Yo! Stellaskia is back here with Achieving for the ZEXAL, hoping that this version will be better that the other I delated, if you remember. The Italian version of this cross-over can be found on Efp fanfiction, the title is the same (only it's in Italian).
The first chapter of this new version is very different from the old version's: Yuma and Joker still duel, but we finally see our favorite duo in action, alongside with the creepy jester's monsters (who can recognize them? ;) ). I deleted that whole shining portals thing because I didn't actually like that, as well as Miyuki's appearence (she will debut in another chapter).
Well, what else? Sorry for my bad English, any bolded card is mine, and...let's get it started!
1: Fusion! A creepy Joker appeared?!
Apparently, bad weather has started to rage on the usually sunny city of Heartland.
Wind, rain, black clouds: it seemed weather had decided to side against the citizens and in particular against the duelists, who were suddenly deprived of their hangouts.
-Ahh...it hasn't been a kattobingu day after all...
-Are you more angered for the bad weather or for your defeat?
-...s-shut up, Astral!
The 13-year-old duelist Yuma Tsukumo was walking in a street, trying not to get wet and to finally reach his home.
At his side, floating as usual, there was Astral, the envoy from the Astral World, who had the mission of gathering all the one hundred Numbers cards, which were scattered on the Earth, and his memory too.
Yuma huffed, obviously irritated by that question.
-I don't even want to know what will Akari say when I'll return home...-he sighed, thinking at his sister, when something caught his attention, making him stop suddenly.
-But...what on Earth is...-Yuma murmured, astonished; Astral floated near him and asked:-What's wrong, Yuma?
But when he raised his eyes, he finally saw what was wrong.
It seemed Heartland City had been "mixed" with another city: there were houses where before there were streets, and more classical buildings had appeared alongside Heartland's futuristic skyscrapers.
-What on Earth is going on?!-Yuma exclaimed, really confused as the other passers-by.
People were looking around puzzled, someone was asking for directions, someone was taking photos and there was even someone who was calling the police.
-Yuma, is it normal for a city to change itself during the day?-Astral asked to the duelist, confused as him.
-No, but if I don't go back home quickly I'll take the cold for sure!-Yuma said, starting to run.
Unaware to them, four pairs of eyes were following them.
-Well, it seems my spell has worked, after all!-a sinister voice commented.
-Then, shall we find him-oni?-a deep but insecure voice asked him.
-Yes...and be sure that the Astral envoy is with him,-the first voice said.
-But what about them-dawasa?-a raucous feminine voice, which probably belonged to an old woman, asked him.
-They won't be a problem for the moment,-the first voice answered again.-Just...leave the Astral envoy and its new holder to me.
-If you said so, Joker, uruffufu!-another raucous voice laughed.
-Where did you go, Yuma?! You didn't even let me know!
It was Akari's inevitable question when she saw her wet brother coming home.
-Uhh...well, I was...you know, just...-Yuma babbled, but seeing his sister's suspicious face, he decided for the retreat.-I didn't duel!-he just exclaimed, rushing in his bedroom, and quickly closed the door.
-I believe your sister doesn't still approve your decision of being a duelist,-Astral commented, still with his arms crossed, following his friend into the attic.
Yuma just groaned, closing the attic's manhole. Then he sank in his hammock, and moved his head to look at the new landscape outside the window.
The rain was still falling, and it was worse than before. Lightnings were flashing in the dark sky...wind was blowing...
"It really seems the world's ending or something," Yuma thought, a bit scared by that bad weather.
The Astral envoy too was a bit tense. He had never seen an event like that: the "fusion" of two cities, and then a storm...it was strange indeed, even for a planet like the Earth.
Feeling a strange sensation, Astral moved his eyes towards a distant spot in the gray and cloudy sky: something was approaching...
-Yuma! Look out!-he suddenly exclaimed, making his friend jolt: a black lightning was rushing towards the window!
Yuma just had the time to jump off his hammock and land on the attic's floor that the black lightning threw open the window and crashed on the ground, creating a myriad of dark sparkles a few inches from them.
-T-this isn't normal...-Yuma babbled, definitively scared, dilating his eyes in fear.
