Yu-gi-oh/RWBY Chapter 26

The Unstoppable Queen

The group rushed up the stairs, the building collapsing under them. As they are almost out, the stairs begin to give way under them. This causes Weiss, who was at the back of the group, to start to fall. Ruby manages to catch her, and Blake helps her pull Weiss back up. Once they are back on solid ground, Weiss asks Ruby "So, what was that dragon you summoned? That wasn't Crescent Rose." Ruby looks at her duel disk, and Black Rose Dragon fades away before her very eyes. "I don't know. I've never done anything like that before. It felt like I was in a kind of trance." "Maybe your powers are evolving." Whitley suggested. "When I was held captive in Arcadia, they always said you were the strongest of them."

Ruby was silent, unsure what to think of what she had just done. After a few minutes of everybody catching their breath, Blake broke the silence. "Well, we can't stay here. Yang is on her way to her tower, and you've got the last one. You'll need to hurry if you want to get there before sunrise." Ruby nodded, and got on her duel runner before driving off. Blake looked on, full of hope. "Good luck, Ruby."

As Yang arrives at the tower, she is surprised that there is no-one there at first. She looks around, but she can't find anyone. Why would they leave this one undefended? Yang ponders. "Hey! Show yourself, coward!" She yells. To her right, she hears a duel runner approach, and on it, a figure that seems familiar. The figure takes her helmet off to reveal her rabbit ears. "Hello, Yang." Velvet says.

"Velvet?" Yang asks, completely dumbfounded. Velvet chuckles. "I knew that if I left the tower wide open, you couldn't just take it. You need to win, to beat your opponent. To prove that, I'll give you one last chance. I'll let you go and turn off the tower, no strings attached. But if you do, I'll run off, and you'll never know if you could beat me, and you'll definitely never save me." She starts the engine of her duel runner. "So what'll it be, Yang Xiao Long?"

Yang looks over at the tower, and confirms that there doesn't seem to be any traps, at least as far as she can see. But as she looks at Velvet, she curses herself and starts up her own duel runner. "I knew it." Velvet activates Speed World, with Yang's duel runner following suit. The two start their ride, and blue flames race past them, creating a pattern on the ground matching Velvet's mark of the hummingbird. The others see the mark reflected on the sky, and feel their own marks react. The duel is started.

The two race by, with Velvet taking the first corner. "Distracted, Yang? Wondering why I'm like this?" Velvet taunts. "I've been wondering the same thing myself. But as I was kept in a dark room, waiting for you to approach, it dawned on me. It wasn't just Roman who killed me. You did! Remember what you said to me?" Yang didn't want to remember, but to her shame, the last words she said to Velvet came to the forefront of her mind; "Sorry, but I have to do this on my own."

"You abandoned me, and for what?" Velvet continued. "Pride? Cockiness? Or was it something worse? You thought I was holding you back. So you did to me what you did to Blake and to Satellite and to everyone in your life; You dumped me because the Queen of Duels needs no-one, does she?" Yang felt a lump in her throat. That wasn't true, was it? "But don't worry. I'll make sure you don't need anyone anymore. I summon Fortune Lady Light in defense mode!" A girl in yellow, puffy clothing appears holding a staff (Level 1/?).

"My Fortune Ladies gain power based on their levels and increase their levels by one on each of my turns. Light gains 200 attack and defense based on its level." (Light 200). "I set a card and end my turn." Yang silently draws (Yang 0-1, Velvet 0-1). After some time, she simply says "I end my turn." Velvet looks back at Yang. Nothing? What are you planning, Yang? Deciding not to wait to find out, Velvet draws (Yang 1-2, Velvet 1-2). "Fortune Lady Light's level and its power increase." (Light Level 1-2) (Light 200-400). "But it doesn't matter. I tribute Fortune Lady Light to summon Fortune Lady Earth!" A muscular woman in brown clothing like Light's appears, also carrying a staff (Level 6/?). "Earth gains 400 attack times its level." (Earth 2400). "I then activate Light's ability! Since it left the field, I can summon another Fortune Lady. Appear, Fortune Lady Dark!" A purple-clad woman with horns and another staff appears (Level 5/?). "Dark also gains 400 attack for its levels." (Dark 2000).

"If you've come to accept your fate, I won't refuse. Fortune Lady Dark, attack directly with Dark Fate!" Dark twirls her staff before shooting out a blast of black lightning that courses through Yang (Yang 4000-2000) (Yang 2-0). "If I take damage from a direct attack, I can summon Scar Gardna from my hand in attack position!" Yang says, bringing out a warrior covered in bandages and carrying a huge shield (Level 4/0). "It then gains attack equal to the damage I just took!" (Scar Gardna 0-2000).

