Reversal of Fortune
Soldiers and their Pokémon were on the lookout for Max and Bakura. "Any suspicious activity here?" the captain asked his men.
"No, sir," one soldier answered.
"Well, I thought I heard something, so look alive."
And Max and Bakura did return and were keeping to the shadows. "The time has come. On to phase two," the heir of Cobalt whispered. "The Shadow Game has taken interesting twists as the past and the future have begun to converge. Take the Egyptian Gods; the pharaoh can only control them thanks to his knowledge of the future. However, we have powers he and his wife don't."
Max casts a spell called Invisibility to conceal her and her partner from the guards and their beasts. With their dark magic, they could enter the palace undetected. They didn't just return for the purpose of trying to claim the Millennium Star. The two thieves actually had a score to settle with one of the sacred guardians. They went to one of the tablet shrines and found Aknadin. They didn't come to try to steal the Millennium Eye, but to inflict great pain on him in return for the devastation he caused them when he destroyed their village. Max and Bakura agreed to force the old man to make up for his crimes against Cobalt by serving the Dark Lord himself. They knew that if they turned Aknadin against the royals and made him serve Cobalt, he would help them to destroy the royal family.
Yami was standing on the balcony. He was lost in his thoughts until he felt a strange sensation. My Millennium Puzzle is sensing a dark presence.
"Pharaoh," the queen's voice called. Yami saw her flying towards him. "Forgive me for leaving, but my friends needed my help."
"What happened?"
Mystery landed next to him and answered, "A village along the Nile was under attack a few moments ago."
"What?"
"You need not worry, my pharaoh. The beasts of legend and I were able to stop the attackers and get the villagers to safety. Houses that were damaged are being repaired and the bandits were brought to the dungeon."
Yami takes Mystery's hands and asks her, "But what about you? Are you all right?"
The queen smiles and says, "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Then they both heard crashing and faced their front and saw one of the tablet shrines under attack. "One of our sanctuaries!"
"But whose?"
"Aknadin's," the queen answered. "There is only one man capable of an act of treason like this."
"As well as one woman," Yami added. They both looked down and saw Bakura and Max making their way back to the palace. Knowing their daughter's life is at stake, the king and queen leave the balcony and return to their chamber. Mystery kept herself steady and was ready to cast magic. Yami kept his eyes out for the two thieves.
From outside the chamber, there was a black foxlike Pokémon with red hair. His name was Zoroark and he took on the form of his master. Disguised as Bakura, Zoroark approached the royals with a grin. Even when disguised, Zoroark can still use his abilities of illusion and deceive his foes. So he convinced Yami and Mystery that he was about to perform a spell as well.
Max sees that they're falling for Zoroark's trick and takes this opportunity to use Dispel to cancel out the queen's magic. Zoroark attacks the king and queen and keeps them distracted. The real Bakura takes this chance to steal the princess and escape with his partner and their Pokémon. With Zoroark gone, his illusions begin to subside. Yami and Mystery realize that they've been tricked and hurry to pursue their enemies.
Max and Bakura make it outside and begin riding their horses as they make their escape. The soldiers see them and try to stop them. "Halt, in the name of the pharaoh," one soldier shouts. The thieves keep riding and ignore them. "I'm warning you!" As Max and Bakura ride past them, Diabound and the Angel of Death appear and attack the soldiers, sending them to the Shadow Realm.
"Interfere and face the wrath of Diabound," Bakura shouts. He and Max look back and see the pharaoh and queen in pursuit. "Looks like the mighty pharaoh and queen have taken our bait."
"This madness ends here!" Yami shouted. He activates his diadiank and summons Slifer the Sky Dragon and Mystery summons Rainbow Dragon. "Bakura, Max, stop running like cowards and face up to what you've done!"
Bakura looks up and sees the two Dragons. "We have a few unexpected guests. No matter, the ultimate battle for the future of mankind will begin once again. Only this time, we shall prevail."
Yugi and his friends were still outside the palace walls. They sat down with their backs against the wall as they were sleeping. It wasn't comfortable, but they didn't know where else to spend the night. They woke up to the sound of crashing and saw a strange figure passing through the gate. Yugi rubbed his eyes and got a clear vision of the next person passing through. "It's the pharaoh!" He also saw Slifer and Rainbow Dragon above him and the queen.
"This sort of thing used to surprise me, but now, not so much," said Joey.
