AN: Hello, I have the next chapter here. This one was a lot of fun to write for the Weiss and Ruby duo. You get to see the first get her new deck upgrade and the second show off some cool new cards as well. At the end, you'll have the reveal as to who Winter's opponent is for the end of the Kaiba World Tournament. 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 48 – The Crystal Rose
"Here we are," Ruby said to the group before they stood before an odd building with yellow walls and a green roof.
"It's just called Game?" Sora commented, then sighed then looked to Neo, "Well, I think we did pass by a place called The Club, so I guess it's a theme in this city." He said with Neo giggling.
The group then entered the game shop, seeing a bearded old man in a white-collar shirt under deep green overalls, matching the bandanna on his head. However, he was resting against the counter, not even flinching at the ringing bell.
"Is he okay?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah, he's fine." Ruby said before slightly nudging the old shopkeeper, causing him to awaken, "Hey, it's me again."
"Eh? Oh, hello there Ruddy." The old shopkeeper responded.
"It's Ruby," the hooded Slifer Red responded, "I brought some friends to look around your shop."
"Oh, that's so nice of you." The old shopkeeper said with a smile, "You remind me of my grandson." He said before looking to the group, "Please look around and let me know if there is anything you wish to buy." He said before lowering his head, then closed his eyes, "I'll just be right here."
"Is he just gonna fall asleep again?" Weiss asked, "How can he with that singing playing?"
"Singing?" Alexis asked, "What singing?"
"You don't hear?" Weiss asked the group, but most had a look of confusion. She looked at the radio in the corner but saw that it was turned off.
"Hey, I hear it too," Jaden responded, then pointed, "It's coming from over there."
Weiss looked over to see a light blue deck box with an odd symbol on it, one resembling a type of music note. The Heiress Obelisk Blue then turned back to the old shopkeeper, "Hey, can I take a look at those cards?"
"Eh?" the old shopkeeper responded upon waking up, "Oh, over course let me…" he said while trying to get up but was struggling to push himself off the counter. However, he then saw Neo gain his attention, who then walked around the counter to get the deck box, "Oh, thank you." He said with Neo bowing, "You remind me of my grandson." He said before yawning, "He also had a lot of hair colors."
"…?" Neo had a look of confusion then smiled as she passed the deck box over to Weiss.
"Thanks," Weiss said while accepting the deck box, then opened it to hear a symphony of singing. Her ears reverberated in the mesmerizing notes; her eyes widened at the musical background. She then looked back down at the cards, seeing multiple musical monsters with a common name between them, "Melodious."
"Oh, I heard of those cards before." Blair commented, "They're an archetype based on a lot of composers and singers." She said before tilting her head in confusion. "Still, why were you hearing noises from them?"
"Well, maybe they were calling to someone who could hear them sing?" Jaden commented.
"Didn't you hear them too?" Sora said with half-open eyes.
"Yeah, I guess," Jaden responded while scratching the back of his head, "But they're probably looking for a duelist who can appreciate their voice and can sing as well as they do."
"Yeah, and Weiss you can sing, right?" Ruby asked.
"I can, but I haven't done so in years." Weiss responded, but looked back to the deck, "Still, the sounds they're making are so…soothing."
"Then why don't you buy the deck?" Ruby offered, "Maybe swap it out with your Gem-Knights. You know, try something new."
"Or combine the decks," Jaden added, "It's what I did."
"…I can't." Weiss said before closing the deck box, handing it back to Neo, "I…don't have any money."
"Eh?" Sora asked, "Aren't you some daughter to a big corporation?"
"Yes," Weiss responded, "But my father cut me off a couple months ago."
"What!?" Ruby responded, "Why?"
"I stopped answered his calls after my grades started to go down after…that duel." Weiss said, then sighed, "I already knew what he was going to say in this situation, that he wanted me out of the Academy because it would ruin his image for have a failing daughter."
"Why didn't you tell any of us this?" Blair asked.
"My father can't pull me out, he would need to talk with the person that placed me in Duel Academy" Weiss responded.
"Which was Seto Kaiba." Alexis responded.
"And I know my father is too much of a coward to face him. And lucky, I made some investments my father couldn't touch." Weiss said, then sighed, "But that barely covered my living expenses, so I still have to be careful with what I spend money on." She said before having a chuckle, "Heh, good thing this trip was expenses paid, but items like these don't count."
