A Note From the Authors: Oops! We meant to to tell you all before - all this stuff is going on pretty much at the same time, hence the use of the word "montage" in the titles.
And in response to Time Mage's last review: the "Dark Magic Curtain", according to the TV show, summons a "high level monster", not just the Dark Magician. It just happened that Arkana was obsessed with DMs. Also, Yami brought out the Dark Magician Girl with it, which is not technically a Dark Magician. And as far as Kaiba's deck goes, out of a fifty or forty card deck, the TV show only has him use about ten, so we use some artistic license to think up the rest. And everyone in the show had horribly weak monsters in their decks for no apparent reason (a.k.a. The Swordsman of Landstar).
Anyway, onto the next chapter!
Chapter 29
"Duel Montage Continues"
Mai ran a hand through her long blonde hair boredly. This place is like a maze… she thought, At this rate, I'm never going to find someone to duel… She fussed with her cloak unconsciously as she stopped her wandering for a moment, and she found her thoughts turning to Joey. I sure hope he's fairing alright. She continued on her way, and pretty soon, she heard another pair of footsteps besides her own. As she came to the end of her corridor and into a large, open space, the back & white-haired boy from before emerged in the same room from a corridor parallel to hers.
For a brief moment, they only stared at each other. Then the boy sighed, "Oh…it's just you. I was hoping to find Alyssa."
"Sorry, kid," Mai said indignantly, "but you're stuck with me. And you're not gonna get to duel your little friend – because there's no way you'll get past me."
"Really…?" Konton said, "We'll just see about that." He held up his right arm and activated his DD2. Mai just gawked at him, staring fixedly at his deck. "What's your problem??" he demanded.
"You're deck!" Mai cried, through small bouts of laughter, "How'd you even get it to fit in the Duel Disk! There must be a hundred cards in there!! How did you ever make it to the finals!?!"
Konton flushed angrily, "I'll have you know my 76-card deck is unbeatable, as you'll soon find out first-hand!"
"Oh…I see," Mai said, wiping a tear of laughter off of her cheek, "Well, I've got news for you kid. No amount of cards is gonna save you from me." She activated her Duel Disk, "And I'll prove it! Let's duel!"
* * *
16-year-old Sandy Williams brushed the dust off of her torn-up jeans and looked around. She had come upon what appeared to be a fork in the tunnels. What a crazy place this is, eh, she thought to herself, I've been wandering around forever and still haven't found anyone to duel. Not even a duel to watch, eh. Ruffling her short, spiky blonde hair, the native Canadian was faced with the choice of which path to take.
A brief flash of something caught her eye in the left tunnel, and her adventuresome spirit got the best of her. She dashed down the pathway to investigate. No sooner had she burst forth into a circular room then she heard a sort of Indian-war-cry and was knocked to the floor as something heavy hit her back. In a whirl of motion, she was turned over onto her back and found herself staring up into the face of a woman a few years older than herself, with pale blue eyes and black hair.
"What's this then, eh??" Sandy panted, cocking an eyebrow at the woman who was pinning her to the ground.
Athena sighed and stood up, "You're not the one I'm looking for…you can go free."
"Hey now!" Sandy said, getting to her feet, "You think you can tackle me and get away with it, eh??"
Athena had already started towards a new corridor, "I have no reason to fight with you. However, if it is a duel you desire, I will oblige – but it will not last long.
"That's what you think, eh!" Sandy cried, starting up her DD2.
"It's what I know," Athena said, turning back around and doing the same.
* * *
"Wheeler, you'd better make this turn count," Seto said quietly to his partner, "I have a feeling that we're running out of them..."
Joey nodded, understanding completely what was meant by this. C'mon deck! I just need this one favor… He closed his eyes and picked up his next card. Peeking down at it with one eye, the miracle of sensory perception revealed his selection to him (Rocket Warrior) "Alright! I summon Rocket Warrior (1500/1300) in attack mode!"
The green-and-yellow checkered monster appeared next to the ferocious black dragon and the large, red goblin (who was scratching its back with its club). The blonde boy jerkily pulled his right arm up and point a finger at Jetsu, "Now, I switch Lava Battleguard into defense mode, and Rocket Warrior into his invincible mode! Attack the Millennium Shield aaannnndddd, lower its defense power to 2500!" The newly summoned monster began to change parts around and morph into what looked like a small rocket ship and blasted off towards the ultimate defense monster.
