Last time on Yu-Gi-Oh: Joey Wheeler dueled against the mysterious Duelist
Soul, who was unsure of whether or not Joey was a Millennium Guardian.
Duelist Soul won, after defeating a Red-Eyes Black Dragon with Megamorph
and a Black Skull Dragon.
Author's Note: Hi
~
Ryou Bakura stood atop the platform of the dueling arena, anxiously awaiting the beginning of the fourth duel of the quarter finals, not to mention the final duel of the quarter finals. If he won, he would proceed to dueling Duelist Soul, the one person he wanted to face the least, well, at least the one person who's skill he feared the most. He did not want to duel Rathje nor Yasumi, as they were both his friends.
"Are we going to duel, or what?" Seto Kaiba muttered from across the arena.
Bakura drew a card, nodding slightly, "Alright, I will set one monster as well as one trap card and end my turn, Kaiba."
Kaiba smirked, "Is that all you have? Then taste the cold steel of my Battle Ox's blade!"
The beast-warrior appeared on the field, dashing at the opposing monster. In a blaze of blinding light, Banisher of the Light appeared. The monster, with 2000 defense points, resisted the attack.
-Bakura: 8000, Kaiba: 7700
"It seems that offense isn't the only answer, Kaiba," Bakura smiled.
"Hmm..." Kaiba grunted, "It won't be long until I summon my first Blue Eyes White Dragon, Bakura, and there is nothing in your deck powerful enough to take it down."
"He's right," Rathje muttered, and the rest of the spectators on the balcony looked at him.
"Nothing?" Tea asked.
Rathje shook his head, "Bakura's strongest monster is a Wingweaver, with 2750 attack points. Even if he played his field magic, Blue Eyes White Dragon is also a light monster, so he would gain 500 attack points as well. Short of magic and trap cards, there isn't much of anything he can do..."
"Then I'm going to have to rely on my magic and trap cards, Rathje," Bakura stated, drawing a card, "So I will set one more monster face-down, and set three more magic or trap cards."
"Are you through, Bakura?" Kaiba hissed, "I have more important duels, you know."
"I'm not done yet, Kaiba," Bakura glared at his opponent, "Judging by your threats, I'm betting you have at least one Blue Eyes White Dragon in your hand. I know you have that Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon waiting in your fusion deck, so I'll make sure it never touches the field!"
"And how do you propose you will do that?" Kaiba sneered.
"Seto Kaiba," Bakura continued, "I play Card Destruction!"
"What?" Kaiba's eyes flew open, seeing the card flipping up, but he quickly returned to his calm serenity, "Fine, you may have sent one of my Blue Eyes White Dragons to the graveyard, but-"
"Not to the graveyard, Kaiba," Bakura grinned, "Thanks to Banisher of the Light, the cards that we discard right now are removed from the game, so you can't Monster Reborn that Blue Eyes."
"Well played..." Kaiba muttered angrily, "but any one of my Blue Eyes White Dragons is more than a match for your deck..."
'Especially since I just drew another one,' Kaiba thought to himself, smirking at his new hand.
Kaiba drew, starting his turn, "I will summon La Ginn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp in attack mode! Now attack, Battle Ox, and destroy Bakura's face- down monster!"
Bakura flipped his Spirit of the Harp, which caused Kaiba to lose another 200 life points.
-Bakura: 8000, Kaiba: 7500
'No matter,' Kaiba laughed to himself, 'next turn, I will bring out my Blue Eyes White Dragon, and then it will all be over for little Bakura!'
Bakura drew, looking down at the card, "I choose to end my turn without making a move, Kaiba."
"You tell 'im, Bakura!" Joey shouted.
"Psst, Joey," Tristan nudged his friend, "maybe you should wait until Bakura actually destroys something of Kaiba's to be saying that..."
Rathje, paying no attention to the two beside him, felt something. He couldn't tell what, but something, intuition maybe, told him to look around. He followed what the feeling told him, and noticed that Duelist Soul wasn't watching.
"Hey, Yasumi," he whispered to his friend, "I'll be right back, okay?"
Yasumi nodded, not looking away from the duel.
Rathje slipped off into the corridor, unnoticed by the rest of the group. He soon came to a fork in the hallway. He paused, not sure of which route to take. He looked back and forth, biting his lip.
'The left,' something told him.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He waiting a moment, thinking.
'Who are you?' he thought.
'The left.'
'That didn't answer my question.'
'The left.'
'Why should I go to the left?'
'The left.'
Rathje sighed, opening his eyes. He had no way of knowing if this was an sick joke or just his mind's way of telling him he was slowly going insane. He headed off to the left, soon reaching an intersection, with four routes, including the way he had come.
