Well everyone, it's been another wonderful week. I regret to inform everyone that I won't be able to post the next chapter tonight (as was anticipated) but I can assure everyone that the work continues. Stay tuned for an extra-long chapter that will feature MANY of the characters you have all contributed. But first… let's move on to the Thank-You section!
AngeLight952: Thank you once again for the deck you created. I very much like the details and work you put into it. Adeel will be making his appearance very soon so get hyped! If you have any more cards you would like to submit, feel free to do so at any time.
CorinnetheAnime: Thank you. Thank you. Gracias. Arigato. Merci. And many, many, many other ways you have helped me! Everyone, when you are done reading this update and bonus content, please PM CorinnetheAnime a thank you. She may not be able to respond today as she is on a trip, but she deserves quite a bit of praise. She is the one that helps edit each chapter so that you all don't have to be exposed to my horrendous grammar, she has contributed a ton of wonderful characters and cards to the story, and she recently helped me to avoid violating a certain guideline on . So thank you CorinnetheAnime. It has been one of my greatest delights making your acquaintance while publishing work on this website. Your characters will be making an appearance soon and will be VERY relevant to the plot. Stay tuned. And for the rest of you readers, if you want a sneak peek of what's coming, check out her story, "Voice of Freedom."
Epsilon Tarantula: Thank you for your patience and your MANY contributions. As you could probably tell from the last chapter, your characters from Standard will be appearing very soon. In the meantime, I hope you won't be disappointed by the fact that only Akato will be appearing in the next chapter. I offer you my condolences and hope this devastating news will not break your heart. Stay strong my friend, and know that I may only manage to blow up a few things and burn a few minor side characters. ;_;
FanOfKings: Well… how did you like Kiryu? I sincerely hope he made a good impression for his debut. And don't worry, I made sure not to kill him off for a reason. He will be doing MUCH more in the upcoming chapters. Stay tuned for more infernity awesomeness, and some interesting backstory on the original Kiryu.
Ghost83: Ok, Ghost83, you have been EXCEEDINGLY patient, and I have some good news for you, Elbert will be appearing soon. I won't say exactly when, since I don't know how much I'll be able to write with my schedule, but be rest assured, he WILL be making his debut. As soon as you hear some characters mention the Xyz Dimension, get fired up. I think you will like what I have planned for his introduction. At the most, I'm guessing it would be about four chapters from the next one that will be posted. Until then, please remember that I remain utterly stoked to write about your AWESOME character.
Greninja: Thank you so much for all the details you have given me about your characters, and for the recent consideration you showed after reading my profile page. I want to assure you that I will be using every single one of your characters in this fanfiction, and that I have recorded every detail you have sent me, down to their ace monsters, clothing, D-wheels, mannerisms, and martial arts, and that I WILL be using the info you sent me. Stay tuned, because the next chapter will feature Gin, Erika, AND Lilly. Lucy will have to wait a little bit longer, but she will be making an appearance soon. As for the decks of each character, I have completed the details for most of their cards. Lucy and Lilly will still be using their Thunder Avatars and Aqua Avatars, while Gin will be using a wonderful Ninja / Ninjitsu deck I have come up with for her, which includes both original cards such as Senior Silver Ninja, and a wide variety of Fan Cards such as the Tuner Monster, Ninja Kid, and one of her ace monsters, Silver Shadow Armor Ninja. Erika will be introducing us to the wonderful fan-made Lotus archetype, which will include plenty of wonderful Plant Synchro and Fusion monsters. In regards to the ace monsters you have submitted, I have kept the ATK, DEF, and effects of the monsters, but I have made some slight modifications to their names, as well as giving each monster a few extra effects just to make them stronger and more able to work together well with the decks of your other characters. Stay tuned for Earthbound Disciple Geo Lightning Dragon for Lucy, Earthbound Disciple Geo Cetus for Lilly, Earthbound Disciple Geo Qitou Ninja for Gin, and both Earthbound Disciple Geo Giao Long and Earthbound Disciple Geo Konohanasakuya-hime for Erika.
Kaploblast: Semal will be appearing very soon and you can bet that he will be dueling with the deck you sent me not too long afterwards. Stay tuned and stay awesome.
Kurogane Fang: As soon as you see characters enter the Xyz Dimension, get ready to see Fang. I am stoked to use the deck (or in his case… decks) you sent me for this guy. Expect Jorq to also be making an appearance not too long afterwards.
MaesLawliet: Nevan Bourne will be making an appearance in this upcoming chapter, and I have already chosen a Phoenix Guard rival for him. Get ready Shimmering-Sky, there is someone who doesn't like Natsumi!
