Beyblade Burst Adventures

The End of Silence

In which we finally see what happened after Red Eye left the Snake Pit without Theodore's permission, going on a quest to prove himself. (Mute! Shu AU, and Lui is still thirteen bECAUSE HIM BEING TEN MAKES NO SENSE. Also, please don't get too excited over this, someone just asked for some shorts to be continued, and I looked at this one and thought, "Yeah, I can do that." I don't know if I really have any more in me.)

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The sound of Spryzen bursting was deafening, the sound of Red Eye's mask cracking and then splitting in half moreso. Lui's triumphant sneer quickly morphed into an expression of utter shock, his eyes wide and mouth agape.

The mask clattered to the ground, the billowing breeze that had whipped through Red Eye- no, Shu's long hair ebbing in that moment. He wore a mirrored expression of shock, but his reason for the feeling was vastly different.

I lost, He thought, feeling his legs shaking underneath him, knees buckling and dropping him onto the ground. I LOST, after everything I've learned?! Everything I've become?! DAMMIT!

Valt, from where he stood not too far away, hoarsely murmured, "Shu?..."

"Shu," Lui echoed, then his shock ebbed and he shook his head to clear the stars, diving right to the stricken Blader's side, eyes alight with joy and relief. "Shu, you're alive! Thank the gods you're alright!"

There was no response of any sort, red eyes still focused on the scattered pieces of his Bey with an unreadable expression. The dragon Blader didn't notice yet, placing his hands on his friend's shoulders. "I am so glad you're okay. You don't know how worried I was- w- where did you go, anyway?" Still nothing. "Shu... Shu, it's okay. I'm not mad, I just- I just need to know."

He heard grass crunching and glanced at Valt as he numbly walked over, then turned his attention back to the beast Blader. He finally noticed where the other's gaze was focused. "Hey, you don't have to be upset. You did great, and that's all that matters." No response. Lui grew worried, gently shaking the other's shoulders. "C'mon, let's just go home now, okay? Home home, to Japan. I'm sure that jackass Glass will understand you going home after he let you disappear l-"

Shu shrugged off Lui's hand, shoving himself up after grabbing Spryzen and then turning away. The dragon Blader grabbed his own Bey, standing and staring after him in confusion. "Shu?"

"Hey, wh- what's going on?" Valt finally managed to work his voice, stepping over to the red-eyed Blader and holding his arm. "Shu, it's us. Your friends!" He waited for the other to raise his hands and sign something- anything- to no avail, and began to tear up. "Shu! Please, just say something!"

He didn't, only jerking his arm back and beginning to walk away. Valt stood in shock, having never seen such cold, dismissive behavior from his best friend before. Lui hadn't either, clenching his fists as frustration and confusion swirled in his body, alongside a feeling of helplessness...

Then it all came to a boiling point, and the dragon Blader planted his feet, yelling, "And where do you think you're going now, Shu?!"

The beast Blader froze, turning back with wide eyes. He'd never head such an authoritative, furious tone from Lui and directed at him.

... But now he had. And despite what anyone would expect if they had known Shu before his disappearance, that is exactly what he wanted from his old friend. No more babying me. You either treat me like an equal or I'm gone.

He stood tall, meeting Lui's gaze with a firm, solid stare of his own. Valt was dazed now, slowly sitting on the grass as his head spun. Is this really Shu? He's so... Different.