"I can't believe it ended like that. Talk about anti climactic." Ryuji said.

"At least it's finally over." Ace said.

"But it's not over. Just because Mime is gone doesn't mean Destroyer is gonna stop." Jexi said.

"Besides, we all saw this kind of scenario before. Who's to say someone else won't take his place?" David asked.

"Not to mention Ranma won't exactly be happy about Mime's death." Scarlet added.

"I doubt he cares. What matters is qualifying for the playoffs. With a clean streak, Yuga and Francisca just need one win to become card shop reps in the duo section just as David just needs one more win for the individuals." Jexi said.

"Yeah, so let's just get all of this stuff behind us and just focus on the now." Lacy said opening the door to the cafe. "Hey we're….huh?" she said as they saw a familiar guy hunched over at a table. "Is that...Banjoe Onikuza?"

"Who?" Eddy asked.

"Weren't you watching the ABC Cup at all Eddy? Banjoe was that street fighter who teamed up with Asta. He used a Godpunk deck and was heavily focused on Plunder." Hope said.

"Oh yeah!" Eddy remarked. "So much has gone crazy that I kinda forget that happened."

"What's with him?" Asta asked.

"Looks like he's burned out." Elementa said.

"I lost… I lost bad. I'm done." Banjoe uttered.

"Yeesh...this sort of depression takes days to get over." Jack said.

"But why is he even like this?" Emma asked.

"He battled Masato and me the other day and lost badly." Flamberge said.

"But he wasn't like that after the ABC Cup, right? I don't think it was just that. It might've been a string of losses." David said.

"No. My brother truly has changed. But there is one drive that kept him going. To defeat Masato Rikuo and his girl sidekick." Brawlzeus said.

"Sidekick?" Flamberge asked.

"Never mind that, Berge." Francisca said.

"There's got to be some way we can help him out." David said.

"Well we'll do what I do to cheer up after a loss, pick myself up, drag myself to the arcade and play the troubles away." Rainbow said.

"That uh...That's actually not a bad idea. Maybe a fun energetic place will put some pep back in his step." Sheer said.

"Well, we've got nothing to lose." Eddy said. "Ed?"

"Ok!" Ed said as he walked up to Banjoe and picked him up. "To the arcade!"

At the Arcade…

"Okay Rainbow, what game should Banjoe play first?" Hope said.

"Let's start with my favorite! Mega Rhythm DX!" Sonata said jumping to one of the dance games.

"Please, no way she can...what the heck?" Hope said seeing her ace it.

"Yeah, Sonata may not have brains, but you don't need em to ace this." Odd said.

"So she doesn't know what a camera is but she can succeed at this?" Aria said.

"Some mysteries aren't meant to be solved." Titanica said.

"C'mon Banjoe, your turn." Rainbow said.

"Why should I?" Banjoe said.

"Cause it's fun, now get in there!" Rainbow said dragging Banjoe onto the game as it started up. At first, Banjoe wasn't really doing anything on the game.

"You can't really win if you don't hit the buttons and start dancin' dude." luna said.

Banjoe did so, but was stumbling to keep up with Sonata's pace.

"Geez, you're terrible at this." Aria said. "I thought you were the toughest guy in Aibo. Watching you play tells me my airheaded sister is way stronger than you."

"Why you…" he growled.

"Hang on...let's try something different." Dan said dragging Banjoe to the batting cages.

"Strike!" the computer said as Dan got a strike.

"Think you can keep up, tough guy?" Dan asked.

"Think I'd lose to you? No way!" Banjoe said throwing a hard pitch as he hit all the targets with one ball. "Im the best!"

"Whoa…" Al said in shock and awe.

"Its working...his fighting spirit is reigniting." Asta said.

It all soon ended at a boxing game with Banjoe getting the biggest score. "Heh. Yeah, how was that, punks?"

"Seems we've got your spirit back up."

"See? My ideas do work." Rainbow said.

"Sometimes they do." Futaba said.

"You seem better than ever, Banjoe." Fluttershy said. "Do you think you're ready to face Yuga and Fransisca with Asta in your upcoming match?"

"Yeah...I am." Banjoe said.

"Just to let you know Asta, Franny's not gonna be easier to beat. In fact, I'd say she's even tougher." Flamberge said. "But knowing you, you don't care at all. You want the challenge, don't you?"

"Huh? What was that?" Asta asked trying the punching game.

"Did he seriously not hear a word Flamberge said?" Xion asked.

"Yeah, he does that. Part of his charm, I guess." Emo answered.

"Hold on." Stoj said before bonking Asta on the head with a frying pan.

