A,N: Hello my dear readers. Lol I am ready to post the next chapter already since I couldn't stop myself in posting this. One of the longest chapters ever. But then again, a lot of stuff happens. Also, this whole event or some of it, is created by the song called 'listen to your heart', and therefore the title to this chapter. Will post a link to it, so you can listen to it. Then you can tell me if it fits this scenario or not. Hope you will comment after reading it and tell me what you think. Thank you so much for your time. Have fun reading. 

https://youtu.be/rnAmzu5yncg

Normal P.o.v.

Lightning were shown in the sky. It blitzed and roared, showing just as much fierceness as you would expect from a raising storm. However, regardless the dangerous weather, a female was standing at the top of a volcano, and she was for a weird reason singing to herself.

"Listen to your heart. When they're calling for you. Listen to your heart. There's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going. And I don't know why. But listen to your heart. Before you tell them goodbye".

Her voice ran through the area. It was almost as if she was shouting to the sky. Thunder once again roared, and as it did, so did a person appear. The female didn't move an inch as the newcomer approached her. It was like she had known of this arrival.

"It is time. The princess will arrive here shortly". The female nodded to that.

"Don't worry. Things will work out. Just as the legend of this ruin" The female reassured "The trial is set up. All I need is the key components, and Her of course".

"I see" The stranger mused in a cold tone "And if things don't work out...".

"Then they are not worth your time" the female stated and snort "You have been way too lenient with her already if you ask me". The stranger hummed at that. They were staring at each other for a while before the other finally nodded in agreement.

"Fine do as you please. Hope you will not regret it". Then they disappeared leaving the female to herself. The female chuckled darkly at that. Then without warning she changed shape into a grey-haired male with glasses.

"Listen to your heart" The boy then said with a male voice, before he shifted into a purple haired boy with a shark pendant around his neck "There's nothing else you can do". Once again, he shifted. This time into a young female with orange hair.

"Before you tell them goodbye".

Zaira's p.o.v.

"Warning! Warning! Ship out of course. Initiating emergency landing!" the voice of the security system told us, which made us all who was onboard, grab whatever we could to get footing in here.

Things had happened so quick that none of us had been prepared for this at all. Not even Orbital and he was keeping a close eye on the monitors there. It had all started with us all back in Japan to recuperate us selves before we went on the journey for the other 4 remaining numbers. Kairi had literally yelled our ear off since Yuma and I had gone for so long. After that we had just rested ourselves. I had hung out with Shark and surprisingly Yuma gained the mytherian number here in Japan at the duel sanctuary. Something with a statue who had appeared at the sanctuary. It looked like a Girag from ancient times. I had only listened with half an ear when Yuma told me about it. I was pretty mad at him for not bringing me along, but if I remember correctly it was something with a fierce warrior and a Raccoon. Nothing that really had interested me at all. However, after that battle Astral had rushed to the ship to seal away that number, only to return seconds later to tell us the location of the 8th mysterious number point finally had reappeared on the map. That made us all gather our things and hit the road pretty quickly. That even included Kite and Orbital, even though Kite had stated earlier that he had something to check up on. How he came along once again I had no idea, but I was grateful for the company none the less. This number was currently located outside the coast of India. Everything had really gone smoothly, until it well didn't! We still don't know the reason for this. However, since none of us had been prepared for this, none of us managed to get to our seats before the ship became rather bouncy. It even made the ship go into emergency shut down, making us have yet another crash landing.

"Quick, grab something who can make sure you are not tossing around in the ship!" Kite had yelled in a really high voice.

We all of course did as he was told. There was no time to argue really. Shark and I had climbed under a table who was literally nailed to the floor, thinking it would keep of safe for the time being. Rio and Tori had surprisingly managed to get back to the seats and getting seatbelts out. I guess they were the lucky ones since they were closest by. Orbital had been the most creative out of all us. He had cabled himself to the instrument panel, by transforming into drill mode. On Kite's order of course. He was even holding Yuma and Kite in a tight grip with his body. A good call in my book since neither Kite nor Yuma had anything to grab onto. The ship was still shaking a lot though. It even did it for several minutes before a loud crash could be heard. What was unusual was that we hadn't hit the water surface. No, it had sounded like we had hit solid ground. Smoke and the smell of burned metal now hit my nostrils. I first though the ship was damaged or on fire somewhere but that was not the case. Luckily. The smoke came from...

"Master Kite... my... my systems are burn-Ning. I am... not sure I... can go on" Orbital then said as his voice got duller and before we knew it, Orbital went quiet.

"Orbital, I command you, wake up!" Kite sneered as he was pushing himself and Yuma out of the robot's arms. It was after all safe now since the ship wasn't moving at all. Sadly, Orbital didn't give a sound from him.

"Oh, for the love of...His processors fried!" I could hear Kite sneer.

I had in the meantime taken in my surroundings. Besides Orbital shutting down, we were all more of less safe. I could see Kite sit on the ground with a screwdriver and tools, trying to fix Orbital up the best he could. Yuma was on the ground, trying to make himself less dizzy. Shark was literally the only one moving about, as he was looking outside through one of the monitors.

"Is it safe now?" I could then hear Tori question. She had apparently had her eyes closed this whole time.

"Yes, we are safe" Astral replied firmly. He was also looking out of one of the ships windows "However, where we are is a mystery to me".

