#good job Dennis and Ruri

[miraivelgear]

I did an Arc V hunger games. Here's the highlights

The first two dead were these bitches

Yuto unable to kill his love. Reira killed both Yoko and Yuri btw

The big OOOF of the run, Reira asking Ray to kill her and Ray doing it.

My OC Mirai's lover killing her adoptive brother, RIP to Zarc

Shun unable to handle seeing his beloved upset because of him killing her brother, so he kills himself. Mirai just fake being happy at this point.

Ruri made it all the way to second just to die of hypothermia, and Dennis won

Dennis and Yugo were out for blood

[higuchimon]

AUs/series/prompts

I've thought about doing this for a while and I finally settled down to do it.

I have a lot of AUs and series to write in. So, here is a reasonably definitive list of all the AUs & series I will write in for any tumblr prompts, currently sitting in my inbox or in the future. If you wish to see a fic set in a given AU/series, then ask and I will let you know if that can be done. This includes already requested prompts and new ones. Some can't be written into anything already in existence. Some I just won't do (if you've followed me for any length of time you can guess what I won't do). But here we go.

I smoothed this out some because the post just wasn't reading right on mobile.

Digimon

Breed AUs: 7 of the 12 Chosen Children are part or full Digimon and have Digimon attacks/powers. Five of them are sired by Viral Digimon and have darker personalities waiting to take command in certain situations. Often (but not every time) Ken is Kaiser not because of the Spore but because of his Viral blood/data.

YGO GX

Dead Weight: It's a zombie apocalypse. People die. Sometimes they get back up to eat the ones who aren't dead yet.

Reversal: In this world, Juudai is the incaration of the Darkness of Destruction. He's true evil and bent on world conquest - and doing a very good job of it. There is no Duel Academia. Prompts can be for before Juudai captures Johan or after.

Destructive Flames: A combination of my Reversal AU & Firestarter/Healer AU.

World of Fusion: Many years ago, Brron managed to fuse all twelve dimensions, creating a restructured reality. He also ended up raising Juudai, Johan, and Rune. Ryou is a vampire. There's a war between vampires and zombies.

Extra Spirits: The setting for Royal Hound (one-shot series), Unexpected Ally (Amon meets the spirit Squall), and others to come. Certain folk meet spirits that aren't their partners but their friends.

Hell's Ice: A world where Ryou is the one taken by Kagemaru and Amnael and develops a connection to snow, ice, and cold as he works to become one of the Seven Stars.

Paladin's Quest: Five years after the end of GX, Ryou finally passes away. But that's not the end. He awakens in a new world, and must learn who he now is - a Duel Spirit. But his past life won't let him go.

Bridges: In this AU, Juudai is the Light of Creation (and the Light of Destruction's host), while Johan is the Darkness of Justice. There are also demons that the Cyber duelists hunt.

YGO Zexal

On Dragon Wings: Mizael is a dragon, Vector is a demon (of sorts), the Arclights are cursed, and so much more.

These are series that revolve around a particular character/characters/ship of mine.

Ken x Daisuke/Kaiser x Daisuke

Fight To Remember: Kaiser and Daisuke both have amnesia and must work together to get their memories back.

Stirring Shadows: Ken's dreams become more than dreams and revive the past.

Scars of Victory: Kaiser won. He kept Daisuke as a prize and sealed off the Digital World from the human world for seven years. Now the older surviving Chosen come to avenge their friends but they're up against an experienced ruler and his most obedient slave, and they have very few friends to stand beside them.

Services Rendered: After Daisuke is poisoned, only the Kaiser can help him. And he demands Daisuke himself as the price for doing so.

No Good Choices: Daisuke eats something he shouldn't have and ends up as the Kaiser's captive. And that's just where things begin to go wrong.

Bonds and Bondage: Kaiser decides to just get to the point and Ring V-mon that fateful second day. And it has an unexpected effect on V-mon's partner.

Fragmented Memory: Kaiser wipes Daisuke's memory with Mushrooms of Forgetfulness and takes him as his consort.

Errors of Love: Daisuke trusts the Kaiser. He probably shouldn't. Rated R/M, non-con.

What He Wants: Aged up!AU. Kaiser takes Daisuke, in many ways. Rated R/M, non-con.

Sanguine Bindings: Aged up!AU crossed with vampire AU. Kaiser is the vampire and enslaves Daisuke on their first encounter. Rated R/M, non-con, brainwashing

Purpose of Existence: Aged up!AU & breeds. Kaiser learns something about Daisuke and takes him. But he's not the only one who wants Daisuke.

Take To The Skies: A wings!AU, specifically featuring Ken/Kaiser and Daisuke. Kaiser has captured Daisuke and keeps him as a plaything/pet.