"Ow! hey what was that for?" Asta demanded.

"You didn't listen to what Flamberge said." Stoj said.

"Course I listened. She was bragging about how Franny's strong and how I might not be a challenge to her." Asta said.

"That's…. More or less what I was trying to say." Flamberge said.

"Honestly, I don't really care much about what she says. I just wanna play this game, that's all." Asta said.

"So you're in for the fun of it. That's pretty cool." Hope said.

The next day…

"And welcome back to the Card Shop prelims! Today we have Yuga and Francisca against Banjoe and Asta. If Yuga and Francisca win, they become the card shop reps for the duo part of the playoffs." Ion said. "So let's get is on!"

"A Deity's Ninja Dragon Troopers at your beck and call! Luminize! Draninja!" Yuga said.

"Even the coldest blanket of snow...cannot smother the growth of a flower! A flower of serenity, a flower of peace! Lumenize, Cold Dungeon!" Francisca said.

"I'll conquer this world with this fist! Strongest Luminize! Legend of Strongest Topfist!" Banjoe said.

"Okay! Here we go! Before I become the Magic Emperor, I'll conquer the the greatest dungeon! Luminize! Ultimate Dungeon!" Asta said.

"Here we go and...Buddyfight!" Ion said.

"Raise the flag!" they said.

"Danger World!" Banjoe said.

"Dungeon World!" Asta said.

"Katana World!" Yuga said.

"Dungeon World!" Francisca said.

"Topfist Vainglory, Brawlzeus!" Banjoe said.

"Bladewing Raven!" Asta said.

"Gargantua Dragon!" Yuga said.

"Rebellion Knight, Rebellious!" Francisca said.

"Okay! Yuga and Francisca have the first move!" Ion said.

"Okay! Draw! Charge and draw! I equip Garkunai!" Yuga said.

10-9

Yuga then struck against Banjoe.

10-8

"I end my turn. Franny, you're up." Yuga said.

"Alright. I draw!" Francisca said. "And I'll start things off by calling to the center, Silver Warrior, Quenzwei! Now, attack!"

10-7

"I end my turn." Francisca said.

"Our go. Strongest Draw! Strongest charge and Strongest draw! I call Bash Sage, Bashermes to the left, and then plunder Yuga's Gauge, life and Garkunai to buddy call Topfist Vainglory, Brawlzeus to the right!" Banjoe said. "Now, I cast! Immortal Speech! Yuga discards a card from his hand while I draw two. Then I use his gauge to equip Skygod Jacket."

"Banjoe's going right out of the gate on this one huh?" Hope said.

"Bashermes, attack Yuga!" Banjoe called.

8-7

"And now it's my turn!" Banjoe said hitting Yuga.

7-5

"Now...attack him, Brawlzeus! Don't forget to plunder after!" Banjoe said.

5-1

9-11

"Asta, take it from here!" Banjoe said.

"Heh! I'm on top of it! Draw! Charge and draw! I call Basilisk Slime to the center! Mameshiba, Cobalt to the left and then buddycall Bladewing Raven to the left, taking Cobalt into its soul!" Asta said. "Okay! I'm not gonna lose this time! Bladewing Raven, attack that silver warrior guy!" Asta said as Bladewing flew right at Quenzwei and slashed through it. "And now his ability. When Bladewing Raven destroys a monster or deals damage, I gain one gauge, one life and draw a card."

7-8

"Also, he's got double attack so attack Franny hard!" Asta said.

10-8

8-9

"Now Basilisk Slime, attack the fighter!" Asta said.

"I cast! Forced Summoning: Shalsana!" Francisca said.

"Grr. I end my turn." Asta said.

"It's back to us. You wanna wrap things up first, Franny?" Yuga asked.

"Right. I draw! Charge and draw!" Francisca said. "First I'll equip Flash Lance, Blitz Tiger. This allows me to equip Savage Lance, Eisen Tiger."

8-7

"Heh. I cast! Rolling Stone!" Francisca said.

"Crud!" Asta said as Basilisk slime was crushed. "Gah!"

"With him cleared out of the way, I can call Magical Beast Tamer, Kazane and Jade Golem Shaytan!" Francisca said.

7-8

"Now, it's time for an All-Out Attack!" Francisca said.

"I'm up first!" Kazane said striking Asta.

9-7

"And since I have a Dungeon Enemy on the field, Kazane gets to attack again." Francisca said.

7-5

Jade Golem Shaytan deals the next blow.

5-3

"Now it's my turn!" Francisca said as she struck Asta with both of her lances.

