"So Lowell, you mentioned how Synchro monsters need the levels of their materials to equal the desire Synchro monsters level. Does that mean you have to get it exactly?" Sora asked as all of us were sitting, waiting for the match to begin.
"Yes. Levels are very crucial to Synchro Monsters. Unlike Fusion monsters, Synchro's need an exact level match. XYZ has a similar restriction, depending on what card you have." I continued to explain. "I wouldn't say Synchro's the hardest Summoning method. At least not when you understand each component."
"Were you impressed by Noboru Gongenzaka's Synchro Summoning?" I laughed.
"Of course! Having seen that makes me want to up my game." I thought back to that Duel. "I wonder if he's got any other monsters up his sleeve."
"Who knows? You could also help refine his Synchro skills while teaching everyone." Niles joked around.
"Right… like I could do any better." I rolled my eyes, playing along.
"Oh look! The match is starting!" Tatsuya pointed towards the field.
Noboru Gongenzaka versus Gen Ankokuji. A duel that meant a lot between both Yuya and Noboru. Here I was, bearing witness to it in real life. Though, I guess it made sense. After all, it was pretty neat to watch them in real time. It was a real heart-pumping experience; seeing Noboru win was an excellent finish. This friendship they showed struck a chord. Just like with my old friend; we'd always believe and trust in each other.
Following that victory was Shingo Sawatari versus Yuya Sakaki. A pendulum mirror duel. Well, almost a mirror duel. If only Shingo actually used an identical deck. Then it would have been a true mirror duel. As expected, Yuya pulled out a victory; the more experienced user outplaying the new Pendulum user. Pendulums… I couldn't help but subconsciously reach for my deck. This new summoning method was now accessible by two people. Strangely enough, that felt wrong on two different levels. One was easy to point out; I hadn't even gotten one Pendulum card. The second point was weird since… for some odd reason saying that two people used Pendulums felt odd. I knew Yuya, Reiji and Shingo used Pendulums.
Reiji, I didn't count him because he hadn't shown it publicly. So technically, only two people seemed to use Pendulums publicly. Three people I knew for sure had Pendulums and yet my gut was saying there was more. No matter how hard I thought, it didn't make logical sense. Was I forgetting something from the show? Can't be… right?
Miami Stadium, Miami City, 3rd P.O.V.
"Next up is today's third match! You Show Duel School's Sora Shiunin Sora vs Leo Duel School's Shun Kurosaki Everyone, please, your applause for these two Duelists!" Both Duelists walked out on the stage, observed by two main separate parties.
"Sora!" The Principal cried out.
"Make this our third win in a row!" Noboru shouted.
"Beat those LDS guys!" The three little misfits did a little dance.
"Okay! Leave it to me!" Sora cheerily waved around. "I'll satisfy the whole crowd just like Yuya!"
Shun Kurosaki stepped onto the field, causing two different shockwaves for the groups.
"Shun Kurosaki…" Yuya's excitement went down.
"Masumi said that he's always been a member of LDS, but Shun's been the culprit for the serial attacks on LDS." Yuzu relayed the facts. "Masumi knew that and should have fought Shun once. But when I chased after her, nobody was there. And when I met her at the opening ceremony… Just what happened to Masumi? It's almost like her memories were rewritten!"
"That's right. He fought LDS in front of my very eyes. And that incredible powerful XYZ monster…" Yuya recounted his own account. "It hit us with real shockwaves."
Lowell pondered, thoughts swirling in her head at how to address the situation. In the end, she took silence at her best answer. Yet in her eyes, she was conflicted. The eyes of Niles were as well, looking down upon the field as Yuya ran down to tell Sora something.
"Well, would you look at that! I'm excited to see what this duel's got in store. Are you guys?" Sabrine asked Hokuto Shijima and Yaiba Todo, sitting between them.
"Yeah! Though I feel bad Masumi." Yaiba frowned for a moment before regaining a smile. "But we get to see Shun show off his XYZ summoning."
"He's at the top of our class; Shun's totally got this match." Hokuto nudged Sabrine. "Don't you remember Sabrine?"
Sabrine laughed nervously. "Oh! Of-Of course I do. Very excited. Just want to focus on watching."
Her eyes drifted away and towards Kaiser Obsidian. Hiding in the shadows, the other duelist looked towards the field. First towards Sora and Shun, then to Sabrine and her small group to finally laying eyes on Lowell. His golden eyes observing her every move. Up until noticing a pair of ocean eyes meeting his own. Both glared until Lowell's voice got Niles' attention.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked Niles. "The match is about to begin."
"Sorry, thought I saw an old friend." He apologized, returning his attention to the field.
