effect to banish a monster you control with a level equal to or lower than my monster.”
“Wait what?!” Shinji's eyes went wide as he watched Chimerafflesia extend its vines to envelop Serpent Night Dragon, devouring it whole.
“Now let’s battle!” Oleander snapped his fingers, causing the plant amalgamation to lunge at Divine Dragon Ragnarok. “And here comes Chimerafflesia’s second effect; it steals 1000 Attack Points from any monster it battles!”
A red aura surrounded the radiant dragon, causing its light to become weaker, while a blue aura surrounded the plant monster, strengthening it.
[Predaplant Chimerafflesia - ATK: 2500 → 3500]
[Divine Dragon Ragnarok - ATK: 1500 → 500]
The attack was successful. Chimerafflesia enveloped the dragon so tightly that the sounds of its bones breaking were heard and felt by those present, causing a few people in the audience to visibly shudder and others to outright faint.
Shinji Abiko: 4000 → 1000 Life Points
“I will now end things with a simple face-down." He wiggled the card he was holding before setting in his Spell/Trap Zone.
“I gotta say." Shinji finally spoke as he recovered himself from the shock. “You have some fancy techniques; you’re pretty good.”
"Aw, stop it, you’re making me blush." Oleander waved him off as he felt his cheeks getting redder.
“As you wish." He shrugged before drawing his card.
Turn 3: Shinji’s Turn - Cards in Hand: 3 → 4
“I will first use my set Fusion Reverse!” The card revealed itself, causing a projection of King Dragun to appear above the card. “I will now be able to Special Summon one of the materials listed on that card.” He nodded toward the projection before picking a card from his deck and slapping in his Monster Zone.
The card in question turned out to be yet another copy of Divine Dragon Ragnarok; however, what caught Oleander’s attention was the green light emanating from Shinji’s GY.
“Now I will be able to recycle Polymerization." He picked the card and immediately afterward played it: “I will now fuse Divine Dragon Ragnarok and Alexandrite Dragon!”
The dragons in question were consumed by a flash of light, and in their place remained a singular dragon, its body so big that it coiled around the arena; its dark blue scales emanated with a dark energy.
“Say hello to the First of the Dragons!” The dragon roared as its master proudly announced its name: “And this bad boy can’t be destroyed by battle against Effect Monsters nor is it affected by their effects.”
“But I’m far from done." He picked another card in his hand and slid it in his Spell/Trap Zone. “I use Double Evolution Pill!”
“I will now Banish Kaitoptera and Divine Dragon Ragnarok." He removed the cards from his GY before shoving them in his pocket. “I will now be able to Special Summon a Level 7 or higher Dinosaur-Type monster from my hand or deck, ignoring its summoning conditions.”
The ground shook, and with an earth-splitting roar, a black Tyrannosaurus emerged. The mighty dinosaur looked left and right before locking eyes with Oleander, who gulped nervously when the cretacian creature licked its lips hungrily.
“Time to battle!” Shinji roared the command and in responde First of the Dragons unleashed a massive torrent of flames.
“I activate the Trap Card Impenetrable Attack!” Oleander hurriedly activated the button to use his set card “And I choose to make Chimerafflesia immune to battle destruction!”
A translucent barrier formed around the plant amalgamation keeping it safe from the flames, however the same couldn't be said for Oleander who was grazed by the attack.
Oleander Hemlock: 4000 → 3800 Life Points
Shinji clicked his tongue now he couldn’t attack with neither Horned Saurus nor Black Tyranno lest he’d trigger Chimerafflesia’s ATK stealing effect.
“I will set one face-down and that’s it” He placed a card in the Spell/Trap Zone.
“Okay, time to put the pedal to the metal!” Oleander exclaimed while drawing his card.
Turn 4: Oleander’s Turn - Cards in Hand: 3 → 4
“Go Chimerafflesia!” Oleander shouted the command as the plant monster lunged at Horned Saurus.
“I activate the Trap Card Burst Breath!” Shinji roared as the card revealed itself. First of the Dragons spewed yet another torrent of flames, this time aiming at the ground, incinerating every monster, including itself.
Once the smoke had cleared, all that was left were a few clumps of ash, which were promptly scattered away as a light breeze rolled around.
“And here I was thinking I had it in the bag,” Oleander lamented while shaking his head in a disappointed fashion, but he ultimately shrugged.
“You need a lot more than that to take me down,” Shinji responded back with a smirk of his own.
“Ah well, I will settle with Normal Summon Predaplant Spinodionaea." He picked the card and played it, causing a plant monster that resembled a spinosaurus to emerge from the ground.
“And I will set one card face-down." Another card was picked this time being placed in the Spell/Trap Zone.
Shinji took a deep breath and yanked another card smiling as he recognized it, closing his eyes he took a deep breath, time to show why he deserves to wear that blue uniform.
Turn 5: Shinji’s Turn - Cards in Hand: 1 → 2
“I will begin by activating Pot of Greed!” The Obelisk Blue declared as he jammed the card in his duel disk.
“What does it do?” Oleander playfully asked.
“It allows me to draw two cards,” Shinji quickly explained while drawing the aforementioned two cards.
“Second, the Continuous Spell Future Fusion!” He played the card, causing a bunch of skyscrapers to rise from the ground. “I will send from my deck to the Graveyard the materials for a Fusion Monster." Amidst the skyscrapers, the holographic projection of the Five-Headed Dragon appeared as Shinji dumped five cards straight into his GY.
