The Past is Present
Yugi and Emily were released from the hospital together in the evening. Fearful of being attacked again, they knew it wouldn't be safe walking in the city alone. So they walked home together. But their minds were too full of what happened to even talk to each other. They didn't even pay any attention to Téa as she called their names.
A television report was being broadcasted in the news. Ishizu Ishtar of the Egyptian historical society had arrived into town to announce the opening of her exhibit. She claimed to have unearthed relics depicting the earliest known games played in Egypt and said that they were the same very dangerous games played not for fun, but for power.
Listening to the broadcast, Mokuba thought that the exhibit sounded awesome and would be cool to check out. But his brother wasn't very interested and had a company to run. Just then, his phone rang. "Kaiba."
"This is Ishizu Ishtar. You should really pay closer attention to my press conference."
"How'd you know I was watching?" Kaiba turned his attention back to the television screen. Ishizu was inviting Kaiba to the Domino museum for a private exhibition. If it was a personal invitation, he knew he couldn't refuse. But if this was going to be boring, he would leave right away.
That night, Kaiba was given a ride to the museum. "Keep the engine running. I won't be long," he told his driver and walked inside.
Ishizu and her colleagues stood in the central gallery to welcome Kaiba's presence. "Thank you for coming, Seto Kaiba."
Kaiba looked around and saw that no one else was present. "Where are the other guests?" he asked out of curiosity. Ishizu reminded him that it was a private exhibition and he was the only one invited.
Her colleagues stood by the doors to guard them. "We've locked all the entrances. Nobody's allowed in or out."
"It's only been a minute, but I'm already bored," Kaiba was saying. "If you don't tell me what this is all about, I'm leaving now."
He turned around to head for the door, but Ishizu said to him, "Excuse us. We've traced a string of thefts and we have to be careful. You may leave any time you wish, Seto Kaiba. However, I believe it is in your best interest to be here."
Kaiba turned back towards her. "Really? How do you know what's best for me?"
Ishizu began leading Kaiba through the museum. Her collection was placed in a restricted area so it could be protected. Thieves were after her artifacts and she needed to get them to the museum undetected. As they walked, Ishizu asked, "Kaiba, do you believe in destiny?"
"Does it matter?"
"Ancient Egyptians thought that the true path of one's life was predetermined because history repeats itself throughout the ages in a never ending circle. They would say it was not your choice to come here, but destiny that the two of us would meet."
Kaiba stopped walking. "Look, all that ancient nonsense may interest you, but I didn't come here for Egyptian history 101. I came here because you said it would be worth my while. But it looks like you've just wasted my time. If there's a point to all this, let's get to it already. I have a company to run. You said you had an exclusive offer for me." When he spoke on the phone with Ishizu, she asked him if he was interested in possessing a card stronger than Exodia.
"I know everything about Duel Monsters and nothing can stop Exodia. So quit the charade and tell me what's going on," Kaiba demanded.
Ishizu explained to Kaiba that Duel Monsters was based upon a dangerous game that was played five thousand years ago in Egypt. No one was more passionate about the game than Maximillion Pegasus. He became obsessed with the game and decided to reinvent it for modern times. The point of the matter was unbeknownst to many duelists, Pegasus created several cards that were kept at his disposal and never released to the public because they were too powerful and dangerous. Listening to her story, Kaiba started to become somewhat interested. Seeing it in his eyes, Ishizu asks Kaiba to keep following her.
Yugi sat in his bedroom pondering over what happened today and how he almost lost himself and two of his friends in the fire. What he was really scared of was the man who attacked them. Yami spoke to him. "It's all right, Yugi. Now that you've reassembled the Millennium Puzzle and our bond is restored, we can face our new enemy together."
"But we don't even know what he looks like or when we'll encounter him again."
"Maybe, but haven't we been in some tough spots before? We'll get through this one together," he promised.
Next door, Emily was having trouble sleeping. She dreamed about being in a valley with statues of people having the heads of animals. They looked like the Egyptian Gods she had read about. "Where am I?" she asked herself. At the end of the valley, she saw a stairwell leading to what she thought to be a temple. She also saw a familiar figure climbing up the stairs. "Is that Yugi?" She heads for the stairs and calls out to him. "Yugi, stop!" she called out. He stopped walking and gave her his attention. "Where are you going?" But he didn't answer. He continued his path up the stairs and made it to the entrance. "Yugi!"
