NOTE: Okay, so I was mistaken. One more Kleenex warning! I wasn't planning to do this, but it just . . . happened. **sob!!**
"Alright," Yugi said, looking at everyone gathered in the living room, "we're all here. Let's figure out how we're going to do this."
Seto held up a videotape. "A local ham operator contacted me with this tape he made of the cult's dance ritual."
Yugi took it from him with a smile. "This is great, Kaiba! If we learn how to do the routine right, we've got a much better chance of not being discovered!" He popped the tape into the VCR and they spent the next fifteen minutes watching the members doing their odd dance and strange gestures.
"Good heavens! What are you kids planning now?" Grampa Muto asked, walking into the room. "I have the feeling that this isn't the latest fad," he said wryly, indicating the weird dancers on the TV.
Yugi laughed. "You're right about that, Grampa! We're planning how we're going to defeat those villains we've been fighting."
Grampa Muto sighed and shook his head. "Oh my. I don't know when you kids have been in so much danger."
Joey leaned back on the couch. "Don't worry, Gramps," he said nonchalantly. "We're indestructible!"
Seto raised an eyebrow at him. "I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you, Wheeler."
"Hey, man, you're the one who keeps survivin' these near-death experiences," Joey replied.
"But I'm not cocky about it," Seto told him.
Grampa Muto nodded. "You speak wisely, Seto Kaiba," he remarked.
"That's right," Yugi agreed. "Joey, you should never consider yourself indestructible, because that's when you're most likely to be defeated," the violet-eyed boy said solemnly.
Joey sighed. "Whatever. You're probably right, Yug."
There was a long silence. Finally Yugi said, "Alright, guys, here's the plan—we'll drive up to where we saw them dancing and hide in the bushes nearby. Then, when a cluster of them dances close to our hiding place, we'll sneak out and blend in with them. When they're through dancing, then we'll follow them back inside for whatever's next."
Everyone nodded.
"I'll find my own way to take the place of one of the guards," Seto told them. "But rest assured, I'll be there."
Yugi smiled. "Alright, tonight we're going to solve this, once and for all!" He held out his hand and everyone else laid theirs on top of his in agreement. "Let's do it!"
****
"Well, here we are," Joey said grandly. "And there *they* are!" he exclaimed, pointing ahead to the strange group on the mountain.
Yugi nodded, summoning his Yami. "From here we continue on foot," he directed. "If the limo gets any closer, they might hear and be suspicious."
Everyone climbed out and pulled the dark, hooded robes on over their clothes.
"Man, I feel like the Grim Reaper in this getup," Joey remarked.
"You look like him," Tristan grinned.
"Heeey, look who's talkin'!" Joey retorted.
Seto shook his head at their antics and turned to leave.
"We'll see you soon, Kaiba," Yugi said, and Seto nodded in reply.
"Don't do anything stupid, Wheeler," the blue-eyed boy warned.
Joey snorted angrily. "Don't get yourself killed, Kaiba," he retorted.
"Rest assured, Wheeler, I won't," Seto said wryly and vanished into the shadows.
"Well, this is it, guys," Tea declared. "Now let's all be careful!"
Quietly the five teens hiked up the mountain, staying in the shadows, and soon arrived at the place where the cult members were doing their wild dance. Silently they climbed into the brush and watched, waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump in and join them. Before long, several of the figures danced their way over near the bushes and Yugi nodded that it was time. Nervously the teenagers trooped out and started copying the weird moves. Luckily, no one seemed to give them a second glance.
"Kaiba was right about this looking like a windmill," Joey muttered. "I feel like a total doofus!" He heard Tristan snicker at that.
"Look, they're stopping!" Bakura announced presently. "Quickly—we have to follow them!"
"Yugi, what if we have to give a password to enter?" Tea worried.
"I've thought of that, Tea," Yugi replied. "Stay close to the person next to us and maybe we'll hear if they give a password."
Unfortunately, the person muttered it so low that none of them could catch it, and Joey started to panic. "Oh man, oh man, oh man . . ."
"Stay calm, Joey," Yugi told him, walking up steadily to the stoney-looking guard at the cave's entrance. The others could see the Millennium Puzzle glowing under Yugi's robe. The guard gestured inside and moved out of the way, allowing Yugi to pass. The other quickly followed suit, and with them being the last of the group, the guard turned and followed them into the long, dark tunnel.
