Silver Dragon: Hey! We hope you are liking the duel!

Devil's Wyrm: Yes, so here is the ending.

SilverD: We hope it meets your expectations.

Notes: You know most of it already, but here's the new stuff:

            …: Rhona mind speaking.

            +…+: Sef mind speaking.

            -…-: Meskhenet mind speaking.

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Ch.11: Combat Conclusions

            The four duelists stared daggers at each other, all knowing the consequences of failure.  For three of them it would be a short flash then a long fall into darkness.  Nabe would face the setback of losing two locator cards.  It was his turn and he had just drawn.  [Final Destiny] He glanced over at Rhona with a look that said "Just a little more time."  "I place one card facedown [Fire Wall*] for my turn," said Nabe.

            'They're planning something,' thought Sef. [Giant Trunade] 'Well, their plan just went up in smoke.' "I play Giant Trunade, which sends all our facedown magic and trap cards back the their owner's hand.  That's all I have."

            A great wind blew over the field, making all the facedown cards dissipate.  Rhona drew. [Veterinary Service*]  'Yes!  This will work!  I know this will work!'  Sebak?

            //Yes? \\

            What's your plan?

            //We will use Final Destiny to send Senginjin to the graveyard.  It is up to you to bring him back. \\

            Good.  I just drew the card that can.

            //Excellent.  We only need a few more turns now, thanks to Sef's magic card. \\

            "There is nothing I can do.  I pass."

            "Shame on you," said Meskhenet, [Just Desserts] "There is always something you can do, say, like defending yourself.  I place one card facedown [Just Desserts] and sacrifice La Jinn for King of Yamimakai. [2500/1520, dark] Now, great king of darkness, attack her life points directly."

            The giant creature stood tall above the field, its huge fists raised high.  Upon the command from Meskhenet, he brought one of his hands down on Rhona.  She took the blow without a flinch.  Nabe watched in amazement.  'Whoa,' he thought, 'she's tough.' 

[R: 1500, N: 4000, M: 3800, S: 4000]

            "All right little boy," said Meskhenet, "it's your turn."

            "You'll pay for that," said Nabe. [Swords of Revealing Light.] "It's time for you to lose.  I play Final Destiny, which, by discarding five cards from my hand, destroys all the cards on the field."

            The ground rumbled slightly as all the cards on the field started to smoke.  Then suddenly, they all exploded in mini mushroom clouds, leaving the field bare.

****************************

            The Council of Magic had succeeded in arranging an emergency meeting with the pharaoh.  All seven were in the throne room, awaiting the accused.  Ishizu sat next to Pharaoh Yami, explaining the situation.  "You see, pharaoh.  He clearly is verging on heresy.  He has made a pact with Set.  Who knows what he could do with that kind of power."

            "Yes.  We have seen many terrible things these days.  I do not wish for him to add to the calamities."

            A servant stepped in, his head bowed in respect.  "Have they brought him?" asked Yami.

            "Yes pharaoh.  He is right behind me."

            "Good, send him in."

            Onuris walked into the throne room with the dignified gate of royalty, flanked by two palace guards.  He gave Ishizu a warm glance then faced Yami.  "Pharaoh," the hight priest of Set said, bowing in respect, "what has called you to request my presence here today.  I fear nothing bad has happened?"

            "No, nothing yet."

            "Then, pray tell me the meaning of my visit, great ruler."

            "That is the reason."

            "What is, pharaoh?"

            "Prayer.  It has come to my knowledge that you have been praying to Set."

            "Yes, pharaoh.  I have to; it is my duty to appease Set from wreaking havoc on our lands."

            "The one who told me said they heard you asking Set for power.  Power to release the monsters from the Shadow Realm."

            "From who did you hear this, king?  I have many enemies, one may have wished to start a rumor about me."

            "It is a reliable source," said Sethos, glancing up at Yami for permission to speak. " Will you tell us the validity of your accusation or will we have to force it out of you?"

            "You would not dare."

            "Yes, we would," said Yami, "for these are grave times and we cannot afford to have heretics in our midst."

            "Heretic?  Ha!  I am the high priest of Set!  How could I be a heretic?"

             "You tell us," said Wosret.

            "This is crazy!  I would never say anything against you, pharaoh."

            "We never said anything about you speaking against the pharaoh," said Ishizu.

