Hello again!
Ash has revealed his Xyz Monster, Shining Star Dragon, and won against Declan, president of the Leo Corporation and a Duelist with the skills of a pro. But Shining Star Dragon wasn't the only thing that was uncovered, it was the archetype that it was a member of, Shining Star. Just what is the mystery behind those mysterious cards?
And for the Pikachu as a Spirit Partner question, this chapter should answer it. Along with the revelations of Ash's ability and connection between him and the Duel Monsters.
Enjoy!
Chapter 11
At the Sakaki house, the setting was at night, in the bedroom of the two boys Yuya was sound asleep in his bed while Ash was in his wide awake holding the Shining Star Dragon card in his hand. It's not that he was not excited that he can do all the summoning methods, he is, it just felt weird for him. Out of the three the only one that represents Pokémon was White Kyurem, the Fusion Monster. The Synchro Monster, Stardust Dragon, was because Yusei Fudo gave it to him... or so he thought. The Xyz Monster, the Shining Star Dragon he's currently holding, came out of nowhere and he blurted out that it was his true ace monster. That was the weird part as it wasn't a Pokémon nor was given to him by Yusei.
"Shining Star Dragon. My Xyz Monster." Ash muttered.
"Don't forget that you said it was your true ace monster." Ash turned to Yuya who looked awake with tired eyes.
"I thought you were asleep."
"It's barely been five minutes."
"Then you're a lighter sleeper than I thought." Ash joked.
"Something still bugs me. You said the people from your home never use Fusion, Synchro, or Xyz Summon, right?"
"I also said that they don't duel."
Yuya nodded. "Right. So when did you learn how to do all those three methods and where did you get those cards?"
Ash shrugged. "I just found those cards sometime after I got here and I taught myself to use them."
"You taught yourself?"
"Remember I practically raised myself so I have to learn about the real world alone."
"Oh, right." Yuya remembered sheepishly. He then yawned suddenly. "Don't stay up too long. We have school in the morning."
"Don't you have any more questions?"
"I'll ask them later." Yuya closed his eyes and tossed to his left facing the wall.
"Good talk." Ash then focused his attention back to the Shining Star Dragon card in his hand. 'But still, that doesn't explain why my Xyz Monster is not based off a Pokémon. I get Stardust Dragon as Yusei gave him to me, but that is not the case with Shining Star Dragon. And it's not just him. There's also Shining Star Trap Falcon, a monster in the same archetype as Shining Star Dragon. What's the deal? Why do I have these cards?'
"I will answer your questions, My Lord." A familiar voice responded in Ash's head making the boy sit up in surprise.
"I know that voice." Ash reached for his Deck and took out the Stardust Dragon card setting Shining Star Dragon back in the cards. When he took it out a transparent light came out from the card next to Ash taking form of a person-sized Stardust Dragon which was transparent like a spirit surprising the boy once again. "Stardust Dragon?"
"Indeed." Stardust Dragon replied with a nod.
"I don't get it. What's going on?" Ash asked as he sat up at the edge of his bed.
"You are a very special person, My Liege."
"What do you mean? And why do you keep calling me 'your lord' or 'your liege'?"
"Who're you talking to?" Yuya asked surprising Ash once again as the boy look at him.
"Man. You are a much lighter sleeper than I thought."
"Why were you talking to thin air?"
Ash gave off a confused face. Does Yuya not see the transparent dragon between them? "Can't you see him?"
"See who?" Yuya asked giving off his own confused look.
"Ah..." Ash realized that he is the only one who can see Stardust Dragon. "Nothing. I'm just weird."
"You're not weird. You just do weird stuff." Yuya said laying his head back on the pillow to go back to sleep.
Ash focused his attention back to the Stardust Dragon spirit. "He couldn't see you?" He whispered.
"I'm afraid not, my lord. In fact you're the only known person to have this ability." Stardust Dragon answered.
"Ability?"
"You actually have multiple abilities. We need to continue this outside." With that Stardust Dragon turned to light and returned to the card. "Bring your Duel Disk and my card as one of the abilities requires them."
"Okay." Ash stood up from his bed still holding the Stardust Dragon card and grabbed his Duel Disk heading out the door sneakily so he doesn't wake Yuya up.
When he got out front Ash slipped his Duel Disk on his left wrist and activated it with the blue blade. "Now what?"
