Chapter 1:The Falcon Takes Flight
"Battle, Raidraptor Blade Burner Falcon attacks you directly." I called out giving the Xyz Monster card a slight push forward.
"Good game, Kiryu." My friend Crow said as the attack hit and his Life Points hit 0.
My friend Crow whose real name was Dylan, was one of the four members of my Team. Aside from Crow there was Danny, whose nickname was Yusei, and Ironically Jack's real name was Jack.
My name is D_, but please just call me Kiryu. I was currently practicing for an upcoming event at a convention the four of us were planning to go to. It was a Cosplay Duel, the rules were you had to be in a cosplay of a cannon Yugioh Character, and your deck had to at least be 90% accurate to the archetype that character played.
I was cosplaying as Shun Kurosaki from Yugioh Arc V, but I was wearing the outfit he had on from the pre Invasion times. The outfit consists of a dark gray shirt under a light gray long sleeve jacket. A pair of dark jeans and casual sneakers. Crow was going as Bruno/Antinomy from 5DS, Jack was going as Kaito Tenjo from Zexal and Yusei was going as Yusaku from Vrains.
"All right, I think I'm happy with my current deck build." I said as I gathered up all my cards before I slipped it into the custom ordered black leather deck box with the Raidraptor symbol on it and snapped it onto my belt.
"Now that Kiryu has his deck all sorted out, Are we all ready to head out to the convention?" Jack asked everyone.
"I don't have anything else." "I'm ready" "Yup, I'm all good." Yusei, Crow and I said respectively.
We all did one last check over everything to make sure we all had everything we wanted to bring with us, before the four of us piled into Crow's car to begin the 4 hour drive to the convention.
-Zexal-
Several Hours later, with some pit stops for snacks and breaks we all arrived at the Hotel which was housing the convention inside it.
"All right, since the tournament starts in 2 Hours, how about we each do our own thing and meet back here in an hour and a half?" Yusei asks as the four of us were standing near a water fountain feature.
"Sounds like a good plan" Crow said before walking off towards all the booths.
"I'm gonna go back to the room to take a nap." Jack said as he headed towards the elevators.
I just wordlessly decided to go after Crow to try browsing the booths, I found a few nicknacks and doodads as souvenirs to give to a few friends back home before in the corner of my eye I spotted a booth.
Sitting behind a simple table in a folding chair was a person wearing a deep brown cloak that reminded me of Ansem from Kingdom Hearts.
"Welcome." They said in a slightly raspy voice that somehow was able to sound like it was both deep booming and a softly angelic at the same time.
I let my eyes gaze over the various items they had on the table.
"Let me know if you have any questions." They said to me.
This merchant seemed like one of those parents who would clean out the attic and throw away some of their kids' valuable stuff because there was some top quality items here.
I saw some things like Sakura Kinomoto's Staff in its sealed form, A Straw Hat which I presumed was meant to be Luffy's, Cloud/Zack's Buster Sword, Ruby Rose's Crescent Rose, along with many other pop culture weapons.
"Wow, this is top quality stuff, it looks so life-like." I said to the merchant as I looked over the stuff.
"Thank you, I put meticulous detail into making all of these." They said.
Suddenly something on the corner of the table caught my eye, Strange I was sure that it wasn't there a second ago. I picked up the Xyz Dimension Resistance Duel Disk from Arc V. It had a nice weighty feel to it, almost as if there was real electronics and wiring inside it.
"This is perfect for my cosplay." I muttered to myself, "How much is this?" I asked the merchant.
"It's $180" The merchant tells me.
I tisked slightly at the high price, but something inside me whispered that I needed this device.
I had a mental debate on if I really wanted it or not.
"Tell you what, As a Bonus I'll even throw in this Zexal Heart Piece replica." The Merchant said picking up an item off the table.
"Are you sure?" I asked, looking up at them.
The Merchant nodded in return, giving me the feeling of sincerity in their eyes, even though I couldn't see their eyes.
I thought about it for several moments before making a decision, "Deal!" I said forking over the cash.
"Pleasure doing business with you, young cosplayer." They said as I was handed over the items.
I attached the Duel Disk to my left arm, which felt like it was meant to be there, and pulled out a Necklace chain I had bought earlier and attached the Heart Piece replica to it and slipped it around my neck.
I took a look at my watch and saw it was 10 Minutes before I was meant to meet up with the others so I decided to head back to the fountain.
-Zexal-
I was leaning against the wall at the edge of the fountain waiting for the others to show up as I listened to the Music playing over the intercoms.
"This is a bit nostalgic." I said with a smile as I heard a famous anime opening song begin to start playing, which I hummed along to it pacing absentmindedly as I waited for the others when I saw a YuGiOh card laying face down on the ground.
