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Episode One: Back in Training

_The sun hung high in the city sky duting a warm summers afternoon, a large crowd was assembled outside the building which was hosting this years Duel Academy entrance exams. Excited kids and teens eagerly awaited the time to take their field tests to see if they would be able to attend the academy, as well as the youngsters there were a few older applicants also. Earlier that month the Duelist League Authority which managed the Pro League tournaments and Regional Qualifiers for the World Championship had decreed that due to overwhelmingly large applications for entry all participants now needed a Graduating Pass from Duel Academy. Of course this hadn't gone over well with most of the older tournament players but had given a chance to the younger ones which seemed to balance out the opinion of the bill. _

One duelist in particular stood outside the entrance leaning against the railings staring blankly ahead while he replayed what had been his final tournament match in his head. He was a grey furred fox with long hair of the same colour, his bright green eyes currently blank as he remembered the mistake that had cost him the regional qualifier. With a defeated sigh he stood up and reached for his deck, after the regional he'd done a complete overhaul. He was disappointed with how many tournament players always seemed to play the same way, 'find a deck formula that wins online and copy it' he thought to himself. He'd never played like that, always changing his deck and tactics to be a constant surprise to his opponents, though no matter how many tactics he dreamt up and how many decks he built winning was tough. But that was going to change, Duel Academy students were also graded on their original deck constructs which meant he was going to face a whole lot of originality when he got there... yes when he got there, for there was no way he was going to fail the entrance exam, not after he aced the written test a week ago.

He was alerted to sound of footsteps approaching him from the buildings entrance, he turned round to see a human approaching him, a rather short yet optimistic looking kid of about fourteen.

"I'm bad and i know it." The kid said grinning like a maniac as he approached,

"I take it you passed your field test."The fox asked,

"Yup, all the Proctor did was defend and try and wear me down, good thing i came ready to beat him down." The kid replied, "You been up for yours yet?"

"Not yet, still waiting on my turn... not that it's going to be much of a problem either." The fox smiled back,

"Confident much, i like that in a guy. The names McKenzie, what's yours fox dude?" McKenzie asked,

"The names Arkwright, but just call me Ark. And no fox dude please." Ark said raising an eyebrow,

"Thats cool Ark, what kind of deck you brought for the test?" McKenzie asked curously,

"Oh just something i've had in my head for a while now... and it's not gonna lose this time." Ark added under his breath,

"Hey wanna head back inside and check out some of the competition?" McKenzie smiled,

"Sure, why not. Who knows when i'm gonna be called up." Ark shrugged.

He hadn't planned on making friends before getting into the Academy but McKenzie seemed to grow on him the moment they talked and he could see them becoming good friends down the line.

Ark and McKenzie were watching some of the matchups, seeing what kind of decks had made it to the entrance exams. Ark was surprised to see not a single metagame deck showing up in any of the fields which gave him hope for an interesting time at the academy. Currently four of the six fields were engaged in intense action, explosions from defeated monsters rocked the arena as the battles raged.

"Some of these Duel Proctors don't seem to be putting up much of a fight, think yours will be easy as them?" McKenzie asked,

"I dunno, but we'll find out when i..." Ark started.

"Will applicant number 135 please report to exam field three." The PA system announced.

"Well thats me." Ark said looking at his participant number, "Wish me luck."

"Doubt you'll need it bud, kick some examination ass." McKenzie shouted after him.

Ark began walking down to the exam field feeling much better than he did an hour ago, he'd usually gone unnoticed during tournaments he played in and now someone had actually psyched him up. He grinned as he entered the field, on the other side of the field was a rather tall woman in a long white coat and blue uniform and from the way she held herself he didn't think he was in for an easy ride.

"Greetings participant my name is Doctor Samantha Beckett, Department Head of Strategy and Tactics at Duel Academy and Headmistress of the Sapphire Blue Girls Dormitory, i've been chosen to test you because of your experience in tournament dueling. Keeping everything in all fairness of course." She said,

"All is fair i guess, can't expect an easy ride if i wanna be good." Ark grinned as he grabbed his deck from the case at his side,

"Exactly, defeating me here will guarantee your entrance to Duel Academy. But of course you have to defeat me and that won't be happening today fluffy." Beckett grinned,

"Smack talk already, i feel right at home." Ark said placing his deck in the deck slot of his duel disk,

"Home is right where i'm sending you once you lose." Beckett retorted as she did the same.

_Both duel disks sprung to life and their life point counters set themselves to 8000 and the duel was on. Both of them began with the phrase "Lets Duel!" _

"Ladies first foxy." Beckett said drawing her top card, "I set this lil fella face down along with two more to back him up, that will be all for now."