"Did anyone get a look at who he and his wife were chasing?" Kaiba asked.
Emily did. "Bakura and Max."
"Come on, guys," said Yugi. "We've got to help!" And he and his friends unfold their wings and begin flying.
Thanks to Bakura's defeat over Mahad, Diabound had acquired some new attacks and abilities. With the power to disappear and attack from anywhere, Yami and Mystery wouldn't be able to protect themselves from a sneak attack. But Slifer's Lightning Blast allowed him to instantly attack any monster that appeared for battle. Yami had to be careful, though. This wasn't anything at all like the modern day duels he and Yugi faced. And everyone knows that when real monsters are fighting, the results can be devastating. Max and Bakura demonstrate by ordering their monsters to attack the city.
Mystery couldn't stand to see innocent people under attack. "Stop!" she shouted to Bakura. "This fight is between you and us!"
"Very well, then it's time for you to decide," Bakura tells her. "Continue to fight us or save your people!" And he orders Diabound to attack two boys in the streets. Diabound was about to use his Illusionary Shock Wave to attack them, but Mystery made it first and conjured a Lucid Barrier to protect the boys.
"I think that white angel just saved us," one of them said, looking at her. The queen smiles to let them know that they're safe. "You are an angel!"
"Oh, children," Bakura called to them. The look up and face him in horror. Mystery places her arms over them in a protective way. "Didn't your mothers ever warn you not to go outside at night?" He grins and holds out the Cobalt Star for them to see. "I'm the reason why." Seeing the Cobalt Star made the boys cry out in fear. This made them wonder if Mystery was the heiress of Millennia. The queen reminded them that she was the previous heir, but there was no time to explain. She told the children to find their families and flee to the palace courtyard for safety. They listen to her and begin running. Mystery also told her Dragon to continue to protect the villagers. Bakura grinned once more. How noble of you and your husband to use your Dragons as shields, Queen Mystery. But how much abuse can they endure? I guess we'll have to see. All of the Shadow Creatures attacked once more. The collision of the attacks lit up the sky as bright as broad daylight.
Yugi and his friends stopped flying as they saw the whole vicinity being lit up. "Whoa, those are definitely not holograms," said Kaiba.
"Uh, no," Emily said bluntly.
When the force of the attacks finally subsides, the Dragons drag their opponents to the sky where they can't harm anyone anymore. While the Dragons may command the sky, Diabound and the Angel of Death command the darkness, giving them the upper hand. It was time to end this. Bakura offered the king and queen a dangerous proposal. He decided to give back the princess in exchange for the Millennium Star and the Millennium Puzzle. He even told the king and queen that if they refused, he and Max would kill the princess and continue attacking the city and kill them as well. In either case, the thieves would benefit. But Yami and Mystery believed there was a way to save themselves and their daughter and the villagers without letting Max and Bakura gain anything.
That was when Seto and Joseph came to the rescue riding on two dragon-type Pokémon named Salamence and Flygon. They attacked Diabound and the Angel of Death. With Max and Bakura recovering from the pain of the attacks their monsters felt, Mystery got back her daughter. Bakura and Max see that they're outnumbered and retreat to the desert, leaving their monsters behind to deal with their foes.
Yugi and his friends were still flying above the burning city. Families continued to run from their homes and hurry to the palace courtyard for safety. "There's no sign of the pharaoh and queen anywhere," said Joey.
"They can't be too far," Kaiba said, looking around.
"Look up there," Yugi said as he pointed to the sky. "It's Slifer the Sky Dragon and Rainbow Dragon." That meant that they were getting closer to Yami and Mystery.
The pharaoh and queen couldn't stand by any longer. Though they were able to rescue their daughter, the Shadow Game was still on. No one was safe as long as Max and Bakura were on the move. The two thieves had to be stopped before all would be lost.
They came to a mountain and were ready to end the fight. Slifer saw Diabound's Heiligo Shock Wave coming in and was about to counter attack until he suddenly felt weak. As the Sky Dragon was recovering from the attack, he was engulfed in Diabound's attack. Feeling a strong connection to the Dragon's pain, Yami placed his hand against his chest. "It's up to you, Mystery," he groaned.
"Rainbow Dragon, attack with Rainbow Ray!" Mystery's Dragon launches her attack into the sky an attacks Diabound before it can strike again. "A direct hit!" But it wasn't Diabound. It was a different monster summoned to take its place. "Another monster? But how?"
