Wild Sand Chapter 4
Yu-gi-oh crossover with Ranma 1/2
by Naquiel
Disclaimer - Ranma and Yu-gi-oh don't belong to me so please don't sue.
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Chapter 4
Over the next few days, Ranma trained Yugi and Bakura in their Millennium Items powers, until they gradually became aware of the true potential power contained in each. He frowned at the egomaniac, Seto Kaiba, as he demolished Joey's confidence as a duellist. He and Yugi co-coached Joey in his battle with Bones, in the spooky graveyard stadium. He observed, as the Paradox brothers were defeated, and he was not surprised, but perhaps a little startled, to see another Gate Guardian, after all it was a version of his own, just like the Millennium Items.
By teaching the two boys, he learnt a few things himself. He learnt a few things straight off: although he could use his powers in conjunction with Yugi or Bakura, he himself could not use their Items or their magic. He assumed that each dimensions set of Millennium Items must be only able to be used by an inhabitant of that particular dimension. He also assumed that it could be a fail-safe mechanism so that someone with Shadow Realm Godhood in one dimension doesn't try to get Godhood in another dimension, and hence become unfairly powerful.
However this was something that Pegasus himself was completely ignorant of.
Maximillion Pegasus, multi-billionaire creator of Duel Monsters, president of Industrial Illusions, and possessor of the Millennium Eye, was sipping at his fruit juice. He raised the champagne glass to his lips and took a gentle mouthful. He placed the glass back down on the table, again gently. His mood however was anything but gentle.
This boy, he thought angrily. This possessor of another Millennium Item, he is teaching them far too much about their items. His coaching skills are also formidable. If I allowed him into the castle, then I could have a very big problem. He could coach little Yugi-boy and Bakura into being quite formidable with their Items, perhaps too formidable for me to deal with! And his own Item makes him particularly dangerous. He must be put out of the way, but how?
Pegasus's chief of security, Croquet, came into the room and walked up respectfully to the brooding Pegasus.
"Sir. Seto Kaiba has been spotted in the dungeons!" he said quietly in his humble hoarse voice.
"Once again Croquet, You tell me something I already know..." replied Pegasus testily, until he stopped suddenly and thought of the possibilities. "Yes, yes, that just might work!" he murmured to himself.
Pegasus threw his head back and laughed, full and heartily.
Ranma sneezed and muttered to himself about people who talk about other people behind their backs.
He, Joey and Yugi had all the ten starchips, each that they needed for entry to the castle.
Presently, they were all walking towards the castle, Ranma in the lead of the procession. That was until he stopped suddenly, causing them to fall on top of each other like dominoes. Only Ranma still stood an apologetic smile on his face. "Ha, ha!" Well, perhaps not apologetic!
Joey looked up angrily from his place on the dirt road. "What ya stop for?"
Ranma crossed his arms and smiled. "Look behind you."
The entire gang did, and looked at the way they had come from. They strained their ears and heard a faint whistling noise in the distance. Suddenly from around the bend came a familiar figure.
"Mai!" exclaimed Yugi.
Mai smiled gently at the group. "Nice to see ya. How have you been doing?"
Ranma laughed gently and replied. "Oh nothing special. We got trapped in a cave a 'top duellist' and had to fight the Paradox brothers to get out. Ya' know, the usual!"
Mai frowned and chewed absently at his bottom lip. "I've heard of them. Quite tough weren't they?"
Ranma gestured towards Yugi and Joey. "Ask them, I was only spectatin'."
Mai blinked. She had assumed that Ranma could defeat even those twisted people, Para and Dox, but for Yugi and Joey to have done it made her personnel opinion of them rise. True, however she believed that Yugi could defeat Para or Dox one on one, but it the rumours about their labyrinth Stadium were true then alone, even he, would have lost.
Joey, not-to subtly, showed off his ten starchips.
Mai smiled. "I take it your all going to the castle! Mind if I tag along." She too demonstrated a full set of starchips.
"Sure Mai!" replied Bakura enthusiastically. He enjoyed Mai's unique and realistic, if a little frivolous, view on life. He also like seeing Ranma's amusing reaction, to her puppy-dog eyes, a secret weapon that Ranma was particularly susceptible to.
All of them were in complete agreement. And they set of once more towards the castle.
Ranma was the first to see the castle. He and Yugi were up front discussing duelling strategies, when it caught his eye.
It was by no means a small structure. It was built on the plateau of a mountain and had large walls and towers, in the style of English castles, with battlements to boot! The golden rock: was highlighted, by the overhead sun, obliterating all, but a few, shadows. You would never have assumed that such a dark power lay within, while it looked so radiant!
The whole gang, were taken in by its momentary beauty. The spell was broken as they walked further up the gigantic stairs and squinted harder, they saw a shadow that shouldn't have been. And as they came ever closer, they finally distinguished the shadow as a boy slightly older than Joey.
"Kaiba!" spat Joey, still remarkably bitter of his humiliating defeat at the hands of Seto Kaiba. He looked hatefully at the elder Kaiba brother.
Soon the entire gang was up at the top of the almost never-ending steps, and facing Seto Kaiba.
He was tall with brown hair and steely eyes; his arms crossed at his chest, his large steel briefcase at his feet, his eyes' riveted on one of the gangs' members. He had a stern look on his face and fire in eyes.
Yugi was the first to break the ice. "Hello, Kaiba. I thought you were going to challenge Pegasus!"
Kaiba frowned. "I was going to, but now I have to play a sick game of his or I'll never get to wipe that damned smirk off his face!" his eye resettled on Ranma. "I challenge you, Ranna!"
Ranma gave a glare, "Ranma. It's 'Ranma'!"
Kaiba waved wave his hand with an air of dismissive arrogance, "Yeah, whatever. Let's get this duel on the road."
Ranma and Kaiba faced each other on the parapets at the top of one of the castle walls, right next to a shear cliff leading to the sea surrounding the island.
