SailorStar9: With Chapter 41 uploaded, I present Chapter 42 of this fic. For everyone who put this fic on your favorited and followed lists and/or story alerts, thank you, but remember everyone, a lot of authors (myself included) sustain on readers' reviews.

Disclaimer: I own nothing expect the Safiastra and Ami's dueling deck.

Chapter 42: Challenge from the Past - The Terrifying Zera

After the brainwashed Bandit Keith made off with the Millennium Puzzle...

Yuugi had took off after the thief, the numerous arrow signs leading him to an abandoned warehouse.

Meanwhile...

"Why are you in a hurry, Anzu?" Ami blinked when Anzu ran past her and Bakura.

"Ami, Bakura." Anzu stopped. "Yuugi's Puzzle was stolen."

"Where?" Bakura asked.

"Over there." Anzu pointed. "I have to get everyone."

"Then, we'll try to look for Yuugi." Bakura proposed.

"Please do." Anzu ran off.

"Stolen..." Yami Bakura sneered, taking over his host. "What the hell is he doing?" pulling out the Millennium Ring, he was stunned to see all five needles pointing straight forward. "What's going on here? The Millennium Ring senses a bad omen. The Millennium Items contain memories of the past. Muto Yuugi must be the one to hold the Millennium Puzzle. Any person who makes themselves his enemy becomes mine as well."

"Seems like he came sooner than expected." Ami remarked.

"He?" Yami Bakura turned to his partner.

"Well now," Ami smiled sweetly. "How about we go meet the third of our triad?"

Using the Millennium Ring, the pair proceeded towards the warehouse.

Ami just sighed when Yami Bakura re-pasted the arrows to confuse any would-be followers.

At the warehouse...

"Is anyone here?" Yuugi entered the warehouse. "Give me back my Millennium Puzzle.

"Muto Yuugi..." a low voice droned and a spotlight shone on the stolen Millennium Puzzle that was hanging on a metal ring. "You want me to give it back? If you want me to give it back, defeat me in a Duel."

The spotlights then turned on, revealing a Dueling Ring.

"Who are you?" Yuugi pressed. "Why are you making me duel you?"

"There is no need for me to answer you." the cloaked Keith replied. "You have but two options to choose from. Will you accept the Duel? Or will you not?"

Elsewhere...

"So that's Muto Yuugi?" the person controlling Keith chuckled. "The person who defeated Pegasus and became the winner of the Duelist Kingdom doesn't look like much. Was it the power of the Millennium Puzzle and the other Yuugi that defeated him? Who exactly is residing in the Millennium Puzzle? And what is the identity of the other Yuugi? That alone is my objective. If he really is who I think he is..."

In the warehouse...

"Why do I have to duel you?" Yuugi insisted. "Can't you just return my Millennium Puzzle?"

"What would you do?" the cloaked Keith ignored Yuugi.

"I get it." Yuugi relented. "But you better keep your promise."

"Yuugi, it's your turn first." Keith gave Yuugi the first turn.

"I play 'Celtic Guardian' in Attack mode." Yuugi played his card. "My turn is over."

"I play a Monster in Defense." Keith took his turn. "Turn over."

"'Celtic Guardian', attack the Defense Mode Monster." Yuugi ordered.

"When 'Cyber Jar' is destroyed while in face-down Defense position, 'Cyber Jar's Effect activates." Keith declared. "When this card is flipped from reverse, all Monsters on the field are destroyed. And both players are to draw five new cards from the top of their decks. We then both Summon any Level Four or lower Monsters cards we're drawn to the field in Attack Mode."

"'Silver Fang' in Defense mode." Yuugi played his card. 'Mechanicalchaser' and 'Ground Attacker Bugroth'. He noticed the two Monsters Keith Summoned to his field. And the 'Cyber Jar' he played earlier... is he playing a Machine deck? "Could it be?" he realized who his opponent was. "Could you be Bandit Keith? Why are you here?" he asked, Keith removed his hood.

"It is true this man is known as 'Bandit Keith'." Keith responded. "After the fact, Keith was thrown into the sea. It's no surprising that he held a grudge against you. Had you guys not been there, Keith would have gotten his hands on a large cash prize as well as earning back the title of 'Number One U.S Champion Duelist'. My turn. I Summon 'Machine King', Attack Position. By 'Machine King's Effect, its Attack goes up by 100 Points for every Machine-Type Monster on the field. Attack 'Silver Fang'. Turn end."