"Aw, not again!" Asta said as the blow was struck against him.

3-0

Game over, Asta! Winner: Francisca!

"Aces!" Yuga said. "Now I'm up! Draw, Charge and Draw! "I call Ninbird to the Left, and buddy call gargantua Dragon to the right!"

1-2

"Ninbird, attack Banjoe!" Yuga called.

11-9

"I activate Ninbird's ability! By sending him from the field to the drop zone, i can increase my gauge by one and deal the opposing fighter 1 damage!" Yuga said.

9-8

"You're up, Garga!" Yuga called.

"As you wish!" Garga acknowledged.

8-6

"I have double attack!" Garga said.

"I cast! Invincible Knuckle!" Banjoe said striking back.

2-1

6-7

"Thanks to Gargas' Buddygift I survived. So that means I can do this! G-EVO, activate! Change! Gargantua Wind Demon Dragon!" Yuga said as Garga changed into his Katana world form.

"I am a Deity. A deity of Ninja!" Garga announced.

"Now attack Banjoe!" Yuga called.

"I cast Shredding Battle Wall!" Banjoe called.

7-8

"Double Attack!" Yuga called.

"I'll just use another one!" Banjoe said casting Shredding Battle Wall again.

8-9

"With Garga's ability...you're in for it now!" Yuga declared.

9-5

" I cast Clear Serenity and...Final Phase! Deity Gargantua Punisher!" Yuga said.

5-0

Game over, Banjoe! Winner: Yuga Mikado!

"And with that...we have our card shop representatives for the tag matches are Yuga and Francisca!" Ion said.

"Amazing job, Franny! You rocked that one!" David said.

"I'm so sorry Berge. I know this must be so hard and…" Hope said.

"You know Masato and I are fighting in other card shop prelims right?" Flamberge said.

"Uh...Yeah. Of course I did." Hope said sheepishly.

"She's right. This tournament is encompassing all of Japan." David said.

"Yeah, you fail in one place, you can try again in another." Akira said.

"I really gotta get my act together." Hope said slapping himself.

"It is hard getting past some things. But you'll get over what has happened." Ichiro said.

"I hope so." Hope said.

"So, now that Franny and Yuga are in, what should our next step be?" Double D asked.

"Why not check out the Individuals tourney and see how Shanoa and the others are doing?" Ace asked.

"Already doing that. Looks like everyone's doing well so far. And from the looks of things, we should be ready for the next phase before the deadline even hits." Tails said.

"That's great to hear. Can't wait to see how the tournament plays out from here, but…" Hope said.

"But what?" Flamberge said.

"He's worried about Subaru." Sabo said. "Not like we can blame him. His friend was corrupted by dark forces."

"While we were off tracking down you know who, Subaru was challenged by Ranma." Zan said.

"And let me guess, he lost." David said.

"Yes. I haven't seen him since then." Zan said. "It worries me deeply." she said as they headed back to the ship.

"I'm sure Subaru is fine. He's smart. He'll…" Jack said seeing some kids surround something. "Hey, what you got there?"

"This?" one of them said stepping away to show a familiar monster.

"Wait...that's…" Onyx said.

"Cross!" Zan said. "Are you alright? Where's Subaru?"

"He's...not here." Cross said.

"What do you mean? You're always with him." Flamberge said. "Wait… don't tell me after Subaru lost to Ranma… no way, he wouldn't!"

"He did…" Cross sniffled. "He...has parted ways with me."

"Von Jamblasted!" Zan said.

"Zan… P-please calm down." Francisca said. "I'm sure Subaru has a very good reason for doing this."

"I'm sure Cross can explain everything. Let's take him back to the Galaxy King." Hope said.

"Yes." Zan said as she picked him up as they headed back to the ship. "(Subaru, I hope you have a good reason for doing this.)" She thought.

Later on the Galaxy King….

"So after Subaru lost to Ranma, Ranma gave him a lostrizer card. Then when Ranma left, he told you to leave, is that right?" Erica asked.

"Yes. It's possible Ranma wants Subaru to join his ranks." Cross said.

"I don't believe this." Moltar said in disbelief. "First Ranma, then Seiji, and now Subaru?! How many kids is this Destruction Dragon going to corrupt!?"

"Maybe as many as it takes until Destroyer's mission is complete." Hope said.

"Until we can get Subaru back, you're welcome to stay here for as long as you wish, Cross." Zan said.

"That's very kind. Thank you." Cross said.

"For right now, we'll wait until the Second Round begins. That's likely when we'll know for sure if someone new is backing Ranma or not." Hope said.