Hello, this is my first ever GX Fanfic, so I hope you guys enjoy! Remember to Follow/Favorite and Review!

This fanfic was inspired by some other fics I've read, after reading them I wanted to make my own, I do have a fic for 5D's but that was more based off a roleplay I did.

Anyway, without further ado, let's get this fic started!

A Closed Fist to an Open Palm

Chapter 1: Only through Struggle, we can find our Determination part 1

A duel was underway in the Duel Academy Arena. On one side was the titular Slifer Red Jaden Yuki, confident and cocky as usual, and on the other side was his opponent; a frustrated, and livid Jasmine Makurada.

The duel was not going well for the Obelisk Blue girl; she had only 1800 life points left, and her Harpie Lady Sister's on the field was no match for Jaden's newly-summoned Flame Wingman created through the spell card; Miracle Fusion.

"Now Elemental Hero Flame Wingman! Destroy Jasmine's Harpie Lady Sisters and end this duel! Skydive Scorcher!" Jaden Yuki shouted, pointing at Jasmine's monster. Flame Wingman opened up its dragon mouth weapon and fired out a blazing beam of fire, blasting the Harpie to pieces.

"And Elemental Hero Flame Wingman's effect activates! Whenever it destroys a monster by battle, you take damage equal to the destroyed monster's attack points! That's game!" Jaden declared before snapping his fingers at the defeated Jasmine.

"Damn it..."Cursed the red-head as her lifepoints dropped to zero. Jasmine dropped her head down as a collection of spectating Obelisk Blue students glared down disapprovingly.

"Can't believe one of own got beat by a Slifer Slacker." One Obelisk Blue student lamented with a sigh.

"One of our own? The girls at Obelisk Blue are pretty bad; they're only good for their looks! That's what I say!" his friend replied, letting out an arrogant snicker, garnering the attention of several Obelisk Girls.

"Hey! Don't you dare group Jasmine with us! She shouldn't even be in Obelisk Blue! She's giving the Obelisk girls dorm a bad name with her garbage dueling skills!" AnObelisk girl adamantly remarked back. Jasmine twitched in irritation, trying her best to restrain herself from jumping into the seats and confront the girl that was disrespecting her.

"Shut up Alyssa! You're not better than me!" Jasmine shouted back; she would hear a mean laugh back in the stands.

"This is the TWELVETH LOST I had in the last two days...And half of them are from this SLIFER RED. What the hell is wrong with me?" The red-head asked herself in an agitated whisper, in disbelief from her losing streak.

Jaden, strode over to Jasmine, with a wide goofy-looking grin. He offered the girl a friendly handshake. Seemingly happier that he got to duel the sulking red-head than getting a win from her.

"That was a good game, wasn't it Jasmine?" Jaden asked innocently, apparently not hearing any of the insulting Obelisk Blue students. Jasmine gave Jaden a deathly cold glare before smacking Jaden's hand away.

"Ow! What the heck was that for Jasmine?" Jaden questioned, tenderly rubbing his hand.

"S-Shut up Jaden! G-Get away from me! You make me sick!" Jasmine shouted right in Jaden's face before stomping out of the dueling field, leaving a dumbfounded Jaden Yuki alone in the middle of the dueling field.

"Jeez, what's gotten into her?" Jaden said, confused.

"Hey, Jazz! Are you okay?" Jasmine heard as she exited into the hallway, the red-head turned to see her best friend; Mindy Hamaguchi, running up to her worryingly.

"Of course I'm not okay! I've dueled over a dozen times! and I lost in every single one of them!" Jasmine angrily shouted, stomping her feet as she expressed her pent-up rage. She would earn some perplexed looks from several passing students who witnessed her petulant stomping.

"Jazz...Please calm down; we're all enrolled here to be better duelists, its a learning experience for everyone, So don't get so bummed out over losing." Mindy soothed as she placed a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. Her honeyed words sadly fell on deaf ears as Jasmine continued her envenomed rant, seemingly not hearing a single word.

"And half of my losses are from that Idiot Slifer Red! It's not fair!" Mindy flinched from the sheer volume of Jasmine's voice. Before Mindy could try to calm her best friend down, Jasmine stormed off in a sulk, leaving Mindy behind, aghast.

