Hello Everyone! This is the Zexal Month blog.

Welcome everyone! This is the Zexal Month blog where you can find all the information on how you can contribute and have a lot of fun for the month celebrating the show we all know and love. Hover over the gif to see links to the information for each week. Let's enjoy this month loving the show and manga. Please be careful if you're posting fanart. Ask for permission and source properly, otherwise we won't reblog your posts. You can use https://saucenao.com/ to get the source and go from there. If the user isn't available, please don't post. Please make sure to @ us in your posts so we can make sure we get your content!

[zexalmonth]

Hello everyone! Zexal Month 2025 is approaching, hosted by your faithful mods Pyra, Iris and Fla!

@pyrachan

@scattered-irises

@larmegliamori

This year's theme is *drum rolls*... Flower Power! That's right, this year we're making a dive into flower language, and we selected some prompts that, in your skilled hands, will surely make a beautiful bouquet! Note that you don’t have to follow the prompt word-for-word, you can draw your fave/suitable character with the flower as well!

Here they are:

Week 1: Welcome! Hello!

August 1st: Hibiscus - Welcome! (Introduce yourself! What should we call you? What do you do in life/in your free time? How did you get into Zexal and what do you like about it?)

Week 2: Our favourite moments

August 4th: Arbutus - You are the only one I love (Show us your favorite character! Tell us what do you like about them and show them some love by making a drawing, an edit, a moodboard... your imagination's the only limit!)

August 5th: Adonis - Remembrance (What's your favorite moment in Zexal and why?)

August 6th: Lobelia - Arrogance, malevolence (There's no good story without an antagonist or a villain, and Zexal got plenty of them! Who's your favorite and why?)

August 7th: Lily of the Valley - Tears (Despite its general lighthearted tone, Zexal also has plenty of sad and/or disturbing moments. Is there one that made you cry, or made you angry? Why?)

August 8th: Mourningbride - Unfortunate love (Every story has its size of secondary/tertiary characters, that sadly got shelved and forgotten once they've fulfilled their duty. Show them some love!)

Week 3: The bonds that bind us (Relationships)

August 11th: Oak Leaves - True friendship (Zexal's colorful cast has brought us all kind of friendships. Show us your favorite one or try to imagine new bonds!)

August 12th: Virgin’s Bower - Filial Love (Another big theme of Zexal is family relationships. Do you have a favorite group of siblings, or do you want to imagine something regarding the parents? The floor is yours!)

August 13th: Moonflower - Dreaming of Love (It's all about romantic love today! Show us your favorite ships: canon, semi-canon, crackships, Ocs and sonas, all in good fun!)

August 14th: Star of Bethlehem - Purity; Atonement (Everyone loves a good redemption arc! Show us your favorite, or try making one for characters who didn't get the chance, or... is there something that could've been handled better in the ones we got?)

August 15th: Fuchsia - Grace; taste (If you have an OC or a persona for Zexal, this is the perfect day to introduce them! We're very eager to listen! If you don't, you can change the aesthetic of a character you like, or maybe make a board for them!)

Week 4: New bloom (Things we liked)

August 18th: Valerian - Health and Strength (Everyone needs a little downtime sometimes! Show us a relaxing moment in the show, or make the character enjoy a relaxing moment!)

August 19th: Gentian - I love you most in sadness (Is there an angsty moments in the show that you particularly liked? Or something you wished you saw only to be disappointed?)

August 20th: Thorn-Apple - Disguise (Think of a fun costume for the characters to wear, or make a crossover, or throw them into an alternate universe! What will they do now?)

August 21st: Vervain- Enchantment (Zexal is set in the future and the technology has gone wild, but that doesn't mean magic is absent! Tell us all about your favorite aspect of magic in Zexal, make theories or add your own touch to it!)

August 22nd: Daphne - Sweets to the sweet (Time to eat! Think of a recipe you associate with Zexal, or draw the characters enjoying a buffet! Anything goes as long as there's food!)

Week 5: A diverse bouquet (Assorted)

August 25th: Tamarisk -Crime (Let your favorite commit some crimes! Or, feature your favorite crimes in Zexal!)