'Straight forward.'
He walked forward, almost running. He reached a stairwell, and headed up the stairs, nearly leaping, and landing on every third step. Every so often a window would be placed on the wall, allowing him to gauge his height. He reached an exit, but the stairs continued up.
'The stairs.'
Rathje climbed the stairs further, looking out each window. He had risen one floor, and was going to make it to the next one up, which would be the fourth floor. He came to another exit, like the last one, still with stair.
'Go out.'
Rathje followed the command, walking down another hallway, this one carpeted, rather than the stone floors of the lower floors. The carpet was a deep red, and paintings lined the walls. He stopped at another four-way intersection.
'Turn left.'
Rathje nodded, as if whatever was telling him what to do could see him. This hallway was lined with doors, each one a deep brown. He walked slower now, unsure of himself.
'Stop.'
He stopped.
'The door on your right.'
Rathje looked to his right, seeing a door.
'Open it.'
He walked over to the door, turning the knob slowly. The door opened easily, and he cautiously made his way inside. The room was lit by candles, and the windows were covered by curtains. Rathje saw Duelist Soul sitting on a chair, seated behind a table. On the other side of the table was another chair, about two feet from Rathje.
"Welcome, Rathje."
Rathje nodded, "Duelist Soul."
"Do you know why you are here?"
"I think so," Rathje responded.
"Then sit down."
Rathje obeyed, taking a seat.
"Did you bring your deck?"
Rathje nodded, removing his cards from his pocket, "Yes."
"Then we will duel as we talk."
Duelist Soul, his deck already on the table, drew five cards. Rathje shuffled his deck, and then drew five of his own cards.
"So what can you tell me about Millennium Guardians?" Rathje asked, setting one monster.
"What do you need to know?" Duelist Soul countered, summoning his Dark Elf and ending his turn.
"I would like to know anything you can tell me," Rathje drew, "I will flip my Neo the Magic Swordsman, and equip it with Malevolent Nuzzler, raising it to 2400 attack points, and I will attack Dark Elf."
"The Millennium Guardians are a group meant to uphold the balance of good and evil, so neither has more power than the other. Many years ago, the Pharaoh called on his four greatest warriors. He asked them to protect this balance, no matter what the cost," Duelist Soul murmured, moving Dark Elf to the graveyard.
"Why do you ask these questions?" Duelist Soul raised one eyebrow, drawing a card, laying it on the field, "I play Fissure."
"I heard voices, but there was nobody there. What do you mean by 'No matter what the cost'?" Rathje stated calmly, discarding Neo the Magic Swordsman as Duelist Soul set a monster and a magic/trap card, "I will play Change of Heart, taking your monster."
Duelist Soul passed his Mystical Elf to Rathje, "I mean that the Pharaoh meant that the balance should come before all else, even their duty to the Pharaoh himself."
Rathje tributed the Elf for his Summoned Skull, attacking directly, "Oh."
Duelist Soul flipped Mirror Force, "Why did you follow the voices?"
"I don't know, they seemed to be important...It's not everyday you hear voices in your head...Why did you want me to come here?" Rathje asked, moving Summoned Skull to his graveyard.
"Because I believe you are a Millennium Guardian."
~
"Attack, Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Kaiba shouted, throwing one hand forward.
The Blue Eyes White Dragon blasted the Banisher of the Light with its White Lightning, destroying it. It had only been out for two turns so far, the first where it destroyed Spirit of the Harp. Life points hadn't changed in a while.
Bakura drew, smiling happily, "I set one monster and end my turn."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow at the monster, drawing a single card, "Blue Eyes White Dragon, attack the new monster!"
Blue Eyes White Dragon launched its attack, revealing Bakura's monster, Cyber Jar.
"What? Not that!" Kaiba shouted, obviously angry.
They each discarded the monsters on the field, drawing five cards. Bakura set another Spirit of the Harp and a Dancing Elf. Kaiba brought out a Vorse Raider and another La Ginn. Vorse Raider then attacked Dancing Elf, destroying it.
Bakura drew, nodding slightly at the card, "I will play Soul Exchange, using your Vorse Raider as a tribute along with my Spirit of the Harp to summon Wingweaver!"
The fairy appeared on the field, bathed in light.
"Since I have to skip my battle phase, I end my turn."
Seto Kaiba drew, and then moved his La Ginn into defense mode, "I end my turn."
"Alright, Kaiba," Bakura drew a card, then continued, "Go, Wingweaver, attack La Ginn!"
La Ginn was destroyed, leaving Kaiba with an empty field.