They consulted each other and set the figure of starchips to be wagered at 5.
Then they faced each other, Ranma with an arrogant smirk and Kaiba with a frosty glare. The said simultaneously, "Let's duel!"
Ranma was flung an odd disk-like contraption, from Kaiba, who himself was putting on part of it and ready to throw the saucer-shaped part.
Ranma put it on with little difficulty, his memories of Joey's one-time use of the device, a portable Holo-emitter thingy, aiding his in an understanding of the device.
Both duellists slipped their shuffled decks into the deck recognition system, where a seven-figure display showed both of them that they were at 2000 life-points each.
Kaiba started off by summoning Reokoshin, a large, bipedal purple lizard-like creature, but thank the Kami, not remotely like Barney.
Ranma looked at his disk, on it was his hand. He had put Unrevealing Haze magic card down, face-up, ready to activate. Also he had put down Dark Magician (2500/2100) facedown; Cloak of the Mystic also facedown; Mirror Force, facedown and finally Eye of Truth, facedown.
He had always liked the Cloak of the Mystic card for its usefulness, it's instant enhancement of 1 spell-caster type monster, by 500 in both attack and defence, and giving the same monster an added 200/200 for each monster in the graveyards. However the monster in question had to be killed by Ranma, a sacrificed monster wouldn't give any bonus, which was annoying at times.
He threw the spinning emitter away, and watched as glowing pinpricks of golden light spun up from it, like a mini tornado of energy. Not unlike my Beta-ha-fu Inferuno, thought Ranma, absently. Sheets of holographic visuals appeared before him, all four showing his hand's cards.
A mist formed out of the pinpricks and consumed the area around the disk, the 'field'.
Seto doesn't look too pleased by that! Thought Ranma smugly. Some of that smugness was rubbed off when Kaiba summoned another monster, Battle Ox (1700/1000) and promptly added to its power with Invigoration, to put it at 1900/1000. Ranma didn't want Kaiba to get too powerful, however his strategy had no room for any culling.
Ranma activated the Eye of Truth. "Well Kaiba. Let us have a sneak peak at your hand, shall I do the honours?" he threw down the disk once more. Making the mist reappear and a beam of light hit the cards in Kaiba's holographic hand. Each turned around. Sword Stalker (2000/1600,); Battle Ox (1700/1000,); Ancient Lamp; and finally a Blue Eyes White Dragon (3000/2500.)
Ranma drew a new card, Book of Sacred Arts and absently placed it facedown.
Ranma frowned thoughtfully at the Dragon. Yugi had already told him of his fight with Kaiba and his three Blue Eyes White Dragons, both the real and the ghost Kaibas. In both situations he had needed an edge, Exodia, or the real Kaiba uploading a virus into a Holo-stadium's computer. Ranma, here had no edge but his own skill. It was how he would have wanted anyway!
Ranma pondered, why not use the Blue Eyes' he already has? Why send out two weaker monsters if he could use a kick-ass monster like that? Ranma frowned even more and thought, If I keep this frowning, up, I'm going to get worry wrinkles! Oh, what if Kaiba has some way of powering up his Dragon that he is waiting for. But why, does he know I have some more powerful cards than that. He couldn't, the waiting must be part of some strategy.
Kaiba meanwhile was becoming agitated. Why isn't he attacking, is it because he now knows I have a Blue Eyes' in my hand?
"I pass this turn, Rana!" Kaiba said to Ranma.
"My name is 'Ranma'!" replied a miffed Ranma, who was having a small daydream of putting Kaiba through a very painful torture, forcing him to watch Teletubbies comes to mind.
Ranma drew another card, Horn of Horror, a magic card that had the ability to sacrifice one enemy monster to power up one of his own monsters by half the sacrificed attack and defence points. Ranma looked at the card depicting a bloodied, thorny horn made of rotting wood, and thought, why not?
"Kaiba, your itching for me to attack aren't ya. Probably 'cause of that Sword Stalker of yours. Well, your wish is my command." Said Ranma chattily, suddenly changing to an aggressive shout. "Go, Horn of Horror, sacrifice Battle Ox!"
Kaiba frowned, again, as he saw his monster shatter into pixels, pseudo-energy from within the construct flying towards, and disappearing into, the mist. His life-points going down to 1150, as half of Battle Ox's attack points were deducted from his life-points.
Ranma smiled, as he saw his Dark Magician go from 2500/2100, to 3350/2600 due to the Horn of Horror. Then it went even further up to 3850/3100 due to the enhancing power of the Cloak of the mystic, and then another addition to its power due to the demise of Battle Ox, raising its power to 4050/3600.
Kaiba drew another card, and summoned La Jinn (1800/1000). The ghostly genie floating in front of the disk, arrogantly crossing it's arms and smirking.
Ranma smirked in reply to the overconfidence of both the monster and duellist. "Well Kaiba you have played well, so far, but will you last, I doubt it! Well, Let's get you a little closer to defeat. I activate the Despell magic card!"
Bursts of energy came from the foggy mist, aimed at Kaiba's hand. A card swirled around, revealing itself, Ancient Lamp. They disappeared in a shower of pixels.
Ranma smirked. "That ends my turn!"
Kaiba flinched and gazed at his cards.
I need something stronger than what I have. I only have 1 Blue eyes. Its' not enough! He thought quickly, a ritual card. I have three weaker monsters, three weak ones for one strong one. Yes, that is what I need. Thought Kaiba.
He reverently drew a card from his deck. He pulled at his glove, making the disk stop spinning and come to his hand. He placed the card down and threw it once more to the ground between himself and Ranma. "I activate the Shadow's Light ritual! By sacrificing my La Gin, Sword Stalker and Reokoshin, I am now given a new monster to beat you with!"
A vertical wooden panel appeared, above their heads. It had a sword at either end, and in the centre was a silver chalice that was up the right way, but filled with black fluid that ran over the rim and ran along it's surface to fall down to the ground, with a cackle of dark energy.
