From Darkness To Light: Duel in Darkness
By Asher Tye
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I wish I did 'cause then I'd be rich. Since I'm not, suing me would be pointless. Thanks bunches for all the reviews. I can't wait to see the reviews for this chapter.
Summary: Shadi has come to investigate the explosions, and he accuses Yami and Yugi of being the culprits. When Mokuba arrives and transports everyone to the shadow Realm, the only question is, will the game shop survive?
*_* - Personal Thoughts
/_/ - Yugi to Yami
\_\ - Yami to Yugi
(_) - Voice to Mokuba
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Yugi and Yami stood at the edge of the crater that had once been a condemned section of downtown as the sun sank behind them. Only a week had passed since the explosion had occurred that had reduced the place to it's current condition.
"Can you feel it Yugi?" Yami asked, his hands over the edge of the crater.
"Feel what?" The younger boy said, looking down into the crater.
"Even though a week has passed, I can still feel the energy that caused this. Such energy cannot be so easily concealed, and yet this is the only spot in the whole city where I can feel it. There's not even a trail."
"Perhaps that means who ever is responsible was destroyed as well," Yugi stated bluntly. "I can't imagine anything surviving that." Yami turned away from the hole and Yugi followed, worried. His dark side seemed lost in his own thoughts as he contemplated the crater's creation.
"The question remains though, was the culprit destroyed, or merely his body." The pair arrived at a bus station. Yugi bought the passes needed to take them back home, enduring the comments on how cute it was that he was paying for his elder "brother" with a grin. As soon as the two took their seats on the bus, a question formed in Yugi's mind.
"If the culprit's body was destroyed, how would he still be alive?"
"Shadi told me there have been breaks recently occurring in the wall between our world and the Shadow Realm. I fear that was where all the power came from. If that means a monster broke free, then merely destroying his body would have simply sent his spirit back to the Shadow Realm."
"Not good."
"No. Tomorrow I'm going to consult Isis at the museum. With any luck her Millennium Necklace can confirm my suspicions."
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Ushio smiled as he skulked through the alleys of Domino City, his heart filled with anger and the need for revenge. Revenge on Yugi Motou. For three and a half years the large man had suffered under the delusion of seeing anything and everything as money, save for what was real. Doctors had been unable to do anything to help the young man. But Ushio remembered, he remembered everything.
*First that sawed-off runt tricks me into thinking he's going to pay me what's mine, then he forces me into that rigged game,* Ushio thought to himself, running a thumb over his knife. *Then he pulls some sort of hocus-pocus crap on me. I'll enjoy making him pay for that.* As the man walked towards the Turtle Game Shop, he noticed a small red shape moving in the same direction. It was definitely human, but wearing a red cloak so ridiculously oversized it made the child look more like a goblin. *Must be one of Yugi's friends from Runts Anonymous,* Ushio snippily thought. *Maybe a proper warning for that thrice damned Yugi.* Ushio moved out of the alley, shadowing the cape wearing boy. Suddenly, he ducked into an alley, but Ushio followed, only to discover the alley completely empty.
"Where did that little street trash go?" the big man asked himself. He turned around just in time to almost trip over Mokuba, who now stood right in front of him.
"You were following me... Why?" Mokuba asked, his voice grainy as an eyebrow arched on his face. Ushio smiled down at the twelve year old, a cruel, predatory smile that would have made anyone else feel uncomfortable.
"What can I say squirt, I have a thing for small animals," Ushio said, brandishing his knife, licking it. "Now if you stay still, this probably won't hurt as much, and then maybe your little friend Yugi will visit you in the hospital before I teach him his lesson." Ushio brought the knife down, fully intending to plunge it into the young boy's shoulder. Before it could hit, the blade was blocked by Mokuba's index and middle fingers.
"Over a million years of evolution," Mokuba began, his eyes glowing bright red as his hair rose into the air, black strands glowing with dark energy. "And this is the best you fools can send against me."
"Oh no," Ushio said, getting a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on his face. "Not another one." Before the big man could turn to leave, Mokuba grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay put. Ushio looked down, staring straight into the young Kaiba's eyes. Immediately, Ushio began to feel his mind once more slipping away from him. Behind him, a giant, brass machine rose from the ground, a small door with a single circular window it's only feature. With a creak and hiss the door swung open. A gentle push from Mokuba, and Ushio fell into the real world manifestation of the Time Machine.
"I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to give this day to do over again. In fact, I'll give you about three and a half years worth of days to do over again. Ta ta." With those words, Mokuba left, letting the machine do it's work as he continued walking the last few yards to the Turtle Game Shop.
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Kiz Retall watched as his master calmly approached him, a psychic smile on his non-existent face. Zoa did not seem overly pleased to have been called to the Dark-Eyes Illusionist's sanctuary, but this would soon change. Kiz made a passing glance at an alcove in his wall currently covered by a tapestry, the hiding spot of his true master, and the real source of his power.
"You said you had new information regarding your efforts to capture the human Seto Kaiba," Zoa said, his four legs stamping over towards his subordinate. "I would hate to have to destroy you for wasting my time."
"As I would hate to be destroyed," Kiz said, bowing to the dark fiend. "But I assure you, this will be worth your time. You see, I have judged that any plan involving the direct capture of the elder Kaiba is doomed from the start to failure."
"Well, if it has proven too difficult for you, perhaps I should give it to another, more deserving creature." As he said these words, a ball of black energy appeared in Zoa's hands.
"I did not say it was too difficult, merely directly impossible." So saying a giant screen appeared behind the Dark-Eyes Illusionist. On it came several pictures showing Seto successfully defending himself against several kidnapping attempts. "As you can see, the elder Kaiba is quite adept at keeping himself out of danger, particularly when it's danger directed against him. And, since he apparently does play host to such a massive amount of power, he'll prove even more impossible to capture. But..." At this the picture on the screen switched to that of Seto Kaiba walking into Pegasus's trap to save his brother, and ending up a prisoner of the game maker. "As you can see, he does have a weakness."
"The little rat? Yes... He always was attached to it."
"'Was' sir?"
"Nevermind. I assume there is a reason you're showing me this?"
"I would like permission to focus efforts on the capture of Mokuba Kaiba." At Kiz's words, the black energy disappeared from Zoa's hands as he contemplated the words spoken.
"Very well, I will allow this course of action, but only for the time being."
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"Grandpa, I'm home!" Yugi called as he opened the door to the Turtle Game Shop and stepped in. The shop was almost deserted; not surprising considering how close it was to closing time. Yami had decided to return to the puzzle, seeing how it seemed to make his grandfather uncomfortable seeing two grandsons where there should only be one.
"Yugi my boy," Solomon Motou said, smiling at the spiky-haired teen from behind his counter as he tended to what was his last customer. The happy customer took his purchase and quickly left the store.
"Has Tea come by yet? She and I are supposed to work on our class project tonight."
"Yes, I let her upstairs to wait in your room. She was with your other partner. What is his name again? It's that skinny white haired boy... uh... Ryou that's it." Yugi began to move upstairs, a smile on his face and a semi-dreamy look in his eyes. Ryou wouldn't be too difficult to get rid of, and then he'd have Tea all to himself. "Oh, Joey's also here too."
*Argh!* Yugi thought. *Now how am I supposed to get Tea alone?! Joey'll never take a hint.* As the small teen reached the second floor of his home, he opened his door in time to see Ryou, Joey and Tea all sitting on his bed. In front of them, the tomb robber Bakura talked very animatedly, no doubt recounting one of his favorite robberies, reveling in the chance to brag about outsmarting yet another victim.
