Exodia Academy – Cloud Watching[


Professor Thomius S. Miller groaned as he sat alone in a classroom grading test papers. The head of Hamon Yellow HATED grading tests “What I wouldn’t give for an assistant…” the thirty something year old muttered running a hand through his messy brown hair in annoyance “Most of these idiots we call students couldn’t even get the EASIEST questions right…” he leaned back in his chair a little and sighed “There’s just SO many better things I could be doing right now… like watching clouds… or mocking those stupid reality show contestants on TV… heck I could even be trying to find some AMBITION!!! But no, I’m stuck here grading lousy tes…”

Before he could finish his sentence the door to the room is abruptly knocked open as a loud voice rings out “”YO!! YOU IN HERE TEACH!!?” At the moment the “Teach” was flat on his back where he had fallen out of his chair in surprise, wondering whether he should dignify that question with a proper answer or simply get up and shout angrily at the intruder, yeah shouting angrily would do. “WHAT IN EXODIA’S NAME DO YO…” Prof. Miller began as he rose up from behind his desk, a thick stack of letter sized paper held together with an extra strength staple whapped him in the face, cutting off his tirade before it could begin and before he could even get a good look at the intruder.

“READ IT AND WEEP TEACH!!” the voice shouted “I FINALLY FILLED OUT ALL THOSE STUPID PAPERS TO HAVE AN ADVANCEMENT DUEL WITH YA!!!” Thomius’s face paled. An advancement duel was an old obscure rule that let students from a lower dorm challenge the head of the next highest one; if they won they were promoted up a dorm immediately without having to worry about test scores, grade, or anything like that but if they lost they where forced to sit out the next dorm advancement exam and received a penalty at the dorm heads choice… within reason. It was something Thomius had done his best to make a bureaucratic nightmare so as to discourage students from attempting it, but apparently this one was determined enough to go through every one of the repetitive and boring forms just to get a chance to move up.

Leafing threw all the papers with a slight annoyed twitch on his face Thomius did his best to keep his voice even as he got back up “Well… it does seem everything’s in order Mr…” he looked to the student in question “EDWARD!!! IRON FIRST ED TO YOU TEACH!!” the kid roared and Thomius sweat dropped. Standing before him was a rather stocky looking kid wearing the outfit of a second year Uria Red student with a slight tan, his short dirty blond hair stuck up like a straw broom. Oddest yet he was wearing a large white head band with the phrase “Fight >< Peace” printed on it. He gave a broad grin and held up a clenched fist to the teacher in what you could assume was some kind of greeting.

Coughing into his hand a little before adjusting his glasses Thomius looked the Red student in the eyes and said flatly “I’m going to give you a few minutes to think about just how stupid that nickname sounds… and don’t call me teach.” In comparison to the excited young Edward, Thomius looked positively bored. He was tall and somewhat thin with messy deep brown hair and his teacher’s uniform looked like he’d been sleeping in it. He sighed a little as he got up and retrieved his duel disk and deck from his desk “Now, considering I was the one challenged in this sense the first move is mine.” He said slipping his deck into the disk and activating it. Edward just grinned and activated his duel disk “Whatever teach...” he said, finally having stopped shouting “LETS DUEL!!” … or not.

Prof. Miller LP8000 / “Iron Fist” Ed LP8000

“My draw.” Thomius sad as he drew five cards, and then drew his sixth. “I set one card face down, then I set on monster and end my turn.” he finished as the two hidden cards appeared. “Your move Mr. Edward.” The younger duelist laughed at this “You call that a move? BORING!! MY DRAW!!” he shouted as he drew his card and grinned “And I summon Chu-Ske the Mouse Fighter!!!” the little Bruce Lee inspired rodent appeared and did a few kicks at the air. Thomius couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at this as he commented “Any particular reason you summoned up that Tom & Jerry reject?” Ed just smirked “Reject huh? Well let’s see if your face down monster can stand up to him! Chu-Ske attack!!”