An enormously noisy bang was heard as the two monster collided, and though Rocket Warrior looked a bit dizzy and shaken when it returned to Joey's side of the field and reverted back to normal, the Millennium Shield did drop by 500 defense points. Wheeler let out a short laugh, "Ha! Next turn Kaiba's Blue Eyes is gonna tear your monster to shreds, and the rest of your life points with it!" He gave Kaiba the thumbs-up, hoping that his partner would share his considerably up-lifted emotions.
Kaiba felt the muscles in his face contort into what, surprisingly enough, felt like a genuine smile. "Nice move, Wheeler," he said, "Never saw that one coming – I have to tell you. Especially from a wanna-be like you." Now, as long as Jetsu doesn't draw the last piece of Exodia on this turn, we'll actually win! But what am I saying?? The odds of him drawing that card are slim…we've got this in the bag!
"Yes, an impressive move," Jetsu nodded, "And a clever strategy as well, that is, as long as Mr. Kaiba gets to take his next turn. But for now, I get the card that I removed with Different Dimension Capsule." He picked up the Exodia the Forbidden One that he'd removed. "And now, I draw my card for this turn." Behind the helmet, both Kaiba and Joey could see the glint in their opponent's eyes and they knew what was coming.
Jetsu slid all five pieces of Exodia across his Duel Disk 2, and declared, "It's the end of the line, gentlemen! I have to say, you fought valiantly, but the outcome was inevitable! I summon forth Exodia the Forbidden One!! Goodbye, boys!!"
There was an explosion of light from Jetsu's side of the field and the whole room shook violently as the huge Egyptian beast climbed out of its portal and lumbered onto the field.
"Wheeler…" Kaiba said, his face pale as death, eyes wide, "Do you know what this means?!?!"
"Yeah…" Joey said, just as pale and wide-eyed, "We're finished!!!!"
The giant monster above all others raised forth his arms and pressed his wrists together, hands outstretched. An orange blast erupted forth from the center of his hands and the beam of destruction filled the room. First went Rocket warrior, being shattered into hundreds of tiny, malfunctioning pieces. Next were the Lava Battleguard and Troop Dragon, both consumed by the death ray and incinerated. Red Eyes and Blue Eyes were both struck down defending their masters, and then…
* * *
Dedi was knocked off her feet by a sudden earthquake that seemed to come from absolutely nowhere. She hit the floor, cushioning the fall with her hands and then flinging them over her head to protect herself from the bits of ceiling that rained down around her. She wasn't sure, but she could've sworn she heard human screams and manic laughter in amidst the rumble of the earthquake.
Then it stopped. She picked herself up off the ground, more than a little worried. I've got a bad feeling about this…
* * *
In the middle of her duel with Konton, Mai stopped in mid-card-draw, as if struck by invisible lightning. Not even looking at the card she had drawn, she put a hand to her chest. What is this horrible feeling that's just come over me…? She thought, Something terrible's happened…
* * *
Alone in another corridor, Vitani felt the soft rumble of the distant work of her master. The Millennium Sword glowed in its hilt and she thought, He has started claiming victims. I must quicken my search. As her footsteps hastened down the dark passageway, she thought briefly, I pity the fools brave enough to challenge my master.
* * *
Across the dimensional border, Shadi and Weevil were sitting side by side, leaning against the dungeon wall. The blue-haired boy had awoken less than an hour ago and had demanded answers to his millions of questions. Shadi had employed his best-learned virtue, patience, to deal with them.
"So…" Weevil said, looking even more confused than he had when he'd first started the interrogation, "…I'm not dead…?"
"No," Shadi shook his head, "Your body and soul have been separated, as mine have been. But you have not yet passed from the living world."
"And this place…what did you call it?"
"The Shadow Realm," Shadi replied, "As far as I can tell, this is a branch of it that only Jetsu has access to."
"Jetsu…" Weevil echoed, "That's the freak with Exodia, right?"
Shadi smiled slightly. The rudeness of this boy was surprisingly refreshing. "Yes…if by 'freak' you mean the keeper of the Millennium Shield."
"And he's the one that sent me here?" Weevil concluded, "After he…won our duel…?"
Shadi nodded, and was about to respond when there was a rush of wind and he looked up, "There are more coming," he said dryly. This had been a common occurrence during the last hour. Already, two unconscious souls had fallen through the ceiling in this manner.
Weevil followed Shadi's gaze, and the two of them heard muffled screams that were getting louder by the second. Strange, Shadi thought, More than one at a time, and it sounds like they're still conscious.