"Then Kaiba," Bakura nodded, "I end my turn."
Kaiba drew, knowing he would have to destroy that Wingweaver soon. A smirk flickered across his face, "Bakura, I drew the card that will lead to your defeat."
Bakura merely nodded, "Then play it."
"No," Seto Kaiba grinned, "not yet, instead, I will set one more monster, as well as one trap card face-down."
Bakura drew a card from his deck. He added the card to his hand, and then removed a different one, laying it on the field, "I will summon Ancient Elf in attack mode."
The monster appeared on the field, wielding its staff.
"Go, Wingweaver," Bakura called out, "and attack Kaiba's face-down monster!"
Wingweaver flew into the air, launching an attack of light on the monster, which was revealed, showing Battle Ox.
"Now attack, Ancient Elf!" Bakura shouted.
Ancient Elf ran forward, striking Kaiba's life points directly.
-Bakura: 8000, Kaiba: 6050
Kaiba paused before drawing, staring at Bakura, "Bakura, do you realize that this could be the final card I draw before you are beyond hope?"
"Draw, Kaiba," Bakura smiled.
Seto Kaiba nodded, drawing slowly. A smug grin crossed his lips, "Bakura, this duel is over, and there is nothing you can do."
"Why not?" Bakura asked.
"Because I play the Ritual Magic card Moment's Peace!" Seto declared, laying the card on the field, "And I offer three monsters from my hand, totally twelve levels!"
'Twelve levels for one monster...' Bakura thought, 'What could be worth that much?'
A soldier dressed in a suit of armor, both azure and crimson, appeared on the field. Its face was not visible behind the visor of its helmet. It wielded a sword with both hands, though a shield was strapped to its left arm. A blue fire engulfed it, and a gleam of red shone through the helmet.
"What is this card?" Bakura murmured in awe.
"This monster, Dragonic Warrior, may be summoned with either eight or twelve stars as a tribute," Kaiba explained, "If summoned by eight, it has 3000 attack and defense points. If summoned by twelve, it has 3000 attack and defense points, is considered a Dragon-type monster, and may only be attacked by Dragons."
"What?" Yugi shouted from the stands, "That's not fair!"
"Don't yell at me," Kaiba shrugged, quite smug, "Industrial Illusions gave me this card for the finals."
"How can Bakura deal with that monster, Yugi?" Tea asked.
"Yeah, Yug, this is gonna be tough for our pal Bakura..." Joey muttered.
"We'll just have to cheer for him and hope for the best, even though he can't even attack it."
"Now then, if we could have silence," Kaiba grinned, "Attack, Dragonic Warrior, and destroy Ancient Elf!"
The monster ran toward Ancient Elf, throwing its sword down on it, smashing its staff in two and allowing it to sail through its opponent.
-Bakura: 6450, Kaiba: 6050
Bakura drew, his eyes closed. He waited a few moments before looking at the card.
"What are you waiting for, Bakura?" Kaiba laughed, "Look at your pathetic card!"
Bakura opened his eyes, staring at the card. He almost cried out with joy, but caught himself.
"Seto Kaiba," Bakura began, "I play Black Snake's Toxin!"
In a flash of blazing light, the field started to radiate with an eerie red glow. The movements of the monsters were slower, almost as if it was painful for them.
"And what would this card do, apart from making the duel proceed in slow motion and illuminate the field?" Kaiba spat.
A grin made its way across Bakura's lips, "Black Snake Toxin is a continuous magic card, Kaiba. During each of my Standby Phases, it will deal 2000 damage to each of our life points. The following turn, it will deal 4000 damage, and each turn it will double, until either it is destroyed or one of us loses."
"Hmm..." Kaiba scoffed, "It appears that this is a waste, for at that rate, we would drop to 0 life points at the same time, but I can attack you, and you cannot attack me."
"Well," Bakura continued, "I will set one monster and move Wingweaver to defense mode before ending my turn."
"Then prepare yourself!" Kaiba shouted, drawing a card. He thought carefully, "Alright, I only need to inflict 450 points of damage and I will have guaranteed my victory. I shouldn't play another monster yet, just in case he could use it to lower my life points further, doing to me what I plan to do to him...I will just attack Wingweaver and be done with it.'
"Dragonic Warrior," Kaiba declared, "attack Wingweaver!"
Dragonic Warrior staggered toward Wingweaver, barely moving through the venom. Eventually it reached its target, and it swung its sword through it, defeating its opponent, though inflicting no damage to Bakura.
"Alright, Bakura, I end my turn," Kaiba hissed.