Bitter Bargain: AU where the Kaiser has been fought for years and now that they're in their mid-to-late teens, he blackmails Daisuke for sex.

Walking The Edge: aged up!AU. The Chosen have fought the Kaiser for years, but are unaware of his true identity. Daisuke's been dating Ichijouji Ken for years. Then the Kaiser decides to end the charade.

Yubel x Juudai

The King's Champion: When Juudai's parents are killed in a late night burglary gone wrong, Yubel takes him to the monster worlds to keep him safe. He ends up growing up as Brron's adopted son. But taking Juudai away from Earth ends up causing severe consequences, especially when those who would have been his friends find their way to his world.

Fate's Heart: A set of fics involving soulmate markers/counters in diferent styles.

Past and Future: Yubel tells tales about their past life to Juudai.

Shun & Yuuri

Collars and Keeping: Most people in XYZ are carded in the invasion. A few, however, are claimed by some of the invaders. This includes Yuuri claiming Shun. M/R rating.

Strike Hard, Strike Fast: Yuuri, Dennis, and Sora are vampires. Shun and Ruri are vampire hunters. Yuuri doesn't like Ruri, so when the chance to gain some vengenace via her brother comes up, he takes it.

Confusing: Yuuri enjoys himself toying with Shun's memories.

Dragon & Falcon: Yuuri is a dragon. Shun is a shapeshifting falcon. Yuuri decides he wants to keep Shun, and finds out what a dragon's saliva can do to a shapeshifter. Potential for R/M rated works.

Crossovers

Replacement Vampire: Digimon Adventuer 02/GX: Camula x Ruthven; vampire!Ryou: Vamdemon appears in the world of GX post 02 and meets Camula. After an encounter with Darkness, they end up turning Ryou to take Camula's place in the Seven Stars.

Elemental Ties: Digimon Frontier/GX: Juudai and Kouichi are both Darkness, so have a connection. The same holds true for Kouji and Johan, Manjoume and Junpei, and others.

Scorpion Strike: YGO GX/YGO Zexal: Ryou x Mizael, Shou, amnesiac!Barian!Ryou

General AUs, any fandom

Soulmates: various forms of soulmate identification

Magical AUs: characters have magical powers of varying kinds and/or are magical creatures

Fae AUs: one or more charaacter(s) are fae/elven/etc

Demon/angel AUs: one or more character(s) are a demon/angel (or sometimes a different magical species. Often can cross with magical AUs and/or fae AUs)

Wings!AU: a certain amount/all characters have wings and are flight-capable

Healer/Firestarter AUs: a respectable portion of the population can either heal via magic and have a deep connection to plants; an equal portion can cause/create/control fires. One Healer and one Firestarter (sometimes more, depending) are bonded to one another in a relationship that's not always romantic but is lifelong.

Vampire!AUs: one or more characters is/are a vampire. How they deal with this varies according to the character and the story.

Soulmate-wings!AUs: In this AU, people develop wings either when they meet their soulmate or when they discover their truest passion in life.

Pet Clouds AU: Sparked by a tumblr post, in this world, various characters have pet clouds/thunderclouds/snowclouds that aren't quite sentient like humans but are independently alive like standard pets.

Combos: Any or all of these can be combined. I intend to write a breeds/Healer-Firestarter/soulmates AU one of these days, for example.

[yuyas-awesome-hippos]

Dennis’ backstory

Dennis actually has a rather complex backstory and it’s taken some time for me to finish this cause his full backstory wasn’t complete till now. 

Fusion Dimension

Episode 45 honest makes us question Dennis’ true alliance throughout the episode. Dennis doesn’t question what Serena means by Xyz Remnants  which hints he knows something about the Xyz Dimension. His reaction to Serena fusion summoning is just a smug, “I knew it” or that smile. He even seemed to know who the Obelisk Force was The biggest is he has Polymerization or Fusion in his deck despite being an Xyz user. Adding to that during his helping Yuya, his deck was focused on negating effect damage while in his duel against Yuzu it was showed he could deal effect damage as well.  It does a good way of hinting his two face nature as a mole. There is also the simple fact that Dennis is said to be from Broadway but Broadway IS JUST A STREET in New York, the fact he doesn’t really come from there makes sense.  The reveal that he’s from the Fusion Dimension makes a lot of sense in hindsight.

Bracelet Girls

Dennis seems to have a job related to the Bracelet Girls with Yuri. The second he meets Yuzu, he starts flirting with her. He even starts doing the same with Serena when he has the chance. Turns out he helped Yuri kidnap Ruri using the same tactics as before. 