August 26th: Sainfoin - You confuse me (Even the best stories have something left unclear, or something we wish we saw more of. Is there something in Zexal that left you confused?)

August 27th: Diphylleia - I will show my true self to you, clarity, honesty (Time to stir some trouble! Today's all about hot takes: give us yours... and brace yourself!)

August 28th: Crown Imperial - Power and majesty; pride of birth - (AU Day! What could change in Zexal if a detail in the show was different? You're the time traveler, and you decide which chair to move!)

August 29th: Forget-me-not - Farewell (It's been a long ride, and we're finally come to a close! Give us your goodbyes, and we'll see you the next year! Shotouts and feedback are appreciated as well!)

Alternative Prompts below:

Peony: "Stop smiling at me. You're a menace to society."

Daffodil: “What sort of haircut is that?”

Rafflesia: Slasher Summer (We didn’t forget you, anon ask!!)

Laurel: Tournament

Lemon Blossom: Wedding / Pre-event jitters

Black Rose: Dark romance

Nightshade: Mind-control/Mind break (Please tag any triggers!)

Papyrus: (What kind/genre of book does your favorite character like to read?)

Loskop – “someone who is forgetful, absent-minded and a bit air-headed.”

Uitwaaien – “to go out in windy weather, particularly into nature or a park, in order to refresh and clear one’s mind.”

[zexalocsweeek]

Hi everyone!! With the month range selected, we are one step closer to the first official Zexal oc week!! Now, onto the week itself! Select the day ranges you believe best works for everyone!!! After 7 days, the poll will close, and we will begin refining the prompts!! We are so excited to see everyone's creativity!!! Feel free to repost to get the word out there and get more votes! ♡ -Mod Hollow Let's Pick A Week!

December 1-7

December 8-14

December 15-21

January 5-11

January 12-18

January 19-25

January 26-February 1

Voting ended onSep 20, 2025

[zexalocsweeek]

In what time period the event should take place?

October-November

December-January

February-March

April-May

Voting ended onSep 13, 2025

Hey everyone, now that we know for sure the Zexal OC event is going to happen, let's help organize it!

This poll is for everyone that wants to join: pick the option that looks most feasible to you, a.k.a the months when you usually have less going on and you can focus on making stuff for the event! Once we have the period clear, there'll be other polls to settle down the month and the week!

Reblog to increase sample size!

-Mod Fla

[zexalmonth]

Thank you!

Hey everyone! Thank you for another successful Zexal Month. We enjoyed seeing all of your contributions and creative ideas. We're grateful for everyone keeping the fandom alive. As the years go on, we're determined to keep this event around for participants like you!

It was great seeing all the new faces here. Everyone brings such a unique take to our community! It was also great to see all of the familiar faces returning each year. Together, you make this month memorable. Although Zexal Month has ended, we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for late submissions. You can be as late as you'd like. Heck, submissions early next year are welcome! Every day is Zexal Month! Kattobingu da ore! Mod Pyra, Mod Iris and Mod Fla

[kooriphantom]

Final ZEXAL Week!

@zexalmonth

Hey! It’s been fun participating in this

August 25th: Tamarisk -Crime (Let your favorite commit some crimes! Or, feature your favorite crimes in Zexal!)

August 26th: Sainfoin - You confuse me (Even the best stories have something left unclear, or something we wish we saw more of. Is there something in Zexal that left you confused?)

August 27th: Diphylleia - I will show my true self to you, clarity, honesty (Time to stir some trouble! Today's all about hot takes: give us yours... and brace yourself!)

August 28th: Crown Imperial - Power and majesty; pride of birth - (AU Day! What could change in Zexal if a detail in the show was different? You're the time traveler, and you decide which chair to move!)

August 29th: Forget-me-not - Farewell (It's been a long ride, and we're finally come to a close! Give us your goodbyes, and we'll see you the next year! Shotouts and feedback are appreciated as well!)

