AN: Hey everyone, I have a surprise here. I plan to do my take on the Shadow Riders saga for this RWBY and Yugioh GX crossover. With it, this chapter is the part one (of two) for the first duel. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.
Chapter 5 – The New Shadow Riders Pt.1
A few weeks after the televised duel with Neo, nothing of note happened at Duel Academy. Seven students were hanging out at the arena. Of the seven, Jaden and Weiss were in the middle of a duel. The spunky Slifer Red had his mechanical dog, Wroughtweiler in defense mode, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF). Jaden had one card in his hand, while Weiss had none. However, she had her Gem-Knight Ruby in attack mode, (2500 ATK / 1300 DEF). As well, it was her turn.
Weiss: 2000 Life Points
Jaden: 1700 Life Points
"Now Ruby, Attack!" the white heiress Obelisk Blue ordered her monster. However, in the stands, Ruby Rose looked up in confusion, "Not you…" Weiss said in an irritated voice as the hooded Slifer Red looked back down. The red knight raised his hook-like scythe over the mechanical dog, then slashed the monster into an explosion. Jaden shielded himself from the blast wave but took the piercing damage.
Jaden: 1700 – 1300 = 400 Life Points
In the distance, Yang sat across Chazz. The blond Ra Yellow called out to the white heiress Obelisk Blue "Nice move," she complimented with Weiss raising her head with a smile, "For an Ice Queen." Yang said under her breath.
"Hey!" Weiss responded in anger, "I heard that!"
Yang sighed as returned to attention to Chazz, "She's so easy to get mad." She responded before looking down. The two were trading cards, each of their collections spread out, "Hm, what to pick?" The blond Ra Yellow spoke as Chazz sighed.
In the student in a black trench coat's collection, the Ojama Yellow spirit came out of the card, "Pick me! Pick me!" Ojama Yellow pleaded, "I know you will be a better boss than my current one."
"Why you Yellow-" Chazz was saying, but then saw Yang glaring at him.
"What, you haven't been a good boss lately," Ojama Yellow responded, his eyes glaring at Chazz, "You haven't helped me find my brothers yet."
Suddenly, a new spirit voice came from the pile of cards, "Is that our long-lost bro."
Chazz and Ojama Yellow looked over, then heard another new voice, "It sounds like him." The student in a black trench coat dug into Yang's pile of cards, pulling out two normal monsters. Both were Ojamas, but one was Green and the other was Black. The spirits jumped out of the cards. The two then looked over to Ojama Yellow, "BROTHER!" the three Ojama brothers shouted as they hugged each other, each wearing matching red speedos as they cried rivers of tears.
Chazz had a look of awkwardness before turning back to Yang, "How did you find these two cards?"
"Oh, I found them in a well," Yang responded.
"…" The student in a black trench coat had a deadpan look on his face, "…Why were you in a well?"
"I heard there were cards down there." The blond Ra Yellow responded, "Why wouldn't you go."
"Still," Chazz said before looking at the two Ojama cards, "Why take these two weirdos."
"Hey!" Ojama Black responded in offense.
"Oh, a wise guy huh?" Ojama Green said as he glared with his cyclops, putting up his fist to fight.
"I don't think they're weird." Yang said with a smile, "I like normal monsters." At that sentence, each of the Ojama Brother's hearts skipped a beat, "Plus, all the cards are yellow. If you can't tell, it's my favorite color." She said with Ojama Yellow's heart skipping another beat.
"She's an angel." Ojama Black said as he blushed.
"She's a Goddess." Ojama Green said as he blushed.
"She's hotter than the Sun." Ojama Yellow said as he blushed.
"Oh!" Yang said as she looked over to Chazz's cards, "Tell you what, I'll trade both those monsters," She said as she picked up a card, "For this one."
"My Chthonian Emperor Dragon!?" Chazz looked at the card in Yang's hand, "I haven't even played him yet in a duel."
"Come on," Yang haggled, "You can't separate the brothers."
"Yeah!" the Ojama Brother's responded as they glared at Chazz.
"If that's the case," Chazz said as he picked up Ojama Yellow's card, "I'll trade you anything for this one?" he said with Ojama Yellow's heart breaking, "You know what, I'll give it to you for free," he said with Ojama Yellow's heart breaking into tinier pieces.
"Hey, you got to be nicer to your cards," Yang responded, her voice then turning slightly aggressive, "Now, trade me this boss monster."
Chazz sighed, "Fine." Chazz said Yang smiling.
"Pleasure doing business with you." The blond Ra Yellow said as she patted the student in a black trench coat on the back.
