Last time on Yu-Gi-Oh: Ryou Bakura dueled Seto Kaiba in what seemed to be a
hopeless match. Kaiba's Blue Eyes White Dragons posed a formidable threat
to Bakura, his stronger monster being a Wingweaver, 250 attack points
lower, and any field magic he could muster would only strengthen the
Dragons. Bakura became victorious, though, thanks to Black Snake's Toxin
and Change of Heart. Gavin dueled with Rathje, though it was not part of
the tournament. The two swapped information on the Millennium Guardians,
and Gavin revealed he believes Rathje is the Millennium Guardian of
Redemption.
Author's Note: I don't really have much to say, so I'm just going to thank everyone who is still reading this!
Author's Note: Ugh...this fic is getting harder and harder, what with the making duels original. I'm seriously considering starting a second fic, which must be Romance; I've gone far too long without writing a Romance fic...
~
The lone figure dashed down the hallway, leaving three of Richard Pegasus' cohorts a few meters behind. The young man was running faster, but he still didn't know the mansion nearly as well as the guards.
"We need more security on the fifth floor," one shouted into his cell phone.
Gavin Threadbare stopped at the end of the hall. He could have turned the corner, but decided to hop onto the railing of the window instead. The men stopped a couple feet away from him, quite prepared for combat.
"Look, kid," another stated gruffly, "We aren't the ones in the tournament here, so you can go ahead and jump and kill yourself..."
"I doubt I would die," Gavin responded, an amazingly thin smile upon his lips.
"It's five floors before hitting the gravel," the first explained, "You wouldn't be in any position to duel, that's for sure."
"I do not intend on touching the ground," Gavin murmured, leaping out the window.
"He's crazy!" the third yelled, all three running to look down after him.
To their wonder, he was not falling like a rock. He had grabbed a rope, and was swinging to another window a ways down. The suits looked up, trying to see where the rope was tied, but as soon as Gavin reached his destination, the rope was cut, and it fell. It dangled loosely, and Gavin let it drop.
"...I don't believe it..." one muttered angrily under his breath.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the rope, Rathje and Yasumi were helping Gavin enter the window. After he did, he placed a bag on a table, and the three awaited the others.
"How much did you find?" Rathje asked.
"You will see soon enough..." Gavin replied, his eyes closed.
Quite a bit of time passed, and then a knock was heard on the door. Rathje stood, opening it swiftly. Yugi, Joey, and Bakura walked in, Joey holding a knife and a small amount of rope.
Rathje sighed, leading them into his room, "...Jeez, did we have to use my good rope?"
"...It was the only one long enough, Rathje," Gavin frowned slightly, "I apologize."
"So what did you find?" Yugi asked, sitting on one of the chairs in Rathje's room
Gavin opened his bag, removing a book, "A log, Richard Pegasus' log."
Gavin flipped through the book, stopping at the page where Pegasus had last recorded his thoughts, as indicated by the text stopping half-way down the page.
"It is all coming together," Gavin read aloud, "All my plans, all my dreams. The three Millennium Guardians are within my very Castle. No, not my castle, not yet. I hold within my possession the three Pharaoh's Items, the objects that are to be wielded by the Millennium Guardians. Though I do not know the powers of these Items, by keeping them within my grasp, they cannot be used against me. If I could destroy them, I would, but I cannot leave the castle yet, my work is not complete.
"Soon, though, I will duel one of the three. There will be nothing capable of saving them, though. For within my deck lies a card like no other. It has power unmatched by any, able to destroy its opponent with a single attack. No matter what they do, as soon as the appropriate time comes, I will unleash my creature upon the Millennium Guardian, winning the duel and my new host.
"But that is not all, no, it is far from it. For I also hold a deck full of new cards. The others are not even close to the strength of the aforementioned card, but they will assist me. For the Millennium Guardians have only had a single taste of fountain that is my power. I have given each of them new cards, as to tell them that many more await them. Though I have not shown them any others, which is to be used to my advantage. The less they know; the more power I will have against them.
"I have managed to print these cards by telling Industrial Illusions that these are to be used in the newest extension of Duel Monsters, Trial of Pharaohs. I have not set a date for the release, and there will not be one. For when I rise to power, Duel Monsters will only be needed by those who serve me. We will have no need for 'extensions' and 'card shops'. I will restrict those with the ability, thus increasing the power of those who wield it.
"So, with the defeat of one enemy comes the downfall of the world. With a single beast under my control, I will bring about a new age, an age of chaos and order, rule and anarchy, life and death. For that is what this strives on, the life of one for the death of another..."
"Well..." Joey muttered, "...at least we confirmed that this guy's crazy..."
"Remember, Joey," Bakura explained, "That is not Richard Pegasus who is writing, but the Spirit of the Millennium Ring."
"...right..." Joey sighed, "...at least we confirmed that this guy's crazy..."
"Wait," Yasumi cut in, "He said there were three Millennium Guardians. Didn't you say there were four?"
Gavin nodded slowly, "Yes...there was one who told me..."
Yugi raised an eyebrow, "Someone told you? Who was it?"
"The world is very large, Yugi Moto," Gavin murmured, "I doubt you would know a single person at random."
"Try us," Joey gritted his teeth, clenching his fists.
Gavin sighed, shaking his head, "You are determined, I'll give you that."
"Well?" Joey said.
"Alright," Gavin began, "I was visited by a man roughly two years ago. He was older than I. I believe he was of Egyptian descent. He told me to hone my skills as a duelist, and to enter every tournament available, as it would assist me in my later years.
"I asked him why, but all he would tell me is that I would learn of it soon enough. Six months ago, when I first heard of this tournament, I encountered this man again. He explained to me that I must enter, as I am to find the remaining Millennium Guardians."