Hah, getting kinda lazy since it’s most likely September for most of y’all now

Nevertheless! I shall be finishing these now :3

Stuff under cut

August 25: Yuma should get a free murder lmao—

This is a joke but honestly I’d like to see him break, Dark Zexal was cool, I wonder what would happen if Astral and Yuma turned dark

Maybe I’ll make something but rn I have writers block—

August 26: The Arclight’s crests. Granted, I have a huge ass theory that transformed into a character design analysis but I can’t find it at the moment—

August 27: Hot takes? I… don’t think I have any? I mean I think Yuma is aroace but I don’t think that’s a hot take ngl. Like most of the stuff I could think off are things people would agree with lmao 😅

August 28: Hmh, damn, I’d change stuff just to screw with them lmao. Maybe I’d let DK win. Just to see how much trouble it would cause. How would it be like if the world came crashing down? What would happen if Yuma got trapped? Maybe this is apparent but I wanna know what would happen if the universe went to shit. Idk, maybe I’m just feeling a bit sadistic rn >D<

August 29: Thank you guys so much for hosting this wonderful event! You all did awesome and it was wonderful seeing the creations of everyone! I definitely look forward to joining again next year! <3

[larmegliamori]

Would you join a Zexal OC-themed event?

Yes

No

Unsure

Fla button/I want to see the results

Voting ended onSep 6, 2025

I've noticed an influx of Zexal OC content lately, and I thought it would be a nice idea to organize an event especially for them!

I was thinking of something like a Zexal OC week, but if there's a positive response it could also shift into something longer!

If you're interested in the idea, please reblog this poll for sample size! Zexal OC creators, let me hear your voice!

[zexalisliving]

@zexalmonth day 29: Forget-me-not

Whew! This has been a good month! I didn't know what to expect with a Zexalmonth, but I'm really glad that I got to attend, AND do all the prompts, even if most of them didn't have pictures.

I got to see genuinely talented artists and authors creating stuff here, and the moderators were very kind! It was truly inspiring, and I'm super glad I got to be a part of it!

Some things I feel I should mention though, is that I think the character I wish I saw more of was actually Art Stanley. He only appeared in one episode, and honestly, i think hes a really cool character. And I've changed my most controversial hot take. I love Yuma's dub voice. There. I said it.

I had tons of fun this month. I hope to participate again next year!

[zexalisliving]

@zexalmonth day 28: Crown Imperial

(A day late again, but ok!)

So I've been thinking on this one for a while. Imagine this. Since Tsukumo means 99, what if Yuma was the 99th number?

Would that mean that Astral would have to absorb him or something? No. I would like to think that the 99th number wouldn't restore a memory, it would make a new one. So Yuma would be an ever growing memory with Astral. Or something. Idk if that makes sense.

[aurasoulhikari]

Zexal Month Week 5: A diverse bouquet

@zexalmonth

August 29th: Forget-me-not - Farewell

Aaah where does the time go? Seasons may come and go but passionate spirits never waver just as Yuma and the others never did. Just like everyone here, us Zexal fans, never did. This month has to be one of my favorite things of summer and I’m so glad I was able to take part in it again and can't wait to join in again next year too! Have a great rest of the year everyone! Hope to see you all again!

Kattobingu ore!!

Artist is one of my fave endings and I love this shot!

[larmegliamori]

Zexal Month, Week 5 Day 5: Forget-me-not

@zexalmonth

In the blink of an eye, this Zexal Month has come to an end too. Sigh, give me August back...

As usual, it was an honor to be your Mod! I have to thank my colleagues @pyrachan and @scattered-irises for their help in setting up the event and also shotout their wonderful art and graphics! You should definitely check them out (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)

I gotta say, this Zexal Month felt different from the others I've joined (and modded). It felt softer, calmer, but still serenely busy, like bees buzzing around their hive. And the honey we got is very tasty! It was so nice to see so many new faces and witnessing all the fresh ideas, art, writing you've brought to the table! Thank you for everything!

As for me, I've also slowed down this year, as I was freshly out of ArtFight and studying for my last big exam. There are so many prompts I wanted to do and didn't manage, but still, I'm satisfied of what I've done. Maybe I'll come back to do some of them in these next month, who knows!

I hope you all enjoyed this edition of Zexal Month, and I'll be super happy to see you back next year! Or even earlier, if the occasion arises!

