A day had passed since Grace was badly injured in Xyz.
Grace had awoken from her coma after having emergency surgery. Marina had taken her back with Gloria.
"Marina… saved me?" Grace asked as just her sister was by her bedside.
"Yeah, you nearly lost your life."
"And in the Synchro Dimension?"
"It's the only safe place which has a fully working hospital and one that's not in Fusion…"
"But Synchro… Security… Arcadia…" Grace stuttered.
"No. It's only been two weeks since Roget was disposed but much has changed. Security is beginning to be reformed and that girl Ruka, she's overseeing the council until new elections can be called. Synchro is preparing."
"Preparing for the war?"
"Yeah, we don't know what Academia will pull right now." Gloria replied. "But you're not alone here."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Tsukikage who got badly injured to Yuri is here and…."
"Gloria… I don't like it when you stop mid-sentence."
"I don't really know how to say it but….Ryo is here." Gloria's eyes rolled away, almost as if she was ashamed to state the truth.
"Gloria… I've been in a coma for two days and nearly lost my life, you just said that. I'm not in the mood for jokes." Grace sternly replied.
"I'm not, Grace. I really am not. Ryo was sent here after Leo left him for dead…. Marina sent him here."
Across the hospital a loud yell from Grace's room could be heard.
…..
"She's awake then."
"It seems so…. I guess Gloria told her what happened…."
Ruka was seeing Tsukikage in his hospital room. Tsukikage had suffered bad injuries after his duel with Yuri and had been on the mend for two weeks.
Ruka had now changed her outfit to something more casual since the young adult was now assisting the council and no longer hiding in the shadows. She had a pink top with white shorts with sandals. Her past of trying to unite Tops and Commons made her perfect to help rebuild Synchro.
"Is he secure?"
"Yes… now he is. Security moved him. I didn't think an injured Academia duelist who randomly appeared out of nowhere would be so harmful but Marina did save Grace so…. we should go along with it for now. I'm going to try and speak to him… he hasn't spoken to Ushio despite his attempts."
"If you need me, you know where I am." Tsukikage replied.
"I know but I think a certain Mercy wants to see you first before you get back into the fight." Ruka smiled as she walked off.
The Facility
In his long black coat sat Ryo in an isolated cell with a giant metal door with a small flap sealing him in.
Ryo who had been left the dead by Leo had bandages underneath his black undershirt. He refused to show off his injuries, under any circumstance.
Ryo heard footsteps approach his cell with the sound of rattling keys.
"I said I don't need any more medical treatment!" Ryo yelled.
"That's not why I'm here." said Ruka's voice as the flap came down on Ryo's door.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a friend… well I can be, Ryo. My name is Ruka."
"Ruka? That name rings something to me…."
"I'm a girl who can communicate to the duel spirits. I have no connection to the angels and dragons."
"That's it! The freak!"
"That's harsh…. this freak did help save your life!"
"What do you want?" Ryo stepped closer to the door so he could see Ruka right in the eyes.
"Marina sent you here and now she's here along with Grace and Gloria. She saved yours and Grace's lives; I'm giving you a chance to explain yourself, just like Marina has."
"So…. Marina has betrayed Academia?"
"No but she's being closely monitored. From what I heard, you burnt any bridges with that school of yours."
"Yeah, I made it clear that my leadership is the only way forward! He…. beat me…. left me for dead….. I'll make sure I repeat the same to him again!" Ryo slammed his fist onto the door.
"Marina told me about carding your brother… how you cared for him before Leo got in your head."
"No! I made the choice on my own! Leo's words were a prompt but that was it! He gave me the tools but now the student has outgrown the teacher!" Ryo yelled.
"Tell me about Sho?"
"This isn't therapy! When I get out of here I'll take you all down!"
"No, it's called trying to understand you! I refuse to accept you're truly like this!"
"Well…. you would be wrong!" At that point Ryo collapsed to the ground holding his chest.
