Yep. Still alive, and still writing. Admit it- you all love me. But yeah,
this is the second part of the story[holds up two fingers]. Impressive, no?
You all thought I would simply give up after the first!? Mwa ha ha ha ha!
Impossible! I never give up- I just forget about things for a while! But
yeah, read it. Now! And fear it! Read and fear it!
I still don't own any of this, either. Psh... gees, I'm writing the story,
so you'd think... whatever...
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A tall black figure stood on the roof of the Kame game shop. He watched as three kids; a female and two males; entered the shop. These were the targets. He smirked through the pitch-black façade of his face, and disappeared.
Yugi walked into the game shop."Yeah, Tea. That's real funny." He laughed softly and shook his head."Heh, heh. Banana. Sheesh..." Joey walked up to the counter and rang the bell. Yugi's grandpa walked into the room and stood behind the counter."Hello, Joey. What can I do for you today?" Joey looked around."Nothing. I'm fine, thanks." "Then why'd you ring the bell?" Joey looked at him critically."Do I really need an excuse to ring a bell!? Tsh. It's a free country, old man." He walked off. Yugi laughed and followed him as he walked out of the game shop. Joey stood, his arms crossed in front of his chest."Yugi, I'm going home to check on Serenity. Wanna come?" "Sure." Yugi looked up as something caught his glance out of the corner of his eye."Joey, watch out!" "Whatcha talkin' 'bout, Yug?" Joey started to turn to him, but a large black monster flew out of the sky, caught Joey in its claws, and flew back into the sky. Yugi tried to catch up, but he found his tiny little legs couldn't carry him fast enough. He fell to his knees and hit the ground with a fist. "JOEY!" Tea walked out of the game shop, sucking on a popsicle."Where'd Joey go?" Yugi stood up."A big black monster took him awa-... where'd you get that popsicle?" Tea looked at him oddly."Popsicle? What?" She looked down and threw the popsicle in surprise."AHH! I don't know where I got it!" Yugi shook his head."Joey, I'll get you back. I promise."
Joey woke up, his arms chained to a concrete wall. In front of him was a void of pitch black. To his sides were pieces of wood, secured with simple nails. Above him was another piece of wood, lying on top of the other boards. Hanging off of the top board was a hook on a small, thin, metal shaft. He couldn't easily tell, but it seemed as though the board would snap, and the claw would dig itself into his head.*This can't be good.* He looked around. The silence was staggering. Finally, the clicking of boots on concrete. The room was damp, but the second he heard the footsteps his throat became dry. Fear clasped to him like a crab."Who's there?" He managed to mutter in a shaky voice. "Why? Are you afraid?" The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. "Of course not," Joey shook his head."I'm not scared. I'm just curious." He smugly looked around, but in his heart he felt like a little kid, afraid of the monsters hiding in the shadows. "Fine." A tall man walked out of the darkness beyond Joey's sight and into his view range. His long black cloak gave him almost a spectral appearance."If you don't feel like admitting your fear, then you will not be forced. Just remember, Joseph; fear sometimes is the only thing that saves us." "How did you know my name?" Joey began to sweat. If this man knew his name, what else did he know?"And where am I?" "Such a strange thing, a human." The man looked at him and removed the hood of his cloak. His black hair was slightly spiked, and his eyes were a beautiful dark brown. His face had an odd quality, like he had gone insane long ago. The tattoos under his eyes were like long, thin spikes pointing towards his throat."So... fragile." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Millennium Rod. Joey realized as the man spoke that his canine teeth were slightly longer than they would naturally be."So complex. Join me, Joseph. Together we can defeat the Pharaoh, and we can rule the world." "Never..." Joey shook his head, partially to disagree with the man and partially to brush away the memory of Marik."I will never fight Yugi again!" The man smirked and a slight chuckle escaped his lips. He knew the Millennium Rod would make Joey weaker to his influence. Less defensive."Are you sure? Think of your sister, Joseph." "What do you mean?" He glared. "All I'm saying is that Serenity could surely use a bit of a hand. This fainting thing has her pretty off. I can help her, if you only help me." The eye on the Millennium Rod began to glow."You see... I have certain ways of persuading people to my side, especially if they won't help me willingly." He smirked, showing off his fangs."If you still refuse, then you have five seconds of coherent thought remaining. Use them wisely." Joey closed his eyes and thought of Alicia Keys, rubbing him down with oils. Then the world went black. "Well? Are you still alive?" The man touched Joey's chin and he instinctively raised his head. Joey's eyes had dulled. They were now lifeless, as though the Millennium Rod had taken more than just his control over himself- as though it had taken his soul."Yes, Lord Shadow. I am still alive. And I am ready to destroy the Pharaoh."
