Mind Games Part 3
I don't own Digimon or Yu-Gi-Oh
"Now that you've stolen my Egyptian God Card, why don't you try to use it against me?" Marik asked Mai who was still looking up at The Winged Dragon of Ra, still trapped inside the sphere it had appeared on the field in.
"That's the Winged Dragon of Ra?" she asked.
"What's the deal with that thing?" Tristan asked.
"Somehow the Winged Dragon of Ra is locked inside." Yami answered.
"Well Mai had better find a way to bring that thing out of its sphere and fast so she can win this duel." Daisuke said, looking up at the contained Egyptian God Card in worry.
"Only I know how to tap into the power of The Winged Dragon of Ra." Marik told Mai and the others who were looking at the giant sphere.
"Maybe for now, but soon I'll learn to control its unstoppable force." Kaiba thought with a smug smile.
"I told you this isn't a mere duel. We're playing a Shadow Game with ancient powers far beyond your understanding, not only am I erasing your memories with every monster of yours I destroy, but once you lose this battle to me your mind will be trapped here." Marik said.
"Over my dead body." Daisuke shouted, clenching her fist angrily at Marik threatening one of her friends.
"Now as for my Egyptian God Card, you were a fool to think you could use it. Only individuals with knowledge of the ancient scriptures can wield the power of Ra." Marik said.
"Give me a break, you're just jealous that you lost your Egyptian God Card to a better duelist, and I'm going to use it to knock you out of the finals bud. Your Winged Dragon of Ra answers to me now." Mai replied.
"Then why don't you try reading the ancient text written on the bottom of the card?" Marik asked with a grin.
Mai blinked before looking down at the card on her duel disk, her eyes going wide when she saw some sort of language on the bottom of the card. "What is this?"
"That is the ancient chant, used to bring forth the full power of The Winged Dragon of Ra." Marik answered.
"But I don't remember seeing that writing on the card while it was in my hand, am I going crazy, or is this another one of Marik's mind tricks?" Mai thought, thinking back to when she held the Egyptian God Card in her hand where she saw no writing on the card then.
"Why don't you try reading that chant. Or perhaps you are in need of a lesson in the ancient Egyptian scriptures my dear." Marik said.
"He's got me trapped; I can't read it." Mai thought.
"Why don't I read the text and take back control of my Egyptian God Card?" Marik suggested.
"If he reads the ancient text, then Ra will obey him." Yami thought.
"What do you think it says?" Mokuba asked, looking up at his older brother who looked down at him.
"Let's find out. Take a photograph of the card with our satellite and use the onboard network to translate it now." He ordered his brother.
"Awesome idea, I'll get right on it Seto." Mokuba said, turning and running to the elevator.
"Shall I follow him Seto?" White Veemon asked his partner.
"No, he's capable of doing this on his own." The Digimon nodded and remained by his partner's side. "Soon that card will be mind, and I must know its secrets." He thought.
Mai continued looking at the Egyptian God Card on her duel disk, trying to figure out what the ancient chant said but she was having no luck. "It's no use. Stare at that card all you want; you won't be able to read it. It was written in a special form of hieroglyphic script. Used only by high-ranking individuals in Ancient Egypt, and I doubt you fit that category. However, my family knows how to read it. We guard the Pharaoh's Tomb. I bet Kaiba could read it."
"What does he mean?" Kaiba asked, looking at Marik suspiciously.
"Several people aboard this vessel can trace their lineage back to Ancient Egypt, to a time when great kings and sorcerers waged wars. Back then, the power of the shadows was everywhere, and the world feared those who could control it." Marik continued.
"Blah, blah, blah. I don't need a history lesson to know how to control my Duel Monster." Mai cut him off with a frown.
"Maximillion Pegasus certainly did and not even he could decipher the ancient text when he created the card. But he knew that only those in ancient times that could chant the ancient words would be able to control the Winged Dragon of Ra. So, Pegasus printed the words in an ink that could only be seen when the monster is summoned."