Nox Descious: I can't tell you how much of a delight it is to chat with you. I absolutely treasure the fact that we can exchange jokes with each other on a regular basis. I am even more delighted to let you know that Friedrich will be appearing in this upcoming chapter. However, I have recently come across a little snag and I was wondering if you could help me with it. It's about Roger. You see… he will be featured prominently in this upcoming chapter, and I want to make sure he is as villainous as possible. He's already got quite a few villain clichés going for him, but I think there could be more. So here's the list of made so far of what he's already got, hopefully this will help us see what he is lacking.
1. Uses a chessboard and treats people like chess pieces. Check!
2. Has absolutely no regard for the welfare of his minions. Check!
3. Is a coward that will never fight a fair battle. Check!
4. Has a maniacal desire to rule the world. Check!
5. Plays billiards using hamsters as the balls. Not canon, but… CHECK!
This is all looking pretty good so far, but there is still something missing. I was thinking he needed an eye patch over one eye, an evil laugh, and a fluffy white Persian cat on his lap. While he speaks to his victims, he slowly strokes the back of the cat while the cat glares at the victim with a hostile expression. I was thinking I could also throw in a tank of piranhas beneath his desk. If he doesn't like someone, he presses a button on his computer, and a hatch drops them in to be devoured for his enjoyment. What do you think? Have I got all the clichés? Or am I still missing something?
Shimmering-Sky: Natsumi will be appearing in this next chapter, and she will be adorable, funny, AND amaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazing! I don't know why, but when I conceive of how Natsumi will act, I automatically start thinking of Mabel from "Gravity Falls." Please don't think this means she will be a carbon copy of this character! I just think Natsumi is just as adorable and lovable. If you have any concerns about the direction you fear I am taking this character, please PM me! I definitely want to accurately portray your character based on the info you sent me.
Solphage: Your character has been mentioned in the story and I can assure you that he will be making an appearance. A recent change to my outline may mean that his appearance will be a little bit later, but I promise you that I have not forgotten about him. He will be playing an EXCEEDINGLY important role in this story, especially where Gin Tami is concerned. Stay tuned and feel free to PM me should the wait time cause you to need any therapy sessions. I will be happy to help you out any way I can, or use Nox Descious's very kind and sympathetic character, Friedrich Hoffman, to give you a psychological adjustment. ;)
And now… let us move on to the next segment for this week. The first, character questions segment!
Question by Epsilon Tarantula:
To Emma Grayson: Is Satisfaction Town anything like the city? Heck, is the entire Synchro Dimension like the city with its Tops and Commons concept?
Emma Grayson: (Slaps her knee and begins laughing.) HA! Why do you think I don't live in that cruddy city? I may have served as an officer there, back when Security actually stood for something good, but I never let myself get tied down by their one-sided politics. If I found a Tops doing anything wrong, you can bet I would be there to put the hammer down on his gold-encrusted hide! I don't care about class, and neither does Satisfaction Town! We've got one rule over there, Mr. Hairy-Legs Tarantula, you work, you eat! You loaf around… you get nothing! Sure… some might consider Satisfaction down a run-down boondocks village, but it sure beats the endless slums of the city!
Kiryu: (Jumping in the conversation much to Emma's disapproval.) I'd like to point out that Satisfaction Town didn't use to be the (relatively) peaceful place it is now. Back when it was known as Crash Town, it was pretty much gang-ruled territory. People would get carted off into the mines and rival gangs would constantly be gunning each other down either with duel monsters or real guns. But after my adopted dad, Kiryu, got here, he pretty much cleaned the place up, and kept it safe from returning gangs and an influx of some very nasty Earthbound Disciples. If it weren't for his sacrifice, Satisfaction Town would probably be a cesspool of corrupt gangs and twisted Earthbound occultists.
Question by Greninja:
To Gin Tami: Are you ticked at Security for taking your father.
Gin Tami: (Bows respectfully to Greninja) Thank you very much for your concern, Greninja-San. I don't want to hate Security… but to be honest… I'm scared! My dad didn't do anything wrong! He's always been a good person! Sure… he may have occasionally looked down on the Commons… but he's also done good things for them! He built the Tami Public Library in one section of the city, and he gives tens of thousands to charity every year! I don't know why Security took him from us! He's the furthest from a criminal! Mom doesn't seem to know what is going on either! And what's even worse… while we were driving home… I saw packs of Security rounding up Commons who weren't even doing anything! My mother and the servants told me to look away… but I couldn't stop myself! I need to warn my friends, and I need to do something about this! I don't care what mom or the other servants say. I know this is wrong, and I know I can help change things!
So yes, Greninja, yes. I am very angry. I don't want my anger to control me, but I know that what Security is doing is wrong! I'm going to do whatever it takes to help the Commons and bring my father back!
