*Just for the record, I'm going to attempt to make my story more modern, just so there's no confusion.
*I also want to give an exceptional thanks to the for the English Transcripts for the Series, the descriptions are so detailed and accurate, it's really inspiring! Thanks once again!
Duel 004
Domino High School, Break Time
It was another day at school, and the students were enjoying their recess. Some were reading magazines, while others just chatted. With Yugi and the others, Téa and Joey were facing each other in yet another Duel Monsters game.
"Joey, make a move already!" Tristan exclaimed impatiently. Feeling confident, Joey played a card. "Kay! Here you go Téa, Miss Tough Guy! My Rock Ogre Grotto is gonna rock ya block off!" Joey bragged.
Not even sweating, Téa Flip Summoned her monster. "Yeah, Happy Lover's 500 Defense Points against Rock Ogre's 800 Attack Points Téa! Like that wimpy little card has a chance against my giant rock guy! Just give it up!" Joey exclaimed. A broad goofy grin spread on his face as he was sure victory was his.
"Okay, my turn." Téa stated calmly as she placed a Magic Card with a cloud blowing a strong wind from its lips, "Guess I don't stand a chance unless I play my Breath of Light card." "Huh? What's that? Can she do that?" Joey asked Yugi who was acting as the referee in this duel. "Oh yeah! The Holy wind of the Breath of Light card wears down rock monsters. Reduces them to rumble!" Yugi explained.
"Huh?" Joey exclaimed, realizing that he was beaten yet again. "That brings your Life Points all the way down to zero, Joey! Once again, I win! You lose, and I rock!" Téa remarked. "Man you stink at this game!" Tristan exclaimed. "Ugh…!" Joey exclaimed collapsing on the desk.
"By the way, has anyone seen Satomi around lately?" Téa asked as she looked around the room. "Oh yeah, we haven't seen her much since my duel with Kaiba," Yugi stated.
"Think she's feeling awkward about being around Yuge since her brother was slaughtered?" Tristan asked. "TRISTAN!" Téa and Joey bellowed at their impervious friend for his statement, causing him to flinch.
"Let's just talk to her when we see her and explain that we don't have any ill will towards her because of her brother." Yugi surmised. "Agreed!" everyone said.
After School
After school, students were headed about their after-school routines. Meanwhile, Yugi and Joey were at a pair of chin-up bars, hanging about as Joey was deep in thought. "Tristan's right, Yugi, I do stink. I can't win at Duel Monsters even to save my life!" Joey exclaimed, "What is it Yugi? Why can't I ever win? Teach me what I'm doin' wrong!"
"Well, let's start by checking the cards in your deck, Joey!" Yugi suggested as he jumped off the bar, he was sitting on.
"Huh? Kay! Here ya go!" Joey said, surprised by his friend's suggestion, but handed his deck to him. "Ah, Thank you!" Yugi said. "Pretty nice lineup, don'tcha think?" Joey boasted as Yugi began skimming through the cards.
As he did, his face grew more and more concerned, and his eyes got bigger. "Hey! What you've got here!? No one could win with these! Joey, your deck's filled with nothing but aggressive Monster cards!" Yugi exclaimed.
"You've got it! I've packed it with every butt kicking monster there is! At least the ones I could find." Joey exclaimed, proudly. "But that isn't good at all! That's not how the game works!" Yugi said. "huh?" Joey said, confused.
"Duel Monsters is all about taking your monster cards and combining them with spell cards to increase your strength. Combining's Important! With no Spell Cards in your deck, your monsters will get creamed every time!" Yugi explained.
"Huh! See! That's exactly the stuff I need to know! Yugi, ya got to help me out! Ya gotta help me learn more!" Joey pleaded as he gripped his friend by the shoulders.
Then they saw Satomi walking towards the school entrance. "There she is," Yugi said. "Hey, Tomes! Wait up!" Joey called out as he and Yugi ran towards her.
"Oh, …hey guy!" Satomi said nervously, looking as if she was trying to find an escape route. "Don't even think about moving from this spot!" Joey advised, "We need to talk!" "We do…?," she asked.
"Satomi, are you avoiding us because of what happened with your brother? Are you mad at me for beating him?" Yugi asked. "No! I'm actually glad you taught my arrogant brother about humility. I really am!" she reassured, "I'm just so ashamed of what he did, I couldn't bear to face you guys."
"Hey! You're not your brother! We like you for you!" Yugi said. "Yeah! Just because your brother was being a creep, doesn't mean we don't think of you as a friend!" Joey added. "Thanks! But Joey, if I can ask a favor, please keep the insults about my brother to a minimum? He's still family after all." Satomi remarked. "Oh alright...but only for you, Satomi." Joey agreed begrudgingly.
"Hey, wait a minute! I just realized your brother's last name is Kaiba, while yours is Takeuchi." Yugi stated. "Umm…your folks wouldn't happen to be divorced, would they?" Joey asked nervously. "No, they were devoted to each other before they had to part," Satomi stated sadly. "Oh yeah, you and your brothers are orphans, right?"
Satomi nodded in response. Their deaths were the starting point of Seto's behavior. Joey and Yugi looked at each other in confusion. "If it's not too hard for you, could you explain?" Yugi requested. "Well, …okay." Satomi agreed as they began to leave the school grounds. After taking a breath, Satomi started her story.