Some droplets fell on Sword Stalker's head. It yelled it's battle cry before blowing up in pixels, it's energy given to the ritual.
The few drips became a stream, then a river, and then it separated, making an upside-down 'Y'. The two swords dropped from their places and slammed into the hearts of the other monster sacrifices. Then the odd arch was filled with electricity as something stepped from beyond into the duelling stadium.
Quite suddenly, the sacrifices and the ritual board vanished. Even the fluid disappeared, leaving the monster behind. It was tall and wore a black suit of outlandish armour. It's face was a like a human boys, similar to the Dark Magician, but with Steel cords for hair and grey highlights on it's armour, instead of black hair and purple highlights to both it's hair and 'armour'.
"Witness the awesome power of The Shadow Warrior! With his 3200 attack points and 2800 defence points, you haven't a monster in your deck that can defeat him!" boasted Kaiba.
Ranma smiled slightly. With his Dark Magician at 4050/3600, the Shadow warrior was far from invincible, but, just in case, he powered up his magician further with the Book of Sacred Arts, which raised the monster's points by 300, raising it to 4350/3900.
Even then, the Shadow Warrior would have no way to target Ranma's own monsters, or indeed get around the Mirror Force trap card Ranma placed. Ranma felt confident that Seto Kaiba's new monster was only a decoy, despite its great power.
Why? Because of the Blue Eyes'! Surely, if Kaiba had used his Dragon, and used the Invigoration magic card he had earlier, it would have had become much greater than the Shadow Warrior, and much quicker!
It was obvious that Kaiba had a plan revolving around that Dragon, or possibly all of them! He had to prepare for the worst!
Ranma placed his newly drawn card down. The monster card: Animated Ooze (0/0), which he put down in attack mode.
Kaiba was becoming more and more worried as his opponent used his turn to no discernible effect. It was very clear to him that his opponent had made up more defences to protect his hidden monsters.
He drew his three more cards now: two Blue Eyes White Dragons and polymerisation. He was now capable of defeating his opponent completely. However, Kaiba knew that Ranma must have made strong defences, traps which, he intended to trigger with his Shadow Warrior. For now, he put his Dragons and the magic card facedown and ended his turn.
Ranma looked at Kaiba, himself, unseen through the Haze. The 'champ' had nearly completed his stratum. The hidden look of glee was visible enough to Ranma. Ranma was only slightly worried. This turn, he would make his Dark Magician powerful enough to defeat anything that Kaiba had made up.
Since the incident with Panik, Ranma had been careful not to power up his Dark Magician too much, just enough. He now considered that incident as an example in overkill. But now, he had to be cautious. Unlike the others, he was well aware of the possibility of a three-way fusion of three Blue Eyes' and now he had to be prepared for it, as well as just being aware of the threat.
On top of that, he would bet his fused Millennium Puzzle that, that was what the elder Kaiba had in mind!
"Well, Kaiba. Say goodbye to the Shadow Warrior! Animated Ooze, make that monster an Internal Symbiote!"
Kaiba moaned softly as his, Shadow Warrior was swallowed, by a large tendril, of horrific, black, ooze. He could only look as the monster was dragged, helpless through the fog.
"And now Kaiba, I deactivate my Unrevealing Haze!" The fog that surrounded Ranma's side of the field dissipated harmlessly, into the air. Without the fog, Kaiba could clearly see his monster being dragged into a mound of black ooze. He also saw from within his now-paralysed monster's black prison, a lance of energy flew to another monster, the Dark Magician.
"Now Kaiba. My Animated Ooze has ensnared your monster, and has drained its power, giving it to my Dark Magician. Through various power ups, he is, sorry, was at 4350 attack and 3900 defence points. Now with the drained power from your Shadow Warrior it has been raised to 7550 attack and 6700 defence points. Some would consider this overkill, but I know of the power of your deck, and it's Dragons! You can either surrender, or try the polymerisation of your monsters, if your as far ahead in your strategy as I believe. As it's my turns' end, I cannot attack. It is your choice!"
Kaiba balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. He would not fail Mokuba. His little brother's, very soul was stolen by that evil man, Pegasus. Normally, he couldn't care less about Ranma, but defeating Ranma was the only way to get to duel, Pegasus, himself!
He could not lose!
He drew the disk back and turned his Dragons and the magic card right-way-up. He then flung it to he ground.
"Go Blue Eyes' become Blue Eyes' Ultimate Dragon!"
A beam of light shone into the sky, as wings came from it, like a giant bird diving down to the ground. Then they righted themselves and the energy washed off them and the beam stopped to reveal a giant, Blue Eyes' with three long necks and three heads.
Kaiba looked at Ranma, and saw the unimpressed expression on his face. He became angry and then depressed. He saw his magnificent Monster, and saw only his failure to save Mokuba. Mokuba was lost now. He was lost now. His little brother's soul was lost! No, he couldn't lose. He quickly thought about Ranma, who was he, was there a weakness he could use.
He liked playing games; that's what Pegasus had mentioned about him!
He remembered:
He had seen Pegasus come up to him as he tried to pick the lock to Mokuba's cage. His little brother, encouraging him. Then Pegasus made his presence know by stealing Mokuba's soul. He told him that if he wanted to Duel for his little brother's soul, first he had to defeat Ranma. The black-haired boy who hung around with Yugi! He was given five starchips and then Pegasus, arrogant ass that he is, walked away. Only throwing over his shoulder a comment that Ranma like to play games.
Then it struck him. "Ranma, how would you like to play a game?"
Ranma looked interested, "Depends what kind?"
"If you give me three turns to power up my monster, and if at the end of those turns my Dragon can destroy your Dark Magician then I'll win. If I can't though, then I'll lose!"
Ranma looked at Kaiba thoughtfully, "Well, I've already won. So why would I give you a second chance to defeat me?"
