The Bonds of Pendulum series is a Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V AU fanfic written by Frost190
that is a retelling/retcon of the anime starting from Episode 86, which not only fixes the story and characters, but also gives others like Kachidoki an unexpected relevance, the bracelet girls got the treatment they deserved, and of course a better and outstanding ending.
Bonds of Pendulum: "They were born in different dimensions. They have their own lives and memories. But yet, they are tied by bonds they didn't even know exists and soon are brought together by their past that refuses to stay where it belongs that will lead them to two choices: Peace or Destruction. An alternate retelling of the anime series starting from Episode 86."
Presage of Malevolence: "A year has passed, Leo Corporation excavates a lost civilization that opens the path for new enemies from different dimensions to attack. Yuya and his friends go to the new dimension, and plunge themselves into a new war against a far darker and sinister force that are connected to them and the four dragons more than they expected."
The Last Supreme King Dragon: "Yuya and his friends discover a clue of a certain existence that they realize necessary for their final battle against Dragon of Calamity. Thus, they begin their search and determine to find it before tragedy strike one of their own."
This series contains examples of the following Tropes:
- Adaptation Expansion: Compare to the anime, both Ray and Zarc's backstory is shown prior to the splitting of the original dimension.
- Adaptation Relationship Overhaul:
- In canon it was never stated if Ray and Zarc knew each other before Zarc acned to godhood. Here they were close friends due to their ability to communicate with Duel Monster spirits, but drifted apart when Zarc began to Duel far more viciously. Ray herself confirmed that she was in love with Zarc, which was why her fragments were with Zarc's.
- In Spite of a Nail: In spite of the changes early in the story, there are still things that don't change.
- Yuzu is sent to the Fusion Dimension by accident, but is accompanied by Sora, while Yuya, Shun, Sawtawai, and Gongenzaka, accompanied by Serena, are sent to the Xyz Dimension.
- Rin is still controlled by a Parasite Fusioner.
- Ruri, Rin, and Serena are still absorbed into the ARC-V machine.
- Zarc's reawakening still happens because of Yuri dueling Yuya.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Yuno is a kind, young-looking person who is the beloved oracle of the Cantidel Empire. That doesn't mean he won't kick your ass if you piss him off somehow.
- Really 700 Years Old: Both Yuno and Celica look the same age as their descendants (who are all now 15) but are really over 1500 years old due to a curse inflicted upon them by Apophis.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Despite being separated by about 1500 years, both Yuno and Celica strongly resemble their descendants.
- Year Inside, Hour Outside: Before the beginning of the fic, time in the artificial dimension housing the Cantidel Empire flowed differently than the Original Dimension/ARC-V, with one year in ARC-V being about 16 years in the artificial dimension. Time for the two dimensions synched, however, when a wormhole connected the two.
- Our Hero Is Dead: Yuya is seemingly killed by Apophis in chapter 13. Chapter 17, however, reveals that he and Yuji were sent to the Duel Monsters spirit world somehow, with Yuya in a "neither alive nor dead state".
- Wham Episode: Chapter 13. Apophis begins to regain his power while Yuya and Yuji seemingly die.