"Well, we can still help you out." Ruby offered with a smile, "Here, let me buy the deck for you."
"You don't have to do that." Weiss responded.
"Come on, it's fine." Ruby responded with a smile, "Friends do this all the time." She said with Weiss smiling back, then looking back to Neo, "Does that say how much it cost?" Neo examined the deck box, then saw a price tag on the bottom. However, her eyes went white at the number she saw, "Oh…"
"Ruby, it's fine." Weiss responded, "I appreciate the thought, but-"
"No, don't give up now!" Ruby said before turning back to the old shopkeeper, "Please, is there a way you can give my friend that deck?"
"Eh?" the old shopkeeper said as he woke up, "Oh, well if she could help me clean up my shop. And organize the cards in the back. And help with the dishes. Then she can have the deck for free."
"Great, thank you." Ruby said with a bow before looking back to Weiss, "See, sometimes all you have to do is ask."
"Ruby, I'm gonna miss Winter's match if I'm busy sorting cards!" Weiss countered. "Not mention all those other chores."
"Relax, I'll help you so it will get done twice as fast," Ruby responded.
"I can help too." Alexis offered.
"Me too," Jaden said with a smile, "We'll get done with this in no time."
"Yeah, and I'll help." Blair offered.
"Uh," Sora looked over to Neo, "Do we have to do this as well?" he said with her smirking at him, causing the petit pro duelist to sigh, "I'll get a broom."
A short while later.
At the Game shop, the group had moved to their roles to help maintain the establishment. Outside, Sora was sweeping with a broom while Jaden tossed bags of trash in a dumpster. Inside, Neo finished a transaction with customers, handing back their change with a smile before they left. Further inside the shop in the kitchen area, Alexis washed the dishes while Blair dried them with a cloth. In the back storage room, Ruby placed a heavy box of cards on a foldout table, causing it to slightly shake from the impact.
"Okay, we just need to sort these by card types and rarity," Weiss said as she opened the box with the old shopkeeper standing nearby. She then looked over to the old shopkeeper, "Is that right?"
"Yes, that would help me a lot. I could not even lift that box after it was dropped off." The old shopkeeper responded with a smile, "You know, it was my grandson and his friends that helped out at this shop back in the day." He said before scratching his chin, "Though, I think there was another girl too."
"Well, we're happy to help now." Ruby said as she took a large pile of cards, "Right Weiss?"
"Yes," Weiss responded as she sat down, "Okay, I'll take spells and traps. You sort monsters."
"Thank you again," the old shopkeeper said before walking making his way out of the back storage, "I'll check in on the others. If there is a card you like from that pile, you can add it to the deck."
"Thank you," Ruby responded before she and Weiss began to sort, "So, do you know yet if you want to use this deck as a replacement or combine it with your Gem-Knights."
"I…I don't know yet." Weiss responded, taking out her deck to look at her Gem-Knight cards, "I've used this deck for so long, and they were what I picked when my father said he would buy the best cards for it." She then sighed, "In retrospect, I wish I was the one who bought my cards. Then, they would have no attachment to him."
"You shouldn't think about it that way," Ruby responded.
"Why? Didn't you say most of your new deck were cards your mother used?" Weiss asked, "You play them because you respected her."
"Well yeah, but that wasn't only way she wanted me to see it." Ruby said with Weiss looking back at her in confusion, "My mother gave me her Guardian Eatos not so that I would see it as her ace, but as my ace one day. And after I lost my Charmers and found her Aromage cards, that was another path she left for me if I lost my way." She said before her eyes filled with sorrow, "But even I know that her path will end, I will be walking on my own without her guidance." She then looked back to Weiss with a smile, "That's what parents are for. They give the foundation, but shouldn't control our life forever. In the end, we will make our own choices for the future we want."
"I guess you do have a point." Weiss responded with a smile, "Regardless of what my father says or tries to make me into, I will still pick my path as a Schnee." The heiress blue said as she looked at her gem-knights and smiled, "And as a duelist."
"Cool." Ruby said with a smile. After sorting a few piles, she then saw something catch her eye, "In that case, maybe you can go the merging option and add this card to your deck." She said as pulled a monster card out of the pile, "Here."
"This is, heh, of course you would pick this card." Weiss said with Ruby smiling, "Thank you." She said before the two continued to sort cards, then reached over to grab a card Ruby had placed in a pile, "That's a trap card, not a fusion monster." The heiress Obelisk Blue corrected with the hooded Slifer Red letting out a slight giggle.
