and the finale of the Shockwave V Rio Grande round!

Note: when Demure and Nefertiti are talking about Eonis, Nefertiti will mention Christina's Bey as being Artemis. This is not a typo. I'm going back through my fics and replacing Neith with Artemis for plot reasons. Otherwise, that's the only minor change you guys can expect in the future.

Hope ya'll enjoy the chapter!

"Ryuto,"

"Nefertiti,"

The two stared at each other, eyes narrowed. Eventually, Ryuto held out his fist, "Rock, paper, scissors, best two of three."

"Sounds fair to me," Nefertiti held her own fist out. "Ready—Rock, paper, scissors!"

Paper beats rock, Nefertiti thought with a smirk. The next round went to Ryuto, scissors beating paper, but Nefertiti won with paper over rock in the final go.

"Dammit," Ryuto swore, and glared playfully at Nefertiti.

Nefertiti smirked, "You snooze, you lose!" She ruffled her hair, and turned to Demure, "Give me the run down on Jigsaw's Bey, De-De."

Demure blinked at the nickname, but gave the older woman a shy smile, "Sure. Forbidden Eonis ED145FB is a balance type with high stamina…"

"ED—Eternal Defensive spin track?" Nefertiti asked.

Demure nodded, "So, any time you go for an attack, you may get thrown to the side. The fusion wheel is a forbidden fusion wheel, and high in attack and provided stamina for the Bey. The tip is a flat ball, and is good for the Bey's stamina capabilities. I remember reading over some information Madoka sent me… Eonis as the ability to create a cloak of air around it and deliver sneak attacks."

"Like Christina Cadelle's Artemis?" Nefertiti frowned.

"Exactly," Demure nodded. "Eternal Wadjet is… a defense type, correct?"

"That's the EWD performance tip, yeah," Nefertiti nodded. "But everything else about her…" Nefertiti pulled her Bey from her case, staring down at the golden Bey in her hand, "Is strictly attack."

"A tough opponent," Demure nodded. "I… can give you a strategy, if you'd like?"

"Thanks, but no thanks, De-De," Nefertiti frowned, as she rubbed over her partner's facebolt. "Actually, Ryuto."

Ryuto perked up, "Yes?"

"What myth Eonis modeled after?"

"Io, the heifer of Greek mythology," Ryuto said. "A water nymph that Zeus fell in love with, and then actually, hm… well, since young ears are present—" He glanced at Motti, "—Attacked. Zeus turned her into a cow, after, to try and keep Hera's wrath away from her. Which, worked for a while, Hera actually took care of her, and left her under the eye of her hundred eyed guard, Argus. Zeus called upon Hermes to get rid of Argus so he could change Io back, didn't succeed because Hera got pissed at her for… some, godforsaken reason, history is murky on that, and then sent one of Hades' furies after her. Anyways, she was actually chased all the way down here to Egypt, to the Nile River, if the stories are to be believed. Hera calls off the Furie, Zeus changes her back, and Io actually ends up married a pharaoh named Telegonus and becomes pretty wildly respected as a queen here in Egypt, even revered as a goddess."

Nefertiti blinked as Ryuto took in a deep breath, and then let it out. He looked up as Dynamis, Nefertiti, Demure, and Motti all stared at him, "What?"

"… Anything else?" Nefertiti asked, dryly.

"Yeah, actually! Because Zeus was a playboy and Greek heritage is so wacky—"

"Sarcasm, Ryuto, sarcasm," Nefertiti sighed. "Jeez, do you not need to breathe or anything when you're going on one of your history spiels?"

"I've yet to meet someone who can match me," Ryuto said. "So, why did you ask me about the history on Io?"

"Because even the smallest detail in history, can make the biggest ripple in history," Nefertiti grinned. "Plus, haven't you noticed that there's always a flaw in a Bey, that can be traced back to its origin?"

Ryuto blinked, then frowned in thought, "Huh. Now that you mention it… yeah."

"Perfect. With any luck, I'll be able to give you a front and center example," Nefertiti winked at him as she made her way down to the dish. On the opposite side, Jigsaw was already waiting, and he looked annoyed at Nefertiti's late arrival, "Sorry 'bout that! Had to settle a few things among my team!"

"Hm. It's no matter," Jigsaw said, as he readied himself for battle.

Nefertiti kept her smile on as she too, attached her partner to her launcher and raised her arms, "Lets do this then!"