"Summon me as if you were in a Duel." Stardust Dragon answered from the card in Ash's hand.
"Without using one of my Tuners with another monster?"
"Yes. Just set the card on your Monster Zone."
"Okay. I don't know how it will work, but I'll try." Ash slammed the card on his blade. Suddenly Stardust Dragon took solid form in its normal size in front of Ash shocking the boy this time. "This can't be real!"
Stardust Dragon lowered its head to let Ash pet him. "This is real. You have the ability to summon out monsters outside of Duels and deal actual damage to your opponent."
Ash couldn't believe what he just heard. He can summon monsters outside of Duels without Solid Vision and that he could deal real damage to his opponents which is worse as it was probably the same ability the Duelist who attacked Silvio Sawatari had. Does that mean that he and that Duelist are drawn to each other?
"I don't believe it."
"Climb up on my back. I will prove to you that everything you see and feel are real." Stardust Dragon instructed while laying it's whole body to the ground.
Ash complied and hopped on Stardust Dragon's back to a sitting position as the dragon spread its wings and stood up. It then flapped those wings and took to the air flying over the Sakaki house and the city. Ash watched in awe as he took in the scenery below them. The lights at night made Maiami City look so pretty especially the LDS building. He was really enjoying the sight of the city. He would say it was a dream, but he knows it is not, so Stardust Dragon was telling the truth.
"This is amazing! This is definitely real!" Ash exclaimed with an excited smile.
"That it is, my lord." Stardust Dragon replied.
Ash turned his face to a serious look. "You know you never answered my question back in the room. Why do you keep calling me 'my lord' or 'my liege'? Even Yugo's Clear Wing Synchro Dragon called me that. And why do I have the ability to summon real monsters?"
"You have that and other multiple abilities because you are special."
"How am I special?"
"Allow me to answer your question with another of my own. Have you ever felt power surges coursing through you or felt differently?" Stardust Dragon asked.
Ash gave away a thoughtful look on his face. "Now that you mentioned it. After my Turbo Duel against Yugo, while we were being chased by Security, I did feel a sharp pain on my back and found myself back in Maiami. And during my Duel against Declan I somehow felt more acrobatic and what happened there wasn't really me. What does that have to do with my questions?"
"Did you check your back after those Duels?"
Ash shook his head. "No." He then suddenly felt the same searing pain on his back making him groan.
"You might want to take a look at your back this time." Stardust Dragon suggested.
Ash barely managed to turn his head to his back. He couldn't make it out, but it looks like there was a glowing mark that was in the shape of a some sort of crimson red dragon. The head on the left next to the tail on the right, a hand also on the left above the head holding a heart, a foot also on the right above the tail, wings that are on different sides, and the whole body connecting the parts.
"Is this-" Ash began with wide eyes.
"That is the Seal of the Crimson Dragon." Stardust Dragon answered getting the boy's attention again.
"But how? I thought that the full mark can only occur when a Signer takes control of all the Marks of the Dragon."
"That is normally the case, but you're different. You've had that mark since you were born."
"A birthmark, huh?" Ash turned back to see the glow dim down so it can't be seen through his pajamas. "Why do I have the mark and the powers of the Crimson Dragon?" He asked turning his attention back to Stardust Dragon.
"Because you are the Crimson Dragon. An incarnation of the mighty god." Stardust Dragon answered shocking the now revealed incarnation of a god.
Ash was speechless. He literally didn't know what to say. Throughout his life he was an incarnation of a powerful dragon god. There was only one thing he can say. "That would explain why you and Clear Wing Synchro Dragon called me 'my lord' or 'my liege'." Really? That was it?
"I'm sure that you need some time to take it all in."
"I probably do." Ash replied with a nod. "Another thing though. How come I can see and hear you, but Yuya couldn't?"
"That's another one of your abilities. You have the ability to speak to Duel Monster spirits including me." Stardust Dragon explained.
"Really?"
"Indeed."
Ash looked excited. If he had his Deck right now he could've brought the Pikachu card out. "That means I can speak to Pikachu or any of my other monsters? This is great! I can see Pikachu again! I can't wait to tell him all of this!"
"Actually. You can't." Stardust Dragon replied sounding a bit sad.
Ash looked confused at that statement. "Why not?"
"I hate to tell you this. Those Pokémon Duel Monsters cards. They don't actually have the spirits of them inside."
"What?"