"The doors closed, sealing me in the room as I heard the gears on the wall start to grind. The other wall slowly began to move towards me, ready to crush me to death if I didn't find a way out."
"What did you do?" Tea asked.
"I reached into my bag and grabbed the skull I'd found earlier. Then I jammed it between the teeth of the gears. Of course the skull cracked and broke, but it did the trick, knocking the gears out of whack and stopping the trap. After that, it was child's play to grab that obnoxious priest's scarab medallion... and even easier to melt it down for it's gold." With that, Bakura smiled triumphantly.
"Ahem!" Yugi cleared his throat, announcing his presence. The four turned to the smallish boy.
"Hi, Yugi." Was he collective sentiment of the three on the bed, while Bakura simply scowled at the intruder.
"What do you want?" Bakura said rudely.
"He lives here, what's your excuse?" Yami called back as he separated from Yugi.
*Great, more company...* Yugi thought, sensing any chance at being alone with Tea jumping and leaping out of the window.
"Hey Yug, sorry 'bout commin' over unannounced and all, but I needed your help. Mind if I borrow your notes from today?"
"What happened to your notes?"
"Tristan and I were rough-housin' in the park and I kinda took a header into the pond," Joey explained, pulling out the still soaked papers. The aforementioned notes were smudged and completely unreadable. Totally worthless. Yugi sighed as he reached into his backpack, pulling out his own notes from the day and handing them to the blond.
"Now then, let's get down to..."
"Yugi! You have another visitor!" called Solomon Motou. Once more the young Motou sighed.
*And to think there was a time when I had to pay people NOT to leave me alone,* Yugi thought as he opened the door to his room again. Downstairs, he was very surprised to find his "guest" was none other than Shadi himself. The Egyptian man stood in his turban and white robes, a glare in his eyes as he watched Yugi's Grandpa finish counting the last of the day's receipts.
"Shadi, is there something I can help you with?" came a strong voice from behind Yugi. The boy looked around to find Yami staring at their guest, a look of warning on his face as he watched the Tomb Guardian.
"I am here to investigate Domino City's devastation by Shadow Magic, and as such must now speak with you as you are one of my five suspects."
"You can't possibly think I was the culprit," Yami said defensively. "Why would I attack my own home?"
"I don't know, however I am not permitted to overlook any possibility. If one of you is so grossly abusing your Millennium Items, then there must be consequences."
"And yet, if you're the culprit, none of us are safe as a result," Bakura said. The white-haired Tomb Robber was sitting on a glass case, smiling at both Pharoah and Guardian.
"Watch your tongue, rogue. I have little patience for those who violate the dead, and even less with y..." It was at that point that the door to the Turtle Game Shop opened.
"I'm sorry but we're closed," Solomon Motou said, puzzled as to why he hadn't locked the door.
"It doesn't matter," came Mokuba's grainy voice as he walked past the elder man. The twelve year old walked to the center of the room, pointing a finger at Yugi. "I have come to duel you Yugi Motou, and I will not take no for an answer."
"I apologize, but we have far more pressing problems than a childish duel," Shadi said, annoyance on his face as he grabbed Mokuba's shoulder. "I would ask that you return home and leave us..." Suddenly, dark energy wrapped itself around Shadi's body, flinging the young man roughly into one of the store's stone walls.
"Who are you?" Yami asked, placing an arm protectively in front of Yugi, lest the raven haired boy attack him.
"I am Mokuba Kaiba."
"You're not Mokuba... Mokuba never had that much power," Bakura said.
"One who knows nothing, can understand nothing. I am Mokuba, and that is all you need to know. Now either you or his royal highness must duel me, it doesn't matter which. And the winner gets your remaining two Exodia cards."
"And why should we duel you for something that's already ours?" Yami demanded.
"Very well... If I defeat you, I take possession of young Yugi's remaining two Exodia cards; the Left Arm of the Forbidden One, and the Right Leg of the Forbidden One. But if, by luck or skill, you manage to defeat me, I'll tell you precisely who stole Maximillion Pegasus's Millennium Eye." As those words were spoken, Bakura's eyes opened wide as he realized just where this conversation was heading.
*Could that little brat really know my secret?*
"Wait a minute. How do we know you're telling the truth?"
(Because you're the one who did it,) came a voice inside Bakura's head that the thief recognized as Mokuba's. At that point Joey and the others came down the stairs.
"Hey Yug, what's the matter with the lights? Everything's blinkin' like a Christmas Tre..." The blond teen noticed Mokuba for the first time. "What's the deal with da kid?"
"It would appear that Mokuba has been possessed by a spirit of some kind," Yami said. "And it would the spirit wants a duel."
"If you do know who stole that millennium item, then I will duel you," Shadi said, finally pulling himself free of the wall.
"You do not possess the cards I want," Mokuba said, his eyes remaining focused on Yugi.
"That is immaterial. I demand the infor..." Shadi never got a chance to finish his statement as he was sent flying into one of the glass card cases, smashing it to pieces.
"Now see here, I do not allow violence in my store," Solomon Motou said, taking a step towards the energized Kaiba. The normally firm cement turned to goo as the elder Motou walked, sinking up to his knees into the floor as it hardened again, trapping the man.
"Grandpa!" Yugi cried, moving towards his trapped grandfather. His path was blocked however by Mokuba, intent on getting an answer from his prey.
"Your grandfather is all right. Now answer me, will you duel me?!"
"Yes anything, just don't hurt him!" As soon as Yugi spoke those words, a black shadow began to spread from behind Mokuba as the boy transported all within the room to the Shadow Realm.
***********************************
"The Forbidden One has tapped into his energy again Ra."
"I felt it just as readily as you, Obelisk," the golden dragon of the sun said, both hands grabbing air as his arms stretched in front of him. "Osiris, are you sure this is the weakest point?"
"Have I ever been wrong," the red dragon said, alternating between both of his two moved between each word. Ra seemingly pressed the air, and it visibly began to crack.
"Soon, we will be able to return to the earth realm," Ra said. "Be ready."
**********************************
Deep in the cave under Domino Museum, Isis and Malik Ishtar followed the beams of light coming from their respective millennium items, walking in total silence. In fact, the two Ishtar siblings had not said a single word to each other since they'd entered the cavern. Malik had to admit he was finding it somewhat depressing that his elder sister seemed to be ignoring him. Afterall, they hadn't seen each other in nearly two years.
*Is she that focused on finding what's down here?* the thirteen year old asked himself. *Typically I can't get her to STOP asking questions when we've been apart this long.* Malik soon decided he'd be the one to break the ice.
"So, how have you been?" the youngest Ishtar asked.
"You should be quiet," Isis said coldly. "While these caves have been reinforced, I don't want to run the risk of your voice collapsing the whole place on us." Rather than press the issue, Malik decided to remain silent. Soon they came a spot in the wall where the two beams of light converged to a single point.
"What in the world is this?" Malik asked, his hand reaching out to touch the rock wall.
"I don't know," Isis said. "Which makes this an even bigger mystery. The cave has been totally explored, there SHOULD be NOTHING here I don't know about." As she spoke, the rock began to rumble and crumble. Instinctively, Isis pulled her younger brother away from the rock, ready to run should this be a prelude to a cave-in. The rumbling stopped, however, as the rock wall finished crumbling to dust, revealing a shallow alcove behind it. Both Ishtars drew in a sharp breath at what they saw. The entire wall was covered in primitive cave paintings. Their existence was not what caused the duel gasp, however, but what they depicted. Human's carrying spears fought against green giants with only one eye, dinosaurs covered in what looked like metal, and a giant silver dragon.
