Part V: A desperate man's plan!

Knight is now arriving to Pegasus's castle. His ten star chips are ready. Finally, he has qualified for the finals of the Duelist Kingdom. However, he's not alone there.

Knight: (I wonder who will I face in the finals. I'm sure Ryo has qualified and Yugi and Joey had 10 star chips too. but I bet there will be more people)

Rex: Like me?

Knight: Who the hell is ther.? Oh, it is little Rex. how many star chips do you have now? 4, 5? You are late to qualify.

Rex: I have the 10 star chips I need! I'll be in the finals! I'm sure you won't like it because I will be the one who finishes you.

Knight: Sure. Well, anyway. See you there.

Knight starts to run to the castle.

*meanwhile*

Kaiba: Pegasus! I just found you! Where is my brother?

Pegasus: Don't worry Kaiba! He is in that cell.

Kaiba: give me the key, now!

Pegasus: as you wish Kaiba. here it is.

Kaiba gets the key and starts to open the cell lock!

Kaiba: Mokuba! I am here! Mokuba!!

However, Mokuba's body doesn't even move.

Kaiba: What have you done to him, monster!!!

Pegasus: Kaiba. don't worry. your brother's soul is here, in this card.

Kaiba: Give.. that card. to me!!!!

Pegasus: I would love to do it. but what would you do with it? I am the only one who can transfer Mokuba's soul back to his body.

Kaiba: No!!!!! Mokuba. This can't be happening.

Pegasus: However. I'm sure I can I find a way to give you back your brother.

Kaiba: How!!! I could do anything. for Mokuba.

Pegasus: You can do two things. I'll give you 10 star chips and the Glory of the King's Hand card. participate in the finals, win them, win me and I will put back his soul.

Kaiba: I will do it.

Pegasus: or, you could bring me Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. I'll let you choose. If you need something to obtain it. Just tell me.

Kaiba: I will do that, Pegasus! But you will pay for this! Someday.!

*meanwhile*

Pegasus's guard: Participant, to enter here you need 10 star chips!

Knight: here they are. open the door!

Pegasus's guard. Go, duelist! Enter the castle and reach your prize. if you can do it. Go to the main hall. just go straight.

Knight enters the castle and goes there, to the main hall, where the best duelist await. When he arrives there, there are 5 other duelist waiting and 3 more people, the people that go with Yugi: Tea, Bakura and Tristan.

Knight: Ryo! So you got all the star chips.

Ryo: of course. I expect us to fight in the final round.

Knight: Who are these duelists? I just know Yugi, Joey and you.

Ryo: Oh, of course. the blond girl is Mai Valentine. she has got the most star chips. she uses a powerful harpie deck. I have never dueled her. And the guy with the American bandana is Bandit Keith

Knight: Oh, I have heard about Keith.

Ryo: And who may that duelist who has just come in be?

Knight: oh. that's Rex Raptor. a rookie duelist. I gave him a good beat some time ago. He uses a dinosaur deck with some dragons.

Rex: And remember: you won't win me this time!

Suddenly, two men walk into the hall. One of them is a guard. the other wears red strange clothes and has got a deck in his pocket. his white long hair makes it impossible not to recognize him. he is Pegasus. the game's creator.

Pegasus: Welcome to the finals, great duelists! You all are the elite of this island! The best duelists of the world! And tomorrow we will decide who is the best. However I have got two little surprises for you! The first one is. you surely have noticed that you are 7. and I find it difficult to make a good tournament with such a number. so. I have invited a champion- level duelist to participate in the Finals. You may come in.

The door opens and a white clothed figure crosses the door.

Yugi: Kaiba!

Joey: Seto. Seto Kaiba!

Ryo: the world champion!

Knight: the Blue-Eyes White Dragon duelist!

Rex: This. can't be. he is. too good.

Mai: This is getting even more difficult.

Keith: Hey! Why didn't he have to earn all the star chips as everyone else?

Kaiba: I have got 10 star chips. exactly the same as you. Keith.

