A/N: IT HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TIME SINCE I LAST UPDATED THIS CHAPTER! Over a month since the last update! I do apologize for the extreme long wait, folks! I've been busy focusing on finishing a tournament in Circus GX while working on another story or two of mine! After I was done with the tournament, I had begun to update some of my other stories! Now that I and this chapter are here, the wait is over! Enjoy as much as possible!
Now, with that said, on with the chapter!
*OPENING*
(Instrumental)
(Pendulum Summon Process began as five different colored lights shot out of it. A portrait of Yuya, Timegazer Magician, Timegazer Magician and Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon appeared. Portrait changed to Yuzu with her 'Melodious' monsters by her side. Portrait then changed to Bella with her Pirates and Utopia behind her. Portrait then changed to Seth on a black and purple dragon. Portrait then changed to Qing with her six ace monsters around her)
YO HO - let loose, of the rudder hard to port
(Title appeared on the screen with the stadium as the background)
YO HO- helter skelter, the best kind of life
(Shuzo, Yoko and the kids cheered for the teens of You Show as they waved to the audience)
(Instrumental)
(Many Duel Schools and their students were shown)
When the sun goes down, we'll have a farewell bash
(Camera zoomed in on Shun's serious face, Azuma looked at him worried and tried to reach out to him. Scene changed as Bella took Azuma's place and was playing keep away with her brother, their friends watching)
Don't be sad
(Yuto watched them fool around from a distance)
If we make it
(Reiji was in the control room, watching everything happening in Maiami City)
We'll meet again someday
(Yuya activated his Duel Disk and got into his dueling pose)
We'll set off straight through the headwind
(Yuya was dueling against Sawatari, Odd-Eyes Pendulum Dragon vs Mayosenju Daibakaze)
Tears... Tears... Until none are left, a man's gotta be strong
(Yuzu dueled Masumi, Fusion vs Fusion. Scene changed to Seth and Azuma teaming up against a Hokai' Duelist and a 'Kozmo' duelist)
Friends... Friends... Someday we will laugh
(Bella and Qing were on Emperor of Hope, Utopia and Bujinki Amaterasu and were dueling Angel and one of her fellow orphans their age, the latter two on their aces, Light End Dragon and Dark End Dragon)
As if we have to make sure these bonds are firm and now, we all take hold
(The two dragons fired their attacks at the Warrior and Beast-Warrior, which they avoided and charged at the two dragons. Silhouettes of the four's determined faces appeared)
Of the map to the future, which begins to shine
(A boy who looks just like Yuya but in white drove into the stadium, glaring at a shadow figure on the other side of the stadium as he drove closer to him)
(Instrumental)
(The You Show group looked up at the camera from the stadium within)
After Seth's duel, everyone went to the hospital room where Sora was resting, all worried for the boy.
"Shun did this?" Qing asked. Bella was catching her up on what happened in everyone else's duels as they got their friends drinks.
"Yeah. And not only that, they even said something about being in a 'hunting game'," she added. "You don't think that means..."
"I'm afraid it does. Sora... was actually an enemy."
"What do we do?" Utopia asked, appearing behind the girls.
Qing placed a finger under her chin, wondering what to do. "I should probably speak with Shun and the others about this. Otherwise they would hold a grudge against us when we never knew about Sora being from another dimension. Not only that, since Reiji already knew about there being other dimensions, I should also confront him about what happened during that duel."
Bella nodded in agreement to the plan. "Then I'll bring the drinks to the others and cover you. In the meantime, you go find them."
Qing also nodded and gave her the drinks. "I owe you one, Bella." She then took off to find the three Xyz Duelists and Reiji.
Qing arrived at the doorstep of LDS, hoping to see Reiji in his office. Instead, she was told by the receptionist that, since she didn't have any kind of appointment with him, she had to schedule for one.
"You can't be serious!" she cried out.
"I'm sorry. But those are the rules," the receptionist tried to reason.
"Can't you call him? Tell him Qing Jungle is looking for him. It's important!"
The receptionist tried to reason with her, when Reiji approached them. "Is there a problem?"
The two girls looked at him. "Reiji!" Qing gasped. "We need to talk!"
"About what?" he asked. When he saw her looking at her surroundings, he understood what it was about. "I see. Come with me to my office." He then started to walk away, Qing slightly reluctantly following after him.
The two arrived in Reiji's office and took a seat.
"So, what is it you wish to speak with me about?" Reiji asked.
"What happened back there?" Qing asked back. "In Shun's duel against Sora. What happened? I wasn't here when it happened and would like to know what happened back there."
"Shun defeated Sora and advanced to the next round. That's all you need to know."
