Yugi hit the floor hard his eyes still shaking and wet with tears at his friends betrayal.
"Come now little Yugi. You didn't know it was I?"
Yugi stared at Yami. He looked identical to his own Yami. But it couldn't be him. It didn't make any sense.
"No, Yugi!"
Yugi glanced over at Yami. He was sure it was Yami that had spoken but the voice lost the snarl and its chill it had before.
"No you fool, stay out of my head."
The evil voice of Yami spoke that one and a haze appeared around him. It split and an almost holographic-looking Yami appeared next to the solid one.
"No, Yugi don't fall for his tricks!"
The solid Yami made a movement as to brush aside the foggy Yami to no avail. He growled negatively and then smirked as if he was trying to poke fun at the events proceeding.
"Well look at this. My better half decided to join the party."
"What?"
Yugi was still against the wall staring at the two Yami's with a surprised look. It didn't take long for the truth to dawn on him.
"You are a Dark Spirit!"
"NO! I AM YAMI!"
The solid figure swung around with a great hate in his eyes and made a grab for Yugi. But a solid hand reached out to stop him.
"No. You cannot kill Yugi unless in a duel."
Kaiba had grabbed solid Yami's shoulder. Yugi had almost forgotten about the other dark spirits surrounding them. Shadi was covered in shadow almost completely blocking him from view. Marik looked almost hopeful that Yugi would be strangled.
"What are you then if not a Dark Spirit?"
"I am Yami. The pharaoh. The true ruler of Egypt."
"But Yami…"
"The 'Yami' you know of is my Light Spirit."
"A light Spirit?"
"Normally the lighter half of the soul will control the body and the evil part will steadily poison the mind. The strength of the light side will determine if the light side is to become evil."
"So the still puts you as a Dark Spirit."
"NO! I controlled my body not my light side!"
"You were born evil?"
"Yes and the ritual gave my light side full control of my body. But since I was a solid being, I could not be banished into an item. I was attacked and stripped of my powers. I was sent out to wander the sands until I died. But I didn't die. Because my light side remained alive."
The foggy Yami shifted uncomfortably as though he knew this was coming. Something hen hoped not to face again.
"Yami was imprisoned in an item given eternal life. My wandering soul was also given an eternal life. And then…"
The solid spirit smiled as he recalled a happy memory.
"…Pegasus reinstated Duel Monsters in this Realm."
Yugi backed away from the solid Yami. He was laughing hysterically, out of control, his mind bent to his own will.
"Now then no more questions! This show is over!"
The solid Yami laughed hysterically again and tore the puzzle off his neck and smashed it against the floor. Yugi and Marik made a grab for it but the puzzle shattered when the puzzle hit the floor.
"No!"
Foggy Yami was becoming less solid every second and threatened to disappear completely into the shadows. A voice could be heard but just barely over Solid Yami's laughing.
"You can do it Yugi… We all believe in you…"
Yugi collected the pieces of the puzzle in his arms and looked up at Yami. He was smiling almost lopsidedly as though he thought nothing could be funnier then the current proceedings. Yugi could not stand it and snarled at Yami.
"Your insane!"
"Of course I am you fool. All great geniuses are a little insane."
He smiled insanely again and threw back his head and laughed.
"You bastard!"
Yugi threw his shoulder down in an attempt to ram Yami in the gut. Yami threw his hand out and slapped Yugi to the side. Yugi's body crumpled to the ground and Yami's smile vanished.
"Yugi… The time is now."
At these words the ground underneath them shattered and a Duel arena rose into the air. Yugi shifted his wait to one shoulder to see a Duelist Kingdom-looking dueling arena rise around them.
"Wh...What?"
"The Duel is set Yugi! The great battle of our time begins! Who shall triumph? Light or Dark? The time of the shadows begins here!"
He laughed insanely again and looked down at Yugi.
"Lets Duel."