Cairo flies alongside Yami as they head to Death Valley. In a note by Rafael, it threatens that they will never see the professor again unless Yami meets up with him to duel. The sun slowly begins to rise as they get closer and closer to their destination. Cairo squints her eyes when she sees a metal object up ahead.
"What is that?" she asks, bringing Yami's attention to it as well.
"It appears to be some sort of container," he guesses as they stop in front of it. It is at an odd location for something that looked like it belonged on the back of a semi-truck. He hops off the horse and they stand side by side.
"I sense that somebody is inside."
Yami's eyes widen. "Perhaps it's the professor!" They approach the doors of the container with caution, with Yami leading. There is a lock on it, but Cairo uses her hand to swipe it, breaking the lock with ease and Yami opens the door. On the floor lays none other than the Professor. "Professor Hawkins!"
He slowly lifts his head as Yami runs up to him and helps him up. He appears to be weak, but otherwise okay. "Yugi…"
"Don't worry. We're going to get you back home."
"Oh no you don't!" a voice yells at the entrance and they all turn around to see Nubia. Cairo narrows her eyes and her wand materializes in her hand.
"This time you won't get away," Cairo says, activating her wand and blowing Nubia back with enormous force. She chases after Nubia as Yami helps the professor out of the container and leading him over to the horse as a battle ensues in the background.
"Take the horse back to the trailer," Yami instructs as the professor sits on top of the horse, slouched over slightly.
"But what about you?" he asks.
"I won't be far behind. Now go," Yami assures him and the professor nods, riding off to safety.
Nubia hits the ground hard after a powerful blow from Cairo who lands gracefully on her feet. Nubia holds on to her face, grimacing from the pain and she slowly sits up, growling in frustration. Clearly Dartz has underestimated this girl's strength. The power that he had given to her and Hasani were no match for Cairo's abilities.
"Time to go," Cairo says, slowly approaching her with her wand pointed at her.
"What are you trying to prove?" Nubia asks in between breaths, wiping the blood off her lip. Cairo arches an eyebrow as Yami walks up to stand beside her. "No matter how hard you try, your place will always be with us…in the Shadow Realm...for all eternity."
"I've already accepted my fate. Years ago. I know that nothing will change," Cairo says, narrowing her eyes. "I'm only doing my duty and that is to send you back to where you belong." Yami looks over to Cairo. Questions still arise as to what she did that caused her to be in this current position. How can someone who appeared to be so good be banished to the Shadow Realm forever? She certainly didn't seem bad to him.
Nubia's eyes scroll over to the pharaoh who looks down at her and she grins. "You better watch your back, pharaoh. She's not who you think she is."
"That's enough," Yami shoots back.
She chuckles. "Suit yourself, pharaoh. There are more of us inhabiting this world. Kul Elna will get our revenge!" Her chuckles soon morph into full blown laughter until Cairo slams a fist into her chest, extracting the soul out of the body and using her wand to open a portal to send her back to the Shadow Realm.
Yami slowly looks down to Cairo's hand that clenches her wand at her side. It shakes slightly with anger and her shoulders are tense. "Cairo…"
"Pharaoh," she turns to him abruptly, her eyes narrowed. The time is now. "There's something I need to tell you. I—"
"So you actually managed to set the old man free," comes a familiar voice and they turn to see Rafael standing across from them, separated by an old wooden bridge.
"It's you," Yami says, taking a step forward to the entrance of the bridge.
"We destroyed his lab and we warned him against any more research. And now he has led you here so I can finally take your soul," Rafael says, readying his duel disk.
"You're going to pay for all the trouble you've caused."
Cairo lowers her eyes. It looks like revealing her truth to the pharaoh would have to wait. But she feels some relief knowing that Rafael knows nothing about her. Or so she thinks.
"I need to capture the soul of the pharaoh himself..." Rafael says as Yami crosses the bridge. "…So that I can save the world."
