This story was done in collaboration between me and Jriddle41 (Sodormatchmaker on DeviantART), and we both own the OCs that are used in the story. Everything else belongs to their respective owners:
Thomas and Friends (c) Hit Entertainment and Mattel
The Railway Series (c) Rev Wilbert Awdry
Yu-Gi-Oh! (c) Konami
Song used in Intro and Outro (c) Unknown
WARNING: Again, this story is rated T (13-plus) for moments of violence, bloody moments, and some suggestive themes. Viewer discretion may be advised.
Dark Marik began narrating the events of the previous chapter:
"At long last, after several years of being imprisoned inside my weaker self, I'm finally free... All because that fool Odion played a counterfeit of The Winged Dragon of Ra!"
"I have a better idea on how to defeat you, Mr. Avonside." he said to Percy. "I'll activate my Mystical Beast of Serket's final ability!"
Suddenly, a lid on the coffin inside the temple began to slide off as gold light began to shine.
"By offering both my beast along with my Temple of the Kings Spell card, I can call upon ANY monster from my hand or deck, or a fusion monster from my extra deck! And the one I choose to summon... is The Winged Dragon of Ra!"
The Rare Hunter leader held out a card from his hand! ...which was the third Egyptian God card itself. Mystical Beast of Serket vanished in a blue streak, and the Temple of the Kings itself was beginning to reduce itself into rubble as golden light rose high into the forming storm clouds.
"The...third God card!" gasped Thomas.
"What's going on, Marik?" demanded Percy, even though he had a clear idea.
'Marik' was facing the sky... or rather the heavens.
"I give up a piece of my life! O soul of the God that sleeps in the chest!" chanted 'Marik' "Revive along with your appearance! Come forth - The Winged Dragon of Ra"!"
Out of the clouds descended a large, golden-like, dragon. At once, it gave an enormous, screeching roar. The monster's body almost looked like fire rather than gold.
"Ultimately, the ploy backfired completely as expected, and put him into a death-like coma. Without Odion being around and conscious, I was able to successfully overpower my weaker self and take over his body."
"I'm so sorry for failing you once more..." apologized Odion mentally.
Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck him in the head.
"ODION!"
As Odion began to fall forward, the fake Millennium Rod shattered into pieces.
"That Millennium Rod is a fake!" exclaimed Thomas, seeing the little bits of the... Well, fake Millennium Rod.
"That means he really wasn't Marik after all!" added James.
"But if he isn't Marik-" Mavis asked quickly. "-who is he?"
'Namu' could only watch in horror at what was happening to his adopted brother.
"ODION!" he mentally screamed out, briefly becoming Young Marik in the process. "PLEASE! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME ALONE AGAIN! ODIOOOOOOOON!"
It was too late; Odion had finally collapsed. Marik, meanwhile, was still gripping his head and trying to fight whatever was inside his body and trying to take over.
"I can't let you...!" Marik winced.
"Let me out... You know you can't hold me back any longer." came a voice from inside the Rare Hunter leader.
Unable to hold it back any longer, Marik suddenly raised his head up and screamed in agonizing pain as he became engulfed in yellow energy. Once the energy faded, Emily, Mavis, Carlie, and Liz all gave a terrified scream at the sight... Although Gordon, Henry, and James each didn't look any better, either.
"He's changed!" Henry exclaimed, pointing forth in shock.
"Oh man...!" groaned Gordon.
"Can I file this in the category of...not good?" asked James nervously.
When 'Marik' lowered his head, he suddenly looked very demented. His hair was now even crazier looking also. The man immediately gave a sinister laugh from the triumph of his arrival.
"At last." he spoke up in a deep-toned voice, the Millennium Eye symbol glowing on his forehead. "I'm finally free again!"
The man's face seemingly stretched out like crude animation of a sort.
"I no longer need a shadow... Whenever Odion is around, I am but a mere shadow..."
"Who—err... What are you?" Michael demanded, looking visibly sickened.
"I am Marik's inner darkness." explained the man. "As I've just said, Odion was the only one who could keep me from coming out. But with him in a coma, I am free to do as I wish!"
