A/N: I OWN NO PART YU GI OH 5DS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE CREATORS!
Chapter 45: The Battle for the Past, Present, and Future
Era's POV
We hurried down the staircase and Jaden had Yubel fire a shot at the stage. Every person ran away in fear. "That's right. Just keep running and don't look back!" Jaden yelled with a laugh.
"I hope this scares away Pegasus so he won't be crush by that building," Yugi said.
"Right," I agreed, though I still didn't like scaring people like that. I could tell Yusei didn't either. Jaden laughed excited while punching the air partly.
"Then he and the future of duel monsters are safe," Yusei said.
"I think not!" yelled a voice.
I looked back and saw a portal open long enough for the masked duelist to popped out and land in front of them.
"You listen here! We know what you're up to and we're not going to let it happen, got it? So why don't you make it easier on yourself and go back to wherever it is you came from?" Yugi suggested defiantly.
"Where I come from is why I'm here," the man said. "Perhaps it's time we got acquainted." He removed his mask. "The name is Paradox."
"Paradox?" Yusei repeated.
"I doubt you've heard of me. In fact, I very much certain that you haven't," Paradox said eyeing Era. The trio of guys looked at her. "After all, I don't come from any of your eras of time. I come from the future."
"What does that mean?" Yusei asked.
"Forget him. He's just trying to get in your head," Jaden said.
"Paradox, we don't care about your backstory, we just care about keeping the world safe," I told him.
"Is that so?" he asked and chuckled slightly. "No one thought to keep me safe. Or those I loved. And now I will finally have my revenge. I will rid the world of what caused all my pain and suffering. That is why I am here. Because I've realized something about this game you love so. This Duel Monsters. The world would be a far better place without it. The monsters, the spells, what good has come from it? True, you've all saved the world many times of it with your precious cards. But against adversaries using the same cards to destroy it," Paradox said.
"Like you?" I retorted. He scoffed.
"So that's why you're here? To rid the world of duel monsters?" Yusei asked.
"That is correct, once and for all," Paradox answered.
"Not on our watch," Yusei responded.
"You senseless dolts! Don't you see? Instead of going against me, you four should be trying your best to help me! I told you, the world I come from is the reason why I am here. Where I come from is a doomed future," he responded.
Yusei gave a small gasp. "No, our future is a bright one," Yusei said disbelievingly and slightly distraught.
"It is not. It is a desolate place. So desolate I could no longer bear to see it through my own eyes. I took to wearing a mask. And it was through this filter that I began to see why things had ended this way. And the answer was Duel Monsters. So what better way to destroy this virus than by travelling back to the beginning and not letting it spread?" Paradox said. "Time travel is no easy feat. But where there is a will, there is a way. And there was a will."
My fist squeezed tight in frustration. "But don't you realize? You're not just wiping out duel monsters, but people too! You're destroying everything and everyone ever touched by the game," I growled.
"Of course I realize that, Era. As a matter of fact, that's what I'm looking forward to the most," Paradox responded.
"You are one sick puppy," Jaden retorted.
"Maybe the game's not perfect but it has created more good things than bad," Yugi continued.
"And another thing, the future isn't written yet. There is still time for things to change," Yusei added. I nodded.
"Well then, since you feel so strongly about that, it seems we to have a difference of opinion. And since I doubt any more words will settle our impasse, perhaps we can seek settle it another way," Paradox responded.
"If you're saying you want a duel, bring it on Paradox," Yusei said.
"Fine then. I find it fitting to destroy you with the very cards you're trying to save," Paradox said. He pressed a button on his duel runner and it morphed into a somewhat plane like vehicle and hovered high in the air
"Paradox, get ready to get your game on!" Jaden exclaimed with his eyes changing into two separate colors like Yubel's.
"Everything has light in it. And I won't let you fade the light," I said. My marks glowed bright and the Crimson Dragon appeared and wrapped around me slightly protectively.
"You're twisted time crusade ends here. Let's rev it up," Yusei said. He brought his hand high into the air. His Mark of the Dragon Head lit up and the Crimson Dragon roared slightly in pride.
"Yugi, out of all of our duels this may be the toughest," said Yugi's other spirit and friend known as Yami.
"Then let's rise to the challenge," Yugi responded.
He then used the Millennium Puzzle to change his mind and spirit with Yami and allowed Yami to control the duel. "I just have one thing to say to you Paradox, it's time to duel!" Yami yelled.
They activated their duel disks. Yusei, Era, Jaden, and Yami shared a total of 4000 life points and Paradox had his own 4000.
"I'll go first," Paradox declared. "And I think I start by summoning the field spell, Malefic World." Their entire surroundings turned into a violet colored space.
"What just happened?" Yusei asked as the he, Era, Yami, and Jaden looked around.
"Malefic World," Paradox answered. "And I think I'll use the effect of Malefic World. By skipping the draw phase of my turn, I can add a random malefic monster from my deck directly to my hand. Next, I'll send Cyber End Dragon from my extra deck to the graveyard so that Malefic Cyber End Dragon (Attack 4000/ Defense 2800) now appears!" A dragon similar looking to the original Cyber End Dragon took to the field but on its face, back, and wings was black and white plating.
"Does anyone know what this Malefic thing is all about?" Yusei asked.
"It's not some 'thing', it's the type of deck I use. A type from the future. One of the many advantages of time travel," Paradox replied.
"Jaden, did you see how he brought out a Malefic version of that dragon?" Yusei asked.
"Uh-huh, just by sending the real version of Cyber End to the graveyard. That's all it took," Jaden said.
"So in other words, by getting rid of its good version, he can give life to its bad. It seems Paradox only sees the dark side of duel monsters," Yami said.
I nodded. "Exactly and I have a feeling this is only going to get harder," I said. They glanced at me.
"Yes, and I'll destroy you all with them. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I end my turn with one face down," Paradox intervened.
"Listen Jaden, Era, Yugi, most of us may have all just met and may not know each other's duel styles and strategies. But right now, we need to fight as one. All our skills, all our past experiences, let's use them. Let's put them together for this one common cause," Yusei gave his mini speech.
Era, Yami, and Jaden nodded at each other. "Agreed, Yusei. And I think you should be the one to start us off," Yami said.
"Right," Yusei said. "Here we go!" He pulled a card. "First, from my hand I play the spell card Reincarnation of Hope. By sending two monsters to the graveyard down now, we can draw a monster card later."
"Don't you realize there won't be a later for you or your friends?" Paradox growled.
"Well for now, I'm summoning Junk Synchron," Yusei declared. "And because I was able to summon him, I can summon a level two or below monster straight from the graveyard. Sonic Chick, fan your feathers in defense mode. And now my Quillbolt Hedgehog's ability activates. Since there is a tuner monster on my side of the field, I can summon my hedgehog straight to the field. But he won't be staying around for long. Nor are any of my other monsters, at least not in their present form. Because I'm tuning them all together. Just as Era, Yugi, Jaden, and I are combining our might, these three have now combined theirs. I summon forth the synchro monster, Junk Gardna (Attack 1400/ Defense 2600)!" Out of the pillar of light typically created from a synchro summon, Junk Gardna slammed to the ground in defense position.
"Synchro what?" Yami asked shocked.
"Don't know but I like it. Too cool!" Jaden exclaimed giving Yusei a thumbs up.
"I place two cards face down and end my turn," Yusei finished.
'We need to be careful. I have one card in my deck that can free Stardust Dragon and the others but I need to draw it,' Era said. 'So I have to watch for it.'