"Dueling monsters?" Malik asked. "How is that possible? I thought it was a creation of the ancient Egyptians?"
"Apparently, shadow magic is older than we thought," Isis stated, running her fingers carefully over the pictures. The mural was disfigured by a rather large hole in the center of the wall, from which a piece of the picture had apparently fallen over the centuries. Isis bent to examine the fragments that littered the ground, hoping there was a piece that might explain the mural. The Millennium Necklace around the woman's neck began to glow, as did a few of the fragments on the ground. Suspended by magic, the stone fragments rose into the air, setting themselves perfectly into the mural, coming together to depict a picture of the same black haired woman Isis had seen earlier in her museum. Of course, this was not lost on her younger brother.
"Your millennium item put those pieces together like it knew how," Malik said. That was when he noticed the Millennium Rod was glowing as well. More pieces rose from the ground, fitting neatly into the other side of the hole. This time, the completed picture was of a Hitotsumi Giant, it's massive arms trying to protect it from something that was still only depicted in the fragments that lay on the ground. Isis stood up again, an upset look on her face.
"King Yami and the others must see this."
***********************************
Yugi had never liked dueling in the Shadow Realm. There was something very unnatural feeling about the dark plane the young man so often found himself taken to. The section the possessed Mokuba had taken them all to seemed bigger than most, as the monsters they'd summoned were fully life-size. On Yugi's side of the field stood his Summoned Skull as well as Silver Fang. while in front of the two monsters hovered several swords made of brilliant light. On Mokuba's side of the field stood the Millennium Shield in defensive mode, a Ring of Magnetism equipped to it, helping to protect a Milos Radiant monster. Both of their life points remained at four thousand.
"You're better at this than I thought Yugi. I had really not planned on using this combination," Mokuba said.
"I trust in the heart of the cards, the heart of my deck. It has never let me down."
"Yes, yes. You've consistently proven to have great faith in your cards, a firm belief that they will get you out of any situation, no matter how grave. But I wonder, is the same feeling returned you. Would the spirits of the monsters you so readily play with so willingly place their lives in your dueling skills?"
"What are you blabbing about," Joey said, getting angry at Mokuba's insulting manner towards his friend. "Yugi's beaten everyone who ever came at him, why wouldn't they trust him."
"You are a fool Wheeler," Mokuba said as once more his long hair began to braid itself, transforming into a crest with two long antennae out of his head. Gold armor began to appear on the boy's body, save for his left arm and right leg. The younger Kaiba pointed his clawed right hand at the Summoned Skull. "During a duel, all the monsters see is the field, enemy monsters in front of them, and their master behind them. Never do they see their true opponent, never do they know the face of the man who controls their attackers. Only do they see a veil of darkness."
"So they never know who's their opponent, big deal," Bakura said, hoping whatever spirit had Mokuba had some trick up his sleeve to win. The silver ankh on Mokuba's armored chest began to glow as his eyes glowed a more intense red.
"I hereby obliterate that veil! Let the monsters see who their true opponent is, and let them know FEAR!" Dark energy appeared all around the perimeter of the field as the barriers disappeared. The effect was almost immediate. Both Summoned Skull and Silver Fang began to shrink back from battle, while Milos Radiant simply began to grin. Even the Millennium Shield seemed to be getting bolder at this new change.
"What have you done?!" Yami demanded as he attempted to go to his partner. His path was blocked, however, by a shield of energy.
"I told you, either you or Yugi, not both," Mokuba said, puffing a little as he exerted more energy to keep the ancient Pharoah back. "Now, King of Games, command your army now that they are paralyzed by fear, and now that I play my prize card, Krokodilus." Mokuba smacked his card down on the ground and from it rose a man-shaped crocodile. "Your Swords of Revealing Light may keep me from attacking this turn, but next turn they're gone, and my croc will be ready to deliver a nice devastating blow." Yugi watched as Krokodilus's attack power began to climb faster and faster.
"What in the world?"
"With the veils removed, he's taking advantage of being so close to his master to triple his strength. Soon he will be more than strong enough to blow Summoned Skull away. Especially considering what's wrong with him." On Yugi's side of the field, both Summoned Skull's and Silver Fang's attack power was rapidly falling.
"NO!"
"Fear cripples even the strongest of monsters, Yugi. Now even the Mighty Summoned Skull lacks the courage to defend itself. But for now, I end my turn." Yugi looked at his cards, desperately searching for some way to counteract this latest development.
*This trap card... With any luck it'll be enough to stop him,* Yugi thought as he laid the card face down. *But if all he's gonna do is cripple my monsters with fear, I have to figure out a more permanent solution.*
"All right, it's you're turn 'Mokuba.'" Yugi watched as Mokuba seemed to be preoccupied with something else.
Mokuba's arms supported him as he struggled to keep control of his tiny pocket of reality, feeling the strain of maintaining so many people in the Shadow Realm. It was always so much easier with only two people, but if he didn't, those without millennium items ran the risk of having their souls trapped for all eternity in the dark realm, not an option the boy was interested in allowing.
******************************
Ra, Obelisk, and Osiris finally broke through barrier to Earth, entering in front of the Turtle Game Shop, exactly where they'd intended to arrive.
"He is here!" Ra said, staring at the building.
"And he's using a tremendous amount of power, far more than he has since his awakening," said Osiris. "But he has erected a force-field." To prove his point the red dragon god touched a barrier of energy that surrounded the building.
"Bah, collectively we possess more power than anything, even him!" Obelisk said, striking the shield with the force of an explosion. "Come, we must enter." All three gods began their assault on the barrier.
*************************************
Inside, Mokuba could feel the energies of all three gods as they attempted to force their way inside, grunting as he felt their strikes.
*Not here, not now. I'm so close,* Mokuba thought as he sent energy to strengthen his defense, drawing power away from Milos Radiant as he did so. *I can't afford to loose this duel, but I also can't let those three fools come here. Gotta end this quick.*
"Krokodilus! Destroy the Summoned Skull!!"
"Not so fast!" Yugi said, flipping over his trap card. As soon as he did, two black Magical Hats appeared above his two monsters, both splitting into two hats for a grand total of four.
"NO!" Mokuba said as his crocodile monster attacked one of the hats, revealing nothing underneath. "Milos!" The earthen dog attacked as well, only to find himself face to face with Silver Fang.
"I activated my second trap, Re-enforcements. Raising Silver Fang's attack points enough to equal Milos," Yugi said, as both monsters were destroyed by each others attacks.
"You... You fool," Mokuba said, feeling fatigue begin to take it's toll on him. Magical Hats had been a most unwelcome surprise, and the younger Kaiba could not afford any more delays, especially not with Ra and company pounding on his door. "Very well, it's your turn."
"You're not gonna play any cards?"
"NO! NOW JUST GO!!" Mokuba shouted.
"Fine, then I play the card, Soul Exchange to take your Millennium Shield, along with my now weakened Summoned Skull as tribute to bring out; the Dark Magician." As Yugi spoke, the Magical Hats disappeared as did the Millennium Shield. One the field stood the Dark Magician, a look of resolve on his face.
"You... you have made a grave... grave mistake. Inside the hats the skull was safe, but your magician is out in the open, against my... my super-charged Krokodilus."
"Not so. My Dark Magician does not need to see his opponent to attack him, so I'll blind him with the card... Darkness Approaches. He'll have to trust in my abilities even more to survive, but I'm sure I can prove more than worthy of that trust, especially since your monster seems to be loosing power." Mokuba looked at Krokodilus, realizing that it had lost three hundred of it's attack points. The black haired boy knew exactly what had happened, he was diverting too much energy to his shield and maintaining his link to the Shadow Realm. "I'll play this card face down, and end my turn."