-Mod Fla

[aurasoulhikari]

Zexal Month Week 5: A diverse bouquet

@zexalmonth

August 28th: Crown Imperial - Power and majesty; pride of birth

What would I change? Oh I’ll show you what I would change! Let it not be known that I am not petty!

“But, Nasch, are you going to fight against Yuma and the others to protect this world?!”

“Fight… There will be a fight!” Nasch raised his hand clutching his (Can he really call it his?) pendant. “I am Nasch! Even though they have been my friends, I have to bury it all! For Barian Word!”

But just as he was about to toss the pendant to the sea.

“NO!” Nasch gasped as his sister grabbed his arm, stopping him from throwing the pendant.

“Let me go, Merag!” Nasch snapped.

“No! I won't let you destroy your heart and soul again!” Merag yelled.

“This is my fate, I have no choice..!” He began.

“You’re the last person to follow such a thing!” She snapped. “Where’s my brother who made his own fate?!”

“The last time I did that our countrymen paid the price.” He growled. “You think I’ll put them through that again?”

“And do you think I’ll standby watching you destroy yourself again?” She snapped back. “I laid in a hospital bed unable to help you as you fell deeper in the darkness of the abyss. But someone pulled you out of that darkness. That was Yuma.”

Nasch flinched, turning to look away but Merag wouldn't let him, forcing him to face her as she continued.

“I know you try to deny it. Cover it up with barbed words, but you cannot hide from me brother.” She frowned. “Yuma had brought you back from the brink. He’s just as special to you as I am.”

“Merag.” Nasch choked, still trying to hold in his emotions.

“You know I was always grateful to Yuma.” Merag admitted. “When I was in the hospital I heard people say you changed, that they were afraid of you… That you had been all alone. But that wasn't the case and it was all thanks to Yuma.”

Nasch grimaced as if in pain, Merag wasn't wrong. Were it not for Yuma he would’ve headed down a path of self destruction. He stood by him. Helped him when he didn't deserve it. Gave him his friendship with no hesitation. It had been what Ukyo Kitano said to him. Yuma had a sun-like power that changed people for the better… Nasch didn't want to lose that, but…

“But that doesn't mean I can choose Yuma over my people.” He said painfully.

“Who said you had to?” Merag questioned. “Being tricked aside, even with the knowledge of ‘Shingetsu’ being a Barian, Yuma still accepted him as his friend. No doubt it would be the same for you, one of his closest friends. I’m sure if it's you two together you’ll find a new path for Barian World.”

“You sound so certain.” Nasch frowned, looking at his pendant. Merag placed her hands over his.

“Because I have faith in you and Yuma. And not just you two but Astral, Kaito, and the others.” She said, gentle yet firm. “That’s why… Don't feel as if you have to give up all that you care about brother.”

Nasch looked at their joined hands seeing a tear drop on them to realize he was crying. He choked a sob and she leaned close to him to comfort him with her own tears, clutching onto the pendant and each other tightly.

[theaviskullguy]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ONE

@zexalmonth

(also @galax-dragon because wingshipping cult)

August 28th: Crown Imperial (AU DAY AU DAY AU DA-)

althought technically this is "one tiny detail is different" day. so here. have a long-ass post about my au Synchronicity! which. is zexal but a few minor changes are made, one or two major ones happen, and my oc wynn Exists! despite Between Mechanics and Macbeth being his first online appearance, Synchronicity is the Wynn Canon AU as im calling it. this is his canon au. BMAM is an au of the wynn au basically.

This is a VERY LONG POST. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

without further ado, here's the very, very, very self-indulgent plot of my self indulgent au!

So. During Kaito's introduction- id say probably just after or just before his first interaction with hart that we see- he gets a call where we don't see who's on the other line. We don't hear their half of the conversation- only Kaito's. From Kaito's responses, we gather that the other person managed to snag a few numbers as well, and that he's concerned with kaito's physical health (due to photon transformation but that part is only known with Hindsight. It's kaito being quiet for a moment before loudly and solidly saying "I'm fine. Hart's health matters more than mine")

Anyways. then kaito's duel with yuma happens, he goes to be with haruto while he recovers, and we pan up to the top of a building, where my man Wynn has been spectating the duel! We don't see his face, just the silhouette, glowy eyes, and a glowing d-gazer tattoo (as a callback to his 5ds heritage, id imagine it's semi-shaped like yusei's criminal mark kinda almost).