A few hours later.
Neo flipped the open sign on the door before turning to the other in the Game shop. Sora and Jaden stretched their aching muscles as Alexis and Blair dried their pruning hands. Weiss stood with her arms crossed as Ruby laid her upper body on the glass display case, "My eyes hurt. I think I'm gonna pass out." The hooded Slifer Red groaned before seeing the old shopkeeper walking up, "But we managed to sort all those cards for you."
"All of you have my gratitude for helping this old man." The old shopkeeper said before looking to Weiss, offering the deck of cards, "And as your reward, this is yours." He said with Weiss accepting the cards, then bowing.
"Well, you want to test them out in a quick duel?" Jaden offered, "We still have some time before your big sister's match. And I'm game if you are."
"Thank you, but if going to duel anyone," Weiss responded, then glanced over to the hooded Slifer Red, "It'll be you, Ruby."
"Eh?" Ruby said as she slightly lifted her head.
"We haven't had a real match yet," Weiss commented with a smile, "What do you say?"
Slowly, Ruby had a matching smile on her face, "Sure, let's do this."
The two duelists took their place outside the Game shop with the others watching on. Ruby stood on the left as she loaded her deck into her duel disk. Weiss held the new deck of her merged cards before loading it into her duel disk. "Duel!" Both friends said as they focused on one another, causing the duel in front of the card shop to begin.
Ruby: 4000 Life Points
Weiss: 4000 Life Points
"I'll make the first move," Ruby said as she drew, "I'll set a monster and one card face down." She said as a vertical and a horizontal unknown card appeared on her field, "Okay, show me what you got."
"I intend to," Weiss said before she drew, glancing at her result, then playing the card, "Since you control a monster and I don't, I can special summon Solo the Melodious Songstress from my hand." She said as a singer in a puffy red dress appeared, (1600 ATK / 1000 DEF). "Next, since I now have a Melodious monster on the field, I can also special summon Canon the Melodious Diva from my hand." The heiress Obelisk Blue said as a blue-dressed singer appeared, one with orange goggles and blue spiked hair, (1400 ATK / 2000 DEF). "And finally, I will normal summon Opera the Melodious Diva in attack mode," Weiss said with a young girl with pink hair and frilly lavender dress appeared with a twirl, (2300 ATK / 1000 DEF). With all three monsters before the heiress Obelisk Blue, the Melodious girls sung in harmony.
"Wow, Weiss is swarming the field unlike she has before," Alexis commented.
"Now, Solo will attack you set monster," Weiss said with the red-dressed singer's voice growing louder, unleashing a soundwave that pulsated through the set monster. Revealing itself was a tomato person in a green long-sleeve shirt, who sat in an iron cage, (700 ATK / 400 DEF). the soundwaves eventually caused the monster in the cage to shatter, but soon two more imprisoned tomato people appeared on Ruby's side of the field, "When Cherry Inmato is destroyed, I can special summon two more to the field in defense mode."
"I see, while Opera cannot attack the turn she is summoned," Weiss said before pointing, "Canon can still destroy the second one of your monsters." She said with the blue-dressed singer rushing in, spinning kicking the cage to send the Cherry Inmato inside into the sky before it shattered, "Now, I can use Canon's effect to switch her to defense mode." Weiss said as her monster knelt, and she took another card out of her hand, "I end with one card face down."
"Okay, my turn," Ruby said as she drew, "And since I have one Cherry Inmato left, I tribute it to summon out Queen Angel of Roses!" she said with her imprisoned monster fading away, being replaced with an angelic rose knight with longsword and red petal wings, (2400 ATK / 1300 DEF). "She may be a level seven monster, but I only need one plant-type monster for her summoning. Go, attack Solo with Heavenly Thorns!" she said with her monster rushing in. Weiss was about to move her hand to her duel disk, stopped her action before her monster was destroyed.