"Arceus created those cards from your memory. They don't contain the spirits of the Pokémon they represent. You can't really see or speak to them like the rest of us." Stardust Dragon finished.
Ash looked sad and disappointed at the explanation. "So the only way to see them outside of their cards is when I summon them whether in a Duel or use my power."
"I'm afraid so, my lord."
"So I can see Pikachu again, just not in spirit form like you and only when I summon him, but he can't communicate with me. It's not the same, but I can live."
"I'm glad to hear you say that, my liege."
Ash smiled. "We're friends from now on Stardust. Just call me Ash."
Stardust Dragon moved its eyes up to Ash. "As you wish Ash, my friend." Ash nodded still smiling. "I think we've gone far enough Ash. Let us go back so you can get some sleep."
"Wait. I need to know about the Shining Star cards including Shining Star Dragon." Ash said as Stardust Dragon made a u-turn still over the city.
"That's going to be answered for another time."
"Why?"
"Trust me. You're not ready for that information yet. You still need to absorb the fact that you are the incarnation of the Crimson Dragon." Stardust Dragon answered.
"You can't tell me anything?"
"I can tell you this. Shining Star Dragon is one of my evolved forms."
Ash nodded. "That's great to know. One more thing. Since I am an incarnation of a god and gods are immortal, does that make me immortal as well?"
"That's... also for another time." Stardust Dragon answered as it kept flying over the city.
In the Leo Corporation building, back to the monitor room, Declan just entered using the elevated platform alone to see Claude and the other employees looking towards him as he walked to his chair.
"Sir. I know this is off topic, but there is something you need to know." A male employee stated.
"Make it quick." Declan plainly said.
"Yes sir. During your Duel with Ash we have detected other powerful summons besides his Pendulum Summon." The male employee said typing on the keyboard along with everyone else but Declan and Claude.
Suddenly a webpage with a map of the city with red shockwaves appeared on the screen. "This is how powerful Ash's Pendulum Summon was."
"We already saw." Claude stated.
"It's fine." Declan said dismissing Claude's comment which the latter nodded. "Continue."
"Take a look at Ash's Synchro and Fusion Summons." A female employee stated typing with the others again. Two more webpages with the same map appeared, but nothing's different about the shockwaves. They are practically the same.
This peaked Delcan's interest. "They have the same power as his Pendulum Summon."
"Exactly. We don't know how this is possible. I suspect that Ash could be aligned with our enemies or others."
"It's too soon for us to come to a conclusion." The male employee countered typing on the keyboard. "Be prepared for what you are about to see." Another webpage with the same map appeared on the screen. This particular one has all the haywire shockwaves that they detected today shocking Declan and Claude.
"What in the world-?!" Claude exclaimed in shock.
"We had the same reaction when we detected it. The whole alarm went off." The female employee said.
"This is-" Declan began.
"Yes sir. This is Ash's Xyz Summon. And the most powerful one we've ever seen." The male employee confirmed.
"How could this be?!" Claude exclaimed.
"We're not really sure, but we also suspect that Ash's origin of summon is Xyz." The female employee stated.
"But we can't explain how the other methods also be so powerful." The male employee added. "We will investigate this right away!"
"No." Declan said as everyone look at him confused as he stood up. "This is worth investigating, but not now. Just keep focusing on finding Professor Marco."
"Yessir!" Everyone else saluted as Declan got on the platform as it was moving down.
'I thought something wasn't right. When Ash summoned Shining Star Dragon I can feel the shockwaves stronger than any even with a Solid Vison.' Declan thought as he walked down the hallway. 'Just what exactly are you Ash?'
At the Maiami Second Middle School Ash, Yuya, and Yuzu are currently out sitting on a bench with Yuzu in the middle of the two boys as Yuya opened his Duel Monsters card lunchbox and looked at the inside of the top that has an image of Sky Magician holding its three rings.
"Watch me, dad! I'll sharpen my skills and become a pro just like you! I'll make everyone smile with the best entertainment dueling!" Yuya said as Yuzu was watching him holding her own lunch basket. Ash didn't bring any lunch as he was still processing that Stardust Dragon told him that he was the incarnation of the mighty Crimson Dragon. "And with that, time to dig in! All right! I'm gonna do, do, do it!" Yuya then went to eat his lunch like he was in a hurry messily snapping Ash out of his daze. "I'm gonna become, become, become a pro!"