"Ryo? What's wrong?!"
"My…. chest…. it….. hurts!"
Hospital
"We have guards on the room and outside. If he is faking it, he won't escape." Ushio said
The interim Security Chief and Ruka were watching from the hospital CCTV room as hospital staff treated Ryo.
"What do you really want with him, Ruka?"
"I don't know I just feel like Ryo…. still has a chance to be saved."
"Marina said he was too far gone… I'm not sure if even you could save him."
"There's a war coming and we were trusted to make Synchro ready to fight when the Lancers called…. if we can swing him round... he'll be a major asset."
"So how do you plan to understand him then?"
"We've been trying to talk our way…. maybe we need to try it through his."
...
Grace and Gloria were in the opposite room now with Marina. It was the first time since Grace awoke fully that Marina could speak to her.
"Why did you save me?" Grace asked her.
"Why do you sound so surprised?" Marina replied.
"Well you were going to turn us into cards…. which would've seen us die if Leo succeeds!"
"I have a duty! I sent you here because… I had a moment of weakness!"
"We're your enemies now." Gloria replied. "You can't just treat us like friends anymore. Either you're with us or against us."
"Are you really still with Academia?" Grace added.
"Of course I am! Here I am… talking to two traitors…."
"I don't think you could've turned us into cards." Gloria said.
"Nonsense! You know my loyalty is to Leo… the soldiers… and Yuri and Serena!"
"That makes no sense now, Marina! Leo is hurting people! So what's more important?!"
"And you saved Ryo!" Grace noted.
Before Marina would answer, she saw Ruka talking to the guard outside Ryo's room.
"What are you doing?!" Marina rushed out before Ruka could enter.
"I'm going to speak to Ryo." Ruka replied as he handed floated above the door handle.
"He should be in prison!"
"Shouldn't you as well?" Ruka pushed the handle down and entered as the Security officer stepped in front.
Inside Ruka saw Ryo look up from the bed.
"So…. it was actually real…. you did have an actual pain in your chest."
"You thought I was faking and planning to escape? I did think of it….." Ryo looked away and gave a small laugh to himself.
"I want to duel with you, Ryo." Ruka said firmly. "I also have a few Cyber Dragon Cards here, a tuner and a Synchro." Ruka put the cards on the table next to the bed.
Ryo could only stare at her but Ruka looked back with a serious face.
"I will kill you if I have the chance. I will kill anyone who gets in my way to bring down Leo, so why even lie to me!"
"I want to understand you, Ryo…. I don't really know why but…. I think we have more in common than you think."
Coming into the room was Ushio with a key and his duel disk. Ushio looked at Ruka and gritted her teeth as he undid the handcuffs. Ryo felt his wrist and stood up.
"That was a really silly mistake." Ryo said.
"Yeah…. well just remember, you're the one who is suffering….. we can easily refuse you more treatment." Ushio snarled.
"I enjoy this pain so you hold no leverage over me."
"Ruka!"
There behind her had entered Gloria and Marina.
"This is insane!"Gloria yelled. Ruka turned her head back to Ryo as she handed him his duel disk.
"You beat me you can turn me into a card." Ruka said to him.
"Or I could just wreck this whole hospital!"
"You're sick! There are people ill in here!" Marina replied.
"And I'll be doing them a service!"
"You could do that but… it won't look good if you turn down a duel, would it?" Ruka smirked.
"Fine. I don't need to prove anything to anyone but wiping that smirk off your face will feel good!"
"Let's go to the hospital roof…. I think you'll like the view!"
….
On the roof stood Ruka at one end with Ryo at the other. Ushio, Marina and Gloria all watched from the sidelines.
"This is insane." Ushio said. "I'm seeing Ruka duel a dangerous duelist on top of a roof while standing alongside an Academia Commander!"
"I…." Marina was going to answer but she stopped herself.
"Let's do this!" Ruka still smirked with confidence.