Xyz Dimension

There are a lot of hints that Dennis has visited the Xyz dimension before the series. A good example is his deck. Dennis has a pretty good Xyz deck to the point Shun has trouble believing he came from Standard. Considering how skilled he is at using the thing it brings up the question where he learned how to xyz. Him being in the Xyz dimension explains where he learned how to Xyz. Another point is when Dennis and the manly Gongenzaka were in the Synchro dimension alone, Dennis was a natural performer. The reveal that he did this before makes sense

Yusho and Entertainment

Dennis LOVES entertainment dueling which is odd as other named still loyal Academia members like Sora, Serena and Edo have reacted negatively to the idea. Even odder is that Dennis has directly talked about Yusho and why he wanted to meet Yuya. While it isn’t that shocking since he’s a mole that he did some research but the fact that Dennis didn’t even know about Reiji’s skills puts that into doubt. Adding to the fact that Dennis works well with Yuya and Yuya, Shuzuo and Yoko can all see Yusho’s style in his dueling the reveal that he not only knows Yusho but Yusho was his teacher this explains how Dennis learned about Entertainment, why he knows about Yusho and his interested in Yuya. This also makes a neat writing since we just learned Yusho was in the Xyz dimension for two years. 

[authoratmidnight]

My Next Gen AU Redemption Arc for Yuri

(In this AU the dimensions and counterparts remained split up)

For the first few years after the end of the war, Yuri actually lives with Yuya(since Yuto and Yugo eventually return to the respective dimensions). He does befriend Yuya and at least tolerates everyone else. He, sort of, comes to terms with his past but basically tries not to dwell on it/talk about it.

The only time he even sees the other counterparts (aside from Yuya, Yuzu and Selena) is when the lot of them meet up once in a while(including when Yugo and Rin stopped in and broke the news that they’d gotten hitched and Yuzu and Selena decide the had to thrown them a proper wedding).

After a few years though, he realizes that Yuya, Yuzu and Sora are becoming closer and he’s, kinda an unwanted extra to that triad. So he packs up and decides to visit Fusion, it is where he’s from after all.

But it doesn’t feel like home. It’s been so long since he’s been there that it feels, alien to him, so he doesn’t stick around.

Same thing happens in the Xyz dimension. Yuto is welcoming enough, but being in the place he once helped destroyed makes him feel really awkward and he doesn’t feel like he belongs(or should even be there).

He ends up in Synchro, it’s the dimension he had the least impact on personally (that was all Roger’s doing) so few people are going to even recognize him. For awhile he takes odd jobs around the city before Crow suggests he visits Yugo. And sometime after he ends up moving in with Yugo, Rin and their two (adopted) kids.

At this point Yuri’s been wandering between the dimensions for several years trying to find a place to settle.

He also finds it harder and harder to duel and duels less and less. After all when he duels he hurt people, he was horrible. He doesn’t want to relapse. He does table top duelling with the kids but that’s about it, even Yugo can’t goad him into a duel.

And it’s nice, for once Yuri feels wanted(and when Yugo suggests he actually moves in permanently, among other things, he nearly breaks down because the offer is to good to be true). But, he still feels like he doesn’t deserve it.

He doesn’t realize how much he’s really been running from his past until one of the kids asks him how he met Yugo and Rin. Because, the kids know how mom and dad met, but not how ‘uncle Yuri’ met them. And that is not a story he wants to tell them. They practically look up to him, they only know him as a good person, a bit odd but nice. And he doesn’t want to shatter that illusion(he has a soft spot for the munchkins after all), but kids are persistent.

It comes to a head during a trip to Heartland for one of their meet ups. While there he slips off to visit a monument to those who vanished during the war, and wonders how many of those he’s responsible for.

At some point he encounters Shun there (they’ve come to at least a mutual understanding by this point, there’s little bad blood between them so it’s more ‘I didn’t expect to see you here’) and has a break down. He reveals he’s scared that because everything is going so well for him that something is going to ruin it. Something or someone is going to dredge up the sins of his past and ruin his life just when he’s finally got it on track. And in the process, he accidentally spills the beans to the kids, that he didn’t realize had come up behind him(with Yugo).

Ultimately, it ends up being Dennis of all people that helps him out, finding him after he slunk away, unable to face the kids in shame. Dennis needs a partner to duel with as he has a show to put on, and his co-star for it called in sick. He sweetens the deal by saying he needs someone to play the hero to his heel(Yuri is worried his monsters might frighten the kids but Dennis assures him that if they can cheer on Yuto’s ghosts, his plants will be fine).

It ends up being a cathartic duel for Yuri, between Dennis using Ancient Gears(he got the deck off Asuka or Ed while in Fusion and uses it only for these kinds of things) and acting the way Yuri used to, it’s more like he’s fighting himself than anything.