Bakura drew, adding the card to his hand, "Then we will both lose 2000 life points as a result of Black Snake's Toxin."
-Bakura: 4450, Kaiba: 4050
"Next turn we will lose 4000 life points," Bakura explained.
"I know," Kaiba glared at his opponent, "are you finished?"
"No, I am also setting another monster before ending my turn," Bakura stated, placing the card sideways on the field.
"Good, then that's one more turn before I finish this duel," Kaiba muttered, audible across the arena as he drew a card.
"Do you think Bakura will be able to beat Kaiba?" Joey asked.
"I don't know, Joey," Yugi answered, "but it looks like they're pretty even right now."
"Dragonic Warrior," Kaiba yelled to his monster, "Attack the face-down monster on the right!"
The monster made its way across the field once more, dragging its legs. It attacked the monster, revealing a Ray and Temperature, which was destroyed.
"Then that will end my turn, Bakura," Kaiba smirked, "and on my next turn, I will end the duel!"
Bakura drew another card, "We each lose 4000 life points, bringing us each below 1000 remaining."
"I know," Kaiba murmured, "I know."
-Bakura: 450, Kaiba: 50
"Kaiba," Bakura started, "look at the field."
"What about it?" Kaiba sneered, "Stop stalling, Bakura."
"I'm not," Bakura continued, "Do you notice anything wrong about it?"
Kaiba blinked, "...no..."
Bakura smiled, "Well, I do."
"And what is that?"
"You have no magic or trap cards on the field," Bakura stated, laying the card he drew down, face-up, "Which allows me to play this card without any worries, and there's nothing you can do about it!"
A robed figure appeared on the field, depicting an angel on one side, and a demon on the other.
"What?" Kaiba's eyes shot open, and he could only stare at the card, taking a step backwards.
"Yes," Bakura sighed, "I play Change of Heart, taking control of you Dragonic Warrior until the end of the turn."
The figure moved toward Dragonic Warrior, moving inside of it. The deep red eyes shining through the armor turned to a light blue, and it slowly turned to face Kaiba.
"No, Seto Kaiba," Bakura said firmly, "Because you have no monsters, and only 50 life points, I can attack and end this duel. So go, Dragonic Warrior, and deliver the finishing blow!"
The Dragonic Warrior moved forward, each foot moving before the other at an incredibly slow, but almost rhythmic, pace. Kaiba watched in horror as it raised its sword, and sent it crashing down upon the end of the arena, where he was standing.
-Bakura: 450, Kaiba: 0
Kaiba did not say anything. He could only close his eyes, and clench his fists, gritting his teeth.
"Alright, Bakura," Kaiba growled, "You win."
He turned, storming out of the room, not even looking up at his opponent, who stood, a little shocked, a little amazed, and a little relieved to have won the duel.
Bakura looked to his left, where his friend stood in the stands cheering. He turned to his right, seeing Croquet standing and Richard Pegasus, the Millennium Ring around his neck and a glimmer of yellow light shining through his white hair, sitting on a separate platform.
And so the quarter-finals were completed.
~
Rathje sat in his room, head in his hands, his eyes closed. He was completely confused, not sure whether he had learned anything at all. A knock echoed through the room, but he made no move to respond or to open the door.
The door opened anyway, and Yasumi walked in, sitting next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"Far from it."
"What's wrong?" Yasumi whispered.
Rathje opened his eyes, looking up, "...Duelist Soul...he believes I am a Millennium Guardian..."
"...continue..."
"That means that we will be dueling tomorrow, and if we are both Millennium Guardians, how will that effect what is supposed to happen?" Rathje murmured, sighing.
"Well..." Yasumi frowned a little at the mention of their duel, "...I guess if we are both Millennium Guardians, it won't matter who wins, because that would mean that the greater of us will go on to the Finals, and then the greater of that duel will face Richard Pegasus."
"...yes..."
"Which Millennium Guardian are you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Duelist Soul said there were four Millennium Guardians, one of Duty, Skill, Peace, and Redemption. Did he say which one you were?"
"...no, but I don't think I am the Millennium Guardian of Peace, so I guess Redemption, since you are of Skill, and Duelist Soul is of Duty..."
Yasumi nodded, remaining silent.
"...Yasumi, about our duel tomo-"
"No," Yasumi cut in, "don't say anything about it, let's just let it happen."
~
Gavin Theodore Threadbare sat cross-legged in his room upon the stone floor. He recalled the events that took place previously. He had sensed a great amount of might within Ryou Bakura. In two days they would duel.
~
Author's Note: Well, there's Chapter Seventeen! Chapter Eighteen is going to be neat. I've been planning it for a long time, probably the one I've planned third most, twenty being most, Twenty-One being second most.
