Gaaaah I'm a week later than I was supposed to be for this chapter buuut it's finished now so here it is! This is the part of the story where I'm between plot twists and am trying not to hit you guys with another major one too quickly, for the sake of building up suspense. T_T It's so hard sometimes though. Oh well! Enjoy the chapter! And the, erm, feels and drama too, if you dare.

Total foreshadowing count: 105 (Hey I broke a hundred guys! Woot!)

Gingka felt numb. He felt as if the world were ending, which for him, it may as well have. Zero and the other younger bladers were standing off at a slight distance, trying to comfort Maru, who had been told of the death of Madoka. Tsubasa and Benkei were both seated next to Gingka, Tsubasa with an arm around the redhead's shoulders in an attempt to comfort him. Kite and Shinobu were keeping watch to ensure they weren't attacked by any HD Academy bladers.

An awkward silence reigned over them all, Zero glancing worriedly at Gingka every now and then as he hugged Maru, who was crying her eyes out into his shirt.

"Another helicopter will be here soon to pick us up…" Tsubasa muttered, getting off his phone with a sigh and looking back towards Gingka worriedly as the redhead made no response, no acknowledgment that his friends were even there. His bangs fell loosely over his face, hiding it and the tears streaming down it from view.

"It will be okay, Gingka…" Benkei said awkwardly, not knowing at all what to do in this situation but wanting to help.

Gingka merely shook his head, staring down at the water below as his legs dangled over the edge of the platform.

"Come on, let's get back from this edge." Tsubasa said worriedly, honestly wondering if Gingka were thinking of joining his father in the crashing waves and helicopter debris below. Considering how this day had gone, he wouldn't have been surprised if that were the idea on Gingka's mind, and it was.

Gingka just sat still, knowing he should listen to Tsubasa, but also wanting very much to jump.

"Come on, Gingka." Tsubasa said worriedly, trying to gently pull Gingka away from the ledge. Gingka refused to do any movement on his own, however, and soon, Benkei grabbed the redhead by the back of his shirt and lifted him into the air, pulling him forcibly away from the edge before setting him down behind Zero and the others.

Gingka grunted as he was lifted, debating for a moment whether or not to struggle, to stay at the place where his father had last been seen, but by the time he had made up his mind not to bother, he had been set down on the ground a short distance from where he had been sitting. His immediate instinct was to lay down and curl up into a ball, which was precisely what he did, trying desperately not to sink into a state of utter despair.

"Gingka… Come on, snap out of it." Tsubasa said worriedly, putting a hand on Gingka's shoulder once again and shaking him slightly.

"I failed…" Gingka muttered in an emotionless tone.

"No, no you haven't." Tsubasa said in a gentle tone, really not sure what to do with a moody Gingka. He hadn't thought it even possible for the redhead to be this upset, yet here he was.

"I could have prevented this… All of it..." Gingka whispered.

"You did your best, Gingka. You can't blame yourself like this, come on."

"I should be the one dead, not my dad." Gingka growled, beginning to become angry on top of the sorrow he was already feeling. "And not Madoka…"

"You didn't know, Gingka. You didn't know." Tsubasa said, trying to comfort Gingka and looking helplessly to Benkei for assistance, but the purple-haired man looked just as bewildered by the state of their friend.

"The helicopter's here." Kite called from near the ledge, where he had been watching for the machine to come pick them up.

"Come on, Gingka. We're gonna get you to a place where you can rest." Tsubasa said firmly, tugging at Gingka's arm.

"I don't care…" Gingka muttered, refusing to move.

"Bull! Shut up and just get in the helicopter because we care about you, ya idiot! We're gonna help, so quit your moping around and it'll all be fine!" Benkei exclaimed at last, causing everyone around to jump slightly in surprise at the sudden volume.

Gingka released a heavy sigh and shakily stood, still hanging his head slightly and refusing to look at anyone. The helicopter soon flew into the landing bay they had all been waiting in for the past hour and landed, its blades slowing and soon stopping while they headed for it, Benkei and Tsubasa guiding Gingka inside and to a seat.

"Pegasus…" Gingka breathed out a barely audible call, holding his hand out with his palm facing upwards. The silver and blue bey leapt into his hand and spun there, much to the surprise of those watching, who had nearly forgotten about the bey.