"That's too bad, because my Earth is still stronger. Attack her Scar Gardna with Cursed Skewer!" Earth raises her staff up and metal spikes rise through the ground towards Scar Gardna, skewering it (Yang 2000-1600). "On the turn Scar Gardna was summoned, it can't be destroyed." Velvet smirks. "I set another card and end my turn. Try to take this duel seriously, Yang. I thought you were unstoppable."

Yang draws, ignoring Velvet's harsh words. (Yang 0-1, Velvet 2-3). I have to get rid of her Fortune Lady Earth, Yang decides. Not only is it her strongest monster, but I don't know its effect yet, so it's the only unknown besides her face-downs. "I summon Burning Muscle!" (Level 4/2000). "I tune my level 4 Burning Muscle with my level 4 Scar Gardna! As life inches ever closer to death, the heart beats stronger and stronger. Synchro summon! Celica Burst Dragon!" (Level 8/3000). "Oh no, and since your life points are so low, Celica is even stronger!" Velvet says in a fake concern. "How predictable. I activate my face-down, Future Prison!" A transparent cage appears around Celica Burst Dragon, and then both fade away. "Celica Burst Dragon will be banished for a number of turns equal to its level." Velvet explains. "So you're on your own for 8 turns! But hey, you don't need anyone, right? Not even your best monster." Yang grits her teeth. "I set a card and end my turn."

"I draw!" (Yang 1-2, Velvet 3-4). "And now, both of my fortune ladies will increase in level and power!" (Earth Level 6-7) (Earth 2400-2800) (Dark Level 5-6) (Dark 2000-2400). "There's more. With Earth's effect, each time my Fortune Ladies increase their levels, you take 400 damage for each!" Earth shoots out more metal spikes, almost shaking Yang into the fire surrounding them (Yang 1600-1200-800). "Battle! Fortune Lady Dark, finish her off with Dark Fate!" Dark again releases a bolt of dark lightning, aiming for Yang.

"I activate my face-down, Desperation Synchro! If I'm about to take damage greater than my own life points, I can synchro summon using monsters in my hand or field! I tune my level 5 Vice Dragon with my Level 1 Yellow Spark!" The two monsters appear, only to be tuned together. "Invincible warrior of old, all attacks shatter before your unbreakable skin! Be the shield that never breaks! Synchro Summon! Appear, Achilles, Trojan Bane!" A mighty Greek soldier blocks the lightning, and readies his shield and spear. (Level 6/3000).

Velvet smiles upon seeing the new monster. "It would seem you still have some fight left in you after all." "Thanks to Desperation Synchro, I then gain life points equal to Achilles' defense!" Yang continues. (Yang 800-3800). "But if it is ever destroyed, I will take damage equal to his defense." "I see." Velvet says. "So you're betting everything on your new monster. And I'll bet he's meant to stall until Celica returns. But you'll need to survive 3 more of my turns. Can you do that? I end my turn." "I draw!" Yang exclaims. (Yang 2-3, Velvet 4-5). "I set a card face-down and end my turn."

"Come on, Yang, where's that fire from before? At this rate, you won't last my next 3 turns. I draw!" (Yang 3-4, Velvet 5-6). "My Fortune Ladies increase in power again!" (Earth Level 7-8) (Earth 2800-3200) (Dark Level 6-7) (Dark 2400-2800). "And now, Earth's effect activates again!" Earth raises her staff, summoning more metal spikes. "Achilles negates all damage I would take that is less than its defense. Godly Blessing!" Achilles intercepts the spikes, which shatter against his shield.

"Then I'll just destroy that meddlesome hero. Earth, destroy Achilles with Cursed Skewer!" Earth points towards Achilles, and more spikes are raised. "I activate my face-down, Strength of Will, which equips to Achilles. If he would be destroyed, I can pay 500 life points instead." The spikes shift course, hitting Yang's duel runner (Yang 3800-3300). Velvet humphs in disappointment. "How noble. Only delaying the inevitable, but noble. I end my turn."

Yang draws. (Yang 4-5, Velvet 6-7). "I end my turn." Velvet groans. "Again? You're supposed to be the master of faster, the Queen of Duels. Why are you so passive? Are you trying to spare me? Convince me to surrender? It won't work." "I was that once. I was on top of the world, and all it cost me was my soul. But it was nothing. Every day I missed my friends from Satellite, and it killed me a little each day. And when Ruby beat me, I was yesterday's news. Gone like a bad trend. Well, I'm through with that. From now on, I'm not fighting for the stage. I'm fighting for the ones I love."

