bopdog111: Guess what guys?
Ulrich362: What's up Bopdog?
bopdog111: Ace's journey is coming back but in a more organized manner.
Ulrich362: Well hopefully that's the key to get through Ace's journey. They say third time's the charm after all.
bopdog111: First time we didn't get far with them heading to the VRAINS Timeline, the second we did get far but things we rushed left, and right.
Ulrich362: You probably remember that. This time though... well let's get started and see what happens.
Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V, or VRAINS but we own the OCs!
Ulrich362: Enjoy the chapter.
It had been 4 years ever since the fated duel between the Lancers, and Sardon, the birth of Ace Abaka, the meeting of Tom, and Haru, and now peace of all five dimensions.
Zarc, and Ray were sitting together having breakfast when Dawn came down with a frown on her face.
"Dawn?" Zarc asked her.
"Oh, morning dad." Dawn said quietly.
"IS he still in there?" Ray frowned.
"Yeah, he is." Dawn answered sadly.
"What happened now?" Zarc asked sad.
"I don't know, but he cried himself to sleep and he's still crying in his sleep." Dawn answered looking down. "He was so happy just a few days ago."
Ray walked up stairs, "I'll be back."
Zarc nodded before hugging Dawn. Ray walked up to Ace's door before she knocked. There was no answer.
"Ace honey?" Ray asked.
She cracked open the door and saw Ace with tears running down his face as he slept. Ray looked heartbroken before walking over, and rubbed his back. Ace started shifting before opening his tear-filled eyes only to look away seeing her. Ace just started crying again.
"Ace tell mommy what's wrong." Ray told him.
Ace shook his head. Ray picked him up before gently embracing him. Ace just started crying even more.
"Ace... You can tell me." Ray told him.
"No." Ace repeated.
Ray frowned as she wiped his eyes.
Ring Ring Ring.
Ray answered.
"Hello, is this the Akaba residence?" inquired a male voice.
"Yes this is it." Ray answered.
"This is Mr. Thompson, I'm calling to ask why you and your husband didn't come to last Thursday's meeting regarding your son." the voice stated. "There's quite a bit we need to discuss."
"Well we had been busy actually." Ray answered.
"That may be related to the problem. I'd strongly recommend you and your husband come immediately." Mr. Thompson stated. "And bring Ace with you."
"Okay." Ray nodded hanging up before saying, "Ace come on. Let's get you dressed."
Ace didn't say anything but had even more tears in his eyes. Ray looked heartbroken before picking up Ace, and helping him dressed. After that Ray walked down saying, "Zarc come on we gotta go to Ace's school."
Zarc looked at Ray in confusion before nodding and following her. "Dawn, why don't you go see Yuya and Zuzu for a little while?"
Dawn looked worried but nodding getting ready.
A few minutes later at Ace's school...
"Mr. and Mrs. Akaba." nodded an older man with grey hair.
"Mr. Thompson." Ray nodded shaking the man's hand.
"Come with me." Mr. Thompson told them before leading them to an office.
They entered as they sat down on chairs with Ace sitting on his father's lap.
"Mr. and Mrs. Akaba... there's no simple way to put this. Ace is... a troubled student." Mr. Thompson stated. "Refusing to speak to anyone, not doing any of his work and in the past few days his teacher has noticed him silently crying to himself despite his classmates happily engaging in quite a number of activities he should participate in."
"Well has the students gotten into a activity that gotten him in this?" Zarc asked him.
"They shouldn't have, apart from tag, catch, and other games of the sort most of the activities at our school are related to Duel Monsters as you should be aware." Mr. Thompson pointed out. "Ace simply refuses to participate and when asked why he continues crying."
"Well did the cameras catch anything?" Ray asked.
Mr. Thompson just frowned before pulling out a tape to show them. They looked to see. The tape showed Ace's class talking before the teacher asked a question and Ace raised his hand to answer only for the other students to suddenly appear to laugh and one of them turned and said something before Ace's eyes widened and he looked down and appeared to start crying.
"Zarc? Did you saw that?" Ray asked her husband.
"Yeah, I did." Zarc nodded while Ace had started crying even more.
Ray told Mr. Thompson, "Well now we know what's going on. He's being bullied."
"Ace, is this true?" Mr. Thompson inquired only for Ace to look up with tears spilling from his eyes as he shook his head.
"Ace come on... There's no reason to lie." Zarc told him.
Ace didn't say anything but just started crying.
Mr. Thompson frowned seeing that. "Miss Clark, could you please send Mr. Livingston to my office? He isn't in trouble."
She nodded before walking.
