A/N: Hello, people~! Here's another chapter of Arc-V N' Nature! There won't be any dueling in this chapter, but there will be some surprises here~
Disclaimer. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh Arc-V. I do own Qing and the made up cards in her deck and made up Action Cards. My beta reader, Generalhyna, owns Sakaki Bella and her deck. And I also don't own the song my OC sings in this chapter. And yes, I'll be adding some songs in this story once a while as well as putting an opening from this chapter forward. DON'T QUESTION ME! And before anyone ask about the opening, it's Hands Up.
*OPENING*
Now it's time to raise your hands up! Sing about your dreams now!
Always stand up! Raise your unbreakable flag!
We've made it past so many walls to get here
Now let's head for the future! Hands up!
(The background was completely white. Sketches of the You Show Duelists, Gongenzaka, and Yoko were being drawn. After they were drawn out, they were colored and toned, becoming fully animated as they seemed to be partying at someplace. The camera pans up into the air above the party as the title forms at the blue sky)
I'll just have to move on a little further and I'll reach the answer
(The scene changed to Yuya practicing his Pendulums then to Yuzu practicing with Sora on Fusion Summons)
I pressed on through this new world believing in that
(Gongenzaka was seen meditating under the waterfall, his way of getting stronger)
That's right, the pieces of our dreams have joined together as one
(Bella was at the park, chatting with her 'Pirate' monsters and her Xyz monster)
Connecting our unwavering bonds, let's head for a bright future!
(Qing was sitting on a rooftop with her six deck boxes before her. She looked up and saw her ace monsters of each deck looking down at her with a smirk, which she returned with her own)
Now it's time to raise your hands up! Sing about your dreams now!
(Yuya and Qing both Pendulum Summoned Odd-Eyes, Stargazer Magician, Naturu Butterfly and Naturu Ragweed, and then Fusion/Synchro Summon Rune-Eyes Pendulum Dragon and Naturu Parkion)
Always stand up! Raise your unbreakable flag!
(Sora and Bella performed their Fusion/Xyz Summon and had out Des-Toy Scissors Bear and Emperor of Hope, Utopia)
We've made it past so many walls to get here
Now let's head for the future!
(Yuzu and Gongenzaka summoned out their monsters and fused/tuned them into their new ace monsters)
Keep looking up! Keep your head held up high!
(There were quick shots of Hokuto to Masumi to Yaiba to Shingo. Shun was then seen looking up at LDS school with a glare on his face)
Always step up! Jump over the waves!
(Behind him stood a hooded female who seemed hesitant to even get close to him)
Carefully linking our wishes together, now let's head for the future!
(Yuto then appeared behind her and gave her some comfort)
We drift forward, riding the waves
meeting people, saying goodbye, and again,
underneath, this flag...
(The scene changed to Qing being in her home world playing Duel Monsters with many other Duelists, meeting the old and new and bidding farewell to those she never saw again)
I keep the pain I don't want to forget in my heart
on that day, I softly carved it into it
(As Qing got older, her best friends were going away, leaving her the only one to play Duel Monsters in the card shop they usually go to)
A freedom that I won't lose to anyone
I grasp it tight in my hands and go!
(She saw a glowing card before her, showing her all the good times she once had in her world and the times she had in the Arc-V world as she reached out to grasp it, engulfing the scene in bright light)
Now it's time to raise your hands up! Sing about your dreams now!
(She found herself in Arc-V world, in the middle of a duel with her friends cheering for her)
Always stand up! Raise your unbreakable flag!
We've made it past so many walls to get here
Now let's head for the future!
(She Pendulum Summoned her monsters and used those monsters to call out her best cards)
Keep looking up! Keep your head held up high!
Always step up! Jump over the waves!
Carefully linking our wishes together, now let's head for the future!
(The scene constantly and quickly went from good scenes at You Show Duel School to Qing declaring an attack, eventually stopped at a scene where her monsters combined their attacks and created fireworks)
Hands up!