Yami closes his eyes with a smirk. "Save the world?" he repeats before his gaze turns more serious. "Don't you see? What you're doing is going to destroy the world! Or are you so insane that you can't tell the difference?"
"I'm fine. It's you that's blind to what's going on. You're fighting on the wrong side!"
"Explain yourself!"
"This world is a dark and lonely place to live. It's been poisoned by mankind. All I'm trying to do is fix what's been ruined by people like you. And I'll do it by locking your spirit away for good."
"Who do you think you are?" Yami asks lowly.
"Look. The name's Rafael and I called you here to duel, not chat. And I have no intention on putting our fight off for another minute. Now let's go!"
The sun begins to rise as Yami stares him down. "Very well then. But know this. In the end, righteousness will prevail and justice will be served!"
Cairo squints her eyes in suspicion, folding her arms and observing the man known as Rafael as the duel begins. She feels a weird energy coming from him, but can't quite pinpoint what it is. And apparently Yami can feel it too as he looks at Rafael with the same gaze..
'Something seems different about this guy,' Yugi communicates in their head.
'I agree Yugi.'
YGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGO
Duke's car races down a dirt path surrounded by high cliffs. Tristan grunts as he looks at the map in frustration. "I think this map is all wrong, guys," he says. "I don't see a bridge anywhere."
"Then why don't you try looking ahead?" Joey says, seeing the exact bridge fast approaching. It is an old rickety bridge and it doesn't appear to be very steady. But that doesn't stop Duke from driving over it. The more they progress, the wobblier the bridge becomes.
"Uh…I don't think this bridge was meant for automobiles," Tristan comments.
Joey looks back and a chill goes down his spine when he sees the wooden planks of the bridge behind them starting to fall from all the weight, dropping hundreds of feet below. "Gah! Step on it Duke!" he yells and Duke stomps down on the gas. More and more of the bridge begins to fall until it is right on their tail. Duke clenches his wheel and leans forward slightly, going as fast as he can until they finally make it all the way across just in time.
Joey breathes a sigh of relief and leans back in his chair. But not before saying a snide remark. "Real smooth, Duke."
"DON'T MAKE ME TURN THIS CAR AROUND!" Duke snaps.
Meanwhile, back at the trailer, Téa and Rebecca sit outside to get some fresh air while they wait on the others to return.
"I'm still confused about one thing Téa. It's about something my gramps said back at the museum," Rebecca begins as a calm breeze blows through her hair. "He said there were two Yugi's."
Téa chuckles. "Well not exactly. See there's really one Yugi. But he sorta has this other side to him. You know it's like a tougher, more confident Yugi."
"Well I like his sweet and charming side. I'll never forget the day we met," she reminisces, thinking back to a time where she and him dueled each other. After he forfeited the duel in a nice gesture to her, he gave her a card which she has cherished to this day. "I never met anyone as nice as Yugi. But I suppose he needs the tougher side of his personality also. That's why he always wins! When they work together, there's nothing that can stop them!" she exclaims confidently with a smile.
Téa nods in agreement. "Yeah. I bet they're beating the pants off that biker creep right now!"
YGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGO
"I summon Dark Magician Girl!" Yami commands and the blonde haired magician appears in front of him with a determined look on her face. Rafael has proven to be a tough foe as Yami seems to be struggling during this duel. But he is determined to win no matter what.
"She's too weak!" Rafael points out. "Do the math. She's no match against my guardian!"
"Not when I fuse her with my dragon, Timaeus!" The legendary dragon appears and soon, Dark Magician Girl's normal clothing changes into knight's clothing, complete with a sword and shield.
"Well done," Cairo whispers, witnessing the duel from a further distance. As she watches the Dark Magician Girl in action, she sighs, remembering a certain someone from her past that was the first vessel to the Dark Magician Girl. She also happened to betray that certain someone as well. She wonders if the spirit that she betrayed is within the Dark Magician Girl floating in front of her now. It seems that being in this current world will constantly give her certain reminders of her past, good and bad.