The dark sparkles had started to swirl and concentrate in a certain point, then they created a vortex of shadows that scared more the young duelist and made Astral really nervous.
Then the vortex exploded, leaving a few strips of smoke...and a card.
Seeing that everything was back to normal, Yuma outstretched a trembling hand and took that card stuck in the floor.
Astral got close to him to see what was written on it, but in vain: it was a simple white card, as big as a regular duel monsters card.
-So...it was all for this,-Yuma muttered, actually a bit disappointed.
-Look!-Astral exclaimed, pointing at the card: some writings were appearing on it!
To the holder of the Emperor's Key and the Astral Envoy
If you want to bring your world back to normal...
...then, come to the third warehouse at the port this evening.
After Yuma finished to read those writings, the card suddenly burnt itself, making the duelist release it, and it transformed into thin black ashes.
-What are we going to do, now?-Astral asked to his friend, having a bad feeling about that.
-We don't have much choice,-Yuma answered, grabbing the Key to calm himself.
The pendant emitted a faint glow.
After dinner, Yuma rushed into the attic again.
Making sure his sister wasn't following him, he opened the window and jumped out of that, with Astral following him.
The two then ran towards the streets, trying to reach the harbor in that confused city.
While following Yuma, Astral couldn't help but think of who could have sent that message to them.
It couldn't have been from Kaito: that duelist preferred the direct contact instead of a system like that.
Could it have been another Numbers hunter? Or a Numbers holder? Or maybe a completely different enemy?
And what if it wasn't an enemy, but an ally? Could it have been another Astral being? Someone who knew what had happened to him, perhaps?
But he didn't think anything else that Yuma and him reached the port.
There wasn't anyone, there. It was better for them.
Yuma walked carefully towards the warehouses, searching for the right one, when he finally found it.
The third warehouse was a red crumbling shed, with planks fixed to the doors and windows. There was even a burnt light bulb attached to the door.
Yuma swallowed, trying to send his anxiety down, and approached that building, Astral floating next to him.
The duelist tried to remove those axles fixed to the door, and when he managed to do that, the door creaked open.
-Great, it looks like a horror movie...-Yuma commented, more nervous than before, entering the dark warehouse.
Astral glanced into the building's half-light: as expected, he didn't see anything but old boxes and various ropes, but it didn't mean that...
Then, it arrived: the signal of a third presence.
-There's someone else, here,-he warned Yuma, preventing him by exploring more the ruined warehouse. Yuma nodded in response and squeezed his Key, preparing himself to the incoming apparition.
A figure came out of the shadows, walking slowly and clapping his pale hands, and then stopped in front of them, showing himself under the light of the moon that was coming in through the broken window.
He was a tall man, dressed in a very showy way: he was wearing a kind of purple cape with a red belt on it, a white suit, black and pointed shoes; his hair were modeled as a kind of jester's hat, multicolored blue, red, yellow and violet, all of them decorated with a small ball fixed to the pointed ends. He was wearing also a white half masque, which hid his eyes behind two black slots.
That man was fiddling with a deck of violet cards, making them slide among his clawed fingers, then he made them disappear with a flourish of his hands to applaud.
-Very well...-he said, in such a mellifluous tone that made Yuma only more nervous.-I did not think you would come, actually...you must be very brave...or very foolish,-he added, smiling evilly and finishing his applause to cross his arms.
"So he can see Astral," Yuma thought, seeing the fact that guy had spoken to him and the spirit. But it didn't make things easier for them.-Who are you? And why did you call us?-asked the young duelist on the defensive.
-Calm down, boy, nothing will happen to you...-the masked guy said him in a reassuring tone.-...if you do what I say,-he specified, before smiling evilly again.-But allow me to introduce myself!
That jester made a little bow.-My name is Joker,-he said in a cringing tone,-and I am the most trusted ally as well as counselor of my master and emperor, Pierrot-sama!
Astral narrowed his eyes, looking over the situation. He didn't trust that Joker – his aura was too thick and dark, and it wasn't always a good thing –, and probably not even Yuma was trusting him.
-And what do you want from us, Joker?-Yuma asked again to that creepy jester, still on the defensive.
"Joker" grinned.-The answer is very simple, young duelist...-he said, raising.-My emperor allowed me to fuse your beautiful city with another, in order to find a thing you sure know, or even have...a power that will free him...