Velvet glares at Yang. "I knew you were callous, but I didn't realize you were completely delusional. You can't change, and I'll prove it to you. I draw!" (Yang 5-6, Velvet 7-8). "My Fortune Ladies grow stronger still!" (Earth Level 8-9) (Earth 3200-3600) (Dark Level 7-8) (Dark 2800-3200). "Fortune Lady Dark, attack her Achilles with Dark Fate!" Dark lets out a volley of dark lightning that is redirected towards Yang by Strength of Will. (Yang 3300-2800). "Earth, pick up where Dark left off with Cursed Skewer!" Earth summons more spikes that Yang again intercepts (Yang 2800-2300). She is knocked to a standstill, and Velvet stops with her.

"I can see it now. Behind your pain is hope that you'll survive, that you'll save me. Let's crush that hope. I activate my speed spell Consolation Prize! If I fail to destroy your monster by battle, I can remove 3 speed counters to summon a monster from my graveyard with its effects negated. Welcome back, Fortune Lady Light!" (Velvet 8-5) (0). "I then summon my dark-tuner Fortune Lady Past!" A hooded figure carrying a staff appears (Level 1/?). "Past gains 200 attack times its level." (Past 200). "But it won't be staying long. I activate its effect, banishing my Fortune Lady Dark to gain its level." Past stabs Dark, causing the latter to vanish (Past Level 1-8) (Past 200-1600). "I now dark-tune my Fortune Lady Past into my Fortune Lady Light! The future will reveal only doom for the prideful and wicked. Punish those foolish heathens! Dark Synchro! Appear, Fortune Lady Every!" A blue-haired girl in a white outfit appears, carrying its own staff (Level -7/?). "Every gains 400 attack times its negative level." (Every 2800). The monster then starts to twirl its staff around, creating a prismatic pattern that Yang starts to feel drawn in by. She can't help but look into it.

Yang wakes up to find herself in a party in Neo Domino City. She is sitting on a throne, and people are lining up to give her gifts. "Is something wrong, your highness?" Yang turns to see Cinder bowing before her. "If the gifts are unacceptable, I could always buy something greater for you." Yang looks at her, trying to remember what she was doing earlier. She gets up from the throne and picks up her duel disk. "Ah, you wish to show your strength. Very well, your majesty. I will bring out a suitable opponent to test your might." Cinder snaps her fingers and servants hurry to another room before bringing Blake, Ruby, Mercury, and many others, all dressed in elegant attire. "How may we serve you, mistress?" They all ask simultaneously, bowing in perfect unison. Yang is astonished at what she's seeing, but then a thought occurs to her. It wouldn't hurt to duel one of them, would it? Just to clear my head.

She would, however, duel all of them, defeating them effortlessly. Yang laughs, then declares "That is why I am your queen!" They all celebrate her, and the rest of the evening passes fabulously. Yang is showered with praise and gifts, eating the finest dining. Everything is perfect. Too perfect. An empty feeling finds Yang, who is surprised by it, but realizes it's the same feeling she's had ever since she left Satellite. "Are you alright, master?" Cinder asks. Yang waves her away, but walks towards the window, looking out towards Satellite. She hangs her head in shame.

"This is wrong. All of this is wrong. I was wrong!" Yang declares, and the perfect world around her shatters, revealing the duel with Velvet, who is shocked beyond disbelief. "How? You're just like everyone else, fake and deplorable." Yang gets back on her bike. "I was. And you were right. I was kidding myself, thinking I could just come back here and everything would be right again. But it wasn't. I see now that I have a lot of work to do before I'm a better person." She races off, leaving Velvet to chase after her.

"I draw!" (Yang 6-7, Velvet 5-6). "I set a card face-down and end my turn. Well, Velvet? Just one more turn, and then Celica is back." Velvet draws. (Yang 7-8, Velvet 6-7). "Earth increases in level while Every decreases in level." (Earth Level 9-10) (Earth 3600-4000). (Every Level -7 - -8). (Every 2800-3200). "Then, Every's effect activates, banishing a monster you control." Every's staff fires a prismatic array at Achilles. "I activate my face-down, Power Throne! For the next two turns, my monsters are unaffected by all effects except its own." A golden throne appears and blocks the array.