"Fine," the twelve year old Kaiba said, struggling to keep his concentration. "Whatever you want. But now, I attack with... I attack with..."
"Mokuba?" Yugi said, concerned for his young friend.
"I... attack... with... KROKODILUS!!"
"And I defend my mage with the Spell-Binding Circle, which not only stops your lizard man in his tracks, but lowers his attack power by an addition five hundred points." Yugi suddenly noticed the look in Mokuba's eyes as he stared at the circle of energy that surrounded his monster. It was a look of almost pure terror, like he'd seen something so horrible his mind couldn't handle it.
"NO! Not that card! Any card but that! Not the circle, I don't want the circle!!" Mokuba began to scream. In response to this, Krokodilus's attack power began to plummet, falling even lower than it's original eleven hundred. Outside, the three gods were beginning to make headway, breaking through the shield. Inside, the Shadow Realm's power began to collapse, cracking and breaking as Mokuba began to loose control. "STOP! STOP!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!"
"Mokuba, what's wrong!?"
"Geez, the kid's flippin' out."
"Then now is the time to strike," Yami said. Around his neck the Millennium Puzzle began to glow. "Now, I can return us to the real world and..." The darkness of the Shadow Realm faded, replaced once more with the game shop. Solomon Motou found himself rising from the cement he'd been trapped in, his feet once more standing on solid ground. Mokuba had collapsed to his hands and knees his energy almost completely depleted as the golden armor disappeared. The group of nine did not have any time to relax, however, as the doors to the game shop exploded off their hinges. As the dust cleared, Yugi could make out the silhouettes of the three dragon gods themselves.
"We have come to collect you whelp," Obelisk said, pointing a blue talon at the fallen Mokuba. "Do not make this difficult."
"No... I won't go back... Just... leave me alone," Mokuba gasped out. The raven-haired boy held out a hand and a bolt of dark energy flew from his palm. The attack proved too weak, though, as Obelisk simply knocked the energy blast away. The blue god charged forward, striking the boy's stomach with his knee savagely.
"Fool, do you think we could you could take one such as me at anything less than full power. I am insulted."
"Leave him alone!" Yugi called, running to defend his friend.
"Away boy!" Obelisk growled, a massive fist sending the tri-color-haired boy flying into Yami.
"Obelisk!" Ra growled. "Do not loose control. We are here for the boy and nothing more."
"You don't have me yet," Mokuba said, standing shakily to his feet. "Not while I can still do this..." Mokuba's hands reached out and dark energy began to escape from the eye symbols of the millennium items, flowng directly into the boy.
"Not this time," Ra said, charging his own attack. Between Mokuba's hands, a ball of black energy began to form as he shaped his spell, violently shoving it the ball forward, only to be met by Ra's golden sphere. The resulting explosion sent the weakened Mokuba flying backward to strike the cash register. Obelisk moved forward, ready to expel a blast of blue fire-breath.
"Kuriboh... Multiply!" Yami called, tossing two cards before the onslaught of flame. A single furry ball appeared, and suddenly multiplied into thousands, easily blocking Obelisk's blue flame. The dragon god angrily looked at Yami.
"You DARE to defy ME!" Obelisk yelled, charging at the Pharoah, ready to rend the boy king with his talons. The god never made contact as Osiris intercepted him.
"Obelisk, you must control your anger," the red dragon commanded, gripping his ally's arms. "I will not allow you to hurt the children."
"You won't have to," Yami said as his Millennium Puzzle activated. In response, both Bakura's and Shadi's millennium items also began to activate. "You should not be here, so now I am forced to banish you all. Back to the Shadow Realm with you!" Reality began to warp for the three dragons as a black hole opened in the center of the room, sucking in paper and air as all three Egyptian gods began to be pulled in. "BE GONE!" The suction intensified, and soon all three monsters disappeared into the dark void. As soon as the task was complete, the portal died, and Yami fell to the ground. Immediately Bakura stomped over to the fallen Pharoah, an angry look in his eyes.
"How dare you tap into MY Ring! What gives you the right?"
"I needed the extra energy from you and Shadi's items to banish them," Yami said. This answer did not seem to placate Bakura however, who drew back a fist to punch his rival. His fist was stopped, though, by Joey's.
"Hey, what's your problem ya dingy bandit? Yami just saved our lives."
"You'll pay for this...."
"Uh... Wha... What happened?" came a soft voice from behind the counter. Mokuba rose up from where he had fallen, his red cloak reduced to almost tatters from Obelisk's attacks.
"Mokuba, are you all right?" Tea asked, helping the boy to his feet. Immediately, the young Kaiba yelped in pain as Tea accidentally hit a tender area.
"Owie, owie, owie! That hurts. What happened?"
"What do you remember?" Yami asked.
"All I remember is coming over to see you for... for... Why did I want to see you again?"
"Dude you got all crazy and then... UMPH!" Joey said, only to be struck in the stomach by Ryou. "What's you do that for?"
"It would appear that whatever spirit possessed the boy has fled with Obelisk and the others. That being the case, it might be better if Mokuba doesn't fully remember what happened."
"A gas line blew, I guess we were caught in the explosion," Yugi said, hoping Mokuba would buy his story. "You were thrown against the wall. Do you have any broken bones?"
"I don't think so. Nothing feels broken, just bruised," Mokuba said.
"You should probably get some rest. I'll take you home," said Yugi, smiling his friendliest smile. In truth the short teen did not want to take Mokuba home. Seto Kaiba would most likely be there, and Yugi could only imagine how angry the KaibaCorp CEO would be when he saw the state his brother was in. Still, Seto was not completely unreasonable.
"It's all right, I'll... I'll call Seto to send a car for me," Mokuba said as he lifted the store phone. "It's dead..." Inwardly, Yugi smiled, glad Mokuba was unable to simply call for a ride. The walk would give him plenty of time to come up with a way to explain what happened to the elder Kaiba, a way that would not result in a trip to the hospital for Yugi.
"I'll come too. I need to speak with Kaiba," Yami said.
"Sure you two go ahead, we'll help Grandpa clean up dis mess," Joey said.
"Speak for yourself," Bakura and Shadi said in unison, a fact that did not please either. Bakura disappeared, going back inside his ring which once more hung from Ryou's neck. Yami, Yugi, and Mokuba left the store, Yugi partially supporting the weakened Mokuba as they did so. Shadi began disappear through one of his disk, when the loud cry a very big bird was heard. Outside, a dark shadow fell over the dim light of the failing sun as a giant bird swoop down from the sky. The three humans looked up to see a Punished Eagle come down from the sky, catching up little Mokuba and Yugi in it's claws.
"Yugi! NO!" Yami called, reaching into his deck as he pulled forth a card. "Curse of Dragon, arise!" On command, a golden, serpentine dragon with four wings rose into the air, waiting just long enough for Yami to jump onto his back before he took off after the flying monster.
"Yami, what's going on?" Joey said, running outside of the shop to see the cause of the commotion.
"Yugi and Mokuba have been kidnapped. I'm going to try to rescue them. Get Bakura and Shadi, I may need help. Fly!" Eagle and dragon flew off into the distance as Joey ran back inside. On top of the building, a small Meda-Bat watched the proceedings with great interest. In another world, another dimension, Kiz Retall watched, happy that his plans were working.
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Exciting, right. Now Yugi and Mokuba have both been captured, and Yami must try to save them. Next chapter it's Yami in an aerial dogfight to save his friends, but his biggest task has yet to come. Remember, read, review, and offer suggestions if you feel like it. See ya next time. Byez.
