SilverD: Ok, screw the other stories.

DWyrm: Must finish Desert Shadow, must finish…

Silver:D: Uh, right. Our other stories aren't at cliffies, so we decided to be nice and wrap this one up.

DWyrm: For once in your life, huh?

SilverD: Yeah, but don't get used to it.

Notes: Nothing new.

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Ch.15: Shadows Recollected

            "Welcome your demise, pharaoh!"

            Yami desperately tried to orient himself in the monster's gloom, to no avail.  His only guides were the blood red eyes of his opponent's monster and the smoldering orbs of the dragon.  Besides that, it was complete darkness.  'Hm,' thought the pharaoh, 'this seems oddly familiar.

            (It's just like at Duelist Kingdom!)

            ((What?))

            (Remember at Pegasus' tournament, there was this one guy that used a Castle of Dark Illusions to darken the field.)

            ((Yes…We retrieved Mai's star chips from him.  So? ))

            (So this is just like that duel!  The dark is just an illusion meant to intimidate us.  Fight your fear!  Use the Puzzle, show that spirit the light!)

            ((Right!  Thank you abiou.))

            (No problem.  Just save Nabe.)

            "All right spirit," called Yami into the shadows, "your scare tactics won't help you here!  Be gone, darkness!"

            "What!"

            The Puzzle began to glow brightly, slowly dissipating the rolling mists.  Through the receding dimness, the pharaoh could see Sebak, his arms up covering his eyes.  Suddenly, the dragon's newest monster came into view.  Gasping, Yami beheld the beast.  Instead of flames, the Dragon of the Hellmouth* was composed entirely of shadow, only a faint glowing light outlined its body.  Its wide, bony wings shrouded the field, even with Yami's light.  Cowering near the ground, Sebak began to laugh, his rasping voice growing into a mighty roar.  "You see," he bellowed, so arrogantly, "my monster will annihilate you!"

            "But you cannot attack with him yet," retorted Yami.  "It's my move."  [Valkyrion the Magna Warrior] 'Yes!  With this, he can't get to my life points!'  "I won't let you win!  I tribute my Alpha, Beta, and Gama the Magnet Warriors to special summon Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!" [3500\3850]

            The three magnet warriors converged on the field, reassembling themselves into the great metal angel that was Valkyrion.  It swung its sword around in a wide arc before settling into an attack stance.  "Since our monsters are evenly matched, I cannot attack your Dragon, but I can attack your defensive monster.  Go Valkyrion!"

            Valkyrion spread his metal wings, charging into Sebak's territory.  Sighting his target, the Magna Warrior stabbed his sword straight through, spearing the Fiery Skeleton*.  It screamed as its burning bones shattered.  "I move my Black Luster Soldier [3000\2500] to defense mode then end my turn."

            "About time," Sebak grumbled, drawing his next card. [Final Flame] 'I may not be able to attack his life points with my monster, but I can put a nick in it with this.' I play Final Flame, which takes 600 life points away from you."

            The sudden flames surrounding his body did not faze the pharaoh; he took his punishment without a sound.  'Stupid pharaoh, he may want me to think he is invincible, but I know underneath all that pomp and fortitude he is shaking like a newborn calf.  I know he is…He has to be.' "Now to test out my monster, Dragon of the Hellmouth [3500\3000], attack and destroy Yami's Black luster Soldier!"

[Yami: 2400, Sebak: 2500]

            His skeletal wings billowing out behind him, Dragon turned his angular, wedge shaped skull to the defensive monster.  Opening his mouth, exposing row upon row of dagger like teeth, he let loose a harsh roar, black steam filtered through cracks in his skull.  At his master's command, Dragon let vent a stream of black fire, completely incinerating the soldier.  Even though Yami did not loose any life points, the shock wave alone caused him to reel.  'Ha, I thought as much.'  "I end my turn."

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

            Ishizu stared out the car window, buildings and lights flashed by.  'Oh Ra, how am I going to explain this to the pharaoh?'  The blurred lights and colors caused her mind to wander, drift back to the past…

            A day had passed since the imprisonment of High Priest Onuris.  Further interrogation had produced nothing useful.  Whoever was controlling him was indeed powerful.  The magic council had separated after the last questioning at about the seventh hour of the night, leaving the members to brood over the events of late.  Ishizu sat at her desk, too troubled to sleep, pouring over some old, forgotten manuscripts she had found in Onuris' house.  As she read, the holder of the Tauk became more and more shocked and horrified at what her lover had been planning.  'He has not made a pact with Set!  He is in league with something stronger, more evil, but what could it be?'