Within seconds, two thin male figures became visible out of the darkness of the near-inexistent ceiling of the dungeon. As Shadi and Weevil watched, Joey and Kaiba came crashing to the ground, hitting the floor hard and ending up in a tangled mass of arms and legs.
"Wheeler, get off of me!!"
"I would if you'd let go of me!"
"Wait – what?? I can't see a thing! What am I touching…?"
"That…would be my ass…"
"AUGH!!"
The two young men frantically pulled apart, breathing hard and trying to let their eyes adjust to the dark. A small sweat-drop formed on Shadi's head before he recomposed himself and leaned towards the newcomers, asking, "Are you both alright?"
At the same instant, both Joey and Kaiba glanced up, gaping first at Shadi and then the room around them. "Where the hell are we…?" Kaiba muttered.
"Some prison for souls," Weevil said simply, shifting on his spot on the floor.
"Huh? Weevil?!?" Joey cried, crawling towards the younger boy on his hands and knees, "You're alive?? Or am I…dead…?"
"Neither of you are dead," Shadi said, realizing now that he was probably going have to explain this many more times before this all was over, "Your souls and bodies have been separated. You are now in the Shadow Realm."
"Oh…" Joey said, sitting back.
"The what…?" Kaiba said, "Wait…Shadow Realm…I've heard that before…This is more of that damn magic shit you keep talking about, isn't it, Wheeler?"
"Yeah…" Joey sighed, and then turned to Shadi, "Is there any hope of us getting' outta here?"
"We must place our trust in the Pharaoh," Shadi said, "Or place it not at all."
Joey nodded, thinking, I sure hope Yugi an' Yami are doin' okay…
* * *
Yami growled angrily, "We'll see!"
The Pharaoh and the Thief suddenly felt the tremor around the Pyramid, but both were too focused on the moment to take much notice of it. Yami began to pull cards out of his deck, wondering to himself about the duel to come. So, I am the first to have to face the Ring. Well, better me than one of my friends… (Kuriboh, Dark Magician, Card Destruction, Gamma the Magnet Warrior, Monster Reborn, Horn of the Unicorn), "First off, I'll lay one card face-down (Monster Reborn)."
The primeval king smiled as he pulled his next card out of his hand and laid it on his computerized Dueling machine, "Next, I'll play the magic card Card Destruction! We'll each discard our hands and start over fresh!"
The white-haired Yami's eyes widened, "WHAT?!?!?! DAMN YOU!" he violently slammed his five cards into the graveyard and redrew his five (Spirit Reaper, Bark of the Dark Ruler, Des Lacooda, Hiro's Shadow Scout, Raigeki Break)
Dark Yugi said nothing and placed his four cards in the graveyard and redrew the same number (Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts, Fissure, Dust Tornado, Dark Hole). Pressing the button on his Duel Disk that was just above his face-down card, the green magic card activated, "Now, with the power of Monster Reborn I will revive my Dark Magician (2500/2100) in attack mode!"
A dark storm cloud formed above the field, and purple lightning struck the ground in front of Yami. He shielded his eyes and as the brilliant flash of light dimmed, he saw his faithful Dark Magician standing in front of him. Wait…standing…? Yami cocked an eyebrow, puzzled. Duel Monsters usually floated a few feet above the ground, but the Dark Magician's feet were placed firmly on the stone floor, and he seemed to give off an essence of weight that he never had before.
To Yami's great astonishment, the embodiment of his favorite card turned towards him and bowed respectfully. Then, even more shockingly, he opened his mouth and spoke in a voice that was clearly tenor, but strong nevertheless, "My Lord…it is good to see you once again. How have you been?" The Magician's blue eyes flashed intensely and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Uh...er…um… I'm fine..." The ruler spluttered out.
Yami Bakura's eyes were wider than ever. What the hell is going on here?
The spirit of the Puzzle continued, very befuddled now, "How is it that you're able to talk?" Yugi's spirit was hiding behind Yami, slightly scared by this turn of events.
"Why Master!" the Dark Magician said, looking slightly affronted, "I've been able to speak ever since I was a small child – as you yourself have. Have the requirements of serving you changed? Is speaking no longer permitted?"