Author's Note: Thanks to everybody who bothered to read this far.
Author's Note: Hi
~
Ryou Bakura stood atop the platform of the dueling arena, anxiously awaiting the beginning of the fourth duel of the quarter finals, not to mention the final duel of the quarter finals. If he won, he would proceed to dueling Duelist Soul, the one person he wanted to face the least, well, at least the one person who's skill he feared the most. He did not want to duel Rathje nor Yasumi, as they were both his friends.
"Are we going to duel, or what?" Seto Kaiba muttered from across the arena.
Bakura drew a card, nodding slightly, "Alright, I will set one monster as well as one trap card and end my turn, Kaiba."
Kaiba smirked, "Is that all you have? Then taste the cold steel of my Battle Ox's blade!"
The beast-warrior appeared on the field, dashing at the opposing monster. In a blaze of blinding light, Banisher of the Light appeared. The monster, with 2000 defense points, resisted the attack.
-Bakura: 8000, Kaiba: 7700
"It seems that offense isn't the only answer, Kaiba," Bakura smiled.
"Hmm..." Kaiba grunted, "It won't be long until I summon my first Blue Eyes White Dragon, Bakura, and there is nothing in your deck powerful enough to take it down."
"He's right," Rathje muttered, and the rest of the spectators on the balcony looked at him.
"Nothing?" Tea asked.
Rathje shook his head, "Bakura's strongest monster is a Wingweaver, with 2750 attack points. Even if he played his field magic, Blue Eyes White Dragon is also a light monster, so he would gain 500 attack points as well. Short of magic and trap cards, there isn't much of anything he can do..."
"Then I'm going to have to rely on my magic and trap cards, Rathje," Bakura stated, drawing a card, "So I will set one more monster face-down, and set three more magic or trap cards."
"Are you through, Bakura?" Kaiba hissed, "I have more important duels, you know."
"I'm not done yet, Kaiba," Bakura glared at his opponent, "Judging by your threats, I'm betting you have at least one Blue Eyes White Dragon in your hand. I know you have that Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon waiting in your fusion deck, so I'll make sure it never touches the field!"
"And how do you propose you will do that?" Kaiba sneered.
"Seto Kaiba," Bakura continued, "I play Card Destruction!"
"What?" Kaiba's eyes flew open, seeing the card flipping up, but he quickly returned to his calm serenity, "Fine, you may have sent one of my Blue Eyes White Dragons to the graveyard, but-"
"Not to the graveyard, Kaiba," Bakura grinned, "Thanks to Banisher of the Light, the cards that we discard right now are removed from the game, so you can't Monster Reborn that Blue Eyes."
"Well played..." Kaiba muttered angrily, "but any one of my Blue Eyes White Dragons is more than a match for your deck..."
'Especially since I just drew another one,' Kaiba thought to himself, smirking at his new hand.
Kaiba drew, starting his turn, "I will summon La Ginn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp in attack mode! Now attack, Battle Ox, and destroy Bakura's face- down monster!"
Bakura flipped his Spirit of the Harp, which caused Kaiba to lose another 200 life points.
-Bakura: 8000, Kaiba: 7500
'No matter,' Kaiba laughed to himself, 'next turn, I will bring out my Blue Eyes White Dragon, and then it will all be over for little Bakura!'
Bakura drew, looking down at the card, "I choose to end my turn without making a move, Kaiba."
"You tell 'im, Bakura!" Joey shouted.
"Psst, Joey," Tristan nudged his friend, "maybe you should wait until Bakura actually destroys something of Kaiba's to be saying that..."
Rathje, paying no attention to the two beside him, felt something. He couldn't tell what, but something, intuition maybe, told him to look around. He followed what the feeling told him, and noticed that Duelist Soul wasn't watching.
"Hey, Yasumi," he whispered to his friend, "I'll be right back, okay?"
Yasumi nodded, not looking away from the duel.
Rathje slipped off into the corridor, unnoticed by the rest of the group. He soon came to a fork in the hallway. He paused, not sure of which route to take. He looked back and forth, biting his lip.
'The left,' something told him.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He waiting a moment, thinking.
'Who are you?' he thought.
'The left.'
'That didn't answer my question.'
'The left.'
'Why should I go to the left?'
'The left.'
Rathje sighed, opening his eyes. He had no way of knowing if this was an sick joke or just his mind's way of telling him he was slowly going insane. He headed off to the left, soon reaching an intersection, with four routes, including the way he had come.
'Straight forward.'
