Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Yugioh The College Years: The Different Story ❯ Chapter 4
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Yuugi Motoh 
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.02.2005 | Updated On: 11.05.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 275 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Adventure / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.02.2005 | Updated On: 11.05.2005 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 275 | Status: Work In Progress
CHAPTER 4
"Look over there," Tristan said, shading his eyes with one hand and pointing. "Up that way. Isn't that the place where Kaiba showed up and did that thing with his prototype Duel Disk?"
"You HAD t'remind me of that." Joey glowered.
"Better remember that little lesson if you make it to the finals. Kaiba's nobody to mess around with."
"Yeah? Well, neither is Joey Wheeler."
"You sure you're up to competing, Bakura?" Yugi asked. "You haven't Dueled for years now."
"Oh, I think I'll manage." The white-haired boy gave Yugi a little nod. "And, if I do get knocked out, at least I can say I was here."
"There are worse ways to get back into Dueling, for sure." Tèa patted Bakura's arm encouragingly. "I'm glad to see you haven't been, you know... soured on it or something."
"True enough, that. But no, I do like Dueling every bit as much as I ever did. Which isn't to say that I'm in Joey's or Yugi's league."
"As long as you believe in the Heart of the Cards, they'll see you through." Yugi smiled up at Bakura. "I'm sure you'll do great. Just play your best."
"Trust me, I mean to give it everything I've got." And take everything you have, Pharoah. "Oh oh-- do you hear what I hear?"
"What-- wait a sec." Tristan tipped his head. "Sounds like somebody's Dueling! C'mon, I think it's over this way." He plunged off onto a smaller trail that led to the left of the main path they were on. "OUCH! --Uh, watch out for low lying branches...."
"Typical." Tèa rolled her eyes. "Jump first, ask questions later."
The group emerged in a small meadow, in the center of which rested one of the old-style Dueling Arenas. True enough, there were two people on the platforms, facing each other across the holographic field. One of them was Weevil Underwood. The other made Joey's face light up at once. "Hey! Mai, look, everybody, it's Mai Valentine!"
The blonde woman on the platform nearest them started slightly, then glanced sideways, eyes widening for just a second. "Joey..?" she murmured under her breath. Quickly the flash of surprise (and a touch of delight) faded from her face, covered by a teasing smirk. "Looks like they let you out of the zoo, huh, Brooklyn?" she called. "How about a little quiet for the lady? I'm just about to win here."
"Ha, that's what YOU think!" Weevil crowed from the other side. "It's the third turn! Here comes my Great Moth!"
Mai stifled a yawn. "Is THAT all you've got?"
"You won't be saying that when my Great Moth turns your puny Harpie Ladies into crushed canaries! Now, my beautiful insect, ATTACK her face-down card and remove her defenses!"
"Hold the phone, Underwood. Didn't your mother ever teach you to look before you leap? That face-down card is a little trick I picked up from a REAL winner." Mai tipped a wink in Yugi's direction. "It's called Wall of Illusion. When it's attacked the creature hitting it goes back into its owner's hand. You may have destroyed the Wall, but your Moth gets bounced off the field till your next turn, saving MY Harpie Ladies for an encore." Mai tapped another card. "And it's a real hot number I like to call Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation."
"Wha-what? Oh NO!!!"
"Oh yes. Now read'em and weep! Harpie Ladies, GO!"
"All right MAI!" Joey cheered as Weevil's remaining life points vanished.
"Way to go, Mai!" Tèa jumped up and down, clapping.
"And that's all folks," Mai said, tossing her hair back idly. "All right, Weevil, pony up those Star Chips."
"GRRRR.... Fine! Take them." Weevil slapped two Star Chips down on his game panel and stalked off, muttering.
"Diamonds are a girl's best friend," Mai commented, walking around to scoop up the stars and socket them into her wristband, "but this month's fashion statement is DEFINITELY stars."
"Wow, Mai, that was terrific," Yugi said as the five friends clustered around her. "And it's great to see you again."
"Thanks, Yugi." Mai favored the boy with a smile and a brief touseling of his multicolored hair. "I kind of hoped I'd see you here. You too Joey."
"Did ya think for a second I'd miss a tournament like this one?"
"To be honest, I thought about giving it a miss." Mai rested a hand on her hip and gestured around with the other. "I mean, everyone knows a sequel is never as good as the original. Frankly, I wondered if Kaiba was running out of ideas. But so far I'm enjoying myself."
"Four chips already," Tristan observed. "Busy morning?"
"Slow morning. Weevil was my first Duel. The little snert must've beaten someone else before I ran into him though, since he had two chips to bet." Mai looked around. "I don't suppose... you'd be willing to let me walk along with you for a little while."
"Huh?" Yugi looked confused. "Of course we'd be willing. Why do you ask?"
Mai looked uncomfortable, but she squared her shoulders and looked Yugi straight in the eye. "I need to talk to you about Battle City. You AND Joey."
The two young men exchanged glances; then Joey nodded at Mai. "Sure thing, Mai."
As she fell into step beside them, Mai nibbled her lip lightly, trying to sort out the questions which'd been on her mind for two years. Eventually she said, "I... suppose I'd better start with 'thanks'. I'm guessing you guys saved my life at some point, though a lot of what happened... I needed time to think things through. I didn't understand what happened to me. I was... a little shaken."
Joey wisely didn't comment on that, guessing from the admission that Mai had probably been more than just 'a little shaken'. Instead he said, "Yeah, figured you'd see us around. Not like it's t'find Yuge, here, just look for the light reflectin' off his hair at night."
"You know, I used to feel a lot like Kaiba. I mean, this whole 'Heart of the Cards' thing. Maybe I could understand it better-- woman's intuition, that sort of thing-- and maybe I realized there must be something else working for you two. It's not just skill; it's not just luck, though YOU--" she punched Joey lightly on the arm-- "have GOT to have the best luck I've ever seen. How many four-leaf clovers do you roll in before a Duel, anyway?"
"Rabbit's feet, strictly rabbit's feet. Clover gives me da hives."
"I'll remember that." Mai gave Joey a sideways look and a smile. "Anyway... I guess.. the biggest question I've got isn't for you, Joey. It's for Yugi."
"Go ahead, Mai, if I can answer it I will."
"Who..." Mai started, stopped, swallowed, then started again. "Who was that that jumped up and shielded Joey and me? When Marik had that, whatever, that thing he called a God-Monster, fire at us... that wasn't any special effect, was it?" Her voice dropped to a ragged whisper. "I saw his eyes-- his face-- over Joey's shoulder. You'd never look like that. You never could. I'm not saying... I'm not trying to run you down. You know I respect you. You're one of the best Duelists I know, and you're probably one of the nicest human beings on the face of the planet, and rotten human beings is something I AM an expert on. You're so far from qualifying for 'rotten' that sometimes I don't believe you're REAL... but that doesn't change the fact that wasn't you that protected us."