"Yeah, yeah," Joey shrugged, "but what was his name?"
"His name..." Gavin murmured under his breath, "...it was...It was Shadi."
~
It was less than ten minutes until their duel, and Rathje and Yasumi were in the hallways. The fork in the path was before them, and they would have to separate, only to meet soon on opposite sides.
"Yasumi," Rathje sighed, "Good luck."
"Good luck to you, too," Yasumi smiled weakly, "May the best duelist win."
"No."
"No?"
Rathje shakes his head, looking at a tapestry before them. The tapestry depicted a scene much like a fantasy story. It showed a knight riding a horse, riding toward a dragon. Below him was a castle where a king and a queen sat on their thrones, surrounded by guards.
"This duel is not about who is better...not anymore..." Rathje frowns slightly, "...we don't really care who wins the tournament. All we want to do is stop Pegasus...or save Pegasus, depending on how you look at it...Anyway, see that tapestry?"
Yasumi nodded, which Rathje only saw in his peripheral vision.
"Well, any of those guards could beat the knight in battle, I'll bet," Rathje murmurs, "but that knight has something special that makes him the only one able to fight the dragon. That's what our situation is. For all we know, Duelist Soul could be the one who is supposed to duel Pegasus, and this could all be pointless."
"Do you really think that this duel has nothing to do with skill?" Yasumi asked.
"No, half of it is skill," Rathje swallows dryly, "The other half would be Redemption."
Yasumi smiles, looking at Rathje, "But is the outcome of the duel based solely on who is to duel Pegasus, not who is a better duelist?"
"That's what I think," Rathje sighs, turning toward the hallway he is to take to the arena, "But then again, I could just be going insane because of all of this Millennium Guardian stuff..."
"Rathje."
Rathje paused, "Yes?"
"Good luck."
"You, too."
~
The two duelists stood atop the dueling platform, staring into one another's eyes. Their decks lay on the arena. Duelist Soul stood on the balcony, standing apart from the others.
"Skill and Redemption," he muttered.
"May the duel between Rathje Kiroishen and Yasumi Shiroko begin," Croquet announced.
They both drew five cards, and Rathje gave a nod of recognition. Yasumi began her turn.
"Alright, Rathje, I won't hold back," Yasumi warned, drawing a card, "I will set one monster and one trap card and end my turn."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Rathje murmured, "So I will summon Neo the Magic Swordsman in attack mode."
The monster appeared in the center tile of Rathje's side of the arena.
"Neo the Magic Swordsman, attack the face-down monster!" Rathje declared.
Neo attacked, revealing Yasumi's Mystical Elf, "I'm sorry, Rathje, but you lose 300 life points."
-Rathje: 7700, Yasumi: 8000
"Hmm...first life point damage..." Gavin whispers to himself.
Yasumi drew, adding the card to her hand, "Rathje, I will summon Rogue Doll."
"Why not set?" Rathje inquired.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yasumi asked, "You can't set a monster in attack mode, you know that."
"Attack mode?" Rathje blinked.
"Yes," Yasumi nodded, "and I will also set two magic or trap cards face- down before ending my turn."
'Hmm...this is obviously a trap...' Rathje thinks, drawing a card, "But what choice do I have? She may have a Dark Magician in her hand, or another powerful monster...'
"Yasumi," Rathje declared, "I am attacking Rogue Doll with Neo the Magic Swordsman!"
"Then I will activate Blast With Chain," Yasumi countered, flipping the card.
Neo attacked, but soon the Rogue Doll was armed with a form of dynamite, giving it 500 more attack points.
-Rathje: 7300, Yasumi: 8000
"Hmm..." Rathje murmured, moving Neo to the graveyard, "Well played..."
The crowds watched anxiously. Gavin nodded at Yasumi's move, smiling ever so slightly, "Interesting...the first duel of the Millennium Guardians seems to be proceeding quite nicely..."
"I will set one monster and one trap card before ending my turn," Rathje stated, placing the cards face down on the field.
Yasumi drew, then looked back to the field, "Rogue Doll, attack the face- down monster!"
Rogue Doll moved forward, and Rathje's Man-Eater Bug flipped face-up, along with his trap card.
"Yasumi," Rathje interrupted, "I activate Love and Hate, my newest card."
"What does it do?" Yasumi asked.
"It is a Continuous Trap Card," Rathje explained, "Whenever a monster's effect is activated, I may draw a card from a random place in my deck. And since my Man-Eater Bug's flip effect is activated, I will do just that. In addition, my Man-Eater Bug may destroy a monster, and I select your Rogue Doll."
As Rathje cut his deck, drawing a card, both monsters were destroyed, but a scale appeared on the field above the space where Rathje's trap was.
"Alright, Rathje," Yasumi sighed, "I end my turn."
'Hmm,' Rathje thought, 'She still has Mystical Elf...'
Rathje drew, adding the card to his hand, "I will summon Jirai Gumo and end my turn, Yasumi."
Yasumi nodded, drawing a card from her deck, "Then I will end my turn without playing a card."
"Then I will tribute my Jirai Gumo for Summoned Skull!" Rathje declared, moving Jirai Gumo to the graveyard, "Summoned Skull, attack Mystical Elf!"
The monster appeared, hovering menacingly over the elf. It launched a pillar of electricity, leaving nothing remaining. However, the monster was in defense mode, so no damage was done.
"Well," Gavin chuckled wryly, "this duel seems to have turned around. Yasumi still has the lead, although not by much..."
"Are you done?" Yasumi asked.
"No," Rathje replied, "I will set one more trap card before ending my turn."