Those last words made a bell ring in Astral's head.
-I was sent here to snatch the ZEXAL power from you and bring it to my emperor, so that the Bad Ending will spread in the whole universe, covering everything in despair and blackness!-exclaimed Joker, smiling almost hysterically.
-What?!-Yuma exclaimed, shocked, taking a step back. Then he regained his courage.-And you really believe that we'll let you take the ZEXAL power for these gains?-he asked him.
-Of course not,-Joker said, changing his mad expression into a sad one.-I know you'd said that, and at this rate...
With a sudden jerk, Joker took out one of his cards from his purple cloak and threw it quickly to Yuma.
The card stuck just above the heart, close to the Emperor's Key, then it dissolved into a haze of reddish smoke, which flew in the boy's chest.
-It's one of my most successful tricks, the Duel Card!-Joker said, noticing the astonished expressions of Yuma and Astral.-In other words, it prevents you from leaving this place until we have finished our fight!
-So, it is a different version of the Duel Anchor...-Astral said to himself, remembering the technique used by Kaito to catch the owners of the Numbers cards. Maybe Joker was one of them, seeing that evil aura...
-Well, kid, are you enough brave to stand a duel against me?-Joker asked to Yuma in a mocking tone.-I warn you, I don't play fairly...
-I'm not scared of you! If you want a duel, then a duel you'll have, Joker!-Yuma exclaimed, raising a fist, a determined light in his red eyes.-Let's go! Kattobingu da, ore!-he exclaimed then, throwing his Duel Pad in the air to get it assembled.
Joker raised his left arm: a violet flame burnt it, making a Duel Disk of steel appear.
-Duel Disk, set!
-Duel Gazer, set!
-AR vision, link established. Establishing link between A and B,-an incorporeal voice said, while the Augmented Reality was setting on.
-DUEL!
Yuma : 4000 LP
Joker : 4000 LP
-I'll start first, if you don't mind!-Joker said, grinning.-My turn! Draw!-he exclaimed then, drawing a card.
He looked at it and grinned more.-I summon Samurai Zakenna!-he declared.
A dark purple monster, dressed as an old samurai, emerged immediately on his playing field, with a decidedly angry expression on his face. He was holding a rusty katana in his clawed hands.
Samurai Zakenna
Level 3 DARK Warrior
ATK : 0/DEF : 0
-It has zero attack and defense points...what kind of strategy is this?-Astral asked to himself, astounded.
-Really? Then, we will win for sure!-Yuma exclaimed, confident.
-Not so fast!-Joker said, amused of their naivety.-I activate Samurai Zakenna's effect! If I summon this monster at the beginning of my turn, I can summon another Zakenna monster from my hand!-he said, placing another card from his hand on the duel disk.-Come to us, Vacuum Zakenna!
To the right of the samurai, a giant vacuum cleaner emerged, with the same angry expression of the other monster but equipped with sharp teeth.
Vacuum Zakenna
Level 3 DARK Fiend
ATK : 0/DEF : 0
-Even this monster has zero points, but they have the same level...-Astral commented.-I think I know what Joker is going to do...
-And now, Samurai Zakenna and Vacuum Zakenna, both of level 3, overlay!-Joker exclaimed, excited by the battle, raising the right arm to the sky.
The samurai and the vacuum cleaner turned immediately into strips of purple light that flew up and began to swirl into that place.
-With these two monsters, I build the overlay network! Xyz Summon!-Joker exclaimed, while a bright portal opened in the ground.
The two monsters, both shouting:-ZAKENNA!-, merged into the portal that closed itself with a shining explosion.
-Appear in front of us, author of the hellish melody! Demonic Record player Negatone!-Joker shouted, announcing the monster that had just summoned.
The huge mentioned Xyz monster consisted of a blue record player, fitted with skinny arms and legs, with a black gigantic turntable. The structure was surrounded by a skeleton, and on the black disc there were imprinted a pair of menacing yellow eyes and a reddish note. Its two overlay units swirled around him.