Yugi put a hand to the Millenium Puzzle, the cool metal against his palm reassuring. "You're sort of right, Mai," he answered. "I was there... but so was somebody else." He heaved a sigh. "It's hard to explain, and it might be ever harder to believe, but... if you trust me, like you say you do, then trust this. Everything that I'm about to tell you is the truth.
"I'm not alone. When I Duel-- every time since I started Dueling in the tournaments, from Duelist Kingdom on-- I haven't been Dueling alone. There's someone that helps me. Someone that... lives INSIDE me. Through the magic of the Millenium Puzzle, two souls share one body. The person you saw that day at Battle City, and the person that you've seen Dueling, isn't me. I'm there, with him, and we share everything, we work together. But he's not me. At first he called himself 'Yami' because he didn't remember his name, but we found out later he's really the spirit of a five-thousand year old Pharoah." I think that's enough to tell her for right now, he added silently to the other presence in his mind. I'm not sure she's ready to deal with the part that you and I were once ONE soul that got divided into two halves.
'No,' Yami agreed. 'It's a rather intricate metaphysical concept, and this world isn't much on metaphysics, from what I've seen. There is also the point that I'm not sure to this day that the person who told us that spoke the truth. Still...' Yami gazed off into the distance thoughtfully. 'It answers so much, and it feels so right, that I am inclined to accept it without question, though I'm at a loss for what could have so utterly divided us that the division is to all intents and purposes permanent. We can unite our spirits for short periods, such as when we Duel, but we appear to be complete individuals on our own.'
You're making my head hurt on one side.
A deep chuckle. 'Sorry.'
"A... Pharoah," Mai said, staring at Yugi. "Okay, if it was anyone else, I'd be calling the men in the white wagon. What you're saying is there's some kind of ghost living in you? Possession or something?"
"Kind of," Yugi agreed. "He doesn't just take me over or push me out of the way. I don't GO anywhere. It's more like we're in synchronization." The boy shook his head. "I can't describe it any better than that. It's not something I really CAN describe. I'm there, but I'm not. He's here, but he isn't. It's both of us and... neither of us. We share everything."
"The victories, the losses..." Mai hesitantly reached out, touched Yugi on the shoulder. "The dangers...?"
"Yeah. What happens to him happens to me, and vice-versa. He worries about that sometimes."
"So you felt it when that fire, beam, whatever hit him."
Yugi looked down. "He tried not to let it come through," he admitted. "He tried to protect me from feeling it, as much as he could. But yeah. I was there, and I felt it." He looked up again at Mai, violet eyes pleading for her understanding. "Mai, he's my friend; he's my partner. I trust him with my life and my soul. I know he'll never let me down. You can trust him too. He knows who his friends are. A lot of them are standing right here."
"Well." Mai blew a strand of hair back from her eyes. "Only one thing left then."
"What's that?"
"Show me." Mai stopped, propped her fists on her hips, and gave Yugi a saucy grin. "Remember me, Mai Valentine? I take a lot of convincing. I believe YOU belive what you're telling me, but I want to see it for myself."
"That's fair," Tristan agreed.
"Dis is gonna be good," Joey whispered to Tèa.
That's your cue, partner. Yugi closed his eyes and dropped his hands out to his side, feeling the rush of power fill him. A second's dizzying rush of light and sound (does anyone else see that or feel it, he wondered for the hundredth time) and then the world steadied, though it all looked and felt different--
Because he wasn't quite himself any more.
Yami opened his eyes, casually tucking a hand in the front pocket of his jeans, and nodded to Mai. "Good morning, Mai."
Mai scowled, gaze meeting Yami's measuringly; then she gasped a little, startled. "Oh.. my..." One hand drifted up to press fingers lightly to her lips. "You--" she faltered, fell silent.
"Dis is da Pharoah," Joey said, looping an arm over Yami's shoulders. "Mai, Pharoah. Pharoah, Mai. Yer supposed to say 'pleased t'meetcha, Ya Majesty' at dis point, Mai."
"That is scarcely necessary, Joey. Mai and I have already met, several times."
"Yeah, but DIS time she knows it's you."
Mai drifted a step closer. "You're-- are you TALLER? Or am I just seeing things?"
"No; you're not seeing things. I am taller than Yugi, and older, at least in appearance. As far as we can tell the magic of the Millenium Puzzle makes most people overlook that fact. They simply think Yugi 'looks taller on TV' or something, if they notice it at all. Very few people ever learn to tell the difference between us, and those that do are usually either very familiar with us both, or actively looking for the change."
"Your voice is different," mused Mai. "More... sure of yourself. WELL." She laughed lightly. "Either you're a split personality, or I'm not as crazy as I thought I was. And considering the fact you're still Dueling, I'll go with the second explanation. I don't think Seto Kaiba would be inviting mental patients to his tournaments. Sorry if that sounds insulting," she added.
"No insult taken. I'm relieved you are willing to accept our explanation of the facts, when it would be more sensible to believe I am but a splinter of Yugi's mind."
"Some of the things I saw... lived through... at Battle City..." Mai shut her eyes tightly, then opened them. "Let's just say it was a near-religious experience. It made me question the way I look at the world. But what finally decided me was all of you." She gestured around at Tèa, Joey, Bakura and Tristan. "You've known Yugi for years. If anything was seriously off-kilter, I don't think you'd be as calm and collected about it as you are. They seem to be buying into all of this Egyptian stuff. Must be some truth in it."
"Now if we just get KAIBA to do the same thing," Tèa said. "He's still on the 'don't give me that, there is no such thing as magic' kick, and he's constantly putting Yugi down about it."
Mai made a face. "Did you ever expect anything else? Kaiba's never comfortable until he can analyze, label, and file everything."
"Indeed. I fear someday his logic will turn on him, like a tiger that has had enough and lashes out at its trainer. I would not wish to be him when that happens." Yami gestured. "Shall we continue? The rest of us need to find Duels, if we are to present you proper competition, Mai."
"Spoken like a true champion." Mai turned Joey's way. "By the way, that 'thanks' earlier was to both of you."
"Hey, ya don't... I mean... aw, Mai." Joey fidgeted. "Like I'd run out on ya when you needed me. I ain't never forgotten what ya did for me an' Serenity at da first Duelist Kingdom. Ya know... any time ya need me... I'm gonna be dere for ya. You're one special lady."
"Hmm." Mai smiled again, lowering her lashes, and patted his cheek. "Thanks for noticing."
****
"Well, we're mo-oo-vin' on up, to the east side, to a dee-luxe apartment in the sky-yiy-yiy..." the six foot purple feline crooned as it moved rapidly back and forth, stuffing things into a pair of large steamer trunks. Somehow, even though it appeared to be totally at random, the objects packed (be they books, clothes, or whatever) were neatly folded, stacked, or otherwise arranged to make the best use of the space inside their containers.