The kung-fu mouse nodded and jumped into the air, delivering a flying kick to the hidden monster, which flipped to reveal a Mother Grizzly (1400/1000) who promptly shattered. “HA!!” Ed laughed “Who’s the reject now!?” Thomius calmly started searching his deck as he said “That would be you, Mother Grizzly lets me search through my deck and special summon one water attribute monster with 1500 attack points or less… I choose Cloudian – Nimbusman.” Ed looked confused as a huge dark grey cloud appeared above the professor… indoors! “What is that thing!?” he shouted as it began to change into a roughly humanoid looking form and a face appeared on it. “Oh this?” Thomius remarked “This would be my strongest monster, Cloudian – Nimbusman.” (1000/1000)

At that comment Ed burst out laughing “Gahahahahahahahaha!!! THAT’S your strongest monster!? You’ve GOT to be kidding!?! You’re gonna fight me with a rain cloud!?” ignoring the laughter Thomius managed to keep his cool… sort of “Are you finished with your turn yet you irritating drop out?” still laughing Ed managed to nod. “Then I draw! Thomius declared “And I start by discarding my Zeradias, Herald of Heaven from my hand to take one The Sanctuary in the Sky from my deck and add it to my hand.” A green winged angel carrying a pike appeared for a moment before vanishing as the professor added a card to his hand from his deck. “Next I play my new card, arise The Sanctuary in the Sky!!” suddenly a divine light shown down on the two as the ceiling vanished to be replaced with a blue sky and white clouds as a floating white temple appeared in the air behind Thomius. Edwards blinked “Whoah… what does it do?”

Adjusting his glasses a little Thomius allowed himself a smile “Simply put nether player takes battle damage from battle involving fairy type monsters… like my Nimbusman here. Next I play Cloudian Squall…” a continuous spell card appeared on his side of the field “And then summon Cloudian – Cirrostratus.” An odd little cloud that looked something like a floating, puffy white hamster appeared (900/ 0) and Edward started laughing again “Are all your monsters clouds!? Gahahahaha! This is gonna be TOO EASY!!” he shouted. Ignoring him Thomius continued his move “And when he is summoned he gets 1 Fog Counter for every face up Cloudian I control, counting himself that’s 2.” Suddenly two odd little puffs of smoke or fog started circling Cirrostratus “And the Nimbusman’s effect kicks in. For every Fog Counter on the field he gains 500 attack points.” (2000/1000) Edward abruptly stopped laughing at this. “Now I could attack with Nimbusman and destroy your mouse… but I have a better idea. I remove both of Cirrostratus’s Fog Counters to activate his effect and destroy one monster on the field.” The two smoke puffs vanished, causing Nimbusman’s attack points to go back to normal (1000/1000), and Chu-Ske vanished in a bolt of lighting as Ed looked panicked “W-wait! That means…”

“Now BOTH my monsters attack you directly!!” Thomius declared as Nimbusman unleashed a torrent of rain at the younger duelist and Cirrostratus shot a small lighting bolt at him. Edward cried out in shock but stood his ground “Gaaaah!!!”

Prof. Miller LP8000/ “Iron Fist” Ed LP6100

“And with that I end my turn, perhaps now you’ll learn a little respect for your elders…” Thomius commented as he looked to Edward. Oddly enough the younger duelist started… laughing? He suddenly grins “I think I underestimated you Teach! So get ready cause the fun starts here!!! I DRAW!!” he shouted as he picked up his card “And I play GAIA POWER!!” Thomius flinched as his Sanctuary shattered to be replaced by a forest scene with a huge tree growing up out of the middle of the clearing they were standing in “And then I summon my main man, MONK FIGHTER!! And he gains a little power boost thanks to my field spell!!” a fair skinned young man with grayish hair wearing a orange training outfit appeared and started beating the heck out of the huge tree, apparently building up his strength (1300 + 500/ 1000 – 400). Thomius blinked a little at this “First Chu-Ske the Mouse Fighter now Monk Fighter? You play a Monk deck? That’s an unusual strategy to say the least…”

“Yeah!? Well it’s the one I like!! Now I equip my fighter with Fighting Spirit!!” Monk Fighter’s body started to glow a little with power “So he gains 300 attack for every monster on your side of the field!!” (1800+ 600/ 600) “And he attacks your Cirrostratus!!” the young monk let out a battle cry as he charged across the field and threw a punch at the smaller cloud, only to find his fist go right through it like it wasn’t there. Thomius smirked “You’re trying to punch a cloud? You really are a battle crazed idiot, they’re made of vapor. There’s nothing there for you to hit! Nearly every Cloudian has the ability to keep from being destroyed in battle.” Edwards looked angry before he grinned “Yeah? Well YOU STILL TAKE DAMAGE!!!” The professor’s eyes went wide just in time to get sucker punched by Monk Fighter.

