Chapter 17:

The Rescue

"Y…Yugi?" The voice called out into the darkness. "No…I forgot. We aren't…c…connected anymore." The pain was almost too much to bear. He slumped forward, his chains the only things holding him up. "Maybe I should…give up…?" A quick flash of all his friends appeared in his head. He jerked up with a gasp. "No…I won't give up…Yugi…Téa…they all are in danger!" He struggled against his bonds, using every ounce of strength he had left in him.

***

"Come on! You heard what Shadi said! If we don't hurry…Yami will…" Téa choked on the last word. "Die…"

Yugi turned around, looking sadly at his childhood friend. "I know, Téa. Just don't give up, we're almost there!"

"Look!" Joey shouted, pointing at the tall black tower in front of them. "There it is!"

The 'Curse of Dragon' swooped down, landing on the roof of the dark tower. Yugi hopped off and helped Téa down. Joey and Tristan were already off, and Bakura was holding up his millennium ring.

"Something's coming!" He warned them, as the ground began to shake.

An army of duel monsters appeared, filling the sky and roof with a sea of eyes. "This isn't going to be fun." Joey remarked, backing up into Yugi.

"Who said it ever was?" Yugi remarked, holding up a duelling card.

Suddenly the sea of monsters parted, allowing a single figure to appear. Everyone waited with anticipation, as the figure grew closer.

"Is it…?" Téa leaned forward.

"It can't be!" Tristan breathed.

"It's…" Yugi said, leaning forward.

A blue furred creature appeared, laughing and sticking its tongue out.

"Pegasus's 'Dark Rabbit'? Everyone chorused. They all fell over anime style.

The rabbit laughed and motioned to something behind it. A 'Blue Eyes Toon Dragon' and 'Doppelganger' appeared.

Téa face-faulted. "Now we know where Pegasus got his toon fetish."

Everyone nodded.

"Hey, that rabbit is doing something!" Bakura pointed out.

The rabbit began speeding up, cartoon style and took off like a bullet, right towards Téa.

"Téa! Look ou…" Bakura was cut off by the wind the rabbit had made with its super fast running.

It was too late anyways; the rabbit had wrapped its arms around her and began to carry her off. It smiled at her and winked.

Téa screamed and kicked but it felt like steel arms were holding her. "You freaky rabbit! Put me down!" She cried, punching it in the face.

The rabbit snickered and puckered up its lips.

Téa's eyes widened. "Don't you even…mmmph!!!"

The guys stood horrified at the sight before them.

"Wow…" Tristan, said, his jaw dropped.

"That's something you don't see every day." Added Bakura.

"YOU STUPID FUR BALL! I'M GOING TO MAKE A COAT OUT OF YOU!!!"

Everyone's eyes widened as the rabbit went flying over their heads with a black eye and missing teeth.

 "Whoa…that was over 100 ft," Yugi laughed.

"Never get on her bad side." Bakura nodded. "I know from the last time."

Téa stomped back to the group; her eyes were flaming with rage. "YOU!!!" She pointed at the boys repeatedly. "You all just watched as the thing carried me off! What were you thinking?"

"Sorry, Téa. It happened so fast."  Yugi said nervously.

Téa shook with anger and suddenly, the Toon Dragon grabbed her arm, and the 'Doppelganger' grabbed her other arm. "Let me go!!!"

This time the guys did react, and grabbed Téa's legs, trying to pull her back down.

"I said, put me down!!!" Téa struggled, but they were too strong.

Yugi and Joey had each of Téa's legs and were holding her back with all of their strength. The 'Dark Rabbit' recovered and was now running back to aide his comrades. He snuck up behind Joey and Yugi. Raising his hands up high, his eyes grew narrow with an evil grin plastered on his face. He lunged down and…began tickling them? Téa was speechless as she watched Joey and Yugi rolling around on the floor laughing their heads off. Bakura and Tristan took over and tried to pull her back, but doppelganger took out a large mallet and bashed both of them over the heads with it. They fell to the ground, stars spinning in their eyes.

Téa frowned. "Beaten by cartoons…I'll never live this down…" The monsters began to rise up in the air, taking Téa with them. "HEEELLLP!!!" She cried out, to no avail.

***

Maxellus was roaring with laughter. "These guys crack me up!" He said, watching the previous events on a small TV, which Pegasus had installed.

Yami watched with a very disgusted expression on his face.

Ishizu turned to Maxellus. "Why do you want the girl?"

Maxellus turned to face her. "She's just part of my master plan."

Ishizu scowled.

Yami spoke up. "You had better not hurt her, or else I'll…"

Maxellus was now nose to nose with Yami.

"You'll what? Stop me? You can't even stand right now!" He kicked Yami in the stomach.

Ishizu had, had enough; she lunged at him and knocked him to the floor. "You bastard! You've done enough, leave him alone!"