"Oh man, Kaiba, is it you?" Joey whispered, trying to see through the guard's dark mesh hood.
The guard laughed. "Of course it's me, Wheeler," the familiar voice replied. "Who else would let you in without a password?"
Joey breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought we were busted for sure, man," he remarked. He looked around at the creepy cavern they were descending into. "Oh brother, man, where the heck are we going?"
"I think we're about to find out," Yugi replied grimly and indicated a flickering light just up ahead. They could hear weird chants coming from that direction and Tea shuddered.
When they reached the lighted area, Yugi turned to the others seriously. "Alright, this is it," he said quietly. "Let's all stay close together and be very careful."
"You don't havta tell me twice, Yug," Joey said with a nod. "And eh, if we don't make it out of this, it's been great knowin' you, pal," he said softly.
Yugi nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, Joey, we're all going to make it through this."
The six teens stole into the lighted room and stood by the wall in the shadows, watching to see what was going on.
Most of the cult members were now seated on the ground, gathered around one who seemed to be the leader. Abruptly the figure threw off the hood, revealing a dangerous-looking blonde woman, who smiled evilly and raised her hands into the air.
"Yes, yes! Tonight we will take control of the world! Vampyres will have reign over the entire earth!" she was shouting, and everyone cheered in agreement.
Bakura gasped and cringed, plastering himself against the wall.
"Bakura, what's wrong?" Tea asked.
"That's her," Bakura replied shakily. "She's the one who captured me and made those wraiths torture me!"
Tea gently laid a hand on Bakura's shoulder. "It's alright, Bakura," she said softly. "If you don't want to do this, you don't have to. You could wait for us outside."
Bakura shook his head firmly. "I won't leave you and the others in here. I'm staying!"
"Those ridiculous humans have had control of the world for much too long!" Franceska screamed, holding a strange staff in her hands. "But no longer! We will claim what is rightfully ours!"
"Not as long as you have us to deal with," Yugi said boldly, stepping forward.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
"Spies!" Franceska shrieked.
"What is Yugi doing?" Tristan wondered, his eyes wide.
"I have no idea, man," Joey replied.
Yugi came and stood next to Franceska, but did not remove his hood. "It was you all along, wasn't it? You and your cronies released the scarecrows, zombies, and wraiths to aid you in your nefarious plot!" He looked out over the crowd.
Franceska sneered. "Yes, and now we will turn you all into our willing slaves!"
"You already tried that," Joey said, stepping forward.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Franceska snapped. "Of course I have not! We have been waiting for tonight to take control of the world in one night of glory!" She gestured dramatically.
Yugi nodded. "She's right, Joey. She hasn't tried to turn anyone into her slaves yet. But . . ." He walked up to a figure standing in front and pulled off his hood. "He has."
"Mr. Graves!!!" Tea gasped.
"Mr. Graves??!" Joey repeated. "But why, man?"
"I had the perfect setup!" Mr. Graves sneered. He didn't look upset at being unmasked. "Owning a funeral home, I had access to all the dead bodies and could turn them into zombies whenever I needed new minions!"
"Eh, would you mind runnin' that by me in plain English?" Joey asked. "What about the scarecrows and you wantin' us to investigate? And how the heck could you turn those bodies into zombies?!"
"How? Because I am not the nervous businessman, Mr. Graves—I am a powerful dark sorcerer!" With that he pulled out a deadly-looking staff. "I masqueraded as a vampyre in order to get accepted into this lady's cult, but I was only biding my time until I could rule the world myself! Halloween does seem like the perfect night for it, doesn't it?" Mr. Graves smirked. "As for the scarecrows, well, the real Mr. Graves did want you to investigate, but I couldn't have that, so I decided to destroy you all, but not before toying with your simple minds!"
"If you're not Mr. Graves, then where is he?" Yugi demanded.
"Under my control now," the sorcerer replied. "You know, you all have been very amusing to toy with, but now you will know the true extent of my powers!"
Franceska's eyes burned with anger. "You have deceived us all! Prepare to meet your doom!" She raised her staff at him, and the sorcerer retaliated with his own, sending the vampyress flying against the wall and vanishing into nothing.
"What do you think now?" the sorcerer yelled at the other vampyres gathered around. "I have destroyed your leader. You will now all meet the same fate, and you six . . ." He pointed to the teens with a sneer. ". . . You will all become my slaves!" He paused. "Or maybe I'll just destroy all of you as well, as I originally intended to when I had your friends and family kidnapped."