He walked forward, almost running. He reached a stairwell, and headed up the stairs, nearly leaping, and landing on every third step. Every so often a window would be placed on the wall, allowing him to gauge his height. He reached an exit, but the stairs continued up.
'The stairs.'
Rathje climbed the stairs further, looking out each window. He had risen one floor, and was going to make it to the next one up, which would be the fourth floor. He came to another exit, like the last one, still with stair.
'Go out.'
Rathje followed the command, walking down another hallway, this one carpeted, rather than the stone floors of the lower floors. The carpet was a deep red, and paintings lined the walls. He stopped at another four-way intersection.
'Turn left.'
Rathje nodded, as if whatever was telling him what to do could see him. This hallway was lined with doors, each one a deep brown. He walked slower now, unsure of himself.
'Stop.'
He stopped.
'The door on your right.'
Rathje looked to his right, seeing a door.
'Open it.'
He walked over to the door, turning the knob slowly. The door opened easily, and he cautiously made his way inside. The room was lit by candles, and the windows were covered by curtains. Rathje saw Duelist Soul sitting on a chair, seated behind a table. On the other side of the table was another chair, about two feet from Rathje.
"Welcome, Rathje."
Rathje nodded, "Duelist Soul."
"Do you know why you are here?"
"I think so," Rathje responded.
"Then sit down."
Rathje obeyed, taking a seat.
"Did you bring your deck?"
Rathje nodded, removing his cards from his pocket, "Yes."
"Then we will duel as we talk."
Duelist Soul, his deck already on the table, drew five cards. Rathje shuffled his deck, and then drew five of his own cards.
"So what can you tell me about Millennium Guardians?" Rathje asked, setting one monster.
"What do you need to know?" Duelist Soul countered, summoning his Dark Elf and ending his turn.
"I would like to know anything you can tell me," Rathje drew, "I will flip my Neo the Magic Swordsman, and equip it with Malevolent Nuzzler, raising it to 2400 attack points, and I will attack Dark Elf."
"The Millennium Guardians are a group meant to uphold the balance of good and evil, so neither has more power than the other. Many years ago, the Pharaoh called on his four greatest warriors. He asked them to protect this balance, no matter what the cost," Duelist Soul murmured, moving Dark Elf to the graveyard.
"Why do you ask these questions?" Duelist Soul raised one eyebrow, drawing a card, laying it on the field, "I play Fissure."
"I heard voices, but there was nobody there. What do you mean by 'No matter what the cost'?" Rathje stated calmly, discarding Neo the Magic Swordsman as Duelist Soul set a monster and a magic/trap card, "I will play Change of Heart, taking your monster."
Duelist Soul passed his Mystical Elf to Rathje, "I mean that the Pharaoh meant that the balance should come before all else, even their duty to the Pharaoh himself."
Rathje tributed the Elf for his Summoned Skull, attacking directly, "Oh."
Duelist Soul flipped Mirror Force, "Why did you follow the voices?"
"I don't know, they seemed to be important...It's not everyday you hear voices in your head...Why did you want me to come here?" Rathje asked, moving Summoned Skull to his graveyard.
"Because I believe you are a Millennium Guardian."
~
"Attack, Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Kaiba shouted, throwing one hand forward.
The Blue Eyes White Dragon blasted the Banisher of the Light with its White Lightning, destroying it. It had only been out for two turns so far, the first where it destroyed Spirit of the Harp. Life points hadn't changed in a while.
Bakura drew, smiling happily, "I set one monster and end my turn."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow at the monster, drawing a single card, "Blue Eyes White Dragon, attack the new monster!"
Blue Eyes White Dragon launched its attack, revealing Bakura's monster, Cyber Jar.
"What? Not that!" Kaiba shouted, obviously angry.
They each discarded the monsters on the field, drawing five cards. Bakura set another Spirit of the Harp and a Dancing Elf. Kaiba brought out a Vorse Raider and another La Ginn. Vorse Raider then attacked Dancing Elf, destroying it.
Bakura drew, nodding slightly at the card, "I will play Soul Exchange, using your Vorse Raider as a tribute along with my Spirit of the Harp to summon Wingweaver!"
The fairy appeared on the field, bathed in light.
"Since I have to skip my battle phase, I end my turn."
Seto Kaiba drew, and then moved his La Ginn into defense mode, "I end my turn."
"Alright, Kaiba," Bakura drew a card, then continued, "Go, Wingweaver, attack La Ginn!"
La Ginn was destroyed, leaving Kaiba with an empty field.
"Then Kaiba," Bakura nodded, "I end my turn."
Kaiba drew, knowing he would have to destroy that Wingweaver soon. A smirk flickered across his face, "Bakura, I drew the card that will lead to your defeat."