But it wasn't Yugi. It was actually Yami. Finally, he answered, "To face my destiny. Goodbye."
"Don't go!" Emily cried as the doors closed. Then she woke up and found herself lying in her bed. She took a couple of breaths to relax herself, but couldn't go back to sleep. She had a bad feeling that something terrible was going to happen.
Back at the Domino museum, Ishizu led Kaiba to one of the lower levels where her collection was stored. She had a feeling he would be in for a surprise. "Kaiba, behold the origins of the games you know."
Then the lights came on. "It can't be," Kaiba gasped, looking at the images on the tablet in front of him. "These carvings look like Duel Monster cards! That means your story is true."
"I see you've come to your senses," said Ishizu. "Furthermore, there's a theory that these monsters were real. Egyptian sorcerers summoned them to do their bidding. But they soon learned that the monsters could not be controlled. They destroyed countless villages and brought Earth to the brink of destruction. The citizens turned to the pharaoh for help. Though he could not permanently defeat the monsters, he managed to use his magic to seal them in stone tablets and restore peace.
"However, over time, evil sorcerers learned to control the monsters and release them from the tablets. With their power, they were confident that nothing could stand in their way. They betrayed the pharaoh and formed an army against him."
Kaiba turned his attention to another tablet. "Wait a minute. The images in this tablet look like Pokémon. But how can that be? It's a totally new card game."
"These creatures we call Pokémon today actually lived on this earth five thousand years ago as well. They were as very real as the Shadow Creatures, but Pokémon could actually be controlled by humans and developed a strong bond with them. It is said that they became extinct in the age of the Shadow Games. As you can see, the only evidence we have of the existence of these wonderful creatures is their images in the tablets," Ishizu explained.
Kaiba turned and noticed Max was viewing the tablets, which took him by surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"The doors were locked and I couldn't leave," she plainly answered. "I was actually here for a while, so I thought I'd check this stuff out. It's actually very cool."
Ishizu didn't mind Max's presence. She could tell she wasn't a thief and could perhaps learn something from all of this. Ishizu walked further down and came to another tablet. "This is the one you must look at," she said to Kaiba. "This carving is the reason I called you here tonight. It depicts one of the greatest conflicts between the pharaoh and his greatest opponent. Closely examine this artifact, Kaiba, and your life will never be the same."
Kaiba did look at the tablet, but was shocked at what he was seeing. "That's the pharaoh? But that's Yugi! And the monster carved above him is the Dark Magician!"
"On the left is the sorcerer fighting against him," said Ishizu. "That's you, Kaiba. If you still have any doubt, look at his monster. It's the Blue-Eyes White Dragon." The story behind the tablet stated that the sorcerer was loyal to the pharaoh, but developed a lust for power and control. Because of that, he wanted to prove he was superior to his leader. The sorcerer marched into the pharaoh's chamber and challenged him to a duel. The pharaoh accepted his challenge and the toughest fight deciding the fate of the world broke out. The sorcerer was fighting to control the world and the pharaoh was fighting to save it. Now, five thousand years later, the ancient struggle plays out again. "Now do you believe in destiny, Kaiba?"
Kaiba tightened his grip on the handle of his briefcase as he continued to stare in disbelief. "This can't be real. There's no way. This piece of rock has got to be a fake."
"If you won't trust my words, then you must look into the past and watch the battle firsthand, which I can help you do with my Millennium Necklace," Ishizu says and places her hands close to her Necklace to activate its powers. "Now open your mind and see into the past!"
Kaiba looks down at the scene. He sees a lot of people in what looks like a throne room getting ready to fight. "What is this place?"
The sorcerer sharing Kaiba's countenance raises his arm and decrees, "I hereby declare a challenge to the pharaoh. By the rights of tradition, duel me if you are not a coward."
The sorcerer's followers start chanting. "Magic powers, heed my cry, release the monsters trapped inside." And a tablet rises from the floor and a purple Dragon is summoned from it.