Yasumi drew, smiling, "Then, Rathje, I will activate Curse of Fiend!"
"What?" Rathje stared, a little shocked, at the card.
"Intriguing," Gavin said softly.
"I assume you know the card?" Yasumi mused.
"Yes, I used to use it..." Rathje muttered, "It switches all monsters in Attack position to Defense, and all monster in Defense position to Attack..."
"So then you realize that you Summoned Skull is in defense mode," Yasumi retorted.
'Yes...' Rathje thought, '...and with only 1200 defense points, it's an easy target...'
"So now, Rathje," Yasumi declared, "I will offer two monsters from my hand as a tribute to summon my Sorceress of Life!"
The monster appeared on the field, wielding its bladed staff.
"Wait!" Rathje smirked, "I get to draw a card, because you used Sorceress of Life's ability to special summon her!"
Yasumi nodded, and Rathje took a random card from his deck to his hand.
"Sorceress of Life, attack Summoned Skull!" Yasumi shouted.
Sorceress of Life dashed forward. Just as she was about to strike with her staff, three robed figures appeared, blocking her attack.
"Yasumi, I activate Waboku!" Rathje grinned, "Meaning that next turn I may move Summoned Skull into Attack Mode, destroying Sorceress of Life!"
"Then I will set one trap card and end my turn," Yasumi replied.
'She doesn't seem phased at all.' Rathje thought, then drew a card, "Yasumi, I change Summoned Skull into Attack Mode and attack Sorceress of Life!"
Summoned Skull attacked, spraying lightning at the monster. Two tubes appeared. One caught the attack, the other shot it back at Rathje.
"Then I will activate Magic Cylinder!" Yasumi stated, flipping the trap, "This trap will make Summoned Skull's attack damage you instead!"
-Rathje: 4800, Yasumi: 8000
"Well done," Gavin muttered under his breath.
"Now I will move Sorceress of Life to Defense Position," Yasumi said, moving her card, "and I end my turn."
'Let's see,' Rathje thought, 'Sorceress of Life has 1500 defense points...so I could play another monster, then attack, thus inflicting more damage with Summoned Skull...'
"I summon Harpie's Brother," Rathje placed the card on the field, and the monster appeared, "And I will attack Sorceress of Life with Harpie's Brother!"
Harpie's Brother moved forward, striking directly through Sorceress of Life. Yasumi flinched, which was quite noticeable to both Rathje and Gavin.
"Summoned Skull, attack Yasumi directly!"
Summoned Skull attacked. And, with nothing to stop it, the attack stuck Yasumi with no retaliation.
-Rathje: 4800, Yasumi: 5500
"Alright, Yasumi," Rathje grinned, "now we have a duel!"
"Yes," Yasumi smiled back, "but now it's my turn!"
Gavin smiled as well, though nobody noticed him in the corner of the balcony, "How...interesting. They are friends, and remain so even when pitted against one another. So the Pharaoh is not the only one able to put aside duels and make friendship their prime goal..."
Gavin looked to his left, where Yugi and Joey stood. His smile grew slightly broader, as he noticed the two were just as close friends as they were a year before, if not closer. They were commenting on the duel, just as he was.
Yasumi drew, adding the card to her hand. Looking up at the field slyly, she removed a single card, placing it on the field.
"I will play Monster Reborn!" Yasumi declared, "Returning Sorceress of Life to the field!"
"But it isn't strong enough..." Rathje muttered to himself, almost knowing the next move.
"...and I will equip my monster with Black Pendant, which will increase her Attack points by 500!" Yasumi finished.
The Spellcaster reappeared on the field, and was suddenly armed with an amulet as well as her bladed staff.
"Now, Sorceress of Life, attack Summoned Skull!" Yasumi shouted
Sorceress of Life moved forward with grace and balance, running the blade of her weapon through the fiend, destroying it and inflicting 300 points of damage to Rathje's life points.
-Rathje: 4500, Yasumi: 5500
Rathje drew a card, closing his eyes as he placed it on the field, "Yasumi..."
"Yes?"
"Please..." Rathje murmured as the card appeared in a flash of light, "...forgive me...I play Snatch Steal."
"Don't worry about it..."
Rathje looked up, his eyes wide open, "What do you mean by that?"
"What you said earlier, about the tapestry," Yasumi replied, barely audible across the arena, "No matter which one of us loses, one of us will win. So even if I lose, I can still be happy because you will win."
Rathje lowers his head, smiling silently.
"So you see, Rathje, we are friends," Yasumi states, grinning, "Good friends. Don't worry, anything that damages me will help you, so it will be fine."
"But anything I do to help myself will hurt you..."
"Rathje!"
"Yes?"
"Why did you come to Duelist Kingdom?" Yasumi asks.
Rathje blinks, staring into his friend's eyes, "I...I don't know anymore..."
"You came to duel, right?"
"Yes..." Rathje sighs, "I guess so."
"Then duel."
He pauses for a moment, thinking. He picked a second card from his hand, placing it below his Harpie's Brother.
"I play Malevolent Nuzzler, equipping it to my Harpie's Brother, raising its Attack and Defense points by 700," Rathje declares, "Thus it is now at 2500 Attack Points!"
Yasumi nodded, biting her lip and closing her eyes.
"Harpie's Brother," Rathje shouts, throwing his right hand forward, "Attack Yasumi directly!"
Gavin watched from the balcony, making note of the quiver in Rathje's voice as he states his move.
Harpie's Brother leapt forward. With nothing in its path, it struck Yasumi with no problems.
"Sorceress of Life, attack!" Rathje yells.
