Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Altered Destinies ❯ Chapter 10: Scanner Error ( Chapter 10 )

This is my first attempt at a Yu-Gi-Oh fanfiction so please be kind in your reviews, if you review. I might not have many of the characters in character. On another note I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh and never will. I don't know whom it is that owns Yu-Gi-Oh and besides giving these unknown parties credit for making such a kickass manga/anime, I don't really care. Also, I don't have any money right now so, no one can benefit at all when it comes to suing me.

I came up with this idea when I read a couple of stories that I have read on fanfiction.net. One was recently taken off for some reason but it had been a good story. The other focused on the series if Yugi had been born a girl. I decided to take my shot at this kind of story but using Seto Kaiba. I will only mention this once so pay attention:

/Backslash/ - a conversation between a person and their spirit. i.e.: Yugi to Yami and vice versa.

//Double Backslash// - the person is thinking.

-Altered Destinies, Chapter 10-

//What can I do?// Yugi questioned in his mind. //I'm already behind and the duel just started. That is not good against this opponent.//

//There is nothing you can do Yugi-boy.// Pegasus thought. //Your Sennen Puzzle has no chance against the all-seeing power of my Sennen Eye. You will now summon your Rock Soldier in defense to end your turn as you wait for a monster worth defending with Hexagram Curse.//

"I play Rock Soldier in defense," Yugi said and a giant monster, completely made of rock, made its appearance (4/1300/2000.) "Your move Pegasus."

"Okay," Pegasus drew a card and sets one face down. "I summon Dragon Egger in defense and end my turn." A big egg (7/2200/2600) shows up. Yugi drew his next card and Pegasus knew what it was. //Ahh, the Demon Summon. A level 6 monster with 2500 attack and 1200 defense. Perfect to use along side of Hexagram Curse and some of the other cards in your hand.//

//Pegasus is reading my mind so I better act quickly.// Yugi thought. "I summon the Demon Summon in defense mode and set one card face down." The skull-like demon appeared kneeling down. //As soon as you attack, I'll spring my trap.//

//Too bad it won't work.// Pegasus chuckled mentally as he drew Trap Reversal and set it down. "I'll switch Dragon Egger to attack and attack your Demon Summon." Pegasus dragon makes its appearance from the shell and sends a breath of fire at Yugi's monster.

"I activate my trap card, Hexagram Curse," Yugi said as he turns his face down card around. "This stops your attack and weakens your monster by 700 attack points (attack 1500.)"

"NOOOO," Pegasus shouted in concern for his predicament. "I'll end my turn now."

"I'll switch Demon Summon into attack mode and destroy your dragon," Yugi said as the demon monster stood up ready for attack. "Say goodbye to 1000 life points." The Demon Summon sends out its trademark lightning bolts to the weak Dragon Egger.

"Too bad for you as I activate my trap card," Pegasus said as he flipped Trap Reversal over. "It's a trap meant for traps called Trap Reversal."

//Oh no. That sends my Hexagram Curse back at my Demon Summon. He baited me in the whole time.// Yugi thought as his own trap turned against his monster (attack 1800) and that Pegasus' monster counterattacks and destroys it (Y: 1400 P: 2000.) The audience is looking stunned.

"This isn't good," Jounouchi said as his best friend has taken an early decline. "Pegasus seems like he knows what Yugi is going to do and Yugi can't stop it."

"Yugi just can't lose after getting this far," Anzu said. "So much is on the line and Yugi is taking on a real mind reader. It just isn't fair."

"Until the match is over," Honda said. "I am not convinced and neither should you two."

"It's time to up my odds of winning as I play Toon World," Pegasus said as he flipped his other face down card. A magic book has appeared and Yugi knows that trouble is abound. "Toon Dragon Egger, destroy his Rock Soldier." Yugi's stone monster was dismantled as Pegasus switches his new Toon Mermaid into attack mode and the dragon disappeared into the book.