-Insert metaphor about overcoming the past and defeating his past self here-

When the duel ends, and Dennis and Yugo and everyone go to him, he realizes maybe it’s time he stopped running. Because that’s all he’s been doing, running to avoid facing his past, to avoid taking responsibility, which has kept him from being able to move on properly.

He does come clean to the kiddos that yes, he did do bad things a long time ago, things he isn’t proud of(they don’t need to know the details at their age) and that he wasn’t a nice person, but that he’s working hard to become a better person and that he does love them and Yugo and Rin very much(and yes he’s accepting their offers).

He also asks Yuto, Ruri and Shun if they could ever forgive him for what he did-much like Yugo and Rin though, that already have, it’s just he was never around.

And those first few steps feel like a massive weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

[jacesmindsculpture]

SO I HAVEN’T DONE AN ARC V POST IN A LONG TIME DUE TO LIFE, BUT IT’S THE LAST EP AND IT MUST BE DONE.

I’m all teary because I’ve been watching this show since ep 1, so 3 full years of my life has been really focused on this, the characters, the story, and fandom.

I wasn’t happy with the fact that all the counterparts are stuck inside one another now, because...well, I love everybody as individuals and I feel like the girls in particular got a bit shafted screen time wise. That being said, I’m cracking up imagining how everyone starts screeching in Yuya’s head when he tries to get intimate with Yuzu (or anyone, really--especially because I’m a fan of Yuya/Sora/Yuzu lol), and the girls all giving their reviews or comments in Yuzu’s head. XD

I’m VERY glad I didn’t have to watch Sora or Dennis get sent back to Fusion to be all alone and without the few friends they’ve finally made. That would have made me SO mad, especially for Sora, because he’s my precious demon child and I adore him. Knowing that I can canonically keep my headcanons up for him (that Yuya’s mom basically adopts him and he moves in with them, and that when Fruitshipping becomes canon he basically just shoves himself in the middle of that relationship because they’re //his// people after all) makes me very happy, too.

Finally, I probably feel the absolute worst for Shun because he lost Yuto and Ruri--the two people most important to him. While he’s accepted that yes, they’re still alive in Yuya and Yuzu, I do know he’s going to get lonely and upset and likely feel isolated/depressed because of it at times. That said, he has people who will help him through it and honestly? I can see him cultivating some sort of close relationship with Crow that will help mitigate a lot of it (romantic or more family-like, either way, though I won’t lie I totally ship it and want them to adopt a ton of kids together lol). It wouldn’t surprise me if he packs up and goes off to Synchro once XYZ is rebuilt so he can stay with Crow, who is really the only other person he’s ever seemed to have a real understanding with. It’s funny because earlier in the series I wasn’t a fan of him, but I really like Shun by the end of Synchro Dimension and I’m glad he isn’t totally alone in the world/surrounded by friends who can’t totally understand him.

My biggest complaint for the entire series is lack of screen time for the LDS trio because they are my BABIES and I LOVE THEM MY POLY TRIANGLE OF SNARK AND SPAZZ AND ONE PERSON WITH THEIR SHIT TOGETHER (Masumi ofc). 

In summary: I agree with what others have said about the ending feeling a bit rushed, and that there wasn’t a lot of closure for/it felt like a lot of the characters got shafted. I suppose that can be rationalized as the fact that real life doesn’t always get closure, and not everyone is treated fairly in life either. Story-wise, it kinda sucks, and it also sucks for a character driven story like YGO, but it could have been worse and at least it ended with no one being totally isolated or the friendships built throughout the series being destroyed by the dimensions being split back up or anything like that. I think the fandom will do a good job of exploring the possibilities left by the series ending (I might actually post some of my work eventually LOL), and I’m sort of glad it wasn’t so closed off like some series that there isn’t any potential left. (I...kind of hate series that end with showing the characters married 15 years later with kids because it takes away any sort of possibility, though maybe it’s just me with my ridiculous amounts of headcanons and more-often-than-not dislike of the main pairing).

All of the above said: I’ll miss Arc V, and I’ll have to put more effort into buying the manga from Japan (For “Japanese Practice,” riiiight >.>) so that I have some more story to follow with these ridiculous children. :)

[pendulumprince]

Episode 144. It’s Heartland time.

Oh damn

Okay Yuya’s in Heartland

It’s still destroyed

He’s encountered Dennis

They talk about Shun

Probably telling Yuya about how he’s actually in the Fusion D hunting Leo’s ass down

Allen confirms as much

Dennis mentions Yusho

OH SNAP AND LOOK WHO IT IS

THE TWO KIDS FROM WHEN THEY FIRST GOT TO HEARTLAND

DENNUS WHIPS OUT HIS DUEL DISK

YUYA DOES THE SAME

THEY START THE DUEL

YUYA SETS THE SCALES 2 TO 8

HE SUMMONS ODD EYES

THE TWO LITTLE BOYS ARE SUPRISED?? Y’ALL SHOULD KNOW THIS IS HIS ACE MONSTER

YUYA ENDS HIS TURN

DENNIS TAKES HIS

SUMMONS A 800 ATK MONSTER

WITH BUBBLES??