By Asher Tye
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh, I wish I did 'cause then I'd be rich. Since I'm not, suing me would be pointless. Thanks bunches for all the reviews. I can't wait to see the reviews for this chapter.
Summary: Shadi has come to investigate the explosions, and he accuses Yami and Yugi of being the culprits. When Mokuba arrives and transports everyone to the shadow Realm, the only question is, will the game shop survive?
*_* - Personal Thoughts
/_/ - Yugi to Yami
\_\ - Yami to Yugi
(_) - Voice to Mokuba
***************************************************************************
Yugi and Yami stood at the edge of the crater that had once been a condemned section of downtown as the sun sank behind them. Only a week had passed since the explosion had occurred that had reduced the place to it's current condition.
"Can you feel it Yugi?" Yami asked, his hands over the edge of the crater.
"Feel what?" The younger boy said, looking down into the crater.
"Even though a week has passed, I can still feel the energy that caused this. Such energy cannot be so easily concealed, and yet this is the only spot in the whole city where I can feel it. There's not even a trail."
"Perhaps that means who ever is responsible was destroyed as well," Yugi stated bluntly. "I can't imagine anything surviving that." Yami turned away from the hole and Yugi followed, worried. His dark side seemed lost in his own thoughts as he contemplated the crater's creation.
"The question remains though, was the culprit destroyed, or merely his body." The pair arrived at a bus station. Yugi bought the passes needed to take them back home, enduring the comments on how cute it was that he was paying for his elder "brother" with a grin. As soon as the two took their seats on the bus, a question formed in Yugi's mind.
"If the culprit's body was destroyed, how would he still be alive?"
"Shadi told me there have been breaks recently occurring in the wall between our world and the Shadow Realm. I fear that was where all the power came from. If that means a monster broke free, then merely destroying his body would have simply sent his spirit back to the Shadow Realm."
"Not good."
"No. Tomorrow I'm going to consult Isis at the museum. With any luck her Millennium Necklace can confirm my suspicions."
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Ushio smiled as he skulked through the alleys of Domino City, his heart filled with anger and the need for revenge. Revenge on Yugi Motou. For three and a half years the large man had suffered under the delusion of seeing anything and everything as money, save for what was real. Doctors had been unable to do anything to help the young man. But Ushio remembered, he remembered everything.
*First that sawed-off runt tricks me into thinking he's going to pay me what's mine, then he forces me into that rigged game,* Ushio thought to himself, running a thumb over his knife. *Then he pulls some sort of hocus-pocus crap on me. I'll enjoy making him pay for that.* As the man walked towards the Turtle Game Shop, he noticed a small red shape moving in the same direction. It was definitely human, but wearing a red cloak so ridiculously oversized it made the child look more like a goblin. *Must be one of Yugi's friends from Runts Anonymous,* Ushio snippily thought. *Maybe a proper warning for that thrice damned Yugi.* Ushio moved out of the alley, shadowing the cape wearing boy. Suddenly, he ducked into an alley, but Ushio followed, only to discover the alley completely empty.
"Where did that little street trash go?" the big man asked himself. He turned around just in time to almost trip over Mokuba, who now stood right in front of him.
"You were following me... Why?" Mokuba asked, his voice grainy as an eyebrow arched on his face. Ushio smiled down at the twelve year old, a cruel, predatory smile that would have made anyone else feel uncomfortable.
"What can I say squirt, I have a thing for small animals," Ushio said, brandishing his knife, licking it. "Now if you stay still, this probably won't hurt as much, and then maybe your little friend Yugi will visit you in the hospital before I teach him his lesson." Ushio brought the knife down, fully intending to plunge it into the young boy's shoulder. Before it could hit, the blade was blocked by Mokuba's index and middle fingers.
"Over a million years of evolution," Mokuba began, his eyes glowing bright red as his hair rose into the air, black strands glowing with dark energy. "And this is the best you fools can send against me."
"Oh no," Ushio said, getting a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look on his face. "Not another one." Before the big man could turn to leave, Mokuba grabbed his arm, forcing him to stay put. Ushio looked down, staring straight into the young Kaiba's eyes. Immediately, Ushio began to feel his mind once more slipping away from him. Behind him, a giant, brass machine rose from the ground, a small door with a single circular window it's only feature. With a creak and hiss the door swung open. A gentle push from Mokuba, and Ushio fell into the real world manifestation of the Time Machine.
"I'm going to do you a favor. I'm going to give this day to do over again. In fact, I'll give you about three and a half years worth of days to do over again. Ta ta." With those words, Mokuba left, letting the machine do it's work as he continued walking the last few yards to the Turtle Game Shop.
**************************************************************************
Kiz Retall watched as his master calmly approached him, a psychic smile on his non-existent face. Zoa did not seem overly pleased to have been called to the Dark-Eyes Illusionist's sanctuary, but this would soon change. Kiz made a passing glance at an alcove in his wall currently covered by a tapestry, the hiding spot of his true master, and the real source of his power.
"You said you had new information regarding your efforts to capture the human Seto Kaiba," Zoa said, his four legs stamping over towards his subordinate. "I would hate to have to destroy you for wasting my time."
"As I would hate to be destroyed," Kiz said, bowing to the dark fiend. "But I assure you, this will be worth your time. You see, I have judged that any plan involving the direct capture of the elder Kaiba is doomed from the start to failure."
"Well, if it has proven too difficult for you, perhaps I should give it to another, more deserving creature." As he said these words, a ball of black energy appeared in Zoa's hands.
"I did not say it was too difficult, merely directly impossible." So saying a giant screen appeared behind the Dark-Eyes Illusionist. On it came several pictures showing Seto successfully defending himself against several kidnapping attempts. "As you can see, the elder Kaiba is quite adept at keeping himself out of danger, particularly when it's danger directed against him. And, since he apparently does play host to such a massive amount of power, he'll prove even more impossible to capture. But..." At this the picture on the screen switched to that of Seto Kaiba walking into Pegasus's trap to save his brother, and ending up a prisoner of the game maker. "As you can see, he does have a weakness."
"The little rat? Yes... He always was attached to it."
"'Was' sir?"
"Nevermind. I assume there is a reason you're showing me this?"
"I would like permission to focus efforts on the capture of Mokuba Kaiba." At Kiz's words, the black energy disappeared from Zoa's hands as he contemplated the words spoken.
"Very well, I will allow this course of action, but only for the time being."
***************************************************************************
"Grandpa, I'm home!" Yugi called as he opened the door to the Turtle Game Shop and stepped in. The shop was almost deserted; not surprising considering how close it was to closing time. Yami had decided to return to the puzzle, seeing how it seemed to make his grandfather uncomfortable seeing two grandsons where there should only be one.
"Yugi my boy," Solomon Motou said, smiling at the spiky-haired teen from behind his counter as he tended to what was his last customer. The happy customer took his purchase and quickly left the store.
"Has Tea come by yet? She and I are supposed to work on our class project tonight."
"Yes, I let her upstairs to wait in your room. She was with your other partner. What is his name again? It's that skinny white haired boy... uh... Ryou that's it." Yugi began to move upstairs, a smile on his face and a semi-dreamy look in his eyes. Ryou wouldn't be too difficult to get rid of, and then he'd have Tea all to himself. "Oh, Joey's also here too."
*Argh!* Yugi thought. *Now how am I supposed to get Tea alone?! Joey'll never take a hint.* As the small teen reached the second floor of his home, he opened his door in time to see Ryou, Joey and Tea all sitting on his bed. In front of them, the tomb robber Bakura talked very animatedly, no doubt recounting one of his favorite robberies, reveling in the chance to brag about outsmarting yet another victim.