            Determined to find the truth, Ishizu slipped out into the night to confront her treacherous partner.

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

            Yami looked helplessly at his hand.  'I have nothing strong enough to combat that dragon.  I hope my next draw proves fruitful.' [Slifer the Sky Dragon] 'Slifer!  Yes, he can match that demonic dragon, but not until I have four cards in my hand.  I guess it's a waiting game now.'  "I move Valkyrion to defense mode for my turn."

            'Hm, he is up to something, but no matter.  I will still win.  All I need is an equip spell card.' "That is all?" taunted Sebak. "Wait till you see what horrors I have planned for you.  My draw."

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

            The thick night fog from the Nile seemed worse than usual as Ishizu walked purposefully to the palace dungeon.  She nodded to the guards who let her pass without trouble, they were accustomed to members of the magic council coming and going all hours of the night.  Footsteps echoing down the barren halls, Ishizu made her way to Onuris' cell.  Upon approaching the cell, she heard a faint mumbling.  'He must be praying to his heathen god for deliverance from the pharaoh's prison.'  As she drew up to the door, all fell silent.  It was as if something was absorbing all sounds.  Ishizu forced the butterflies from her stomach before opening the little door window.  She peered into the gloom and saw Onuris lying rigidly on the floor as if dead.  Adrenaline pumping, Ishizu dashed for the entrance, her heart a dull pounding in her ears.  Suddenly, a cloaked figure blocked her path.  Her call was cut short by a sudden pressure at her neck.  Darkness swallowed her mind.

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

            "My draw." [Fire Wall*]  'Drat!  It is not what I need!' "I place one card face down and end my turn."

            "Come on Yugi!  You can win this!" yelled the spectators.

            "I draw." [Pot of Greed]  "I play Pot of Greed, which lets me draw two new cards. [Magical Hats, Big Shield Gardna]  "Your move."

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

            "Ishizu! Ishizu wake up!"

            Ishizu slowly opened her eyes, wincing as the torch light aggravated the throbbing in her head.  "Uh. What happened?"

            "You were ambushed," said Sethos, standing nearby.  "The guards found you and called us."

            "Onuris?"

            "Gone," said Gahiji, down the hall near the empty cell.  "Whoever jumped you must have been his outside help."

            "They also had some magical knowledge," added Wosret, studying the door closely with the Eye.  "This lock was picked through magic, not force."

            "Was the prisoner still here when you came, Ishizu?" asked Shadi.

            "Yes, and no," she replied.

            "What do you mean?" prodded Chatha.

            "His body was still locked up, but I think his spirit had fled."

            "What makes you think that?" said Sethos.

            "As I was getting close to the cell, I heard him mumbling something.  At the time I thought he was praying but now I think he was casting a spell."

            "What kind of spell?" asked Wosret.

            "I'm not sure, but I believe it was either an astral projection spell or some sort of spirit teleportation."

            "Well, whatever it was, he still needed his body or else he wouldn't have sent someone after it," said Gahiji.

            Sethos grumbled, "We'd better find out what he's up to before"

            "Your highnesses," said an urgent guard, "come quickly."

            "What is it?" growled Sethos, still sore from all that had been going on.

            "Something is wrong with the pharaoh!"

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

            'The pharaoh still has no moves.  That will be his undoing.' [Two-Pronged Attack] 'Ugh, another useless trap card.' "I set another card face down to end my turn."

             "My draw." [Multiply] 'Almost there.  Just one more card.'  "I pass."

            "What are you waiting for, pharaoh?" [Restructer Revolution] 'He is saving his cards for something.  Well, I will just use that against him.'  "I play Restructer Revolution.  It takes two hundred points for every card in your hand from your life points.  Since you have been saving all your cards, it takes eight hundred!"

            A horseman brandishing a flaming torch appeared on field and galloped at Yami, throwing the brand at the pharaoh's feet, resulting in a burst of fire.

[Yami: 1600, Sebak: 2500]

            "I am through, make your move."