(The scene changed to a screenshot of the You Show Duel School gang plus Gongenzaka and Yoko at the front of said Duel School)
It had been a couple of days since the School Duel. Other than Yuya demanding answers from Qing about her other summon methods and where she got her Pendulum Cards and Qing telling him that she was never asked about the other summon methods as well as answering that they just appeared in her deck, things had been normal. After Bella decided to not wear her mask any longer, a fan club for her started in Maiami Middle School. How did Qing, Yuya and Yuzu know this? Some guys in their class were in the said club.
Qing was in a music store in her Maiami school uniform, playing a song on a piano. She found the store sometime after the school duel. As soon as she laid her eyes on a piano, she couldn't resist playing it. Besides Duel Monsters, piano is one of the very few hobbies she enjoyed. The first time she played, the manager of the store listened in and enjoyed the song she was playing. Unbeknownst to the manager, Qing's monsters, in their spirit form, were dancing around the store to some of the upbeat songs. This wasn't just because the manager wasn't a psychic duelist. The same day, Qing heard a child saying he saw dancing insects and live plants and rocks and even a dragon. The only thing that fits those descriptions were her 'Naturu' monsters. Since then, she would wake up early in the morning to play piano without anyone seenig her monsters dancing. The manager was an exception, since he was blind, apparently.
"You know, you don't have to come here every morning," he told Qing.
The manager was a young man, a little younger than Shuzo. He had on a suit and his eyes were closed. His hair was brown and somewhat smooth.
"I want to," she replied, finishing the song.
"Everytime I hear those soft songs you play, my heart is always at ease. Yet, those upbeat songs made my heart want to jump and dance to it." Some of Qing's monsters nodded in agreement.
"I always have that effect on people, when I play a piano at least." It wasn't a lie. Back in her world, when she was younger, everyone enjoyed her playing songs on a piano. Some even suggested that she should be a musician.
"Speaking of which, shouldn't you be heading to school?" the manager brought up.
Qing looked at the time on her Duel Disk. "I have time for one more song."
"Can you play the song you first played when you got here? What was it again... Aishiteru Banzai?"
Qing nodded and played the song. Unlike the other song, though, she was singing along with it.
"I love you, Hooray!
I'm glad to be here, Our present exists right here
I love you, Hooray!
It's only just begun, I'm counting on you again tomorrow, We've yet to reach our goal
Smile, When you're sad let's blow it all away
If you can laugh the scenery will change peeking through the clearing weather
Even when you're unsure the road leading to happiness
Comes into view under the blue sky
Rain falls from time to time but it's harsh without water
Don't wither, Nurture everyone's tree of dreams"
At this point, Qing's monsters all materialized, except the monsters in her Extra Deck and her newly obtained Pendulum Cards. In an instant, the Plant-types used their bodies as makeshift instruments for the Insect-types to play. The Rock-types used their bodies as makeshift drums.
"Now!
I love them, Hooray!
With the courage to never give up let's enjoy the present
I love them, Hooray!
We can do our best so wave goodbye to yesterday and look forward
Push forward, Even if it's difficult I'm by your side
When we push forward the burning sun will illuminate the east
The confusing, mysterious road to the future
Is something we can't say no one knows
The silver light falls into the sudden storm
Don't panic, Everyone's tree of dreams are strong"
At this point, the rest of her deck became materialized. And thankfully, the room was private and big enough to hold them without them crashing anything as they sang, danced and/or played with her.
"Now!
I love you, Hooray!
I'm glad to be here, Our present exists right here
I love you, Hooray!
It's only just begun, I'm counting on you again tomorrow, We've yet to reached our goal
(~Instrumental~)
Rain falls from time to time, The trunks sway in the wind
We'll go together, Nurture everyone's tree of dreams
Now!
I love them, Hooray!