Prof. Miller LP6500/ “Iron Fist” Ed LP6100

“Gaaaaah!! My nose! You broke my nose!!” he cried as he clutched his face and Ed sweat dropped “It’s a hologram you idiot!” he shouted as the older man blinked “Oh… right…” Edward shook his head “I set one card face down and end my turn.” still rubbing his nose a little Thomius drew his card “My turn, and during my standby phase my Cloudian squall places one Fog Counter on all face up monsters!” the continuous spell glowed a little as one small puff of fog started circling every monster on the field, including the confused looking Monk Fighter “Which means Nimbusman’s attack points go up!” the large man shaped cloud swelled up even large (2500/1000) as Edward looked up to it in a combination fear and anger. “Next I summon Cloudian – Altus!” Thomius shouted as a yellowish cloud appeared which looked like, for lack of a better description, the ghost Fatso from the Casper series (1300/ 0)

“Oh yeah!!? Well another monster means my Fighter gains even more attack strength!!” Edward shouted back as the glow around Monk Fighter got stronger (2400 + 300/ 600) Thomius simply shrugs “True… but when Altus is played he gains 1 Fog Counter for every Cloudian I control, that’s 3 more.” Sure enough three little balls of fog start circling the fat cloud as Nimbusman grew even larger, looming behind Thomius like some kind of parade balloon (4000/1000) and Edward‘s eye’s bulged at the huge monster. “Now… Nimbusman!! Attack his Monk Fighter!! Heavy Weather!!!” The man shaped cloud shifted back to a normal form and unleashed a hurricane force squall at the fighter.

”OH YEAH!! Well Monk Fighter’s effect negates all damage I’d take from him and I can discard Fighting Spirit to keep him from being destroyed!!” Edward shouted back as the glow around Monk Fighter faded and the storm died down. Thomius nodded “True, but can you manage to do that next turn? I set one card face down and end my turn.” another face down appeared and Edward drew his card and grinned again “I won’t have to… cause I send Monk Fighter to the graveyard to special summon Master Monk from my hand!!” as if time suddenly accelerated the young fighter was replaced by a much, much older man with long grayish hair and an equally long beard, a tanned body covered in bulging muscles wearing the tattered remains of an orange training outfit (1900 + 500/1000 – 400)

Thomius just yawned a little “Still not impressed…” Edward just glared “Yeah? Well since I got rid of Monk Fighter that’s one less Fog Counter for your over grown windbag over there!!” sure enough Nimbusman had shrunk a little (3500/1000) Edward grinned even more “And I happen to have drawn my SECOND Fighting Spirit!!!” he shouted as the equip spell appeared and Master Monk started to glow (2400 + 600/ 600) “Now Attack!! Get the Cirrostratus!!” the older monk charges the cloud and in one clean move punched right through it and managed to nail Thomius upside the head. “Aaaargh!! Not the nose again!!!” the teacher shouted as his life points fell.

Prof. Miller LP4400/ “Iron Fist” Ed LP6100

“And guess what teach, my Master can attack TWICE!!! GET HIS CIRROSTRATUS AGAIN!!!” without so much as a pause the monk launched a spin kick, knocking through the cloud and whamming Thomius in the gut “Oooooph!!!” is all he managed to say as he fell to his knees.

Prof. Miller LP2300/ “Iron Fist” Ed LP6100

Edward smirked “Cheer up, at least it wasn’t your nose this time.” He said, laughing a little “I end my turn… I guess the rumors are true; you couldn’t win a duel to save your life. I can’t wait to move into my new Hamon yellow suite… I hope they get good cable reception.” He laughs a little before noticing Thomius is still on his knees “What’s the matter? Give up? You really are a…” he was suddenly cut off by the professor shooting straight to his feet and shouting “SHUT UP!!!” Edward fell backwards in surprise, the bored expression was gone from Thomius’s face and he looked really, really pissed off as he started yelling “YOU KNOW NOTHING!!! THE ONLY REASON I TOOK THIS JOB WAS BECAUSE IT PAID WELL!! I HATE HAVING TO DEAL WITH SNOT NOSED BRATS LIKE YOU WHO THINK THEY’RE THE NEXT YUGI ON A DAILY BASIS!! YOU WANNA KNOW THE ONLY REASON I’M STILL HERE!??”

