Malik Alex and Hannah were all sitting in the dirt. Malik was rubbing his head.
"So what do we do now?" said Hannah.
"How could I have let it get to this stage?" said Malik.
"What stage?"
"Sampson is now going around the world. People are getting sealed, its my fault."
"Are you serious?" said Alex. "We have had to deal with alot more then just Sampson. We know there are now Kings and different worlds out there. We had Morgan appear then get taken instead. None of this is on you."
"I could have been a better leader."
"Malik without you, we would have been caught by Sampson along time ago. Team Fightback exists purely because of you." said Hannah.
"No Hannah. I failed as leader. Sampson has won."
"How can you say that?" said Alex.
"Sampson has only gotten stronger. Our entire Duel Team got sealed because I refused to continue to help Sampson. My old friends got turned into a robot."
"Hows that your fault?" Hannah asked.
"Because it all links back to me. Everything falls back to me. I'm the one who caused the monsters to become real which led Sampson to being like this."
"Now hang on." Hannah said firmly. "We don't know it was you? You don't have any knowledge of being a King, and you don't have any powers like Morgan showed.
"No. But I know I did it. I'm sorry guys, but its over. Sampson has beaten me."
"So thats it were just going to give up?"
"No. I am." Malik stuttered. "I don't know what more to do." Malik collapsed into the dirt. His deck fell out of his pocket and scattered across the floor.
"Get a grip of yourself!" said Hannah. "You don't just give up."
"Sampson has beaten me Hannah. I'm useless now. Go, go to safety."
"He wants you feeling like this?" she said.
"Maybe. But it is all my fault."
"Fine." Alex stood up. "If thats what you want Malik. Then we will continue the fight, even if you wont." Alex begun to walk away.
"Alex. You cant?" Hannah put out her hand to stop him.
"We have to Hannah. Team Fightback is for people who are willing to do the impossible. We will do this without him."
"Go." said Malik. He spoke with disgrace of himself. "Hannah, go with Alex please."
"We cant beat him without you? All we have is Tribute summons. We need your Growth summons."
"I cant beat him. Get you and Alex to safety, maybe find someone who can stop Sampson and who didn't bring the whole City to its doom."
Hannah look despaired. She knew she couldn't convince Malik. She begun to walk away. Alex had already left the area.
Hannah stopped and turned around. "We never let you be leader Malik because you got everything right. We let you be Leader because you cared about everyone, you put everyone before you. You did jobs for Sampson because you wanted to protect us. Thats not a bad leader." Hannah walked away.
Malik looked blankly onwards. The wind blew his cards further away from him.
An Hour Later
Malik was still sitting on the ground. He heard a noise in the sky. It sounded like metal hitting the wind.
Malik looked up. He saw a uncountable number of Cyborgs flying across the sky. The Cyborgs flew over Maliks head at high speed.
He was feeling even more despondent. "So there going abroad now?
"Scary isn't it?" said a voice from behind Malik.
Malik turned around. There stood a tall white male. He was wearing dark boots, ripped dark trousers and a black jacket. He had a white scarf around his mouth, he also had a stetson hat on.
Malik was taken back. "Who... who are you?" he stuttered.
"I remember this moment. And I regretted it ever since." the male spoke. He spoke with a deep voice.
"Are you working for Sampson?" Malik said.
The male walked over. He removed the white scarf around his neck and the stetson from his head.
Time seemed to be going slowly as the male reveled his face. His hair was purple with a blue streak going through it. The same hair as Maliks.
"Who are you?" Malik asked again.
Malik looked at his eyes. They were blue which was the same as his. The face looked like Maliks though it looked more rugged and had a scar on his right cheek.
"I think you know who I am."
"Your someone who looks like me but as an adult? Are you a Cyborg?"
"You know who I am Malik. Your just not wanting to believe it."
"You are not. Your not..."
The male pulled out his duel disk. It was the same as Maliks but it looked war torn. He then took out his deck. He pulled one card from it.