"Inner darkness?" Zack quizzed.
"Yes." said the 'Dark' Marik. "But compared to me, the other Marik is a mere child. That is why he cannot ever finish a duel properly." The evil man's face started stretching like crude animation once more. "And, while I'm rather ashamed to admit it, my weaker self always loathed, even feared, the darkness. Me? I don't hate it at all... In fact, I love the darkness!"
"Another Marik?" thought Thomas. "But how? This... this doesn't make any sense!"
"Thomas Billinton, the 'real' Millennium Battle has begun. " he said slowly. "We are headed for true darkness... and none of us can turn back!" The evil man's expression turned more and more deranged by the second. "Brace yourselves, you little fools. Because you will all be devoured by the darkness and I will rein supreme as its new ruler!"
Before long, images of all three Egyptian God monsters appeared in the night sky.
"Oh yes, the time has come for me to reign supreme. Not only will Thomas Billinton die by my hands, but anyone who even dares to try and face me will suffer pain and torture like no other! AH HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
Title: The Sun Dragon, Part 1
Everyone was gathered inside Odion's room. The poor Egyptian man had been put into bed to rest up... but he showed no signs of awakening anytime soon.
"Is... is he going to be okay?" asked Mavis.
"The doctors said that Odion will live... but he's in a deep coma, right now." answered Discord. "And they have no clear idea when he will wake up."
"Poor guy." sighed Percy quietly. "He wasn't a bad person at all..."
"There's one guy I'd like to blame for this." said James crossly.
"Marik..." whispered Thomas.
"He used his own brother to do his dirty work for him." added Toby.
"That bastard!" growled Michael, slamming his clenched fist on the nearby table.
Everyone in the room was very upset with all that Marik had done. The Rare Hunter leader had to pay for his horrible crimes. Discord, however, knew that right now, they had a duel to prepare for...
"I'm afraid our anger towards Marik will have to wait." he spoke up. "We have another duel to go get ready for."
"Agreed." nodded Lady. "There's still me, Marik, Spencer, and the tenth finalist left."
Everyone gave a nod, but Liz only gave a heated glare towards the beautiful blonde-haired girl.
"Is something the matter, dear?" quizzed Ryan, noticing his wife's look.
"Did I say something wrong?" Lady quizzed.
"Could the rest of you please go?" asked Liz, trying to look as calm as possible. "I would like to have a private talk with Lady."
Everyone else, feeling uneasy about what was about to happen, obeyed and left the room. Once they were alone, Liz's calm face turned into an angry one...
"Lady, I just can't believe you!" she began.
"What are you talking about?" asked Lady.
"You're my brother's girlfriend, are you not?" Liz questioned accusingly. "Then why not show a little faith? While everyone else, myself included, showed him some encouragement during the duel, you were not being all of that very much!"
"I told you I wanted him to win!" objected Lady. "But the situation looked very bleak."
"That's no excuse!" snapped Liz. "Stop being such a pessimist towards your friends! It's like you don't truly care for Percy at all, otherwise you would never have doubted him!"
Lady had a look of shock and hurt on her face. Unfortunately, the young woman didn't stop there...
"If you continue to be so doubtful about Percy in his duels, then perhaps it's best that you never see him again! ...or even everyone else here."
Outside the room, everyone else actually did not leave... they were listening onto the conversation going on inside the room! ...when the door opened and Lady ran out sobbing down the hallway. Liz then came out of the room and gave a contented sigh after letting her anger and frustration out.
"Much better." The young woman said to herself.
"Liz?" asked Percy. "What did you say to Lady that made her so upset?"
"She needed to learn a lesson." The green-haired boy's older sister answered. "I was just being a good elder sister."
"From the way Lady was crying-" remarked Percy. "-it seems like you really broke her heart. What was it you said to her?"
"Like I said, she needed to know to stop being such a pessimist towards you and your friends!"
"But you did it the wrong way!" Emily protested.
"How else was I supposed to get it through her head that she needs to be more supportive?" asked Liz harshly.
"I can't believe you!" said Ryan in dismay. "How could you do this?"