Weiss: 4000 – 800 = 3200 Life Points
"Due to Solo's effect, I can now special summon a Melodious Monster from my deck." Weiss said as a card ejected from her deck, "I pick Sonata the Melodious Diva in attack mode." She said as a lime green singer in a blue musical dress was seen with harp-like wings, (1200 ATK / 1000 DEF). Her green hair with blue accessory causing Neo to smile from the sidelines. "With her on the field, all fairy monsters I control gain 500 attack and defense points." She said as Sonata started to sing, causing her to radiate a green aura, (1200 + 500 = 1700 ATK / 1000 + 500 = 1500 DEF). Soon Canon gained the same aura, (1400 + 500 = 1900 ATK / 2000 + 500 = 2500 DEF). Followed by Opera, who had her hands on her hips, (2300 + 500 = 2800 ATK / 1000 + 500 = 1500 DEF).
"Oh, that's a bit scary," Ruby responded, then took a card out of her hand, "I set one card and end my turn."
"I draw," Weiss said before doing so, examining her head before looking back to Ruby, who had a look of focus towards her opponent. The heiress Obelisk Blue responded in kind before taking a card out of her hand, "I summon Gem-Knight Sardonyx in attack mode." She said as a sandy stone knight with a red jeweled chain weapon was seen, (1800 ATK / 900 DEF). "Then, I switch Canon back to attack mode." the blue-dressed singer then stood up with a reposed fighting stance, "And now, Opera attacks your Queen Angel of Roses." She said with the lavender-dressed singer unleashing a symphonic sonic boom from her vocal cords.
"Not so fast, I reveal my trap card, Nitwit Outwit." Ruby responded, taking a card out of her hand, "I can discard Chirubime, Princess of Autumn Leaves to lower your monster attack by her attack of 1800." She said as Opera gained a red aura, causing her to slouch as her song waivered, (2800 – 1800 = 1000 ATK). Queen Angel of Roses then weathered the sound waves, rushing in for a counterattack,
"I don't think there is a trap card that describes you better than that one." Weiss said with Ruby giggling, "But I have my trap card. I reveal Prideful Roar. Now I can pay life points equal to the difference in our monster's attack. Then, my monster grain that difference plus 300." She said before her body radiated a blue aura, one that soon encompassed Opera, (1000 + 1400 + 300 = 2700 ATK) Suddenly, the lavender-dressed singer's voice grew louder, causing Queen Angel of Roses to get repelled and shattered in the counterattack. As Opera finished her singer, she slouched, (2700 – 1700 = 1000 ATK).
Weiss: 3200 – 1400 = 1800 Life Points
Ruby: 4000 – 300 = 3700 Life Points
"And now, the rest of my monster can wipe out the rest of your life points," Weiss said as she still had three more monsters ready to attack.
"Don't forget, I have another face-down card." Ruby responded, "I activate Miracle's Wake, allowing me to resurrect a monster destroyed by battle this turn." She said her holy light shined down from the sky, causing Queen Angel of Roses to ride down and back on the battlefield again, (2400 ATK / 1300 DEF).
"I see, I'll use Canon's effect to change Opera to defense mode," Weiss said before her lavender-dressed singer sat down. She then looked at her hand and then her field, then back to Ruby's smirk, "Then, I set one card and end my turn."
"I draw," Ruby said as she smiled at the result, "First, I use Queen Angel of Rose's effect. During my Standby Phase, I can destroy the monster with the lowest attack on the field. And since she is still suffering the effect of Nitwit Outwit, Opera goes to the graveyard." She said with lavender-dressed singer fading away. "And now, I'll summon a monster in a similar way how your sister does it." Ruby said with Weiss having a look of confusion as she took the card she drew and a card out of her graveyard, "I remove my Tytannial from my hand and Chirubime from my grave." The hooded Slifer Red said as the two high-level plants were seen at her sides, "To summon Rosaria, the Stately Fallen Angel!" she said as a white angel was seen in a field of roses. Of the four-petaled wings, two were red roses, while the other two were black, (2900 ATK / 2400 DEF).
"Wow, when did Ruby get that card." Jaden commented.
"And now, I can use Rosaria's effect to negate all other face-up cards on the field for the turn." She said as the rose petals rained over the area, causing both of Weiss Melodious monsters to lose their aura's. First was Sonata, (1700 – 500 = 1200 ATK / 1500 – 500 = 1000 DEF). Canon then lost her aura as well, (1900 – 500 = 1400 ATK / 2500 – 500 = 2000 DEF). "With these two attacks, I can wipe out your life points. So first, Rosaria can attack your Sonata! Go, Twin Rose Tornado!" she declared with Rosaria reeling back the petal wings before unleashing a gale storm. However, before they could hit the lime-skinned singer, something stood in the way of the attack, "Huh?" Ruby said before realizing it was Gem-Knight Sardonyx, who radiated an electric aura.