Seto stepped forward, pulling his robe off and looking ready to attack the sorcerer all by himself. "You're the one who put Mokuba under the zombies' spell? I'll break every bone in your body!" he threatened.
The sorcerer only laughed. "Fool. Have you learned nothing about my powers? If you try to lay one finger on me, I can destroy you in an instant!"
"Your evil magic is no match for my righteous powers," Yugi said stonily as the Millennium Puzzle started to glow. He raised his right hand to banish the wicked man to the Shadow Realm but was suddenly overcome by a horrible burning pain and sank to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Yugi!" Tea gasped, and she and the others ran over to help him.
The sorcerer sneered. "What powers? It looks to me like you have more than met your match." He flung his hand out and chanted something strange in another language and Yugi cried out pitifully.
"Yugi!" another voice called out, and one of the dark-robed figures unmasked himself to reveal . . .
"Mokuba!" Seto gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to help, Seto," Mokuba replied as the brothers ran over to Yugi.
"Yugi, man, what's wrong? What did that jerk do to you?" Joey exclaimed, cradling his best friend in his arms.
Yugi's eyes were half-closed and he shook his head weakly. "I . . . I don't know . . ." he rasped.
In an instant, his Yami had left Yugi and was kneeling next to the boy's small body. "Yugi! You're going to be alright, Yugi," he said softly, trying in vain to tap into the Millennium Puzzle to harness its powers.
Yugi smiled sadly. "I . . . I don't think so . . . But you . . . you all can . . . defeat this . . . evil man . . . I know you can . . ."
"Yugi, man, of course we can, and you're gonna be fine," Joey said, finding himself almost to the point of tears.
"Stay with us, Yugi," Tea whispered pleadingly.
Yugi drew a ragged breath. "You're all . . . the best friends . . . I could ever have," he managed to say. "Tell . . . tell Grampa . . . I love him. . . ." His eyes closed and he fell limp in Joey's arms.
"Yugi, no!" Tea cried.
"Come on, Yug, say somethin' man!" Joey begged. "Wake up!"
"It's no use," Seto said quietly. "I'm afraid he's gone."
"Alright," Yugi said, looking at everyone gathered in the living room, "we're all here. Let's figure out how we're going to do this."
Seto held up a videotape. "A local ham operator contacted me with this tape he made of the cult's dance ritual."
Yugi took it from him with a smile. "This is great, Kaiba! If we learn how to do the routine right, we've got a much better chance of not being discovered!" He popped the tape into the VCR and they spent the next fifteen minutes watching the members doing their odd dance and strange gestures.
"Good heavens! What are you kids planning now?" Grampa Muto asked, walking into the room. "I have the feeling that this isn't the latest fad," he said wryly, indicating the weird dancers on the TV.
Yugi laughed. "You're right about that, Grampa! We're planning how we're going to defeat those villains we've been fighting."
Grampa Muto sighed and shook his head. "Oh my. I don't know when you kids have been in so much danger."
Joey leaned back on the couch. "Don't worry, Gramps," he said nonchalantly. "We're indestructible!"
Seto raised an eyebrow at him. "I wouldn't be so cocky if I were you, Wheeler."
"Hey, man, you're the one who keeps survivin' these near-death experiences," Joey replied.
"But I'm not cocky about it," Seto told him.
Grampa Muto nodded. "You speak wisely, Seto Kaiba," he remarked.
"That's right," Yugi agreed. "Joey, you should never consider yourself indestructible, because that's when you're most likely to be defeated," the violet-eyed boy said solemnly.
Joey sighed. "Whatever. You're probably right, Yug."
There was a long silence. Finally Yugi said, "Alright, guys, here's the plan—we'll drive up to where we saw them dancing and hide in the bushes nearby. Then, when a cluster of them dances close to our hiding place, we'll sneak out and blend in with them. When they're through dancing, then we'll follow them back inside for whatever's next."
Everyone nodded.
"I'll find my own way to take the place of one of the guards," Seto told them. "But rest assured, I'll be there."
Yugi smiled. "Alright, tonight we're going to solve this, once and for all!" He held out his hand and everyone else laid theirs on top of his in agreement. "Let's do it!"
****
"Well, here we are," Joey said grandly. "And there *they* are!" he exclaimed, pointing ahead to the strange group on the mountain.