The monster and two back row cards materialized on the field before her and the turn passed over to him, he didn't know what kind of deck he was up against but he wasn't about to let her make the first move and take the advantage.

"In that case i'll draw." Ark said pulling the top card from his deck and adding it his hand in a fluid sweep.

He examined the cards he held and composed a quick tactic, his new deck was focused on nullifying cards of his opponent which he dubbed his 'Court of Silence' and there was only one way to start things off.

"I summon my Silent Swordsman Lv3 in Attack mode!" Ark said placing his monster on his duel disk and watching it leap from the card image in front of him.

Silent Swordsman Lv3 Atk/1000 Def/1000

Spell effects that specifically designate this card are negated, during your standby phase this card evolves into Silent Swordsman Lv5.

"And with him i attack your face down monster! Now swordsman render her defence asunder!" Ark cried as his monster launched its attack.

As the swordsman cut through the face down card image it appeared as a small pink and white microcell battery which then exploded as it was defeated. Beckett just grinned as if she hoped for that all along.

"Kind of you to destroy my little Microcell, he has two effects which i'll now explain. Firstly if he's flipped up i am allowed to summon a level four or below Batteryman monster except another microcell from my deck and summon it in its place, so i'll be choosing my D Batteryman in defence mode. Now the other effect of my microcell is activated, if he's destroyed in battle i get to draw one more card. If you're all done hurting yourself i'd like to make a move." She said drawing another card and adding it to her hand,

"I'll just set 2 cards down and let you go." Ark sighed feeling as he'd just punched himself,

"I'll draw now, and then i think i'll be giving my Batteryman D some company, with another of his bretherin." She said putting another monster on the field.

Another Batteryman D appeared next to the one already in play and the two seemed to form a little electric barrier between them.

"Whats with the little light show?" Ark asked,

"When two Batterymen D cards are in play you are unable to select any other Thunder type monster as an attack target and since both my batteries are thunder types, you cannot declare an attack. Also when my monster was summoned i activate my trap, Wattcannon. This little device hits you for 600 damage once a turn whenever a Thunder monster is summoned to my field. CANNON FIRE!" She cried.

Ark was hit with the blast from the Wattcannon and his life points dropped to 7400, he recoiled from the impact but knew it was only minimal damage as it could've been a lot worse.

"I'll end it at that, good luck coming up with something to stop my Batterymen defence line." She heckled almost gleefully,

"Where theres a will there's a way and will i never run short of. During a change of turn my Swordsman moves up in the world advancing from Level 3 to Level 5." Ark said.

As the smaller swordsman disappeared in a white light a taller much more experienced swordsman took his place.

Silent Swordsman Lv5 Atk/2300 Def/1000

This card is unaffected by your opponents spell cards, when this card successfully attacks your opponents life points directly you can tribute this card to summon Silent Swordsman Lv7 from your hand or deck.

"Shame you can't attack, seems a waste of that monsters strength to stand idle as my forces grow in power." She quipped,

"Oh you'll be surprised what he's waiting for." Ark grinned as he passed his turn over,

"Oh well i suppose your hope for a miracle is something to cling to, now watch as i draw." She said drawing a card,

"Hold that thought Doc. i play my facedown card Battle Mania. I can activate this card during your standby phase, all your monsters are switched to attack mode and must attack my monster during this turn." Ark shot back,

"What?! My defence line..." She stammered as her two Batteryman D monsters flew at the swordsman and were easily cast aside by the much more powerful warrior.

With the loss of her two defence monsters and since they had no attack points Beckett took two direct hits to her life points from the swordsmans counter attack dropping her life points down to 3400. Beckett just stood motionless for a moment as she took in what had just happened.

"You may have broken my line but that won't stop me from bringing you and your swordsman to your knees." She almost growled,

"Let me know when your big move is coming, i'm sure i'll be ready." Ark grinned back.

Beckett stood as she contemplated her next move, "Usually it takes time for my opponents to work around my Battery blockade... but he was ready for it straight away. Something tells me this is going to be quite the challenge, however that won't mean i'm going to take this lying down." Realising she'd just blushed slightly at her own thought she shook the thought from her head and proceeded with her move.

"My turn!" She growled hastily drawing a card, "I activate my facedown card Portable Battery Pack, with this card i can summon 2 of my destroyed batteries from the grave in attack mode and i choose my two D batteries... though he's not staying for long cos he's heading right back as i sacrifice him to summon my Batteryman Charger... and would you look at this... a round trip and a half as my Batteryman D returns to the field." Beckett grinned feeling some control return to her.

Batteryman Charger Lv5 Atk/1800 Def/1200

When this card is normal summoned you can special summon 1 "Batteryman" monster from your hand or deck. This card gains 300 ATK points for every "Batteryman" you control.