Yugi walked back toward Joey's house. He was wishing he would see Joey, but something in his heart told him he might never see his best friend again. A kitty ran up to him, but he kicked it out of the way. It meowed and ran away. He wasn't in the mood for kitties. He wanted his friend back. The world had taken on a darker tone, but he had to get to Serenity and tell her what had happened. He owed at least that to her. Suddenly there was a wisp of smoke. He coughed and waved his arms, trying to clear it. Finally the cloud dissipated, and he noticed a shape taking form. Blonde hair. Green jacket. He laughed as he ran toward Joey, happy again to know his friend was okay."Joey!" "Yugi." Joey pushed Yugi down and threw him a duel disc system."We will fight now. And when you lose, Lord Shadow will be the most powerful being on earth." "No, Joey! And who is 'Shadow'?" "You are to refer to him only as Lord Shadow." Yugi stood up and placed his deck into the duel system."I can tell I'm gonna need to beat you to get back the real Joey. Fine. I'll take you on. Let's go." He drew his first five cards, then his sixth.
Joey 4000/Yugi 4000
Yugi set two cards onto the duel system."I'll set a magic card, and a monster. Your move, Shadow." "I am not Shadow, Yugi." Joey drew his card."I am still Joey. I still have my consciousness. But I am unable to control myself beyond simple thought and speech." He placed a card onto the system, and the Ax Raider appeared on the field."Ax Raider, attack his face-down monster with Ax of Destruction." Yugi flinched as the Ax Raider destroyed his Beaver Warrior with one swipe.*Good. He's falling for my trap. Now all I need is the right card, and I'll be set.* He drew his card and looked at it carefully, taking in its meaning. He had drawn the magic card Change of Heart. And in his hand was the Dark Magician Girl."Okay. I'll use Change of Heart," He placed Change of heart on the field and took control of Joey's Ax Raider, then offered it,"to summon the Dark Magician Girl! Then I'll set a card face down, and my Dark Magician Girl will attack you directly." "I will activate my quick-play card, Offerings to the Doomed. It destroys your Dark Magician Girl at the cost of one of my draw phases. Now I begin my turn by playing the Battle Ox in attack position, and it will attack you directly." "I'll activate my trap card!" Yugi stepped back as he activated his card."Magic Cylinder reflects your attack back at you!" "My card Mystical Space Typhoon destroys your Magic Cylinder, stopping its effect. But my Ox doesn't deal you any damage. Looks like we're a pretty even match, huh?" "Oh, no. We're not an even match. I swear I'll beat you and get back my friend..." "Yugi..." Joey smirked and his eyes became dull and spiritless."This duel has just begun." Yugi drew his card."I'll set a card face down, and another monster in defense mode. Your turn." Joey laughed."Oh, you have no idea what I have in store for you. And just think. If this duel is too hard for you, the real me is infinitely more powerful than this. I will thrash you." He looked at the card and smiled."I activate Harpy's Feather Duster, clearing the field of your magic and trap cards and clearing the way for my attack. But first, I think I'll use this little card." He held up a magic card, and slammed it onto the system."Stop Defense! It'll shift your monster into attack position! And I'll activate my trap card, DNA surgery. It turns every monster on the field into a Dragon type." The Big Shield Gardna appeared over the hologram of his card. The Battle Ox rushed towards him, swung its ax, and the Big Shield fell, clutching its... big shield."Your monster is destroyed, along with a large chunk of your life points, Yugi."
