I couldn't wait any longer and decided to upload this chapter for you to continue reading the new version of BBT. Hope you like the surprises I added.
Around in the middle of the chapter, it will become slightly dark, but I'll try to keep the T rating. If you think the rating should be moved up to M, let me know.
For those who wonder where Clara (an old GX OC I made) is, she does not exist in this version. The reason is the timeline is different compared to the old version. In the future I might pick up my old YGO Season 0 fanfic featuring the OC twins Aurora and Joakim Ueda Pax and continue working on the DM season, and maybe later GX. It's still a question mark, so we shall see about it.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!
Chapter 69: Bonds Beyond Time – Part 2
I got snapped out of my trance when the Crimson Dragon removed his power from me when Yusei, Judai, and I made it to Yugi's era. I fell from the sky with my Duel Runner and caught sight of a rooftop where a familiar figure was leaning against the railing. Yusei landed first on the rooftop with his Runner before I followed him. Judai yelped in surprise as his hold on my waist tightened a bit as I landed with a slight skid on the tires. The grip lightened up when we came to a halt.
Judai got off the Runner as he and Yusei rushed to Yugi who looked very confused of what just happened. I parked my Runner before I joined the boys, but I made sure to grab my Duel Disk and strap it on my arm and insert my Deck for just in case.
Yugi blinked confusedly as he looked down to see people had started gathering for the Duel Monsters event at the plaza. "What happened? What happened to Grandpa and Pegasus?" he asked frantically.
"They're safe, Yugi", Judai smiled.
"We're in the same place, 30 minutes prior to when that incident occurs", Yusei added.
"So everyone are safe", I ended.
"30 minutes?" Yugi mumbled in disbelief as he calmed down.
Judai held a finger up as he realized something. He pulled Neos' card out to see the Duel Monster was back on the artwork. "Alright! Our cards are still safe!"
"But it's just a matter of time before Paradox appears and try changing history again", I pointed out.
"Who are you three?" Yugi asked.
"I'm Fudo Yusei."
"I'm Yuki Judai!"
"And I'm Estelle Goodwin. It's an honor to meet you, Muto Yugi."
"Yusei, Judai, and Estelle?" Yugi repeated. "Why do you know me?"
"We've come here from the future", Judai revealed.
"The future?" Yugi blinked confusedly.
"Yes, here to save everyone from the tragedy that happens in another 30 minutes", Judai explained.
"We saw it in a future newspaper", Yusei added.
"Does it have anything to do with that masked man I just saw?" Yugi's eyes widened in realization.
"It does!" Judai nodded. "His name's Paradox and he is trying to eliminate Chairman Pegasus."
"Pegasus?" Yugi said in shock.
"Without Chairman Pegasus, the history of Duel Monsters…", Yusei began before correcting himself. "…no, the history of the world, too, will change drastically!"
"Around the world in the future, Duel Monsters area already starting to vanish…", Judai added with a sad voice. "…and whole cities are meeting their ends!"
"And people are vanishing as the future is changing because of the past events", I added. "We must stop the distortion before it's too late."
"No way…", Yugi mumbled as his eyes got a bit teary by hearing the terrifying news.
"Fight together with us, Yugi!" Judai begged.
"Let's protect the world with our combined efforts!" Yusei added.
Yugi nodded as he got up on his feet, the rest of us following him. "Okay! I understand the situation. Judai. Yusei. Estelle. If I'm all it takes, I'll gladly cooperate with you! Let's combine our efforts and fight; the four of us!"
"Thank you, Yugi!" Yusei said in relief.
"Heck yeah!" Judai cheered joyfully. "With Yugi with us, we've got the strength of a hundred guys!"
"But first we need to get all those people out of the area", I spoke up. "We can't have them involved with this."
"I've got the perfect plan for that!" Judai grinned. "Yubel!"
Yubel's spirit appeared behind him. "I understand, Judai."
"Whoa! What is that?!" Yugi exclaimed, surprised to see the Duel Spirit.
"Yubel is one of Judai's Duel Spirits", I explained. "She's like his guardian angel, just as the rest of his Duel Monsters."
"Only people with powers of the Spirits can see them", Yusei added. "Estelle and I, and some of our other friends in our era, have powers too."
