Road Trip of the Heart

by ultima-owner

A unforgettable journey of crazy times, at least for the person doing it. It's a SIOC fic so if you don't like those, please don't flame.

22. Storming the Burning Field

Welcome back! I am aware that Mursama doesn't have a cannon Bankai. Spoilers of the following: Bleach, Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest, Ben 10, Shrek (and a Film Theory video about said series will be used), Rise of the Guardians, Gargoyles, Yugioh franchise, Fate Grand Order

Disclaimer: I only own my stuff.

Chapter 22: Storming the Burning Fields

A few months later

World of the Soul King

Hueco Mundo

Somewhere in the vast plain of white sand

"You just couldn't wait, could you Ichigo?" Zane said as he glassed the 'guardian of Las Noches', a massive hollow made of sand, with ease. "Orihime was kidnapped! What did you expect me to do?" Ichigo demanded. After getting back from the Soul King's Palace, he had an updated wardrobe and zanpakuto. His uniform had additions to it that looked cool and instead of one blade he had two pitch black blades. One was about the same size as his 'fake' blade with a hollow section that his second much smaller blade that looked like a trench knife, would fit in. "You could have waited for me to open a path to my contact in this realm. It would have taken an hour, but you wouldn't be lost like you are." Zane said jabbing Ichigo in the chest as Rukia, Reji, Chad, and Uryū watched the argument silently.

"And where is this 'contact'? All I see is sand, a few tiny lizards, and even more sand!" Ichigo yelled back with a shove that kick of a dust cloud. "Sorry it too so long to reach you." A female arrancar, with a ram skull on her head that covered her long green hair, said as she used Sonido, hollow version of Shunpo, to reached them quickly. A giant hollow that looked like a horned snake, Bawabawa, was fast approaching behind her. On it was a twiggy stag beetle masked hollow wearing some armor, Pesche Guatiche, and a loincloth and a tiki masked hollow with yellow poke-a-doted clothing on, Dondochakka Birstanne.

"This is my contact, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck. She knows a lot about this realm and can guide us to Las Noches." Zane said as the brown cloak Nel Tu was wearing fluttered in the wind to reveal the form fitting clothes she was wearing under it. It showed no skin but her curvy figure was quite visible. Ichigo looked away with a slight blush, because embarrassment and because of her beauty. "Alright, we need to get to the Palace." Zane said, pointing a tiny 'hill' on the horizon. "Las Noches is the city sized 'palace' of this realm blanketed in eternal moonlight. Below the sands is the Forest of Menos where normal hollow fight to evolve to Gillian, the weakest and most mindless of Memos Grande." Zane said.

"I'm guessing they regain their mind and evolve to hunt on this plain." Renji stated. "Adjuchas, stronger smarter and always eating for fear they regress and never recover their mind in the well of voices that is Gillian." Nel Tu said remembering her days as that level of hollow. Every Adjucha strives for the Vasto Lorde level, devouring each other knowing that the instant a part of their body is eaten they fail to reach that goal." Nel Tu stated as they got on Bawabawa's head. "it will take a few days to get the outer walls, even if Bawabawa goes full speed without being stopped." Zane stated as they took off faster than a car flooring it.

The next day

World of the Soul King

Hueco Mundo

Las Noches

throne room

Aizen gripped the arm rest of his throne as his normally slicked back brown hair looked a little dirty and he had slight bags under his eyes. "Damn him! Of all the things to happen, a Royal Guard is sticking his nose in my plans." Aizen ranting was stopped when the silver haired fox faced (Not literally) man, Gin Ichimaru, entered the room. "Bad news. There are no records of Zane Laskaris ever attending Shin'ō Academy since its founding and the Zanpakuto he's using was previously used a disgraced and disowned kuchiki clan member." Gin said in an amused voice, secretly enjoying Aizen's foul mood. "Did you check ALL the records, even the top-secret ones?" Aizen demanded. "He's a ghost. No record he ever existed anywhere, even in the human world. No sign he ever had any records ether. The closest I could find was a Greek Legend about a clan, he shares the name of, making a deal with the goddess of the hearth and serving her forevermore. No one uses that last name because of superstition around it." Gin said even more interested in Zane than ever.

"He found and disabled all means I had to spy on them! He helped find and raid all my labs! And he may be coming after the Hōgyoku!" Aizen raised and opened the 'vault' the Hōgyoku, a glowing marble in a clear prismatic 'box', rested. It glowed briefly before returning to its normal state. Unseen, a rune glowed under it, waiting for the moment to active as Zane intended it to do. Aizen closed and lowered the 'vault', happy that it was still there. "I still can't believe he warned you he was going to steal it. Pretty gutsy move, reminds of a legendry thief by the name Lupin." Gin said laughing on the inside. "Are they ready to invade the human world?" Aizen asked fixing his hair. "It will take five days to get the final preparations finished. Grimmjow is refusing to go because Ichigo is coming for the girl we took." Gin said.

"Very well, make sure Ichigo's group are stalled long enough to trap them here." Aizen said trying to calm down. "Of course." Gin said leaving, 'forgetting' say that Zane was headed this way or the fact he was help Zane to hopefully kill Aizen for what he did to his friend Rangiku when they were children.

Elsewhere in Las Noches

Orihime's 'room'

Orihime was forced to wear a white dress because Aizen wanted to break Ichigo's spirit emotionally. She froze at the locks on the outside of her door clicked and Grimmjow strode in with a bloodthirsty grin. "Guess what, Ichigo is coming to save you. Too bad he has to get through me." He said "There's nly one other that would make this even better." Orihime knew he wanted her to ask so she did, "What would be better?" Grimmjow slammed a fist into a wall. "If that red-haired man, who stopped me from killing Ichigo when we fought, also was coming, I'd get to kill him too."

"Grimmjow! We are not to harm the prisoner." The new third espada, Tier Harribel, was a blonde-haired dark-skinned woman with a curvy body and her white uniform showed off her stomach but hid her neck and face below her eyes. On her back was a wide sheathe that held a sword with finger loops on the guard to help her unsheathe it. Grimmjow shoved his way past Tier glaring at her.

"Against Zane, he would be ashes in the wind." Tier says as she checks Orihime for any injuries. "Why are you help me?" Orihime asked with a slight stammer. She could feel how powerful Tier was it scared her almost like what she felt during the Three-Day Bankai training method Zane undertook. "Aizen wants you unharmed to drawn Ichigo here. Be it to kill him or stall him long enough for Aizen to win, I'm not sure." Tier said uncaring as she left the room briefly to grab Orihime's meal. "He won't lose that easily." Orihime said defiantly. Tier looked at her with interest. "You believe that with a trace of doubt. There is fear but not for yourself. You are aware that this is a war, people will die and already have. Do you accept the burden of their sacrifice?" Tier questioned, looked for something. "When Zane doing his Bankai training he told me He believed Ichigo would storm Hell itself if it was to save someone. I share the same view even if that idea scares me." Orihime answered with steeled will.

"To storm Hell itself? What foolish plan. Then again not everything will make sense to others." Tier muses as she leaves, closing and locking the door.

Two days later

World of the Soul King

Hueco Mundo

Las Noches

Zane stood next to Tier Harribal as she watched Ichigo fighting Grimmjow under the fake sun lit sandy battlefield. Her Fracción consisted of three members. A tomboyish black hair female with a horn mask fragment, Emilou Apacci. A strong willed dark skinned fluffy brown-haired amazon, Franceska Mila Rose. And a slender olive-green haired female with extra-long sleeves on her uniform that she used to hide her mouth, Cyan Sung-Sun. "He's improved a lot. So did Grimmjow, must have been how easily I stopped his Gran Ray Cero (An energy attack only Espada can do) that pushed him to train harder." Zane mused as pressure forced Tier's Fracción to take a step back.

"You messed with the surveillance?" Tier asked him. "Of course. How else would I talk to the ones planning to betray Aizen? I already swapped the marble with a prototype gem that doubles your power and happens to look and feel the same." Zane said showing them the Hōgyoku briefly. "Who else is on board?" Tier asked. "Grimmjow, only if I prevented anyone from stopping his fight with Ichigo, Coyote Starrk, Lilynette Gingerbuck, and Gantenbainne Mosqueda. The other two Privaron Espada (Espada that were demoted) were killed but were thinking about it last I checked." Zane listed as he sunk into Tier's shadow.

"Apacci, Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, do not stray them the plan." Tier ordered as Aizen called for everyone heading to the frontline to go to the departure point. Then nod and depart at once. Zane smirked as Aizen unknowingly let him get past the lock down trap he set for the captains that had come to help Ichigo's group here.

A few hours later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Fake Karakura town

Appartently, Mayuri had 'swapped' the town with a fake one and the giant white pilers, at the corners of the town, were what was keeping the dimensional shenanigans he did going. Zane was bidding his time as the former ruler of Hueco Mundo lost all his Fracción and discovered his 'time' powers worked just as well at rotting his body to dust from inside out. That was the moment he was waiting for! Zane shot out of Tier's shadow as she broke away from the fight.

"YOU!" Aizen roared in anger. "Tada! I told them you'd lose it when I showed up. You noticed you can't trick them like you die before." Zane said amused as he drew Muramasa from the sheath. "NO doubt your work." Aizen ground out. "You're too late! I have fused with the Hōgyoku and you can't steal it!" Aizen said confident. It crumbled as two of the Espada and their Fracción, Gin, and even Kaname Tōsen, turned against him. "How? When did you get to them?" Aizen demanded as all his plans crumbled around him. "Information can make or break any plan. What I did was share enough secrets to help them find my side to be better for their survival." Zane said as Yamamoto stood next to him. "Your plan worked to some degree. All is left is-" Yamamoto was attacked by Wonderweiss, an extremely modified arracar made to 'seal' the flames of his zanpakuto.

"Your flames will not work with Wonderweiss around." Aizen said. "That's true but here's the thing, Muramasa doesn't use fire. Care to guess what my bankai is?" Zane said as an aura of power filled the air. The buildings of the fake town started to crumble under the pressure he was releasing. "You cannot breach the countermeasures I put in place with that blade in mind. No matter what zanpakuto spirit you drew out I can deal with them." Aizen said noticing his power wasn't growing like it should be. "Bankai, Koyū Kekkai Muramasa." Zane said at the world changed.

Inside of Zane's Bankai

"Where are we?" Aizen asked as they stood in a graveyard. "Welcome to my domain. This is my mind forced upon reality. Just you and me and the Hōgyoku I stole from you." Zane said showing the memory of him swapping it out for a fake. "even if it's a fake it's more than enough power to kill you and take it back!" Aizen roared, his calm mask destroyed and discarded. "Are you forgetting this my mind?" Zane said as shades of the dead Laskaris Clan rose from the graves. "Each and every one of them is a shade of one of my clanmates who have died but are far from forgotten. You lose Aizen. May you find a better life in the next one." Zane said.

Five minutes later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Fake Karakura town

Zane's bankai faded and Aizen was nowhere in sight. "The war is over." Zane stated. "thank you for getting Tōsen to come to his senses." Sajin Komamura, the captain of the 7th Division, said gratefully. He was a humanoid wolf with orange brown fur and taller than Zane. "I did my best to limit how many died this war. It was not the messiest of wars I had to deal with. A war where I'm not drenched in my enemies' blood is a nice change. I'm drained and need rest." Zane stated falling asleep on his feet. Coyote Starrk, the currently strongest espada, burst into laughter that was uncommon for the lazy arracar. His horn helmeted blonde haired young female 'zanpakuto', Lilynette Gingerbuck, was pulling on his brown hair in frustration. "Starrk! Why did you teach him your habits?" Llynette yelled, her free hand hitting him on the head repeatedly, doing no damage at all. Starrk's mask fragment was a bottom jaw of a wolf around his neck.

"Oh My, it seems he was telling the truth." Kisuke said in a very interested voice as he inspected Zane. "Rewriting reality does bring you to the brink of death if you hold it long enough. Luckily, he's in clear this time. Hate to have him die so soon." He said as the arrancar forces opened the way to Hueco Mundo to assess the chaos the power vacuum would be. Starrk gave Zane a pat on the back as he passed him, it was nice to have someone that understood you and had no hidden agencies for your friendship.

Clean up didn't take long and Zane recovered after a week of sleep and Orihime's 'rejection of phenomenon' powers. yeah, she could 'reject' something that happens or happened with willpower. Speaking of crazy powers, the Hōgyoku was dealt with by Death, in person. From what they told Zane, his Death appeared in the R and D HQ and 'broke it down with a tap of a boney claw'. Apparently, if anyone who's energy was taken to make the powerful marble was still alive, then they got what was taken returned.

When Zane left the world something odd happened, Muramasa's sword body entered his mind to be called at any time. The links with the Quincy didn't change as Zane left Death's 'project world'. To clear things up, at some point Death noticed this world and decided to block off from ALL visitors save the ones they allowed in. The restrictions were lessened as time went by so they may find their way to other worlds down the road, humans had tenacity for days.

A few months later

Plumber controlled space (Ben 10 planets)

Earth

Somewhere in the USA

Laskaris lake (A Laskaris did name it but it wasn't Zane time traveling to do so)

Zane was meditating on the waters of the lake he owned on this Earth. He had to jump through so many hoops with the intergalactic police, called themselves the 'Plumbers', to get the land but it was worth it. Bad news was that they complained about the 'level 20+ tech' he had 'illegally'. Shows what they know, Zane had paperwork to own any level of tech and the licenses to boot. It's also why the Plumbers didn't really like him much. That's why it was a surprise to asked to wed a Plumber and a Lenopan, a purple blob shapeshifter alien race. They wanted to make peace and this marriage would cement it. Zane was against it but when it was revealed to be started by love and politics came after, he relented. He prayed that Hera would be willing to guide him through this job.

The last thing he need was some wedding crashers or worse the Tennysons showing up. He had run into them one time when he saved a set of rune stones or talismans from being destroyed by Gwen Tennyson. She had good intentions, but Zane needed them for his study of runes. The young orange haired spellcaster didn't think broad enough. Her brown-haired cousin was a bigger trouble magnet than her. He got his hands on the omnitrix, a level 20 tech that can transform you into any of the many alien DNA sample added to it. The ten-year-old used it to goof off and be a hero.

He could almost hear their weaponized RV they called the Rust bucket. He opened his eyes and groan as his luck struck again. He wasn't just imagining it. the Rust bucket was coming down the road! He hung his head as he heard Ben complaining as he exited the Rust bucket. Time to inform them of the rules. It took him a moment to get to where the Rust bucket was parked. "Tennyson before you go any farther there is rules to be followed." Zane said looking right at Ben, who's hand when to the alien 'watch' on his wrist. "You the guy that stole the charms. What are you doing here?" Ben said. "Ben, he owns the lake and land around it for miles." Ben's gray-haired normally red Hawaiian shirt wearing grandfather, Max Tennyson, said warning Ben not to do anything rash.

