Yu-Gi-Oh/RWBY Season 2 Chapter 9
Bonds Beyond Time
Ruby stares over the skyline on the roof of their garage, lost in thought. "Hey." her friends, including her newest friend Penny, come up to see her. "What are you doing?" Weiss asks. "Thinking." Ruby answers, trying not to let them notice her mood. "It's the anniversary of that day, isn't it? When Zero Reverse happened?" Blake says, which causes Ruby to turn away. "You're not at fault for that. We don't blame you." Yang insists, but Ruby's gloom and guilt feels insurmountable. "Tell you what? How about a turbo duel to clear your head?" Ruby nods, a small smile returning to her face.
They go out to have fun testing out the new speed program that Ruby and Penny installed. After some time, someone new drives up behind them. He manages to catch up to Ruby, so she gets a good look at him. He has long blonde hair with purple highlights near his face, which is obscured by a domino mask, and a white coat covering a maroon shirt and dark blue pants. He says nothing but pulls out a blank card. Suddenly, Crescent Rose Dragon, which Ruby had out during her duel with Yang, was pulled into the card, as the stranger laughed.
"Crescent Rose!" Ruby protests as the stranger drives off, overtaking them all. Ruby is so hyper-focused on her attempt to catch up to him, that she doesn't notice the Crimson Dragon surrounding her until her surroundings are completely changed. Instead of the highways of Neo Domino City, she was on some island, with the buildings currently aflame. She noticed a girl about her age fighting the stranger from before who looked familiar. Ruby didn't have time to help her as the stranger disappeared.
Ruby got off her duel runner to address the girl. "Would you happen to be Maria Calavera by any chance?" The girl turned to face Ruby with a surprised expression. "Yeah. How'd you know?" "My name is Ruby Rose. This is probably going to sound insane, but I'm from the future, and I think I need your help to stop that guy." "You're from the future? Heh, that must be how you know me. I bet I'm super famous and there's a big statue of me, right?" "…sure, let's go with that. Anyway, we need to hurry if we're going to catch that guy. Come on!"
Ruby brought her over to her duel runner and the two rode together, using the power of the Crimson Dragon to follow the stranger. Their next destination seems to be Neo Domino City, but Ruby realizes that it's actually the old Domino City of the past. The two follow the gathering crowd to see what is actually happening. They see a huge tournament being led by Maximilian Pegasus, and both Ruby and Maria are excited to see Oscar Pine, the King of Games. The excitement is cut short however, as they see Crescent Rose Dragon along with several other dragons in the sky, led by the stranger from earlier, who laughs as he commands the dragons to attack.
Ruby barely has time driving through the panic to grab Oscar before the Crimson Dragon whisks them back in time, specifically half an hour earlier, if the clock tower in the distance was to be believed. The three got off Ruby's duel runner to catch their breath. "Thanks." Oscar said between breaths. "But who are you two?" "My name is Ruby Rose and this is Maria Calavera." Ruby answers. "We were brought here to stop that madman, who stole our cards." "We're from the future!" Maria excitedly exclaims. "Why is he attacking here?" Oscar wonders. This causes Ruby to think a bit, as she wasn't entirely sure herself. "I don't know. He just appeared out of nowhere, took my Crescent Rose Dragon, and disappeared." "Same thing happened to some of my friends." Maria replied. "He showed up, used what I assume to be your dragon to attack Duel Academy, then when Watts and Robyn showed up, he took their dragons too, before you showed up."
"Out of curiosity, what's the date?" Ruby asked, a certain train of though entering her head. "It's the 22nd of February. Pegasus is holding a tournament to boost the popularity of Duel Monsters." Oscar answers. "What's the name of the tournament?" "The New Friendship Tournament. Why?" "That's got to be it!" Ruby exclaims. "He's trying to stop the tournament to stop Duel Monsters from gaining popularity." "What?" Maria exclaims. "That's insane!" "I know. We have to stop him. But first, we need to get rid of this crowd so they don't get hurt." "I got this." Maria assured her, before her eyes glowed red and green.
The crowd that had gathered quickly dispersed when a strange monster appeared and started roaring. "Thanks, Yubel." Maria said. "Anytime. I love scaring humans." Yubel replied before disappearing. "We've got company." Ruby pointed out as she points to the stranger from before arrives on a duel runner before stopping. "You three just can't help yourselves, can you?" he remarks. "Why are you doing this?" Oscar demanded. "Why are you trying to stop Duel Monsters?" "Because if I don't, the world will end. I come from the far future, where humanity has grown arrogant and complacent, and it has thrown the world out of balance. Duel Monsters is to blame, so if I destroy it before it has a chance to grow, the world may be saved!"
