Chapter Text
Something felt wrong, that was the first thing Zane Truesdale felt when he regained consciousness. It wasn’t the ache in his chest nor the phantom stings of electricity crawling along his nerves from the duel against Yubel, who was wearing Jesse’s face like a mask. No, his gut told him that something felt off. He opened his eyes, concrete buildings towered overhead, neon signs flickered throughout the city. A train rumbled somewhere nearby, he also heard car tires skid across the street. This wasn’t that weird Dimension they were sent to and this certainly wasn’t Duel Academy. He got up, he checked himself. Other than the pain that lingered after his duel, his body was fine. His duel disk on the other hand wasn’t. It was damaged, thankfully his deck was intact, he took it out and pocked it.
His memory of the duel resurfaced. Jesse’s empty smile. He heard Yubel’s voice echoing through his head.
“Your despair is exquisite, Zane Truesdale.”
A blinding light followed afterwards, then nothing. Zane narrowed his eyes at the street across from him. A large electronic billboard flickered overhead.
Four Days Until Battle City Sponsored by Kaiba Corporation
His expression froze. “Battle City?”
His words came out hoarse, this was impossible. Battle City happened years ago, before Duel Academy, before the Pro Leagues, before everything. He saw a group of teenagers run past him, they had cards in their hands.
“Kaiba Corp’s going to reveal some new cards!” One of them yelled excitedly.
“I heard that they’re going to be really strong.” Another one said.
Zane continued to stare at there retreating forms, now he was no expert on fashion, but the clothes these teens wore, were outdated. That’s when realization hit him. “This isn’t a hallucination.”
He had been thrown back into the past, he stepped further into the street. His eyes scanned the city with caution. Domino pulsed with energy even at this time of the day. The sidewalks were crowded, storefronts everywhere had Kaiba Corp advertisements plastered on them. This was the city where duelling legends resided, legends such as Yugi Muto, Seto Kaiba and Joey Wheeler.
He heard Kaiba’s voice echo nearby. He turned, mounted above a card shop window, a T.V. broadcast played taped footage from Kaiba Corp HQ. Seto Kaiba stood at a podium, he was dressed in his signature white coat. “Battle City will determine the strongest duellist in the world.”
Zane watched silently, he had studied Kaiba’s duelling style for years. His Cyber Dragon deck owed something to Kaiba’s Blue-Eye’s White Dragon legacy. Seeing him here, in this moment. In his prime no less, awed him. In his era, Kaiba had long taken a step back from Duel Monsters, he dueled occasionally for big events but never full time.
He felt someone bump into him, he turned to see a kid on the ground looking up to him apologetically. “Sorry mister, I was in a rush to see the new Duel Monsters cards.”
Zane helped him up. “It’s alright kid.”
“You look hungry.” The kid held out a wrapped chocolate bar. “Here, you can have this. I’ve got another.”
This simple act of kindness hit him harder than it should’ve had, he stared at it for a second before accepting it. “Thanks.”
The kid grinned. “Are you a duelist?”
He saw a deck sticking out of the kids pocket, he nodded. “Yeah.”
“Cool! Are you entering Battle City too?”
He thought about it, entering a tournament before Duel Academy existed, before Jaden, Aster, Jesse, the Society of Light, before the darkness that consumed everything. His grip tightened on the chocolate bar. Should he even enter it? His presence alone would change everything. The boy tilted his head.
“Mister?”
“Maybe.” He replied.
The kids eyes lit up. “You should! Kaiba says duelists from all over the world are coming!”
Zane almost laughed at that, the kid then suddenly turned and ran down the sidewalk, he turned his head and waved at him. “If you’re entering, then good luck mister!”
Zane saw him disappear through the crowded sidewalk. He thought about his current situation, and he genuinely didn’t know what to do next. He buried his hands in his pockets and walked ahead.
Three days had passed since his arrival in the past. He had been staying at a homeless shelter during that time. An elderly couple passed by him and kindly gave him some money that he used to buy food and drinks. He also sold his damaged duel disk to a parts store that was interested in it. So far he hadn’t been erased from this timeline, he didn’t know how this worked but one thing he knew for sure was that he could interfere.
“Hey! Get back here!”