The Ojama Brothers looked up at Yang's warm smile, "At least she's happy." The brother said with a smile as well, Ojama Yellow's heart repairing a bit.
Back to the duel, Jaden smiled, "Since you destroyed Wroughtweiler, I can add Elemental Hero Avian and Polymerization back to my hand." He said as he took the two cards out of his graveyard, "Now, it's my draw!" the spunky Slifer Red.
In the distance, Ruby watched the duel. To her left was Bastion, to her right was Alexis. "You see, with these two spell cards," The smart Ra Yellow pointed out, "It can help with the Charmer's effect to get out there Familiar-Possessed form."
"He's right," Alexis agreed, "And don't forget. The Familiar-Possessed monsters can activate their effect from the hand and the deck as well." The nice Obelisk Blue said with a smile, "It's a rare effect for a monster to have."
"Oh, I didn't know they could do that?" Ruby said in shock as she looked at her cards, "But can a four-card combo be that powerful."
"Look and see," Bastion said as he crossed his arms, his eyes focused on the duel, "Jaden is about to prove it," he said with Ruby retuning to the duel.
"First I fuse my Elemental Hero Avian with my Elemental Hero Burstinatrix," Jaden said as he played Polymerization, "To from my favorite monster, Elemental Hero Flame Wingman!" He said as his two heroes formed a new one. This one with his right arm being a red dragon head and a white wing on his left shoulder blade, (2100 ATK / 1200 DEF).
"Favorite monster or not, it's still weaker than my Gem-Knight." Weiss commented before seeing Jaden smirking at his last card in his hand, "…Crap."
"I activate Skyscraper," Jaden said as he placed the field spell. Suddenly, massive buildings formed around the arena. Weiss looked up to see the Flame Wingman atop the highest point, "Now, my hero gains 1000 attack points against your monster." He said before pointing at her Gem-Knight. "Now Flame Wingman, attack with Skydive Scorcher!" Jaden declared as his monster dived down with its body engulfed in flames. (2100 + 1000 = 3100 ATK) The Flame Wingman crashed into Gem-Knight Ruby, causing the red knight to explode.
Weiss: 2000 – 600 = 1400 Life Points
Weiss shielded herself from the blast, but then gasped at Flame Wingman standing before her, "And now, his effects actives," Jaden said as his monster aimed its dragon arm at the white heiress Obelisk Blue, "You take damage equal to the destroyed monsters attack points." He said before dragon mouth shot fire at Weiss. The white heiress Obelisk Blue screamed as she took the burst damage.
Weiss: 1400 – 2500 = 0 Life Points
Weiss fell to one knee as Jaden pointed, "That's game." He said his catchphrase with a smile.
Suddenly, the intercom spoke with Chancellor Sheppard, "Will the following students please head to my office: Jaden, Alexis, Bastion, Chazz, Ruby, Yang, and Weiss." He said with the group in a state of confusion.
A few moments later.
The seven students gathered in the headmaster of Duel Academy's Office. Chancellor Sheppard faced the window as a small bronze box was on his desk, "The seven of you have shown tremendous growth during your time at this academy." He said before turning around, his expression somewhat serious, "Now, I must ask you to complete a task far more difficult than any of your finals." Chancellor Sheppard then lifted the top off the box, revealing seven oddly shaped keys, "These keys are the safeguard to the Academy's greatest secret, the Scared Beasts." He then looked to the seven students, "I am asking each of you to take one of the keys and to guard it against the Shadow Riders."
"Sacred Beast?" Alexis inquired.
"Shadow Riders?" Bastion added.
"Academy's greatest secret?" Weiss said in skepticism, "Is this another one of the Seven Wonders of this school?"
"This is far more dangerous," Chancellor Sheppard responded, "The Scared Beasts are monsters whose power came close to rivaling the God Cards. The Shadow Riders are a group that seeks to unleash these monsters to send the world into chaos." He then looked back down at the keys, "But to do so, they need to claim the keys via winning a duel."
"Well, that seems like an odd design choice," Ruby said with Weiss slightly elbowing her in the gut. The hooded Slifer Red then let the headmaster of Duel Academy continue.
"I ask you," Chancellor Sheppard said as he looked to the seven, "Protect these keys and defeat the Shadow Riders." He said before sitting down, "If you do not wish to, I understand. These opponents are unlike any challenge you have faced before."
"Really, neat!" Jaden responded, "I'm always in the mode for a good duel." He said before taking a key.
"Yeah," Ruby added, "We get to save the world. That's awesome!" She said before taking a key.
Alexis was in thought as she looked at the keys, "These Shadow Riders, maybe they know what happened to my brother." She said before clenching her right fist, "I'll do it." She said before taking a key.