"But if you destroy Duel Monsters, you'll radically change the timeline." Ruby protests. "You don't know if the new timeline will be better or worse from such a grand alteration." "I DO KNOW!" The stranger yells. "I, Paradox, have earned the right to this decision, after seeing all of humanity be destroyed by its own hubris. Nothing will stop me from saving the world, not even you!" He readies his duel disk, as the three heroes do the same.
"For the sake of this world, I will stop you, Paradox!" Ruby proclaims as her signer mark glows. "It's time to get your game on!" Maria declares as her eyes glow. "I don't fully understand what's happening," Oscar says as his Millennium Puzzle glows. "But anyone willing to commit such atrocities must be stopped. Paradox, it's time to duel!"
"I'll start us off. I draw!" Paradox says. "I activate the field spell Malefic World!" A wave of discoloration expands from Paradox's duel disk, causing the world around them to have its colors inverted. "Now, during my draw phase, instead of drawing, I can add a random Malefic monster to my hand. I then send Tesla Max Dragon to my extra deck to summon Malefic Tesla Max Dragon!" A large mechanical dragon with 3 heads appeared before being covered in dark armor. (Level 10/4000) "Hey, that's Watts' card." Maria protests, but Paradox ignores her. "I set a card to end my turn."
This must be why he took our dragons before coming here. Ruby thought. To get weapons for his mission. "I draw!" Ruby declares. "I discard a plant from my hand to summon Rose Synchron!" (Level 2/100) "I then summon Thorn Lancer!" (Level 4/1700) "I tune my level 4 Thorn Lancer with my level 2 Rose Synchron! Be the wall that grows over and over to save all that is green and good! Synchro Summon! Appear, Thorn Gardna!" A large plant-monster covered in thorns and wielding a massive shield appears. (Level 6/2600) "Synchro monster?" Oscar asks, puzzled. "Whoa, cool monster!" Maria cheers. "I can't wait to see what else the future holds."
Ruby smiles at them before continuing. "When Thorn Gardna is synchro summoned, I can target 1 monster you control. That monster can't attack while I control Thorn Gardna." Thorn Gardna slams its shield into the ground, causing several thorns to hold down Malefic Tesla Max Dragon. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn." "Ruby Rose, the psychic signer. If anyone would destroy the world, it's you." Ruby ignores Paradox's taunting, but still feels her anger boiling. "I activate Malefic World's effect to add a random Malefic monster to my hand." Paradox sees the card he drew and smiles. "And this is what I have obtained. I send Truth Dragon Loxley from my deck to the graveyard to summon its Malefic Form!" A fae-like dragon appears, before being covered in the same black armor as Tesla Max Dragon. (Level 8/4000) "You coward!" Maria yells. "Give Robyn's card back!"
"You want this dragon? Well, here it comes. I activate Malefic Truth Dragon Loxley's ability! Once per turn, I can summon another Malefic monster from my hand, deck or graveyard. Appear, Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon!" A massive blueish-white dragon appears, before being covered in black armor. (Level 8/3000) "That's Ironwood's dragon!" Oscar exclaims. "When did he get that?" "You have much more pressing matters, Oscar Pine!" Paradox counters. "Malefic Truth Dragon Loxley, attack with Truth of Despair!" Loxley fires a stream of green energy towards Thorn Gardna. "And when Loxley attacks, you can't activate any cards or effects." The green beam continues unimpeded, destroying Thorn Gardna.
"And since your synchro monster is gone, Malefic Tesla can attack directly!" The three-headed dragon fires a storm of electricity towards Ruby. "I activate my face-down Replanting! When a plant I control is destroyed, I can immediately re-summon it!" The shattered pieces of Thorn Gardna reassemble, putting the monster back together. "Pointless. Your monster will still be crushed." "Not when I activate the effect of my Ghost Leaf Shield in my graveyard, banishing it to prevent my monster's destruction this turn." A swarm of gray leaves appears, shielding Thorn Gardna. "Malefic Tesla will still deal piercing damage to you." (Ruby 4000-2600) "I set a card and end my turn, returning Malefic Blue-Eyes to my deck." Blue-Eyes glows before being absorbed back into Paradox's duel disk.