But then, where Doppleganger was concerned, anything worth doing was worth doing very, very well. It was in his nature. He could become any card on the field in a Duel, and by extension he could assume not just the appearance of anything he wanted to, he could take on something of its personality and talents as well, enough to be indistinguishable from the item or being copied. For a time at least. Since he couldn't duplicate memories or knowledge, sooner or later he would betray himself if he tried to duplicate someone well known.
Pausing, the Duel Monster looked back over one shoulder towards the living room, ears swiveling to catch any sound. As far as he could tell his master hadn't budged. The slightly goofy expression he habitually wore faded, replaced by a more serious one. Closing the trunks, he slung them over his back and glided out of the bedroom, stacking the trunks near the door. It would be a little sad to leave. At least as much as a creature like himself thought of (or needed) somewhere to dwell other than the Shadow Realm, he liked the castle, thought of it as his home. Poking his head into the living room, he said softly, "Boss?"
The man on the divan turned his head slightly. "Yes, Doppleganger."
"Y'r all packed. At least the stuff you said you couldn't do without. When are we leaving?"
"Not just yet."
Doppleganger came all the way into the room in a single step, flowing effortlessly, like the cartoon figure he resembled. "You sure we oughta be hanging around? I thought you were planning to split this scene."
"Yes, yes, I know." Pegasus raised one slender hand. "But not yet, my friend. We're not leaving just yet." He fell silent, fingertips resting gently on his forehead.
"How come?"
"...Oh, no reason really... except I seem to be suffering from an acute bout of chivalry. Dangerous thing for a man in my position, really, but there you are. I've always been SO prone to the theatrical." One weary brown eye glanced up at Doppleganger. "Go up into the tower and bring me my deck."
Doppleganger's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates (literally). "Your deck? But, boss-- you haven't Dueled in almost three years. Not since Kaiba was last here, and you can't call that a Duel--"
"I haven't REALLY Dueled since I lost Duelist Kingdom. I'm quite aware of that. But nonetheless, go and fetch my deck." Pegasus stood slowly. The past years had been hard on him-- recovering not just from the trauma of having the Millenium Eye forceably removed, but the infinitely slow knitting together of his overstrained reason into something approaching sanity again. But if the body was weak, at least he'd held onto his strength of will, and that would just have to do. "We're not leaving until we make sure those children are all right. They're good Duelists, all of them, and in some cases more than merely good. But only two of them have any real experience playing a Shadow Game, and if things go the way I believe they might..."
"Boss..." Worried now. "Boss, you're not up to that."
"Up to it or not, if circumstances call for it, I will. My past is irretrievable, dear friend. Nothing can change it or make away with the things I did. But I simply can't walk away from this." Pegasus chuckled in the back of his throat. "Imagine, me, a shining knight riding to the rescue. Let's hope it just doesn't come to that, hmm? Now, be off with you. Shoo shoo shoo."
Doppleganger bowed low and scuttered across the floor, flowing through the crack under the door and disappearing. Pegasus turned, looking once more over the familar sights of his bedroom, which for all he knew might be one of the last things he ever saw. My castle... my sanctum.
My hiding place. Hiding from the world and from myself. This isn't forgiveness, there is no forgiveness for me, no undoing what I did. Reasons or not, it was my own choice to steal souls, to trick an innocent boy into coming here, and force him to compete in order to claim the ancient item he held. But...atonement, perhaps. Some attempt at balancing the evil I did and would have done. One can do worse than die in search of that. And if I die, well. It might save one of Yugi's friends the trouble. A faint smirk crossed his face. Though I SO should've liked to've seen Kaiba's face when I finally returned to the public limelight.
He turned and walked towards his bedroom, already turning over in his mind what to wear. After all, he was Maximilian Pegasus.
If he was going out (in all senses of the word) then by all means, he meant to do it with STYLE.
****
The path they'd chosen at random led roughly westward, winding through a light forest that anywhere else would've seemed perfect for an early morning walk. Here and there golden lances of sunlight came through the canopy to dance over the ground, and birds twittered and chirruped at the little group of Duelists, not quite as shy of people as their wilder kindred elsewhere. Yugi looked up, following their flight, and spied a fat grey squirrel watching him with lively interest. Any other time, I'd be out here offering him a boiled peanut, and I bet he'd take it. This island is really peaceful and quiet. I guess I can kind of see why Pegasus loves it so much. It's what we're having to do that spoils the place. Any other time, any other tournament... he shook his head a bit. Ok. Focus. I've got to be on my game in a big way. We all do. He reached out with one translucent hand and had it taken. No words; none needed. Just knowing Yami was there calmed him. Soon as this is over, we're going right back to the search, he promised himself. We're going to find all the answers this time. I'll find a way to get us over to Egypt. Heck, if nothing else, if I win this tournament I'll be able to afford the plane trip for us all to go, and Ishizu might be able to help us once we're there. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. I just get this feeling that more than ever I need to understand what happened to the Pharoah.
"There ought to be a Dueling Arena just up ahead," Mai pointed out. "We might want to take a break there and see if anyone else shows up."
"Sounds great to me." Tèa paused a second to tug up a sock. "I mean, wandering around in the woods is all well and great, but it's going to be hard to find other Duelists this way. I didn't see that many other people at the registration tent last night."
"I think they were arriving all day yesterday, but you're right. There aren't as many Duelists this time around."
"Kaiba's stacking the deck in his favor, if you think about it," Tristan pointed out. "If there aren't that many people, then he can be pretty sure none of the people he REALLY wants to get into the castle will have that hard a time. He doesn't have to worry about anyone being wa--" he stopped. "Looks like you got your wish, Joe. Check it. Someone's got the place camped out already."
"All right!" Joey crowed. "Three of 'em. That's one apiece."
"Hey, who says I'll let you have all the fun?" Mai teased. "Don't give me puppy eyes. I'll be generous and sit this one out."
There were three boys sittiing around the top of the arena platform, and of them the redhead was first to notice the newcomers. He stood and shaded his eyes with one hand, peering that way, then nudged his friends to their feet. "Whoo, 'bout time!" he said, leaping off the edge of the arena. "Competition! Mah butt was fixin' to rust solid to that thing if I had to sit much longer." When he got closer he stopped, striking a cocky little pose. "How do, gents n' ladies. You folks lookin' for a Duel or two?"
"Amos," the second of the trio murmured. "Maintain."
"Shoot." The redhead slapped his forehead. "You got th' right of that, Diaz, forgot my manners. Amos Campbell's th' name. That there's Diaz, an' th' tall fella don't talk a whole lot is Junon. He's French, his 'Merican's a mite on the poorly side," he confided.
"A pleasure." Diaz nodded. "Although he's a bit on the excitable side, Amos is right, we have been here some small while. I hope you wouldn't mind a challange."