The monster moves quickly, attacking with her bladed staff as it did before, dealing 2800 life point damage.
-Rathje: 4500, Yasumi: 200
Heaving a single sigh, Yasumi nodded, opening her eyes to see Rathje. His body was visibly quaking. His head was lowered, eyes closed. He was biting his lip, harder than before. Blood trickled down his chin, dripping onto the dueling arena.
"Rathje?"
"...I-I end my turn, Yasumi..." Rathje spits, not opening his eyes to see Yasumi's concern.
Yasumi swallows dryly, not knowing what to do. She picks up the top card on her deck, looking blankly at it. She pauses for a moment, just then being struck by a moment of clarity, knowing what she would do.
"...Rathje...it will soon be over...don't worry..." she whispers, though he couldn't hear her.
Gavin watches curiously, anxiously awaiting Yasumi's next move. For all he and Rathje knew, she could have a Dark Hole or Raigeki waiting.
Yasumi played the magic card she drew, activating its effect immediately, "...Rathje, I play Mystical Space Typhoon, which will resolve before I gain 1000 life points, to destroy Snatch Steal."
"So you are gaining control of Sorceress of Life..." Rathje coughs, the words barely reaching Yasumi.
"Yes, and I offer it as a tribute to summon another monster," Yasumi sighs, moving Sorceress of Life to the graveyard once again, "Dark Magician Girl."
"Then I lose 500 life points from Black Pendant," Rathje murmurs, more to himself, "and I draw a card from the activation of Dark Magician Girl's effect."
-Rathje: 4000, Yasumi: 200
After Rathje drew a random card, Yasumi sighs again, looking desperately at Rathje, who still had his eyes closed, a look of pain stricken across his face, "...Dark Magician Girl...attack Harpie's Brother..."
"How many Dark Magicians do you have in your graveyard?" Rathje asks, managing to open his eyes ever so slightly.
"None."
"Magician of Black Chaos?"
"None."
"...But that would mean..."
"Yes..." Yasumi murmurs in response, "I am attacking a monster with 500 more attack points than mine."
Dark Magician Girl launched its attack, though Harpie's Brother counter- attacked, destroying Dark Magician Girl.
"...and I lose 500 life points..." Yasumi whispers, "...losing the duel..."
-Rathje: 4000, Yasumi: 0
"...Suicide?" Rathje stated, his eyes completely open, his lip still bleeding, "Why?"
"Because I couldn't allow you to go through that any more," Yasumi answered, bowing her head slightly, "I didn't want to force you to declare the final attack..."
"...Yasumi..."
"Rathje."
"The duel is over, Rathje Kiroishen is the victor," Croquet cut in, "The duelist should leave the arena."
After taking one final look at one another, they turned away in unison, walking slowly down the corridor.
~
They met in the hall, looking into each other's eyes. At first neither made any move, then they dashed to the other. They stopped a few feet away, feeling a little awkward. At the exact same moment, they moved forward, meeting in a friendly hug.
"...We did it..." Yasumi sighs.
"...You did it..." Rathje replies, his voice a mere whisper, "...I couldn't do anything...you were the one who did it..."
Yasumi was silent, and they drew back, both blushing a bit. They stood there for a few more minutes, both of them smiling sheepishly.
"Congratulations," a voice cuts in.
They turned, seeing Duelist Soul.
"Who are you addressing?" Rathje asks bluntly.
"Both of you," Duelist Soul answers, looking at Yasumi and Rathje respectively, "Yasumi for showing her true skill, and Rathje for taking the next step towards redemption."
"Uh...thanks..." Yasumi grins, turning a little brighter in the cheeks.
"Redemption?" Rathje sighs, "I still don't know why I'm redeeming myself..."
"Are you sure?" Duelist Soul smirks, raising one eyebrow, "Search your heart and mind, it holds the answers."
"...What does that really mean?" Rathje asks, crossing his arms.
"Each person must find his or her own translations," Duelist Soul nods, turning away from them, "Just as you said before, I cannot find your heart for you, you must do it yourself."
Giving a slight chuckle, Rathje lowers his head, closing his eyes for a moment, "Yes, I guess your right."
"Good-bye, Millennium Guardians. Sleep well tonight," Duelist Soul murmurs, and then walks off.
~
Rathje sat in his room, staring out the window. Despite their previous conversation, Rathje felt horrible about his victory. Ignoring the knock on the door, Rathje sighs, running a finger across his cut lip.
The door opens, and a light voice travels across the room, "Rathje, are you okay?"
Rathje turns, seeing Yugi, "Yeah, I'm fine...you want to sit down?"
"Sure," Yugi shrugs, taking the seat Rathje motioned to him, "You sure nothing's on your mind?"
"Well...I just don't feel well about the tournament," Rathje responds, looking at the stars in the sky, "First I dueled my brother, and then my best friend. Both duels were difficult, both skillfully and emotionally..."
"Oh..."
"I don't know if this is right. I mean, what if I'm not a Millennium Guardian. Maybe Gavin's wrong," Rathje mutters, almost speaking to himself, "I don't know what to do..."
"Well...you said to your brother that you have to find your own 'heart', right?"
"Yes."
"So I take it I can't just tell you what to do?"
"You could give me advice, but I wouldn't listen if you commanded me..."
"Alright, well, my grandpa once told me something...I think it might help..." Yugi states.
"Give it a shot."
Recalling his grandfather's exact words, Yugi hopes this is the right time to say it, "'The road to victory is laden with many failures'. To win, someone has to lose..."
"Thank you, Yugi," Rathje replies, standing, "Thank you."
~
Author's Note: Thanks to Gabrielle Reed, Marisa McGuire, and Hermes for helping me through writer's block.