Yugi draws his next card. //This should be able to eliminate his mermaid.// "Elven Swordsman, I summon you to attack his mermaid." An elven-like warrior appeared and charge straight for Pegasus' mermaid only for it's sword to be stopped. "What?" Yugi said as he noticed a pair of hands had caught the sword. "The clam shell has caught the attack." The shell went on to kick the swordsman away to give the mermaid a chance to dispatch him. "That should've been a draw."

"Should, would've, but it wasn't," Pegasus said. //Didn't you learn from my duel with Kaiba. You can't destroy a toon with a non-toon unless you immobilize it.// "You're not even making this a challenge Yugi."

//Sure Pegasus, this is real fair.// Yugi thought sarcastically as Pegasus sets two cards face down. //Relying on a magic card that was never released because it is too powerful. To top that off, you also rely on knowing what your opponent is thinking. Get rid of those two factors, and Kaiba should've beaten you easily. She got you down to 1000 life points even though you had those going for you.//

//You would be right there perhaps.// Pegasus thought as Yugi drew his next card. //She lasted longer than I thought and I had to read every single card in her deck in order to win.// Yugi summoned his next monster in defense. "Sorry to burst your hopes of keeping your life points safe, but I now activate the trap card known as Gorgon's Eye. Whenever you summon a monster into defense mode, my trap card will turn them into stone and when my monsters destroy a petrified monster, half of their defense points are deducted from your life points. It is also a permanent trap card so that it will continue to do its work." Yugi monster was turned to stone.

"My Imp," Yugi cried out as his monster's skin solidified.

"Now for my turn," Pegasus said. "I play Copy Cat. You should remember this card. It allows me to play any card that has been discarded from the field and I think I'll take that Demon Summon for a spin." The black, cartoonish cat jumped into Toon World and out pops a Toon version of Yugi's monster.

"What have you done Pegasus," Yugi asked as he saw the creator's newest recruit. "You must enjoy twisted creatures into such monstrosities."

"What a rude thing to say," the white-haired man said as the crazy toon is putting on some feminine charm. (Is it just me, or is the Toon Demon Summon (Summoned Skull) the freakiest looking monster yet.) "Just for that, Demon Summon, attack his paperweight of an imp now." The imp crumbled from the impact of the lightning and because of Gorgon's Eye, Yugi loses half of the Imp's defense strength (Y: 900 P: 2000.) Yugi drew his next card and Pegasus got a good look at it. "Black Magician, your favorite and the main focus of your deck." Yugi gasped in shock as Pegasus announced what Yugi just drew. "This will indeed be interest. If you set it in defense, you are sure to lose over 1000 life points and lose this duel. Put it in attack and it still can't harm my toons and the Toon Demon Summon will just destroy it."

"I summon the Black Magician in attack mode," Yugi played the monster he just drew then took one card from his hand. "Then you will have to find him in order to destroy him, for I play Magic Silk Hat." Four hats appear on the field to hide Yugi's favorite monster.

"You forget something Yugi," Pegasus said. "I know which hat it is in."

//I can feel him trying to read my mind.// Yugi thought in desperation. //I must shield my thoughts from his probe or I will lose.//

/Other me./ The host Yugi called out. /Let me take over right now and be prepared to switch back./

/What, why?/ The Yugi that had been dueling asked.

/I'll explain it after the duel./ The puzzle shone in a bright light as Pegasus' Toon Demon Summon sent its attack at the hat that Pegasus was sure had the Black Magician. The smoke from the attack filled the arena.

"It's over Yugi," Pegasus sneered. "Black Magician is history."

"Are you sure about that Pegasus," Yugi said. "Maybe your not so all seeing as you think."

"Huh," Pegasus replied. //Yugi sounds differently after my attack, but why?// Pegasus got a good look at the situation on the field to see that the hats remained. "The Magic Silk Hats are still active. That would mean I missed, but how."