Bakura chuckled. "I'm afraid there's not a strategy Max and I haven't prepared for, Queen Mystery."
Yami tried to pull himself together, but the pain was taking over him. "Must fight on," he groaned.
"Please, Pharaoh," Bakura taunted. "You are far too weak for this."
"I can't give up now." Yami groans and begins to lose consciousness. Mystery withdraws her Dragon and hurries to aid her husband.
Finally, Yugi and the others find Yami and Mystery and come to their rescue. Yugi approaches Yami and rests his head on his lap. As it turns out, Mystery can see them and is confused, wondering who these children are and why they look like her friends and why they're dressed in strange clothes. Emily sees this as well and promises the queen that she and the guys are friends and are here to help. The queen wasn't sure what was going on, but something inside told her they were telling the truth and she could trust them.
Yami started coming to. He opened his eyes and was surprised. "Yugi, is that you?"
Yugi smiled. "So you can see us."
"Are you all right?" asked Joey.
"Father," Emily asked, holding her hands.
"What the hell's going on here?" Kaiba asked.
Mystery's silently gasped to what she heard. She heard Emily correctly when she called Yami her father. Then she wondered, Can these children be… us? From another place? Maybe another time? Is that girl-? She interrupted herself and looked at the infant in her arms, then back at the young lady.
"You shouldn't be here," Yami groaned. "It's too dangerous."
Max and Bakura could see them too and were just as surprised. "Impossible," gasped Bakura. "How could those four brats have infiltrated this realm?"
"We've come too far to turn back now, Pharaoh," Yugi told Yami. "You and I are a team, remember?"
Yami found himself feeling strong again. This is incredible. I can feel my energy returning. I forgot how strong my bond with Yugi truly is. He grasps his partner's hand and stands up again. "All right, Mystery, summon your Rainbow Dragon back into battle. It's time to end this."
The queen couldn't believe what just happened. She didn't know how or why, but her husband's power was restored. Now she knew for sure that these children were friends who came to help. Besides, in matters like these, it's best to trust whatever help comes your way and ask questions later. And with Yami well and feeling strong again, she did too. "Bakura, Max, your reign of terror ends here and now! You've disgraced the Egyptian Gods and for that, you must pay!" And she summons Rainbow Dragon and Yami summons the Winged Dragon of Ra.
Clouds shroud the sky as the sun illuminates in the dead of night, causing Bakura and Max to tremble in fear. Rainbows also appear through the clouds, making Rainbow Dragon just as powerful. This doesn't make any sense, Bakura wondered. When we destroyed Slifer the Sky Dragon, the pharaoh was rendered powerless and we turned his wife into a coward. So where did they find the strength to come back into battle and call upon another Egyptian God? Then it made sense to him as he looked down and saw Yugi. Unless this has something to do with those meddling kids. Did reuniting with his former host somehow restore the pharaoh's life force?
Yugi, once again, we shall save mankind together. And I wouldn't have it any other way, Yami thought.
Watching from the sky, Karim, Seto, and Joseph saw that their opponents were vulnerable to attack. "Without the darkness, their Diabound and Angel of Death have no way of concealing themselves," said Joseph. "Let us attack now!"
Bakura wouldn't allow it. "Can't you fools see? Thanks to the pharaoh, I also hold the power of an Egyptian God!" With the ability to steal the powers of monsters defeated by Diabound, Bakura's monster got all of Slifer's powers. Diabound attacked with Thunderforce and was aiming for the Dragons.
"Oh, no!" Mystery gasped.
"Pharaoh and Queen!" Karim cried.
Seto and Joseph knew what to do. They summoned two warriors known as Flame Swordsman and Duos. "Use the power of your Aura Sword and Flame Sword to stop Diabound's attack and shield the Winged and Rainbow Dragons from harm!"
"Can't you see this doesn't concern you?" Max asked them.
"Pharaoh and Queen," Joseph called out, "Now's your chance!"
With the power of the sun, the Winged Dragon of Ra transformed into Egyptian God Phoenix. Rainbow Dragon coiled around the Winged Dragon so their powers would combine. Together, the Dragons attacked and destroyed Diabound and the Angel of Death. Max and Bakura cried out in pain and felt like they were engulfed in the Dragons' fiery rage.
"Justice is served," said Seto.