"As the pharaoh's loyal servant, I will stand against you, traitor!" And his own tablet rose up. The creature summoned from it was the Winged Dragon and Guardian of the Fortress.
Kaiba saw the pharaoh sitting on his throne watching the duel. There was no denying he looked exactly like Yugi. But Kaiba saw someone else watching beside him. She looked very familiar to Kaiba and he wondered who she was. The woman sitting beside the pharaoh wore a white dress and even had white hair. Looking closely, Kaiba could assume she was the queen. He even noticed a bundle cradled in her arms. It looked like an infant, but it was hard to tell.
Refocusing his attention on the fight, the right hand servant declares an attack. "I banish you all to the Shadow Realm!" And the sorcerer's Dragon is beaten and the tablet is knocked down. Magic lightning comes down and strikes some of his followers, condemning them to the Shadow Realm.
"Oh, no," Kaiba gasped. "What is this?"
Yugi remained in his room and sat on his bed as he continued to scold himself. "I feel like a total loser. I almost lost you and Emily in the fire. What if I mess up again?"
"You didn't fail," Yami told him.
"Only because my friends came."
"You're wrong, Yugi. You need to believe in yourself like I believe in you. In all my years, never before have I encountered a soul as brave as yours. There is a reason why Millennia chose you to wield her Puzzle. You have the heart of a champion and a soul that is courageous. At one time, you could have been pharaoh."
It was hard for Yugi to understand what Yami was telling him. He just looked up and stared at the moon with uncertainty.
Kaiba found himself back in the museum with Max and Ishizu. Max actually also got a glimpse of what Kaiba was seeing and actually knew more about it than he did. Nonetheless, Ishizu continued to tell the story. "The battle raged with neither side showing any mercy. Both opponents summoned monsters increasingly more powerful than before." She focused her eyes on the bottom of the tablet. "The winner of the duel was written here. But as you can see, the hieroglyphics have worn away."
"I see," Kaiba said, not really caring.
"Yes, but though we don't know the outcome, there is still much more we can discover. Let us take another glance at the duel." And Ishizu tapped into the powers of her Millennium Necklace once again.
The duel left off with the sorcerer summoning another monster. It was La Jinn, the Mystical Genie of the Lamp.
The right hand servant spoke up. "Your La Jinn may be strong, but did you think I would not come prepared? It is no match for the combined fury of my two Dragons."
"Let two be one," the royal magicians chanted.
A green Dragon was summoned and it began to merge with the Guardian of the Fortress. "Unite, my Dragons! You shall be unstoppable!" And a thin golden Dragon was created. "Attack! Bombard the traitor with your Blazing Inferno!" The golden Dragon carried out his command and defeated La Jinn, condemning more of the sorcerer's followers.
The sorcerer growled. "You have not won yet, Pharaoh. This duel is far from over. Do you and your wife think that one of your pathetic minions is powerful enough to defeat me? I will shatter them from existence right before your very eyes!"
The vision ended and Kaiba had enough. "That sorcerer's a big mouth losing chump! You can't compare him to me!"
"Then maybe the final vision will convince you," Ishizu said.
"No!" But his surroundings changed and he was looking down at the duel again.
The sorcerer was about to make his greatest move. "You should have finished me of when you had the chance, for now I shall call forth the ultimate beast of destruction. This is the end, Pharaoh and Queen! My fellow monsters, you have all served me well. Wake from your eternal slumber and obey me one last time." Two tablets rise from the ground and Battle Ox and Mystic Horseman emerge from them. "Behold. I will offer them; infuse their power to bring forth the legendary Dragon." Then the synergy of the two monsters created a white light and a great Dragon appeared. "Behold the Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"
"Blue-Eyes White Dragon?" echoed Kaiba. The queen rose from her chair and gasped. The pharaoh did the same thing and held his wife close.
"Now, White Dragon, destroy them all with your White Lighting!" The Dragon roared and blasted all of the tablets, setting fire to the throne room. The sorcerer raised his staff and laughed in triumph. "Victory is mine!" he said and continued laughing. When the scene ended, Kaiba found himself on the floor looking at the tablet.
