Chapter 11: Misha's Gambit (Part 1)
To make this chapter shorter than it would normally be…Misha just sat and watched the finals blaze by, this was SO dull to him. He wanted to be part of the action, watching just seemed like a waste of time…but then he remembered what he used to do back home. Whenever a new challenger entered the loop, he'd watch the new opposition in action…try to learn what possible combinations this person would use so he'd be ready when the time was right, and about 70% of the time…this strategy worked for him.
Misha watched every strategy they could come up with, trying to see any possible flaws in them. Eventually when the final two rolled around Misha, kept an eye on this battle. Whoever the winner of this duel was would have one more surprise waiting for him before the end, Misha wasn't surprise that the final two were Yugi and Joey for he had expected the very best from both of them. Just then Misha caught a glimpse of the Millennium Puzzle, he couldn't take his eyes off it…there was something about it that just made Misha's blood run cold. Misha finally looked away from it and turned back to the field and the duel at hand. But then the thought of the puzzle came back to mind, what was this power that drove this sort of obsession through his head? He could only guess it was the spirit of the Bracelet…but why would it be obsessing over one small item of jewelry?
Misha kept watching the duel turn after turn after turn, When Misha saw Joey used his Time Wizard on the Dark Magician Misha thought to himself, "Big mistake Mr. Wheeler…Though your Time Wizard will age the Dark Magician beyond his years…it will also create a new monster, one with an ability that seems unfair. But, in truth…it is very fair."
And Misha was correct…Joey's move had transformed the Dark Magician into the Dark Sage, and its ability was that you could play a magic card, even when it was your opponents turn. "This duel is over…a 'no contest' scenario." Misha muttered to himself, and wouldn't he be right. When the duel was over Yugi had beaten his own friend, Misha then stood up and raised his flask to him them saying, "Excellent, very well fought…Joey I thought you played very well, and as for you Yugi…I expected nothing less cunning than that, but you have one more opponent you must face before you can face Master Pegasus. He's quite a handsome devil to tell you the truth…and in this tournament, quite undefeated. Can you guess who he is?"
Yugi looked lost in thought…and in response just shrugged.
Misha asked, "You give up? Well then…I'll tell you. IT IS ME!" Everyone looked in shock of Misha's response, Misha continued: "Yes, I…the talented duelist Misha challenge you to a duel! Our match begins in 22 hours…I'd suggest you be on time, I don't accept tardiness!" And with that he up and left the balcony.
When back in his room, Misha took a deep sigh and said: "I can't believe I said that…Misha people like you are all the same, they act before they think." Suddenly the spirit of the Bracelet appeared in front of Misha and said, "I couldn't have put it better myself, but just in case…I will duel in your place, if you need me."
Misha looked at the spirit and said, "After all the stunts you pulled in the past with my body? But then again I may have no choice…okay, but I want to be mentally aware of what you're doing every step of the way. But now comes my question, why are you so anxious to duel Yugi?" The spirit quickly answered, "Because Yugi wasn't the one dueling against Joey." Misha looked puzzled at first, the spirit continued: "What I mean to say is that Yugi was dueling in the physical sense, but in the spiritual sense…it was not him, but somebody else. I sensed this and felt as if I had sensed this person before."
Misha then asked, "Then why didn't the S.O.B sense your presence in the arena?"
The spirit answered, "I think he did…the truth is he does not remember who I am, sad to say but though I sensed him…I can't recall where or when I met him, but if both of us are aware of each other. Then it is safe to say that whoever this spirit is will warn our next opponent of our power and try to defend him against it." Misha just took a swig from his flask and said, "Well then…If this spirit is as good as he thinks he is, I'm going to pull out my best arsenal on him."
Misha removed from one of his pockets five cards, each was in a casing that had a skull and crossed swords on it. Misha looked at them and said these three should help me most graciously, these two I'll save for another day." The spirit looked at them, pointing to the one in the middle he said: "I hope you have the right card for that one." Misha nodded and said, "Indeed I do, Yugi…as talented as he is…could not in 5,000 years see this monster coming his way." The spirit looked at Misha with a look of slight disappointment and said, "For your sake and mine…you better be right."
Later that night Misha quietly exited of his room and went to the courtyard of the castle, he sat down nest to the fountain and looked up at the stars. Misha looked at them and thought to himself, "It must be simple being a star, way up there in the sky…no worries and all." Misha suddenly heard the sound of footsteps, Misha whispered: "Who's there?" No response, he whispered again: "whose there…identify yourself this instant!" When the stranger came into visual range Misha wasn't very surprised to see Yugi. Misha looked at him and said, "You should be in bed you know." Yugi replied, "Well I could say the same for you? I guess both of us can't sleep huh." Misha nodded and said, "Yeah, I guess…tomorrow is a big day for the two of us, I just want you to know I'll be expecting no mercy from both of you…because we're going to show you no mercy as well." Yugi then asked "What do you mean by 'both of you' and 'we', because this isn't a tag team duel you know."
Misha smiled and said, "When I said 'both of you' I referred to 'you and the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle'…and when I said 'we' I referred to 'me and the spirit of my item, the Millennium Bracelet'." Misha then revealed his bracelet to Yugi and said, "We're going to do whatever it takes to win…understand, whatever it takes…so expect the unexpected from us." Misha then got back to his feet and made his way back to his room. Misha was able to at least get a good-sized dose of rest.