Bakura merely nodded, "Then play it."
"No," Seto Kaiba grinned, "not yet, instead, I will set one more monster, as well as one trap card face-down."
Bakura drew a card from his deck. He added the card to his hand, and then removed a different one, laying it on the field, "I will summon Ancient Elf in attack mode."
The monster appeared on the field, wielding its staff.
"Go, Wingweaver," Bakura called out, "and attack Kaiba's face-down monster!"
Wingweaver flew into the air, launching an attack of light on the monster, which was revealed, showing Battle Ox.
"Now attack, Ancient Elf!" Bakura shouted.
Ancient Elf ran forward, striking Kaiba's life points directly.
-Bakura: 8000, Kaiba: 6050
Kaiba paused before drawing, staring at Bakura, "Bakura, do you realize that this could be the final card I draw before you are beyond hope?"
"Draw, Kaiba," Bakura smiled.
Seto Kaiba nodded, drawing slowly. A smug grin crossed his lips, "Bakura, this duel is over, and there is nothing you can do."
"Why not?" Bakura asked.
"Because I play the Ritual Magic card Moment's Peace!" Seto declared, laying the card on the field, "And I offer three monsters from my hand, totally twelve levels!"
'Twelve levels for one monster...' Bakura thought, 'What could be worth that much?'
A soldier dressed in a suit of armor, both azure and crimson, appeared on the field. Its face was not visible behind the visor of its helmet. It wielded a sword with both hands, though a shield was strapped to its left arm. A blue fire engulfed it, and a gleam of red shone through the helmet.
"What is this card?" Bakura murmured in awe.
"This monster, Dragonic Warrior, may be summoned with either eight or twelve stars as a tribute," Kaiba explained, "If summoned by eight, it has 3000 attack and defense points. If summoned by twelve, it has 3000 attack and defense points, is considered a Dragon-type monster, and may only be attacked by Dragons."
"What?" Yugi shouted from the stands, "That's not fair!"
"Don't yell at me," Kaiba shrugged, quite smug, "Industrial Illusions gave me this card for the finals."
"How can Bakura deal with that monster, Yugi?" Tea asked.
"Yeah, Yug, this is gonna be tough for our pal Bakura..." Joey muttered.
"We'll just have to cheer for him and hope for the best, even though he can't even attack it."
"Now then, if we could have silence," Kaiba grinned, "Attack, Dragonic Warrior, and destroy Ancient Elf!"
The monster ran toward Ancient Elf, throwing its sword down on it, smashing its staff in two and allowing it to sail through its opponent.
-Bakura: 6450, Kaiba: 6050
Bakura drew, his eyes closed. He waited a few moments before looking at the card.
"What are you waiting for, Bakura?" Kaiba laughed, "Look at your pathetic card!"
Bakura opened his eyes, staring at the card. He almost cried out with joy, but caught himself.
"Seto Kaiba," Bakura began, "I play Black Snake's Toxin!"
In a flash of blazing light, the field started to radiate with an eerie red glow. The movements of the monsters were slower, almost as if it was painful for them.
"And what would this card do, apart from making the duel proceed in slow motion and illuminate the field?" Kaiba spat.
A grin made its way across Bakura's lips, "Black Snake Toxin is a continuous magic card, Kaiba. During each of my Standby Phases, it will deal 2000 damage to each of our life points. The following turn, it will deal 4000 damage, and each turn it will double, until either it is destroyed or one of us loses."
"Hmm..." Kaiba scoffed, "It appears that this is a waste, for at that rate, we would drop to 0 life points at the same time, but I can attack you, and you cannot attack me."
"Well," Bakura continued, "I will set one monster and move Wingweaver to defense mode before ending my turn."
"Then prepare yourself!" Kaiba shouted, drawing a card. He thought carefully, "Alright, I only need to inflict 450 points of damage and I will have guaranteed my victory. I shouldn't play another monster yet, just in case he could use it to lower my life points further, doing to me what I plan to do to him...I will just attack Wingweaver and be done with it.'
"Dragonic Warrior," Kaiba declared, "attack Wingweaver!"
Dragonic Warrior staggered toward Wingweaver, barely moving through the venom. Eventually it reached its target, and it swung its sword through it, defeating its opponent, though inflicting no damage to Bakura.
"Alright, Bakura, I end my turn," Kaiba hissed.
Bakura drew, adding the card to his hand, "Then we will both lose 2000 life points as a result of Black Snake's Toxin."
-Bakura: 4450, Kaiba: 4050
"Next turn we will lose 4000 life points," Bakura explained.