With the courage to never give up let's enjoy the present
I love them, Hooray!
We can do our best so wave goodbye to yesterday and look forward"
At the last note, Qing brought the song to an end, resulting in her monsters disappearing.
"I really do wonder how you do it, Qing. Sounds like people just came in and played and sang along with you," the blind manager said.
"That's a secret~" she replied. "Well, I should get going. See you later!" Qing quickly got her stuff and ran to school.
*MEANWHILE, IN LEO CORP. MONITOR ROOM*
"PENDULUM SUMMON! Appear by my side, my precious allies! Naturu Ragweed! Tuner monster, Naturu Deer! And Naturu Draco!" Reiji was watching a video of his recent duel with Qing, as well as analyzing the waves from the summon methods that she used. From the Pendulum Summon, it was pretty much on par with Yuya's.
"FUSION SUMMON! Appear now! Ferocious land guardian! Naturu Extrio!" He looked at the waves from the Fusion Summon and saw that it was pretty much similar to the waves when Qing performed her Synchro Summon.
"XYZ SUMMON! Rank 6, Naturu Mother Eagle!" After looking at her Xyz Summon, he found it quite strange. Comparing it to her Xyz Summon on Sam, it was much stronger than it. In fact, the summon that time wasn't on the same level as the rest of her summons, including the Xyz Summon that was against him.
'Could it be... that her summon methods are only this strong when she summons those 'Naturu' monsters?' Reiji wondered. Just then, an alarm went off.
"What happened?!" he demanded.
"We detected some unusual waves!" an employee responded.
"It might be that masked Xyz Duelist," Nakajima assumed.
"Where's the duel taking place?" the president of the corporation asked.
"Well you see... There doesn't seem to be any duel going on at this moment!" another employee answered.
"No duel? But that's not possible!"
Before anyone could say anything, the signal was lost as quickly as it was detected.
"The signal... disappeared?"
"How?"
"What's going on here?"
Many of the workers were questioning among themselves what was the meaning of the alarm. It couldn't be a malfunction, not in the Leo Corporation.
*LATER*
At Maiami Middle School, Qing was sitting on a bench with Yuzu and Yuya, having lunch together.
Yuya opened lunchbox, which looked so much like an oversize Duel Monster deck then looked inside the top which had a picture of his dad's signature card. "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!" He put down the top. "And with that, time to dig in! All right! I'm gonna do it, do it, do it!" He began eating his lunch like a pig. "I'm gonna become a pro, pro, pro!"
"Hey! Don't talk with your mouth full!" Yuzu scolded.
"You'll choke if you don't slow down. And some of the rice is getting all over the place," Qing said, being the unfortunate one to be in the middle of the bench.
Suddenly a handkerchief was offered to her. She looked up and was close to puking at the sight of the person who offered. "Hey there."
"Sawatari!" Yuzu exclaimed.
"Tell me this is a joke, Bakatori," Qing said, refusing the handkerchief. Her nickname for him caused her friends to laugh.
"It's Sawatari!" Shingo corrected. He pocketed his handkerchief and looked at Yuya. "Your eating habits and Dueling are so dirty!"
"Dirty?!" Yuya repeated. "My eating habits aside, what about my Dueling is dirty?!"
"If anything's dirty, it's your tactics to win and you yourself," the 'Naturu' duelist added.
Shingo turned his attention to her. "What was that?!"
"You heard me. At least I am a real duelist and have a pride of one."
Shingo took a deep breath and composed himself. "Anyway... I heard you ambushed someone again."
Yuzu and Yuya were shocked at that.
"But that wasn't Yuya at that time!" the pinkette corrected. "But... what do you mean by again?"
"An LDS lecturer was attacked... by a man who uses Xyz Summons."
They widened their eyes in shock. Qing, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes.
'Could it be that guy that had Yuya's face?' she wondered.
"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," Shingo then said.