"It's something called 'tough love'." insisted Liz, walking away. "Once Lady has calmed down, she'll be a better person. Trust me."
No one else could believe that Elizabeth Avonside, one of the kindest, most caring, girls on the whole Island of Sodor, had just showed a side no one had ever seen before in their life.
(elsewhere...)
Inside her own room, Lady was laying on her bed crying her eyes out.
"Liz is right about me." she weeped quietly. "I'm a terrible friend! I'm honestly surprised that Percy hasn't broken up with me yet."
It took a few minutes, but once Lady had a chance to calm herself down she began to do some thinking on the matter.
"I have to make it up to my friends for being so doubtful." Lady said to herself. "But how?"
(elsewhere...)
Meanwhile... Inside his room, the new 'Dark' Marik had finished changing his clothes into something...far more sinister looking... It consisted of a long purple cape with a gold chain, a black sleeveless tank top, and beige pants. For added accessories, he wore golden earrings, neckwear, armbands, and bracelets.
"Ahhh-" Dark Marik sighed heavily, before chuckling evilly. "-nothing like a new look to make me feel like a newly reborn split personality."
Suddenly, Dark Marik had a look of anger on his face. He could remember the time where Odion had managed to seal him away inside the weaker Marik five years ago, and the evil man would have none of that, this time around.
"I must eliminate that fool, Odion, before he wakes up and tries to get rid of me once again."
(elsewhere...)
Later on, everyone (except for Lady and Dark Marik) was gathered in the dining room to wait for the gambling machine to select the next two duelists to duel next.
"We've got four duelists left." said James. "Who will be next?"
"Personally, I hope either Spencer or Lady don't face off against Marik." sighed Thomas. "They would be no match for him, I just know it."
"I agree." Matt nodded. "Marik's power seems unreal... and that could lead to great danger for anyone."
Just then, Lady walked into the room.
"Hi, Lady." said Percy brightly. "Feeling any better?"
The beautiful blonde-haired girl gazed at her boyfriend for a moment... but then just ignored him and walked over to another part of the room.
"Man, she's really upset." said Percy to himself. "Liz was harder on her than I first thought."
Meanwhile, Thomas and Emily both decided to give it a try...
"Lady, we were all worried about you." began Thomas.
"Are you feeling any better?" Emily finished with a question.
But Lady didn't seem to answer the two of them.
"Lady?"
The beautiful blonde-haired girl closed her eyes and finally began to speak.
"I'm fine." she said quietly. "But why would you guys care?"
Thomas was surprised. "What are you-?"
"Of course, we care, Lady!" Emily protested. "We're your friends."
"Are you?"
"Is this because of what Liz said?" asked Thomas.
"Maybe, maybe not." shrugged Lady uncaringly. "You can decide that for yourself."
Thomas and Emily both couldn't believe that their friend was acting like this. Deciding to just leave Lady alone for a little bit, they walked back over to their waiting friends.
"Will Lady be okay?" Molly asked.
"Probably not." sighed Emily.
It was then the suit began to make the announcement for the next duel of the finals.
"The next duelist to partake in the semi-finals is number 7! Lady Stone!" he called out, holding out a number ball.
"Hey, that's great!" smiled Percy. "Did you hear that, Lady? You're dueling next!"
Lady just gazed at her boyfriend, yet didn't seem to say anything.
(elsewhere...)
Outside Odion's room, a doctor was just exiting the room after making sure that the unconscious man would be okay when a new (yet familiar) voice was heard...
"Could I please go see the patient?"
Before the doctor could object, the Millennium Rod was held up by someone and began glowing all gold.
"W-Who...?" The doctor began, looking very surprised. "GAH! W-What-?"
Alas, the doctor didn't have time to finish or yell before collapsing onto the ground. The owner of the Millennium Rod was revealed to be...Dark Marik.
"That's better." The evil man sighed, taking the dropped keycard and opening the door with it.
Now inside the room, Dark Marik suddenly pulled off the handle of the Millennium Rod... and revealed it to be half rod, half dagger.