Thank you very much for your patience and continued support everyone. And now, in compliance with community guidelines set by this website, the rest of this weekly update will be a small bit of bonus content! Most weekly updates will contain a little sneak-preview of an upcoming chapter, but for this week, I thought I would give you all a little scene of some new characters who will be making their own debut in the larger work fairly soon. This little bonus feature is entirely canon to "Sings of Renewal," so please enjoy and get ready to learn more about these individuals.
Fusion Dimension: 9:57 AM: Along the coasts of Academia
While Academia roared with activity as legions of Obelisk Soldiers prepared for an assault on the Synchro Dimension, a lone figure stood off in the shadows on top of a tall wall, watching the activity with a smug look on his face. He wore an officer's uniform similar in appearance to the Obelisk Force's armor, but his suit was thicker and green in color with large, bony, skeletal plates over the chest, shoulders, and arms. His short hair was a sandy brown, and his eyes were a dull golden brown with pitch-black sclera. Over his chest, a large spiral-shaped mark burned with multi-colored light.
"Look at you…" he mocked, "…scrambling like ants getting ready for a picnic. What a shame you will all end up becoming the main course."
Glancing above his head, he noticed a patrol heading his direction. Smirking to himself, he leaped from his position with superhuman strength before spreading out his arms as he approached the ground. In a flash, the surrounding area suddenly darkened to a deep grey color before everyone and everything suddenly froze in their motion. Seemingly unaffected by the sudden stop in time, the figure gently descended onto the ground below before flexing both his arms and restoring color and movement to his environment.
"So useful…" he sighed to himself, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow, "…it's a real shame I can't use it as much as I'd like without exhausting myself. Otherwise… I'd have burnt this stupid school to the ground long ago."
Walking briskly along the coasts of Academia, he stopped when he came across a segment of smooth cliff-rock. Holding out his hand, the mark on his chest glowed with intense multi-colored light before the segment of rock vanished away, revealing a hollow cave.
Stepping into the cave, the figure scanned the inside. It was just as messy as his partner had left it. Cans of discarded soda littered the floor, and thousands upon thousands of diagrams and scientific formulas written in charcoal and ash, littered the walls of the cave. Off to one shadowy corner of the cave, the figure spotted his partner, scribbling away at the wall while chowing down on a paper cup of Ramen noodles.
The figure shook his head. "I don't know why you bother eating. It's not like they're going to nourish you when you're dead. Besides, you can't even taste them."
"Ah tsk, tsk, tsk my good friend, Aaron Tarleton…" the figure chided from the corner of the room while scribbling down some additional formulas, "…did your mother not teach you anything? Why the most important thing in the world for any growing boy is to get their three square meals each and every day! I don't remember there being a caveat for when I became an undead disciple, so I figure it's my duty to live by every word of my saintly… now dead mother."
The man named Aaron smirked. "You really are a momma's boy, aren't you, Satoru."
"Ah contraire!" Satoru enthused, stepping into the light. Like Aaron, the sclera of his eyes were a pitch-black color, and he sported a large multi-colored spiral mark on his chest. His eyes were a bright green and his long and wild hair was a brilliant cyan. In the right corner of his mouth, he was sucking on a large fountain pen, while a ramen noodle hung over the left corner of his mouth so that a small trickle of ink and broth dribbled down his chin and onto his large white lab-coat. "I am a family man! Father, mother, grandma, grandpa, brother, sister, cousins… especially my two cousins… so I am MORE than a momma's boy! I show deference to all my family relations! The whole package! There's nothing more important than family after all… don't you agree?"
Aaron smirked. "I hardly remember my family. I was taken from them at a very young age. However… if you really do care about your family that much, then I have some good news for you. I have been in contact with our master. He is pleased with the work we have performed.
"I should say that Yuu should be happy with what we've done!" Satoru exclaimed, fountain pen popping from his mouth and landing on the sandy floor of the cave. "I mean… we practically set all of his plans in motion! I ended up having to process… let me see…" he pulled out a stack of cards from his pocket, "…oh… only three Obelisk Soldiers? Well… at least I got Diana, Apollo, and the Doctor. Freaking hated that guy! Did you know he was one of the foremost who said my work was a crock! A CROCK! Oh well thanks Mr. Doctor! Let's see you come up with a way to convert organic life into a mass of life energy that can be stored in a card WITHOUT killing the organism! Freaking best moment of my life when I finally…"
"Focus Satoru," Aaron growled, "I have more to tell you."
"Well, say on, say on!" Satoru encouraged, "Don't let me interrupt you, your highness! I mean… it's not like I matter that much!"
"Yuu has been in contact with Isaac Abrams in Synchro." Aaron continued, ignoring Satoru's griping. "The Phoenix Guard is marshalling their forces as we speak and Academia seems to have already sent an agent." He paused before continuing, waiting till he had Satoru's undivided attention. "You're going to like this, Satoru. Both of your cousins are in Synchro."
