A,N: Well here is the next chapter. It was a little difficult since I couldn't really start and end it. However hope you find it interesting at least. Have fun reading.

Unknown's p.o.v.

In an unknown place, where only wind and darkness emitted, was a girl sitting down, and she was humming to herself. All so that the boredom would be driven away. Sadly, that didn't help much, and the girl ended with getting up from whatever she was sitting and moved around. However, she didn't seem unhappy or anything. She actually began singing. It was the same melody she just had hummed a moment ago.

"You'll say I finally see how time stops, and everything that hurts us, drop of" she sang beautifully and nodded in improvement of herself.

"Trying to figure out what looks right, because that can't take away that you are mine".

At that, she chuckled a little and placed her hand at a stony wall. The darkness was roaming around her, but it didn't seem like she minded it that much. No, what annoyed her right now was the wind, which was once again blowing all around her.

"I know you're here" she then said in a loud voice and sighed deeply "Why don't you show yourself?"

"As you wish" a voice then replied and... the girl closed her eyes quickly as golden light emitted around the darkness.

Then she turned towards someone who was dressed in golden ropes. It didn't surprise the girl much - she had seen the stranger before. Instead, she snorted in a rather annoyed tone.

"You really need to stop spying on me" she growled angrily. "Otherwise, I might just refuse to listen and force you out of here next time."

"You won't succeed at that," the voice replied and chuckled a little. "I am, after all, the superior out of the both of us". At that, the girl snorted again.

"I can try. There is nothing that can stop me from doing just that," she then replied back in a firm voice. "I can guess why you are here. You are here because of...".

"Her, yes!" the voice interrupted in a quick matter. "She is in great danger and...".

"Let me guess: you want to go save her? Correction, save both of them, without regarding the ancient laws that forbids us from meddling in this foolish war?" the girl pointed out in a firm voice "Are you out of your damn mind?"

"I believe not" the voice mused slowly and sighed deeply. "And what difference does it make to break one of the ancient laws? They have already been broken once before...".

"... and now you want to go down to his level? Wow, good choice. Now we just need the Astrals to break it too, and we don't need to uphold this stupid law anyway" the girl interrupted in a sarcastic voice and snorted. "You do realize that those laws are there for a reason, which I know for a fact that you aware of, right? You're just acting this way because you're losing hope. Hope and patience, I might add."

"Well, can you blame me? They were so close. They were within my grasp and I... I let them sink right through my hands," the voice replied in a sad tone. "And now, when the danger is so high, I am forced to stay and let things play out. They might...".

"Welcome to my world pal" The girl interrupted and sighed. Then she turned towards the guest in front of her. "Which brings me back to... why in the world you are here?". The guest sighed deeply and looked at her with sad eyes.

"I'm here because... unlike me, you're not bound by the ancient laws and their importance. You could help them. It will be worth your while...".

"Ha! Why in the world would I help you?!" the girl interrupted and smirked. "You have nothing that could even tempt me to do so". The guest looked puzzled at her.

"But I do not understand. They are... and you?" a deep breath was taken here, and they calmly continued. "I could rescue you from this prison. You could leave".

"And what difference would that truly make? My existence doesn't change just because I leave with you. On the contrary, things would get even worse. I like the outcome as of now, thank you very much!" the girl sneered at him.

"I don't understand, you want to stay in this prison instead of being free? What sort of life is that for anyone?"

"It's not a prison if you chose to be here" the girl pointed out slowly and sent him a fierce look. "My existence to you also doesn't matter. They do! If I leave with you, my existence would have no meaning at all. If I stay here, at least I get a shot for my own survival." The guest growled in annoyance.

"True" the guest then admitted. "Your existence is of no importance. They do! However, even so, the chances of you being free by normal means are pretty slim."

"Then I'll die while I've still got some pride left in me," the girl replied fiercely. "I will put my life in their hands and if they want me dead, then so be it". The guest hummed at that.

"If that's true, then I have no reason to be here any longer," the guest then replied and turned around. He was about to leave when the girl spoke again.

"Just remember one thing: in true darkness, light can always be found.".

Mizar's p.o.v.

Kite: 2000 lp's.

Mizar: 3000 lp's.