"Maybe I should just give her some alone time..." Mindy mumbled in a guilty frown.


"Stupid Jaden! Stupid Losing Streak! What the hell is wrong with me? I'm in Obelisk Blue! An Elite of the ELITE! I should be WAY better than those Slifer Slackers!" Jasmine loudly talked to herself, stomping through the forest path in a huff, kicking any loose stones that littered her way in an attempt to quell her frustration.

"Can't believe it...I lost to everyone..." Jasmine paused, the many crushing losses finally setting in. Her anger fizzled out as the girl sank to the ground pathetically, breathing out a deep, tired, and depressive sigh as doubt loomed over her mind.

"...I'm a terrible duelist...Aren't I?" The red-headed girl asked herself, shadowing her eyes. She buried her head into her knees shamefully, not wanting anyone to see her in such a broken state.

"They're right...I shouldn't be an Obelisk Blue. No Obelisk Blue loses to a Slifer," Jasmine admitted, her voice cracking and breaking under the pressure.

"I really am a failure..." Jasmine admitted, her knees being dampened by tears.


A sullen sigh escaped out of Jasmine's lips as she stood on the edge of a lake deep within the forest of Duel Academy Island. Her deck clenched in hand; ready to be dropped into the chilling water below.

"After this...It's back to home with you Jasmine, good riddance." She continued to degrade herself as the depressing thought of confronting her parents about dropping out of duel academy sent shivers down her spine. No doubt they would disown her for wasting their money and time on her failed dream of becoming a professional duelist, not that Jasmine could blame them, she's a failure of a duelist who couldn't even beat a lowerclassman.

She stuck her hand out right above the watery edge, trembling as she struggled to drop her deck. Already second-guessing herself, should she abandon her dream? and drop off of Duel Academy? Would she able to live with such a big regret in her heart? She didn't know.

She closed her eyes, her deck loosening in her hands, not wanting to bear the sight of her cards being lost forever in the murky blue abyss below.

"Only through Struggle, we can find our Determination."

Jasmine let out a yelp of surprise, opening up her puffy eyes to find the speaker, saving her deck just in time before they delved into the water.

The speaker's back was turned away from the teary-eyed Jasmine, standing several feet away as he looked deep into the lake.

It was a Slifer Red student based on the red and white collar-button jacket he wore, but his coat was different compared to the others; the jacket's sleeves ripped off and wrapped around the boy's waist like a gi belt, revealing his well-toned arms and roughly-matted hands, and its coattails were a lot longer, almost trailing down to the students' feet Jasmine could notice his long ruffled blonde ponytail hid a hanging pair of heavy stones tied to the student's sash, burdening the wearer like a ship's anchors.

"W-What?" Jasmine would ask as she caught up with the mysterious Slifer Red Student, wiping her puffy eyes as she did so to avoid further embarrassment.

The Slifer didn't respond as he stared out into the shining lake, watching his rippling reflection with a pair of emerald green eyes.

"What do you mean?" Jasmine questioned. The boy turned to her sharply, his arms folded and his stance tall and proud.

The Slifer's face was fair but roughened, making his bright emerald green eyes all the more noticeable among his tanned face. Jasmine would catch herself from staring at them for too long as the Slifer Red student flashed a look of sympathy at the girl, glancing at the deck that dangled above the shimmering shore.

"Only through Struggle, we can find our determination. What this means, is that when we face an obstacle, we'll discover the hidden passion that lies within us all." The Slifer Red student recited in a calm, and collected tone with a finger upraised, closing his eyes so that he could recite the quote without a stutter.

"Things may look bleak, but if you work for that one single smile, then you'll become stronger." He finished before bowing his head graciously to Jasmine, like a student to a master.

"I heard your sorrow when I was on my daily walk, so I followed you in case you weren't going to do something...Drastic." He admitted guiltily, looking away from her.

"I'm glad I did though for you were about to discard your cards and leave this place... So I've decided to share my master's wisdom toise your spirits...I hope it was helpful for you." The Slifer Red would explain, occasionally glancing at her direction.

