Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Pearls' Secret

"I have to make this fast. I have to do this before she wakes," Mrs. Floyd said as she ran to her daughter's room. She opened the door gently and saw Saria sleeping. Her cut had been cleaned and treated and then the medic had put her to bed. Mrs. Floyd shut the door and grabbed her daughter's hand. She chanted a spell and Mrs. Floyd watched as the Triforce of Courage left Saria's hand and disappeared. The mark on the back of Saria's hand vanished only to reappear. But this time, the lower-left triangle glowed.

It is almost time. Mrs. Floyd thought. The Triforce of Courage will always be with her, but right now, Saria will have to learn how to use the Triforce of Wisdom and learn its deepest secrets. Mrs. Floyd then left the room. As she headed for the bridge, she couldn't help looking into Yugi's room. All of his friends had gathered around the bed, staring at the unconscious Yugi. His Millennium Puzzle lay at his bedside table. Mrs. Floyd then went on to the bridge where Commander Matson waited.

"Did you give it to her?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Did you send the Triforce of Courage to you know who?"

"It was tough. I still wish Yugi could have helped but I got it done anyway."

"You look tired."

"I am."

"Want to hear some good news?"

"I guess."

"The tournament is on hold."

"What?"

"You heard me. Hurricanes are all over the place. We're lucky. There aren't any near us right now."

"When will...?"

"Kaiba will tell them when it is safe again."

"Good. That gives us time to complete our mission. I'm going to tell them as soon as I take a nap." After that conversation, hours ticked by. Eventually, Yugi wearily awoke from his deep sleep.

"Yugi! You OK man?" Joey was the first to ask.

"Yeah."

"Summoning Slifer took a lot out of you huh?" Tristan said punching Yugi in the shoulder lightly. Yugi wearily nodded then gasped.

"Saria! Is she...?"

"She's OK. She's asleep right now. That fight took a lot out of her," Teran assured him.

"If she can't stand that fight, I fear she may not survive the next," Mrs. Floyd replied. Everyone stared at her. Her face was laced with concern and determination.

"Next? She's going to fight again?" Serenity asked.

"If things don't go well. Now, if you're up to it, follow me to the bridge," Mrs. Floyd simply said. Everyone was up to it and soon they had gathered at the conference table with Becky and Matson.

"OK, here's the deal. We're not doing research. We're here to save the world," Becky began.

"Say what? What's going on?" Joey asked.

"Let us explain. Many generations ago, a dark force led an army to conquer the Great Sea Islands. They killed and plundered all who got in their path until a brave hero with nothing but a sword appeared and challenged the army. The hero with the aid of seven Sages sealed the army and its leader away in a magical mirror. The hero then hid his sword and vanished. We're looking for that sword now," Matson explained.

"Why?" Serenity asked.

"Because we need it to vanquish the evil once again. I can feel the evil forces slipping free of their bonds. They are once again seeking to conquer the Great Sea Islands. If they did that, they might go on to conquer the world," Becky replied. No one liked that idea.

"Were those monsters back on Greatfish part of the evil forces?" Yugi asked. Becky nodded.

"Beyond a doubt. It is merely a sign of what is going to happen soon. I fear they will escape any day now," Becky replied.

"OK, so how do the pearls fit into this?" Tristan asked.

"Good question. We got a lead awhile back about the whereabouts of the sword. We heard it was hidden in the Great Sea near the Triangle Islands. We searched there and found ruins. We translated the markings found there and discovered that we needed the three mystic pearls," Mrs. Floyd stated, "We've spent fourteen long years searching for the treasures. It wasn't until the tournament began that we found them. Thanks to you, the world may not have to see dark times again."

"That's good, but how do we use the pearls?" Joey wondered.

"In the Great Sea, there are three triangular-shaped islands: Northern Triangle Island, Eastern Triangle Island and our destination, Southern Triangle Island. On each island is a statue. Each has a symbol that matches the symbol on the pearls. If we place the pearls on the matching statues, we can open the path to the sword. That's what we think. We can only wait and see," Matson said. It was then a deckhand shouted for them.

"Sir! We got a boat near the island. Someone's stranded," The deckhand shouted. Everyone gathered at the front window to see. A boat had been run aground on a triangular shaped island. Surrounding the island were giant balloon-like monsters that floated in the air. On the island was a lone figure. The person was dodging the flying monsters who were trying to knock him into the water.

"We have to get down there," Came Saria's voice. Everyone turned to see her in the bridge doorway.

"Lets help them out!" Saria urged. Everyone quickly shifted into gear as they neared the island. Yugi and Saria would fly down with Nayru's Pearl and try to help the individual while the Courage IX and some of the ship's crew would snipe the monsters, apparently called Seahats, from the safety of the ship.

"Lets go!" Yami declared and he and Saria summoned their Red Eyes Black Dragons to fly down. The night air felt exhilarating as the two neared the island. It was then Seahats flew into their flight path.