"You can say that again Astral" I could hear Shark say, "I didn't know there was any tropical islands near the coast of India". By that I got up myself and rushed over to Astral and Shark. They were of course right. From my view at the window, some sort of jungle awaited us.

"This must be where the 6th number card is" I then stated "It can't be a coincidence that we are here". Kite could hear Kite huff in the background.

"Well for your sake I hope you are right" he sneered as he closed Orbital's breast plate "I didn't get through this trouble for nothing". I hummed a little at that but didn't comment on anything. Kite looked pissed enough as it was.

"Well this must be the spot" Astral then stated as he looked up at the map "We are not completely at the ruins location, but close by".

"Well then let's go!" Yuma uttered cheerfully "We can't get the numbers if we are staying here".

"Give me a sec!" Kite sneered as he pulled some wire, changing Orbital from Drill mode to regular Orbital. "We need Orbital to find the ruins, or are you suggesting we wander aimlessly around in that jungle out there?". At that Yuma scratched his hair in a rather sheepishly matter. I just rolled my eyes at that. Yuma could be so clueless.

"I believe he should be up and running now" Kite then stated minutes later, as he hit Orbital on the shoulder. Then he shouted "Orbital I command you to wake up!".

The robot flew instantly up from the floor. Some sparks were still showing around his body for a second though. Then Orbital saluted.

"I am right awake... mas... Kite" He replied a little more stuttering that normal. I sent Kite a doubtful look. He didn't look fully fixed.

"He is on emergency power and I shut down his different modes" Kite explained "It was the best I could do, considered the circumstances. Orbital where are we?". The robot saluted a little again as he began scanning the surroundings.

"On a remote island... out... side India's coast-line some-where" he then said quickly "My locator indicates... the number... ruin is on this island. It is not... completely accurate, but I should... be able... to get Us there".

"Then let's get going. The quicker we get there, the quicker we can go home" I stated cheerfully as I walked outside of the ship.

Time skip.

Soon we all wandered through the jungle, following the directions from a very stuttering Orbital. Not that I really cared. For some unknown reason I felt excited, it was almost like the time we hit Mizar's ruin. I had been eager there too, but then again could you blame me. I wanted to know about my ruin. If I really was a barian then there must be a ruin that made me connect to a time where I was human. To be honest I felt like the adrenalin was pumping in my veins right now.

"Zaira not so fast!" I could hear Yuma shout in the background, making me stop up. I guess I was once again too fast for them.

"Where the heck does you get that energy from?!" I could hear Rio say as she gasped for air. Tori was not far behind.

"You are faster than me, when we have races against Bronk" Yuma also uttered "You so would win if you kept that pace". Once again, I didn't comment on that. Guess when I really was determined I could do anything.

"That must be a barian thing or something" Rio then stated, "That can't be any other explanation for it". Just like before I didn't comment on any of their babble.

"Don't be so sure" Shark then stated and grabbed my hand, making our hands intervene. In some way that was his way of making sure I didn't run off again "You can do a lot of things when you are motivated".

I hummed at that. I had a feeling he was speaking from experience here. I mean when he was motivated to take down Quattro in the WDC, he had been filled with determination to take him down. Apparently, he saw me in a similar situation right now. I didn't know if I should be flattered or not. Not that it really mattered here. What matters was the number.

"Let's just find this ruin" I stated and began going, only to find myself get pulled backwards by Shark's grip in my hand. He hadn't moved a muscle after all.

"Hold on Miss Stubborn. This time we will all go together" Shark said and began walking. He did however whisper in my ear as we were some steps in front of the others "That is the only way I can protect you from...them".

I huffed at that. I was strong enough to fight my own battles really. Especially since Shark wanted to protect me from the barians. I had a hunch it had something to do with Dumon, but then again him being overprotective was one of the things I liked about Shark boy.

"Wow this is a meadow!" Yuma uttered as we finally reached the destination of the ruin.

Or that was at least what Orbital's sensors said. I was disagreeing here big time. After all the only thing we had reached after wandering through this thick jungle was the in fact a meadow and a green and luxurious one at that. Flowers were sprouting all around and the grass had never looked greener. If I remembered in the history books soil created by lava, had a lot of nutrients in it. However then again, there was more life on this meadow than on the entire island itself which I of course found weird. That and there were no ruins here. Not even a brick or a piece of cinder indicating it had been here at all in case the volcano here had burned it to pieces.

"Wow look, there is even a spring here!" Yuma then uttered as he tottered around in the greenery field with no care in the world. "Do you think the ruin is there somewhere Astral?". At that I just rolled my eyes. The stream here didn't look like it hit a ruin or a number either. Maybe there was a trick or...

"This is not what I expected" Kite mused coldly as he was stating at the meadow in front of us "Are you sure this is the coordinates to where the ruin is supposed to be?".

"Posi...tive Mas...Kite" Orbital stuttered "This is... the coordinates from... map...".

"Or the toaster own is busted" Shark snort out and sighed "Might as well take a look and see if we can find anything".

At that I nodded and followed Shark as we sat our feet at the meadow. However as soon as I did, I felt like my head was blown in two. An intense headache, like any I have ever felt before in my life, hit my skull. It was like something was resonating with me. I couldn't even keep myself from letting out a painful scream which of course alarmed my friends and colleagues.

"Zaira?! Zaira?! What is wrong?" That was clearly Shark's voice.