Edward blinks, not sure if he should answer, run away, or call the nearest mental institution. Thomius went on anyway “CAUSE I WAS ELIGABLE FOR TENURE!!! IF I PUT UP WITH IT FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS I CAN RESIGN FROM THE HAMON YELLOW HEAD POSITION TO TEACH ONE OF THOSE CLASSES YOU PEOPLE SLEEP THREW ANYWAY AND KEEP MY HUGE SALARY!!!!” he finished shouting and was gasping for air for about a minute before he straightens his glasses, fixes his coat and looks to Edward “Pretend you never heard any of that and I’ll give you an extra 15 points on your next “Advanced Dueling Strategies” test…” Blinking Edward didn’t even need a minute to think it over “Deal and it was your move.”

“I draw, and Cloudian Squall places 1 Fog Counter on every face up monster. That’s four more.” The little puffs of fog appeared and Nimbusman swelled in size again. (5500/1000) Edward smirks “Don’t think I’ve forgotten what your Cirrostratus can do when it has two of those counters! I activate my continuous trap Lone Wolf!! Now my Master Monk can’t be destroyed in battle or affected by your monster effects!!” Thomius just shoots him a dull look “I know, I covered that in my “Themed Trap and Monster Combination” lecture last week, or did you sleep threw it like all those other students?” Edward looks away nervously “Maybe…” Thomius sighs “No respect… I summon Cloudian – Ghost Fog.” A wispy cloud that resembled the upper body of a human with a ghost like tail where the legs should be appeared. (0/0)

Edward rolls his eyes “Great, and how many Fog Counters does this one get?” Thomius shrugged “None actually, now my Ghost Fog attacks your Master Monk!” Edwards nearly drops the card in his hand at this “W-what? B-but… my monk’s even stronger since you played another monster!! Why would you attack it!” sure enough the glow around the monk was even more intense since Ghost Fog had showed up. (3000 + 300/ 600) “If you attack it you’ll lose!!” Thomius chuckles “Wrong. Ghost Fog’s effect negates all battle damage, and since it doesn’t target your Lone Wolf trap does nothing to it.” Master Monk took a couple swings at the odd specter before finally shattering it… into five floating puffs of fog “And then its effect lets me place Fog Counters on the field equal to the level of the monster that destroyed it. So I place them on Nimbusman.” The already large cloud absorbed the fog and swelled to a truly monstrous size. (7000/1000)

“Now Nimbusman, attack his Master Monk! Heavy Weather!!!” with the lose of Ghost Fog Master Monk’s attack points had fallen (3000/ 600) but thanks to Lone Wolf he managed to stand against the storm. Even if it managed to blow Edward onto his butt.

Prof. Miller LP2300/ “Iron Fist” Ed LP2100

Muttering angrily the red duelist sat up “Oh yeah!? Well next turn I’ll attack your Cirrostratus again with Master Monk and you’ll lose! So give it up! There’s NOTHING you can do to win!!” Thomius stands there for a minute before speaking “Mind if I ask you a question?” Edward blinks “Uh… sure, what’s the question?” The teacher grins “How does your foot taste? I activate Updraft!” one of Thomius’s traps lifts up and a strong wind starts to blow “This trap removes EVERY Fog Counter on the field and then deals you 300 points of damage for each! And if my count is right, there are 14 in play right now! So that’s 4200 points of damage!” he smirks as the wind becomes a cyclone aimed at Edward “Now who say’s I can’t duel?”

Prof. Miller LP2300/ “Iron Fist” Ed LP0000

Edward slumped to the ground “I… I lost…” “Don’t take it too hard.” Thomius commented as he fixed his uniform “You fared better then some, at least for a battled obsessed idiot, and I can say that your deck is at least unique… now for your penalty…” Edward gulped, having forgotten that little stipulation to losing an Advancement Duel “You will be helping me grade next weeks “Dueling Basics” exam.” Thomius finishes. Edward sits there stunned “That’s it? That’s all you’re gonna do?” Starting to walk back to his desk “That and a five hundred word essay on why it’s rude to interrupt a teacher in the middle of grading.” Edwards jaw dropped “You’re kidding…” “No, and if you don’t hurry up and leave I’ll make it more.” The professor said bluntly as Edward stood there trying to argue “But…” “600.” “That’s not fair!!!” “700. Leave before you get to 800.”

“FINE!!” Edward shouted, storming out of the room. Thomius watched him go, before going to the door and watching him storm down the hall out of sight. After looking both ways down the hall to make sure no one was coming he quietly shuts the door, locks it, and then proceeds to do his victory dance “I did it, I did it! I WON!!! YES!!!”

Nice! This guy is awesome!

Andy: Wow! If all the teachers are this good then I just can't wait to get to class!!

Thomius: Yes, yes... just don't cause any trouble... =__=