Author's Note: Thankyouthankyouthankyou to Gabrielle Reed!
Author's Note: Next chapter; Duelist Soul and Ryou Bakura duel in the last match of the semi-finals! Duelist Soul's new cards have been seen, but Bakura's remain a mystery...until the next chapter...
Author's Note: I don't really have much to say, so I'm just going to thank everyone who is still reading this!
Author's Note: Ugh...this fic is getting harder and harder, what with the making duels original. I'm seriously considering starting a second fic, which must be Romance; I've gone far too long without writing a Romance fic...
~
The lone figure dashed down the hallway, leaving three of Richard Pegasus' cohorts a few meters behind. The young man was running faster, but he still didn't know the mansion nearly as well as the guards.
"We need more security on the fifth floor," one shouted into his cell phone.
Gavin Threadbare stopped at the end of the hall. He could have turned the corner, but decided to hop onto the railing of the window instead. The men stopped a couple feet away from him, quite prepared for combat.
"Look, kid," another stated gruffly, "We aren't the ones in the tournament here, so you can go ahead and jump and kill yourself..."
"I doubt I would die," Gavin responded, an amazingly thin smile upon his lips.
"It's five floors before hitting the gravel," the first explained, "You wouldn't be in any position to duel, that's for sure."
"I do not intend on touching the ground," Gavin murmured, leaping out the window.
"He's crazy!" the third yelled, all three running to look down after him.
To their wonder, he was not falling like a rock. He had grabbed a rope, and was swinging to another window a ways down. The suits looked up, trying to see where the rope was tied, but as soon as Gavin reached his destination, the rope was cut, and it fell. It dangled loosely, and Gavin let it drop.
"...I don't believe it..." one muttered angrily under his breath.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the rope, Rathje and Yasumi were helping Gavin enter the window. After he did, he placed a bag on a table, and the three awaited the others.
"How much did you find?" Rathje asked.
"You will see soon enough..." Gavin replied, his eyes closed.
Quite a bit of time passed, and then a knock was heard on the door. Rathje stood, opening it swiftly. Yugi, Joey, and Bakura walked in, Joey holding a knife and a small amount of rope.
Rathje sighed, leading them into his room, "...Jeez, did we have to use my good rope?"
"...It was the only one long enough, Rathje," Gavin frowned slightly, "I apologize."
"So what did you find?" Yugi asked, sitting on one of the chairs in Rathje's room
Gavin opened his bag, removing a book, "A log, Richard Pegasus' log."
Gavin flipped through the book, stopping at the page where Pegasus had last recorded his thoughts, as indicated by the text stopping half-way down the page.
"It is all coming together," Gavin read aloud, "All my plans, all my dreams. The three Millennium Guardians are within my very Castle. No, not my castle, not yet. I hold within my possession the three Pharaoh's Items, the objects that are to be wielded by the Millennium Guardians. Though I do not know the powers of these Items, by keeping them within my grasp, they cannot be used against me. If I could destroy them, I would, but I cannot leave the castle yet, my work is not complete.
"Soon, though, I will duel one of the three. There will be nothing capable of saving them, though. For within my deck lies a card like no other. It has power unmatched by any, able to destroy its opponent with a single attack. No matter what they do, as soon as the appropriate time comes, I will unleash my creature upon the Millennium Guardian, winning the duel and my new host.
"But that is not all, no, it is far from it. For I also hold a deck full of new cards. The others are not even close to the strength of the aforementioned card, but they will assist me. For the Millennium Guardians have only had a single taste of fountain that is my power. I have given each of them new cards, as to tell them that many more await them. Though I have not shown them any others, which is to be used to my advantage. The less they know; the more power I will have against them.
"I have managed to print these cards by telling Industrial Illusions that these are to be used in the newest extension of Duel Monsters, Trial of Pharaohs. I have not set a date for the release, and there will not be one. For when I rise to power, Duel Monsters will only be needed by those who serve me. We will have no need for 'extensions' and 'card shops'. I will restrict those with the ability, thus increasing the power of those who wield it.
"So, with the defeat of one enemy comes the downfall of the world. With a single beast under my control, I will bring about a new age, an age of chaos and order, rule and anarchy, life and death. For that is what this strives on, the life of one for the death of another..."
"Well..." Joey muttered, "...at least we confirmed that this guy's crazy..."
"Remember, Joey," Bakura explained, "That is not Richard Pegasus who is writing, but the Spirit of the Millennium Ring."
"...right..." Joey sighed, "...at least we confirmed that this guy's crazy..."
"Wait," Yasumi cut in, "He said there were three Millennium Guardians. Didn't you say there were four?"
Gavin nodded slowly, "Yes...there was one who told me..."
Yugi raised an eyebrow, "Someone told you? Who was it?"
"The world is very large, Yugi Moto," Gavin murmured, "I doubt you would know a single person at random."
"Try us," Joey gritted his teeth, clenching his fists.
Gavin sighed, shaking his head, "You are determined, I'll give you that."
"Well?" Joey said.
"Alright," Gavin began, "I was visited by a man roughly two years ago. He was older than I. I believe he was of Egyptian descent. He told me to hone my skills as a duelist, and to enter every tournament available, as it would assist me in my later years.
"I asked him why, but all he would tell me is that I would learn of it soon enough. Six months ago, when I first heard of this tournament, I encountered this man again. He explained to me that I must enter, as I am to find the remaining Millennium Guardians."
"Yeah, yeah," Joey shrugged, "but what was his name?"
"His name..." Gavin murmured under his breath, "...it was...It was Shadi."