"Mind? Heck, we LIVE for dis stuff! Joey Wheeler at'cha service." Joey shook Amos's hand. "I'll be happy to relieve ya of a couple of Star Chips before lunch."
"Shucks, son, don't count 'em before you got 'em," Amos shot back, "I don't aim to roll over and let you walk off with them."
"Dat's da kinda spirit I like t'hear." Joey pointed to the arena. "After you?"
"Wait your turn, Joey," Bakura said, tapping his back. "How about Yugi and I, hm?"
"Uhhhhhh..."
"THE Yugi Motoh? But of course, who else could it be." Diaz stood, dusting himself lightly, and strolled over, favoring the five friends with a slow, charming smile. "Well, it's a little difficult, with so many fine Duelists and only one arena.This is Junon's first tournament," he explained. "He's not quite up on the etiquette of things." He leaned in and whispered in Junon's ear a moment.
Junon bit his lower lip, then nodded agreement. "You, I, yes?" he said, almost shyly, to Bakura. "Un Duel, peut-être? Oh--" he blushed. "Duel--"
"Mais certainement, oui," Bakura answered. "Je serais honoré."
Junon's face lit. "Ah, vous parlez français ? C'est merveilleux. Je l'apprécie, monsieur."
"You speak French?" Tèa poked Bakura in the chest. "No fair! You're helping me next quarter in my French class, no excuses."
"That leaves you and I," Diaz said to Yugi. "I hope I'll be up to your standards. It's quite the thing, to duel the King of Games."
"I'd be happy to accept your challenge." Yugi put out a hand and shook Diaz's. "And may the best man win."
"Shall we see if we can find somewhere comfortable to rest while we await our turn? I believe our host, Mr. Kaiba, thoughtfully provided folding chairs in the compartment under the Arena."
As soon as everyone else was seated, Amos and Joey took their places. "You can go first," Joey said grandly. "Ya better make da most of it."
"Oh I will, you can bet on that. Hadn't got but one star chip right now t'wager you, though."
"Ahhh, dat's fine."
Amos snapped out his chip and set it on the Dueling board before drawing his cards and studying them. "I'll play one card face down--" he set it in the Magic/Trap zone-- "and I'm summonin' Gravekeeper's Curse, in defense mode."
A man garbed in dark robes, holding a staff shaped like a large ankh, appeared on the field. As soon as he did he began to chant, light forming around him, then lashing out suddenly to strike Joey.
"EY! What's da deal here?! Ya can't attack on ya first round!" Joey said, momentarily off-guard.
"Shore can't, but I didn't. Gravekeeper's special effect is that soon as I put him on the field, he does 500 points of direct damage to mah opponent's Life Points," Junon said. "Hope I got your attention with that'un. My turn's done."
"That's a pretty weak card, isn't it?" Tristan whispered to Yugi as Joey drew his first card. "Only 800 attack and defense."
"It is," Yugi whispered back, "but that special effect means he's already a little ahead before Joey even gets a monster out, and it gives him a defense. I'm more worried about that face-down card. We just have to trust Joey to make a comeback and even the odds as soon as possible."
Nice moves dis guy's got. Joey pondered. I need something to put between me an' him for a sec, get my troops in line. "I summon Baby Dragon in defense mode, an' dese two cards face down for later. Now, den, smart guy, make ya move."
"You asked for it. How's about this fella-- Man with Wdjat." A second cloaked figure, this one with a gleaming Eye symbol on his foreheard, appeared beside the Gravekeeper. "Now, just you show me one of your face-down cards."
"WHAAAAAT?!"
"Man with Wdjat lets me choose one of your set cards each turn, beginnin' the turn I play him and goin' on as long as he's face up on the field, and see what it is. That don't trigger any of your card's special effects, by th' way, and it don't destroy it neither, but at least I know what you're up to." Amos leaned over, surveying Joey's side of the field. "That'un, over to your left."
The card flipped briefly to reveal itself as Graceful Dice.
"Guess you're lookin' to buff up that Dragon of yours and blow through my cards." Amos looked grim. "Reckon I'm gonna have to de-rail that train right quick." He held up a card. "This here's Offerings to th' Doomed. Lets me destroy any one monster, long's as I skip my next draw, so you can say goodbye to your dragon."
With a squawk, the Bady Dragon was dragged down by spectral hands and disappeared from the field.
"Next thing I'll do is send my Gravekeeper over that way to attack you. Go, Gravekeeper!" Amos ordered.
"Not so fast, buddy," Joey warned. "Ya forgot my other face-down card. Try a Scapegoat on fa size! Dat keeps your Gravekeeper's dirty fingers offa my Life Points."
"Shore does. Reckon I'll just play one more face-down card, here, and end my turn. Your go."
Come on, deck, show me some love... Bingo! "All right, here we go! I play the magic card Monster Reborn t'bring back my Baby Dragon. Next, I'll play Polymerization an' fuse him with my Time Wizard to form Thousand Dragon. AND since you din't take my Graceful Dice off da field, let's just see how many points my Dragon gains." Joey watched eagerly as the dice rolled across the field. "Aw, only 600 points. Well, dat still raises him to a sweet 3000 attack points, which will blow through your Widget guy no problem. Dragon! Give him ya best shot!"
"Reveal Trap Card!" Amos waved a hand. "Solemn Judgement! I pay half my Life Points to negate the attack AND destroy the cards involved! So bang goes your Thousand Dragon, and you ain't gettin' him back soon since you already used up your Monster Reborn. Gravekeeper, Man with Wdjat, kick a couple of those Scapegoats outta our way!"
Joey's face twitched as he watched his Dragon vanish. ...I think I seriously underestimated dis guy. Okay. Time ta get serious.
"Ouch." Tèa winced. "That's... gotta hurt a little. If Joey doesn't get another monster on the field next turn--"
"There will be nothing left between his Life Points and another attack from Amos," finished Yami. "Because on Amos's next turn he can draw again, which means he may be able to summon a third creature to his side."
The Duel continued to see-saw back and forth, with Amos managing to counter most of Joey's moves and occasionally slip in a blow to Joey's Life Points. Flippancy abandoned for the moment, Joey played a fast, savage game, finally winning through Amos's defenses with his Red-Eyes Black Dragon and delivering the winning shot. "Nice one," he complemented, concealing a hasty swipe at the sweat on his forehead with a casual rake through his bangs. "Ya got all the moves to be one serious contender."
"Thank y'kindly," Amos said. "You shore earned this chip, and I don't mind givin' it up after a tussle like that one. Reckon that ends my visit to the island."
"Look me up if you're in another tournament," Joey offered. "I'll give ya a rematch any time."
"I believe that means we're next," Bakura said, rising, then looked to Yugi. "Unless you-?"