Mizar was occupied. He was rather occupied indeed, but not in the way any of the others though. On the outside Mizar looked like he was paying close attention to Kite and his Galaxy eyes. That was the persona Mizar was having after all and it was that front, he was going to show people and his eternal rival Kite. However on the inside, things were a little different. Mizar would lie to himself if he didn't say he was distracted. Sure he was able to duel, nothing in the world was gonna change that, but a certain girl also kept his mind elsewhere. Mizar growled angrily as his one eye dared a look at the other screens here. The screen with Dumon's duel to be exact and the girl who was locked inside that sphere. Then he turned his gaze to Kite once again. He sighed deeply inside. Dumon, what is your goal here? Usually you tell me everything, but now... what's changed? Have you lost your trust in me, or... could it be that you are doing something you know I wouldn't approve off?! Mizar growled again rather annoyed inside. That can't be true! We have been friends through many life times. There was no way Dumon wouldn't tell me. Even if it was something I dislike.Mizar dared to take another glare at the screen and were now staring at the red sphere with the girl inside. He hissed angrily. You shouldn't have come back here. I warned you girl. If you are truly Zaira, I rather see you dead than hurting him, in the way you are doing now! Your existence are truly not wanted!

"My turn I draw" Kite's voice woke up the yellow barian and he once again turned his attention towards his rival.

It was currently his turn, and Mizar could see how Kite used the spell called "Triangle evolution". With this card he could make one monster on the field, count as three monsters when he xyz summoned. Mizar didn't get surprised when Kite choose his Galaxy eyes to be that monster. He overlaid his 'three' Galaxy eyes photon dragon to xyz summon his "Neo galaxy eyes photon dragon" to the field in att mode. Mizar eyes narrowed as Kite tossed up the sword into the overlay network which enabled Kite to summon his monster.

"Excellent here it comes" Mizar uttered.

It was more to himself than anyone else on this dueling field, but he could hear his Tachyon growl in agreement regardless. Apparently, his dragon was as eager to fight Kite's Galaxy eyes as he was. Lightning however soon struck Kite, as he was hit by Sargasso's effect. He had after all summoned an Xyz monster and lost 500 life points. He was only having 1500 remaining. Not that Mizar cared at all about that.

"Duo to triangle evolution's effect, Neo galaxy eyes loses 1000 att points" Kite then informed him as his dragon's att points got reduced to 3500.

"Neo galaxy eh" Mizar mused out. His voice was filled with eagerness. "The stage has been set".

Then Mizar activated his trap called "Neutrino Dowsing". He could detach an Ou from tachyon dragon, since it was a Galaxy eyes xyz monster, as well as a normal spell card from his deck to his graveyard to activate its effect right away. Mizar of course choose his "Rank up magic barian's force" and could now rank up his galaxy eyes dragon as well.

"Brace the multi verse and ignite new light into my great beast" Mizar then shouted as he could feel his barian power radiate from his own barian door.

It merged with his dragon inside the overlay network and soon his "Neo galaxy eyes tachyon dragon" appeared onto the field in all its glory. Mizar's dragon was having three heads and was now shown in some beautiful golden colors. Mizar knew how his dragon looked like, but these pitiful humans hadn't. When he had faced Kite in the sphere field his dragon's power had made the sphere unstable and thereby cancelled the duel. Or that was at least what he had told Dumon. Mizar still remembered how Zaira had powered up his dragon in that battle. The yellow barian turned his attention to Zaira in the sphere field. Funny enough she didn't seem like she was in any pain or were screaming like she did last time. He could of course see through Dumon's illusion. He now wondered however, why he didn't get any reaction out of her this time. It doesn't matter. As long as she is in that sphere field she can't meddle. Mizar then let out a groaning sound as Sargasso's effect hit him and he lost 500 life points, but he shook it of rather quickly.

"Now the time has come" he instead uttered. He was so ready to take down Kite.

Yuma's p.o.v.

Around the same time, with all this going on.

Yuma had never been so angry in his life. He was so angry at Vector and hurt and betrayed and well every emotion Yuma could think of. He still couldn't believe that Vector had been Ray all along. There had never been a barian crime unit, and everything Yuma and Ray had done together after their duel with Girag had been based on a lie. That Yuma now knew. He still couldn't believe he had been tricked into all this and worst of all had been keeping secrets about Ray, now Vector, to Astral and Zaira. He was the worst. He felt the worst and it didn't help with Vector's annoying taunting and evil insane laughter was ringing through the air.

"Ha-ha! Oh that face of yours is priceless. That's why pretending to be a friend to you pathetic humans was so much fun" Vector now said in a tormenting voice and laughed like crazy once again. Yuma hissed angrily at that.

"You are the pathetic one!" he yelled back, but it didn't do a thing.