"Then Marik knew that she couldn't use Ra in the first place, he planned this!" Daisuke thought, narrowing her eyes, and glaring at the smirking Marik.
"I'll ask you again, are you reading the chant, or shall I release the Winged Dragon of Ra?" Marik asked her. "This is your last chance, foolish girl, show me how you control an Egyptian God Card!" he then began to laugh loudly.
"Laugh it up psycho boy." Mai told him.
"Be careful!" Joey shouted to her.
"With no monsters on the field, Mai can protect herself if the Winged Dragon of Ra is turned against her." Willis said, having remained silent most to the duel to watch what was going on and he was not liking what he was seeing.
"This is getting interesting. If Mai can't decipher the text on The Winged Dragon of Ra, she can't control it, then when it's Marik's turn he will read the chant and take control of the monster. Then when that sphere unlocks, I'll be able to see how this monster works." Kaiba thought, looking up at the sphere that contained the Winged Dragon of Ra.
"Time is running out my dear, so make your move. Unless you are willing to admit defeat, you have no monsters on the field to protect you. That means I can use my Egyptian God Card to attack your life-points." Marik told Mai.
"I set one card face down and end my turn." Mai said, setting the last card in her hand on the field. "Gravity Bind will protect me, it stops all powerful monsters from attacking, so whether it's his Holding Arms or his Winged Dragon of Ra, I'll be ready." She thought.
"It's over." Marik said, drawing another card. "I summon Holding Legs." He said, summoning another pair of shackles to the field, this one had 800 Attack points and 600 Defense points. "So sorry my dear, but when Holding Legs is summoned to the field, it returns all magic and trap cards on the field to their player's hands."
Mai gasped as her face down card vanished from the field and returned to her hand in a flash of light. "And when Holding Legs is summoned alongside Holding Arms, it activates its second special ability. I now special summon to the field the Sacred Stone of Ojhat." Marik continued, laughing as a large stone slab with ancient writing and the symbol of the Millennium Items appeared behind Mai, the stone slab giving off a menacing yellow and black aura.
"What's going on!?" Mai shouted, looking back at the stone slab behind her.
"Well with no monsters to protect you, I am able to attack your life-points directly. Go Holding Arms and Holding Legs, seize her!" Marik shouted, both sets of shackles raced towards Mai and latched onto her arms and legs, both attacks from the monsters causing Mai's life-points to fall to 800. "Comfortable, well the worst is yet to come."
The eye on the Stone of Ojhat began glowing and Holding Arms and Holding Legs glowed brightly before Mai let out a scream as she was pulled towards the stone slab hitting it hard and she cried out in pain.
"Mai!" Daisuke gasped as the others watched on in shock.
"Hey, I can't move!" Mai shouted, struggling to move as both Holding Arms and Holding Legs merged with the Sacred Stone of Ojhat. "What kind of hologram is this?"
"I never said it was a hologram, you and I are playing a Shadow Game, or have you forgotten?" Marik asked with a smirk.
"That's enough!" he glared down at Daisuke who had shouted at him. "Leave her alone Marik!"
"Be silent, I do not need you interfering in my Shadow Game child. You've grown to be a thorn in my side, when you and I duel again I will make you regret ever breaking free of my control over your mind, I will subject you to the worst kinds of torment imaginable. You and the Pharaoh will both suffer greatly, it is only a matter of time. But for now, it is time for me to unleash my great beast and regain control over it!" he said with a twisted grin.
"If Marik gets control of that thing, Mai is done for." Tea said in worry.
"Great beast of the sky please hear my cry. Transform thyself from orb of light and bring me victory in this fight." Marik began to recite the ancient chant.
"Check it out!" Kari gasped, pointing up at the sphere holding the Winged Dragon of Ra as it slowly began to open.
"Marik's chant is awakening the Egyptian God Monster, now it belongs to him again!" Yami explained.