"If My Alexis is going to fight, so will I," Chazz thought as he slightly blushed, "I'll take one as well." He said before taking a key.
"If these Shadow Riders think they can beat me, they're wrong." Weiss responded, "I'll prove I'm the best student here." She said before taking a key.
"I can't get better unless I beat stronger duelists," Yang added on, "I'm in." She said before taking a key.
"And I'm not about to let the rest of you leave me behind," Bastion said with a smile, "I'll create on a new formula to defeat these Shadow Riders." He said before taking a key.
"Thank you, the school is in your debt," Chancellor Sheppard said with a bow of his head.
"So, does this mean we can skip finals?" Jaden asked with Ruby nodding.
"Nope," Chancellor Sheppard said with a smile and closed eyes, "Better start studying."
The seven then exited the room. Jaden walked with his hands behind his head, "Aw man, though we didn't have to do classes if we were protecting this school."
"Is that seriously the only reason you agreed to this?" Chazz asked, but Jaden did not answer, "What a slacker."
"Well, it could be fun." Ruby jumped in, looking to Jaden, "We get to be like heroes. Just like your cards."
"I like the sound of that," Jaden said with a smile, "I'm going make sure my cards are in tip-top shape." He said before his stomach growled, "Right after lunch."
"Oh, it's Eggwich Day!" Ruby said, "Last one there gets the rotten one!" She said before bolting off into the distance, a smile on her face as she left a trail of rose petals.
"Hey!" Chazz shouted back, "I'm not getting the bad one this time!"
"Uh oh," Jaden called out, but she was already gone, "Darn it, she always has great luck drawing the golden one." He said before running after her, "I need to pick before her!"
"Those two are basically children," Weiss said as she crossed her arms, the others silently agreeing
A few hours later.
Night had fallen over the island. In the Ra Yellow dorm, Bastion was on his PC as he tested his new formula. However, he heard a knocking on his door, "Hey Bastion, you up?" Yang said at the other end of the door. Bastion got up and opened the door, "Oh good, I need your big brain." She said as she held up her deck of cards, "I need your advice on how to make my burn deck stronger."
"Of course," Bastion said as he took the cards.
Yang followed him inside, seeing all the equations on the walls, "Heh, was not expecting this type of stuff when I walked into a boy's room."
"What do with your walls?" Bastion said as he sat at his chair, turning back the laptop.
"Put up posters of things I like; good bands, pro-duelists, and Pyro monsters. You know, normal stuff." Yang said as she sat on his bed, a smirk forming on her face, "Is this your first time having a girl in your room?"
"It's hard to focus when you ask those types of question." Bastion responded, looking through Yang's burn deck. The blond Ra Yellow let it go as she laid back in the bed, "…Are you nervous?" the smart Ra Yellow asked as he worked, Yang pausing as he continued, "Like Jaden, you duel in the moment and don't do this much perpetration." He then looked back to her, "What's going on?"
Yang sighed as looked up at the ceiling, "I'm not scared of losing." She said with a look of worry in her eyes, "I'm scared of Ruby losing." She said before reaching her right hand out to the ceiling, "I just have a bad feeling about these Shadow Riders being too much for her to handle. But I can't tell her not to get involved, that would just make her want to help more." She then clenched her hand into a fist, "So, I'll just have to beat strongest of the bunch. Then, Ruby can take down the weaker ones. That's the best I can do for her now." She then turned to look back at Bastion, "But to beat the best, I think need your help coming up with a smarter deck." She said before a smile formed on her face, "And you're the smartest person I know."
"Thank you," Bastion responded, a smile forming on his face as well, "You're a good big sister to Ruby." He said before returning to his PC.
"Heh, I try to be," Yang said before she resumed looking at the ceiling.
Meanwhile.
At the Obelisk Blue dorm, Weiss snuck out of the front entrance. After making sure the coast was clear, she started to walk down the pathway. However, she did not check well enough, "Going somewhere?" Alexis said as she shined a flashlight on the white heiress Obelisk Blue.
"Uh?" Weiss said as she froze, "I…needed to use the lady's room." She said with Alexis remaining deadpan, "…Fine, I was going to head over to stake out the Slifer Red dorm."
"I understand, you think the Shadow Riders will target Jaden, Chazz, and Ruby first." The nice Obelisk Blue said as she turned off the flashlight, "Funny, I was thinking of doing the same thing." She said leading the way, "The three of them are tougher than you give them credit for."
"I know, two of them beat me in a duel." Weiss said as she walked with Alexis, "I'm just doing this so that I can prove myself against these Shadow Riders. That's it!"