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

            The magic council rushed to the palace, finding the building in an uproar.  Sethos, being the pharaoh's right hand, took control of the situation immediately.  Some semblance of order had been restored as the six entered Yami's chambers.  The holder of the Rod promptly dismissed the cacophony of worried priests and servants clustered around the room before going to the head healer for answers.  "What's going on!" he demanded of the slight man.

            "Well, uh, the pharaoh was conducting evening ceremonies when he started to have headaches.  We finished up quickly, and he decided to sleep them off.  An hour or so ago, I sent one of my aides to check on him, and he told me the pharaoh was dead!  Of course I didn't believe such a thing, so went to look for myself.  I found the pharaoh in an unnaturally deep sleep.  I tried everything I could think of the rouse him, but nothing worked.  Meanwhile my aide spread rumors that the pharaoh was dead or dieing, which is what caused all this commotion.  I'm sure it's nothing serious.  The pharaoh probably just took something for the pain."

            "Hm," mused Ishizu, thoughtfully, "I wonder…"

            "What is it?" asked Shadi.

            The keeper of the Tauk turned to the healer, "At what time are the evening services held?"

            "They are held around the seventh hour.  Why?"

            "Where is the pharaoh now?"

            "In his bed resting."

            "Let me see him."

            The seven of them slipped into the pharaoh's bedroom, Ishizu moving to the bedside to get a closer look.  Yami was stiff and pale, his face frozen in a tense frown.  One look and Sethos went rigid with anger; he could not bear to see his lifelong friend like this. 'Whoever did this will pay,' thought the priest, 'they will pay…'

            "Gods, no wonder that aide thought he was dead!" exclaimed Gahiji.

            "He does look dead," said Wosret.

            Shadi looked at Ishizu, who was shaking her head.  "Do you know something?" he asked.

            "This is exactly what Onuris looked like when I saw him.  That traitor has pulled the pharaoh's soul from his body."

            "What!" they all cried in unison.

            "Where did he take him?" insisted Sethos angrily.

            Suddenly the Puzzle began to glow.  "I think we're about to find out," said Ishizu.

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

            "It's my draw!" exclaimed Yami. [De-Spell]  "Now you loose!  I activate Valkyrion's special effect: I can tribute him to bring the three magnet warriors back from the graveyard.  Return, my monsters!"

            Valkyrion glowed briefly, and then separated back into Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.  "So," said Sebak, "now you do not have your defense."

            "I'm not through!  I sacrifice my magnet warriors for my all-powerful monster, Slifer the Sky Dragon!" [X000/X000]

            "Sli…Slifer…They made the god monsters into cards?"

            "Yes, now come forth Slifer!"

            The field was once again covered with an oppressive cloud, but this time it was not smoke, but a thunderhead.  With lightning flashing and thunder booming, the giant winged snake body of the Egyptian god monster Slifer the Sky Dragon descended to earth.  It positioned its serpentine form around all of Yami's side of the field, its giant double-mouthed head hovering above the pharaoh.  "If you don't know," said Yami, again resuming his old victorious character, "Slifer gains one thousand attack and defense points for every card in my hand, and since I have four cards, that means Slifer has four thousand attack points, more than enough to face your dragon."

            "No, my Dragon!"

            "Go Slifer!  Attack his Dragon of the Hellmouth!"

            The giant god monster reared back its head, roaring mightily before unleashing its attack.  Lightning flashed as the flames engulfed the hell beast.

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

            With a final bright flash, Yami awoke from his slumber, exhausted.  He looked up and saw all his friends around him, which made him feel much better.   Sethos approached on the opposite side of the bed from Ishizu.  "Yami, what happened?  Are you all right?"

            "Yes, I'm fine."

            "Was it Onuris?" asked Ishizu.

            "Onuris?  No, it was another being, something strong and wise.  He warned me of a coming evil and how to defeat it."

            "A coming evil?" asked Sethos.  "Who could it have meant?"

            Yami looked unwaveringly into his friend's crystal blue eyes.  "The Desert Shadow."

            Ishizu's recollection was suddenly broken by her driver's voice.  "We're almost there."

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

            Sebak sat at a knee, his most powerful monster nothing more than a steaming pile of ash on the field.  Yami watched him smugly from across the field, his dragon floating protectively above his head.  "Have you had enough, spirit?" he asked.