"My turn." Yuugi took his turn. "A Monster in Defense Position."

"So it seems you're quite scared of my Machine Monster army." Keith taunted. "I'll play an Ultra Rare card and scare you even more. 'Megasonic Eye' in Attack Mode. And by 'Machine King's Effect, its Attack goes up by 100 Points. 'Machine King', destroy his Defense Monster." he took out 'Giant Soldier of Stone'. "Yuugi, your Monsters are being annihilated one by one. What's the matter? Why don't you call out your other like you did back in the Kingdom?"

Elsewhere...

Yuugi, reach out to the Millennium Puzzle and call out your other soul from within. Keith's controller urged.

Back in the duel...

"I won't let things go your way." Yuugi declared. "My turn. 'Curse of Dragon' in Attack Position. And 'Gaia The Fierce Knight' as well. I polymerize 'Curse of Dragon' and 'Gaia The Fierce Knight'." he activated the 'Polymerization' spell card to form 'Gaia the Dragon Champion'. "Now his Attack Power will be greater than 'Machine King'. 'Gaia the Dragon Champion', attack 'Mechanicalchaser'. Now 'Machine King's Attack goes down by 100 Points."

"My turn." Keith drew a card. "Mode change. 'Megasonic Eye' and 'Ground Attacker Bugroth' will be switched to Defense Mode. And I play the rare card known as 'Machine Conversion Factory' which increases the Attack and Defense Points of all Machine-Type Monsters by 300 Points."

"Damn it." Yuugi cursed. "As of now, 'Gaia the Dragon Champion' is..."

"'Machine King', go." Keith gave the attack order. "Attack 'Gaia the Dragon Champion'. What's wrong? Are you gonna just sit and watch while you lose? If you wish to keep the title you earned from the Duelist Kingdom, or could it have been another man who defeated Pegasus? Be serious. Like you usually are."

"Even Machines have a weakness." an idea came to Yuugi. "I'll show you want that is right now. Combo Attack: Makiu, the Magical Mist." he played the Spell card, giving Keith's Machine Monsters rust and reducing their Attack and Defense Points by 300. "Then I play 'Summoned Skull' in Attack Mode. While weakening your Monsters, the rain increases 'Summoned Skull's electrical attack power." he then took out 'Machine King'.

Elsewhere...

He's much better than I anticipated. Keith's controller admitted. I've been holding back so far in order to see the other soul within the Millennium Puzzle. It's about time I dropped the act and got serious. I'll use our special replica cards to attack him and force out the other soul.

Back in the duel...

"The Magical Card, 'Graceful Charity'." Keith played the spell card. "I draw three cards from my deck then discard two after the fact. Ultra Rare card: Zera Ritual." reverting back to his cheating ways, he replaced two cards from the top of his deck with two cards he swapped from his wristband.

"Zera Ritual?" Yuugi echoed. "It's a card you that lets you initiate the advent of Zera once you sacrifice Monsters equaling eight stars or more."

"Exactly that." Keith confirmed. "Zera is the strongest Monster of the Demon-Fiend class."

"But, there's only three original cards in the entire world." Yuugi pointed out. "I've never even seen it. It's an Ultra Rare card even among other Ultra Rares. It can't be." he blinked when Keith pulled out the 'Zera the Mant' Monster card.

"I tribute 'Ground Attacker Bugroth' and 'Megasonic Eye' in order to Summon 'Zera'." Keith Ritual Summoned 'Zera'. "'Summoned Skull' can't win against 'Zera'." he took out 'Summoned Skull'.

Outside the warehouse...

Yami Bakura and Ami had also arrived.

"This is no ordinary duel." Yami Bakura snorted, already sensing the rising black aura that surrounded the warehouse.

"Whatever was your first clue?" Ami rolled her eyes.

"The Power of Darkness is present throughout the entire area." Yami Bakura explained.

Back in the duel...

"Come on, what's the matter?" Keith mocked. "Just reach out your hand. Reach out to your other self in the Millennium Puzzle. I want to know that man's true form. What's wrong? There's nothing left. Where did that invincible Yuugi from Duelist Kingdom run off to?"

Elsewhere...

Come on out, other Yuugi. Keith's controller pressed.

SailorStar9: Any OOC-nes is regretted. *Sighs* Don't you just hate plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.