And Wynn decides to gauge Yuma's capabilities. Because he gets why Kaito fights dirty with his time-stop and his duel-anchor, but Wynn wants to see how skilled Yuma is when he's not dueling under distress.

Meanwhile the Numbers Club (caswell, to be specific. i forgot his japanese name my bad) finds out about another number hunter. there was already the person stealing souls (kaito), and now there's another danger. A more physical one. People dueling a mysterious masked stranger with a summoning type no one is equipped to deal with, and who's attacks do real, physical damage. Caswell fulfilling the role of "smart guy" on the team recognizes this phenomenon as a Psychic Duelist, and knows that they're generally bad news.

He of course informs Yuma- who at this point has gotten back in his groove after defeating Fortuno(? is that is name? the fortune teller who pretends to work with kaito? idk) and decides that he can probably take this new guy. And immediately eats his words... when he meets Wynn.

Wynn, by all accounts, is very friendly. If a bit... weird. He addresses Astral directly, although he asks Yuma "you commune with duel spirits as well?" (a blatant lie, wynn knows what astral is truly), but he challenges Yuma to a duel. He's heard a thing or two about the boy wonder duelist from "a friend of mine" and wants to duel him.

And by all accounts, Yuma is down for it! Like, sure, Wynn has a D-Gazer tattoo, and he's not summoning any monster with the same level as each other, but like how bad could it b-oH GOD WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT SUMMONING METHOD

Yuma sees Wynn Synchro Summon his ace, Beelze of the Diabolic Dragons. And when he lands a hit on Wynn, it, well, does real damage. Yuma starts to bleed. Wynn fake-panics, and forfeits the duel, opting to help Yuma patch up since his injury wasn't actually that serious.

Yuma thinks it's the coolest shit ever until Astral reminds him of what Caswell said. And then he panics a bit.

Anyways, Wynn decides to let Kaito deal with Yuma since while Wynn's hunting strategy of "duel them masked until they're unconscious and steal their number cards" might be less lethal, that's only really for adults. Yuma's still in middle school, he's got no clue if he could survive it.

And then Kaito decides to steal Yuma's key. Instead of Kaito retrieving it from Orbital, Wynn insists on it himself. He duels against Shark with his mask- and Yuma realizes "oh fuck, that's the guy i dueled" when Wynn summons Beelze.

Anyways, he takes the key from the barely-conscious Shark, and then he straight-up tells Yuma where he's taking it. He summons a winged monster, and flies off with the key and delivers it to Kaito- almost hesitantly. He straight up asks Kaito "are you sure this is a good idea?"

kaito isn't too certain himself but he needs to figure out the secrets of the key. Wynn hates what he's becoming, and while he doesn't plan on stopping Kite, he does plan on giving Yuma the tools to do so. He lets them into the building- straight-up telling them that he wants to get the old kaito back and yuma might be the way to do it.

Anyways, the story progresses as normal up until the WDC. Dextra remains on the board for the carnival, and wynn joins it instead. sorry dextra i need this for My Boy.

Wynn is the one fighting Vetrix, and Vetrix quickly realizes Wynn's love for Kaito- and so does Yuma. But unlike Dextra's own love for him, Wynn sees Kite as his friend first. He can focus on stopping Heartland and Faker from using his own son as a weapon first, helping kite heal from the trauma that will follow from that second, and maybe getting together with him 3rd. So of course Vetrix exploits that and defeats Wynn.