"Now are you convinced, Kaiba?" Ishizu asked him. "As I have said before, history is destined to repeat itself. It's not just coincidence that Yugi is your greatest opponent. You two have battled in the ancient past and it is your destiny to duel again."
Kaiba got to his feet and took his briefcase. "Thanks for the lecture, but I make my own destiny and I do what I want to do." And he headed for the stairs.
"Kaiba, what I thought you wanted were powerful monsters," said Ishizu. "The monsters that surpass the power of Exodia. What if I told you they were right in front of you?" Kaiba stopped and turned to listen to her. "Take a look at the top. They were the three most powerful and feared creatures in all of Duel Monsters. Obelisk the Tormentor, Slifer the Sky Dragon, the Winged Dragon of Ra. Control one and you can defeat a million armies. Wield all three and the planet itself will quake in fear."
"And Pegasus turned them into cards?" Kaiba asked.
"Yes."
"You lie. If he had them, why didn't he use them against me at Duelist Kingdom?"
"Because Pegasus feared the power of these Egyptian God cards," Ishizu answered. "You cannot fathom the magical energies contained. Pegasus could not control the power of the cards. They threatened to overwhelm and destroy him."
Cards that even make Pegasus quake in his boots, Kaiba wondered. If I can get my hands on them, I'll be the most powerful duelist in the world once more. Yugi won't stand a chance. But how do I get them? I can't ask Pegasus. He's dropped off the face of the earth. They have to exist somewhere. "Ishizu, what did Pegasus do with the cards?"
"He gave them to me for safekeeping. Pegasus realized that if these cards fell into the wrong hands, they could bring about the end of the world. He had me bury them in secret locations, but the cards were discovered. I must find them and hide them once again."
"Someone already found the cards? Tell me who."
Ishizu told Kaiba that the cards were discovered by a gang of underground elite duelists know as Rare Hunters. They collected cards to sell to the black market for profit, but kept the rare and powerful ones for themselves to destroy all oppositions. They were easily undetectable and often operated in shadow. But Ishizu had a plan to draw them out and find the stolen cards. That was where Kaiba came in. "Kaiba, if you were to start a Duel Monsters tournament, your reputation could attract the attention of the greatest duelists all over the world. This could be the greatest concentration of cards assembled in one location."
Kaiba understood her thought. "I see. It's a trap. The Rare Hunters won't be able to resist such tempting bait. They'll come by the drove like vultures to a carcass and they'll bring the Egyptian God cards." He certainly liked the idea and figured it would work.
Ishizu walked towards Kaiba. "One more thing; take this." And she presents him with a card. To Kaiba's surprise, it was Obelisk the Tormentor. Ishizu managed to retrieve it before it got stolen. "You may borrow it during the tournament, but I expect it back from you."
Kaiba just grinned. "It's not every day a card this rare is handed to me. What if I chose to keep it forever? What makes you think I can be trusted? I could walk out and you could never see it again."
"You will return the card to me," Ishizu said. "I have foreseen it."
"I'll bet," Kaiba scoffed.
"You may not yet believe in destiny, but before your journey is through, you will have to face your past."
Kaiba chuckled at that. "You know, I read that once in a fortune cookie. I'll organize this tournament, but not because of your fairy tales and hocus-pocus mind tricks. I'll only do it because I want to reclaim my title as the number one duelist in the world." And with that, Kaiba climbed the stairs and left the museum without saying another word. On the way home, he looked at the Egyptian God card in his hand. He couldn't wait to get his hands on the other two.
Yugi still had a hard time getting his mind off of his mysterious opponent. He remembered hearing him say he was familiar with Millennia's power and assumed he had a Millennium Item. He'd have to. How else would he be able to control minds? And why did the pieces of the Millennium Puzzle glow? Could Emily really be an ancient Egyptian princess? But if she had the Millennium Star, Yugi would have been able to sense it before. But Yugi remembered what Max said long ago in Duelist Kingdom, that the Star had been shattered. He also remembered hearing the menace mention possessing a shard of the Millennium Star. If it was a simple shard, it would explain not being able to sense it. It was now clear to Yami and Yugi that they had to stay together and protect Emily until everything was all sorted out. But even though he was promised they would make it through, Yugi was still afraid. But Yami believed in his friend.