"Envelop the desert with your glow and cast your rage upon my foe. Unlock your powers from deep within so that together we may win, appear in this Shadow Game as I call your name. Winged Dragon of Ra!" Marik finished the chant, a bright flash of light blinding everyone watching the duel and as the light died down the Winged Dragon of Ra had emerged.
It was a massive golden dragon, glowing red eyes, a blue gem in the center of its head like the other two Egyptian God Cards. "Behold the strongest of all the Egyptian God Monsters!" Marik shouted, laughing in victory as the giant monster landed behind him, kneeling on one knee. "The end has come for you my dear. Thanks to the sacrifice of your three Harpie Ladies, my Winged Dragon of Ra now has their Attack points as its own." He told Mai as Ra roared loudly, kicking up a massive surge of wind.
"If Marik attacks Mai with the Winged Dragon of Ra, she'll lose the rest of her life-points and she'll be trapped in the Shadow Realm forever." Yami thought.
"Such a pity it has to end like this my dear, your mind is but a shadow of its former self and its growing even dimmer, and while chained to that rock you can't reach your deck." Marik said to Mai whose eyes were growing faint.
"No…"
"Prepare to be consumed by the great fire. Ra will burn you to ash!" Marik shouted.
"We've gotta stop this." Daisuke told Yami.
"That's enough Marik, leave Mai alone. Your grudge is with me!" Yami told Marik with a glare.
"That is true Pharaoh, but I am just having a little fun up here. There's nothing I like more than toying with someone's mind." Marik replied sadistically before turning away from Yami, his hand covering his face. "On my back, since the day I was ten years old. The Ancient Scriptures have been carved on my back, holding the secret of the Pharaoh's power until one day he would return."
"The Pharaoh's secret?" Yami whispered.
"And while this duty has brought great honor to the Ishtar name. It has brought me nothing but great suffering and endless torment, for generations my family has waited for your return, except for me. Serving the Ancient Pharaoh is a game for fools, giving up my life to serve a long dead king while all along I hold the key to his great power. I shall become the king."
"This madness has to stop, understand! Right now!" Yami shouted.
"This madness has just begun, tormenting your little friend's mind up here has been practice. Soon you shall suffer, while the world finally cowers in fear before me! This Shadow Game is over." Marik said.
Daisuke growled and ran across the blimp over to Kaiba's side. "I gotta stop that freak before it's too late." She thought before she looked up at Roland. "Stop this duel right now!"
"That's in violation of Battle City Rules." He replied.
"Again, with this! Fine, I'll do it myself." Daisuke told him, she climbed up onto the duel arena and ran over to Mai.
"You'll be disqualified!" Roland told her.
"Like I give a crap!" She shouted back, running as fast as she could over to Mai.
"Prepare to feel the wrath of the Gods, Winged Dragon of Ra, direct attack!" Marik commanded. The Egyptian God Card roared loudly before it opened its mouth and began charging a powerful orb of flame.
"Lookout Mai!" Serenity and Tea shouted to the blonde who weakly looked up in defeat, awaiting the inevitable.
"Hey Mai!" Daisuke's voice made the blonde look up seeing the younger woman standing in front of her. "I'll get you out of this, just you wait." She promised.
"Dai…you're here for me?" Mai whispered.
"Of course, I'm your friend. I never abandon my friends." Daisuke told her.
"Big sis, be careful!" Serenity screamed up to her.
"Talk to her all you want little Daisuke; it won't save her from the flames." Marik thought, watching as Daisuke tugged on the Holding Arms which held Mai's arms to the Sacred Stone of Ojhat behind her.
"Oh man, these damn things are on tighter than I thought." Daisuke grumbled, using both hands and trying to pull at least one of the shackles free.
"Daisuke, it's no use. Save yourself." Mai told her.
"Don't talk like that." Daisuke replied, looking at her friend. "I am not about to let you get burned to a crisp by that overgrown turkey, God or no God I won't let you be hurt."
