Fable: "Ray, could you drink this for me?"

Ray: "Uhh...sure?"

(Ray drinks the cup of water Fable held out to her. As soon as she did, she felt her body start to shrink until she was about the same size as Yuya and Zuzu.)

Ray: "H-huh?! What happen?!"

Fable: "Fountain of Youth water. Don't worry. The effects should just last until the end of the act. For the story, I need you to look the same age as Yuya."

Ray: "Oh, I see."

Fable: "Alright, you're good to go. Break a leg, Ray!"

Angel: "So Beamshipping. The shipping name for Ray Akaba and Yuya Sakaki. In this AU, due to Riley interfering with Zarc, Yuya was reborn as himself while Zuzu was reborn as Ray."

Ship Name: Beamshipping (Ray Akaba x Yuya Sakaki)

Name Reason: Named so because to "beam" means to smile brightly, and also can mean a "ray or shaft of light", being both a reference to Yuya's goal of making everyone smile, and a synonym for the word "ray."

Walking in Someone Else's Shoes

At first, Ray didn't know where she was. Everything was so white. She had trouble seeing. Just as she was about to look away, a figure began to form in front of her, their body glowing a pink aura.

"H-hello?" Ray calls out, hesitantly.

"Ray." The figure spoke. She sounded feminine. She sounded...like her.

"Do I...know you?" Ray feels like she should know who this person was. Even without a face. This figure seem very important. But Ray's mind kept on drawing up a blank.

"You did, but you won't soon."

"What do you mean?" The figure sounded sad, but also...happy?

"The dimensions...this universe...they're fusing back into one. Due to Riley's sacrifice, Zarc is sealed away and Yuya will be reborn. And you...you will be reborn as well." Ray was confused. She didn't...understand. Zarc? Riley? Who were those people?

But the aura was beginning to fade. Everything was beginning to grow dark.

"Ray, please. Take care of him."

"W-wait! What are you-?"

"Ray, time to wake up!" Her father's voice brings Ray to the waking world. Sitting up, Ray gazed around her room. What kind of dream was that? Wait...what was it about? Did she...dream at all? "Ray? Are you up?!" Her father calls again.

"Yeah, dad! I'm up!" His daughter shouts a reply. Ray throws off her covers. Now wasn't the time to be worrying about elusive dreams. She had to get ready for duel school. After getting dressed and putting her hair up into their signature pigtails Ray was just about to rush out when she spotted a white paper fan in the corner of her room. On the bottom an orange fruit was craved into it.

Where did this come from?

Ray thought for a moment. Why was it in her room? A few more seconds and the answer came to her.

Oh, right. It was her's. Grabbing the white fan and throwing it into her bag, Ray raced downstairs.

"Dad, please try not to burn the waffles this time!" Ray shouted, smelling the familiar burnt dough.

Ray looked up at the clock, frowning as the seconds ticked by. The You Show kids were sitting at the table, sorting through their decks and her father was off collecting some paperwork, leaving her to discipline the tardy student. Behind her, Ray could hear the elevator rolling up. She waited as the doors opened up and Yuya jumped in, smiling.

"Made it! With time to spare!" He remarks.

"Nope." Ray lands a hit with her fan on Yuya's head.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Yuya demands, glaring at her. Ray rolls her eyes.

"You were late. By two minutes."

"Aww, come on, Ray!" Yuya complains. "Two minutes isn't that big of a deal."

"No excuses, Yuya!" Allie joined in. "Maybe if you had set your alarm clock, you wouldn't have gotten clonked." As the You Show students joked around with Yuya Ray couldn't help but feel that something was wrong with this picture. She gazed around the room for a moment, finding nothing out of place. Her eyes then fell on Yuya.

Her childhood friend.

Was he the problem? But how could that be? Her and Yuya have been friends since they were babies. What was her problem today? It was like she was walking in somebody else's shoes and didn't even know about it!

"Uhh...Ray? Ray!" Yuya shouts, causing Ray to blink a few times.

"S-sorry. What was that?" Yuya frowned for a moment.

"Weren't you listening? Tate and the others want to have tag team duel. Us verse them." Ray could see the kids getting their decks together out of the corner of her eye.

"O-oh, okay. Sounds fun!" She smiles, Yuya's frown persisted.

"Ray, are you alright? You've been acting weird."

"Who? Me? I'm fine." Ray waved away her friend's concern. "I'm just hoping you can keep up with me this time." She teased, causing Yuya to smirk.

"No need to worry about that!"

"Yuya! Ray! What are you two waiting for?!" Tate calls. The three of them were already inside the elevator.

"Yeah, come on!" Frederick added.

"We're ready to go!" Allie nods.

"Let's go then! Come on, Ray!" Yuya grabbed her hand and began to pull her alongside him. Ray chased after him, the slightest hint of pink on her cheeks. Now this. Ray held Yuya's hand tightly.

This felt familiar.

Angel: "So instead of Zuzu reviving, it was Ray instead. Interesting take, Fable."

Fable: "Thanks. By the way, you got the results for the poll?"

Angel: "Yup! Got them right here!"

Fable: "Excellent! If anyone is interested on who won the poll, the results will be in the next chapter which I will be posting soon. And not only that, there's also another poll going up."

Angel: "Because indecisiveness is one of Fable's weaknesses."

Fable: "The poll has to do with what story I should write next. If you don't care for that then that's fine. I'm still going to work on Shipping Collection, but I think I'm going to take a break once I get done with the 'B' section. I'm not giving up on it. Just taking a break is all. Anyway, I hope to see you all in the next chapter."