The Quirks of Love
Part Six: The Present Vs. The Past
Rebecca and Yugi awoke to find themselves slumped over platforms to a Duel Monster's arena.
"Where are we?" Rebecca inquired, beginning to feel strangely light headed.
"Oh no," Yugi murmured, "The Shadow Realm."
"Indeed," The Proclaimer announced as she and Pegasus appeared a slight ways off from the arena.
"Welcome little Yugi," Pegasus smirked, "I see you've fallen right into another of my ingenious traps."
"Pegasus!" Yugi yelled, "What's the meaning of this?!"
"Ah Yugi, don't tell me you don't recognize a duel when you see one. I've taken the liberty of summoning The Proclaimer here to bring you and Rebecca into the Shadow Realm and pit you against each other in a duel with--ahem--considerably high stakes."
"What?!"
"It's really quite simple," Pegasus explained, "if the girl wins you and the power of your Millennium Puzzle are mine. If you win, she and her powers are at my disposal. As you can see, for me, it's a win-win situation."
Yugi sneered, "Don't think I'm going to let you gain control over Rebecca or her powers! And you'll never have the power of my Millennium Puzzle!"
"We'll see." Pegasus replied haughtily.
"Now that you both know the rules," The Proclaimer spoke, "it's time this duel began."
"WAIT!" Yugi shouted, "There has to be some way to save both Rebecca and myself from falling under Pegasus's control."
"I'm sorry," Felaine answered solemnly, "but the rules are the rules and I am bound to uphold and enforce them."
"But this isn't fair!" Rebecca insisted, "Yugi and I never agreed to this!"
"What soul would?" The Proclaimer countered, "If you both are as powerful as Pegasus believes you to be then surely you can save yourselves from this fate. But first, you must duel!"
What do we do? Yugi asked the spirit.
I'm not sure. the spirit admitted, For now, it looks like we have to duel. Besides, this may end up helping Rebecca in the end.
Yugi nodded, "Alright Pegasus, we'll play your game…for now."
"We will?" Rebecca gasped.
"Trust me." Yugi insisted. "Alright spirit, time to come out and duel!"
Rebecca, Pegasus, and The Proclaimer watched as the spirit of the puzzle emerged and Yugi vanished.
"This should prove to be a most interesting duel." Felaine smiled.
"I'm counting on it." Pegasus grinned.
Yami pulled out Yugi's deck and looked down at the cards in his hand, "Not bad."
Rebecca didn't budge.
"Come now," Pegasus urged, "you're wearing your gloves. Or better yet, let's make it interesting. Pull them off and let's duel with REAL monsters."
"What?!" Rebecca gasped.
"And real magic." Felaine added.
Yami looked across the arena at Rebecca, "I've got no objections."
Rebecca shied away but found she couldn't leave the platform without risking falling into the dark swirling abyss. "I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean, what if I can't control my monsters?"
"There's no better time to learn." Yami persisted.
Sighing Rebecca took out her deck and placed it on the board. "Fine. But I warned you."
"You make the first move." Yami instructed.
Rebecca took the top card, "I play The Silent Hawk in attack mode!"
A dark swirling vortex appeared above them and the cry of an enormous hawk could be heard as it soared out and hovered above the playing field.
"Good move," Yami commented as he decided which card to play, "I play The Ferrell Imp in attack mode and I'll lay one card face down. Now, Ferrell Imp attack The Silent Hawk!"
Rebecca's monster was destroyed instantly reducing her life points to 1800. "Looks like I'm even more out of practice than I thought." she sighed, "My move, I play Gargoyle Stormer in defense mode and use Stone Skin to increase his defense points to 2200."
Yami was trying to figure out Rebecca's strategy while creating one of his own. She seemed to be testing him for strengths and weaknesses right now. She'd soon find out why he was crowned The King of Games.
"I now activate my trap card!" he announced overturning his facedown card and revealing The Defense Raider. "This trap card changes any opponent's defense mode cards to attack mode and therefore strips away any magic bonuses that increase their strength. Now with your monster's defense points down I'll send it to the graveyard with your hawk."
Rebecca sighed as Yami's monster defeated her second monster right before her eyes. This battle wasn't going to be an easy win. There'd be no forfeits this time. "Very well. Time to get serious. I'll play The Winged Huntress in attack mode and increase her strength with Whip of Fire! Winged Huntress, ATTACK!"
Yami watched as Rebecca's monster easily defeated his imp. His life points were reduced yet still higher than hers. The battle was just getting started.
"Finally," Pegasus chuckled, "things are getting interesting."
Turn after turn Yami and Rebecca dueled on each with a passion to win and fighting to protect their freedom and their powers. At last it was down to the wire, Rebecca and Yami tied at 200 life points each.
"You've played very well Rebecca," Yami complimented her, "this has indeed been a most challenging battle."
"Thanks," Rebecca blushed slightly, happy to have come this far, "you're not such a bad player yourself."
Remember spirit, Yugi cautioned, if Rebecca loses Pegasus will gain control over her and her powers.
I know that Yugi, Yami answered, but if I forfeit this match then Rebecca may never achieve her true potential and thusly never gain full control over her magical abilities.
"Well on with it you two." Pegasus called, "I haven't got all day."
Yami growled under his breath at the white haired tyrant. "Pegasus! No matter the outcome Rebecca and I shall be freed and you will be beaten!"
"I'm afraid that's where you're wrong spirit," Pegasus laughed, "I've already won, it's hopeless. Only one of you will leave here a free being."