Kaiba thought quickly, "Maybe I have a card that you would like? And it could be the prize if you win!"
Ranma pondered, "There not really a card that you have that I like!"
Kaiba stared in shock. He expected Ranma to bet one or more of Kaiba's Blue Eyes. "Why not my Blue Eyes White Dragons?"
"Na, I've already got a few of those!" Ranma said absently
"What!" remarked Kaiba. "How?"
This got Ranma to pay attention, and he replied guardedly, "Eh, I meant... Um, that is to say... Um, I already have plenty Dragon type cards. And besides you'd need them if you do end up facing Pegasus!" Ranma thought a little more and came up with an idea. "Hey, if I win, you come with Yugi, Joey and me to the tournament. And, no matter who wins, Joey'll get the money and whoever challenges Pegasus makes him release all the souls he's captured! Think you can do that!"
Kaiba nodded solemnly.
"Well, then let the game commence. I'm warning you now Kaiba, I won't be enhancing my Dark Magician with magic cards, but you're free to do so however means you wish, just don't bring me or my monsters into it! Okay?"
Kaiba nodded. "Okay, then!"
Kaiba drew a card from his deck and prayed. He pulled the slip of card out and looked at it. It was Invigoration. He then drew back his disk and placed the card down and spun it to indicate the end of his turn. The disk revealed the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon gaining a power boost, (4700/3800). That ended his turn.
Ranma also drew a card and used it. However his card was of a very different nature to that of Kaiba's card. The card was Changing Alliances, a card that could make a trapped monster change alliances and become his for five turns. He drew another card, Sword of Dark destruction. He placed it face up and flung the disk.
The changes that were occurring in the hologram were quite obvious. The Shadow Warrior emerged calmly from the helpful Animated Ooze, and took his place beside the Dark Magician. Then a sword fell from the sky, right at the Shadow Warrior. The monster in question caught the blade with little or no difficulty, and stood in a ready kendo stance. The Sword of Dark Destruction powered the monster up by 500 attack points, raising it to 3700/2800.
This is it, thought Ranma. Without the extra power-up from the captured Shadow Warrior, my Magician is weaker than the Dragon. If Kaiba keeps his word he won't attack. If he is a liar, then he'll either use a magic card, Despell or Harpies Feather Duster to negate my traps and then he'll attack my magician, or he'll not take that precaution and he'll just attack, and be done in by Mirror Force. If he does the former, I'm done for, if he does the latter, he's done for!
His worries proved to be unfounded. Kaiba, despite being a jerk, had a high moral code, a little like Ranma, but smarter. He declined to win in such a way, but instead kept to his promise. He drew his two cards, Horn of the Unicorn and another Invigoration. He placed them both on his disk and once again set it spinning.
This time on each of the Dragon's head a horn appeared golden with little raised rings around it. The Dragon once again received a powerful boost. (5300/3500.)
Ranma now drew his card, being restricted to one by the lack of spaces on the disk. The card was a little magic card called Dark Glove. Similar to Dragon Nails, Dark Glove enhanced a monster of a particular kind. Dragon nails enhanced Dragons, and Dark Glove enhanced dark-type humanoids, magicians or warriors, by exactly 600 attack points.
He threw the prepared saucer device, and set it spinning. Making his monsters reappear: Dark Magician, and Animated Ooze, with Shadow Warrior in-between. This time, ribbons of black, silky material appeared and wrapped up one of the Shadow Warriors hands, then shifting to form a glove made of silken bands and black opals.
"It's your turn now Kaiba. Make it good, it's your last turn!" said Ranma.
Kaiba drew two more cards, Dragon Nails and Dragon's Breath. Both cards enhanced Dragon sub-types, by 300 attack points each. He placed them both down and threw the disk for what would very likely be the last time in this duel!
His Dragon reappeared. But this time it had the Dragon Nails on its front claws, and was emitting blue smoke out the side of it's mouths. (5700/3500)
"I'm ready," said Kaiba ending his turn.
Ranma smiled at Kaiba and pulled out one of his cards from the Deck recognition system. He looked at the card and smiled.
"I'll only put down this one card Kaiba! I activate Treachery." He chuckled slightly. "Have a look at your Shadow Warrior."
Kaiba's eyes widened. "What do you mean, mine?"
"Look!"
Kaiba did, and Ranma commented at the sight.
Shadow Warrior, had once again become Kaiba's, however the Animated Ooze believed it's betrayal, to be an attack and so counter-attacked in the only way it could. Internal Symbiosis!
"You see. If a monster that is believed to be a friend becomes an enemy it tends to be the follow up to an attack, so Animated Ooze's special ability, Internal Symbiosis is activated automatically, if an enemy is found under these circumstances."
Kaiba gazed in morbid fascination and the Shadow Warrior was dragged into the sludge. Once again, Kaiba could only see his outline, and then the lance of light occurred once more, shooting towards the Dark Magician, giving him the attack and defence points of the bolstered Shadow Warrior.
"You see, by making Shadow Warrior rebel, I made it become assimilated again, this time with my enhancements, therefore indirectly enhancing Dark Magician to a higher degree than I could have done otherwise! All this makes Dark Magician 8650 attack, and 6700 defence points strong! I think I have won, Kaiba!"
Kaiba looked shocked. Who would have though such a roundabout strategy could work so well. He thought. Oh, Mokuba, I failed you! But I may have a second chance if I go with them. Very well, I must go with them to defeat Pegasus. I don't even care which one of use does it.
Defeated, he placed his hand over his deck. "I surrender!"
Croquet once again came into the dining room, where Pegasus sat, drinking his fruit juice and reading his favourite comic books.
"Sir, the fight has finished. Ranma was the victor!" he stated humbly.
Pegasus jumped up and threw his glass of fruit juice at the nearest window. The finer glass shattering and scratched the windowpane.
"I already know, Croquet. I already know." He said resignedly and slumped in his seat to massage his aching head.
