Chapter 2: Giving Some Things a Try

Mana lets the six-year-old inside to find a lot of Duel Monsters at tables, talking as if they’re all friends. Lina is shocked as she looks at Mana, “What’s going on?”

Mana smiles, “This is our Duel Café. This is where we go whenever you aren’t dueling.”

She looks around to find the Harpie Ladies, Dark Magician, Flame Swordsman, Celtic Elf, and so many more. Mana shows Lina to a free table and smiles warmly as Lina looks around, “This is a lot different than anything I would’ve imagined.”

Mana giggles, “It’s different alright. You want anything, Mistress? You must be thirsty.”

Lina thinks about it before looking at Mana, “Do you guys make white hot chocolate?”

Mana smiles, “Yep. I’ll get one for you,” then she heads to the counter. Lina takes her time taking in her surroundings, the Duel Monsters that she knows all are right in her sights. She looks around, suddenly feeling a bit anxious since she’s the only Duel Master in this world.

A familiar dragoness comes to Lina, “Are you alright, Hali-chan?”

Lina looks up and smiles, “Konnichiwa Kisara-Chan. I’m fine.”

Kisara shakes her head and sits in front of her, “You can tell me. Seth and you used to play with me and you’d tell me everything, even if I was a card.”

Lina blushes hard and sighs, “It’s just that…I’m the only Duel Master in here and I feel…out of place.”

Kisara nods, holds Lina’s hand and rubs it with her thumb, “I understand, but you needn’t to worry. After all, we were hoping that our Duel Masters would come in here soon. So don’t feel out of place, even if you can’t help. All Duel Masters are welcome here.”

Lina looks up at Kisara, ‘Even in here, she understands. I always knew she listens and wouldn’t judge me kindly for my sake. That’s why she’s my favorite Dragon Card.’ She smiles, “Thanks, Kisara, for that. I’m just not used to,” she gestures around them with her free hand, “this yet. Maybe a few more visits should help me out.”

Kisara nods, “I understand. It took us a while ourselves.”

Mana suddenly pops up with a red mug of something steamy, “Hey, girls. Talking huh?” She gently places it down, careful not to burn herself, Lina or Kisara.

Lina giggles, “Yeah,” she looks into the mug to see what she’s asked for, a white hot cocoa, but with marshmallows. She smiles and blows it enough to cool it down so she can sip it.

As she does so, Kisara nods, “I was helping Hali-Chan with her outcast feeling. She’s actually the first Duel Master to be here in these times.”

Lina’s eyes widen as she sets the mug down carefully, “I’m the first one be here in modern times?”

Mana nods as she sits next to her, “Yep. How’d you even get here anyways?”

Lina thinks of her sleeping position, “I’m asleep with your card,” she gestures to Mana, “in my hands. I think doing that’s led me here.”

Kisara’s eyes widen, “That’s the same way Seth’s able to come in here.”

Lina thinks a bit, ‘That would explain why I would find him sleeping with Kisara’s card in his hands,’ “So I guess I would be the first Atem/Celestia family member to be in here?”

Mana nods, “That’s right, Mistress. And besides, we kinda hoped that either you, Master Atem, Master Heba, Master Lincoln, Mistress Vanellope or Master Darwashi would come in here.”

Kisara nods as Lina takes another sip of her cocoa, “Besides, it kinda becomes boring with the same people after a while.”

Lina finishes her sip, sets her mug down and thinks of how to spice things up in the café so it has a bit more energy. Celtic Elf comes to the table and kneels, “Hello, Lina.”

Lina smiles, “Hello, Celtic Elf, haven’t dueled with you for a while. How’ve ya been?”

Celtic Elf smiles, “Alright. Lina, would you mind…singing your brother’s song for us?”

Lina blushes, “I don’t know if I should.”

Mana smiles widely, nodding, “Please, Hali, everyone has been dying to hear your voice ever since you’ve gotten us.”

Lina blushes hard, sighs then walks to the stage that suddenly appears. Harpie Lady gently tosses her a headset with a microphone then Lina puts it on, already familiar with these. Lina takes deep breathes as someone starts the music in the background. Lina starts singing once she knows it’s time to start, a little scared since this is unfamiliar territory.

Ha-ha-ha-ha!
It’s time, my friends
To rise, again!

Everyone cheers as soon as she sings.

Your first night on the job
Not sure you wanna punch in
Because once you're on the clock
You know I'm up to something

Lina feels less scared as she sings, starting to smile.

I'm sure you heard disturbing rumors
How things in the night go bumpin'
Four whole years have passed and it's amazing
That I still continue to function

With each lyric, her fear dissolves.

Those first five nights were such a bore
Just wait for what I've got in store
Nowhere to hide, can't shut the doors
Am I machine or something more?

Suddenly, she starts adding evil expressions, as if she’s on the animatronics’ side of Five Nights at Freddy’s.

There must be more to my rotten core
Than a walking talking robotic corpse
Better check the time, that's what the clock is for
You never should've picked this job, of course

Lina uses her magic and makes some floating platforms, surrounded by a red aura.

Look at the bright side, you will not get bored
You're the next victim that I'm coming for
It won't cost your job, but it'll cost you more
Tomorrow they'll wipe your guts off the floor

Lina walks on them, causing everyone to cheer loudly at her new bravery and willingness to expand her boundaries.

