Chapter Forty-One: Dark Reflections

"It looks like my competition is arriving now," Kaiba mumbled, staring upwards at the approaching Courage X. He watched as it hovered over the two tiny hills of rock that were known as Bird's Peak Rock and the large brightly lit metal arena that Kaiba stood on.

It's time for me to see if the hero is a hero or a zero. Kaiba thought as Mr. Floyd, Yugi and Joey approached him.

"Kaiba! I'm here just like your messenger wanted. Now give me back my family or I'll..." Mr. Floyd shouted.

"Or you'll do what?" Kaiba shouted back, "I hold two of their lives in my hands." Mr. Floyd advanced on Kaiba.

"Two? Wasn't it you who kidnapped my wife as well?"

"Of course. But her life isn't what you should be concerned with right now. You should be more concerned about the lives of your kids."

"Saria? Ryan?" Mr. Floyd gritted his teeth in anger, "What have you done with them?" Kaiba pointed to his right. Mr. Floyd turned and gasped at the sight. Hanging hundreds of feet in the air separated from one another and surrounded by energy barriers were the unconscious twins. However, they weren't alone. Large birds with blue bodies, gold tail feathers and sharp beaks were trying to peck at the two only to be deterred by the shields.

"Saria! Ryan!" Mr. Floyd cried out. He turned to Kaiba and drew the Master Sword.

"Now hold on old man. If you hurt me, the metallic cables holding them airborne will be released and they'll drop to the rocks below where those Kargorocs will get a nice tasty Floyd-style meal," Kaiba grinned. Mr. Floyd lowered his sword.

"What do you want?" Mr. Floyd asked, sheathing his sword.

"Not much, just the chance to wipe out all of my enemies at once and get what I deserve."

"You deserve to have your head severed from your body."

"Watch it! Now, about what I want... I want to challenge Yugi to a duel and if he wins, I'll let your kids go."

"And should I lose?" Came Yugi's voice. Kaiba grinned.

"You will give me Slifer the Sky Dragon and Mr. Floyd will hand over the Triforce Destiny Cards."

"You want me to bet two innocent lives against five rare cards? Are you crazy?" Mr. Floyd demanded.

"It depends on what you call crazy," Came Joey's scalding tone.

"I didn't ask you Wheeler! Now, are you going to accept my challenge or will throw your kids' lives away quite literally?"

"Hold on! If anyone's going to duel, then count me in too!" Joey declared.

"Why should I include you in this mess Wheeler? Are you counting on your luck to save you again? I crushed you the last time we met in the arena," Kaiba reminded him.

"Then what have you got to lose? You can finish me off for good then won't ya?" Joey taunted.

"Good point." Kaiba grinned.

"There's something I don't get though Kaiba. If you want to remove all your enemies at once, then what are you going to do with me? I have no direct involvement in this whole scenario," Mr. Floyd noticed. Kaiba grinned.

"Actually, you have the biggest role here." It was then the metal platform shifted and Yugi, Joey and Kaiba were lifted high into the air.

"Just so you know, you'll be dueling too. Just in a different way. While we duel it out up here, I've arranged for you to reunite with some old friends of yours I found in your databanks and should your 'meeting' not go well, well then you figure it out!" Kaiba shouted, laughing. The entire arena then became encased in a green energy field and monsters emerged from gaps in the metal floor. Mr. Floyd gasped as iron-covered knights, Miniblins, Bokoblins, ChuChus of the red and green variety, and simple shadows with red eyes overshadowed them all.

"I hope your swordsmanship is as good as your reputation boasts or you may find yourself regretting ever taking up the blade!" Kaiba taunted as the monsters charged. Kaiba then turned to the two duelists.

"Now for you two. It's time I got my revenge on the both of you for aiding that so-called hero!" Kaiba declared. Yugi activated his Millennium Puzzle and took on the form of Yami's taller, more confident self.

"How dare you insult my friend! Mr. Floyd is a great man and a better person than you'll ever be! He has everything you do but he doesn't care for all that!" Yugi interrupted.

"Yeah! Mr. Floyd cares for his family, not just his company! It's people like him that make the world worth living in! Kaiba! If you had to choose between fame, glory and power and your little brother Mokuba, then who would you choose huh?" Joey demanded.

"Why ask me when you already know the answer?" Kaiba evaded. Yami smirked.

"It's just as I thought. You can't answer me," Joey said, "Because you don't know! You love both equally!"

"You're wrong! The real thing I care about is being the alpha-male, the top dog, the cream of the crop! I want to be the best at everything I do but Yugi and Floyd stand in my way! Well, after this duel, that'll change. I promise," Kaiba warned. All three duelists prepped their duel disks and drew their opening hands.

Kaiba is definitely up to something. He usually gives a straight answer, not trying to evade the question like he was just doing. Well no matter, I have to put my questions aside for now and focus on the duel. Yugi thought.