"These new cards you gave me…. I'll make sure they're the ones to end you!"
"Let's duel!" both yelled.
Turn 1
Ruka LP: 4000 Hand: 5
Ryo LP: 4000 Hand: 5
"I Special Summon Field Mage!" A long blue haired female wearing a green cape appeared. She held a staff with a crystal ball on top which changed colours each second.
Field Mage ATK: 1800 DEF: 0 Earth/Warrior/LVL 4
"She can be summoned when I don't have a Field Spell in play. I can add a Field of Field Spell to my hand when she's summoned. I add Field of Sea and play it!"
The two duelists were placed in an ocean environment while remaining on the hospital roof.
"Now I summon Kuribon!" A Kuriboh appeared but this one was female with a tail and red ribbon on it.
Kuribon ATK: 300 DEF: 300 Light/Fairy/LVL 1
"Next I use the Continuous Spell Field Gift! Once per turn when I have a Field of Field Spell face up I can draw a card!" Ruka drew her card. "I set two cards and end my turn!"
Turn 2
Ruka LP: 4000 Hand: 1
Ryo LP: 4000 Hand: 5
"Field manipulation? I heard rumours about your deck and a mighty dragon…."
"She's waiting for the right time!"
"Interesting… I'll force it out! I draw! Since you control a Monster and I don't Cyber Dragon can appear!" The metallic dragon emerged.
Cyber Dragon ATK: 2100 DEF: 1600 Light/Machine/LVL 5
"I summon Cyber Fairy!" A robotic angel with green lights for eyes and steel wings emerged.
Cyber Fairy ATK: 1300 DEF: 1000 Light/Machine/Tuner/LVL 3
"Cyber Fairy?" Marina repeated.
"One of Ruka's cards?" Gloria added.
"I said I would beat you with your own cards! I draw one card when this is summoned! I tune Cyber Dragon with Cyber Fairy!"
5+3=8
"You'll regret this, Ruka! I Synchro Summon, Cyber Dragon Alpha!"A two-headed sliver dragon emerged with sharp wings made of steel. It had a long tail with a blade on it.
Cyber Dragon Alpha ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500 Light/Machine/Synchro/LVL 8
"When this card is on the field my Cyber Dragons can't be targeted by card effects… but you already knew that! And he gains attack equal to your Special Summoned Monster!"
Cyber Dragon Alpha ATK: 4800
"I assume that puffball has some weird effect but I don't fear it! Alpha, attack!"
"We can't let that happen… can we, Kuribon?" Ruka smiled at her Monster who replied to Ruka.
"Kuri, Kuri!"
"She says no we can't!"
"I don't care what it says or what any of your Monsters say!" Alpha's three mouths opened and little turrets appeared. They fired three blue laser blasts at Kuribon.
"Kuribon's effect! I take no damage from battle and instead she returns to my hand then you gain lifepoints equal to Alpha's attack."
"What?! Why would you let that happen?!" Gloria gasped.
Ryo LP: 4000 – 8800
"Now my Field of Sea activates!" Bubbles appeared around Alpha and Field Mage. "At the end of the Battle Phase, we each switch control of a Monster!"
"What?!"
"I wasn't going to give you a free Synchro really…. was I?!" Ruka smirked with a devilish look as both Monsters swapped.
"I set one card and end my turn. I have to give you credit, I didn't expect that! It seems Synchro duelists are slightly more intelligent!"
"I don't know about that. What does coming from a particular dimension matter?" Ruka replied.
"I'm sure you've been told about the Fusion Dimension…. Leo's training made us more superior than anyone and I pushed that even higher!"
"Hence why you assume you surpass Leo? I understand that. To me each person has their pros and cons and it doesn't matter where you come from, it's what you do that matters."
"The destruction of Ritual and Xyz proves otherwise. Standard almost fell…. I admit it was impressive the way Synchro fended off Academia."