I have had my eyes closed because of the pain, but now I forced myself to look. Shark was standing at my side with that worried expression. It almost reminded me of Dumon's worried expression. My eyes widened and I shook my head rather wildly. Why was thinking of that Barian idiot now of all places?!

"Zaira are you okay?". Yuma asked. All of my friends were of course around me.

"I think she is having a panic attack or something" Rio uttered as she was holding my other hand "Her pulse is rising".

"Bad timing" Kite mused out in a cold tone, but he did look worried.

"I think I see some big stones she can sit on" Tori then said, "Or maybe she needs to lie down?". I took a deep breath to calm myself down. The others were so kind.

"I am... I am okay" I managed to get out. "I don't know what happened?".

"Do you ever" Shark mused slowly "This is not the first time. Maybe that Nerd really was right, and I should have taken you to a doctor".

"Might have been the appropriate thing to do" Astral mused and looked at me with that fatherly big brother look "Why didn't you tell us this happened before Zaira?".

"I..." And couldn't manage to say more.

What was I supposed to say? I don't even know what this is myself?! However, in the end the others decided I needed a breather without consulting with me of all people. They had placed me on the big stone here, demanding that I took it easy, while they were figuring everything out with the number ruin. Shark had gone over to the river to get me something to drink, meaning I was all alone on these stones. That was not my cup of tea, I tell you that. I wanted to help, but at the same time Kite had made Orbital my watch dog, so there was really no escaping it. I sighed deeply. Maybe I really needed to relax, so I could compress what was going on. I mean all I did was setting foot on this place. My hand roamed around on the ground in order to do something, and surprisingly I ended up with holding up a familiar silver coin in my hand. That was...

"Here is your water miss stubborn" I could hear Shark say as he was standing in front of me, holding the water bottle we have been using on our adventures so far.

I send him a grateful look as I began drinking some of the water. Surprisingly, this was very tasty. Shark had in the meantime sat down on one of the other stones beside me and were holding my hand, in a very reassuring matter.

"Better?" He asked as I handed him the bottle back.

"Yeah I am better. I don't know what happened" I mused out and squeezed his hand in mine "But enough about that. Guess what I found. One of Kazuma's coins". I was handing him the coin, which Shark was staring at in disbelief.

"Wait what? Are you saying the number ruin is here?" Shark uttered shocked which surely got everyone's attention.

Or so I hoped. If not, the crumpling sound beneath us sure did. I let out a surprised scream as the boulder under both of us crumbled and suddenly two giant holes appeared underneath us. Without any warning Shark and I was pulled underground to who knows where.

Dumon's p.o.v.

Around the same time. In barian world.

Dumon was currently in the throne room inside the barian palace. It was after all his go to place where he would watch the current events unfold. He was running through the events with the mytherian numbers in order to find some patterns here. All so he could find the numbers and win power for barian world. And find Nash and Marin but that was minor details. After his companion's failures, that being Mizar and Girag, he had put it on to himself in finding the 3 remaining ruins and numbers. No matter how difficult it was. Especially the part with the ruins connecting to their supposed human heritage, that had left every one of the barian emperor rather numb. Even Mizar who had been so headstrong at first, ended up back at the palace, staring he didn't want anything to do with the numbers. Dumon could only guess what horrors he had seen and decided not to annoy the yellow barian further. That was also one of the reasons Dumon was here, in trying to find the remaining numbers. Sadly, what he didn't know was that destiny was having a cruel for him today. Something that would show in...

"Ahr!" a scream ran through his head now, filling him with so much dread and confusion that Dumon literally couldn't think about anything else.

"Zaira!" was his only responds because that screaming voice had been Zaira's.

That he knew with all his heart. He couldn't explain why. He just knew. His hand roamed around on the crystal he had used to view the 23 spots of the ruins. However now the picture changed. Dumon had focused all his mental energies on the scream and Zaira. He wished to know what was going on and he hoped that the crystal would grant him his wish. Just as the portal had in the past, as he had been searching for Zaira. Luck was apparently on his side, as the crystal showed him pictures of a flourish meadow filled with grass and flowers. Dumon's eyes widened at the display. Why was the crystal showing him this? He wanted to see Zaira and if she truly was okay. Then the picture zoomed in, revealing Yuma and his friends, as they were staring in distress at a giant hole. Dumon figured there could fit two people at once in here. That was how big it was. Not that he understood the situation at all.

"They just vanished!" he could hear Yuma utter "Zaira and Shark just vanished!".

"Calm down Yuma. There must be an explanation to this" Kite then mused beside him "A hole doesn't just appear out of the blue".

"But you all saw how the ground swallowed them up" Rio pointed out and kneeled down looking down into it "I can't even see the bottom".

"So, you think the ruin is down there? I mean underground" Tori then asked, "That is the only explanation I can come up with".

"Well if that is the case, what are we waiting for?!" Yuma uttered determined "Let's follow them. They might need help".

The crew looked at each other and nodded. Yuma was the first one to jump, only to find himself get bounced back hitting the ground pretty hard. To everyone's surprise.

"What just happened?!" Yuma uttered stunned "Did I miss?".

"No, I think... this is a barrier of some kind" Kite mused out as he let his hand roam over the hole. Shocks could be heard for a sec before Kite redrew his hand in utter pain "And an energy barrier by that. Someone doesn't want us to follow".

"A guardian maybe...?" Rio questioned "The one in the pegasus ruin did split us up remember? Xinglong did also test us...".