"I-It was a little. Thank you, I guess..." Jasmine said back in a light whisper, confused by how cryptic his help was. The Slifer Red would nod back in return, not speaking a single word.

An awkward silence loomed over the two students, only being peppered by the chirping of nesting birds and the clicking of crawling insects in the forest around them.

"My name is...Zenn, Zenn Goto." The Boy would stiffly introduce himself, sticking his hand out for Jasmine to shake to which the girl would cautiously accept. Jasmine slightly winced when she felt how rough the boy's hands were, feeling more like an old, rugged leather glove.

"Jasmine, Jasmine Makaruda," She replied as she gave Zenn a small, greeting nod.

"So, you are struggling to break free of your losing streak?" Jasmine swallowed some of her pride before she would nod once more.

"Yeah...It all started with me wanting to duel Jaden Yuki, a Slifer Red like you. He and Bastion are going to duel each other to see who would be the class representative for the Duel Off next week. I couldn't believe it! That guy trespassed into our dorm and yet he's the one that gets a chance to represent the school? Someone from Obelisk Blue should represent Duel Academy! I wanted to put that guy in his place, but then I lost...And lost again, I couldn't take it anymore!" Jasmine explained, stomping a foot.

"I can understand, but the path of the duelist is paved with struggle Jasmine, no one said it was going to be easy." Zenn would reply, not mincing his words to the girl.

"I know it wasn't going to be easy! I did the tests and exams to get here! It's not like I coasted my way here, unlike the other Obelisk Blues!" Jasmine exclaimed back in irritation, turning away from Zenn for a moment, frowning from a lack of validation.

"But I've lost so many times since being here...I feel like I failed as a duelist and I just want to win at least once to prove to myself that I deserve to be here." She finished in a sullen whisper; she felt another tear stroll down her cheek. She shied her face away from Zenn, not wanting the Slifer Red Student to see her in such a weak state.

"Then how about this Jasmine, we duel each other right now." The sudden request for a duel caused Jasmine to shudder.

"Why?! Is it because you want an easy win!?" She accused with a glare, her surly frown turning into a distrusting sneer.

"It's not that at all! I want to help you feel like you deserve to be here. A duel, no matter win or lose, is a time to reflect yourself." Zenn explained with his hands upraised, attempting to calm the girl down.

Jasmine fell silent, pondering on the duel request before declining with a stiff shake of her head.

"I appreciate it, but, I'm a lost cause, you don't need to waste your time on me," She answered bluntly.

Zenn seemed to shrink a little from Jasmine's will. "Then..." The Slifer Red would pull out his deck of cards and place them right above the water. Jasmine stared at him, perplexed.

"If you do not duel me, then I will drop my cards into the water with you." He said as he dangled the deck of cards above the water.

"W-What?! You're not serious right?" Jasmine asked, completely bewildered in the boy's insistence on destroying his cards if Jasmine did the same.

"We all delve into darkness Jasmine, but only through each other, we can pull ourselves out of it. If one of us abandons our hope, it's only fair that we all do." He recited as he stared at Jasmine, earnest in his decision as he waited for the girl's response.

"...I guess that's one way to convince a girl to duel with you...Fine, let's duel." Jasmine relented, sighing.

The two duelists got ready as they took a couple of steps to distance themselves from each other, the shimmering lake by their left side and the ingrained forest on their right. Both with a duel disk encased around their wrists and a deck tucked into the slot.

"Are you ready Jasmine?" Zenn asked as he shuffled his deck.

"As ready as I can be..." Jasmine mumbled back.

"Good; that's all I ask of you." Zenn would bow slowly and graciously to Jasmine before striking a closed fist to an open palm; his eyes tightly shut as he whispered a wish to something from beyond.

"May this duel bring joy to Jasmine's ailing heart." The boy would open his eyes before steadying into a graceful pose, his duel disk activating like a warrior's blade unsheathed for battle.

"DUEL!"

Hello Everyone! Thank you for reading, after some thought, I've decided to put the duel in a separate chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed this first chapter, I'm excited to continue writing this story :3