~
It was less than ten minutes until their duel, and Rathje and Yasumi were in the hallways. The fork in the path was before them, and they would have to separate, only to meet soon on opposite sides.
"Yasumi," Rathje sighed, "Good luck."
"Good luck to you, too," Yasumi smiled weakly, "May the best duelist win."
"No."
"No?"
Rathje shakes his head, looking at a tapestry before them. The tapestry depicted a scene much like a fantasy story. It showed a knight riding a horse, riding toward a dragon. Below him was a castle where a king and a queen sat on their thrones, surrounded by guards.
"This duel is not about who is better...not anymore..." Rathje frowns slightly, "...we don't really care who wins the tournament. All we want to do is stop Pegasus...or save Pegasus, depending on how you look at it...Anyway, see that tapestry?"
Yasumi nodded, which Rathje only saw in his peripheral vision.
"Well, any of those guards could beat the knight in battle, I'll bet," Rathje murmurs, "but that knight has something special that makes him the only one able to fight the dragon. That's what our situation is. For all we know, Duelist Soul could be the one who is supposed to duel Pegasus, and this could all be pointless."
"Do you really think that this duel has nothing to do with skill?" Yasumi asked.
"No, half of it is skill," Rathje swallows dryly, "The other half would be Redemption."
Yasumi smiles, looking at Rathje, "But is the outcome of the duel based solely on who is to duel Pegasus, not who is a better duelist?"
"That's what I think," Rathje sighs, turning toward the hallway he is to take to the arena, "But then again, I could just be going insane because of all of this Millennium Guardian stuff..."
"Rathje."
Rathje paused, "Yes?"
"Good luck."
"You, too."
~
The two duelists stood atop the dueling platform, staring into one another's eyes. Their decks lay on the arena. Duelist Soul stood on the balcony, standing apart from the others.
"Skill and Redemption," he muttered.
"May the duel between Rathje Kiroishen and Yasumi Shiroko begin," Croquet announced.
They both drew five cards, and Rathje gave a nod of recognition. Yasumi began her turn.
"Alright, Rathje, I won't hold back," Yasumi warned, drawing a card, "I will set one monster and one trap card and end my turn."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Rathje murmured, "So I will summon Neo the Magic Swordsman in attack mode."
The monster appeared in the center tile of Rathje's side of the arena.
"Neo the Magic Swordsman, attack the face-down monster!" Rathje declared.
Neo attacked, revealing Yasumi's Mystical Elf, "I'm sorry, Rathje, but you lose 300 life points."
-Rathje: 7700, Yasumi: 8000
"Hmm...first life point damage..." Gavin whispers to himself.
Yasumi drew, adding the card to her hand, "Rathje, I will summon Rogue Doll."
"Why not set?" Rathje inquired.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yasumi asked, "You can't set a monster in attack mode, you know that."
"Attack mode?" Rathje blinked.
"Yes," Yasumi nodded, "and I will also set two magic or trap cards face- down before ending my turn."
'Hmm...this is obviously a trap...' Rathje thinks, drawing a card, "But what choice do I have? She may have a Dark Magician in her hand, or another powerful monster...'
"Yasumi," Rathje declared, "I am attacking Rogue Doll with Neo the Magic Swordsman!"
"Then I will activate Blast With Chain," Yasumi countered, flipping the card.
Neo attacked, but soon the Rogue Doll was armed with a form of dynamite, giving it 500 more attack points.
-Rathje: 7300, Yasumi: 8000
"Hmm..." Rathje murmured, moving Neo to the graveyard, "Well played..."
The crowds watched anxiously. Gavin nodded at Yasumi's move, smiling ever so slightly, "Interesting...the first duel of the Millennium Guardians seems to be proceeding quite nicely..."
"I will set one monster and one trap card before ending my turn," Rathje stated, placing the cards face down on the field.
Yasumi drew, then looked back to the field, "Rogue Doll, attack the face- down monster!"
Rogue Doll moved forward, and Rathje's Man-Eater Bug flipped face-up, along with his trap card.
"Yasumi," Rathje interrupted, "I activate Love and Hate, my newest card."
"What does it do?" Yasumi asked.
"It is a Continuous Trap Card," Rathje explained, "Whenever a monster's effect is activated, I may draw a card from a random place in my deck. And since my Man-Eater Bug's flip effect is activated, I will do just that. In addition, my Man-Eater Bug may destroy a monster, and I select your Rogue Doll."
As Rathje cut his deck, drawing a card, both monsters were destroyed, but a scale appeared on the field above the space where Rathje's trap was.
"Alright, Rathje," Yasumi sighed, "I end my turn."
'Hmm,' Rathje thought, 'She still has Mystical Elf...'
Rathje drew, adding the card to his hand, "I will summon Jirai Gumo and end my turn, Yasumi."
Yasumi nodded, drawing a card from her deck, "Then I will end my turn without playing a card."
"Then I will tribute my Jirai Gumo for Summoned Skull!" Rathje declared, moving Jirai Gumo to the graveyard, "Summoned Skull, attack Mystical Elf!"
The monster appeared, hovering menacingly over the elf. It launched a pillar of electricity, leaving nothing remaining. However, the monster was in defense mode, so no damage was done.
"Well," Gavin chuckled wryly, "this duel seems to have turned around. Yasumi still has the lead, although not by much..."
"Are you done?" Yasumi asked.
"No," Rathje replied, "I will set one more trap card before ending my turn."
Yasumi drew, smiling, "Then, Rathje, I will activate Curse of Fiend!"
"What?" Rathje stared, a little shocked, at the card.
"Intriguing," Gavin said softly.
"I assume you know the card?" Yasumi mused.