"I'll start my turn by drawing," Yugi drew his card and quickly set it on the field face down. "Do you know what card I just played Pegasus? I dare you to try to read my mind if you think it's that simple." Pegasus growled at Yugi's question. "Maybe you don't know as much about my Sennen Puzzle as you think." Yugi's friends, now joined by a white-haired boy named Bakura Ryou, are questioning the wisdom of Yugi to make such a challenge at Pegasus considering that none of them knew much about the puzzle.

"You challenge my abilities with the Sennen Eye," Pegasus asked. "Your more of a fool than I thought. I accept and this will be easy." Pegasus quickly went to work with his eye, but did not notice the Puzzle glowing as Yugi changed back into his alternate self. When all was said and done Pegasus was shocked at his results. "What? I can't read what that card you just set face down is. How is this possible?"

"It is possible because I don't know what it is either," Yugi said. "Because of the Puzzle, essentially two minds inhabit this body. You can only read the mind of the one currently in charge. This is the counterattack to your Mind Scan, called the Mind Shuffle." Yugi's friends cheered as this latest development.

//Mind Shuffle.// Pegasus thought as he just realized something. //Kaiba must've known along that I had some kind of ability to read a person's mind and predict their moves. Her actions in that duel outside my castle were intended to make Yugi realize just how different the two personalities really were. I had thought that when Yugi changed into that persona, that he was essentially the same person.// "Fine, Demon Summon attack the hat on the far right." Toon Demon Summon did what it was told and smoke filled the arena. "Did I get? Surely I must've gotten it by now." The smoke cleared and, "No nothing I missed again."

Yugi changed back into his original personality and drew a card. "I'll play this face down. Goodbye for now." Yugi change back.

//Two face down cards.// The darker Yugi thought. //I have no way of knowing what they are, but I trust that Yugi will come through for me.//

//This is absurd.// Pegasus thought as he drew his next card. //If I try to find out where the Black Magician is, he'll just change right back to his original self and stop my Mind Scan there.// Pegasus looked at his next card and laughed. "I don't have to worry about finding your Black Magician for me. I play Magic Effect Erasure."

//Oh no, that cancels out the effects of one magic card on the field.// Yugi thought. //Since neither Pegasus nor me know what the face down cards is exactly, he'll go for my hats.//

"There you are," Pegasus said the hats disappeared from the field. "Toon Demon Summon attack."

"Not so fast Pegasus."

"He's changed back," Pegasus whispered as he monster went on with the attack. Yugi flipped over the last card that he said. "Magic Effect Arrow, what good will that card do for you."

"This allows me to send the last magic card used against me right back at you Pegasus," Yugi's comment hits the longhaired man.

//That cancels out all spell like effects active on the field at the time, including Toon World and the spell-like powers of my Gorgon's Eye Trap.// The arrow struck the book and Toon World was effectively out of play. "It doesn't matter now, because my attack is still on its way."

"That's where this comes in," Yugi said as he revealed his other face down card, Mirror Force.

//No.// Pegasus realized the trap card that Yugi activated and Yugi changed back to his other self. //That destroys all the monsters I have in attack mode and with Toon World gone, my monsters can't dodge.// Pegasus could only watch as his Demon Summon's attack bounce right back and destroy his monsters (Y: 900 P: 800). "This can't be. My toons destroyed." Pegasus takes his time contemplating the new turn in events and set his hand aside to clap. Yugi and the others watch in confusion to his actions. "You have my applause Yugi. You have come such a long in figuring out the powers of your Sennen Puzzle. Then again that was the whole purpose of this tournament."

"Nani," was all Yugi could say as Pegasus' eye glow eerily. Soon a black cloud like object started to form around the arena.

"Let the Game of Darkness begin," Pegasus said as a solid black dome surrounded the duel arena, bringing Yugi and Pegasus into a whole new dimension. "I originally got the idea for Magic and Wizards from a game that existed way back in Ancient Egypt. Egyptian Kings and Sorcerers used large stone tablets and summoned real monsters from this realm. Now for my next move, I summon Dark Eyes Illusionist." A strange wizard-like monster appeared on the field (1/0/0.)

//I've never seen a monster like that before.// Yugi thought as he looked at the weak monster.