"Like hell! Reiji, you know the truth about me. So tell me, is Shiunin Sora not from this dimension? And if not, then this 'hunting game' that Bella told me about, was that what happened in the Xyz Dimension?! For Sora to be here, does that mean that Standard is the next target?!"
"And why do you care?" came a voice behind them. Qing turned behind her and saw Azuma standing by the door. "This isn't your home. Why would you care about what happens here?" Azuma noticed Qing's shocked look. "Reiji told me and Shun about you. The reason why we care is because Academia is our enemy. 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend,' they say. Did they do anything to your home?"
"Even if they hadn't laid a finger on my home, I will still help fight! I have friends here! I refuse to let them die by the hands of someone so evil!"
'Even if the enemy is actually someone I admired from the show,' Qing mentally added, thinking about some of the GX characters she likes.
A small smile was formed on Azuma's face. "You are a lot like my sister now. She did a lot of heroic things herself back home before Academia showed up. Though even then, she still did some heroic things." She walked up to Qing and held a hand out. "I'm glad to team up with you against Academia."
The otherworldly duelist looked down at the hand then at the girl before her. A smile was put on her face and she accepted the handshake. Just as she was about to make contact, something unusual happened.
"Am I... sleepy?" she wondered out loud as she hit the ground. The last thing she saw before passing out was a worried Azuma and Reiji huddling around her. Their lips moved, but she didn't hear what they said and blacked out.
*DREAM*
"...oir... Noir... Noir!"
Eyes shot wide open as the voice suddenly got loud and clear. Qing, or Noir, looked to the side and saw Yuzu, or Ruri, by the door of what seemed to be Noir's room. By the look of the scenery out the window, it was quite late.
"Ruri. What's wrong?" Noir asked, as she got up from her seat.
"Did you fall asleep again?" Ruri asked back. "You were supposed to get some water with me."
Noir yawned, seemingly tired. "I guess I fell asleep while doing some research. Sorry, Ruri."
The Yuzu-lookalike simply smiled and said, "Just don't let it happen again. Oh! I almost forgot. My brother is looking for you."
Hearing that made Noir blush a bit, recalling their first kiss some time ago. "I-I see. Where is he now?"
"He said at your usual spot." It was then Ruri had a teasing grin on her face. "Hey, hey. Did you two by any chance... did 'it'?"
Noir blushed even darker than before and stuttered, "N-N-N-No we didn't! We didn't do that at all!"
"Oh? So you two never kissed yet?" The 'Pokemon' Duelist looked at her wide-eyes and in confusion. "That's weird. Considering how close you two are, I assumed you both kissed. Or did you think... I was referring to something else~?"
"Can you just get out so I could change already?!" Noir demanded as she threw a pillow at the girl before her, only for the female Kurosaki to avoid the hit.
"In any case, have fun~" Ruri took her leave.
Noir sighed in mental exhaustion, thinking to herself, 'How is someone so kind so teasing? And how did she even find out about my relationship with her brother?'
"One more thing," Ruri spoke as she poked her head in Noir's room. "When's the wedding~?" She quickly left as Noir threw a ball, aiming for her face.
"Stay out of my love life!" the embarrassed girl yelled.
Later, Noir, dressed in her Resistance outfit, which consisted of a white shirt, blue pants, brown boots, red scarf, and a green vest, arrived at her and Shun's usual spot. She also brought a violin case, for whatever reason. Their usual spot was the spot where they both confessed their feelings for each other. Shun sat on a bench, waiting for her. He looked up and saw his girlfriend running to him.
"You're a little late," he stated.
"Sorry. I stayed up way too late last night," Noir apologized.
"It's fine. I didn't wait that long anyway." Shun stood from his spot. "So you're ready for today?"
"Sure but... Where are we going? And why did you ask me to bring my violin?"
"That's a secret. Now let's go!" Shun grabbed her hand and dragged her to where he was taking her.
When they were close to their destination, Shun requested Noir to cover her eyes for the rest of the way. This made her wonder why, considering their home was destroyed by their enemies. Regardless of that fact, Noir did as Shun asked and closed her eyes.
"Okay. Now open them," her boyfriend told her.
Noir slowly opened her eyes and was a bit shocked and surprised at the sight before her. They were somewhere deep in a forest and there were a lot of fireflies flying around them, as well as some melodic sounds of crickets chirping. Mixing the scene with the moonlight, it was the first time Noir had seen something so calming, peaceful and beautiful since the invasion began.
"It's beautiful," Noir muttered.
"Right?" Shun asked.
"How'd you find this place?"
