Chapter I

First Meeting

“Laraine!” Amethyst whined annoyingly. Her accent was a Celtic one. “How much longer are we gonna be on this stupid boat?”

Laraine Archer turned her hazel eyes upon her newest best friend and transfer. Her strawberry blonde locks fell to her elbows. Her bangs were parted and framed her face. Laraine wore a light grey shortsleeved baggy t-shirt with the “PWNED!” written in large red letters across the chest, dark blue jeans, and pink and black new tennis shoes. Her bag was orange and she wore it slung over one shoulder.

“Patience, Amethyst.” laughed Laraine. She had a hint of a French accent in her voice. Laraine smiled as she watched the waves hitting the side of the ferry that was taking them closer to Academy Island. “Or is that impossible for you to be?”

Amethyst Zelenia made a face of irritancy before letting out a deep sigh of boredom. Her hollowish green eyes closed for a minute. Her eyes seemed to have no light in them whatsoever. Amethyst reopened them as she brushed her raven bangs out of her face. Her bangs were side swept and fell into her right eye. Her roots were pale silver, which transformed into raven, and she had amethyst tips. Her hair itself fell to her shoulder-blades and was fluffy and bouncy while her bangs stopped at her chin.

“Aren’t you burning up?” Laraine then asked, overlooking her shorter and older companion.

Amethyst’s outfit consisted of a black v-neck shortsleeved shirt, with an amethyst undershirt underneath, which was pulled over a longsleeved silver gauze shirt. Written across the front of her shirt was “Celtic Moon” in glittery silver bold letters. She wore a pair of black baggy jeans with a neon purple studded leather belt around her petite waist and amethyst trimmings down the sides of her legs. On her feet were a pair of black skate shoes with glow-in-the-dark neon purple laces and stripped black and purple fuzzy socks.

“Nah. I’m actually quite comfortable.” Amethyst looked up at Laraine, who was a little over three inches taller than her. “How’s Daryl?”

A white kitten with orange ears and a light purple tail popped his head out of the bag on her back. Daryl meowed softly as Laraine pulled him into her arms, petting him gently, and scratching him behind the ears. His light blue eyes closed happily.

“I should ask you how Astrid is.” Laraine replied, smiling.

Sitting next to Amethyst’s black messenger bag that had “PH34R T3H CUT3 ON3Z” on the front was a snoozing black lynx cub. The cub stirred at the sound of her name and opened her pale silver eyes.

“Sleep okay, Astrid?” Laraine asked, kneeling down in front of the cub.

Astrid nodded before yawning. Amethyst jumped slightly and shook her head before excitedly pointing ahead.

“We’re almost there!”

“Goodbye slow boat, hello Duel Academy!” Laraine cheered happily.

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“New transfers mean new duel opponents!” Jaden cheered happily.

“Got that right, Jaden!” Syrus laughed and smiled at his best friend.

The two boys arrived at the Ra Yellow dormitories and headed for the entrance. At least until they spotted one of the transfers they were talking about. She was dueling an Obelisk and winning. Two turns later, she was victorious. What was interesting was she was wearing normal clothes and not a uniform, like the transfers that had been introduced earlier.

“Nice duel!” Jaden called to her.

“Thanks.” the strawberry blonde smiled at him. “Name’s Laraine. Laraine Archer.”

Jaden pointed at himself, “Jaden Yuki.”

Syrus gave a shy, timid wave. Laraine laughed a little and smiled at him. She realized the bluenette seemed to be the same height as Amethyst, if not a little taller. Approaching them, Laraine thought Jaden was cute in his own way.

“And who’s this?” Laraine asked.

“S-Syrus T-Truesdale.” His silver eyes widened behind his glasses.

Laraine closed her hazel eyes and smiled, “Nice to meet you guys. I’m sure we’re gonna be great friends.”

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Amethyst exited the Obelisk dorms and walked around the campus. Many stopped and stared at her for being different. Because she was transfer like Jesse Anderson, Adrian Gecko, Axel Brodie, and Jim “Crocodile” Cook, she was allowed to wear her original clothes. One thing that Amethyst had been grateful for. Her hollowish green eyes closed partway as she entered the forest, her hands in her pockets. She was so focused on the ground; she didn’t even see another walking transfer.

“Ow!” Amethyst exclaimed with another.

This person was Jesse and his southern drawl had a strange effect on Amethyst. She even blushed a little as she looked up at him. Jesse smiled a half-smile before apologizing.

“Sorry,” He said with a chuckle. “My bad.”