All he earned at that was Vector laughing even more insanely, as he tossed down a face down and ended his turn. Yuma could see the glee in his ex-friends eyes now. Vector was having the time of his life here. Yuma sneered again. It was his turn now and he was gonna show this evil backstabbing barian that he shouldn't mess with him and his friends. He had just thought that when screams could be heard. Yuma quickly turned towards the other dueling screens and noticed how both Kite and Shark was having difficulties in their duels against Mizar and Dumon. It didn't help on the anxiety Yuma was feeling. Along with every other dreadful emotion.

"Shark! Kite!" he uttered in pure distress as he only could look how the barians were getting the edge of them.

That along with that if they lost Vector had told them they were gonna be stuck in this place forever. Besides Astral, but Yuma wouldn't think about what horrible things Vector could have in store for him.

"See what you have done?!" Vector then pointed out in that taunting evil voice of his "Your friends are suffering because of you".

"Ah be quiet!" Yuma sneered angrily back.

This wasn't true! This was not his fault! His friends was not in danger because of him! It was just one of Vector's lies. But deep down Yuma knew Vector was telling the truth, and that didn't help at all. On his conscious. On well everything. He had been the one tricked by Vector and Yuma felt terrible. Because of his actions everyone was now in danger and the guilt was eating him up like crazy.

Suddenly things got worse, however. An intense forceful wind was suddenly blowing all around this Sargasso wasteland. A hole of some kind had suddenly appeared, and Yuma looked in horror as the airship they had been using to get here, slowly got swallowed up by this hole.

"No! My friends!" Yuma uttered out in distress as he remembered how Tori and the others were still in there.

"What is happening?" Astral also questioned in a worried tone.

"Oh that" Vector replied made the duo turn towards him "Now and then black holes pops up here at Sargasso and things gets sucked into them. It is almost as if Sargasso gets hungry".

Yuma had horror written all over his face as he shouted Tori and the other's names. He wanted to help them, but he didn't know how.

"Of course I could close that hole" Vector then suddenly said and got both Astral and Yuma's attention once again. "If I temperately increased the effect of my Sargasso lighthouse, I might be able to save them. I suppose I will be willing to try. For a price!". Yuma looked stunned at Vector now.

"What price?" he then asked. He needed to save his friends.

"I will try to save them, if you give me all your numbers" Vector replied and chuckled darkly at that.

If Vector was having a mouth Yuma was sure he would be smirking evilly right now. Yuma's eyes widened in even more horror. Give him the numbers?! But that means, Astral! The boy turned towards the Astral being who was floating beside him. He was glaring down Vector with cold eyes. Yuma shook his head once again. No! I can't do that. Astral! Astral will be... and he is my friend. But if I don't give Vector the numbers, Tori and the others... Yuma shook his head again. This was... he couldn't choose between them! And it didn't help that Vector's insane laughter could be heard all around the field, while tormenting him.

"So what is it going to be? Are you gonna give me all your numbers in order to save your friends?" Vector then questioned slowly and chuckled "It is a tough choice I know. If you do your partner will belong to me and trust me when I say I am not going easy on the torture. He-he. But if you don't your friends in the airship goes bye, bye". Then the barian laughed like crazy again.

"Quit playing games Vector. This fight is between you and me! Leave my friends out of this!" Yuma now shouted back in responds.

"Oh don't blame me!" Vector uttered in a fake voice that sounded like he was hurt over being blamed for this. Then he chuckled evilly "After all I am not the one who brought them into this Yuma. You are!".

A finger got firmly pointed at Yuma and it didn't help this distressed boy. He was already filled up with guilt and Vector's accusation didn't help here at all. Worst case, Yuma knew Vector was right. He was the one being tricked by Vector. He was the one who wanted to rescue Ray (and Zaira) and he was the one who fell for Vector's tricks. Like Vector said, he had been the one who brought them here to their soon to be doom.

"Make your decision Yuma. Save Astral or save your friends. You can't do both!" Vector once again taunted and chuckled darkly.

"Wh... what should I do?! I can't take it Astral!" Yuma uttered in a distress tone. He was caught between two terrible choices and he couldn't do a thing about it.

"Try keep calm Yuma" Astral tried reassuring, which only made Yuma looked angrily at the ghost beside him.

"That's easy for you to say!" he sneered back.

"Astral doesn't care about your friends" Vector then said which made Yuma turn toward the evil barian once again "Do you?".

Yuma hissed angrily. He knew what Vector was trying to do. He was trying to make him sell out Astral. To betray Astral for the sake of his friends. However, even though he knew that, it didn't make things easier for him. No on the contrary. It was eating him up.

