Yu-gi-oh/RWBY Chapter 11
Pay the Piper
"AMAZING! THOUGH BLAKE KEPT THE PRESSURE ON WITH HER GAMBOL SHROUD DRAGON, RUBY ROSE MANAGED TO EKE OUT A SHOWSTOPPER FINISH! SHE HAS WON THE FINALS AND WILL GET A CHANCE TO CHALLENGE YANG XIAO LONG!"
As Ruby slowed her duel runner, Petal Kiss, to a halt, she couldn't believe that she won. It seemed so unreal. When her hands finally let go of the controls, they couldn't stop shaking. Her heart felt like it could burst out of her chest. She almost didn't notice Blake stopping right besides her. "Nice work, kid. You really showed what you could do. Now to uphold my end of the bargain."
Blake got out of her Shadow Go and faced the tower that she knew Yang Xiao Long had to be in, hoping she would hear every word Blake had to say. "Ruby Rose wanted to know how I know Yang Xiao Long. Well, here's why."
"Yang Xiao Long is from Satellite, just like me!"
Many members of the audience gasped. The announcer was speechless. Yang ran from the couch to Cinder. "Well? Do something! Stop her!" Cinder made a point of slowly turning to face Yang. "How? Arrest her for talking? This was going to happen one way or the other. It's time to pay the piper, Ms Xiao Long." Yang gritted her teeth and left the room, off to do something foolish and futile, Cinder was sure.
Blake continued. "Years ago, Yang was approached by one of Cinder's lackeys and brought here, for reasons I'm only beginning to understand. Papers were forged and people in the right places were bribed to make everyone believe that she was actually born here! Even you, Ruby, were fooled." Ruby looked first at Blake, then at the tower, a million thoughts running through her head. "Yang, I'm going home, and if you're honest about who you are, you'll come home with me." Blake stepped back into her duel runner and drove off, leaving Ruby unsure what to believe.
Years ago…
Yang hated where she was. The rundown theater was torn to shreds, the throne she was on old and dusty. She thought it could fall under her any minute. But that wasn't what she hated. Well, it was pretty bad, but that wasn't the worst part. She hated that this was probably the best place in Satellite. For anyone unfortunate enough to be born here, this was the best it got. Anyone like her. A no-one, the queen on high of rubble, trash, junk.
The sound of steps interrupted her hate session, prompting her to get up. A raider? What would they want in this dump? The pattern of the steps was interrupted by clapping. A woman in fine clothing stepped out and bowed. "Your majesty." Yang sat back down, her interest dropping rapidly. "Whoever you are, go away." "Most certainly, your highness. But would you like to accompany me?" That got Yang's attention, and the stranger knew it. "You heard me right. I'm offering you a free, no-strings attached, first class ticket out of here."
Yang jumped out of her throne, almost pinching herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. "You mean it? You'll get me out of here?" The stranger nodded her head. "That's amazing! I've got to tell the others. They'll love it." Yang started towards the exit before the stranger put her hand up to stop her. "You misunderstand me. I'm only offering one ticket out of here, and that ticket is only good for you and you alone." She extends her hand out. "This is a limited time offer. I don't have all day, and neither does my superior. If you want out of here, it'll have to be now." Yang looked back at the throne, and back at the stranger. This was what she wanted, wasn't it? To get out of this place as fast as possible? But she'd never see her friends again. She'd never see Blake again. Yang made her decision.
Yang rushed through the hallways, only vaguely trying not to bump into anyone on the way. She almost tore the door down once she arrived at her destination. Ruby was waiting for her in the stadium garage, arms crossed and staring straight at her. Yang had a million things she was practicing in her head to say, but the way Ruby looked at her, they all seemed to vanish.
"Tell me she's lying." Ruby said. "Tell me she was making all of that up, Yang." Yang wanted to say that. She wanted to put things back the way they were, but Cinder's words kept echoing in her head. It's time to pay the piper, Ms Xiao Long. She lowered her head in defeat. Ruby, getting the intention, slapped Yang across the face. "You liar! Are you telling me that all our memories together, all our time as sisters, was based on nothing? Just a lie?"
Yang put her hand on her cheek where Ruby slapped her. "Ruby, I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you the truth all this time, I really did. But there was always that fear that if I did, you'd-" "I'd what? Not want to have anything to do with you just because you were from Satellite? Do you think so little of me? Or do you not trust me?" Ruby pulled Yang close, into a tight embrace. "You're my sister, and I love you. Nothing will change that." Yang wrapped her arms around Ruby, completing the hug. The two had nothing more to say for a long while.
"EVERYBODY LISTEN! THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH IS ABOUT TO BEGIN! RUBY ROSE HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE YANG XIAO LONG!"
As Ruby and Yang rode to the starting line, neither could look at each other. What more could have been said? The time for sentiment was over. It was time for action.
"RIDING DUEL, ACCELERATION!"