"The world was once a beautiful place with a wonderful leader," Rafael tells Yami, referring to Dartz as their duel continues.
Yami growls in frustration. "I'm telling you…You've been brainwashed!"
"Take a look around!" Rafael says, referring the rocky surface that they are standing on now with no signs of life anywhere. "If things continue the way they are, everything is going to turn out like this desert. And I won't let that happen. I'll see to it that justice is served. And you're gonna help me." He lets out an evil chuckle before continuing. "You see pharaoh, after 5,000 years your spirit did come back to save the world…by surrendering your soul."
Yami's eyes widen with both disbelief and uncertainty. "No…that's a lie!" With him not knowing a thing about his past, a part of him couldn't help but feel a little bit of doubt.
Cairo narrows her eyes. "That's not true!" Cairo shouts with anger. How dare Rafael try to take advantage of the pharaoh not having any memory of his past like that?
Yami looks back at her, feeling a bit relieved that she spoke up for him in that moment of uncertainty. "Cairo…"
"No one asked the peanut gallery," Rafael says. "Any more lip from you and I'll reveal your dark past little girl," he threatens to which she raises an eyebrow. How does he know anything about her past? That is, unless, Nubia and Hasani have revealed it to him.
"Enough! I'm sick of hearing you trying to justify your evil plan!" Yami shoots back.
"It's not my plan. I'm simply carrying out the wishes of my master."
"Just who is this master of yours, Rafael?"
"Well for starters he was a better leader than you were," Rafael begins. "That's right pharaoh. My master told me all about your history. How you ruled as an evil dictator using the power of the Shadow Realm to control your subjects."
"Wake up. He lied!"
"How would you know? You have no memory of your past," Rafael points out. "So isn't it possible that you're responsible for the destruction of Egypt?"
"No…I know I was a worthy pharaoh," Yami says to himself, beginning to doubt himself once more. "I'm the one who locked the evil away!" he remembers from a past conversation he had.
Rafael grins. "So you believe. Your heart is dark." He looks over to Cairo and chuckles. "And apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Yami narrows his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"I activate this magic card," Rafael says, continuing on with the duel and ignoring the pharaoh's question. "It's called 'Exchange.'"
"What are you up to?"
"Since we both only have one card left, we switch cards," he reveals, and they both walk up to each other to do the exchange. After switching cards with each other, Rafael laughs.
Yami looks at him with suspicion as he walks back to his position. "What are you laughing about?" he asks before laying eyes on the card in his hand. He gasps with horror when he sees that it is none other than the Seal of Orichalcos. "No…Not this card."
"Of course you don't have to play it, pharaoh," Rafael says with a smirk. "But I have a feeling you will. So go ahead and make your next move."
Yami grunts in frustration. Rafael has really put him in a tough spot. He has the upper hand in the duel currently and Yami does not like to lose. He looks down at the card and goes over his options. Yugi appears next him. 'Whatever you do, you cannot play that card!'
'Yes but—'
'But nothing! That card is evil! Don't play it!' Yugi reminds him.
'I understand Yugi…but it could be our only way in winning this duel.'
'No! Please…'
One of Rafael's monsters land a blow, leaving Yami almost totally defenseless, causing Yami to grow even more agitated. After drawing more cards in his deck, there is nothing that he can do to defeat Rafael…except one card in particular. His hand shakes a little as he place a hand on the evil card and he raises it up into the air, preparing to play it.
'Pharaoh, no!' Yugi intervenes, trying to hold him back.
Yami narrows his eyes. 'Let go.'
'No! You don't know what you're doing!'
'LET GO!' Yami yells, becoming increasingly agitated that Yugi is interfering.
'Listen to me!' Yugi pleads, holding onto Yami's arm even tighter to prevent him from playing the card. 'This card is affecting your mind!'