"At first, we were just a normal middle-class family. Just me, Seto, our little brother, Mokuba, Mom, and Dad. But not long after Mokuba was born, Mom passed away from complications. To support us, Dad had to work harder than before. Seto and I helped around the house to make things a little easier, but it never seemed like enough. And exactly five years after Mom died, Dad died in a car crash caused by the other party's drunk driving, almost as if he was following Mom." Satomi began. "Whoa…" Joey said heavily.
"There were no other relatives to take us in, so we were sent to an orphanage, and it was not a pleasant place. The staff was neglectful, and most of the boys there were bullies. It was especially hard for Mokuba since he was the smallest. There was nothing for me and Seto to do except be there for him. Then one day, Gozaburo Kaiba, the previous president of Kaiba Corporation, came to the orphanage for a publicity stunt. Determined to get us out of there, Seto challenged him saying he will adopt us if he won, which he did. He really should have picked the parent better. That man was anything but fatherly. He treated Seto like a slave, sculping him to run the company, and ignored Mokuba and me because I was a girl and he was the runt. Eventually, Seto overthrew Gozaburo, and he disappeared, but he rubbed too much of his brutal ways on him. Since then, Seto has been cold to others and cares nothing except being number one in everything. The brother I knew was no more." Satomi said, "I wanted nothing to do with that horrid man, so I kept to my original family name."
After she finished, a stream of tears flowed from Joey's eyes. "That's got to be the saddest story I've ever heard!" he sobbed. "it is a sad story, but if you're thinking that's no excuse for what he did, you have the right of it. He's even gone so far as to assault defenseless old men! Which reminds me, I need to apologize to your grandfather as well, Yugi!" Satomi remembered.
"Well I was thinking of taking Joey there, you can come with us as well." Yugi said, "And don't worry, it was not your fault." "Thanks, Yugi," Satomi said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. With that, they went to the shop, dragging a still weeping Joey along.
At Kame Games
"Grandpa's the true game expert in the family. Maybe he can help." Yugi said as they approached the store's entrance. Inside, Grandpa Muto was putting up a poster of some kind. "Hey Grandpa, I'm home!" Yugi called out. "How was school?" Grandpa asked.
"Hey there! So how's everything going with you, Gramps?" Joey asked. "Look at me! I'm all well now! Do you plan on buying some more cards today?" Grandpa asked as he stepped off the stepladder. "I just came to apologize for what my brother put you through," Satomi said sincerely. "Don't worry your pretty little head about it, it all worked out in the end," Grandpa reassured, relieving Satomi of her worries.
"Me, on the other hand, I've come to have you train me in Duel Monsters," Joey answered. "As you can see, Grandpa, I've brought you a new student," Yugi explained. "I was hopin; since you know about Duel Monster more than anyone, maybe you'd teach me," Joey added.
"Teach you? Duel Monster is a very complex game." Grandpa said. "Yeah, tell me about it! Téa beat me three whole games in a row today!" Joey said. "Actually, Téa beat you five times in a row, Joey!" Yugi corrected. "Five?! Aw, Man!" Joey complained. "Hey! What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Satomi stated.
"But what made you such a devoted duelist?" Yugi asked. "Yeah…" Satomi pushed. "Um…Let's see…Huh?" Joey tried to explain. Then he caught sight of the poster, it was a promotion of an upcoming Duel Monsters tournament. Grandpa caught sight of the sign, and a realization hit him
"you don't think you're going to win this tournament, do you, Joey? That's a hallucination that won't happen!" Grandpa exclaimed. "You'll never know!" Joey said with confidence. "So you want the prize of three million yen?" Grandpa interrogated. Joey flinched, knowing he was spot on.
"Well is that so joey?" Yugi asked. "Your dad's still making your financial situation unstable?" Satomi asked, knowing about her friend's situation. "Please, Yugi, I want to win the tournament really really bad!" Joey pleaded. "But you don't even have a month until the tournament starts!" Yugi pointed out.
"Allow me to help you." Grandpa Muto offered. "You mean it, Gramps?" Joey asked. "Yeah! Grandpa is a great duelist despite how he may look." Yugi stated. "Despite how I may look?" Grandpa said, "Yeah, but I'm a pretty tough trainer!" "Yes, sir! I appreciate it!" Joey stated. "Oh boy…" Satomi said under her breath.
"Hmm…yes, I can teach you to be a distinguished tournament Duelist, but only if you're willing to spend never-ending days and sleepless nights filled with rigorous training!" Grandpa stated. "Aw, piece a' cake!" Joey tried to reassure. "With that attitude, teaching you might not be worth the effort I have to give!" Grandpa warned.
Panic starts to set in Joey as he knows that Grandpa is reconsidering. "Nice goin' there, smart-mouth!" Yugi said. "Please Yugi! Help me convince 'im! I will work hard, I promise!" Joey begged on his knees.
"Listen, Joey, teaching you about Duel Monsters is too big a task, even for my Grandpa!" Yugi said, baiting his Grandpa. "It's not…impossible." Grandpa grudged. "Huh? You mean it, Gramps?" Joey asked. "Joey, Grandpa, already said he can't do it, and if he can't do it, he can't do it." Yugi gloated his grandpa.
