We find ourselves on the top floor of an office building. Inside we find a man in his mid-twenty with pale blue skin and white hair, he wore a white overcoat that went to his knees with a red yolk, pockets and cuffs. He was looking out the large windows overlooking the city, before turning back towards a large desk where a deck of cards sat between two free cards. Picking the two cards up in each hand he crossed his arms before throwing them straight, sending the cards flying onto the desk where they began spinning on one of their corners like tops.

"Which of you has what it takes?" he asked. "Show yourself!" The cards spun towards each other and slapped one another two, three, four times before the one on the left sent the other flying off the table. "Awesome." He took the still spinning card and added it to the deck before leaving the office.

On his way out he saw a woman carrying many files walking along the corridor. "Move all my appointments, I have some special work that needs doing." He told her not stopping his pace.

"Yes Mr Cold Steel." She said not getting any response from him.

It was Sunday so Flash had gotten to sleep in most of the morning like he usually did.

When he finally did wake up he turned to his alarm clock, which read 11:50, and decided to get up. Quickly getting dressed he left his room and went to make breakfast, er, lunch when suddenly a buzz at the door's intercom caught his attention. "Hello?" He said pressing the button.

"Special delivery for Flash Sentry," the voice replied.

"I didn't order anything," Flash said.

"This is apartment 3C right?" the delivery man asked.

"Yeah but I still didn't order anything." Flash replied.

"Not my problem." he said back.

"Fine." Flash unlocked the door and the delivery man soon arrived with a package. Flash signed and he was gone, leaving the teen with the box. Flash placed the box on the kitchen table and studied it. The logo on the front he recognised as Freeze Industries, the well known producer and distributor of Duelling related stuff like the cards and Duel Disks. Deciding to open it Flash found a dark blue Duel Disk. Taking the device out of the box he activated it and checked the user detail, and just like that all his info was there. His age, birthday, where he lived everything.

"What is going on?" he asked himself. First he gets left a deck of cards and now someone bought, programmed and delivered a Duel Disk for him. He looked back down at the box and noticed an envelope had been sitting under the Duel Disk. Picking up and opening it his eyes went wide seeing new cards, some were normal ones and others were Link cards. No doubt now this package was for him since not only did it have Link cards, some were Magna Fighters like the ones in his deck. Finally in the envelope was a small map, he looked and noticed an area circled which he recognised as a nearby mall.

Before he had a chance to think he was out the door, running at full speed out of the apartment and down the street on route to the mall. He was going so fast that he wasn't watching where he was going, and when he turned a corner he ended up crashing into something or someone. "Ow," he said rubbing his head.

"Ow," looking at who he had hit his eyes went wide seeing it was Twilight. Twilight looked at him to and like him she was surprised seeing him.

Flash laughed as he got up, "we've got to stop bumping into each other like this." he said offering his hand to help her up.

"Maybe you just need to watch were you’re going." Twilight replied as she took his hand. "So what were you running from this time, more psychos."

"Actually," Flash held up his new Duel Disk.

"You got a new Duel Disk?" Twilight asked.

"It just showed up along with some new cards and a map showing the city mall," he explained, "I think whoever sent me my deck wants to meet."

"You think so?" Twilight asked.

"It's the only thing I can think of." Flash said as he pulled out his deck. "I know it sounds weird but ever since I got this deck I've been seeing things in a new light. I used to hate Duelling, but now when I use these cards I get this strange feeling like this was what I was meant to do."

"You talk about it like it's your destiny." Twilight told him.

"You think so?" Flash thought for a moment. Now that she said it this did sound like destiny, like some greater power was pulling him back into Duelling. "Maybe you've got a point?"

"Listen," Twilight said "I wish I could come with you and find out, but my mom's got me doing errands all day, so."

"Oh," Flash said "that's too bad. You wanted to learn new stuff about Link cards so I thought."

"Yeah," Twilight said, "sorry." She then looked at her phone and realised the time, "I got to get going." She began running down the street. "If you find anything out tell me."

"Sure," Flash replied watching her leave, before restarting his journey to the mall.

He eventually arrived and started looking around trying to see if there was anyone suspicious, but the place was so big and there was so many people that it was next to impossible to tell them apart. "Man, I didn't think there'd be this many people." he said sitting on a bench. "I wonder why the map said to come here?" He pulled out his deck and began flipping through the cards along with the new ones.