THE BOYS ARE MEZMERIZED

Their mom comes up, probably telling them duel monsters lead to no good and whatnot

Dennis summons another monster at 100 ATK

Some random ass dude rolls up yelling at the mo  and her kids

and Dennis

MOTHERFUCKING DENNIS

PULLS OUT A FUSION CARD

EVERYONE IS TERRIFIED

YUYA IS OUTRAGED, TELLS HIM TO PUT THAT SHIT AWAT

DENNIS, WHO NOW HAS HIS MASK ON, FUSION SUMMONS ANYWAY

TRAPEZE WITCH AT 2400 ATK MONSTER

AND HE EQUIPS HIS MONSTER WITH… SOMETHING

YUYA FRANTICALLY LOOKS AROUND FOR AN ACTION CARD

STARTS START SPROUTING FROM FROM TRAPEE TWTCHES CLEAVAGE

ODD EYES GOES DOWN TO 1900 ATK

YUYA TRIES TO DO THE ACTION CARD THING, THE EQUIP DENNIS PUT ON STOPS HIM??

THE ATTACK GOES THROUGH

ODD EYES IS OUT, YUYA’S DOWN TO 3000 LP

AND

OH SHIT LOOK WHO IT IS

EDO, GRACE, GLORIA, AND BLOCKHEAD

I like how they went straight back to Heartland after all the Zarc shit went down

That’s a solid move guys, good job

Yuya and Edo talk some stuff over

Sounds serious

YUYA TAKES HUS TURN

HE PENDULUM SUMMONS ODD EYES AND AN ENTERMATE BUNNY AT 1200 ATK

OKAY IS THIS MAN THE DAD OF THE FAMILY

YEAH THE MOM IS TOUCHING HIS HAND FONDLY PRETTY SURE THAT’S HER MAN

YUYA GOES IN TO ATTACK DENNIS WITH ODD EYES

TRAPEZE TWITCH STOPS THE ATTACK WITH HER MAGIC CLEAVAGE

YUYA WAS PREPARED FOR THAT

USES THE BUNNY’S SPECIAL EFFECT, BRINGS IT DOWN TO 600 ATK TO DO… SOMETHING?? O K A Y

ODD EYES ATTACKS TRAPEZE TWITCH

TAKES HER OUT

DENNIS IS DOWN TO 3800 LP

AND YUYA

HIS MUSIC IS PLAYING

HE’S GONNA PUT ON A SHOW

HE YELLS AT HIS BUNNY MONSTER TO SHOW ODD EYES HIS OWN BEAUTIOUS REFLECTION

COOL COOL COOL

ODD EYES ATTACKS AGAIN

YUYA BRINGS THE BUNNY DOWN TO 0 ATK

THE ATTACK GOES THROUGH

DENNIS IS DOWN TO 3600 ATK

YUYA ENDS HIS TURN

HE, THE BUNNY, AND ODD EYES TAKE A BOW

DENNIS’ MASK… HAS CRACKS IN IT??

HOW SYMBOLIC

HE GOES TO TAKE IT OFF

“IT’S SHOWTIME!”

HE TAKES HIS TURN

SETS THE SCALES 2 TO 6

HE PENDULUM SUMMONS A 800 ATK MONSTER AND A 100 ATK MONSTER

AND

HE OVERLAYS THEM

BLESS HIS HEART

AW NICE IT’S TRAPEZE MAGICIAN

DENNIS THROWS A… BALL AT HIS MONSTER??

TRAPEZE MAGICIAN TURNS IT INTO FLOWERS

THE WAR WEARY CITIZENS OF HEARTLAND ARE DAZZLED BY IT

DENNIS… DOES IN TO ATTACK YUYA’S BUNNY

THE ATTACK IS NEGATED?

YUYA RUNS TO GET AN ACTION CARD

DENNIS RUNS ALONGSIDE HIM

YUYA GRABS AN ACTION CARD

TRAPEZE MAGICIAN ATTACKS ODD EYES

BUT YUYA LOSES NO LP

AND DENNIS

PLAYS A RANK UP CARD??

SUMMONS TRAPEZE HIGH MAGICIAN AT 2700 ATK

HE USES AN OVERLAY UNIT

MEANWHILE, GRACE AND GLORIA HUMOR SOME HEARTLAND CHILDREN

BACK TO THE DUEL, DENNIS GOES IN TO ATTACK ODD EYES

YUYA TRIES TO GRAB AN ACTIONC ARD, IS UNABLE TO

ODD EYES IS TAKEN OUT

YUYA’S DOWN TO 2800 LP

AND A SECOND ATTACK ON THE BUNNY!