"Could be..." Astral then mused and hummed. That had been the first thing he had said since the whole conversation started "But I believe there is more to it. Much more. Shark and Zaira was the only ones falling down there, which makes me believe this test revolves around them and them alone. I believe we found Zaira's ruin...".

"Distressful sight isn't it?" a voice then said suddenly and interrupted Dumon's concentration at the crystal. The pictures of the meadow instantly disappeared, making the grey barian turn surprised around, in order to find the intruder.

"To watch her. Day after day without any recognition from her at all. It must kill you Dumon!" the voice continued. It almost rang as an echo in here. However, no one was present here at all. Dumon hissed angrily at that.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" he then yelled and looked frantically around for anything.

Just a tiny clue that could identify this intruder. He was surprised anyone had the audacity to sneak up on a barian emperor in their own world. How they went past security without anyone, even the servants, noticing them, was beyond him. Sounds could be heard and out of the shadows a woman appeared. She was dressed in a white ancient dress alias rope, with a black sash wrapped around her midsection and bandages wrapped around her feet's. Her chest was having a black top underneath a white garment, who was tied at her right shoulder. She didn't have sleeves, but a golden ancient bracelets were wrapped around her neck and the top of each of her arms. Long blue hair, in a long ponytail who still went down behind her ass, were playing sway fully in the wind, along with her wolf tail behind her. Wolf ears at the top of her head was also shown, and in her right hand she was carrying a giant spear. Dumon didn't need to ask to know that she was neither barian nor human.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" Dumon asked as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. She could not be here on a friendly visit.

"My name is no importance Dumon. At least not yet. What you should focus on is Zaira. You heard the news. I am surprised you are not doing anything about it" the woman then replied which caught Dumon's attention right away.

"Why should I? I am a barian!" Dumon sneered "Zaira is my... Enemy now since she helps the Astral prince. I swore to myself not getting involved with her again".

"Because she loves the other male named Shark now?" The woman then questioned and chuckled "Or is it because she has forgotten you and the relationship you once had? Either way it hurts you deeply".

"I... I... wait why are we even talking about this?" Dumon then uttered and looked stunned at the woman "We were not discussing Zaira. We were discussing you!".

"Foolish little knight, who so bravely clings to his sword, in order to protect yourself from the pain" the woman then said and sighed deeply. "Haven't you realized that only you can save her now? So, shred your foolish pride and go aid her. We are losing precious time standing here talking".

Dumon hissed angrily as he starred down this mysterious woman. Who and what was she? But then again, her words from before did have an impact on him. After all what if Zaira was really in danger and he really was the only one saving her? He had seen how Yuma and the others were unable to help her and her current boyfriend. Did this woman think his barian power was of any use in that? Or what was her game here?

"I can bring you close to her Dumon. Maybe your actions will indeed make Zaira remember you. However right now she needs your help. Come with me" the lady said as she was holding a hand towards him. She was clearly expecting him to take it. Dumon hissed again as he swallowed his pride, making his hand intervene with the wolf lady's. Zaira was after all more important.

"Let's go!" he said in a firm tone.

That was also all he rode as energies suddenly were dancing all around him. He felt tired for some reason. Before he could do anything at all. Like finding out what was going on, his barian form began changing into that of a human, and his eye lid became extremely heavy. It didn't take long for Dumon to figure out that this was the lady's doing.

"Sleep tight little knight. Do not worry, when you wake up, I will have brought you closer to your precious princess. If she manages her test, she is ready to be reawaken". That was the last words Dumon heard before everything turned black.

Shark's p.o.v.

Around the same time. Somewhere deep down.

"Shark! Shark! Wake up!". That was the first words Shark heard as he came to, finding himself in a completely different place. He was clearly not at the meadow anymore. To be honest, he could barely see anything since no light was around him. However, he was sure he had heard a voice call his name.

"Zaira? Is that you?" Shark questioned and groaned. He did remember he had been with her last. Then his eyes widened.

"Ahr right. We fell down this hole in the ground" he groaned and rubbed his head a little. That fall had been deep, but what surprised him a lot was that he wasn't badly injured or anything.

"Zaira? No! I am your sister Rio silly" the voice then said and sighed. "But then again it is pretty dark in here. I followed you when that hole appeared".

"Really? Well that was reckless of you!" he sneered and got up on his feet's.

Surprisingly as he did, torches suddenly began lighting up. They were apparently attached in this stone cave wall here now. All which confused Shark a bit deal. Right now, they were in a long-caved path with only stone and torches around. The hole he fell down was nowhere to be seen. In front of him was his sister standing, with her ocean hair and all, and looked bewildered around.

"Guess someone turned them on" Rio said and shrugged "I would have loved to have this kind of light when I was searching for you".

"Still reckless of you Rio!" Shark sneered and sighed "Do you know where we are? Where is Zaira? She fell down here, too right?".

"Yeah, but everything here is kinda like a labyrinth, so she must have fallen down somewhere else. I was just lucky that I found you at all Shark" Rio said thoughtfully "And as you can guess we are underground. I think you found this place's ruin...". Shark's eyes narrowed a little at that. There was something wrong here. Something was off and it was coming from Rio.

"Where are Yuma and the others? If you are here, they must have followed us down here too" Shark then stated and looked at his sister.

"Yeah but as I told you already Shark. There is tunnels and stuff. We got separated" Rio explained and sighed deeply "No idea on how we can get out of here".