"I fear I might be something of a let-down after that display," Diaz joked. "But if my opponent is agreeable to setting our challenge now..."
"I have no problem with that." Yami stood and ascended to the podium.
"Look over there," Tristan said, shading his eyes with one hand and pointing. "Up that way. Isn't that the place where Kaiba showed up and did that thing with his prototype Duel Disk?"
"You HAD t'remind me of that." Joey glowered.
"Better remember that little lesson if you make it to the finals. Kaiba's nobody to mess around with."
"Yeah? Well, neither is Joey Wheeler."
"You sure you're up to competing, Bakura?" Yugi asked. "You haven't Dueled for years now."
"Oh, I think I'll manage." The white-haired boy gave Yugi a little nod. "And, if I do get knocked out, at least I can say I was here."
"There are worse ways to get back into Dueling, for sure." Tèa patted Bakura's arm encouragingly. "I'm glad to see you haven't been, you know... soured on it or something."
"True enough, that. But no, I do like Dueling every bit as much as I ever did. Which isn't to say that I'm in Joey's or Yugi's league."
"As long as you believe in the Heart of the Cards, they'll see you through." Yugi smiled up at Bakura. "I'm sure you'll do great. Just play your best."
"Trust me, I mean to give it everything I've got." And take everything you have, Pharoah. "Oh oh-- do you hear what I hear?"
"What-- wait a sec." Tristan tipped his head. "Sounds like somebody's Dueling! C'mon, I think it's over this way." He plunged off onto a smaller trail that led to the left of the main path they were on. "OUCH! --Uh, watch out for low lying branches...."
"Typical." Tèa rolled her eyes. "Jump first, ask questions later."
The group emerged in a small meadow, in the center of which rested one of the old-style Dueling Arenas. True enough, there were two people on the platforms, facing each other across the holographic field. One of them was Weevil Underwood. The other made Joey's face light up at once. "Hey! Mai, look, everybody, it's Mai Valentine!"
The blonde woman on the platform nearest them started slightly, then glanced sideways, eyes widening for just a second. "Joey..?" she murmured under her breath. Quickly the flash of surprise (and a touch of delight) faded from her face, covered by a teasing smirk. "Looks like they let you out of the zoo, huh, Brooklyn?" she called. "How about a little quiet for the lady? I'm just about to win here."
"Ha, that's what YOU think!" Weevil crowed from the other side. "It's the third turn! Here comes my Great Moth!"
Mai stifled a yawn. "Is THAT all you've got?"
"You won't be saying that when my Great Moth turns your puny Harpie Ladies into crushed canaries! Now, my beautiful insect, ATTACK her face-down card and remove her defenses!"
"Hold the phone, Underwood. Didn't your mother ever teach you to look before you leap? That face-down card is a little trick I picked up from a REAL winner." Mai tipped a wink in Yugi's direction. "It's called Wall of Illusion. When it's attacked the creature hitting it goes back into its owner's hand. You may have destroyed the Wall, but your Moth gets bounced off the field till your next turn, saving MY Harpie Ladies for an encore." Mai tapped another card. "And it's a real hot number I like to call Harpie Lady Phoenix Formation."
"Wha-what? Oh NO!!!"
"Oh yes. Now read'em and weep! Harpie Ladies, GO!"
"All right MAI!" Joey cheered as Weevil's remaining life points vanished.
"Way to go, Mai!" Tèa jumped up and down, clapping.
"And that's all folks," Mai said, tossing her hair back idly. "All right, Weevil, pony up those Star Chips."
"GRRRR.... Fine! Take them." Weevil slapped two Star Chips down on his game panel and stalked off, muttering.
"Diamonds are a girl's best friend," Mai commented, walking around to scoop up the stars and socket them into her wristband, "but this month's fashion statement is DEFINITELY stars."
"Wow, Mai, that was terrific," Yugi said as the five friends clustered around her. "And it's great to see you again."
"Thanks, Yugi." Mai favored the boy with a smile and a brief touseling of his multicolored hair. "I kind of hoped I'd see you here. You too Joey."
"Did ya think for a second I'd miss a tournament like this one?"
"To be honest, I thought about giving it a miss." Mai rested a hand on her hip and gestured around with the other. "I mean, everyone knows a sequel is never as good as the original. Frankly, I wondered if Kaiba was running out of ideas. But so far I'm enjoying myself."
"Four chips already," Tristan observed. "Busy morning?"
"Slow morning. Weevil was my first Duel. The little snert must've beaten someone else before I ran into him though, since he had two chips to bet." Mai looked around. "I don't suppose... you'd be willing to let me walk along with you for a little while."
"Huh?" Yugi looked confused. "Of course we'd be willing. Why do you ask?"
Mai looked uncomfortable, but she squared her shoulders and looked Yugi straight in the eye. "I need to talk to you about Battle City. You AND Joey."
The two young men exchanged glances; then Joey nodded at Mai. "Sure thing, Mai."
As she fell into step beside them, Mai nibbled her lip lightly, trying to sort out the questions which'd been on her mind for two years. Eventually she said, "I... suppose I'd better start with 'thanks'. I'm guessing you guys saved my life at some point, though a lot of what happened... I needed time to think things through. I didn't understand what happened to me. I was... a little shaken."
Joey wisely didn't comment on that, guessing from the admission that Mai had probably been more than just 'a little shaken'. Instead he said, "Yeah, figured you'd see us around. Not like it's t'find Yuge, here, just look for the light reflectin' off his hair at night."
"You know, I used to feel a lot like Kaiba. I mean, this whole 'Heart of the Cards' thing. Maybe I could understand it better-- woman's intuition, that sort of thing-- and maybe I realized there must be something else working for you two. It's not just skill; it's not just luck, though YOU--" she punched Joey lightly on the arm-- "have GOT to have the best luck I've ever seen. How many four-leaf clovers do you roll in before a Duel, anyway?"
"Rabbit's feet, strictly rabbit's feet. Clover gives me da hives."
"I'll remember that." Mai gave Joey a sideways look and a smile. "Anyway... I guess.. the biggest question I've got isn't for you, Joey. It's for Yugi."
"Go ahead, Mai, if I can answer it I will."
"Who..." Mai started, stopped, swallowed, then started again. "Who was that that jumped up and shielded Joey and me? When Marik had that, whatever, that thing he called a God-Monster, fire at us... that wasn't any special effect, was it?" Her voice dropped to a ragged whisper. "I saw his eyes-- his face-- over Joey's shoulder. You'd never look like that. You never could. I'm not saying... I'm not trying to run you down. You know I respect you. You're one of the best Duelists I know, and you're probably one of the nicest human beings on the face of the planet, and rotten human beings is something I AM an expert on. You're so far from qualifying for 'rotten' that sometimes I don't believe you're REAL... but that doesn't change the fact that wasn't you that protected us."