"Rule one: no trespassing. Rule two: mind the signs. Rule three: Here my word is Law. Break any of these rules and there will be punishment." Zane said glaring at Ben, who up at the collar of his tux. Zane look at Max and commented "Not wearing your normal shirt? I swear you have dozens of them that all look alike." He joked seeing Max in a tux. "Why can't we swim in the lake? Is there an alien or something living in it?" Gwen asked. "No, it's just that it is Aria's home away from home and one of her spots she hides a sub-horde. It's not gold, just stones that are charged with energy for days. If you try to remove one it will be unpleasant for you." Zane said as the morning fog over the lake shifted weirdly. "Ah Aria surfaced. I'll introduce you to her." Zane guided them to the pier.

"woah. That is quite a collection." Ben said staring at the mosaic lakebed under the crystal-clear water. Aria materialized from the mist and the Omnitrix scanned her stating "Unknown DNA detected." Aria was miffed at this and soaked Ben with a gentle wave of water that only hit him. "What is she?" Gwen said wanting the touch the creature before her. Aria butted her with her snout. "This Aria a Mist Dragon. If you hear singing out on the lake at night, it's one of us or both." Zane said as Aria vanished into the mist with a melodic whisper "eyes and ears of a visitor will yield greater treasure than the hands of a thief." Aria's wisdom was a warning.

As they returned to camp area people were snickering at Ben. "You offended the dragon as well?" Gordon Tennyson, Max's older brother, asked with a soaking wet black cowboy hat on. "His watch did something." Max said giving his brother a hug. "I didn't get soaked but I did get my hat stolen when I said a lakebed of gold would have looked nicer. Apparently, this is an art piece as much as a horde of treasure." Gordon said amused. "Joel! Your uncle is here!" Gordon yelled. Joel, a youthful dark-haired man, was Gordon's son and the groom of this wedding. With him was his Bride-to-be, Camille Mann, a red-haired woman with great beauty in her human form.

"thank you for coming." Joel said. "there were a few snags, but Zane had a talk with her parents." Gordon snorted at this. "more like he read them the riot act. Zane's the most frustrating being the Plumbers had to deal with. He hardly ever breaks a rule without some loophole to get him out of it. You've met him more than once, right?" Gordon said. "Yeah, we've run into him a few dozen times over the summer. He really gets around. He even reconstructed Mount Rushmore after it got blasted." Max admitted.

"heard about that. Vilgax was after you for because of that watch of yours. Tech higher than level ten are big bucks on the black market. It much be quite useful to turn into other aliens." Gordon said ruffling Ben's hair. "Me? I'm perfectly happy as a human with a good blaster to fight with." Zane smiled at Joel and Camille. "It's wonderful that you are marrying for love. I will do my best to get both Hera and Hestia to bless this union." Zane said warmly. "We are grateful that you are doing so much for this event." Camille said still shocked Zane was even letting them be here. "It is my duty as a Child of the Hearth to promote a loving home." Zane said with pride. "And because that dragon likes to show off her art." Gordon adds with a laugh.

Few days later

Plumber controlled space

Earth

Somewhere in the USA

Laskaris lake

Zane relaxed as everyone left. The wedding worked out and he got to go back to was he was doing before the call about the wedding. He placed his hands into the water and let energy flow through him into the lake. Laskaris Lake was connected to many bodies of water on this planet and the energy he was channeling was 'programed' with one propose, fixing the earth. For past few months he had been dumps tons of energy into the water and correcting years of damage done to the planet each week. The Earth passed him energy and he 'programed' it with his own before returning it to the earth. Being a nexus of laylines and water paths made this lake unsafe for humans to swim in because of the sheer amount of energy that was centered on this one spot. The lake was ablaze with kaleidoscopic light. This would give enough energy to fix the earth for a few years before it had to be renewed again.

Zane heard metal footfalls as a bunch of humans in armor, calling themselves the 'Forever Knights' leveled weapons at Zane. "Surrender the dragon. It must be slain." The leader of the group demanded. "No. The only ones to die will be you lightning rods." Zane said as arks of energy struck the intruders and killing them quickly but extra painfully. "That's why I don't do this with metal on my person. Zane removed his hands from the water and put his rings and bangles back on. He was don't for the night, so he headed for the cabin to call it a night.

A few weeks later

Plumber controlled space

Onboard the Resolute

Zane teleported to Gwen's location as soon as he sensed the SDM coming from the Ominitrix. "Why in Tartarus did you trigger the self-destruct mechanism?" Zane yelled at Ben with a glare that would burn metal as he lifted Ben by his green shirt. "Anima's caused it! I had no idea it happened." Ben said more scared of Zane than anything he ever faced. "Note to self, find Doctor Anima and teach him a lesson." Zane said dropping Ben. He looked at his location and he was on a spacecraft of alien origin. Piloting it was a Protost, a pink goopy alien race from the planet Myceto. "Is that you, Gluto? Last time I crossed paths with you was when I fixed up the owned by the Petrosapien, Tetrax Shard."

"You have an old way of showing up." The light blue crystal alien, Tetrax, said as he relaxed his stance from the doorway. "I almost cut your arm off again." Tetrax arms had been shaped into razor sharp blades but returned to 'hand' mode as Tetrax realized it was Zane. "Where are you headed?" Zane asked. "The Incarcecon Intergalactic Detention Center. For some reason the creator of the Omnitrix is there." Tetrax stated bring on screen a DNA readout that he found on the Omnitrix. "Nope, that's not Azmuth's DNA. That is his assistant's DNA. Myaxx, a Chimera Sui Generis, who might know where he holed himself away." Zane said in matter of fact voice.

"a what?" Ben asked confused. "Think a humanoid alien with a squid face and can morph into a squid form when underwater." Zane said. "Oh, like Vilgax!" Gwen commented. "He's a bad apple of the race." Zane said as Junk Dealer appeared out of nowhere ready to help. "Junk Dealer, I need you to get Myaxx out of Icarcecon without being detected, post haste." Zane said out loud and mentally. Junk Dealer saluted and sped off.

"And now we wait for the him to get her out." Zane said counting down from ten. As he finished, Myaxx was teleported in with a burning cloak and half melted cuffs that fell off her arms. "Teleporting grenade needs work." Zane said as Myaxx threw her cloak off and stamped on it. "Whose bright idea was to use some prototype to bust me out?" She demanded angerly, looking at the motley crew of the ship. "I'm cashing in the favor you owe me." Zane stated holding up a contract signed in blood. Myaxx flinched. "How can I help?" She asked. "Some moron caused a radioactive wave that targeted DNA near the Omnitrix, triggering the SDM. Take use to Azmuth and your debt it repaid in full." Zane stated.

"You have got to be kidding me! I warned him about that flaw in the prototype Omnitrix but he said it was next to impossible to happen." Myaxx said annoyed. She looked at the Omnitrix and sighed. "We've got a few days at most as long as he doesn't transform too many times. Head a course for Xenon. The Omnitrix has a homing beacon in it to guide us through the darkness." Gluto got to it and the ship warped.

An hour later

Plumber controlled space

Onboard the Resolute

On route to Xenon

"So, what with the bloody paper?" Gwen asked Myaxx. "I made a deal with Zane in the past and he made me sign in blood, making it extremely binding. You'd need to warp reality to void that contract." Myaxx said annoyed. "Azmuth discovered that Zane's blood is used on special paper it can make a contract you don't want to break. Must be done by Zane and must be done willingly. That's the rules we worked out before we had a falling out." Gwen grimaced at the implications. "That is an unpleasant property." Gwen said as Ben was on top of the ship guided them to the planet, through the pitch-black area with wrecks and asteroids floating about.

"If you think that is bad, Junk Dealer is worse. It's a cycloptic almost indestructible tendrilled ball that arms itself with whatever weapons and armor it can salvage in space. It has no DNA or anything that a 'living being' has!" Myaxx said frustrated. "Even the Naljian, energy beings that are above our plan of existence, have DNA!" Myaxx's facial tentacles rived as she ranted. "That is not something I expected to hear, ever. Are you aware that someone wrote books on other worldly beings that sort of look like you?" Gwen asked. Myaxx shivered. "all too well. They are legends from my home planet that was shared with that human writer ages ago." Myaxx pauses as they land on Xenon. "Don't do any rites and they won't pay any attend to you." Myaxx warned Gwen.

An hour later

Plumber controlled space

Xenon

Azmuth's hidden lair

"Azmuth, you have two choices. Open this door and fix the problem a flaw in the Prototype Omnitrix has caused, or I will open this door and force you to fix it." Zane said as Ben, Gwen, Myaxx, and Tetrax waited with him. A distorted voice came from the high-tech door. "Why should I stop the universe from exploding? They are already misusing my masterpiece for selfish causes. The Omnitrix was made to bridge gaps, not for conquest or heroics." Zane sighed. "Ben can do that and be a hero at the same time. You can't tell me that there is not a single race that fights to understand each other." Zane countered. "And I will make use you suffer before it kills everyone including my family." Zane said darkly.

"Fine! I don't need you haunting me for eternity." Azmuth said opening the door. "You're still wearing that bio-suit?" Zane asked a tanky looking being stepped out. "What of it? Besides, to fix this screw up, I need to get out of it." Azmuth said as the Bio-suit opened, and a tiny elderly gray frog eyed alien jumped out. Yes, Azmuth was a Galvan, a super smart but small bodied alien. Azmuth messed with the Omnitrix and it returned to normal with a green faceplate instated of the red countdown color. "Any more surprises I need worry about?" He asked, in a dry squeaky voice. "Junk Dealer is messing with Vilgax's fleet for the past few days so unlikely he found you were here." Zane said amused.

"Just for that I's let Ben keep the prototype. Maybe he'll impress me enough to get the finished product. It's not everyday Mist Dragon DNA is collected. Good job kid." Azmuth said impressed with Ben's luck at finding rarer DNA.

Junk Dealer sent a message he was down 'playing' with Vilgax and had retrieved the 'Back up Crystal'. "Tetrax, you said you'd do anything to right the wrong you committed in the past." Zane said as Ben messed with the Omintrix. "This a new one. It's Hero time!" He slams the face plate down that in a flash of green light he turned into a copy of the Crystalsapien. He was a tall cycloptic silicon-based creature with a dark blue body and magenta hands, face, and five spikes (four on the upper chest and one on the top of the head). "Looks like a weird cousin of Diamondhead (Ben's name for Tetrax's race). I think I'll name this form Chromastone." Ben said.

"Ben's weird naming aside, what are you taking about?" Tetrax asked. "I got the key to reviving your planet and people. Junk Dealer took back the crystal and if you take it to the guardian of Petropia, Sugilite, you can right the wrong. Don't worry about Vilgax, he's going to be chasing Junk Dealer for weeks." Zane said with a smirk. "Is that possible?" Myaxx asked. "It's a sound plan. If they can find Sugilite in time. Petropia is maze at times and after it got blasted, some of the paths will be blocked off. Getting the DNA sample from Sugilite wasn't easy." Azmuth said knowingly.

"Watch it!" Gwen said as Ben realized Chromastone could shot UV energy blasts. "As you have recovered, this form can generate, channel, and redirect energy. It can also survive a 'nuke', the vacuum of space, and can regenerate from hits that happen to do damage to the 'tank' body." Zane said using words Ben would understand. "a strong and tough form with long rang options. Got it." Ben said getting the gist of it. "question. How do you know this alien can survive a nuclear blast?" Gwen asked a little worried. "by having Sugilite stand in the blast zone of one on lifeless chuck of rock in space." Zane said. "It was payment for his deal. I help him fix his planet and he help me figure out his powers for my records. He returned to his post alive and a little scathed up."

"You ask for interesting 'payments'" Azmuth stated amused.

A few weeks later

World where Kobayashi lives

Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture

Kobayashi's apartment

"After Squidface figure out Junk Dealer's connect to me, he chases me around space for a few days. It took me slice his flagship in half to get him to stop. All because I ruined his plan to get his 'super weapon'. Guy needs to get a life." Zane said lounging on Kobayashi's couch. He hadn't changed too much over the years, her dragon friends didn't change at all, because they are dragons. "sounds like a real jerk." Kobayashi stated opening a beer. "He's a dragon." Kanna said pointing at Zane's shadow. "How did you do that? Your scent is so weird." Elma, a short dark-haired woman in a business suit and wavy horn on her forehead, asked. She was a Dragon from the Harmony faction and had sensed Zane's rushed teleport to the apartment building.

"you wouldn't believe me if I tried to explain it." Zane said. Ilulu, a short but very busty female with lightly curled horns, clawed hands, stared at Zane intently. Illulu, a chaos dragon and the third dragon that stays at Kobayashi's home. "He's got an anti-world weapon on him. I can sense it." Illulu said. Tohru flew out of the laundry room in an instant. "Really? They are so fun to use!" She said with grin. "How many have you used?" Elma demanded. "None, mainly because of the requirements or curses one them make not even worth trying to use it." Tohru said with a huff.

Zane brought out his battle axe and set it on the floor, flat. "here it is. stjörnu börn is their name." Zane stated. "It looks deadly but what makes it a planet destroyer?" Kobayashi asked, blinking in confusion. "It's dwarven weapon, they know how to make great weapons." Elma grunted as she tried and failed to lift it. "HOT!" Elma let go of the handle as her hands were on fire. She plunged them into the dish water in the sink in relief. "I guess they don't like you." Zane said amused. Tohru tried to lift it but fared no better, minus hands burned. "Can't lift it at all. Maybe Fafnir can tell us more about it." Tohru said as Elma headed home, away from the dangerous weapon.

An hour later

World where Kobayashi lives

Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture

Kobayashi's apartment

"The runes are done in blood." Fafnir, a gloom but good looking male, said, as his red eyes scanned the weapon. Fafnir was a chaos dragon that had intimate knowledge of curses and wasn't afraid to use them. Lucoa had been called when Fafnir failed to figure the weapon out. "Oh my! A family line requirement. That is odd." She comments looking at a cluster of runes. "A what?" Kanna asked, all the dragons were interested in this weapon. "Only Zane's family may even have a chance of using it. They all so must share an affinity with fire to start to synchronize with it." Lucona explained.

"Then they will be judged by the power source. If they don't like you, you're going to get burnt to so degree." Fafnir added. "It isn't cursed exactly but that is so much blood involved in it's creation that it must be very important." They look to Zane for answers. "Alright! Stop staring at me like that. It like a bunch of cats staring at a bird." Zane grumbled. "I got it from Thor after I gave up a 'cursed' axe in a deal that worked out in the end." Fafnir had a hungry gleam in his eyes "how cursed?"

"Its edge was coated in liquid hate so concentrated it was like acid. It was made from the bones of a Gashadokuro bigger than mt. Everest." Zane described. "And where is it now?" Fafnir asked. "In the hands of the Greek goddess of revenge. She had been hounding me for it for some time. Anyways, back to my new axe. Thor had the dwarves put twin blue stars into it axe body and used my blood to add the runes. That's all I know because they are keep the secret of forging uru ore to themselves." Zane said annoyed.