"Winged Dragon of Ra, destroy them both!" Marik shouted and the Egyptian God Monster roared loudly and unleashed its massive torrent of flame at Daisuke and Mai.
"Daisuke!" Veemon and Joey shouted as the others watched on in horror.
"You're gonna be okay Mai, I promise." Daisuke said, standing in front of Mai to protect her from the oncoming attack.
Kaiba's eyes widened and he rushed to jump onto the platform with Yami doing the same, only for both to be knocked back down when there was a golden flash of light and a large bubble of golden energy formed around Daisuke and Mai, the attack from the Winged Dragon of Ra slamming into the bubble, but not penetrating it.
"What is this!?" Marik shouted in disbelief.
"Like I said…" Daisuke whispered, slowly turning around to face Marik, the Crest of Miracles glowing brightly on her forehead. "I will not allow you to harm my friends." She glared directly at Marik who narrowed his eyes at her.
"A neat trick, but it will not protect you from the might of my Egyptian God Card." He told her as Ra's flames continued hitting the bubble protecting Mai and Daisuke, Daisuke grunted softly as she began feeling lightheaded.
"No…just a little more...just…a…bit more…" she whispered. "Let me save…my friend…" she grunted as the bubble began to buckle under the might from Ra's attack before mercifully the flames died down and the bubble shattered.
"Dai…" Mai whispered to the younger woman who smiled back at her.
"To…told ya I'd…I'd keep ya safe…" she whispered before losing her balance and falling face first onto the floor and slowly she began losing consciousness.
"This duel is over." Marik said, his arms crossed. "Her life-points are gone, name me the winner of the match already!" he demanded of Roland who gulped but did so.
"The winner of the duel is Marik Ishtar." Marik walked over to the prone Daisuke as the Sacred Stone of Ojhat faded away, releasing Mai who fell to her knees.
"You have something that belongs to me." He told Mai, kneeling before her, and gripping her chin. "My Egyptian God Card is still in your deck; I want it back."
"Le…leave her alone…" Daisuke groaned out, weakly looking up at Marik who looked at her with a smirk.
"You interfered in my game. I will deal with you later, but right now your friend and I have unfinished business." He told her, holding up his Millennium Rod, Mai was blinded by it glowing brightly and when she opened her eyes, she found herself standing on a beach.
"What's going on? Where am I?" she asked before seeing her friends in the distance, she walked towards them only to hit an invisible barrier. "Hey, what's happening!?" She shouted, banging her fists on the barrier trying to get the attention of her friends who were all playing in the shallows or relaxing on the beach.
Marik appeared behind the woman with a smirk, only for his smirk to turn into a frown when he saw a faint golden aura surrounding Mai as she desperately tried to break through to her friends. "Even now that girl defies me by shielding her friend with the last of her strength. I will make her regret that choice." He thought. "At least this foolish girl is cut off from her friends, trapped forever in her mind." He thought looking at Mai with a smirk before he vanished, leaving her mind and Mai's body slumped to the floor with her eyes closed.
Marik then retrieved his Egyptian God Card from Mai's deck and he walked off the duel platform towards the elevator, a sick, twisted grin on his face.
"Big sis!" Joey shouted, running over to Daisuke with Veemon and the others following him. "Come on Big sis, wake up!" he pleaded, shaking his sister as Kaiba walked over and looked down at the prone girl.
He tapped the KaibaCorp symbol on his coat collar and it beeped. "Mokuba, prepare the medical teams. We've got two duelists in need of medical attention." He told his little brother before picking Daisuke up in his arms.
"But sir, the next match." Roland reminded him.
"Delay it, the eighth finalist isn't here yet. They can wait until I have made sure these two are in good hands." He snapped before walking to the elevator without another word, looking down at the unconscious young woman in his arms while Tristan carried Mai in his arms. "Just hold on." He thought as he and the others entered the elevator and it headed down into the blimp.
The end of the chapter
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