             Sebak pushed himself up, allowing his true features to appear.  The others gasped as their friend was covered in gleaming gold scales and the long claws and horns sprouted form his body.  Yami just stared at him.  "Have you figured out who I am?" said the dragon, his guttural voice a sharp contrast to Nabe's smoother tenor. 

            "No…" replied the pharaoh.

            "Well then, let me remind you!"

            The Manacle burst into a sickly dark light, pulling Yami and Sebak into the past…

            Onuris knelt at his makeshift alter, a single candle burned at the foot of the little stone statue.  'I have reached the point of no return, oh lord of the desert,' he silently prayed.  'I have made contact with your servants, who have served me well in return.  The pharaoh knows now, it is time for us to strike!  I entreat you, give me your strength to stand and destroy your enemies.'

            Almost as soon as the thoughts entered his mind, the little statue of a dragon began to groan and crack.  Its eyes cracked open, burning with an ill light, surveying its subjects.  It settled on Onuris, who was bowing low in submission.  //Servant, arise!  Let me see you in full. \\

            Onuris quickly complied.  "Will you fulfill by request, my lord?"

            //Oh I will do more than that.  You will be my bridge to this realm, my vessel.  My spirit will live alongside yours.\\

            "I don't understand."

            //I will live in you, we will be one.  My power will be your power.\\

            "Ye- yes lord.  I accept.  We will crush all opposition."

            //Good.  Now prepare! \\

            The stone dragon's mouth fractured open and a beam of dark red light shot out at the high priest of Set.  It struck his face, pouring into his eyes, mouth, nose, and ears.  Onuris' body convulsed violently for several seconds until the stream stopped, leaving him dazed and shaken.  //Now, my slave, take me to the pharaoh! \\

 ++++

            "Have you figured it out yet?"

            "No!  Let me out!  Now!"

            "Not until you know!"

++++

            Back in the pharaoh's chambers, the council was busy deliberating on what to do.  "Pharaoh, just what is this desert shadow?" asked Chatha, absentmindedly balancing things in his Scales. 

            "There is a legend that before the gods gave birth to Egypt, even before the gods themselves existed, a race of all-powerful creatures roamed the chaotic swamp world of Nun."

            "Yes," said Gahiji, "they were the dueling monsters."

            "It is said that the gods, when they were born, banished them all to another realm.  It does not mention names, but our scholars believe the conquering gods were Amun, the father of the gods; Ra, the king of the gods; Khnum, the creator of mankind; and Sebek, the guardian of the Nile and protector of the pharaohs' power.  They fought for many days until only the strongest leaders of the beasts remained."

            "Let me guess," said Sethos as he oiled the long dagger hidden in the Rod, "the leaders were the god monsters." 

            "Yes, they were.  The ancient scriptures give no details, but it is certain that all of the god monsters were sealed into the Shadow Realm along with their weaker kin.  But they also leave some disturbing facts.  It is speculated that one of the god monsters, the supposed lord of monsters, made a pact with Sebek.  If he were to go quietly now, he promised the crocodile god Sebek he would grant him much power when he returned.  Sebek agreed and, the god monster went peacefully to the Shadow Realm, leaving Sebek with the credit for his demise."

            "Oh yes, now I remember," said Sethos, "but the question is, which of the god monsters is the king?"

            "That is the root for the desert shadow myth," said Yami.  "The scriptures are not consistent on the number of leaders, sometimes there are three, but other times there are four."

            "But if there are four," said Gahiji, "then there is a chance that the last one is the king!"

            "Yes, that is what I fear.  The scriptures are much defined on what the king will do.  Sethos?"

            "Yes, I have seen them.  They read: 'Out of the desert wind, comes the harbinger of doom.  On wings of shadow he covers the land in darkness, opening the portals to the realms of destruction.  Flesh of man, spirit of death, friend of all things evil.  Only the Light will ensnare the dragon, only hate can release the desert shadow.'"

            "I have seen it," said Ishizu, "the dragon will open the portals to the underworld, releasing all the demons the gods have fought so hard to destroy.  He will remove the barrier between this world and the shadows, letting the beasts reign free once again."

            "But what does the verse mean?" asked Chatha, "'Flesh of man, spirit of death,' what does that mean?"

            "It tells of how he will come," said Shadi.  "He will come in the body of a man, but his spirit will dwell in him."

            "Onuris," said Ishizu, realization finally coming to her.