Yugi grabbed the Millennium Puzzle and held it close to his heart. "Maybe it's the Puzzle's power that makes me able to see Duel Spirits…"
We hurried down to the plaza, but hid in the shadows as Yubel used her power to send energy balls at the stage and scare people away from the area. No one was hurt and nothing got damaged because Yubel made sure to keep her powers to a minimum.
"Everyone! Hurry up and run!" Judai yelled to encourage people to run away. "Hurry on up and evacuate the plaza!"
It didn't take long before everyone else had evacuated the plaza. Yubel snorted before she vanished to leave us alone to take care of the rest.
"I get it. If the tournament is stopped, then that incident won't have a chance to occur!" Yugi said.
"All we need to do now is contact Chairman Pegasus", Yusei nodded.
"I can't allow that", a familiar voice echoed from the sky.
The four of us looked up to see a wormhole opening in the sky before Paradox drove out of it on his Duel Runner and landed at the other side of the plaza. The three young men stood tall and ready to use their Duel Disks. I was about to join them, but Yusei blocked my view as if he wanted to protect me.
"You're that guy from earlier!" Yugi exclaimed angrily.
"Oh ho… To think that the King of Games is among our company…", Paradox chuckled underneath his black and white mask.
"Just who are you?" Yugi demanded. "Why are you doing something so terrible?!"
"Why?" Paradox repeated before he snorted. "Very well." He removed his mask to reveal his true face. "My name is Paradox."
"Just as I thought…", I growled.
"I have traveled time and space in search of the best history", Paradox said. "I have been investigating any and all possibilities in history and experimenting them."
"The best history?!" Yusei exclaimed furiously.
"What you're doing is just plain destruction!" Judai yelled.
"Are you trying to say that slaughtering everyone for gain is the right thing to do?!" Yugi questioned.
"Destruction and slaughter?" Paradox said with a pure confused voice before he chuckled. "I see. Is that how it seems to you guys? But that is incorrect. The future you consider correct is incorrect, and the future that you may first consider incorrect is, in fact, correct. But, just take a moment to think. Even without my actions, the world is riddled with contradictions."
I knew, at this point, he was talking about the future he was aware of and had to live with it with his three other comrades to regain the peaceful future and protect the mankind from the massive destruction.
"Environmental destruction, world disputes, human discrimination…", Paradox continued. "Aren't all of these things your so-called 'destruction' and 'slaughter'? How would any of you resolve these contradictions?"
"Even if they can't do it right away, they'll resolve them eventually!" Yusei retorted.
"That answer is nonsense", Paradox shrugged.
"But we took a ruined city-", Yusei began.
"…and revived it!" Paradox interrupted, knowing what the Signer would say, but he now began sounding frustrated. "You brought Satellite and the city together as one. I am well aware of that fact, Fudo Yusei! I have come from a distant future. A future where the world is in ruins."
"A future where the world is in ruins…?" Yusei gasped in disbelief.
I couldn't help but place a hand on his left shoulder to give him comfort, knowing he was still being haunted by the facts that his father involuntarily contributed to the destruction of New Domino City almost eighteen years ago.
"Right", Paradox nodded. "If I leave history as it is, the world will be destroyed. I have come here to change that hopeless future. By analyzing various data in time, I have ascertained that Duel Monsters hold a mysterious power. And it gave me the idea to correct history."
"Change the future?" Yusei mumbled as his shoulders tensed up, making me let go of him. "And to do so, you plan on destroying New Domino City? No, that's not all! All the people living there now! Chairman Pegasus, Yugi's grandfather… Are you saying it doesn't matter what happens to them?!"
"So minuscule of a sacrifice is nothing more than a trifle process in my grand experiment", Paradox said with a cold voice.
I growled as I thought how cruel he was, but then again Paradox was secretly an android. Maybe he was programmed to not feel empathy for other living beings, and only focus on fulfilling his mission.
"A trifle process?!" Judai growled.
"Everyone should have the right to live their future!" Yugi shouted angrily.
"People have the power to change the future! That's what I believe!" Yusei added.
"People can come together and change the present for a better future!" I called as I decided to join in, standing between Yusei and Judai.