A few minutes later the door opened and they turned to see who it was.
Who walked was a brown haired boy that is Ace's age.
"Mason, you're in Ace Akaba's class correct?" Mr. Thompson asked.
"Yes sir." Mason nodded.
"Do you know what happened to make Ace so upset?" Mr. Thompson asked only for Mason to frown.
"Yes." Mason nodded.
"Then please tell us." Ray told him.
Mason looked down sadly. "Everybody in class says Ace should hate himself for being stupid and that you probably are embarrassed he's your son."
The three looked shocked, and stunned by those before Ray turned to her son. Ace was absolutely sobbing. Ray hugged him, "Oh Ace... Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"You're his mommy, you're just supposed to make him happy even if it isn't true." Mason explained only to frown. "Um... if you're both champions why doesn't Ace know what Polymerization does?"
"He'll still learning." Zarc admitted.
Mason nodded before frowning. "My big sister says not to get in the middle of it though. Can I go back to class please?"
Mr. Thompson nodded. Mason looked down before leaving the office.
"Ace we don't think your an embarrassment." Zarc told him.
Ace just continued sobbing. Ray looked saddened before telling Mr. Thompson, "Can you talk to those kids?"
"I'll do what I can." Mr. Thompson nodded.
They nodded before they walked out. Ace was a complete mess bawling into his hands as Zarc carried him.
"Ace it will be okay." Zarc told him hugging him.
"...You and mommy hate me." Ace whispered.
"No we never hate you." Zarc told him. "What those kids were saying are nothing but lies."
"You're daddy. You're supposed to say that." Ace said. "It isn't true though."
"It is true. We loved you deeply." Zarc told him.
Ace just started sobbing again.
"Ace... What did they say to you?" Ray asked saddened.
"They said you don't love me and that you would only be nice because I'm your baby boy but that you would want a different son." Ace answered. "They're right, I'm a dumb stupid idiot."
"No your not." Ray said rubbing his back, "We love you deeply, and we would kill ourselves then hurt you."
Ace's eyes widened and he started bawling. Ray hugged him. When they got back to their house there were several cars and bikes parked outside.
"Huh? What's going on?" Ray asked seeing this.
"That's Lulu's car, and Shay's." Zarc realized. "Yugo and Rin's Duel runners, Yuri's car, and Gale's."
They walked before entering the house.
"Is everything ok, Dawn called and said Ace might be in trouble." Yuya said immediately as they walked in.
"No. Ace had been bullied, and thinks we've been lying to him." Zarc answered.
"What, but why?" Lulu asked.
"Who did it? I'll teach them to upset Ace." Yugo growled.
"The entire class. All but Ace's best friend Mason." Ray answered.
"Mason? Oh yeah, isn't he the boy who came to Ace's third birthday party with his sister?" Shay recalled.
"Yeah. He lived a hard past but Ace helped him get over it." Zarc answered.
"What can we do?" Rin asked sadly. "It's not fair Ace is being bullied."
"The Principal is talking to them." Ray answered. "All we can do is try to help Ace."
Ace meanwhile had snuck upstairs to lie down and cry more.
"It's not fair." Dawn said looking down as tears pick up, "I was suppose to protect him."
Her sisters all hugged her.
"It isn't your fault big sis." Alex whispered.
Dawn continued crying.
"Zarc... I'll handle this." Yuri told him. "There won't be any more bullying after today."
"Yuri... Don't be excessive on them." Zarc requested.
"I'll give them one chance to apologize. If not, I've already committed horrible crimes once. I can do it again." Yuri answered coldly.
"Dad please." Lilly told him worried.
"I'm not sitting around doing nothing Lilly." Yuri told her. "I doubt any of us are willing to do that."
"We're done sealing people in cards Yuri." Yuto told him.
"Then what do you suggest Yuto, just listen." Yuri told him as everyone in the room heard the muffled sobs from upstairs.
They looked up hearing that.
"Acey..." Dawn whispered sadly.
She looked down.
"So what now?" Celina asked.
"Let's invite Mason, and his sister." Rin told them.
"It's worth a try." Yuki nodded.
Rin nodded before rubbing her baby bump worriedly.
A few minutes later...
Knock Knock Knock.
Zarc answered the door seeing it was Mason, and a blonde haired girl older then him by 4 years.
"You called Mr. Akaba?" the blonde haired girl asked while Mason looked down sadly.
"Yes we need you, and Mason's help." Zarc said inviting them inside.
"What's is it?" the blonde hair girl asked them.
Mason looked down hearing that.