"this is a much better weapon for an enlightened being." Lucoa said with smile. "What's the title you got after becoming a daemon?" Zane's answer made Kobayashi do a spit take. "I am Zane Laskaris, Monk of Wrath and Sorrow. I'm also called the Mad Rocker in some circles." The dragons were shocked as well. There was rumors of a being so angry that Heartless hid from his glare alone. "How did you get the Heartless to fear you without a keyblade?" Ilulu asked dying to know the answer. "Well, I got throw into the Realm of Darkness by some I hated a lot and the Heartless just got me angrier. At some point I got so angry I grabbed Margert and started bashing them to death, but I couldn't kill them, so they kept reforming and starting the cycle again." Zane admitted. He showed them Margert. "That title is making so much sense now." Kobayashi said with a sigh. She changed the subject as Zane took the axe back, mystery solved. "You have a lot of rings and other jewelry on your person."

"Mostly summoning objects." Zane said. "Other than that, I've of my wedding band and the mark of the Fae Queen." They stared. "What? Is the fact I got married that surprised you?" They look away. "You have weird hobbies and I don't know anyone, not even dragons, that would want to deal with your clan's luck." Ilulu commented. "What about his carrying the mark of Titania?" Kanna asked looking at the ring in question. It was pretty. "Well, it's not that much of a stretch, he is quite interesting. But how is he a dragon?" Tohru said frustrated at how they were sidetracked.

"It's more like I have a dragon that is a part of me. How well do you know the legend of the Dragon's Gate?" Zane asked. "A fish swims up the waterfall and becomes a dragon after passing through gate at the top of the falls." Kanna replied She studied that in school. "Come on out Wrath." Zane said. The dragons' eyes tracked his shadow as it twisted and separated from Zane. It raced outside and Wrath's full-sized eye peered into the apartment from the open front door. "meet the ugliest fish, aka the embodiment of my wrath, who jumped through the Dragon's Gate. Wrath come back before you stir up trouble." Zane said and Wrath returned to being Zane's shadow.

"I'm too sober to deal with this." Kobayashi said. "How's your family? Got any kids?" Zane smiled and pulled out photos. He animated talks about his daughters.

A few hours later

World where Kobayashi lives

Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture

Kobayashi's apartment

"who show have seen his face when Electra used a White Lightning spell. He was speechless." Zane laughed as he told the four of them, Lucoa and Fafnir had left an hour ago, about some of the things that had happened. "where is Aria?" Tohru asked. "She's checking her hordes because some knights tried to 'slay her and reclaim the gold' you know how it is." Zane annoyed. "They didn't even get near her because of the lake's energy barbequing them in their armor. I put up signs that prohibit anyone from wearing to much metal when the lake glows for that very reason!" Zane said. "It wasn't even a 'stash of riches' treasure. It was a lakebed turned into one big art piece!"

"Can I see it?" Kobayashi asked. "Here's a postcard but it doesn't capture the feeling when looking at it in person." Zane said showing her a postcard of a bird's eye view of the lake. "looks amazing." Kobayashi says. "What does your 'anti-world' weapon do? I know it can burn and slice stuff, but Thor's hammer had some neat tricks to it." She reasoned. "If I were to let it run wild, it'd remake the world I was on via Flames of Chaos." Zane said. "Those are the name of a fire that is the perfect mix of creation and destruction. In other words, a smaller scale version of what Chaos used to create all of reality." Tohru recited from memory "It is one of the core lessons all Chaos Faction Dragons are taught."

"So, he had the power of shape worlds however he wants?" Kobayashi asked. "Nope." Zane said. "It is Chaos themselves that is making the changes. The voice of Chaos is indescribable." Zane said with a shudder. "So, you would be aligned with Chaotic Good?" Kobayashi asked remembering the Alignment system from DnD. "not exactly but close enough." Zane commented checking the time. "It's getting late and I need to get going. Thanks for letting me rest for a bit." Zane said and departed.

A few days later

A Fairy Tale World

The Swamp

Zane neared Shrek's home a little worried. Before got to knock, a royal escort rolled up and man walked up to him asking "Is this the dwelling of Princess Fiona's husband?" Zane was really confused now. He had done a little time traveling to get his Pure Nail about ten years ago (from this day) and as far as Zane knew, Shrek was not married or ever thinking about it. The last time he was in this world was a few years ago to break up the Pleasure Island trafficking ring, people you turned human boys to donkeys then selling them to salt mines as expendable laborers.

"I'm not sure who that is? Where does she hail from?" Zane asked. The messenger looked a little annoyed but answered "She is the princess from the kingdom of Far Far Away. Surely you have heard of it?" Oh! That kingdom. "I have but I never got in touch with them. My Kingdom is quite far away and hidden. We mostly trade with other kingdoms but never really meet save for big events." Zane answered coolly. "And that Kingdom is?" The messenger asked "The Prize Kingdom. We are best known for the rare silk we sell." Zane answered. The messenger was shocked. "Your Grace, I didn't imagine I'd meet the illusive King of the Prize Kingdom in my lifetime." He and the trumpeters bowed.

"This is why I don't advertise it. Please don't tell anyone until I get to Far Far Away." Zane asked. "We are to take the princess and her husband there to meet her parents. You can come along to save time, if you wish, Your Grace." The messenger said as Shrek opened the door. "What do you lot want?" He asked groggily. Zane stopped the messenger or trumpeters from doing their thing. "He's not in mood for the protocol. Let me do the talking." Zane said and was handed the scroll by the messenger. "Hello Shrek. I came by a decade ago to find a spear." Zane started as a female ogre with red hair and wearing a green dress placed a hand on Shrek's arm.

"I remember you. You've aged well. What's with the rest of them?" Shrek said bluntly. "They were sent by your wife's parents. They wish to meet you post haste." Zane said after scanning the scroll's contents and summarizing it. "That's great. I was going to send them a letter to ask them that soon." Fiona, it had to be her even if she was an ogre, said encouragingly. "Donkey can come too, I hope." Fiona said as a talking gray furred black maned donkey came out saying something about breakfast. He froze when saw Zane. "Hey there Zane. You aren't still mad I didn't say anything about the island for so long, right?" Donkey said as his knees knocked in fear.

"I am very cross with your cowardice but with the ring dismantled and all parties connected to it dealt with, it's not an issue anymore." Zane said to the victim of Pleasure Island that escaped but told no one for many years until Zane made him talk.

An hour later

A Fairy Tale World

Road to the Kingdom Far Far Away

"So, you're a King? Didn't think you'd be the type." Shrek said as they sat in the carriage. "It's a handful but my second in command is great at making sure it doesn't crumble to chaos when nether me or my wife is there. How's that last decade been for you?" Zane said, relaxing. He knew it was going to be a long ride, at least a day of traveling. "Shenanigans happened and I saved her from a tower, fought a dragon, crashed a wedding, married her, and Donkey hooked up with the dragon I fought." Shrek said amused.

"I've never heard of the Prize Kingdom before. What do you export?" Fiona asked. "Silk, crafted stuff, Spirits (alcohol), dairy products, among other things. It's been about two decades since it was formed so it's not surprising you wouldn't know if you had to be saved from a dragon. How long were you in the tower?" Zane listed. "About that long." She said. "Because of that fae curse on you? Smells too much like the price of some of the 'deals' I've witnessed between Fae and mortals." Zane commented rolling his eyes. "It's too old to even think of altering it in any way and I don't think you'd even want me to."

"I'm fine the way I am." Fiona said but was puzzled about something. "Would a Fairy Godmother be considered a Fae?" She asked with a sneaking suspicion. "To differing degrees. Some are just mortals with enough Fae blood to be good at magic and have 'fairy wings', they have egos like you wouldn't believe in the worst cases. Did you have one?" Zane said thinking of a potion making blue gowned one that was nasty with a capital N.

"She's the one that figured out how to 'break my curse'. My parents were reluctant to going along with the plan." Fiona said. "What's the Fae Queen like?" Donkey asked. "Inhuman beauty and more dangerous than any human ever will be." Zane said. "All it takes is to cross her and you are in for a fate most unpleasant. On the other hand, if she finds you interesting enough, well your life is going to be interesting forever more." Zane finished showing them Titania's Mark.

"Damn, you have the craziest luck. You've got a kingdom and wonderful family but also her messing with your life. Only thing to make that worse is if you have a cult or something that idealize you." Donkey said with a laugh. Zane's head hung. "I've got that too. I don't catch a break often without something chaotic happening to balance it out."

Later that night

A Fairy Tale World

Temporary camp

Zane was on watch duty as they had to stop for the night. As he predicted, they were delayed be problems, doubling the travel time to a whole day. If they left by morning, they'd make it there but midday. "It's going to be a long night." he mused as things watched the camp. He caught an arrow aimed for his neck and stood up. The bandits wouldn't beat themselves. By morning they would find Zane standing by a pile of beaten, and looted, bandits, waiting for the law enforcement to pick them up.

Midday

A Fairy Tale World

The Kingdom Far Far Away

Royal Castle

Dining room

"That is ENOUGH!" Zane said, slamming his hands on the table as Shrek and King Harold, a short gray-haired balding man wearing a simple crown a blue fancy clothing, argued about Fiona and what her children would be. "You are both acting like a pair of Rams, butting heads on a mountain." Zane said glaring at them from his eat at the table. "Shrek, I get that you aren't used to this kind of setting so I will let you off easy with a warning. Work on your temper." Then Zane turned to King Harold, who wilted under his glare. "You on the other hand have no right to be so racist. You were a frog that became human to marry the love of your life." Zane indicates Queen Lillian, blonde haired woman in a tasteful pink royal dress. "Your daughter chose who she wanted to marry out of love. Do not look like a hypocrite in front of her. It will ruin the image she has of you." Zane got up not hungry anymore. "If you need me, I will be in the library." Zane walked away.

"He has a point, Harold." Queen Lillian said. "I guess my temper got the better of me, truce?" Shrek offered. King Harold sighed and said "Truce." Internally he was panicking, Fairy Godmother would not be happy, and it'd be his fault. "It's been stressful the last year and I might have taken it out on you, Shrek." King Harold said, being totally truthful but not saying why. "Zane dealt with a large band of bandits on the way here and mentioned something about taking care of a big trafficking ring." Fiona said. "Yes, they are a problem that doesn't stop coming back, the bandits I mean." King Harold said. "There are more hoodlums in the woods than there are ones who are detained. More you catch, more they will attack the roads to your kingdom to get back at you." The king sighed.

"Zane's got this handled. He took out a hundred of them in a single night." Donkey said, "They practically jumped into the carts just to get away from him." The King and Queen arched a brow at this. "Well, we will make sure to thank him for getting you here safely, even if he caused a power vacuum." King Herold said with a sigh.

A few days later

A Fairy Tale World

The Kingdom Far Far Away

Royal Castle

The infirmary

"Ok, Father-in-law, why did you hire this cat to kill me?" Shrek said holding up a ginger cat, wearing boots, a feathered hat, a sword at his hip, for King Herold to see. "Fairy Godmother made me do it! She was going to stone me with her magic if I didn't try to make sure her pompous son, Prince Charming, marries Fiona." He confessed. "I hire Puss in Boots to keep you busy while Zane confronted her." A retching noise was heard behind the curtain

"And how well did that work out?" Shrek asked putting Puss down. "Her potion and enchantment factory exploded in a rainbow fashion, both her and her son are alive but stone for who knows how long, her workers are now doves, and Zane is hurling gem stones made of the stuff he got hit with there." King Herold lamented. "Hold on. Zane was in a magical explosion and all he got was hurling magical gemstones?" Donkey asked. "Magic can be very unpredictable. I have heard she cut corners with wear she stored stuff." Puss said in a smooth Spanish accent.

"That two-bit hag cut all the corners." Zane got out from behind the curtain before hurling again. "is he going to be ok?" Shrek asked as staff were exchanging buckets full of gems for empty ones. "I have no idea. He's been like this all afternoon and the experts deemed the gemstones to be extremely concentrated magic. In other words, very hazardous to touch with your bare flesh." King Herold let that sink in as Fiona arrived worried. "Dad, I heard what happened from Mom." She said had King Herold braced for the hit, but she hugged him instead. "I can't believe she blackmailed you like that." Fiona continued. "I'm mad at you but I'm so proud that you turned things around like you did."

"That great and all but why is Zane's bed curtained off?" Shrek asked. King Herold turned green as he ran off to hurl, remembering what Zane looked like when the knights had brought him in. "Boss, I smell acid burns from Zane's bed. It is very likely he did not come away from the flood of potion cocktail unharmed." Puss said.

"The cat's right." Zane said pulling the curtain open to reveal a 'shadow' in the shape of Zane. "Head to toe chemical burns that will heal by noon tomorrow." Zane said as he spat out the last of the crystalized magic gemstones. "I'm wearing my shadow for two reasons." He shaped numbers with each reason. "One, because the fresh skin touching anything, including the air, is unpleasant for me to say the least. And two, it's not a pretty site."

"You're not wearing anything save for a magical shadow? How are do you see anything?" Donkey asked. "Those were the first things to heal." Zane grumbled. "What happened?" Fiona asked. "I confronted the hag and she admitted to cursing you as a child. Then she shoots a spell at me but hit her son who was making kissy faces at his reflection." Zane said. "That got her really angry and blamed me for dodging the spell. She tried again and used the mirror her son had to reflect it back at her. That's how they got stoned." Zane told them.

"That doesn't explain how the explosion happened." Fiona said. Zane looked away. "That was a little bit my fault. As I turned to leave, her wand fell into the potion she was working on. One moment everything was fine, then next I was drowning in what felt like acid as I was washed outside of the building. The knights got me on a stretcher and back here in an hour. It was around noonish." Zane stated. "I better deal with the 'hazardous' gem issue." He gets up and pours the 30 some gallons of golf ball sized gems into a coin sack labeled 'Fae bartering'. "Sorry I can't stay longer but I don't want to be anywhere near that plot of land for a while." Zane said sinking into the ground and racing along the halls as shadow.

Later a few days later

Guardianverse

Earth

North Pole

North's workshop

"Pitch was here." North, the Santa of this universe with a Russian accent, declared to the other Guardians of Childhood. "I felt it in my belly." He said as they groaned. "Mate, I get you trust your gut, but we need to have more to make a plan." E. Aster Bunnymund, a tall kangaroo looking rabbit race called the Pookas and the Guardian of Hope, said with an Australian accent to the Guardain of Wonder. Toothiana, the tooth fairy, was a green feathered bird like fairy about the size of a teenager and was the Guardian of Memories. She was talking with her tooth collecting fairies, pixie sized look-a-likes, about teeth that needed to be collected.

As everyone was not paying attraction, save for the Sandman, the moon shining and the shadow sneaking in was largely missed. Sanderson Mansnoozie, a very short golden man and the Guardian of Dream, tried to get everyone's attraction but his symbols made of golden dream sand went unnoticed. The shadow watched the events amused next to one of the yetis making toys. Sandy grabbed an elf and shook it like a bell. Everyone looked at him. He pointed at the moon annoyed and dropped the dizzy elf. "On Manny is contacting us, why did you say anything?" North asked.