Yu-gi-oh crossover with Ranma 1/2
by Naquiel
Disclaimer - Ranma and Yu-gi-oh don't belong to me so please don't sue.
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Chapter 4
Over the next few days, Ranma trained Yugi and Bakura in their Millennium Items powers, until they gradually became aware of the true potential power contained in each. He frowned at the egomaniac, Seto Kaiba, as he demolished Joey's confidence as a duellist. He and Yugi co-coached Joey in his battle with Bones, in the spooky graveyard stadium. He observed, as the Paradox brothers were defeated, and he was not surprised, but perhaps a little startled, to see another Gate Guardian, after all it was a version of his own, just like the Millennium Items.
By teaching the two boys, he learnt a few things himself. He learnt a few things straight off: although he could use his powers in conjunction with Yugi or Bakura, he himself could not use their Items or their magic. He assumed that each dimensions set of Millennium Items must be only able to be used by an inhabitant of that particular dimension. He also assumed that it could be a fail-safe mechanism so that someone with Shadow Realm Godhood in one dimension doesn't try to get Godhood in another dimension, and hence become unfairly powerful.
However this was something that Pegasus himself was completely ignorant of.
Maximillion Pegasus, multi-billionaire creator of Duel Monsters, president of Industrial Illusions, and possessor of the Millennium Eye, was sipping at his fruit juice. He raised the champagne glass to his lips and took a gentle mouthful. He placed the glass back down on the table, again gently. His mood however was anything but gentle.
This boy, he thought angrily. This possessor of another Millennium Item, he is teaching them far too much about their items. His coaching skills are also formidable. If I allowed him into the castle, then I could have a very big problem. He could coach little Yugi-boy and Bakura into being quite formidable with their Items, perhaps too formidable for me to deal with! And his own Item makes him particularly dangerous. He must be put out of the way, but how?
Pegasus's chief of security, Croquet, came into the room and walked up respectfully to the brooding Pegasus.
"Sir. Seto Kaiba has been spotted in the dungeons!" he said quietly in his humble hoarse voice.
"Once again Croquet, You tell me something I already know..." replied Pegasus testily, until he stopped suddenly and thought of the possibilities. "Yes, yes, that just might work!" he murmured to himself.
Pegasus threw his head back and laughed, full and heartily.
Ranma sneezed and muttered to himself about people who talk about other people behind their backs.
He, Joey and Yugi had all the ten starchips, each that they needed for entry to the castle.
Presently, they were all walking towards the castle, Ranma in the lead of the procession. That was until he stopped suddenly, causing them to fall on top of each other like dominoes. Only Ranma still stood an apologetic smile on his face. "Ha, ha!" Well, perhaps not apologetic!
Joey looked up angrily from his place on the dirt road. "What ya stop for?"
Ranma crossed his arms and smiled. "Look behind you."
The entire gang did, and looked at the way they had come from. They strained their ears and heard a faint whistling noise in the distance. Suddenly from around the bend came a familiar figure.
"Mai!" exclaimed Yugi.
Mai smiled gently at the group. "Nice to see ya. How have you been doing?"
Ranma laughed gently and replied. "Oh nothing special. We got trapped in a cave a 'top duellist' and had to fight the Paradox brothers to get out. Ya' know, the usual!"
Mai frowned and chewed absently at his bottom lip. "I've heard of them. Quite tough weren't they?"
Ranma gestured towards Yugi and Joey. "Ask them, I was only spectatin'."
Mai blinked. She had assumed that Ranma could defeat even those twisted people, Para and Dox, but for Yugi and Joey to have done it made her personnel opinion of them rise. True, however she believed that Yugi could defeat Para or Dox one on one, but it the rumours about their labyrinth Stadium were true then alone, even he, would have lost.
Joey, not-to subtly, showed off his ten starchips.
Mai smiled. "I take it your all going to the castle! Mind if I tag along." She too demonstrated a full set of starchips.
"Sure Mai!" replied Bakura enthusiastically. He enjoyed Mai's unique and realistic, if a little frivolous, view on life. He also like seeing Ranma's amusing reaction, to her puppy-dog eyes, a secret weapon that Ranma was particularly susceptible to.
All of them were in complete agreement. And they set of once more towards the castle.
Ranma was the first to see the castle. He and Yugi were up front discussing duelling strategies, when it caught his eye.
It was by no means a small structure. It was built on the plateau of a mountain and had large walls and towers, in the style of English castles, with battlements to boot! The golden rock: was highlighted, by the overhead sun, obliterating all, but a few, shadows. You would never have assumed that such a dark power lay within, while it looked so radiant!
The whole gang, were taken in by its momentary beauty. The spell was broken as they walked further up the gigantic stairs and squinted harder, they saw a shadow that shouldn't have been. And as they came ever closer, they finally distinguished the shadow as a boy slightly older than Joey.
"Kaiba!" spat Joey, still remarkably bitter of his humiliating defeat at the hands of Seto Kaiba. He looked hatefully at the elder Kaiba brother.
Soon the entire gang was up at the top of the almost never-ending steps, and facing Seto Kaiba.
He was tall with brown hair and steely eyes; his arms crossed at his chest, his large steel briefcase at his feet, his eyes' riveted on one of the gangs' members. He had a stern look on his face and fire in eyes.
Yugi was the first to break the ice. "Hello, Kaiba. I thought you were going to challenge Pegasus!"
Kaiba frowned. "I was going to, but now I have to play a sick game of his or I'll never get to wipe that damned smirk off his face!" his eye resettled on Ranma. "I challenge you, Ranna!"
Ranma gave a glare, "Ranma. It's 'Ranma'!"
Kaiba waved wave his hand with an air of dismissive arrogance, "Yeah, whatever. Let's get this duel on the road."
Ranma and Kaiba faced each other on the parapets at the top of one of the castle walls, right next to a shear cliff leading to the sea surrounding the island.