"You may have negated the face-up effects on the field, but I still had my facedown card, Gemini Spark." Weiss responded, "Now, I can tribute my Gemini monster, Sardonyx, to destroy your Rosaria." She said before her Gem-Knight exploded, causing blue lighting to ride the rose tornado and collide with the Stately Fallen Angel, causing it to explode as well, "And as a bonus, I draw a card." Weiss said before doing so.
"…Wait," Sora commented as she turned to Neo, "If she had that spell card, couldn't she used it last turn to destroy Ruby's monster again and attack directly?"
"…" Neo shrugged.
Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke up, "She could have," Neo and Sora turned to discover it was the headteacher of Ra Yellow, who adjusted her glasses, "But it would not have worked."
"Gah, who are you!?" Sora said as Neo's irises went white for a second.
"Professor Goodwitch?" Alexis commented, "When did you get here?"
"I just arrived after finishing my duties." Glynda responded, "I called the others to meet me here and was about to inform your group, but it seems I don't have to."
"Wow, that's lucky." Jaden commented, "But, how do you know this place?"
"It's a long story," Glynda said before adjusting her glasses, then looked back to Sora, "But as I was saying, if Weiss had used that card earlier, she would have been able to deal more damage, but Ruby would just barely have life points left. On the next turn, she would have been able to summon her Rosaria without Weiss being able to stop it." She said before looking to Weiss with a prideful smile, "Waiting for the right moment to activate your counterplay is a critical skill for a duelist."
"I guess, but Ruby got lucky with what she drew," Sora commented with his behind his head.
"Well, you kind of have to expect that from her." Blair commented as she looked back to her friend with a smile, "Most of the time, she draws what she needs to get out of a bad situation."
"Awe man, that was my first time summoning that cool rose card." Ruby sulked, "Come on, Weiss." She said with the heiress Obelisk Blue remaining silent with crossed arms, "Fine, I still have my Queen Angel of Rose to attack your Sonata." Ruby said with her monster slashing the lime-skinned singer, causing an explosion.
Weiss: 1800 – 1200 = 600 Life Points
"I end my turn." The hooded Slifer Red said with a slight pout.
"I draw." Weiss said before doing so, slightly gasping at the result, then smiled, "I've got what I need, now to make fusion monster." She said before putting the card in her hand, then took out another card, "But first, I summon Crystal Rose to the field." The heiress Obelisk Blue said as a shining mineral flower bloomed onto the battlefield, (500 ATK / 500 DEF).
"Hey, it's the card I gave you," Ruby commented.
"Yes, which you already know its effect." Weiss said before smirking, "But I'll explain it anyway. Once per turn, I can send a Melodious monster from my hand or deck to the graveyard to have this card's name become that for the turn." She said as a card eject from her deck, "And I pick Mozarta the Melodious Maestra." She said as the silhouette of a masked singer in a red dress was being in the Crystal Rose, "Now, I play Polymerization. Fusion my two monsters together," The Heiress Obelisk Blue said as the Crystal Rose and Cannon were sucked into the vortex, "To make Bloom Prima the Melodious Choir." She said as a young girl emerged from the vortex, with an orange dress in the shape of petals. Near her blue hair, two flowers bloomed as she started to sing, (1900 ATK / 2000 DEF).
"Wow, I love her skirt." Ruby commented, "She's cool, but my monster is still stronger."
"Sorry, but Bloom Prima gains 300 attack points for each material uses in her fusion summoning," Weiss said with her monster gaining a yellow aura, (1900 + (300 X 2) = 2500 ATK). "And one more thing, she can make a second attack each Battle Phase." The heiress Obelisk Blue said before pointing, "Go, Blossom Ballet!" she declared before Bloom Prima started to sing, causing a soundwave to emit from her flowers as if they were speakers. They collided with Queen Angel of Rose, causing the monster to shatter. Ruby then shielded herself from the soundwaves but staggered at the second assault.
Ruby: 3700 – 100 – 2500 = 1100 Life Points
"I end my turn," Weiss said as her Prima Bloom bowed after her performance.
