Vile: Aaaaaaand I'm back, folks! Here's my newest Numbershot, which actually takes place sometime before 39 & 13 means Love.

Yuma: Why is that?

Vile: Well, I need to clear up the differences between my canon and real canon, which I'm doing here with an alternate version of Episode 50, with an alternate Ep. 49 end as well. It also explains why we haven't seen the Tron Family yet in my fics.

IV: I was wondering when we were going to appear in these.

Vile: Well, now you do. Bear in mind: Since this is a different canon, some of the characters will act differently than they do in the actual episode, and events are changed, mainly to fit them in with my canon. Also, Tron and V's Decks are changed from their actual anime Decks, as I had Decks planned for them for quite some time. I don't own ZEXAL, blah, blah, blah. Enjoy!

Numbershot 38: End of a Crusade

Chapter 1

*Flashback* *Day of Episode 49's end*

Tron held III's hand as the pink-haired boy fell asleep with a smile. 'Yuma Tsukumo…' Tron thought with malice. His visible eye narrowed, his free hand clenched, and his teeth gritted as he let out a low, angry growl. 'I'll make sure you pay for this… you and that spirit!'

*Fast-Forward Flashback* *Day of Episode 50*

Tron gave one last look at the unconscious III before walking through the double doors, meeting IV and V. He walked right past them. "Wait, Tron." IV's voice said, making Tron stop. IV stepped forward. "Tron, give me power, like you did for III."

"…Don't waste my time, IV." Tron growled. "I'm disappointed in both you and III."

IV's eyes widened. "What? How could you say that? III fought the Original Number and almost succeeded in ridding us of the Tsukumo kid!"

"But he didn't. He failed, IV. Simple, as, that." Tron told him. "I want results, and you aren't delivering. Shark has managed to control Number 32, making him useless to me." He heaved an angry sigh. "As long as Tsukumo has the Original Number, he is a threat to our plans. Tsukumo… Kaito… Shark… All of them must be eliminated. And I clearly can't rely on you to get the job done."

"What about V? He was successful in retrieving Haruto for our plans!" IV yelled.

"I didn't get all of the power." Tron replied, clenching his fist and forming energy around it. "And he willingly GAVE Haruto back to Kaito. To me, that's a failure. All of you… you are useless!" IV and V gasped.

"Can you hear yourself, Tron? Have you forgotten who we are?" V finally spoke.

"You three were pieces in my plan. But you won't move yourselves into your proper places. Therefore, I have no more need for you." The small boy said. "I am stepping onto the board… I will crush them all myself!" Tron then stalked off angrily.

IV was shaking. "Why… Why, Tron?" He yelled. V could only stand with wide eyes.

*Later* *At the Party*

"Wow, this is so awesome!" Yuma chirped, looking around.

"Everything looks so amazing!" Kotori said.

Takashi was also awestruck. He was busy scoping the various finalists with his binoculars, finding their stats. Out of nowhere, a voice called to him. "Ahoy! Takashi!" Takashi looked in the direction of the voice and saw three familiar faces approaching him: Captain White-Eye, Baroon, and Chikira.

Takashi smiled. "Captain White-Eye!" He chirped, the others turning and seeing the pirate trio approaching them.

"So this is the Captain White-Eye you mentioned!" Tetsuo said.

"You must be Tetsuo. I read up on you in the Carnival's profiles." White-Eye said.

"You must've made it to the finals, huh?" Yuma asked.

"You bet your barnacles he did." Chikira said, White-Eye tossing up his full Heart Frame before catching it and showing it off.

"I bet you made it in too!" Baroon said.

"Eh, heh heh… actually, no. I lost my Heart Pieces." Takashi said. "The only one who got a complete Heart was Yuma-kun." White-Eye looked at Yuma, who held up his Heart Frame.

White-Eye got information on Yuma from Chikira's computer. "Xyz One Turn Kill Deck, eh? Sounds hefty. No wonder you got in!" He mused before holding out a hand. "Hopefully you and I can clash in the finals!"

Yuma grinned. "Looking forward to it!" He chirped, shaking White-Eye's hand.

*Meanwhile*

Kaito stood out on a balcony, looking out into the city. "I had a feeling something was wrong with you." A voice said. Kaito looked back and saw Droite with her arms crossed, her usual look on her face.

"What do you mean?" Kaito said lazily, looking back out.

"I heard about your condition in the infirmary. Your body is failing as a result of the Photon Change." Droite said, getting Kaito's attention again.

"You shouldn't eavesdrop, Droite. It isn't a good hobby." Kaito said.

Droite frowned. "I know Haruto's condition is bad and that you need the Numbers. But in your state, you aren't fit to take part in the finals."

Kaito narrowed his eyes. "I don't have to follow your orders, Droite. V… Tron… They kidnapped Haruto, and they are in the finals. I won't lose to them… or anyone."

"But what if you perish during the finals as a result of your Photon Change?" The woman asked, making Kaito raise an eyebrow. "What is more important to you: Having Haruto cured, or him still having his brother?"

The question hit home to Kaito, and he turned his back. "…I will not perish. No matter what I must do, I will retrieve the Numbers and return to Haruto alive. I will accept no worse result!" Droite was silent. "Leave me, Droite. I must prepare."