"But now, you can't use your Strength of Will card. Fortune Lady Every, destroy Achilles with Possibility Overload!" Every splits into six multicolored versions of herself that swarm Achilles. He blocks one of them, but the others surround him and pelt him with laser blasts until he is destroyed. "Now, the effect of Desperation Synchro punishes you for your hubris. Disappear, Yang Xiao Long!" The trap appears from the graveyard and fires a blast at Yang.

"I activate the last effect of my Achilles. When it is destroyed, I take no damage for the rest of the turn." The ghostly image of Achilles appears, blocking the blast. Velvet realizes that means there's no point in attacking with Earth. "You were never in any real danger from Desperation Synchro, huh? I end my turn." "I draw!" Yang declares. (Yang 7-8, Velvet 6-7). "Now, after 8 turns, my Celica Burst Dragon returns!" The dragon reappears in its cage, then bursts out. (Level 8/3000). "And as I inch closer to defeat, it grows stronger." (Celica 3000-4700). "Celica, destroy Fortune Lady Earth with Heartbeat Burst!" The dragon flies forward and collides into Earth, destroying it. (Velvet 4000-3300). "Then, since my monster destroyed yours in battle while I have 5 or more speed counters, I can activate my speed spell Power Push! This will destroy all monsters you control with a lower level than Earth. So your Fortune Lady Every is destroyed as well!" Every shatters away, leaving Velvet's field open. "I end my turn."

Velvet glares at Yang. How dare she pretend to be reformed. I'll show her how false this is. "I activate Every's second effect! During your end phase, I can banish a spellcaster to bring it back!" Fortune Lady Past appears before morphing into Fortune Lady Every. "I draw!" (Yang 8-9, Velvet 7-8). "Fortune Lady Every increases its power." (Every Level -7 - -8). (Every 2800-3200). "I then discard a card to activate my face-down, Greater Sacrifice! Now Every counts as two tributes for the tribute summon of a monster!" Yang tenses up, ready for what's coming. "I tribute my Fortune Lady Every for the greatest monster in the world! Appear, Earthbound Immortal Aslla Piscu!" Every splits into two before flying into the air towards a black heart. The heart pumps, before lowering into the flames. Out of the flames appears a giant hummingbird (Level 10/2500).

"Now, Aslla Piscu, claim Yang's soul!" The hummingbird flies over and starts to dive towards Yang. "I activate the effect of my Battle Fader in my hand, special summoning it and ending the battle phase." A demonic pendulum appears and lets out a sound like the ringing of a bell, stopping Aslla Piscu in its tracks. The hummingbird resumes its flight over the battlefield. "You can try to delay it, but you'll never stop the Earthbound Immortal. I activate my speed spell Ferocious Warning! Until my next turn, if you attack while I control Aslla Piscu, you'll take damage equal to its attack, and I will win! I end my turn!" Velvet laughs, but Yang notices a tear on her face.

Yang drives close to Velvet. "I'm sorry I abandoned you that day. That was selfish of me. You were there for me when everyone had abandoned me-no, when I was pushing everyone away. I repaid you horribly." Velvet covers her face, hiding the rest of her tears. "But now, I will change all of that. It's time I repaid my debts." At this time, the marks on the other signers disappear before reappearing on Yang's back. "I draw!" (Yang 9-10, Velvet 8-9). "Power Throne is destroyed." The golden throne fades away. "I summon Majestic Dragon!" (Level 1/0). "I tune my level 8 Celica Burst Dragon and my level 1 Battle Fader with my level 1 Majestic Dragon! The heart grows weak and weary, but the saving light will bring it back! Synchro Summon! Appear, Majestic Burst Dragon!" A larger version of Celica Burst Dragon appears, with glowing red veins all over it (Level 10/4000).

"Once per turn, Majestic Burst Dragon can destroy all monsters you control with attack points stronger than my life points, and gains their attack points. Hostility End!" Majestic Burst Dragon folds its wings, then lets them out, releasing a wave of energy that incinerates Earthbound Immortal Aslla Piscu. (Majestic Burst Dragon 4000-6500) "Fool! When Aslla Piscu leaves the field, all monsters you control are destroyed, and you take 800 damage for each one!" Velvet protests. The hummingbird flies towards the dragon, but it is brushed aside. "Majestic Burst Dragon can't be destroyed by card effects." Yang replies. "This is the testament to my new path of repentance. Go, attack directly, with Heart Return!" The dragon releases a bright red stream from its mouth, engulfing Velvet, who closes her eyes in acceptance.

"Yang, thank you."

(Velvet 3300-0).