Spike's Journal
October 3rd, 2004
It's been a week since I arrived to Earth, and hardly a few minutes since I set foot in my room. This is an interesting concept for a school, and I'm looking forward to it. I hope things go well, for it is a second life.
- Spike Solaris
As I walked back to the Game Shop, I smiled as I held my results and the contract that permitted my scholarship as long as I did the errands Kaiba sent me on. I opened the door and saw Solomon and the box I spent time organizing.
"I was informed of your results by Mr. Kaiba," he said, smiling.
"I hope I did great under your expectations," I answered.
"Better than expected. Now, you will be sent to the academy, but you won't have money. However, due to your help, the box you spent time organizing is now yours, including the cards."
"Thank you, Mr. Muto," I said, smiling as I walked towards the box.
"Your welcome. Now, there is a card shop there. If you want to buy cards, you'll have to improvise, and I'm sure you'll find a way," he said, smiling. "Now get going, the helicopters leave today at 3:00 P.M," he added. I looked at the clock and it read 11:00 A.M, enough time for me to prepare my things and have lunch. I prepared some club sandwiches, that consisted on ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato and toasty bread.
Four hours later, I was on my way to the pier, where the ships awaited us. Now, as the odd person I am, I started to sing sea shanties on my way there...
"We'll rant and we'll roar, like true British sailors, we'll rant and we'll roar, along the south seas-"
"Spike, stop it," Yubel said, looking at me.
"Alright, I'll start singing on the boat. Besides, my voice is better than Twilight's dance moves," I answered, chuckling as Yubel didn't understand the joke.
At the pier, I was in a mob of probably more than a hundred students, all waiting to get on. I observed that some were dueling, others chatting, and others making sure they had everything. I was one of the people who were trying to get in front, trying to get a good seat.
However, racism kicked in, for when they let us in, the Obelisks were given the privilege of choosing first. I showed my Kaiba Corps. Employment Seal, and given that I was Kaiba's personal Boba Fett, I was given the privilege as well, despite the fact that I was a Slifer due to the lack of dueling antecedents.
Sadly, the Ra and Slifers got on last, and this is where I realized the system was tainted: being judged by the color of your jacket? Come on, I was judged for having scales, which didn't let me join the Equestrian Military! However, my thoughts were interrupted by an Obelisk girl who had dark blonde hair, brown eyes, an hourglass figure, and, well, that was it for the moment.
"What are you doing here?" She asked. Her tone wasn't of annoyance, instead, it was of curiosity.
"Special permission from Seto Kaiba," I said, showing my seal of employment.
"You work for him?"
"Yeah, nothing special in my opinion," I answered, smiling softly. "Given the reputation of the man, I'd rather keep it a secret, but given that you asked, you have the right to know." I know this looks as if she were a close friend, but look at her, the woman who turned out to be my wife. I know it's a big spoiler, but it leaves the gap between now and the prologue as one big mystery.
"Mind if I sit with you?"
"Is it due to the empty seat, or is it due to my employer?"
"Definitely not because of your job."
"Well then, I don't mind at all," I said, as she smiled and took a seat.
"Do you want to know why I sat here?" She asked, as I looked into her eyes. Oh, those simple, brown eyes that had much to tell. I could go on, but we've got an agenda of writing down four years, so yeah, I'm sure you'll understand.
"Go on, I'm all ears," I answered, checking my equipment.
"Well, my friends sat together, and as you can see, it's two people per bench. I tried to find a place near them, but I ended up here since the other seats in our section are full. Then I saw you, and there were two things that caught my attention: the first one was your red jacket, which means you're a Slifer Red."
"What was the second one?" I asked.
"Your eyes, I'm surprised nobody noticed them."
"You mean the fact that I've got a reptile's eyes?
"Yeah, it looks like they're real, but... Are they?"
"Yeah, due to some odd reason, I got these eyes, I guess I'm a Liz Taylor of sorts." Okay, any coincidences of people, dead or alive, are not intentional... Well, in this case, it was, since I needed a reason to not be odd.