"One-by-one... I will sacrifice them to the darkness." Dark Marik said to himself, approaching the bed and speaking to the unconscious Odion... "Hello, Odion, my old friend... As long as you live on with that repulsive carving on your face, there's a chance my weaker self may try to retake control of the body. So, that is why I'm here to ensure that it never happens again!" The evil man then gently lowered the exposed dagger to Odion's forehead. "I was trapped within the darkness for far too long... Now, it's your turn to go visit there!" The dagger was raised into the air. "Be sure to say hello to my old man when you arrive in the underworld."
Just then, a suit's voice spoke up on the intercom before Dark Marik could deliver the killing blow...
"Lady Stone's opponent will be duelist number 9! Marik Ishtar!"
Dark Marik scowled a bit upon hearing his name being mentioned, and put the handle back onto the Millennium Rod before gazing at the unconscious Odion hatefully.
"Heh! You've got quite the luck, Odion... I guess you can live a little while longer." The evil man sneered, just before an extremely cruel smile appeared on his face. "But I can at least have some fun before I come back to finish what I was about to do..."
(elsewhere...)
Meanwhile, Lady was outside on the duel platform and waiting for Dark Marik to arrive.
"Marik..." The beautiful blonde-haired girl said to herself darkly. "He has put my friends through so much pain, agony, and trouble." Then Lady had an idea. "Wait a minute... Maybe if I defeat him, then perhaps that will help me make things right with my friends."
Just then, she felt a cold chill enter her body. Lady then noticed Dark Marik walking out of the staircase and onto the platform. The man was smiling sadistically upon seeing who he was dueling first.
"So, you're my opponent?" asked Dark Marik. "Very good. A young girl like you will be a...most interesting appetizer."
Lady just activated her Duel Disk in response... before getting into a dueling position.
"Once I'm done with you-" she said bravely. "-you will never hurt anybody ever again!"
Dark Marik chuckled and activated his own Duel Disk in response. "Prepare for an experience like none you've ever experienced in your life!"
"Oh please, you don't scare me." Lady scoffed.
Dark Marik glared fiendishly. "Then why do I sense the fear in your eyes?"
Just then, the referee walked up to begin the duel. "Lady Stone and Marik Ishtar, begin the duel, now!" he ordered.
It was around then, the rest of the gang arrived to watch the duel.
"Did we miss anything?" asked Carlie.
"The duel is about to start!" replied Ben.
"Good luck, Lady!" called Percy.
Lady didn't reply, while Dark Marik chuckled in amusement.
"You're either very brave or very foolish to ignore your friends like that, little Lady." The evil man teased.
"I'm going to make you pay for what you put my friends through!" snapped Lady.
The two duelists drew their opening hands and began the duel (LP: 4000).
Turn One: Lady Stone (LP: 4000)
Deck: 40
Current Hand (5): De-Spell, Dunames Dark Witch, Mirror Wall, Amazoness Swords Woman, and Fairy's Hand Mirror
"The first move will go to me!" declared Lady, taking a card from her hand. "I'll summon Dunames Dark Witch in attack mode!"
The red armored fairy appeared onto the field (Level: 4/ATK: 1800).
"Let's see what my own deck has to offer." commented Dark Marik, drawing a card.
Turn Two: Dark Marik (LP: 4000)
Deck: 44
Current Hand (6): Jam Defender, Revival Jam, Legendary Fiend, Remove Trap, Jam Breeding Machine, and Makyura the Destructor
Smiling at his opening hand, the evil man took a card and placed it sideways on a monster field slot on his Duel Disk.
"Meet Revival Jam!" he called out.
Appearing onto the field was the familiar blue slime Thomas had faced once before (Level: 4/DEF: 500).
"I remember that monster..." Thomas whispered, before raising his voice. "Lady, watch out! That monster-!"
But Lady suddenly held a hand to tell the blue-haired boy to keep quiet. "I appreciate that you want to help, Thomas-" she said sternly. "-but it's against the rules to take advice from the crowd during a duel. I'm sorry, but I have to face him myself."
Thomas instantly became became quiet as a result.