"Intriguing", Paradox snorted amusingly. "If you are saying you all have the power to deflect any kind of hopeless future, then prove it to me."
"Paradox, let's Duel!" Yusei demanded. "Let's settle the score!"
"Very well. Allow me to crush the Duel Monsters you stake so much faith in…"
On that command, Paradox's Duel Runner shifted into an aerial craft that floated up to the sky. However, the tip of the two wings began glowing white as they collected energy. That never happened in the movie!
"Guys, heads up!" I yelled.
"Is he going to hurt us before the Duel?!" Yugi gasped in shock.
"No, I will just…even the field", Paradox said.
He swung his arm before the two energy beams were fired from the wings, but they combined into one in midair before the light engulfed me and the three main protagonists. My hair ruffled hard as I shielded my face with my arms and Duel Disk. It looked like the world around me faded before I was hit by a slap of unconsciousness.
XXXXXXXXXX – Yusei's POV
I shielded my face from the bright light as I had my eyes closed. I didn't feel any pain from the beam, but I was still ready to get hurt. The beam slowly died down and I opened my eyes to see what happened. It didn't look like things had been changed, so I turned to Yugi to see if he was okay. He looked fine, so I turned to check Judai and Estelle. Judai was okay, but Estelle was nowhere around!
"Estelle?" I called as I looked around, trying to find her. "Estelle?!"
"She's just gone!" Judai exclaimed in disbelief.
"Did you kill her, Paradox?!" Yugi yelled angrily.
"No, I told you I was going to even the field", Paradox chuckled.
I growled as I turned to him with a glare. I was almost shaking by all the anger in me. "Where is Estelle?! What did you do to her?!"
"I merely sent her to the future, so her Priestess powers do not affect the Duel", Paradox chuckled.
"What?! You sent her to the future?!" I exclaimed in disbelief.
"Let's see if she can survive in my era with the power of miracles", Paradox laughed. "If you wish to see your beloved again and have your dragon back, defeat me in the Duel and I may consider bringing Estelle back to you."
He was trying to use Estelle as a bribe while putting her in danger at the same time? How could he sink so low?!
But the fear of losing Estelle while knowing she's in a ruined future…
No.
I couldn't let that happen! I had to bring her back! I had to rescue her before it got too late!
Because I… I…
I shook my head, trying not to let the emotions get over me. I prepared my Duel Disk along with Judai and Yugi.
Estelle… Please be safe until I can save you!
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I grunted as I slowly woke up from the dreamless sleep I had. My body ached because the ground was very uncomfortable. I slowly opened my eyes to see the ground looked like there had been an explosion. The air was dusty and it smelled a bit like fire and gun powder. I pushed myself up with one hand so I could sit and rub my heavy eyelids. I fixed my glasses and looked around, only for my eyes to widen in shock as I gasped in shock.
I was greeted by the sight of a ruined city; almost every single building was leveled to the ground. I got up on my feet and brushed the dust off before I took a closer look. The area looked like the plaza in Yugi's era and the one thing that confirmed it was the plaza clock. It was still standing in the middle of the plaza, but it was no longer working.
There was no question about it. Paradox had sent me to the distant and apocalyptic future.
But why would he do that? Was it to distract the three main protagonists or was it for something else?
I shook my head, trying to think of my next move. What or where should I go? Was this the era when Z-one became Yusei and tried rally people of the world to spread positivity to stop the Meklord Emperors or was this the future when Z-one was left alone after the real Aporia, Paradox, and Antinomy passed away?
I had to start look around and find clues about this era, but first of all I had to find a safe place to use as shelter. I made sure my Duel Disk was properly strapped before I felt the plaza to enter the now unrecognizable New Domino City.
I looked around and tried finding survivors, but there was none so far. I flinched and even cried out sometimes in shock when I spotted skeletons and rotten corpses in the middle of the trashed road. I held back the sour belch that came up my throat as I tried blocking the smell of the bodies while picking up the pace.
Seeing so many corpses and skeletons of children, adults, and animals alike made me wonder if this era was around the time when the Meklords came to life because of the rapid evolution of humanity.
