"What happened?!" demanded Drake, standing up. He extended his hand and
helped Lara to her feet.
"Oh my gosh! Look at that!" cried Tea as she pointed to the arena.
The entire field was covered with a dark cloud. Black energy waves pulsed through it. The hazy mist completely blocked the view of the dueling platforms, including Yu-Gi and Pegasus.
"What happened?!" demanded Joe.
"What did Pegasus do?" wondered Tristan.
"Do you know anything about this, Drake?" asked Mai.
"He mentioned something about the Shadow Realm, but I never imagined he'd go to such extreme lengths," Drake answered.
THUD! There was a loud noise. All eyes turned behind them. Martin was laying on the ground, unconscious.
"This must have been too much for him," muttered Lara. With the help of Tristan they moved Martin next to the unconscious Mokuba.
"Where is Tempest?" asked Mai, looking around. The blind girl was no where to be seen.
"Did you see her run off, Bakura?" asked Joe. "Bakura?" Bakura was gone too.
"Where did they go?" asked Tristan.
"I don't want to think about it," shuddered Tea, looking at the dark cloud that had engulfed half of the room.
"Are you saying they are in there?" asked Joe.
"Where else can they be?" whimpered Tea.
"I hope they are safe," muttered Mai.
"I don't think there is such a thing, not here, not now," muttered Drake so that no one could hear.
"We have to do something, Drake!" exclaimed Lara.
"The gauntlet and your locket aren't up to this," said Drake sadly. "But there is something else I need your help for. Come on!" Drake grabbed Lara's hand and ran off.
**************************************************************************
Tempest was laying flat on her back, disoriented.
"Shayla." She heard someone whisper to her.
"Huh? What?" wondered Tempest. Then it dawned on her. "That is my name."
"Shayla," she said trying out her new name. "I like it." She sat up and opened her eyes.
"What the?!" she exclaimed, tearing off her glasses. The filmy white substance that had long since covered her eyes was gone. She could see.
She looked at the world around her for the first time. The area was dark. Black mists swirled around her ankles. It was impossible to see more than a few yards into it. Nearby Yu-Gi and Bakura were standing up as well. Pegasus was just beyond them, standing over them with his arms crossed and a sly smile.
"What have you done?" demanded Yami Yu-Gi.
"Isn't it obvious, I took us to the Shadow Realm," gloated Pegasus.
"How is this possible?" wondered Shayla as she walked over.
"It has to do with the Millennial Items," explained Yami Bakura, who had returned with the Millennial Ring.
"They said I was incurable," muttered Shayla, blown away.
"What do you mean?" asked Yami Yu-Gi. "What happened to your eyes?" "I can see, isn't it great?" Shayla said. She looked Yami Yu-Gi straight in the eye. "Yu-Gi."
"What?" he asked.
"That is what you look like," she muttered, putting his face to memory.
"How unusual," muttered Yami Bakura, his greed for the Millennial Puzzle and Millennial Eye growing. "What power made that small miracle possible?"
"What do you want?" demanded Yami Yu-Gi, turning his attention back on Pegasus.
"Your Millennial Items," smiled Pegasus. Shayla, still amazed that she could see, walked a little bit away from them. She began to rummage through her backpack, searching for keepsakes to examine. She found her deck and began to look at each card, tears streaming down her face. "Water Omotics, Mystical Sand, Queen of Autumn Leaves, Gemini Elf, Electro-Whip, Harpy Lady Sisters...."
"You are persistent," stated Pegasus, "You survived my eliminators, even with the hints I gave them."
"Hints?" wondered Yu-Gi, glaring at Pegasus.
"I had all the data from your deck recorded by the holo-fields as you dueled in the first few rounds," smirked Pegasus. "It is a pity my eliminators couldn't put it to good use. Although I suspect Drake betrayed me in that sense."
"You cheated," growled Yami Yu-Gi. Yami Bakura looked on with interest, looking for his chance.
"What is going on here?!" a new voice demanded in the hazy realm.
"Who's there?" asked Yami Yu-Gi.
"Just a local," smiled Pegasus.
"Pegasus, you dirty, rotten, scumbag!" the voice yelled.
"Seto Kaiba! Where are you?" asked Yami Yu-Gi, recognizing the voice.
"Yu-Gi? What are you doing here?" demanded Kaiba. The mist cleared enough to make-out Kaiba's form. His arms were slightly above his shoulders, chained to nothingness. He dangled there, looking like he had seen better days.
"What is the matter, Kaiba?" asked Pegasus, "Do you not like my hospitality."
"Drop dead," snapped Kaiba.
"Enough is enough," said Yami Yu-Gi. "Pegasus, you have cheated enough. It is time that you stop messing with our friends and families."
"I agree, it is time to end this. But the ending is not what you have predicted," smirked Pegasus.
"You didn't predict much either," Yami Bakura smirked. "You didn't count on me being here." He reached into his pocket for his deck.
"So you are just going to ignore me and leave me here," shouted Kaiba as he struggled futilely against his chains.
"Do you want me to help?" asked Shayla, walking over. "Kaiba." She said as she memorized his face.
"Fine by me," said Kaiba.
**************************************************************************
"What is it?" asked Lara as Drake led her though the castle.
"There is something loose in here," said Drake.
"What thing?" asked Lara.
"AAAAAGGGHHHH!" screamed two guards as they raced around the corner.
"That!" exclaimed Drake. Following close behind the guards was the rogue Man-Eater Bug.
"How did that thing get loose?!" demanded Lara as the guards and Duel Monster raced by.
"Come on!" yelled Drake as they joined the chase.
**************************************************************************
"Morphing J...." Yami Bakura started to summon his monster. A beam of light shot out of Pegasus's Millennial Eye and knocked the card to the dingy ground. Yami Bakura clutched his hand in pain.
"I don't think so," smiled Pegasus.
"What do you want me to do?" Shayla asked Kaiba.
"I have a lock pick in my wallet in my right pocket," said Seto, "I need you to get it out."
"Sure," she nodded as she looked him in the eyes. It took her a second to figure her left from her right by looking at her hands, then she reached into Kaiba's trench coat.
"I mean my right, your left....." groaned Kaiba.
"Shayla," she filled in the blank. "My name is Shayla." (AN/ Shayla means blind.)
"Enough games!" demanded Yami Yu-Gi. "You lost. Now keep you word and free them!"
"All in good time," smiled Pegasus, "I find it interesting that you are so eager to end these games when games are all that you have done for the past week."
"Grrr," growled Yami Yu-Gi.
**************************************************************************
"We can't just stand here," moaned Tea, "We have to do something!" The remaining few had walked down to the platform, just away from the dark mass.
"Like what, Tea?" asked Joe.
"You can't mean go in after him, that is nuts," protested Mai.
"We don't exactly have a choice," Tristan pointed out.
**************************************************************************
"How did that thing get here?" Lara asked again as they pursued the Man- Eater Bug.
"It probably has something to do with all of the Millennial Items roaming around," muttered Drake. They had cornered the Man-Eater Bug in the party room. There, the Duel Monster had cornered the two guards. They were clinging to each other for dear life.
"This is your area of expertise," said Drake. Lara nodded.
"Lady of Faith," said Lara. She pulled the card out of her deck and put it in her locket. A second later and a flash of light the actual monster was in front of them! She had medium length blue hair and a maroon priestess robe. "Stop that bug!" The Lady of Faith said a prayer and the Man-Eater Bug was returned to the Shadow Realm. Lara then removed the card from her locket. The guards opened their eyes when they realized they weren't being eaten.
"What happened?" one asked as he noticed Drake and Lara.
"That Millennial Locket of yours sure comes in handy," said Drake, ignoring the guards. He blushed slightly, but put his arm around Lara's waist and escorted her out.
**************************************************************************
"What is with the bad attitude, Yu-Gi?" asked Pegasus, sarcastically.
"Enough joking around, Pegasus," snapped Yami Yu-Gi. "I demand that you take us back, now!"
Shayla had pulled two wallets out of Kaiba's pocket. She looked at them. Both were roughly the same size and weight.
"The lock pick is in the blue wallet," said Seto Kaiba. Shayla could see that the wallets were different colors, but she couldn't tell which color was blue. She continued to stare at the objects in her hands.
"What is the problem?!" demanded Kaiba, growing impatient. "Don't you know which one is blue?!"
"Actually, no," she admitted, looking up at him with her melted chocolate colored eyes.
"What is the matter?! Have you been blind your whole life?!" he yelled.
"Actually, yes," she said. She looked at him with such sincerity that he was momentarily stunned. "I got here and suddenly I can see."
"OK, whatever," said Kaiba, shaking his head, "The one in your left hand."
"This one?" she asked.