'We're going to lose the duel! Can't you see?! It's the only way Yugi. We must do this. Now let me go,' Yami says, snatching his arm away and Yugi watches helplessly.
'Please…don't play that card.'
But it's no use as Yami finally activates the card. "I play the Seal of Orichalcos!"
Rafael grins. "Excellent." He has played right into his plan.
Cairo gasps in disbelief and her heart drops into her stomach. "Father, no!" she cries, outstretching her hand as the seal appears around the two duelist, as well as the pharaoh's forehead. She couldn't believe what she is seeing right now. She never would have thought he would resort to this. Admittedly, after he played the card, he starting to get the upper hand on Rafael. But the fact that it all come down to this depressed Cairo.
At the same time as this happening, Joey and the others finally pull up and run up to join Cairo. "Hey! What's happening?" Joey asks her, but she stays silent. When he finally gets a good look, he gasps in shock. "What's going on? Why's that Orichalcos thing on Yugi's forehead?"
"He got it from that guy and activated it," Cairo finally says.
"No…Yugi wouldn't do that. He knows that card is evil!"
"But it looks like the duel is going in his favor," Tristan points out as the duel goes on. Rafael is down to his last 100 life points while Yami has 600. "One more blow and that guy's toast!" Normally, Joey would be just as excited as Tristan is. But the question still arises as to why Yugi is playing the card. Let alone, his dueling style has seemed to change as well. As it continues, Yami is constantly boasting about power and sacrificing his monsters left and right—something that is totally unlike him. Cairo couldn't help but feel the same way. The pharaoh…or father she knew would never brag about power.
Yugi watches the duel from the sidelines within the puzzle as tears stream down his face. Immediately after he summoned the Seal, things started to turn around. But the pharaoh's dueling style has drastically changed and it seems at times he isn't thinking straight. Now, as they're both down to their last few life points, it seems that Rafael has one final trick up his sleeve. 'How could he do this?' Yugi asks himself, sensing the end is near. 'That card is evil! I warned him.'
"Your thirst for power destroyed very valuable monsters in your deck. Only someone evil would do such a thing," Rafael says. "Now, I summon Guardian Iatos!" A feminine figure wearing native clothing and wings on her back appears. She also holds a long sword in her hand. "And with this magic card in my hand, I can use the power from the monsters in your graveyard to fuel my own, giving my guardian a total of 10,000 life points."
"No…" Yami says, knowing that the end for him is near. "What have I done…" The feeling of guilt begins to overcome as he slowly starts to accept his fate. He had surrendered to an evil force, despite Yugi's warnings, and for that he will lose his soul.
"You've set a mighty fine example for your daughter back there," he reveals with a smirk and Yami gasps.
"My…daughter?" he repeats, slowly turning his head to Cairo whose eyes are lowered to the ground in disappointment.
"Wait, what is he talking about?" Joey asks before looking down at Cairo in confusion.
"Attack him and the rest of his life points!" Rafael commands and his guardian obeys, swiping down her sword, causing a bright light and gust of wind as Yami's life points go down to zero.
"NOOOO!" Yami screams, as the wind from the monster's powerful attack blows him back.
"No way! Yugi lost!" Duke says with surprise.
'No…He lost the duel,' Yugi says looking on. 'That means he loses his soul.'
As the smoke clears, Rafael approaches Yami who is slouched over, his eyes lifeless as the seal begins to do its work. "You only have yourself to blame."
Cairo clenches her fists at her sides, trying to hold back the tears. This couldn't be happening. This isn't how things are supposed to go. But what can she do? She isn't even supposed to be interacting with the pharaoh, let alone helping out with the current events. She shuts her eyes and grits her teeth. "No…" She can feel an immense amount of energy building within her and her eyes open wide. "NO!" she yells as a dark aura appears around her. Slowly, her lifeless body begins to fall as her soul leaves her body and rushes toward Yami.