"Ace had been bullied by the whole class except Mason." Ray said to her sadly, "We heard that they are tricking him to believe that we hate him, Bonnie."
Bonnie's eyes widened in horror hearing that. "What, why? Ace is so nice."
"They told him that he's an embarrassment to us." Zarc told her.
Mason looked down even more.
"Mason?" Terri asked him, "Do you know what their talking about?"
Mason nodded.
"Well please tell us Macy." Bonnie said knelling taking her brother's shoulders.
"The teacher was asking questions about how dueling works and Ace said you need a Tuner to Xyz Summon but was wrong and everybody started making fun of him and saying that if his daddy was a champion he should know that stuff and that you probably hate him for being so embarrassing." Mason answered. "They say that you only are being nice cause you're supposed to and... I'm a bad person who didn't try and help make him feel better."
"That's it? All for a mistake?" Bonnie asked.
Mason nodded. "He messed up three times that day, Tuners for Xyz Summoning, he called Polymerization a Ritual Spell, and he called the blue monster a Pendulum Monster."
"Now that's not nice." Lilly said before pausing, "Wait Zarc, Ray have you two teach Ace about the summoning methods?"
"Not yet, he doesn't have his own deck yet." Ray answered.
"I think that was the problem." Lilly said.
"You're saying it's mom and dad's fault?" Dawn questioned angrily.
"No it's not. I am thinking that if he doesn't have a Deck, and practice he might've make mistakes like those." Lilly answered.
Ray frowned. "Then it is our fault."
"It's not Ray." Kelly told her. "We're all to blame."
"So what can we do? After something like that I don't know if Ace will want to learn how to duel." Zuzu admitted.
"We gotta try." Dawn said.
"So what now?" Stacy asked.
Mason walked upstairs. He heard Ace sobbing. Mason knocked on the door, "Ace?"
"Go away." Ace choked out between sobs.
"Ace come on..." Mason said.
He opened the door to see Ace curled up in a ball with his head in his pillow trembling as he cried. Mason walked, and softly patted his back.
"Mason... do you think mommy and daddy would be happier without me?" Ace asked weakly. "If I left and never came back?"
"Of course not. They would be really sad." Mason told him.
"But I'm stupid, you saw it." Ace argued.
"Your not stupid. Everyone makes mistakes once, and a while." Mason told him.
Ace just started to cry again. Mason hugged his best friend. Ace blinked a few times before hugging Mason and just sobbing though his eyes had dried up.
"I used to believe I'm worthless, and un-needed." Mason told him. "...Right up until I met you."
"Huh?" Ace asked in confusion. "All I've done is say hi the first day of school and talk to you before I realized I'm stupid."
"Well a hard incident gotten me good." Mason told him, "And it nearly made me give up Dueling for good. But when we met your father, and Uncles have brought smiles to everyone by dueling. And that had helped me find what I thought was lost: My love for dueling."
Ace looked at Mason before slightly smiling. "That's good, you're super nice and... you're the only person who doesn't make fun of me."
"And your really nice, and wants to do things for people." Mason nodded smiling.
"I don't want to go back to school." Ace admitted.
"Don't worry. I have a feeling they won't bother you again. But if we do something first." Mason smiled.
"What?" Ace asked before Mason's duel disc started beeping.
Mason looked at what's up.
"All students, please remember that we are having a new transfer student starting tomorrow. Please be polite and make her feel welcome." stated a robotic voice.
Mason blinked before telling Ace, "We should get you a Deck."
Ace froze before shaking his head quickly. Mason took his hand, "It will be alright. It will be fun."
Ace looked incredibly scared but slowly nodded. "O... Ok."
Mason smiled patting his back.
"Um... can you get my big sisters?" Ace asked. "All six of them please?"
Mason nodded before walking down-stairs, "Lilly, Stacy, Alex, Terri, Kelly, Dawn?"
They all turned to him.
"Yeah?" Dawn asked.
"Ace wants to see you six." Mason told them.
They nodded before walking up.
"How is he?" Ray asked.
"He's doing okay now. He said he doesn't want to go back to School, but I managed to tell him to make Deck to get at those kids." Mason answered.
Ray nodded at that.
In Ace's room...
Ace waited until his sisters answered.
"Are you okay?" Kelly asked him worried.
Ace shook his head. "Mason says maybe making a deck will help though, but I need help."
"Well we'll be more then happy too." Terri smiled.
Ace hugged her. "Thank you."
She hugged him back.
"What do I do now?" Ace asked.
"Well what we should figure what deck you like to use." Dawn answered.
"I don't know." Ace frowned. "Everything's taken."
"Let's see on the internet." Kelly smiled.