"No, my left, your right," explained Kaiba. Shayla opened the wallet. It was full of bent pieces of wire, small screw drivers, a pocket knife, and other assorted pieces of metal. "Take out that piece of wire. Put it in the keyhole and move it around until the lock releases."
"OK," agreed Shayla. She found the hole and began to work on Kaiba's right hand.
"Yu-Gi, you are so naive," gloated Pegasus. "There is so many ways to take you out right now. I could just leave you here. Or I could summon my monsters to finish you. The Mystical Capture Chain worked wonders on Kaiba."
"You are a fool Pegasus," growled Yami Bakura, still mad about his hurting hand.
"But why would I do that?" continued Pegasus, mostly to himself. "I have two excellent Millennial Items here. Why not take this opportunity?"
"Why not indeed?" said Yami Bakura, charging. The blast from Pegasus's Millennial Eye knocked him to the ground, paralyzed.
"Too bad, better luck next time. You'd better learn. Then again, there isn't going to be a next time," gloated Pegasus over Bakura's groaning form.
"Bakura!" exclaimed Yami Yu-Gi still concerned for his possessed friend.
/We have to do something!/ exclaimed Yu-Gi.
/We have no idea what Pegasus has in mind. The Shadow Realm is a dangerous place. We have to be careful./ Yami pointed out.
"It is so much fun toying with them," thought Pegasus, "But this will have to end soon." His eye rolled over to Shayla and Kaiba. "I have no idea how she got here. It was a mistake. But she can't be allowed to interfere. She can't be allowed to free Kaiba. I have too much at stake."
"Yu-Gi boy, don't you see? You don't stand a chance. Your magic combined is not strong enough to take mine on. And you aren't at all experienced in the Shadow Realm. I can toy with you at my leisure," gloated Pegasus.
"How hard can this be?!" complained Kaiba as Shayla tried to pick the lock that was holding him.
"I am sorry," said Shayla, sarcastically, "This whole hand and eye coordination thing is new to me."
"Grrr," growled Kaiba out of impatience.
"Listen," snapped Shayla, "I know you are worried about your brother. I know you are mad at Pegasus. And I know you tired of being trapped here. But biting my head off is going to get you nowhere." Kaiba gaped a little, surprised at her attitude.
"Pegasus, it is you who don't stand a chance!" yelled Yami Yu-Gi as he stood protectively over Yami Bakura. "As long as I have my friends and the heart of the cards, you cannot win."
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order, to convince you how pathetic you beliefs are," smiled Pegasus. His Millennial Eye sparkled. Yami Yu-Gi prepared to defend himself. But at the last second Pegasus turned his head and fired his attack at Shayla!
"What!?" cried Yami Bakura.
"No!" yelled Yami Yu-Gi.
"Look out!" exclaimed Seto Kaiba. Shayla whipped around in time to see the beam of light bearing down on her. She dropped the lock pick in surprise.
Suddenly another beam of light shone from her backpack. It shot straight up, mixing with Pegasus's attack. There was a big rush of wind and everyone shielded their eyes. When they opened them Shayla was standing, unharmed.
"That was intense!" she exclaimed in a quiet voice.
"What happened?!" demanded Pegasus. Her backpack was glowing slightly.
"What do you have in there, a nuclear reactor?" asked Kaiba, sarcastically. Shayla looked at him. Without a word she opened her backpack and rummaged around. The light grew more concentrated as she opened it. She quickly found its source; the gift Luther had given her.
Shayla smiled as she saw it. She wished she could see the face of the person who had given it to her. It glowed beautiful, its golden metal glittered. She reached under and picked it up by the base, its joint caused the crossbar to tilt, slightly. The glowing stopped the minute her fingers brushed the surface. Everyone gasped as it was revealed.
"The Millennial Scales!" exclaimed Yami Bakura, greedily.
"She is the bearer of a Millennial Item!" exclaimed Pegasus.
"What are you talking about?" asked Shayla.
"Do you know what that is, Tempest?" asked Yami Yu-Gi.
"It is Shayla, and this is a gift from Luther," she answered.
"Those are the Millennial Scales, one of seven ancient Millennial Items," explained Yami Yu-Gi. Shayla looked at the symbol on the joint of her scales. Then she looked at Yami Yu-Gi, Yami Bakura, and Pegasus. They all had jewelry with the same symbol on it.
"What is going on here?" she asked.
"This is better than I ever could have imagined!" yelled Pegasus. "Three Millennial Items. And they will all be mine!" He charged up his Millennial Eye for a strong magic spell. Light began to radiate. First it covered Yami Bakura, who began to writhe in pain.
"Bakura!" cried Yami Yu-Gi, a second later the light covered him as well. He dropped to the ground in pain. Shayla watched this, horrified. Yami and Yu-Gi were being pulled away from each other. So was Bakura and his dark self. Each one began to grow transparent as more magic was used. Pegasus held up two empty soul cards, ready to claim them as his own.
"I will seal your souls away forever!" yelled Pegasus, "Then nothing shall stop me from claiming the Millennial Items!" The light grew more intense. Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura tried to fight back, but they were trapped.
/Yu-Gi! Hang on!/ cried Yami through the pain.
/Can't......hurts...../ moaned Yu-Gi as Pegasus tried to rip his soul from his body.
"I have to do something," thought Shayla as she reached into her backpack.
Pegasus continued to focus his magic on Yu-Gi and Bakura. With them incapacitated it would be easy to steal their Millennial Items. Then Pegasus broadened his magic to include Shayla, as well. He turned his head a millimeter to get her in view. But much to his surprise, she was no longer standing there.
"Take that!" screamed Shayla who had snuck up behind him. She raised her walking stick high and brought it down on his head. She hit him so hard the Pegasus could feel his Millennial Eye rattling inside of his eye socket. With a snap the walking stick broke clean in two. The light stopped. The bearers of the other Millennial Items were laying on the ground, gasping for air.
"So, there is some fight in you," said Pegasus as he rubbed his head. He turned around to face Shayla. "Too bad it is all in vain." He charged up his Millennial Eye to attack her. "Your soul will be mine as well. And with you out of the way, your scales will be mine!" A bright light shot from his eye and covered Shayla. She cried out in surprise, dropping the remains of her walking stick. She hand instinctively tightened around her Millennial Scales.
"Shayla!" cried Yami Yu-Gi and Seto Kaiba. Yami Yu-Gi was still to weak to stand up.
"What happened?!" cried Pegasus. He had quit his spell. Shayla was standing there, unharmed, shielding her eyes. "Why couldn't I take her soul?!"
"You can't take from me what I don't own!" she snapped.
"What?" asked Pegasus in surprise.
"I am a Christian. My soul is not mine, I gave it to God. Even you are not strong enough to take it from him," Shayla said, her Millennial Scales responded by pulsing.
"Have it your way," snarled Pegasus, "There is always another way. I challenge you to a duel. If I win I get your Millennial Scales. If you win the three of you go free."
"WHAT!?" cried Shayla. This had been the very thing she had tried to avoid.
"You have no choice, you'd better accept," smiled Pegasus, now completely composed. Shayla looked down at Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura. They were still too hurt to help.
"They will do you no good," said Pegasus. "Binding Chain!" He held up a card. From out of nowhere chains came and locked around Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura.
"What the?!" cried Yami Bakura.
"Pegasus you scum! You cheater!" cried Yami Yu-Gi as he futilely tried to free himself.
"I believe I have said the same thing," muttered Kaiba as he saw the other two end up in the same situation he was in.
"So what will it be?" taunted Pegasus, "A duel or remain here, imprisoned forever."
"You can't make me...." Shayla started to argue.
"Don't be difficult, my dear," said Pegasus coyly, "Or do I have to get your other friends involved as well?"
"Martin?" asked Shayla, now very nervous. She thought, "It is time someone calls someone's bluff."
"You can't hurt Martin. The same power that protects me protects him," Shayla said, hoping that her helper would be safe.
"I wouldn't worry about him," said Pegasus smoothly. "It is you who are in- danger. You might as well duel, or else you are going to be spending a very long time here."
Shayla looked around; at Yami Bakura, Seto Kaiba, and Yami Yu-Gi. She was as trapped as they were and she knew it.
/Is there any way she can get out of this?/ Yu-Gi asked Yami.
/Passage out of the Shadow Realm must be decided by a duel,/ explained Yami, /She does not have to accept, but then we are all trapped unless we can force Pegasus to duel us./
/How do we do that?/
/We can't until we are free./
"I am getting tired of silence. Make up your mind," ordered Pegasus. Shayla looked around like a trapped rat. But then her Millennial Scales pulsed under her sensitive fingertips. Its warmth comforted her.
"I wish Luther was here now," she thought as she remembered the day Luther gave the scales to her.
*Flashback*
"I have something for you," said Luther. He was tall, almost a head taller than Shayla. That was saying a lot because she was one of the tallest girls at the orphanage. He had darker skin than his little brother and a perfect smile. His hair was all shaved off, which looked good on him.