"Whoa! Cairo!" Tristan yells as they rush to her side.
"What happened?!" Joey asks.
Duke shakes her a little, but she doesn't respond.
"Cairo! Cairo, wake up!"
Cairo yelps as she falls within a dark empty room. She gets up on her hands and knees and looks around before quickly holding onto her arms. It is nearly pitch black and cold. "It's freezing…" She finally stands up and walks over to a nearby door, opening it cautiously. Her eyes widen when she is surrounded by even more doors within what seems like a maze. Each door has the same symbol as her crown and the Millennium Puzzle. That's when it hits her as to where she is.
She walks a few feet, looking left to right, wondering what significance each door has. Her eyes then land on a bright green light further in the distance, resembling the same color of the Orichalcos and she gasps. "I hope I'm not too late!" she yells, sprinting in that direction.
"You sealed your own fate when you played that card," she hears Rafael say from the outside and she runs faster. "Now your soul will awaken the Great Beast."
"Not if I can help it!" a familiar voice yells.
"Yugi?" she asks as she finally reaches the source of the voice. She watches as he runs toward the middle of the room where Yami stands, awaiting his fate. "I won't let this happen to you pharaoh!"
Yami lifts his eyes and gasps when he is suddenly pushed out the way. He turns around quickly to see Yugi standing in his place. "Yugi no! What are you doing here?"
Yugi smiles with a hint of sadness. "It only needs one of us…"
Cairo's eyes widen. "No…is he gonna do what I think he is?"
"…So I'm letting the seal take me instead," Yugi finishes, as the bright green light begins to make him ascend into the air.
Yami's heart drops. "NO! YUGI!" he yells as he reaches up and grabs his counterpart's hand in attempt to stop him. He pulls as hard as he can, but the force that is pulling Yugi up is too strong. He gasps in shock when he sees a pair of small hands grab onto Yugi's other hand. "Cairo?!"
She grunts as she attempts to help pull Yugi down. Deep down she knows that she should not be interfering with the current events. Her only mission is to help recapture all of the escaped souls and that is it. But for some reason, even with only knowing Yugi and his friends for a short period of time, she feels the need to help and protect them. Her father obviously has a huge bond with them for a reason.
The wind around them suddenly becomes stronger and more violent, making it harder for them to hold on.
"It's okay…" Yugi says reassuringly, knowing what the outcome is going to be.
"No! We've got you!" Yami yells. "Just hang on!"
"It's up to you now, pharaoh," he says, closing his eyes as his hand finally slips out of their grasp and the Seal of Orichalcos finally takes him.
"NOOOOO!" Yami cries out as he watches his friend fade away into the darkness. He drops to his knees and punches the floor. "This is all my fault…"
Cairo looks on with sorrow and she bows her head. They couldn't save him. "I'm sorry…" she apologizes in a slight whisper. Instantly after saying those words, she feels a huge jolt shoot through her body and she quickly draws in a breath, her gasps echoing throughout the air. Yami lifts his head and his eyes widen with horror when he sees Cairo falling toward the ground.
"Cairo!" he yells as he runs over to her. "What's wrong?! Cairo!"
On the outside, Yami's body collapses and he face plants into the dirt. The wind begins to pick up as a helicopter containing one of the other bikers in it appears. A ladder drops down to pick Rafael up and take him back to Dartz's lair to celebrate the massive victory they have just had. As Rafael begins to crouch down to take the body along with him, Joey quickly runs over and stands protectively in front of the lifeless figure belonging to Yugi and he narrows his eyes.
"Keep it movin' ya punk!"
Rafael laughs. "You can have him. I've already got what I wanted," he says as he grabs hold of the ladder and ascends into the air.
Duke and Tristan join Joey shortly after, with Duke carrying a motionless Cairo on his back. "Come on Yugi!" Joey pleads, looking down at his friend worriedly. "Wake up!"
"Get up man!" Tristan chimes in, clenching his fists.
