AN: Hey everyone I have the next chapter here. This one is rather short, as it is only half of a cool duel. However, I do plan to upload the second half sooner than you think. As the title shows, Neo is back for revenge. As I have said multiple time, she is still my favorite aspect of RWBY. Even though I don't directly watch the show, I really hope she gets a decent ending for her character. She also plays one of my favorite archetypes. Which, you will see a slight upgrade to in this duel. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See Datasheet Chapter for cover art details.

Chapter 15 – The Mute Shadow Rider Pt1

In the shockwave of an explosion, Jaden's body was flung back before landing on the ground. His life points had hit zero as the key vanished, "You have no power." The victor said as he walked from the smoke, causing Jaden to look towards the person, "You cannot save anyone." Jaden's eyes widened as the person emerged, the golden eyes looking down on him with no emotion, "You are no hero." The Supreme King spoke as Jaden began to hyperventilate.

Suddenly, Jaden's eyes shot open. He awoke in a cold sweat in his dorm room, but his breathing still rapid. Emerging from his cards, Winged Kuriboh hooved near Jaden's head. The monster hummed, but its eyes showed worry towards the Slifer Red, "It's okay buddy," Jaden said as his voice calmed down, "It… was just a bad dream."

A few hours later.

Jaden, Ruby, Chazz, and Alexis gathered in the cafeteria for lunch, "Jaden?" The student in a black trench coat to the Slifer red who hung his head low, not eating anything on his tray, "Hey, Earth to Jaden!"

"Huh?" Jaden said before looking up to a slightly engaged Chazz, "Oh, sorry."

"We're having a team meeting here, Slacker." Chazz said as he crossed his arms, "Jeez, don't you doze off enough in class?"

"Give him a break, Chazz." Alexis responded before looking to Jaden, "Are you feeling okay?"

"Y-yeah," Jaden responded with a small smile, "I'm just…I'm fine." He then turned to Ruby, "You said you have a plan?"

"I do," Ruby responded with a nod. She then took out her scroll, showing a map of the island with a red dot at the volcano, "Cinder is right here, she's making herself known."

"That's where you dueled my brother," Alexis said to Jaden, "It looks like Cinder wants to end it there."

"And what about her recruit?" Chazz asked.

"I think they are both at this location." Ruby responded, "I don't think Adam was supposed to say Cinder was getting more people." She said with Jaden having a look of sorrow at the mention of that name, "Cinder wants us to think she is alone, but she may be planning for tag duel to end this battle."

"You really think so?" Jaden asked with Ruby nodding.

"I only dueled her once," Ruby responded, then looked down as she clenched her heart in memory of the pain, "But she plays with every advantage she can get over her opponent." She then turned back to Jaden, "Which is why neither one of us can duel them alone. We have to fight together."

"Right," Jaden responded, "So, today is the day?"

Ruby nodded, turning to everyone, "This will be the day we beat the Shadow Riders."

"Okay, we leave right after last class." Alexis said, "Chazz and I will be right there with you."

"Yeah," Chazz responded, "So you two better not lose."

"Thanks, I…" Jaden responded but did not finish his thought, "I-I'm going to go take a walk. Get some fresh air." He said before standing up, "We meet out in the front of the academy, right?" The Slifer Red asked with Ruby nodding. He smiled with a wave before walking away. However, the rest of the team at the table saw that smile quickly fade away.

Chazz turned to the two girls with a look of irritation, "What's with him?" He said before Jaden went out of sight, "He's slaking, but not in a lazy way." Chazz said as the irritation turned to sorrow, "It's like he lost the will to do…anything."

"Seeing Yang lose her arm, Adam's death at the bottom of the chasm." Alexis listed as she looked down at her hands, "You don't just get over those things overnight. He just needs time; he'll be back to his regular self when he's ready." She said as Ruby noticed the look of sorrow in Alexis' eyes, "At least, I hope."

After a few seconds of silence, Ruby stood up, "I'm gonna go talk with him." She said with both looking to her in concern, but she smiled, "Don't worry, the two of use will be right on time for class." She said before speeding off, leaving rose petals behind. Alexis and Chazz sighed, knowing they could not catch up to the hooded Slifer Red.

Jaden made his way to the front of the academy, the only student outside. He heard humming from his deck box, causing him to pull out his cards. In front, Winged Kuriboh was seen, "Hey buddy," Jaden said with a weak smile, "Don't worry, I'm fine." He said with a slight laugh, "We both need to be at our best to beat Cinder and-" Suddenly, Jaden looked up and saw Ruby, "Oh, Hey." He said as the hooded Slifer Red waved, "I'm sorry, I've been spacing out lately." He said with her smiling, "I promise, I'll have my head in the game during the duel."