Shark got even more suspicious by that. It was unlike Kite and Astral to just jump head into anything without a plan. Sure, Yuma might be clueless, but he would still listen to the others. Now that he thought about it, how could Rio find him in this darkness. Why did the torches light up as soon as he woke up? And how did Rio know this was a labyrinth in the first place? Now that he thought about it, Rio usually calls him Reginald instead of Shark. Especially when they were alone. It was her way to remind him who he really was, deep underneath.

"Come on Shark. Let's go find the others, or the number. Either way there must be a way out of here" Rio then stated and were holding a hand towards him. She clearly expected him to take it and had it been every other day, he might have done that, just for her to shut up. However, in this case...

"You... You are not Rio!" He then yelled and took some steps backwards. Changes were instantly shown now since his sister was smiling rather smug now.

"Oh, you noticed" Rio then said in a very distorted version of her voice and chucked "You are much smarter than I give you credit for. I give you an A. But even so, it changes nothing. You will end up the same way as my other guest...".

"Oh, really and that is?" Shark sneered fiercely and remembered what she had just said "Wait other guest? Have you done something to Zaira? Who are you?".

"My name has no importance. However, I might as well tell you" Rio replied "I am the number guardian of this ruin. I am known as a shapeshifter and took the form of your dear sister. All in order for you to follow me".

"You took on Rio's form to deceive me" Shark said and snort "And follow you to where? Why the heck should I?".

"You are bargain tool for your dear Zaira. It compels her to come to your rescue" Rio replied and took another step towards him. Shark to one step back instead, keeping this a stalemate. Although not for long.

"I have no intensions to follow your sick plan" Shark sneered and took some step backwards again. Then he quick turned around and ran away as fast as he could. Surprisingly, the ruin guardian having Rio's form now, just stood there. She didn't follow him at all, which he found weird.

"Run as fast as You like Shark. You will not escape me" The ruins guardian's voice echoed through the walls "You are on my turf. I will get what I need from you. Just as I did the other". '

Shark snort to that. He was gonna show this shapeshifter, that it was wrong. He had only thought that though when a loud whistling sound could be heard. Shark was not sure how or what even happened now. Sneering sounds could just suddenly be heard and wolves materialized itself from the pure ground itself. Shark jumped some steps away as the wolves jumped at him, forcing Shark to run even faster. He barely managed to get far, when the first wolf jumped on his back, and forced him to the ground. Shark let out a painful scream, and that was not because of the wolf's claws pierced through his clothes and skin. No, this wolf was also burning hot. Like a boiling hot rock, heated up by fire or something. Shark barely registered when the other wolves surrounded him, because of the pain. The only thing he did notice, was when some of the wolves bit his wrists and ankles. It took some seconds to realize that he now was chained in the purest of metal. Shark sneered angrily as he tried to fight the restrains. Since when were wolves able to do stuff like this. But then again when was wolves burning hot too? This clearly had some magic in it. Just like their shapeshifting leader.

"Good work my minions" Shark could hear the guardians voice echo in here once again "Bring him to the other one. Our princess will so arrive". That was the last thing Shark hurt before, he was knocked out by one of the wolf's tail.

Zaira's p.o.v.

I groaned slightly as I slowly gaining consciousness. Everything was feeling rather shaky. Or maybe that was my head. I mean we did fall down a giant hole just now so of course I would be groggy. It took me some minutes before the dizziness was gone and I could see where I was. A rocky terrain meets my eyes, and hadn't it been for the burning torches at the wall, I would have thought I was in a cave. That however didn't seem to be the cave. A narrow passageway was the only way I could see here.

"Hello! Anybody there?!" I shouted in pure distress "Shark? Everyone? Is someone here?!".

I was meet with silence. I growled rather annoyed. Guess I was all alone. Good thing I was not claustrophobic. However, I was left with two choices here since the hole I felt down in, was nowhere to be seen. I could go to the right or to the left. Whichever road was fine for me, but I had a feeling my choice could have repercussions. Everything looked the same really, so how did you even know where you were going. Maybe this was even a labyrinth. All I knew was that this must be the number ruin of some kind.

"If I remember correctly, in a labyrinth you have to always make lefts or was its rights" I said and sighed deeply.

Then suddenly something was flashing at the left passageway. It of course caught my attention, as I bowed down to see what was shining there all of the sudden. To my astonishment it was a card. A blank duel monster card. I had even turned it around a couple of times to see if it really was blank, and it sadly was. It was a card with no text whatsoever and I first wondered if this was the ruin's number. But that couldn't be right. Didn't all the mytherian numbers have a guardian? In the end I decided to put it in my deck case. Kite or Astral might be able to tell me what this card was. However, since this card was at the left side of the road, I decided to go that way. It sounded reasonable. I had only taken a step though when another weird strange light appeared beside me. A person or was it a ghost since it was kinda see-through, was standing in front of me. I was staring at her with wide mouth and eyes. How could I not when the person standing in front of me, was one of my all-time idols, Tara Yuki. One of the legendary duelists many years back. I could recognize that hair and clothes style anywhere. That was what Tara had worn at the graduation at duel academy when she graduated. Her blue obelisk uniforms.

"Woah! Tara Yuki!" I uttered and rubbed my eyes in case I was dreaming. She was still standing there. Or maybe more floating, but still.

"Are you a ghost? Why are you here?" I uttered stunned. The girl just giggled and waved at me. Then she teleported some meters away at the right path and were waving at me again.