"Ishizu!" Yami cried out, helplessly watching them roll around on the floor, struggling to overcome the other.

Maxellus took out a dagger and raised it high above her head.

Ishizu froze, eyes wide.

"No!" Yami shouted, trying to break the chains.

"Relax, Pharaoh. I won't kill her just yet." He smirked.

Ishizu gave up and allowed him to pull her to her feet and threw her into a chair next to Yami.

"Now, stay put if you wish to live a bit longer!"

Ishizu obeyed.

"Now, let's welcome our latest guest!" He snapped his fingers and curtains opened behind him, with 'Doppelganger' and 'Blue Eyes Toon Dragon' holding an unconscious Téa.

"Téa!!!" Yami gasped. "What did you do to her?"

Maxellus shrugged. "Nothing really, they just needed stop her annoying whining!"

'Doppelganger' nodded and held up the mallet he had used on Tristan and Bakura.

They threw her down at Yami's feet.

He growled, looking at Maxellus.

"Hmmm, one more to catch and then we'll be ready to begin!"

Ishizu looked up. "Who?"

"An old friend of the Pharaoh…"

***

Serenity paced back and forth. "I'm so worried! They should have been back now!"

Mai stood up and walked over to her. "Calm down, hun. They'll be ok!"

Shadi shook his head. "I don't know about that. I think we should go look for them." Seth nodded. "I have to agree. Things are taking much too long."

Mai sighed. "Out numbered, huh? Ok, we'll go! So what's the plan?"

Everyone huddled together.

***

Yugi and Joey were now inside the tower. They had all decided to split up after the incident a while ago.

"We should almost be there!" Yugi said, griping the walls of the tower so they wouldn't slide of the ledge they were walking across.

"Why did we have to take the scenic route, huh, Yugi?" Joey gulped.

Yugi shrugged.  "Because there was no other way to get to the dungeon. You remember the plan, right?"

Joey nodded. "I know. We go to the dungeon to free Yami and Ishizu and Bakura and Tristan are to distract the monsters while we escape!"

"Right! I just hope the others are doing ok…"

***

"Tristan I thought you said we would just throw a rock and run in the opposite direction!" Bakura huffed.

"Sorry, I didn't know they would be waiting on both sides!"

They ran blindly though the tower, with over a million monsters chasing after them.

"Well, Yugi wanted a distraction! After this, I don't think there are any monsters left guarding the dungeon!

"No kidding!" Bakura stated, glaring at the spiky headed boy.

***

"Careful, there could be some guards still."

Yugi slid the door open and peered around the corner. "Looks safe, let's go!"

Joey nodded and they ran inside a room with about 15 different jail cells.

"Whose there?" A shaky voice asked from behind one of the cells.

"Um, don't be alarmed, we're here to help!"

The voice seemed to jump with joy. "Wonderful! I'm in cell 6, please hurry!"

Yugi glanced up at Joey. "Uh…"

Joey shrugged.

"Ok, hang on a second!" Yugi shouted.

They counted the cells and finally came to cell 6.

"How do we unlock this door?" Joey asked.

The voice came from the other side again. "Some rescuers you are! Didn't you steal a key from the guard at the end of the block?"

Yugi and Joey froze. "W…what guard?"

The voice huffed. "Well, according to the noise we've been making, I'm sure you'll meet up with the guard soon enough.

Yugi and Joey shivered. A tall form hovered above them.

"Joey?" He moved his eyes slightly, to see Yugi.

"Yeah?"

Yugi gulped. "You l…look!"

Joey shook his head. "No way, man."

Yugi sighed.  "Alright on the count of 3, we'll do it together!"

Joey nodded.

"Ready? 1…2…3!"

They turned quickly and saw a giant 'Garoozies with 'Kuni With Chain' grinning at them and swinging the chain above it's head.

"AHHH!!!" They screamed and began running through the maze of cells.

"Yugi, we should summon a monster or something!"

Yugi thought a minute. Which monster would do a good job? "I know! I'll summon…" He stopped when Joey turned around and summoned the REBD.

"No! Wait!!!" He cried, but it was too late, the REBD was summoned and fried 'Garoozies' unfortunately, its size was way too big for such a small cell. Yugi and Joey were crushed up against the wall.

"It's too big…" Yugi finished a little too late.

Joey laughed nervously and blushed.

***

Téa stirred and opened her eyes. She saw Ishizu looking at her. "Ishizu? Where am I?" She sat up, rubbing her head.

"You're in Maxellus chambers. Are you ok?" She asked, helping her up.

"Yeah, I think so. My head throbs a bit."

Ishizu smirked. "I would imagine after what that 'Doppelganger' did to you.

Téa rolled her eyes. "Better then being kissed by that rabbit."

Ishizu giggled.

"This place is creepy!" Téa stated, shivering involuntarily.