"While we were separated, escaping from an Academia assault, I stumbled upon this area. I couldn't help but think of how nice it seemed. Kind of reminds me of our home before the invasion happened."
Noir couldn't help but agree to that statement. "Yeah. It does, doesn't it?" Memories of their peaceful time rushed through her head. This adding all the stress caused by the invasion was enough to have her shed some tears. Shun noticed this and tried to wipe them away.
Noir flinched slightly at his touch and tried to wipe the tears away herself with her free hand. "S-Sorry. I don't know where these came from."
The 'Raidraptor' duelist grabbed her wrist and pulled her in for a kiss. Noir eventually melted into the kiss, dropping her instrument in the process. As they pulled apart, he said, "I promise. We will stop this invasion and go back to our normal life. When that happens, I will take you out on a proper date, Noir. And you can play your violin in peace again."
"Shun..." The two Xyz duelists closed the distance between their lips once more. As they were kissing, Shun slowly raised his hand. All of a sudden, the scene froze and became black with white outlines.
*TIMESKIP*
Noir was running as fast as she could. It wasn't as a game, and there was no invasion. She was running for her life from her pursuer. She looked behind her and saw the purple cloaked person still chasing her. Earlier, she was coming back from her patrol when that person appeared and showed her something she couldn't believe.
Noir turned a corner and found herself at a dead end. She looked behind her and saw the pursuer standing before her, not at all exhausted from the run.
"No where to go," she spoke. "How about we put an end to this chase?" With an evil, sadistic smile, she activated her duel disk. By the design, the duelist before her was from Academia.
"I'm not going anywhere with you!" Noir declared, activating her own duel disk.
"DUEL!"
Noir: 4000 LP
Pursuer: 4000 LP
"Seeing as you're the prey, I'll let you go first," the pursuer said.
"You'll regret that. I summon the Starter Pokemon, Charmander!" Noir's orange lizard appeared on the field.
Starter Pokemon, Charmander: Level 4/FIRE/Reptile/1000 ATK/1000 DEF
"Next I activate the Magic Card, Dual Summon! This allows me to summon again this turn! So through this effect, I summon the Starter Pokemon, Chimchar!" Next to her lizard was an orange chimp, whose butt was on fire, not that it minded.
Starter Pokemon, Chimchar: Level 4/FIRE/Beast/1600 ATK/1300 DEF
(Starter Pokemon, Chimchar: Effect Monster: When this card is summoned, you may inflict 400 points of damage to your opponent for each FIRE 'Pokemon' monster you control)
"And I activate Chimchar's effect! When this card is summoned, for each FIRE 'Pokemon' monster I control, I am able to inflict 400 points of damage to my opponent! There are two FIRE 'Pokemon' monsters, so that's 800 points of damage! Ember!" The monkey-like monster fired fire bullets from its mouth at the pursuer, decreasing her Life Points.
Noir: 4000 LP
Pursuer: 3200 LP
"Next, I release both Charmander and Chimchar to Special Summon out their evolved forms! Come! Evolved Starter Pokemon, Charmeleon! And the same, Monferno!" The two monsters changed into their stronger forms, the monkey now having a tail, with a flame lit on the end.
Evolved Starter Pokemon, Charmeleon: Level 6/FIRE/Reptile/2200 ATK/2000 DEF
Evolved Starter Pokemon, Monferno: Level 6/FIRE/Beast/2500 ATK/2100 DEF
(Evolved Starter Pokemon, Monferno: Effect Monster: You can Special Summon this card from your hand by releasing one 'Starter Pokemon, Chimchar'. When this card is summoned this way, inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent for each 'Pokemon' monster you control.)
"I activate Monferno's summon effect! When Special Summoned by its own effect, I inflict 500 points of damage to my opponent for each 'Pokemon' monster I control! Again, there's two, so that's 1000 points of damage! Flame Wheel!" The newly evolved monkey spun, flames coming out of his mouth as he charged at the pursuer and inflicted more damage.
Noir: 4000 LP
Pursuer: 2200 LP
"I'm not done yet! I overlay the Level 6 Charmeleon and Monferno! With them I build an overlay network! Created from the DNA of the original, take down those who dare subjugates you! XYZ SUMMON! Be born, Rank 6, Legendary Pokemon, Mewtwo!" A grey humanoid creature with a purple tail appeared with two orbs of light circling around it.
Legendary Pokemon, Mewtwo: Rank 6/DARK/Fiend/2700 ATK/2500 DEF
(Legendary Pokemon, Mewtwo: Xyz Monster: 2 Level 6 monsters: Once per turn, when your opponent Special Summons a monster(s), you may detach one Overlay Unit; destroy that monster(s) and inflict 200 points of damage to your opponent for each of their level.)
