The Real Battle

With this new twist coming into action, there was more than one way to describe what this all meant. Playtime is over and now the real match can begin. Everything else was just child's play and now Yugi was playing against the big leagues. There was no denying that Pegasus had planned to face Yugi in a Shadow Game after observing his duels and witnessing his own power.

The shadows coveted the entire arena, cutting the duelists off from the spectators. Joey, Téa, and Emily had a bad feeling about all of this after witnessing the same shadow magic before. Finally, Tristan came back to the arena and asked for his friends to help him. Max, Bakura, and Mokuba's weights were weighing him down and coming close to breaking his back. "What happened to you?" Joey demanded.

"You wouldn't believe it," Tristan replied as he were setting their lifeless friends down. "I've had an adventure and a half today." After explaining how he was able to rescue Mokuba and was attacked by the evil spirits, he wondered what had been going on since he left. Tristan turned his attention to the darkness surrounding the arena. "So what's the deal with the indoor thunderstorm," he asked, hearing soft crashing like thunder.

Emily decided to explain. "Pegasus was overwhelming Yugi with his Millennium powers, but Yugi tapped into his own powers and made an incredible comeback. Pegasus was upset that he was losing and probably felt threatened too, so he used his powers once more and all this darkness appeared and coveted the arena." Having explained enough, she shared the same concern for her friends that Yugi may be in danger. With that being settled, the gang agreed to get down to the platform and find a way to help their friend.

Within the chasms of the Shadow Realm, Yugi was feeling nervous. He and Yami didn't think Pegasus would take it this far and turn the duel into a Shadow Game. But then again, with so much on the line and Millennia's powers being used throughout the match, it made sense that it would come to this.

"You'll find your experience in the Shadow Realm this time will be a lot harder than your last," Pegasus was telling Yugi. "The strain of maintaining your mind shuffle will make it difficult for you to mentally conjur up your monsters."

Listening to his words, Yugi found himself feeling dizzy and having a hard time focusing. Yami immediately decided to get back in the duel. He had played many Shadow Games before and was used to whatever pain it would inflict on the players. He knew Yugi would be safe if he held back, but he also remembered that their mind shuffle was the only way to keep Pegasus from reading their minds. Still, Yami wasn't willing to risk Yugi's well-being.

Finally, Pegasus drew his card and summoned a mysterious monster called Dark Eyes Illusionist. He claimed to have created this very card just for this duel. For a monster having no attack or defense points, the Illusionist didn't seem like much of a threat, but Yami had a feeling despite its harmless appearance, the monster had some dangerous hidden abilities. He summoned Curse of Dragon to the field to join Dark Magician. Sensing Yugi wanting to get back in the duel and continue mind shuffling, Yami decides to let him do so. But once he gets back in the game, Yugi finds himself feeling weaker.

Even Pegasus saw that Yugi was looking sick and ready to fall on his knees from fatigue. "I don't think you have it in you, Yugi boy. Now you have two creatures to maintain; Curse of Dragon and Dark Magician."

The strain of maintaining his monsters was giving Yugi a dreadful headache. He had never felt such a terrible pain before. Not only was it becoming hard to focus, but Yugi was also having a hard time breathing. He felt his whole world shifting.

Outside the border of shadows, the girls felt a pain in their chests. Joey and Tristan felt it too. It was like they could feel the pain that was being inflicted on Yugi. Despite being in two different dimensions, the gang was still connected to their friend. If what they wondered was true and they were feeling his pain, then there was no denying that Yugi was hurt. But despite what they felt, they could do nothing but hopelessly stare at the darkness in front of them.

Pegasus continued to torment Yugi. "You're looking a little pale, Yugi boy. You know I can send you back to your world whenever you're ready to surrender."

Despite the mockery in his tone, Yami could sense that Pegasus was actually giving Yugi the opportunity to save himself. Yugi, for once, Pegasus is telling the truth. Your mind just can't handle the strain.

Unable to withstand any more pain, Yugi finally gives in. Okay, take over, for now.

Yami did, and ordered his Curse of Dragon to attack. The attacked activated Dark Eyes Illusionist's Mesmerizing Magic. The monster's gaze stopped Curse of Dragon and rendered it immobile. But Pegasus wasn't finished. He played a powerful magic card called Black Illusion Ritual. By offering up Dark Eyes Illusionist, Pegasus brought forth a new and potentially more dangerous creature known as Relinquished. The monster opened its outer shell and began drawing in Curse of Dragon. The shell closed and Pegasus ended his turn.

With Curse of Dragon gone, Yami's only chance was to attack with Dark Magician. He ordered the mage to attack when suddenly, Curse of Dragon emerged and Relinquished used it as a shield. By attacking his own monster, Yami lost 500 life points and was down to his last 400. As long as Relinquished would be on the field, Yami would only end up attacking himself. It was clear that Pegasus had created a monster that would serve as the ultimate shield. And it was about to get worse as the monster's Hypnotic Attraction drew in the Dark Magician and attached him to its shell as another shield.