            Onuris stared at her, his face turning from the red of heated debate to a ghostly white.  He realized who had seen him.  "Ishizu?  You, you have brought this upon me.  Why?"

            "Because it is the truth.  I have foreseen great pain and suffering.  Its cause points to you."

            "No, no, no, no.  This can't be happening."

            "Do you admit your crime?" asked Sethos.

            The priest started to back away towards the door, a glazed look in his eyes.   The two guards grabbed him hold in him in place.  Onuris struggled against their grip.  Yami stood, "Wosret, enter his thoughts, discover the truth to his madness."

*************************

            "Now I'm not a big risk taker, so I play Swords of Revealing Light to protect me," said Nabe, finishing his turn. 

            "Ah, taking the safe way I see," said Sef.  [Seven Tools of the Bandit] "I place two cards facedown [Mitchezuri, 7 Tools of the Bandit] for my turn."

            "About time," said Rhona. [Vorse Raider] "I summon Vorse Raider [1900/1200] and I play Veterinary Service, which lets me bring one earth monster back from the graveyard.  I choose Senginjin." [2750/2500]

            The giant blue troll once again was under the control of Rhona.  It swung its thick arms back and forth impatiently, waiting for orders.  Vorse Raider appeared next to the behemoth, wielding its great blade.  "Vorse Raider, attack Meskhenet's life points directly."

            He shot forward, slashing the robed woman fiercely, knocking her back.  "Senginjin, attack Sef's life points directly!"

            The org lifted his axe high; the sun glinted off its golden edge.  The blue giant brought the blade crashing down on top of the man.  Sef cringed under the holographic blow.  "I end my turn."

[R: 1500, N: 4000, M: 1900, S: 1350]

            "Finally," grumbled Meskhenet, angry at losing so many life pints. [Fusion Sage] 'Good.  Now all we need is another Dark Magician.' "I play Fusion Sage, which allows me to take one Polymerization from my deck and add it to my hand.  Then I shuffle my deck.  I place one card facedown [Polymerization] to end my turn."

            'Okay, I need a strong monster to help Rhona with.'  [Apocalypse Flame*]  'That'll do, but I can't play it yet.  Where is my Seed of Fire*?'  "I pass."

            "Good, the sooner I will defeat you," said Sef. [Dark Magic Curtain] 'YES!!!!!'  "I play Dark Magic Curtain, which lets me, at the cost of half my life pints, to special summon a Dark Magician from my deck."

[R: 1500, N: 4000, M: 1900, S: 675]

            The curtain creature appeared on the field, sweeping away its drapes to reveal another Dark Magician.  "Now I activate Polymerization to fuse Dark Magician with Buster Blader!" exclaimed Meskhenet.

            "To bring forth the Dark Paladin! [2900/?]" finished Sef.

            The Dark Magician and the Buster Blader fused together, becoming a large, black knight with a mighty sword and a broad shield.  "Since it is a fusion monster, Dark Paladin must wait a turn before attacking," said Sef, "so I am done."

            "Finally," grumbled Rhona. [Goblin's Secret Remedy]  'How am I going to combat that big black tin can? I know!  I can take it and use it against them.'  "I play Goblin's Secret Remedy, adding 600 points to my life points.  Then I play Snatch Steal to"

            "I negate your magic card using my Dark Paladin's effect."

            A little burglar-like man appeared on field with a large sack and moved to steal the black knight, but instead slammed up against the wide shield, disappearing.  "Errrr.  Fine, if I can't take out both of you, I'll settle for just one.  Senginjin, attack Meskhenet's life points directly!"

            The blue org stomped towards her, raising the potent axe high overhead.  The rare hunter backed away.  "Sef!  Block it!  Please! Use Dark Paladin! I don't want to loose!"

            +Sorry, I told you we should have summoned him sooner. +

            "NOOOOOOO!!!!"

            Senginjin slammed his axe into Meskhenet, creating shock waves across the rooftop.  The woman sank to her knees as her life points dropped to zero.  "You had better take them out Sef."

[Rhona: 2100, N: 4000, M: 0, S: 675]

            "There is no way for them to win."

            "Wait a sec," said Nabe, "didn't you say that in a double duel, if one partner lost, the other would too?"

            Sef stared back at him with cold eyes.   "So that means you will lose, whether you like it or not," said Rhona. "Go on Nabe, kick his ass."