"He doesn't talk." The shadow remarked then said to the yeti "try to add some 'age' to that train, it's supposed to be 'rusty', right?" Yeti smiled and thanked the shadow in some yeti langue. "Pitch! What are you doing here?" Bunnymund demanded with a boomerang in paw. "I'm not Pitch. My name is Zane Laskaris and I am from another universe." Zane bowed in greeting.

"I know your family. They are on the nice list most of the time." North said rolling up his sleeves to show off the words 'Naughty' and 'Nice', one on each arm. "what brings you to my workshop?" North said as a crystal rose from the floor. "Looks like Tsar Lunar XII (The Man in Moon's real name in this universe) is requiting another Guardian." Zane comments as everyone focus on the images reflected. The silhouette of Pitch, the boogeyman. "I knew it was Pitch!" North said as more silhouettes were shown: Mother Nature, Jack Frost, and the Bonded Blossom Keyblade.

"Why did it have to be that ankle biter. Anyone but him!" Bunnymund groaned. Tooth and her fairies were fangirling about Jack Frost's 'perfect teeth'. Sandy and North were more interested in what Mother Nature and the, to them, unknown key meant. "Phil, how long before they think to ask me what I think?" Zane asked the Yeti he gave advice. Phil signaled three minutes tops. As they waited, they talked about toy ideas.

Almost three minutes later, North asked, "Do you know anything about the odd key?" Zane had a hidden smirk. "I might know something, but it won't be free. Here's the contract you need to agree too." Zane wipes out a contract and hands it over. "Let's see the terms. 'In return for secrets form Zane Laskaris, I, (blank line), agree to exchange a secret of equal value.' Sounds fair." North says. Taking the inkwell of crimson ink and quill feather pen, ready to sign. "Hold it! Why is this even required?" Bunnymund said annoyed.

"Because it's a big information." Zane said then, in Greek, said, "There is no free lunch." North and Sandy nod at these wise words. Bunnymund groaned. "You Greeks love using that phrase. But the way, why are you a shadow?" he questioned. Zane dropped his shadowy state to show his normal attire. "It's easier to traverse the blizzard out there when you're flat as paper." Zane said cheekily. North did a full belly laugh at this. "very true. What kind of secrets are you interested in?" North asked. "making stuff secrets." Zane said whittling a log into a life size keyblade replica. "Hmm. I'm willing to part with those secrets It's not like you are asking for super-secret stuff." North said signing the contract. Zane took it back alone along with the inkwell and pen. "Pleasure doing business, my jolly friend." Zane said rolling it up.

"The keyblade is a weapon born of the heart and helps the wielder achieve their hidden talents and some other things. It's the ultimate skeleton key and 'alive' in a sense that it chooses who can use it." Zane said, honoring his deal of the deal. "That is all I can divulge without getting to things I can only tell other keyblade wielders and I'm the only one in this universe." He had started the details of the wooden keyblade replica as he let them take this in. "Ok, Keyblade expert, how is some oversized key going to help with Pitch?" Bunnymund asked. "Spoilers." Zane said amused, riling the bunny up. "You are so lucky to be helping us or I'd knock all the teeth out of your mouth." Bunnymund ground out, gripping his boomerangs harder.

"Focus on getting Jack Frost to come here, willingly. None of that 'throw him in a sack' business." Zane said looking pointedly at North, who was about to say that idea. "Invite him to a tear of the workshop. Phil told me he's tried sneaking in a lot of times." Zane suggested as Phil the yeti nodded in agreement.

A few hours later

Guardianverse

Earth

North Pole

North's workshop

"so, this is what it looks like on the inside." A blue skinned barefoot boy with a crocked staff commented as Phil gave him the tour. This was Jack Frost, a spirit with little to no memories of life as a human over 300 years ago and none of the memories of when he was Nightlight the protector of the child who became the Man in the Moon. Death had a lot of knowledge of the universe it ruled over squirreled away for those that are willing to make a deal to learn. In this case it was more of Zane needing to know somethings to get a task done for Death.

"If it isn't Jack Frost. Got to say you look quite young for someone over 300 years old." Zane said leaning on a pillar. "Not that I have much room to talk. Zane Laskaris, over 30,000 years old and still got thousands of years left in me." Zane introduced himself as everyone, and I mean everyone stared at him. "You are a living fossil." Jack Frost commented jokingly. "That I am. While everyone is slack jawed at my impressive age, I will take fill you in on somethings." He followed the bewildered Phil the yeti and explained why Jack was called.

A little later

In a side room after the tour

"Are you sure they want me to be a Guardian? But I'm just a 'troublemaker' who brings snow days." Jack said confused. Zane laughed. "sometimes it's a little chaos that saves the day. You have something they don't. You understand children much more than they do. Sure, you don't have any believers born in this universe yet, but you have a chance to change that." Zane said Jack was shellshocked. "You believe in me?" He asked. "yep. Hard not to when you've made tea for the Fae Queen and her guests on more than one occasion. My Universe has an Old Man Winter who is equally parts grouchy as he is a trickster with a habit of pranking me, his 'firry rival'. That's just one of the winter spirits I've met." Zane said getting Jack to smile.

"you are nicer than the seasonal spirits are. They seem to have a heavy bias against winter in general." Jack said remembering unpleasant encounters in the past. "after we beat Pitch, you will be Mother Nature's favorite seasonal spirit." Zane said with a knowing grin. "I guess being a Guardian won't be too bad." Jack said making his choice. "One last thing, Jack, everyone has a 'center' something that is their 'core driving force'. Mine is 'Protective Wrath', not really kid friendly but that's who I am." Zane said. "They need us in the main room." Zane guided him out.

In the main room

"Pitch is attacking the Tooth's Palace." North said ushering everyone to follow him. They piled on to the sleigh and were told to 'buckle up' even if there wasn't any means to do so.

On snow globe teleport later

Guardianverse

Earth

Southeast Asia

Punjam Hy Loo

They arrived at a scene of chaos as horses of black sand, Nightmares, were 'eating' fairies and golden tubes, before traveling somewhere else. "They're stealing the teeth!" Tooth said as Zane slice through the Nightmares with his keyblade. Even as they tried their hardest, all but one fairy and a handful teeth tubes were recovered. Inside of the Indian styled palace with mosaic decor, Pitch Dark, a slender tall pale man taunted them from the shadows. "My, my, if it isn't the Guardians." Pitch said as he appeared from different shadows. "What's this? Jack Frost? I didn't know you were with them." Pitch said amused.

"What of it? I can't have you ruining snow days for the kids." Jack Frost said. "How quite." Pitch said dryly then appeared next to Zane, Zane noticed but let Pitch think he was undetected. "And hope is this. An Adult Human who can see us, and so full of nightmares." Pitch said jumping away as North tried to take his head off with a pair of sabers. "That weapon is so interesting as well." Pitch said as he vanished leaving his fading laughter as a parting gift.

"All the teeth are gone." Tooth said drooping on the floor. "Not quite. I snagged a few." Zane handed them to her. "What's so important about the teeth?" Jack asked. "They hold memories. And It's Tooth's jobs to collect and protect these memories." North said as he looked at what teeth tubes were saved. The Guardians' teeth tubes, a few kids, and one labeled 'Jackson Overland'. That name nagged at him furiously because it was a child from many years ago. Something happened and he stopped appearing on his lists. His younger sister was on his list for while after but not him.

"Would my memories be here?" Jack asked as Baby Tooth, the only fairy they saved, sat in his hoodie's hood. "Do you remember what your human name was?" Bunnymund asked, arms crossed tapping his foot annoyed. "Without that who knows where it is." Zane plucked the teeth tube North was puzzled about. "Think back to when you were chosen." Zane told Jack. "I came up from the frozen pond near Burgess and I was told my name." Jack said. "It's my earliest memory other than one of drowning in cold water."

"Jackson Overland, a teen who lost his life getting his sister off the pond you call home. He fell the thin ice and drown." Zane said giving Jack the Teeth Tube. "You are that child and so much more, Jack." Zane looked at Jack in the eye as he said this. "You saved your sister that day and that is one of the reasons you were chosen by Tsar Lunar XII." As Jack view his human memories the others had questions.

"How is it that you know that Man in the Moon's true name? And what is your role in stopping Pitch?" Bunnymund asked. "You are a wildcard and I don't like wildcards as troublesome as you." Zane was looking outside. The Nightmares he had 'defeated' hadn't reformed like everyone else's 'kills' had. The black sand had turned a reddish gold and drifted about lazily. "Sandy, Dream Sand is gold, right?" Zane asked. He gave a thumbs up. "then why is reddish looking?" He asked. Sandy shrugged and tried to draw it to him, it swirled into a hawk that perched on Zane's shoulder and turned up a beak at Sandy.

"Why do I have the memory of stabbing Pitch with diamond dagger?" Jack asked confused. The guardians looked at him. Zane, on the other hand, laughed. "Of all the memories you have from that time, it your first death that you remember. Who here knows about Nightlight?" Zane asked. Only Jack was in the dark. "In Nightlight's last fight to keep the forces of darkness and fear from winning, he died and was granted a human life." Zane stated.

"in the Overland family, making Jack Nightlight's third life." North stated "Makes sense Manny (North's name for the Man in the Moon) would want to make his protector happy." A bunch of pipe foxes, carrying bags of teeth greeted Zane. "Right on time." Zane said taking the teeth and giving them a reward for their hard work. "You collected the teeth and left quarters?" Tooth asked. "I can't let Pitch snuff out the children's belief." Zane said under pile of cuddly pipe foxes.

"Easter is around the corner." Bunnymund said, then he remembered something. "I lost the spare snow glob you gave me somewhere in Burgess because of an ice patch that he made at some point." Bunnymund told North pointing at Jack who was snickering, remembering the face the bunny made as he slipped and fell into a snowbank. "I hope no one used it. It can take you anywhere." North said. "I think Jamie was near there when I left. He almost saw me." Jack commented with a smile.

"That's wonderful! That means he has some belief that you are real!" Tooth said hugging Jack and twirling him around. "Let me think." North said thinking back to the children that came from Jack's sister's family tree. "The Bennett family is at least loosely connected to the Overlands. A lot can happen over 300 years." North commented. He remembered the names of all the children that ever believed in him. It helped him figure out families over the years. "That's cool. I've got family." Jack said overjoyed as Bunnymund tapped the ground, opening a path to the Warren, his underground home. "Come along. We've got eggs to paint." Bunnymund said jumping down the hole.

One amazing and fun tunnel slide later

Guardianverse

Earth

Under Easter Island

The Warren

They tumbled on to soft grass as giant walking stone eggs watched the entrance valiantly. There were moss-covered ruins around them as they got their bearings. "Home sweet home." Bunnymund said breathing in deeply. "BUNNY!" a child's voice was heard saying, followed by an boys voice saying, "Wait! Sophie get back here!" A two-year-old girl, with blonde hair that covered half her face wearing blue PJs, ran up to Bunnymund and hugged his leg. Her brown haired ten-year-old older brother panted as he caught up to her. "Sophie, I don't know how a snow globe got us here, but you keep running after a bunny?" Jamie trailed off as he followed the leg she was hugging to its owner. "The Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman, Santa Claus." Jamie pointed to each Guardian then paused on Jack. "Jackson Overland?" He said confused. "Are you a ghost?" Zane laughed at this question.

"He is that ancestor of yours but he's also Jack Frost, the spirit of winter." Zane said. Jamie's eyes widened. "I'm related to Jack Frost! That's better than meeting a Laskaris!" Jamie said hugging Jack. Zane coughed into his fist. "I am Hearth Leader Zane Laskaris. It's a little annoying that I rank below that but he's family, so I'll let it slide." The Guardians were smirking at him and the pipe foxes were snickering softly. "Thank you, sir. Can I have your autograph?" Jamie said. Zane handed over one. Jamie put it in his pocket gratefully.

"How did you get into my Warren?" Bunnymund asked as Sophie climbed on to his back like a monkey. "I found this cool snow glob near where I saw a sew through figure that looked like the ghost of my family's more 'free spirited' members, according to the tales mom told me." Jamie explained. "It was after a pipe fox took my tooth and left a coin that Sophie came in a shook the snow glob."

"She said 'Bunny', right?" North said getting the picture. "She wanted to find the Easter Bunny, so it took you here." He leans in and stage whispers "Trade secret but that's how I get around the world in one night." Jamie grinned and promised not to tell anyone.

Zane got Sophie off Bunnymund before she pulled on his ears or something. "How about we help the Easter Bunny paint eggs. It is a few days until Easter morning." Zane said and Sophie grinned.

Later that evening

Guardianverse

Earth

The USA

Burgess

Zane had returned the kids to their home and left a bunny plushy for Sophie to keep. It was made to look somewhat like Bunnymund and even had two boomerangs holstered on its back (not removable in any way). "If it isn't the wildcard." Pitch said. "Your nightmares are much more potent than any child in the Dark Ages ever had." Pitch's voice was full of arrogance and annoyance "I wander what happens when I drown you in Nightmare Sand." Chains shot from the woods and dragged Zane into a pit of the black sand before he could do anything. "This is all of my Nightmare forces, so it won't be so easy to escape." Pitch said as Zane sunk into it. "I can't wait to use your nightmares to ruin Easter." Pitch laughed and left to make for Nightmare Sand.

A few days later

Guardianverse

Earth

The USA

Burgess

"I don't know how you did it, but I will not be stopped just because that bird of yours protected the eggs." Pitch yelled at Sandy as the Guardians cornered Pitch. The sand in the pit still looked black as a beast formed from it. It looked like a Dark Hide but bigger and deadlier looking. "What are you talking about? That's Zane's bird." North said. "Still fighting even after I used him to make my greatest creation yet." Pitch said as the beast roared making itself known.

"Deal with them." Pitch ordered but as the beast tried to move it groaned as if in pain. "Fight it, Zane!" Jack said as they fought the Nightmares and Pitch. Jack had found his 'center' was 'Fun', so he was pelting Pitch with joy giving snowballs. They seemed to cause him pain. From within the beast Zane's voice was heard. "Bounded Blossom, Third Form: Cosmic Garden Thorn." The Beast exploded as Zane flew at Pitch and impaled him with a spear that looked like a starry colored wooden shaft with flowering vines corkscrewing the length of it. A feather tassel fluttered as Zane said, "It's time for your nightmare to end."

Pitch 'exploded' as darkness seemed to be forced out and converted into the weird Dream Sand like the hawk. When everyone else could see again, Pitch was gone. In his place on the ground was red haired man wearing golden armor and a red cape. His skin was pale but far from Pitch's level of paleness. "Welcome back, Kozmotis Pitchiner." Zane said coughing out the dream sand he had swallowed. The 'dream hawk' swooped in and absorbed the converted sand before resting on the shoulder of a newcomer to the 'party'. She was woman with long black hair and wearing a cloud like cloak.