Demonic Record player Negatone
Rank 3 Xyz DARK / Fiend
ATK : 1500/DEF : 1000
Overlay Units : 2
-And now your special power!-Joker said, snapping his fingers towards its monster.-By using an Overlay unit, my monster can attack even in the first turn!
One of the units that swirled around the turntable disappeared, absorbed by the red note on the disc.
Demonic Record player Negatone
Rank 3 Xyz DARK / Fiend
ATK : 1500/DEF : 1000
Overlay Units : 2 – 1 = 1
-Go, Demonic Record player Negatone! Attack those fools with your Negative Tunes!-Joker ordered in an exalted tone to the monster, pointing a clawed finger against Yuma and Astral.
The record player clapped his bony hands twice, producing a sharp sound, and the note on the disc glowed blood-red.
Immediately, around the Xyz monster a bunch of notes appeared, all of them colored in the same menacing red of the note impressed on the disc.
The monster clapped his hands again, this time louder, and the notes hurled against Yuma, much as missiles, bringing him down to the ground.
Yuma : 4000 - 1500 = 2500 LP
Joker : 4000 LP
-I place two face-down cards. Turn end,-Joker said nonchalantly, placing the cards on his duel disk.-Let's see what you got, kid!-he said then to Yuma, who had raised from the ground.
-Tch...okay, Joker, you asked for it!-he exclaimed, a bit angry about that unfair attack.-My turn! Draw!-he said then, drawing a card with determination.-And I summon on my field Gagaga Magician!
One of the iconic monsters of Yuma appeared on his battleground.
He was a magician, slightly older than Dark Magician, with a tuft of white hair that escaped from his pointy hat. He was dressed in a blue and orange tunic; he also wore a belt that marked his level, with chains floating around.
Gagaga Magician
Level 4 DARK Spellcaster
ATK : 1500/DEF : 1000
-Spell card, Gagaga Wind, activate!-Yuma declared then, showing the shining card to his opponent.-With this card, I can summon another monster Gagaga from my hand! And I summon Gagaga Girl!
The aforementioned monster appeared on the ground, alongside the other magician: it was a girl with blonde hair, dressed much like her senpai, but with a huge pink bow tied around the short skirt.
Gagaga Girl
Level 3 DARK Spellcaster
ATK : 1000/DEF : 800
-And, since there's also another Gagaga monster on my field, Gagaga Girl's level becomes Gagaga Magician's level!-Yuma added, not losing sight of Joker.
Gagaga Girl
Level 4 DARK Spellcaster
ATK : 1000/DEF : 800
-Gagaga Magician and Gagaga Girl, both of level 4, overlay!-Yuma ordered to his monsters then, more confident.-With these two monsters, I build the overlay network!
As the two Zakenna monsters did before, the two magicians turned into streaks of purple light and were swallowed up in the newly formed portal.
-Xyz Summon! Come forth, No. 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope!-Yuma shouted, summoning his most trusted Xyz monster.
A red number "39" flashed, being immediately replaced by the sealed form of the monster, which opened and assembled revealing the winged warrior.
Number 39: Aspiring Emperor Hope
Rank 4 LIGHT Warrior / Xyz
ATK : 2500/DEF : 2000
-It 's one of the Numbers monsters!-Joker exclaimed, astonished, recognizing the Xyz monster. Then he grinned.-Well, well, well, my information were true after all ...
Astral still could not figure out what Joker wanted actually to do.
Was he a Numbers holder or not? Maybe he was, since he appeared to know the Numbers and the technique of the Duel Anchor.
Or maybe he wasn't, the spirit thought then, due to Joker's harlequin appearance.
"Maybe ... he comes from another world," Astral thought, visualizing again the aura around their opponent. It was of a very dark purple color, just like the auras that usually enveloped who was possessed by a Numbers. However, Joker did not have some, at least apparently.
So why all this wickedness?
-Go, Aspiring Emperor Hope! Attack Demonic Record player Negatone!-Yuma ordered to the warrior.-Hope Sword Slash!
Number 39 brandished bravely one of his swords and dashed forward, when Joker exclaimed:-How stupid! I activate my trap card, Illusion of the Necromancer!
One of his face-down cards revealed itself, shining darkly.
-Its effect is, that you took the damage you intended to inflict me!-a triumphant Joker explained, and suddenly Hope hang in midair, enveloped by a purple menacing cloud.