"I end my turn with one card face-down!" Noir ended.
"What a weak start," Noir's opponent commented.
"If it's weak, then how about you try and take me out this turn?!" she challenged.
"Ah, and we have some spunk, don't we? Then don't mind if I do. Draw!" The pursuer drew her next card. "I will assume that you're going all out. In that case, so will I. I activate the Magic Card, Fusion! With this card I will fuse Dragon Man Digimon, Slayerdramon with Machine Dragon Digimon, Breakdramon! Slayer of dragons! Destroyer of dragons! Combine your power and crush all who is beneath you! FUSION SUMMON! Appear now! Great holy dragon! Holy Knight Digimon, Examon!" A dragon warrior in white armor with a flaming sword appeared with a living backhoe-like monster with drills. The two monsters fused and a red dragon with large, red, torn wings and red gems on its body appeared, a gigantic black lance-like gun in its hand.
Holy Knight Digimon, Examon: Level 8/DARK/Dragon/3000 ATK/2000 DEF
(Dragon Man Digimon, Slayerdramon: Effect Monster: When this card attacks, activate one of these effects:
When this card destroys a monster by battle, inflict damage to your opponent equal to that monster's ATK
When this card destroys a monster by battle, destroy one monster your opponent controls
When this card attacks, it is unaffected by opponent's card effects
If this card was used as a Fusion Material to summon a 'Digimon' Fusion Monster, that monster cannot be destroyed by card effects)
(Machine Dragon Digimon, Breakdramon: Effect Monster: This card can attack all monsters your opponent controls, once each. If this card attacks a Defense Position Monster, inflict piercing damage to your opponent. If this card was used as a Fusion Material to summon a 'Digimon' Fusion Monster, that monster cannot be destroyed by battle.)
(Holy Knight Digimon, Examon: Fusion Monster: "Dragon Man Digimon, Slayerdramon" + "Machine Dragon Digimon, Breakdramon": When this card attacks a non-Fusion Monster, increase this card's ATK by 1000 until the end of the Damage Step. When this card attacks, you may banish one 'Digimon' monster from your Graveyard; this monster gains that monster's effect until the End Phase.)
"At this time, I activate Mewtwo's effect! When my opponent Special Summons a monster, by detaching one Overlay Unit, I can destroy that monster and inflict 200 points of damage to my opponent for each of that monster's Level! Psystrike!" One of Mewtwo's units changed into a force field that seems to be protecting him. The shield expanded and hit the Fusion monster, causing an explosion to occur.
"Yes!" Noir cheered. Her expression changed as the smoke cleared. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw Examon was still on the field. "But how?"
"Slayerdramon's effect. When used as a Fusion Material to summon a 'Digimon' Fusion Monster, that monster cannot be destroyed by card effects," the pursuer explained, the smirk still on her face. Noir gritted her teeth at the additional effect. "Now then, with that said, let's end this duel. Battle! I attack Legendary Pokemon, Mewtwo with Holy Knight Digimon, Examon! Avalon's Gate!"
"I won't let that happen! I activate the Instant Magic, Rank-Up-Magic Legend Evolution! By using a 'Pokemon' Xyz Monster I control as an Overlay Unit, along with its other units, I can Xyz Summon a 'Legendary Pokemon' Xyz Monster whose Rank is one higher than it! Descend from the ozone layer and bring our enemies far pass the heavens above! RANK-UP XYZ CHANGE! Appear now! Rank 7! Legendary Pokemon, Rayquaza!" A green dragon with a serpentine body appeared on the field, two orbs circling around it.
Legendary Pokemon, Rayquaza: Level 7/WIND/Dragon/3000 ATK/2500 DEF
(Legendary Pokemon, Rayquaza: Xyz Monster: 2 Level 7 monsters: When this card battles an opponent's monster while having an Overlay Unit, inflict twice the Battle to your opponent. Once per turn, during either player's turn, when this card destroys an opponent's monster by battle, you may detach one Overlay Unit from this card; inflict damage to your opponent equal to the destroyed monster's ATK.)
"With our monster having the same ATK, there's no way you would dare attack!" Noir said.
The smirk never left her pursuer's face. If anything, it just grew as she excitedly claimed, "I wonder about that! Kill that monster, Examon! " The monster agreed with his master and continued his assault, much to the Xyz Duelist's shock.
"You're going to suicide?!"
"At this time, I activate both of Examon's effects! First, when he battles a non-Fusion Monster, he gains 1000 ATK! Ambrosius of Demise!" Noir gasped in shock as energy seemed to be gathering at the tip of Examon's lance-gun.