Pegasus: Well I will announce the second surprise when we know who will you be dueling. for doing this. I need your favorite cards. and don't try to lie about the card. all right? Crocket, get the cards!

Crocket: of course, Mr. Pegasus.

They all give a card to Crocket, who gives all the cards to Pegasus.

Pegasus: I'll just introduce the cards into this sorting machine and you will know your opponent for the first round. you will get your card back right now. so here we go!

Pegasus presses a button the machine, after introducing the cards in it. an enormous screen appears.

Voice: The order of the cards is: Two-Headed King Rex, Dark Magician, Flame Swordsman, Angel Paladin, Barrel Dragon, Harpie Lady, Lord of Darkness and Blue-Eyes White Dragon!

Pegasus: ...so, if you look at the screen you will know your opponents.

A Rex Raptor vs. Yugi Moto B Joey Wheeler vs. Ryo Hazuki C Bandit Keith vs. Mai Valentine D Xavier Knight vs. Seto Kaiba

A vs. B C vs. D

Pegasus: that's it. so you all know who will your opponents be. and now, the second surprise! I have introduced a new rule. The winner of the duel gets a card from the loser's deck until the finals end! So, the champion will duel me with 3 more cards. What do you think of this, participants? Now, go to the dining room to eat a great banquet before the finals and then to the rooms that have been prepared to you all and sleep good! because tomorrow will be a great day (for me, of course. hehehe.)

In the dining room, some of the duelist remain silent: Keith, Seto and Knight don't say a word. However, the other duelists are talking a lot:

Rex: So, Yugi, you are my opponent, I'm gonna finish you with my dino deck!

Yugi: We'll see that tomorrow Rex. I bet it will be a great game.

Joey: Hey! You! Yes, you! Ryo, isn't it?

Ryo: yes.

Joey: So, tomorrow we're dueling. I feel sorry for you, because you will lose

Mai: Sure, he will lose his patience because he has to fight such a rookie!

Joey: Hey! How do you.

Ryo: I'm sure it will be a great duel Joey.

Mai: Exactly as mine! I'm gonna finish quickly that Keith guy! I wonder who he is.

Keith: I'm America's number one duelist! You aren't a duelist if you haven't heard about me!!!

Mai: Well, he talks! Incredible!!!

Knight: I have heard about him. he was beaten badly by a 7 year old kid in the world championships.

Keith: Do you want me to smack your face???

Knight: if you want to fight me reach the semi-finals. I wonder which card from your deck will you lend me when I win.

Keith: grrr. you.

Kaiba: I'm going to my room. see you all tomorrow.

Kaiba stands up and leaves the dining room. however, he doesn't go to the rooms but to Pegasus's room.

Crocket: participants can't enter here! Go back!

Kaiba: let me enter, guard!

Pegasus: Crocket. he's Seto Kaiba! He may enter here if he pleases. Now leave us.

Crocket: of course.

Kaiba: I have decided, Pegasus. I'll bring you the Millennium Puzzle. I have got a plan to obtain it.

Pegasus: Oh, you are a bad boy Kaiba! You are planning to (whispers at Kaiba's ear)

Kaiba: How do you know that!

Pegasus: I think you'll need some materials to do that.

*meanwhile, in the rooms*

Yugi: So, Bakura, are you sure about what you told me?

Bakura: Yugi, my Millennium Ring points at both Ryo and Knight. they have got a Millennium Item!

Yugi: but they haven't used it yet. it seems.

Tea: Maybe they don't know that they have it, you didn't know the powers of your Puzzle for a long time.

Yugi: That's true. Well. we should all go to sleep. tomorrow will be a difficult day.

Joey, Tea, Tristan and Bakura: Good night!

They all leave the room

Yugi: Grandpa. don't worry, I'll save you.

*at the same time*

Knight: So... Seto Kaiba in the first round. this is going to be difficult. I can't distract from the game. However, if I win, I know perfectly what card I will get. What a pity it is not forever.

The clock advances. every room's lights have disappeared. Well. almost. Mai and Yugi's lights are still bright. However, another light appears n the corridor and enters a room.Tea's room. The door closes silently.

