//------------------------------//
// Duel 22: Fathers and Sons 
// Story: Yu-Gi-Oh! Friendship is Dueling 8: Reunions 
// by Bahamut0 
//------------------------------//

	The battle was over. But Burst had told Pinkie to hold off on the party. "There's someone I need to talk to. I won't be too long. I promise." Burst summoned his dragon wings, and flew off for his home. Once he landed, he went inside and found his dad sitting in the kitched. Burst was nervous before speaking to him. "...Dad?"

Aether's head picked up as soon as he heard his son call for him. "Oh. Burst. It's been a while since we last spoke. Is something wrong?"

Burst sighed. "I haven't really caught you up on some of the events that happened during your absence. In specific, events in my Senior Year. And also...events from today."

"Burst. I'm your father. I always have time to listen."

"Here we go." Burst took a deep breath before starting. "You know that I won Duelist Kingdom and Battle City right? Aether nodded. "Well, what you don't know is that during those two tournaments villains showed up who tried to take over our world and the monsters'. But each time I was able to defeat them. I destroyed Sombra, but was able to save Tirek at Battle City. Since then, my friends and I have fought villains and saved the world a lot of times. But this time? This time was probably the hardest battle I've fought." Burst sighed. "Dad...this isn't easy to say. And it's probably even more impossible for you to believe. Dad. Blitz and your new wife were behind Sombra and Tirek and the evil monsters they received. But the worst part is, Blitz did all this so he could become a hero. He'd defeat Sombra or Tirek and be hailed as a hero by everyone. But I foiled his plans without even knowing it when I defeated those two. And he hated me for it. He thought that the life I had should've been his. And so, he lured me to a duel and revealed himself to me. I tried to convince him that he could still be a hero. All he had to do was abandon the path he was walking on. But he refused and switched our bodies after he lost the duel. Fortunately, I got my body back and defeated him again. But after that, he disappeared. Then Abyss showed up. Inferno and I destroyed her and the Sacred Beasts Cards." Burst's eyes began to tear up. "So know that you know this...I've got a question. Do you hate me because of what I did to the new family you had? You raised Blitz as your own son. And I'm sure you loved Abyss like when you met my mom. And I took it all away in a matter of days."

Aether stood up and put his hand on Burst's shoulder. "No Burst. I don't hate you. I never could. To be honest, I'm proud of you. I never told you this, but part of the reason I left was because of that dream you had. The dream you had that you were a hero. Burst. I KNEW you'd become a hero one day. And your actions have proved that to be true. But whenever I saw you get to this point, I was nowhere there on your journey. As for Blitz, I should have known something like this would happen. When I was raising him, I always brought up how I thought you'd become a hero. And the teachings of his mother drove him on the dark path he so freely walks. But you tried to change his mind. You tried to get him to see a different way. As for Abyss, she never truly returned my love for her. I knew I held no place in her heart. I don't blame you for what's happened to Blitz. For that, I have myself to blame. As for Abyss, I have the feeling you'll be seeing her again. She wasn't evil. She just wanted someone to love." Aether then smiled. "You're my son Burst. And I'm proud of how far you've come. But remember. Me and your mother love you. No matter what." Burst pulled Aether into a tight hug.

"...Thanks Dad.", Burst said as a tear trickled down his face.

"I wasn't there for you for a long time Burst. But I'm here now. And speaking of now, I'm sure you and your friends want to celebrate your triumph over evil. Better get over to them.", Aether said with a smile. Burst smiled and summoned his dragon wings as he left the house and flew off. "That's my boy."