"I never said I couldn't do it, I said it's not impossible." Grandpa corrected, "But if I agree, you must work hard!" "I'll do anything! I promise, I promise!" Joey exclaimed.
"Hmmph. Fine, then we'll begin your training immediately, my young friend, and believe me, under my tutelage, you will learn!" Grandpa exclaimed as he cracked his knuckles, "And I will start by changing your attitude, so you don't want to win for the prize! You need to learn the Heart of the Cards!"
"Now! Can you name the most strongest Duel Monster?" Grandpa asked. "Uhhh…no," Joey answered. "Can you name the weakest?" Grandpa asked again. "No-o-o…" Joey responded back. "You do understand what a Trap Card is, don't you?" Grandpa asked yet again. "Kinda…I…I have no idea." Joey answered yet again.
"We have a long way to go." Grandpa sighed as he began to teach Joey different strategies. "Here! One more time!" Grandpa ordered as Joey play the tactic again and again.
At the Regional Championships
"Good evening ten million Duel Monsters fans and welcome to the Regional Championships at the very first Duel Monsters Duel Dome, where tonight, the Duel Monsters Regional Championship will be decided! Final championships will be decided soon. Of the two-hundred duelists that have strived in this long-winded tournament, only two competitors remain standing. Who is going to stand out at the hem of the District Preliminaries?!" An announcer announced.
"The Championships were taking place in a giant stadium similar to what Yugi and Kaiba used for their duel. But unlike that duel, the stadium was filled with screaming fans, anxious to see the next Duel Monsters Champion. Then suddenly two podiums appeared from the walls and on them were the two finalists who will face each other for the crown.
"Here come the finalists! Put your hands and cards together for Weevil Underwood, the Bug Brawler! Representing East Japan, fourteen years old!" the announcer introduced. Weevil Underwood was a short boy wearing a nasty little grin and had short light blue hair that resembled a beetle at best. He had big round yellow glasses and a large green jacket that seemed rather big for him.
"And his opponent, the number one ranked Rex Raptor, Dino Duelist, representing West Japan, fifteen years old!" the announcer broadcasted. Rex, on the other hand, was just as short as Weevil. He had wild brown hair with purple bangs, was wearing a bright red cap on his head. He wore a green shirt with a khaki vest and was itching to get this duel started.
At Yugi's Living Room
Back at the Muto residence, Yugi and the Gang were in the living room, watching the Championships on the television. "Bug-Boy vs. Dinosaur-Breath? What kind of duel is that that should have been me in there!" Joey complained. "It would be me dueling there now if everything had gone well!" "But you've done well, Joey. Look on the bright side, you've made it to the quarterfinals!" Téa reassured. "That's no small feat for a beginner!" Satomi stated.
"That's true!" Joey stated. "I'm proud of you! The training was pretty tough!" Yugi said. "It was, but still, I wished I had done better!" Joey complained. "I know you've been training really hard for weeks, but those guys are in another league, you're just not ready yet," Téa said. "Baby steps, Joey, baby steps," Satomi said.
"Sure, rub it in!" Joey retorted as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "And on top of that, you're so worn out you can't keep your eyes open." Yugi stated as Joey starting snoring, "I think Grandpa's lessons have been a bit too tough for him…"
Flashing back to an earlier lesson, Joey was shuffling a deck again and again until the cards slipped from his hands. "Ugh…Grandpa, I can't…so tired…must rest…" Joey complained as he collapsed on the table. Grandpa was standing next to the table, holding a wooden sword, and he was not looking pleased. "Oh, yes, you can! You have no time for rest!" Grandpa yelled as he slammed the wooden sword on the table. "Waaaah!" Joey woked with a start. "Did you come here to study Duel Monsters or did you come here to catch up on your snoozing? Joey, you'll never be able to play in the tournament with this attitude of yours!" he exclaimed.
Back to the present was still snoring and Tristan leaned in close. "You were only a finalist in the town preliminaries. " Tristan pointed out. But Joey just grumbled in his sleep. "Ya see, it's true what they say…" Tristan said in a whisper and then became louder, "You snooze, you lose!" Joey awoke with an annoyed groan as Satomi and Téa laughed at the boy's commotion.
"Ugh! I must have been nuts to think I could ever learn this crazy game! I'm too ashamed to see Grandpa, who trained me so hard!" Joey sulked, hanging his head low. "I've heard my name," Grandpa said as he came in carrying a box. "I'm sorry, Gramps!" Joey apologized. "Don't worry, Kiddo, you've done your best!" Grandpa said, surprising Joey.
"To be honest, I didn't think a wimp like you could even enter the tournament at all. You did a remarkable job, son! I know you've been training long and hard, but you really are coming along as a duelist. And I'm quite proud of you." Grandpa said. "Gramps, thank y…!" Joey said with tears in his eyes, and he lunged to hug Grandpa. But he just moved out of the way.
"By the way, Yugi, you received a package!" Grandpa said as Joey falls off the couch and lands on his face. "A package? What is it, Gramps? Who's it from?" Yugi asked. "Oh! I don't know. It just came in the mail. It doesn't say who just where." Grandpa answered.