Yugi put a hand to the Millenium Puzzle, the cool metal against his palm reassuring. "You're sort of right, Mai," he answered. "I was there... but so was somebody else." He heaved a sigh. "It's hard to explain, and it might be ever harder to believe, but... if you trust me, like you say you do, then trust this. Everything that I'm about to tell you is the truth.
"I'm not alone. When I Duel-- every time since I started Dueling in the tournaments, from Duelist Kingdom on-- I haven't been Dueling alone. There's someone that helps me. Someone that... lives INSIDE me. Through the magic of the Millenium Puzzle, two souls share one body. The person you saw that day at Battle City, and the person that you've seen Dueling, isn't me. I'm there, with him, and we share everything, we work together. But he's not me. At first he called himself 'Yami' because he didn't remember his name, but we found out later he's really the spirit of a five-thousand year old Pharoah." I think that's enough to tell her for right now, he added silently to the other presence in his mind. I'm not sure she's ready to deal with the part that you and I were once ONE soul that got divided into two halves.
'No,' Yami agreed. 'It's a rather intricate metaphysical concept, and this world isn't much on metaphysics, from what I've seen. There is also the point that I'm not sure to this day that the person who told us that spoke the truth. Still...' Yami gazed off into the distance thoughtfully. 'It answers so much, and it feels so right, that I am inclined to accept it without question, though I'm at a loss for what could have so utterly divided us that the division is to all intents and purposes permanent. We can unite our spirits for short periods, such as when we Duel, but we appear to be complete individuals on our own.'
You're making my head hurt on one side.
A deep chuckle. 'Sorry.'
"A... Pharoah," Mai said, staring at Yugi. "Okay, if it was anyone else, I'd be calling the men in the white wagon. What you're saying is there's some kind of ghost living in you? Possession or something?"
"Kind of," Yugi agreed. "He doesn't just take me over or push me out of the way. I don't GO anywhere. It's more like we're in synchronization." The boy shook his head. "I can't describe it any better than that. It's not something I really CAN describe. I'm there, but I'm not. He's here, but he isn't. It's both of us and... neither of us. We share everything."
"The victories, the losses..." Mai hesitantly reached out, touched Yugi on the shoulder. "The dangers...?"
"Yeah. What happens to him happens to me, and vice-versa. He worries about that sometimes."
"So you felt it when that fire, beam, whatever hit him."
Yugi looked down. "He tried not to let it come through," he admitted. "He tried to protect me from feeling it, as much as he could. But yeah. I was there, and I felt it." He looked up again at Mai, violet eyes pleading for her understanding. "Mai, he's my friend; he's my partner. I trust him with my life and my soul. I know he'll never let me down. You can trust him too. He knows who his friends are. A lot of them are standing right here."
"Well." Mai blew a strand of hair back from her eyes. "Only one thing left then."
"What's that?"
"Show me." Mai stopped, propped her fists on her hips, and gave Yugi a saucy grin. "Remember me, Mai Valentine? I take a lot of convincing. I believe YOU belive what you're telling me, but I want to see it for myself."
"That's fair," Tristan agreed.
"Dis is gonna be good," Joey whispered to Tèa.
That's your cue, partner. Yugi closed his eyes and dropped his hands out to his side, feeling the rush of power fill him. A second's dizzying rush of light and sound (does anyone else see that or feel it, he wondered for the hundredth time) and then the world steadied, though it all looked and felt different--
Because he wasn't quite himself any more.
Yami opened his eyes, casually tucking a hand in the front pocket of his jeans, and nodded to Mai. "Good morning, Mai."
Mai scowled, gaze meeting Yami's measuringly; then she gasped a little, startled. "Oh.. my..." One hand drifted up to press fingers lightly to her lips. "You--" she faltered, fell silent.
"Dis is da Pharoah," Joey said, looping an arm over Yami's shoulders. "Mai, Pharoah. Pharoah, Mai. Yer supposed to say 'pleased t'meetcha, Ya Majesty' at dis point, Mai."
"That is scarcely necessary, Joey. Mai and I have already met, several times."
"Yeah, but DIS time she knows it's you."
Mai drifted a step closer. "You're-- are you TALLER? Or am I just seeing things?"
"No; you're not seeing things. I am taller than Yugi, and older, at least in appearance. As far as we can tell the magic of the Millenium Puzzle makes most people overlook that fact. They simply think Yugi 'looks taller on TV' or something, if they notice it at all. Very few people ever learn to tell the difference between us, and those that do are usually either very familiar with us both, or actively looking for the change."
"Your voice is different," mused Mai. "More... sure of yourself. WELL." She laughed lightly. "Either you're a split personality, or I'm not as crazy as I thought I was. And considering the fact you're still Dueling, I'll go with the second explanation. I don't think Seto Kaiba would be inviting mental patients to his tournaments. Sorry if that sounds insulting," she added.
"No insult taken. I'm relieved you are willing to accept our explanation of the facts, when it would be more sensible to believe I am but a splinter of Yugi's mind."
"Some of the things I saw... lived through... at Battle City..." Mai shut her eyes tightly, then opened them. "Let's just say it was a near-religious experience. It made me question the way I look at the world. But what finally decided me was all of you." She gestured around at Tèa, Joey, Bakura and Tristan. "You've known Yugi for years. If anything was seriously off-kilter, I don't think you'd be as calm and collected about it as you are. They seem to be buying into all of this Egyptian stuff. Must be some truth in it."
"Now if we just get KAIBA to do the same thing," Tèa said. "He's still on the 'don't give me that, there is no such thing as magic' kick, and he's constantly putting Yugi down about it."
Mai made a face. "Did you ever expect anything else? Kaiba's never comfortable until he can analyze, label, and file everything."
"Indeed. I fear someday his logic will turn on him, like a tiger that has had enough and lashes out at its trainer. I would not wish to be him when that happens." Yami gestured. "Shall we continue? The rest of us need to find Duels, if we are to present you proper competition, Mai."
"Spoken like a true champion." Mai turned Joey's way. "By the way, that 'thanks' earlier was to both of you."
"Hey, ya don't... I mean... aw, Mai." Joey fidgeted. "Like I'd run out on ya when you needed me. I ain't never forgotten what ya did for me an' Serenity at da first Duelist Kingdom. Ya know... any time ya need me... I'm gonna be dere for ya. You're one special lady."
"Hmm." Mai smiled again, lowering her lashes, and patted his cheek. "Thanks for noticing."
****
"Well, we're mo-oo-vin' on up, to the east side, to a dee-luxe apartment in the sky-yiy-yiy..." the six foot purple feline crooned as it moved rapidly back and forth, stuffing things into a pair of large steamer trunks. Somehow, even though it appeared to be totally at random, the objects packed (be they books, clothes, or whatever) were neatly folded, stacked, or otherwise arranged to make the best use of the space inside their containers.