Malik let out a massive gasp. The male was showing Ragtag Phoenix.
"Your... your me? But... how?!"
"There we go." The adult Malik said.
"I don't... I don't understand?"
"I'm you Malik. From ten years in the future, from this date exactly."
"You...time traveled?"
The adult Malik nodded. "Your surprised? What a long ten years it has been. I was able to steal some of Sampson's technology and time travel back to this point."
"But... why? Why are you here?"
"Let me show you." Adult Malik took present Maliks hand. He pushed a button on his duel disk which he had attached to his left arm.
The pair disappeared.
Unknown Location
The pair teleported into a clean, neat street. The buildings were as clean as anything, the houses were all painted white.
"Where are we?"
"Were home. The City. Or in this time, known as The Clean City."
"The Clean City?"
"Come on." Adult Malik walked down the street, Malik followed him. He reached a small alleyway, the pair walked down there.
Adult Malik opened up a sewer lid. Malik looked up to him.
"Get in then." Adult Malik said. "Quick before the Cyborgs come?"
"Cyborgs?"
"JUST GO!"
Malik jumped down the drain. Adult Malik followed and put the lid over.
Inside a dark tunnel was running clean water. Adult Malik walked across the sewer, Malik followed.
The pair reached a sideways passage, there was a metal door with a keyhole. Adult Malik opened the door. They both entered, it was then locked.
Inside was a small room with a bed, and a desk. There was alsoa map of the City.
"What is this place?" said Malik.
"This? This is my hideaway hole."
"Hideaway Hole?"
"Well I'm the most wanted man in the entire City."
"Hang on this City? This is my... our City?"
"Finally he gets it."
"What has happened?"
"We happened Malik. The day you quit as Team Fightbacks leader. The day I just took you from."
"How did all this happen because of me?"
"Because Malik. You gave up, that also made everyone lose hope. Team Fightback soon dissolved. You was the only person who was smart enough to lead the Team, you had the tactics, the knowledge of Sampson. Without you, it soon collapsed."
"What about Alex and Hannah. They wouldn't let the team stop?"
"They led a small team in the City. Because the Duel Team was sealed, they were leading people who had never dueled before into a war zone. They were quickly defeated by the Cyborgs and then captured by Sampson."
"What happened to them?"
"When they got captured Sampson wanted to make an example. He hurt them in public for being pro dueling. Eventually they were thrown into a cell, left to rot."
"So why didn't you go to save them?!"
"Because I needed a team to help get them out. I had no one left to turn to. After Alex, Hannah and the small team got captured, all remaining members of Team Fightback had to flee. They were quickly sealed by the Cyborgs.
Malik dropped to the floor. "What about Sampson and the City?"
"Sampson defeated all duelists around the world via his metal headed friends. Sampson shows the whole world that dueling is wrong. He soon reigns over all of it. Governments fall to his Cyborgs. He becomes what we were meant to be."
"He becomes..."
"He becomes King. King of this earth. To this day I don't know why we were chosen to be King of the World. But I know we would never have been like Sampson."
"Cant you use your powers?"
"Powers? I never gained any. Sampson won, we never learn what we should have become."
"What about the Fire World?"
"He invades it, and stops them. Sampson achieves everything he wanted."
"Everyone.. suffered because of me?"
"Yes."
"I'm... sorry." Malik didn't know what to say.
"The cheek." Future Malik picked Malik from sitting and threw him against the wall. "SORRY THATS ALL YOU CAN SAY?!"
"What else do you want me to say?"
"Nothing. I'm going to seal you."
"What?!
"If I seal you, then none of this will happen."
"But you wont exist either?!"
"I don't want to live like this anymore. Now hold still." Future Malik was about to tap his duel disk.
"NO." Malik went from sad to determined within a second. "I wont let you." Malik got out his duel disk and activated it."
"Fine. We will solve this in a duel."
"LETS GO!" both shouted.
Turn 1
Malik Hand: 5 LP: 4000
Future Malik Hand: 5 LP: 4000
"I wont let you seal me. I summon Ragtag Alien."