"Huh? Really now? I wonder what's in it?" Yugi asked as he accepts the package and read the address, "It's from Industrial Illusions!" "Industrial Illusions? That's the company that made the Duel Monsters game! Why in the world would they be sendin' a package to you, Yugi?" Joey asked as he climbed back onto the couch.
"I have no idea, is it probable they had heard I beat the world champion?" Yugi asked. "You mean my brother?" Satomi asked. "Yeah. It wasn't an official duel or anything, but Kaiba did drop out of the tournament because of me." Yugi said.
"He's not only dropped out of the tournament, he just disappeared," Satomi stated. "What?" everyone asked. "He just up and left for who knows where. I think he needed some space to rethink about his way of doing things, at least that's what I hope. It's just Mokuba and me now. And he's taken his disappearance pretty hard." She explained further.
"Say Yugi, why didn't you enter the tournament? I'm sure you would have easily won the championship." Joey inquired, changing the subject. "I've made up my mind! I will enter a tournament only if he's in it!" Yugi said. "Who Kaiba?" Téa asked.
"Yeah! Now that Kaiba understands the Heart of the Cards, I want to face him again in a proper duel!" Yugi explained. "You know you can't trust a jerk like him. Just hearing that Kaiba's name gives me a headache!" Joey grumbled. "HEY!" Satomi snapped, causing Joey to fall backward.
"Whoa! Guys! Be quiet! It's about to start again! And Raptor just stomped Weevil!" Tristan said. "These guys any good? Who do you think is gonna win, Yugi?" Joey asked. "Oh yeah. They're both pretty tough customers. Let's see…Weevil Underwood specializes in insect cards, and he's a great strategist. He likes to do combo attacks using Insect cards combine with armored ones. Then you have got Rex Raptor and his dinosaur type cards, he uses their Megaton power to overwhelm his opponents." Yugi explained.
"Itsy-bitsy bugs against dueling dinosaurs? There's no question! Rex is gonna take this one all the way! He's got this one in the bag!" Joey said. "I wouldn't be so sure…" Yugi stated as everyone continued to watch the screen.
Back at the Regional Championships
"Alright, Weevil! So far, you and I have remained tied. This will decide! Consider yourself…Dinosaur Chow!" Rex announced. A giant purple dragon-like creature with two heads and horns appeared on the field. "Rex has thrown the strongest rare card of the Dinosaur type, Two-headed King Rex! Looks like this duel could be over, right here, right now! With the Two-Headed King Rex in place, it looks like this duel is all done!" the announcer said.
"Play! Your move!" Rex exclaimed. "Heheheheh, and all I have is this feeble little bug, so this will be my card!" Weevil said. Then a grasshopper or cricket-like creature appeared on the field. "On this side, Weevil is countering back with basic insect!" the announcer said.
Back at the Muto Residence
"Look at the weak little monster he'd just played. Rex is definitely winning this one! I mean, he plays a wimpy card against a giant dinosaur? The whole place will be covered in bug guts!" Joey said. "Maybe, but I think Weevil Underwood's laying a trap, so I wouldn't underestimate him!" Yugi said.
Back at the Championship:
"Thanks! Attack King Rex! Let's take this championship! Stomp 'em!" Rex ordered. "Heheheh, you just said 'attack' didn't you? That word activates my Infinite Dismissal! You've walked your way into my trap! But then…how could your tiny walnut-sized dinosaur brain know, when an enemy attacks, my vortex activates!" Weevil announced.
"Oh, no! It's a Trap Card!" Rex exclaimed. "King Rex is caught in a space-time whirlpool and can't move!" Weevil said, "Which totally traps your King Rex in its inescapable embrace!"
A whirlwind appeared from the floor, and King Rex is trapped inside it, unable to move. "Oh no! My King Rex!" Rex cried out.
"Now it's my turn. While he's trapped there, I'll enhance my Basic Insect by giving him armor with Laser Cannon Level 5!" Weevil said as two large cannons appeared on the shoulders of the insect, increasing his attack strength. "Not such a puny little bug after all, hmmm? Attack!" Weevil ordered.
The insect fired the cannon on the dinosaur squared in the chest, and it flinched in pain from the blast and the electricity that came with it. Rex could only cry out as his monster disappeared, leaving him with no Lifepoints.
"And King Rex is demolished! Or should I say…extinct " Weevil announced. "Whaa…! I can't believe it! Beaten by a bug!" Rex muttered. "A shocking upset by Weevil Underwood, our newest champion!" the announcer stated, "I repeat, it has just been decided, and today's winner is Weevil Underwood! Weevil's podium was lowered to the floor, and he held up his deck with victorious pride.
Back at the Muto Residence
I can't believe Weevil just won! I mean, man, King Rex squashed by an insect?!" Joey exclaimed as he leaned towards the screen. Everyone was equally surprised.
Back at the Championship
"And now, an outstanding award for our new champion! Our victor, Weevil Underwood, will now be presented with the Winner's Duel Monsters Championship Trophy and the reward money! Here to present these rewards is the honorary CEO of Industrial Illusions Inc and the ingenious inventor of Duel Monsters. Ladies and Gentlemen, Duel Fans, and fellow Duelists, I give you Mr. Maximillion Pegasus!" the announcer announced.