YUYA IS NOW DOWN TO 100 ATK

AND A THIRD, DIRECT ATTACK!

YUYA NEGATES IT USING THE EFFECT OF HIS MONSTER IN THE PENDULUM ZONE

DENNIS ENDS HIS TURN, YUAY TAKES HIS

YUYA PENDULUM SUMMONS

ODD EYES IS BACK

SO IS THE BUNNY

AND SWORDFISH

SWORDFISH’S EFFECT BRINGS TRAPEZE HIGH MAGICIAN TO 2100 ATK

DENNIS LIGHTS UP THE HEARTLAND TOWER??

COOL COOL COOL

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN”

YAAAAAS

YUYA DRAWS

PLAYS A MAGIC CARD

IT SENDS A RAINBOW UP HEARTLAND TOWER?!

YUYA PLAYS ANOTHER MAGIC CARD

WAIT OKAY

ALRIGHT

THE MAGIC CARD HAS CHIBI YUYA RUNNING UP A FLIGHT OF STAIRS OH MY GOD I CANNOT BELIEVE

AND REIJI

WHO IS SOMEHOW ABLE TO WATCH FROM AFAR?!

COMMENTS

YUYA GOES IN TO REMOVE MAGICIAN OF CREATION FROM THE PENDULUM ZONE

BUT

HE DOESN’T

AND REIJI IS DEAD SHOCKED

OMG REIJI C’MON

YOU SHOULD BE USED TO BEING WRONG BY NOW

SO YUYA INSTEAD GOES TO RIDE ODD EYES UP THE RAINBOW

ODD EYES ATTACKS TRAPEZE HIGH MAGICIAN?!

I GUESS??

DENNIS IS BROUGHT DOWN TO 3200 LP

ODD EYES DOES UP TO 2900 ATK

DENNIS ACTIVATES HIS MONSTERS PENDULUM EFFECT

BRINGS TRAPEZE HIGH MAGICIAN BACK UP TO 2500 ATK

YUYA HAS ODD EYES ATTACK AGAIN

DENNIS IS DOWN TO 2800 LP

ODD EYES GOES UP TO 3300 ATK

YUYA RELEASES MoC

ATTACKS AGAIN

DENNIS IS DOWN TO 2000 LP

AND ODD EYES, TO 3700 ATK

THIS IS ANOTHER WAR OF ATRITION LMAO

HE RELEASES HIS OTHER PENDULUM MONSTER

ATTACKS A FORUTH TIME

DENNIS TRIES TO STOP HIM

YUYA PLAYS AN ACTION MAGIC CARD THAT DENNIS DIDN’T EVEN SEE HIM PICK UP

THE ATTACK GOES THROUGH

DENNIS IS DOWN TO 1400 ATK

AND ODD EYES TO 4100 ATK

HE RELEASES SWORDFISH

ODD EYES ATTACKS AGAIN

THIS IS IT

ODD EYES TAKES OUT TRAPEZE HIGH MAGICIAN

DENNIS GOES DOWN TO 0

YUYA WINS!

DENNIS

FALLS FROM THE TOWER AND TO HIS DEATH

BUT GOOD GUY YUYA CATCHES HIM

YAY THEY’RE FRAAAAAANS

EVERYONE IN HEARTLAND IS CLAPPING AND HAVING A GAY OLD TIME

EVEN KAITO

THE HUSBAND WIFE TEAM TALK ABOUT SOME STUFF

YUYA AND DENNIS WAVE TO THE CROWD

BACK IN THE PENDULUM D

REIJI, HIMIKA, YUSHO, REIJI AND NAKEJIMA COMTINUE TO LOOK ON

REIRA STILL HAS NOT SMILED, BTW

Okay so back on the ground

Yuya is surrounded by a bunch of Heartland kids

This is so cute omg

Dennis has his back turned to them all

Yuya addresses him

Yuya restores his titles, both as a Entertainment Duelist and a High Priest in the Cult of Egao

THE KIDS ALL GO OVER TO TACKLE DENNIS TO THE GROUND

Dennis mentally thanks Yuya as he walks into the Fusion D portal…

Aw okay that was a nice send off for Dennis

Preview time!

Yuya has Yuzu flashbacks

And Shun

Who was gripping Leo’s shoulder

Let’s go

And has some flashbacks of his own

INCLUDING ONE WITH BABY!RURI OMG I AM CRY

He’s looking sadly at his duel disk...