"What?" asked Shayla, who was calling herself Kanan at the time.
"I bought you a gift," repeated Luther.
"A gift? For me?" Kanan/Shayla exclaimed. She had never been given a personal gift before.
"That is what I said," Luther smiled, "I was at the flea market and this caught my eye. I instantly thought of you and how you are trying to right every wrong in the world."
"What is wrong about that?" asked Kanan.
"Nothing, that is why I love you," said Luther. Kanan smiled brightly. Luther gently took her left hand and put a bag into it. Kanan set it on her lap and reached in. She was a little confused as first, but her keen hands eventually identified the object.
"Scales?" she asked, surprised.
"They are perfect for you," Luther smiled, "And, who knows. Maybe they help you decide right and wrong." Kanan ran her fingers down the middle, tracing the ridges with her index finger.
"Thank you so much! You have no idea what this means to me!" she exclaimed. She bent over to give Luther a thank you kiss, but missed. She ended up kissing his left eye instead. They pulled apart, both laughing.
*End Flashback*
"I will duel you," she agreed, swallowing. A knot tightened in her stomach.
"You don't stand a chance," snapped Yami Bakura.
"Bakura, hush!" ordered Yami Yu-Gi, "If we ever want to get out of here, we need to support her. She has to believe in the heart of the cards like never before."
"We are all doomed," muttered Kaiba. "If I couldn't win there is no way she can."
"Come my dear," smiled Pegasus. He clapped his hands and instantly a dueling arena appeared.
"What?" she asked as she shrank back.
"Don't be afraid, it is just a game," said Pegasus. Pegasus walked to the far end of the field, there was no platforms. He took his place. Shayla walked to hers, legs slightly shaking. She set her Millennial Scales down on the dueling table in front of her and pulled out her deck. Pegasus did the same and they put their cards in the appropriate position.
"It is time to duel," said Pegasus, happily. Shayla didn't reply. She just tried to stop her hands from shaking.
"This is too much," she thought, "This is insane. The stakes are too high. I don't stand a chance."
"What, no enthusiasm?" asked Pegasus. "Being such the gentleman that I am, I will let you go first."
"Gentleman? What an idiot," spat Kaiba.
/How is Shayla going to win this?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/I have no idea. She has powers that have not been tapped. She doesn't not know her abilities with the Millennial Scales. They have lain dormant all this time and have only just been awakened. We could be in for some surprises,/ answered Yami.
"I play a monster card and a magic card face down," declared Shayla, making a cautious first move.
"A lot of good playing face down cards does you," muttered Pegasus. His Millennial Eye glittered as he prepared to look into her mind to find out her cards. An invisible wave of magic approach the orphan. But this caused her Millennial Scales to respond. A bright flash of light was over Shayla as two different magics were used.
"OOOUUUUUWWW!" she moaned, from the blackest pit of despair.
**************************************************************************
"This isn't good," moaned Tea, her concern for Yu-Gi growing.
"We are going in after him," stated Joe with determination.
"Come on," said Tristan. The trio had made their way to the bottom, near the dark cloud. They set the two unconscious boys down behind them. They then began to walk cautiously towards the strange haze. Tea was the first to reach it. She stuck out her left hand tentatively.
"AH!" she gasped as the hand entered the mist. She puled in back quickly when she saw her own hand coming straight back at her!
"What is up with that?" asked Joe, shaking. Tea stared, wide-eyed.
"I'm going in!" yelled Tristan. He charged the cloud and entered at full speed. He disappeared into the cloud.
But then Tristan looked around. He was on the other side of the field! The black cloud was to his back. He had gone through it, and was unable to stay in it.
"Tristan?" asked Drake as he and Lara returned.
"Where did you come from?" asked Lara, equal confused by the magic act.
"The other side," replied Tristan, looking over his shoulder at the strange magic haze.
"Any sign of them?" asked Lara.
"No," said Tristan sadly. "I am heading back." He turned and raced through, only to appear on the other side by Tea and Joe.
"No luck?" asked Joe, depressed.
"No," replied Tristan. Just then Lara and Drake emerged from behind him, through the mist.
"I am never doing that again," whined Lara.
"I think I agree with you," muttered Drake.
"Now what do we do?" asked Tea. Lara tugged Drake closer and whispered in his ear.
"Do you think your Millennial Gauntlet could teleport use their?" she asked.
"I don't think so, I don't even now where 'there' is," Drake stated dejectedly.
"Could we force our way in with the Locket and the Gauntlet?" asked Lara, trying to come up with an idea.
"I don't think so," Drake admitted, "Dad's magic is stronger than mine."
"What are the two of you whispering about?" asked Joe.
"I think I know," snickered Tea. Drake and Lara pulled away. Scarlet coloring was creeping up Drake's neck.
"If we can't get in and we can't contact them, what do we do?" asked Tristan, trying to evaluate the situation.
"We could put our hearts together and try to protect them from here," suggested Joe.
"Well, it worked when Yu-Gi dueled Kaiba," said Tea, thoughtfully.
"And today when Yu-Gi was facing Pegasus," added Tristan.
"It is the best we can do," admitted Joe. The three friends put their hands in a circle, hoping that their friendship would be enough.
"I don't think this is going to work," said Lara, looking at Drake.
"I have an idea! My dad's study! Maybe he has something recorded there, some kind of information we can use," suggested Drake.
"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Lara. The couple ran off to Pegasus's private tower.
**************************************************************************** ****
"What did you do, Pegasus?" demanded Kaiba when he saw Shayla's reaction.
"Me? How dare you accuse me? I did nothing," protested Pegasus, pseudo- angrily.
"I can't see, I can't see," moaned Shayla. Her eyes had gone back to being covered with the milky substance she had lived with. Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura gasped in surprise.
"How unusual," muttered Pegasus, showing no sympathy. He once again tried to enter Shayla's mind for information about her cards.
"What!? No! I am blocked! I can't enter her mind! The door way is shut! And it is all because she is blind!" exclaimed Pegasus in frustration. Shayla gritted her teeth when he admitted this.
/He can't read her mind?/ wondered Yu-Gi.
/The eyes are the windows to the soul. Her eyes are dark. She at least has that advantage over Pegasus,/ Yami replied, thoughtfully.
/I would hardly call that an advantage,/ Yu-Gi pointed out. /Why would Pegasus take away her eye sight, if it puts him at a disadvantage?/
/I don't think Pegasus did this,/ Yami responded.
/Then what did?/ wondered Yu-Gi.
/I think it was the Millennial Scales./
/The Millennial Scales?! Why would her own Millennial Item turn on her?/
/Think about the scales, they represent justice./
/That is what Shayla was calling herself when we first met!/ exclaimed Yu- Gi.
/Yes. The Scales make the duel fair. They used their power to overcome Pegasus's cheating,/ explained Yami.
/What a harsh way to deal with cheaters,/ muttered Yu-Gi.
"I don't need to see your cards to win," spat Pegasus. "I play two cards too; one magic, one monster. I play Trap Master in attack mode and I'll have it destroy your magic card." The Trap Master looked like a demented clown, with a red hat, black hair, and green cape, from the waist up. But from the waist down it looked like a Swiss army knife. The primary piece was a large chain-saw, which it used to cut through trap cards. Its stats were 500 and 1100.
In the Shadow Realm the monster was really there. Seto Kaiba looked with shock and wonder, but Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura weren't surprised. Duels in the Shadow Realm are very real, although Shayla was oblivious to this fact.
"Your trap card is as good as gone," smiled Pegasus.
"Assuming it is a trap card," muttered Kaiba. He was officially ticked off, having been so close to freedom and having that hope taken away. "I wish my holographic projectors were this realistic. That is something I am going to have to work harder at for my next game."
The trap card that Shayla had played was sent to the graveyard. It was, indeed a trap card.
"Since I used its special ability, I cannot attack this turn," said Pegasus. "But the next turn, your monster is done for!"
"What am I going to do? What am I going to do?" wondered Shayla as she nervously drew her next card. "Kunai with Chain? This isn't part of my deck. How did it get in here?" Then it dawned on her. "My deck still has Lara's modifications in it."
"I play a magic card face down and end my turn," declared Shayla as she played Kunai with Chain.
"Is that all? Are you too afraid to attack?" taunted Pegasus. "How pathetic. Trap Master, attack her monster card!"
"Not so fast! I played Kunai with Chain last turn," said Shayla. "You should know what that does."
"No!" gaped Pegasus. A chain stopped the Trap Master in its tracks. The chain was held by Shayla's monster, who was revealed to be Kanan the Swordmistress. A beautiful warrior appeared. She had shoulder length blonde hair that half covered her face. She had on green and silver armor that looked very stylish. She wielded an impressive sword. Her attack and defense was the same at 1400. But do to Kunai with Chain, her attack was now 1900.