"Thank you, Zane." She said petting the hawk. She had a regal air about her but a kind face. "Emily, the next time you call in a favor, bring me a thank you gift for when I'm finished helping you." Zane said. The woman was Emily Jane Pitchiner aka Mother Nature. "That's Mother Nature?" Jack said, having never met her before. "Things are making sense, save for one thing." North said. Bunnymund butted in "What happened to Pitch and why didn't you say the keyblade could transform into a spear?"

Zane laughed in a coughing way. "Pitch wasn't always Pitch." He started. To sum things up. Before the Man in the Moon was born, Kozmotis Pitchiner served his parents empire and battled Fearlings and their pirate allies. The Fearlings were put in a vault with him guarding it for years. But they tricked him and took his body by burying his heart under their essence. Emily was his daughter, so she refused to take part in the Guardians' conflict with Pitch, until now. She learned of Zane having a keyblade and hoped he could free her father.

Kozmotis Pitchiner woke up towards the end explanation. "I really hate waking up on the ground." Kozmotis said, making his spear appear and used it as a crutch to stand up. "How long has it been?" Kozmotis asked. "Too long, Father." Mother Nature said hugging him for the first time in hundreds of years. The hawk cried out as it turned into a Keyblade. The handle was the wings of the hawk, the shaft was the odd Dream Sand, the teeth were outstretching talons that were translucent (a little see through), and the keychain was a bed. It had long reach and had the 'sleep' effect to its strikes. "I'll call this 'Swift Dreamer'." Zane said dismissing it.

"Sorry about stealing a bunch of Dream Sand, Sandy." Zane said but Sandy waved it off. He had more than enough to last for eternity. "You were one hell of a wildcard." Bunnymund admitted. "The eggs you painted were top notch." Zane shook hands with Bunnymund then looked for the flask of water he had for when he crossed sandy dry places. "When you are long lived, you pick up a few hobbies. Making stuff is nice for a pyro like myself." Zane admitted after a drink. "Like what?" Tooth asked. "a little of everything, but more focused on things that last more than a moment. Fire can be beautiful alone but it's what it can make when mixed with other things that is amazing." Zane said.

Zane demonstrated by turning a bucket of sand into molten glass then shaped it into a detailed figurine of Tooth. "That is amazing. How did it not burn you?" North asked. "I control flames and, to a lesser degree, molten material that is 'hot'." Zane said making one of each of them. Each one had them in some pose. Kozmotis' had him with a war scythe mid swing and sword sheathed on his hip. "It's been nice, but I got things to deal with back home. I've got this really bad feeling something is going to sidetrack me on the way back." Zane said as he opened a portal and entered.

Five minutes later

Fae owned universe (The Gargoyles universe)

Earth

New York City

Zane fell on to a hard-stone parapet, back first. "ok, I'm on a castle tower and there's clouds below me?" Zane said staring at a bird's eye view of New York City. He tried to get free, but he was wedged between two of the parapet 'teeth'. With a sigh he watched the sunset with only a stone winged beast in 'the Thinker's pose' for company. "I don't feel like falling so I'll just wait for the rich as hell owner to see who's intruding." Zane said as the last rays vanished. He heard cracking from his stony company.

The gargoyle roared as he streatched. He had a black colored buzzcut, lavender skin, wore a loincloth, and was quite intimidatingly strong looking.

"Hey, I know I'm sort of intruding, but a portal spat me out above here." Zane explained quickly. In a deep voice, the gargoyle commented. "You humans messing with magic." He looks at the stone around Zane. "there is a scroll behind your neck with some spell locking you to that spot." He stated. Zane groaned. "I knew sensed fae magic nearby." Zane reached for the scroll as more gargoyles climbed up to greet the first on.

"Goliath, who is the human and why is he stuck like a turtle on its back?" A Scottish soundly, tan skinned gargoyle, who wore black armor and had a white beard he was scratching in thought. "Another human trick by the Fae, Hudson." Goliath said. "I'm Brooklyn." A red skinned gargoyle, with a beakier face, said. "The one that looks like an olive-green scaly flying is Lexington." Said gargoyle nods. "Big blue here is Broadway." He gestures to a light blue stockier gargoyle. "And that is Bronx." He says a blue gargoyle version of a dog runs up the stairs to sniff Zane. "Got it!" Zane said as he grabbed the scroll. The thing keeping him from falling stopped and the only reason he did fall was Bronx biting his ankle and pulling backwards.

Now safe from falling, Zane opened the scroll. "'To my favorite human, it has come to my attention that I haven't heard from my daughter. Tell her I said 'Hello'. -Lady Titania, Queen of the Fae P.S: Please stay in this universe for a year and day.' Oh, come on! I was just heading home." Zane throw the scroll after failing to rip it up. "you know the Fae Queen?" Goliath asked. "Not only does he know her, but he wears her sign." Hudson says tapping the ring on Zane's finger. "I have seen that band of 'not metal' on only a few beings. The Fae she has a vested interest in, and humans she trusts greatly," Hudson listed. "Zane here is in the latter group."

"She has some plan in mind. She probably knows were all the children she's had are at any moment!" Zane ranted, trying slice, stab, burn, crumble or stamp it. It remained pristine and whole. "What's going on up here? A blue skinned red-haired female gargoyle, Demona, demanded as she was followed by two humans one of which that Zane punched on sight yelling "Punk! This is for the last prank you pulled on my daughter!" The disguised Fae was thrown off the tower and landed with a thump on the courtyard below. "That felt so good." Zane said calming down. "It's so nice to punch something that you know can feel it."

David Xanatos, a dark haired and bearded human who owned the building and castle on top of it, picked up the scroll and read its contents. He arched a brow and said. "My Mother-law is as crafty as ever. Fox will not be happy to hear her muddling again." He looks at Zane and asked, "How did you see through Owen's glamor?" Zane showed Xanatos the ring. "ahh. That makes sense." He said as puck, in his impish real form floated up annoyed. "Did you have to punch that hard? All I did was turn your daughter's hair pink. It's not like, her normal hair color is normal for a human." Punk ran his mouth and was rewarded with Zane throwing Pale Nail (Spear) at him. Puck was dragged away as the spear pined his cloths to the outer tower on the opposite side of the castle.

"That should teach him not to make my daughter cry." Zane said annoyed. "Impeccable aim, for a human." Demona said. The other gargoyles were on guard around her, not by much but she must have betrayed their trust as some point in the past. Zane leaned his head to the side as his spear was thrown from behind. As it past him, he grabbed the shaft. "You have to better than that to kill a Laskaris!" Zane yelled at Punk, was frustrated at the failed payback.

"Doesn't he look like that human that got tricked by the fae back in the tenth century?" Hudson asked Goliath. "You're right. He was a lot like that stranger that stayed at the castle. What Clan did he say he hailed from?" Goliath said to his second-in-command. "I don't remember but the more I hear Zane talk more likely he's related." Hudson said as Puck and Zane tried insults. "Eat fireball! Mega Flare!" Zane cast spell blasting Puck flying. "I win." He said smugly. "He is most defiantly related with firepower like that." Hudson said with a laugh. "Did a family member write anything about meeting puck in the past?" Hudson asked Zane.

"Oh! You mean Brother Briar. Yeah, he got stuck in this Fae 'playground' of a universe for exactly a year and a day. That's the rules the Fae put in place in the gate's creation. Any Fae can send a target here for at least a year and a day. Brother Briar also wrote that down." Zane said recalling the writings of Briar Laskaris, who died over half a millennia ago. "He spent his last century alive making gargoyle like golems that were so real, I swear they were alive."

Later

In David Xanatos's home (The upper floors of the skyscraper the castle rested on)

"So, my mother sent someone to 'check on me'." Fox Xanatos, a good looking red haired fair skinned woman with a blue fox head tattoo over one of her eyes, said holding a child in her arms. She was David Xanatos' wife. "Who's this little buddle of joy?" Zane asked as the baby boy reached for the rings on Zane's fingers. "His name is Alexander Fox Xanatos, but that's a bit of a mouthful." Fox said smiling at her son. "Would you mind if I showed Alex something cool?" Zane asked. Fox let him summon Ruby Carbuncle, who captured the baby's attention completely. "What an adorable creature you summoned." Fox said as Ruby Carbuncle stared back at the baby. It sat on Fox's shoulder to get a closer look.

"This summon is mainly for support and is absolutely fascinated by young children." Zane said following Fox to the nursery, where she set Alex down for a nap. Ruby Carbuncle 'stood guard' over the baby. "I see what you mean." Fox said as they made their way to the living room. Xanatos was waiting for them. "I wonder if you'd explain what Puck did in detail." He asked. Puck, in his blonde-haired human guise, served them tea. "I didn't do anything to it." Owen (aka Puck) said before leaving them alone.

"Electra was asked by Lady Titania to sing for her and a few others, including the Fae King." Zane said. "She practiced the song hard and had me make a dress that complemented her blue hair she gets from her mother. Just as she finished and waited for Titania to say what she liked about it, then Puck happened." Zane said. "How bad was it?" Fox asked with a wince. "He poured some magic dye over her, Carrie style. Her hair was hot rod pink and her dress was ruined." Zane shook his head at the memory. Luckily, Lady Titania knew how to fix it. It'd help that Electra feared for her health because that 'prank'. Punk made himself scarce and has been not willing to be near the Fae royalty for the past three years."

"I can see why you'd want to punch him for that. What is the time difference from this place and yours?" Xanatos asked. "All over the place. Could be the same or a faction of the time back home. If all else fails, I'll just cash in a favor." Zane said with a shrug. "Smart plan. Are you aware there is other clans of gargoyles around?" Xanatos stated to explain the various things he did in the past. robotic, cybernetic, and even genetically altered humans were some of the things he to 'make' loyal gargoyles that would help advance his plans in the past. He also talked about a naturally created clan that was started after some of the gargoyles were trapped in a place that was longer for them than it was for those not trapped.

"Your 'pet' has taught Alex how to make a 'bubble'." Owen informed them. "Is it a dangerous spell?" Fox asked. "it's just the 'Protect' spell from the White Magic School. It's not harmful useless you attack the 'bubble'. It'd be like punching a window." Zane explained.

Back in Zane's home dimension

The Garden

The Palace Ballroom

After Zane got back home, he had found out it had been a few months at best. "How have things been for you?" Zane asked Aqua as they did a waltz dance. The ever happy to help Heartless set up a ballroom party for them. "It's been hectic but return here to find you waiting for me is worth it." Aqua told him. "How many dances do you know?" She wondered. "plenty of them. You never know when you'll need the Fox Trot to solve a problem." Zane said with a smirk. "I thought you learned that to impress me." Aqua said with a knowing smile. "If dancing is the way to show my love for you, I will learn as many as I can." He said as they kissed.

Zane time in the Fae 'playground' had been rather uneventful he traveled a bit and learned the Fox Trot to pass the time.

Few months later

World of Games

Japan, Kaiba Dome

Zane was bored. He had to sit all day while applicants were tested to see if they would get into Duel Academy. Worse news was he wasn't allowed to test anyone because Kaiba wanted them to pass. "There are some interesting duelists here. Will this 'School' have more of them?" Aleister the Invoker, a robed duel spirit holding a staff and a book that summoned monsters, asked. He was a part of Zane's newest deck. It used The Invoked and Dragonmaid archetypes to get powerful monster out easier. It was mostly dragon monsters but there were other monsters in the deck as well. "Duel Academy has all sorts of duelists. That's not counting the other duel schools out there, East and North Academy respectively. When comes to duelists, they tend to be not normal." Zane told Aleister, who grinned. "I can't wait to unleash my summons on them." He said with a creepy laugh.

A dark-haired maid, with horns a red and white dragon tail with dark blue spikes, appeared from Zane's deck and wacked him upside the head. "we are to teach them, not scar them for life." She said pushing up her glasses. This was House Dragonmaid the fusion 'boss monster' of the Dragonmaid archetype. "Why do you always hit me so hard? One of these days you'll kill me." Aleister said rubbing his head. "You are too think headed for that to happen." House Dragonmaid said in the same professional tune she always used.

"Would Jaden Yuki report to test field three." The PA system announced. "well, this will be interesting." Zane said as Vellian Crowler stepped up to duel Jaden. , as he liked to be called, was a blonde haired man with a preferred style that made it hard to figure out his gender. He was using his 'Dual Vest' instead of a normal duel disk. The barter he and Jaden were having told him they were acting just like when they were in the 'Magitech' unit. On top of that, Dr. Crowler was using his personal deck, an Ancient Gear deck, and not holding back at all. "They still haven't changed at all. Fighting like cats and dogs but not hating each other." Zane sighed. "I swear I had to break them up so many times. Maybe they will get along better after finally dueling each other." Zane hoped as the duel went from a 'test' to a battle to decide who is the better duelist.

Watching from the railings above was Zane Truesdale, a teal-haired third year Obelisk Blue student, and Alexis Rhodes, a curvy blonde haired second year Obelisk Blue student. To the explain the dorm set up you need to remember that Kaiba has an ego. At the top was Obelisk Blue, best of the best score wise, or because they throw enough money to get into that dorm. Next was Ra Yellow, not the best or the worst score wise. And last was Silifer Red, where everyone else stayed. Technically you could choice any of the dorms you qualify for but lower the rank of the dorm is, less luxurious it was. The Red Dorm was a shack near one of the cliffs on the island.

"He hasn't lost his edge." Zane Truesdale commented. He had kept an eye on the duel tournaments Jaden had competed in over the last few years. "He wasn't at the Duelist Prep School, I would know." Alexis commented as Jaden summoned Yubel. "I've never heard of that card before. I don't think Crowler knows about its effects ether." Alexis comments as Ancient Gear Golem attacked Yubel. Instend of Jaden losing 3000 life points, because Yubal has zero attack/defense points and Crowler's monster had 3000 attack points, it was Crowler's life points to take the hit, netting the win for Jaden. "Any monster that attack Yubel causes their controller to lose the life points instead." Zane Truesdale explained.

"Is Crowler smiling?" Alexis asked as Crowler and Jaden shook hands promising to duel again to see who better. "Just like back then, trying to get better than the other at whatever they chose to compete at. Professor Laskaris is probably hoping they bury the hatchet finally." Zane Truesdale stated with a smirk. "So, the rumor is true? The Zane Laskaris is teaching this year? That makes things very interesting with the "MagiTech' unit business. I'm still annoyed about the mess it made. Magic is real and people can be taken to go to war." Alexis said, looking for Professor Laskaris.

"Please be careful. We wouldn't want you to fall because you are looking for Lord Zane." A curvy red-haired maid, with blue horns and a red dragon tail, cautioned as she pulled Alexus from the edge, despite being a duel spirit and normal very ghost like. She was Kitchen Dragonmaid, another one of the new Duel spirits Zane was entrusted. "How are you pulling me? Aren't Duel Spirits like ghosts?" Alexis asked. "My Lord has more energy than most duelist. The Duel Spirits that serve him can draw on that energy to be 'more solid'." Kitchen Dragonmaid stated with a kind smile. "I hope this satisfies your question."

