Yu-Gi-Oh/RWBY Season 2 Chapter 7
Your Own Worst Enemy
Roman hated it all. He hated this prison, with the terrible food, his barbaric inmates, and the guards who refused to accept his bribes and foiled his escape attempts. He hated how his mission had all gone to crap, and his last-ditch effort to rebuild it wound up with him eaten by a giant lizard. But most of all, he hated how Ruby Rose, his prized pupil, his best tool, was now beyond his grasp.
As he sat in his cell, hating everything, there was a sudden flash of light, and wherever he was now, it wasn't his cell. It was more like a white void with three people in white robes looming over him. The biggest one walked forward. "Roman Torchwick, you miserable scum. I should let Placido kill you where you stand, but you could prove most useful to our goals. How would you like a chance to reunite with Ruby Rose?" That was an offer Roman couldn't refuse.
...
Ruby and Pyrrha were concerned, to say the least, when several security officers arrived at Arcadia Academy, led by Trudge. Thankfully, Trudge was willing to talk. "Ruby Rose, what were you doing last night?" Ruby was a little shocked by that question, but answered. "I was here, filing paperwork and grading assignments with Pyrrha." "I'm going to need proof of this." Trudge said to Pyrrha. "I could show you our security cameras." She offered. They showed him the footage, and he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Trudge, what's going on?" Ruby asked. "What happened last night?" Trudge looked at her, and said "Well, I suppose you've earned a right to know with the trouble I just put you through. Last night, someone went around this neighborhood, attacking random people with what seems like psychic powers. The eyewitness reports seemed to describe you." Ruby was taken aback by this. "That's crazy! I would never do something like that!"
"I know, thanks to your evidence." Trudge assures her. "But that means that someone is running around trying to dirty your name, and I would like to make sure that they don't succeed. So I would appreciate it if you stayed here, out of the public eye for a little." "But I have to help you stop her. If someone's trying to make me look bad, hurting innocents in the process, it's my responsibility to stop them." "I'm sorry, Ruby. But I can't risk an incident. As of now, you're under house arrest."
...
Ruby couldn't sleep. All she could think about was the impostor, how they were running around hurting people with her face. She eventually got up and woke Yang. "Hey." Yang groggily got up. "Hey, Ruby. What's up?" She asked, fully knowing what this was about. "I want to catch whoever is doing this. Come on, let's go." "Ruby, I want to stop them just as much as you, but A: You're under house arrest. If you're caught, you'll be in a lot of trouble. And B: We wouldn't even know where to look."
Ruby lowered her head. "I know, I just…" She sat on the bed, next to Yang. "It's just so frustrating, not being able to do anything. I could be out there, taking them out, but-" Their home phone started ringing at that moment. The two looked at each other, and Ruby went over to pick up the phone. "Hello?" "Ruby Rose?" the voice was distorted and altered, so Ruby couldn't tell who it was. "Yes? Who is this?" "If you want to clear your name, go to the East Docks. The mastermind behind your implication will be there." "How do you know that? Who are you?" The caller hung up without answering her.
...
"And why did you drag me into this?" Yang asked as she and Ruby snuck around the docks, waiting for some kind of answer. "Because, I might need your help if something goes wrong." Ruby answered. They didn't have to wait long before someone showed up; a woman in a brown trench-coat, with a black hat and sun-glasses. She suddenly whipped out a metal detector and used it on Ruby, then Yang, leaving the two puzzled.
"Sorry. Had to make sure." The woman replied as if that answered anything. "Thank you for answering my call." She offers her hand, which Ruby shakes. "Coco Adel, nice to meet you." "Wait, are you that Coco?" Coco looked at Yang with a cold stare. "That is none of your business. I would appreciate it if you didn't butt in." She then walked in a certain direction, motioning for the two to follow her.
As they followed, Ruby whispered to her sister. "Who's Coco Adel?" "Apparently, her rich parents were murdered when she was just a little girl, and she's been on the run ever since, trying to find their killer." "And I'm very close to finding them." Coco replies. "By the way, I can hear you." She finally stopped across from a warehouse and pointed to it. "I've been tracking your doppelganger's movements, certain that they have something to do with the people who killed my parents. Now we wait for them to show up, so we can catch them."