"I can't choose between Astral and my friends! How could I ever do that?!" he uttered out in pure distress.

"Yuma listen to me! This is part of his strategy!" Astral then uttered.

"Maybe so, but there is no right answer Astral" Yuma replied and hissed angrily. Tears were even about to show in the corners of his eyes. "What if I can't save anybody?!". Vector chuckled evilly at that.

"Poor Yuma. So many lives in your hands ha-ha!" the barian said in the same tormenting voice and grinned once again. He was loving the distress Yuma was in. That the lobster haired boy knew.

"What is the matter with you Yuma?!" Tori voice suddenly shouted inside the microphone in his duel Gazer.

Yuma, who had his eyes closed because of his pained decision, opened them wide and was staring at a screen in front of him. Tori was of course on it, and she looked seriously mad at him.

"Quit whining. This is a totally no brainer" she then yelled at him.

"It is? How?" Yuma questioned rather confused.

"We chose to come here" she yelled back at him and even interrupted him when he was about to argue back. She was staring firmly at him "We all came here so we can support you and help you do your job Yuma. Your job is to do whatever it takes to protect Astral and Zaira! That was what you promised to do! Well Shark is taking care of Zaira, so all you have to do is win! All that matters is that you win!".

"You right" Yuma said in a low voice and nodded. He was still a little surprised over Tori's yelling at him. However, he knew she was right. Tori send him a big smile.

"You can do it Yuma!". Then her screen disappeared.

Tori and the others were all in a hurry to try and escape the black hole. After Tori's shouting encouragement she had taken the commando over the ship and the passengers. Tori was of course at the steering wheel, Flip was at the control systems, Caswell was at the power station, Cathy was monitoring the energy cord readings, and Orbital, who was send by Kite, was jabbing himself into the energy tanks. As everyone was stationed at their posts, Tori tried to steer the ship away from the black hole. It was not without danger of course. The shocks from the black hole outside was hitting the ships over and over, and as Cathy told them if they used full power, they might blow the engine instead, but Tori didn't care. She made Caswell get the system up to max power and tried to move forward. After some shaking disturbing's where the crew was holding on to dear life, Tori and the others actually managed to escape the black hole to Yuma's big relieve.

"Ha-ha. Alright!" Yuma cheered happily and jumped up and down. "You did it guys".

"Now it is your turn" Tori then told him as she appeared on the screen too.

"If we can do it..." began Caswell and Flip continued "...So can you".

"Categorially" Cathy added in and purred as a cat.

"Thanks guys" Yuma replied with a happy smiled and rubbed off the tears in his eyes "You know if I haven't made all of you come here...".

"Don't flatter yourself Yuma" a voice suddenly said, and Shark appeared on a screen as well "No one make me do anything understand!".

"It is barian payback time" Kite said as well as he also appeared on a screen. He snort coldly as well "It was my own decision and you couldn't have stopped me".

"Got it! thanks guys" Yuma replied and nodded determined.

"Now that your ego has been successfully been deflated. Why don't you do what you came here to do. Then I will do mine" Shark replied in his usually fierce tone.

Yuma understood that he should leave Zaira up to him and instead concentrate on defeating Vector. Yuma nodded determined to himself. With some many good friend supporting him, he just knew he would win in the end.

Astral's p.o.v.

Astral looked around the group of cheering friends and nodded in astonishment. It was always interesting to see how the humans interacted. He was learning new things every day, which could both be good and bad. However, seeing Yuma and his friends cheering made him remember one of his old observations. 'as long as you have friends, you have hope'. It was clearly shown in this moment. Although Astral couldn't stop worrying regardless. Maybe because of the stakes in this duel, or maybe because they were lacking both cards and life points, or maybe it was because he and Yuma... was trust the right word here?

"Hey Astral..." he could hear Yuma say and he floated down to the lobster haired male "You were right. I am really sorry, for everything".

Astral looked at his with curiosity in his eyes. He knew that humans used those words for apologizing, but had Yuma even done something worth apologizing. Astral didn't really think so.

"Yuma, together we can do this" the astral being then said and he could see how his partner nodded in determination, so he continued "Victory is ours. Go zexal morph!".

"Yeah go Zexal morph!" Yuma shouted as well and soon they both transformed into two different colored energy beings.

Astral being blue and Yuma red. However, what they didn't notice was Vector's gleeful eyes, as they actually merged together. If they had noticed things might not have went so, so completely wrong. They were almost about to merge into their zexal form when Astral heard Vector's evil voice whisper in his ear. Astral didn't know if Yuma could hear him too, but his words were captivating, tempting and literally poisoning. It was all at once and Astral couldn't stop himself from listening to it.

