Yu-gi-oh/RWBY Chapter 18

Bound by Power

Blake woke up to a bright light over her, with Cinder Fall looking over her. It almost convinced her that she had died and gone to Hell. "Sleep well?" Cinder asked. Blake stirred and got up, noticing the IV attached to her arm. Now that her eyes were adjusted to the light, she realized she was in a hospital room. "How did I get here?" She asked.

"Trudge noticed that you left his car and went off in pursuit. When he noticed that giant monster, he assumed it had something to do with you and drove that way. That's when he found you on the ground and brought you to this hospital." Cinder explained. "Then, I was notified and came here. Now," Cinder sat on the hospital bed, doing her best not to crush Blake. "I believe we both have some questions for each other." Blake sighed. This was what she wanted, but that didn't mean she liked it.

Velvet was dead certain that her training didn't prepare her for this. Yang Xiao Long was sleeping on her couch, and just a few nights ago, she had nearly died not once, but twice, because of some brainwashed people trying to sacrifice the person she was unlucky enough to be next to at the time! It made Pyrrha's fortune that she would die soon seem all the more likely. She noticed that Yang was waking up and hoped her cleaning job was good enough.

"Uh, good morning!" Velvet said sheepishly. Yang got up, stretching her recently healed arms. "Good morning." Yang replied. Velvet noticed that Yang's thoughts seemed to be somewhere else. "So, what's the plan for today?" Velvet felt like punching herself in the gut for asking such a stupid question. What, were they gonna go for a ride to the park? Yang stood up. "I need to find out what is happening. Who was behind the attacks on me and Blake last night, and why?"

Velvet scratched her head, trying to find some way to help. An idea crossed her mind. "Well, maybe Cinder Fall knows something. She seems to have some idea what's happening." Yang's expression worsened, which caused Velvet to gulp in worry. That seemed to be a sore spot. "I'm done with her lies. I'm gonna find out the truth on my own." Yang started to go towards the door to leave. Velvet panicked and got in Yang's way, which immediately sounded like a bad idea just as Velvet had done it. "Wait! I mean, do you know where to go? The city is a big place, after all."

Yang started to glare at Velvet, but relented, admitting she didn't know her way around the common area of the city. Velvet continued "I could act as a guide, if you want." And maybe sneak in an interview, if I'm lucky. Yang thought for a little while, then responded "Fine. Lead the way." They both went out the door, Velvet hoping that her source could pull off a miracle or she was about to lose the story of the century!

"Interesting." Cinder found all of this incredibly amusing, which didn't help Blake's mood. "And you're certain that he was dead before?" "He was in one of your prisons. It would have to be a miracle for him to survive." Blake said, her anger starting to climb. Cinder was toying with everyone, and she treated it all like some big joke. The woman got up and looked out the window.

"I suppose you would want to know why exactly I've been keeping everyone in Satellite on their island." Blake glared at her. This aught to be good. "You see, I've known about the coming threat for some time." Cinder turns around. "They are known as the dark signers. They serve the Earthbound Immortals, and are enemies of the signers. Every 5000 years they battle, and the results are usually pretty messy. Since I knew that the conflict was going to take place on Satellite, I hoped to keep the island separate in some hope that the conflict would stay there, and Neo Domino City would be safe."

"So we're your scapegoat?" "You can see it how you will. The problem is, your account means that not only have the dark signers found a way to move people to and from Satellite, but that my plan has ultimately failed." Blake crosses her arms. "Too bad for you." She said, mustering up the strongest sarcastic tone she could.

"I've earned your anger, there is no denying that. But you still have your destiny to fulfill, or the world, not just Satellite will be doomed." Blake took some time to process all of this. The truth hurt worse than any theory she had before. Several questions still lingered, however. But what Cinder was about to say blew them out of the water. "Tell me, Miss Blake, what do you know of the Zero Reverse incident?"

Yang thought that Velvet was trustworthy. Well, at least predictable. But the place Velvet lead them contrasted with that image completely. This place smelled of nerddom and teenage regret. "You're sure this guy will help us?" She asked. "Of course. We're practically friends." Velvet answered, which didn't assuage Yang's worries. Having no better options, however, meant that Yang would have to trust Velvet for now.

Inside were various forms of merchandising and Duel Monsters cards. At a desk in the corner was a somewhat overweight man furiously typing away at the computer, his grumblings suggesting he was in an argument of some kind. Velvet walked over and waved at him. "Hey, Rathie, I need your help."

Rathie stopped typing and looked over at Velvet, then at Yang. He looked at the latter for a while, which creeped her out. What was he planning to do to her? The silence was broken when he said "Nice cosplay. I almost believed you were the real Yang Xiao Long." That befuddled Yang, but assured her that at least nothing was going to happen now. He turned to Velvet. "What do you need, my darling customer?" "I was wondering if you knew about a group called the Dark Signers." "What, some band?" "No. They seem to be some kind of cult. They just attacked the hospital down the street last night." "Velvet, darling. We both know you'll have to give me something in exchange for my services."

Yang was about to pummel him for the suggestion, but as Velvet pulled a card out of her bad, it was made clear to her that that wasn't the type of 'Something' she thought it was. Rathie looked the card over and immediately made a sound like a pig dying. "YES! A shiny rare Dark Magician Girl card! This more than covers my usual fee!" The man placed the card in a case with a professional delicacy and resumed typing, but at a more steady pace. "Looks like they're some undercover group over in Satellite. They've been preaching and growing a bit of a following. Unfortunately, there's no clue where exactly they operate."