Ruby let out a slight giggle before turning around. Jaden had a look of confusion as she glanced back to him with a smirk, then start running.

"Hey, where are you go?" Jaden called out, "I thought we were waiting until after class!?" He asked, but Ruby still ran. Jaden had a line of sweat run down his face as he gritted his teeth, "What is she thinking?" The Slifer Red asked himself before quickly putting his deck away. However, in his rush, Winged Kuriboh slipped and fell onto the ground. "Ruby, wait up!" He called out before running after the hooded Slifer Red.

A few seconds of silence passed in the open campus of Duel Academy. Suddenly, the hooded Slifer Red made her way to the entrance, "Jaden! Jaden!" Ruby called out, "I could have sworn I saw him go this way?" Suddenly, she saw a card on the ground, "Winged Kuriboh?" Ruby said as she picked up, "But isn't this-" Ruby said as her eyes widened, "Oh no!"

On the road towards the volcano, Jaden chased after Ruby, "Slowdown, will you!" He called out, but she did not say a word, "What about Chazz and Alexis? What about the plan? It was your idea to leave after class, not now!" Jaden explained, but Ruby still said nothing, "What is with her-" He said before realizing. Suddenly, Jaden stopped. A second later, Ruby stopped and turned around, tilting her head in confusion, "You're not Ruby." He said with her slight gasping, "If you were, there is no way I would have been able to keep up with you." Jaden said before grinning, "And you also forgot her rose petals."

The one masquerading as Ruby sighed, closing her eyes. She took out her duel disk and press a button, causing her body to break apart in a pink glass-like shatter. Underneath the illusion, the mute duelist stood before Jaden, opening her eyes with a pink and a brown iris.

"Neo!?" Jaden exclaimed, "Why are you here?" He asked with the mute duelist scowling at him readying her duel disk, "No, don't tell me-" The Slifer Red was saying, but Neo already nodded, "I don't want to hurt you. Can't we talk about this."

Neo looked at Jaden with eyes half-open, then noticed a wooden warning sign with a white piece of paper on it. She pressed a button on her duel disk, opening a small keypad. As she typed, it caused the paper's text to white out in an illusion. Replacing it was a set of pink text, "No more talking." The sign read, "But I do want to hurt you."

"Why!?" Jaden slightly shouted in panic, causing Neo's scowl to grow more furious. She typed a new message that appeared on the sign.

"I had One Thing," The sign read for Neo's words, "And you've taken it from me."

"Neo, what do you mean?" Jaden asked but Neo did not respond, only assuming the stance for the duel. The Slifer Red grit his teeth before taking out his duel disk, "If you're not going to say it, fine." Jaden said as he put on his duel disk, causing Neo to smirk, "You can hurt me all you all you want, but I will not lose." He said as a look of focus was in his eyes, while Neo's swapped color, "And I won't let you hurt my friends. Duel!"

Jaden: 4000 Life Points

Neo: 4000 Life Points

Neo drew first, smirking at her result. She summoned a small white mage with blue eyes and a magic wand, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF). Jaden gritted his teeth as Neo set a card, "Silent Magician LV4." He thought to himself, "It took Ruby, Yang, and Weiss everything they had to beat that monster when it got to level eight." Jaden said as he was about to draw, "I have to take it down now."

However, Neo's turn was not over. She sent her monster to the graveyard, causing Jaden to have a look of confusion. Neo swapped her eye color as she summoned a new silent magician. Her robs were a sky blue that exposed her thighs, her long white hair matching her magician's hat. The rod glowed a calm blue light as she looked did not make a sound, (1000 ATK / 1000 DEF).

"Who is that?" Jaden asked with Neo smirking. She typed her message on the sign.

"Silent Magician." The sign read, but with no LV, "She gains 500 attack points for each card in my hand." Neo then held her hand on three cards, causing her monster to glow in a blue aura, (1000 + 1500 ATK = 2500). The Mute Shadow Rider then gestured to her opponent.

"My draw!" Jaden said as he drew the spell he needed, "I play Polymerization, Fusing my Clayman and Spark-" However, Silent Magician attack the fusion card, destroying it was a blue ball of energy, "What?"

Neo giggled as she typed, "Also, she can negate one spell card a turn." The sign now read.

Jaden grit his teeth as he took one of the monsters he was going fuse with, reluctantly playing it as his normal summon, "I summon Elemental Hero Clayman in defense mode. Then, end with one card face down." The bulky hero formed on Jaden's side of the field, strengthening up his defenses, (800 ATK / 2000 DEF).

