Okay, I don't own Yu-gi-oh. This is an Alternate Universe, and starts at the end of the duel with Arcana.
I stared in dismay at the card I'd drawn. Neo the Magic Swordsman, a strong card, one of my favorites, but…he wasn't strong enough to beat Arcana's Dark Magician. He wasn't even strong enough to effectively protect me from the next attack. I couldn't believe it; after coming this far, I was going to lose.
/Spirit, what's wrong?/ Yugi asked worriedly.
Yugi, my hikari… I was going to lose him. /I…can't win,/ I admitted quietly.
/What??/ he yelped, shocked. I didn't blame him; I'd never lost, and to lose now…
/I have 700 life points, and the strongest monster I have is Neo, with 1700 attack points. Arcana's Dark Magician has 2500 attack points. He'll beat Neo by 800 points, which will take me to zero. I can't win./
"Are you going to play your card, or have you finally realized how hopeless it is?" Arcana's voice cut through my private conversation with my aibou.
Might as well try one last time… "Arcana, please! Stop this silly game, now!"
The madman smiled in glee. "And lose my sweet Catherine? Stop whining and play!"
I sighed. I didn't think it would work. "I place Neo the Magic Swordsman, in attack position," I said, suiting actions to words. The holographic Neo materialized, faithful as always, but troubled.
/Master, you know I cannot beat him,/ he whispered to my mind.
/Yes, I know. But I need you to buy me time. He can't get the Puzzle, but I need time to save it./ I replied.
Without moving, Neo somehow gave the impression of a bow. /I will give my all, Master./
Arcana began to laugh, and I tensed, waiting for his move. I would have to move fast, and couldn't waste a second. Neo wouldn't hold for long. "What are you doing, Yugi! You know that weak monster can't stand against my Dark Magician. You lose, and I win my sweet Catherine!" I wish he'd just shut up and move! Wait, what was that? "Dark Magician, attack! Dark Magic Attack!" Arcana ordered. As soon as his monster began to move, I acted.
/Sorry, Yugi/ I muttered, shocking my hikari out of his body entirely and slamming him into the Puzzle. I didn't have the time to be gentle. The magic attack had reached Neo, and he was already beginning to fray. I ripped the chain off my neck and threw the Puzzle toward the door as hard as I could. I don't know if I succeeded or not; the attack enveloped me, and the cold edge of the Dark Energy Disk brushed my legs before the smoke cleared. I had lost. I hoped I hadn't lost my last gamble; that Yugi was safe in the Puzzle, and that I had, indeed, heard the voices of his friends outside the door.
* * *
/Sorry, Yugi/ the spirit muttered to me before a blinding pain racked me. What was going on?
/Spirit!! Sorry for what?? What is this!?/ I yelled into the darkness. Silence answered me, and then blackness took me.
I don't know how long I was out. Hey, I wasn't even sure where I was, how could I know how long I was out? A familiar voice woke me. /Yugi? Yugi, are you there?/ I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a strange place, filled with mist, half-heard roars and shrieks sounding all around me. I shivered. I knew full well what this place was, and I didn't want to be here.
/Spirit!! Spirit, where are you? Why am I in the Shadow Realm?/ I cried out, panicked.
/Yugi! the spirit's voice answered, full of relief. And slowly, the spirit began to appear from the darkness around me. /Yugi, I can't get in. You have to come out to me. he said, fading again.
/Wait!! How do I get out?/ I called, trying to run towards the spot where he'd been. Something popped, or snapped, or… I'm not sure, but something happened, and abruptly I was standing before the spirit, with a definite sense of being 'out'.
/Not too hard, was it, aibou?/ he asked, grinning.
/Spirit, what happened? Why am I here?/ I said again.
His smile faded. /Don't call me 'spirit' anymore. I'm not the Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle any longer. Call me Yami, like they used to…/ he trailed off into memories.