They consulted each other and set the figure of starchips to be wagered at 5.
Then they faced each other, Ranma with an arrogant smirk and Kaiba with a frosty glare. The said simultaneously, "Let's duel!"
Ranma was flung an odd disk-like contraption, from Kaiba, who himself was putting on part of it and ready to throw the saucer-shaped part.
Ranma put it on with little difficulty, his memories of Joey's one-time use of the device, a portable Holo-emitter thingy, aiding his in an understanding of the device.
Both duellists slipped their shuffled decks into the deck recognition system, where a seven-figure display showed both of them that they were at 2000 life-points each.
Kaiba started off by summoning Reokoshin, a large, bipedal purple lizard-like creature, but thank the Kami, not remotely like Barney.
Ranma looked at his disk, on it was his hand. He had put Unrevealing Haze magic card down, face-up, ready to activate. Also he had put down Dark Magician (2500/2100) facedown; Cloak of the Mystic also facedown; Mirror Force, facedown and finally Eye of Truth, facedown.
He had always liked the Cloak of the Mystic card for its usefulness, it's instant enhancement of 1 spell-caster type monster, by 500 in both attack and defence, and giving the same monster an added 200/200 for each monster in the graveyards. However the monster in question had to be killed by Ranma, a sacrificed monster wouldn't give any bonus, which was annoying at times.
He threw the spinning emitter away, and watched as glowing pinpricks of golden light spun up from it, like a mini tornado of energy. Not unlike my Beta-ha-fu Inferuno, thought Ranma, absently. Sheets of holographic visuals appeared before him, all four showing his hand's cards.
A mist formed out of the pinpricks and consumed the area around the disk, the 'field'.
Seto doesn't look too pleased by that! Thought Ranma smugly. Some of that smugness was rubbed off when Kaiba summoned another monster, Battle Ox (1700/1000) and promptly added to its power with Invigoration, to put it at 1900/1000. Ranma didn't want Kaiba to get too powerful, however his strategy had no room for any culling.
Ranma activated the Eye of Truth. "Well Kaiba. Let us have a sneak peak at your hand, shall I do the honours?" he threw down the disk once more. Making the mist reappear and a beam of light hit the cards in Kaiba's holographic hand. Each turned around. Sword Stalker (2000/1600,); Battle Ox (1700/1000,); Ancient Lamp; and finally a Blue Eyes White Dragon (3000/2500.)
Ranma drew a new card, Book of Sacred Arts and absently placed it facedown.
Ranma frowned thoughtfully at the Dragon. Yugi had already told him of his fight with Kaiba and his three Blue Eyes White Dragons, both the real and the ghost Kaibas. In both situations he had needed an edge, Exodia, or the real Kaiba uploading a virus into a Holo-stadium's computer. Ranma, here had no edge but his own skill. It was how he would have wanted anyway!
Ranma pondered, why not use the Blue Eyes' he already has? Why send out two weaker monsters if he could use a kick-ass monster like that? Ranma frowned even more and thought, If I keep this frowning, up, I'm going to get worry wrinkles! Oh, what if Kaiba has some way of powering up his Dragon that he is waiting for. But why, does he know I have some more powerful cards than that. He couldn't, the waiting must be part of some strategy.
Kaiba meanwhile was becoming agitated. Why isn't he attacking, is it because he now knows I have a Blue Eyes' in my hand?
"I pass this turn, Rana!" Kaiba said to Ranma.
"My name is 'Ranma'!" replied a miffed Ranma, who was having a small daydream of putting Kaiba through a very painful torture, forcing him to watch Teletubbies comes to mind.
Ranma drew another card, Horn of Horror, a magic card that had the ability to sacrifice one enemy monster to power up one of his own monsters by half the sacrificed attack and defence points. Ranma looked at the card depicting a bloodied, thorny horn made of rotting wood, and thought, why not?
"Kaiba, your itching for me to attack aren't ya. Probably 'cause of that Sword Stalker of yours. Well, your wish is my command." Said Ranma chattily, suddenly changing to an aggressive shout. "Go, Horn of Horror, sacrifice Battle Ox!"
Kaiba frowned, again, as he saw his monster shatter into pixels, pseudo-energy from within the construct flying towards, and disappearing into, the mist. His life-points going down to 1150, as half of Battle Ox's attack points were deducted from his life-points.
Ranma smiled, as he saw his Dark Magician go from 2500/2100, to 3350/2600 due to the Horn of Horror. Then it went even further up to 3850/3100 due to the enhancing power of the Cloak of the mystic, and then another addition to its power due to the demise of Battle Ox, raising its power to 4050/3600.
Kaiba drew another card, and summoned La Jinn (1800/1000). The ghostly genie floating in front of the disk, arrogantly crossing it's arms and smirking.
Ranma smirked in reply to the overconfidence of both the monster and duellist. "Well Kaiba you have played well, so far, but will you last, I doubt it! Well, Let's get you a little closer to defeat. I activate the Despell magic card!"
Bursts of energy came from the foggy mist, aimed at Kaiba's hand. A card swirled around, revealing itself, Ancient Lamp. They disappeared in a shower of pixels.
Ranma smirked. "That ends my turn!"
Kaiba flinched and gazed at his cards.
I need something stronger than what I have. I only have 1 Blue eyes. Its' not enough! He thought quickly, a ritual card. I have three weaker monsters, three weak ones for one strong one. Yes, that is what I need. Thought Kaiba.
He reverently drew a card from his deck. He pulled at his glove, making the disk stop spinning and come to his hand. He placed the card down and threw it once more to the ground between himself and Ranma. "I activate the Shadow's Light ritual! By sacrificing my La Gin, Sword Stalker and Reokoshin, I am now given a new monster to beat you with!"
A vertical wooden panel appeared, above their heads. It had a sword at either end, and in the centre was a silver chalice that was up the right way, but filled with black fluid that ran over the rim and ran along it's surface to fall down to the ground, with a cackle of dark energy.