"I know," Kaiba glared at his opponent, "are you finished?"
"No, I am also setting another monster before ending my turn," Bakura stated, placing the card sideways on the field.
"Good, then that's one more turn before I finish this duel," Kaiba muttered, audible across the arena as he drew a card.
"Do you think Bakura will be able to beat Kaiba?" Joey asked.
"I don't know, Joey," Yugi answered, "but it looks like they're pretty even right now."
"Dragonic Warrior," Kaiba yelled to his monster, "Attack the face-down monster on the right!"
The monster made its way across the field once more, dragging its legs. It attacked the monster, revealing a Ray and Temperature, which was destroyed.
"Then that will end my turn, Bakura," Kaiba smirked, "and on my next turn, I will end the duel!"
Bakura drew another card, "We each lose 4000 life points, bringing us each below 1000 remaining."
"I know," Kaiba murmured, "I know."
-Bakura: 450, Kaiba: 50
"Kaiba," Bakura started, "look at the field."
"What about it?" Kaiba sneered, "Stop stalling, Bakura."
"I'm not," Bakura continued, "Do you notice anything wrong about it?"
Kaiba blinked, "...no..."
Bakura smiled, "Well, I do."
"And what is that?"
"You have no magic or trap cards on the field," Bakura stated, laying the card he drew down, face-up, "Which allows me to play this card without any worries, and there's nothing you can do about it!"
A robed figure appeared on the field, depicting an angel on one side, and a demon on the other.
"What?" Kaiba's eyes shot open, and he could only stare at the card, taking a step backwards.
"Yes," Bakura sighed, "I play Change of Heart, taking control of you Dragonic Warrior until the end of the turn."
The figure moved toward Dragonic Warrior, moving inside of it. The deep red eyes shining through the armor turned to a light blue, and it slowly turned to face Kaiba.
"No, Seto Kaiba," Bakura said firmly, "Because you have no monsters, and only 50 life points, I can attack and end this duel. So go, Dragonic Warrior, and deliver the finishing blow!"
The Dragonic Warrior moved forward, each foot moving before the other at an incredibly slow, but almost rhythmic, pace. Kaiba watched in horror as it raised its sword, and sent it crashing down upon the end of the arena, where he was standing.
-Bakura: 450, Kaiba: 0
Kaiba did not say anything. He could only close his eyes, and clench his fists, gritting his teeth.
"Alright, Bakura," Kaiba growled, "You win."
He turned, storming out of the room, not even looking up at his opponent, who stood, a little shocked, a little amazed, and a little relieved to have won the duel.
Bakura looked to his left, where his friend stood in the stands cheering. He turned to his right, seeing Croquet standing and Richard Pegasus, the Millennium Ring around his neck and a glimmer of yellow light shining through his white hair, sitting on a separate platform.
And so the quarter-finals were completed.
~
Rathje sat in his room, head in his hands, his eyes closed. He was completely confused, not sure whether he had learned anything at all. A knock echoed through the room, but he made no move to respond or to open the door.
The door opened anyway, and Yasumi walked in, sitting next to him.
"Are you okay?"
"Far from it."
"What's wrong?" Yasumi whispered.
Rathje opened his eyes, looking up, "...Duelist Soul...he believes I am a Millennium Guardian..."
"...continue..."
"That means that we will be dueling tomorrow, and if we are both Millennium Guardians, how will that effect what is supposed to happen?" Rathje murmured, sighing.
"Well..." Yasumi frowned a little at the mention of their duel, "...I guess if we are both Millennium Guardians, it won't matter who wins, because that would mean that the greater of us will go on to the Finals, and then the greater of that duel will face Richard Pegasus."
"...yes..."
"Which Millennium Guardian are you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Duelist Soul said there were four Millennium Guardians, one of Duty, Skill, Peace, and Redemption. Did he say which one you were?"
"...no, but I don't think I am the Millennium Guardian of Peace, so I guess Redemption, since you are of Skill, and Duelist Soul is of Duty..."
Yasumi nodded, remaining silent.
"...Yasumi, about our duel tomo-"
"No," Yasumi cut in, "don't say anything about it, let's just let it happen."
~
Gavin Theodore Threadbare sat cross-legged in his room upon the stone floor. He recalled the events that took place previously. He had sensed a great amount of might within Ryou Bakura. In two days they would duel.
~
Author's Note: Well, there's Chapter Seventeen! Chapter Eighteen is going to be neat. I've been planning it for a long time, probably the one I've planned third most, twenty being most, Twenty-One being second most.
Author's Note: Thanks to everybody who bothered to read this far.