"Attack my monster if you dare." teased Dark Marik. He then took out another card from his hand (a Spell card). "From my hand, I'll activate this Continuous Spell card - Jam Breeding Machine."
The mentioned Spell card materialized face-up on the field.
"What's that suppose to do?" Lady quizzed.
"During each of my standby phases-" explained Dark Marik, just as a large machine emerged from the ground. "-this Spell card special summons a Slime Token onto my side of the field."
Thomas also remembered this card. He also instantly recognized the strategy Dark Marik was using...
"He must be gathering enough sacrifices to summon his Egyptian God monster!" Thomas thought to himself.
Back atop the platform...
"It's my turn!" announced Lady, drawing her card.
Turn Three: Lady Stone (LP: 4000)
Deck: 39
Current Hand (5): De-Spell, Mirror Wall, Amazoness Swords Woman, Fairy's Hand Mirror, and Amazon Brigade(!)
Immediately, she slotted two cards into his Duel Disk. On cue, two facedown cards materialized on the field.
"I set two cards face down." said the beautiful blonde-haired girl. "And now, I'll send my Dark Witch to attack your Revival Jam!"
The witch obeyed and fired a blast of magic at Revival Jam. It splattered into blobs of liquid when struck, but also regenerated just as quickly!
"It wasn't destroyed?!"
Dark Marik chuckled. "Revival Jam can't be destroyed, I'm afraid. You can try attacking all you want, but you'll just waste your time."
"So that's why they call it 'Revival' Jam." groaned Lady.
"I know that feeling all too well." Thomas thought to only himself.
Dark Marik then went ahead and drew his next card.
Turn Four: Dark Marik (LP: 4000)
Deck: 43
Current Hand (5): Jam Defender, Legendary Fiend, Remove Trap, Makyura the Destructor, and Pot of Greed
"Now, my Jam Breeding Machine will create a Slime Token!"
The machine activated and out came a small Slime Token (Level: 1/ATK: 500).
"Then I'll use my drawn Pot of Greed to draw two more cards." The evil man declared, holding his drawn card out. "As you know; greed is good."
Dark Marik's life point counter started flashing the word 'draw' thrice, and he drew two more cards from his deck. His drawn cards were Melchid the Four-Face Beast and Masked Beast Des Gardius (both being monster cards).
"And I will end my turn with one facedown card." finished Dark Marik, slotting a card into a Spell/Trap slot on his Duel Disk.
Thomas instantly had a clue to what it was.
"Since Marik has Revival Jam on the field, his set card has to be Jam Defender." he thought to himself, before speaking aloud. "Lady!"
"Remember what I said, Thomas." interrupted Lady firmly, cutting Thomas off once more. "I can't have any advice from the audience or it'll be a disqualification."
Again, Thomas bit his lip and stayed silent.
"Lady will be fine, Thomas." Emily reassured. "Just believe in her."
Up on the platform, Lady drew her next card.
Turn Five: Lady Stone (LP: 4000)
Deck: 38
Current Hand (5): De-Spell, Amazoness Swords Woman, Fairy's Hand Mirror, and Harpie's Feather Duster
Seeing what she drew, the beautiful blonde-haired girl had a satisfied smile on her face.
"Sorry, Marik, but your facedown card won't be of any help to you."
Dark Marik frowned, but said nothing. Suddenly, the Harpie's Feather Duster Spell card materialized face-up on Lady's side of the field.
"I activate Harpie's Feather Duster!" she called out.
A tornado came out of the face-up Spell card and swept across Dark Marik's field, destroying Jam Breeding Machine and his facedown card (Jam Defender).
"Alright, Dark Witch." smiled Lady. "The coast is clear. Now, destroy Marik's slime token!"
Dunames Dark Witch obeyed and fired an orb of light, destroying the Slime Token. Dark Marik merely smirked evilly as his life points took a large hit (LP: 2700)...
"Well done, Lady!" cheered Percy.
The beautiful blonde-haired girl smiled a bit from hearing her boyfriend cheering her on.