"Excuse me," Flash looked up and saw the man named Cold Steel standing not too far off, "don't mean to be rude, but I couldn't help but notice you’re a Duellist," he pointed to the cards.

"I guess," Flash replied, "but who are you?"

"Just someone looking to pass the time." Cold Steel replied. "I had some business in this area and was hoping to find a good Duel, what do you say?"

Flash thought for a moment, since he couldn't find anyone he might as well. "Sure let's do this."

Flash and Cold had gone to the mall's rooftop parking lot.

"Are you ready?" Cold asked attaching a white Duel Disk to his arm, a white energy blade forming.

"As I'll ever be." Flash replied attaching his own Duel Disk to his arm as an orange energy blade appeared.

"Then we begin," they drew their cards.

"DUEL."

Flash: 4000
Cold: 4000

"I'll start," Cold said drawing a card. "And I'll activate One for One. Now by sending one card from my hand to the Graveyard, I can Special Summon a Level 1 monster from my hand in Defense Position. I summon Boost Warrior." A man in blue armor with an X on his back appeared. (A300/D200/L1) "Next I summon Achacha Archer." An archer with a burning arrow appeared. (A1200/D600/L3) Since Achacha Archer was Special Summoned, you lose 500 Life Points." Achacha Archer fired its arrow from its bow at Flash.

Flash: 3500
Cold: 4000

"Now I can use the effect of Boost Warrior. Now all other Warrior monsters I control gain 300 ATK." (A1500/D600/L3) "I end my turn."

"It's my turn," Flash said. "I draw. I summon Magna Fighter Dweller," a fighter in steampunk atire appeared, carrying a small sword. (A1600/D200/L3) "Check this out. Once per turn, I can select one monster and that monster can attack all monsters you control. Attack Achacha Archer." Magna Fighter Dweller ran forwards and slashed the archer, cutting him in half.

Flash: 3500
Cold: 3900

"Next, I'll attack Boost Warrior with Dweller," Dweller charged as it slashed Boost Warrior, destroying it instantly. "I end my turn."

"It's my turn," Cold said. "I draw. Since I control no monsters, I can Special Summon this monster without Tributing. Blazing Heart Knight." A knight with a blazing sword and shield. (A2000/D1000/L5) Next I summon the Tuner monster Blazing Heart Statue Soder." A statue with an upward arrow for a face appeared. (A900/D700/L2)

"What's a Tuner monster?" Flash asked.

"A Tuner monster is a monster who can start a Synchro Summon," Cold told him, "By tuning with other monsters and summon a monster whose Level is equal to their combined Levels."

"I see," Flash said.

"Now watch as I tune Level 5 Blazing Heart Knight with Level two Blazing Heart Statue Soder," Cold said. Statue Soder turned into two circles which Blazing Heart Knight flew into before turning into five lights as it disappeared in an explosion of light revealing a new monster. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON."

The new monster looked like a large version of Blazing Heart Knight. The only differences were that instead of a sword and shield it carried a flaming spear. "Blazing Heart Lord of the Javelin." (A2500/D2200/L7)

"Now I'll attack your Dweller," Cold said. The flaming knight charged forward and slashed Dweller, destroying it instantly.

Flash: 2600
Cold: 3900

"I end my turn," Cold said. "Let's see what you can do."

"It's my turn. I draw." Flash said. "I activate Monster Reborn to bring back Dweller." (A1600/200/L3) "Next I sacrifice Dweller to summon Magna Dragon Double Blaster." A white four legged dragon about 7 meters tall with blasters on each side appeared. (A2100/D1500/L5) Next, I activate my monster's effect. By banishing one monster from my Graveyard, it gains ATK equal to the banished monster's Level times 200." a transparent Dweller appeared before being sucked into one of the dragon's blasters. (A2700/D1500/L5) "And get this, Double Blaster can attack twice per Battle Phase. Attack." Double Blaster readied its blaster as it fired, causing an explosion.

Flash: 2600
Cold: 3700

"Yes." Flash said. But when the smoke cleared, it showed Blazing Heart Lord of the Javelin. "But how?"