Yugi nodded, summoning his Yami. "From here we continue on foot," he directed. "If the limo gets any closer, they might hear and be suspicious."
Everyone climbed out and pulled the dark, hooded robes on over their clothes.
"Man, I feel like the Grim Reaper in this getup," Joey remarked.
"You look like him," Tristan grinned.
"Heeey, look who's talkin'!" Joey retorted.
Seto shook his head at their antics and turned to leave.
"We'll see you soon, Kaiba," Yugi said, and Seto nodded in reply.
"Don't do anything stupid, Wheeler," the blue-eyed boy warned.
Joey snorted angrily. "Don't get yourself killed, Kaiba," he retorted.
"Rest assured, Wheeler, I won't," Seto said wryly and vanished into the shadows.
"Well, this is it, guys," Tea declared. "Now let's all be careful!"
Quietly the five teens hiked up the mountain, staying in the shadows, and soon arrived at the place where the cult members were doing their wild dance. Silently they climbed into the brush and watched, waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump in and join them. Before long, several of the figures danced their way over near the bushes and Yugi nodded that it was time. Nervously the teenagers trooped out and started copying the weird moves. Luckily, no one seemed to give them a second glance.
"Kaiba was right about this looking like a windmill," Joey muttered. "I feel like a total doofus!" He heard Tristan snicker at that.
"Look, they're stopping!" Bakura announced presently. "Quickly—we have to follow them!"
"Yugi, what if we have to give a password to enter?" Tea worried.
"I've thought of that, Tea," Yugi replied. "Stay close to the person next to us and maybe we'll hear if they give a password."
Unfortunately, the person muttered it so low that none of them could catch it, and Joey started to panic. "Oh man, oh man, oh man . . ."
"Stay calm, Joey," Yugi told him, walking up steadily to the stoney-looking guard at the cave's entrance. The others could see the Millennium Puzzle glowing under Yugi's robe. The guard gestured inside and moved out of the way, allowing Yugi to pass. The other quickly followed suit, and with them being the last of the group, the guard turned and followed them into the long, dark tunnel.
"Oh man, Kaiba, is it you?" Joey whispered, trying to see through the guard's dark mesh hood.
The guard laughed. "Of course it's me, Wheeler," the familiar voice replied. "Who else would let you in without a password?"
Joey breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought we were busted for sure, man," he remarked. He looked around at the creepy cavern they were descending into. "Oh brother, man, where the heck are we going?"
"I think we're about to find out," Yugi replied grimly and indicated a flickering light just up ahead. They could hear weird chants coming from that direction and Tea shuddered.
When they reached the lighted area, Yugi turned to the others seriously. "Alright, this is it," he said quietly. "Let's all stay close together and be very careful."
"You don't havta tell me twice, Yug," Joey said with a nod. "And eh, if we don't make it out of this, it's been great knowin' you, pal," he said softly.
Yugi nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, Joey, we're all going to make it through this."
The six teens stole into the lighted room and stood by the wall in the shadows, watching to see what was going on.
Most of the cult members were now seated on the ground, gathered around one who seemed to be the leader. Abruptly the figure threw off the hood, revealing a dangerous-looking blonde woman, who smiled evilly and raised her hands into the air.
"Yes, yes! Tonight we will take control of the world! Vampyres will have reign over the entire earth!" she was shouting, and everyone cheered in agreement.
Bakura gasped and cringed, plastering himself against the wall.
"Bakura, what's wrong?" Tea asked.
"That's her," Bakura replied shakily. "She's the one who captured me and made those wraiths torture me!"
Tea gently laid a hand on Bakura's shoulder. "It's alright, Bakura," she said softly. "If you don't want to do this, you don't have to. You could wait for us outside."
Bakura shook his head firmly. "I won't leave you and the others in here. I'm staying!"
"Those ridiculous humans have had control of the world for much too long!" Franceska screamed, holding a strange staff in her hands. "But no longer! We will claim what is rightfully ours!"
"Not as long as you have us to deal with," Yugi said boldly, stepping forward.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
"Spies!" Franceska shrieked.
"What is Yugi doing?" Tristan wondered, his eyes wide.
"I have no idea, man," Joey replied.
Yugi came and stood next to Franceska, but did not remove his hood. "It was you all along, wasn't it? You and your cronies released the scarecrows, zombies, and wraiths to aid you in your nefarious plot!" He looked out over the crowd.