AND YUYA AND SHUN DUKE IT OUT ON ACADEMIA GROUNDS

[kyogre-blue]

YGO ArcV, ep106

So, the invasion timeline:

Asuka says that the order was given to invade 1 year ago.

This does make sense in terms of details like giving Yusho time to integrate with the local school (iirc the Clover Branch is referred to as “his”) and why Sayaka and Ruri don’t look younger in their flashbacks (unlike Serena’s 3 years ago flashback).

However, 3 years ago Serena in Reiji’s flashback says that the invasion was about to begin (and she wanted to participate). That means the invasion was on hold for 2 years, I guess because Dennis was looking for Ruri.

Dennis found Ruri right before the invasion. But this seems to imply that it took Yuri almost a year to get around to kidnapping her. (Good job, guys.) 

That aside, we finally get to see Yuri duel and it’s... Doesn’t Shun’s first big bird have the same effect of adding everyone’s attack points to its own? And it was even introduced in the same way, with multiple opponents who summon a big bunch of monsters. tbh these 1vsmany duels are... not particularly impressive.

[seasaltmemories]

Janus

1. Who would sell their soul to the devil to save the other.

Dennis, probably the type to consider himself already damned so might as well do some good

2. Who would become a stalker, in the right (wrong) situation.

Also Dennis, after all his job was to keep an eye on her

3. Who would pine away in silence their entire lives without confessing their love.

Dennis just bc he might feel things more intensely doesn’t mean he won’t ALSO stew in his feelings as some form of self-flagellation

4. Who would leave their friends, family, and life to move overseas to be with the other one.

Ruri, I hc that postcanon she might even desire that kind of fresh start

5. Who would be the most worried the other might cheat on them.

hmm before the betrayal I could see Ruri questioning if his eccentricities have anything to do with another person, otherwise I think Dennis might suspect at times but not really care

6. Who would run into a burning building to save a stranger while the other calls 911.

they’re both more likely to call 911

7. Who would haunt the other after death and chase away other suitors.

Ruri, but maybe less out of jealousy and more an f you to Dennis

8. Who would stand up at the other’s wedding and say they object.

Neither both would let the other become a missed connection

9. Who would write long, beautiful poems for the other.

Dennis, it started out as an act but he got more into it

10. Who would love the other no matter how evil the other became.

Dennis, again he is the type to talk his own self-loathing into seeing him as worse than her no matter what

11. Who would be the most likely to become an addict (gambling/drugs/etc.).

Honestly both of them aren’t the type to talk things out and seek an outlet, but Dennis is more likely to abuse substances while Ruri falls into bad behaviors

12. Who would propose in a grand gesture of some kind.

Neither, aside from me seeing them unlikely to marry even if they stay together long-term, they’d want to keep things on the down low considering the bridges they have burned

13. Who would go berserk at harm or death befalling the other.

Neither, I feel like even at their best, their grief would be a very internal thing

14. Who would spend too much money on expensive gifts for the other.

Ruri, it is a sorta spite thing to try and get back more control of herself, so she will spend her money however she wants

15. Who would fight an impossible battle to give the other time to escape.

Dennis, again that self-destructive tendencies popping out

16. Who would be able to spend centuries in misery waiting for the other to be reborn.

Dennis

[seasaltmemories]

Dennis’ Connection to Zarc: Arc V Character Analysis

So this may or may not be a little series I do.  While I have no hard plans, I’d enjoy going through the cast in whatever order I choose and talking about whatever aspect of the character I feel compelled to tackle at the moment in a very personal and subjective matter.  As a result if this is well-received and/or I find myself interested in continuing this I might share my thoughts on other characters in the future.

Due to @skittymon’s encouragement on this post and the fact it’s been about a year or so since episode 114, I think I’ll dive into what really stood out about Dennis’ character to me.

While I love the non-counterpart cast of Arc V to bits, I feel like Dennis is the prime example for why I believe that Arc V wasn’t really about the counterparts themselves.  Starting with the public reveal of his connection to Academia in season 2, every time he appeared I was left with this sense of  “this changes things”  His arc really builds on the themes and message of Arc V while giving a weight to different aspects of the plot.

Starting with episode 74-75 was really the first time I really thought deeply about Dennis as a character.  That’s not to say his earlier appearances are bad (I love his duel against Gongenzaka) but it introduces a very human element to Academia: reluctance.  He’s not like Yuri, the Obelisk Force, or Sora (from what we had seen so far) who deeply believe in Academia’s goals and enjoys fighting for the cause, but he’s not like Serena, someone who can turn his back on it so easily.  It’s just his job, one that he continues on doing despite the regrets it leaves him with.  Still this doesn’t excuse the harm he’s caused.  Even though he prefers to entertain as opposed to battle, there’s no erasing the fact he started a war.