Yami shook his head (perhaps trying to clear it?) "Of course it's permitted, but… it's just been… um… such a long time since you have spoken…"
"Well, it's been a long time since you've called for my services," D.M. replied. Then the sight of Yugi's spirit, poking his head out from behind Yami, clutching his arm, caught the Magician's eyes and he cried, "Young Master?!" and reached out, catching Yugi around the shoulder's and drawing him closer, "Ahh, how fondly I remember the Young Master," he said, hugging Yugi to him, "But how is it that both child and adult forms are present at the same time…?" he asked, looking to Yami.
"It's a long story, but I can't explain it to you right now," Yami told his favorite Duel Monster, as he eyed Yami Bakura, who was looking positively livid, "I have a duel to win now. Can I count on you my friend?"
"Of course, sire," the Dark Magician nodded, setting Yugi down, "Where is the infidel who dares to challenge you?"
"Behind you," Yami said, pointing, "But I'm afraid that we cannot attack him this turn. We must wait until he makes his move."
"I see," D.M. said, turning towards Yami Bakura, "Very well then. We shall bide our time."
The Pharaoh picked three cards from his hand and began to place them in their proper slots in the Duel Disk 2, "Now, I'll lay one card face-down (Dust Tornado) and summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200) in attack mode!"
The horned lion leapt out of nowhere onto the field, next to the Dark Magician, who jumped back, slightly alarmed. It let out a roar as it circled Yami, sniffing at him. Recognizing the scent of its master, Gazelle rubbed its shaggy head against the Pharaoh, purring affectionately.
Yami Bakura's eyebrow twitched. He didn't know how this lunacy was occurring, but he had already had just about enough of it, "Are you quite finished?"
(Dark Magician was looking quite affronted, "How rude!") The once mighty king of Egypt nodded and Yami Bakura pulled out another card from his deck (Appropriate) and began to put his cards on the field, "I place three cards face-down (Appropriate, Bark of Dark Ruler, and Raigeki Break) and one monster in defense mode (Spirit Reaper (300/200))." All three of the cards appeared on the field, brown-backed and mysterious.
Yami clucked softly at his opponent, "Already you're hiding, cowering behind your monster. You know that you won't win that way, as I'll prove to you right now!" He drew his next card (The Illusory Gentleman), "This'll do nicely. First, I activate my trap card: Dust Tornado! It will destroy the card on your far left!" As the whirlwind storm rushed towards the card, Yami Bakura pressed a button that lit up red on his Duel Disk as he did so.
"I'm activating that particular card, the Raigeki Break!" He moved Des Lacooda from his hand into the Graveyard and snarled sinisterly at Yami, "By discarding a card from my hand (Des Lacooda), not only does it render your trap a waster, but it allows me to destroy one card on your side of the field and I choose: Your Gazelle!"
Out of Yami Bakura's trap card came a large, gnarled, blue-skinned hand. The hand pointed its forefinger at Gazelle and a jolt of red lightning shot across the field, striking the lion so quickly that it didn't have time even to react. In a burst of smoke, the King of Mythical Beasts was gone.
Yami scowled, fists clenched, as he watched the last wisps of smoke disappear. "Wait a second!" Yugi said, "Why didn't he use that trap to get rid of the Dark Magician??" The translucent boy turned his gaze on the purple-clad Magician, "Not that I'm not glad he was spared – but it doesn't make sense. He was the strongest monster on the field."
"I don't know, Yugi," Yami said, "He must have something else planned…"
* * *
"And that brings your Life Points to zero!" Mai cried triumphantly.
Konton was looking devastated. "How…how is this possible…? I'm unbeatable!!"
"Sorry," Mai said, "I told you that you couldn't win, but you kids just have to learn everything the hard way…" She was about to continue in this same manor, when her former opponent let out a scream. "What the–?!?"
The gold chain around Konton's neck was glowing brightly and he was clutching his head, moaning in agony. A second later, he fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Omigod!" Mai cried, rushing over to him, "What the hell…?" She knelt down, checking his pulse. "What happened to him??"
"The same thing that's about to happen to you," said a deep voice behind her. She looked up, and her eyes widened. Jetsu was standing over her, his black armor flashing maliciously in the torchlight.
"You?!" she cried.
"Get up," he said, grabbing the collar of her cloak and yanking her to her feet, "and duel me."
"Never…" she shook her head.
"Don't you want to go out fighting??" he asked, "It's what your precious Joey did…"
"You…you monster!!!" she cried, pulling out of his grasp, angry tears stinging her eyes as she activated her DD2.
"I knew you'd see it my way," Jetsu said.