A voice from the shadows caused her to jump. "I don't know, it's not bad once you get used to it." Maxellus appeared from the other side of the room. "Welcome my dear, to Maxellus chamber. I am Maxellus, your gracious host and soon to be ruler of the world."

 "I don't think so!" Téa growled. She stood up and lunged forward at Maxellus, her fist clenched tightly.

"I don't think so!" He copied her and mumbled a word under his breath.

Téa froze in her spot, eyes blank.

"What did you do?" Ishizu said, jumping top her feet.

"Well, I put a little spell on her. It'll last until tomorrow. By then, none of you will be alive!" He reached out his hand to Téa. "Come to me, my pet."

Téa obeyed and allowed herself to be engulfed in Maxellus arms.

"I live to serve you, my master. What is it you wish of me?"

Maxellus smirked at Ishizu's expression. "Nothing right now, my dear." He whispered in her ear and her eyes became clear again.

She reeled in horror at the closeness and fell back. "What the hell!" She cried out.

"As you can see, nothing will stop me! And soon, your little Pharaoh will be finished!" He left, slamming the door tightly behind him.

"Yami! We have to help Yami!" She struggled to her feet and began to pound on the door.

Ishizu appeared behind her. "And we will. Follow me!"

Téa was curious and followed Ishizu toward the window. "I've been in here for quite a while now, and I learned something. This window leads straight to the room Yami is being held in. If we climb out and onto the ledge, we can reach him. Maxellus won't visit him for a while. He said he needs time to prepare. We have to act fast!"

Téa peeked out the window and noticed the long drop if they fell. She turned blue and backed up. "Uh, is there any chance we'll fall?"

Ishizu shrugged. "Only if we jump off the ledge, but either way, it's a risk. It depends on how much you want to rescue Yami!"

Téa looked back at the window and clutched the sill tightly. "Let's go!"

***

Yugi walked over to the fried 'Garoozies' and picked up the jail keys. He walked over to cell 6 and began to unlock it.

"I thought you guys would have been done for! Nice going lads!" The lock clicked and the door opened. Yugi and Joey gasped. A tall Egyptian man stood before them. He had royal robes on and a crest. Very modernized from the Pharaohs years ago. He smiled warmly, his wrinkled eyes glowing with kindness and warmth. "Thank you, boys. I'm Amazida. I am the ruler of this palace and its people of the village Seriya. One of the many palaces of Egypt." He bowed graciously. "I thank you for rescuing me. A strange man with long silver hair locked me in here ages ago.  I never thought I would escape.

Yugi smiled. "Well, we're glad we could help, your highness. But we shouldn't stay here, my friends have been captured by a madman, and he plans to revive the shadow games!"

Amazida's eyes widened. "We must stop him!" He glanced down at Yugi's puzzle. "Is that…?"

Yugi lifted the puzzle up. "Yeah, it's a millennium item. One of 6, and some of my friends hold the others."

Amazida was slightly nervous. "Have…they all been placed together?"

Joey stepped in to answer the question. "Nope! Not yet! But our pal Yami, resided in that puzzle for 5 millennia."

"What? Bel um Fal lives?"

The boys nodded.

"Yeah, but not for long if we don't hurry!"  Joey stated.

"Well what are waiting for, boys? Hop to it!" He pushed them out of the cell.

"Ok, let's search the other cells!"

***

"I swear, if I fall and break my neck…"

Relax, Téa! We're almost there! Just a bit further!"

Téa sighed and continued on.  One foot over the other!  Soon, the room came into view with a large shadowed figure hunched on the floor. Téa gasped. "What's that?" She lost control and slipped off the ledge. "AHHH!!!"

Ishizu caught her hand, and pulled her up. "Hang on, I've got you!"

Téa, now as white as a ghost, crawled across the ledge and opened the window. "Ishizu, I can't seem to pry my fingers loose!" She cried, with eyes as big as saucers.

Ishizu sighed and helped her in the window.

They closed the window behind them and locked it tightly, drawing the curtains.

"It's so dark in here! Where is he?"

Ishizu felt along the wall. "I can't feel any switch or… Téa?"

Téa finally got to her feet, brushing the dust away from her skirt.

"Yes, Ishizu?"

Ishizu's voice seemed to be shaky. "Are you the one breathing that heavy?"

Téa paused. "No…why?"

Ishizu laughed nervously. "I might have miscalculated…"

A low growling noise made Téa freeze.

"Let's get out of here!" She whispered.

The girls headed for what the hoped was the door to the outside. Once they opened the door, the light from the hall caught inside the room and the creature stirred. The light finally revealing what it was. A sleeping Blue Eyes White Dragon. It opened an eye and saw the girls against the door. Growling menacingly, it lunged at them. Screaming they ran out, closing the door behind them.

"Ok, I am positive now, that I miscalculated!"

Téa breathed heavily. "I would say so."