"Today's third event starts now!" The festivities continued on. "First up is selecting the Field Spell! The Field Spell is City of the Future: Heartland!"
Reactions came instantly. Shun was in disbelief at the name of Heartland. Sora seemed to pause for a second. Niles instantly looked away and covered his mouth. Lowell's concern gaze instantly went toward her friend. Sabrine bit her lip before forcing a smile. Kaiser remained where he was, eyes lighting up at the name.
"It's so pretty!" Ayu looked at the field.
"It's like we're in a sci-fi movie!" Tatsuya continued on.
"I-It's so futuristic…" Futoshi finished it off.
"Now, here comes a lovely treat. The climactic battle that begins the end. Tell me fate, will you swing in the way of the illusions?" Kaiser chuckled as the Duel began. "Or shall you sway to the reality many ignore?"
Hospital, Miami City, 1st P.O.V.
I knew what was going to happen, yet it still sickened my stomach. Deep down, I enjoyed this duel very much. On the outside, I couldn't bear to tell anyone those feelings. Not when Yuya and Yuzu saw Shun as an enemy. When Niles looked so disgusted that he just went to compete in his own match. No matter how much I tried to talk with him afterword, he won't respond at all. He shunned me out... and deep down I hated this choice. Staying at the stadium was too dangerous, so I followed the others. We were inside the hospital, where Sora was being treated.
"Sora…" I looked toward the others, though standing a bit back; I didn't feel right standing by their side.
"He'll be fine. I'm told that LDS has a very skilled medical team." If only they knew what was going to happen next.
"But if the building hit his head before the Field Spell turned off." Ayu, I pity her trying to be optimistic.
Things became a blur before all of us were outside the hospital, Niles nowhere in sight. Yoko and the Principal walked the kids home. Left Yuya, Yuzu, Gongenzaka and myself as the only four left.
"What do you think?" Yuya asked.
"Huh?" Yuzu seemed perplexed.
"Shun is the culprit for the serial attacks on LDS. I saw him take out members from their top team in front of my very eyes. And you, Yuzu?" Things were back onto Shun Kurosaki.
"I saw Masumi get into a very dangerous situation while she was the culprit too, but Masumi…" I knew what she was referencing.
"The one she had been chasing was one of them?!" Noboru was surprised.
"I don't know why Masumi would say something like that but Yuto said they were attacking LDS to save one of their comrades." Yuya seemed confused at Yuzu's statement.
"Yuto…" Well, this meant things were getting to the point where he'd officially meet Yuto.
"Then that man called Yuto was the one who attacked Shingo!?" Noboru came to the conclusion as Yuzu explained herself to us. "Why didn't you say anything about it?! If you would have told the truth, Yuya would have been clear of suspicion. Don't tell me you doubted Yuya!?"
"That's not it!" Yuzu defended herself. "Yuya doesn't even use XYZ but…"
"Yuto… a man that looks just like me." Yuya looked up. "That's the same man who would disappear whenever a bracelet would shine, right?"
"Disappear!?" Yeah, trying to explain this whole ordeal would make this worse so I stayed silent.
"I don't know why Yuto would vanish whenever this bracelet shone. I thought you were just changing out of a costume, but you didn't have a reason to do that!"
"He doesn't have a reason to attack LDS either!"
"Assaulting their enemy is a means to save their friend captured by the enemy."
"Yes, Yuto said that."
"Who is their enemy? Are they not LDS?"
I got from my position leaning against the wall, deciding to make a harsh choice. They seemed pretty distracted, so I left. No babysitting for me; the rest of the conversation was easy to recall. Things were coming to a head. The park was a good place to hang out. If I could prevent Yuto's death, they should get better, right? It wasn't like karma was going to kill me instead.
LDS, Miami City, 3rd P.O.V.
"So, Sora will be heading towards Central Park?" Reiji asked Kazama, both of which were inside of LDS.
The Vestige nodded, screen switch before his eyes until Sora was located. Proof of his point. They weren't the only two watching the screen. Reira, Nakajima, and Shun were also occupying the room. Employees were also at work. All were looking for the escaped fusion duelist's location.
"Send a team over and immediately capture him!" Nakajima exclaimed.
"Wait," Reiji ordered. "Turn the camera to where Sora Shiunin is looking."
The camera switched over to view who was on the stage. Almost everyone recognized it immediately.
"That's…" Nakajima looked in shock.
"Hurry up and get him!" Sora yelled. "Shun Kurosaki!"
Yuto's head perked up. Turning around, his face was finally revealed to the camera.
"This is…" Kazama stepped closer. "Yuya Sakaki?"