???: (it is almost done, I should.)

Tea: Hey, who is there?

A figure jumps at her

Tea: HEEEELP, HEEEmmmmmph!

The figure quickly shuts Tea's mouth with his hand and starts to pull her out of the room. When he goes out.. he hears a door opening.

Yugi: I think I heard a noise.

The mysterious man starts to run down the corridor with Tea still grappled. Yugi looks there but he can't see anything.

Yugi: I'm sure I heard somebody. I'll better check everybody's room.

Yugi enters a room silently.

Yugi: Joey is there.

Mai: Any problem Yugi?

Yugi: Aarrgh! Mai! You scared me!

Joey: Oh. who is there? You just waked me, man.

Yugi: I'm sorry Joey. I just heard a noise and.

Mai: I heard it too! It sounded like a girl shouting!

Yugi: A girl shouting.

Yugi and Joey: Tea!!!!, quickly, let's check if she is there!

Mai, Joey and Tea quickly run to the room.. however, when they arrive to the room.

Yugi: Somebody has left a note. It says: Yugi, if you want to see again your friend give the Millennium Puzzle to me. Signed: Seto Kaiba!!!!!!!

Joey: It can't be. Kaiba wouldn't do that.

Kaiba: I'm sorry Joey. but it was me who did that.

Yugi: Kaiba!!!! What have you done???

Kaiba: Give me the Puzzle, Yugi.

Yugi: Kaiba. you can't ask me that. I could lose my grandpa.

Kaiba: I don't care! Hand it over or you won't ever see Tea again!

Yugi: Kaiba. why? Why are you doing this?

Kaiba: Pegasus offered me my brother's soul if I gave him your puzzle. I'm sorry Yugi. But I had to do this.

Yugi. Kaiba.

Joey: It seems you are a coward, Kaiba!

Kaiba: What. are you calling me?

Joey: You are a big coward, Kaiba! Because you don't want to fight Pegasus, you threaten both Tea and Yugi's grandpa's life! You don't have the guts to fight by yourself so you use dirty tricks!

Yugi: Joey. please stop. I'll give him the puzzle.

Kaiba: .

Joey: I won't stop! All right, Kaiba, you have won, you have the Puzzle, however, some things are going to happen!!! I will tell everybody how did you save your brother!!

Kaiba: I don't care!

Joey: Even if Mokuba learns that his dear big brother is just a coward and a Pegasus's crook? Because he will know all this someday, Kaiba!

Kaiba: Mokuba.

Yugi: here is the puzzle, Kaiba! Go and give it to your master Pegasus!

Kaiba: . . . .

Yugi: What's wrong! Take it!

Kaiba: What have I done? No! I can't save Mokuba this way! I can't let Pegasus win! I.. I. don't want it. Yugi. I'll tell you where is your friend. I'm. sorry

Yugi: Kaiba. don't worry. you did it for Mokuba.let me promise you something. if I win, I will ask Pegasus to revive your brother and grandpa.

Joey: I promise you. the same thing.

Kaiba: Tea is. in the third room on the left in the corridor near the Great Hall. Go and save her before Pegasus finds her.

Joey, Yugi and Mai: let's go!

They three start to run quickly to that room.

Kaiba: I'm, I'm sorry Mokuba. I couldn't do that. but I'll save you, little brother. be sure of that.

Joey, Yugi and Mai reach the door which Kaiba talked about.

Joey: it is closed!

Yugi: No! It can't be! It can't be!

Mai: Guys, let this to me!

Mai pulls out a hairpin and starts to pick the lock

Mai: All done! Let's enter!

They enter the room. as soon as the turn on the lights they see Tea tied to a chair

Tea: MMMMph!!!

Joey and Yugi start to untie her

Tea: You just saved me! It was. it was.

Yugi: I know, it was Kaiba who did this. he was desperate. don't blame him, Tea. he has suffered a lot.

*meanwhile*

Pegasus: I knew it! Kaiba couldn't finish the job! So. I'll have to wait. until he reaches the finals!

Next chapter: First strike! Go, Dark Magician!