Satoru stared at Aaron when he heard the news, eyes widening with shock and surprise. Leaping into the air, he began whooping at the top of his lungs, dancing a jig as his excitement and happiness rose.
"Both my cousins in Synchro!?" he whooped, "This is… this is amazing, Aaron! Do you know how long it has been since I've seen their chubby little faces!? Do you know how happy this makes me!?"
"Apparently too happy." Aaron muttered, annoyance steadily growing.
"I mean… I've been watching them ever since I died…" Satoru continued, rubbing his hands together, "…heck, I even brought Lydia back after she nearly… well… you know about her condition."
"Yes…" Aaron muttered, "...I seem to recall you mentioning it at least… oh… two-hundred and seventy five times already!"
"And what will Sora think of me?" Satoru rambled on, rubbing his hands together with growing excitement. "I was so proud to see how well he did in his classes, but I haven't been able to speak to either of them in so long… it's… it's… it's infuriating! Please tell me that Yuu told you I could speak to them! Please tell me! Even if it's a dirty rotten lie and I'm not really allowed to associate with them anymore! Actually… don't spare me… tell me straight up! Am I or am I not allowed to talk with them!?"
"You will of course be required to stay hidden." Aaron dryly replied. "But I'm certain that won't stop you from dropping some hints to your family. Have no fear, Satoru. Yuu has plans for both of your cousins. If you follow his orders, he intends to amply reward you for your loyalty."
"Oh… I'll be compliant." Satoru hastily reassured Aaron, "Yuu's orders are absolute after all… I am just… oh Aaron!" he exclaimed, "…you can't imagine how excited this makes me! After all this time… just to finally have some family to talk to! I doubt they remember me… but… but I never forgot about them!"
"I suggest you get packed." Aaron replied with a bored expression on his face. "And please… clean up this mess. The last thing we want is to leave behind a trail of evidence for Academia to find."
Satoru waved his hand dismissively over the mess. "Oh… this? This can be easily taken care of. Just a moment."
Holding out his arm, he pulled back his sleeve and pressed a button on a watch. From the corners of the room, Pieces of metal that glowed with orange light flew towards Satoru's arm before hovering in place and creating a large forward-facing sword-shaped Duel Disk composed of a jigsaw puzzle of metal pieces glowing with orange light as if they were on fire. Each piece hovered in place, with space in between each piece. Lighting up with golden circuitry, the disk seemed to activate before Satoru placed a card on the field.
"Come forth… Procesystem Adapter." Satoru commanded.
In the center of the room, a monster about the same height as Satoru appeared. Shape-wise, the monster looked like a large red-and-orange translucent bacteriophage with thick robotic legs, a white metal casing, and a large red robotic eye in the center. The monster seemed to be constantly glitching in and out of focus as its body frequently shifted from a clear image to an unfocused mess of pixels, to a fuzzy image of a young girl with black hair, and back to its normal image. Letting out robotic insect clicking, the monster stomped around the room before turning to face its master.
"Process my things." Sotoru commanded, indicating a set of suitcases, his cans of soda, and the wall drawings.
"Command confirmed." The monster clicked in a raspy robotic voice. Scanning through the room with its eye, it let loose a beam of concentrated orange energy which seemed to vaporize the objects in the room on contact. When all the cans, suitcases, and wall drawings had disappeared, Satoru's Duel Disk lit up and a stack of cards popped out. Brushing the cards off, Satoru stared as the image of the cards developed like bits of old film until one displayed a stack of cans, one displayed a set of suitcases, and a third displayed a set of Satoru's cave drawings.
"I'm done." Satoru proclaimed, putting the cards in his pocket. "What about you Aaron? Got anything you need to bring?"
"All I need is this." Aaron replied, setting a helmet over his face. Similar to the helmets worn by the Obelisk Force, his helmet bore a jewel in the center, but the jewel was pitch black in color and the helmet was shaped like a human skull with ram horns and gleaming red eyes.
"It's been a long time since I've worn my full uniform." Aaron sighed, flexing his arms and smiling as he gazed at his own experience. "But I've never felt better in it. It's time for the Dreadroot to rise again!"
"And it's time for the… uhm…" Satoru scratched his chin in thought, "… crazy… scientist… former Academia… guy… oh whatever! I can't top you. Why do you have to get the cool name!?"
Aaron smirked at his companion. "Because while you had a desk job, I was actually on the front lines serving Academia.
"It's a shame Academia didn't seem to appreciate what you did for them." Satoru smirked back.
"Yes…" Aaron sighed, "…that was the biggest mistake of their life. Now all they will get from me is a heartfelt epitaph as I watch their miserable school burn to the ground." He grinned to himself, relishing the idea of having a front-row seat when the action began. "But for now… let's meet our friends in Synchro."
"Yes…" Satoru agreed, rubbing his hands together with excitement. "…ooooh… I am just dying a second time with excitement!"