"I activate my magic card Shield and Sword!" declared Pegasus. At the last instant her monster was dropped to 1400 attack and his Trap Master was raised to 1100. They clashed and the Trap Master was destroyed. Pegasus was down to 1700 life points.
"She actually did damage," muttered Yami Bakura.
"So, you aren't the coward you appear to be," said Pegasus. "But this is only the beginning. I play Parrot Dragon in attack mode." His new monster looked like a green macaw, but it stood taller, with strange wings that could act as arms. It had an attack of 2000. "Destroy Kanan!"
"No!" gasped Shayla as her monster was sent to the graveyard. She was down 100 life points.
"What am I going to do?" she asked herself, "I am in way over my head. How can I get out of this without anyone getting hurt? Please, Jesus, don't let anyone get hurt." She drew her next card.
"I play a monster card in defense mode, as well as a magic card to end my turn," she declared as she played her Invader of the Throne. The Invader of the Throne was very similar to the Protector of the Throne. The invader had long blue hair and a scarlet gown. She played with a transparent orb while she reclined on the king's throne. Her defense was 1700.
"Too bad, it is too weak to stand up to my monsters," smiled Pegasus. "I play my Togex and attack with Parrot Dragon." He laid down his new monster. It was muscular and pale green. It looked like a cartoon lizard that had been crossed with a sofa. Spiky dog collars encircled its arms. It had an attack of 1600 and a defense of 1800. Shayla's Invader of the Throne was eliminated immediately.
"This isn't good. What am I going to do?" Shayla wondered, near panicking.
/I hope she wins. I can hardly watch,/ said Yu-Gi.
/She isn't confident in herself,/ Yami pointed out.
/What?/ wondered Yu-Gi.
/She is nervous. She has little faith in herself. She is afraid that she does not stand a chance. She needs to start believing in herself and trusting her deck,/ Yami explained.
/How can we help her with that?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/I don't know. It would be easier if she had a friend here,/ Yami sighed.
"I play the Empress Judge in attack mode!" Shayla declared as she laid down her next card.
"For all the good that that will do you," Pegasus said sarcastically. "You cannot hope to win. You know that. I know that. Give it up. You aren't fooling anyone."
"We shall see," Shayla snapped.
"Well, I'll see, but you won't," smirked Pegasus. Shayla ignored this last comment and ordered her Empress Judge to attack the Togex. Pegasus now had 1400 life points.
"What have I here?" smirked Pegasus as he drew his next card. "Could it be? I play Toon World."
"No!" gasped Yami Yu-Gi.
"It is as good as over," muttered Seto Kaiba.
"But that is not all," smiled Pegasus as his Parrot Dragon entered Toon World. "I also play the Dark Rabbit and power it up with Dark Energy." A comical toon rabbit was the next to appear. It was black with a silly bowtie and looked like a bunny version o Gumby ©. Its raised stats were 2100 and 1500.
"If I move my Empress Judge to defense mode she will be destroyed," thought Shayla, "But if I keep her in attack mode I could lose life points. This is insane."
"Why don't you give up now?" asked Pegasus. "You cannot win. Surrender now and I may just let you go back to your home. Of course, I get to keep the Millennial Scales."
"Shut-up!" yelled Shayla, frustrated, "I play Red Archery Girl in defense mode." Her next monster was a mermaid sitting inside of a pink clam. She had wavy green hair and scales and carried a huge bow. Her attack was 1400 and her defense was 1500.
"Then I will destroy it," smiled Pegasus, "Dark Rabbit attack!" Her monster was instantly gone in the toon's comically insane attack. "But that is not all. I play the magic card Reborn the Monster. I can resurrect any monster that has been destroyed under my power. And I chose your Red Archery Girl."
"No!" gasped Shayla. Her mermaid re-appeared on Pegasus's side of the field. "And it will enter Toon World, creating the Toon Mermaid!" Her monster was transformed. It had an oversized head with extra large eyes. It looked like a chibi version of the Red Archery Girl. The stats were the same, though.
/Can't we use the Millennial Puzzle to escape some how?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/No, this is the Shadow Realm. We will not be free until the end of this duel. Somehow the full power of the puzzle is being blocked,/ explained Yami, /Bakura has been trying with no luck./ Yami Yu-Gi looked over to a very frustrated Yami Bakura who was futilely using his magic to free himself.
"And since that was a special summon, I can summon another monster. I play Bickuribox," smiled Pegasus as his next monster took its place in Toon World. It looked like a gray chicken inside a jack-in-the-box. It had an attack of 2300 and a defense of 2000.
"I am in so much trouble," thought Shayla. She had no cards in play. Pegasus had his Toon World, Bickuribox, Parrot Dragon, powered-up Dark Rabbit, and Toon Mermaid.
"Shayla listen to me," said Yami Yu-Gi, picking up her distress. "You have to believe in yourself. You cannot win unless you trust yourself and your deck. You have to believe in the heart of the cards.
"Great," thought Shayla, "Not only am I about to lose, but I am getting a sermon. Great." She drew her next card. "Pot of Greed? This wasn't in my deck. Another one of Lara's modifications."
"I use the magic card Pot of Greed to draw two more cards," Shayla declared as she used her magic card. Her next two cards were Dragon Capture Jar and the Mystical Sand. "I didn't have a Dragon Capture Jar in my deck either."
"I play two magic cards and the Queen of Autumn Leaves," Shayla said as her next monster appeared. "One of my magic cards is the Dragon Capture Jar. Say good by to your Parrot Dragon." The Parrot Dragon was sucked out of Toon World and imprisoned in the ancient jar.
"No way! Since when did you use Dragon Capture Jars!?" cried Pegasus.
"The other magic card is Vile Germs, which raises her attack to 2300," declared Shayla. She couldn't attack because all of his monsters were still hiding in Toon World.
"I play Magic Void, which neutralizes your power up," declared Pegasus. "Bickuribox attack!" Shayla was brought down to 1400 life points, even with Pegasus.
"I play a monster in defense mode," she said, running out of moves.
"Then I play Defense Paralysis," said Pegasus, "Your monster and any other monsters you play must be in attack mode." Her monster was revealed to be the Dark Elf. "Bickuribox attack!" Shayla had 1100 life points.
"I don't want to have my monsters destroyed one by one," Shayla thought, "What can I do?" She drew the Electro-Whip.
"I play the Mystical Sand in attack mode and a magic card," said Shayla as her favorite appeared.
"Is this the best you have? Pity that this game will be over so soon. Bickuribox attack!" ordered Pegasus.
"I don't think so," said Shayla. "You forgot about my magic card. It was the Electro-Whip. The Mystical Sand now has an attack of 2600."
"That means my Bickuribox....." moaned Pegasus.
"Is destroyed," finished Shayla as Pegasus was brought down to 1100 life points.
/Maybe she will win this!/ thought Yu-Gi hopefully.
/I hope you are right,/ muttered Yami.
"And now I play the Mystical Elf in defense mode," she declared.
"Ha! You forgot about Defense Paralysis!" exclaimed Pegasus.
"Dang it!" she muttered.
"Toon Mermaid destroy the elf!" ordered Pegasus happily.
"It hurts to be attacked by your own monster," muttered Kaiba, remembering his duel. Shayla was down to 500 life points.
"It is over," grinned Pegasus, "Go cry to your Mommy." Shayla snapped.
"What do you know?!" she yelled. "My mother hated me! She abandoned me before she even bothered to name me!"
/That is why she kept changing her name!/ gasped Yu-Gi. Yami Bakura and Seto Kaiba were equally shocked.
"Go cry to someone who cares," Pegasus shot back.
"The only person whoever cared about me is dead!" she yelled, boarder lining mental breakdown. "He was killed in a hit and run accident. The person responsible was never found. Do you call that caring?! No one would ever have anything to do with me, just because I am blind. Does that sound like caring to you?! My own family abandoned me and never looked back! I was isolated from everyone I met! Then I finally found someone who cared and he was taken from me! Do you call that fair, you heartless jerk?!" Her Millennial Scales began to shine.
/She is using her magic!/ exclaimed Yami.
/What is she doing?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/I think the Millennial Scales are trying to equalize things,/ said Yami. Light engulfed the arena, covering the duel. Pegasus was suddenly flooded with memories that he had tried hard to forget.
"No, Celia!" he moaned before collapsing. A hole was torn in the mist of the Shadow Realm. It grew wider and wider. The chains fell from Yami Bakura and Yami Yu-Gi. The Shadow Realm disappeared, leaving them in the middle of the dueling field.
Well, not all of them.....
"What the heck happened?!" demanded Kaiba as he was left behind. He had entered the Shadow Realm a different way and had to leave that same way. "This is unfair."