"You want me to follow you?" I questioned. The girl didn't answer to that. Only waving at me, and in the end, I decided to follow. What was the worst that could happen?

Our trip continued on and on like that. Tara Yuki teleporting meters away and I followed. I think that was a good call, considering the many lookalike corridors. Of course, there were a chance she would lead me astray, but I decided not to think about that. I mean if she wanted me lost, why not just leave me where I was to begin with? After what felt like forever. Might have been since all the corridors looked the same really, I was brought to a giant hall, who was way different that anything here. Added in with being spacious unlike everything else here. The torches were of course still lit, which I really appreciated, being all alone down here. I was about to thank the ghost for bringing me here, only to find that she was gone.

"Tara?" I questioned but of course got no answer.

I sighed deeply. Guess she should bring me here for some reason. I shrugged. It didn't really matter. I mean I was here, which only could be two places. The exit or where the number was. I hoped on the latter since I really didn't want to fall all the way down here for nothing. I decided to do some exploring. Right now, I was indeed in this hall, but nothing here really screamed "Number" or anything really. All I could see was some pictures on the wall. That really wasn't anything new. In the pegasus and ruin with Vector and 96 had there also been drawings on the walls. But I figured it had something to do with this ruins legend and therefore decided to check it out. The first thing I noticed was the pictures location. Everything was occurring on a meadow. Just like the one above us. It seems like a battle of some kind. Two crowds of people were facing against each other with pointed swords. You really didn't need to be an expert in ancient scripts to see that. The rest however was not that easy. I barely understood it so to speak. One of the few pictures on the wall was with three people. Actually 4 since I saw an archer in the background. Two people were standing in front of each other with lifted swords while the third stood in between holding a heart symbol, I think. What all that meant was a mystery to me. What had happened here? A battle sure but did anyone really die or what was the outcome here? My hand roamed around on the mural in hope of some kind of image, as I did in the pegasus ruin, but nothing came to me. In the end I sighed deeply and decided to continue my search.

The next thing I discovered was that this was only the front chamber. As I continued, the chamber lead into a bigger and more impressive chamber. Wolf statues, the wolves were standing on their hindlegs and almost looked like werewolves from fantasy stories, were in the room standing as some sort of pillar arc way while holding a torch in their hand. The wolves did look ferocious though, but I was not faced by it, as I went down the lane in between them. At the end of the road I found surprisingly a giant crystal and inside of it was a number card. It was so big I could even see if from the horizon, before I reached it. That and the number was lighting it up like a shiny jewel. It was a little weird though considering no wolf was guarding it. No, as I came closer, I found the back of a knight. In impressive white and grey armor, with a white cape hanging from his shoulder, I was literally taken back by that. Especially when the knight turned around towards me, showing grey hair and grey eyes that I was very familiar with. He sends me a warm smile.

"Princess. You came" he said making me stare in disbelief at him.

"Dumon?" I asked but then got very aggressive "What the hell are you doing here? What's with the get up? And stop calling me princess!". The knight hummed at that.

"But isn't that your name?" He asked, looking rather surprised. "You are after all this ruin's princess, or am I wrong in that you are not here to acquire your former strength?". His arm waved at the number behind him, which clearly stated he knew I was here for the number. I growled rather annoyed at that.

"You are not Dumon. You are the number guardian here" I sneered out fiercely, which made Dumon chuckle darkly at that.

"Oh, how astute of you" Dumon then said in a mixed-up voice of his along with something else, which was clearly the guardians "My dear Zaira. I have been waiting for you for so long, I thought you would never arrive".

"Hu? What do you mean by that?" I asked rather surprised "Waiting for me? Why would you be waiting for me? How do you even know me?".

"Oh, my sweet. It is cute how you haven't realized it yet. Not like this ruin and it inhabits should give you a clue" Dumon then said and chuckled again "And of course I know you Zaira. We go back. You would know that hadn't you lost your ancient memories. I know you know that all the barians were once humans".

"You... You are my number" I uttered rather stunned as everything dawned to me "This is my ruin. The place that I...".

"The place you died. Yes", Dumon said and nodded "I have been waiting for you to be ready to face me Zaira. For that reason, I made the ruin untraceable for anyone besides you. None of your barian friends can find it and claim my powers. Only you".

I looked bewildered at the guardian, as I remembered how the 8 spot of Astral's map disappeared and reappeared. It also must be the one causing the disturbing's to our ship, making it crash land without warning. All that was the guardian's doing. Wonder what else it had been doing? If anything,...

"Why do you look like Dumon?" I then asked. That had been bugging me for a while.

"I have no body my dear. No gender" The guardian informed me and smirked, as it suddenly transformed into a more solid version of Tara Yuki "When you died, I lost a part of myself, forcing me to seal my own self in a crystal here in this ruin, in order to preserve my powers from getting scattered. As a resolve, I can shapeshift into whatever form my opponent's heart deems important, or believe I look like". To prove that to me, she transformed into a version of Shark now. He sent me cold smirk now, before it transformed into Vector's human form.

"Quite useful, don't you agree Zaira chan?" it imitated in Vector's annoying Ray voice "This way I know everything about my opponent. But that is not all, I am also capable of traveling through worlds. Unlike the other guardians. But then again my former wielder was rather exceptional...".

"Cut the crap with all this mockery. There is no way you know my heart!" I sneered angrily "Why do you think I would even want you or your weird numbers power again? I already have Cy as my partner. I am only here to get the number so Astral can remember. Nothing more, nothing less".