And so the stake-out began, tensions not lowering as the three of them spent time together. At one point, Ruby walked up to Coco. "So, you said that you were close to finding who killed your parents. Do you know who they are?" Coco stared at Ruby, but nodded. "The men who broke in that day were working for a group known as Iliaster. My parents were tasked with making a certain card for them, but refused, leading to their murder." Ruby sighed. "That makes a lot of sense. We've had our own fun with Iliaster ourselves. Hope you can stop them." Coco let out a small smile. "Thanks."
They noticed a figure approaching the warehouse. The figure pulled up their cloak, revealing a face nearly identical to Ruby's. "She does look just like me." Ruby exclaimed. "As devilishly handsome as she is handsomely devilish." This earns her looks from Yang and Coco. "What?" she says innocently. The false Ruby knocks on a door of the warehouse, with Roman opening it. "Roman?" Yang almost shouted, but remembered they were trying to be stealthy. "He's supposed to be in prison! Who got him out?" She would soon not be thinking about that as the false Ruby and Roman seemed to lean towards each other and…
"EEEWWW!" Ruby and Yang couldn't look any more, and in fact, were regretting being able to see at all. "That's disgusting!" Yang said as she tried to claw her eyes out. "Why? Why would he do that?" Ruby pondered as she considered throwing herself into the ocean to forget what she just saw. Coco pulled the two of the towards her. "Would you two zip it? They could have heard us." Ruby and Yang calmed down as they resumed their watch. Thankfully what had happened before was done as the false Ruby had entered the warehouse and Roman was outside, seemingly waiting for someone.
"Here's the plan." Coco started. "Me and Yang will draw Roman's attention, while Ruby sneaks inside to confront her doppelganger." "Fine by me." Yang said. "I've always wanted a chance to hurt that creep, and after today, I'm even more motivated than ever." The three then went off, starting their plan. As they approached the warehouse, Yang and Coco both readied their duel disks as the former shouted out "Roman! I don't know how you got out of prison, but I'm putting you in the hospital first." Roman simply turned around and smiled. "Yang Xiao Long. What a pleasant surprise, if not at all surprising. Of course, I won't be going anywhere with you." He readied his own duel disk as they began their duel, all the while Ruby snuck inside.
...
Ruby noticed the inside of the warehouse was sparse, a duel runner just like her own near the entrance, some boxes scattered around, and a terminal on the other side of the room. The other ruby was in the center of the room, facing towards Ruby. "I've been waiting for you, Ruby." The false Ruby started. "Or should I say, my weaker self." "Excuse you?" Ruby yelled. "You've been hurting people in my name, working with Roman of all people?" "He knows the truth, that psychic duelists are far stronger and better than the feeble masses. I've simply been following his example, showing the world that I, the Black Rose, will never be stopped!" The double readied her duel disk, and Ruby does the same.
"I'll start us off, I draw!" the Black Rose declared. "I'll start by activating my field spell Black Garden!" Several vines covered in thorns surround the warehouse. Ruby was careful not to touch the thorns, as she was certain they were very real. "I then summon Evil Thorn!" A vine carrying a bomb sprouts out of the ground. (Level 1/100) "Black Garden's effect now activates. Whenever a monster is summoned, its attack will be halved and a Rose token will be summoned to the opposite side of the field." Some of the vines from the field surround and grapple the vine. (Evil Thorn 100-50) As they do, a large rose appears on Ruby's side of the field. (Level 2/800)
"Rose tokens can't attack or be destroyed in battle. Now, Evil Thorn's effect! I tribute it to deal 300 damage to you and summon two more Evil Thorns!" The bomb on the edge of the vine explodes, sending shrapnel towards Ruby, who feels the actual pain from the damage. (Ruby 4000-3700) Two more vines appear, and again the garden ensnares them. (Level 1/100-50) Two more roses appear on Ruby's field. (Level 2/800)
"Don't worry. These Evil Thorns won't be able to use their effects this turn. I now activate the spell Closed Plant Gate!" A wall of plant matter surrounds Black Rose and her Evil Thorns. "Since I control two plants with the same name, you can't attack me next turn. I set two cards face-down and end my turn. Welcome to a new style of dueling. This is your potential if you knew what was good for you!"