"Yes, I used to use it..." Rathje muttered, "It switches all monsters in Attack position to Defense, and all monster in Defense position to Attack..."
"So then you realize that you Summoned Skull is in defense mode," Yasumi retorted.
'Yes...' Rathje thought, '...and with only 1200 defense points, it's an easy target...'
"So now, Rathje," Yasumi declared, "I will offer two monsters from my hand as a tribute to summon my Sorceress of Life!"
The monster appeared on the field, wielding its bladed staff.
"Wait!" Rathje smirked, "I get to draw a card, because you used Sorceress of Life's ability to special summon her!"
Yasumi nodded, and Rathje took a random card from his deck to his hand.
"Sorceress of Life, attack Summoned Skull!" Yasumi shouted.
Sorceress of Life dashed forward. Just as she was about to strike with her staff, three robed figures appeared, blocking her attack.
"Yasumi, I activate Waboku!" Rathje grinned, "Meaning that next turn I may move Summoned Skull into Attack Mode, destroying Sorceress of Life!"
"Then I will set one trap card and end my turn," Yasumi replied.
'She doesn't seem phased at all.' Rathje thought, then drew a card, "Yasumi, I change Summoned Skull into Attack Mode and attack Sorceress of Life!"
Summoned Skull attacked, spraying lightning at the monster. Two tubes appeared. One caught the attack, the other shot it back at Rathje.
"Then I will activate Magic Cylinder!" Yasumi stated, flipping the trap, "This trap will make Summoned Skull's attack damage you instead!"
-Rathje: 4800, Yasumi: 8000
"Well done," Gavin muttered under his breath.
"Now I will move Sorceress of Life to Defense Position," Yasumi said, moving her card, "and I end my turn."
'Let's see,' Rathje thought, 'Sorceress of Life has 1500 defense points...so I could play another monster, then attack, thus inflicting more damage with Summoned Skull...'
"I summon Harpie's Brother," Rathje placed the card on the field, and the monster appeared, "And I will attack Sorceress of Life with Harpie's Brother!"
Harpie's Brother moved forward, striking directly through Sorceress of Life. Yasumi flinched, which was quite noticeable to both Rathje and Gavin.
"Summoned Skull, attack Yasumi directly!"
Summoned Skull attacked. And, with nothing to stop it, the attack stuck Yasumi with no retaliation.
-Rathje: 4800, Yasumi: 5500
"Alright, Yasumi," Rathje grinned, "now we have a duel!"
"Yes," Yasumi smiled back, "but now it's my turn!"
Gavin smiled as well, though nobody noticed him in the corner of the balcony, "How...interesting. They are friends, and remain so even when pitted against one another. So the Pharaoh is not the only one able to put aside duels and make friendship their prime goal..."
Gavin looked to his left, where Yugi and Joey stood. His smile grew slightly broader, as he noticed the two were just as close friends as they were a year before, if not closer. They were commenting on the duel, just as he was.
Yasumi drew, adding the card to her hand. Looking up at the field slyly, she removed a single card, placing it on the field.
"I will play Monster Reborn!" Yasumi declared, "Returning Sorceress of Life to the field!"
"But it isn't strong enough..." Rathje muttered to himself, almost knowing the next move.
"...and I will equip my monster with Black Pendant, which will increase her Attack points by 500!" Yasumi finished.
The Spellcaster reappeared on the field, and was suddenly armed with an amulet as well as her bladed staff.
"Now, Sorceress of Life, attack Summoned Skull!" Yasumi shouted
Sorceress of Life moved forward with grace and balance, running the blade of her weapon through the fiend, destroying it and inflicting 300 points of damage to Rathje's life points.
-Rathje: 4500, Yasumi: 5500
Rathje drew a card, closing his eyes as he placed it on the field, "Yasumi..."
"Yes?"
"Please..." Rathje murmured as the card appeared in a flash of light, "...forgive me...I play Snatch Steal."
"Don't worry about it..."
Rathje looked up, his eyes wide open, "What do you mean by that?"
"What you said earlier, about the tapestry," Yasumi replied, barely audible across the arena, "No matter which one of us loses, one of us will win. So even if I lose, I can still be happy because you will win."
Rathje lowers his head, smiling silently.
"So you see, Rathje, we are friends," Yasumi states, grinning, "Good friends. Don't worry, anything that damages me will help you, so it will be fine."
"But anything I do to help myself will hurt you..."
"Rathje!"
"Yes?"
"Why did you come to Duelist Kingdom?" Yasumi asks.
Rathje blinks, staring into his friend's eyes, "I...I don't know anymore..."
"You came to duel, right?"
"Yes..." Rathje sighs, "I guess so."
"Then duel."
He pauses for a moment, thinking. He picked a second card from his hand, placing it below his Harpie's Brother.
"I play Malevolent Nuzzler, equipping it to my Harpie's Brother, raising its Attack and Defense points by 700," Rathje declares, "Thus it is now at 2500 Attack Points!"
Yasumi nodded, biting her lip and closing her eyes.
"Harpie's Brother," Rathje shouts, throwing his right hand forward, "Attack Yasumi directly!"
Gavin watched from the balcony, making note of the quiver in Rathje's voice as he states his move.
Harpie's Brother leapt forward. With nothing in its path, it struck Yasumi with no problems.
"Sorceress of Life, attack!" Rathje yells.
The monster moves quickly, attacking with her bladed staff as it did before, dealing 2800 life point damage.
-Rathje: 4500, Yasumi: 200
Heaving a single sigh, Yasumi nodded, opening her eyes to see Rathje. His body was visibly quaking. His head was lowered, eyes closed. He was biting his lip, harder than before. Blood trickled down his chin, dripping onto the dueling arena.