Joey 4000/Yugi 2400
Yugi shook his head.*If I don't focus, I'll lose this. I have to believe in the heart of the cards.* He looked at his deck."Please, deck. Give me something I can use to win." He drew his card."I'll activate Swords of Revealing Light, a card that will stop your monsters from attacking me for three turns."*And in that time, maybe I can come up with something.*"And I'll place a monster face down, along with another card." "Fool. Trying to buy time with simple magic cards will get you nowhere." He drew his card and shook his head."Fortunately for you, I have not drawn the card I need to destroy you. For now, I will simply place a monster face down on the field. Your move, Yugi." *Two more monsters and I'll have what I need.* He drew his card."I summon Gazelle the Mythical King of Beasts, in defense position. Your turn." "I know what you're trying to do." Joey drew his card, but there was a long pause as he stood, deep in thought.*He's going to try to summon Slifer so he can annihilate me. Without a god card of my own, I'll lose this duel.* I will summon a monster in defensive position and switch my Battle Ox to defend me. Your move..."*I have nothing to stop him...* "I will summon the Feral Imp, and I will activate my final trap card, Ultimate Offering! It allows me to conduct one more summon in my turn! And I choose to offer all three of my monsters to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon!" *I lost.* Shadow let go of his control over Joey. Joey fell to the ground, too weak to stay awake in order to watch Slifer annihilate his monsters and destroy his remaining life points. Yugi ran to his friend and helped him up."Joey? Are you okay?" Joey shook his head."I'm so sorry, Yug... I didn't have any control..." "I know." Yugi sighed."I know. Shadow used you with the power of the Millennium Rod... at least that's the best I can figure. We have a new threat on our hands, Joey." He looked at the sky."And something tells me this isn't going to be as easy as Marik was." "I saw him... he had tattoos under his eyes. They looked like knives..." "Just rest, Joey. I'll help you home."
Shadow smirked in the darkness. his eyes shone a bright green in the dim light."Well. It seems that bastard Yugi... is more powerful than I thought. Hm. Then I suppose I will have to step up my attempts." He looked at the Millennium Rod."I will have to make him hate the name Shadow."
A tall black figure stood on the roof of the Kame game shop. He watched as three kids; a female and two males; entered the shop. These were the targets. He smirked through the pitch-black façade of his face, and disappeared.
Yugi walked into the game shop."Yeah, Tea. That's real funny." He laughed softly and shook his head."Heh, heh. Banana. Sheesh..." Joey walked up to the counter and rang the bell. Yugi's grandpa walked into the room and stood behind the counter."Hello, Joey. What can I do for you today?" Joey looked around."Nothing. I'm fine, thanks." "Then why'd you ring the bell?" Joey looked at him critically."Do I really need an excuse to ring a bell!? Tsh. It's a free country, old man." He walked off. Yugi laughed and followed him as he walked out of the game shop. Joey stood, his arms crossed in front of his chest."Yugi, I'm going home to check on Serenity. Wanna come?" "Sure." Yugi looked up as something caught his glance out of the corner of his eye."Joey, watch out!" "Whatcha talkin' 'bout, Yug?" Joey started to turn to him, but a large black monster flew out of the sky, caught Joey in its claws, and flew back into the sky. Yugi tried to catch up, but he found his tiny little legs couldn't carry him fast enough. He fell to his knees and hit the ground with a fist. "JOEY!" Tea walked out of the game shop, sucking on a popsicle."Where'd Joey go?" Yugi stood up."A big black monster took him awa-... where'd you get that popsicle?" Tea looked at him oddly."Popsicle? What?" She looked down and threw the popsicle in surprise."AHH! I don't know where I got it!" Yugi shook his head."Joey, I'll get you back. I promise."