"I activated the effect of Blazing Heart Gardna from my hand. By sending it to the Graveyard, my monster is immune to destruction this turn."

"I end my turn by placing two cards face down." Flash said.

"It's my turn," Cold said. "I draw. I now activate Blazing Heart Fusion. Now I can Fusion Summon using monsters from my hand. I fuse Blazing Heart Golem with Blazing Heart Statue Norr." Two monsters appeared, one being a golem made out of flaming rock while the other was similar to Blazing Heart Statue Soder but with a downward arrow before being sucked into the vortex. "I FUSION SUMMON."

The monster resembled Blazing Heart Lord of the Javelin, but it's carrying two cutlasses instead. "Blazing Heart Lord of the Sword." (A2000/D1500/L6)

"I activate my face down." Flash said. "Protective Light. Since you Special Summoned a monster, I can Special Summon one monster from my Deck in DEF mode and make it immune to card effects this turn. I Special Summon Magna Dragon Raider." (A300/D200/L1).

"Since my opponent Special Summoned a monster, the special ability of my Blazing Heart Lord of the Sword activates, allowing me to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Blazing Heart monster from the same place. I Special Summon Blazing Heart Enchantress." A woman in a flame colored dress appeared with blonde hair under an fire coloured hat. She carried a staff with a flame carved on the end. (A800/D1600/L4) "Since Blazing Heart Enchantress was Special Summoned, I can Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower Blazing Heart monster from my Graveyard. So come back Blazing Heart Gardna." A knight holding a shield appeared. (A800/D2000/L4)

"Two Level 4 monsters?" Flash said. "Are you gonna do another summoning method?"

"Yes. I overlay my Level 4 Enchantress and Gardna." Cold said as his two monsters turned into energy as they are sucked into a vortex. "I XYZ SUMMON."

The last monster resembled the other two, but with a chain with a hook on the other end. "Blazing Heart Lord of the Hook." (A2400/D1200/R4)

"Now I attack your Double Blaster with my Blazing Heart Lord of the Javelin," Cold said. The knight charged forward at Double Blaster.

"I activate my face down. Negate Attack," Flash said. A barrier appeared between the two monsters, blocking the attack. "Whew. That was close."

"You got lucky." Cold said. "I end my turn."

"It's my turn," Flash said. "I draw. I summon Cybernetic Lancer." (A1700/D0/L4) "Now I create my ultimate circuit."

"Here it comes." Cold said.

"The summoning conditions require two LIGHT monsters. I set Raider and Cybernetic Lancer in the Link Arrows." The monsters are sucked up into tornadoes as they enter the board. "I LINK SUMMON."

A man in steampunk armour over a giant overcoat appeared, a top hat with goggles strapped on and carried a giant steampunk sword as long as he was tall. "Magna Champion Gladio." (2100/LINK-2/Bottom-Left, Bottom Right)

"Thanks to this monster's special ability, all monsters it points to gain 800 ATK even when it leaves the field." (A2900/D1500/L5) "I attack with my Double Blaster." Double Blaster readied one of its blasters.

"I activate the effect of the Blazing Heart Yure-Onna in my hand. By discarding it, your Battle Phase ends." Cold said.

"I end my turn." Flash said.

"My draw," Cold drew his card and when he saw what it was he smiled, before returning to his icy demeanour. "Listen up," he said "here's your lesson. A guy like you...will never be able to beat me, not a chance."

"What?"

"You heard me," Cold Steel replied, "you’re finished, it's been decided. Let me show you." He took a card from his hand and placed on the Duel Disk, "I summon Blazing Heart Lancer." Another flaming knight appeared, this time holding a lance. (A1800/D1300/L4) "Now to show you that you're not the only one that can Link Summon."

"What do you mean?" Flash said. That's when he realized, "You can Link Summon too."

"That's right," Cold said as the circuit appeared. "The summoning conditions require at least three FIRE monsters. I set Lord of the Javelin, Lord of the Sword, Lord of the Hook and Lancer in the Link Arrows. I LINK SUMMON."