Turn Six: Dark Marik (LP: 2700)
Deck: 40
Current Hand (6): Legendary Fiend, Remove Trap, Makyura the Destructor, Melchid the Four-Face Beast, Masked Beast Des Gardius, and Rope of Life
"Nice try, little girl." interrupted Dark Marik, wagging his tongue around a little bit while adding his drawn card to his hand. "But I've got something far worse in store for you!"
To prove his point, he placed a monster card onto a monster field slot on his Duel Disk.
"Meet Melchid the Four-Face Beast!"
Appearing onto the field was a large creature with four faces on each side like a square (Level: 4/ATK: 1500).
"But it won't be around for much longer..." continued Dark Marik. "Because I sacrifice it and Revival Jam in order to special summon, from my hand, Masked Beast Des Gardius!"
A huge creature with three masked heads appeared in place of the two monsters (Level: 8/ATK: 3300/DEF: 2500).
"Marik's deck seems to consist of cards his previous Rare Hunters used." thought Spencer, looking rather currious and impressed. "How interesting..."
"But you've already summoned a monster!" objected Lady, looking nervous at facing a very powerful monster like Masked Beast Des Gardius.
"My dear, you should know about this monster." mocked Dark Marik. "Des Gardius can only be special summoned by tributing two monsters on my field that include either Grand Tiki Elder or Melchid the Four-Face Beast, and that's exactly what I did!"
He began to laugh maniacally. Lady cringed a bit, but managed to regain a bit of her composure as the battle phase began.
"Des Gardius-" ordered Dark Marik. "-destroy Polly Stone's Dark Witch, now!"
Masked Beast Des Gardius obeyed and lunged forth... but ended up swiping its claws into a large wall of mirrored glass, much to Dark Marik's surprise.
"What's this?!"
Lady was smirking, and also had her facedown card now face-up and activated. What was it? It was revealed to be the Mirror Wall Trap card, of course.
"This is my Mirror Wall Trap card." The beautiful blonde-haired girl answered. "It stops your monster's attack and cuts its attack points in half."
Masked Beast Des Gardius's attack stat took a large drop (ATK: 3300 - 1650).
"Dunames Dark Witch, counterattack!"
Dunames Dark Witch obeyed and fired a light orb at Masked Beast Des Gardius, destroying it in an instant.
"So much for your all-powerful Masked Beast!" Lady called out tauntingly.
Dark Marik, despite losing a powerful monster and life points, still didn't look worried in the slightest (LP: 2550).
"Alright, Lady!" cheered Emily.
"Way to sock it to him!" came from Ben.
Suddenly Dark Marik began chuckling. "Congratulations." he said rather quietly.
Just then a mask equipped itself to Lady's monster, making her go to Dark Marik's side of the field.
"What's happened to my monster?" Lady asked, while looking shocked.
"When Masked Beast Des Gardius is destroyed-" explained Dark Marik. "-it leaves behind the Mask of Remnants, which allows me to take control of your monster!"
The beautiful blonde-haired girl suddenly smirked. "Sorry, honey. But that won't happen."
"What?!" Dark Marik demanded.
"Trap card, open!" Lady announced, as her remaining set card flipped face-up and revealed itself. "Amazon Brigade!"
"Amazon Brigade?" quizzed Percy. "I wonder what that card does?"
"Amazon Brigade can only be activated if a monster I control is given to the opposing duelist while I hold a monster that at least has the word 'Amazon' or 'Amazoness' in its name in my hand." explained Lady. "The monster that fell under your control is automatically returned to my hand, and then I special summon the 'Amazon' or 'Amazoness' from my hand to the field in its place."
Dunames Dark Witch vanished in an instant and also returned to Lady's hand while she took the Amazoness monster from her hand.
"I choose the Amazoness Swords Woman!"
A woman with wild, wavy hair, wearing skimpy clothing, and wielding a sword appeared on the beautiful blonde-haired girl's side of the field (Level: 4/ATK: 1500). Dark Marik merely held out a card from his hand.
"I'll remove your Mirror Wall Trap card with this; I activate the Spell card Remove Trap!"
The face-up Mirror Wall Trap card was destroyed. With nothing more Dark Marik could do, Lady then took her turn.