"Astral do you really think you can be one with Yuma?! After what he has done, how can you ever trust him?! Your good friend Yuma. The one you had faith in. He lied to you! Look into the deeps of your own heart Astral. You know there is something there".

Astral eyes widened as he fearfully began remembering everything that had happened. Everything that in reality had hurt Astral for a short amount of time, before Astral had shook it off as nothing. Now it all returned. All the pain and betrayal. He remembered Ray and how he befriended Yuma. How Yuma suddenly trusted Ray more than he did him. How Yuma had kept Ray's identity a secret and how everything had resolved to all this. Them being lured to Sargasso who was a field spell. How Yuma had lost almost all his cards because he kept Ray's barian card in his deck, and how they were almost about to lose. All because of Yuima. The pain and horror Astral was feeling right now was something he never in his life time had experienced before, and it hurt. His heart hurt so much!

"Astral!" he could hear Yuma say in confusion. It was like he was an echo, but it drove Astral out of his dark thoughts.

"Yes there is something there" was all Astral could respond.

Astral could feel Yuma's worry now. They were close at merging together after all, and Astral knew now that if he could hear Vector's voice whispering in his ear, then so could Yuma.

"See it Astral. Feel it! It is a tiny black mark. A mark against Yuma! Accept his betrayal! He put it there Astral. Yuma blackened your heart when he betrayed you. Now that tiny dark spot has grown into a gabbing black hole full of doubt and anger".

Memories once again flashed for Astral's eyes. He remembered the duel against Brooke and Mayday. He remembered Yuma using the barian card even though Astral had told him not too. He remembered the duel with Vector's clone too. There Yuma had used barian's force too, but that was not all. He had also summoned yet another barian card. He didn't even tell him about this. Yuma didn't listen to him! He really had betrayed him!

"Don't listen to him!" He could hear Yuma's voice echoing around him, but how could he not listen to Vector, when Yuma himself had not even listened to him?

"Your own heart was pure Astral. Before Yuma tainted it with his lies. You are incapable of such a betrayal. That is why such a tiny dot of doubt was able to grow so immense, and so destructive! Now it is so great that it will consume you in the infinite darkness!".

"You are wasting your time Vector. Astral knows he can trust me!" He could hear Yuma shout all around him, but Astral himself was hesitant.

Could he really trust Yuma after all he had done? He could feel how Yuma and his own essence were about to merge together into Zexal. However, then something went wrong. A weird sensation ran through Astral. At first, he didn't know what this was. All he knew was that it felt wrong. Then he felt it again. And again. And again. A pulling sensation. Someone was pulling in a piece of his heart!

"I'll think you will find that Astral trusts only the darkness now".

That was the last sentence Astral heard before he felt himself got pulled away from Yuma with brute force. He noticed how Yuma hit the ground at the shipwreck while he himself got tossed up in the air. He heard Yuma shout his name in distress before he it. The darkness that erupted from his heart. It was that seed of doubt Vector had just planted in him, and it began surrounding him. Astral couldn't keep himself from screaming. He was so afraid. He had no idea what was happening after all. He did remember Vector's words about torture though, which didn't help on his current scared thoughts. Evil laugher could be heard all around him now, and Astral was sure he felt barian power all around as well.

"Embrace the darkness, little prince" he could hear Vector say and then the darkness encaged him in its infinite darkness.

Then it was over. As quick as the darkness had been there it was all over. Astral had even stopped screaming. After all why should he, when he was filled with immense power. If he had a mirror, he would know that his blue skin was now mixed with black and that he had an aura of red and black around him, who was just radiating with this newfound evil power. Astral did indeed feel different, but he liked this change. This anger, this hate! All these negative emotions that he never in his life had experienced and he wanted more. So much more power!

"He has changed, hasn't he?" he could hear Vector say. No! He was wrong. This was his master. He had after all created him. He belonged to him.

"Astral?!" he could hear a weak and scared voice say and made the now changed Astral being turn his head towards a boy with lobster shaped hair.

His eyes widened in surprise at first, but then Astral remembered. This was Yuma. The boy he had partnered up with and one who had betrayed him. Astral send him an evil smirk. He really should thank him, and by killing him his master would be pleased. Astral was about to summon a fire ball to get rid of Yuma for good, but then he remembered. The power. Yuma was after all equally with the power of Zexal.

"Yuma..." he said in a sugar sweat voice and grabbed the one shoulder of the now scared teen. "When two distant souls become one the power of Zexal is revealed".