"Your apart of that new archetype that was released." Zane Truesdale stated. "That is true. Not many feel 'maids' are worth using." Kitchen Dragonmaid said with a tint of sorrow. "I'm sure Professor Laskaris will change that. He changed the face of Duel Monsters when he showed any card can be useful when paired with the right cards." Alexis said. She had read the works Zane published about the Atlantean war how it was won. "That is why we entrusted our cards to him." Kitchen Dragonmaid said with a smiled but it turned to frown as she said. "All Alister wants is someone that will let him show off his prowess at summoning 'demons'."

A few hours later

Duel Academy Island

Zane's 'office' near the Red Dorm

"Home sweet home." Zane said. It was modest building that Kaiba had built for him to stay at when he was teaching here. It required a few touches, but he had a month before the tests at the Kaiba Dome to make the changes. Classes started tomorrow and he was looking forward to an interesting few years. The Dragonmaid Duel Spirits got to work cleaning the place. Well, Laundry Dragonmaid was trying but she wasn't that good at her job. Her blue furred dragon tail was frazzled as she tried to gather up the dirty clothes she scattered when she stumbled. "Don't rush it." Zane said kindly ruffling her light blue hair. She hugged him around the waist saying she'd do better next time.

"You are wonderful for her confidence. She fumbles half as much as she did before we met you." A greenish blonde-haired maid, with green horns and a green dragon tail, said as she set a tray of biscotti and other tea cakes. "Tea is nearly ready." The Duel Spirit, Parlor Dragonmaid, said as Laundry Dragonmaid returned to her task. "All she needs to do, is to slow down. Most of the times she's fumbled is because she's trying to impress me by doing it as fast as possible." Zane said with a sigh. "She is the youngest of our group." Parlor Dragonmaid said as she returned with the tea pot and two teacups.

Lyman Banner, a gray-haired man wearing glasses and fellow professor, sat down on one of the free couches. He had brought his 'fluffy' brown tiger striped cat 'Pharaoh' with him to this meeting. "He has contacted him as you predicted." Banner said. "He introduced me to Camula and she apparently knows you?" Banner was taking about the vampire that Zane had tracked down to help the vampire Duel Spirits. Zane knew someone would want the Sacred Beast cards, so he got few of the members secretly be on his side. Other than Banner and Camula, Zane had a shape shifting tiger that was also an Amazon named Tania to help him. They would 'join' the Shadow Riders and feed him information. They had their own goals and Zane was willing to help them.

"Yes, I am acquainted with a vampire of that name." Zane says, dunking a tea cake into the tea. Banner coughed politely and asked, "Is that a reason you are bringing in metrics tons of sand, wood, and stone among other things for the past few weeks?" The Duel Spirit of Hercules walked past the room with a giant crate of metal wire. Banner hears the heavy footsteps get quieter, then just vanishing. "Art of course. Now, you need to tell me if you were behind the 'Shadow Magic Club' Incident." Zane had been smiling but as he asked his question, Banner realized he couldn't move. Zane pointed at the floor and the words 'no lies' glowed in runic lettering.

"I wasn't a teacher until after it happened." Banner said looking back at Zane. "A few years ago, students had the idea to dabble in 'Shadow Magic'. They even had Titan, the 'Shadow Duelist', hired to provide his 'expertise', even if he was a fraud that used hypnosis." Zane's eyebrow twitched at that name. He despised that con artist. "Who hired him?" Zane asked. "The leader of the Shadow Riders, of course. Somehow, they tapped into the shadow realm and everyone was swallowed up in. Atticus Rhodes was 'volunteered' to be at the 'sacrificed'." Banner explained what was known.

"more pawns for the Shadow Rider Roster if they survive the trip." Zane said, dispelling the runes. "The Abandoned Dorm has been sealed up tighter than Fort Knots as soon as I finished investigated it. That is unpleasant to be near." Zane said as Banner relaxed. His Zane just yawned as he napped next to his 'human'. "Did you look at the test scores?" Banner asked. "Despite, Jaden acing his practical exam, he bombed half the written exam." Zane slumped in defeat. You had to teach Jaden things in context of Duel Monsters. "How bad?" Zane asked. "He almost got into Ra Yellow but lacked a few points to get him over the edge." Banner said.

"Girls! Have you gathered the stuff for the Slifer Red Welcome Feast?" Zane asked down the hall. "We will show those snobs in Blue with cost effective food that is better than their lobster feast ever will be!" Kitchen Dragonmaid declared with a fire in her eyes. "She is very passionate." Banner stated as he collects his cat in his arms. "I can't wait to see how the students will react." He said with mirth.

Zane chuckled as Banner left. He wasn't sure how Pegasus learned about shape shifting Dragons being maids, but he had a feeling it was connected the Eye he no longer had. It would explain the cards he started to make that could fit in just about any deck without throwing the balance off too much. Zane walked the halls of the house and didn't stop at any of the doors. Instead, he walked to a tall bookcase that swung inward, despite it being against one of the outer walls.

Beyond the Bookcase

Zane entered a hallway that extended and branched off beyond the boundaries of the building. The bookcase closed behind him as he walked the along the hallway. This was a space he recreated from a book he read growing up, with his own twist on it. It was fun to make and even more amusing to see guests drive themselves up the wall trying to figure why the house felt 'off' to them.

His footsteps were totally silent as he made a lot of 'random' turns to arrive at a door that looked the same as the rest, unlabeled and made of wood. He opened the door and entered a gun range obstacle course. He grabbed a crossbow off the wall and strapped on a quiver of bolts. This was the closest Zane got to using a bow with any noteworthy level of skill. Crossbows, and types of thrown weapons were his best long range means of attack in worlds that didn't know what a 'gun' was.

"Time to see if I can shave some time off my record." Zane said, drawing and loading the crossbow. As he ran the course, he remembered why he trained himself like this. He had been asked to go to a primitive world with little means to attack enemies immune to magic and elemental attacks. It was to near to fight with swords or pole arms so Zane had to fight hand to hand or with whatever thrown weapon he could find on the way. His aim got better quickly to avoid being killed in some maze full of monsters and a lot of loot at the end.

Crossbows had power a decent range in the hands of a master. Zane planned every shot and wasted no time, avoiding hitting 'non-enemy' cutouts that popped out along with the 'enemy' ones. Zane remembered what Hawkeye had said "Always be ready to move to new a location when snipping. A spotted Sniper is a dead one, unless you're me." His ego showed in his advice, but it was good advice none the less. Zane checked his time. "shaved off a minute, not bad." Zane commented as the bolts were collected by robotic arms, who cleaned up the course after each run. He sat down behind the desk to review where he could improve.

A few hours later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Slifer Red Dorm

"Normally we would be having a not as good feast." Banner told the red jacketed students. "But Professor Laskaris and his wonderful staff has come through with a something different." He signaled for everyone to remove the cloches in front of them. It was a heavenly stew with a side salad and roasted garlic bread. "It appears to be a fisherman's stew." Jaden tells Syrus Truesdale quietly. "I've never heard of that before. What's in it?" Syrus asked defogging his glasses to see the stew better. "Fisherman's stew made with a stock, random veggies, and whatever the fisherman caught that day. Chumley Huffington, an older Slifer Red Student with facial features almost like a koala and a heavy-set body, was their roommate at the Slifer Red Dorm. He wasn't the best Duelist, but he didn't want to work at his dad's alcohol company. "It's a simple dish but can taste different every time." Chumley said shifting the chunks of veggies to identify the fish. "sea bass, clam, and tuna. Not the most expensive seafood but it looks good."

"Wow, I didn't know you knew so much about food." Jaden said impressed. "I also know that this was not made by a human." Chumley said as everyone ate. "The cuts are so uniform it's one of two possibilities. A human chief with unholy knife skills or a it was a Duel Spirit that made the cuts." Jaden nodded. "Might have been a Dragonmaid. I heard they are passion about making sure you are welcomed and enjoy hospitality." Jaden commented.

"Professor Laskaris lives in a house about five to ten minutes' walk from here." Syrus said. Banner had something to announce. "As you know, Professor Laskaris, our newest staff member, currently lives near this Dorm. He is willing to help any student. Just fill out a request for an appointment and you will be informed when he can help."

A few weeks

World of Games

Duel Academy

A lecture hall

"Who can name a card that helps with decks that rely on field spells?" Zane said in full teacher mode. Among the raised hands was Syrus. "Syrus Truesdale, name the card and why you believe it to be that useful." Zane requested, without even turning from the chalk board he was writing on. "Planet Pathfinder a level four earth machine effect monster with low attack/defense but can be tribute to search the deck for a field spell." Syrus said sweating. "Excellent choice. Class, please not this monster can be used to get ANY Field Spell." Zane said as Syrus sat down with a sigh of relief. "As your teacher it is my job to help grow as people and duelists. That is why I encourage you not to overlook any card or person you encounter."

Hearing some of the snobbier Obelisk Blue Students scoff at this, he flicked chalk that bounced off five heads and made the sixth target cough as the chalk piece turned into a dust cloud in his face. "Keep your egos at the door because they have no place when I am teaching." Zane said, still not looking at them as he wrote on the chalkboard. After a few more classes Professor Zane Laskaris became knew as the 'Sharpshooter' who could bounce chalk, erasers, and other small bits with insane skill. He was also known as a teacher who was willing to help any of the students when had the time.

A few weeks later

World of Games

Duel Academy

The Chancellor office

"You wanted to see me, Chancellor Sheppard." Zane said. The bald bearded man steepled his fingers with a flat look on his face. "Professor Laskaris, you have had a lot of complaints filed against you." Chancellor Sheppard shuffled through a large pile of complaints. "Unfair grading, unwarranted detentions, 'snipping' your students? Care to give your side before I pass judgement?" Zane pulled up a chair and leafed through the complaints. "These were all justified. Every student complaining is rude snob who got in by their parents' money. Soon as a teacher who treats them like everyone else comes along, they feel threatened and lash out like this." Zane said.

"I caught this student trying to cheat off a Ra Yellow." He is pointing to one of the complaints. "bullying, laziness, general nastiness to everyone, and langue unfit for a classroom." Zane said dividing up the complaints into piles of why he punished said student. "I see that my next choice is the right one." Chancellor Sheppard sweeps all the piles into a bin and lights it on fire. "They will get to think about why lying to me is a bad idea while they serve a few months of detention." Chancellor Sheppard said with a smile.

"I'm happy with the grade average your teaching brought up. It shows you understand the students' needs." Chancellor Sheppard said impressed. "Keep this up and you might take my job." He joked. "No way. My current job is good enough." Zane said quickly. "There has been attempts at breaching places students don't belong. No one breached the runes but some of the attempts came from the shadows." Chancellor Sheppard grimaced at this. "that is not good. By six months at the latest, the Shadow Riders will make their move." He muttered as a storm raged outside.

"There are plans around plans in the works. I can't tell you these plans, but you will not be alone when the Shadow Riders come knocking for the spirit keys." Zane said, "How has the 'Mysterious Artist' investigation been going?" Zane asked lightening the mood. Chancellor Sheppard laughed whole heartedly. "swimmingly. All three Dorms are working together, astounding as that is to hear, to figure out who's been placing the statues and art pieces all over the island. Keep up the good work."

A few months later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's 'Duel Manor'

"Welcome back Chazz." Zane said to the bratty former Obelisk Blue student, who in a chain of stupid choices, ran away to North Academy to get away from Jaden, duel him at the school duel off, left North Academy to rejoin Duel Academy and expected to go back to the blue dorm. "So, are you going to get me back in blue?" Chazz asked putting his black jacket back on and fixing his hair in it's dark spikey look. "Boss, why are you talking to this guy?" Ojama Yellow, a Duel spirit that looked like a big lipped yellow monster with two eye stalks and wearing a speedo, asked "He's familiar for some reason." Ojama Yellow's eye stalks stretched out to look closer. "Shut up, pest!" Chazz said annoyed.

"You are starting at the bottom, Dorm wise." Zane said. "To be fair, I've had some work done to the Red Dorm to make it safer to live in." Zane said before grumbling under his breathe about 'issues' he uncovered. "How bad is it?" Chazz ground out. "not as good as Ra Yellow but it's clean. You are free to make changes if you have the cash do it. Here's the updated student contract." Zane slides the piece of paper for Chazz to sign. "All I have to do is provide the cash and you will upgrade my new room? I can deal with living the Slifer Reds." Chazz said as Ojama Yellow wiped out custom glasses to read the contract.

"Boss! That's a clause about Duel Spirits! It says that any problem the spirit causes can be pinned on the card holder of said spirit." Ojama Yellow read out loud. "Just great. That's just what I need." Chazz groaned. Zane brought out a laptop. "Your 'brothers' are challenging you to win the school. Kaiba seems to trust you to represent him and beat them but you can't use monsters over 1000 attack points." Zane said grimly. Playing the message meant for Chazz. "How am I going to beat him? The monster I got is this yellow pest!" Chazz demanded. "Sign the contract and I will give you an army of 'weaklings' that you can us to crush him." Zane said. "You don't need to worry about your brothers for few weeks."

After Chazz signed the contract, Zane guided his to the 'weird hallway'. "Boss! We aren't in the house anymore! I don't think we are on the island ether." Ojama Yellow said shivering. Zane guided them to a room full of 'weak' cards. "Welcome to the card resort. All the cards thrown into that old well are brought here." Zane said as four duel spirits greeted them. Ojama Black, a black big nosed, small eyed, toothy grinning creature wearing the same red speedo all Ojama wore. Ojama Green, a green skinned creature with a big eye and long tongue. With Ojama Yellow, they were the Ojama Brothers. Ojama Blue, a small mouthed but big headed blue skinned creature, and Ojama Red, a red skinned onion headed creaute with a huge mouth and wearing a red scarf along with the speedo, were 'Ojama cousins' to the Brothers.

"Welcome back Battle Master Zane." The four said bowing midair. "Boys, I found a Duelist that needs you." Zane said as Ojama Yellow was bugging out, because he found his family and because Zane was super famous among the Duel Spirits. "Boss! You know the Legendary War Hero as a TEACHER! That's amazing!" Ojama Yellow declared as he got dog piled by his brothers and 'cousins' who were crying tears of joy.

A few days later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Inside the volcano

Zane was sitting with Chumley and Syrus inside a 'bubble' sitting in a claw of the life size Red Eyes Darkness Dragon Statue placed in the volcano. It was the middle of the night and they were hostages for the first Shadow Rider, Nightshroud. Jaden was facing the masked teen whose brown hair and edgy fashion style rang alarm bells in Zane and Alexis' mind. "Key Keeper, you better not stall. The lava is raising." Nightshroud stated. "It's MAGMA! Not Lava." Zane corrected. "um, Professor? I don't think this the time to be correcting the bad guy." Chumley said as fire serpents slammed into the 'bubble'.