It was a twenty five foot humanoid dragon with flame-like scales covering its entire body. It had a thick chest but a very thin waist and thick legs. It's wings were two sets of triple blades of fire and its tail was long with a torch on the tip. It's shoulders were large crescent moon shapes, while its arms had spikes trailing down them and the hands were large with five long claws. Its head was a large kite shape with no mouth, just a pair of light blue eyes with a long blazing spike on each end. "Blazing Heart Dragon." (3000/LINK-4/Top, Left, Right, Bottom-Right)

"What?" Flash said. He looked up at the dragon in horror. "A Link-4 monster?"

"I now activate Blazing Heart Reborn." Cold said. "This card allows me to Special Summon two Blazing Heart monsters from my Graveyard, but their abilities are negated, so I revive Blazing Heart Golem and Blazing Heart Knight." (A2800/D1800/L7) (A2000/D1000/L4) "Next I activate the special ability of Blazing Heart Dragon, to Tribute my Golem and Knight and double its ATK." The dragon reached down and grabbed the two monsters as they were turned into solid ice and crumbled. (6000/LINK-4/Top, Left, Right, Bottom-Right)

"In the heat of battle, a Duellist's true character is revealed," Cold said, "and depending on your actions, your insecurities become crystal clear to your opponent."

Flash growled. "So from this one Duel you think you've got me all figured out?"

"But I do have you figured out," Cold said. "Purgatory Dragon attack Flash Heart Dragon." The giant dragon brought it's claws together, as a fireball formed and grew.

"No," Flash said trying to think of a way to stop him.

"Imagine it," Cold said. Hearing this Flash looked at him, and as their eyes met the young teen suddenly found himself blinded by light. When his vision cleared he wasn't looking at Cold Steel, but at Purgatory Dragon.

"What's going on?" He asked moving his hand up to cover his face from the heat of the fireball, only to take a second look when he realised his hand wasn't that of a human, but a robot. Looking down at his arms and at his body he realised he had somehow become Flash Heart Dragon. "What...how?" He asked. Looking behind him at where he should be standing and he was, but something was different about him. He stood perfectly still as if he was a statue, his eyes were white voids. It was as if his very soul had been removed, which Flash realised is what had happened. "What's going on?"

"Look around you boy," Cold Steel said, "at the monsters you cower behind."

Flash looked down at Lucidum and Crossbolt, both standing ready for the fight. But on closer inspection he saw their faces had a look of fear engraved on them.

"This is why a guy like you will never beat me," Cold explained, "when you summon your monsters do you think about how they feel, about whether they want to battle?"

"I...I…" Flash didn't know what to say.

"You don't, you simply summon them as if they're mindless puppets, because you’re not strong enough to fight. Well I'm going to show you what your monsters must face every time you Duel."

Purgatory Dragon released the fireball, which was now three times the size of the dragon, and it flew towards him.

"No," Flash said trying to move, but his body refused as if it he frozen in place. The fireball finally reached him and all he could do was shield himself with his hands. "NOOOOO!" Suddenly Flash threw his arms out as a wave of energy shot out of him, the wave pulsed again and again causing the holograms to flicker.

"What?" Cold said protecting his face.

The holograms suddenly dissolved into data bits as the wave grew weaker. Flash, now back in his own body, fell to his knees and panted heavily. "Incredible," Cold Steel said in actual amazement, "he overloaded the Duel System."

"What happened?" Flash asked.

"Our Duel Disks detected a fault and have shut down for safety reasons," Cold explained, "we're done here." He turned to walk away.

"Wait!" Flash said making him stop. "What's your name? You owe me that much."

Cold Steel remained silent for a moment, his back still turned away, until he said "get stronger and I might tell you," and with that he left.

Now alone Flash's eyes never left the spot Cold had been, not even blinking. Never had he been so completely helpless in a Duel, even back when he was young. Who was that man, and how had he made Flash see all that stuff?

Back at the office building Cold Steel sat looking out the window. "He has far more potential then I had originally believed," he said aloud to himself, "but this is only the beginning."

Flash was on his way home, crossing a large bridge over a river when he finally stopped. His body was shaking with pent up frustration, so much so that he couldn't take it and let out a mighty yell that caused nearby birds to spook. Many people heard it and turned to the bridge wondering who would make such a noise, and what would drive them to it?

Author's Note

Note: If this story is popular enough, it will get a sequel.