"Astral stop! Something has happened to you!" Yuma uttered rather sacredly and tried to get out of his grip, but Astral was not letting go of him.

"Correct my eyes has been opened to the truth" the evil Astral prince answered and lifted Yuma a little bit up from the ground.

His dark powers were radiating all around him as he opened up a weird shaped hole and pulled Yuma with him to do the Zexal transformation. He didn't care that Yuma was screaming or fighting all the way in there. All he wanted was having the Zexal power from him and he succeed. As the dark bubble who had been around them, disappeared Yuma was standing there in his usual zexal attire, but he was also changed. His hair was no longer shiny but black, he was radiating in a dark aura, his eyes were distant black and, on his face, plastered an evil cold smirk.

Zaira's p.o.v.

Around the same time.

I was not sure what actually was going on here at all. I mean how could I with all these things going on. Cy and I had tried to muster as much power to break out of this sphere field, when everything had gone crazy. Sure Kite and Shark was fighting valiantly against the barians, but that was not what occupied me at the moment. Yuma and Astral's duel with Vector did. I mean how could I not when Tori and the crew were about to get swallowed by a black hole?! Even Kite and Shark postponed their duel to try and do something. Kite even send Orbital to help Tori and the others out. That and along with Vector tormenting Yuma mentally. All which made me try and break free from this sphere in a frenzy to be honest. I was not sure if it was because of lack of strength or if it was because I just couldn't concentrate, but Cy and I just couldn't escape this place. No matter how much we tried. However, I didn't have to worry much because soon Tori and the gang actually escaped the black hole, which couldn't make me prouder. That and Tori's angry speech made me smile inside. She had clearly learned this from me. Her speech even made Yuma come to his senses and apologize to Astral for everything he had done wrong. I believe Astral accepted it as well, since they both soon began their Zexal transformation. Now I knew everything would be alright.

And I couldn't be more wrong! Why was it no one of us saw this coming? I mean we all knew Vector had been the barian who had taken over Dr. Faker. HE had been there. I had been there. I should have known. I really should. I mean Vector explained his cunning plan in barian world to me. Sure, he didn't tell it in detail, but it really gave me an expression on how cunning Vector could be. He learned from his mistakes god damn it, so why didn't I see this coming? He had been tricking Yuma and Astral since they both arrived here after all, so why? Why?! Why hadn't I realized that he also had a plan against their Zexal bond?! Apparently, every event being Ray to Yuma had been to break his and Astral bond, and sadly he had succeeded. I had seen how the Zexal got split back to Yuma and Astral. I even saw how Vector managed to change Astral into... some kind of evil being of darkness and... every other thought disappeared from my mind now as burning and tortuous pain ran through my body. Especially my chest and I let out a painful scream. I couldn't help it. It just hurt so much!

"Mistress! Mistress what is wrong?!" I could hear Cy say worriedly.

I think he was beside me right now, but I kinda had other things to focus on. Like etc. this pain.

"The pain! It is unbearable! Make it stop! Make it stop!" I yelled in pure distress, but since nothing happened, I guess I had to get rid of my own. I was totally not in my right mind because I began slamming myself into the sphere field with a lot of force. All to stop this pain from happening. All to get out from here. All to be knocked unconscious. I was willing to do everything to make this searing pain disappear.

"Zaira? Zaira?! What is wrong?" I could hear Dumon say inside my head. He surely must have noticed my wild attempts to escape just now.

"It hurts! It hurts so much! Make it stop!" I yelled frantically and ran my shoulder inside the sphere this time. Wind was roaming around me and contained me from harming myself any more. I looked angrily at Cy now.

"Let me go! Let me go right now or I swear I won't forgive you!" I hissed angrily and tried to fight my way out of the wind, but it was too strong for me.

"Mistress..." Cy mused out worriedly. He was surely about to say something more when Dumon beat him through it.

"Calm down Zaira and tell me where it hurts" The grey barian said in a surprisingly calm tone. A tone who surprisingly made me calm down. Just a little.

"My chest. My chest! It hurts! Please make it stop!" I begged, and tears fell out of the corners of my eyes. It even began getting blurry. I sniffed a little. I just wanted it to stop! Why was it so hard to do so?!

"Your chest?" I could hear Dumon question in a confused tone "Oh no don't tell me... Vector! You are connected to Astral so when Vector pulled that last move. He must have affected you too. I told him to capture the prince not turning him evil".