"Hey! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Yuzu retorted.
'Man. And I thought I had bad table manners. Which is ironic because we are not at a table.' Ash thought with a smile.
Suddenly a handkerchief was offered to Yuzu making her and Ash to look up to see a boy seemingly Yuya and Yuzu's age with short brown and blonde hair, styled in layers wearing the male school uniform. The boy was putting off a polite smile with a bow. "Hey there."
"Sawatari!" Yuzu exclaimed turning her head with a scoff refusing the handkerchief.
"So that's Silvio Sawatari." Ash muttered.
"Sheesh, you're so uncouth in front of a lady!" Silvio said putting the handkerchief in his pocket and looking at Yuya. "Your eating habits and Dueling are both so dirty!"
"Dirty?!" Yuya exclaimed. "My eating habits aside, what about my Dueling is dirty?!"
"Yeah! If anyone here played dirty it's you, you sleaze ball." Ash insulted.
Silvio angrily turn towards Ash. "What was that?!"
"Oh sorry." Ash remarked mockingly. "I didn't introduce myself. My name is Ash."
"Yeah. I know your name, new guy."
"At least I'm a real Duelist." Ash snared making Silvio cringe.
Silvio composed himself and turned his attention back to Yuya. "I heard you ambushed someone again."
The three on the bench were shocked at that. "That wasn't Yuya though!" Yuzu countered. "But... what do you mean again?!"
Silvio put up a serious look on his face. "An LDS lecturer was attacked... by a man who uses Xyz Summons."
The three on the bench widened their eyes. 'That must be the same person I heard from Declan's talk.' Ash thought.
"I was kidding about you being the culprit this time. The victim this time was an LDS teacher. You couldn't have beaten him even with those cowardly Pendulum Summons." Silvio said focusing back to Yuya.
"Cowardly?!" Yuya exclaimed angrily. "Just how is my Pendulum Summoning cowardly?!"
"The fact that only you possess it is unfair!" Silvio said making Ash chuckle. "What's so funny?" He asked turning to Ash who was standing up.
"You call Yuya a coward when the real coward around here was you." Ash snorted.
"What?" Silvio hissed.
"And by the way, he isn't the only one to use Pendulum Summon." Ash said taking Espeon and Umbreon out revealing the Pendulum Cards to the arrogant boy.
To say that Silvio was surprised was an understatement. "How did you-? Where did you get those Pendulum Cards?!"
"I was just in the neighborhood and I found them out of nowhere." Yuya and Yuzu sweat dropped thinking that not even Silvio was gonna fall for the lie.
Fortunately for Ash, Silvio was oblivious that it was a lie as he was trying to reach for the Pendulum Cards. "Could I, possibly, hold those cards?"
Ash quickly pocketed his Pendulum Cards before Silvio's hand got close. "Sorry, but I'm not falling for that trick. You're just gonna take them like you did to Yuya."
"Dammit." Silvio suddenly smirked. "No matter. Still you two are the only ones to use Pendulum Summons. But that'll end soon. There are rumors that Leo Corporation is independently developing Pendulum Cards. I'm going to get my hands on those and defeat you!" He challenged pointing to Yuya. "That's all I came here to say, see ya. I'll be waiting at the Junior Youth Championship."
Yuya looked confused. "Junior Youth Championship?" He then turned it to a shocked face. "Th-that's right! As I am now, I can't become a pro!"
"What's the Junior Youth Championship?" Ash asked sitting down.
Yuzu turned to her new friend with a smile. "It's one of the three categories of the Maiami Championship. Each Duelist faces in a different category depending their age. The categories are the Junior division, Junior Youth, and finally Youth. Me and Yuya are 14 and you're 15 so we are in Junior Youth."
Ash nodded in understanding. "I see. So we may have to face each other. Of course." He then sighed with the feeling of déjà vu crawling in him.
When school was over Ash, Yuya, and Yuzu went to the front gate to be greeted by Ally, Tate, and Frederick. "Had fun at school?" Futoshi asked.
"Let's hurry up and get to Duel Sch..." Before Tate finished the three kids noticed Yuya looking like he's on a slump as he sighed sadly. "What's wrong Yuya?"
"He's upset because he hasn't been qualified to enter the Maiami Junior Youth Championship." Ash answered as the group walked together from the middle school.
"You're not qualified?" Frederick exclaimed.