In one of Weevil's Trap Card Spaces, a trapdoor opened up, and from an elevator platform, the very man himself had risen, holding a golden trophy with the numerous dollar bills inside. The audience applauded at the sight of the man who made the game possible. He walked over to Weevil, who was indeed starstruck.
"Many congratulations!" Pegasus said. "Uh…Thanks a lot!" Weevil said bashfully, blushing underneath his glasses as he accepted the trophy. "And as Regional Champion, I humbly invite you to participate in a bold new tournament I'm hosting. I will grant you full entry into the Duelist Kingdom!" Pegasus said. With that, Weevil fainted.
Outside the Duel Arena
As the tournament came to a close, Pegasus's car went out of the stadium and cruised along the city. Inside the vehicle, a plan was starting to brew. "Master Pegasus, with the announcement that you made tonight, we'll have thousands of duelists flocking to the Duelist Kingdom." The aide informed, "It looks like we won't have any trouble finding plenty of elite duelists to participate."
"I must be quite honest. None of the duelists, we saw today in the tournament really excited me. I hope for better results in the Duelist Kingdom. An event such as this will hopefully bring forth those who possess the Millennium Items I seek. Which reminds me…your errand" Pegasus said. "The package has been delivered to the boy, just as you have ordered, Sir." The aide answered. "It that so? Excellent!" Pegasus mused.
Back at Yugi's House
"Ha! With all the exhilaration of the Championships, you forgot to open your package, Yugi! I'm itching to know what's inside!" Grandpa said. "Oh, right! What could it be?" Yugi asked as he opened the box. "Huh?" everyone said as they peered inside.
Inside was a red glove with a thick metal wristband with ten star-shaped holes. There was also a plastic case containing two small stars and a black DVD. "What is this? Some kind of glove?" Téa asked. "And stars?" Joey added.
"Could it be part of the Duelist Kingdom Tournament that was mentioned on TV?" Satomi speculated. "I bet there's an explanation on the DVD," Tristan suggested. "On the DVD?" Yugi asked as he picked it up. "Well, play it and see. Just pop it in and check it out." Joey advised. "Okay," Yugi said as he inserted in the disk in the player.
Everyone gathered around the screen to see whatever the content was. After a moment or two, the static cleared and a face the gang just saw appeared. "Hello there! It's a pleasure to meet you, Yugi-Boy! I am Maximillion Pegasus." Pegasus greeted.
"Hey, that's…Pegasus?" Joey said. "We just saw him on TV." Téa finished. "It's the inventor of Duel Monsters, Maximillion Pegasus!" Grandpa said, "The Famous Maximillion Pegasus sends greetings to my Yugi?"
"I am sending this as a personal video letter to you Yugi." Pegasus said, "I have heard some terribly interesting things about you, Yugi." "Huh?" Yugi said, feeling puzzled.
"Your impressive defeat of young Seto Kaiba fascinated me so much, I've decided to explore your exceptional dueling skills for myself. Right here, and right now, we shall hold a singular duel. The rules are as follows, we play with a strict time limit of fifteen minutes. Life Points are set to 2000. And when the time's up, the player with the uppermost Lifepoints will be the winner! Sound good? Are you ready?" Pegasus explained.
"Wha?" Yugi said, even more confused. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Satomi dreaded. "Wha?! Does he expect you to play against a pre-recorded video?" Joey asked, "He can't seriously expect you to fight a duel against a video!" "How stupid! That's crazy!" Tristan stated.
Oddly enough, it was if Pegasus heard their comments. He looks straight at them, a few strands of hair revealing the strange goldeneye. It begins to shine as the screen dithers as Pegasus's words were heard without saying anything. "No…It's magic!" Pegasus thought out.
Then everything becomes dark, and everyone was no longer in the living room. And everyone was frozen and lifeless, everyone except Yugi. "Grandpa! Joey! Tristan! Téa! Satomi!" Yugi exclaimed, fear starting to set in, "Everything's grown dark and cold, and the others aren't moving at all! "What in the wide world have you done to them?! Where have you taken us?!"
"Hmhmhm. Those mortals would only get in the way! We are no longer in the world, you know. But I will return you…after our game! Shall we begin, Yugi-Boy?" Pegasus said. "A Shadow Game?" Yugi exclaimed, "Then it's time to duel!"
Then the Millennium Puzzle glows again, and Yugi's mind blacked out as the words "YU-GI-OH" rang in his head as the light enveloped him. And once the light lessened, the otherworldly Yugi appeared again. "then I will surely face you, Pegasus!" The darker Yugi challenged, "Start the clock and make your move." "Certainly. Let the duel begin!" Pegasus exclaimed.
A game set appeared in front of them, and the countdown from fifteen begins. "I'll take the first move! That's it, Now it's your turn, Yugi." Pegasus said as he placed a card in one of the Spell/Trap Zones, "Nervous, Yugi-Boy? You should be. You have never confronted a duelist like me before!" "you may be good…" Yugi said as he finished drawing his cards. "I assure you I am…" Pegasus said. "But I will defeat you to save my friends!" Yugi said.