"That's it?" Alexis said as Weiss nodding. The white heiress Obelisk Blue scoffed as she increased her pace, "Well, she can be nice when she wants to be." Alexis said to herself before following Weiss stride.
Meanwhile.
In a dark cave, a young man and woman conversed, "So, they have been chosen." He said in a slightly eager voice. His outfit was black, matching the mask that covered his eyes. his hair was a long brown, "We can eliminate the Slifer Red's first."
"Yes," The woman said in a calm voice. As she lifted her right hand, an orange flame appeared, its color matching her eyes, "You take out that boy." Her dress was red, while her hair was long and black, "Leave the girl to me." She said with him nodding, causing her to smirk.
Meanwhile.
At the Slifer Red dorm, all the students were asleep. In the room at the end of the walkway, Ruby slept in the bottom bunk, while Chazz was asleep in the top. The two so tired, they slept with their clothes still on. Suddenly, the three Ojama Brothers emerged from the cards. "Hey Boss, wake up!" Ojama Yellow said as he slapped Chazz in the face.
"Yeah, wake up!" Ojama Black added, "We got a bad feeling."
"Up and atom!" Ojama Green spoke, "I think it's one of those bad guys!"
However, Chazz did not hear them clear enough. He gritted his teeth before rolling over in his covers. On the bottom bunk, Ruby's eyes slowly opened, "Hey, could you not toss and turn so much?" She groaned before noticing something. Hovering in midair was a small orange flame. Without thinking, Ruby reached for the flame, feeling its warmth. However, the flame expanded, causing her eyes to widen.
Outside the Slifer Red dorm, Weiss and Alexis walked up. However, they stopped at what they were seeing. A white light encapsulated Jaden's room, expanding outwards over the area. The two girls were caught in the glow. However, while Weiss discovered she was unharmed, Alexis was no longer beside her. Before the white heiress Obelisk Blue could utter a word, she saw a new expanding light. This time, it was of an orange flame that encased the room of- "Ruby!" Weiss screamed as she ran towards the building, the fire encompassing her as well.
"Uhhhh…" Ruby groaned as she reopened her eyes, "Huh?" She said as she discovered she was no longer in her bed. She was now in a wide cave; the open space was almost the size of the duel arenas at the Academy. Above was a massive hole, showing off the full moon in the sky. The lunar light shined off a nearby puddle of water, allowing Ruby to see for a good distance, "Where am I?"
"A place where we don't have to worry about unwanted spectators." Ruby heard a female voice call to her. The hooded Slifer Red turned to see a woman walking towards her. She had long black hair and wore a red dress. Her heels were made of a black-stained glass, a similar glass that outlined her duel disk, "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Cinder." She said as she readied her duel disk, "But you can call me The Fall Shadow Rider."
"A Shadow Rider?" Ruby responded, "And you want to duel me?" She said before smiling, "Great!" She said as she smiled, "It looks like I get to be the first one to take one of you down." The red hooded girl said before taking out her duel disk, "Good thing I always sleep with mine close by."
"What a delightful attitude," Cinder said as she smirked, "I can't wait to watch you suffer."
"Duel!" Both said at the same time.
Ruby: 4000 Life Points
Cinder: 4000 Life Points
Cinder drew first, looking at the card with a smile, "I set one monster and two cards face down." The Fall Shadow Rider said as she paced the three cards on the field, "That ends my turn."
"That's it?" Ruby said as she drew. As she placed the card in her hand, she realized something, "Wait, might be able to do my combo!" She thought before smiling, "Here goes," Ruby said as she grabbed a spell card, "I active Sword of Revealing Light." She said as a hail of light in the shape of sabers descended from the moonlight.
They imbedded the ground near Cinder, but she reminded unimpressed. In glancing down, she noticed her facedown monster revealed itself as the massive chunk of infection, Giant Germ, (1000 ATK / 100 DEF).
"My card revels all your face-down monster and prevents you from attacking for three turns." Ruby said as she looked at Cinder monster, "Nice, you played a dark attribute monster. So, I'll set this one." Ruby said as she paced the monster on the field in face-down defense position. She then grabbed the second spell from her hand, "Now, I activate Book of Taiyou, flipping my monster to face-up attack position!" the red hooded girl said as she revealed her monster as the Dharc the Dark Charmer, a girl with short black hair and tattered cloak. Next to her was eyeball creature with bat wings, (500 ATK / 1500 DEF).