"For the Junior Youth Championship?" Ally added.
"That's right." Yuya said still slumping. "In order to qualify you need to have at least 50 matches with a 60% win rate."
"What's your current record?" Ash asked.
"46 matches with 26 wins." Yuya answered.
"So that's... 26 divided by 46..." Tate muttered doing math in his head. "56.5. You're right, it's not enough."
"Wow, Tate, you're fast at math!" Frederick praised.
"But you still have four matches until 50 right? If you win all of them you'll have 30 wins, putting you to a 60% ratio, right?"
"That's right, but-" Yuzu began.
"We searched around school for those last four, but they refused since he beat the Sledgehammer. One student said that he should have gotten a free pass into the championship." Ash answered.
"I didn't get a free pass at all!" Yuya yelled. "That was just an exhibition match, everyone's getting the wrong idea! I don't even have pro qualifications yet!"
"In order to be a pro, you have to win the Junior Youth Championship." Tate began.
"Then pass the Youth Exam and win the Youth Championship." Frederick added.
"And then you have to pass the Pro test right?" Ally finished.
"And to think that I can't take that important first step forward!" Yuya exclaimed in disappointment. "Dammit! If it's come to this, I'll just find four people and duel them!" He then got an idea after looking and counting his friends.
"That's a no!" Ally refused holding up her hand.
"No way!" Frederick added crossing his arms to an 'X'.
"Why?!" Yuya exclaimed.
"Because we're elementary schoolers and we're still in Junior class!" Tate answered. "Junior Youth is for middle schoolers!"
"Then, how about you Yuzu?" Yuya asked looking towards Yuzu.
"I'm saying no too." Yuzu answered.
"Why?!"
"Because I've already qualified. And besides we've had plenty of practice matches. What's the point of playing now?"
Yuya then turned to Ash with some hope left. "Then that leaves you Ash. How about it?"
"Sorry Yuya." Ash answered shocking Yuya again.
"Not you too!"
"This is the first dueling tournament I will enter and I want to save true rivals like you for the actual championship. Besides you've seen my win against Declan. Do you really want to take such a big risk?"
"Are you saying I won't be able to defeat you?!" Yuya exclaimed before staring into Ash's intense stare. "I guess you're right." He sighed. "Then who else is there?!"
"How about getting Gongenzaka to help you?" Yuzu suggested. "It's thanks to the Gongenzaka Dojo that you've gotten most of your matches this past year right?"
Yuya sighed once again. "I'm thankful for that. He always has helped me whenever I needed it. Even the fact that I'm aiming to become a pro now is thanks to Gongenzaka." He explained as everyone else was watching him in amazement. "But that's exactly why I don't want to rely on him anymore! Instead, I have to become someone who Gongenzaka can rely on! With my own strength!"
"With your own..." Yuzu suddenly smiled. "You're right!" She then began to run off.
"Hey! What're you doing!"
"Don't worry about it!" Yuzu answered looking back while running. "I just thought that I want to get stronger too!"
"Stronger?"
"Yuzu?" Ally called.
"What about Duel School?" Tate yelled.
"Tell my dad I won't be going today!" Yuzu answered from the distance.
"What's up with her?" Yuya questioned.
"I have no idea." Ash admitted. "Which reminds me. I'm not going to make it either."
"Why?" Ally asked as she and everyone else turned to him.
"I'm going to get into more Duels so I can qualify for the championship."
"But you just came here not too long ago and only did three Duels. First that Shadow guy." Tate began.
"Then that Duelist you were busy with during the duel between schools." Ally added.
"And finally the CEO of Leo Corporation Declan." Futoshi finished.
"See? That's three matches. You would need 47 more and your win rate must be at 60% to qualify. There's no way you can do it before the championship start." Tate deduced.
"Hold on. That's not the only way." Yuya said making everyone look at him.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"There's another requirement to enter the Maiami Championship. Other than the first one we talked about you can be qualified if you have six consecutive wins in Duels." Yuya explained.
"Six consecutive wins? I have to win six Duels straight and not lose?"
"Yeah. Not only did you participate in three matches, you won them too. Just three more straight wins and you qualify."
Ash nodded. "Got it." He then ran past the three little kids.
"Wait! I didn't say-" Yuya didn't finish the sentence as Ash was already gone. "Geez." He sighed.