He stopped walking, at the far end of the street. A blonde teenager sprinted around the corner clutching his duel disk. It was Joey Wheeler, older photos and archived duel footage never fully captured the sheer reckless energy radiating off him in person. Behind Joey came four men wearing dark robes which had Rare Hunter insignias.
Joey skidded to a halt at a dead-end. “Aw man.”
The Rare Hunters spread out, slowly boxing him in. The one in charge smirked. “You’ve got something our leader wants.”
Joey backed up, gripping his duel disk and deck protectively. “Ain’t happening.”
“The Red-Eyes Black Dragon belongs to us.”
Zane watched from the entrance of the alley, he remembered from History class that Joey lost his duel against the Rare Hunter, which lead to Yugi challenging the Rare Hunter to regain the Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
A Rare Hunter activated his duel disk. “Hand it over willingly, or we take it after a duel.”
Joey frowned. “Man, why does it always have ta be psychos.”
“Then allow me.”
A voice cut in through the alley. Everyone turned, Zane stepped in. Joey blinked at the guy in a black coat. “…Uh.”
The Rare Hunter frowned. “Who are you supposed to be?”
Zane walked passed them and stepped beside Joey. “A duelist.”
Joey looked at him suspiciously. “You know these creeps?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Then why’re ya-”
“I’ll duel him instead.” He held out his hand. “I’ll need to borrow your duel disk.”
The Rare Hunters were thrown off by his statement, the one in charge sneered. “This doesn’t concern you.”
Joey reluctantly gave Zane his duel disk. He slipped it on his arm and put his deck in the deck slot. “It does now.” He activated the duel disk. “You want rare cards. Beat me and take them, but if I beat you. I get your duel disk.”
The Rare Hunters eyes narrowed greedily. He could tell that this duelist was strong duelist, and strong duelists often carried strong decks. Joey stepped closer. “Hey hold up, I don’t want ya losing your entire deck. I’ll duel instead.”
He glanced at Joey briefly. “You’ll lose.”
Joey bristled. “The heck’s dat supposed ta mean!?”
“The Rare Hunters cheat. Their decks are built around illegal copies and lockdown strategies.”
The Rare Hunter’s expression twitched. Joey noticed it immediately. “Wait, how’d ya know?”
Zane ignored the question, instead he looked at the Rare Hunter. “You use Exodia.”
The alley became dead silent. The Rare Hunter’s eyes widened. “What?”
“You stall the duel while drawing pieces into your hand. Your deck is designed to prevent counter play.”
Joey stared. “How da heck does he know your deck already!?”
The Rare Hunter felt a bead of sweat run down his face. “Tch. Doesn’t matter.” He pointed at Zane. “If you want to lose your cards so badly, fine.”
“DUEL!” They both yelled.
Zane Truesdale: 4000 LP
Rare Hunter: 4000 LP
The Rare Hunter drew his six cards. “I’ll start.” He placed a card on the duel disk. “I summon Sangan (1000/600) in defense mode and I end my turn.”
Zane smirked when he saw his cards. “I’ll play the spell card Power Bond.” He said. “This card allows me to fuse monsters together.” A swirling vortex appeared above him. “I fuse my three Cyber Dragons to summon the Cyber End Dragon (4000/2800).”
A mechanical roar erupted across the field, as a three headed mechanical dragon came into view. Joey’s jaw dropped. “What da heck is that!?”
“Power Bond, not only allows me to fusion summon, but it also doubles my monsters attack points.”
“Say what!?” Joey yelled, his legs trembled when he saw the monsters attack points climb to 8000. Even the Rare Hunter’s back away.
The Rare Hunter composed himself. “You’re monster might be powerful, however Battle City rules state that fusion monsters can’t attack the turn they’re summoned.”
Zane frowned, his fusion monsters were going to be hindered by that rule. “Since I haven’t normal summoned yet. I play Cyber Kirin (300/800).”
Joey scratched his head when he saw the mechanical dog. “What’s dat card supposed ta do?”
“Observe.” He answered. “I’ll now send it to the graveyard to reduce any effect damage I take to zero.”
Even the Rare Hunters appeared confused, until he explained Power Bond’s drawback. “When I use Power Bond to fusion summon a monster I take damage equal to that monsters original attack.”