Ace nodded at that. They looked on the internet to see. Fifteen minutes passed and they still had no luck.
"Don't worry something will show." Kelly told him.
Ace looked uncertain but nodded only for his eyes to widen. "Huh?"
"You saw something?" Stacy asked him.
"I think so." Ace nodded before pausing. "Oh, never mind."
"What was it Ace?" Lilly asked him.
"Dragon Rulers, but my teacher uses them already." Ace answered.
They nodded as they continued looking.
Eventually Ace just frowned. "It's hopeless."
"Oh Ace it will be okay." Stacy told him.
"But we keep looking and there's nothing." Ace mentioned tearing up.
They looked saddened before Kelly sees something, "Hey I found something!"
"Huh?" Ace asked looking.
It was an archetype known as Ice Barrier.
"Huh?" Ace asked looking at it before turning to Kelly in confusion.
"It's one of the archetypes which can use Synchro, and if possible all the other methods. Let's stick with the ones from the Extra Deck." Kelly answered, "And it also focuses on Water, Aqua, Sea Serpent, and even Dragon. You always say Fishes are your favorite animals."
Ace looked at it. "Maybe. I can try it at least."
"Well I had seen another Deck you could be interested in." Dawn told him.
Ace turned to her curiously.
"You can use Dragunity." Dawn smiled.
Ace looked at the archetype. "Can I try both?"
"Yeah, and we'll figure out which suits you best." Alex smiled.
Ace nodded before pausing. "Huh, what's that?"
They looked.
It was called Sky Striker.
"Oh... it looks really complicated." Ace frowned.
"An archetype that focuses on huge spells for the advantage, and not only that focuses on Link Summoning." Dawn said seeing it. "Sounds like this would go head to head with the Dark Magician."
"Link Summoning?" Ace asked. "What's that?"
"A new summon method that just came out with new rules to the game." Kelly answered.
Ace's eyes widened hearing that. "That sounds fun, can I try that one?"
"Let's give it a shot." Alex smiled.
Ace smiled. "Yay."
They nodded as Dawn hugged her brother.
He hugged her back. "Thank you everybody, I love you."
"We love you two." They smiled.
Ace smiled as they started heading down to the others. "We should tell mommy and daddy and... oh, what about Max?"
"Who's Max?" Kelly asked.
Ace frowned. "He's the best in class and made fun of me."
Th girls looked angered hearing that.
Ace looked down.
"Don't worry bout him Ace." Alex smiled. "You'll get him."
Ace nodded before swallowing nervously. "Mommy, daddy?"
Everyone turned to him. Ace suddenly blushed from the attention and looked down shyly. "Um... big sis Alex, big sis Dawn, and I found decks I can try. Is that ok?"
"Of course it's okay with us Ace." Ray smiled.
Ace smiled only to frown and turn to his sisters. "Which one should I use though? Learning three is hard."
"You start with whichever your comfortable with." Dawn smiled.
Ace nodded before turning back to Zarc and Ray. "It was called Sky Striker and uses the new summoning. It looks confusing but do you think I can learn it?"
"Ah Link Summoning." Zarc said hearing that, "Yeah you can learn that."
Ace smiled before hugging Zarc. "Thank you daddy."
Zarc smiled hugging his son back.
Rin walked over with a smile, and asked "Someone is saying hi Ace."
Ace turned and smiled. "Hi aunt Rin."
Rin giggled, "It's not me."
She grabbed his hand, and placed it on her baby bump where Ace felt it kicking. Ace giggled at that. "It's happy."
"Yeah. Bruno will be here soon." Rin smiled.
Ace smiled even more at that.
(A/N (Ulrich362): The five magicians had been at LID working with Declan that day.)
Later that day after everyone had left and the Magicians returned...
Sarah carrying a sleeping 3 year old blond haired girl, and a 3 month baby bump walked, and knocked the door where Declan is.
"It's always open." Declan's voice answered.
Sarah opened the door. Declan was looking at his computer and frowning only to notice her and smile. "Sarah, it's great to see you."
"Amanda, and I wanted to see how your doing." Sarah smiled walking, and sitting down in front of him. "And your hard at work as usual."
"Of course, Double Iris and the others went home to spend some time with Ace but..." Declan started before frowning. "We need to consider the possibility Sardon may return, and more than that he may not be alone this time."
"I know. I dread the thought if he goes after the kids, and likely me, and Rin's expecting angels." Sarah frowned.
Declan got up before embracing her. "That's why I'm doing everything I can to make sure we're safe. Although, I think I can afford to take the rest of the day off and spend it with you three."