/Wh-what do you mean, you're not the spirit any longer?? Spirit…Yami, what happened?/
/Sit down. Don't worry, you're not in any danger from the Shadow Realm now. As for what happened…you'd really better sit down. Yami waited until I complied, folding down onto ground I couldn't see. /Well…you see…I, er… Well…/ he stuttered. I'd never seen Yami this toungetied.
/Oh for the love of Ra! Just tell him already!/ a new voice complained. I looked around, and finally found Dark Magician fading into view beside Yami.
/I though I told you to stay out of this,/ Yami sighed tiredly.
To my surprise, Dark Magician smiled. /You did. But then I realized that technically, you're not the Pharaoh any more, and I thought you'd need help./
/Y-yami…what's Dark Magician doing here…? And what's he talking about? I asked, very confused.
/One question at a time, Yugi, please?/ Yami muttered, rubbing his temples. /Okay, let's try again. I, well… I tried something to confuse Arcana, or whomever was controlling him. I…switched us./ For some reason, Yami seemed quite embarrassed.
/You…what?/ I asked, still confused.
It was Dark Magician who answered. /He switched you. He took full control of your body, and gave you the Puzzle, and any and all sundry powers, abilities, authority, etc. that come with the Puzzle. While he's got the memories, you have the power, and are now the Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle, and the Pharaoh./
/I'M WHAT??/ I hollered before fainting again.
* * *
I watched my aibou faint, and glanced askew at Dark Magician. /You know that's not quite right. I commented, walking over to Yugi and brushing the hair out of his face.
/Oh? asked Dark Magician, raising one of his eyebrows. /Okay, so he might have to work to impose his will on some of us, but he has the right to do so. And I'm pretty sure he has the strength./
I had to chuckle at that. Dark Magician has a rather…unusual sense of humor. /Do you honestly think he could command one of Seto's Blue Eyes? Now granted, our deck will probably obey him, but the others…/
/Don't worry about him. They're not foolish enough to attack on their own, and for their masters to send them into attack, it has to be a Duel. Yugi's a good enough duelist to survive./
/I still think you were misleading./ I grumbled. /Well, how're we going to get him back into the Puzzle?/
Dark Magician shot me a confused glance, them smiled in understanding. /He'll go automatically when somebody calls for him. You did, too./
/…oh…/
* * *
/Spirit? Spirit of the Puzzle, are you there? Please, I need your help!/ a worried female voice called into the shadows, waking me. I was still disoriented; waking up in the Shadow Realm will do that to you.
/What…?/ I sent back. /Who is this?/ A woman…well, I guess that was a good sign.
/Oh, Spirit, there you are! It's me, Anzu! Thank-you so much for answering me!/
/Anzu? What's going on? What's wrong?/
/Yugi's gone! We can't find him! I found the Puzzle, but that's it! Do you know where Yugi is, Spirit?/
I blinked and thought a while. I finally noticed that Anzu was calling me 'Spirit', which meant she didn't know what had happened. Well, of course. This might take some explaining. /Whoa, Anzu, calm down! I…er…are you sitting down?/ It was weird talking without seeing her. Well, Yami used to manifest when he was talking to me. I wondered if I could do the same. Or maybe I should wait until AFTER I explained things.
/Okay, I'm sitting down. SPIRIT! Are you still there?/ she asked, sounding slightly hysterical. Well, I couldn't blame her.
/Yes, Anzu, I'm here. But, well…/ Now I knew why Yami had been some tongue-tied. /I'm not the Spirit. Or well, maybe I am. I'm not sure… I'm Yugi. Yami…he says he switched us./
/Yami? Who's that? And what do you mean, switched you?/
I shrugged to myself. /I dunno for sure. That's just what he said. Yami was the Spirit, but he says that now…well, I think I've taken his place.