"Well... ahh... how do you think that plan is going?" I asked in a surprisingly mocking tone. '

I was actually stunned that I still have this kind of humor considering the circumstances. Then another ray of pain ran through me and whatever resistance I was having, wasn't there any longer. I could feel how my body literally just shut down and I knew I passed out.

Vector's p.o.v.

Vector was smirking evilly inside. Everything was more or less going according to his plan. Sure, the dark Zexal form Yuma and Astral had taken now, had surprised even him, but it was not something he couldn't handle. Soon his sister would be free from this blasted seal and she would belong with him forever once again. She was after all his. His sister! No one else's! Vector was still quite angry over that Yuma in some way had replaced him as Zaira's brother even though it was not intentional. He of course also had something nasty planned for Yuma along the road, but first things first. He had to defeat Yuma and Astral first. He therefore turned his attention to the boy who was dressed in this dark aura Zexal outfit. They didn't have the same shine to their power as they usually did, and Yuma's eyes looked rather distant, which only made Vector assume that Yuma was not in charge in this duel. Astral were.

"Well, well, well. Looks like Zexal has taken a turn for the worse" Vector then concluded and smirked inside once again.

It was fine by him. He was after all well prepared. Then a sudden bibbing sound could be heard, and a screen appeared beside Vector now. Dumon was glaring angrily at him.

"Vector I told you to capture the prince. Not turn him evil!" he could hear their current leader say. Vector just rolled his eyes at that.

"What's the difference? He is on our side now" He replied and shrugged "Now he will go along more willingly and...".

"Your move made our princess pass out Vector! Zaira and Astral are connected" He could hear Dumon sneer "We are trying to save her, not put her in more danger".

"How should I have known that?!" Vector defended angrily. "You are the walking Wikipedia here, not me! No one tells me anything these days!".

"Just reverse the effect Vector" Dumon replied with a sigh.

"How? Yuma and Astral are merged together right now. I can't do anything about that" Vector hissed angrily and looked over at this dark Zexal form.

Inside he was cursing himself. Why was it his plans always, in some weird way, got ruined by his sister?! Not that he blamed her in any way, but still.

"Just beat them. Winning the duel should reverse the effect" Dumon just quickly replied and the screen disappeared.

Vector growled annoyed. He hated being ordered around. Especially by a certain Nash! However, soon after he sighed a little. Zaira was at least more important than his pride. He looked over at this evil Yuma and hissed angrily inside. Beat him eh? Well I can do that. Along with a lot of hurt and humiliation. Vector chuckled darkly at that. It was like music in his ears now.

Cy's p.o.v.

Around the same time Zaira passed out.

"Mistress!" Cy yelled in panic as his mistress went unconscious in the wind armor, he had created on her.

Just to keep her safe. Even from herself. He had heard everything Dumon had told Zaira and therefore he knew about Astral being evil. He also knew what had caused his Mistress to pass out. When Astral and Yuma had merged into dark Zexal it had all been too much for her, and she went unconscious. Cy didn't hesitate much after this and quickly entered his mistress soul. He had after all promised her that he was always here. He was not going to leave her ever!

As he entered her soul, he was met with utter darkness. Even more darkness than when this double of Zaira had tried to take over his mistress. He also never felt any darkness like this before either. It was filled with hate, anger and betrayal. All emotions Cy didn't want his mistress to get overpowered by no matter what. He had a feeling those emotions and darkness was what Astral was feeling at the moment and since Zaira was linked with him, she was influenced too.

"Mistress!" Cy yelled loudly as he spotted a passed out girl a little away from him. Zaira was easy to spot because she was the only light in here. For now! Cy didn't know for how long and therefore rushed as quick as he could over to him.

"Oh Mistress..." Cy whispered and nuzzled her cheek. Pain was shown in the blue wolf's eyes, along with a lot of panic. He didn't know how to get rid of this.

"Cut the thread" A voice then suddenly said, and Cy looked perplex around.

"Who, who said that?" he questioned slowly.

"You already know me Cy" the voice just replied, "Cut a thread".

Cy looked still perplexed around. There was no one to see but Cy was also unsure if there had been anyone here at all. Then he noticed the it. The threads this strange voice had told him. They were lit up in a weird dark aura and Cy just knew it was connected to Astral. This was not his mistress power for sure. Cy didn't hesitate at all. Even though the blue wolf didn't know this mysterious voice, he knew those dark threads needed to disappear. As quick as possible! Cy let out a loud roar and summoned his wind power to cut it, but after some minute and nothing happened Cy looked bewildered at it. Wind could usually cut anything. Cy then tried to cut it with its claws. That did nothing as well. Cy growled annoyed at that. How could he help his mistress if he couldn't cut these damned threads?!