"Open your eyes!" Duke begs. Finally, after moments pass by, his amethyst eyes finally flutter open to their relief.
"He's awake!" Tristan says happily as Yami sits up.
Joey smirks. "I knew you'd outsmart that dude! So how'd you do it Yugi? How'd you escape?" he asks. But he quickly realizes something is off when he notices what he thinks to be Yugi's body language. His head is low and his eyes are locked into the ground, showing much remorse and guilt. Tears trickle down his face as he thinks about what has just occurred. "Everything alright, pal?"
"No Joey," Yami whimpers. "It's far from alright." He turns away and walks a few feet ahead, his head still low. "I didn't outsmart him. He succeeded…Yugi's gone."
"I don't get it. How can you be talking to us if he took your soul?"
At the moment, a huge wave of emotions hit Yami all at once as he drops to his knees. "Not mine. Yugi's!" he sobs. "It's all my fault! Yugi…come back!" He slams both of his fists into the ground and cries harder. "It should've been me! Not him! It's not fair!"
"Anybody understand what's going on?" Tristan asks and Duke shrugs his shoulders, just as confused as he is.
"I think I get it now," Joey says and they both turn to him. "When we were at the museum, Professor Hawkins and Yugi mentioned that there was a spirit of a pharaoh living inside of Yugi's Millennium Puzzle."
"Oh yeah, you're right," Tristan recalls.
"So if that's true, then the person in front of us isn't Yugi…it's the pharaoh."
"No way…" Duke says. "So Yugi really did lose his soul."
Joey looks down and slowly nods his head. He didn't think they would be standing here right now, mourning the loss of his best friend. A huge part of him feels guilty. Yugi shouldn't have been allowed to go alone to duel Rafael to begin with. Maybe they wouldn't be in this mess or maybe Joey could've somehow helped him more. But he quickly removes those thoughts out of his head. He couldn't stand here and think of the what if's. They have to think about where to go from here.
He slowly walks up to Yami who is still kneeling on the ground, grieving over the loss of his partner. Joey places a hand on his shoulder and Yami uses the back of his sleeve to wipe his tears before looking up at him. "Come on, pharaoh. We need to get back to the trailer and come up with a plan to get Yugi back and save the world."
Yami looks at him briefly and then nods reluctantly. Joey is right. But internally, he is still mourning and beating himself up. They both walk over to Tristan and Duke who are waiting on them by the car.
"You guys, what do we do? Cairo still isn't waking up," Duke says with concern. Yami's eyes land on Cairo is unresponsive and his eyes widen with horror. The last he saw her, she was within the Millennium Puzzle trying to help save Yugi. And then she collapsed and his world went dark.
"Is she going to be alright?" Yami asks, looking at her worriedly.
"Not sure," Tristan replies as Duke places her down on the ground. "When the Seal of Orichalcos was about to take your soul, her body suddenly went limp and she hasn't woken up since!"
Yami suddenly starts to remember what had occurred right before the Seal surrounded him and he holds his head.
"...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree..." Yami remembers Rafael saying. "You've set a mighty fine example for your daughter back there," he reveals with a smirk.
He gasps in realization and looks down at the girl laying before him. "Cairo's my…"
YGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGOYGO
Cairo lies on the floor, surrounded by nothing but pitch black. She attempts to move, but she has no feeling in her body. The only thing she can move is her eyes, which doesn't do her much good since there appears to be nothing around her. A bright light shines and she squints her eyes.
"You were sent to the world of the living for one thing only," comes a godly voice. "And that was to retrieve the escaped souls from the Shadow Realm." Now it all makes sense as to why her body seems to have shut down. It is the work of the gods.
"But the pharaoh…he's—"
"He is of no concern to you," the god interrupts.
"But he's my—"
"It does not matter. Retrieve the souls at once. And do not intervene. Understand?"
She closes her eyes and sighs. "Understood."