So, what do you think? Flames will be used to heat my house. And I WILL continue this! Muhahahaha!!! Er... *note to self: must stop reading Bakura's book of Threats and More...*
I stared in dismay at the card I'd drawn. Neo the Magic Swordsman, a strong card, one of my favorites, but…he wasn't strong enough to beat Arcana's Dark Magician. He wasn't even strong enough to effectively protect me from the next attack. I couldn't believe it; after coming this far, I was going to lose.
/Spirit, what's wrong?/ Yugi asked worriedly.
Yugi, my hikari… I was going to lose him. /I…can't win,/ I admitted quietly.
/What??/ he yelped, shocked. I didn't blame him; I'd never lost, and to lose now…
/I have 700 life points, and the strongest monster I have is Neo, with 1700 attack points. Arcana's Dark Magician has 2500 attack points. He'll beat Neo by 800 points, which will take me to zero. I can't win./
"Are you going to play your card, or have you finally realized how hopeless it is?" Arcana's voice cut through my private conversation with my aibou.
Might as well try one last time… "Arcana, please! Stop this silly game, now!"
The madman smiled in glee. "And lose my sweet Catherine? Stop whining and play!"
I sighed. I didn't think it would work. "I place Neo the Magic Swordsman, in attack position," I said, suiting actions to words. The holographic Neo materialized, faithful as always, but troubled.
/Master, you know I cannot beat him,/ he whispered to my mind.
/Yes, I know. But I need you to buy me time. He can't get the Puzzle, but I need time to save it./ I replied.
Without moving, Neo somehow gave the impression of a bow. /I will give my all, Master./
Arcana began to laugh, and I tensed, waiting for his move. I would have to move fast, and couldn't waste a second. Neo wouldn't hold for long. "What are you doing, Yugi! You know that weak monster can't stand against my Dark Magician. You lose, and I win my sweet Catherine!" I wish he'd just shut up and move! Wait, what was that? "Dark Magician, attack! Dark Magic Attack!" Arcana ordered. As soon as his monster began to move, I acted.
/Sorry, Yugi/ I muttered, shocking my hikari out of his body entirely and slamming him into the Puzzle. I didn't have the time to be gentle. The magic attack had reached Neo, and he was already beginning to fray. I ripped the chain off my neck and threw the Puzzle toward the door as hard as I could. I don't know if I succeeded or not; the attack enveloped me, and the cold edge of the Dark Energy Disk brushed my legs before the smoke cleared. I had lost. I hoped I hadn't lost my last gamble; that Yugi was safe in the Puzzle, and that I had, indeed, heard the voices of his friends outside the door.
* * *
/Sorry, Yugi/ the spirit muttered to me before a blinding pain racked me. What was going on?
/Spirit!! Sorry for what?? What is this!?/ I yelled into the darkness. Silence answered me, and then blackness took me.
I don't know how long I was out. Hey, I wasn't even sure where I was, how could I know how long I was out? A familiar voice woke me. /Yugi? Yugi, are you there?/ I opened my eyes and looked around. I was in a strange place, filled with mist, half-heard roars and shrieks sounding all around me. I shivered. I knew full well what this place was, and I didn't want to be here.
/Spirit!! Spirit, where are you? Why am I in the Shadow Realm?/ I cried out, panicked.
/Yugi! the spirit's voice answered, full of relief. And slowly, the spirit began to appear from the darkness around me. /Yugi, I can't get in. You have to come out to me. he said, fading again.
/Wait!! How do I get out?/ I called, trying to run towards the spot where he'd been. Something popped, or snapped, or… I'm not sure, but something happened, and abruptly I was standing before the spirit, with a definite sense of being 'out'.
/Not too hard, was it, aibou?/ he asked, grinning.
/Spirit, what happened? Why am I here?/ I said again.
His smile faded. /Don't call me 'spirit' anymore. I'm not the Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle any longer. Call me Yami, like they used to…/ he trailed off into memories.