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One! Let it rip!"

Okay, so, I can't attack head on, Nefertiti thought, as the two Beys landed in the dish. Neither moved, the Bladers sizing each other up, That spin track won't allow me to get a direct hit in… But maybe I can come at it from above?

"Alright, Wadjet, lets try this!" Nefertiti widened her stance, "Special Move, Serpent's Flight!"

"And Nefertiti calls the first move! Wadjet rockets up the side of the dish and into the air—What is our resident queen of the Nile up to?!"

"Whatever you are planning, it's insignificant in the face of Eonis' true power!" Jigsaw exclaimed, "Eonis!"

In the dish, Eonis began to glow orange, and Nefertiti grit her teeth.

Right. Fire based Bey. Wadjet's air strikes will only fan the flames… huh, that's interesting, considering that Io was actually a water nymph… least, according to Ryuto's little rant earlier.

"Coiled Defense!"

"Burst Satellite!"

If I use Wadjet's defensive capabilities to my advantage—Maybe I can get through that damn sunburst!

Wadjet cut through Eonis' flames, the added weight of her fusion wheel making it easy to cut through them. The flames cleared away, and Nefertiti smirked as Wadjet landed a direct hit on Eonis from above, "Just like I thought! Eonis can stand a direct attack, head on, but from above, you're defenseless!"

Jigsaw growled at her, "So what? You don't have the stamina to hold out against my Eonis! I can win this, even if it means I have to drag this out and wait for you to sleep out! Eonis!"

Eonis shimmered, before disappearing altogether.

Nefertiti growled, "Why do I continuously put myself up against people who have air specialized tricks up their sleeves? First Bao with those damn clones, and now you with your cloaking abilities."

"Eonis has disappeared! What will Nefertiti do now?!"

"Eonis!" Jigsaw swept his hand out in front of him, "Go, now!"

On que, Wadjet began to be hammered by an unseen assault, and Nefertiti hissed to herself, her temper flaring a little, "Enough with the sneak attacks! Why don't you come at me like a man?!"

"You are too insignificant, to allow myself to fall to such barbarian levels of attacks. If I can drain your stamina, work your defenses down, I can ensure my win, and the South American team will move on. I'm sorry to say, dear, but you lose," Jigsaw smirked.

Nefertiti growled again, eyes narrowing to slits, "You know, I really hate pretentious little dicks like you. I watched the last world championships—you're worse than Julian Konzern!"

(In Italy, as they watched the match on the big screen television in Konzern's main living area, Excalibur and Rinascinta all exchanged looks.

Julian looked downright offended.

"I wouldn't even consider him and myself in the same league, thank you very much."

Nero snorted coffee up his nose.)

"And it seems like you need a reality check to bring that big ego of yours down!" Nefertiti continued, with a drawl in her voice, "And I'll be happy to provide it! Wadjet! Special Move, Serpent's Flight!"

Wadjet appeared in the dish, hissing angrily. She flapped her feathered wings, sending up a whirlwind of air, and revealing Eonis' position just as the red Bey slammed into Nefertiti's partner.

Nefertiti swore in Egyptian, "Wadjet!"

"Sunburst Barrage!" Jigsaw cried, and began to unleash high powered, heated bursts of flames.

Wadjet was pushed back, unable to find an opening where she could regain her balance and set up her defenses. Nefertiti felt panic bubble up in her chest, "Wadjet, stand your ground!"

Wadjet pulsed gold, and managed to run away before Eonis could slam into her again. Nefertiti ground her teeth.

"What was that about bringing my ego down?" Jigsaw smirked over at her, eyes glittering in amusement, "I'm waiting!"

"Keep talking!" Nefertiti barked, "I'm just getting started! Wadjet!"

Hiding a smirk, Nefertiti felt her blood rushing as Wadjet began a barrage attack on Eonis, Time to draw the full extent of both our powers out, pretty boy.

"Your sister is struggling,"

"No, she's playing him,"

Ryuga blinked, and tilted his head to glance at Nile from the corner of his eye, "You sure about that? Jigsaw has a better chance of winning, with the balance capabilities and stamina levels Eonis has."

Nile nodded, holding his chin in thought, "You're right. But I also know my sister. She may be acting like she's losing control, but she's not. She's drawing him in."