“Oh, so dat’s why ya summoned dat dog.” Joey said, now understanding.
“I end my turn.”
“Then I draw.” The Rare Hunter drew a card.
Another piece of Exodia He thought with glee Still better be safe than sorry
“I play Sword of Revealing Light.” Three swords landed on Zane’s side of the field. “This card prevents you from attacking for three turns.”
“I’m aware.” He replied. “Are you finished?”
The Rare Hunter nodded, he drew his card. “From my hand, I play Mystical Space Typhoon.”
“No!” The Rare Hunter shouted in dismay. “My swords!”
The spell card was destroyed, he wasn’t that bothered by it’s destruction. “My Sangan is in defense mode. That means my life points will not take any damage.”
“Don’t count on it.” Zane pointed at Sangan. “Cyber End Dragon attack his Sangan, eternal evolution burst!” Cyber End Dragon charged up its attack. “When Cyber End Dragon attacks a monster in defense position. The difference between my dragons attack points and the monsters defense points is dealt to your life points.”
Joey tried to do the math. “So, 8000 minus 600-”
“It’s more than enough to finish him off.” Zane interrupted him
Cyber End Dragon launched it’s attack, destroying Sangan and dropping the Rare Hunter’s life points to zero.
Zane Truesdale: 4000 LP
Rare Hunter: 0 LP
The Rare Hunter remained motionless from shock on the ground. Zane went and collected the duel disk from him. He also tore up the illegal cards. The other Rare Hunter’s picked up the body and fled.
Zane took out his deck and returned Joey’s duel disk to him. “Here, thanks for letting me use it.”
“Man.” He looked at Zane. “You’re seriously nuts.”
Zane put the duel disk that he won on his arm. “I still won.”
“Yeah ya did.” He shakily laughed, rubbing the back of is neck. “And honestly? Ya kind of demolished dat guy.”
“Still, can’t believe those creeps were after this card.” Joey went through his deck until he came across Red-Eyes. “They’d probably taken it too.”
Zane glanced briefly at the card. It was as rare as Blue-Eyes but not as strong, however it had the potential to be. Joey noticed him looking at the card, he held it up for him to see. “You know this card.”
“Mainly from how rare it is.”
He grinned. “Yeah this baby is gonna help me win Battle City.”
Zane gave a small smile at Joey’s confidence. Most professional duelists in his era dueled for money, rankings, sponsorships and fame. Joey sounded like someone who still genuinely loved the game.
“Ya really freaked those guys out.” He continued. “Especially when you knew their decks.”
Zane’s expression remained neutral. “I’ve seen strategies like theirs before.”
“Whatever you say mystery dude.”
“Mystery dude?”
“Yeah, because I still don’t know your name.”
“It’s Zane.” He introduced himself.
“Man you sound like some action movie character.” Joey held out his hand. “Joey Wheeler.”
They shook hands, when Zane spoke. “You’re a Duelist Kingdom finalist.”
“Guess my fame precedes me.” He rubbed the back of his head again. “Actually, since ya saved my hide and all, c’mon with me.”
Zane released his hand. “To where?”
“My friends Yugi’s place.”
Zane froze, Yugi Muto the King of Games. Joey kept talking excitedly. “His grandpa owns this card shop nearby. Whole gang hangs out there all the time.”
Solomon Muto’s card shop, that place was considered sacred ground in Zane’s time. Joey pointed down the street. “Plus, Téa’s probably there, and Tristan too. They’re gonna lose their minds when they see your deck.”
“My deck?”
“Buddy, you summoned a three headed metal dragon with 8000 attack points.” Joey laughed. “I’m sure Kaiba himself would wanna see that thing.”
At the mention of Kaiba. Zane turned his head to Kaiba Corp, currently the man was still obsessed with surpassing Yugi and still years away from creating Duel Academy.
Joey tilted his head. “So? You comin or what?”
Zane didn’t know what to say and Joey kept on tempting him. “C’mon, man. Grandpa Muto makes some killer fish curry.”
His stomach rumbled, Joey laughed for a third time. “Even if you’re not interested in comin. You’re stomach sure is.”
He almost smiled. “Alright.”
“Alright! To da card shop!”
Before Zane could even reconsider. Joey was already dragging him towards the place.