Holy Knight Digimon, Examon: 3000 + 1000 = 4000 ATK
"And as for his other effect, when he battles, I can banish a 'Digimon' monster from my Graveyard so he can gain that monster's effects! Serve your master, Slayerdramon!" The spirit of the said monster appeared and fused with the weapon.
'Slayerdramon has an additional effect?!' Noir wondered, as Examon fired his attack at Rayquaza, destroying it.
Noir: 3000 LP
Pursuer: 2200 LP
"And now I activate Slayerdramon's stolen effect! When Examon destroys an opponent's monster by battle, he can inflict damage to my opponent equal to that monster's ATK! Draconic Impact!" Noir widened her eyes even more in great fear as Examon flew sky high. She attempted to make a run for it, when the Fusion Monster was already diving at max speed.
*END OF DREAM*
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! AAAAAHHH! AAAAAAAHHHH!" Qing woke up screaming, scrambling back, as if to move away from something. Her eyes were dilated and she was breathing heavily.
"Wha-... What was that dream?" she wondered out loud. She felt something touching her shoulder and smacked it away, screaming in fear. Once her senses were cleared, she saw, sitting by her bedside, were Shun and Azuma.
"H-Hey... What's wrong?" the latter Xyz user dared to ask.
Instead of answering, Qing jumped on them, arms wrapped around the two. Shun and Azuma noticed how badly she was shaking and decided to comfort her instead of questioning her.
After she was calmed down, Qing sat back on the bed, pillow supporting her back.
"What happened back there? You just passed out," Azuma asked.
"I... I don't know... " Qing answered. "That never happened to me before."
"Then what about that scream? Did you have a nightmare?" Shun asked.
Qing's eyes widened in slight fear as she remembered the duel she, or Noir, had. She shook her head and tried to think of something else. She thought of something, just not what she wanted to think. "YOU!" she pointed accusingly at Shun, giving him a huge shock.
"Wh-What?!" he demanded.
It was quiet between them. Qing didn't know if Azuma knew yet, even though it seemed Ruri somehow did.
"Azuma. Can you please leave for a minute?" she asked the female Xyz duelist. Azuma was about to ask why, when she saw a smile on Qing's face that seemed a bit too nice.
"Y-Yes ma'am," she squeaked, taking her leave.
As soon as she left and closed the door behind her, Qing, increasing Shun's shock, jumped on him and shook him, shouting, "What the hell were you thinking?! I know you two are in a relationship, but unless if I mistook that, that's going way too far and way too fast! I am glad I didn't see all of it! Rather I'm glad I barely saw the beginning and just skipped the rest of it! So tell me, you damn Raidraptor Duelist of the Xyz Dimension! What were you thinking?!"
Shun was getting crazy dizzy from all the shaking. "W-Wait! Stop! Stop!"
After a few minutes of the shaking and yelling, Qing finally released Shun, allowing the poor duelist to recover from the shake fest.
"Anyway, I think I have some information about Noir," the otherworldly duelist spoke. "I'm not sure if you know this yet, but it's better than nothing. Noir might've been kidnapped by Academia, as you said. The duelist... Actually, I haven't seen the face. It was female, though. And her deck was a 'Digimon' deck. They both dueled, but, even though it was only the first turn... That Fusion Duelist defeated Noir."
Shun, fully recovered from the dizziness, widened his eyes in shock. "What... did you say? Noir... Noir was defeated in one turn!"
"Yeah. Which means that the duelist must be someone close to Academia's leader. And what's more was that she enjoyed seeing her so frightened. Just from seeing her power, Noir was scared."
Shun looked down, sadly narrowing his eyes. "She was telling the truth..." he muttered.
Qing looked up at him. "Who was?"
"Azuma. She saw that duel. Or at least, she arrived in time to see the end of it. She said she tried to stop that Academia duelist from taking Noir away, but I didn't believe her. I thought she chickened out of the fight, that she cared more about herself than her own sister. Guess I should've believed her."
Qing placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault. After all, you love Noir. Of course you'll be heartbroken if someone you love was taken away from you. And sometimes the only way to ease the pain is to take the anger out on someone. Just make it up to her when you have the chance, okay?"
Shun nodded and got up from his seat. "Thanks again for the info."
"You don't need to thank me. After all, all I did was my part of the promise."
"I know. But thanks anyway." He took his leave. "Sleep well."
Qing lied back down on the bed she was on, wondering about the Fusion Duelist. 'Why?' she thought. 'While Noir was running from her before the duel, why did she looked shocked? Can it be that... the pursuer is...?'