"I know we'll be fine." Zane said before the 'bubble' dropped him. Zane swung off the claw landed on the dragon's other claw. "see. Alive and well." Zane commented. "Not everyone has your athletic skill, Professor Laskaris." Jaden says. "Besides I've got to win the other half of the Shadow Charm Pendent from him, I promised the Grave Keeper I would." Nightshroud smirked. "You can try Key Keeper." Not to long ago, Jaden and few others had been on a field trip with Banner and got transported to the hidden tomb of the Grave Keeper Sect. Zane wasn't sure if they were Duel Spirits, humans, or something else but Jaden had to duel because they 'trespassed on holy grounds'. He won and got half of a Shadow Charm.

"You do that." Zane said as he scaled the statue as sat on the head of it. After a close call when Nightshroud brought out his ace monster, Red Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon, but Jaden won and just in time too as the magma got a little too high.

Outside of the volcano

"Wakey wakey!" Zane said slapping 'Nightshourd' aka Atticus Rhodes on the face repeatedly. "what happened?" Atticus said groggily. "You got mind controlled by the head of the Shadow Riders after a bunch of fools sent you to the Shadow Realm as a sacrifice." Zane said cheerfully. "The puppet personality got consumed when you lost to Jaden." Jaden was checking his friends not noticing the two halves of the shadow charm were around his neck and had fused together. The completed charm looked like a pendent with red jeweled eye in the middle of it.

"Your brother is alive but needs to rest for like a week." Zane said as Alexis checked her brother over. Zane Truesdale came running, having seen the light as they were teleported out of the volcano. "It has begun?" Zane Truesdale asked. "Yep, and Jaden got her brother back as a nice bonus." Zane said as the students looked at the Professor like he was crazy, well crazier than normal. "We just survived a duel in the volcano, and you are acting like it was over warm water." Chumley stated. "Why do you think I'm the one that found the Red Eyes Darkness Statue? I can take the heat." Zane stated.

"Who is making them? They are all over the place." Syrus asked. Zane didn't answer as he picked up Atticus and placed him on his back, walking to his 'Duel Manor' to treat him because he was closest.

A few days later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's 'Duel Manor'

"He is free to go." Nurse Dragonmaid, a pink haired female nurse with horns and a pink scaled dragon tail, said looking at a chart. "Thank you." Alexis said from her seat next to her brother's cot. "A castle has appeared in the middle of the water!" Jaden said as he skidded into the room.

Five minutes later

World of Games

Duel Academy

At the shore

"We are being invited to the castle." Bastion, a Ra Yellow first year with dark gray hair, said. "Come in, I challenge Zane Laskaris for his spirit key." A heavy Transylvanian voice said, echoing from the mist shrouded castle as a red carpet appeared. Jaden, Bastion, Crowler, Chazz, Zane Truesdale, and Alexis were the next to duel should he fail so they followed him into the castle.

Inside of Camula's Castle

"Welcome. I do hope you enjoyed the walk here." A green haired woman wearing a scarlet dress that had a seductive style to it. She had a choker style Shadow Charm around her neck. She had them stand in the main hall with a set of stairs leading up to two wings of the castle. "Stand at the rail to the east and I will stand at the west." Camula, that was her name, stated as her heels clicked with each step.

They started the duel and she started with Zombie Vampire Bat. Zane active 'calling the Shadows', a spell card that let him summon as may copies of Heartless Shadow Swarm, 4-star monster 1500 attack 1000 defense with the effect that states acts as two tributes for Heartless cards as he had in his hand. "Amazing. Three monsters with 1500 attack points on the first turn. It's a pity that Professor Laskaris can't attack this turn." Bastion comments. "His turn isn't over yet." Jaden says as one of the Shadow swarms are tribute to summon Heartless Shadow Stalker, 8-star 2300 attack 2000 defense with an effect.

Zane ended his turn after placing a few face-down cards. Camula used a field spell that destroys every other card on the field. She ditched a copy of her bat monster to protect it. "How is that monster still on the field?" Syrus asked as Shadow Stalker was still around and 'convulsing'. It exploded and Heartless Dark Thorn took its place. "Dark Thorn is the 'grown up' form of the angry chained Pac-man. When it's destroyed you call summon this beast from the hand or deck. 3000 attack and 2300 defense is nothing to scoff at." Crowler explained as Camula was forced to end her turn.

"What's with this deck? It seems to revolve around swarming the field then trading them for bigger monsters." Alexis said. "Exactly. The deck is divided up in to two groups monster wise. The boss monsters and the swarm monsters." Crowler explained. "that is only one of each boss card in the deck, but they are as varied as the swarms of underlings. The swarm monsters all have the basic effect of acting as two tributes, letting him bring out bosses." Camula hand turn things around as they were talking.

The duel was back and forth as Zane had more Heartless monsters set to the grave with minimal life point loss. "Vampire Genesis! Destroy his Demon Tide." Camula ordered having her beefed-up monster destroy Zane's Heartless Demon Tide, level ten 4000 attack 4000 defense. "I active Demon Tide's effect. When it is attacked and more than ten other Heartless monsters are in grave, I can summon Heartless Demon Storm by tribute Demon Tide and make it the new traget." Zane explained as heartless were pulled into the swirling shadows that made up Demon Tide.

The new monster was a black hurricane of heartless swirling around a pulsing red core in the eye of the storm. It was level 12 with 5000 attack and defense. "for every heartless card in the grave it gains 100 attack and defense points and I count 15." The monster now had 6500 attack points. "What kind of monster is that?" Chazz asked staring that monster that radiated darkness. "One of the most dangerous Heartless boss cards. The good news is that it's got enough attack points to end this duel." Bastion said as Camula's monster was destroyed and her life points spent.

"You've beaten me. How will I revive my clansmen now?" Camula said in defeat. "I believe the deal when I met you was that I'd help you if you master that deck. Have you not drawn out it's potential?" Zane said. Camula laughed, leaning on the railing, realizing hope wasn't lost. She had played her part, joining the Shadow Riders as a spy, duel him, and be judged. "I hope you're plan works out." She guides them out of her castle, and it vanishes soon as they get back to shore.

The next day

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's 'Duel Manor'

They were seated in a warded meeting room. "As you can tell, I have some spies in the enemy group. I've been planning for few years now." Zane said. "I will not tell you who is a spy so their cover isn't blown but what I can tell you is that the only reason they are helping me is because I agreed to help them with their goals." Zane stated. "Great job Commander. You converted the enemy before they were enemies." Crowler said with a salute. "You don't need to salute. This isn't the Magitech Unit." Zane said sighing. Crowler held the rank of Major, a lower rank than Jaden's, one of the reasons they argue so much. "Don't think I haven't noticed the extra homework you throw at Jaden. Only reason it's allowed to happen is because he needs the grades." Zane said with a light glare.

A month later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's 'Duel Manor'

"This is priceless!" Zane laughed as Bastion was one armed hugged by Tania, the amazon warrior/tiger. Her bronzed skin, dark pony tailed hair, and body builder body type made her the most unlikely person to be Bastion's girlfriend. "So, you faced her in the mini coliseum she had pay students to build because she was the next Shadow Rider." He indicates the Shadow Charm Gauntlet she was wearing. "Because you beat her in duel and impressed her, she's now your girlfriend." Zane still laughed as Bastion blushed.

"You forgot we'll marry sometime after he graduates." Tania said. "He's just what I was looking for. Someone passionate but not a meat head. We amazons value intellect as well as strength." She complimented her boyfriend as her pet white tiger, Bass, padded in and plopped his head in Zane's lap. "Hello to you too, Bass." Zane said giving the tiger the attraction he wanted, getting a loud rumbling of pleasure. "You are the second person, other than me that Bass has let that close." Tania commented. "Bass warmed up to Bastion after dueling me, but you, it was instant. Same you're too old and married."

"You are in your twenties at the latest. The age difference between you and Bastion isn't too big." Zane commented as Bastion asked, confused, "How old are you, Professor Laskaris? 40?" Tania laughed. "He's ancient and isn't shy to share the fact he over 30,000 years old." Bastion was flabbergasted at this "You must have a healthy lifestyle to be that old and look so young." He changes the subject. "Chazz beat his brother yesterday. I heard it was a 'behind the Eightball' victory."

"And he's keeping all the cards I gave, even if the Duel Spirits sometimes keep him up with their partying. All I had to do is build his extension for free." Zane said, relieved that he didn't have to listen to them bemoaning the fact they were thrown away every night very loudly. "sounds fair. Syrus has been secretive lately, any day why he would be training here?" Bastion asked. "Ah, he's trying to master the cyber series and integrate it into his deck." Zane said and Tania stared. "they chose that shrimp as their master. I hope he survives but they care little for weakness." Tania states. "Doesn't his brother use the cyber series already? Or is the rumored 'shadow of the cyber dragon' as dangerous the old texts say?" Bastion asked.

"Failure to master the Cyber Dark can result in heart attack or even death. Where did you even read about it?" Zane asked. "Chancellor Sheppard told me about it when I asked for information about Zane Truesdale's Deck. I had no idea there was secret Dueling Dojos. I have been sworn to secrecy, as you'd expect." Bastion said. "The Dark Scorpion Gang has been detained." House Dragonmaid stated as she bowed to Zane. Her uniform was a little scuffed up, like she had been in a fight. "The leader had this." She drops a Shadow Charm that looked like a bulky gold eye patch with the same eye all Shadow Charms had.

"That's Shadow Rider number 4 dealt with." Zane commented. "I'm guessing you dueled him and soundly defeated him." House Dragonmaid smiled "your deduction skills are sharp as ever, Lord Zane. The grimy young man, I believe he calls himself 'The Chazz', has agreed to take their cards." She stated. "You have great maids." Tania stated, "no one dares mess with their home after the 'incident' not long after they appeared in the Duel Spirit World."

House Dragonmaid had a frosty look on her face and her smile was a thin line as she pushed up her glasses. "We protect Lord Zane's properties from any and all threat. We were created from the otherworldly counterparts Zane met. It is only natural we would serve him fatefully. If only that demon invoker was the same. He is only interested in using intruders as toys for his demons." They got the feeling she didn't particularly like the other Duel Spirit of the deck. "Thank you again for your wonderful service." Zane said quickly.

A week later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Inside the sealed Abandoned Dorm

The basement

"So, he sent two Shadow Riders at the same time." Zane said facing Titan, the 'Shadow Duelist', who wasn't looking to good. He was wearing his trench coat and hat, but his skin was pale and clammy. His mask was replaced by A Shadow Charm version of it. Clearing he was being used by the shadows, not the other way around, because veins were budging around the mask and his hands along with glowing red eyes. "After we defeat you the seal keeping us in with fall, Key Keeper." The shadows using Titan said in an echoing version of his voice.

"You aren't even there, are you, Titan?" Zane quipped. "His soul was lost, and we have taken his body for our proposes." The Shadows said, confirming that they were using a still living corpus as a meat suit. The only things in the Shadow Realm that would do that is the scum at the bottom of the barrel. A bunch of weak mindless beings that hungered for souls endlessly and looked like black slugs the size of footballs. He hoped the other Shadow Rider wasn't as revolting as this one.

The next day

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's 'Duel Manor'

"You got to duel a famous Pharaoh (Not the one from the Millennium Puzzle) and I got stuck with slugs in a meat suit." Zane said with annoyance and disgust. "Man, I wish I could have duel in the shadow magic ritual site." Jaden said. "But against someone else, your shadow rider opponent sounds nasty." Zane shivered. "it was quite unpleasant to be near them. They smelled like the worse negative emotions all mixed together in a cocktail of foulness." Zane described as he drinks some of his better emotion wine to cleanse the foulness from his senses.

"Are you sure you should be drinking this early?" Crowler asked the question on all the 'Key Keepers' minds. "I can't get drunk and it sucks when I'd love to get drunk. Doesn't matter how strong it is, I'm sober as a person who never drinks a drop of spirits in their life." Zane informed them. "I can't say that I'd want that." Zane Truesdale said before asking "You drink for the flavor?" Zane smiled. "got in one. I've become quite skilled at appraising and brewing alcoholic drinks as a side gig. This bottle here is love, wrath, and joy infused into grapes of a special kind." He shows them the bottle with digicode on the label.

"that is an interesting way to use that skill." Alexis stated sniffing the bottle and blinking at the scent. She could 'smell' the emotions, somehow. "Smells strong." She comments. "There is one last Shadow Rider and their leader left." Bastion states. "We don't need to worry about the seventh Shadow Rider." Zane states. "In one week, their leader is coming to a ceasefire meeting with me. I intend to negotiate with him for solutions that won't result in Duel Energy being drained from the world."

"he's only willing to agree to this because you proved you have the means to solve his problem." Banner said walking in, looking slight younger that they remembered and holding a book called the Shadow Charm Emerald Tablet. "You're the seventh Shadow Rider?" was the question they all asked. "for good reason. I picked up a curse of sorts before I was a teacher and have been using homunculus bodies to stave off death but turning into dust." Banner explained.

"That's why I made a deal with him. He spies on them and I would solve his problem." Zane said. "It was one nasty curse. Took me until a few days ago to break the curse and transfer his soul into a longer lasting body." Zane stated. "He may be a renowned alchemist, not that many people know their still around, but I've got access to magic that would blow your mind. Remember not to talk about any of this." They agreed to keep it on the down low and only shared it with the few the really trusted.

A few days later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Duel Monster Spirit Day was a day when Duel Spirits require so little energy to materialize that it became a day when the more 'fun loving' Duel Spirits had 'fun'. "Hello there, kind sir. Would you be willing to give me a tour of the festival?" Dark Magician Girl asked a blushing Syrus, who she knew had a crush on her. "sure. You look amazing as the Dark Magician Girl." Syrus said think it was someone in costume as most of the students and teachers were doing. "Don't tell anyone this." She leans in and whispers "I am a Duel Spirit" Syrus blanked out and started the tours as DMG giggled at his still blushing expression.

Not far from them was Zane watching from a tree. "That's one Duel Spirit accounted for. She won't be too much trouble other than making Syrus' heart beat out of his chest." Zane said to himself as he noted mostly humanoid or normal looking animal Duel Spirits mingling with the humans. He had to spend the day being on the lookout for troublemakers that would ruin it for everyone else.

Somewhere on the island

After a few hours the 'Costume Duel' started with DMG facing Jaden in armor made to look like the kind the original Supreme King wore when he was alive. Zane was busy going after some odd snake that startled some students. He followed it to the swamp on the island. It wasn't safe for anyone to go in because of the toxic fumes but there was a lot of medical plants that thrived here. "Ok snakes, what's the big idea scaring my students?" Zane said holding the snakes' two heads in a way they can't bite him. "She commanded us to bring you here." The Left head of the Venom Serpent hissed. "We must obey the Snake Deity." The Right head hissed as a large snake monster with a humanoid torso, snake head arms, snake hair, and no mouth, rose from the swamp.

Vennominaga, the Deity of Poisonous Snakes, smelled of divinity and a potent venom. All her eyes stared at him as he wisely dropped her subject. "So, what brings you to the human world on this fine Duel Spirit Day?" Zane asked as she uses her coils to bring him to eye level, she was 30 meters long and 'stood five meters higher than Zane. "you will take this." Her snake heads hiss all at once, pressing a bundle into his hands then dropping him on solid ground.