"That must be pretty cool."
"Yeah, sort of. I'll be fine with it as long as people don't call me a frog or some other ridiculous reptile or amphibian."
"So, tell me about yourself."
"I'm Spike Solaris, I'm unimportant, I have no dueling antecedents, so that's pretty much it," I said, shuffling my Red-Eyes deck. "Now about you? I'm sure you're much more interesting than I am."
"Well, I come from Duel Prep School, my parents are important in the fields of dueling, law, and the stock exchange, and my name is Alexis Rhodes."
"Alexis, the name that means 'to help or defend'. Also, your parents know how to count big numbers in a way," I said, chuckling.
"Well, my mother is an attorney, the cases she receives are few, but they pay well."
"So... She's a housewife and an attorney?"
"If you want to put it like that, then yes, she is. As for my father, he works in the stock exchange, pretty much calculating the increase and decrease of things in the market."
"As the occupation's name goes..."
"What are your parents' jobs?"
"Well, that's the thing: I'm the last member of my family," I answered, frowning and looking down.
"I'm sorry Spike, I didn't want to-"
"I guess I should explain. Time ago, there were several clan wars, and my family was involved in one of them. My father, my brother and my sister were lost in the first war against the Frost Clan. Right after my birth, my mother was killed by the leader of the Swiftclaw Clan. I would've been a victim as well, but I remained alive, given that my stepmother's guards got there before I was killed."
"If you want to stop, it's okay."
"Almost done, beautiful," I said, causing her to blush as I smiled. I guess that simple comment broke the silence, and I began laughing along with her.
"Well, things became brighter after that day, which lead to me being here. To be honest, I hadn't touched a deck until about a week ago," I ended.
"We're going to the right place to study, Spike, the teachers there are experienced, and Dr. Crowler has a PhD in dueling."
"It's good to know. Also, it does belong to Kaiba and his wife." It is odd, however, that for some reason, she slid her hand over to mine.
"Wow, you're warm, and it's cold here," she said, with a small amount of surprise in her voice.
"I've got warm blood, always been like this," I answered, smiling as my Draconian genetics gave me an advantage here.
"Mind if I lean on you?"
"Touchy, aren't we?" I asked, making her blush. I know it seems a bit cruel that I'm teasing her but let's get back on track. "Nope, not at all," I said, wrapping an arm around her. She blushed, only to smile softly and get comfortable as she felt my warmth. I know it seems as if our relationship is going fast, but we haven't even started it yet. In fact, it starts in February 2005.
It felt like an eternity as we stood in silence, although it was only a couple of hours. The boat stopped, and I looked around: the women wondered how I managed to have her under my arm, while the men looked at me with hate. I didn't know how powerful she was, because I'd find out a few hours later.
"I was cold, and he is surprisingly warm," Alexis said, before getting up. As if it weren't enough, I held the hand of another Obelisk, and she was amazed. The same expression was shared by a few Ra and Slifer students. As we all got off the boat, we proceeded to a room with a man in the middle of what is really a classroom.
"Good afternoon class, I am Chancellor Sheppard. I welcome you all to the prestigious Duel Academy, the center of five academies that are around the world, one on each inhabited continent: North Academy of Europe, South Academy of Australia, West Academy of Africa, and East Academy of America."
"Now, before you truly become part of our academy, you will each receive a PDA, which will guide you to your dorms. You may all leave, and I wish you all an excellent school year," he said, before we all left the classroom. As I went to get my PDA, I received a piece of paper instead, which directed me to my dorm and room.
Slifer Red was like an apartment complex, but it was a nice place. As I entered Room 7, I saw what it contained: a bed, a desk with a Slifer poster on the wall in front of said desk, a stove, a small fridge, cupboards, a closet, a small table and a window.
"It is not that bad for a Slifer room," Yubel said.
"Well, I just can't be a beggar with a stick," I answered, putting my backpack and the box of cards on the floor.
"Anyways, what are we having for dinner?"