"… She does this a lot?" Ryuga asked, crossing his arms and sitting back in his seat, "I've not noticed, in the training sessions we've gone through in the couple of weeks."

"Mm. She's usually on the defensive, right?" Nile smirked, and sat up, "She hasn't had a reason to show off her strategic side, yet."

Ryuga stared at the side of Nile's head, the younger man's fixed on the battle below them, before Ryuga turned his attention back to the two Bladers, "The GanGan Galaxy and Wild Fang battle… that strategy you pulled together with Demure and Benkei against Tsubasa and Yuu."

"Hm?" Nile looked over.

"You come up with that all on your own?"

"Yeah, I did. What's your point?"

Ryuga hid a smirk, "You learned it from someone, didn't you? How to pick apart a battle and turn it in your favor? Just how good is your sister?"

Nile blinked at him, "Why do you—"

Nile jumped, startled, at the loud bang and explosion from the center of the arena. His head snapped around in time to see an explosion of gold and orange light come from the Bey dish, "Nef!"

"Go now, Eternal Wadjet!" Nefertiti shouted, "Send her flying!"

Two spirits appeared in the dish: Wadjet, coiled and ready to strike, and an orange cow charging forward. Wadjet hissed and dodged as the cow attempted to strike with an uppercut attack. With the other beast's side wide open, she lunged and sunk her fangs into the cow's neck. There was a cry of pain, as Wadjet slung her opponent into the air.

"Eonis!" Jigsaw cried, wide eyed, "How dare you! I'll make you pay for that!"

"Wadjet! Special Move—" Nefertiti visibly took a deep breath as a golden glow surrounded her "—Goddess' Blessing!"

"Eonis! Special Move, Burst Satellite!"

"Too slow," Nile breathed, and shielded his eyes as a burst of golden and orange light appeared in the air, blinding all who tried to look directly at it.

Silence fell over the crowd as the light faded. People sat forward, holding their breaths as the dust began to clear.

"Nefertiti Storm wins! Team Shockwave moves on to the next round of the Wild Card matches!" The DJ cried, over the roaring of the crowd.

Nile beamed as Nefertiti caught her Bey out of the air, "Hah! As if there was any doubt!"

"Masamune, be a dear and go get your cousin, will you? Tyler's holed himself up in the guestroom again, no doubt running scans on those blasted Beys…" Masamune's mother called from the kitchen. Then, in a lower voice that she probably didn't mean to be heard, "Honestly, the both of you should give the both of those toys up and just go out and get a job like the rest of the world…"

Masamune held his tongue, and sighed, "Yeah, sure. Back in a few."

"What was that?"

"Yes, ma'am," Masamune just barely kept himself from putting too much snark in his voice, and threw his magazine to the side as he stood from the couch. Scuttling past the doorway to the kitchen, Masamune skulked down the apartment's hallways, towards the room his cousin was currently residing in.

The guest room's door was open a bit, and Masamune paused, hand halfway poised to knock, as he heard Tyler's voice come from within.

"Ugh, really?" Tyler sounded agitated, and he was pacing, from the way his footsteps went back and forth, "Goddammit, though, why is anyone surprised? I mean, this is Ziggurat we're talking about here. He's probably got friends we don't even know about! I mean, come on, none of us made the connection to Caspian McKandless until Kyoya called Konzern and pried it out of him!"

There was a pause, and Tyler's footsteps stopped. Masamune found himself wondering just who the hell his cousin was talking to and why it was about Ziggurat of all people.

"Yeah, yeah, I can do some digging here and see if I can't figure out more on the US angle," Tyler sighed. "You know, has anyone looked into Dark Nebula's supporters? Concerning Doji's research into the Dark Power and the similarities between it and Nemesis' power…" He trailed off, and snorted, "Yeah, I'd do that." Another pause, "You… want me to ask Toby and Zeo about the arrangement systems? Why? … Are you kidding me? Ugh, damn bastard. Alright, anything else I need to know? Huh? You think he'll—well, yeah, now that I think about it, that makes sense…" Tyler snorted, "Amy, Kelsea, please, who the hell do you take me for? My uncle trained me in military combat before he died—" Masamune flinched a little at the mention of his father "—If someone comes after this team, I'm kicking ass. Listen, I gotta go. Aunt's probably nearly done with dinner and I need to get off the phone before someone hears anything. I'll talk to you guys later… Yeah, thanks, we'll need it. Yeah, yep… Gotcha, later."