As the Batteryman Charger appeared on the field another Batteryman D appeared alongside it to once again complete her Battery Blockade... though now she had offensive force to rival his swordsman as Chargers attack rose by 900 points to 2700.

"Charger, show that swordsman a thing or two about direct current!" She yelled as the charger flew forward and destroyed the silent swordsman in a loud explosion, "Oh and don't forget my Wattcannon, since a thunder monster was summoned you get hit for 600 points of damage."

As the wattcannon fired Ark braced himself for the impact and along with the battle damage he lost another 1000 points in total dropping him to 6400.

"Draw whatever card you will, but my Charger will just keep getting stronger and stronger with every battery i play." She gloated,

"It's not over yet Doc, you've only just scratched the surface. However for now i'll just activate my Swords of Revealing Light spell card which means you can't attack for three turns and i'll also summon my Silent Magician Lv4 to the field in attack mode." Ark said placing his cards into play.

Three large luminous swords hit the ground between the two duelists blocking any attacks from being issued as a small childlike magician in white took to Arks field.

Silent Magician Lv4 Atk/1000 Def/1000

When your opponent draws a card from their deck add 1 spell counter to this card, this card gains 500 Atk points for every spell counter on it. If this card has 5 spell counters on it during your standby phase you can tribute this card to special summon Silent magician Lv8 from your hand or deck.

"I also set this face down and end my turn." Ark said handing control over,

"Stalling for time are we, it's only a matter of time till those swords break. I'll draw." Beckett said feeling a touch overconfident,

"Every card you draw makes my magicians power increase by 500 points" Ark stopped her mid draw, "Her power is now 1500 points."

"1500 is fairly pedestriate, now i'll proceed. I activate my Short Circuit spell, as long as i have 3 face up Batterymen monsters on my field i can destroy all the cards you control. You put up a good fight but i'm afraid it's not quite good enough." Beckett said with a sigh,

"Not quite Doc, my face down card is Dark Bribe... with this your card is negated and you get to draw an extra card." Ark said raising his trap,

"Hmmmm, i underestimated you again, your perseverance is inspiring,,, if not annoying." She grumbled,

"With that extra card comes extra power as my magician gets stronger by another 500 points to 2000." Ark added,

"Your delaying the inevitable! I summon Batteryman AA in attack mode, and since he's in attack mode his ability grants him 1000 attack points... also don't forget about my other cards, Charger gains another 300 attack points putting him at 3000 and my oh so wonderful Wattcannon, FIRE!" She yelled.

Ark braced himself for another hit by the cannon dropping him by another 600 life points putting him at 5800. "That cannon is starting to grate a touch. Time to pick things up a little faster or that Charger will be unstoppable." He thought to himself.

"Okay Doc i draw." looking at the card he just drew he smiled, "Final turn it seems doc, i activate my Card of Sanctity spell card, which lets us draw until we're holding six cards. Since you just drew three cards my magician gains another 1500 points putting her at 3500 attack points." Ark said while checking over his new hand,

"Quite good, however its attack points are useless when it can't attack past my Battery Blockade." Beckett replied,

"I already thought of that, i play Heavy Storm which destroys all Spell and Traps on the field including your Portable Battery Pack and the monster still attached to it!" Ark said pointing to her trap.

A large storm blew through the field and destroyed all the spells and traps on the field in its devastating wake. Beckett looked somewhat alarmed but regained composure as she realised a small miscalculation.

"You may be able to attack me, but you can't win in this turn. And trust me there won't be a next for you, not with what i have planned." She said calmly,

"I leave nothing unaccounted for, first i play Level Up, it allows me to trade my level 4 magician for my level 8 magician, then i play Fairy Meteor Crush... with this equipment card if my equipped monster strikes your defence monster, the difference is taken out of your score... oh and this will seal the deal, Diffusion Wave Motion!" Ark almost laughed,

"Wait... time out!" Beckett gasped,

"By paying 1000 life points my spellcaster can attack all the monsters you control, and thats all she wrote. Silent Magician Level 8 attack with Diffusion Wave Motion!" Ark commanded.

The Magician swung her staff above her as a large black sphere of energy formed and began shooting out shockwaves which tore through all of Dr Becketts monsters inflicting damage as they went. As the attack faded she slumped to her knees as her life points hit 0.

"How could i lose... i have a PHD in dueling, how could i lose to him?" She muttered to herself,

"Thats what i call a game, you've got some serious skill there doc, hope we get to duel again someday." Ark smiled and offered her a hand.

Looking up at the fox she just just sighed and took his hand and as he helped her off the floor she thought to herself, "Well at least i know theres going to be some talent in this new year, a touch cute too."

"I take it that means i passed the exam?" Ark asked,

"Yes, and let me be the first to welcome you to Duel Academy." Beckett said shaking his hand.