Drifting into the hypothetical a bit, but this is why the only ship that I personally wish was canon is Janushipping.  Not even in a romantic context, just that they had explicitly known each other.  In the flashback we’re shown, he is on enough good terms with Ruri that waving to her as they pass by is not unusual.  Now this doesn’t signal a deep friendship or anything, but if there had been just a smidge more focus on it or at least an acknowledgment of it by Ruri, I feel it could have added a different type of pathos to the Heartland Invasion.  Seeing your home burn to the ground is very traumatic and horrifying, but it is an alien concept to most ppl and hard to empathize with.  Being able to add a human face to it through Dennis’ betrayal of Ruri adds a dimension (lol) that is much easier to relate to.  It would also give a bit more weight to Ruri as a person by showing her outside the role of Shun’s sister and Yuto’s friend/crush, but I digress.

By the time 112-114 roll around, it’s pretty easy to ignore this past revelation as Dennis acts the part of heartless soldier pretty well.  It’s only at the end of 114 do we see a continuation of this conflict.  By now he’s decided that he doesn’t want to continue and support Academia, but at the same time he feels he doesn’t doesn’t deserve redemption.  Yusho himself offers forgiveness to him with no strings attached, but the conflict between who he is and what he’s done drives him to card himself.  It’s one of the most somber moments of the series and deserving so bc we just watched a young teen commit the equivalent of suicide.  While by now we know he can return and we see this happen on-screen, there’s still the fact that Dennis thought the best fate for himself was to not exist.

Tying this in with other events, it really gives a weight again to redemption, something I think Arc V tried to do.  Winning people over to Yuya’s ideology in one duel wasn’t really done until season 3, when the show presents him as his most developed.  Before, the only person who switches so easily is Serena who unlike almost any other Academia soldier was not aware of the level of violence being done.  Sora took nearly half of season 2 before he declared himself as defecting from Academia and initially he was very much against doing more than making sure his loved ones (Yuzu and Yuya) were safe.  In season 3 the mass defecting of Academia forces can feel odd after such slow processes but in-between it all we’re smacked in the face with a character who feels redemption isn’t possible.  It’s a harsh reminder that comes very unexpectedly and also goes to differentiate the three ‘redeemed’ members of the “Fusion quartet”  as this post by @x-ali-chan-x nicely summarizes 

Next this also reminds the viewer that these are child soldiers.  In a fantastical series such as Yugioh the horror of this is nowhere near the level of reality, but it’s still hurts.  As many victims he’s hurt, Dennis is a victim himself, and it’s very hard to ignore that act when faced with these actions.  On another note it almost mirrors Zarc’s fall before he even learn his existence.  To declare either as blameless is to outright ignore the show, but outside circumstances are both a key factor.  If left to their own devices, both would probably prefer to simply entertain ppl. Even if the damage of their actions outweighs any sympathy in your eyes, that doesn’t take away the tragic elements to their struggle.

Interestingly enough, exactly 30 episodes later is when we get a resolution to Dennis’ arc.  To understand the impact of this, context is required.  The fanon around Dennis’ character was largely composed of angst and hurt with the only sign of recovery being shown as happen years in post-canon  I say this as someone who was writing fanfic like that bc the fact 144 is so optimistic hit everyone out of right field.   Not only was it positive, but it felt right, better than any conclusion others had proposed.  I remember discussing with a friend how the idea of him becoming a teacher and sort of finding his redemption in the next generation was something that had never occurred to her yet it was perfect.

Personally 144 is one of the reason I will never discount the “make Reira smile” arc as pointless.  To me the duel between Yuya and Dennis shows the best of entertainment dueling in several subtle ways.  At the beginning Dennis is falling into some old habits, painting himself as a villain for Yuya to defeat and make everything better with.  Though his self-carding is never outright mentioned its memory is hard to ignore as he still views himself as unworthy of being “good.”  Then Yuya flips the script and reaches out to him.  The duel becomes less about vanquishing a foe and more about understanding someone else to build a bigger and brighter future than before.  In a way this prepares the audience again for how Yuya will handle Zarc.  The way Yuya overcomes Zarc’s shadow is by trying to understand him and instead of damning him showing how better alternatives exist.

So again when I see the statement that the counterparts were the star of the show, I have to disagree.  Even if some of what I pointed out was more coincidence as opposed to intentional actions on the creator’s part, I feel you can’t argue that Dennis’ role in the story wasn’t meant to have importance to the overall narrative.  And for the most part I think many agree.  Despite supporting character I have only seen one person express dislike for him.  Usually the coldest reaction I see is indifference or neutrality, and that is overshadowed by the love I see showered on him.  His impact sticks in a way I think the character himself would be proud to see.