When Misha woke up he looked at his watch; it was 7 in the morning, "3 hours and counting." He mumbled to himself, slowly getting out of bed and getting his clothes on, Misha knew this was a defining moment for him…that this duel was going to be the one that would tell him he was the best…or if there was still some room for improvement. As he washed up he looked in the mirror and started rallying himself with a little reflection talk, "You think you're going to beat me? You think you're going to beat ME with that monster?! Well, okay…it's just that I had this on the field TRAP HOLE! BYE-BYE, S-S-S-SUC-S-SUCKER!" Suddenly the spirit of the Bracelet appeared behind him and said, "Don't get too cocky…you haven't won yet." Misha gave him a look of annoyance and said, "You've never been to a pep-rally so I'm giving you a pass…but I'm trying to build up my confidence, trying to bring up that extra courage I'll need for this match!" Misha then left his room and made his way for the Dining Hall.
Misha looked at his watch and said, "One hour to go…then we'll see who's the best." Finishing his French Toast he didn't even hear Yugi and his friends enter the room, Misha stood up and walked past them. Just before leaving he looked at his watch and said, "55 minutes…that's how much time you have to eat breakfast and get down to the arena."
Joey then said, "Misha…hope you have a rabbits' foot with ya, because you'll need all the luck you can get."
Misha turned around and gave Joey a rather dark looking stare and said, "Oh is that so, well then Joey…I hope you know coming from my personal experience I only acted that confident and macho once…and I lost a very rare card because of it. So I'd be extremely careful of what you say…it just might jinx your friend."
Misha went down to the arena early and looked at the other side, wouldn't be long now…soon he'd be dueling to reclaim his once faded glory. And with the spirit of the Bracelet on his side, how could he lose…he pondered what monsters his opponent might use…then thought of all the possible combinations a person could use with that monster. He finally came up with a list of what moves to expect from Yugi and how to counter them.
Well with all the time this took, he looked at his watch and saw that it would be only 3 more minutes until 'go time' so to speak. He saw both balconies fill with their spectators, Yugi's friends on the balcony to the right. And Master Pegasus on the balcony to the left, Misha waited patiently for his opponent to appear on the other side of the arena. And he didn't have long to wait…for through the door appeared a very stern faced Yugi.
Misha smiled and said, "Yugi…or is the Spirit of the Puzzle of whom I speak to? Well, which ever one you are…I just want you to meet a little friend of mine." Just then Misha revealed his bracelet and a crimson light flooded the room, when it subsided Misha looked at Yugi and said: "Bet you weren't expecting me were you…yet again maybe you have, I'm dueling in Misha's spot…but don't think that he'll be absent." Yugi nodded and said, "Yes, but just because you and Misha are working together…doesn't mean you'll win."
Misha (or the Spirit of the Bracelet for that matter)said, "Okay…now are we here to duel, or just talk all day?" Misha shuffled his own deck and said, "There…don't shuffle yours, for I have a prediction that your first draw will be rather useless to you. But as a gesture of good faith, I'll let you go first." Suddenly the real Misha said, "Yeah, you're right…there is something different about Yugi, that must be the spirit of the Puzzle."
Misha didn't have to wait long for Yugi's first move was Celtic Guardian in attack mode, he also put two cards face down. Misha looked at his hand and said, "That's a good opener Yugi…but unfortunately, it will not save you for long. I play Giga-Tech Wolf in attack mode, and I play three cards face down and end my turn.
Yugi looked at Misha's side of the field, he guessed that maybe a couple of Misha's face down cards were traps…but he had to get rid of Misha's monster, which he did…Misha didn't even flinch, he didn't even go for his face down cards, he just watched his Life Points go from 2000 to 1850. It was Misha's turn again, he drew a card. A smile curled up on his face as it was one of the 'skull and crossed swords' cased cards, Yugi looked at it and asked, "What's that?"
Misha responded by saying: "Just know that for the moment it is one of the three cards in my deck that will be writing your will and testament in the dueling world. But for now I play Guardian of the Throne Room in attack mode, and if you attack this monster it will be your gravest mistake."
Yugi thought to himself: "Misha's either the worst at playing bluff…or he's still got something up his sleeve? With that many Life Points, I'd better come up with something fast!" Yugi drew his next card and said, "This duel may not even take long, for I play the Dark Magician in attack mode, and I'll have him attack your Guardian of the Throne Room."
As Misha's Life Points went from 1850 to 1000 he sighed and said, "Tried to warn you for I now play my three face down cards, Michizure, Numinous Healer, and Attack and Receive! Now what Michizure does is when one of my monsters is destroyed I can take one of your monsters with it, so first I'll eliminate your Dark Magician. Then we come to the Numinous Healer, what this card does is when I take Life Point damage it increases my Life Points by 1000…so I'm back up to 2000 and we're tied. But alas we come to Attack and Receive, what it does is anytime I take Life Point damage it deals a direct 700 damage to your Life Points. So I'm afraid I'm in the lead now."
Yugi looked at Misha and thought to himself, " I can't believe in one turn Misha was able to change the tide of the duel…I better find a way to change the tide again, otherwise this duel is over."
Misha looked at Yugi's facial expression and thought to himself, "Yes my young friend feel your hope diminish, for now I'm ready to play one of my cards of death, you saw it when I put in my hand…now with your Dark Magician in the graveyard, this would be the perfect time to play it."
***
There you go, Sorry but I had to make it a cliffhanger…what card could Misha have in his hand? You'll have to wait until part two (DO I HAVE TO KEEP ASKING FOR REVIEWS).