"Try harder! Use all you have in you! If you truly wanna save her, then give it your all" the voice then suddenly shouted.

Cy growled angrily at that. He had just tried that! However, as soon as he had thought that he knew what he needed to do. He needed to try harder. He needed to give it his all. He needed to use everything at the same time. Cy let out another roar and attacked one of the threads as fiercely as he could. He used his claws. He used the wind. He even used his teeth underneath his mask, which was difficult because of that mask. Nothing happened again! However Cy didn't give up. He would never give up! Every time he didn't succeed, he tried again. And again and again. He was not letting his mistress down. That mistress he cared so deeply about, and he knew loved her just as much.

Flashback.

"Are we there yet Cy?" his mistress had asked for the 100th time for sure.

However Cy didn't mind it that much. Currently they were traveling through the wildness in Astral world. His mistress wanted to go to a place called the blue lotus, and Cy of course easily complied and were carrying his mistress on his back. However, there was one thing his mistress hadn't thought about, and that was the time to get there.

"There is still a bit of way left Mistress" the wolf replied.

"Ah but I am so bored!" she uttered, but then seconds later she was yawning.

"You could take a nap Mistress. You have been so busy lately" Cy replied.

"But... but what if I miss the place with all the flowers!" Zaira uttered rather scared.

"I will wake you up before we reach that place I promise" Cy said and nodded eagerly "I will also make sure you won't fall of. What kind of protector would I be, if I didn't?".

The blue wolf could see how Zaira was watching with curious maybe even suspicious eyes, but then she was sending him a big grin.

"Okay wake me up when we are there" she said and placed herself down in his warm fur like the little child she was. Cy used his own tail as a blanket as well as using it to keep her on his back. He was gonna protect her!

"You so kind Cy. You are my best friend" he could hear his mistress say and yawned a little once again. "I love you".

"I love you too mistress" Cy replied.

He was feeling warm around his heart as his mistress stated that. He was glad his mistress was feeling like that. Sure they were not having a human loving relationship. It was only a mistress and number relationship, but Cy didn't mind this at all. He was gonna be there for his mistress always. She had after all saved him from his own loneliness.

"Mistress!" Cy yelled loudly as he bit down in the thread once again.

Every happy memory entered the blue wolf's mind along with the difficulties they also had been happened. He was gonna help her! He was there for her! A cracking sound could be heard, and Cy looked surprised up. One of the threads had really been cut over. The blue wolf sighed relieved. He had at least managed one thread. He didn't want to think about how many other threads he still had to cut. That and he was extremely tired. It had taken all of him to just cut this one thread. Cy shook his head a little at those bad thoughts. He was gonna save his mistress no matter what.

"Good, you managed one thread. Allow me to do the rest" This mysterious voice then suddenly said. Before Cy could even reply, a pool of dark water appeared around them, and began swallowing them down. Cy panicked of course.

"Mistress!" he uttered and quickly lifted her up on his back. Even though both of them still sank into these dark waters.

"Don't be alarmed. This my doing. Just let this happen" the voice told them. Cy was not even sure if he could trust the stranger. Sadly it was too late to do anything and Cy and Zaira got supposedly swallowed by this darkness.

When Cy opened his eyes, he was still surrounded in darkness, but it was at the same time different. It felt comfortable and nice. Zaira was of course with him, although she still were unconscious.

"Welcome to my realm" the voice said. It sounded like echo all around them.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Cy growled dangerously "And get rid of this darkness too. We had enough of that!".

"Darkness? Oh I see, this is how you see my realm? It takes the shape of the visitor" the voice replied and sighed. "Guess you do not trust me yet".

Cy growled annoyed and was about to roar and shout angrily, when wind suddenly were blowing around Cy. What was even more strange was that this wind was not created by Cy either. It felt comfortable though. It was warm and caring and Cy remembered,

"You are the one who helped me get stronger when my mistress and I dueled Grace" he then said out loud. The voice chuckled a little.

"Ah so you do remember me. I feel honored" it replied slowly, and light suddenly emitted around Cy. Someone dressed in golden ropes were standing in front of him. "As for who I am, my name is...".

A,n: well cut! Cliffhanger! I am sorry but it would be too early to reveal that. So sorry lol. However I hope you liked the story so far. Please comment on what you think. In the next chapter the conclusion of Sargasso hopefully happens, so hope you are looking forward to it. See yer in the next chapter.