'Three matches and wins left.' Ash thought while shifting from running to walking. 'I neglected to tell them that I won another Duel before Daisuke at the day Silvio Sawatari was attacked when I was defending Serena from that mysterious guy.'
Ash suddenly widened his eyes at the thought of Serena and stopped walking. "Crap!" He exclaimed bringing out the Shining Star Dragon card from his Duel Disk. "When I first met Serena I didn't have Shining Star Dragon. I didn't even have Stardust Dragon or White Kyurem. What am I gonna tell her when we meet again and finds out I now have an Xyz Monster? She'll probably think I lied to her and would want to duel me since she was targeting Xyz Users. And I'm an Xyz User."
Ash sighed pocketing Shining Star Dragon. "I probably shouldn't be worried about that right now. If that last Duel counts then I should have just two more wins left, but I'll do three to be sure." He then moved forward.
The incarnation of the Crimson Dragon found himself in the midst of the city hoping to find three people to beat to get into the Junior Youth Championship. "Okay! Time to find three Duelists and defeat them to enter the championship!"
"You should know that it doesn't work like that." Ash frantically turned around to see Yuzu standing behind him smiling.
"Hey Yuzu." Ash greeted fully turning his body toward Yuzu. "What're you doing following me? I thought you were going to get 'stronger' whatever that means."
Yuzu looked nervous as she put her two hands behind her back. "That's actually what I want to talk to you about."
"What is it?" Ash asked gesturing Yuzu to continue.
Yuzu turned to her right with her hands still behind her back. "As you know I lost my match against Julia Krystal during the duel between schools."
"I know and I'm sure you did the best you could. And besides we won the Duel."
"I am glad that we beat LDS and saved You Show Duel School, but I'm disappointed in myself for letting Julia beat me." Yuzu replied turning her body back to Ash.
"That wasn't your fault!"
"Easy for you to say! You didn't meet the Yuya look-alike!"
"If I did I wouldn't let it keep me from focusing on my Duels!" Ash retorted with honest truth as he already met another boy who looks like Yuya, Yugo, and didn't bother him in his Duels. "That aside, what is this about you getting stronger?"
Yuzu sighed releasing her hands from her back. "I want to get better so I can protect the You Show Duel School and everyone else in it. So I decided to take upon Fusion Summoning."
"Really? That's great!" Ash exclaimed with an excited smile.
"Yeah. Except that I don't know how to Fusion Summon."
"Oh."
Yuzu then suddenly looked nervous as she put her left hand over the spot where her heart is blushing a little. "And since you're a Fusion User, I thought that maybe... I don't know... teach me."
Ash was astonished by that and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Oh jeez. I'd love to, but... I'm also new to Fusion. There's not much I can teach you."
"Oh, okay." Yuzu sighed dejectedly.
"And besides I would probably be a terrible teacher." Ash added with a chuckle. "Hey! Why don't you go ask Sora? I mean, after all, he is the Fusion expert among us!"
Yuzu nodded composing herself. "I was just about to do that."
"Then why did you make me your first choice?"
That question made Yuzu feel embarrassed as she tried to change the subject. "I better go find Sora!"
"Wait! I'm coming with you!" Ash stated making Yuzu confused.
"Why?"
"Because I think I will learn a few things from Sora since I am also new to Fusion."
"What about your qualifications to the Junior Youth Championship?"
"I have plenty of time. They're not going anywhere." With that Ash and Yuzu walked off together to find Sora.
Both Ash and Yuzu found themselves at the LDS building with Yuzu's lead. There they found Sora at the front and ran up to him. "I knew you'd be here!" Yuzu said getting the Fusion user's attention. "The reason you haven't been to Duel School is because you were after Declan, right?"
"Ah no, I'm not after him! I'm just-" Sora began frantically, but got interfered by Yuzu.
"Just like when you approached Yuya, whenever you get interested in someone you just go after them!" Yuzu deduced.
Sora blushed a little from embarrassment and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "That's because he seems really interesting! The way he just slammed out Fusion, Synchro, Xyz, and Pendulum like that!" He then moved his eyes to Ash. "And I'm not gonna forget you Ash! You can also do all these summons! You are just as amazing!"
"Uh, thank you." Ash said sheepishly.
"But still, Declan is not someone you can get close to that easily." Yuzu said.
"Because he's the Leo Corporation's president, right?" Sora asked dejectedly.