            "'Only light will ensnare the dragon,'" pondered Wosret. "That must mean our Items."

            "Perhaps," said Yami, "but I don't think we'll have time to fully prepare."

            "Why not?" asked Sethos.

            "Because he is already here."

            Suddenly a guard burst through the throne room doors.  "Pharaoh!  The escaped prisoner is coming this way!  What should we do?"

            "Nothing, he is far too dangerous for you and your men.  Leave him to us," said Yami as he rose, walking over to a gilded chest to one side of the throne room.  He opened the Eye of Horus emblazoned lid and removed a single item.  It was a plain gold manacle, made from the same metal as the Items; the Eye of Horus was engraved on one side, just like the Items.  "Is that another Sennen Item?" asked Ishizu.

            "It was going to be," said Yami, "until I made the Puzzle.  Now it will serve a greater purpose.  Come, let's finish this."

            The seven Sennen Item holders filed out the door to face the dragon.

++++

            "Now do you remember?" demanded Sebak.

            "I recognize your face, or rather Nabe's face in that priest Onuris, and I know you must be this dragon they're speaking of, but is recall nothing from my past.  I only know what is told to me."

            "Well, then here is the rest of it."

++++

            Onuris stood before the palace gates, trembling with anticipation and fear.  /My lord, we have arrived.\

            //Good, now enter. \\

            /Yes, my lord. \

            The once high priest of Set cautiously pushed at the heavy gates, and, as if my magic, they swung open, crashing into their stoppers.  A line of guards greeted him, but for some reason, let him pass.  They just moved behind him, sealing off his escape.  'It doesn't matter,' thought the rebel, 'when the beasts are unleashed there will be no need for gates.'

            In front of the palace, the pharaoh and his friends watched the renegade priest approach them.  Yami stared at his as if he were a malignant bug to be squashed.  Onuris stopped at the palace steps.  "Onuris!" yelled Yami down to him, "'Bringer of the distant one.' That is what your name means, yes?"

            The priest just stared up at his nemesis.  "How fitting," continued the pharaoh, "that you who brings the shadow is named such.  But I have a better one.  From now on, you will be Sebak, a companion of Set the evil one."

            Onuris, now called Sebak laughed, "Ha!  You think names will mean anything after my master has his will done?  A name is nothing!  The Desert Shadow will rule the world!"

            "Not if we can help it!" cried Ishizu from her high position.

            "Ishizu," replied Sebak in a silky tone, "you once loved me, yet you betrayed me.  For the love we had, I'll give you a choice: join me now and serve the lord dragon by my side, or die with the rest of humanity."

            Ishizu looked at him longingly, she wished she could join him, but she had seen what his twisted mind had planned.  Her duty came first.  "You already know my answer," she told him firmly.

            "Of course, duty always before pleasure.  You could always ruin a moment with that attitude, though when I finally got you to break the rules, look what happened."

            "Give yourself up Sebak!" yelled Sethos, "We'll make your death quick and relatively painless."

            "No!  It is you who'll feel pain!  Say hello to your doom!"

            Sebak began to glow with a sickly dark aura.  All the guards back away as the deserter began to grow, his skin turning a pale gold color.  He stared down at them as he began to rise into the quickly darkening morning air.  "Now you fools, who will challenge me first?"

            Sethos raised the Rod, preparing a devastating magic attack when a beam of light cut through the mists, hitting Sebak full in the chest.  Sebak cried out, his voice now barely recognizable.  Ishizu stood firm, her hands spaced around the Tauk, still glowing from the residual magical energies from the attack.  He gave her one last look before the shadows claimed his soul and the dragon was reborn. 

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SilverD: We're short on time, so we had to end it here.

DWyrm: Better that leaving you in suspense for another few days, yes?

SilverD: Unfortunately, no one guessed what the mistake was in the last part of the duel.

DWyrm: The answer is: Red-Eyes Black Dragon is a 7 star monster.  We used it for a ritual sacrifice that required 8 stars.

SilverD: Like it matters anyway.

DWyrm: True.

SilverD: Ok, big chappy, hope you all like!

DWyrm: The end is coming…

SilverD: No time to do personal thanks, but BIG thanks to everyone reviewing!!!!!!!!

DWyrm: Um, yes.  Thank you.

SilverD: I don't think there were many original cards in this chap so we'll leave that section out till later.

DWyrm: See you soon!