"The doors closed, sealing me in the room as I heard the gears on the wall start to grind. The other wall slowly began to move towards me, ready to crush me to death if I didn't find a way out."
"What did you do?" Tea asked.
"I reached into my bag and grabbed the skull I'd found earlier. Then I jammed it between the teeth of the gears. Of course the skull cracked and broke, but it did the trick, knocking the gears out of whack and stopping the trap. After that, it was child's play to grab that obnoxious priest's scarab medallion... and even easier to melt it down for it's gold." With that, Bakura smiled triumphantly.
"Ahem!" Yugi cleared his throat, announcing his presence. The four turned to the smallish boy.
"Hi, Yugi." Was he collective sentiment of the three on the bed, while Bakura simply scowled at the intruder.
"What do you want?" Bakura said rudely.
"He lives here, what's your excuse?" Yami called back as he separated from Yugi.
*Great, more company...* Yugi thought, sensing any chance at being alone with Tea jumping and leaping out of the window.
"Hey Yug, sorry 'bout commin' over unannounced and all, but I needed your help. Mind if I borrow your notes from today?"
"What happened to your notes?"
"Tristan and I were rough-housin' in the park and I kinda took a header into the pond," Joey explained, pulling out the still soaked papers. The aforementioned notes were smudged and completely unreadable. Totally worthless. Yugi sighed as he reached into his backpack, pulling out his own notes from the day and handing them to the blond.
"Now then, let's get down to..."
"Yugi! You have another visitor!" called Solomon Motou. Once more the young Motou sighed.
*And to think there was a time when I had to pay people NOT to leave me alone,* Yugi thought as he opened the door to his room again. Downstairs, he was very surprised to find his "guest" was none other than Shadi himself. The Egyptian man stood in his turban and white robes, a glare in his eyes as he watched Yugi's Grandpa finish counting the last of the day's receipts.
"Shadi, is there something I can help you with?" came a strong voice from behind Yugi. The boy looked around to find Yami staring at their guest, a look of warning on his face as he watched the Tomb Guardian.
"I am here to investigate Domino City's devastation by Shadow Magic, and as such must now speak with you as you are one of my five suspects."
"You can't possibly think I was the culprit," Yami said defensively. "Why would I attack my own home?"
"I don't know, however I am not permitted to overlook any possibility. If one of you is so grossly abusing your Millennium Items, then there must be consequences."
"And yet, if you're the culprit, none of us are safe as a result," Bakura said. The white-haired Tomb Robber was sitting on a glass case, smiling at both Pharoah and Guardian.
"Watch your tongue, rogue. I have little patience for those who violate the dead, and even less with y..." It was at that point that the door to the Turtle Game Shop opened.
"I'm sorry but we're closed," Solomon Motou said, puzzled as to why he hadn't locked the door.
"It doesn't matter," came Mokuba's grainy voice as he walked past the elder man. The twelve year old walked to the center of the room, pointing a finger at Yugi. "I have come to duel you Yugi Motou, and I will not take no for an answer."
"I apologize, but we have far more pressing problems than a childish duel," Shadi said, annoyance on his face as he grabbed Mokuba's shoulder. "I would ask that you return home and leave us..." Suddenly, dark energy wrapped itself around Shadi's body, flinging the young man roughly into one of the store's stone walls.
"Who are you?" Yami asked, placing an arm protectively in front of Yugi, lest the raven haired boy attack him.
"I am Mokuba Kaiba."
"You're not Mokuba... Mokuba never had that much power," Bakura said.
"One who knows nothing, can understand nothing. I am Mokuba, and that is all you need to know. Now either you or his royal highness must duel me, it doesn't matter which. And the winner gets your remaining two Exodia cards."
"And why should we duel you for something that's already ours?" Yami demanded.
"Very well... If I defeat you, I take possession of young Yugi's remaining two Exodia cards; the Left Arm of the Forbidden One, and the Right Leg of the Forbidden One. But if, by luck or skill, you manage to defeat me, I'll tell you precisely who stole Maximillion Pegasus's Millennium Eye." As those words were spoken, Bakura's eyes opened wide as he realized just where this conversation was heading.
*Could that little brat really know my secret?*
"Wait a minute. How do we know you're telling the truth?"
(Because you're the one who did it,) came a voice inside Bakura's head that the thief recognized as Mokuba's. At that point Joey and the others came down the stairs.
"Hey Yug, what's the matter with the lights? Everything's blinkin' like a Christmas Tre..." The blond teen noticed Mokuba for the first time. "What's the deal with da kid?"
"It would appear that Mokuba has been possessed by a spirit of some kind," Yami said. "And it would the spirit wants a duel."
"If you do know who stole that millennium item, then I will duel you," Shadi said, finally pulling himself free of the wall.
"You do not possess the cards I want," Mokuba said, his eyes remaining focused on Yugi.
"That is immaterial. I demand the infor..." Shadi never got a chance to finish his statement as he was sent flying into one of the glass card cases, smashing it to pieces.
"Now see here, I do not allow violence in my store," Solomon Motou said, taking a step towards the energized Kaiba. The normally firm cement turned to goo as the elder Motou walked, sinking up to his knees into the floor as it hardened again, trapping the man.
"Grandpa!" Yugi cried, moving towards his trapped grandfather. His path was blocked however by Mokuba, intent on getting an answer from his prey.
"Your grandfather is all right. Now answer me, will you duel me?!"
"Yes anything, just don't hurt him!" As soon as Yugi spoke those words, a black shadow began to spread from behind Mokuba as the boy transported all within the room to the Shadow Realm.
***********************************
"The Forbidden One has tapped into his energy again Ra."
"I felt it just as readily as you, Obelisk," the golden dragon of the sun said, both hands grabbing air as his arms stretched in front of him. "Osiris, are you sure this is the weakest point?"
"Have I ever been wrong," the red dragon said, alternating between both of his two moved between each word. Ra seemingly pressed the air, and it visibly began to crack.
"Soon, we will be able to return to the earth realm," Ra said. "Be ready."
**********************************
Deep in the cave under Domino Museum, Isis and Malik Ishtar followed the beams of light coming from their respective millennium items, walking in total silence. In fact, the two Ishtar siblings had not said a single word to each other since they'd entered the cavern. Malik had to admit he was finding it somewhat depressing that his elder sister seemed to be ignoring him. Afterall, they hadn't seen each other in nearly two years.
*Is she that focused on finding what's down here?* the thirteen year old asked himself. *Typically I can't get her to STOP asking questions when we've been apart this long.* Malik soon decided he'd be the one to break the ice.
"So, how have you been?" the youngest Ishtar asked.
"You should be quiet," Isis said coldly. "While these caves have been reinforced, I don't want to run the risk of your voice collapsing the whole place on us." Rather than press the issue, Malik decided to remain silent. Soon they came a spot in the wall where the two beams of light converged to a single point.
"What in the world is this?" Malik asked, his hand reaching out to touch the rock wall.
"I don't know," Isis said. "Which makes this an even bigger mystery. The cave has been totally explored, there SHOULD be NOTHING here I don't know about." As she spoke, the rock began to rumble and crumble. Instinctively, Isis pulled her younger brother away from the rock, ready to run should this be a prelude to a cave-in. The rumbling stopped, however, as the rock wall finished crumbling to dust, revealing a shallow alcove behind it. Both Ishtars drew in a sharp breath at what they saw. The entire wall was covered in primitive cave paintings. Their existence was not what caused the duel gasp, however, but what they depicted. Human's carrying spears fought against green giants with only one eye, dinosaurs covered in what looked like metal, and a giant silver dragon.