Some droplets fell on Sword Stalker's head. It yelled it's battle cry before blowing up in pixels, it's energy given to the ritual.
The few drips became a stream, then a river, and then it separated, making an upside-down 'Y'. The two swords dropped from their places and slammed into the hearts of the other monster sacrifices. Then the odd arch was filled with electricity as something stepped from beyond into the duelling stadium.
Quite suddenly, the sacrifices and the ritual board vanished. Even the fluid disappeared, leaving the monster behind. It was tall and wore a black suit of outlandish armour. It's face was a like a human boys, similar to the Dark Magician, but with Steel cords for hair and grey highlights on it's armour, instead of black hair and purple highlights to both it's hair and 'armour'.
"Witness the awesome power of The Shadow Warrior! With his 3200 attack points and 2800 defence points, you haven't a monster in your deck that can defeat him!" boasted Kaiba.
Ranma smiled slightly. With his Dark Magician at 4050/3600, the Shadow warrior was far from invincible, but, just in case, he powered up his magician further with the Book of Sacred Arts, which raised the monster's points by 300, raising it to 4350/3900.
Even then, the Shadow Warrior would have no way to target Ranma's own monsters, or indeed get around the Mirror Force trap card Ranma placed. Ranma felt confident that Seto Kaiba's new monster was only a decoy, despite its great power.
Why? Because of the Blue Eyes'! Surely, if Kaiba had used his Dragon, and used the Invigoration magic card he had earlier, it would have had become much greater than the Shadow Warrior, and much quicker!
It was obvious that Kaiba had a plan revolving around that Dragon, or possibly all of them! He had to prepare for the worst!
Ranma placed his newly drawn card down. The monster card: Animated Ooze (0/0), which he put down in attack mode.
Kaiba was becoming more and more worried as his opponent used his turn to no discernible effect. It was very clear to him that his opponent had made up more defences to protect his hidden monsters.
He drew his three more cards now: two Blue Eyes White Dragons and polymerisation. He was now capable of defeating his opponent completely. However, Kaiba knew that Ranma must have made strong defences, traps which, he intended to trigger with his Shadow Warrior. For now, he put his Dragons and the magic card facedown and ended his turn.
Ranma looked at Kaiba, himself, unseen through the Haze. The 'champ' had nearly completed his stratum. The hidden look of glee was visible enough to Ranma. Ranma was only slightly worried. This turn, he would make his Dark Magician powerful enough to defeat anything that Kaiba had made up.
Since the incident with Panik, Ranma had been careful not to power up his Dark Magician too much, just enough. He now considered that incident as an example in overkill. But now, he had to be cautious. Unlike the others, he was well aware of the possibility of a three-way fusion of three Blue Eyes' and now he had to be prepared for it, as well as just being aware of the threat.
On top of that, he would bet his fused Millennium Puzzle that, that was what the elder Kaiba had in mind!
"Well, Kaiba. Say goodbye to the Shadow Warrior! Animated Ooze, make that monster an Internal Symbiote!"
Kaiba moaned softly as his, Shadow Warrior was swallowed, by a large tendril, of horrific, black, ooze. He could only look as the monster was dragged, helpless through the fog.
"And now Kaiba, I deactivate my Unrevealing Haze!" The fog that surrounded Ranma's side of the field dissipated harmlessly, into the air. Without the fog, Kaiba could clearly see his monster being dragged into a mound of black ooze. He also saw from within his now-paralysed monster's black prison, a lance of energy flew to another monster, the Dark Magician.
"Now Kaiba. My Animated Ooze has ensnared your monster, and has drained its power, giving it to my Dark Magician. Through various power ups, he is, sorry, was at 4350 attack and 3900 defence points. Now with the drained power from your Shadow Warrior it has been raised to 7550 attack and 6700 defence points. Some would consider this overkill, but I know of the power of your deck, and it's Dragons! You can either surrender, or try the polymerisation of your monsters, if your as far ahead in your strategy as I believe. As it's my turns' end, I cannot attack. It is your choice!"
Kaiba balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. He would not fail Mokuba. His little brother's, very soul was stolen by that evil man, Pegasus. Normally, he couldn't care less about Ranma, but defeating Ranma was the only way to get to duel, Pegasus, himself!
He could not lose!
He drew the disk back and turned his Dragons and the magic card right-way-up. He then flung it to he ground.
"Go Blue Eyes' become Blue Eyes' Ultimate Dragon!"
A beam of light shone into the sky, as wings came from it, like a giant bird diving down to the ground. Then they righted themselves and the energy washed off them and the beam stopped to reveal a giant, Blue Eyes' with three long necks and three heads.
Kaiba looked at Ranma, and saw the unimpressed expression on his face. He became angry and then depressed. He saw his magnificent Monster, and saw only his failure to save Mokuba. Mokuba was lost now. He was lost now. His little brother's soul was lost! No, he couldn't lose. He quickly thought about Ranma, who was he, was there a weakness he could use.
He liked playing games; that's what Pegasus had mentioned about him!
He remembered:
He had seen Pegasus come up to him as he tried to pick the lock to Mokuba's cage. His little brother, encouraging him. Then Pegasus made his presence know by stealing Mokuba's soul. He told him that if he wanted to Duel for his little brother's soul, first he had to defeat Ranma. The black-haired boy who hung around with Yugi! He was given five starchips and then Pegasus, arrogant ass that he is, walked away. Only throwing over his shoulder a comment that Ranma like to play games.
Then it struck him. "Ranma, how would you like to play a game?"
Ranma looked interested, "Depends what kind?"
"If you give me three turns to power up my monster, and if at the end of those turns my Dragon can destroy your Dark Magician then I'll win. If I can't though, then I'll lose!"
Ranma looked at Kaiba thoughtfully, "Well, I've already won. So why would I give you a second chance to defeat me?"