"I'll use this card!" Yugi announced, holding up a card about to slap it down. "You won't save anyone with that Koumori dragon card," Pegasus said as his left eye gave a golden glow. "What?! How…?!" Yugi exclaimed.
"I told you you've never confronted anyone like me before. I knew you'll use that card even before you drew it I know every move you'll make before you can even make it!" Pegasus exclaimed. Yugi could only glare at Pegasus, realizing that he is facing an underhanded disadvantage.
"Predicting every move you'll make gives me a distinct advantage, wouldn't you say?" Pegasus gloated. "What?!" Yugi exclaimed. "For example, I can antedate your next play, and counter with this Dragon Capture Jar." Pegasus said, "it will draw the Koumori Dragon from your card and imprison the beast!"
As Pegasus holds up the Trap Card, it glowed and admitted a bright white light. Yugi shielded his face from the intensity. And his Koumori Dragon appeared. And it could only roar as it was drawn into a small jar with a dragon face. "Trapped. Never to be played against me." Pegasus said.
"This is insane! First, he orates my mind, then he brings the monster on my card to life!" Yugi thought to himself. "This dark Dimension we're in is notorious as the Shadow Realm, a numinous dwelling where incredible creatures can be summoned, and the impossible is quite possible!" Pegasus explained as if reading Yugi's mind, which it possibly was. "But what you are telling me just can't be true!" Yugi exclaimed.
"Tell me, Yugi, have you considered that there are magical forces in these cards?" Pegasus asked. "don't you know? You invented this game." Yugi said. "What if I told you I didn't," Pegasus said. "Huh?!" Yugi exclaimed.
"In olden times, the Egyptians called this the Shadow Game. Great pharaohs would hold magical duels in other dimensions, just as we're doing now. But not with cards! They dueled with actual monsters and true magic. Supernatural forces so powerful the Egyptians lost control of them, and nearly destroyed the entire world!" Pegasus explained. "It's a good tale, Pegasus, but these monsters can't be real!" Yugi exclaimed. "Tell that to the cards!" Pegasus exclaimed, "Now let us continue the game."
"As long as he keeps that card on the board, I can't use anything from the Dragon Type!" Yugi thought to himself. "Even the super rare Blue-Eyes White Dragon that Seto Kaiba had, whom you have defeated can't stand up to this card that I hold in my hand." Pegasus boasted. "Not even the Blue-Eyes White Dragon?!" Yugi exclaimed. "This game evolves from day to day," Pegasus explained.
"Well then, I'll use this!" Yugi announced as he drew another card. "A Beast type card, Silverfang!" Pegasus announced surprising Yugi. "I've sensed that you would use a Beast type card and you will also use the Spell card, Full Moon, to infuriate Silverfang," Pegasus explained.
"This card should handle Silverfang nicely. This Dragon Piper has weak attack force, but it is the only card that even comes close to being able to break Dragon Capture Jar!" Pegasus said as a monster that was the cross between an ornate bottle and a snake charmer appeared and began to play the flute.
"So you want to take my Dragon and turn it into your pawn?!" Yugi exclaimed. "Why, yes." Pegasus stated, "Dragon Piper's Flute of Dead Waking will revive your Dragon! As he frees your Koumori Dragon but puts him under my control!" Sure enough, Koumori dragon appeared again but was Pegasus's monster now.
"My Koumori Dragon! I have to counterattack! Silverfang!" Yugi exclaimed. Then a vast aggressive looking green wolf appeared growling at the enemy in front of him. Then Koumori Dragon stuck its head out of the TV and blasted it with its fire, destroying it. "Ugh! The Heat!" Yugi exclaimed as he shielded his face and his Lifepoints are now 1500.
"Ha! As you see, Yugi, these monsters are genuine! Hmhmhmhmhmhmhm, and also quite dangerous!" Pegasus jeered, "In your language, I believe this is called playing into someone's hands. "I'm joking! What a funny, funny joke." But he noticed that Yugi wasn't laughing at all.
"Ah, Yugi-Boy. You really are quite entertaining…the way you scowl and sneer, so rebellious and yet helpless, and so completely ignorant of the power of your Millennium Puzzle!" Pegasus said. "What?" Yugi exclaimed.
"Five thousand years ago, a powerful pharaoh sealed the magic of the shadow games away." Pegasus explained. "what's this have to do with me?" Yugi asked. "the Pharoah captured these vast magical energies in seven mystical Millennium Items." Pegasus continued.
"Seven items? You are saying that…my Puzzle's one of them?" Yugi asked, intrigued. "Yes, and there are mystical vitalities locked within it…magic that could change your life forever if you only knew how to unleash it!" Pegasus added.
"But why are you telling me this?" Yugi asked. "Why? Only because I need you to comprehend. But maybe I have said too much. And since the timer is still ticking, I propose we resume playing our little duel." Pegasus suggested.
"I know how surprised you must be by all of this Yugi-Boy, but this is very much real. There is absolutely no way you can beat me. And once you lose, you'll have to participate in the event I will soon sponsor." Pegasus said. "What?" Yugi exclaimed.