Ragtag Alien ATK: 1700 DEF:1200 LVL 4. Dark/Reptile
"I set two cards and end there."
Turn 2
Malik Hand: 2 LP: 4000
Future Malik Hand: 5 LP: 4000
"I draw!"
"I summon Ragtag Alien!" The same monster appeared on future Maliks field.
Ragtag Alien ATK: 1700 DEF:1200 LVL 4. Dark/Reptile
"What?! Your playing just like me?"
"Oh no Malik. I'm nothing like you, your a coward. Running away from things. I play the spell card Future Growth. This allows me to banish any number of monsters from my deck. Then I gain Gage Counters equal to what I banished. I banish ten worthless monsters. "
Future Malik threw ten cards into water passing them by in the sewer. Destroying them.
Future Malik Gage: 0 - 10
"Worthless? Our monsters are not worthless?! You don't destroy your own cards?""
"There weak, they serve no purpose. Just like you Malik? Isn't that how you feel?"
"Of course they serve a purpose! There a part of your team. You don't give up your monsters!?"
"So why did you give up on your team?"
Malik was gob smacked. His future self made a valid point.
"Next from my hand. I summon Ragtag Witch. If I control a Ragtag, she can appear."
Ragtag Witch ATK: 500 DEF: 200 Dark/Spellcaster LVL 1/Foundation
"You take 400 points of damage when she is summoned."
Malik LP: 4000 - 3600 Future Malik Gage: 10 - 12
"Now I have reached the full gage. I pay four counters, this allows me to grow Ragtag Witch!"
Future Malik Gage: 12 - 8
"Appear Ragtag Phoenix." The mighty bird flew onto the field.
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 2500 DEF:2000 Gage LVL: 4 /Growth Monster/Light/Winged Beast
"I play the spell card, No More. This allows me to target one monster on the field then I send every card in my deck, hand, grave, and field apart from the targeted monster. And then banish them."
Future Malik threw the other cards in the water. "This allows me to double the ATK points of the monster I targeted."
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 5000
"Next I play the continuous spell Banish Force. If I have no cards in my deck, grave or hand and only one monster on the field. Then I can not lose the duel when I cant draw no more cards. Also one monster on the field doubles its ATK points! But you also draw a card."
Malik drew one card.
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 10000
Malik stood there looking at his own monster facing him.
"Now then finally I play the card Gage Misery. If I have more then 5 Gage Counters, I can get rid off all of them. Then I can reduce my opponents LP to just 100!"
"What?!"
Future Malik Gage: 8 - 0 Malik LP: 3600 - 100
"Now then. Finish this off Ragtag Phoenix. Phoenix Flare!"
The mighty bird unleashed its huge purple wings, releasing purple arrows directly at Malik.
"Game over." Future Malik said.
"I play the trap Ragtag Shield!"
"Yeah im sorry but that wont work, Phoenixs main effect kicks in, during my turn I can negate a card effect!"
"I don't think so. I play the trap Defense Draw! This negates any damage to 0 and I draw a card!"
A forcefield blocked Ragtag Phoenixs attack.
"Fine. I end there."
Turn 3
Malik Hand: 4 LP: 100
Future Malik Hand: 0 LP: 4000
"I draw!"
Malik looked at his card, then back to his future self. "I don't get it."
"Get what?"
"Why am I like this? Why are you destroying your own cards, in the game and in person?"
"Because these cards are for weak people. I was weak. I don't want to use them."
"But there a major part of who we are. They have been there ever since the start?"
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I don't need these weak cards."
"When they work together they are very very strong."
"Give up Malik. You cant win this, let me seal you. Its time to end this once and for all."
"As you said the tough get going. And I'm going to beat you and knock some sense into you. You don't give up on a duel, ever. You don't give up on anyone or anything, thats something I now see!"
"Then show me Malik, show me."