"Or so you believe" the guardian replied and changed shape into something I couldn't quite see.

A silhouette of some kind. It chuckled and changed again. This time into something much more recognizable. Me! With short orange hair and purple eyes, but I was dressed differently than my usually attire. A simple long white tunica, with white pants and purple belt. I was having a short skirt over the pants in purple colors, black armor covered my chest, with white shoulder protectors. At the belt I was having two swords, and was having armored, but light shoes on. To say that I was staring in disbelief was an understatement.

"I think I will use this form" The guardian said in a mixed voice of its and mine. "Now what do you say that we start of this duel. That is if you want your friends back".

Before I could say or do anything, a bubble appeared beside me, showing Shark and Dumon, surprisingly, in a heap of danger. They were sitting, back to back, tied up at an iron pole who was stuck in the middle on a giant rock, surrounded by heated molting lava. Clearly this island's volcano to be exact.

"Shark!" I uttered at first thereafter I hesitatingly said Dumon's name too. I mean sure he is our enemy, but clearly didn't deserved to be boiled in lava by a deranged number guardian "What the hell! They have nothing to do with this. Release them this instant!". At that the guardian just chuckled.

"Quite the opposite my dear. They have a lot to do with this. But most importantly, they are here to ensure me that you will be participating in this duel" Ancient me replied. Because what else form could this be. She drew her sword, who instantly turned into a weird shaped duel disk "Now shall we start. If you win, I will release them...". I hissed at that.

"Can I at least know your name?" I sneered as I pulled out my duel disk and deck. It annoyed me a great deal, that I was facing myself and then it had no name. That and I refused to call her Zaira too. That was my name!

"Tala" The ancient me replied with as she sends me a fierce smile "Be grateful. I only tell my wielder this. That is if you can still wield me, Zaira".

My eyes narrowed suspiciously. In some cultures that name meant 'Wolf'. This was clearly my ruin alright and this number has clearly been mine once. That said, this also seemed to be a test. A test to see if I was still the alpha leading the group, or if Tala should take over as its new leader. Why else would she kidnap both Dumon and Shark here?

"If you want a duel against me so badly, you should have just asked" I sneered as I activated my duel disk and Gazer as well. "I will make you regret taking my...friends. It is time to shred some fangs!".

Zaira: 4000 Lp's.

Tala: 4000 Lp's.

"I am the leader so I will start!" I sneered fiercely as I drew a card from my deck.

Tala the guardian didn't seem to have anything against that as she was just standing there, in that ancient of form of mine. I felt like she was taunting me really. I snort firmly as I were looking at my hand. Not a bad hand to be honest. I started off by summoning "Armor wolf" to the field in att mode. Then I activated the spell "Clan meeting" which allowed me to summon yet another beast monster from my hand. Like my "Werewolf warrior". They were both level 4, so it came as no surprise, when I overlaid both of them to Xyz summon "Nb 24 Cyclone beast wolf" to the field in att mode. Cy let out a loud and angry growl, as he was staring down my opponent. He clearly didn't look happy, seeing as he was facing a version of me.

"Mistress!" Cy said and growled again "Why am I facing you in this battle?".

"She is the number guardian here. A shapeshifter named Tala, and then she has the mockery of chancing into a version of me from ancient times" I informed him.

"Oh my. Are you offended?" Tala questioned and send me a cold smug smile, who I wish never would show itself on my lips. Ever! "I could chance into something else. Like etc. your lover, but with your heart so tormented, I don't know which one I should pick. Should it be ferocious Shark...". The guardian changed into his form now, before he changed into Dumon's human form. Then back to my form again.

"Or the Barian Nerd Dumon? There is so many choices. That is the reason I kidnapped both of them. After all I have no clue which one you would prefer to save or would save" Tala taunted and chuckled "Deep down you are in love with both of them. Just as they both are in love with you. Admit it Zaira!".

"No! I... I pick Shark!" I sneered and turned my head a little away from the bubble showing off both Shark and Dumon.

'I had no clue if they even could hear me, but then again, if they could, I indirectly told Dumon off. It was never my intension to hurt him but after the talk I had with Shark at Spartan City, I had promised him that there were nothing between me and Dumon, and at the same time stated that regardless what happened, I had chosen him. Because I loved him, and that wasn't wrong. However, my heart was still aching like crazy for some reason.

"Hmm really? Well we will see about that dear Zaira" Tala then said and chuckled "Remember I can read people's heart...".

"Yeah and I would shut my mouth if I were you" I growled rather annoyed. I didn't need a number guardian to tell me what to do. It was my heart and I decided on who to love. Not her! Or it! I didn't care.

"Mistress. The duel" Cy then pointed out as he brought me back to reality.

"Oh, eh yeah" I replied as I ended my turn with a face down.

"That's it?" Tala or ancient me replied as she tilted her head in disbelief. "That's all the big bad Zaira can muster in one turn? Her number and 1 facedown? Talk about lacking military strength". I glared angrily back at her.

"Oh yeah? It is not like you can do better!" I hissed back at her, which surprisingly made her chuckle rather darkly.

"Oh of course I can Zaira. But you won't like it. Let me show you how a real general can muster military strength!" She replied just as fiercely.