"I certainly would think not Yugi," Pegasus said. "This monster was just created and has never been used before. This is his first battle and I should mention something. Whatever damage is done here is felt by the duelist so if you think changing back and forth is going to help you, think again. Your host personality doesn't have the experience of this realm like you or me have, the strain might be to much and the loser loses his life."

Yugi draws a card and calls out, "I play Curse of Dragon in attack and end my turn. I don't trust the readings on that monster." Yugi changes into his normal self. Sweat ran down his face as his labor breathing indicated the stress from the Game of Darkness is taking its toll on him.

"I'll just draw this card and end my turn," Pegasus said. "What's wrong Yugi? You look a little under the weather."

//He's right.// Yugi thought as he drew a card. //The strain of having to maintain two monsters on the field is getting to me.//

/Aibou, let me take over. It's getting to be too much for you./ Yugi changed back. "I'll attack your monster with Curse of Dragon. End this duel quickly."

"I counter with Dark Eyes Magic," Curse of Dragon stopped dead in its track as Pegasus drew his next. "Attacking Dark Eyes Illusionist activated its special ability. This ability can stop an attack and you turn." Yugi scowled at the fact that Pegasus is using an unknown monster. "Don't look at me like that, because it is about to get worse for you. I summon this monster and then I play Illusion Ritual. This ritual requires that I sacrifice a monster in order for my Dark Eyes Illusionist to become Sacrifice." A large grotesque monster appeared in the place of the two monsters (1/0/0.) "What can this monster do, you ask? Well he still has the same ability as Dark Eyes Illusionist, but in addition, watch as he absorbs your paralyzed monster." Curse of Dragon was pull into a vortex coming from Sacrifice's mouth.

"Fine," Yugi said. "I'll attack with my Black Magician. Black Magic Attack." Black Magician fires the attack from his staff and as it is about to destroy Pegasus' monster Curse of Dragon (5/2000/1500) appears on the monster and takes the attack and damage was done to Yugi (Y: 400 P: 800.) "Why did my Curse of Dragon shield the attack?"

"When Sacrifice absorbs a monster," Pegasus explained mockingly. "It becomes part of Sacrifice. So when your attack came at it, Sacrifice used its Sacrifice Shield ability to let your monster take the attack instead of it. Since Curse of Dragon was still considered your monster, you take the damage. Now Sacrifice, stun his monster and absorb as well." Black Magician paralyzed and absorbed into Sacrifice. "Black Magician's power is now mine to command."

/Let me take over for this turn./ The normal Yugi said.

/Are you sure you want to do that?/ The other Yugi asked. /You won't last for very long./

/I just need time for one turn./ Yugi answered. /We can't let Pegasus read our minds and this one turn could be all we need./ The other Yugi consented to Yugi's wishes and Yugi took control. He drew one card and played a Gremlin in defense.

"Sacrifice, attack with Black Magic Attack right now," Pegasus' monster charged up an attack by siphoning power from the Black Magician and sent its attack straight for Yugi's Gremlin, destroying it.

/I'm sorry that I couldn't see this through to the end Other Me./ Yugi said weakly.

/We still have time to change back./ Yugi passed out. /Aibou no./ The other Yugi took control of the body. "That was a cowardly move Pegasus. Attacking before Yugi had the chance. I will defeat you. For his sake."

"You won't stand a chance," the maniacal CEO said as Yugi drew his next card. "Wall Guardian Dragon I see." Yugi scowled at no longer having a means to stop the Mind Scan. //That's right Yugi. You no longer can hide any secrets from me other than that face down card on the field and that only because you don't know it either. What if you illegally activate it Yugi? It will do you no good. I have this duel in the bag. Mwhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.//

-To Be Continued-

This has to be my longest duel yet. In the next chapter, the end of the Duelist Kingdom Tournament is upon us as Yugi and Pegasus are heading down the stretch. Who will win (like you need me to tell you that)? What other surprises are in store? And just what is with Jounouchi's sense of balance.