I bend over to pick it up, "Did someone drop this?" I was a bit curious to see which card it was. I flipped the card over and saw that the card was…
"Blank?" I muttered looking at the blank white card, "Why would a blank card be randomly lying on the flo…"
Suddenly I felt as if a massive pulse surged through my entire body, sending shivers from my head to toe
"Wh-What's going on?" I muttered as deep crimson energy seemed to pour off the card causing me to wince in pain as I saw a mark on my right hand that looked like a 57, before a bright flash enveloped my vision, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut, the last think before everything went blank was a loud avian screech.
-Zexal-
I groaned as my eyelids fluttered with my consciousness returning to me, the wind blowing through my hair.
Wait, Wind?! I sat up fully awake, Looking around I was now somehow sitting outside in an alleyway.
I stood up and took a few steps outside the alley to see if I could spot where I ended up, I had to shield my eyes a bit from the changing in lighting, but when I looked around I noticed that despite the fact things looked a bit more animated, I couldn't recognize where I was.
I scratched my head, "How did I even get he….." My eyes widened in shock as I saw something towering high in the distance, a structure that didn't exist in the real world, but in one of fiction.
"But that's impossible, stuff like this only happens in fiction…" I gasped out in shock, as I looked at the signature tower of Heartland City from Yu-Gi-Oh, "I BECAME AN ISEKAI CHARACTER!" I yell out in shock sending some birds flying.
"Okay, Okay calm down Kiryu. Panic never solves anything Kiryu." I tell myself, taking a few deep breaths, "First we should figure out if this is the Zexal Heartland or the Arc-V one." I gulped nervously, either way a war was no doubt on the horizon.
"YUMA WAIT UP!" I heard a soft angelic voice call out.
I turned towards the sound of the voice, and I swore I felt my heart skip a beat as I saw her soft flowing green hair and angelic face.
"Kotori Mizuki." I muttered under my breath as I saw the face of one of my two Zexal Crushes, the other being Anna Kozuki"
"Come on Kotori, I want to find my next opponent quickly." The hyper active voice of Yuma Tsukumo, the protagonist of Zexal said.
"So I'm in Zexal" I muttered looking down and spotting the heart piece still hung around my neck, making a decision I quickly slipped the piece under my shirt, dusted myself off and went to introduce myself to the protagonist and the bird.
-Zexal-
Taking careful calculated steps, I made sure to accidentally on purpose bump into the running Yuma.
"Yuma, Look out!" Kotori yelled out.
Yuma and I crashed into each other and stumbled to the ground.
"Ow." Yuma muttered.
I shook my head, 'Not one of my better ideas.' I thought as I winced in pain.
"Are you two okay?" Kotori asks us in a concerned tone.
"Yeah." Yuma says in his usual chipper tone.
"I'm fine, sorry about that." I say looking away with a light blush on my face.
"Geez, this is why you shouldn't be so reckless, Yuma." Kotori says putting her hands on her hips leaning forward slightly with a pout on her face.
"Don't worry about it Kotori, I'm sure he's fine, right…" Yuma trails off.
"Kiryu, Kiryu Kurosaki." I said introducing myself.
"I'm Yuma Tsukumo." Yuma introduces.
"Kotori Mizuki, are you okay?" Kotori asks me, holding out her hand.
I took her hand, it felt soft in mine as she helped me up.
"Hey, you're a duelist?" Yuma asks upon seeing the Duel Disk on my arm.
I held up my arm looking at the device strapped on my wrist, "I guess." I muttered nonchalantly with a frown as I spotted something on the device.
In a feat of curiosity, I taped on the alert sign on the screen.
"Are you participating in the World Duel Carnival as well?" Yuma asks me.
I shrugged, not really paying attention to Yuma as I fiddled with the Duel Disk, causing the screen to Pop Up in scan mode like I saw Shun do in Arc-V.
"What's that?" Yuma asks curiously, looking at what I was doing.
I looked around through the lens of the scanner for a bit before I noticed something and paused on it, it was a fuzzy image for a second, but as the scanner hung on the image it became clearer then in what I guess I can call a burst of light Astral became visible to me.
I raised an eyebrow at Astral's appearance, but gave no other outward expression. I could see him at the moment, judging by how Kotori didn't react it was obvious she couldn't see him yet.
"Huh, I don't know what that did." I said closing the device.
"Don't you know what your own Duel Disk does?" Yuma asks me.
I gave a nonchalant shrug, "I just got it today." I half-lied.
"Yuma." Astral says getting Yuma to look up at him, while I glance at him out of the corner of my eye.