"Red Eyes!" Saria and Yugi urged. Both dragons fired their fireball attacks and obliterated two of the flying pests. But more quickly appeared, intent on blocking their path.

"Saria! Fly to the island! I'll keep these Seahats busy!" Yami Yugi declared. Saria nodded and soared over the Seahats. Some went to give chase, but green beams from the Courage IX discouraged them. The Seahats bull-headedly decided to charge Yami and Yugi.

"Time to fight back Red Eyes! Inferno fire blast!" Yami commanded. While Yami and Yugi kept the Seahats busy, Saria landed on Southern Triangle Island. The first thing she did was approach the unconscious boater. Saria felt for a pulse and knew the person was alive. Saria then remembered her task and approached the statue. It was brown in color and the 'eyes' of the statue began to glow a soft hue of blue.

"Oh Chosen One. Place the pearl of the goddess you now hold." A divine voice said. Saria's hands began to sweat as she placed Nayru's Pearl in the statue's hands and watched as the pearl began to glow even brighter. The entire statue then began to glow. Saria gasped as the statue's light began to clear the clouds and reveal a starlit night sky. Saria quickly jumped down and turned to see the statue's glow die down. Saria then curiously turned and saw the statue blow up and reveal a glowing blue crystal statue that resembled a dress-wearing maiden holding the pearl. The maiden's eyes looked lifeless but in the maiden's hair was two flowers. Saria watched as the maiden raised the pearl into the air and the pearl fired a blue beam to the north. Somewhere in the distance, Saria heard an explosion and saw a red glint. Before Saria could react, she heard another explosion to the east and saw a green glint. Saria then gasped as a green beam flew her way and hit Nayru's Pearl.

ON THE COURAGE IX...

"It's just like the ruins said. The pearls are forming a gateway," Becky said awed. On the radar, everyone could see that the colored beams joined with a red one to form an equilateral triangle each side being a different color: One red, one green and one blue.

DOWN ON SOUTHERN TRIANGLE ISLAND...

"Yugi! Over here!" Saria waved. Yugi had just finished off the Seahats and was now landing on the island. They were now standing over the unconscious boater who was starting to come to.

"Where? What happened?" The person wondered. The person was a female with long blond hair, seemingly purple eyes and wore a purple vest with a white T-shirt underneath along with purple shorts and stylish sandals. On one wrist was a diamond bracelet and the other wrist held a duel disk watch of the lavender variety. Yugi immediately recognized who it was.

"Mai!" Yugi said.

"Yugi! What are you doing here?" Mai asked.

"Long story," Yugi grinned as he helped her to sit up. It was then Mai noticed Saria.

"Who is this?" Mai asked. Saria held out her hand.

"I'm Saria. It's a pleasure," Saria said as she helped Mai to her feet. It was then Mai fell to her knees again. She was clutching her head.

"Mai! Are you OK?" Yugi asked.

"My head hurts a little but I'll be OK," Mai admitted as the Courage IX flew overhead.

"One of the those Seahats must have hit you pretty hard. We should get back to the Courage IX," Saria realized. Yugi nodded and Mai was in too much pain to disagree. They mounted a Red Eyes Black Dragon and were soon leading Mai to a medical ward in the ship where a nurse could watch over Mai. Everyone waited nervously for the nurse's test results.

"Mai suffered a small concussion. Nothing serious, but she's going to have to stay awake and stay in bed," The redhead nurse told everyone.

"Someone should stay with her and make sure she stays awake," Matson recommended. Serenity stood up.

"I'll stay," Serenity declared. Teran stood up too.

"I'll stay too. It wouldn't be fair to leave you alone without some company," Teran added.

"OK. Get going," Mrs. Floyd said shooing them out of the room. She turned to the remaining teens when Saria's new Triforce and Yugi's Puzzle began to glow.

"What's going on?" Saria wondered.

"Look!" Matson cried. Everyone gathered at the windows and saw the Triforce mark appear within the colored beams. The mark then shrunk at the center and a bright light lit up the area and something began to rise out of the triangle. It was a large tower higher than any skyscraper Saria knew of. It was made of fine white and brown stone and the tower was adorned with ancient markings. The top had a small balcony and a doorway surrounded by connected arches was spotted at the bottom of the tower.

"I don't believe it..." Yami gasped, having merged spirits again.

"Believe it. That's the Tower of the Gods," Saria said, mystified by the large tower.

"Saria, how did you know the name of the tower?" Becky asked.

"I ...I don't know. The name just came to me from out of nowhere," Saria replied, staring at the Triforce mark on her hand. So far, Saria hadn't noticed the change of Triforce but she didn't seem to care either. It was almost as if she knew what had happened.

"Well, we have to climb that tower and find the sword," Matson declared.

"No, I have to go and find it with Yami's help," Saria said, somewhat in a trance.

My destiny has something to do with that tower. If I'm to meet my destiny, I must meet the trial of the gods. Saria thought as she and the others prepared to climb the tower and meet her destiny.