Joey woke up, his arms chained to a concrete wall. In front of him was a void of pitch black. To his sides were pieces of wood, secured with simple nails. Above him was another piece of wood, lying on top of the other boards. Hanging off of the top board was a hook on a small, thin, metal shaft. He couldn't easily tell, but it seemed as though the board would snap, and the claw would dig itself into his head.*This can't be good.* He looked around. The silence was staggering. Finally, the clicking of boots on concrete. The room was damp, but the second he heard the footsteps his throat became dry. Fear clasped to him like a crab."Who's there?" He managed to mutter in a shaky voice. "Why? Are you afraid?" The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. "Of course not," Joey shook his head."I'm not scared. I'm just curious." He smugly looked around, but in his heart he felt like a little kid, afraid of the monsters hiding in the shadows. "Fine." A tall man walked out of the darkness beyond Joey's sight and into his view range. His long black cloak gave him almost a spectral appearance."If you don't feel like admitting your fear, then you will not be forced. Just remember, Joseph; fear sometimes is the only thing that saves us." "How did you know my name?" Joey began to sweat. If this man knew his name, what else did he know?"And where am I?" "Such a strange thing, a human." The man looked at him and removed the hood of his cloak. His black hair was slightly spiked, and his eyes were a beautiful dark brown. His face had an odd quality, like he had gone insane long ago. The tattoos under his eyes were like long, thin spikes pointing towards his throat."So... fragile." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Millennium Rod. Joey realized as the man spoke that his canine teeth were slightly longer than they would naturally be."So complex. Join me, Joseph. Together we can defeat the Pharaoh, and we can rule the world." "Never..." Joey shook his head, partially to disagree with the man and partially to brush away the memory of Marik."I will never fight Yugi again!" The man smirked and a slight chuckle escaped his lips. He knew the Millennium Rod would make Joey weaker to his influence. Less defensive."Are you sure? Think of your sister, Joseph." "What do you mean?" He glared. "All I'm saying is that Serenity could surely use a bit of a hand. This fainting thing has her pretty off. I can help her, if you only help me." The eye on the Millennium Rod began to glow."You see... I have certain ways of persuading people to my side, especially if they won't help me willingly." He smirked, showing off his fangs."If you still refuse, then you have five seconds of coherent thought remaining. Use them wisely." Joey closed his eyes and thought of Alicia Keys, rubbing him down with oils. Then the world went black. "Well? Are you still alive?" The man touched Joey's chin and he instinctively raised his head. Joey's eyes had dulled. They were now lifeless, as though the Millennium Rod had taken more than just his control over himself- as though it had taken his soul."Yes, Lord Shadow. I am still alive. And I am ready to destroy the Pharaoh."
Yugi walked back toward Joey's house. He was wishing he would see Joey, but something in his heart told him he might never see his best friend again. A kitty ran up to him, but he kicked it out of the way. It meowed and ran away. He wasn't in the mood for kitties. He wanted his friend back. The world had taken on a darker tone, but he had to get to Serenity and tell her what had happened. He owed at least that to her. Suddenly there was a wisp of smoke. He coughed and waved his arms, trying to clear it. Finally the cloud dissipated, and he noticed a shape taking form. Blonde hair. Green jacket. He laughed as he ran toward Joey, happy again to know his friend was okay."Joey!" "Yugi." Joey pushed Yugi down and threw him a duel disc system."We will fight now. And when you lose, Lord Shadow will be the most powerful being on earth." "No, Joey! And who is 'Shadow'?" "You are to refer to him only as Lord Shadow." Yugi stood up and placed his deck into the duel system."I can tell I'm gonna need to beat you to get back the real Joey. Fine. I'll take you on. Let's go." He drew his first five cards, then his sixth.