"Oh, you actually know! Anyways, come with me!" Yuzu grabbed Sora's arm and ran with Ash dragging Sora with them.
"Wait! Where are we going?!"
"Just come with us!" Ash added.
"Tell me now!"
Unbeknownst to the three the same boy further warehouses, without his goggles to reveal gray eyes, was watching them from an alleyway still a bit suspicious of Ash as if he knew him. 'Satoshi. Is this where you've been the entire time?' He thought as he followed them.
Ash and Yuzu led Sora inside one of the warehouses where Ash first met Yugo and where Silvio Sawatari was attacked by an Xyz user. "Why'd you bring me to a place like this?" Sora asked as Yuzu closed the door.
Yuzu began to walk towards Sora and when she got close she bowed clapping her hands together. "Please! Teach me how to use Fusion Summoning!"
"Huh? Here?"
"Yes!"
"Why?"
"I want to get stronger! I'm not enough as I am right now!" Yuzu pleaded.
"Are you still upset that you lost to that lady?"
"Yeah." Ash answered. "Even though I beat Declan and saved our school it is not enough to cheer her up."
"Ash was strong enough to defeat Declan. I want to become strong enough to protect You Show too!" Yuzu declared. "I want to win against Julia Krystal! That's why-"
"You want a Fusion user like me to teach you? Is that it?" Sora asked.
"Yes, so I'm begging you!" Yuzu admitted bowing once again. "Teach me!"
"Well..." Sora shifted his eyes toward Ash once again. "What about you? You want me to teach you too?"
"I just want to know a few more things about Fusion since I am... you know, inexperienced." Ash replied.
"But Ash, using a monster from your Graveyard as Fusion Material is an advanced technique and you can manage to do it. And you know the basics. What else do you need to know?"
Ash shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. There must be other ways to Fusion Summon."
"Well... What should I do?"
Again, unbeknownst to them the same boy was listening while hiding behind a metal crate. By the look in his eyes it looked like he was conflicted. 'So Satoshi knows how to use Fusion. This can't be! But it is him! It's definitely Satoshi, my best friend! I know that pendant anywhere! Could it be-? Did he learn the summon while he was here?' He thought frantically.
Ash closed his eyes and breathed out to gather his focus as Sora was explaining the basics to Yuzu. He then suddenly sharply sensed the boy's presence from behind the metal crate as did Sora as he ran and leaped slipping his Duel Disk on his wrist.
"What is this?" Ash muttered out as the chase scene was commencing.
A few moments later Sora and the masked boy bounced off each end of the wall and activated their Duel Disks to reveal Sora's blue blade and the masked boy's purple blade. They clashed with sparks flying as each tried to push the other back. They then landed on their feet to the ground and leaped away and intensely stared at each other. Ash noticed the boy's Duel Disk is in a irregular shape with smaller, rounder screen and a purple body like his blade.
"And just who are you?" Sora questioned sternly. There was no reply from the boy and Sora asked another question with a smirk. "You're not from here are you?"
"Neither are you." The boy retorted.
"Yuzu! That's the guy you talked about, right?" Ash asked looking at Yuzu unknowingly getting an attention from the masked boy.
Yuzu nodded. "Yeah. The Xyz user who attacked Sawatari."
Ash nodded in understatement and focused his attention to the masked boy. "Are you behind the next attack?!"
The boy widened his eyes in shock. 'He doesn't recognize me?'
"Another attack?" Sora asked confused.
"Apparently an LDS teacher was attacked." Yuzu answered.
"An LDS? That explains why there were so many guards. So you're the culprit then?!" Sora accused pointing a finger to the boy. Again no reply from him.
"Just who are you?" Yuzu asked. "Was your Duel with Sawatari to save me?"
"Or do you have a grudge with LDS?" Ash added.
"That's..." The boy began.
"So you're the culprit!" A familiar voice exclaimed making Ash, Sora, and Yuzu turned to the entrance which was opened.
"Julia Krystal!" Yuzu exclaimed.
"What did you do to Professor Marco?!" Julia sternly questioned walking in. "Answer me!"
"What are you doing here?" Ash asked.
"I thought I might find something if I went to the scene of the first incident. But if you were lurking here all along, you saved me the trouble of searching!" Julia answered slipping on her blue body Duel Disk.
"Wait! I'm still talking to him!" Yuzu exclaimed.
"I've got things to say to him first!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Besides there is no proof that he is the culprit!" Ash added.