Ruby drew her card, trying to keep Black Rose's words out. "I summon Red Lotus!" (Level 3/1300) "Not good for you." Black Rose taunted. "I activate my face-down, Rose Flame! When a plant is summoned to your side of the field, you take 500 damage!" A column of rose petals fires towards Ruby, cutting her in parts. (Ruby 3700-3200) "And of course, Black Garden activates." Several vines choke the lotus, (Red Lotus 1300-650) as a rose appears on Black Rose's field. (Level 2/800)
Ruby is undeterred. "I use the effect of Red Lotus to summon Petal Shooter!" (Level 4/1800-900) "Now, you will face pain again!" Black Rose cackles as Rose Flame fires on Ruby once more. (Ruby 3200-2700) Another rose appears on Black Rose's side as well. (Level 2/800) "I activate the effect of Petal Shooter to deal 500 damage for each Fire Plant I control. Take this!" Petal Shooter fires two shots towards Black Rose, who barely reacts. (Black Rose 4000-3000) "Weak. I should be doubled over in pain, begging for your mercy. You've grown soft without his mentorship. You need Roman."
"Shut up!" Ruby protests. "I don't need him poisoning my mind anymore! I tune my level 4 Petal Shooter with my level 3 Red Lotus! The bloom of evolution blazes forth. Grow and grow ever stronger! Synchro Summon! Appear, Crescent Rose Dragon!" (Level 7/2400-1200) The dragon roars as the vines from Black Garden pull it down, summoning a third rose to Black Rose's field. (Level 2/800) "Now, Crescent Rose, destroy her Black Garden with Petal Shot!" The dragon fires energy beams from all across its body, destroying the vines. (Crescent Rose Dragon 1200-2400) (Evil Thorn 50-100) "I set three cards face-down and end my turn." Black Rose cackles as she draws her card. "Now, the fun can begin. First, I activate Fragrance Storm, destroying one plant on the field to draw one card, and if I draw a plant, I can draw another card. I'll destroy one of your Rose tokens!" A storm of flowers appears to destroy Ruby's rose token, and Black Rose reveals Rose Tentacles to draw one more card. "I then activate Magic Planter to destroy a send a continuous trap I control to the graveyard to draw two more cards." Rose Flame is destroyed as Black Rose draws more cards.
"I tribute one of my Evil Thorns to deal damage to you." (Ruby 2700-2400) "I tribute the other to summon Rose Tentacles!" A larger rose with several vines as tentacles appears. (Level 6/2200) "I now equip it with the spell Thorn of Malice!" Rose Tentacle's vines have their spines grow in size and lethality. (Rose Tentacles 2200-2800) "Now, when Rose Tentacles attacks a monster, not only will it deal piercing battle damage, but that monster won't be destroyed, and it will lose 600 attack and defense. Further, Rose Tentacle's effect gives it more attacks based on the number of plants you control."
Ruby looks over to her Rose tokens, realizing what's going to happen. "Now, Rose Tentacles, attack one of her Rose tokens, and show her what pain truly is!" The monster fires a tentacle towards the Rose token, but Ruby is quick to react. "I activate my face-down, Dragon Guard! When your monster attacks, I can switch the attack to my dragon-type synchro monster." Crescent Rose intercepts the attack, taking the damage. (Ruby 2400-2000) (Crescent Rose Dragon 2400-1800) "Brave, but pointless. Attack again!"
Rose Tentacles obeyed, and punished Crescent Rose once more. (Ruby 2000-1000) (Crescent Rose Dragon 1800-1200) "Once more, to finish her off!" A third tentacle flies towards Crescent Rose Dragon, but stops just short. "I activate my other face-down, Power Wall, sending cards from my deck to my graveyard to negate the damage!" Sixteen cards block Rose Tentacle's attack. "But your monster will still be hurt." (Crescent Rose 1200-600) "One more attack." Black Rose adds with a wicked smile. "Your defenses are exhausted now. Goodbye!" Rose Tentacles fires its last tentacle at Ruby.
