THE ENCOUNTER OF LOST SOULS

Chapter Fourteen: When the Bonds of Friendship are Tested (Part One)

"Aibou, what's wrong?" The other Yugi asked as his consciousness transported him into the shared hallway of their minds.

Standing by the door of his own soul room, Yugi pleaded to his darker self, "Please let me duel this time."

The young Pharaoh gazed into Yugi's eyes. After the brief pause between them, he placed his hands over his vessel's shoulder. "This is the Shadow Realm, and this duel can be physically and mentally taxing for you. The duel against Pegasus –"

"I've learned so much since then," Yugi interjected.

Further softening his voice, the spirit reasoned out, "I know that you want to break their mind control, just as you did when you dueled against Jonouchi at Battle City. It's too dangerous. Trust me on this..."

Yugi looked at his partner with misty eyes and nodded. "Yes, I trust you. Promise me one thing…if I'm needed, or if I say so, you'll let me take over."

"Yes, I promise," the Pharaoh gave a tightlipped smile to his light before their consciousness merged into one body. As soon as his amethyst eyes refocused into reality, a duel tray materialized on his left arm.

The players placed their respective decks inside the duel tray.

After drawing six cards, Jonouchi declared, "I place one card face down on the field. I then summon Gearfried the Iron Knight!"

Gearfried the Iron Knight

Four Stars

ATK 1800 / DEF 1600

Earth / Warrior / Effect

Destroys all equipment cards equipped on this monster.

A towering humanoid warrior clad in thick metallic black-and-silver armor appeared from the void, gallantly standing at Jonouchi's side of the field. Instantaneously, a face-down card materialized behind Gearfried the Iron Knight.

Thoroughly satisfied, Jonouchi smugly stated, "It's now your turn, Yugi."

The other Yugi followed the blonde teen's lead and drew six cards. "I place two cards face down on the field. I also set one monster face down in defense mode; and I end my turn."

Three cards then materialized face down on the field – one in front of the other two.

A brainwashed Sugoroku drew six cards from his duel tray. Following the other Yugi's lead, he placed two cards face down on the field. He then set one monster face down in defense position and ended his turn.

Emrys drew six cards and then examined the field. She then declared, "I place one card face down on the field. I then summon Maha Vailo – arming her with Axe of Despair!"

Maha Vailo

Four Stars

ATK 1550 / DEF 1400

Light / Spellcaster / Effect

Aside from the power-up received from the equipment card, add an additional 500 points for each equipment card used on this monster

Axe of Despair

Equipment Magic Card

Add 1000 attack points to the equipped monster. If this card is sent to the Graveyard and the owner of this card wishes to do so, tribute one monster on his or her side of the field to place this card on top of the deck.

A blonde spellcaster with wavy long hair and blue garb befitting a worthy mage surfaced on Emrys' side of the field. Maha Vailo's counter jumped up from 1550 to 3050 attack points – thanks to Axe of Despair's 1000-point power boost, plus the monster's special effect of adding 500 points for every equipment card.

Emrys analyzed the face-down cards currently on the arena.

"You'll have plenty of time to think after you and Yugi lose," Jonouchi impatiently hollered.

Unfazed with her brainwashed friend's sarcasm, Emrys said, "I end my turn."

"About time!" the blonde-haired young uttered as he drew a card from his duel deck. He then placed the card face down on the field. "I now tribute Gearfried the Iron Knight to summon Jinzo!

Jinzo

Level Six

Dark / Machine / Effect

As long as this card remains face-up on the field, all Trap Cards cannot be activated. The effects of all face-up Trap Cards are also negated.

A mystical vortex swallowed Gearfried the Iron Knight into the dark void, and replaced the metallic warrior with the terrifying android. As of now, Jonouchi had Jinzo and two face down cards on the field.

The other Yugi, after drawing a card for his turn and adding it to his hand, took a card he previously drew. "I place a monster face down in defense mode, and I end my turn." With the face-down card appearing in front of him, he now had two face-down monsters and two covered cards.

Sugoroku maliciously grinned after seeing the card he just drew. "I end my turn."

Pondering, the spirit said, "Jonouchi's using his own deck. Aibou and I have Jii-chan's modified deck. I have no idea what Jii-chan's strategy is..."

Deeply breathing, she carefully drew one card from her duel tray and immediately played it. "I activate Pot of Greed!"

Pot of Greed

Normal Magic Card

Draw two cards from your deck.

As the enormous ghoulish-looking green pot appeared from the eerie mist, she then drew two additional cards. She added one card in her hand, and placed the other on the field. "I activate Gravekeeper's Servant!"

Gravekeeper's Servant

Continuous Magic Card

As long as this card remains on the field, your opponent must discard one card from the top of his or her deck for every attack made against the owner of this card.

A sinister silhouette of an undertaker and a waning moon materialized from the fog.

Deciding to wait for the next draw, she then stated, "I end my turn."

"Are you too chicken to attack, crest-wielder? How disappointing," Jonouchi mocked, as he drew a card and added it to his hand. Placing a card on the field, he said, "I summon Panther Warrior, and then end my turn."

Panther Warrior

Four Stars

ATK 2000 / DEF 1600

Earth / Beast Warrior / Effect

Sacrifice one monster from your side of the field before this monster can attack.

Panther Warrior emerged on the field with its crescent-shaped sword.

Amethyst eyes scanned the arena, as their owner thought, "So far, no attacks from the other side. What's their plan?" He then drew a card, looked at it, and placed another face down monster card on the field.

Sugoroku quickly drew out a card and immediately activated it. "I use Tribute to the Doomed, and I choose to sentence your Maha Vailo, crest-wielder!"

Tribute to the Doomed

Normal Magic Card

Discard one card from your hand to destroy one monster from your opponent's side of the field.

The smell of natron permeated throughout the Shadow Realm, as thick strands of old linen shot from different directions towards Maha Vailo. The spellcaster was tightly wrapped up as if she was a mummy, and mercilessly pulled down into the dark abyss forming under its feet. The monster's muffled screams still reverberated, until the abyss closed up its huge mouth.

With Maha Vailo gone, Emrys had no monsters left to defend her from a direct attack.

End of Chapter Fourteen

Author's Note

Rhea, Cronus, The Birth of Poseidon, and Poseidon Lord of the Seas are not real cards from the Yu-Gi-Oh trading card game.

Just a bit of trivia: do you know that the magic card Brain Control – a staple in Yami Yugi / the other Yugi's deck – does not exist in either the Japanese or English trading card game version? There is no Brain Control, only Change of Heart. However, for the story's purposes, Brain Control appears in this duel. I give my many thanks to Edo for clarifying this piece of information.

If you want to find out more about Emrys' parents, how they die, and how she takes it, read my short story There Will Come Soft Rain – a prequel set two years before the events narrated in The Encounter of Lost Souls.

Normal Disclaimer

Yu-Gi-Oh is the copyrighted property of Kazuki Takahashi. Alexa, Yoshiko, Koji, Rhea, Cronus, The Birth of Poseidon, and Poseidon Lord of the Seas, and this fan fiction are the properties of the author. This fan fiction is written for entertainment purposes only – thereby releasing the author from any liabilities.