"Okay then, my draw." Ruby said before doing so, playing the card right away, "I play Soul Release. I can now remove all three of my Cherry Inmato cards, Rosaria, and Queen Angel of Rose. So, you know what's coming next?" She said with Weiss smirking, causing Ruby to respond in kind, "With no monster in my graveyard, I special summon Guardian Eatos!" she said as the angelic huntress emerged from the heavens and onto the battlefield, (2500 ATK / 2000 DEF). "And now, I'll attack your Bloom Prima."
"You know only one thing will happen then," Weiss responded as both monsters charged one another, each crashing their right forearm against the others with a sparking aura. However, as that aura shattered, so did both monsters, "Now, you don't have anything left on your field or in your hand."
"Well, I didn't have much else I could do." Ruby responded, then had a look of focus while ending her turn, "But I'll never give up in a duel."
"Heh, that's just like you." Weiss responded, "But, your attack was not as mutually destructive as you think. If Bloom Prima is sent to the graveyard, I can add a Melodious monster from my graveyard to my hand." She said before taking a card out, then drew. "Now, I'll summon out Opera the Melodious Diva in attack mode," Weiss said with the young girl with pink hair and frilly lavender dress reappeared, (2300 ATK / 1000 DEF).
"Wait, you said that monster cannot attack the turn it's summoned." Ruby commented, "Why did you pick that one?"
"Because I wanted to win with both the power of my new and old cards." Weiss said as she took two cards out of her Graveyard, "I can now banish Bloom Prima to summon Crystal Rose back to the field in defense mode." She said as the mineral flower reappeared, (500 ATK / 500 DEF).
"Is she going to use its effect again for another Melodious Fusion?" Blair asked.
"I don't think so," Jaden commented, "That doesn't line up with what she just said, unless."
"I can send a Melodious or a Gem-Knight monster to the grave to change its name." Weiss responded, "This card works with both archetypes. And this time, I pick Gem-Knight Crystal." She said as her silver armored knight was seen in the mineral flower, "And now, I play Gem-Knight Fusion. By merging a Gem-Knight with a light attribute monster." The heiress Obelisk Blue said as both monsters went into the vortex, "I can make Gem-Knight Seraphinite!" she said as a fairy knight with a blue cape was seen, who reposed with a rapier that's blade was made of blue energy, (2300 ATK / 1400 DEF). "Now, attack Ruby directly with Soring Tempest!" Weiss declared with Seraphinite rushing in. After one upward slash with a wave a sparkling wind, Ruby stumbled back before falling to one knee, her hood partly falling over her head as her life points hit zero.
Ruby: 1100 – 2300 = 0 Life Points
The holograms faded as Weiss walked over, "Ruby?" the heiress Obelisk Blue asked before seeing her friend look back at her.
"You did great Weiss," Ruby said with a smile, standing as she pulled back her hood, "Really whipped the floor with me there."
"Hehe," Weiss responded, then smiled back while offering her left hand, "You're still a tough opponent, thank you for the match." Ruby giggled too as she accepted the handshake. The two then saw Blair, Jaden, and Alexis walk over to them.
Neo, Glynda, and Sora still looked on with the petit pro duelist speaking, "Well, looks like she knows how to use those cards with her deck." He said before stretching his arms, "Still, I think she could have won a lot quicker if she played more aggressively."
"Perhaps, but in the end," Glynda responded a smile forming, "She played her way when a duel against a friend."
"I guess," Sora said before yawning.
"…" Neo looked at Sora with a smile, then turned as she noticed a group approaching. Leading the group, the mute pro duelist recognized the person as the fiery Ra Yellow she had dueled once before.
"Excellent, it looks like everyone is here. We can now start heading to the arena." Glynda commented.
"Didn't you want to do something here?" Sora asked.
"Another time, I will see if can return before I have to take my students back to the academy," Glynda said before walking towards the groups, causing Sora and Neo to look at each other in confusion before following.
From the inside looking out the window of the Game shop, the old shopkeeper watched on before looking down at the bottom of the empty deck box, "You know, I think I added too many zeroes when making the price tag." He said before looking out the window again, "But seeing friends duel like that reminds me of the old days." He said while seeing Ruby and Weiss laughing with the others, causing him to smile. However, he then looked over to Glynda, "That woman, is she…" he said before his mind went to an event from over a dozen years ago.