"Dueling monsters?" Malik asked. "How is that possible? I thought it was a creation of the ancient Egyptians?"
"Apparently, shadow magic is older than we thought," Isis stated, running her fingers carefully over the pictures. The mural was disfigured by a rather large hole in the center of the wall, from which a piece of the picture had apparently fallen over the centuries. Isis bent to examine the fragments that littered the ground, hoping there was a piece that might explain the mural. The Millennium Necklace around the woman's neck began to glow, as did a few of the fragments on the ground. Suspended by magic, the stone fragments rose into the air, setting themselves perfectly into the mural, coming together to depict a picture of the same black haired woman Isis had seen earlier in her museum. Of course, this was not lost on her younger brother.
"Your millennium item put those pieces together like it knew how," Malik said. That was when he noticed the Millennium Rod was glowing as well. More pieces rose from the ground, fitting neatly into the other side of the hole. This time, the completed picture was of a Hitotsumi Giant, it's massive arms trying to protect it from something that was still only depicted in the fragments that lay on the ground. Isis stood up again, an upset look on her face.
"King Yami and the others must see this."
***********************************
Yugi had never liked dueling in the Shadow Realm. There was something very unnatural feeling about the dark plane the young man so often found himself taken to. The section the possessed Mokuba had taken them all to seemed bigger than most, as the monsters they'd summoned were fully life-size. On Yugi's side of the field stood his Summoned Skull as well as Silver Fang. while in front of the two monsters hovered several swords made of brilliant light. On Mokuba's side of the field stood the Millennium Shield in defensive mode, a Ring of Magnetism equipped to it, helping to protect a Milos Radiant monster. Both of their life points remained at four thousand.
"You're better at this than I thought Yugi. I had really not planned on using this combination," Mokuba said.
"I trust in the heart of the cards, the heart of my deck. It has never let me down."
"Yes, yes. You've consistently proven to have great faith in your cards, a firm belief that they will get you out of any situation, no matter how grave. But I wonder, is the same feeling returned you. Would the spirits of the monsters you so readily play with so willingly place their lives in your dueling skills?"
"What are you blabbing about," Joey said, getting angry at Mokuba's insulting manner towards his friend. "Yugi's beaten everyone who ever came at him, why wouldn't they trust him."
"You are a fool Wheeler," Mokuba said as once more his long hair began to braid itself, transforming into a crest with two long antennae out of his head. Gold armor began to appear on the boy's body, save for his left arm and right leg. The younger Kaiba pointed his clawed right hand at the Summoned Skull. "During a duel, all the monsters see is the field, enemy monsters in front of them, and their master behind them. Never do they see their true opponent, never do they know the face of the man who controls their attackers. Only do they see a veil of darkness."
"So they never know who's their opponent, big deal," Bakura said, hoping whatever spirit had Mokuba had some trick up his sleeve to win. The silver ankh on Mokuba's armored chest began to glow as his eyes glowed a more intense red.
"I hereby obliterate that veil! Let the monsters see who their true opponent is, and let them know FEAR!" Dark energy appeared all around the perimeter of the field as the barriers disappeared. The effect was almost immediate. Both Summoned Skull and Silver Fang began to shrink back from battle, while Milos Radiant simply began to grin. Even the Millennium Shield seemed to be getting bolder at this new change.
"What have you done?!" Yami demanded as he attempted to go to his partner. His path was blocked, however, by a shield of energy.
"I told you, either you or Yugi, not both," Mokuba said, puffing a little as he exerted more energy to keep the ancient Pharoah back. "Now, King of Games, command your army now that they are paralyzed by fear, and now that I play my prize card, Krokodilus." Mokuba smacked his card down on the ground and from it rose a man-shaped crocodile. "Your Swords of Revealing Light may keep me from attacking this turn, but next turn they're gone, and my croc will be ready to deliver a nice devastating blow." Yugi watched as Krokodilus's attack power began to climb faster and faster.
"What in the world?"
"With the veils removed, he's taking advantage of being so close to his master to triple his strength. Soon he will be more than strong enough to blow Summoned Skull away. Especially considering what's wrong with him." On Yugi's side of the field, both Summoned Skull's and Silver Fang's attack power was rapidly falling.
"NO!"
"Fear cripples even the strongest of monsters, Yugi. Now even the Mighty Summoned Skull lacks the courage to defend itself. But for now, I end my turn." Yugi looked at his cards, desperately searching for some way to counteract this latest development.
*This trap card... With any luck it'll be enough to stop him,* Yugi thought as he laid the card face down. *But if all he's gonna do is cripple my monsters with fear, I have to figure out a more permanent solution.*
"All right, it's you're turn 'Mokuba.'" Yugi watched as Mokuba seemed to be preoccupied with something else.
Mokuba's arms supported him as he struggled to keep control of his tiny pocket of reality, feeling the strain of maintaining so many people in the Shadow Realm. It was always so much easier with only two people, but if he didn't, those without millennium items ran the risk of having their souls trapped for all eternity in the dark realm, not an option the boy was interested in allowing.
******************************
Ra, Obelisk, and Osiris finally broke through barrier to Earth, entering in front of the Turtle Game Shop, exactly where they'd intended to arrive.
"He is here!" Ra said, staring at the building.
"And he's using a tremendous amount of power, far more than he has since his awakening," said Osiris. "But he has erected a force-field." To prove his point the red dragon god touched a barrier of energy that surrounded the building.
"Bah, collectively we possess more power than anything, even him!" Obelisk said, striking the shield with the force of an explosion. "Come, we must enter." All three gods began their assault on the barrier.
*************************************
Inside, Mokuba could feel the energies of all three gods as they attempted to force their way inside, grunting as he felt their strikes.
*Not here, not now. I'm so close,* Mokuba thought as he sent energy to strengthen his defense, drawing power away from Milos Radiant as he did so. *I can't afford to loose this duel, but I also can't let those three fools come here. Gotta end this quick.*
"Krokodilus! Destroy the Summoned Skull!!"
"Not so fast!" Yugi said, flipping over his trap card. As soon as he did, two black Magical Hats appeared above his two monsters, both splitting into two hats for a grand total of four.
"NO!" Mokuba said as his crocodile monster attacked one of the hats, revealing nothing underneath. "Milos!" The earthen dog attacked as well, only to find himself face to face with Silver Fang.
"I activated my second trap, Re-enforcements. Raising Silver Fang's attack points enough to equal Milos," Yugi said, as both monsters were destroyed by each others attacks.
"You... You fool," Mokuba said, feeling fatigue begin to take it's toll on him. Magical Hats had been a most unwelcome surprise, and the younger Kaiba could not afford any more delays, especially not with Ra and company pounding on his door. "Very well, it's your turn."
"You're not gonna play any cards?"
"NO! NOW JUST GO!!" Mokuba shouted.
"Fine, then I play the card, Soul Exchange to take your Millennium Shield, along with my now weakened Summoned Skull as tribute to bring out; the Dark Magician." As Yugi spoke, the Magical Hats disappeared as did the Millennium Shield. One the field stood the Dark Magician, a look of resolve on his face.
"You... you have made a grave... grave mistake. Inside the hats the skull was safe, but your magician is out in the open, against my... my super-charged Krokodilus."
"Not so. My Dark Magician does not need to see his opponent to attack him, so I'll blind him with the card... Darkness Approaches. He'll have to trust in my abilities even more to survive, but I'm sure I can prove more than worthy of that trust, especially since your monster seems to be loosing power." Mokuba looked at Krokodilus, realizing that it had lost three hundred of it's attack points. The black haired boy knew exactly what had happened, he was diverting too much energy to his shield and maintaining his link to the Shadow Realm. "I'll play this card face down, and end my turn."