"What?" Yuma says with an annoyed huff.
"He seemed to have been pointing that scanner at me when he was using it." Astral points out.
"So what were you two running for?" I asked Yuma, deflecting the conversation.
"Ahh that's right, I was trying to find my second WDC Opponent, it was nice to meet you Kiryu, come on Kotori." Yuma yells out, running off.
"Ahh, wait up Yuma." Kotori calls out running off as well.
I smirked a bit, "I think things will be pretty fun in this new world." I said as I took off after the two of them.
-Zexal-
(Opening Song - Zeal of Proud)
A guitar rift intro begins to play
Against a black background the title Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal! With the words Raptor's Carnival under it can be seen.
The guitar right picks up intensity
The Title Screen turns into a blue and red light and in a mind wave style, forms a Heart Piece, The Emperor's Key, and the Raidraptor Symbol.
Mune ni itsumo aru ano fukei wa iroasezu - The view that's always in our hearts will never face
Yuma and Astral are seen on top of the roof of his house, Yuma is sitting down while Astral is floating beside him.
Sore wa hinihini tsuyoku yori fukaku kagayaite - instead day by day it shines stronger.
Yuma grasps the Emperor's Key tightly in his hand, looking up at the full moon with a face of pure determination.
Watashitachi no namae wo ima ichido tonaete mireba - We only need to chant our name once
Kiryu is seen standing on top of Heartland Tower, looking down over the city with a forlorn look on his face as his coat gently sways in the breeze.
...A sora wa hareyuku - and our sight will clear
Kiryu looks up, seeing something that makes him smile.
(ONE) Fumidashitai idaina ippome - The great first step we want to take
Ryouga Kamishiro aka Shark, is seen sitting in a chair beside a hospital bed, in the bed is his sister Rio Kamishiro, Shark reaches out and grasps his sister's hand, behind him is a silhouette of a Number 32 Marine Biting Dragon - Shark Dragon.
(TWO) Tsugi e to fumidasu nihome - The second step towards whatever is next
A cabin in the middle of the woods is seen, near it is a swing attached to a tree, sitting in the swing is Haruto Tenjo with a Vacant expression on his face. Kaito Tenjo, his brother walks up behind him and wraps his arms protectively around his brother, while giving an angry glare at Mr. Heartland.
(THREE) Daiji ni shitai kara koso yureuhoku - It's because we wish to treasure them that we keep moving
Michael Archlight aka III is seen standing in the middle of a bunch of ancient relics, he grips the card Chronomaly Aztec Mask Golem tightly in his hand holding it close to his heart.
(FOUR) Sobuka de junsuina omoi - Pure and simple feelings
Thomas Arclight aka IV, is seen standing in front of Number 15 Gimmick Puppet Giant Killer with a sadistic grin on his face, he grasps his face over where his scar is, in his eyes a fire is seen as regret shines in his eyes.
(FIVE) Senaka ni fureta shinjitsu - Truth behind our backs)
Chris Arclight aka V, Is seen standing beside a throne, in it sits Tron, His father Byron Arclight's Cursed Form
(ALL) Hitori janai kono sekai - We're not alone in this world
Tron gives off a smirk, as pure rage is seen on his face. In the red glass covering the left eye of his mask, an image of Doctor Faker is seen.
Kore made no kiseki ga tsugeta - All the miracles up to now sing of it
Yuma and Kiryu are seen smiling at each other giving a high five, while Kotori stands in the back ground looking between the two of them.
Daijobu yo subete ga… Watashitachi wa koko ni iru - Don't worry, it's alright… All of us are here
Kiryu gives out a yell holding up a card that has it's back shown. Anna Kozuki is shown holding her Cannon, Gauche and Droite are seen standing in front of Heartland Tower, Gauche gives off a Smirk.
Michi tsuzukeru kokoro ni atatakasa - Our Hearts stay filled with warmth
Yuma and Astral are seen looking at each other, Astral gives a smirk before the two high five each other and transform into Zexal.
Totoki netsu no naka uta to tomo ni mirai wa - Through precious fire, our songs and our future
The scene flashes between Yuma, Shark, and III all with anguished looks on their faces.
Toki hanatareteiku - Have been released
Number 39 Utopia is seen holding up it's sword.
Takami e mabushiku - Radiantly, to the top
A Falcon looking monster is seen holding its talons out against Number 39 Utopia before the two charge forward in a clash.
Light will take us to the right place Keep Going, Going on the road, Light will take us to the right place Keep Going, Going on the road.
The screen cycles between shots of all the WDC participants before ending on a shot of a broken heart piece as the opening song ends.
-Zexal-
Next Time: The Falcon's Power