“Third, I will use Dragon’s Mirror!” As he revealed the card, a mirror adorned with imagery of dragons appeared: “I will now Banish 5 Dragon-Type Monsters to Fusion Summon my strongest monster!”
The glass of the mirror started to warp as the shadowy visage of the dragon in question appeared; the glass exploded in a flash of purple light, causing Oleander to shield his eyes.
Once he lowered his duel disk, the purple-haired duelist found himself staring at a gigantic dragon with five heads. He locked eyes with Spinodionae, who looked positively mortified.
“This is going to hurt..." He braced himself as Five-Headed Dragon reared its heads back before unleashing a torrent of elemental attacks, obliterating Spinodionae and causing Oleander to crash on the floor.
Oleander Hemlock: 3800 → 600
Oleander sat up and immediately proceeded to spit a mouthful of water. He had to admit he wasn't expecting that level of realism; he could taste the seawater!
“Now what will you do?” Shinji rhetorically asked as he smirked proudly.
“I’m going to win this duel!” Oleander proudly declared after picking himself off the ground and yanking a card from his deck.
Turn 6: Oleander’s Turn - Cards in Hand: 2 → 3
“I will use the Trap Card Predaplanning!” Pressing a button in his duel disk caused the card to reveal itself: “By sending a Predaplant Monster from my deck straight to the grave, I will place a Preda Counter on all face-up Monsters on the field." He slid a second copy of Byblisp in his GY.
Five-Headed Dragon roared as its chest was busted open by a flower that once bloomed revealed a batch of eyes.
“What does that thing do?” Shinji asked while recoiling in disgust as green muk seeped from the plant’s eyes.
“Other then reduce your monster’s level to 1, not munch." Oleander’s smirk suddenly became a lot more predatory. "However, I am going to use that counter in tandem with another card.”
He picked a Monster Card thanks to Byblisp’s effect; he then proceeded to immediately slap the aforementioned card on his field, causing yet again another plant abomination to emerge from the ground, this one resembling an iguana.
“Predaplant Chlamydosundew has a very quirky effect; I can use this little guy." He motioned to the sleeping iguana lying by his feet, “To Fusion Summon a Dark-Attribute Monster without needing to use Polymerization”
“A walking Polymerization…” The Obelisk Blue’s expression became a lot more serious; he could only imagine what his opponent was about to bring.
“But who should I use for the fusion?" He hummed toughfully to himself before snapping his fingers and giving his opponent a vicious smirk. “I know, I will use YOUR Five-Headed Dragon!”
“Y-you what?!” Shinji took a few steps back, completely flabbergasted by what he heard.
He wasn't alone; Crowler and his fellow students were floored by the effect of a monster capable of using the opponent's monster to perform a Fusion Summon.
"Chlamydosundew, do your thing!” Oleander snapped his fingers, causing the sleepy iguana to wake up, its eyes sparkling with purple energy.
Both monsters were transformed into two trails of red and blue light that orbited around Oleander, his eyes glowing with violet energy as above him a shadowy visage of a dragon formed above him.
With a deafening roar, the visage erupted in violet light; once the light faded, everyone bore witness to the new creature on Oleander’s field.
“Say hello to Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!” The purple-haired duelist announced as the violet dragon lowered itself on the ground in a low stance, ready to pounce at Shinji.
“Attack with Ravenous Burst! ” Oleander roared the command right as Starving Venom unleashed a blast of violet energy from its maw engulfing his opponent.
Shinji Abiko: 1000 → 0 Life Points
Oleander Hemlock: 600
Winner: Oleander Hemlock
The holograms faded, and the class was in complete and utter silence. Not only did they witness a Slifer Red defeat an Obelisk Blue, but they also defeated said Obelisk Blue by using their own monster against him.
“Well, talk about a way to start the year." Oleander broke the silence while deactivating his duel disk and dusting his hands. He walked over to where his defeated opponent lay and offered him a helping hand.
“How the hell did you end up in Slifer Red?” That’s all Shinji managed to say before taking the helping hand.
"Ah, you know, stuff of life." He pulled the defeated Obelisk onto his feet and even made sure to dust him off a bit. “Sorry if I was a bit rough with you toward the end.”
“Don’t worry about it; it’s all part of the experience." Shinji shifted his grip on Oleander’s hand to turn into a handshake. “And that was one hell of a duel.”
“I think that was enough for one day; class dismissed." Crowler waved the students off before hurriedly making his way out of the arenas.
Oleander and Shinji exchanged contacts and a few more pleasantries before each going their separate ways. The purple-haired duelist had a certain spring to his step as he made his way through the halls. It was a good day.
[Central Academy Outskirts - Reject Well - 0:00 AM]
Moonlight illuminated the damp walls of the Reject Well, a somewhat famous location where unwanted cards were discarded by their previous owners and as such became a hub for Duel Monster Spirits.
However, that night the very air inside the well felt different, as if there was a presence that wasn't there before, and whatever it was had the other spirits absolutely terrified.
And that’s when it, or rather she, appeared right on the spot where the moonlight was cascading; it was a female humanoid figure, her body glowing with an unnatural dark blue akin to that of the night sky; her silver hair and cape, which seemed to depict the very stars, flowed like water behind her.
On her right hand she held a staff composed of pure light in the shape of a grandfather’s clock hourhandle; her silver eyes were focused on the moon as if waiting for something.
“So it has begun yet again." She spoke in a solemn tone before vanishing into thin air, causing the atmosphere inside the well to return to normal.
Yet none of the spirits dared to show themselves for the rest of the night, some even being unable to sleep altogether.