(Star)I woke up with a slight headache to the morning sun. I found myself in a guest room of some mansion, but it wasn't the one from my vision, thankfully. Since it was morning, I got up and found some other clothes on the dresser. I got dressed in a purple long-sleeved shirt and dark blue leggings.

I heard no voices in the entire house, and there wasn't any minds in the house, either. But at my bedside, there was this note that was probably from the boy who brought me here. I read the note to get whatever info I could. This is what it said:

In case I'm not at my house when you wake up, this should tell you enough about me for now. My name is Reginald "Shark" Kastle, age 14. I'm participating in the World Duel Carnival in Heartland City. If I'm not here, then I'm over at the Heartland Dueling stadium in the tournament finals. However, I left you some food out in the kitchen for when you wake up.

If you're wondering why I didn't bring you to the hospital, blame my duel monster, Black Ray Lancer. For whatever reason, he told me not to bring you there. I don't have a clue about why he didn't want me to though, so don't bother asking. Anyway, when I see you again, I'll tell you more.

I was a little surprised that the boy had a name like Shark. It must've been some sort of moniker, from his dueling deck, I suppose? So, I went downstairs and found some food on the table. I ate what I wanted and threw out the trash after. For some reason, a strange indigo mist made a duel set appear on my body: d-pad, deck, case, and belt. All of the gear was indigo, and the d-pad had a strange shape, like a crystal shard. The deck already had plenty of cards for a well-made Dark-attribute Dragon/Spellcaster deck. In the front of the extra deck, there was an Xyz card with a picture of a misty, indigo dragon with silver, pupil-less eyes. The card's name said, "Yinlong". As I held the card, I heard a slight, feminine roar from the card. Shrugging it off and putting the card back into the case, I put on some black slip on shoes and silently left the house.

Wandering through the town, I tried to get my bearings of this city. I can't remember much of the show, given my time away from it. But I soon came across another mansion, the one from my vision. I was in the shadow of the large mansion. I looked up to the top of the mansion, but started to to feel a dull throb working its way up my spine. Once it got to the back of my neck, pain seared through my head, with images flashing in front of me. I went down on my knees as I saw two boys standing on the top of a nearby building. Not far away, I was standing on the same building, talking to the two of them. The sun was too bright for me to see their faces, but from where I was standing, they didn't seem to pose a threat.

The vision faded back to me kneeling on the ground, shaking. I quickly shook off the vision that took me by surprise and looked back at the mansion. Something was telling me to go inside. I walked deeper into the building's shadow, and next thing I knew, I was in the mansion's second floor.

I was in a large, shadowed room with three beds at the center. Inside each bed was a boy in PJs, and if I remembered correctly, they were the boys from last night's vision. They were all unconscious, with no sign of waking up anytime soon. I approached the bed on the right, in which laid the oldest of the trio. I gingerly brushed at his bangs; and where I touched him, light filled the entire room. Within mere seconds, everything was enveloped in pale blue light, and not long after...

I was suddenly standing in some kind of room, with the same boy I touched, fully clothed, standing in front of me. Both of us had a side in the room; his was a blue-walled bedroom, mine was what was once my room in the suburb. I was suddenly full of wisdom I didn't know I had. This wisdom made me realize that this was a mind-meeting, a telepathic connection created when two similar souls meet. The boy opened his eyes, revealing royal blue irises. He then looked me over with his eyes, clearly suspicious of a stranger before him.

You seem rather familiar. Who might you be?, he inquired curiously. I may have been mute, but somehow we could still communicate via telepathy.

My name is Star, I told in reply, feeling my memories show behind my back.

I am Quinton, the long, silver-haired male told me. I looked through Quinton's memories, seeing his entire backstory as they filled every wall of the room. Several familiar scenes flashed in front of me, along with a familiar secret.

I know that isn't your true name, I told him with a slight glare, it is Christopher.

The eldest brother looked rather startled that I knew his real name. How do you know that? he asked in shock.

I coolly replied, I have powers, Quinton, as do you.

I know things of your family that even you don't know. For instance, the fact that your father wishes to take my powers. However, he refuses to accept that there's a good chance that his plan will prove suicidal.

What is that supposed to mean?

Multiple times, people like your father have tried to get their hands on the powers of my kind, the Shadow Roamers. But more often than not, the targeted Shadow Roamer was the only one to make it out alive.

I remember many news stories of situations as such in my old suburban home. Every time someone so much as tried to take a Shadow Roamer's powers, an explosion of "unknown origin" killed the thief. No doubt Quinton saw all of the stories in my side of this mind-meeting room.

We truly aren't unlike each other, Quinton. In the topic of what our parents put us through your case is no different from mine. In terms of the powers we both possess, we see each other as equals. I wish to see that your two younger brothers also view me as such.

There is also one more thing I would like to show you. I showed a vision that I remember having when I was little. It was what could've happened if this "Dr. Faker" didn't betray the Arclight family. It was a very gentle scene. Quinton was mentoring his former pupil, Kite, on a couch in a living room. Kite's younger brother Hart was back from the kitchen with the youngest brother, Trey. Quattro, the middle brother, was just looking out the window, but he had no scar on his face. All the while, their father - what he used to look like - was happily watching over the whole scene. It didn't take words to tell him, If nothing bad happened back then, this is how it would be now.