            "Gladly." [Seed of Fire*]  'Now he will fall.' "You still can't attack me, due to my Sword of Revealing Light.  But just in case, I set a monster [Seed of Fire: 1000/1000] to finish off my turn."

            "Your petty defenses will not hold against my Dark Paladin." [Mystical Space Typhoon] "Now you pay for Meskhenet's defeat.  I play Mystical Space Typhoon to free me of your puny defense." 

            Thunderclouds formed over the field. A single blot of lightning shot out of them, smiting the Swords of Revealing Light card.  "To avenge my partner, Dark Paladin, destroy Senginjin."

            The Dark Paladin strode forward sword drawn.  The black knight thrust the blade straight through Senginjin's thick, muscled chest.  The troll roared in pain as he disintegrated.

[R: 1950, N: 4000, M: 0, S: 675]

            "Your turns are numbered," said Rhona. [Binding Vines*] 'I guess it's defense for now, I hope Nabe has a move.'  I place one card face-down [Binding Vines] and switch Vorse Raider to defense mode."

            "Now you will meet your maker."  [Salamandra] "Prepare for the Shadow Realm.  Due to my monster's effect, I sacrifice Seed of Fire to special summon Apocalypse Flame [2900/ 2500]."

            Once again, the tiny flame appeared and started to grow, and grow, and grow.  A black veil of smoke covered the field as the beast of reckoning took Seed's place.  "Ha! That's all?  It does not have enough attack points to beat Dark Paladin."

            "For now, but I play Salamandra on him, boosting his attack by 700 points."

            Apocalypse roared with a mighty fury as the Salamandra sword appeared in his razor clawed fist.  "Now my fell beast, obliterate his Dark Paladin!"

            Apocalypse Flame beat his broad wings of smoke, rising high above the field.  Dark Paladin stood watching, grounded.  With a swing of his rough, cracked arm, Apocalypse shot the salamandra down on the knight.  He moaned in agony as his armor melted around him, until he splintered and shattered.  The blast knocked Sef off his feet, landing him next to Meskhenet on the gravel roof.  The holograms vanished.  Nabe walked up to the two rare hunters, staring them down with a burning gaze.  "I win."

*************************

            The holder of the Eye gladly obeyed.  Closing his real eye, he probed Onuris's mind.  Onuris tried to repel the power of the Eye, but to no avail.  Wosret's expression turned to one of horror as he read the priest's thoughts.  Suddenly, a bright flash of light filled the room, blinding all.  When the radiance cleared, Wosret was on the ground, clearly in pain; Onuris lay flat on his back, his guards kneeling dazed beside him.  Sethos and Gahiji stepped up to his ridged form.  The head of the council poked the body with his foot.  Ishizu knelt next to Wosret.  "Are you all right?"

            "Uhhh.  My head," said the injured priest. "There, there was a magic block in his mind, I could not break it."

            "Then it must have been very powerful to withstand the Eye," said Chatha.

            Onuris stirred on the stone floor of the throne room, mumbling some unintelligible words.  He slowly dragged himself to his feet, under the watchful eye of Sethos, Gahiji, and the guards.  Swaying on his feet like a drunkard, Onuris faced the pharaoh.  "You see, oh son of Ra, you cannot force me to tell anything.  I am under a higher power now."

            "That may be the case," said Yami, "but you are still in our custody."

            "He, he, he.  For now, pharaoh, but you will feel his power."

              "Are you threatening the pharaoh?" raised Gahiji, the Ring glowing dangerously.

            "Yes, and what are you going to do about it?"

            "Just try it!"

            "Enough!" spoke Yami, raising his hands for silence.  "Lock him up.  Maybe you will feel like talking after a night in the dungeon."

            Onuris glared at the pharaoh as the guards lead him away.

********************

            Rhona came up beside Nabe, in front of the loosing pair.  "I guess you can duel," she said, a victorious smirk on her face.

            "Hmmn.  Yes," Nabe replied, squatting down to be eye to eye with Sef.  "Now, answers.  Why was Marik after Rhona?"

            "Because she lost," said Sef, shaking like a puppy, "he banishes the mind of all who fail him."

            "Will he banish you?"

            "Probably," answered Meskhenet, "he hates failure."

            Nabe turned to Rhona, "I thought he banished you.  How did you get out?"

            The robed teen rubbed the back of her neck, "Umm, it's kind of a long story."

            "She got out because she's a witch," said Sef matter-of-factly.