There was silence, and a shuddering breath on the other side of the door. Then…

"Masamune?" Tyler called, quietly, "You can come in now."

Masamune swallowed, before pushing the door open and poking his head in. Tyler was sitting on the edge of the bed, phone in hand, papers scattered on the mattress, and laptop open with the screen glowing in the dim light of the room.

"You knew I was out here?" Masamune asked.

"Course I did," Tyler sighed, and locked his phone. "Your old man taught me more than just some martial arts, before he passed. Situational awareness was one of the many things." Tyler looked up, "How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know Ziggurat wasn't working alone, with his foundation of Hades Inc, I'm assuming?" Masamune leaned against the doorframe, "Should I ask what all that was about?"

"Mm… I might get in trouble and you're not cleared to know," Tyler clicked his tongue. "Can you keep it quiet about what you heard?"

Masamune sized his cousin up, crossing his arms, "Are my friends in danger?"

"Right now? … No," Tyler shook his head, and stood up. He began to shuffle papers together and put them in manila folders.

"… You're skirting just under the age limit to not be on the team, Tyler," Masamune said, eyes narrowed. "I've been suspicious since we were told you would be the US team's mechanic, and while you're good… why did they choose you?"

"… Masamune, it's complicated, and I can't—"

"Does it have to do with Nyx's rising?"

"…"

"… So it does," Masamune sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. "Tyler, please, talk to me. I don't want to not trust you, but… c'mon man, you're always running schemes and if you're running one now—"

"I'm not!" Tyler snapped, turning on Masamune, "Dammit, Masa, I'm trying to keep you safe, like I've always done! But you've always been too stubborn and irrational to realize it!"

Masamune blinked, "What do you—"

"Masamune, c'mon, just… think, for once in your life," Tyler sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "Ever since I turned eighteen, when I became a legal adult, I've offered you a place at my house in Detroit, to get away from your mom! She's been emotionally manipulative of you since your dad died, and you stay at your friends' places more than here! But you've stayed here in New York since your friends are here!"

Masamune frowned and shifted uncomfortably.

"And… you're right. It's weird I'm on the American team when I'm just under the age limit, but I'm not the only one in this tournament that is raking in over time," Tyler sighed. The twenty-one year old sighed, looking much older than he was, "A few people are. The WBBA is doing all they can to try and prevent people from being hurt, and to rake in as much information as they can on Nyx. I—and you can't tell this to anyone—am on this team because of my qualifications, not only as a mechanic, but so I can protect you and the others from any danger that comes your way."

"… We can handle ourselves," Masamune glared at his cousin.

"I'm not saying you can't, but…" Tyler sighed again, "We've got evidence to show that those working to bring Nyx back… they're a lot more ruthless than anyone you guys have faced before. So, I'm here as protection, as a team player. And you can't tell anyone else about this, got it?"

"… Yeah, I got it," Masamune answered. "Tyler—"

"Boys!" Masamune's mom called from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready! Come and get it while it's hot!"

Masamune sighed, tiredly.

"… I have a room with your name on it in Detroit, if you still wanna take it?" Tyler raised an eyebrow as he shut his laptop down.

"… After all this is over, I just might take you up on that offer," A small smile teased at Masamune's lips. "C'mon. Let's get something to eat and then get some rest. We got a long day tomorrow."

Okie doke, a few notes about this chapter:

Jigsaw and Julian (pre his battle with Da Xiang) in the same room together would have been a fucking nightmare, hence Nefertiti's little jab there. Julian, given his development here, finds this highly offensive.

Masamune... where do I start? I know Masamune is highly energetic and very abrasive, but, I've always wondered about why. So, I kinda put together a few HCs on Masamune: 1) He's half American- half Japanese, and I draw that from his Japanese name. 2) I hc his mom to be the Japanese parent, and very strict on her son, with grades and expectations. So, I really think Masamune is smarter than everyone gives him credit for. 3) Masamune's father isn't in the picture, because, as implied in this chapter, he's a military man and died while on tour, but he's the American parent.

And, I would go on more about Masamune and his story, but I don't wanna ramble too much. You'll see more about other characters and my own headcanons for them too :D

Anyways, what do you think about Tyler and his plan? He be acting sus o.O Hope ya'll enjoyed and will leave a review!