Tsubasa noted with some relief that Pegasus's rotation seemed to be providing at least some sort of comfort, although he wondered whether or not Gingka had relaunched since before they had met up. The fact that Pegasus had remained in a steady spin this entire time was surprising, but Tsubasa attributed it to the fact that Gingka had likely grown stronger, and that the extent of his full power was practically unknown to them all. Considering that, who knew how long Pegasus could spin now without slowing? Evidently it was for quite some time, yet still… Hours on end should be impossible even for a stamina type to attain.

Tsubasa sighed and decided not to concern himself further with the issue. Right now, what mattered most was making sure that Gingka was alright, whatever that meant. Of course, that assumed that Gingka could ever be himself again. After losing the two people closest to him in one day, who knew? Only time would tell.

"Gingka, you need to rest." Benkei said softly, putting his hand on the redhead's shoulder.

Gingka shook his head slightly, not wanting to sit still at all, but he couldn't do much else in the helicopter.

"You will not escape for long." Ziggurat's voice followed them as their helicopter left.

Gingka looked up slightly, his eyes flashing in an angry way that nobody had ever seen before, save for Benkei, and even he had only seen it once. It terrified and awed the others in the helicopter, as they stared in shock at the redhead for a moment, fear turning quickly to concern as Gingka put a hand to his head, closing his eyes and nearly falling forwards out of his seat as another headache pulsated into his head.

Gingka swayed, feeling sick to his stomach with all that he had seen that day, all that he had done. His head would not stop pulsating painfully, two points on his forehead, just above his eyes, giving him the most trouble. He barely felt Benkei and Tsubasa's arms slip around his shoulders to steady him as the helicopter took them back to Metal Bey City. Pegasus dropped out of his hand and to the ground as he raised both hands and gripped his head, trying not to break down in front of the others.

"We're getting you straight to bed and calling a doctor, Gingka." Tsubasa said firmly, gently pushing Gingka back so that he was leaning against the back of his seat.

Gingka nodded faintly, trying to stay calm. He focused on Pegasus, the bey glowing faintly as it spun on the ground at his feet. Throughout the rest of the helicopter ride, the bey's glow never wavered, even as the confidence of its master did.

Gingka felt as if he were still in the heat of battle, only now he was battling his emotions. He did not want to cry in front of anyone. He had done enough of that today. He wished greatly now that he had paid more attention to his surroundings. Had he not backed up to that ledge, his father would still be alive. Had he listened to Zero's warning, Madoka would be in his arms and alive, not lying somewhere within the maze of Hades City, dead.

"Gingka, stop fighting…"

Gingka let out a low growl as he heard Madoka's voice again, only now it seemed to be taunting him. The sound of an alarm broke through his thoughts, as his eyes and all others snapped to the front of the helicopter.

"What's going on?!" Tsubasa demanded.

"Hades City sir! It's fired a missile at us!"

Gingka shot to his feet. "Open the helicopter door, now! Any door!"

"Gingka, what-" Tsubasa looked confused.

"I have to get Pegasus outside the helicopter now someone open a door!" Gingka snapped.

"Benkei?" Tsubasa turned, but Benkei had already thrown open the side door.

"Hurry, Mr. Hagane! It's closing fast!" The pilot called.

Gingka closed his eyes and focused. Pegasus shot across the floor and out the door, spreading its wings and flying straight at the missile without a second thought.

"But if Pegasus hits that missile it could be destroyed in the explosion!" Maru exclaimed.

Gingka grit his teeth, hearing the echoes of Madoka's usual warnings in Maru's words.

"But then you guys won't." Gingka growled, having already made his decision. Despite the fact that he did not really want to live, he also did not want anyone else to die if he could prevent it. Gingka was determined that nobody else should be lost to a mistake made by him, whether through manipulation by Ziggurat or not. Pegasus would not be destroyed either. Of that Gingka was certain. The bey had survived this long, and Gingka was not about to let his partner be destroyed either.

"Pegasus!" Gingka shouted, gripping one of the bars on the inside of the helicopter as he leaned out the door. Benkei stood nearby just in case Gingka lost his grip, ready to prevent the redhead from falling.

"Any time now, Mr. Hagane!" The pilot called, sounding frightened.

"Pegasus!" Gingka called, and Pegasus abruptly landed on the missile, spinning smoothly up the shaft of it before leaping off the tail end and into the air.

"You missed?!" Benkei exclaimed.

"I don't miss. Pegasus, now! Stardust Driver!" Gingka said, and Pegasus immediately came shooting back down in a flash of blue light, stamping the nose of the missile straight down and towards the ocean. In the next instant, the water below them exploded, shooting droplets high into the air. Benkei grabbed the back of Gingka's jacket and scarf and pulled him back inside as he swayed and nearly fell, putting a hand to his head.

Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief as Benkei guided Gingka back into his seat, while Tsubasa closed the doors behind Pegasus as the bey leapt back in. The pilots cheered and continued flying the helicopter, soon landing back at the WBBA headquarters.

"Rest, Gingka." Tsubasa ordered firmly as he and Benkei guided the dazed redhead onto a couch in Tsubasa's office.

"But…" Gingka muttered in protest.

"We'll keep an eye out and tell you if Ziggurat attacks again, but you are not okay. Rest." Tsubasa said.

"I need to change…" Gingka sweatdropped slightly.

"I'll go to the B-Pit and get you a change of clothing, Gingka." Benkei said. "Until then, don't you dare move, ya hear me?"

"Alright…" Gingka muttered, relaxing at last as Pegasus circled the couch steadily.

"You should really let Pegasus rest too." Tsubasa said.

Gingka turned and looked down at the bey, then sighed and shrugged. "It sorta helps to have it spinning…"

"If you say so." Tsubasa sighed and went to his desk.

Gingka rolled over, his face to the back of the couch, and closed his eyes.

Within moments, the redhead found himself standing in the familiar comfort of a starry landscape. He smiled at this, looking around at the brilliant sparks of color that surrounded him. A faint whinny from his left caused him to turn, swiveling smoothly to look for the source that he knew was there. However, what he saw shocked him to no small extent.

"Pegasus?" Gingka blinked, staring. The winged horse was indeed there, but its wings were pinned down by an unseen force, keeping it from flying. It was striking at invisible foes with all four hooves, as if fighting an invisible battle that Gingka could not see.

"Pegasus, what's wrong?!" Gingka said, beginning to run towards the horse, but he found that he was unable to move forwards at all. It was as if he were being held back by some invisible force.

Gingka's mind fell into complete turmoil at this, panic flooding him entirely. He struggled, long and hard, against the invisible bonds. In a way, the feeling was similar to what he had experienced at the DNA, but this was no electromagnetic field holding him down. It was something Gingka could not quite describe or place. All he knew was that it was hurting him. No… It was weakening him. Not only that… It was weakening Pegasus itself.

It was at this realization that the voices began, but now, it was not only Madoka's voice that called to him, as it had been when he was awake, oh no. It was the voices of every last one of his friends, screaming his name out in a panicked fashion.

"Gingka!"

The redhead gasped and panted, falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around himself, his breathing becoming labored. His breath echoed in his own ears, loudly and frantically. Something in the back of his mind told him he needed to calm down, to collect his thoughts.

"Stop!"

Stop what? Gingka was not even sure what was happening anymore, all he knew was that he wanted it to stop. He was just sitting there, seemingly helpless to stop whatever was happening. He had already been helpless to stop what had happened.

"Stop it!"

Gingka found his own voice echoing with those of his friends and allies. It was with this that the realization that he was losing the battle struck him. An overwhelming feeling of helplessness followed this, but Gingka had never been one to give up, especially not when told to do so.

"Stop fighting!"

Gingka growled and stood, fell, then stood again as his and Pegasus's power pulsated, the winged horse rearing up onto its hind legs and lashing straight forwards with its hooves.

"Gingka!"

The next thing Gingka knew, he was falling again. Something grabbed hold of his shoulders and shook him, firmly.

"Gingka, wake up!"

Gingka jerked awake with a sharp gasp, sitting up rapidly. He blinked twice, noting that he was back on the couch in Tsubasa's office. Tsubasa had both of his hands on Gingka's shoulders and was shaking him.

"M'awake, m'awake…" Gingka muttered, not quite sure what had just happened, but glad that it was over.

"You were yelling in your sleep." Tsubasa informed him. "What happened?"

"... I'm not sure. A nightmare, I think." Gingka muttered, looking down at his bey and narrowing his eyes as it spun steadily atop the coffee table, motionless in one place, as if waiting for something.

"Are you alright?" Tsubasa asked, worry in his tone.

Gingka bit his lip slightly, unsure whether or not to say what was on his mind.

"Tsubasa…" He said softly at last. "I… Think Ziggurat did something to me…"

Taadaa. Enjoy the suspense. Question is, is Gingka correct in his guess, or is he just losing his mind out of grief? ^w^ I'll let you all ponder that. That is for me to know and for you to find out. Until next time, Galaxy out!