"Oh my gosh! Look at that!" cried Tea as she pointed to the arena.
The entire field was covered with a dark cloud. Black energy waves pulsed through it. The hazy mist completely blocked the view of the dueling platforms, including Yu-Gi and Pegasus.
"What happened?!" demanded Joe.
"What did Pegasus do?" wondered Tristan.
"Do you know anything about this, Drake?" asked Mai.
"He mentioned something about the Shadow Realm, but I never imagined he'd go to such extreme lengths," Drake answered.
THUD! There was a loud noise. All eyes turned behind them. Martin was laying on the ground, unconscious.
"This must have been too much for him," muttered Lara. With the help of Tristan they moved Martin next to the unconscious Mokuba.
"Where is Tempest?" asked Mai, looking around. The blind girl was no where to be seen.
"Did you see her run off, Bakura?" asked Joe. "Bakura?" Bakura was gone too.
"Where did they go?" asked Tristan.
"I don't want to think about it," shuddered Tea, looking at the dark cloud that had engulfed half of the room.
"Are you saying they are in there?" asked Joe.
"Where else can they be?" whimpered Tea.
"I hope they are safe," muttered Mai.
"I don't think there is such a thing, not here, not now," muttered Drake so that no one could hear.
"We have to do something, Drake!" exclaimed Lara.
"The gauntlet and your locket aren't up to this," said Drake sadly. "But there is something else I need your help for. Come on!" Drake grabbed Lara's hand and ran off.
**************************************************************************
Tempest was laying flat on her back, disoriented.
"Shayla." She heard someone whisper to her.
"Huh? What?" wondered Tempest. Then it dawned on her. "That is my name."
"Shayla," she said trying out her new name. "I like it." She sat up and opened her eyes.
"What the?!" she exclaimed, tearing off her glasses. The filmy white substance that had long since covered her eyes was gone. She could see.
She looked at the world around her for the first time. The area was dark. Black mists swirled around her ankles. It was impossible to see more than a few yards into it. Nearby Yu-Gi and Bakura were standing up as well. Pegasus was just beyond them, standing over them with his arms crossed and a sly smile.
"What have you done?" demanded Yami Yu-Gi.
"Isn't it obvious, I took us to the Shadow Realm," gloated Pegasus.
"How is this possible?" wondered Shayla as she walked over.
"It has to do with the Millennial Items," explained Yami Bakura, who had returned with the Millennial Ring.
"They said I was incurable," muttered Shayla, blown away.
"What do you mean?" asked Yami Yu-Gi. "What happened to your eyes?" "I can see, isn't it great?" Shayla said. She looked Yami Yu-Gi straight in the eye. "Yu-Gi."
"What?" he asked.
"That is what you look like," she muttered, putting his face to memory.
"How unusual," muttered Yami Bakura, his greed for the Millennial Puzzle and Millennial Eye growing. "What power made that small miracle possible?"
"What do you want?" demanded Yami Yu-Gi, turning his attention back on Pegasus.
"Your Millennial Items," smiled Pegasus. Shayla, still amazed that she could see, walked a little bit away from them. She began to rummage through her backpack, searching for keepsakes to examine. She found her deck and began to look at each card, tears streaming down her face. "Water Omotics, Mystical Sand, Queen of Autumn Leaves, Gemini Elf, Electro-Whip, Harpy Lady Sisters...."
"You are persistent," stated Pegasus, "You survived my eliminators, even with the hints I gave them."
"Hints?" wondered Yu-Gi, glaring at Pegasus.
"I had all the data from your deck recorded by the holo-fields as you dueled in the first few rounds," smirked Pegasus. "It is a pity my eliminators couldn't put it to good use. Although I suspect Drake betrayed me in that sense."
"You cheated," growled Yami Yu-Gi. Yami Bakura looked on with interest, looking for his chance.
"What is going on here?!" a new voice demanded in the hazy realm.
"Who's there?" asked Yami Yu-Gi.
"Just a local," smiled Pegasus.
"Pegasus, you dirty, rotten, scumbag!" the voice yelled.
"Seto Kaiba! Where are you?" asked Yami Yu-Gi, recognizing the voice.
"Yu-Gi? What are you doing here?" demanded Kaiba. The mist cleared enough to make-out Kaiba's form. His arms were slightly above his shoulders, chained to nothingness. He dangled there, looking like he had seen better days.
"What is the matter, Kaiba?" asked Pegasus, "Do you not like my hospitality."
"Drop dead," snapped Kaiba.
"Enough is enough," said Yami Yu-Gi. "Pegasus, you have cheated enough. It is time that you stop messing with our friends and families."
"I agree, it is time to end this. But the ending is not what you have predicted," smirked Pegasus.
"You didn't predict much either," Yami Bakura smirked. "You didn't count on me being here." He reached into his pocket for his deck.
"So you are just going to ignore me and leave me here," shouted Kaiba as he struggled futilely against his chains.
"Do you want me to help?" asked Shayla, walking over. "Kaiba." She said as she memorized his face.
"Fine by me," said Kaiba.
**************************************************************************
"What is it?" asked Lara as Drake led her though the castle.
"There is something loose in here," said Drake.
"What thing?" asked Lara.
"AAAAAGGGHHHH!" screamed two guards as they raced around the corner.
"That!" exclaimed Drake. Following close behind the guards was the rogue Man-Eater Bug.
"How did that thing get loose?!" demanded Lara as the guards and Duel Monster raced by.
"Come on!" yelled Drake as they joined the chase.
**************************************************************************
"Morphing J...." Yami Bakura started to summon his monster. A beam of light shot out of Pegasus's Millennial Eye and knocked the card to the dingy ground. Yami Bakura clutched his hand in pain.
"I don't think so," smiled Pegasus.
"What do you want me to do?" Shayla asked Kaiba.
"I have a lock pick in my wallet in my right pocket," said Seto, "I need you to get it out."
"Sure," she nodded as she looked him in the eyes. It took her a second to figure her left from her right by looking at her hands, then she reached into Kaiba's trench coat.
"I mean my right, your left....." groaned Kaiba.
"Shayla," she filled in the blank. "My name is Shayla." (AN/ Shayla means blind.)
"Enough games!" demanded Yami Yu-Gi. "You lost. Now keep you word and free them!"
"All in good time," smiled Pegasus, "I find it interesting that you are so eager to end these games when games are all that you have done for the past week."
"Grrr," growled Yami Yu-Gi.
**************************************************************************
"We can't just stand here," moaned Tea, "We have to do something!" The remaining few had walked down to the platform, just away from the dark mass.
"Like what, Tea?" asked Joe.
"You can't mean go in after him, that is nuts," protested Mai.
"We don't exactly have a choice," Tristan pointed out.
**************************************************************************
"How did that thing get here?" Lara asked again as they pursued the Man- Eater Bug.
"It probably has something to do with all of the Millennial Items roaming around," muttered Drake. They had cornered the Man-Eater Bug in the party room. There, the Duel Monster had cornered the two guards. They were clinging to each other for dear life.
"This is your area of expertise," said Drake. Lara nodded.
"Lady of Faith," said Lara. She pulled the card out of her deck and put it in her locket. A second later and a flash of light the actual monster was in front of them! She had medium length blue hair and a maroon priestess robe. "Stop that bug!" The Lady of Faith said a prayer and the Man-Eater Bug was returned to the Shadow Realm. Lara then removed the card from her locket. The guards opened their eyes when they realized they weren't being eaten.
"What happened?" one asked as he noticed Drake and Lara.
"That Millennial Locket of yours sure comes in handy," said Drake, ignoring the guards. He blushed slightly, but put his arm around Lara's waist and escorted her out.
**************************************************************************
"What is with the bad attitude, Yu-Gi?" asked Pegasus, sarcastically.
"Enough joking around, Pegasus," snapped Yami Yu-Gi. "I demand that you take us back, now!"
Shayla had pulled two wallets out of Kaiba's pocket. She looked at them. Both were roughly the same size and weight.
"The lock pick is in the blue wallet," said Seto Kaiba. Shayla could see that the wallets were different colors, but she couldn't tell which color was blue. She continued to stare at the objects in her hands.
"What is the problem?!" demanded Kaiba, growing impatient. "Don't you know which one is blue?!"
"Actually, no," she admitted, looking up at him with her melted chocolate colored eyes.
"What is the matter?! Have you been blind your whole life?!" he yelled.
"Actually, yes," she said. She looked at him with such sincerity that he was momentarily stunned. "I got here and suddenly I can see."
"OK, whatever," said Kaiba, shaking his head, "The one in your left hand."
"This one?" she asked.
"No, my left, your right," explained Kaiba. Shayla opened the wallet. It was full of bent pieces of wire, small screw drivers, a pocket knife, and other assorted pieces of metal. "Take out that piece of wire. Put it in the keyhole and move it around until the lock releases."