But then, where Doppleganger was concerned, anything worth doing was worth doing very, very well. It was in his nature. He could become any card on the field in a Duel, and by extension he could assume not just the appearance of anything he wanted to, he could take on something of its personality and talents as well, enough to be indistinguishable from the item or being copied. For a time at least. Since he couldn't duplicate memories or knowledge, sooner or later he would betray himself if he tried to duplicate someone well known.
Pausing, the Duel Monster looked back over one shoulder towards the living room, ears swiveling to catch any sound. As far as he could tell his master hadn't budged. The slightly goofy expression he habitually wore faded, replaced by a more serious one. Closing the trunks, he slung them over his back and glided out of the bedroom, stacking the trunks near the door. It would be a little sad to leave. At least as much as a creature like himself thought of (or needed) somewhere to dwell other than the Shadow Realm, he liked the castle, thought of it as his home. Poking his head into the living room, he said softly, "Boss?"
The man on the divan turned his head slightly. "Yes, Doppleganger."
"Y'r all packed. At least the stuff you said you couldn't do without. When are we leaving?"
"Not just yet."
Doppleganger came all the way into the room in a single step, flowing effortlessly, like the cartoon figure he resembled. "You sure we oughta be hanging around? I thought you were planning to split this scene."
"Yes, yes, I know." Pegasus raised one slender hand. "But not yet, my friend. We're not leaving just yet." He fell silent, fingertips resting gently on his forehead.
"How come?"
"...Oh, no reason really... except I seem to be suffering from an acute bout of chivalry. Dangerous thing for a man in my position, really, but there you are. I've always been SO prone to the theatrical." One weary brown eye glanced up at Doppleganger. "Go up into the tower and bring me my deck."
Doppleganger's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates (literally). "Your deck? But, boss-- you haven't Dueled in almost three years. Not since Kaiba was last here, and you can't call that a Duel--"
"I haven't REALLY Dueled since I lost Duelist Kingdom. I'm quite aware of that. But nonetheless, go and fetch my deck." Pegasus stood slowly. The past years had been hard on him-- recovering not just from the trauma of having the Millenium Eye forceably removed, but the infinitely slow knitting together of his overstrained reason into something approaching sanity again. But if the body was weak, at least he'd held onto his strength of will, and that would just have to do. "We're not leaving until we make sure those children are all right. They're good Duelists, all of them, and in some cases more than merely good. But only two of them have any real experience playing a Shadow Game, and if things go the way I believe they might..."
"Boss..." Worried now. "Boss, you're not up to that."
"Up to it or not, if circumstances call for it, I will. My past is irretrievable, dear friend. Nothing can change it or make away with the things I did. But I simply can't walk away from this." Pegasus chuckled in the back of his throat. "Imagine, me, a shining knight riding to the rescue. Let's hope it just doesn't come to that, hmm? Now, be off with you. Shoo shoo shoo."
Doppleganger bowed low and scuttered across the floor, flowing through the crack under the door and disappearing. Pegasus turned, looking once more over the familar sights of his bedroom, which for all he knew might be one of the last things he ever saw. My castle... my sanctum.
My hiding place. Hiding from the world and from myself. This isn't forgiveness, there is no forgiveness for me, no undoing what I did. Reasons or not, it was my own choice to steal souls, to trick an innocent boy into coming here, and force him to compete in order to claim the ancient item he held. But...atonement, perhaps. Some attempt at balancing the evil I did and would have done. One can do worse than die in search of that. And if I die, well. It might save one of Yugi's friends the trouble. A faint smirk crossed his face. Though I SO should've liked to've seen Kaiba's face when I finally returned to the public limelight.
He turned and walked towards his bedroom, already turning over in his mind what to wear. After all, he was Maximilian Pegasus.
If he was going out (in all senses of the word) then by all means, he meant to do it with STYLE.
****
The path they'd chosen at random led roughly westward, winding through a light forest that anywhere else would've seemed perfect for an early morning walk. Here and there golden lances of sunlight came through the canopy to dance over the ground, and birds twittered and chirruped at the little group of Duelists, not quite as shy of people as their wilder kindred elsewhere. Yugi looked up, following their flight, and spied a fat grey squirrel watching him with lively interest. Any other time, I'd be out here offering him a boiled peanut, and I bet he'd take it. This island is really peaceful and quiet. I guess I can kind of see why Pegasus loves it so much. It's what we're having to do that spoils the place. Any other time, any other tournament... he shook his head a bit. Ok. Focus. I've got to be on my game in a big way. We all do. He reached out with one translucent hand and had it taken. No words; none needed. Just knowing Yami was there calmed him. Soon as this is over, we're going right back to the search, he promised himself. We're going to find all the answers this time. I'll find a way to get us over to Egypt. Heck, if nothing else, if I win this tournament I'll be able to afford the plane trip for us all to go, and Ishizu might be able to help us once we're there. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. I just get this feeling that more than ever I need to understand what happened to the Pharoah.
"There ought to be a Dueling Arena just up ahead," Mai pointed out. "We might want to take a break there and see if anyone else shows up."
"Sounds great to me." Tèa paused a second to tug up a sock. "I mean, wandering around in the woods is all well and great, but it's going to be hard to find other Duelists this way. I didn't see that many other people at the registration tent last night."
"I think they were arriving all day yesterday, but you're right. There aren't as many Duelists this time around."
"Kaiba's stacking the deck in his favor, if you think about it," Tristan pointed out. "If there aren't that many people, then he can be pretty sure none of the people he REALLY wants to get into the castle will have that hard a time. He doesn't have to worry about anyone being wa--" he stopped. "Looks like you got your wish, Joe. Check it. Someone's got the place camped out already."
"All right!" Joey crowed. "Three of 'em. That's one apiece."
"Hey, who says I'll let you have all the fun?" Mai teased. "Don't give me puppy eyes. I'll be generous and sit this one out."
There were three boys sittiing around the top of the arena platform, and of them the redhead was first to notice the newcomers. He stood and shaded his eyes with one hand, peering that way, then nudged his friends to their feet. "Whoo, 'bout time!" he said, leaping off the edge of the arena. "Competition! Mah butt was fixin' to rust solid to that thing if I had to sit much longer." When he got closer he stopped, striking a cocky little pose. "How do, gents n' ladies. You folks lookin' for a Duel or two?"
"Amos," the second of the trio murmured. "Maintain."
"Shoot." The redhead slapped his forehead. "You got th' right of that, Diaz, forgot my manners. Amos Campbell's th' name. That there's Diaz, an' th' tall fella don't talk a whole lot is Junon. He's French, his 'Merican's a mite on the poorly side," he confided.
"A pleasure." Diaz nodded. "Although he's a bit on the excitable side, Amos is right, we have been here some small while. I hope you wouldn't mind a challange."