"Once we see whether he uses Xyz or not we'll know the truth!" Julia responded.
"Xyz?" Sora suddenly smirked turning back to the masked boy. "Oh is that so?"
"I'll find out myself! Duel me!" Julia declared activating her Duel Disk to reveal an orange blade.
Suddenly Ash ran over to the masked boy surprising everyone. "There's no need to Duel! Who are you?!" He asked grabbing the masked boy's shoulders. When he did he felt a sharp pain in his head as some images appeared in it. He let go of the shoulders and face palmed moaning in pain.
"Ash!" Yuzu exclaimed.
'Ash?' The boy thought confused although not really looking like it.
"What's wrong?!" Sora added.
Ash shook his head to shake off the pain and looked towards the masked boy. "What...?"
"Do you remember me?" The boy asked.
"Remember... you?" Suddenly Yuzu's bracelet glowed pink surprising everyone as they shielded their eyes. When the glow died they all saw that the boy disappeared. "He's gone!"
"It's just like back then." Yuzu muttered.
"Hey Yuzu!" Yuya's voice called out getting everyone but Ash's attention. "If you're there, answer me!" Yuzu, Sora, and Julia turned to see Yuya's at the entrance.
"Yuya!"
"Ah, Yuzu! Thank goodness, your father was worried and sent me to find you! What're you doing out her again and not answering your phone?" Yuya asked.
"Yuya Sakaki?! So you really are with them!" Julia accused.
Yuya was shocked at seeing Julia. "Huh? You're-! Wait, Sora too? And Ash? What's going on here?"
Julia suddenly grabbed Yuya by the color angrily. "Where did you hide him?!"
"Him?"
"Don't play dumb! Hurry up and get him!"
"I'm telling you! I don't know who he is!"
"Hold on!" Yuzu said pushing Yuya and Julia apart. "You really don't know?" She asked Yuya.
"You too, Yuzu? What're you talking about?"
Yuzu didn't reply as she looked at her bracelet. "Just like before. When he disappeared Yuya showed up."
Yuya looked confused. "He?"
"Give it a rest and get him already!" Julia exclaimed angrily.
Yuya looked towards Ash with hope. "Ash! Back me up here!"
"He saw the whole thing!" Julia exclaimed looking back to Ash with Yuzu. "Ain't that right?!"
Ash didn't answer as he was staring blankly into space with one thought and he whispered it. "Yuto? What was that about?"
"Ah! There he is!" Sora exclaimed making everyone turn to the entrance to see him pointing toward a direction. "I saw him just now! He ran that way! Hurry up and catch him or he's going to get away again!"
"Dammit!" Julia exclaimed pushing Yuya aside and ran to the direction Sora was pointing. "You won't escape!" With that she was gone.
"Was someone there?" Yuya asked as Ash joined them.
"I lied. If she hung around, she'd get in the way of our training." Sora answered.
Yuya looked confused at that statement. "Training? Here with Yuzu and Ash?"
"Yeah! Yuzu said for sure she'll..." Sora didn't finished as he saw Yuzu staring at her bracelet. "Did you want to keep the Fusion lessons a secret from Yuya too?"
"Yuzu learning Fusion?! So this is for the Junior Youth Championship?" Yuya then remembered something. "Oh yeah! Yuzu, I found my next four opponents! Well, actually someone found them for me, but Nico Smiley helped me out with it!"
"That's great Yuya!" Ash exclaimed excitedly as Yuzu smiled looking at Yuya.
"Yeah. That's good." Yuzu said.
"Yeah! All I have to do is win them all! I'll definitely be fighting in the Junior Youth Championship!" Yuya exclaimed excitedly.
"Hey. You've been talking about these championships. What are they?" Sora asked. While Yuya explained the necessities to enter the Maiami Championship Ash and Yuzu were still processing on what happened here, but with different thoughts.
At night at the LDS building another cloaked figure with goggles and scarf over his mouth was standing a different roof with practically the same Duel Disk as the other masked boy scanning at the LDS building as the breeze blew through his hair and clothes.
And done!
Thank you all for your patience. You know I can't just work on this anytime. There might be video games I would want to play or try out. And did it occur to you all that I have other stories and I might just be working on them?
Anyway, how would you all like Ash to have his own, personal Overlay Network when he Xyz Summons his Shining Star Dragon?
Read & Review!