"This event was designed to proof who is the rightful King of Games in the Duelist Kingdom," Pegasus explained. "The rightful King of Games?" Yugi asked. "He who earns the title of King will earn great honor and a greater monetary prize," Pegasus added.
"I'm not at all interested in your event. What if I were to say no?" Yugi asked. "But you see, no is not an option for you. Since there is absolutely no way you can defeat me, you are not allowed to escape." Pegasus answered. "I have not lost yet," Yugi stated. "Fine. Then we will continue with the game. Well, my turn is over now. You really should take full advantage of your go." Pegasus said as he placed a card on the field.
"He's right. Time is fastly running out, and I still haven't found out whether or not he can truly read my mind, or if it's some kind of hoax." Yugi thought to himself, "There must be some secret to how Pegasus keeps reading my hand. What could it be?"
Pegasus lifts his hair from the golden eye. Inside is a reflection of the Zombie Warrior card. And that reflection was in Yugi's eye as well. "ugh, I've got to try something. Maybe my Zombie Warrior…" Yugi thought to himself, "I'll send his Dragon Piper into oblivion with this card."
But when Yugi starts to reach for the card, Pegasus snickers. "Wait a minute! Hold on! He unquestionably knows what I'm about to do. But how! Did I choose that card myself, or am I only thinking I did? If he's using magic to control me. It's got to have to do something with that weird eye of his." Yugi thought as he thought back to seeing the eye through Pegasus's hair, "that's it…isn't it! That strange eye must've somehow let him see the cards in my hands! Or it could be that he uses some sort of hypnotic signal to control his opponents. Then it would seem as if he was reading their hands. So no matter what card I pick, he's already one step ahead of me! But that gives me an idea… I think I'm on to the secret of his magic!" Yugi thought.
"Well, Yugi-Boy, the turn is yours!" Pegasus urged, "hurry up now, time is running out, …for you and your friends!" "If I chose a card from my hand, I'll be controlled by his magic. Pegasus is expecting me to use one of the cards that I have in my hand…but what if I use a card even I haven't seen yet! What happens if I draw a card right from the deck without even looking at it! I have to put faith in my deck. I'll lay everything on the next card." Yugi strategized as he drew a new card and placed it facedown without knowing what it was.
"Don't even bother to declare your attack! Your next card will be a zombie type. I already see you plan to use the Zombie Warrior. And I'm already ready, to counter it with a Trap Card that makes even zombies lie down and play dead! It activates my trap, Sun Shower, the flood of sunlight kills all zombie monsters." Pegasus boasted.
"Not this time. Is that all your magic can do? I figured out your little trick, Pegasus. You may be able to see through the cards in my hand, but you can't see the cards I pull from the deck!" Yugi exclaimed with a mocking grin. "Hmm?" Pegasus mused. "My next card is…the Dark Magician!" Yugi announced as he flipped the card to reveal his trusty monster.
This did not amuse the man at all. "oooh, the big scary Dark Magician." Pegasus shrugged off with sarcasm, "Ah! Obviously it's not a Zombie type!" "Fool with me all you like, Pegasus; but my Magician will terminate that dragon!" Yugi said.
"Why not attack Dragon Piper?" Pegasus inquired. "Because I and only I revive my own cards. I can't let the game end with it under your control.." Yugi explained. "That audacity will prove fatal to your game." Pegasus warned, "so, go right ahead if you think it'll help."
"It'll do more than benefit me, Pegasus. It'll bring you closer to defeat, and me closer to saving my friends." Yugi said. "if it can do all that, by all means, play it." Pegasus stated.
"Dark Magician! Dark Magic Attack!" Yugi ordered. The magician appeared with his purple armor and pointy hat and green staff of the same layered design. He extended his palm, unleashed his power on the dragon, and it exploded.
"ahh!" Pegasus exclaimed as he flinched away and his Lifepoints were reduced to 1200. "Ahahahahaha! Nicely played! Very good! Okay, I give your credit for seeing through a small part of my powers, but it seems you greatly underestimate my powers!" Pegasus boasted, "But by using your Dark Magician, you have let me influence you once again. By using that one card, you have ensured my victory." "What? No." Yugi exclaimed.
"We'll see, Yugi. It is my turn!" Pegasus said as he drew a card, "Oh! Surprise of surprises! A very rare card. It is the fearsome Illusionist, Faceless Mage!" Pegasus announced.
"I've never seen that card before, but the Dark Magician is one of the strongest members of the Spellcaster type." Yugi stated. "but how will he fare once I combine my faceless mage with the equally rare Eye of Illusion to make it a Combo Attack?" Pegasus asked.
"I'll still face you! Dark Magician, Dark Magic!" Yugi ordered with a panic in his voice. "I call an illusionary power, Dazzling Eyes!" Pegasus announced. As the Dark Magician cast his spell at the Faceless Mage, it casts a spell of its own in the form of a golden eye. The magic caused an explosion of light, and Yugi had to cover his eyes to keep himself from going blind.
"Dark Magician! Who's the winner?" Yugi asked, both monsters were still on the field, "A tie? My attack had no effect at all!" "hmhmhm." Pegasus said.