"Of course. I special summon Ragtag Doll!" The monster was a old torn looking, stuffed girl doll with blonde hair. She had R on her shirt.
Ragtag Doll ATK: 800 DEF: 2000 Dark/Spellcaster/Foundation
"When my opponent controls a special summoned monster, I can special summon her. I play her second effect, when shes on the field I can special summon one card from my hand in DEF mode. Appear Effect Picker!" It was a small robot was a light.
Effect Picker ATK:500 DEF:200 LVL 2 Dark/Machine
Malik Gage: 0 - 2
"I play Effect Pickers effect, it allows me to send one LVL 4 or below card from my deck to the grave, then it gains its effect. I send Ragtag Swordsman to the grave and Effect Picker gains its effect."
Malik Gage: 2 - 3
"If I control a Ragtag monster on the field, Swordsman can slash the ATK points of one monster on the field by half!"
Effect Pickers light on top of its head spun around and Ragtag Phoenix lowered in ATK.
Phoenix ATK: 5000
"Next I special summon my Ragtag Witch since I control one Ragtag on my field and you take 400 points of damage!"
Ragtag Witch ATK: 500 DEF: 200 Dark/Spellcaster LVL 1/Foundation
Future Malik LP: 4000 - 3600 Malik Gage: 3 - 6
"I play the spell Ragtag Double Up. I negate one Ragtag monster effect, then I can special summon one Ragtag monster from my deck with ATK lower then it. I negate my Aliens effect, to special summon Ragtag Boxer!"
Ragtag Boxer ATK: 0 DEF: 1000 LVL 4 Dark/Warrior
"0 ATK. What are you, Sampson?"
"Very funny. You should know what this monster does. This card gains ATK X 1000 for each Ragtag on the field.
Boxer ATK: 3000
Malik Gage: 6 -7
"I pay four gage counters to grow my Witch. Appear Ragtag Phoenix!"
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 2500 DEF:2000 Gage LVL: 4 /Growth Monster/Light/Winged Beast]
Malik Gage: 7 - 3
"I pay two gage counters, this allows my Phoenix to trim your Phoenix's wings and half its ATK!"
Malik Gage: 3 - 1
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 5000 - 2500
"Next I banish my Swordsman from the grave. This allows one of my monsters to increase its ATK by Swordsmans ATK until the end of the turn.
Ragtag Swordsman ATK: 1000 DEF: 400 Dark/Warrior
Malik Gage: 1 - 2
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 2500 - 3500
"Time to end this. I play the spell card Attack Rebound. I can transfer all my monsters ATK onto a special summoned monster!"
Doll: 0 Alien: 0 Effect Picker: 0 Boxer: 0
Ragtag Phoenix ATK: 9500
"Now that is how you power up a monster, not through destroying your cards. But by teamwork. I bet you regret making those decisions, leaving you with no back up cards."
"No I don't regret it."
"What? Why?!"
"I made a choice, a choice which i thought was the right one. If I made the choice thinking it was right, why would I regret it."
"I... I never looked at it that way before. Hang on. First you tell me about regret, then you get my teamwork feeling back again. Is this... a test?"
Future Malik laughed, he clapped. "Took you long enough Malik. I had to teach myself lessons I never was told."
Malik was gob smacked.
"You no longer believed you was a good leader, but if you make the decision you thought was right. You cant regret it. Malik your a fine leader, not once have you ever ever made a decision for yourself. You only think of your team, that sounds like a good leader to me."
"I... I have been quite stupid haven't I."
"Not just that. Your still feeling the regret from sealing people away and other things, like Morgan disappearing. You cant. Yes you did some bad stuff and some mistakes aswell, but the past cant change. Change the future is the only thing you can do, and you cant do that by living your life in regret!"
"Alex and Hannah told me the same thing once. I should have never lost faith in that."
"You also lost your faith in teamwork, you was worried you would mess up. But in a team effort, every part is needed, Malik you are the heartbeat. Without you, nothing happens." NOW BRING ME YOUR BEST SHOT!