Now that Yami knew what he was up against, his frustration was returning. But Yugi wasn't willing to give up. He was still feeling tired and knew he needed to rest, but he wanted one more chance to take part in the duel. We have to mind shuffle long enough for me to play a card and retreat before Pegasus can attempt to read my mind. It worked before. I know it'll work again.

Are you sure you want to do this, asked Yami. We don't know how long you'll be able to last.

I only have to last long enough to play one more card, Yugi replied.

Yami was still against the idea. If you reach the limits of your endurance, your soul will disperse in the Shadow Realm, he warned him.

Yugi was aware of the consequences, but he wasn't afraid. In his current condition, fear was the least of his problems. Yugi knew that if he were to back away, not only would he be giving up on himself, he would be letting down his partner, his friends, and the people he promised to help. Yami finally understood and could sense Yugi's courage. He even saw a blue light shining on Yugi's forehead, revealing the Egyptian symbol of courage. As worried as he was about his partner's well-being, no act of courage should be denied its chance. With that being settled, Yami gave Yugi that chance.

Yugi could barely keep his eyes open, let alone focus. He weakly placed his hand on his deck. To sustain whatever strength he had left in him, Yugi gathered all of his courage and his faith. "I've got to have faith in the Heart of the Cards," he quietly mumbled to himself. "Because the next card I pull might be my last." He felt his grip slipping, but he managed to touch the card. "Please," he prayed. "Make it one that can defeat Pegasus. Please!" He weakly glanced at the card, but was able to identify it. He quickly placed it face down on the table. To finish his move, he summoned Feral Imp in defense mode. Yugi knew that even though the card he played was unknown to Yami as well as Pegasus, he still had faith in his partner just as Yami had faith in Yugi.

Pegasus knew that Yami and Yugi would switch places immediately, so rather than try to probe either of their minds, he decided to end Yugi's suffering. Relinquished drew in Dark Magician's power and destroyed Feral Imp. Feeling a connection to his monster's pain, Yugi's vision went black and he was losing his balance. No longer strong enough to switch places with Yami, Yugi silently begged, "Spirit, you've… got to beat… Pegasus." He leaned forward and landed on the dueling platform.

Yami got down and tried to revive his partner as he called out to him. "Yugi? Yugi?" he called, but got no response. "I can't sense his spirit. I can no longer feel the presence of his young mind." Fearful of Yugi's fate, Yami felt like he was about to emotionally break up inside. "No, he can't be gone!"

On the other side, the pain in everyone's chests grew stronger. They also felt it in their heads. To feel a painful pulse so devastating could only mean that the pain was too much for Yugi. Overwhelmed, they began to fear that they had lost their friend. It was really beginning to scare everybody. "I'm telling you, I'm getting freaked out," Joey was saying. "One minute, I'm feeling like Yugi was right next to me, and the next-,"

"He was gone," Tristan finished. "I felt it too."

Téa cried Yugi's name and charged right into the darkness, but could not cross the border. The magic of the Shadow Realm caused her to run back towards her friends even though she had ran straight. Téa turned around and extended her hand to reach inside, but her hand came back towards her.

Tristan attempted to charge right in, but found himself standing on the other side of the dueling platform. He tried again and reappeared in front of the others. "Whatever this is, it's clear that Pegasus designed it to keep Yugi in and us outside."

Joey's fear quickly turned into frustration. "I just can't believe our friend's in the worst jam ever and there's nothing we can do to help him."

Emily just stared into the darkness with eyes filled with tears. "Yugi," she softly cried.

Within the Shadow Realm, Yami regained control and got back on his feet. He tried to control his temper, but he would not forgive Pegasus for overwhelming Yugi's mind and causing him great pain.

Pegasus could see that Yami was furious. "I take it from this emotional outburst that you're having a difficult time acknowledging the fact that you failed in your self-appointed duty to protect your little dueling protégé? Whoever you are, perhaps Yugi would have been better off without you."

"Be silent," Yami growled. He was not going to stand for any more of Pegasus' despicable ways. "For what you have done, I will show you no mercy."

"Then let the game continue," Pegasus said calmly. Yami drew his card, which was Winged Dragon and Guardian of the Fortress. With Yugi gone, Yami could hide nothing from his opponent and he knew just as much. Nonetheless, he summoned his Dragon in defense mode.

Pegasus knew that attacking the Guardian of the Fortress wouldn't damage Yami's life points, but he still destroyed the Winged Dragon just for sheer pleasure. To complete his move, Pegasus summoned a detonator known as Jigen Bakudan. Pegasus had set the monster to detonate in the next two turns destroying everything on the field. If Relinquished would be destroyed, Pegasus would take no damage because his monster had no attack or defense points. But Dark Magician's attack points would drain the remainder of Yami's life points. Pegasus had decided that the game was his. He knew there wasn't a card in Yami's hand that could destroy the detonator and save his Magician and any card Yami would draw would be known to Pegasus right away. Pegasus knew that the game was his.