The two shot forward, almost in perfect synch with each other. Neither gave an inch without taking an inch in turn. Eventually, Ruby got out in front. "I draw! I set one monster and one card face-down and end my turn." Yang drew her card without a word. (Ruby 0-1, Yang, 0-1). "I will remind everyone that I am the Queen! I summon Burning Muscle!" A large, muscular man appeared and started flexing (Level 4/2000). "Burning Muscle, attack her face-down!" The muscle-man stopped flexing and jumped towards the face-down monster. It is flipped up to reveal Violet Witch (Level 4/1100). "I then activate Burning Muscle's effect. By paying 300 life points, I can destroy one of your spell and trap cards, and you can't activate any spells or traps in response. No defense can stand before me! Fall, Violet Witch, before your queen!" Burning Muscle pulls back his fist as though winding up a shot, and the fist is lit aflame (Yang 4000-3700). He then throws the punch through the air, and the fire leaves his fist only to form a fist of its own. The burning fist destroys Ruby's face-down, and as Burning Muscle's attack connects, Violet Witch is destroyed as well.
"I activate Violet Witch's effect. When it's destroyed, I can add a plant with 1500 or less defense to my hand." Ruby explains as she adds Lonefire Blossom to her hand. "I set one card and end my turn." "I draw!" (Ruby 1-2, Yang 1-2). "I summon Lonefire Blossom in attack mode!" A plant shaped like a cannon appears (Level 3/500). "I then immediately use its effect. Once per turn, I can tribute a plant to bring out another plant from my deck. I'll tribute Lonefire Blossom to bring out Revival Rose!" The cannon shoots out a trio of roses before fading away (Level 4/1300). "Since my plant is sent to the graveyard, I can special summon the tuner monster Rose Girl!" A fae creature holding a rose with a long stem appears (Level 3/800). "I tune my level 4 Revival Rose with my level 3 Rose Girl! Synchro Summon! Appear, Thorn Crusader!" (Level 7/2500).
"Thorn Crusader, attack Burning Muscle! Thorn Crusade!" The knight unsheathed his blade and charged forth. The muscle-man attempted to counter his sword swipe, but Thorn Crusader then used his other hand and knocked Burning Muscle out (Yang 3700-3200). "You then take 800 damage since Burning Muscle was level 4. Thorn Volley!" Thorn Crusader's sword turned into a bow that he used to fire 4 arrows at Yang (Yang 3200-2400). "I then play my speed spell, Synchro Overrun! If my synchro monster destroys your monster in battle while I have 2 or more speed counters, it can attack again. Thorn Crusade!" Thorn Crusader attacks again, aiming for Yang's Phoenix Burning. "Childish. You think I'd lose that easily? I activate the effect of my Push-Back Pusher from my hand. By discarding it, your monster's attack is reduced by 1000 for this battle." An imp in a football uniform appears, intercepting Thorn Crusader's charge (Thorn Crusader 2500-1500). The attack continues, regardless (Yang 2400-900) (Yang 2-1) (Thorn Crusader 1500-2500).
Why didn't she use that before? If she did, Burning Muscle would have beaten Thorn Crusader. Unless… "I set three cards face-down and end my turn." "I activate my face-down, Celica Burning! I can summon 1 Dark Dragon synchro monster with attack up to the amount of damage I've taken this turn." A portal appears with Celica stepping out of it. "As life inches ever closer to death, the heart beats stronger and stronger. Synchro summon! Celica Burst Dragon!" (Level 8/3000). "As I grow closer to death, Celica Burst Dragon grows stronger!" A yellow aura appears around Celica (Celica 3000-6100).
"YANG HAS BROUGHT OUT HER GREATEST MONSTER, CELICA BURST DRAGON! HOW WILL RUBY SURVIVE?"
That's what I feared. Yang let me get that much damage in so Celica could get that much stronger. "I only let my opponents hurt me up to a certain point. No more, no less. I will decide how this duel will go down! I draw!" (Ruby 2-3, Yang 1-2). "I equip Forever Burner to Celica Burst Dragon!" A yellow fire spirit flies around Celica, before turning into gauntlets for Celica. "Now Celica can't be destroyed by battle. Attack Thorn Crusader! Heartbeat Burst!" Celica lumbers towards Thorn Crusader. Ruby is quick to act. "I activate my face-down, Ground Capture. This will halve the damage I take from the attack." A stone hand emerges from the ground to intercept Celica, who bursts through the hand to destroy Thorn Crusader. (Ruby 4000-2200) (Ruby 3-2) "If I take 1000 or more damage from that attack, I draw a card." Ruby explains.