By the way, I asked, why aren't you able to wake up?

My crest has drained every bit of strength that I had to help my father. But now I see he has become utterly heartless; undoubtedly my brother Quattro thinks the same.

I see why; the middle child is often seen as the most resentful of the brood, but is also most resilient in the end. Not only that, but like me, none of you have felt love for a long time now.

At this point, both Quinton and I began to feel the room begin to fade. It is time for both of us to go now, Quinton. But before we do, promise me that you won't forget me. And be kind to my people, for we aren't what you believe. All right?

Yes, I promise I'll remember you.

Good, then until we meet again... and with that, we turned and left the mind-meeting, and both went back to reality.

I opened my eyes to find myself back in the room where I first got into the house. I was glad that I found someone who could understand me in this city. But I didn't want to risk being seen when I still needed to get my voice back. I also couldn't leave these comatose boys unprotected and at their father's mercy. So I concentrated on the entire room's perimeter. I visualized a barrier going up and down every opening, firmly sealing off the crest of the boys' father. As soon as I concentrated hard enough, words appeared in my head: Shadow Seal. Not long after, a thin, purple-blue veil of light covered the walls, forming a shield around the room and doorway.

I figured that me and the boys were safe for now, but I still wanted to stand guard just in case. I went over to one of the high ledges in the room that I could climb up to, and sat up there. The entire place was awfully quiet. At that point I decided to do something I hadn't done since I was little. I closed my eyes and opened my mouth... and I sang.

"I remember tears streaming down your face when I said, 'I'll never let you go'; when all those shadows almost killed your light; I remember you said, 'don't leave me here alone'; but all that's dead and gone and past tonight.

"Just close your eyes, the sun is going down; you'll be alright, no one can hurt you now; come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.

"Don't you dare look out your window, darling everything's on fire; the war outside our door keeps raging on; hold on to this lullaby; even when the music's gone, gone.

"Just close your eyes, the sun is going down; you'll be alright, no one can hurt you now; come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.

"Just close your eyes; you'll be alright; come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound..."

I was amazed that at myself for once again being able to sing. But that joy was short-lived when I started to hear something roaring just down the hall. I leaped down from the ledge and silently dashed to the entrance to see what was causing the noise. I peeked out to see a large duel monster with a crest on its head and a purple 69 printed on its left horn. I recognized this monster from Quinton's memories; his father's ace monster, Number 69: Heraldry Crest. That monster feeds off of anger from people, and Vetrix seemed to be looking for his own sons' resentment.

Strangely, Heraldry Crest, as large and loud as it was, didn't seem to be attracting any outside attention. That must have meant either the walls were thicker than I thought, or he was a duel spirit and no one could see or hear him other than me. And judging by it being translucent, my guess would be the latter. I slowly backed into the room, into the safety of my Shadow Seal. But the grunts and growls from Heraldry Crest just kept getting closer. And things only got worse when it attacked the barrier.

The moment the monster clawed at the barrier, I started to feel violent slashing pain in my back and sides. I screamed in pain every time its claws and the shield connected. I knew it wouldn't hold for long, so I used my powers to create a portal, sending the brothers back to their rooms. Just like before, words appeared in my mind: Shadow Gateway.

As soon as the three disappeared into the portal, I turned back to the Heraldry Crest, who had used Dark Matter Demolition to destroy the seal. I focused my power, and suddenly I was holding a lightweight, indigo spear. The two of us dashed toward each other, me holding my spear straight out in front of me, 69 with its claws bared. I speedily dodged its claws, and with a single leap, skewered it with the spear. But the force of the following explosion forcefully knocked me to the floor of the room. Heraldry Crest was gone, but my spear disappeared, and I was on the floor, without the strength to get up.

I began to hear three voices from just down the hall.

"Help," I managed to call out weakly, "Is anyone out there?"

Whoever was out there, they must have heard me, because of the running sounds that followed. I was able to hear three different minds not far away, all were boys. One was quiet and gentle, and in a state of shock that I was here. Another was stunned with a slight amount of curiosity. Finally, the last one was bursting with upset emotion and recognition: Quinton.

"Star!" I heard Quinton's voice call in anguish, along with more running. I heard him fall to his knees right next to me, full of sorrow in his mind. I could feel warm hands turning me to my back, lifting my upper body as I placed my head on his shoulder. Another hand brushed my bangs, uncovering my half-open eyes. But none of them expected a long scar from when I was ten that went over my left eye and under my right which was also unveiled.

Lying in his arms, I could feel Quinton's thoughts working a mile per second. At his present speed, he was easily able to figure out what happened. He realized I sent the three of them to their rooms with the Shadow Gateway spell. Then I could face off against Heraldry Crest without worrying about them. He was also able to tell that there was an explosion that carved a 69-shaped trench into the floor. And said explosion was the reason why I wasn't able to move.

"You saved my brothers and me from our father," I heard Quinton whisper to me, "Didn't you, Star?"

I gathered up my strength to whisper, "Yes," in reply. I saw the glint of tears in the silver-haired male's eyes as he smiled at me. I softly smiled at him and his two younger brothers, who I know are Quattro and Trey. I started to feel myself drifting off to sleep again. Before I passed out completely, I heard his voice whisper, "Thank you, Star."