"Fine," the twelve year old Kaiba said, struggling to keep his concentration. "Whatever you want. But now, I attack with... I attack with..."
"Mokuba?" Yugi said, concerned for his young friend.
"I... attack... with... KROKODILUS!!"
"And I defend my mage with the Spell-Binding Circle, which not only stops your lizard man in his tracks, but lowers his attack power by an addition five hundred points." Yugi suddenly noticed the look in Mokuba's eyes as he stared at the circle of energy that surrounded his monster. It was a look of almost pure terror, like he'd seen something so horrible his mind couldn't handle it.
"NO! Not that card! Any card but that! Not the circle, I don't want the circle!!" Mokuba began to scream. In response to this, Krokodilus's attack power began to plummet, falling even lower than it's original eleven hundred. Outside, the three gods were beginning to make headway, breaking through the shield. Inside, the Shadow Realm's power began to collapse, cracking and breaking as Mokuba began to loose control. "STOP! STOP!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!"
"Mokuba, what's wrong!?"
"Geez, the kid's flippin' out."
"Then now is the time to strike," Yami said. Around his neck the Millennium Puzzle began to glow. "Now, I can return us to the real world and..." The darkness of the Shadow Realm faded, replaced once more with the game shop. Solomon Motou found himself rising from the cement he'd been trapped in, his feet once more standing on solid ground. Mokuba had collapsed to his hands and knees his energy almost completely depleted as the golden armor disappeared. The group of nine did not have any time to relax, however, as the doors to the game shop exploded off their hinges. As the dust cleared, Yugi could make out the silhouettes of the three dragon gods themselves.
"We have come to collect you whelp," Obelisk said, pointing a blue talon at the fallen Mokuba. "Do not make this difficult."
"No... I won't go back... Just... leave me alone," Mokuba gasped out. The raven-haired boy held out a hand and a bolt of dark energy flew from his palm. The attack proved too weak, though, as Obelisk simply knocked the energy blast away. The blue god charged forward, striking the boy's stomach with his knee savagely.
"Fool, do you think we could you could take one such as me at anything less than full power. I am insulted."
"Leave him alone!" Yugi called, running to defend his friend.
"Away boy!" Obelisk growled, a massive fist sending the tri-color-haired boy flying into Yami.
"Obelisk!" Ra growled. "Do not loose control. We are here for the boy and nothing more."
"You don't have me yet," Mokuba said, standing shakily to his feet. "Not while I can still do this..." Mokuba's hands reached out and dark energy began to escape from the eye symbols of the millennium items, flowng directly into the boy.
"Not this time," Ra said, charging his own attack. Between Mokuba's hands, a ball of black energy began to form as he shaped his spell, violently shoving it the ball forward, only to be met by Ra's golden sphere. The resulting explosion sent the weakened Mokuba flying backward to strike the cash register. Obelisk moved forward, ready to expel a blast of blue fire-breath.
"Kuriboh... Multiply!" Yami called, tossing two cards before the onslaught of flame. A single furry ball appeared, and suddenly multiplied into thousands, easily blocking Obelisk's blue flame. The dragon god angrily looked at Yami.
"You DARE to defy ME!" Obelisk yelled, charging at the Pharoah, ready to rend the boy king with his talons. The god never made contact as Osiris intercepted him.
"Obelisk, you must control your anger," the red dragon commanded, gripping his ally's arms. "I will not allow you to hurt the children."
"You won't have to," Yami said as his Millennium Puzzle activated. In response, both Bakura's and Shadi's millennium items also began to activate. "You should not be here, so now I am forced to banish you all. Back to the Shadow Realm with you!" Reality began to warp for the three dragons as a black hole opened in the center of the room, sucking in paper and air as all three Egyptian gods began to be pulled in. "BE GONE!" The suction intensified, and soon all three monsters disappeared into the dark void. As soon as the task was complete, the portal died, and Yami fell to the ground. Immediately Bakura stomped over to the fallen Pharoah, an angry look in his eyes.
"How dare you tap into MY Ring! What gives you the right?"
"I needed the extra energy from you and Shadi's items to banish them," Yami said. This answer did not seem to placate Bakura however, who drew back a fist to punch his rival. His fist was stopped, though, by Joey's.
"Hey, what's your problem ya dingy bandit? Yami just saved our lives."
"You'll pay for this...."
"Uh... Wha... What happened?" came a soft voice from behind the counter. Mokuba rose up from where he had fallen, his red cloak reduced to almost tatters from Obelisk's attacks.
"Mokuba, are you all right?" Tea asked, helping the boy to his feet. Immediately, the young Kaiba yelped in pain as Tea accidentally hit a tender area.
"Owie, owie, owie! That hurts. What happened?"
"What do you remember?" Yami asked.
"All I remember is coming over to see you for... for... Why did I want to see you again?"
"Dude you got all crazy and then... UMPH!" Joey said, only to be struck in the stomach by Ryou. "What's you do that for?"
"It would appear that whatever spirit possessed the boy has fled with Obelisk and the others. That being the case, it might be better if Mokuba doesn't fully remember what happened."
"A gas line blew, I guess we were caught in the explosion," Yugi said, hoping Mokuba would buy his story. "You were thrown against the wall. Do you have any broken bones?"
"I don't think so. Nothing feels broken, just bruised," Mokuba said.
"You should probably get some rest. I'll take you home," said Yugi, smiling his friendliest smile. In truth the short teen did not want to take Mokuba home. Seto Kaiba would most likely be there, and Yugi could only imagine how angry the KaibaCorp CEO would be when he saw the state his brother was in. Still, Seto was not completely unreasonable.
"It's all right, I'll... I'll call Seto to send a car for me," Mokuba said as he lifted the store phone. "It's dead..." Inwardly, Yugi smiled, glad Mokuba was unable to simply call for a ride. The walk would give him plenty of time to come up with a way to explain what happened to the elder Kaiba, a way that would not result in a trip to the hospital for Yugi.
"I'll come too. I need to speak with Kaiba," Yami said.
"Sure you two go ahead, we'll help Grandpa clean up dis mess," Joey said.
"Speak for yourself," Bakura and Shadi said in unison, a fact that did not please either. Bakura disappeared, going back inside his ring which once more hung from Ryou's neck. Yami, Yugi, and Mokuba left the store, Yugi partially supporting the weakened Mokuba as they did so. Shadi began disappear through one of his disk, when the loud cry a very big bird was heard. Outside, a dark shadow fell over the dim light of the failing sun as a giant bird swoop down from the sky. The three humans looked up to see a Punished Eagle come down from the sky, catching up little Mokuba and Yugi in it's claws.
"Yugi! NO!" Yami called, reaching into his deck as he pulled forth a card. "Curse of Dragon, arise!" On command, a golden, serpentine dragon with four wings rose into the air, waiting just long enough for Yami to jump onto his back before he took off after the flying monster.
"Yami, what's going on?" Joey said, running outside of the shop to see the cause of the commotion.
"Yugi and Mokuba have been kidnapped. I'm going to try to rescue them. Get Bakura and Shadi, I may need help. Fly!" Eagle and dragon flew off into the distance as Joey ran back inside. On top of the building, a small Meda-Bat watched the proceedings with great interest. In another world, another dimension, Kiz Retall watched, happy that his plans were working.
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Exciting, right. Now Yugi and Mokuba have both been captured, and Yami must try to save them. Next chapter it's Yami in an aerial dogfight to save his friends, but his biggest task has yet to come. Remember, read, review, and offer suggestions if you feel like it. See ya next time. Byez.