Turn Seven: Lady Stone (LP: 4000)
Deck: 37
Current Hand (4): De-Spell, Dunames Dark Witch, Fairy's Hand Mirror, and Amazoness Archers
"Thanks to another effect of my Trap card, I'm unable to declare an attack this turn." Lady stated, taking another card from her hand. "But I'll set this facedown and call it a turn."
A facedown card materialized on the field behind Amazoness Swords Woman.
"Lady is doing really well again Marik. Isn't that right, Ben?" asked Carlie to her brother.
"She sure is." said Ben.
Suddenly, Dark Marik could be heard snickering... the snickering soon erupted into psychotic laughter, surprising everyone greatly.
"What is so funny?" Lady demanded hotly. "Last I checked, you're down on life points and have an empty field."
"The funny part is that you actually think you can defeat someone like me." said Dark Marik coolly. "But I'm just getting warmed up!"
With that, he took out the Millennium Rod from his cape as the wind blew it about fiercely.
"Playtime's over! It's time to take things up a notch!"
Suddenly, a large purple fog began to cover the top of the blimp.
"Purple fog?" Zack blinked.
"Oh no..." whispered Discord. "It's happening again."
Thomas knew this, too. "The purple fog..."
Soon, the whole top of the blimp was covered in thick, purple fog.
"Welcome to the Shadow Realm!" cackled Dark Marik. "The darkness hungers for potential sacrifices!"
"W-What is this fog?" exclaimed Lady, looking around. "I know I've seen it somewhere before, but I-!"
"You're about to experience the world's most terrifying game." interrupted the evil man. "There is no going back now, Polly Stone!"
"It's not the altitude that's making it hard to breathe." said Michael, still shocked by the purple fog.
"This is just like Thomas's duel against Sailor John." whispered Emily.
Thomas scowled. "A Shadow Game!" he thought to himself.
On the platform...
"That's right, Thomas." thought Dark Marik, smirking evilly. "You know that hatred can make the night even darker."
"Marik, stop this at once!" called Thomas. "Lady is innocent...!"
But Dark Marik wouldn't listen. "My grudge is the source of this darkness... Thomas, your death is the only thing that can clear the fog of evil, and it's hungry for innocent victims! This girl will be sacrificed to the darkness, and nothing you say or do will stop it..."
Over with Thomas and the others...
"Lady, this duel has gotten much more dangerous!" Thomas called to his friend. "You'll die if you lose to Marik!"
Percy looked to his best friend. "Thomas?"
"You have to stop dueling and escape while you still can!"
"Thomas, I know that this dark fog is dangerous." replied Lady sternly. "You've faced Sailor John inside of it back in San Francisco... But this here is my fight, and my fight alone! I'm not gonna give up when I got this far."
"Lady!" exclaimed Thomas in dismay.
"Thomas, Percy-" The beautiful blonde-haired girl continued. "-I will win! ...and when I do, I'll face either of you in the next round."
The gang was dismayed to the bone; for Lady wasn't going to give up just like that. Dark Marik, meanwhile, was very pleased and moaned in a suggestive way.
"How wonderful!" he thought to himself, just as his face began stretching out like bad animation. "Embrace life and raise your voice, Polly Stone! Season it with the spice of pride to create the finest dish!"
Below the platform...
"We have no choice, Thomas." sighed Percy. "Lady wants to fight Marik to the finish, so we can't convince her otherwise."
"Lady..." whispered Thomas.
Of course, the green-haired boy was just as worried. "I know you can win, Lady, I know it..."
Back on the platform...
"I'm ready for your game, Marik!" declared Lady bravely.
"Heh heh heh... then let's begin the Shadow Game." chuckled Dark Marik.
And thus, the duel continued...
"Now this duel will get a few new...interesting twists." The evil man continued, looking very eager to torture someone. "For example; look at your only monster."
Lady did to... and saw a red wire being connected to the back of Amazoness Swords Woman all the way to the beautiful blonde-haired girl's chest.
"What is this?!" she demanded.
"Heh! Since you're participating in this Shadow Game, you should know what that wire is." teased Dark Marik. "But I'll give you a hint; it's a link to your very life."