Grunting Yami turned back to the duel. Rebecca had out her Dark Night Sorceress and The Winged Huntress which she'd managed to save from the graveyard by using her Restoration Spell card.
"I summon, The Dark Magician!" Yami cried as the magician appeared out of a vortex and landed on the field next to his Celtic Guardian. "Dark Magician attack The Winged Huntress!"
"Careful spirit." Rebecca cautioned with a grin, "I'm rather fond of the two cards in play. And I've protected them with my hidden card," flipping it over she revealed it's power, "Mirror Force!"
Yami gasped as the powerful blast of his magician was sent back to him at full force. The magician would've been obliterated if it weren't for Yami's facedown card. "Shield of Incantation protect the magician!"
"Clever," Rebecca remarked as the blast was blocked by a black and purple shield which appeared in the magician's free hand. "But I've one more play, I use my Polymerization card to combine my Winged Huntress and The Dark Night Sorceress. Thus I create, Malice the Enchantress of Flight!"
Yami gasped as the two creatures merged to create the unstoppable entity. "It can't be. Where'd you learn such a move?"
"I taught myself." Rebecca smirked, "I said I was out of practice, not out matched."
Yami drew another card and sighed, he almost hated to play this move but he knew he had to. It was for the best, "My turn Rebecca, and although your creature seems invincible, I must remain true to the hand Fate has dealt me. So I now play Doom Master with my Dark Magician and combine them with MY Polymerization card to create The Shadow Sorcerer!"
Rebecca gasped, "Where'd you get a Doom Master? Those things are practically impossible to come by!"
Yami grinned, "Yugi's deck has improved since you dueled him last. Now, sorcerer, attack with Thunderous Blight!"
"Nooo!!!" Rebecca cried as her Enchantress of Flight was turned to dust and her life points reduced to zero.
"Bravo Yugi boy," Pegasus applauded from his seat, "I knew you wouldn't let me down."
"Hm?" Yami looked up from where he stood on the dueling platform. "What do you mean Pegasus?"
"Now Rebecca's unleashing touch belongs to me. Along with the little magician herself."
"Never!" Rebecca shouted.
"I'm afraid it is so." Felaine spoke. Two golden bracelets appeared over Rebecca's hands (which were now gloved), and strange hieroglyphics were etched across them.
"No!" Yami panicked.
"You're now to do only the bidding of Pegasus the Summoner." Felaine announced to the frightened blonde, "So is the law of the game."
Rebecca pulled against the thick bracelets but they wouldn't budge. She was trapped, the bracelets her shackles. "You can't do this! My grandfather will-"
"Your grandfather will do nothing." Pegasus chuckled, "Just like you he is helpless to oppose the law. No matter what you try those bracelets won't come off. Your powers are at my disposal now. And so are you---slave."
Yami clenched his fists, "Pegasus! I won't let you take Rebecca or her powers do you hear me?!"
"Shouldn't you be going now Yugi boy?" Pegasus replied carelessly as a portal opened behind him. "Off to the real world with you. Leave Rebecca to me."
We can't let him take her! Yugi cried.
I know, Yami agreed, but I'm not sure how to get around this.
"I'm a bit surprised with you Pegasus." The Proclaimer said plainly, "I thought you to be of a romantic breed."
"What?" Pegasus asked, "What do you mean? The girl and her powers are mine. The law is clear on this matter."
"True," Felaine replied, "but the law does not prevent you from giving the victor a chance to rescue the loser."
"Loser?!" Rebecca snapped, "Gee that's a little harsh!"
"You honestly expect me to give Yugi a chance to save her?" Pegasus questioned, "I've played against him before. The spirit makes him undefeatable."
"Then forbid the spirit from helping." Felaine answered, "If I am present for the duel then it must be played by the rules laid before the duelists."
Pegasus considered this a moment, "Alright Yugi boy I'll make you a deal."
What do you think? the spirit asked Yugi.
I think we don't have much of a choice. Yugi answered.
"We're listening," Yami informed Pegasus.
"If you agree to duel me WITHOUT the use of your Millennium Puzzle or the ancient spirit I'll give you a chance to free the girl."
"REBECCA!" Rebecca shouted, what did this Pegasus jerk have against using her name anyway?
"If you win Rebecca regains her freedom and full use of her powers, but if I win…" Pegasus chuckled sinisterly, "you join her as my slave and I get possession of your Millennium Puzzle."
"Don't do it Yugi!" Rebecca cried.
"SILENCE SLAVE!" Pegasus ordered and Rebecca collapsed to the ground in a bowing position.
Yami and Yugi were enraged, "IT'S A DEAL!"
"Excellent," Pegasus chuckled, "and this time, there will be no rematches."
"Agreed," Yami nodded and returned to the puzzle allowing Yugi to regain his form.
"I'll keep watch over this one and the puzzle," The Proclaimer stated and with a quick gesture Rebecca vanished from the platform and appeared at her side. With another gesture the puzzle appeared in her hand on the opposite side. "Now duelists, prepare yourselves. The stakes have been increased and the true King of Games shall soon be revealed."
"Good luck Yugi," Rebecca whispered.
Yugi and Pegasus glared at each other as their life points were set at 2000. Together they both cried fiercely, "LET'S DUEL!!"
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*Thanks for reviewing so far everyone, the comments are very inspiring. ^_^ Now that things are getting even more intense I hope you're all enjoying the story. I'll get to more Rebecca/Yugi and Rebecca/Yami stuff soon. First, they kind of have to warm up to each other. But things will heat up between them (not too much) towards the end. ^_~ *