"Or maybe it wasn't a fair fight? Had you gave some warning to Ritual and Xyz… they might've been more ready where as Synchro…. we had warnings from the Lancers and even Roget knew what was coming." Ruka affirmed. "How is destroying an unprepared world any glory? Where's the justice?!"
"I don't care for any of that. Winning and improving is all that I care for!"
"And why is that, Ryo?" Ruka responded.
"Stop digging and make your move!"
Turn 3
Ruka LP: 4000 Hand: 1
Ryo LP: 8800 Hand: 4
"As you wish! I draw! I use Field Gift to draw a card since I have a Field Spell face up!" Ruka added a third card to her hand. "I use my Trap Metaverse and add a Field Spell from my deck to my hand! I add Field of Life to my hand!"
"Field of Life?"
"I use Field of Sea's effect! I destroy this Field Spell to destroy one Monster on your field and take control of a Monster which you control which belongs to me! I destroy Alpha!"
Alpha unleashed a loud roar as the metallic Monster dissolved and Field Mage returned to Ruka.
""Next I summon Counselor Lily!" A red haired woman in a white nurse outfit with pink angel wings appeared.
Counselor Lily ATK: 400 DEF: 1500 Earth/Fairy/Tuner/LVL 3
"I tune Field Mage with Lily!" Lily fired into the sky as green rings as Mage followed.
4+3=7
"Emerge Ancient Pixie Dragon!" Flying in from the sky was a thin blue dragon which had elegant wings. It had long green hair and a golden chest plate.
Ancient Pixie Dragon ATK: 2100 DEF: 3000 Dark/Dragon/Synchro/LVL 7
"So this is your dragon?" Ryo questioned.
"Yes and she is going to help me win this duel! First I pay 500 lifepoints! When Lily is used to Synchro Summon, by paying 500 lifepoints Pixie gains 1000 attack until the End Phase!"
Ruka LP: 4000 – 3500
Ancient Pixie Dragon ATK: 3100
"I play Field of Life!"
Around the duelists now appeared a light purple background with shooting stars.
"Since I activated a Field Spell I can draw a card thanks to Pixie's effect. Field of Life activates! If my lifepoints are less than yours my Monsters gain 1000 more attack! Also when my Monster attacks you can't use card effects!"
Pixie ATK: 4100
"Go Pixie!" Ruka commanded as the purple aura from the field flowed into her dragon. Pixie fired a light beam from her mouth and the blast sent Ryo flying across the rooftop.
Ryo LP: 8800 – 4700
Ryo slowly got up as his chest begun to hurt once again. Ryo then begun to laugh.
"You're a fool! I thrive on pain!"
"I know… which is what I meant to do!"
"Ruka meant to hurt him? That's not like her?!" Ushio gasped.
"I use my other Trap! Field Rebirth! This Continuous Trap lets me send Field of Life to the grave to summon a Monster from my field!Return Field Mage!"
Field Mage ATK: 1800 DEF: 0 Earth/Warrior/LVL 4
"But now Pixie loses its 1000 attack gain from your field!" Ryo replied.
Pixie ATK: 3100
"But Field Mage allows me to add another Field Spell when she's summoned. I add Field of Shadow! Now Field Mage attack directly!"
"Now I can use card effects, I summon Cyber Kuriboh!" This Kuriboh was made of white metal and had red cyborg eyes.
Cyber Kuriboh ATK: 300 DEF: 200 Light/Machine/LVL 1
"Now all damage I take is reduced to zero!" Field Mage slashed the beast in halve and Ryo came to no harm. "Now I use my Trap! Cyber Processing! If I took damage this turn I can summon a Cyber Dragon from my deck!"
Cyber Dragon ATK: 2100 DEF: 1600 Light/Machine/LVL 5
"Of course a card which allows you to take damage and summon your favourite Monster." Ruka stated.
"Ok, enough! You don't know me!"