"My turn. I draw!" Maria exclaims. "May I borrow your Thorn Gardna, Ruby?" Ruby nods in approval, knowing what Maria has planned from their last duel. "I activate Polymerization, fusing Ruby's Thorn Gardna with my Skele-HERO Reaper to make Skele-HERO Wilting!" A large wilting flower appears, with a scythe in the middle of its stem. (Level 7/2500) "When this card is fusion summoned, all monsters you control lose attack equal to the attack of its plant-type fusion material. Life Severance!" A noxious cloud rolls through Paradox's field. (Malefic Tesla Max Dragon 4000-2400) (Malefic Truth Dragon Loxley 4000-2400)
"Wilting, attack Loxley with Thorny Slash!" The flower fires several vines that destroy Loxley. (Paradox 4000-3900) "Wilting can attack all monsters you control once each. Attack Tesla Max Dragon!" More vines appear to destroy Tesla Max. (Paradox 3900-3800) "I activate my face-down, Malefic Tune!" Paradox replies. "Since my Malefic monster was destroyed, I get to draw two cards." "Whatever." Maria retorts. "I set four cards face-down and end my turn."
"Ah, Maria Calavera, or should I call you the Supreme Queen of Darkness?" Maria grits her teeth in anger. "You have caused quite the amount of destruction yourself, both in this world and the spirit world. Getting rid of you will be quite the service to the world. I activate the effect of Malefic World to add another Malefic to my hand! And the card I choose is Malefic Crescent Rose Dragon!" Ruby's own dragon appears, before being covered in black armor. (Level 7/2400) "Crescent Rose…" Ruby whispers. "Since I control a Malefic synchro monster, I can activate Malefic Claw Stream, destroying your little flower!" The dragon fires a black shot of energy that destroys Maria's flower. "Then I'll activate my face-down Reaper's Recycling!" Maria replies. "When a Skele-HERO fusion monster I control is destroyed, I can summon its fusion materials, so come back Thorn Gardna and Skele-HERO Reaper!" Thorn Gardna (Level 6/2600) and Skele-HERO Reaper, a skeleton in a robe carrying a scythe (Level 7/2500) both appear.
"I summon Malefic Parallel Gear!" A small gear with arms appears. (Level 3/0) "Now, I tune my level 7 Malefic Crescent Rose Dragon with my level 3 Malefic Parallel Gear! Born from threshold of the dimension of Darkness, time to lower the curtain of destruction on the stage that surpasses time and space! Synchro Summon! Appear Now, Malefic Paradox Dragon!" A large, black and white dragon appears. (Level 10/4000) "When Malefic Paradox Dragon is summoned, I can summon another synchro monster from my graveyard, ignoring the summoning conditions. So appear, the original Crescent Rose Dragon!" (Level 7/2400)
"What's more, all your monsters will lose attack equal to the attack of Crescent Rose!" A wave of black energy hits Ruby and Maria's monsters. (Thorn Gardna 1600-0) (Skele-HERO Reaper 2500-100) "Malefic Paradox Dragon, attack Skele-HERO Reaper!" The dragon fires a beam of black energy, but Ruby responds, "Thorn Gardna can redirect the attack to itself!" Thorn Gardna blocks the attack, being destroyed in the process. "Crescent Rose, finish the job!" The dragon fires a beam of red energy, wiping out Maria's monster. (Heroes 4000-1700) "Too bad you did all that work for nothing." Maria taunts. "I activate my face-down, Reaper's Rebirth, to summon back 2 of my monsters that were destroyed this turn." Thorn Gardna and Skele-HERO Reaper all reappear, still affected by Malefic Paradox Dragon's effect. "Sorry, but my monsters think the graveyard is a boring place, and like to escape it as much as possible."
"I draw!" Oscar declares. "I play the spell card Ancient Rules, letting me summon a level 5 or higher normal monster from my hand. Appear, the Dark Magician!" A wizard in purple robes carrying a staff appears. (Level 7/2500-100) "Alright! Dark Magician!" Maria cheers. According to the records, Dark Magician was Oscar's ace monster. Ruby thinks to herself. I wonder what he'll do with it. "I then play the spell Bond Between Teacher and Student, summoning Dark Magician Girl!" A witch in similar clothing appears, holding a staff. (Level 6/2000-0) "Next, I play the spell Magic Gate of Miracles! Since I control 2 or more spellcasters, I can change 1 attack position monster you control to defense position and take control of it."