Kaiba thought quickly, "Maybe I have a card that you would like? And it could be the prize if you win!"
Ranma pondered, "There not really a card that you have that I like!"
Kaiba stared in shock. He expected Ranma to bet one or more of Kaiba's Blue Eyes. "Why not my Blue Eyes White Dragons?"
"Na, I've already got a few of those!" Ranma said absently
"What!" remarked Kaiba. "How?"
This got Ranma to pay attention, and he replied guardedly, "Eh, I meant... Um, that is to say... Um, I already have plenty Dragon type cards. And besides you'd need them if you do end up facing Pegasus!" Ranma thought a little more and came up with an idea. "Hey, if I win, you come with Yugi, Joey and me to the tournament. And, no matter who wins, Joey'll get the money and whoever challenges Pegasus makes him release all the souls he's captured! Think you can do that!"
Kaiba nodded solemnly.
"Well, then let the game commence. I'm warning you now Kaiba, I won't be enhancing my Dark Magician with magic cards, but you're free to do so however means you wish, just don't bring me or my monsters into it! Okay?"
Kaiba nodded. "Okay, then!"
Kaiba drew a card from his deck and prayed. He pulled the slip of card out and looked at it. It was Invigoration. He then drew back his disk and placed the card down and spun it to indicate the end of his turn. The disk revealed the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon gaining a power boost, (4700/3800). That ended his turn.
Ranma also drew a card and used it. However his card was of a very different nature to that of Kaiba's card. The card was Changing Alliances, a card that could make a trapped monster change alliances and become his for five turns. He drew another card, Sword of Dark destruction. He placed it face up and flung the disk.
The changes that were occurring in the hologram were quite obvious. The Shadow Warrior emerged calmly from the helpful Animated Ooze, and took his place beside the Dark Magician. Then a sword fell from the sky, right at the Shadow Warrior. The monster in question caught the blade with little or no difficulty, and stood in a ready kendo stance. The Sword of Dark Destruction powered the monster up by 500 attack points, raising it to 3700/2800.
This is it, thought Ranma. Without the extra power-up from the captured Shadow Warrior, my Magician is weaker than the Dragon. If Kaiba keeps his word he won't attack. If he is a liar, then he'll either use a magic card, Despell or Harpies Feather Duster to negate my traps and then he'll attack my magician, or he'll not take that precaution and he'll just attack, and be done in by Mirror Force. If he does the former, I'm done for, if he does the latter, he's done for!
His worries proved to be unfounded. Kaiba, despite being a jerk, had a high moral code, a little like Ranma, but smarter. He declined to win in such a way, but instead kept to his promise. He drew his two cards, Horn of the Unicorn and another Invigoration. He placed them both on his disk and once again set it spinning.
This time on each of the Dragon's head a horn appeared golden with little raised rings around it. The Dragon once again received a powerful boost. (5300/3500.)
Ranma now drew his card, being restricted to one by the lack of spaces on the disk. The card was a little magic card called Dark Glove. Similar to Dragon Nails, Dark Glove enhanced a monster of a particular kind. Dragon nails enhanced Dragons, and Dark Glove enhanced dark-type humanoids, magicians or warriors, by exactly 600 attack points.
He threw the prepared saucer device, and set it spinning. Making his monsters reappear: Dark Magician, and Animated Ooze, with Shadow Warrior in-between. This time, ribbons of black, silky material appeared and wrapped up one of the Shadow Warriors hands, then shifting to form a glove made of silken bands and black opals.
"It's your turn now Kaiba. Make it good, it's your last turn!" said Ranma.
Kaiba drew two more cards, Dragon Nails and Dragon's Breath. Both cards enhanced Dragon sub-types, by 300 attack points each. He placed them both down and threw the disk for what would very likely be the last time in this duel!
His Dragon reappeared. But this time it had the Dragon Nails on its front claws, and was emitting blue smoke out the side of it's mouths. (5700/3500)
"I'm ready," said Kaiba ending his turn.
Ranma smiled at Kaiba and pulled out one of his cards from the Deck recognition system. He looked at the card and smiled.
"I'll only put down this one card Kaiba! I activate Treachery." He chuckled slightly. "Have a look at your Shadow Warrior."
Kaiba's eyes widened. "What do you mean, mine?"
"Look!"
Kaiba did, and Ranma commented at the sight.
Shadow Warrior, had once again become Kaiba's, however the Animated Ooze believed it's betrayal, to be an attack and so counter-attacked in the only way it could. Internal Symbiosis!
"You see. If a monster that is believed to be a friend becomes an enemy it tends to be the follow up to an attack, so Animated Ooze's special ability, Internal Symbiosis is activated automatically, if an enemy is found under these circumstances."
Kaiba gazed in morbid fascination and the Shadow Warrior was dragged into the sludge. Once again, Kaiba could only see his outline, and then the lance of light occurred once more, shooting towards the Dark Magician, giving him the attack and defence points of the bolstered Shadow Warrior.
"You see, by making Shadow Warrior rebel, I made it become assimilated again, this time with my enhancements, therefore indirectly enhancing Dark Magician to a higher degree than I could have done otherwise! All this makes Dark Magician 8650 attack, and 6700 defence points strong! I think I have won, Kaiba!"
Kaiba looked shocked. Who would have though such a roundabout strategy could work so well. He thought. Oh, Mokuba, I failed you! But I may have a second chance if I go with them. Very well, I must go with them to defeat Pegasus. I don't even care which one of use does it.
Defeated, he placed his hand over his deck. "I surrender!"
Croquet once again came into the dining room, where Pegasus sat, drinking his fruit juice and reading his favourite comic books.
"Sir, the fight has finished. Ranma was the victor!" he stated humbly.
Pegasus jumped up and threw his glass of fruit juice at the nearest window. The finer glass shattering and scratched the windowpane.
"I already know, Croquet. I already know." He said resignedly and slumped in his seat to massage his aching head.