"'A link...to my very life'?" thought Lady to herself. "What could that mean?"
"But instead of explaining it-" Dark Marik continued, drawing a card. "-you'll understand easier if you experience it first hand! ...after all, this is a game of fear and pain." His face started stretching out like bad animation. "You'll experience it more greatly than in any duel you were ever in!"
He cackled madly. Lady's eyes widened as they became dull with fear.
"The madness in his eyes..." she thought to herself. The beautiful blone-haired girl's eyes soon returned to normal. "I won't be intimindated!"
"Now then-" said Dark Marik, adding the drawn card to his hand. "-watch as I take my turn, now..."
Turn Eight: Dark Marik (LP: 2550)
Deck: 38
Current Hand (4): Legendary Fiend, Makyura the Destructor, Rope of Life, and Lord Poison
"I summon Makyura the Destructor in attack mode!"
Appearing onto the field was what looked like a warrior with long blades on his hands and one eye (Level: 4/ATK: 1600). A red wire appeared from the monster's back all the way to Dark Marik's chest also.
"A Shadow Game is a world of illusion and enchantment." Dark Marik thought to himself. "Only the chosen ones could truly see its effects." He then sneered at his pathetic opponent. "And now, Makyura, attack Polly Stone!"
Makyura the Destructor obeyed and lunged forth towards Amazoness Swords Woman.
"Hold it!" snapped Lady. "Facedown card, open - Amazoness Archers!"
The facedown card flipped up and revealed itself. On cue, several Amazoness monsters wielding bow and arrows came out and fired arrows. Makyura the Destructor got struck by the arrows and stopped its attack.
"This Trap card weakens your monster's attack by 600 points."
Makyura the Destructor's attack got weakened (ATK: 1600 - 1000). Even then, Dark Marik smiled like he wasn't even worried.
"Very good, my little bird." The evil man whispered.
"Now my Swords Woman!" called Lady. "Counterattack!"
Amazoness Swords Woman obeyed, and slashed Makyura the Destructor in half, destroying it in an instant.
"Take that, you creep!" cheered Lady.
Suddenly, she heard some sinister laughter coming from Dark Marik, making her confused and such. Dark Marik continued to chuckle as...blood came splurging from his neck.
"Well done..." The evil man said in a creepy tone (LP: 2050). "You took away more of my life points."
Suddenly, with little warning, Dark Marik's head...fell off his shoulders and onto the ground, leaving behind a very bloody mess coming from Dark Marik's neck (both body and head). Terrified out of her mind, Lady gave a shriek like no other.
"Y-Your head!" The beautiful blonde-haired girl stammered.
"That was a very nice hit, indeed." Dark Marik continued, sounding more creepy than normal while also using his headless body (the upper body was also covered in disgusting, oozing blood) to pick up his head and reattach it to his body, staining his right hand with even more blood in the process. "It was also nice for me, too."
Down below the platform, no one could understand why Lady was freaking out. Dark Marik looked completely fine, too.
"What's the matter with her?" asked James.
"She took out one of Marik's monsters and dealt more damage to his life points." added Gordon. "Why would Lady suddenly be freaking out."
"No clue." shrugged Mavis.
Suddenly, Thomas had a look of horror on his face from a possible answer.
"An illusion!" he exclaimed.
The rest of the gang's eyes were focused on their blue-haired friend.
"Say what?!" came from James R..
"What are you talking about?" asked Matt.
"Marik must be using his Millennium Rod to create horrifying illusions to try and scare Lady." said Thomas.
"But if they're illusions, then they shouldn't be real." Toby pointed out.
"We know that, but Lady doesn't. And judging from her reaction from seeing one such illusion, she's probably too scared to even care."
"We have to help her!" cried Percy, turning to look at his girlfriend. "Lady! It's okay, just calm down! It's all just an illusion!"
But Lady didn't seem to hear, because she was looking positively terrified right now. To this point, she even began to regret ever challenging Dark Marik to a match. But unfortunately for her, the worst was yet to come...
To be Continued!