"My defenses aren't all gone." Ruby proclaims. "I activate my last face-down, Reverse Trap. Until the end of the turn, attack boosts and attack reductions are switched! So now my Crescent Rose will become stronger and your Rose Tentacles will wither!" (Crescent Rose Dragon 600-4200) (Rose Tentacles 2800-1600) "Crescent Rose, counterattack with Red Rose Flare!" The dragon shoots out a red beam of destruction, tearing Rose Tentacles apart, with the force of the counterattack sending Black Rose into the wall. (Black Rose 3000-400)
Black Rose seems to laugh as she gets up, wiping the blood from her mouth. "Good, good. That's the power I know. The cruelty." "Stop that!" Ruby protests. "I'm not like you. I would never hurt someone like this." "Oh?" Black Rose asks. "You mean you don't remember the Fortune Cup, when you put a man in the hospital for calling you a monster? Or when you nearly destroyed Melanie when she told you the truth about Zero Reverse?" Ruby remembered those times, but shook her head. Black Rose continued. "The truth is, you have plenty of anger in you. The world is cruel and unfair. Plenty of people have suffered, and you have the power to stop it, but are repeatedly told not to, for fear of what you can do. But I say, don't be afraid. Why let them tell you what to do? You could rule the world as a queen, with Roman, the only person who believed in you from the beginning, by your side."
Black Rose walks towards Ruby, a smile on her face, and her hand extended. "Join me, and we can finally set things right. We can stop the Three Elders, and bring about a brighter future for all psychic duelists everywhere." Ruby thinks her offer over. "You're right. I am angry. There's so much I could do, and it hurts that I can't." She rejects Black Rose's hand. "But Roman didn't believe in me. He only wanted to use me as his weapon. Yang believed in me, even when I didn't. I will fight for what I believe in, but I will do it my way, as a signer!" She bares her signer mark against her opponent, and Crescent Rose roars in solidarity.
Black Rose's smile fades, and she returns to her side of the arena. "Very well. If you wish to reject me, then you will perish. I activate Seed of Deception, summoning Anger Seed from my hand!" A seed with a red aura appears (Level 1/0) "I then activate my face-down, Urgent Tuning, letting me immediately synchro summon! I tune my 3 level 2 Rose Tokens with my level 1 Anger Seed! Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!" (Level 7/2400)
Ruby stares as the monstrous version of her Crescent Rose from when she was at her lowest appears before her. The two dragons roar at each other, vying for dominance as Ruby's signer mark glows. "I activate Black Rose's effect! When it's synchro summoned, it can destroy all cards on the field! Black Rose Gale!" The wicked dragon lets loose a storm of rose petals, that shakes the foundations of the warehouse as both of their fields are wiped clean, with the exception of Black Rose Dragon.
"Anger Seed protects the synchro monster it is used for from destruction by card effects the turn it is synchro summoned. Now, Black Rose, rid this weakling from my sight with Black Rose Flare!" The dragon charges a black stream in its mouth, ready to fire. "Since a monster I control was destroyed, I can summon Revival Rose from my graveyard!" The tri-headed rose appears from Ruby's graveyard, (Level 4/1300) only to be destroyed by Black Rose's attack.
Black Rose sighs and says "I end my turn. You may defeat me, but my words remain true. The world will always see you as a monster, and you will never belong." "Maybe," Ruby replies. "but that doesn't mean that they're right. I draw! I activate the effect of my Crimson Thorn in my graveyard, banishing it to revive my Crescent Rose Dragon." The true dragon reemerges, proud that it has outlive its darker version. "I will not be ruled by my darkness any more. Crescent Rose, attack directly with Red Rose Flare!" The dragon fires a red beam square onto Black Rose, temporarily lifting her into the air from the impact, and leaving a crater in the ground where she stood. (Black Rose 400-0)
As Black Rose fell to the ground, Ruby noticed something odd, and walked closer to investigate. Her curiosity was rewarded, as she noticed several robotic parts falling out from the now lifeless doppelganger, just like the "Ghost" from earlier. Unlike before, she heard a shimmering as the robot's body blurred, then disappeared.
...
Roman was almost down in the duel, as Yang's Celica Burst Dragon and Coco's Chevalier De Fleur had both pushed him into a corner. He heard a message from his mysterious benefactors, however, telling him it was time to go. "It was nice getting in touch with you, Yang, but it's time to go. Ta." He plays Emergency Teleport, using his psychic powers to disappear. At the same time, Ruby appears out of the warehouse. Yang was about to ask what happened when Ruby suddenly hugged her, which signaled to Yang that now was not the time. As the two embraced each other, Coco left, deciding that those two might be helpful in the future, and silently promised to meet them again.