The shopkeeper stood at the counter while trying to organize a massive box of cards. He made a sigh of boredom before hearing the door chirm. Entering was a young girl with light blond hair, holding a schoolbook in her arms. She looked over to the bin of cards, taking a handful, then sorted them. In seemingly no time, all cards were organized into neat piles of type and rarity. The young girl then had a smug look before adjusting her glasses, causing the shopkeeper to smirk back with a wager in mind. He then places two more boxes of cards on the counter, saying if she could organize them, then anyone card in his shop would be free. The young girl adjusted her glasses again before accepting the bet. After hours of sorting, the shopkeeper was amazed at the girl's precision and detail-orientated nature. However, the young girl rubbed her eyes before yawning, placing the last card on a pile, but gasped as it was in the wrong section. She let out a sigh of defeat before turning around, but was stopped by the shopkeeper. He smiled before moving the card to the correct pile, then offered his end of the bargain. The girl had a look of excitement as she examined the nearby case for her prize. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she pointed to one female spellcaster. The shopkeeper saw the card, knowing it was one he wanted to give his grandson, but remember he had a spare copy. He then gave the young girl the card as her eyes glowed in joy. She then waved goodbye before exiting the store, but promised to return occasionally to reorganize the cards.
In the present time, the old shopkeeper looked on at Glynda before smiling, "Heh, she and those kids did remind me of something." He said before walking into the back room, seeing the clean kitchen and organized cards in the storage room, "All hard work deserves a reward." He said before yawn at his day's end.
A short while later.
At the duel league arena, all seats were filled as the crowd waiting in anticipation. In a private box above the stadium, the group of students and pro leaguers all gathered. "Wow, this place looks so fancy," Ruby commented as she examined the leather coaches with tables of fruits and sweets platter nearby. As well, her eyes widened at the melted chocolate fountain. However, before she could stick her index finger in, Weiss slapped her palm, "Ouch!"
"Do not do that!" Weiss responded, then handed Ruby a strawberry on a stick, "Use this."
"Fine," Ruby said before accepting the fruit on a stick, then dipped it against the fountain to coat it in chocolate. Upon letting it cool, she took a bite, causing her eyes to fill with wonder at the flavor combination.
"See, I told you," Weiss said with arms crossed.
"Yeah." Ruby responded with a chuckle, "Glad to see your back to yourself again." She said with Weiss smiling back.
The two then looked over to the others in their group. Blair and Sora filled their plates with sweets, while Pyrrha, Bastion, and Velvet were sampling the fruits. Glynda watched on but was working on her tablet as well. The two then looked back to see Jaden try to stick his hand in the chocolate fountain, only for Alexis to pull it away.
Ruby and Weiss giggled before looking over to Yang and Blake talking with Chazz and Zane, "Come on guys, it's not that heavy." The fiery Ra Yellow said as she lifted Coco's attaché case like it was a dumbbell, then looked over to the shadowy Obelisk Blue, "You want to give it a try?"
"I'm good." Blake said before looking over to see Coco talking with Neo, "They seem to be getting along."
"Nice neckless," Coco said with a smile, "I see you've got good taste in fashion."
"Hehe," Neo giggled before swapping her eye colors.
Suddenly, everyone caught a glance at the monitor counting down from five, "Looks like it is about to start." Ruby said as Weiss nodded, causing them to look out the window towards the arena.
As the countdown reached zero, an announcer was heard over the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. It is time for the event you have all been waiting for, the grand duel of the Kaiba World Tournament!" he said with the crowd roaring in excitement, "In this corner, we have the winner of the tournament, the duelist feared and respected as a soldier of immeasurable power," With those words, the right side of the arena, the military pro duelist walked out with her eyes closed. Yet, her paces did not falter as she stopped at her position on the arena, "Let's hear it for Winter Schnee!" In opening her eyes, an icy cold gaze was seen as the crowd roared in passion.
"Wow, your sister is really popular." Ruby commented as Weiss looked down in confusion, "Weiss?"
"From where Winter is, she can see her opponent before they are announced." Weiss said, "But who could make her that focused before the match." She said before catching a glimpse at the other end of the arena, causing her to gasp.
"While she won the tournament, Winter still has one more opponent to face before claiming the championship in the Kaiba World Tournament." The announcer said as Winter's opponent started to walk out, "And as the name would suggest, you have to beat the one man in the world who could run such a massive tournament." He said as the opponent was fully seen, wearing a sleeveless white long coat over a black shirt and pants. A silver belt was seen with his company's logo on it. His short brown hair almost covered his eyes, but upon close look, they were closed as he walked to his side as the arena as well, "Give it for the man of the hour every hour, the CEO of Kaiba Corporation," the announcer said as Winter's opponent opened his eyes, glare with eyes of focus towards all in the path, "Seto Kaiba!" with those words the crowd cheered in excitement unlike before.