"Cowardly?!" Yuya angrily repeated. "Just how is my Pendulum Summon cowardly?!"
"The fact that only you possess it is unfair!"
Qing didn't want this conversation to go on any longer. "That's funny, coming from a stupid bird."
"Who are you calling 'Bakatori'?! My name is Sawatari!" Shingo's attention went to her.
"Do I look like I care? It doesn't change the fact that the one who calls something a coward is a coward themself."
"And what is it about me that's cowardly?!"
"Let's see... Of what I heard and saw... You took Yuya's cards, you had your friends try to take kids hostage for them, you lost in one turn by a Yuya-lookalike and pinned the blame on Yuya. If those aren't cowardly, then what are they exactly, Bakatori? And another thing, you say Yuya is the only one with Pendulum Cards, which isn't true at all." Qing took out Naturu Moth and Naturu Worm. "As you can see, he's not the only one with them."
Shingo was more than surprised at the sight of them. "W-W-W-Where did you get those cards?!"
"I don't have to answer that to a cowardly, sore loser, infinity-rate bird." Yuya and Yuzu laughed at the insult as Qing put away her cards.
Shingo gritted his teeth at the insult but then slowly smirked. "Still, you two are the only ones who can use Pendulum Summon. But that will change soon. There are rumors-"
"-that Leo Corporation is currently developing Pendulum Cards, we heard that," Qing interrupted, knowing what he was going to say. "That's great' it means that you don't have to worry about getting caught stealing any of ours or possibly break a few bones trying to." Yes, Qing was also a strong fighter back in her actual youth.
Sawatari was trying so hard not to lose his composure again. "In any case! I will get my hands on those and defeat you!" He pointed at Yuya. "That's all I came here to say. See ya. I'll be waiting at the Junior Youth Championship." He walked away.
Yuya seemed confused at the meeting place. "Junior Youth Championship?" He then had a face of shock and realization. "That's right! As I am now, I can't become a pro!"
"I'm guessing this championship is his next step to become a Pro Duelist?" Qing asked Yuzu.
"That's right. It's one of the three categories of the Maiami Championship. Each Duelists goes to one of the three categories depending on their age. The categories are Junior Division, Junior Youth and Youth. You're the same age as us, Qing, so you'll be participating in the Junior Youth with us."
"So we will have to face each other... Is there a requirement to join?"
"Have 50 Duels with a win rate of at least 60% or have six consecutive wins."
Qing noted the amount of win she has. "I was in a Battle Royale and won. I defeated Yuya, Bella, the LDS student Sam, and Reiji... I just need one more win."
"Yeah, you're actually close to the requirement."
After school, the group of teens were walking to the front, where Ayu, Futoshi and Tatsuya were waiting for them.
"Had fun in school?!" Futoshi asked.
"Let's hurry up and get to Duel Sch-" Tatsuya stopped as the three kids noticed Yuya slumping. "What's wrong, Yuya-niichan?"
"Yuya apparently is still not qualified to enter the Maiami Junior Youth Championship," Qing answered, as they began to walk to school.
"You're not qualified?" Futoshi asked.
"For the Junior Youth Championship?" Ayu followed.
"That's right... In order to qualify you need at least 50 matches with at least 60% win rate. Or just have six consecutive wins..." the future Entertainment Duelist said.
"What's your win rate right now?" the 'Naturu' duelist asked.
"46 matches with 26 wins."
"So that's... 26 divided by 46... 56.5. You're right, it's not enough," Tatsuya calculated in his head.
"Whoa! You did the math so fast!" Futoshi said in an impressed tone.
"What about Qing-neechan?" Ayu asked.
"I have five consecutive wins right now. Just need one more duel," she answered. "Though, it can't just be any win."
"What do you mean, Qing-neechan?" Futoshi asked.
"I want the last win to be against someone strong. Either just as strong or even stronger than Reiji."
"S-Stronger than him?!" the kids and Yuzu repeated, stopping in their tracks.