The purple-haired woman sighed. "As you wish, Kaito." She turned and left without another word.

On her way out, a hand was placed on her shoulder. She looked back to see Gauche, who had a sympathetic look on his face, which changed to a soft smile. "Don't worry about him. With his spirit, he'll easily pull through this." Droite still looked worried. "Come on, let's head to the party." Droite allowed herself a small smile and nod, and the two of them walked away.

*Later*

The hologram of Mr. Heartland flickered and disappeared, and childish laughter was heard echoing. "Eh? What's going on?" All of a sudden, two spotlights turned on, illuminating a small boy at the bottom entrance, with green clothes, blonde hair in a braid, and a mask. The boy began walking forward, people in the ballroom backing away as he moved. He made it to the bottom of the stairs and turned to see Mr. Heartland. "Who are you?"

"My name is Tron, sir." The boy said, climbing the stairs with a deceitful smile. He hit the last step and kneeled.

Mr. Heartland smiled. "Is something the matter, young one?"

A dry chuckle came from Tron. "Nothing is wrong… because I'm about to fix this." Mr. Heartland looked surprised as Tron got to his feet and rose his head, his smile replaced with a look of emotionlessness. "I… will… kill… you…" He held out his hand, forming an energy ball right in Mr. Heartland's face. The green-haired man yelped and quickly moved before the energy ball was fired, taking out a column in the room. Various people in the room screamed.

"What the hell?" Baroon yelled. IV and V didn't like the looks of this and quickly vacated the room.

Tron then formed another energy ball and fired it, blasting the cake and sending pieces of it everywhere. An angry smile appeared on his face. "I will crush anything… that stands in my way!" He fired another energy ball, almost hitting a few people.

White-Eye found a downed mike and grabbed it. "Everyone evacuate, now!" He yelled. The crowd of screaming people immediately began running for the exits.

"Come on, let's go!" "Move, move, move!" "Use those legs!" Yuma's group and White-Eye's friends helped people get out of the building. Shark vacated as well.

Tron frowned as he saw people leaving. "None of you shall escape…" Blasting a hole through the ceiling, Tron leapt onto the roof and formed a larger ball of the energy he had stolen from Haruto. "Scatter and destroy!" The energy ball exploded into various streams of light, which rained down on Heartland, causing explosions where they landed. Tron let out a loud laugh to the sky.

*The Next Day*

"An unexplainable incident at the finalist party for the World Duel Carnival caused serious damage to various parts of Heartland." The newscaster said. "The area that was hit the most was the Duel Coaster, the attraction meant to decide the finals of the World Duel Carnival, taking damage that made it beyond repair. The mayor of the city, Mr. Heartland, had this to say."

"I am sorry that I could not prevent such an occurrence." Mr. Heartland said with a frown. "But I learned that the perpetrator was one of the participants in the Carnival. Due to the destruction of the Duel Coaster, and for the safety of the people of Heartland should something like this occur again, I have no choice but to cancel the finals and discontinue the World Duel Carnival now. Again, gomen-nasai to everyone."

Yuma switched off his TV, Kotori, Akari, and Haru also watching. Yuma had a skeptical look on his face. 'Tron… I'll make sure you pay.'

*End Flashback* *Current Time: 3 weeks after the WDC*

Tron sat alone in his usual chair, his hands clenching his arm rests. His visible eye was leveled in a fierce glare. "Curses…" He growled, his mind flashing back again.

*Flashback* *Four Days Before Current Time*

"Aaaaaaahhhh!" Tron's voice cried.

III (who had woken up three days prior), IV and V bust into his room to find him on his hands and knees, shaking, a red glow surrounding him. "Tron!" They cried.

All of a sudden, Tron clutched his head. "YAAAAAAHHHH!" He screamed to the sky as a red flash formed over him. Then, a red stream of energy tore from his body, taking the aura with it. It soared out the nearby window and into the sky. Tron fell back to his hands and knees, panting.

"Tron! Are you all right?" V asked, running to his side, though he immediately stopped when a fierce growl came from Tron.

The small boy stood up, a menacing feeling coming from him. "Dr. Faker… you will pay for this!" He yelled. III attempted to approach him, but IV stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, shaking his hand with a stern look.

"Tron…" III whimpered with a scared look as he looked back at Tron.

*End Flashback*

Watching the small boy from the door was the red-and-yellow-haired young man. IV and III did not dare approach Tron after his outburst that day, and III seemed nerve-wracked. IV's face turned worried as he left, closing the door. He formed his Crest on his hand and stared at it. 'I feel that things are going to get much worse… and sooner than I expected.'

Vile: Tron's pissed off beyond belief. IV's right to feel worried.

Shark: And exactly why are you portraying IV as a good guy in this?

IV: Because I am one, despite how I originally acted. Remember, I saved your sister in the actual anime.

Shark: *rolls eyes* Whatever. I'll wait and see how Vile works this.

Vile: Trust me, Shark, you won't be disappointed. If you guys liked this chapter, leave a review for me. Ja ne!

Computer Voice: Vile, logging out.