"So, your my opponent," Winter said before loading her deck into a duel disk, "I had heard you stopped dueling to focus more on your company."
"When I heard that a Schnee had won my tournament," Seto said before taking out a blue device, attaching it to his left arm, "I decided to remind your father's company just who is superior in every way." He said before the device emitted a blue light, creating a holographic duel disk.
"I do not duel for my father's company name, only my own." Winter responded, then had a slight smile, "However, for this duel," She said before reposing her stance with an icy scowl, "I will challenge with the pride of another Schnee at my side." Seto did not say a word in response. Instead, he placed a blue light headset over on the left side of his head.
"Wow, with what she just said." Ruby said before looking back to Weiss, but her friend's eyes were locked on the arena.
"Winter," Weiss said in shock, her mind flashing back to her loss against the CEO of Kaiba Corporation over a year ago. However, this memory caused her mind to flashed back to an earlier moment on the island, "I wonder if events will repeat this time around as well?" those words from Yuri echoed in her mind and Weiss clenched her fist, "Beat him." She said with Ruby remaining silent, turning back to the arena match as well.
"Without further ado," The announcer spoke, "Let the match begin!"
"Duel!" Winter and Seto said before the Grand Duel of the Kaiba World Tournament had begun.
Winter: 4000 Life Points
Kaiba: 4000 Life Points
AN: There you go, Weiss now gets to play two archetypes at once. Since I did say Melodious would be here, some people thought it meant Zuzu, (Or Yuzu, which I think is the better name here), would show up. And while I do like her character, I wanted Weiss to get those cards as a deck upgrade, mainly because of that shared archetype card in Crystal Rose opening a lot of combo opportunities in the future. Plus, Weiss can sing, so it still fits with her style, (However, I think it's more Neo's VA that does all the singing in the series. Piggybacking off an earlier question, I think I could have given Neo the Melodious cards as her deck this series, but still think her silent monsters are what I associate with her the most). Ruby got to play some new rose cards in her duel as well but in the end, Weiss pulled out the win and is back to herself again. Solomon was also fun to bring back, as well as give the origin of how Glynda got a Dark Magician Girl card here. Now Weiss must watch her big sister go up against the legendary duelist himself, Seto Kaiba. He is here with some Dark Side of Dimension flare for fun, (I almost wanted to make this an 8000 life point duel, but then people might complain that the real winner would have been the one took over 4000 first, so the standard anime life points are here). This duel will be insane, and I really hope I can do what I want to do in it. In the next chapter, I will also explain the next arc and how this series will be handled going forward. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.
Now, time to answer some questions. Regarding Brave Token cards, it's okay, but not really my thing to play. Regarding the fact that this series is in GX era, I mean that more with the anime than manga. With that as well, I will address me using the dub names. Like I said at the start of this series, I grew up with the dub names. I have seen the sub and heard there names, but for the most part, I still use the dub ones for writing since it is more consistent with how I image the characters. I know other people prefer the sub names, and I can agree some are better, but I made my choice for this series long ago in that regard. Regarding rwby villains like Hazel, Watts, and Tyrian for what deck they might have had here… I don't know. These character leave very little impression on me and only appeared after I stopped watching the series, but if I had to say from what I do know of them; Hazel could be an Eldlich deck, which also answers another question. I like those cards and their lore, plus it seems like something related to his character, (If you told me told me he was based on King Midas, I would believe that over what he is actually based on). Watts would be Timelords, that seems like what I assume he would play, (Sadly, can't give him Watt cards here, just would be too underpowered without Synchro monsters). And Tyrian is either Venom because of his poison (Meaning no Professor Viper) or give him a Trap Monster Deck like Odion's. Maybe give him some Paleozoic cards for more plays and an ace of Serket with Temple of the Kings for his ego, that fills his scorpion theme. Again, very unlikely these characters will show up, but I do have a tournament that is open to a lot of cameos, so who knows. And for if Jaden will get back Winged Kuriboh for a rematch with Yuri, you will have to wait and see if any of that happens here. Those were all the questions I had, feel free to ask more, and I will answer them in the next chapter.