-What?!-Yuma exclaimed, shocked.
Utopia turned to his master and threw him his sword. Yuma, as expected, was smashed to the ground by the blow.
-YUMA!-Astral cried, seeing his human partner get shot down by the attack of Number 39.
Yuma : 2500 - 1000 = 1500 LP
Joker : 4000 LP
-I haven't finished yet!-Joker said then, making his opponents stare at him stunned.-Because at this rate, my second face-down card, Jester's snare, can be activated!
His second face-down card revealed to the players, as his master declared.
-Thanks to this card, if my opponent takes damage because one of my trap card's effects, he also suffers damage equal to the attack points of a monster on my field...-Joker explained, sounding intriguing.-And I choose...Demonic Record player Negatone!-he exclaimed then, a crazy expression on his pale face.
From the floor where he had been crashed, Yuma saw a jester appearing on his field that was coming closer and closer, twirling three balls in his hands. Then, with a grin , the jester shot him all the three balls, bringing the duelist down permanently.
Yuma : 1500 - 1500 LP = 0
Joker : 4000 LP = WIN
The Augmented Reality deactivated.
Yuma got up with difficulty from the ground and sat on the floor. As he took off his Duel Gazer, he shot a look of hatred at the clown, even though it was quite a grimace because of the pain he felt at that moment.
Joker, in the meantime, had made his Duel Disk disappear. He approached the boy and the spirit with a satisfied grin on his face.
-You are not as strong as you want to believe, huh, kid?-Joker said mockingly to Yuma, his clawed hands at the hips.
Yuma stood up completely, gritting his teeth. He had every intention of giving the jester quite a punch on the nose, but Astral stopped him by interposing an evanescent hand between the two.
-Don't get the situation worse,-he said to his friend, who assumed an interrogative expression on his face.
Joker smiled, satisfied.-I'm glad to see that at last you reasons, Astral envoy,-he said to Astral. Then his smile changed into a grin.-Now, as it should be, I'll take the ZEXAL power...-he said, reaching out a clawed hand towards the Emperor's Key.
Yuma, however, drew back, and grasped the Key as to defend it.
Joker stopped, amazed by that reaction.
Yuma squeezed his pendant even more.-Never!-he exclaimed with decision.-This is my greatest treasure, and the only thing that can bring back my father in this world! I won't let you take so easily, Joker ! I will not leave...my last hope!-he shouted then.
Joker gritted his teeth in anger.-But why do you brats always want to complicate things...- he hissed, obviously annoyed.
Astral, however, was impressed by Yuma's determination.
He knew that Yuma didn't fear anyone, but he had not imagined that, even after a defeat like that, he wouldn't have surrendered . He would have never left his last hope...
-This goes double for me,-Astral said then to Joker, getting alongside Yuma.-In that key there's also my hope to recover the memories I have lost, and finally know who I am and what is my mission in this world. And I trust Yuma,-the spirit added, smiling at his friend.-I know that whatever you put things, we will always defeat you .
Yuma smiled back at Astral. Then he turned to the jester:-Do you understand now, Joker? We won't surrender just because you defeated us once!-he said him, feeling revived.
-Very well,-Joker said them, strangely calm, but you could clearly see the hatred he felt for those two on his face.
He stepped back, then he reached out a hand to his hair and pulled a red ball from the tuft of the same color.
-You will regret your words,-Joker hissed, his voice trembling with rage, clutching the ball between his clawed fingers.
Yuma and Astral took a step back, preparing for the worst.
Joker jerked the hand holding the red ball upward, ready to throw that object to his enemies, when they heard the sound of broken glass and a thud.
Joker stopped; Yuma and Astral blinked, confused, unable to distinguish the shadow that had appeared behind their enemy.
Calmly, Joker turned around.-I knew you'd come...-he said to the newcomer.-...Cure Happy.
In the next chapter : after meeting with Joker, who's actually the one who fused the two cities, Yuma and Astral understand that they are hunted in even bigger trouble than before. Yes, because with the Bad End Commanders at their heels there is no peace of mind: in fact, Wolfurun, Majorina and Akaoni manage to lure the two into a trap! And only one person can save them again...