Franceska sneered. "Yes, and now we will turn you all into our willing slaves!"
"You already tried that," Joey said, stepping forward.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Franceska snapped. "Of course I have not! We have been waiting for tonight to take control of the world in one night of glory!" She gestured dramatically.
Yugi nodded. "She's right, Joey. She hasn't tried to turn anyone into her slaves yet. But . . ." He walked up to a figure standing in front and pulled off his hood. "He has."
"Mr. Graves!!!" Tea gasped.
"Mr. Graves??!" Joey repeated. "But why, man?"
"I had the perfect setup!" Mr. Graves sneered. He didn't look upset at being unmasked. "Owning a funeral home, I had access to all the dead bodies and could turn them into zombies whenever I needed new minions!"
"Eh, would you mind runnin' that by me in plain English?" Joey asked. "What about the scarecrows and you wantin' us to investigate? And how the heck could you turn those bodies into zombies?!"
"How? Because I am not the nervous businessman, Mr. Graves—I am a powerful dark sorcerer!" With that he pulled out a deadly-looking staff. "I masqueraded as a vampyre in order to get accepted into this lady's cult, but I was only biding my time until I could rule the world myself! Halloween does seem like the perfect night for it, doesn't it?" Mr. Graves smirked. "As for the scarecrows, well, the real Mr. Graves did want you to investigate, but I couldn't have that, so I decided to destroy you all, but not before toying with your simple minds!"
"If you're not Mr. Graves, then where is he?" Yugi demanded.
"Under my control now," the sorcerer replied. "You know, you all have been very amusing to toy with, but now you will know the true extent of my powers!"
Franceska's eyes burned with anger. "You have deceived us all! Prepare to meet your doom!" She raised her staff at him, and the sorcerer retaliated with his own, sending the vampyress flying against the wall and vanishing into nothing.
"What do you think now?" the sorcerer yelled at the other vampyres gathered around. "I have destroyed your leader. You will now all meet the same fate, and you six . . ." He pointed to the teens with a sneer. ". . . You will all become my slaves!" He paused. "Or maybe I'll just destroy all of you as well, as I originally intended to when I had your friends and family kidnapped."
Seto stepped forward, pulling his robe off and looking ready to attack the sorcerer all by himself. "You're the one who put Mokuba under the zombies' spell? I'll break every bone in your body!" he threatened.
The sorcerer only laughed. "Fool. Have you learned nothing about my powers? If you try to lay one finger on me, I can destroy you in an instant!"
"Your evil magic is no match for my righteous powers," Yugi said stonily as the Millennium Puzzle started to glow. He raised his right hand to banish the wicked man to the Shadow Realm but was suddenly overcome by a horrible burning pain and sank to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Yugi!" Tea gasped, and she and the others ran over to help him.
The sorcerer sneered. "What powers? It looks to me like you have more than met your match." He flung his hand out and chanted something strange in another language and Yugi cried out pitifully.
"Yugi!" another voice called out, and one of the dark-robed figures unmasked himself to reveal . . .
"Mokuba!" Seto gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to help, Seto," Mokuba replied as the brothers ran over to Yugi.
"Yugi, man, what's wrong? What did that jerk do to you?" Joey exclaimed, cradling his best friend in his arms.
Yugi's eyes were half-closed and he shook his head weakly. "I . . . I don't know . . ." he rasped.
In an instant, his Yami had left Yugi and was kneeling next to the boy's small body. "Yugi! You're going to be alright, Yugi," he said softly, trying in vain to tap into the Millennium Puzzle to harness its powers.
Yugi smiled sadly. "I . . . I don't think so . . . But you . . . you all can . . . defeat this . . . evil man . . . I know you can . . ."
"Yugi, man, of course we can, and you're gonna be fine," Joey said, finding himself almost to the point of tears.
"Stay with us, Yugi," Tea whispered pleadingly.
Yugi drew a ragged breath. "You're all . . . the best friends . . . I could ever have," he managed to say. "Tell . . . tell Grampa . . . I love him. . . ." His eyes closed and he fell limp in Joey's arms.
"Yugi, no!" Tea cried.
"Come on, Yug, say somethin' man!" Joey begged. "Wake up!"
"It's no use," Seto said quietly. "I'm afraid he's gone."