Cinder watched as her Giant Germ moved to Ruby's side of the field, "Dharc's flip effect actives, letting me take one of your Dark monsters." She said before extending her duel disk, "Now, from my deck, I special summon Familiar-Possessed Dharc!" The hooded Slifer Red declared as Giant Germ and Dharc the Dark Charmer were used as tributes. Dharc returned but appeared slightly older. Her bat-like companion also grew with massive horns on its head, (1850 ATK / 1500 DEF). "Now, attack Cinder directly!" Ruby ordered as Dharc held her staff with the skull of a dead bird. White energy built up before firing at the Fall Shadow Rider, creating a massive explosion.
Cinder: 4000 – 1850 = 2150 Life Points
"Yes!" Ruby cheered, "The combo worked!" She said as she looked at her field, "I not only protected myself from attacks but got out a Familiar-Possessed with its effect active. Meaning I can do piercing damage now." She said before looking to see the smoke clears. Cinder still stood, her but outfit seemed slightly damaged, "Huh, what happened?" Ruby said in genuine concern.
"In these duels, the damage is real." Cinder responded, brushing the dust off her right shoulder.
"What?" Ruby responded, seeing the pain she caused her opponent, "S-sorry about that, I didn't know."
"Don't worry," Cinder responded with a smile but is quickly turned sinister, "Let me pay you back." She then drew her card, glancing at it before closing her eyes, "Do you wish to know the best advice I was given about this game." She said with a smile forming
"What is it?" Ruby said in a cautious voice.
"It's not about overpowering your enemy," Cinder said as she placed the card in her hand, switching it with another card, "It's about taking away what power they have." She said as she active a spell card, "I activate Black Illusion Ritual!" The Fall Shadow Rider said as a set of wine glasses appeared on her side of the field. In front of them was a bronze jar with an eye-like carving in the center, "And no monster better to drive in the nail than this one!" She said as she sent a five-star monster to the graveyard as a tribute. Suddenly, the jar erupted a reddish flame onto the field, "Come forth, take my sacrifice, hear my call. I summon you!" Cinder said as her eyes glowed with a flame, "Relinquished!" She declared as the jar mothed into an abomination.
The monster appeared as a cocoon, the texture like rotten flesh. Suddenly, the outer layer folded up in the shape of wings, revealing the body. If had no legs and its arms were weaponized with sharp claws. At its center of mass was circular void, the frame pulsating like a beating heart. The eye was extended out a foot from the body but was still attached. A the top, a small head sunk in past the shoulders, (0 ATK / 0 DEF).
"Yikes!" Ruby responded, but then smiled, "It's creepy, but it has no points."
"Not yet," Cinder responded, "I active Relinquished's effect." She said as the circular void pulsated faster, "I can absorb one of your monsters, taking its attack and defense points."
"What!?" Ruby said as a look of terror filled her eyes.
"Now, steal her Dharc's power!" Cinder ordered as the circular void widened. It then pulled acted like a vacuum, inhaling in a deep breath.
Ruby shielded herself from the gust, but saw her monster unable to resist, "Dharc no!" She called as her monster was pulling into the circular void, absorbed by Relinquished. As the abomination closed its wings, Dharc's body formed on the flesh like exterior. Ruby looked at the anguish and pain on Dharc's face as could not move anymore, (0 + 1850 = 1850 ATK / 0 + 1500 = 1500 DEF).
Cinder smile before looking to the sword, "Time to get rid of these." She said as she revealed one of her set cards, "I active Dust Tornado." The Fall Shadow Rider said as another gust of wind came over Ruby, "This lets me destroy your Swords of Reveling Light." Cinder said as the last card on Ruby's field vanished. The hooded Slifer Red then looked see Cinder pointing at her, "Revenge is so sweet." She said with a sinister smile, "Relinquished, attack her directly!" she said as the abomination's eye glowed purple.
Before Ruby could react, Relinquished fired its eye laser. The beam went directly to thought Ruby's body without leaving any damage. However, the beam passed through Ruby's heart. For a few seconds, her heart stopped as was unable to breathe. After the beam had subsided, Ruby fell to her hands and knees, gasping for air, "I thought …I thought I was going to-"
Ruby: 4000 – 1850 = 2150 Life Points
"Die?" Cinder finished her opponent's sentence, "Oh, don't worry." She said as her eyes glowed with the orange flame, "Death is coming for you, Ruby Rose."
AN: There you go, Cinder is here in all her glory. This has been the most fun I have had in writing her character for a story. She fits so well as a villain here, it's surprising me. Also, giving her Relinquished was too perfect of a match. That is one of my favorite monsters with one of the best designs, effect, and name. To clear up something, during this duel, Jaden is dueling Atticus. I am not going to show it here because it will be implied to have had the same outcome. Next chapter, you see if Ruby can overcome this obstacle, or if this really is her end. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