And Yuma tells Kaito about this during his duel vs V. Telling him that all Wynn wants to do is save him from the monster he's becoming. Kaito doesn't doubt he's become a monster or a tool to be used. And when Yuma tells Kite that Wynn loves him (on accident, Kotori promptly smacked him to shut him up after that), Kaito doesn't say anything, simply turning back to duel V

Against Vetrix, Kaito is dueling for Haruto- but for Wynn, too. Wynn, who reaches out to Kaito to tell him that he'll be alright. Kaito still duels for him. And he still looses. While he recovers, Wynn sticks by his side, and its very cute and gay when kaito wakes up, both very relieved that the other is alright cause like. theyre kinda each other's only friend at the moment

then the Faker duel, and Wynn is there spectating. But here is where the first non-wynn related plot diversion happens and that is Kaito Does Not Forgive Faker. He straight-up tells Faker he might never forgive him for what he's done to him. Faker turned him into a monster. Into a tool to be used. Faker makes peace with that and is prepared to forfeit and then the barian thing happens and well you know the rest.

There is an episode in between the last Trio's Challenge and Kite's Plight, and that is the Wingshipping episode! Where Wynn insists Kaito takes a day off before his duel with Yuma, to sorta... begin to learn how to be a person again. At the start of it, Yuma remarks that Kaito and Wynn are acting a lot like boyfriend and girlfriend- which kaito and wynn both Strongly Deny. but. the episode is basically them on a date let's be Real.

There's no grand kiss, but at the end they do get together. Wingshipping Real. And, fun fact, while there is no kissing they are holding hands practically every time they're near each other (or one has their hand on the other's shoulder... basically some sort of subtle, gentle touch) and Yuma is the only one completely oblivious to this.

Wynn has his own duel vs a Barian Servant who has a deck based on cards with ranks- and Wynn doesn't use XYZs monsters. So he can't really do shit until he pulls out his ace-in-the-hole. The one XYZs card in his deck. i havent worked out the specifics, but it's a number card that Kaito has used before. He gave it to Wynn (in the wingshipping episode, wynn gives kaito a tuner and a synchro card and we do see him use it during a duel at some point methinks)

anyways. Wynn travels with them during the Mytharian Numbers arc and here's our next major non-wynn plot deviation; Rio Doesn't Side with the Barians. She refuses to. She tells Shark she'll be by his side. But when Shark decides to turn to the Barians, she says, quote "i said I'd always side with Shark. But I never said I'd side with Nasch" and leaves to fight the barians with her friends.

But she does realize the true enemy is Vector- and tells Dumon this, who trusts her. They duel Vector, and yeah Rio fuckin dies. rip girl you wouldve loved chappell roan.

anyways. Wynn rides the airship with Yuma and Astral to Barian World- and at the end of the moon duel, Wynn breaks down into tears. (in fact. there's two times wingshipping kisses on screen. kaito kisses wynn's forehead, promising he'll be back, and the second is wynn kissing kaito's cheek when he's revived via the numeron code.)

Yuma doesn't really understand why Wynn is as distraught as he is until Astral pipes up with "From my understanding, it would be more of a cause for concern if one were to not have this major of a reaction from the death of a romantic partner". A tiny moment of silliness in the angst.

Mizael gives Wynn Kaito's deck when he meets them and duels against Don Thousand. He also gives Wynn his coat. Wynn uses Kite's deck, and joins Shark and Yuma to duel Don Thousand and it's fucking glorious. i wasnt kidding when i said this au was self-indulgent as shit. anyways.

The final non-wynn plot change is Yuma and Astral become a canon couple. theyre canonically gay in the manga let me have this konami. please.

anyways. yeah. that's Synchronicity! I have a kinda-sorta follow up au im calling Signers Reborn but that's even more self indulgent and that's enough posting cringe for one night.

[scattered-irises]

@zexalmonth

Day 28: Crown Imperial, AU

A running joke between @trickbuster and me. University of Barian World is where Barians go and get degrees. You gotta do something with your eternal afterlife, right? Why not go back to school and learn something?

The mascot used to be the crystal shark, but ever since Dr. Vector took over, he’s replaced it with Masquerade and turned UBW into more of a party school…

I got the Barian font here!

[zexalisliving]

@zexalmonth day 27: Diphylleia

Ok. Here's my biggest hot take.

I. LOVE. ELIPHAS.

I know so many of you hate him. But I seriously don't get it. He's so cool.

