The Creator Returns
The next morning, the gang meets up at Yugi's house. The morning news reported that there were less monster sightings after last night's chaos in town, but everywhere else around the world, the same aurora was stretching across the sky and there was unpredictable weather like hurricanes and blizzards.
"I guess what happened here last night happened everywhere," Téa assumed.
Joey picks up Yugi's new card the Eye of Timaeus. "But with this new card, Yugi was able to kick that thing's supernatural butt; 'till it comes back again."
Tristan takes the card from Joey's hand. "I still don't know how a Duel Monster card did all of that. It doesn't seem like anything too special to me."
Joey takes the card back. "Maybe to the untrained eye, but a real duelist can tell that this is no ordinary card. It's got to be handled carefully."
Yugi agrees. "There's no telling what else this thing can do. After I played it, I somehow got a pair of wings."
"Think of it as your mark as a chosen warrior," Emily said, assuring him that it was all cool. Having supernatural powers seemed to be the most normal thing to her. "Of course, you'll have to learn how to use them. But I can teach you how to."
"Come on, Emily," Téa was saying, "we've got to take this seriously."
"Well, we could start with the motorcycle gang who stole the God cards and tried to kidnap you," Tristan was saying, "then that giant eye that tried to blast us,"
As the list keeps going, Joey asks to take a look at the Eye of Timaeus card once again. "Maybe if we can get that Dragon to come out, he could give us a clue to what's going on," he suggested. Talk about a bad and stupid idea. He was the one who even said that the card had to be handled carefully. Because of that, Tristan hit Joey in the head, which got him mad and caused the two pals to start horsing around.
Yugi's grandfather walks inside the room. "Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt."
"Are we being too loud," Yugi asks.
They were, but that wasn't Solomon's reason for stopping in. He told Yugi that a package came in the mail for him. Looking at the contents on the package, Yugi and the others see that it's from Pegasus at Industrial Illusions. Yugi opened the package and inside was a videotape and a card with the image of a golden key.
This was just like before when Pegasus did the same thing. It was bringing back a lot of unpleasant memories. They gang really didn't need this right now. Some of them wanted to throw away the tape, but Yugi was curious to know what sort of message it contained. "Let's just tape over it with some Saturday morning cartoons," Joey suggested.
Emily got it back together and asked with a more positive tone, "What are you so worried about? He doesn't even have the Millennium Eye anymore." Thinking back, Téa remembered how Pegasus seemed like a changed man the last time they all saw him. Joey still didn't like the idea of watching the videotape. Yugi had to remember that Pegasus was the man who invented the Duel Monsters card game and that made him wonder if he might have some answers. Yugi places the tape in the video player and the rest of his friends brace themselves.
"Greetings, Yugi boy, it's been such a long time. You never call, you never write, even after all we've been through together, you could at least send an email. Now, unless you've been living under a rock for the past two days, I'm sure you realize that Duel Monsters are suddenly running amok all over this world of ours. Luckily for me, Kaiba boy's been taking most of the heat for all these recent state of affairs. Of course, I know who's really behind this."
"I told you we should play this tape, guys," Joey lied.
"I must stop them," continued Pegasus. "They're ruining the reputation of my game and I'm afraid that's just not good for business. The only catch is it's too risky to leave you any information on this tape. So that means you'll have to come see me in person. It's the only way to ensure complete secrecy. And last but not least, I've enclosed a one-of-a-kind card. Just make sure you don't lose it."
"Fine, I won't," Yugi said in response to his demanding tone.
"It's the only way to enter my compound. Guard it with your life. They mustn't take it." Then the message ends. As desperate as he sounded, Joey still wasn't sure Pegasus could be trusted.
Yugi made up his mind. "I'm going."
Seeing that his best friend is serious and his mind can't be changed in matters like these, Joey decides to come along. "Consider my bags already packed."
"Count me in," said Téa.
"Me too," added Tristan. "He is flying us first-class, right?"
"Don't forget me," said Emily. She would have to join them anyway if she had a role in all of this.
Listening in with some spy gear, Rex and Weevil get the details, but don't really know what it's all about. "Why does Pegasus need those losers?" Rex complained. "He should've given that tape to me."
But Weevil was crafty and had a few ideas. "Just because we weren't invited to the party doesn't mean we can't show up. We'll see where all the cards get made."
The thought of Pegasus showing Yugi and his friends every card made at his disposal and giving them away was making Rex feel sick. "All right, let's go. All of those rare cards should belong to me!"
"And me," Weevil added. "Before long, our dueling decks will be unstoppable."
"We just have to get to Pegasus before they do," said Rex. "Now how do we do that?" Weevil adjusts his glasses and begins telling his plans to Rex.
In the temple on the island, Dartz was reflecting on what happened last night and decided that a new change of plans had to be set in order. "Our time will come, Great Leviathan. By the might of the three Egyptian Gods, you have been reborn. And once I replenish you with enough souls, you will have enough power to swallow the earth. No one will stop us." But he couldn't forget about Timaeus. He was very well aware of the power the Dragon possessed. "Apparently, the pharaoh holds the power of the Dragon. But that is merely a minor setback to be dealt with later. As for the princess, I know she's the one I've been searching for. Rafael," he calls.
Rafael hears his master and presents himself. "Yes, Master Dartz. I know what to do. I'll find the princess and bring her to you. I'll also find the pharaoh and this time, I'll make sure we drain his power in order to feed the Great Beast, sir."
"Why don't you try listening? It's really a wonderful skill," Dartz tells him. "And when you master it, you'll realize that we need more than just the pharaoh and his daughter."