"Mind? Heck, we LIVE for dis stuff! Joey Wheeler at'cha service." Joey shook Amos's hand. "I'll be happy to relieve ya of a couple of Star Chips before lunch."
"Shucks, son, don't count 'em before you got 'em," Amos shot back, "I don't aim to roll over and let you walk off with them."
"Dat's da kinda spirit I like t'hear." Joey pointed to the arena. "After you?"
"Wait your turn, Joey," Bakura said, tapping his back. "How about Yugi and I, hm?"
"Uhhhhhh..."
"THE Yugi Motoh? But of course, who else could it be." Diaz stood, dusting himself lightly, and strolled over, favoring the five friends with a slow, charming smile. "Well, it's a little difficult, with so many fine Duelists and only one arena.This is Junon's first tournament," he explained. "He's not quite up on the etiquette of things." He leaned in and whispered in Junon's ear a moment.
Junon bit his lower lip, then nodded agreement. "You, I, yes?" he said, almost shyly, to Bakura. "Un Duel, peut-être? Oh--" he blushed. "Duel--"
"Mais certainement, oui," Bakura answered. "Je serais honoré."
Junon's face lit. "Ah, vous parlez français ? C'est merveilleux. Je l'apprécie, monsieur."
"You speak French?" Tèa poked Bakura in the chest. "No fair! You're helping me next quarter in my French class, no excuses."
"That leaves you and I," Diaz said to Yugi. "I hope I'll be up to your standards. It's quite the thing, to duel the King of Games."
"I'd be happy to accept your challenge." Yugi put out a hand and shook Diaz's. "And may the best man win."
"Shall we see if we can find somewhere comfortable to rest while we await our turn? I believe our host, Mr. Kaiba, thoughtfully provided folding chairs in the compartment under the Arena."
As soon as everyone else was seated, Amos and Joey took their places. "You can go first," Joey said grandly. "Ya better make da most of it."
"Oh I will, you can bet on that. Hadn't got but one star chip right now t'wager you, though."
"Ahhh, dat's fine."
Amos snapped out his chip and set it on the Dueling board before drawing his cards and studying them. "I'll play one card face down--" he set it in the Magic/Trap zone-- "and I'm summonin' Gravekeeper's Curse, in defense mode."
A man garbed in dark robes, holding a staff shaped like a large ankh, appeared on the field. As soon as he did he began to chant, light forming around him, then lashing out suddenly to strike Joey.
"EY! What's da deal here?! Ya can't attack on ya first round!" Joey said, momentarily off-guard.
"Shore can't, but I didn't. Gravekeeper's special effect is that soon as I put him on the field, he does 500 points of direct damage to mah opponent's Life Points," Junon said. "Hope I got your attention with that'un. My turn's done."
"That's a pretty weak card, isn't it?" Tristan whispered to Yugi as Joey drew his first card. "Only 800 attack and defense."
"It is," Yugi whispered back, "but that special effect means he's already a little ahead before Joey even gets a monster out, and it gives him a defense. I'm more worried about that face-down card. We just have to trust Joey to make a comeback and even the odds as soon as possible."
Nice moves dis guy's got. Joey pondered. I need something to put between me an' him for a sec, get my troops in line. "I summon Baby Dragon in defense mode, an' dese two cards face down for later. Now, den, smart guy, make ya move."
"You asked for it. How's about this fella-- Man with Wdjat." A second cloaked figure, this one with a gleaming Eye symbol on his foreheard, appeared beside the Gravekeeper. "Now, just you show me one of your face-down cards."
"WHAAAAAT?!"
"Man with Wdjat lets me choose one of your set cards each turn, beginnin' the turn I play him and goin' on as long as he's face up on the field, and see what it is. That don't trigger any of your card's special effects, by th' way, and it don't destroy it neither, but at least I know what you're up to." Amos leaned over, surveying Joey's side of the field. "That'un, over to your left."
The card flipped briefly to reveal itself as Graceful Dice.
"Guess you're lookin' to buff up that Dragon of yours and blow through my cards." Amos looked grim. "Reckon I'm gonna have to de-rail that train right quick." He held up a card. "This here's Offerings to th' Doomed. Lets me destroy any one monster, long's as I skip my next draw, so you can say goodbye to your dragon."
With a squawk, the Bady Dragon was dragged down by spectral hands and disappeared from the field.
"Next thing I'll do is send my Gravekeeper over that way to attack you. Go, Gravekeeper!" Amos ordered.
"Not so fast, buddy," Joey warned. "Ya forgot my other face-down card. Try a Scapegoat on fa size! Dat keeps your Gravekeeper's dirty fingers offa my Life Points."
"Shore does. Reckon I'll just play one more face-down card, here, and end my turn. Your go."
Come on, deck, show me some love... Bingo! "All right, here we go! I play the magic card Monster Reborn t'bring back my Baby Dragon. Next, I'll play Polymerization an' fuse him with my Time Wizard to form Thousand Dragon. AND since you din't take my Graceful Dice off da field, let's just see how many points my Dragon gains." Joey watched eagerly as the dice rolled across the field. "Aw, only 600 points. Well, dat still raises him to a sweet 3000 attack points, which will blow through your Widget guy no problem. Dragon! Give him ya best shot!"
"Reveal Trap Card!" Amos waved a hand. "Solemn Judgement! I pay half my Life Points to negate the attack AND destroy the cards involved! So bang goes your Thousand Dragon, and you ain't gettin' him back soon since you already used up your Monster Reborn. Gravekeeper, Man with Wdjat, kick a couple of those Scapegoats outta our way!"
Joey's face twitched as he watched his Dragon vanish. ...I think I seriously underestimated dis guy. Okay. Time ta get serious.
"Ouch." Tèa winced. "That's... gotta hurt a little. If Joey doesn't get another monster on the field next turn--"
"There will be nothing left between his Life Points and another attack from Amos," finished Yami. "Because on Amos's next turn he can draw again, which means he may be able to summon a third creature to his side."
The Duel continued to see-saw back and forth, with Amos managing to counter most of Joey's moves and occasionally slip in a blow to Joey's Life Points. Flippancy abandoned for the moment, Joey played a fast, savage game, finally winning through Amos's defenses with his Red-Eyes Black Dragon and delivering the winning shot. "Nice one," he complemented, concealing a hasty swipe at the sweat on his forehead with a casual rake through his bangs. "Ya got all the moves to be one serious contender."
"Thank y'kindly," Amos said. "You shore earned this chip, and I don't mind givin' it up after a tussle like that one. Reckon that ends my visit to the island."
"Look me up if you're in another tournament," Joey offered. "I'll give ya a rematch any time."
"I believe that means we're next," Bakura said, rising, then looked to Yugi. "Unless you-?"
"I fear I might be something of a let-down after that display," Diaz joked. "But if my opponent is agreeable to setting our challenge now..."
"I have no problem with that." Yami stood and ascended to the podium.