Joey 4000/Yugi 4000
Yugi set two cards onto the duel system."I'll set a magic card, and a monster. Your move, Shadow." "I am not Shadow, Yugi." Joey drew his card."I am still Joey. I still have my consciousness. But I am unable to control myself beyond simple thought and speech." He placed a card onto the system, and the Ax Raider appeared on the field."Ax Raider, attack his face-down monster with Ax of Destruction." Yugi flinched as the Ax Raider destroyed his Beaver Warrior with one swipe.*Good. He's falling for my trap. Now all I need is the right card, and I'll be set.* He drew his card and looked at it carefully, taking in its meaning. He had drawn the magic card Change of Heart. And in his hand was the Dark Magician Girl."Okay. I'll use Change of Heart," He placed Change of heart on the field and took control of Joey's Ax Raider, then offered it,"to summon the Dark Magician Girl! Then I'll set a card face down, and my Dark Magician Girl will attack you directly." "I will activate my quick-play card, Offerings to the Doomed. It destroys your Dark Magician Girl at the cost of one of my draw phases. Now I begin my turn by playing the Battle Ox in attack position, and it will attack you directly." "I'll activate my trap card!" Yugi stepped back as he activated his card."Magic Cylinder reflects your attack back at you!" "My card Mystical Space Typhoon destroys your Magic Cylinder, stopping its effect. But my Ox doesn't deal you any damage. Looks like we're a pretty even match, huh?" "Oh, no. We're not an even match. I swear I'll beat you and get back my friend..." "Yugi..." Joey smirked and his eyes became dull and spiritless."This duel has just begun." Yugi drew his card."I'll set a card face down, and another monster in defense mode. Your turn." Joey laughed."Oh, you have no idea what I have in store for you. And just think. If this duel is too hard for you, the real me is infinitely more powerful than this. I will thrash you." He looked at the card and smiled."I activate Harpy's Feather Duster, clearing the field of your magic and trap cards and clearing the way for my attack. But first, I think I'll use this little card." He held up a magic card, and slammed it onto the system."Stop Defense! It'll shift your monster into attack position! And I'll activate my trap card, DNA surgery. It turns every monster on the field into a Dragon type." The Big Shield Gardna appeared over the hologram of his card. The Battle Ox rushed towards him, swung its ax, and the Big Shield fell, clutching its... big shield."Your monster is destroyed, along with a large chunk of your life points, Yugi."
Joey 4000/Yugi 2400
Yugi shook his head.*If I don't focus, I'll lose this. I have to believe in the heart of the cards.* He looked at his deck."Please, deck. Give me something I can use to win." He drew his card."I'll activate Swords of Revealing Light, a card that will stop your monsters from attacking me for three turns."*And in that time, maybe I can come up with something.*"And I'll place a monster face down, along with another card." "Fool. Trying to buy time with simple magic cards will get you nowhere." He drew his card and shook his head."Fortunately for you, I have not drawn the card I need to destroy you. For now, I will simply place a monster face down on the field. Your move, Yugi." *Two more monsters and I'll have what I need.* He drew his card."I summon Gazelle the Mythical King of Beasts, in defense position. Your turn." "I know what you're trying to do." Joey drew his card, but there was a long pause as he stood, deep in thought.*He's going to try to summon Slifer so he can annihilate me. Without a god card of my own, I'll lose this duel.* I will summon a monster in defensive position and switch my Battle Ox to defend me. Your move..."*I have nothing to stop him...* "I will summon the Feral Imp, and I will activate my final trap card, Ultimate Offering! It allows me to conduct one more summon in my turn! And I choose to offer all three of my monsters to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon!" *I lost.* Shadow let go of his control over Joey. Joey fell to the ground, too weak to stay awake in order to watch Slifer annihilate his monsters and destroy his remaining life points. Yugi ran to his friend and helped him up."Joey? Are you okay?" Joey shook his head."I'm so sorry, Yug... I didn't have any control..." "I know." Yugi sighed."I know. Shadow used you with the power of the Millennium Rod... at least that's the best I can figure. We have a new threat on our hands, Joey." He looked at the sky."And something tells me this isn't going to be as easy as Marik was." "I saw him... he had tattoos under his eyes. They looked like knives..." "Just rest, Joey. I'll help you home."
Shadow smirked in the darkness. his eyes shone a bright green in the dim light."Well. It seems that bastard Yugi... is more powerful than I thought. Hm. Then I suppose I will have to step up my attempts." He looked at the Millennium Rod."I will have to make him hate the name Shadow."