"I thought Duel Spirits didn't need to eat."
"It does not mean that we do not do so. Also, I'm surprised you didn't notice the suitcase on your bed." This caught my attention, which lead me to seeing the silver suitcase. I opened it, and saw two revolvers: one was black with a red grip, and the other was white with a blue grip.
"They're beautiful..."
"Hmm, you also happen to have a PDA, and there's a letter for you," she said, giving me the two items after I put the guns in their case. I opened the letter and put the PDA in my lap, reading the letter which said the following:
Spike Solaris,
You may be wondering why you did not receive a Personal Digital Assistant at the assembly, and why you have these firearms. The firearms are to aid you in your quest, which as you know, is to find information of shadow game activity and traces of the missing students. There will be enemies that will not settle things with a duel, which could lead you to combat. In order to use the handguns, you must channel your energy into them. Then, you aim and pull the trigger, and a small fire bullet will be shot. These projectiles are faster than your average projectiles. This also works for any other firearm you can hold.
As for the PDA, it is unique compared to the other PDAs. This one has a GPS, basic information on the academy's staff and students, a memory of 16 gigabytes, and direct contact with Kaiba and I. I do hope you do well in your first year at Duel Academy, and we also wish for you to bring results in your mission as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Kisara, hostess of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon
P.S In order to get extra money, you're going to have to get a job on the island. We've provided you with a fridge full of food, and basic culinary utensils, as well as a masseur's bed. Don't screw up, and stay alive.
- Kaiba
"That's comforting, but how did he find out I'd need this?" I asked.
"I told Kisara," Yubel said, smirking. "Hey, you can't start living alone empty-handed."
"Thanks for that 'Bel, I appreciate it."
"'Bel? That's an odd nickname, but I like it."
"Now... How about kebabs for dinner?"
"Use cow meat, not chicken."
"Will do," I said, before I began he process of preparation: chopping, cutting, roasting, and putting the meat and vegetables on sticks. I then proceeded to serve lemon-lime soda in two cups while the kebabs cooled down. As I served the kebabs in two plates, I took them to the table, which lead me to sitting on the floor.
Yubel had approved of my food, and I was happy my skills weren't that rusty. I knew clothes and other items would be a problem, but I'd solve those problems with time's passing and giving it my all. As I fell asleep, my dreams drifted to Alexis, and then how I would put my skills as a masseur to good use. Life couldn't have gotten better. However, I had to visit a zebra tonight in the dreamscape.
The Dreamscape
Zecora was very depressed, watching over her foal in her hut. As it was expected, she was one of the most affected due to Spike's death. She then looked around, only to be greeted by a purple-and-green dragon that was dressed in white robes, and he had an odd metallic cylinder in his hands.
"Hello Zecora, again, we meet again," he said.
"Spike... how are you here?" Zecora asked.
"This is one of the few trips, able to realize in the dreamscape, am I. Rhyme, I am, also surprised by the fact that you did not."
"It has been time indeed, it is you who I need."
"Always been your way of speaking, rhyming has, I assume, to be careful with what you say, is it. "
"Guessed right you have, your warmth is what I lack."
"Zecora, come to say goodbye, I have. More ponies out there, there are, despite the fact that I am a pony not."
"Spike, I-"
"Me Zecora follow, something I must show you, there is," I said, walking out of the hut, only to see the sunset that consisted on two suns.
"What is this place? My doubts I am sure you can sate."
"Tatooine, this is, of Anakin Skywalker the home planet. Also the place that saw his son, is it, Luke Skywalker grow. An impossible happening in equestria, the two suns in the sky are. Our case in, miracle, it is. Something that seems impossible but happens anyway, a miracle is."
"Continue..." she said, as we went back in.
"To me listen, Zecora. Spend the rest of your life mourning over my death you should not, bad for the foal would it be. Raise the foal properly and move on. Remember Zecora, the only one out there I am not," I said, fading away after giving her a unique item: a Krayt Dragon Pearl, a pearl known for the feeling of warmth it emanates.