"No I don't but I understand you!" Ruka hit back. "You like the pain because it drives you to get better! Gloria and Grace told me about how during the Fusion War before Leo came you battled and survived with your brother… and how you felt useless that people stole from you… you blamed it on your brother."
"He was at fault! Without him clinging on… I would've fought them off! If he was stronger than we would've survived much easier! So I vowed never to get that weak again!"
"No that's where Leo changed your mind! I was the same! I was born in the Tops and had a great gift which I couldn't share with anyone! Being able to speak to the duel spirits… only my parents and brother accepted me but I couldn't use that power of good because of Security."
"And how is that similar to me?!"
"What you felt wasn't anger towards your brother! You see I ran away because I was angry as well! I… was going to get revenge on Security officers… I could use my duel spirits to become real and hurt them…."
"So did you?"
"No. Because I had someone to guide me… my brother found me and stopped me. Along with my parents and duel spirits we found a way for me to help people in both Commons and Tops! We all need someone to guide us in life…. you didn't have that, Ryo!"
"How dare you say that?!"
"You could've left Sho a long time ago during the Fusion War but you didn't! You kept helping him during Academia training until Leo got into you! But once Leo became a father figure… someone you didn't have… and you understandably followed his words!"
"Shut it!"
"He moulded you into a perfect warrior; bit by bit he told you weakness was a sin until the right time when you turned your brother into a card! You're craving for pain isn't to keep you strong… it's because deep down you feel guilt and loneliness!"
Ryo paused and gripped his cards.
"I… will not lectured like that! I feel nothing for Sho!"
"Yes you like being strong, there's nothing wrong with that nor is being angry with a world at war but Leo convinced you that Sho was worthless and your anger was already clouding your judgement, so Leo used that!"
"ENOUGH!"
"I set one card and end my turn. Pixie loses her 1000 gain from Lily."
Ancient Pixie Dragon ATK: 2100
Turn 4
Ruka LP: 3500 Hand: 3
Ryo LP: 4700 Hand: 3
"I draw! I'll make sure you suffer for what you said! No one judges me! I use Monster Reborn to return Alpha!"
Cyber Dragon Alpha ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500 Light/Machine/Synchro/LVL 8
"I summon Cyber Dragon Vier!" A small metallic serpent emerged glowing with a purple aura.
Cyber Dragon Vier ATK: 1100 DEF: 1600 Light/Machine/LVL 4
"I use Cyberload Fusion and fuse Vier and Cyber Dragon!" Both entered the whirlpool. "Appear Chimeratech Rampage Dragon!"
A black block emerged on the field. Three panels opened and three dragon heads made of metal appeared.
Chimeratech Rampage Dragon ATK: 2100 DEF: 1600 Dark/Machine/Fusion/LVL 5
"When Rampage is Fusion Summoned, deepening on the amount of Fusion Material used, I can destroy Spells and Traps on your field! I destroy Field Gift and your Field Rebirth!"
"Not good…." Gloria said to herself.
"Why on earth would Ruka give Ryo new cards?" Marina added.
"I'll tell you." Ruka said. "In your pocket, Ryo…. I sensed something…."
"What?!"
"I sensed your brother…. you kept your brother's card in your pocket."
"How…. how?!"
"I can sense duel spirits…. and I guess captured souls. You kept it hidden…. almost as if you couldn't let go nor accept it. Like a part of you regretted doing it!"
"No! I kept him to mock him!"
"Ryo you've forgotten yourself! You're lost! You keep telling yourself this stuff Leo told you! My cards to you are a way to open your heart again!"
"I'll wipe you out! I send two Light Machine Monsters from my deck to the graveyard to allow Rampage to attack twice more! I send my two other Cyber Dragons!"
"Three attacks? Ruka, do something!" Ushio yelled.
"Alpha, wipe out Pixie Dragon!" Alpha fired the three laser beams onto Ruka's Monster. Ruka felt the hit and fell to the ground feeling Ryo's rage.