Sarah smiled, "Thanks Declan."
He smiled before looking down. "Amanda, can you wake up for daddy?"
The blonde girl now Amanda stirred before waking up groggy. Declan smiled. "Sorry for waking you up, but we're heading home for a while ok?"
Amanda before reaching up, "Daddy!"
Declan took her and kissed the top of her head. Sarah smiled seeing them as she placed a hand on her growling abdomen, "I already can't wait for her little brother, or sister is come."
"Neither can we, right?" Declan asked as Amanda smiled happily. "Come on, let's head home."
Sarah nodded before they walked out of the office.
Meanwhile at the Akaba household...
Dawn was sitting on her bed staring at a picture of her, and Haru on there first date. It wasn't long that they had confessed, and started going out. But there relationship had ended in a bad way.
Flashback...
Ray was fixing dinner until she hear the door open.
"Hello?" Ray asked.
She was off-guard seeing Dawn was the door, and she was upset, and crying.
"Dawn, what's wrong?" Ray asked in shock while hugging her.
"H-Haru... He's a jerk!" Dawn sobbed.
"What happened?" Ray asked.
"H-He promised t-that we would s-spend the day. B-But this girl walked up, and told H-Haru when is there next date." Dawn sobbed hugging hr mother.
Ray's eyes widened and she hugged Dawn close. "I'm so sorry."
Dawn continued crying in her mother's arms.
Flashback End...
'And why do I still keep this?' Dawn thought staring at the picture, 'I don't want to get rid of it, but he's a jerk.'
"Big sis, can I come in?"
Dawn hearing that put the picture under her pillow, and said "Yes Ace."
Ace walked in before walking over and hugging her. "Are you still sad?"
Dawn hugged him back.
"Can I help?" Ace asked.
"I don't know." Dawn admitted. "I thought Haru was the one in my dreams."
Ace frowned hearing that. "Um... what about Mr. Kite's friend? Three, is he nice?"
"Huh?" Dawn asked hearing that, "Who?"
"Mr. Kite's friend, Three." Ace repeated before frowning. "Um... oh Micheal."
"Oh Trey." Dawn remembered. "I-I don't know."
"You should be happy, you're super nice." Ace mentioned.
Dawn blushed before, "Uh okay, okay I'll try."
Ace nodded. "Ok."
With that she, and Ace walked as she told Ray, "Mom, me, and Ace are going to the Xyz Dimension."
"Ok, just be careful." Ray told them.
They walked before they traveled to the Xyz Dimension.
"Huh, Dawn and Ace?" Hart asked. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Do you know where Trey is?" Dawn asked him.
"Trey, he's at Spade Branch of You Show." Hart answered.
"Thanks." Dawn nodded as she grabbed Ace's hand, and walked. "Uncle Yusho brought us there sometime back."
"Ok, see you guys later." Hart nodded.
They waved bye as they walked.
Later at the You Show Spade Branch...
They arrived looking around seeing people around them. Dawn looked to find Trey. She saw him smiling and talking with Yuto and Lulu. She blushed when she sees him.
"Huh, oh Dawn." Lulu smiled before waving to her.
"H-Hi Lulu." Dawn smiled as Ace ran over hugging Lulu.
"Hey Aunt Lulu!" Ace greeted warmly.
Lulu smiled hugging him back. "Hi Acey."
"What are you guys doing here?" Yuto inquired with a smile.
Ace frowned, "Well... Big sis deserves to be happy. Haru turned out to be a jerk."
"Huh, what happened?" Lulu asked.
Dawn looked down, "H-He is with another girl."
"What an as-" Trey started before pausing. "Complete jerk."
Ace said, "So... I thought of Three er, Micheal to be with her."
That caught the three off guard.
"Um... Ace I'm too old." Trey told him.
Ace looked surprised as too Dawn. Trey frowned. "I'm really sorry Dawn."
Dawn looked down, "Oh... I understand."
Trey frowned before walking away while Lulu hugged Dawn. Ace looked down, "Ah man."
"Is there anything we can do?" Yuto asked.
"No." Dawn smiled to them, "We tried."
"If you need anything let us know ok?" Lulu asked.
The two nodded.
Ulrich362: Well there we have the new start.
bopdog111: Hopefully we can keep going.
Ulrich362: As long as we take our time and don't rush it should be fine.
bopdog111: You guys can help us on who will be the lucky boy to be with Dawn.
Ulrich362: Bopdog's right, leave a review suggesting who you'd like to see Dawn end up with.
bopdog111: Be sure to review!
Ulrich362: See you in the next chapter.