Ishizu sighed and walked down the hall. "Come on, I'm sure now it's this way.

Téa followed behind, unsurely.

Ishizu came to a door on the opposite side of the Blue Eyes White Dragon's room. "In here!"

They opened the door and the light shone in on a figure hanging limply in the middle of the rooms, his arms chained.

"Yami!" Téa cried, running in and wrapping her arms around him.

Yami stirred slightly. "T… Téa?" He asked, weakly. T

Téa smiled and nodded. "Yes, and Ishizu too. We're going to get you out of here!"

Ishizu and Téa undid his chains and Yami fell limping into Téa's arms. She cringed at the weight, and Ishizu helped her hold him up. Taking one arm each, they helped support him and took off out of the room.

"Where's Yugi?" Yami asked, coughing.

 "Shhh, everyone's fine. Don't talk, save your strength for now." Téa said gently.

Yami nodded. "Uh, how do we get out of here, Ishizu? We can't climb the ledge!"

Ishizu stopped for a seconded. "Well, I think the safest place for us, is down!" She pointed towards the floor below them.

"The dungeon?" Téa asked, adjusting Yami's weight, so it wouldn't kill her shoulder.

"Yes! It's one giant maze! And if we can hide there we can give Yami some time to recover!"

Téa nodded. "Ok, then!"

***

Tristan and Bakura were now hiding in what appeared to be a closet.

"Where did they go?" Tristan asked in a squeaky voice.

"I think towards the main hall…where the others are!" Bakura cried out in realization.

Tristan frowned. "Oh, great…"

Bakura smiled. "Don't worry! I'm sure by now they left to find us!"

Tristan sighed. "I hope you're right, Bakura.

***

Mai peeked out of the room. "It packed with duel monsters!"

Everyone gasped.

"How?" Serenity asked.

"I don't know, but they seem to be looking for someone! And, we can't get out of here! We're trapped!"

***

Yugi, Joey and Amazida finally finished their search of the cells.

"I give up!" Joey said, stretching.

"There's no one here but us! They must be in that psycho's chambers or something…"

Yugi nodded. "I would have to agree. Well, let's get out of here then! There isn't a moment to lose!"

Everyone agreed and began to climb a long spiral staircase.

***

On the other side, Téa, Yami and Ishizu were climbing down another spiral staircase.

"Almost there hang in there, Yami!" Téa urged, as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

Ishizu opened the door, and they walked inside.

"Wow, you weren't kidding about the cells being a giant maze!" Téa exclaimed.

Ishizu led them to a cell and they laid Yami down on the cell bed. "It's not much, but it's better then hanging by your arms. Are you ok?" Ishizu asked, inspecting Yami's arms.

"Better…" He said.

Téa sat down on the other side of him. "I hope the others will be ok. After we were split up, I lost track of everyone. They could be anywhere!" She frowned, leaning against the wall.

Yami turned his head towards her. "Don't worry, Téa. Yugi can handle anything. And once I recover, the creep Maxellus better watch out!" He said, gritting his teeth and clenching a fist.

Téa placed her hand gently on his arm. "Ok, but you're not doing anything until you recover! Now get some sleep!" She ordered.

Yami smirked. "Guess I don't have a choice; I'm kind of outnumbered."

"Dam straight!" Téa said in a giggle.

Ishizu smiled. "We should all rest for now. We're only buying time until the final confrontation. And that's where we'll all need to be at our best." She looked over at Yami. He was fast asleep. Téa had also begun to nod off. "I guess I should try to sleep too." Ishizu laid her head down on the edge of the bed Yami was in, and Téa rested against the wall, her head leaning against Yami's. "Brother, I hope you're ok."

***

Marik was helping Seto and Shadi hold the door closed, as the monsters began to bash it open.

"They'll be here any second!" Marik shouted.

Serenity, Mai and Ann were helping Rex open up a hidden passage in the floor.

"Thank god for old palaces.  How did you know about this Shadi?"  Mai asked.

"I was in this room once before. I found it by accident, but it saved my life."

"They're here!" Marik cried.

Rex swung open the trap door. "Hurry, it's open!"

Everyone but Marik nodded and ran to it. After everyone was in, Rex turned to Marik.

"Come on! We're the last ones!"

Marik nodded. "You go! I'll be there in a second!"

Rex nodded and jumped.

Marik timed it, so just as they opened the door, they would all be gone. He moved the desk over to the door and held it there, ran to the trap door and jumped in. The door slammed shut, while the monsters broke open the other door. The room was completely empty.

 "Search the premises!!! " A voice said form behind the crowd.

"Sorry, boss. But there is no one here!"

"Fools!" The voice hissed. The figure came into view. It was a 'Dark Magician Girl', but she had long red hair and dark blue eyes. She was in black and yellow. "I'm surrounded by fools!"

To be continued…