Joseph agreed. "The darkness is no more."
Now that the fight was finally over, Mystery could refocus her attention on Yugi and the others. "You four have my gratitude," she tells them. "Had you not arrived to help us, Bakura and Max would have reigned victorious. Now I know you are friends."
"We sure are," Joey tells her. "And I guess that means you guys won, right?"
"Yes," Yami replied. "Egypt is now safe, but none of it would have been possible without you."
Yugi started being modest. "Aw, come on, you're the ones who did all the work."
"But you gave me the strength I needed to fight," his partner reminded him.
"And that gave me the courage to keep going as well," Mystery added. "So thank you."
"Like I said, we're a team," said Yugi.
The others approached their friends. "Well, don't forget the rest of the team," said Kaiba.
"All for one," Joey was saying,
"And one for all," Emily finished. And they all began putting their hands together.
"How'd I know this was coming," Kaiba asked.
"Man, shut up," Joey told him, not wanting to hear any smart remarks.
"You see, Father, even two continents in over five thousand years couldn't keep us apart," Emily tells him. "Because no matter where we are, or no matter when we are, we're a family."
Mystery chuckles and puts her arm over Emily. "You can say that again."
But Max and Bakura wouldn't give up. It wasn't supposed to end like this, Max protested.
I won't let it, her partner promised. Hands of time, reverse thyself so that we may alter the past.
And just like that, events began to play out backwards like a video was rewinding. "This can't be," Mystery gasped. "Is time flowing backwards?" But she didn't have time to worry about that. The winds were picking up and began to warp Yugi and his friends back to where they started before they met up with the royals. It all came to a stop when Diabound attacked and defeated Slifer, making Yami feel weak again. This time, Max and Bakura were back to the way they were before Yugi and the others interfered.
The gang found themselves flying above the city again. "Is it me or didn't we fly above this town already?" Emily asked.
"It's not you," Joey tells her. "I'm having some major Déjà vu, Em." They had to hurry and reunite with the royals before Max and Bakura could finish them off. They made it back to the mountain and saw Mystery carrying Yami on her back and holding her baby at the same time. "Pharaoh, Mystery," Joey called out.
Bakura and Max noticed them coming and grinned. "Just look. We've brought back some time. Diabound, Angel of Death, let's try this again." And the monsters attack the pharaoh and queen, knocking them towards the end of the cliff. Bakura approached Mystery and saw her hanging on for dear life and holding her husband. Yami kept his grip on his wife's hand and his daughter safe in his other arm. "It seems the tables have turned, hasn't it?"
"What do you want?" Yami asked.
"I want what's rightfully mine," Bakura answers, leaning down and taking the Millennium Puzzle.
"Bakura, leave them alone," Emily shouts. She flies towards him and pushes him away. "Hang on, I'll help you," she tells her parents. She reaches down to take Mystery's hand and pull her up.
Bakura growls and decides to attack her. "No, you can join your family in the Shadow Realm." And he pushes her towards the edge of the cliff, causing all of them to fall.
"No!" the boys cry. They approach the edge and look down, only to see a bottomless pit. "What have you done, Bakura?" Yugi asked him.
Kaiba growls and turns around. "Bakura, you son of a bitch," he shouts, and he deals a punch in his face.
Bakura was surprised, but he didn't find that painful. "I like your style. I could use you." He tries to fight back, but Kaiba shields himself with his wings. Bakura's eyes widened. "How is it possible that you have wings?"
"That's none of your business," Kaiba tells him. Bakura growls and attacks once again. He comes into contact with one of Kaiba's wings and bends it to break it. Kaiba screams in pain and falls back.
"Hey, scar face," Joey shouts to Bakura. "Leave him alone!"
"Fine," Bakura says, stepping away from the brunette. "You fools, you're no match for all of us."
"All of us?" Joey asked.
Kaiba got up and groaned. "Oh, man, I thought it was just him and Max."
"Then you thought wrong," said Max's voice. They all look up and see her standing in front of their minions and Pokémon. The boys know they don't have a chance against the thieves and their army, so they decide to pull back and escape. Max gets down and rejoins her partner.
Bakura grins and says, "You and I are in control of this Shadow Game and reversing the hands of time was simply a mere taste of what we're capable of."
His partner nods. "And now we have five more Millennium Items to seize." And they leave the cliff and return home with their prizes.