"OK," agreed Shayla. She found the hole and began to work on Kaiba's right hand.
"Yu-Gi, you are so naive," gloated Pegasus. "There is so many ways to take you out right now. I could just leave you here. Or I could summon my monsters to finish you. The Mystical Capture Chain worked wonders on Kaiba."
"You are a fool Pegasus," growled Yami Bakura, still mad about his hurting hand.
"But why would I do that?" continued Pegasus, mostly to himself. "I have two excellent Millennial Items here. Why not take this opportunity?"
"Why not indeed?" said Yami Bakura, charging. The blast from Pegasus's Millennial Eye knocked him to the ground, paralyzed.
"Too bad, better luck next time. You'd better learn. Then again, there isn't going to be a next time," gloated Pegasus over Bakura's groaning form.
"Bakura!" exclaimed Yami Yu-Gi still concerned for his possessed friend.
/We have to do something!/ exclaimed Yu-Gi.
/We have no idea what Pegasus has in mind. The Shadow Realm is a dangerous place. We have to be careful./ Yami pointed out.
"It is so much fun toying with them," thought Pegasus, "But this will have to end soon." His eye rolled over to Shayla and Kaiba. "I have no idea how she got here. It was a mistake. But she can't be allowed to interfere. She can't be allowed to free Kaiba. I have too much at stake."
"Yu-Gi boy, don't you see? You don't stand a chance. Your magic combined is not strong enough to take mine on. And you aren't at all experienced in the Shadow Realm. I can toy with you at my leisure," gloated Pegasus.
"How hard can this be?!" complained Kaiba as Shayla tried to pick the lock that was holding him.
"I am sorry," said Shayla, sarcastically, "This whole hand and eye coordination thing is new to me."
"Grrr," growled Kaiba out of impatience.
"Listen," snapped Shayla, "I know you are worried about your brother. I know you are mad at Pegasus. And I know you tired of being trapped here. But biting my head off is going to get you nowhere." Kaiba gaped a little, surprised at her attitude.
"Pegasus, it is you who don't stand a chance!" yelled Yami Yu-Gi as he stood protectively over Yami Bakura. "As long as I have my friends and the heart of the cards, you cannot win."
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order, to convince you how pathetic you beliefs are," smiled Pegasus. His Millennial Eye sparkled. Yami Yu-Gi prepared to defend himself. But at the last second Pegasus turned his head and fired his attack at Shayla!
"What!?" cried Yami Bakura.
"No!" yelled Yami Yu-Gi.
"Look out!" exclaimed Seto Kaiba. Shayla whipped around in time to see the beam of light bearing down on her. She dropped the lock pick in surprise.
Suddenly another beam of light shone from her backpack. It shot straight up, mixing with Pegasus's attack. There was a big rush of wind and everyone shielded their eyes. When they opened them Shayla was standing, unharmed.
"That was intense!" she exclaimed in a quiet voice.
"What happened?!" demanded Pegasus. Her backpack was glowing slightly.
"What do you have in there, a nuclear reactor?" asked Kaiba, sarcastically. Shayla looked at him. Without a word she opened her backpack and rummaged around. The light grew more concentrated as she opened it. She quickly found its source; the gift Luther had given her.
Shayla smiled as she saw it. She wished she could see the face of the person who had given it to her. It glowed beautiful, its golden metal glittered. She reached under and picked it up by the base, its joint caused the crossbar to tilt, slightly. The glowing stopped the minute her fingers brushed the surface. Everyone gasped as it was revealed.
"The Millennial Scales!" exclaimed Yami Bakura, greedily.
"She is the bearer of a Millennial Item!" exclaimed Pegasus.
"What are you talking about?" asked Shayla.
"Do you know what that is, Tempest?" asked Yami Yu-Gi.
"It is Shayla, and this is a gift from Luther," she answered.
"Those are the Millennial Scales, one of seven ancient Millennial Items," explained Yami Yu-Gi. Shayla looked at the symbol on the joint of her scales. Then she looked at Yami Yu-Gi, Yami Bakura, and Pegasus. They all had jewelry with the same symbol on it.
"What is going on here?" she asked.
"This is better than I ever could have imagined!" yelled Pegasus. "Three Millennial Items. And they will all be mine!" He charged up his Millennial Eye for a strong magic spell. Light began to radiate. First it covered Yami Bakura, who began to writhe in pain.
"Bakura!" cried Yami Yu-Gi, a second later the light covered him as well. He dropped to the ground in pain. Shayla watched this, horrified. Yami and Yu-Gi were being pulled away from each other. So was Bakura and his dark self. Each one began to grow transparent as more magic was used. Pegasus held up two empty soul cards, ready to claim them as his own.
"I will seal your souls away forever!" yelled Pegasus, "Then nothing shall stop me from claiming the Millennial Items!" The light grew more intense. Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura tried to fight back, but they were trapped.
/Yu-Gi! Hang on!/ cried Yami through the pain.
/Can't......hurts...../ moaned Yu-Gi as Pegasus tried to rip his soul from his body.
"I have to do something," thought Shayla as she reached into her backpack.
Pegasus continued to focus his magic on Yu-Gi and Bakura. With them incapacitated it would be easy to steal their Millennial Items. Then Pegasus broadened his magic to include Shayla, as well. He turned his head a millimeter to get her in view. But much to his surprise, she was no longer standing there.
"Take that!" screamed Shayla who had snuck up behind him. She raised her walking stick high and brought it down on his head. She hit him so hard the Pegasus could feel his Millennial Eye rattling inside of his eye socket. With a snap the walking stick broke clean in two. The light stopped. The bearers of the other Millennial Items were laying on the ground, gasping for air.
"So, there is some fight in you," said Pegasus as he rubbed his head. He turned around to face Shayla. "Too bad it is all in vain." He charged up his Millennial Eye to attack her. "Your soul will be mine as well. And with you out of the way, your scales will be mine!" A bright light shot from his eye and covered Shayla. She cried out in surprise, dropping the remains of her walking stick. She hand instinctively tightened around her Millennial Scales.
"Shayla!" cried Yami Yu-Gi and Seto Kaiba. Yami Yu-Gi was still to weak to stand up.
"What happened?!" cried Pegasus. He had quit his spell. Shayla was standing there, unharmed, shielding her eyes. "Why couldn't I take her soul?!"
"You can't take from me what I don't own!" she snapped.
"What?" asked Pegasus in surprise.
"I am a Christian. My soul is not mine, I gave it to God. Even you are not strong enough to take it from him," Shayla said, her Millennial Scales responded by pulsing.
"Have it your way," snarled Pegasus, "There is always another way. I challenge you to a duel. If I win I get your Millennial Scales. If you win the three of you go free."
"WHAT!?" cried Shayla. This had been the very thing she had tried to avoid.
"You have no choice, you'd better accept," smiled Pegasus, now completely composed. Shayla looked down at Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura. They were still too hurt to help.
"They will do you no good," said Pegasus. "Binding Chain!" He held up a card. From out of nowhere chains came and locked around Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura.
"What the?!" cried Yami Bakura.
"Pegasus you scum! You cheater!" cried Yami Yu-Gi as he futilely tried to free himself.
"I believe I have said the same thing," muttered Kaiba as he saw the other two end up in the same situation he was in.
"So what will it be?" taunted Pegasus, "A duel or remain here, imprisoned forever."
"You can't make me...." Shayla started to argue.
"Don't be difficult, my dear," said Pegasus coyly, "Or do I have to get your other friends involved as well?"
"Martin?" asked Shayla, now very nervous. She thought, "It is time someone calls someone's bluff."
"You can't hurt Martin. The same power that protects me protects him," Shayla said, hoping that her helper would be safe.
"I wouldn't worry about him," said Pegasus smoothly. "It is you who are in- danger. You might as well duel, or else you are going to be spending a very long time here."
Shayla looked around; at Yami Bakura, Seto Kaiba, and Yami Yu-Gi. She was as trapped as they were and she knew it.
/Is there any way she can get out of this?/ Yu-Gi asked Yami.
/Passage out of the Shadow Realm must be decided by a duel,/ explained Yami, /She does not have to accept, but then we are all trapped unless we can force Pegasus to duel us./
/How do we do that?/
/We can't until we are free./
"I am getting tired of silence. Make up your mind," ordered Pegasus. Shayla looked around like a trapped rat. But then her Millennial Scales pulsed under her sensitive fingertips. Its warmth comforted her.
"I wish Luther was here now," she thought as she remembered the day Luther gave the scales to her.
*Flashback*
"I have something for you," said Luther. He was tall, almost a head taller than Shayla. That was saying a lot because she was one of the tallest girls at the orphanage. He had darker skin than his little brother and a perfect smile. His hair was all shaved off, which looked good on him.