"Rathje?"
"...I-I end my turn, Yasumi..." Rathje spits, not opening his eyes to see Yasumi's concern.
Yasumi swallows dryly, not knowing what to do. She picks up the top card on her deck, looking blankly at it. She pauses for a moment, just then being struck by a moment of clarity, knowing what she would do.
"...Rathje...it will soon be over...don't worry..." she whispers, though he couldn't hear her.
Gavin watches curiously, anxiously awaiting Yasumi's next move. For all he and Rathje knew, she could have a Dark Hole or Raigeki waiting.
Yasumi played the magic card she drew, activating its effect immediately, "...Rathje, I play Mystical Space Typhoon, which will resolve before I gain 1000 life points, to destroy Snatch Steal."
"So you are gaining control of Sorceress of Life..." Rathje coughs, the words barely reaching Yasumi.
"Yes, and I offer it as a tribute to summon another monster," Yasumi sighs, moving Sorceress of Life to the graveyard once again, "Dark Magician Girl."
"Then I lose 500 life points from Black Pendant," Rathje murmurs, more to himself, "and I draw a card from the activation of Dark Magician Girl's effect."
-Rathje: 4000, Yasumi: 200
After Rathje drew a random card, Yasumi sighs again, looking desperately at Rathje, who still had his eyes closed, a look of pain stricken across his face, "...Dark Magician Girl...attack Harpie's Brother..."
"How many Dark Magicians do you have in your graveyard?" Rathje asks, managing to open his eyes ever so slightly.
"None."
"Magician of Black Chaos?"
"None."
"...But that would mean..."
"Yes..." Yasumi murmurs in response, "I am attacking a monster with 500 more attack points than mine."
Dark Magician Girl launched its attack, though Harpie's Brother counter- attacked, destroying Dark Magician Girl.
"...and I lose 500 life points..." Yasumi whispers, "...losing the duel..."
-Rathje: 4000, Yasumi: 0
"...Suicide?" Rathje stated, his eyes completely open, his lip still bleeding, "Why?"
"Because I couldn't allow you to go through that any more," Yasumi answered, bowing her head slightly, "I didn't want to force you to declare the final attack..."
"...Yasumi..."
"Rathje."
"The duel is over, Rathje Kiroishen is the victor," Croquet cut in, "The duelist should leave the arena."
After taking one final look at one another, they turned away in unison, walking slowly down the corridor.
~
They met in the hall, looking into each other's eyes. At first neither made any move, then they dashed to the other. They stopped a few feet away, feeling a little awkward. At the exact same moment, they moved forward, meeting in a friendly hug.
"...We did it..." Yasumi sighs.
"...You did it..." Rathje replies, his voice a mere whisper, "...I couldn't do anything...you were the one who did it..."
Yasumi was silent, and they drew back, both blushing a bit. They stood there for a few more minutes, both of them smiling sheepishly.
"Congratulations," a voice cuts in.
They turned, seeing Duelist Soul.
"Who are you addressing?" Rathje asks bluntly.
"Both of you," Duelist Soul answers, looking at Yasumi and Rathje respectively, "Yasumi for showing her true skill, and Rathje for taking the next step towards redemption."
"Uh...thanks..." Yasumi grins, turning a little brighter in the cheeks.
"Redemption?" Rathje sighs, "I still don't know why I'm redeeming myself..."
"Are you sure?" Duelist Soul smirks, raising one eyebrow, "Search your heart and mind, it holds the answers."
"...What does that really mean?" Rathje asks, crossing his arms.
"Each person must find his or her own translations," Duelist Soul nods, turning away from them, "Just as you said before, I cannot find your heart for you, you must do it yourself."
Giving a slight chuckle, Rathje lowers his head, closing his eyes for a moment, "Yes, I guess your right."
"Good-bye, Millennium Guardians. Sleep well tonight," Duelist Soul murmurs, and then walks off.
~
Rathje sat in his room, staring out the window. Despite their previous conversation, Rathje felt horrible about his victory. Ignoring the knock on the door, Rathje sighs, running a finger across his cut lip.
The door opens, and a light voice travels across the room, "Rathje, are you okay?"
Rathje turns, seeing Yugi, "Yeah, I'm fine...you want to sit down?"
"Sure," Yugi shrugs, taking the seat Rathje motioned to him, "You sure nothing's on your mind?"
"Well...I just don't feel well about the tournament," Rathje responds, looking at the stars in the sky, "First I dueled my brother, and then my best friend. Both duels were difficult, both skillfully and emotionally..."
"Oh..."
"I don't know if this is right. I mean, what if I'm not a Millennium Guardian. Maybe Gavin's wrong," Rathje mutters, almost speaking to himself, "I don't know what to do..."
"Well...you said to your brother that you have to find your own 'heart', right?"
"Yes."
"So I take it I can't just tell you what to do?"
"You could give me advice, but I wouldn't listen if you commanded me..."
"Alright, well, my grandpa once told me something...I think it might help..." Yugi states.
"Give it a shot."
Recalling his grandfather's exact words, Yugi hopes this is the right time to say it, "'The road to victory is laden with many failures'. To win, someone has to lose..."
"Thank you, Yugi," Rathje replies, standing, "Thank you."
~
Author's Note: Thanks to Gabrielle Reed, Marisa McGuire, and Hermes for helping me through writer's block.
Author's Note: Thankyouthankyouthankyou to Gabrielle Reed!
Author's Note: Next chapter; Duelist Soul and Ryou Bakura duel in the last match of the semi-finals! Duelist Soul's new cards have been seen, but Bakura's remain a mystery...until the next chapter...