"Of course!" Qing turned to them. "I can't duel someone who's not on the same level as him and have an easy win! This is my sixth and last victory we're talking about! I'd rather earn it in a duel against a strong duelist! It wouldn't be worth it otherwise."
"So wait, then you didn't challenge anyone to a duel?" Ayu asked.
"No. Though Yuya tried to have them duel him, only to get rejected." The kids were shocked at this.
"Huh? Why?"
"Something like he beat Strong Ishijima, he should've gotten a free pass to enter," Yuzu replied.
"I didn't get a free pass at all!" the future Entertainment Duelist complained. "That was just an exhibition match; everyone got the wrong idea! I don't even have the pro qualifications yet!"
"In order to be a pro, you have to win the Junior Youth Championship," Tatsuya began.
"Then pass the Youth Exam and win the Youth Championship," Futoshi continued.
"And then you have to pass the Pro Test, right?" Ayu finished.
"And to think that I can't take that important first step forward!" Yuya exclaimed in disappointment. "Dammit! If it comes to this, I'll just find four people and duel them!" He then looked at his four companions and got an idea, one they were so quick to catch.
"That's a no!"
"No way!"
"Why?!"
"Because we're elementary schoolers and we're still in Junior class! Junior Youth is for middle schoolers!"
Ayu and Futoshi quickly denied his idea, Tatsuya giving him a good and reasonable explanation to not duel them.
"Then, how about you, Yuzu?" Yuya asked his female best friend.
"I'm saying no too," she shot down.
"Why?!"
"Because I've already qualified. And besides, we've had plenty of practice matches. What's the point of playing now?"
Yuya turned to Qing, who quickly crossed her arms to an 'X'.
"I've already dueled you and we already know what the outcome would be if I went all out against you," she reasoned without giving him the chance to ask why.
"Then who else is there?!" the 'Entermate' Duelist cried.
"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 at that. "I'm thankful for that. He had always helped me whenever I needed it. Even the fact I'm aiming to become a pro now is thanks to Gongenzaka." Everyone stared at him in slight 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!"
Out of everyone there, Yuzu seemed to be the one most inspired by that speech and took off.
"Yuzu?!" Qing called.
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Yuya asked.
"Don't worry about it! I just thought that I want to get stronger too!" the pinkette replied.
"What about Duel School?!" Tatsuya yelled.
"Tell my dad I won't be going today!"
They all just stood there in shock at the event that had occurred.
"Well, I suppose I should take my leave as well." Qing took a separate route to the Hiragi's household.
"Huh? Why?" Yuya questioned.
"If I'm going to enter that Championship, I should find a crazy strong duelist. Maybe someone like your lookalike who can do Xyz Summons. And since we're most likely going to be rivals, I suppose I should stay some place else for a while. Wouldn't want Yuzu to know all my secrets. At least, not right now." She turned to them. "I really hope you understand, but this is something I have to do on my own."
They looked at each other and, after some time of pondering, seemed to understood her situation.
"Okay! Good luck, Qing-neechan!" Futoshi cheered.
"Even though you're going to be rivals, we're going to cheer you guys on!" Tatsuya said.
"Good luck on finding the perfect sixth duelist for you!" Ayu said.
With that, Qing nodded and walked to her temporary home.
*LATER*
After leaving a note at the door, Qing left the house in her casual clothes with her six deck boxes attached to her belt.
'Thanks to my duels, I have enough DP to rent an apartment here. But since I don't know when the Championship is, I should play it safe and find a cheap place,' she thought. 'At least that way, I'll still be able to get some decent meal.'
"After I find a place to stay, I should look around for Duel Schools beside You Show and LDS. Besides, my other decks needs some exercise," she added out loud.
After she found Maiami City's hotel and rented a room there, and for a fair price at that, Qing took a walk around the city, looking for a Duel School as she had planned. However, she wasn't having a good time looking for one.