I rubbed my forehead as I tried remembering something. What did they call this incident back in my world?
Meklord Emperor Genocide.
It weirdly reminded me of the song from "Symphogear GX" that contained the word "genocide"; Senkin Dur da Blá. It may be a song about destruction, but it kinda fit the atmosphere here. I picked up my smartphone from the handbag and saw there was no internet connection, but my apps were still working. Suddenly getting the feeling of wanting to listen to music, I activated the music app and scrolled down until I found the song. I pushed play and put the device in the pocket of my jacket.
(Insert: "Senkin Dur da Blá" by Inori Minase)
I made sure to keep the volume low to not attract any Meklords and tried holding back myself from singing. Maybe the music would attract some survivors and give me information of what was going on, so I could get a complete picture.
I looked into buildings to see if there were any supplies that could be used, but many stores had already been ransacked or the food and drinks had already been spoiled. I continued walking when my ears caught a new noise in the background. I turned around and saw something large coming from the horizon. I gasped softly as I recognized its shape.
It was a Meklord Emperor Wisel!
It must have sensed me and was coming for me. I didn't hesitate a second and began running as fast as I could. I didn't have time to pick up my smartphone and pause the song, so Inori's voice echoed through the empty streets along with my running footsteps.
I looked over my shoulder as I ran and felt my eyes widen in shock as I saw a Meklord Emperor Skiel and Meklord Emperor Granel had joined forces with the white Meklord Emperor.
"Shoot!" I cursed as I picked up the pace.
I could hear how one of the machine Monsters started loading energy, but I didn't have time to look over my shoulder to see which one. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest in panic. I almost forgot that I had powers and maybe could fight back with my Duel Monsters.
I quickly activated my Duel Disk and drew the top five cards. I spotted Mirror Force among them and inserted it in the device. Meklord Emperor Skiel fired a large laser beam towards me, but the Trap card had already set up an invisible mirror shield that bounced back the attack. The beam split into three that shot through each Meklord Emperor in the chest. Seconds later, they exploded into pieces.
XXXXXXXXXX – Unknown POV
I was in the middle of scouting, looking for survivors in the ruined city. I had managed to rally a group of them and told them there was still hope and everything would return to normal as long as we helped each other and spread positive energy that could affect the Ener-D reactors and no longer produce Negative Energy.
Not long ago, I saved someone named Johnny who had lost so much hope he almost jumped in front of a Meklord Emperor to commit suicide. I saw him in time and destroyed the machine, saving him from doing something foolish. He cried in relief, joy, and disappointment at himself and told me he felt new hope sprout within him after seeing me. He then asked me if he could join me and help spread hope and positivity to save our future.
I appreciated the offer and let him join forces with me. We built together a replica of his old Duel Runner, since he used to be a Turbo Duelist, and I added a cannon that was effective against the Meklord Emperors; the same kind my Duel Runner had.
The Meklord Emperors were not in the area where I scouted, but also no survivors. I sighed softly and was about to leave when I heard an explosion in the distance. I quickly looked up and saw a large and heavy cloud of smoke several blocks away.
Did the Meklord Emperors find someone and tried killing them? Without hesitation, I pushed the gas as I drove towards the direction of the explosion. The streets were empty, so I had no issues getting to the area in record time.
The smoke was clearing up as I spotted a tall and slim body standing in the middle of the street. They had their back turned to me, but they looked safe. I noticed something red on their arm, but it looked like a device.
I braked the Duel Runner a couple of meters behind them. I got off the Runner and took a few steps forward to see if they were okay, now seeing it was a woman. When she turned around, my eyes widened in shock as I froze in my tracks.
I recognized her from the pictures and old articles I read while I was researching about him.
It was impossible, and yet here she was standing in front of me.
XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV
I sighed in relief as I saw I managed to destroy the Meklord Emperor trio. Encountering them in the future meant the major Zero Reverse hadn't happened yet, so maybe there were still survivors.
But if there were survivors, didn't it mean that he was also alive?
The noise of a Duel Runner broke the silence around me. I slowly turned around to see who it was and felt my eyes widen in surprise.
My heart almost sang in joy, since for a moment I thought I would never see him again.
"Yusei…"