Neo drew, but before her monster's attack points could grow, she played a card. A spell with a destroyed shield was revealed before Jaden, Shield Crush. A green beam shot out of the card, penetrating Clayman before he exploded. Jaden was overcome by the smoke from the blast but still saw the blue light gather in the staff. Neo pointed at him as she had a sadistic smile, "Not so fast, I activate Flute of Summoning Kuribohs." The Slifer Red said, "This let's lets me special summon Winged Kuriboh from my-" He said before his duel disk buzzed red, "Huh?"

Neo typed a message, "That Monster isn't in your deck?" The sign read as Jaden searched his cards, discovering it was true. Suddenly, more words appeared, "It doesn't matter. Silent Magician can negate a spell during my turn as well."

"Wait what happened to my bud-" Jaden was saying until Neo's monster fired a mystical blue ball of energy. The sphere collided with his body before exploding in a pillar of light, "AAAAAAAAA!" Jaden screamed as he lost over half his life points.

Jaden: 4000 – 2500 = 1500 Life Points

In the distance, Ruby turned to the sound of the screaming. She saw the pillar of light and ran as fast as she could. Upon arriving, the hooded Slifer Red saw Jaden standing, his body and clothes charred from the direct attack, "Jaden!" She called out in panic.

Jaden slowly turned, seeing the real Ruby running with rose petals behind her. Next to her was the spirit of Winged Kuriboh, who had an equal look of panic, "There you are." Jaden said in a slightly dizzy voice from the damage, referring to both of them.

Ruby then looked to his opponent, but gasped at the revelation, "Neo!?" Ruby said as the Mute Shadow Rider waved, "You're the one Cinder recruited!?" She asked with Neo nodding, "Why!?"

"She says it's because I took her One Thing away," Jaden answered, "But I don't know what that means."

Neo scowled before typing, "You took him away from me." The sign read, "Roman Torchwick." The Mute Shadow Rider glared at Jaden, "He was my One Thing."

"Roman? The guy Alexis dueled?" Ruby responded, then remembered what happened at the end of the duel, "But, Cinder is the one who killed him."

"Yeah, why are you following her words over mine?" Jaden added on, "I never even dueled the guy. What makes you think I killed him?"

Neo scowled lowering her head. In pressing a button on her duel disk, another illusion was broken. Now showing atop her head was a black bowler hat with a red band. She raised her head as she glared at Jaden, the sign changing, "Why did you have his hat?"

Jaden gasped, remembering picking up the hat before. He remembered taking the hat to his room, putting on the nightstand after that day., "I…I…" Jaden responded. However, for the life of him, he could not remember why, "I don't know why I took it…I just-"

Suddenly, he heard Neo almost scream through her teeth, then looked to the sign, "This is all that is left of him!" She then pointed at Jaden, "So, I will make sure there is nothing left of you!" The Mute Shadow Rider gestured before, "It's your turn."

Jaden grit his teeth before looking to hooded Slifer Red, "Ruby, you have to go. Find proof that it was Cinder that killed Roman." He said with her gasping, "I'll continue this duel as long as I can, but hurry." He said before looking back to the mute duelist, "Neo's even stronger than the time you and others duel her."

"Jaden." Ruby said in worry, but knew he was right, "Okay, don't lose!" She said before speeding off.

Jaden looked back to see his Winged Kuriboh, who looked back at him with eyes of worry, "Keep her safe." He softly said, causing to eventually Winged Kuriboh to nod. The monster's eyes filled with determination as it caught up to the red hooded girl. Jaden turned back to Neo, whose arms were crossed with an impatient look on her face, "Okay Neo." Jaden said as he focused, "I draw!" Jaden said before looking at his hand, "I summon Wroughtweiler in defense mode, and end with more card face down." He said with the mechanical dog sitting at the ready, (800 ATK / 1200 DEF).

Neo drew, but set the card. She then pointed to Jaden's Wroughtweiler, causing Silent Magician to unleash another magical attack. The mechanical dog exploded, but not without Jaden gaining two cards, "Wroughtweiler's effect activates, letting me get back my Polymerization and Clayman from the graveyard." He said as Neo smirked, knowing she could always negate again the spell if needed.