/Wh-what do you mean, you're not the spirit any longer?? Spirit…Yami, what happened?/
/Sit down. Don't worry, you're not in any danger from the Shadow Realm now. As for what happened…you'd really better sit down. Yami waited until I complied, folding down onto ground I couldn't see. /Well…you see…I, er… Well…/ he stuttered. I'd never seen Yami this toungetied.
/Oh for the love of Ra! Just tell him already!/ a new voice complained. I looked around, and finally found Dark Magician fading into view beside Yami.
/I though I told you to stay out of this,/ Yami sighed tiredly.
To my surprise, Dark Magician smiled. /You did. But then I realized that technically, you're not the Pharaoh any more, and I thought you'd need help./
/Y-yami…what's Dark Magician doing here…? And what's he talking about? I asked, very confused.
/One question at a time, Yugi, please?/ Yami muttered, rubbing his temples. /Okay, let's try again. I, well… I tried something to confuse Arcana, or whomever was controlling him. I…switched us./ For some reason, Yami seemed quite embarrassed.
/You…what?/ I asked, still confused.
It was Dark Magician who answered. /He switched you. He took full control of your body, and gave you the Puzzle, and any and all sundry powers, abilities, authority, etc. that come with the Puzzle. While he's got the memories, you have the power, and are now the Spirit of the Millenium Puzzle, and the Pharaoh./
/I'M WHAT??/ I hollered before fainting again.
* * *
I watched my aibou faint, and glanced askew at Dark Magician. /You know that's not quite right. I commented, walking over to Yugi and brushing the hair out of his face.
/Oh? asked Dark Magician, raising one of his eyebrows. /Okay, so he might have to work to impose his will on some of us, but he has the right to do so. And I'm pretty sure he has the strength./
I had to chuckle at that. Dark Magician has a rather…unusual sense of humor. /Do you honestly think he could command one of Seto's Blue Eyes? Now granted, our deck will probably obey him, but the others…/
/Don't worry about him. They're not foolish enough to attack on their own, and for their masters to send them into attack, it has to be a Duel. Yugi's a good enough duelist to survive./
/I still think you were misleading./ I grumbled. /Well, how're we going to get him back into the Puzzle?/
Dark Magician shot me a confused glance, them smiled in understanding. /He'll go automatically when somebody calls for him. You did, too./
/…oh…/
* * *
/Spirit? Spirit of the Puzzle, are you there? Please, I need your help!/ a worried female voice called into the shadows, waking me. I was still disoriented; waking up in the Shadow Realm will do that to you.
/What…?/ I sent back. /Who is this?/ A woman…well, I guess that was a good sign.
/Oh, Spirit, there you are! It's me, Anzu! Thank-you so much for answering me!/
/Anzu? What's going on? What's wrong?/
/Yugi's gone! We can't find him! I found the Puzzle, but that's it! Do you know where Yugi is, Spirit?/
I blinked and thought a while. I finally noticed that Anzu was calling me 'Spirit', which meant she didn't know what had happened. Well, of course. This might take some explaining. /Whoa, Anzu, calm down! I…er…are you sitting down?/ It was weird talking without seeing her. Well, Yami used to manifest when he was talking to me. I wondered if I could do the same. Or maybe I should wait until AFTER I explained things.
/Okay, I'm sitting down. SPIRIT! Are you still there?/ she asked, sounding slightly hysterical. Well, I couldn't blame her.
/Yes, Anzu, I'm here. But, well…/ Now I knew why Yami had been some tongue-tied. /I'm not the Spirit. Or well, maybe I am. I'm not sure… I'm Yugi. Yami…he says he switched us./
/Yami? Who's that? And what do you mean, switched you?/
I shrugged to myself. /I dunno for sure. That's just what he said. Yami was the Spirit, but he says that now…well, I think I've taken his place.
So, what do you think? Flames will be used to heat my house. And I WILL continue this! Muhahahaha!!! Er... *note to self: must stop reading Bakura's book of Threats and More...*