//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: Redemption // Story: Dueling is Magic! A Rip in Time // by Wolfgang //------------------------------// Dueling is Magic! A Rip in Time Chapter 18: Redemption *********************\ At journey's end, Yusei and Paradox prepare to return home. Paradox now has a new mission: Redeeming himself for his actions. With Yusei as his new friend, the road to redemption may not be a difficult one. *********************\ Author’s Note: A short ending to a short story. As a challenge, go back through and see how many references you can find! But if you find one from the Back to the Future trilogy, let me assure you that it was completely accidental. I haven't seen the movies in ages. Well, this should just about wrap it up. I'll post an epilogue and then a list of the home-made cards I gave to Paradox. I hope you enjoyed our little romp through time! /*********************\ A light breeze created ripples in the grass and rustled the leaves of a few nearby trees. Paradox stopped to look around. “This truly is a beautiful place,” he said with a sigh. “I was wrong to think I could sacrifice it.” “Potential exists everywhere, Paradox,” said Yusei. “Even here in Equestria. We shouldn’t be so quick to throw things away.” “You are correct, Yusei,” said Paradox. He turned to the six ponies beside him. “I’m sorry for what I tried to do. Can you ever...” “We forgive you, Paradox,” said Fluttershy. “It’s not like you won anyway,” said Rainbow Dash. Applejack smacked her on the shoulder. “OW!” Twilight turned her head and wouldn't look at Paradox. “I’m really glad that we got to see each other again,” said Yusei to the ponies. “I just wish we could meet under better circumstances.” “Me too, Yusei,” said Pinkie Pie. “Still, it was kinda fun, wasn’t it? Big adventure through Equestrian history, running for our lives, with an epic battle at the end of it all!” Yusei laughed. “It was fun, wasn't it?” he said. “The rip to your world is just over this hill,” said Twilight. “Once you’re through, we’ll close it up.” “It’ll have to be closed from both ends,” said Pinkie Pie. Everyone looked at her. “What? I read it in a book!” “Pinkie, when did you read about this?” asked Twilight. “That time you thought a disaster was coming because you went back in time to warn yourself not to worry about the future and we went to Canterlot to look for time spells in the Star Swirl the Bearded Wing and we didn’t find one but there wasn’t a disaster so I showed you that time travel spell and then you went-” “Alright, Pinkie, dear,” Rarity interrupted. “I think we get it.” “I can close the rip from our side,” said Paradox. “I can modify the portal generator to close rips with ease.” “Um, by the way, Twilight?” said Pinkie. “About that week... you remember when you came to see Madame Pinkie and I told you you’d get a really cool birthday present and then a flower pot fell on your head?” “Yeah?” said Twilight. “What about it?” “I think I threw it at Paradox when he was chasing me and Puddinghead,” Pinkie said sheepishly. “We hid in a house and I dropped it from a window on the second floor. It looked just like the one that hit you.” “Oh,” said Twilight. “Well, it’s okay, Pinkie.” “Stranger things have happened,” said Applejack. Suddenly, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Discord appeared overhead. “Princesses! Discord!” said Twilight. “What are you three doing here?” “We put Cerberus back at his post and decided to see Yusei home,” said Discord. “Paradox, I assume you will be returning to your dimension as well?” asked Celestia. “I will,” he said. “I possess stolen cards that I must return, and I have a lot of work ahead of me if I wish to redeem myself for my actions.” “Best of luck to you,” said Luna. “Thank you,” Paradox replied. “We should get going,” said Yusei. “Thank you for your help, everyone.” “Before you go, Yusei,” said Celestia, “perhaps there are some lessons in friendship that have been learned here.” “I agree,” said Yusei. “What do you mean, your Majesty?” asked Paradox. Twilight stepped forward to explain. “A few years ago, the princess sent me to Ponyville on an assignment. I met my friends here. She gave me another assignment afterward: I was to study the magic of friendship and send her a report of what I learned.” “Paradox, I think you should give the report this time,” said Yusei. Paradox blinked. “A report... on friendship?” he said. “You have very strange ways here, my little ponies.” He smiled. “Very well. I came here knowing only destruction. I was built by a scientist named Z-One, and given the mind of one of his late friends. My mission was an experimental one: To prevent the development of Duel Monsters by any means. “I had come online with memories of devastation, and with the fruits of that devastation as my only scenery. I knew only ruin, death and emptiness. “After my mission failed, I began searching for more power. I broke through the dimensional barriers by accident and found myself in this same field. My scans showed that there were massive amounts of energy here. So I studied and found a way to complete my mission. But again, I knew only destruction, and that is how I would complete my mission: I would destroy this place to destroy the future of my world. “I hunted all who would stand in my way... and failed to destroy you. I suppose fate had other plans, even for me. Instead of being destroyed as my alternate self was, Yusei fought to save me. I still cannot believe that he did. “From all of you, I learned forgiveness and kindness. From all of you, I learned that there are ways of preventing destruction without using destruction itself. I’ve also learned the meaning of hope.” “Thank you, Paradox,” said Celestia. “Twilight? Did you learn anything?” “No, Princess,” said Twilight blandly. “I didn’t.” Celestia frowned, but said nothing more. He and Paradox mounted their D-Wheels. The engines revved and they sped off toward the rip. Yusei looked back and waved. “Goodbye, Yusei!” shouted everypony. ***** The anomaly flashed twice. Two D-Wheels emerged. One was familiar, the other was not. “Yusei!” said Crow. “Guys, Yusei’s back!” He, Jack and Ushio ran up to him. “Yusei! Are you alright?” asked Jack. “I’m fine,” said Yusei. Jack nodded, then looked behind Yusei at the other D-Wheel. “You!” he roared. Jack stomped over to Paradox, with Crow right behind him. “Give me back my card!” “Yeah, mine too, you thieving-!” “Of course,” said Paradox. He held the two cards out in front of him. “I apologize for taking them from you.” Jack and Crow stood dumbfounded. They each took their card. “I did a lot of damage, and much more is yet to come,” said Paradox. “I wish to help fix it.” Jack and Crow were still silent. “Yusei!” called Chief Ushio. “You made it back!” “Ushio!” said Yusei. “Yeah, I had a heck of a journey.” “Who’s this guy?” Ushio asked. “Chief! I’m detecting massive chroniton and Momentum readings from the stranger’s D-Wheel!” shouted Akutsu. Ushio crossed his arms. “I guess you’ve got some explaining to do,” he said to Paradox. “Perhaps, but before I do,” said Paradox, “I should close this rip.” He pushed a few buttons on his D-Wheel console and turned the vehicle to face the anomaly. A white beam shot out of the nose of the D-Wheel. The anomaly slowly shrank and then vanished. ***** The glow from the Elements of Harmony faded. Twilight and her friends slowly descended to the ground. The rip to Yusei’s world had vanished. “That’s that,” said Twilight. “Come on, everypony. We should go make sure everyone in town is okay.” “Twilight,” said Fluttershy, “do you think we’ll see Yusei or Paradox again?” “I don’t know, Fluttershy,” Twilight answered. “But I wouldn’t mind seeing Yusei again.” “What about Paradox?” Twilight didn’t answer. “You know what I think?” said Pinkie Pie. “I think it’s time for a PARTY!” Twilight smiled. “I think you’re right, Pinkie,” she said. “Come on, everypony! Let’s go celebrate!” THE END