"What?" asked Shayla, who was calling herself Kanan at the time.
"I bought you a gift," repeated Luther.
"A gift? For me?" Kanan/Shayla exclaimed. She had never been given a personal gift before.
"That is what I said," Luther smiled, "I was at the flea market and this caught my eye. I instantly thought of you and how you are trying to right every wrong in the world."
"What is wrong about that?" asked Kanan.
"Nothing, that is why I love you," said Luther. Kanan smiled brightly. Luther gently took her left hand and put a bag into it. Kanan set it on her lap and reached in. She was a little confused as first, but her keen hands eventually identified the object.
"Scales?" she asked, surprised.
"They are perfect for you," Luther smiled, "And, who knows. Maybe they help you decide right and wrong." Kanan ran her fingers down the middle, tracing the ridges with her index finger.
"Thank you so much! You have no idea what this means to me!" she exclaimed. She bent over to give Luther a thank you kiss, but missed. She ended up kissing his left eye instead. They pulled apart, both laughing.
*End Flashback*
"I will duel you," she agreed, swallowing. A knot tightened in her stomach.
"You don't stand a chance," snapped Yami Bakura.
"Bakura, hush!" ordered Yami Yu-Gi, "If we ever want to get out of here, we need to support her. She has to believe in the heart of the cards like never before."
"We are all doomed," muttered Kaiba. "If I couldn't win there is no way she can."
"Come my dear," smiled Pegasus. He clapped his hands and instantly a dueling arena appeared.
"What?" she asked as she shrank back.
"Don't be afraid, it is just a game," said Pegasus. Pegasus walked to the far end of the field, there was no platforms. He took his place. Shayla walked to hers, legs slightly shaking. She set her Millennial Scales down on the dueling table in front of her and pulled out her deck. Pegasus did the same and they put their cards in the appropriate position.
"It is time to duel," said Pegasus, happily. Shayla didn't reply. She just tried to stop her hands from shaking.
"This is too much," she thought, "This is insane. The stakes are too high. I don't stand a chance."
"What, no enthusiasm?" asked Pegasus. "Being such the gentleman that I am, I will let you go first."
"Gentleman? What an idiot," spat Kaiba.
/How is Shayla going to win this?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/I have no idea. She has powers that have not been tapped. She doesn't not know her abilities with the Millennial Scales. They have lain dormant all this time and have only just been awakened. We could be in for some surprises,/ answered Yami.
"I play a monster card and a magic card face down," declared Shayla, making a cautious first move.
"A lot of good playing face down cards does you," muttered Pegasus. His Millennial Eye glittered as he prepared to look into her mind to find out her cards. An invisible wave of magic approach the orphan. But this caused her Millennial Scales to respond. A bright flash of light was over Shayla as two different magics were used.
"OOOUUUUUWWW!" she moaned, from the blackest pit of despair.
**************************************************************************
"This isn't good," moaned Tea, her concern for Yu-Gi growing.
"We are going in after him," stated Joe with determination.
"Come on," said Tristan. The trio had made their way to the bottom, near the dark cloud. They set the two unconscious boys down behind them. They then began to walk cautiously towards the strange haze. Tea was the first to reach it. She stuck out her left hand tentatively.
"AH!" she gasped as the hand entered the mist. She puled in back quickly when she saw her own hand coming straight back at her!
"What is up with that?" asked Joe, shaking. Tea stared, wide-eyed.
"I'm going in!" yelled Tristan. He charged the cloud and entered at full speed. He disappeared into the cloud.
But then Tristan looked around. He was on the other side of the field! The black cloud was to his back. He had gone through it, and was unable to stay in it.
"Tristan?" asked Drake as he and Lara returned.
"Where did you come from?" asked Lara, equal confused by the magic act.
"The other side," replied Tristan, looking over his shoulder at the strange magic haze.
"Any sign of them?" asked Lara.
"No," said Tristan sadly. "I am heading back." He turned and raced through, only to appear on the other side by Tea and Joe.
"No luck?" asked Joe, depressed.
"No," replied Tristan. Just then Lara and Drake emerged from behind him, through the mist.
"I am never doing that again," whined Lara.
"I think I agree with you," muttered Drake.
"Now what do we do?" asked Tea. Lara tugged Drake closer and whispered in his ear.
"Do you think your Millennial Gauntlet could teleport use their?" she asked.
"I don't think so, I don't even now where 'there' is," Drake stated dejectedly.
"Could we force our way in with the Locket and the Gauntlet?" asked Lara, trying to come up with an idea.
"I don't think so," Drake admitted, "Dad's magic is stronger than mine."
"What are the two of you whispering about?" asked Joe.
"I think I know," snickered Tea. Drake and Lara pulled away. Scarlet coloring was creeping up Drake's neck.
"If we can't get in and we can't contact them, what do we do?" asked Tristan, trying to evaluate the situation.
"We could put our hearts together and try to protect them from here," suggested Joe.
"Well, it worked when Yu-Gi dueled Kaiba," said Tea, thoughtfully.
"And today when Yu-Gi was facing Pegasus," added Tristan.
"It is the best we can do," admitted Joe. The three friends put their hands in a circle, hoping that their friendship would be enough.
"I don't think this is going to work," said Lara, looking at Drake.
"I have an idea! My dad's study! Maybe he has something recorded there, some kind of information we can use," suggested Drake.
"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Lara. The couple ran off to Pegasus's private tower.
**************************************************************************** ****
"What did you do, Pegasus?" demanded Kaiba when he saw Shayla's reaction.
"Me? How dare you accuse me? I did nothing," protested Pegasus, pseudo- angrily.
"I can't see, I can't see," moaned Shayla. Her eyes had gone back to being covered with the milky substance she had lived with. Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura gasped in surprise.
"How unusual," muttered Pegasus, showing no sympathy. He once again tried to enter Shayla's mind for information about her cards.
"What!? No! I am blocked! I can't enter her mind! The door way is shut! And it is all because she is blind!" exclaimed Pegasus in frustration. Shayla gritted her teeth when he admitted this.
/He can't read her mind?/ wondered Yu-Gi.
/The eyes are the windows to the soul. Her eyes are dark. She at least has that advantage over Pegasus,/ Yami replied, thoughtfully.
/I would hardly call that an advantage,/ Yu-Gi pointed out. /Why would Pegasus take away her eye sight, if it puts him at a disadvantage?/
/I don't think Pegasus did this,/ Yami responded.
/Then what did?/ wondered Yu-Gi.
/I think it was the Millennial Scales./
/The Millennial Scales?! Why would her own Millennial Item turn on her?/
/Think about the scales, they represent justice./
/That is what Shayla was calling herself when we first met!/ exclaimed Yu- Gi.
/Yes. The Scales make the duel fair. They used their power to overcome Pegasus's cheating,/ explained Yami.
/What a harsh way to deal with cheaters,/ muttered Yu-Gi.
"I don't need to see your cards to win," spat Pegasus. "I play two cards too; one magic, one monster. I play Trap Master in attack mode and I'll have it destroy your magic card." The Trap Master looked like a demented clown, with a red hat, black hair, and green cape, from the waist up. But from the waist down it looked like a Swiss army knife. The primary piece was a large chain-saw, which it used to cut through trap cards. Its stats were 500 and 1100.
In the Shadow Realm the monster was really there. Seto Kaiba looked with shock and wonder, but Yami Yu-Gi and Yami Bakura weren't surprised. Duels in the Shadow Realm are very real, although Shayla was oblivious to this fact.
"Your trap card is as good as gone," smiled Pegasus.
"Assuming it is a trap card," muttered Kaiba. He was officially ticked off, having been so close to freedom and having that hope taken away. "I wish my holographic projectors were this realistic. That is something I am going to have to work harder at for my next game."
The trap card that Shayla had played was sent to the graveyard. It was, indeed a trap card.
"Since I used its special ability, I cannot attack this turn," said Pegasus. "But the next turn, your monster is done for!"
"What am I going to do? What am I going to do?" wondered Shayla as she nervously drew her next card. "Kunai with Chain? This isn't part of my deck. How did it get in here?" Then it dawned on her. "My deck still has Lara's modifications in it."
"I play a magic card face down and end my turn," declared Shayla as she played Kunai with Chain.
"Is that all? Are you too afraid to attack?" taunted Pegasus. "How pathetic. Trap Master, attack her monster card!"
"Not so fast! I played Kunai with Chain last turn," said Shayla. "You should know what that does."
"No!" gaped Pegasus. A chain stopped the Trap Master in its tracks. The chain was held by Shayla's monster, who was revealed to be Kanan the Swordmistress. A beautiful warrior appeared. She had shoulder length blonde hair that half covered her face. She had on green and silver armor that looked very stylish. She wielded an impressive sword. Her attack and defense was the same at 1400. But do to Kunai with Chain, her attack was now 1900.