Amethyst remembered how much Laraine had talked about Jesse on the ferry. She had gone to North Academy with the teal bluenette and admired him. Laraine had even been friends with Jesse and had a secret crush that he was oblivious too. Now Amethyst knew why.

“Jesse Anderson, right?” Amethyst smiled brightly. “Dude, I have a surprise for you that will blow you away!”

Jesse blinked his light green eyes in surprise at this unknown girl’s response. Her eyes were kind of scary too. Jumping, Jesse felt her slip her hand into his as she began to drag him down the path and towards the Ra dorms.

“Whoa! What are ya doin’?” He couldn’t help but exclaim.

“I’m Amethyst! And I know someone who will be very happy to see you, Jess!” She replied with a laugh.

Jesse smiled and thought, Though she seems dark at first, she’s really happy and cheerful. Her attitude is the opposite of her appearance. As they neared the dorms, Jesse felt his eyes widen in shock.

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“LARAINE!” Amethyst’s voice shouted.

Said girl turned and felt her jaw drop in surprise to see the older girl and Jesse heading towards them. Jaden and Syrus turned as well. Skidding to a stop, Amethyst stumbled and knocked into Syrus, sending Jesse flying into Laraine. All four landed in a heap at Jaden’s feet, anime confusion swirls in their eyes. Laraine shook off the swirls and found herself face-to-face with Jesse.

“J-Jesse?!” Laraine cried in shock.

Jesse broke into a grin and exclaimed, “Laraine!” Before hugging her tightly.

Jaden tilted his head like a puppy would, “Um… explain please.”

“Laraine and Jesse both went to North Academy.” explained the tri-colored haired girl who was helping Syrus sit up. “Boy was I surprised when I bumped into Jess. Now Laraine and Jess are reunited once more!”

“And thank you, Amethyst, for throwing him into me.” Laraine muttered sarcastically.

Amethyst rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, “Sorry…”

Syrus shook away the swirls and found himself sitting next to a girl who was shockingly shorter than him. According to Laraine, her name was Amethyst. Jaden helped Syrus to his feet and Amethyst bowed in apology. The bluenette was surprised to see a deep blush across Amethyst’s cheeks.

“Hi…” Syrus said quietly.

“Um… hi…” Amethyst replied just as softly.

Laraine teased and said, “FYI, the poor boy you knocked into is named Syrus Truesdale.”

Amethyst’s eyes widened, “Zane’s brother?”

Silence settled upon the group until Amethyst clutched her chest, hissing in pain. Astrid and Daryl came running over immediately from the gazebo and pawed her jeans. Daryl’s light blue eyes widened. Amethyst winced until the pain passed, Jaden and Laraine gripping her shoulders to keep her upright.

“Are you alright?” Jesse whispered in concern.

She nodded and replied, “It still hurts from when I dueled Zane.”

Syrus’ silver eyes met hers, the pain returning again, and he said, “You lost, didn’t you?”

Amethyst nodded until the pain faded. She exchanged a nervous glance with Laraine before she told everyone she was alright. Astrid purred happily and rubbed against Syrus’ and legs.

“Hey, Amethyst.” Jaden said suddenly, his chocolate brown eyes traveling to her bunched up shirt. “What’s that?” He was indicating towards her hip bone, where a black doubled bow and arrow mark was visible.

“That looks like the symbol of the Greek Goddess, Artemis.” Syrus pointed out.

Amethyst covered it up and fixed her shirt, “That’s because it is. I’ve had that there since I was eight, okay?”

Syrus smiled and said, “I think it’s cool.”

“Y-You do?” She said in surprise.

“Yeah.” He nodded.

Laraine exchanged a look with Jesse before pulling up her sleeve. On her shoulder was Athena’s symbol.

“I have one too.” She smiled. “That’s why I thought it was cool that Amethyst had Artemis’ symbol like I have Athena’s.”

Jaden clapped his hands together, “Well, I dunno about you guys, but I’m starvin’ over here! Let’s go an’ get some grub!”

“Yeah!” cheered Jesse.

“You’re welcome to join us.” Jaden said to the two girls. “You can meet the rest of our friends.”

“Is Chazz our friend?” Syrus then asked.

“Even if he’s stuck up, he’s still our friend.” reassured Jaden.

Syrus pouted and said, “Darn it.”

Amethyst blushed again and shook her head, “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m gonna go and talk to the nurse about these pains I keep having. Later.” The tri-colored haired girl then walked off, leaving Laraine alone with her old friend and two new ones.

“Food!” Jaden cried, breaking into a run.

“Food!” Jesse followed suit.

Syrus and Laraine sweatdropped before jogging after the two food-obsessed beings.

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