            "Witch?" said Nabe, giving Rhona an odd glance.  "Is this true?"

            "I am NOT a witch," stated Rhona, "I am a high level Wicca sorceress, or at lest was.  My coven disowned me after a few certain… incidents.  After I left the sect, Marik found me and, propositioned me into his services."

            "So you used a spell to get yourself out of the Shadow Realm."

            "I guess you could say that."

            Sef and Meskhenet had stayed on the ground, waiting for the coming mental onslaught.  When it never came they slowly stood.  Nabe watched their every move.  "So, what happened to the banishing?"

            "Well, we don't know," said Sef.

            "Either he thinks we are useful enough to keep, unlikely," said Meskhenet.

            "Or he is preoccupied with another duel."

            "Yes, he did mention something about going after the pharaoh…"

              This caught Sebak's attention.  Seeing his chance to learn more about other enemies to the pharaoh, the spirit shoved Nabe out of the way, locking him in his soul room again.  Though he only let minor physical changes appear, the three others noticed immediately.  Rhona jumped a little when the Manacle flashed with the switch of minds.  The rare hunters took two whole steps back, staring at the one who was Nabe.  "By Ra," they said in unison, falling flat on their stomachs. 

            The ancient one focused his black orbs on the two prone forms.  "Do NOT speak that name in my presence," said Sebak in a commanding voice.

            "We're sorry," said Sef, groveling at the dragon's feet.

            "Terribly sorry," said Meskhenet in a similar fashion.

            "We had no idea it was you."

            "Of course you did not," replied Sebak, "It has been over 5000 millennia, you would not have any clue as to who I would take as my vessel."

            "Wait, you two are 5000 years old!" exclaimed Rhona. "What are you?"

            Sef looked up at the spirit who nodded to his request.  The two stood up again.  "We are like you," said Sef.

            "We were priests from ancient Egypt.  We were banished to the Shadow Realm for heresy," followed Meskhenet.

            "Heresy?" asked Rhona.

            "Let's just say we hung out with the wrong crowd."  

            The robed teen gave the two a confused stare, not comprehending the circumstances they described.  She freed her deck from the Duel Disk on her arm and began shuffling it absentmindedly.   Doing this brought the duel back to mind.  "Hey, Nabe, I mean Sebak… whatever, still needs your locator cards and rarest cards."

            The two rare hunters frowned at hearing this, but complied, handing Sebak the four cards.  The dragon accepted them for his hikari, placing his newly acquired Dark Magician and Dark Paladin with his other trophy cards.  The hunters bowed their heads, speaking in submissive voices: "May they serve you well, master."

            No sooner did the words leave their lips, Sef and Meskhenet went pale and ridged, twin Millennium Eyes blazing on their foreheads.  Sebak looked on with eager interest; sure the cause was from the pharaoh's enemy.  Rhona watched with nervous eyes, scared at what Marik may do.  Sef moved forward, slumped over like a rag doll.  An eerie, detached voice issued from him.  "Master?  Who dares to be master of MY slaves?"

            "Ahh, so you are the infamous Marik," said Sebak, keen eyes taking all.  "You take control of people's minds and use them for your dirty work.  Well, I guess it beats paying people to do it for you."

            "And who are you?" asked Marik through Sef.  "You seem familiar."

            "I was the one who beat little Rhona here," replied the spirit, motioning to said insulted girl. 

            "But what authority do you have over my servants?"

            "They were under my control long before you even existed."

            "How so?  I recruited these two early in my quest.  They were more than eager to help me defeat the good-for-nothing pharaoh."

            "These two are more than they seem; surely you heard our prior conversation.  They got in trouble; I got them out.  They owed me a life debt, and I always maintain oaths."

            "That's interesting, but who are you?  If these two are under your power, why were they with me?"

            "Who I am does not concern you, yet.  And the reason they were with you is because I have been, absent.  All you need to know about me at present is this: I too am after the pharaoh.  I am not after power or glory; I am after revenge.  I want to see Yami's soul writhing in the Shadow Realm until the end of time."

            "Really?  Then I suggest a more personal meeting.  I will soon be in Battle City; maybe we can find some mutual arrangements."

            "Excellent, but I ask of only one thing."

            "What?"

            "Spare my servants, for the meantime.  They may prove useful to me in the future."