Ruka LP: 3500 – 2600
"Rampage, direct attack!"
Rampage's heads all went inside the core of the body. Replacing them were three red missiles which locked onto Ruka.
"First attack!" Ryo yelled as the missile fired onto Ruka, firing her to the edge of the building.
"RUKA!" Ushio yelled.
Ruka LP: 2600 – 500
"I can… end this now!"
"Stop it!" Ushio said to Ryo.
"I can kill you….!"
"Then do it…. Ryo!" Ruka smirked.
"Why won't you just give up?!"
"Can't do it, Ryo?" Ruka replied. "Come on, you wanted me to die?!"
"I…. why can't I?! What did you do to me?!"
"I think your heart has finally awakened! I play my Trap!" Ruka replied. "Field Replacement allows me to activate a Field Spell from my hand and use its effect during your turn! I use Field of Shadow!"
Across the rooftop shadows were seen appearing around Ryo.
"What is this?!" Ryo looked to his left and saw a shadow form which looked like Sho.
"This lets me send your attack back your way!" The missile from Rampage dissolved in a shadowy mist and fired straight into Ryo's chest as he fell to the ground.
Ryo LP: 4700 – 2600
"Sho…. why…. why are you here?!" Ryo paid no attention to the duel and instead it was fully on the shadow.
"Ryo! This Field Spell along with your Monsters were created thanks to Arcadia… physic power is emitting from them! This shadow is your regret!"
"No! It can't be!"
"It is and I'm going to wake you up! Shadow's final effect allows me to discard Kuribon and forces your Alpha to attack me again!"
Alpha locked onto Ruka as Ryo failed to stop it. The lasers dissolved into shadows and the blast sent Ryo flying off the top of the rooftop.
"Ryo!" Marina yelled.
Ryo LP: 2600 – 0 Ruka Wins
As Ryo fell he looked up as he saw his brother fade away.
"I guess…. this is it….." Ryo thought. "I…. never could get rid of you Sho…. "
Ryo felt a sudden impact underneath him. He opened his eyes and saw Sho holding him from underneath. He looked up and saw Ruka waiting for him at the top.
….
Standard Dimension
A day had also passed in Standard since the Lancers and Resistance had returned.
Yuzu was now wearing a pink hoodie with a green musical symbol on it. She was in LDS with Gongenzaka and Masumi.
"Are you sure?" Masumi asked.
"Yeah…. we need to go to Fusion before we bring our friends…." Yuzu replied.
"But that's insane." Gongenzaka added.
"Yusho is still there, you two were in Fusion before…. if we take time to plan, Academia might attack us first… we can't risk that!" Yuzu firmly put.
A/N
Sorry for the delay everyone! Next time will be the prelude to final arc. Thanks to Jalen for the Cyber Cards here!
Samueljoo – Thanks dude and okay!
Royal2 – Next chapter!
Jalen – Thanks as ever dude.
Exelion Heart – The length was quite long but not a bad thing! I just needed a bit more time to read it! Writing style had no issues from my point of view and it was interesting to see what you did with the characters!
I don't really have much to add, good job!
OC Cards – Made by Jalen
Cyber Dragon Alpha
Machine/Synchro/Effect
One Tuner Monster + One or More None Tuner Monster
LV 7
Light
ATK/3000
DEF/2500
Effect: When this card is synchro summoned you can have it gain the attack points of all of your opponents special summon monsters on the field. While this card is on the field you cannot target this card and other cyber monsters for card effects .If this card is destroyed by battle you can grab one fusion card from your deck or graveyard.
Cyber Fairy
Machine/Tuner/Effect
LV 3
Light
ATK/1500
DEF/1000
Effect: When this card is summoned you can activate one of these effects 1) you can draw one card from your deck. 2) You can add any Cyber Monster from your deck and graveyard and add it to your hand. When your about to take damage while this card is in your graveyard you can special summon this card in defense mode and negate any damage your about to receive.