"But in a tie, they should both disappear together! Maybe this is an effect of the Eyes of Illusion!" Yugi contemplated, "His Faceless Mage should have been demolished. But it's still here, and I'm running out of time."
Yugi glanced at the clock on the player and realized he needed to finish this duel soon. "Five more minutes until the video counter hits zero. If I maintain my Life Points without attacking, I might win. But only a coward would choose that route. I'll fight to the end! The only real victory is taking Pegasus's Life Points down to zero!" Yugi strategized, "I'm up by three hundred Lifepoints, but only because Pegasus is playing me like a fool. I've got to find a way to defeat him at his own shadow game! Pegasus knows all kinds of tricks…but I gotta find a solution to beat him! I just have to believe in my Grandpa's Cards."
"I attack Faceless Mage with Celtic Guardian! This mighty warrior will cut your Faceless Mae down to size!" Yugi exclaimed as he summoned an armored elf-like warrior wielding a sword, "If he puts up a good fight, the Celtic Guardian should win!"
"So you seduced that Eyes of Illusion does more than just raise Faceless Mage's Attack Power. Much more!" Pegasus exclaimed, "It's true that your Guardian is mighty, but you have once again underestimated the incredible power of my Eye of Illusion! Haha!" "What? No!" Yugi exclaimed.
"Dark Magic Attack!" Pegasus ordered for some odd reason. With that attack, Celtic Guardian was destroyed, and Yugi was now at 400 Lifepoints.! "The Celtic Guardian why?" Yugi asked, "But how? But that's not possible! The Faceless Mage does not have a Dark Magic Attack."
"Oh, no…!" Yugi exclaimed, the Dark Magician was on the other side of the field in a kind of trance, a golden eye on his chest, "It was my own Dark Magician that attacked me! Pegasus is controlling him. He used the Eyes of Illusion to control the Dark Magician for this one turn. But if he's using its power to control my Magician, what's protecting his Mage…? Pegasus knows every card in my hand."
"well, Yugi My turn is ended and the time is almost up. Nice fight, Yugi-Boy. I must applaud you, what a way to go!" Pegasus jeered as he laced a facedown card and applauded himself, "And as I have higher Lifepoints than you, it seems, I am the victor."
True enough, there were only ten seconds left! "Time's not up just yet, Pegasus! This game isn't over yet! And you've left your Faceless Mage defenseless to a physical assault! My last card is from the Fiend type, it is Summoned Skull!" Yugi exclaimed as he held up the card. Pegasus wasn't smiling at the moment.
"Summoned Skull! Attack!" Yugi ordered as the monster appeared. The timer ticked down, 3…2…1…. And when it hit zero, both monsters disappeared, just as the skull was about to strike the mage.
"Ugh…" Yugi exclaimed, knowing that he had lost and who knows what will happen to his friends now. "Hm, well, we've run out of time. The game is over! But how close was that! If you had been able to finish that attack, I would have lost! But I didn't, did I. Yugi, you are a lot more skillful than I had thought. I have a strange feeling that you and I will duel again in the Duelist Kingdom. I have taken the degree of your talents this day, Yugi Muto, and when next we duel, we shall play for far higher stakes!" Pegasus said.
"And if I were to say no?" Yugi inquired, "Because I'm done with your games!" "Tch tch tch, you assume I'm giving you a choice in the matter, but…I'm not!" Pegasus said as he wags his finger, "There is no way you can escape me, Yugi."
He pulled back his hair, revealing the golden eye, which shocked Yugi seeing that the eye seemed similar to the Puzzle. "for I, too, possess one of the seven Millennium Items… mine is the Shadow Power of the all-powerful Millennium Eye!" Pegasus said. "A Millennium Eye!" Yugi exclaimed.
"That's right. YugiBoy, and now I'll show you the true extent of its magic!" Pegasus said. A golden light came from the Eye and Yugi prepared for the worst, but the light wasn't aimed for him, it was targeted at Grandpa who was still frozen in time.
"You see, I have found that, given the proper incentive, anyone can be made to play my game!" Pegasus said. A ghostly image appeared out of his body and vanished into the screen. Yugi opened his eyes, realizing that nothing happened to him. "We shall meet again in the Duelist Kingdom. That is if you want to reclaim what's most dear to you." Pegasus threatened. Yugi was perplexed at first, then dread settled in as a familiar face appeared on the television.
"YUGI…!" Grandpa called out through the static. Instantly, Yugi inverted back to himself, gasped in fear as he realized what was happening.
"YUGI!" Grandpa called out again as he faded into the static. "Huh…Grandpa?!" Yugi cried out as his Grandpa disappeared from the screen. The shadows disappeared from the room, and everyone wakes up from the trance, save for Grandpa who keels over on the ottoman, shocking everyone into a state of worry.
Yugi didn't take notice as he was kneeling in front of the TV, shaking it in terror. "Yes, we will duel again, Yugi…how else will you ever reclaim your grandfather's soul! Hahahahahahaha!" the voice of Pegasus taunted in his mind.
"Grandpa! Grandpa?! GRANDPA!" Yugi cried out in vain. But it was no use, Grandpa was gone. And there was nothing Yugi could do, he was powerless on his own…or was he?
*Happy Father's Day to all fathers and all father figures out there!