Malik laughed to himself. "The only person who could get through to me is myself. That is quite something. OK, Ragtag Phoenix, finish myself off!"
Present Maliks Phoenix flew into the air and repeated his counterparts same attack. It hit the future version of the monster in the stomach, destroying it.
Future Malik LP: 4000 - 0 Present Malik Wins.
Future Malik was knocked onto his back. He got up and laughed.
Malik walked over to him. "But your cards are now destroyed, you wont have them?"
"Your going to change the timeline aren't you? I wont need them. " Future Malik put atime travel device on Malik. "Never give it up Malik. The City needs you. Stop Sampson."
"Don't you worry." Malik looked at his deck. "I needed a wake up call. I was to busy living with regret and everything else. Not only seeing what happens in the future, but talking to someone with the same issues as me. That helps."
"Do you think you can beat Sampson? He will be stronger then before."
"I don't back down from a duel remember? Derek will lose and face justice for his crimes."
"Now thats the Malik I know. Confident."
"You made those cards just to test me didn't you?"
"Yes I did."
" We wont blow up the world or something if we shake hands will we? Y'know timetravel stuff."
"I don't know? Lets try!"
The two Maliks did a very manly shake between. Both as strong as each other. "A little risk aswell. Your fine now" future Malik said.
Future Malik clicked the device. It begun to beep. "Malik it has been a honor."
"No. The honor is all mine, its not often I have said this about myself, but. I'm pretty damn proud of myself today."
"Back at you. Soon to be King." said future Malik bowing. The pair both laughed at each with present Malik then disappeared.
The Present
Malik landed back to where he was. Malik looked to the sky and it was exactly the same as when he left. He knew the time was exactly the same. "No time to lose." Malik looked at the time travel device, it disappeared.
Malik begun to run and run. He could see prints in the dirt. He followed them.
Hannah and Alex were walking towards there base. Soon they heard running behind them. They looked behind and saw Malik.
"Malik!" the pair said.
"You sound surprised?"
"Well you did just give up back there?" said Alex.
"Well, lets say I had a bit of help."
"From who?" said Hannah
"A very very long story. But thats for another day, now we have to get to Sampson's office, and turn that override on."
Alex and Malik put out there hands and clenched there fists around each. "Nice to have you back Malik."
"OK now were back to normal. Lets take down Sampson, get our City back and save Morgan." shouted Hannah.
Cards
Malik
Effect Picker ATK:500 DEF:200 LVL 2 Dark/Machine
Once per turn, send one LVL 4 or below card from your deck to the grave. This card gains that cards effect during this turn.
Ragtag Doll ATK: 800 DEF: 2000 Dark/Spellcaster
If your opponent controls a special summoned monster, special summon this card from your hand.
If this card is on the field, you can special summon one LVL 4 or below monster from your hand in DEF mode.
Ragtag Boxer ATK: 0 DEF: 1000 LVL 4 Dark/Warrior
This card gains 1000 ATK points X each Ragtag monster you control on the field.
Ragtag Swordsman ATK: 1000 DEF: 400 LVL 4 Dark/Warrior
If you control a Ragtag monster other then this card, you can half the ATK of one monster on the field.
Banish this card, then target one Ragtag monster on the field, it gains this cards ATK, until the end of your turn.
Attack Rebound/Spell
Target one special summoned monster you control, then decrease all other monsters ATK you control to 0 then add that total onto the targeted monster.
Aborted Timeline Malik
Future Growth/Spell
Banish any amount of monsters from your deck, increase your Gage by the amount you banished.
No More/Spell
Target one monster on your field, banish all cards in your deck, hand, grave and your field expect the targeted monster. Double the ATK points of the targeted card.
Banish Force/Continuous Spell
You cant lose the duel if there are no more cards to draw from your deck and if all but one card is in your banish zone. Double the ATK of one monster on the field. Your opponent draws one card.
Gage Misery/Spell
If you have over 5 Gage Counters, remove them and then reduce your opponents lifepoints to 100 LP