Warning! Mentions of emotional abuse and despair.

This will be a bit confusing, but it suppose to show the thought process Yuya is going through. And there is a reason for the changes in the spelling of Z-ARC to Z-Arc. It will be shown, so no worries.

Now enjoy!

(Chapter 2)

Dragon Wishes

Yuya stared at the sad forms of Dark Rebellion XYZ Dragon, Clear Wing Synchro Dragon, and Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon was standing between the Synchro and XYZ dragons and was the only dragon who looked as blank faced as the counterparts who were still in the line.

Yuya had stepped forward and turned around to face the line, just so he could see more of it.

It was weird to say the least. Something about the picture was just wrong. And he didn't think it was because he wasn't in line.

Really it was Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon. Really if you looked at each of the dragons they looked similar in appearance. All of them were different enough that you could tell them apart.

But with Z-Arc's heartbroken sobs echoing in his ears, and the image of the chained figure abandoned behind the line in Yuya's mind, something just seemed wrong with the picture.

Leaning over to one side to look behind Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon at the still crying man, Yuya clenched his fists. He really did not feel comfortable leaving Z-Arc back there crying like the world just ended.

Walking around the line he passed Yuri and the slumped form of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon before running to the kneeling form in the darkness.

Oddly enough his dragon didn't stop him, nor did Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. In fact the fusion monster lifted its tail so he could pass without climbing over it.

Standing before the defeated form of his original self, Yuya couldn't help but feel that this was one of the most pitiful sights he ever saw.

He had always imaged Z-ARC as this vicious being tainting everything he touched. A power hungry and world destroying demon.

Not despairing and crying, looking like he was tossed aside because he wasn't good enough.

Completely abandoned. No one wanted him. Alone with no one to tell him that he was loved no matter what he did. Even if he was an idiot and killed may people. To have someone to tell him off for doing wrong but that they still loved him.

Glancing back at the line, Yuya couldn't help but feel that even with three out of the four dragons slumped over in sorrow, it was a statement of abandonment.

Feeling pity and sorrow he turned his gaze back onto the crying figure. He knew that Z-ARC wasn't a good person. He also knew that someone crying that long wouldn't be able to keep their lunch down. Though it didn't really seem like an issue here.

Kneeling before the white and green haired man Yuya slowly reached out and brushed the long bangs out of the tear stained face.

Gazing at downcast yellow eyes, which held no shine whatsoever, he noted that not even the tears shone in those eyes. Dead and lost eyes of yellow stared down at the floor and didn't even blink as Yuya reached forward.

Wiping tears away from those dead eyes, Yuya couldn't help but want to see a smile. An actual smile, like what he always wanted to bring by dueling. If there was someone who needed to smile, it was this abandoned man.

Feeling a tear fall onto his thumb, Yuya gasped as Z-Arc looked up at him. Hopeless and despairing, the white and green haired man looked very much like he was just waiting for the last blow to be dealt. Like an abused animal Yuya's mom brought in from the street on occasion.

His heart clenched at the sight. He always hated seeing abused animals and people. He could never understand how anyone could be so mean to another living being.

Brushing back white and green hair, Yuya smiled at the man. Hoping he would respond.

Yellow eyes closed and Z-Arc leaned his head into Yuya's hand. Shoulders slumped even more than before, tears dripping down, and the image of total defeat settled into Yuya's mind.

This wasn't a proud duelist who fought his way up to be the World Champion. This was a broken man who was used and discarded. And Yuya couldn't help but wrap his arms around him and bring him into a hug.

Very slowly arms wrapped around him in return. A head was placed on his shoulder. Z-Arc was shaking and his touch was very light, disbelieving at the show of kindness.

Yuya softly rubbed his back, hoping he would calm down. This wasn't something anyone wanted to see another go through.

No wonder he has been crying like he lost everything.

Looking back at the line, Yuya felt anger in his chest. Not only at those who didn't turn around, but at himself and everyone who weren't even there.

Because Z-Arc did lose everything, and it wasn't a recent loss either. He lost everything to people who did not care if he lived or died as long as they were happy to see people hurt. Everything to people who thought that they knew him, thus went out of their way to kill him when he tried to deliver what they wanted.

To his own counterparts who took away his only family and wouldn't let him say goodbye.

To have himself torn apart and told he was evil from the start in order to justify everything they did.

No wonder Yuri was so keen on returning everyone to one being. Yuya couldn't see it before. But now he did, he also knew why the others wouldn't turn around to look at Z-Arc.

Because Z-Arc was gone to everyone but the four dragons he merged with. And now one of those dragons was missing. Odd Eyes Dragon was not here. Instead Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon was, and it aimed to make people pay for putting all of them through so much pain.

The only way that could happen was to force everyone to face the monster they made. The others wanted to look back, but seeing Z-Arc wasn't Z-ARC they couldn't show off their one true weakness to everyone outside.

Not if they wanted to be happy once more. And have the last piece back at long last.

To say the least I couldn't make Odd Eyes Pendulum Dragon the enemy to the Yuus. It was tempting, but seeing it is considered part of Z-ARC that can't happen. Besides that dragon has been through a lot thanks.

As for the others they will be interacting with Z-Arc in a bit. They are more focused on not breaking the monster image the Lancers are fighting against. But soon we will have the counterparts and their dragons all showing some kind of interaction with Z-Arc.

So Forward!