"Then we'll deal with the others too," Alister volunteered. "I'll take Kaiba."
"I got me eye on someone too," said Valon. "That feisty little bloke Joey Wheeler. He should be fun to take apart."
Alister and Valon knew that Kaiba and Joey were both strong duelists and perhaps had strong souls. They also learned from their master that they were descendants of warriors chosen by the Great Goddess Millennia. But Alister figured that Valon had a different reason for wanting to face Joey. "I know why you're after Wheeler."
"Mind your own business, Alister. What about you? Why the sudden interest in Kaiba?"
"I have my reasons, Valon."
Before they start bickering, Rafael tells them to break it up. "Knock it off. We're in the presence of Master Dartz." Hearing that, the redhead and the Australian silence themselves before they can cause themselves any trouble.
"Listen to me, all of you," Dartz was telling them, "in light of recent events, I have a change of plans in store. Don't bother trying to claim the pharaoh's soul. I've decided I want him alive. As for his daughter, I still expect you to capture her and bring her to me." The three bikers don't question their master about his change of mind. They just decide to carry out his orders. "Now then, the pharaoh and his daughter and friends are paying a visit to the one we've been watching. Make certain you reach him before they do."
Rafael knew who he was talking about. "Pegasus."
"And to think, I called you a bad listener," said Dartz. "Go see Pegasus at once." They follow their orders and begin to head to Industrial Illusions. Valon even decides to bring along someone special in mind for the job.
Sitting alone in his office, Pegasus groans and tells himself, "I can't believe the monsters I made famous are terrorizing people around the world. Talk about bad publicity."
"Still talkin' to yourself," asks a familiar voice. Pegasus turns around and sees a familiar figure behind the curtain. "Sweetie, you've got to find yourself some friends."
"How did you get past my security?" Pegasus asks. Instead of answering him, the intruder attacks him.
Back home in Domino, Yugi and his friends spent the night getting their things packed for the trip. There was no telling how long they would really be gone from home, so they took what they thought they needed. Téa complained that she needed to go shopping sometime soon, Tristan stuffed his suitcase with clothes and snacks and essentials, Joey called his sister to let her know what was going on, and Emily decided to bring some pieces of entertainment to keep herself occupied like her camera, binoculars, photo album, duel disk and deck, and tambourine.
"Well, that ought to do it," Yugi said as he finished packing his clothes. He decided to put the key card in his wallet where it would be safe. It was one thing he didn't want to leave behind. "Pegasus said this card was one-of-a-kind and it sounds like someone wants to get their hands on it." He turns to Yami and asks for his opinion. "Have you ever seen this card before?" Not hearing a response, he asks what's wrong. "Something on your mind?"
Yami snaps out of it. "Did you say something?"
"All right, spill it. What's wrong?"
"I'm perfectly fine," Yami lied.
Yugi knew there would be no point in believing him. He knew his partner too well. "You're worried about something and you don't want to tell me."
Yami had forgotten that he couldn't hide anything from Yugi. He decides to come clean and explain, "We know so little about what we're up against and who our new enemy is." If I only understood more about my own past, I could be more helpful and answer Yugi's questions, he wonders.
But Yugi heard his thoughts. "Remember, I know your thoughts and so does Emily, though I'm not sure if she just heard you right now too. But if she did, she'd let us know. But then again, because of the connection between us, I guess I understand why you're so worried. But Emily and I are too." Yami and Yugi were both really worried about Emily because if she was the chosen one, it would explain why the bikers were after her. They had to stay together and keep each other safe. "This seems like our toughest fight yet and the entire world is depending on us," said Yugi. "What if we mess things up?"
"We won't," Yami promises.
Yugi accepts his words. "Let's get some sleep. We have a huge day ahead of us and our new adventure starts tomorrow." He turns off the lights and turns in for the night.
Early the next morning, Yugi and his friends are dropped off at the airport. After getting through security, they find their way to the gate where Pegasus' associates are waiting. One leads them to the private jet while the other two take their luggage and carefully board it in the back.
Once everyone boards, they already begin to admire the accommodations. "Look at this place. I totally feel like a rock star," Téa squealed.
"I guess this is how Max feels with all of her private transportation methods," Emily wonders. They all sit down and ready themselves for takeoff. The jet would be going fast, but it would still take time to get to California, where the company was. Good thing there was good food and entertainment to pass the time. They could even fold the seats down and use them as beds.
It took fourteen hours for them to reach their destination and now they were finally in California. Next was the road trip to Industrial Illusions. As their luggage was being loaded into the car, Téa noticed a large beige duffle and asked her friends if any of them brought it along. When everyone answered 'no', one attendant decided to take it to the lost and found department. Little did anyone know that Rex and Weevil placed themselves inside that bag to sneak their way to join the gang on their mission. With that setback being taken care of, the mission could proceed.
"This place looks nothing like back home," Joey said as he was admiring the scenery.
"Of course not," Tristan was saying, "This is San Francisco, home of the Golden Gate Bridge."
Téa gives the boys a reality check of why they're here. "This isn't a vacation. We're here to see Pegasus." Yugi and Emily already knew that and based on the message they were sent, they had a feeling Pegasus was already in danger. They just hoped that they would be able to get to him before the three bikers would. Not that they weren't paying attention. The both of them just had a lot on their minds. After all, it's not every day a magic gateway between two different worlds suddenly opens and all hell breaks loose. And the only protection against the force threatening both worlds is the Dragons of legend and their chosen warriors. This much was also certain: Yugi and his friends needed to get to the bottom of this before that monster would attack again.