"I then activate the effect of Revival Rose in my graveyard. If my level 5 or higher plant is destroyed, I can bring Revival Rose back." The trio of roses returns. "If you think I'll let you off that easily, you have another thing coming. Since my monster just destroyed yours, I can summon Victory Giant from my hand!" A hulking figure with their neck sagging from various medals appears (Level 6/2300). "Victory Giant, destroy Revival Rose!" The giant starts swinging its neck, readying the medals to hit Revival Rose. "I activate my face-down, Sudden Rose, which summons itself as a tuner monster." A large rose appears next to Revival Rose (Level 3/1000). "Doesn't matter. Victory Giant will destroy Revival Rose anyway." Ruby felt off, but continued. "I activate my final face-down, Urgent Tuning! This lets me synchro summon even during your turn. I tune my level 4 Revival Rose with my level 3 Sudden Rose! The bloom of evolution blazes forth. Grow and grow ever stronger! Synchro Summon! Appear, Crescent Rose Dragon!" (Level 7/2500). Crescent Rose Dragon roars as it flies onto the scene, and Celica Burst Dragon roars in response. Ruby's arm starts to hurt as her mark glows. She looks over at Yang, who is clutching her arm, which is glowing as well, with a symbol like a dragon's claw.
"AMAZING! YANG THOUGHT SHE HAD THIS IN THE BAG, BUT RUBY MANAGED TO TURN THE DUEL AROUND!"
"When Crescent Rose is synchro summoned, I can destroy one of your cards! Go, destroy Celica Burst Dragon! Rose Shot!" Crescent Rose Dragon turns one of its vines into a rifle and fires towards Celica. "I won't let you. I use the effect of Yellow Shell in my hand to banish it in place of Celica." A small dragon covered with scales, some falling off, appears to take the shot. "Since Victory Giant is weaker than Crescent Rose, I have no use for it. I activate my speed spell, Monster Evolution! By tributing Victory Giant, Celica Burst Dragon gains its attack until my next turn." Victory Giant is absorbed into Celica (Celica Burst Dragon 6100-8400). "I end my turn."
What is wrong with Yang? I know I've never actually dueled her before, but she's like a completely different person. Ruby lowers her head. Did I even know her in the first place? "I draw." (Ruby 2-3, Yang 3-4). "I use Crescent Rose Dragon's effect to banish Thorn Crusader and gain its attack. Crescent Evolution!" (Crescent Rose 2400-4900). "Crescent Rose Dragon, attack Celica Burst Dragon! Red Rose Flare!" Crescent Rose shot out a red beam at Celica. "I also discard Kurithorn to give Crescent Rose Dragon Celica's attack." Kurithorn appears, causing thorns to spiral around the red beam (Crescent Rose 4900-13,300). "You're finished!" The beam connects with Celica, causing the pain in both duelist's arms to magnify, and creating a cloud of smoke.
"UNBELIEVABLE! RUBY RAISED HER MONSTER'S ATTACK TO 13,300 ATTACK! DID THE ATTACK CONNECT?"
As the smoke clears, Celica Burst Dragon is still standing, and Yang remains untouched (Crescent Rose Dragon 13,300-4900). "I have not decided I'm stepping off my throne just yet. Forever Burner has one more effect. Once per turn, I can reduce damage I'm about to take by Celica's attack. That was all for nothing!" Ruby can only look at Yang in disbelief. Yang turns her Phoenix Burning around and brings it close to Ruby's Petal Kiss. "This is who I really am! The queen of duels! The master of faster! The strongest there ever was, or ever will be! No-one can take me down!" Yang turns to face forward. "Not even you." She speeds forward, trying not to look at Ruby.
Yang..."I set one card and end my turn." "I draw!" (Ruby 3-4, Yang 4-5). "The effect of Monster Evolution wears off." (Celica Burst Dragon 8400-6100) "Celica Burst Dragon, attack Crescent Rose Dragon! Heartbeat Burst!" Celica flies closer to Crescent Rose, ready to attack. "I activate my face-down, Thorn Barricade!" A tangle of Thorns appears around Crescent Rose, forming a barrier around it. "Now Crescent Rose is safe." "But you're not." (Ruby 2200-1000) (Ruby 4-3). The pain in their arms resurfaces. "I set one card face-down and end my turn."
Cinder looks on from her tower, choosing to look through the hole in the window to get a better view. Her anxiousness is palpable, leaving Neo uncomfortable. Come on, you two. I've worked so hard for this. Show it to me. Show the great dragon, now!
Ruby looks ahead, gripping her fist and hardening her resolve. If that's the way it has to be between us right now, then that's how it is."I draw!" (Ruby 3-4, Yang 5-6). "I banish Revival Rose to power up Crescent Rose Dragon! Crescent Evolution!" (Crescent Rose Dragon 4900-6200). "Crescent Rose, attack Celica! Red Rose Flare!" Crescent Rose releases another breath of red energy, and as it connects with Celica, the pain from their arms reaches its peak, and doesn't stop. Meanwhile the marks on Blake's, Weiss's, and a fifth's arm also glow. A great earthquake shakes the stadium, and there is a violent eruption from the ground in front of Yang and Ruby.
Out of the eruption flies the biggest thing they had ever seen, and what Cinder had been looking for all this time.