He must be trying for Malefic Paradox Dragon, Paradox thought. "I activate my face-down Malefic Force, equipping it to Malefic Paradox Dragon. Now it is unaffected by your spell cards." Oscar smiles. "Now who said I was going for that monster?" Paradox gasps as he realizes his mistake. "I'll take your Crescent Rose Dragon!" A gate with large cartoonish hands appears, grabbing Crescent Rose Dragon and bringing it back to its rightful owner. (2000) "Welcome back, Crescent Rose." Ruby says. "Now our monsters won't be affected by Paradox Dragon's ability anymore." (Thorn Gardna 0-1600) (Skele-HERO Reaper 100-2500) (Dark Magician 100-2500) (Dark Magician Girl 0-2000) "I then play the spell Dark Magic Twin Burst, combining my wizard's attacks!" Oscar's monsters combine their staff and wand, creating a dark ball of energy. (Dark Magician 2500-4500) "Now, Dark Magic Attack!" The ball is thrown towards Paradox Dragon, blowing it up. (Paradox 3800-3300)
"Foolish little pharaoh. You think you've accomplished anything? That was but a taste of my power. I activate Malefic Paradigm Shift! When my Malefic Paradox Dragon is destroyed, I can pay half my life points," (Paradox 3300-1650) "To summon the monster that will send you all to oblivion! Appear, Malefic Truth Dragon!" A massive golden dragon appears, which Paradox fuses with, causing him to appear out of the red gem on its forehead. (Level 12/5000) Oscar resignedly sighs. "I set a card and end my turn."
"Your little show of resistance is now at an end. I draw! I then play the spell card Malefic Selector, banishing two Malefic monsters from my graveyard to add two new ones to my hand." Malefic Parallel Gear and Malefic Tesla Max Dragon vanish from his graveyard as Paradox adds his new monsters. "I now summon Malefic Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Malefic Red-Eyes Black Dragon through their effects!" The same blue dragon appears, (Level 8/3000) accompanied by a black dragon, also covered in armor. (Level 7/2400)
"When a monster you control is destroyed, Malefic Truth Dragon will wipe out all your monsters, and deal 800 damage for each one. Now, attack and wipe out Thorn Gardna, and with it all of Duel Monsters!" The golden dragon fires a beam of destruction on Thorn Gardna, destroying it. "Now, wipe out all of their monsters!" Another beam is fired, this one encompassing the rest of the heroes' monsters. "I activate my face-down, Scattered Bone Shield!" Maria replies as a wall of bones blocks the beam. "When a monster I control is destroyed this turn, all my monsters are protected from one destruction this turn."
"How wonderful. But now your monsters are defenseless. Malefic Blue-Eyes, attack Dark Magician Girl!" Blue-Eyes fires a beam at the witch, but Oscar is not intimidated. "I activate my face-down Spellbinding Circle, trapping Blue-Eyes!" A magical circle full of sigils appears around Blue-Eyes, stopping its attack. "Then I'll have Malefic Red-Eyes attack your Dark Magician Girl instead. Wipe her out!" The black dragon fires a ball of fire towards the witch.
"I activate my own face-down, Trip to the Underworld!" Maria replies. "Skele-HERO Reaper and one other monster we control will be banished until the end of the turn." Crescent Rose and Reaper fade away as Dark Magician Girl is destroyed. (Heroes 1700-1300) "Clever. You not only saved your monsters, but reduced the damage you'll take from Malefic Truth Dragon's effect." Paradox states as Truth Dragon wipes out Dark Magician, their only remaining monster. (Heroes 1300-500) "But it won't save you. I activate my face-down Malefic Divide, reviving a Malefic monster from my graveyard. I choose Malefic Crescent Rose!" (Level 7/2400)
"Malefic Crescent Rose, end this farce here and now with Malefic Rose Flare!" The dragon fires a black and red beam of energy towards the three. "I activate my last face-down, Flute of Summoning Kuriboh, adding a Kuriboh or Winged Kuriboh to Oscar's hand." Maria replies. "I will then discard my newly added Kuriboh to negate the damage." Oscar continues, causing Kuriboh to appear, blocking the beam. "I end my turn." Paradox begrudgingly admits. "During the end phase, Malefic Divide banishes Malefic Crescent Rose." The dragon fades from existence.
"And our monsters will come back." Ruby says as Crescent Rose and Reaper return. "Paradox, your world may be in danger, but I won't allow you to destroy ours. Your reign of terror is over. I draw! I switch Crescent Rose to attack position." (2400) "I then activate Crescent Rose's effect, banishing Skele-HERO Wilting to gain its attack. Crescent Evolution!" (Crescent Rose Dragon 2400-4900) "Now, attack Malefic Red-Eyes, with Red Rose Flare!" Crescent Rose fires a beam of red energy, overtaking Paradox. (Paradox 1650-0)
A white void overtakes the world as Time is reset. Ruby waves to Oscar and Maria. "Well, guess it's time to head home. Goodbye." "Hope I see you again sometime." Maria says, Ruby being sure that they will. "I know now that the future lies in good hands with you." Oscar assures Ruby, who goes on her duel runner to return to her own timeline. As she traveled through time, it was weird. She could have sworn she saw someone following her, but when she looked back to see who it was, they were gone. That didn't matter, as now Ruby had her own time to save.