Velvet pondered a little. "Maybe we need to look at this from another angle. Yang, would you please show Rathie your mark?" Yang didn't want to show him any part of her body, even her arm. But she told herself that it was either this or Cinder, and pulled up her sleeve. The man looked at her arm in a way that, mercifully, wasn't as pervy as she thought it'd be. He typed some more. "Sorry. No results."

One thing that both Rathie and Yang could agree on was that Velvet's little pout of frustration was adorable. Velvet thought it over. The only way they could get new information now was to find the other signers. "Well, I'm not waiting here any longer." Yang said as she went to the exit. Velvet turned and ran to stop her. "Where are you going?" "To Arcadia. I want to find my sister. With everything happening, I need to make sure she's safe." Velvet started to protest, but after thinking it over, this was probably for the best. They needed any sources they could find. Velvet followed along.

Ruby entered Weiss's cell with a tray of food. Weiss still refused to look at her. She set the tray on the table next to Weiss's bed. "Whitley's training is progressing smoothly. He's really capable." Ruby's attempt to break the tension between them failed miserably. "Look, I know this isn't ideal, but it's what's best for everyone, really!" Weiss kept her vigil. Ruby gave up and left the room.

Weiss tried to occupy her mind to avoid the sting of Ruby's betrayal, but it wasn't working. There didn't seem like that many ways to escape, and there was so little to do in her cell. She looked in the mirror on the wall, hoping that some answer would come out of it if she stared long enough. Yeah, right. And maybe I'll just fly out of here. She noticed something weird happening to the mirror. It seemed like the glass was rippling. At first, Weiss thought it was an earthquake, but the tray next to her was completely still. She got up and walked over to the mirror. The rippling seemed to be increasing in intensity, and the image in the mirror faded away into White Glass Rogue charging towards her.

Weiss only had a few seconds to back up before he broke through the mirror, shattering it in the process. He looked around and said to her "Well, that was fun." She stared at him, blinking in disbelief. "What? Do I have something on my face?" She walked up to him and poked him. "Ow! Hey! What was that for?" "You're real…" Weiss had previously assured herself that what she saw during the duel with Professor Frank was just her repressed emotions about her coma bubbling up to the surface. But now, someone from that event was here, in front of her.

"Well, of course I'm real. What are you talking about?" The rogue said. "Anyway, the queen sent me here to free you. Said you had some destiny or whatever, I don't know, I wasn't paying attention. Point is, I'm busting you out of here." He then knelt in front of the door and got out some tools from his belt. "Stand back, and watch the master at work."

Yang and Velvet walked through the lobby, drawing some attention from people new to the building, but the staff and students were used to her storming in here by now. "Uh, should we ask someone for directions?" Velvet asked. "I don't want to risk talking to Roman right now. Not in the mood I'm in." Yang answered. "Besides, I know where Ruby's room is." The two progressed through the building, taking a short trip on an elevator to get to the floor Yang wanted. Yang then pressed many of the buttons on the panel, closing the door on Velvet. As the door closed, Yang said "Sorry, but I have to do this on my own."

Ruby was in her room, staring at the ceiling from her bed. For every worry she dismissed, 5 more cropped up. Maybe I could talk to Roman. Tell him that this isn't necessary. He's a nice guy, he'll understand. She heard a knock on her door and gasped. Who could that be? She got up and opened the door. "Yang?"

Yang grabbed her arm. "Come on. We need to go." She tried to pull Ruby out of the room, but Ruby pulled against her. "Yang, what are you talking about? What's going on?" "There's no time to explain. You, Weiss, Blake, and I are in danger right now." "Danger? What danger?" Before Yang could answer, the lights suddenly went out, and people around them started to panic. Ruby stopped fighting Yang and ran with her.

Weiss was starting to get impatient. "So when do I get to see the master at work?" "This takes time!" the rogue snapped back. "You've been at that for half an hour!" "And I'm almost done!" He fiddled a little more, and the door started to slide open. The rogue stood up and was about to congratulate himself when the lights went off, and the door got stuck with only a crack open. Weiss clapped slowly. "My hero."

Velvet had no idea why the lights went off, but she suspected the dark signers were attacking again, so she hurried through the hallways, trying not to be noticed. As luck would have it, she found Roman's office, and decided to sneak in, remembering that her boss was offering a big reward on anyone who could get some dirt of Roman. As she ruffled through his deck, her hand found a button on the underside of the top part. Pressing it caused a part of one of the walls to open, and inside was a drawer containing things that shocked Velvet to her core. Missing persons, secret operations, and a special file on Cinder Fall.

"Well, well, well. Looks like I need to fire my exterminator. We have a rat on our hands." Roman said, which spooked Velvet. She regained her courage, remembering how cool Yang seemed to be when facing Trudge. "What is all this? What are you hiding, Mr Torchwick?" Roman laughed a little. "Oh my, such courage. At first, I thought you were one of Cinder's lackeys, but that's clearly not the case." He opens a compartment under one of the statues in the room and pulls out a duel disk, tossing it to her. "Here. A fighting chance. You'll need it."

Ruby and Yang raced through the rooms, trying not to bump into anyone there, when they noticed someone who clearly didn't belong. A woman in a red dress that seemed familiar to Ruby. "Wait, I think I know her." She said. The woman raised her arm, and a lizard mark appeared on it. "I am Pyrrha Nikos. A member of the dark signers. It's time you faced justice for what you've done, Ruby Rose!"