And just like that, she and her subject were gone. "Ok, that's the first time I meet her, and she gives me a heavy package." He looks inside and finds shed skin, fangs, and vials of venom in large quantities. Zane had no idea how long it took collect it all. Based on the uniformness of the bigger skins, they were mostly big skins, it would have taken years for that one snake to shed it. He knew it was the same snake because the scale pattern on over three quarters of them was the same. In fact, they looked just like Vennominaga's scale pattern.

Ok, suddenly this sounded very important to deal with carefully. He carefully carried the bundle back with him as he left the swamp. I wasn't every day that a Snake Deity gave you her scales to make something with.

A day before the ceasefire meeting

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's 'Duel Manor'

Zane had spent the last few days crafting whatever the bundle of snake stuff yielded. Syrus had been over moon for days now because of DMG saying she was interested in him. Zane was working without being aware of anything else save for the short breaks he took. It was a wonder he even noticed Chumley sending a card design to Industrial Illusion when he thought no one was looking. Using the fangs, powdered and some venom mixed in then forged, he formed a shaft of 'metal like bone' (not unlike the Dragon bone armor from Elder Scrolls). This took days while the skins were prepared by being soaked in a cocktail of venom and several magical regiments, including blood freshly spilled.

Zane didn't even remember some of the steps he took as day became a blur. He took the skins and wrapped them tightly around the shaft, leaving the tip uncovered. He took one of the gems of pure magic, used the skin to hold it in place, then plunged it into the venom cocktail. The reaction was violent to say the least. He was vaguely aware of the skin merging with the shaft and turning into a coiling snake biting the gem, which absorbed the venom cocktail and turned a rainbow of deadly toxic colors, at the top. As he blacked out, he felt someone burst into the room and take him somewhere.

Ten hours later

World of Games

Duel Academy

The Infirmary

"I came to see you and find you bed ridden." An old man in a mobile life support machine, that looked like a human sized test tube of blue liquid, said in a some want machinal voice. "Former Chairman Kagemaru, I presume." Zane said as Fonda Fontaine, the reddish-brown haired school nurse, Phys-Ed teacher and head of the Obelisk Blue Girls' Dorm, checked him over. "You can give me my youth back?" Kagemaru said as Zane noted his Shadow Charm was just a ring. "I can't give immortality, but youth is simple enough." Zane said. "Did Banner give you the package?" Kagemaru opened a compartment and a robotic arm brought out a decanter of glowing stuff. "Good. That is life force, enough to make you feel like your 40 instead of over a hundred." Zane instructed him how to use it.

Kagemaru poured it into his 'test tube' and in flash of light a man with dark hair and no wrinkle stepped out of the machine after the fluid drained out. "Amazing. No pain at all." The now youthful Kagemaru said in a deep voice. "Would you please put this on?" Fontaine said giving him some spare cloths because he only had a loin cloth type thing on. "Thank you, ma' am." Kagemaru said and got changed. "What were you think? Nurse Dragonmaid dropped you off her in a frenzy." She scolded him. She was wearing a pink shirt under an open blue blazer. Zane knew students faked injuries to see her and her curvy figure.

"I have no idea what happened that last few days. What I do remember is I was forced to make something using skin, fangs, and venom from a Duel Spirit snake goddess. The last step was far from gentle." Zane tried to explain. Fontaine quite annoyed stated. "You have healing chemical burns on your face and hands. You lost a lot of blood. And your heart almost stopped three times." She poked his wrapped head repeatedly making him wince. His hands were also wrapped and there was heart monitor running next to him.

"Somethings want to be made and force the maker to do so." Zane said. "Like the Sacred Beast Cards." Kagemaru comments in a black tracksuit. "That snake staff has been glaring at me." He adds as Zane looks at the finished product, resting next to his bed. "It looks amazing." He says as the eyes of the snake head glinted. "I'm going for a jog." Kagemaru said, leaving. "And the Shadow Rider conflict is over. I hope he enjoys his refreshed body." Zane comments. "This letter came for you." Fontaine says then read the letter for him. Basically, Mr. Huffington, Chumley's Father, was coming in a few days to congratulate him on improving so much. And to give Zane a gift of his finest alcohol as thanks for the help he provided. "Why him? Chumley has told me some many stories about his father's abrasiveness and single mindedness." Zane groaned.

"He better not injury you farther. I Worked around the clock to keep you alive." She said annoyed. "He respects me as a fellow spirits brewer." Zane stated.

The next day

World of Games

Duel Academy

Slifer Red Dorm

"You're early." Banner comments as Mr. Huffington, who looked like buffer tank top wearing adult version of Chumley, slammed a bottle of Sake on the table, laughing. His breath reeked to high heavens. Clearly, he enjoys his own product. "it took less time to get here that I planned." He looks at the still bandaged Zane and asked, "What happened to you?" Zane shrugged. "Was working on something and it reacted too well. My hands are useable finally." He wiggles his lightly bandaged hands. "Better you than someone that can take the heat." Mr. Huffington laughed slamming Zane on the back.

"Dad, I want to join Industrial Illusions and design cards. Dueling is great but making the cards 'clicks' better as Zane says." Chumley said as Jaden and Syrus looked surprised. "You don't plan to give up on duel completely, I hope. You committed a lot of time to your dueling career." Mr. Huffington said staring harshly at his son who didn't back down. "I can do both. What is the hope of designing Duel Monster Cards if I don't see them in action? Just like you are the first to taste teste the latest batch of Sake, I will test the cards myself to make sure they are the best." Chumley said passionately. Zane, Jaden and Syrus had light fire in him and burned so bright he was standing up to his father. "That's what I expect. Let Duel to see if you can keep that fire in face of pressure. You've got one day to prepare." Mr. Huffington informed him.

Later that day

Zane doing a lesion on magical items and some of ways they are made. "Who can tell me about some possible ways a magical item is made?" Zane asked his students, turning to face them leaning on his new staff, Viper's Remedy. "blood sacrifice." One of the Red students said after Zane called on them. "Good. Most, if not all, magical objects require a sacrifice of some kind to make them. The amount of hard work that is put into making it, or godly energy in some cases, factor in how powerful the result is." Zane said.

"Professor, what happened to your face?" a snobbish Obelisk Blue student asked without raising his hand or waiting for Zane to call on him, asked with his feet on the desk. "Detention for being rude." Zane said annoyed. "But to answer your question, I tried my hand at making a magical item." He indicates the staff. "as you can see, it worked, I didn't plan to get splashed by magical acid." They winced at this. "I will make full recovery in few days. Having the skin of my face and hand partially melted is a small price to pay for this staff."

"What did you even get out of it?" Chazz asked Zane flicked chalk at his head and blasted him with Viper's Remedy at the same time. Chazz expected pain but felt nothing. "You took my pain?" He asked rubbing his bruised forehead. "takes the edge off pain the subject is experiencing. That hit was so painless you didn't even feel it." Zane explained then blasted a pencil, turning it into wooden but living snake. "it also lets me make things into snakes and back." He does so. "Other than that, it's a tool to channel magic with." Zane stated.

"For your assignment, I want a ten-page essay on magical items from history and how they were made. Due in five days and I expect everyone to do different ones. To ensure this you will draw lots to see what your choice is." Zane places a box on his desk and the students grumbled as they came forward to draw their choice. "What the hell is 'Kanshou and Bakuya: Gān Jiàng and Mò Yé'?" Chazz asked looking at his slip of paper. "Ah! You got one of the more tragic weapons. You'll need this." Zane says handing Chazz a few books, one of them on the weapons and another on the 'life' of Counter Guardian Emiya. "Some of these books describe worlds outside this one, but you students know that you are just one world with life on it." Zane waned them as he passed out copies of books they would need for research.

"What's the 'Mark of Titania'?" 'Princess' Rose, an Obelisk Blue student who used a frog deck, asked. Zane had a full body shiver because he had not put that in the choices. "That will require research materials I keep under lock and key." Zane answers. "Come by my 'Duel Manor' later. By the way, why do you kids call it that?" Zane had been wondering this all school year. "It's because it's fancy looking and staffed by Duel Spirits." Jaden answered plainly with his arm in the box. "'Stand Arrow'? sound cool." He comments as Zane snatches the slip of paper from him and stares at it. "You have got to be kidding me! How did that get in there?" Zane said really annoyed before sighing. "Looks like you will be coming by like Rose is, Jaden." Zane said as he hands it back.

"Unlike Rose, you will not able to find any information save what I've got, and for good reason. The Stand Arrow is among the deadliest magical items I've encountered. There are only two roads for you if you encounter it. Death or you get a 'superpower'." Zane warned "good luck to you, Jaden." Bastion comments looking at his slip of paper. "I have to research the ten rings of Solomon, the King of Magic." Zane pulled a thick volume and handed it over. "You get to a rare treat, Bastion. Because I've met him and indirectly saved him after he did something insane." Turns out, it was possible to exist after you erase your own existence if you have enough people that remember you. King Solomon would not be disappearing from the Throne of Heroes as long as one person remembered his deeds. Not even the gods could erase him for good.

"Fascinating. I will study this intently." Bastion comments.

The next day

World of Games

Duel Academy

Zane's Duel Manor

"The Mark of Titania is worn by those that the Fae Queen trusts greatly. Once you put it on, it never comes off." Zane told 'Princess' Rose, who insisted on wearing blue dress and tiara instead of her uniform. She twirled her grayish blonde hair, not getting the magnitude of the information. "the only reason I'm telling you anything is because she obviously wants to make my time teaching more chaotic after it started to slow down. So, pay attention and only work on it here." Zane said sternly. "How am I to write ten pages if the information is scarce?" She asked.

"You need to write what you can." Zane says and turns to the three Duel Spirits she had. A trio of Des Frogs, she named them Jeffrey, Roosevelt and Percival. "Keep an eye out for anything not normal. Also keep her on task." He ordered them and they croaked in agreement. "You believe me?" She asked. "You might not have enough Duel Energy as Jaden, but I can see your 'princes' as clear as day." Zane stated as he left her to her work.

"Ok Jaden. How is it going for you?" Zane asked as he entered the next room. "This is amazing. Who knew a space rock was so 'magical'?" Jaden said, writing his fifteenth page. "How close are you to getting finished?" Zane asked. "Almost done. Just need finish the closing statement." He writes for another five minutes then sets down his pencil. Zane took it read it. It was less about the arrow and more about the effects it had unleashed. "You get full credit. This essay will not be added to the public records. The Speedwagon Organization will get a copy of it." Zane states putting the paper into a sealed bag.

"Why would they want it?" Jaden asked as Yubel stood behind the couch he was on. "You have an interesting theory on how the stands are created as they are. any new ideas are helpful in figuring the full truth of the Stand Arrow." Zane stated. "This is the fastest I've seen you finish an assignment. How did Chumley fair against his father's drunken deck?" Jaden smiled. "He lost but Mr. Huffington like the effort he put forth."

"Ah, that's expected with what kind of man Mr. Huffington is. The only way to impress him is if you fight to the last. If only he wasn't a raging alcoholic who yells a lot when he is drunk." Zane said with a sigh. Toon Summoned Skull appeared out of an electrical socket and dropped a package in Zane's hand before disappearing the same way it came snickering. "Pegasus just had to find a way to hire toons to deliver his mail." Zane groaned. The Toon Duel Spirits found a way to get anywhere whenever to deliver the mail.

"They just love to have fun." Yubel commented as Zane found a VHS tape in the package with his and Chumley's name on it. There was a spell card in there too. It was called 'Ayers Rock Sunrise'. "He won the contest." Zane comments.

A few hours later

World of Games

Duel Academy

Slifer Red Dorm

"Greetings contest winner, and Zane of course." The video of Pegasus said. "It was surprising to get a job application at Industrial Illusions at the same time as a contest entry. Normally it'd have little chance of going any farther but then I saw the emotion in the art you sent. You carry a passion that reminds me of myself. That is why I am requesting for Zane to bring you to Industrial Illusions HQ as soon as he can. See you then." The message ended as Chumley was cheered on by all Slifer Red, parts of Ra Yellow and a few Obelisk Blue. "We can't wait to see the cards you design." Crowler said. Mr. Huffington had pulled a fast one and made the duel a public one for the whole school to see. As a result, the whole school knew he wanted to focus more on card designing.

"Way to go man! You won the contest and got the job." Jaden said. "Can the first card you make be a hero card?" Syrus laughed "Jaden, I'm sure he's got ideas for cards that he wants to make already." Syrus says as Chumley one arm hugs them both. "Don't worry. I've got plenty of ideas. Even a few hero ones." Chumley says.

The next day

World of Games

Industrial Illusions HQ

"well, when I heard you had a bit of a scare, I didn't expect you to be messing with the spirit world." Pegasus comments looking at the unbandaged but still tender skin of Zane's face. "When a Duel Spirit on the level of a god tells you to do something, you do it. Then again you when against the wishes of the Gods and made their modern cards." Zane snarked. He was standing with Viper's Remedy in a pose as Chumley painted as an improvised test. "You don't mind if I add this as a support card to reptile monsters, right?" Chumley asked getting an idea to have it as spell card. "Excellent idea." Pegasus says. "this proves you are hired." Chumley had to pause before he ruined the painting.

"It's the perfect card for this odd monster that showed up." Pegasus said showing a card called 'Grap the Chosen' (A fan card from an amazing Worm/yugioh Fic called 'Screw the Rules I have Escalation' by Stewart92. Go read it and the redux of it by the same person.) "The machines that started printing it acted weirdly. I'm not one to deny a Duel Spirit that means no harm, so I just ran with it an make it official." Pegasus said and Zane felt the Serpent Deity hiss with approval outside the window, revealing her true size, longer than Slifer the Sky Dragon. She had compacted her body mass to interact with him and did the same with the skins and fangs.

"I'd say that it was a goddess of scaly kind that is behind it." Zane said. "and I'm inclined not to anger her." Pegasus turns just in time to get a glimpse of her as she vanished. "Oh my. That is not how I planned this interview." He says. Zane relaxes as Chumley finished the painting. It depicted a blacksmith with a shadowed face presenting the staff to a Grappler, a blue lizard monster not unlike that new card. "interesting." Pegasus said the inquired, "what inspired you to paint it this way?" Chumley thought for a moment then said "Zane told me about his encounter at the swamp and I looked up reptile monster cards. Grappler looked like a monster that needed some TLC to stand out more, so I doodled some scenes and this one felt the best. There was something watching me the whole time, but this idea was wholly my own."

"the whims of gods are hard to know until after it's all said and done, maybe." Zane said. "If goddess wants a subject under her to get the TLC it deserves, in her opinion, then she will do what she wants." Pegasus nodded at this. "good luck with your new job. You were one of my favorite students." Zane said as he left for Duel Academy. He had a few more years of teaching to do.

Author's Note: Next chapter will be a side chapter. See you next time!