[pyrachan]

@zexalmonth August 28th: Crown Imperial - AU day!

So this AU is well-known amongst the 2014 Dreamwidth rp club but I never shared it on tumblr.

Stemming from Mizuki meaning 'Moon View', the TLDR of the AU is that Nasch, Yuma and Astral needed a Galaxy-Eyes master to summon the Numeron Dragon, otherwise it wouldn't appear. After praying to the Code, Kotori sacrifices herself and lets Kaito take over her body as seen above.

With the Stolenship triad reunited again, they defeat Don Thousand.. However, upon the war's end, Kaito realised that he's stuck in Kotori's body and Kotori is dead for good... And now he has to deal with the consequences of that.

No caption version of the image under the cut.

[theaviskullguy]

zexal month catchup

uh. hi. yeah i know i havent been zexalposting. in my defense. work got in the way.

so i will be doing lightning-rounds of all the prompts ive missed.

@zexalmonth

lets fuckin go

August 19th: Gentian (angsty moment)

i think my favorite angst moment might have to be the episode where hart just gets scooped up by the tsukumos for an episode and winds up on top of a building trying to find a caramel for kaito. its such an innocent little thing but like. recognizing his brother is getting physically worse by the day and doing all he can to help. ough.

August 20th: Thorn-Apple (disguise)

i actually. have a heroforge for this! im one of those people who prepare for halloween in august and im going as a final fantasy black mage for halloween! the one with the blue cloak and yellow hat. so of course i. might have made a heroforge of my oc wynn in it. and then went "well i gotta make one of kaito as white mage!"

just for fun i also made wynn and kaito in a couple-forge as i call them which i Have Not Done In A Few Years. i took off the hood/wynn's hat to make them. slightly more recognizeable? idk.

anyways, they.

August 21st: Vervain (magic)

i made a whole-ass magic system based on the soul thing they touched on in the manga does that count. there's four main types of magic- sea, sky, land, and light- but also a bunch of magic that is formed by mixing two of the types (fire is light and land. storm is sky and sea. plant is sea and land. theres more combos but i couldnt think of them) but there's also chaos magic which is anything that doesnt fall into that like divinitation and transformative magic. and dark which is really just light magic but pulling from shadows and not light but people are scared of it... yeahg. i. made this in an evening. im not gonna do anything with it but it Exists.

August 22nd: Daphne (food)

so my whole family is BIG on food and cooking to the point where the first thing decided on when planning for any event- a vacation, a birthday, or a holiday- is what's on the menu. so im going to pull a cheap one and say that the tsukumos are the same way. food is important to them (especially yuma) and very much how they show love to each other. Haru always makes large amounts of onigiri to give to not just yuma, but to kaito, shark, and the arclights whenever there's a tournament. she invites them over for dinner and makes a desert that's not quite pumpkin pie but its similar and its the best thing in the world

(the pumpkin desert thing is a family recipe from my fam. and no. you cant have it)

August 25th: Tamarisk (crime)

i have a fanfic in the writings where kaito learns how to be a teenager and does stereotypical teenage things with wynn who also had a fucked-up childhood and while i havent writen this chapter yet. they do some Trespassing. but i also have a handful of aus where kaito kills faker for various reasons (self-defense, a dark urge moment in a bg3 au, on accident, there's a lot)

less seriously. i think shark is a chronic jaywalker. he does Not Give A Shit about it. technically not a crime but it is funny.

August 26th: Sainfoin (confusion)

yeah. uh. i know this is an anime meant mainly for kids but ive got a few gripes with consistency. mainly. why is kaito not in pain. his overuse of photon transformation is shown, in multiple episodes, to cause him physical harm. if it has gotten to the point where is he passing out. that boy should have chronic pain. why does he not

"oh cause he stopped number hunting" he hasnt stopped using photon transformation. the main cause of the chronic pain. i dont have chronic pain myself but i am committed to making something that should have been canon a prevalent part of my fanfics. all of them. it hasnt shown up in my tma au yet but it will. rest assured it will.