"I activate my magic card Shield and Sword!" declared Pegasus. At the last instant her monster was dropped to 1400 attack and his Trap Master was raised to 1100. They clashed and the Trap Master was destroyed. Pegasus was down to 1700 life points.
"She actually did damage," muttered Yami Bakura.
"So, you aren't the coward you appear to be," said Pegasus. "But this is only the beginning. I play Parrot Dragon in attack mode." His new monster looked like a green macaw, but it stood taller, with strange wings that could act as arms. It had an attack of 2000. "Destroy Kanan!"
"No!" gasped Shayla as her monster was sent to the graveyard. She was down 100 life points.
"What am I going to do?" she asked herself, "I am in way over my head. How can I get out of this without anyone getting hurt? Please, Jesus, don't let anyone get hurt." She drew her next card.
"I play a monster card in defense mode, as well as a magic card to end my turn," she declared as she played her Invader of the Throne. The Invader of the Throne was very similar to the Protector of the Throne. The invader had long blue hair and a scarlet gown. She played with a transparent orb while she reclined on the king's throne. Her defense was 1700.
"Too bad, it is too weak to stand up to my monsters," smiled Pegasus. "I play my Togex and attack with Parrot Dragon." He laid down his new monster. It was muscular and pale green. It looked like a cartoon lizard that had been crossed with a sofa. Spiky dog collars encircled its arms. It had an attack of 1600 and a defense of 1800. Shayla's Invader of the Throne was eliminated immediately.
"This isn't good. What am I going to do?" Shayla wondered, near panicking.
/I hope she wins. I can hardly watch,/ said Yu-Gi.
/She isn't confident in herself,/ Yami pointed out.
/What?/ wondered Yu-Gi.
/She is nervous. She has little faith in herself. She is afraid that she does not stand a chance. She needs to start believing in herself and trusting her deck,/ Yami explained.
/How can we help her with that?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/I don't know. It would be easier if she had a friend here,/ Yami sighed.
"I play the Empress Judge in attack mode!" Shayla declared as she laid down her next card.
"For all the good that that will do you," Pegasus said sarcastically. "You cannot hope to win. You know that. I know that. Give it up. You aren't fooling anyone."
"We shall see," Shayla snapped.
"Well, I'll see, but you won't," smirked Pegasus. Shayla ignored this last comment and ordered her Empress Judge to attack the Togex. Pegasus now had 1400 life points.
"What have I here?" smirked Pegasus as he drew his next card. "Could it be? I play Toon World."
"No!" gasped Yami Yu-Gi.
"It is as good as over," muttered Seto Kaiba.
"But that is not all," smiled Pegasus as his Parrot Dragon entered Toon World. "I also play the Dark Rabbit and power it up with Dark Energy." A comical toon rabbit was the next to appear. It was black with a silly bowtie and looked like a bunny version o Gumby ©. Its raised stats were 2100 and 1500.
"If I move my Empress Judge to defense mode she will be destroyed," thought Shayla, "But if I keep her in attack mode I could lose life points. This is insane."
"Why don't you give up now?" asked Pegasus. "You cannot win. Surrender now and I may just let you go back to your home. Of course, I get to keep the Millennial Scales."
"Shut-up!" yelled Shayla, frustrated, "I play Red Archery Girl in defense mode." Her next monster was a mermaid sitting inside of a pink clam. She had wavy green hair and scales and carried a huge bow. Her attack was 1400 and her defense was 1500.
"Then I will destroy it," smiled Pegasus, "Dark Rabbit attack!" Her monster was instantly gone in the toon's comically insane attack. "But that is not all. I play the magic card Reborn the Monster. I can resurrect any monster that has been destroyed under my power. And I chose your Red Archery Girl."
"No!" gasped Shayla. Her mermaid re-appeared on Pegasus's side of the field. "And it will enter Toon World, creating the Toon Mermaid!" Her monster was transformed. It had an oversized head with extra large eyes. It looked like a chibi version of the Red Archery Girl. The stats were the same, though.
/Can't we use the Millennial Puzzle to escape some how?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/No, this is the Shadow Realm. We will not be free until the end of this duel. Somehow the full power of the puzzle is being blocked,/ explained Yami, /Bakura has been trying with no luck./ Yami Yu-Gi looked over to a very frustrated Yami Bakura who was futilely using his magic to free himself.
"And since that was a special summon, I can summon another monster. I play Bickuribox," smiled Pegasus as his next monster took its place in Toon World. It looked like a gray chicken inside a jack-in-the-box. It had an attack of 2300 and a defense of 2000.
"I am in so much trouble," thought Shayla. She had no cards in play. Pegasus had his Toon World, Bickuribox, Parrot Dragon, powered-up Dark Rabbit, and Toon Mermaid.
"Shayla listen to me," said Yami Yu-Gi, picking up her distress. "You have to believe in yourself. You cannot win unless you trust yourself and your deck. You have to believe in the heart of the cards.
"Great," thought Shayla, "Not only am I about to lose, but I am getting a sermon. Great." She drew her next card. "Pot of Greed? This wasn't in my deck. Another one of Lara's modifications."
"I use the magic card Pot of Greed to draw two more cards," Shayla declared as she used her magic card. Her next two cards were Dragon Capture Jar and the Mystical Sand. "I didn't have a Dragon Capture Jar in my deck either."
"I play two magic cards and the Queen of Autumn Leaves," Shayla said as her next monster appeared. "One of my magic cards is the Dragon Capture Jar. Say good by to your Parrot Dragon." The Parrot Dragon was sucked out of Toon World and imprisoned in the ancient jar.
"No way! Since when did you use Dragon Capture Jars!?" cried Pegasus.
"The other magic card is Vile Germs, which raises her attack to 2300," declared Shayla. She couldn't attack because all of his monsters were still hiding in Toon World.
"I play Magic Void, which neutralizes your power up," declared Pegasus. "Bickuribox attack!" Shayla was brought down to 1400 life points, even with Pegasus.
"I play a monster in defense mode," she said, running out of moves.
"Then I play Defense Paralysis," said Pegasus, "Your monster and any other monsters you play must be in attack mode." Her monster was revealed to be the Dark Elf. "Bickuribox attack!" Shayla had 1100 life points.
"I don't want to have my monsters destroyed one by one," Shayla thought, "What can I do?" She drew the Electro-Whip.
"I play the Mystical Sand in attack mode and a magic card," said Shayla as her favorite appeared.
"Is this the best you have? Pity that this game will be over so soon. Bickuribox attack!" ordered Pegasus.
"I don't think so," said Shayla. "You forgot about my magic card. It was the Electro-Whip. The Mystical Sand now has an attack of 2600."
"That means my Bickuribox....." moaned Pegasus.
"Is destroyed," finished Shayla as Pegasus was brought down to 1100 life points.
/Maybe she will win this!/ thought Yu-Gi hopefully.
/I hope you are right,/ muttered Yami.
"And now I play the Mystical Elf in defense mode," she declared.
"Ha! You forgot about Defense Paralysis!" exclaimed Pegasus.
"Dang it!" she muttered.
"Toon Mermaid destroy the elf!" ordered Pegasus happily.
"It hurts to be attacked by your own monster," muttered Kaiba, remembering his duel. Shayla was down to 500 life points.
"It is over," grinned Pegasus, "Go cry to your Mommy." Shayla snapped.
"What do you know?!" she yelled. "My mother hated me! She abandoned me before she even bothered to name me!"
/That is why she kept changing her name!/ gasped Yu-Gi. Yami Bakura and Seto Kaiba were equally shocked.
"Go cry to someone who cares," Pegasus shot back.
"The only person whoever cared about me is dead!" she yelled, boarder lining mental breakdown. "He was killed in a hit and run accident. The person responsible was never found. Do you call that caring?! No one would ever have anything to do with me, just because I am blind. Does that sound like caring to you?! My own family abandoned me and never looked back! I was isolated from everyone I met! Then I finally found someone who cared and he was taken from me! Do you call that fair, you heartless jerk?!" Her Millennial Scales began to shine.
/She is using her magic!/ exclaimed Yami.
/What is she doing?/ asked Yu-Gi.
/I think the Millennial Scales are trying to equalize things,/ said Yami. Light engulfed the arena, covering the duel. Pegasus was suddenly flooded with memories that he had tried hard to forget.
"No, Celia!" he moaned before collapsing. A hole was torn in the mist of the Shadow Realm. It grew wider and wider. The chains fell from Yami Bakura and Yami Yu-Gi. The Shadow Realm disappeared, leaving them in the middle of the dueling field.
Well, not all of them.....
"What the heck happened?!" demanded Kaiba as he was left behind. He had entered the Shadow Realm a different way and had to leave that same way. "This is unfair."