            "Agreed.  Let's just hope 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"

            With that, Marik left the former rare hunters.  They wobbled at bit, disoriented, and looked quizzically at Sebak.  The dragon returned them with a deliberate stare; quickly dissipating any thoughts they wished to voice.  Sef and Meskhenet understood perfectly what had happened: their master was the dragon, for he had saved their hides again from the shadows.  Rhona shifted uneasily where she stood; she knew things would not be good for her.  As the two had chatted, the former Wicca had been chanting a spell, and now it was ready, just in case.  And now, as the Manacle spirit turned towards her, the two cronies watching her every move, she soon realized her fate.  Rhona backed up several feet, trying desperately to get as much distance between her and her adversary.  Sebak got closer.  The robed witch felt herself run up against a wall; she was trapped.  The dragon stepped up right near her face; she could feel his breath.  He bared his teeth, exposing wet, glistening fangs, like those of a wolf.  She cringed at the wicked smile.  Sebak laughed at her.  "You still have my locator card," he said in a hideously smooth, sensuous tone. 

            She removed it from her pocket.  "H- Here.  I said I would give it back."

            The spirit slipped the card delicately from her hand, placing it in his pocket with the others.  "Thank you, but now we have a bit of a problem."

            "Oh, w- what's that?"

            "You, my zahra.  You know to much, and I fear we cannot be compromised by a foolish girl with a wagging tongue." 

            "You can't send me to the Shadow Realm.  I know how to escape."

            "Yes, I know.  That is why I will not be sending you there."

            "Then what are you going to do with me?"

            "I will send you somewhere more, amusing."

            "Where?"

            "To where I came from."

            "Where is that?"

            "Wait and see.'

            Sebak backed away from her, his eyes beginning to glow.  Rhona knew this was it, no or never.  Concentrating hard, she formed the ball of energy in her palm, pooling as much power into it as possible.  When she had charged it as far as she could, the sorceress flung the flaming orb at Sebak.  The spirit saw the fireball long before it even left her hand and, mockingly, let it strike him.  The resulting blast was intense, throwing the two hunters back several feet and plastering Rhona to the wall.  When the fires burned down, Sebak stood unmoved, laughing.  "You thought such weak human magic would stop ME!  Ha!  You humans are so pathetic.  I am a dragon!  A beast OF fire!  You cannot beat an enemy with his own element!"

            Sebak strode up to Rhona, grasping her firmly by the neck.  She was too weak to fight back.  He stared at her with his cold, black, glowing eyes.  "Now, say hello to home for me."

            At first, nothing happened.  Then the glowing of the dragon's eyes intensified to an almost blinding light, almost overpowering the sun.  When the brightness cleared, Rhona was gone.  Sebak stood in the middle of the rooftop looking all smug to himself.  He turned to his slaves.  "Go, keep an eye on the pharaoh.  I want to know everything that happens to him, especially if it includes this Marik."

            Sef and Meskhenet quickly complied, rushing hurriedly down the stairs.  Still wearing his arrogant grin, the dragon returned to his soul room, giving Nabe back control.  The teen looked about him, his black eyes wide in confusion.  "Where's Rhona?"

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SilverD: I guess that's a good place to stop.

DWyrm: Yes, good place to rest.

SilverD: we hope you all liked the duel.

DWyrm: And the tidbits of history in between.

SilverD: Give us your opinions.

DWyrm: And always, thank you to the reviewers.

            Mina-chan AMD: Glad you like.  I purposely made your story names and pan names start with the same letter so you would recognize them. 

            Sdrive: It's good to know you like to duel.  Maybe I could use you latter… Well, Shi is definably not in control.  Sorry, but I couldn't have you guys have Millennium items in the story, so no yamis.

SilverD: Come on review, you know you want to!

Original cards:    

            Fire Wall: Trap, stops magic and trap effects on fire monsters for 3 turns.

            Veterinary Service: Magic, special summons one beast monster from the graveyard.

            Apocalypse Flame: fire/ pyro, 8*, 2900/ 2500

            Seed of Fire: fire/ pyro, 3*, 1000/1000 Effect: if attacked, can special summon one fire monster from your deck.  If face-up on your side of the field by your next Stand-by phase, you can sacrifice it to special summon one fire monster level 5 or higher from your hand.

            Binding Vines: Trap, stops one opponent's monster from attacking for 2 turns.

            SilverD: Just so you know, zahra is an Egyptian name meaning flower.