August 27th: Diphylleia (hot takes)

Oooh. okay. i dont think i have many hot takes within zexal itself but when it comes to yugioh as a whole, regarding zexal, i think zexal is one of, if not the best series of yugioh. genuinely. it's not without its issues but i think the ones it has are small enough that they can be glossed over without too much trouble.

i think it hits spot on with its theme of families of all types- biological and found family both- wait no i just remembered an actual zexal hot take.

said hot take. there is not one rival. it's not kaito or shark its kaito and shark. okay yknow how pokemon nowadays gives you multiple rivals? sword and shield sticks out to me most here with hop and bede (also marnie if you count her). all the takes i see on this debate are "oh shark's the rival not kaito" or "kaito's absolutely the rival. its not shark" guys it. it can be both. we can have both.

more of a lukewarm take than a hot one though; uh. Rio should not have blindly followed Shark into rejoining the barians. im kinda sort not really vocal on this take but i think its still one worth saying. i think what would have been way more compelling and a great way to make some angst is have rio. not go with shark. yknow how sometimes you'll ask someone for their opinion just to make your own choice? yeah that should have happened here. rio saying she'll always be on shark's side, shark choosing the barians, and rio going "actually, No! i said i was on shark's side, not nasch's" and sticking with yuma and the gang. i would have loved that.

(super secret hot take that no one else has an opinion on; the idea of rio and astral falling in love from bonding over their shared experience of their crushes (kotori and yuma respectively) choosing comphet is actually so good i need someone to write this fic please.)

aaaand done. phew. i am. so sorry for falling behind.

[aurasoulhikari]

Zexal Month Week 5: A diverse bouquet

@zexalmonth

August 27th Alternative Prompt: Lemon Blossom - Wedding/Pre-event jitters

So I decided to use an alternative prompt cause I’m not good at hot takes. I don't think I’d be able to do them right. So I picked Lemon Blossoms cause there’s always some pre-wedding jitters.

“You’re nervous.” Nasch flinched looking up at Merag who had a kind yet knowing smile.

“Should’nt you be at the altar? You’re officiating this ceremony.” Nasch frowned.

“Just came to check on my dear brother before the ceremony.” She stated, closing the door. “Any regrets?”

“None.” Nasch stated firmly. “While this started off arranged in order to ease the councils’ worries, I love Mana and I know she’ll be a wonderful queen to the people.”

“And let it be known that I was the one who brought you two together.” Merag teased. “I will expect praise.” Nasch snorted, rolling his eyes as he adjusted his mantle.

“I just hope I’ll be a good husband to her.” He frowned. Merag looked at her brother before picking up his necklace.

“I’m sure she’s aware of what she is getting into by marrying you. The fact she accepted your proposal just shows how much she cares for you and this kingdom.” She placed the necklace around his neck, the lapis hanging proudly on his chest. “Have faith in yourself Nasch after all your queen does.”

Nasch looked at Merag and gave a small smile.

“Thank you Merag.”

“Always my dear brother.”

“You’re nervous.”

Shark flinched feeling the sense of deja vu and looked up to see Rio with that same knowing smile.

“I think I have every right to be nervous.” He huffed.

“She’s not going to leave you at the altar Ryoga.” Rio assured.

“I’d deserve it after how I left her.” He sighed. “Shouldnt you be with her Ms. Maid of Honor?”

“Her family is with her at the moment so I figured I’d check on my nervous brother.” Rio smiled gently, closing the door. “She loves you.”

“Yet I left her alone after I was consumed by revenge against Vector and guilt over what happened to our countrymen.” Shark frowned, looking at his reflection. “I failed them and I failed her.”

Rio walked to Shark, placing a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

“We all made mistakes Brother, have regrets we cannot take back.” She frowned. “But what we can do is live and do better. We might continue to make mistakes down the line, after all we’re only human, but we should take them in stride in order to go to a better future.”

“And if those mistakes become too much for our loved ones?” He questioned softly.

“Then we sit and talk, something we’ve been getting better at.” She smiled, making him chuckle. “And if it's you and Mana I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

Shark smiled softly, turned to Rio and hugged her tightly.

“Thank you Rio.”

“Always my dear brother.”