You spent so many nights, but here's another five
You'll come to realize evil doesn't die
I know you're frightened by the thought of what's inside
Hiding behind my lifeless eyes

Lina continues making platforms and walking on them, enjoying herself.

Enjoy these five long nights
Kick back and grab a slice
If you get killed on the job
We will not cover you're loss
So while you're here, try not to die

Lina stops by Dark Magician, swiping her finger over his nose before walking away, a small smirk on her face. He chuckles, watching after her while enjoying her voice.

Fazbear's Fright, it's the horror attraction
All systems go and I'm ready for action
This is our brand new show
And you're sitting in the front row
Five nights never went by so slow

Lina hops down from her platforms, walking around with a lot of confidence.

Power core is activated
It's potent evil that you've awakened
Every sin I've committed reflects in my death
Left to decay, can you smell me yet?

Everyone cheers as Lina sings, making her feel more like she’s welcome.

Take great care of the air supply
Beware nightmares, they come to life
Don't let your cameras go offline, dude
You'd better find me before I find you

Lina smiles as she walks, hearing Mana whooping for her.

You'll wish you were never hired
It's a long shift, but you won't get tired
After tonight, you just might retire
Then try to find a simple 9-5 or

Kisara smiles as she watches Lina walk around, thinking, ‘I didn’t think she was this talented in singing at all. It’s like she’s done this before.’

Anything that's not an overnight survivor
Last thing on your mind is getting fired
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
You're gonna burn with the rest of us

Lina climbs back onto the platforms, smirking as she sings.

You spent so many nights, but here's another five
You'll come to realize evil doesn't die
I know you're frightened by the thought of what's inside
Hiding behind my lifeless eyes

She then heads back to the stage, swaying her hips a bit which causes all the men to whistle and the women to cheer at her boundary-breaking self.

Enjoy these five long nights
Kick back and grab a slice
If you get killed on the job
We will not cover you're loss
So while you're here, try not to die

Lina lowers her right hip in time with the beat, a finger on her chin for an innocent look.

Six o'clock is right around the bend
Five Nights at Freddy's coming to an end
Let's reminisce all the time that we spent
Why would you quit when you can relive it again and again?

As a surprise, her voice goes as deep as her father's.

ARRGGHH!!
Is this job even worth a damn?!
After tonight, I might not work again!
It's a brand new gig, I gotta learn again
Springtrap? Who's that? Never heard of him!

Everyone cheers loudly, making Lina forget her worries, her fears, her awful memories of meeting Robert Muto and knowing what he’s done to her older brother.

Tell me: what the hell is a Purple Man?!
I'm dripping sweat, turn up the fan
I hate this place, we should burn it, man
Or maybe a raise? Cuz I think I've earned it, man!

Her voice returns to normal as she starts doing acrobatic moves, handstand flip, aerials, and for a huge surprise, the splits which causes everyone to cheer loudly.

You didn't know what you were getting into
You're never alone because I'm in here with you
Your audio having an issue
I'm a killing machine, now I'm coming to get you
The situation is as bad as can be
Don't ask my name, cuz you know that it's me

Lina easily stands from the splits and starts doing dance moves which wows the crowd.

You spent so many nights, but here's another five
You'll come to realize evil doesn't die
I know you're frightened by the thought of what's inside
Hiding behind my lifeless eyes

Enjoy these five long nights
Kick back and grab a slice
If you get killed on the job
We will not cover you're loss
So while you're here, try not to die

Lina finishes and pants as everyone cheers loudly. Lina curtsies then tosses the headset back to Harpie Lady before heading back to Mana and Kisara. Lina sits and sips her now warm cocoa as Mana smiles widely and squeals, “Your voice is awesome! I didn’t think that you could sing, let alone do acrobatic moves.”

Lina sets her mug down and giggles, “I’ve always been able to do that. You just never saw me dancing until tonight.” A thought comes to mind, “Girls, when I wake up, will I be well-rested or be tired like I’ve done an all-nighter?”

Kisara shakes her head, “You’ll be well-rested. What caused you to question this?”

Lina shrugs, “I’ve never been here and I thought that I would be tired when I wake up,” she sips her cocoa, needing something to drink after singing, walking and dancing to rid herself of any fears.

Mana rubs Lina’s left forearm, a warm, gentle smile on her face, “Even being here, you’ll be well-rested. In fact, you’ll feel refreshed, feeling the best you ever felt.”

Lina smiles before Kisara lightly squeezes her arm, “You’ll be waking up in a sec so be prepared for your alarm clock. But please, don’t tell your family just yet.”

Lina raises an eyebrow before her alarm clock snaps her awake in reality. She looks in her hand to see Mana’s Dark Magician Girl card still there. Lina smiles as she hears a gentle voice, “Imōto-chan?”

Lina looks to her right to see Heba or rather Yugi rubbing his eyes. She smiles, “Morning, Nii-sama. Had a good sleep?”

Yugi yawns and nods, “What about you?”

Lina hears Mana’s last words before she’s woken up and shrugs, “I slept alright, singing and dancing dreams like usual.”

Yugi can hear the lies in Lina’s words, but he doesn’t push it. For the rest of the day, Lina thinks about the Duel Café, not mentioning towards her family one bit.