"No. That is Yuto." Shun corrected him.
"Yuto?" Reiji turned his head to look at the XYZ Duelist.
"He is my comrade." Kazama nodded, taking that detail into mind.
"I see. I had expected that there were two XYZ users attacking LDS, but… those are only you and Yuto, correct?" Reiji asked without even facing Shun. "Then that wouldn't explain the other attacks."
Kazama took note of the quick glance at himself. He diverted his attention elsewhere before the Resistance member could notice. Instead, he returned to focus on the screen even after he had just lied. To the conversation between Sora and Yuto. As both duelists continued to speak, something caught his attention. One that made him tense up even more than usual.
"No… why are you here?" He inquired, making sure to not say it too loudly.
Central Park, Miami City, 1st P.O.V.
I hoped my spot was good enough to get spotted. Honestly, despite the fact I knew this was being recorded, I was scared. Up until just after this, I knew everything. Now once I make this choice, it will be just guessed from here on out. The duel continued on and I saw Yuya join in the Battle Royale. Mustering up my courage, I placed a hand out my chest and just under my necklace.
"I activate a Continuous Trap!" I looked to Yuto as the trap was revealed as the two dragons continued to fight, "Phantom Fog Blade! This card negates your attack and as long as I control this card, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon cannot attack!"
Sora continued to be ticked off since even now I knew why he took that attack. With Dark Rebellion on his field, everything was in place for him. I was still hiding since neither duelist opposing Yuto had realized that I was down here. Sora was too focused on Yuto so I gave him a free pass.
"I activate Timegazer Magician's Pendulum effect!" Yuya was ready to counter with his Pendulum Scale, "Once per turn, it can negate the activation of a Spell or Trap Card that targets a Pendulum Monster! Inverse Gears!"
Gulping, I looked at my duel disk and fear rushed through my nerves. This was a life or death choice. Either I stayed hidden or I stuck with my beliefs. Seeing both dragons clashed, I pressed the enter Battle Royale Mode button and activated a card just before it could destroy Yuto's dragon. Dust erupted from both sides as my monster appeared on the field in defense mode.
"Huh?!" Everyone as shocked and I took this as my cue to appear.
"Bestia Galapagos Tortoise's effect activates when you try to attack and destroy a Special Summoned monster. I get to summon this guy for free and end the Battle Phase." I walked into view, taking a stand by the stage.
Bestia Galapagos Tortoise: Level 6 LIGHT Reptile/Effect ATK: 1000 DEF: 2500
"L-Lowell?! What are you doing here?!" Yuya asked as I looked at my hand.
"Sorry Yuya, but there is no way I can allow either of you to go on like this!" As I expected, Yuya hasn't seen Sora's outburst just yet; guess I have to push it even further, "Prepare yourselves! I won't be holding back!"
Sora: 1300
Yuya: 4000
Vs
Yuto: 3000
Vs
Lowell: 4000
?, ?, 1st(?) P.O.V.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"...The Pendulum…"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...It sways once more…"
"..."
"..."
"...Yet as it does…"
"..."
"...The jaws of destiny will be rewritten…"
Revision: 11/25/18
Obvious change at the very end. Not much else to note down for this chapter.
Here is the last of the chapters I wrote in a bunch. We get to stop at this point and thus I'll have a little break. Maybe I'll try and upload a bunch of chapters in a stack for now on. Besides, I'm working on some behind-the-scenes stuff that I'll not be posting for quite some time. A lot has happened and there are bound to be errors. So if there are any, I'll try and fix them before the next one comes out.
To be honest, I wanted to get through the Miami Championships to get to the real stuff. It is a good place for setting up stuff for the ending of the Standard Arc. Now for this point on, I'm going to try and settle some major plot points I've been sprinkling up throughout this arc. Lowell will have a finale climax duel to end of Standard. Estimating that time to be around the early twenties. Then we can get prepared for Synchro.
Here are some previews for the upcoming chapter/episode titles only. No summaries because I may change only the contents of the chapters. Though I guess if you wish to speculate on those titles than be my guess! I can tell you one thing for sure: The last two are going to be where things in the anime are going to take a major switch in direction. Anything with question marks may in fact change due to chapter length.
Episode 15: A Grave Mistake
Episode 16: Choices and Consequences
Episode 17: The Alluring Light
Episode 18: Royal Rumble Begins
Episode 19(?): What once was smiles...
Episode 20(?): ...Becomes despair itself.
Episode 21(?): The Pendulum's Blessing
Episode 22(?): Victory with Casualties
Either way, thank you all for reading and I'll see when the Pendulum sways again!