"Maybe I should ask around," she thought out loud. She then saw a hooded figure with a face too familiar to her walk pass her. "Bella?" The figure walked into an alley. Feeling something off about her, Qing went after the girl.
She followed the girl to a dead end. At least, that was what she thought, until the hooded figure jumped over the fence and took off running. Qing knew that it meant she knew she was following her and climbed over the fence, following her in pursuit.
"Wait!" she shouted. When she turned to the corner the Bella-lookalike turned to, it revealed another dead end, only solid.
'Where'd she go?' she wondered, walking deeper to see if the figure left anything behind. Just as she took a few steps forward, she felt something hit her from behind and blacked out.
*LATER (I'm getting a sense of de ja vu here)*
Some time passed and Qing regained some consciousness. She opened her eyes and found herself bound on a bed. She looked around and saw her decks and duel disk not that far from her.
"What happened to me?" she asked no one in particular.
"What else? You were ambushed," came Parkion's voice.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"After the girl ambushed you, she took you here. And by the looks of it, this is her hideout."
"I could guess that, but the big question is why?"
Just then, a door opened, revealing the hooded girl whom Qing was tailing earlier.
"Hey! You're-!"
"So it wasn't a dream..." the girl interrupted, leaving the six-decked duelist and her key card in confusion. "You... You really are here..." Qing couldn't say anything at that point. "Onee-chan!" The figure removed her hood and tackled the confused duelist in a hug. "I... I missed you... Onee-chan!"
Qing was speechless. She didn't know what to say in the situation she was in.
"This must be the most awkward situation you've ever been in," Parkion said. Qing just nodded to that, as she comforted the crying Bella-lookalike.
"Azuma! Are you here?" came a somewhat familiar voice.
"Yuto! In here! You were right; my sister was here!" the Bella-lookalike, otherwise known as Azuma, shouted.
A familiar boy walked into the room they're in. "Good. I thought you-" He stopped when he saw Qing, whose eyes were as wide as his in shock.
"Wait! You're that boy from back then! The one who defeated Bakatori!" the scarf-wearing duelist said.
"Onee-chan, what are you saying? He's Yuto, remember?" Azuma said.
"I was afraid of this..." the Yuya-lookalike said. "Azuma, I thought I told you; she looks like Noir, but she isn't."
"What are you saying?! She has to be Noir-oneechan!"
"Um... Do I have a say to this?" Qing spoke.
"Come on, onee-chan! Tell him!" Azuma seemed to have disregarded the question.
"I would agree with you but I'm not who you think I am."
"See?! She-... Wait... What?" Azuma seemed to have caught on to what came out of her 'sister's' mouth.
"I'm... not Noir. My name's Qing, and I don't have a sister."
Silence filled the room as Azuma looked at Qing in shock.
Yuto sighed at the scene before him. "I'll say it one last time. She's not your sister. The day we met, she was completely different from how Noir usually acted. She never insults her opponents even if she knows that they're weaker than her. Not only that, but the Noir we knew wasn't that good with technologies." Silence still continued. Two of the three duelists found the situation quite-
"Duel me." Huh?
"What?" Qing asked.
"Duel me!" Azuma activated her duel disk and activated a card. The moment she did, the three of them were sent to the docks.
There, Qing noticed that it was night time at the moment, which made her wonder how long she was out and how Azuma sent them to a different location the way she did.
"If you aren't my sister, use those decks!" she demanded. "A duel is more than enough proof to show what's the truth!" Qing looked to the side and saw her Duel disk and decks right by her.
She would've refused, if not for the fact that the girl had a point about duels. In a duel, one is able to learn and know the dueling style of another. It's possible that whoever Noir is, she used a deck completely different from Qing. With that in mind, she took a deck box, put on her disk, and inserted her deck.
"You better not cry when you find out the truth!" Qing said.
"I won't!" Azuma replied.
"DUEL!"