"My turn," Jaden drew, smiling at the result, "I play the field spell Fusion Gate." He said as Neo gasped, her eyes turning white. She gritted her teeth as she looked to Silent Magician, who nodded before blasting the ground with a magical sphere, obliterating the field spell. As the smoke cleared, Jaden grinned, "You're Silent Magician can only negate one spell a turn." He said as Neo scowled, her eye colors returning, "So, let me try this again. I play Polymerization!" The Slifer Red said as a spiral appeared behind him, "I fuse my Clayman and Sparkman to create Elemental Hero Thunder Giant!" The monster dove into the vortex before vanishing. Suddenly a thundercloud appears as lighting stuck.

Descending from the cloud was a massive man with a glass ball of lighting powering his core, (2400 ATK / 1500 DEF). "Now, I activate his effect." Jaden said as he sent the last card in his hand to the graveyard, "By discarding one card, I can destroy a monster with less original attack points than Thunder Giant." Neo's eyes turned white again. While her monster had more attack points than Jaden's, the original attack was still 1000. She then looked at Thunder Giant unleash a blast of lightning, causing the Silent Magician to explode from the electrocution.

Jaden readied for a direct attack. However, he heard his opponent giggling. As the smoke cleared, A Silent Magician was still standing. Rather it was the LV8 variant that had taken the other's place, (3500 ATK / 1000 DEF). Neo typed as Jaden looked to the sign for the answer, "When Silent Magician is destroyed, I can summon an LV version of her to take her place. Ignoring the summoning conditions."

Jaden gritted his teeth, "I end my turn."

Neo swapped her eyes colors before drawing, then pointed to Jaden's monster. Silent Magician LV8 unleashed a white beam of magical energy, "Not so fast," Jaden said as he played his facedown card, "I activate Negate Attack." The Slifer Red said, but Neo revealed one of her facedowns. It was also a counter trap, one which was a multitool for every criminal, Seven Tools of the Bandit. For 1000 of her life points, Neo negated the Negate Attack. Jaden watched as the beam pierced through Thunder Giant's core. Which continued to crash into Jaden's chest, launching the Slifer Red back a few feet. He hit the ground as the last card he had exploded.

Neo: 4000 – 1000 = 3000 Life Points

Jaden: 1500 – 1100 = 400 Life Points

Neo looked down on Jaden with a scowl, the hatred still filling her eyes. Jaden coughed as he tried to pick himself up. After a few seconds, he got to his feet, "Neo…" Jaden said, "Please, stop this duel."

Neo remained scowling as she typed, "No," The sign read as the Mute Shadow Rider continued, "Not until I have my revenge." She then set two cards and ended her turn.

"Revenge…" Jaden thought to himself, "That's not a reason to duel someone, it's supposed to be about having fun."

Suddenly another voice echoed in Jaden's head. "No, quite the opposite," The Supreme King spoke to Jaden, shaking the Slifer Red to his core, "Revenge is the only reason to duel someone. To prove whose will to fight is stronger." He announced as Jaden held his head with both hands, "You are weak, you will lose." The Supreme King ordered, "Let me take over, just like before."

"Shut up!" Jaden said out loud, causing Neo to have a look of confusion. He began to hyperventilate, but slowly steadied his breathing, "I… will not let you hurt any more people." Jaden said as he put his hand on his deck, "I…" the Slifer Red said before noticing his hand was still shaky. However, Jaden grit his teeth before focusing, "I draw!"

AN: There you go, Neo verses Jaden is a crazy duel. I already have the second half planned, and some of the moves and counters are wild. You see that Jaden is not himself after the last chapter, falling into something similar to his season three/four slump. Neo also reminds him why she is a pro duelist in this continuity, now upgrading to the non-LV Silent monsters. I also liked referencing her illusion moments from volumes I did not watch, but think the ideas are cool. Can Ruby and Winged Kuriboh find proof it was Cinder before it's too late? You'll have to wait and see. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.

Now, answering a few quick questions. Regarding the future added RWBY characters, Qrow, Penny, Winter, and Ozpin being the ones I saw mentioned. All are possible, but not that likely to be used anytime soon. Except Winter, she is one I would like to use for a VERY hype duel in the future and I have a cool Archetype she can use for this era of the card game. The rest are on backburning until I find their fitting deck type and role in this series. Also, because it may be pointed out from this chapter, I did change Thunder Giant's effect to be what it is in the card game rather than the anime. For this moment, I needed Jaden to have no cards left at the end of this chapter, so that is why he discards. Also, if you're wondering why he played Poly after Fusion Gate, since saving the field spell could have given him more fusions in the future. Well, Fusion Gate removes the monsters from play, and Jaden needs everything he can get to hope to win against Neo. Of all his duels in this series, Neo is going to be the one that pushes him the hardest. I am really excited about make the second half of the duel and hope you all enjoy it when it comes out.