Then she drew. She started off her move by playing the spell card "Fire formation-Tenki". With this card she could add a level 4 beast warrior monster from her deck to her hand. As an added bonus her spell card stayed on the field as a continues spell card, giving all beast warrior monsters on her field 100 att points. I hummed at that. I had heard about the fire formation cards. You could use their effect once, and then for the rest of the duel they stayed on the field as continuous spells and trap cards. They literally took out space in your T/S card zone. Unless you count the added att on 100 points here. Not that I was worried. But I guess her deck was based on a beast warrior type deck. Tala however was of course not done. She activated yet another continuous spell card. This time it was called "Ancient warriors' saga-three visits", and unlike the fire formation cards, I had no clue what it could do.

"Then I normal summon my first ancient warrior. Say hello to 'A.W. Deceptive Jia wen'" Tala told me as a level 4 fire type beast warrior monster appeared on to her field.

In my eyes he looked like some kind of ancient Chinese ruler or something. Its name sounded Chinese at least. That and he was dressed in similar clothes from that country. He was even holding a Chinese scrip role. Besides that, the monster was in att mode and had 1100 att and 1800 def points. I rolled my eyes at that. That was her big move, and then she was criticizing mine?

"However, that is not all. Since I normal summoned an Ancient warrior monster this turn, my three visits spell activates" Tala then told me and smirked "I can now add yet another ancient warrior to my hard from my deck".

Something she of course did instantly. After that, I was suddenly not able to follow. Everything just went extremely quick to say the least. Her A.W. Deceptive Jia wen effect activated. He could send a continues spell or trap to the grave, like her three visits spell, to halve two monsters att on the field. My Cy went from 2500 to 1250 now, while her own monster only had 550. I might could live with that, since my monster was still stronger, but since the three visits spell card was send to the grave, she could also special summon yet another ancient warrior from her hand to the field in att mode. She chooses her "A.W. Graceful Zhou gong" who also looked like a citizen from ancient china. This time it was a lv 4 water beast warrior monster with 1600 att and def points, which made it stronger than my Cy now. However, that was not all. Not at all. Tala still had a lot of surprises left. Like etc. Zhou gong's effect. He could send a continuous spell or trap from the field to the grave, like her fire formation spell, to add an ancient warrior spell or trap from her deck to her hand. And that was not the worst of it. Since another ancient warrior had activated their effect this turn, he could activate his second effect and target another effect monster on the field, Like Cy, and negate their effects, meaning Cy could get destroyed by any other monster, and worst of all not protect itself with it's Ou. Cy was literally a pig for slaughter right now.

"I then overlay my two monsters to xyz summon 'brotherhood of the fire fists-tiger king'" Tala then stated and did just that.

A rank 4 beast warrior monster with 2200 att and 1800 def points appeared onto the field. It looked like a warrior monster but was having the aura of a tiger at its background. Clearly stating it was a tiger king. I was staring in disbelief at her choice. I mean sure, I could understand she would go for an xyz summon, since her two other monsters were having 1600 or below att points, but why wasn't she not summoning the ruins number against me?

"You don't have the privilege to face my full power" Tala then said. It was like she had read my mind, but then again, the shocked face expression I was having right now might have been a dead giveaway. Tala continued "Not by the way you have been playing Zaira. If this is your military strength, then meet mine!".

However, before she attacked her Tiger king effect activated. She could add a fire formation spell or trap card from her deck, and place it face down on the field without having it in her hand. Only drawback was that she had to show it to me first. She had chosen the "Fire formation-Tensu", which was a spell card, that enabled her to normal summon twice each turn. As long as the monster she summoned was a beast warrior monster. However, for some reason Tala didn't activate that card yet. Instead she made her monster attack Cy and destroy him. I could only look in horror as Cy left the field, while at the same time I got slammed backwards by 950 points of damage. I was still standing on my two feet, but I was only having 3050 life points remaining.

"Guess the rumors has been true all along" Tala then said as she ended her turn. She sends me a ferocious glare, who only I could do, but then again, I was playing against a version of myself here. "I heard you had been tamed by a male human and the Astral prince. If you want to prove me wrong, then show me the ferocity you had in ancient times Zaira. If not, they are going to pay".

I could see how Tala pointed at the sphere with her right hand. The sphere where I could see Dumon and Shark being tied up. A surprised scream could be heard from both males now, as the rocky ground they were on, began cracking away, leading them closer and closer to the boiling lava. Horror struck my face instantly.

"Shark! Dumon!" I shouted in pure distress. Then I glared coldly at Tala "What have you done?!". The ancient me chuckled darkly again.

"Did I forget to mention that their fates are tied to this duel. Oh, how forgetful of me" Tala said and send me an evil smirk "Whenever you lose life points, they lose a piece of footing so to speak, until they eventually will plummet to their deaths in the lava below. Their souls will forever become one of my minions while you Zaira will survive with the guilt of losing your loved ones forever!".

A,N: Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. Yep this is hardcore indeed. This guardian is not like any of the others. That is for sure. Tala the shapeshifter means business, and that is literally the fate if Zaira loses this duel. However, with this opposing threat in front of her, I wonder if that is possible? It doesn't help that the guardian still has her number and a few bags of tricks to use. Lol. It will be filled with heartache, memories of ancient times, as well as Yuma and the others finding out what truly happened in this ruin's legend. However now I will take a break from Yugioh Zexal for a while. I need to come up with the rest of the duel since I haven't written all of its duel info. Might take a while. So instead I will focus on my other stories that I haven't done for a while. Hope you understand.