Yes, and we have to be on our guard. According to Saria, Ryan and Tristan, Kaiba holds the Ganondorf Triforce Destiny Cards so we have to make this as fast as possible. Yami replied as he drew a card for their turn.

"I'll go first Kaiba. I place one card facedown and summon Alpha the Magnet Warrior (1400/1700) in attack mode!" Yugi said, placing his cards on the field.

"Now lets see what I can dish out!" Joey replied, drawing his own card.

Oh boy. I have to admit, Kaiba did manage to squeak out a victory last we met, but I'm a better duelist now. It's like Yugi told Kaiba at Battle City. You have to conquer the monsters in your heart and since Kaiba hasn't come to grips with his, he can never win. Joey thought nervously.

"I place two cards facedown and summon Panther Warrior (2000/1500) in attack mode to end my turn!" Joey declared, summoning his powerful warrior.

"About time Wheeler! Now watch a real duelist make his move! I summon Vorse Raider (1900/1200) in attack mode. Then I'll place two cards facedown," Kaiba said, summoning his rapier-bearing monster, "Now Vorse Raider, attack Yugi's magnet warrior!" Yugi smiled at Kaiba's attack.

"Hold on! I reveal my facedown card, Shield and Sword!" Joey interrupted, his magic card appearing on the field, "This magic card swaps the attack and defense points of all monsters on the field, making your Vorse Raider weak enough for Yugi's monster to pick it off!" Kaiba watched as the magic card took effect and his monster vanished.

"Wheeler! I'll get you for that!" Kaiba growled as his life points dropped to 7500.

"Yeah. That's what I figured you'd say. Too bad I won't let that happen," Joey said coolly.

"Now prepare yourself Kaiba as I summon Queen's Knight (1500/1600) to the field in attack mode!" Yugi warned Kaiba, his female knight appearing on the field beside his magnet warrior, "Queen's Knight! Alpha the Magnet Warrior! Attack Kaiba's life points directly!" Kaiba recoiled as the two sword-bearing monsters destroyed 2900 more of his life points, bringing him down to 4600 life points.

"Now Kaiba, you've lost almost half of your life points! Are you sure you don't want to surrender?" Yami asked.

"Never!"

"Too bad! I was kind of hopin' you might stand down but if you want to do things the hard way, then I guess we can't stop you," Joey sighed, drawing a card, "I sacrifice my Panther Warrior in order to summon Jinzo (2400/1500) to the field!" Kaiba groaned as the trap-destroying monster appeared in Panther Warrior's place.

"Jinzo! Attack rich boy's life points directly just like Yugi did!" Joey commanded. Kaiba fell to the ground as Jinzo's energy waves destroyed another 2400 life points.

"Man Yugi. This is too easy. He's not even a challenge!" Joey told his friend.

"I know. The evil surrounding his heart is clouding his judgment and that is why he is about to lose this duel," Yami said sadly, shaking his head.

"Yugi! Wheeler! This duel is not over yet! It's my move and unfortunately, it will be the end of one of you!" Kaiba announced, drawing a card, "I'll start off by playing the magic card, Enemy Controller. By giving up 1000 of my life points, I can take an enemy monster from you and control it like my own! I'll choose Wheeler's Jinzo!" The three duelists watched as a large game controller appeared and it shot a cord out that attached itself to Jinzo's torso. Jinzo then flew over to Kaiba's side of the field.

"My Jinzo!" Joey cried.

"Now, I'll summon Possessed Dark Soul (1200/800) in attack mode!" Kaiba's new monster was a simple flaming monster that sat Indian style.

"Now I'll reveal the facedown card, Evil's Summoning Ritual!" Kaiba declared, revealing a facedown card. Yugi, Yami and Joey gasped.

"In order for me to destroy you both, I must sacrifice my two monsters. Farewell Jinzo and Possessed Dark Soul! Now, I'll use their life force to open the portal between realms and unleash the greatest warlock in the history of Duel Monsters!" Kaiba boasted, both of his monsters vanishing into a black vortex that opened at Kaiba's feet, "Awaken my warrior! Help me destroy these interlopers, Ganondorf, King of Evil (4500/3500)!" The entire arena was enveloped in dark magic as a monster floated out from the dark vortex.

This is it! If we don't stop Ganondorf, we'll lose the duel! Yugi thought.

Yes and that means we fail our friends too! Yami reminded him as Ganondorf fully emerged and drew his large broadsword.

UP IN THE COURAGE X...

"What's that?" Teá asked, pointing to the Ganondorf monster on the monitor.

"That is the Triforce Destiny monster of power, Ganondorf, the King of Evil. That card has power to rival that of the Egyptian God cards," Commander Matson explained.

"Hey Tristan, you don't think Kaiba will... attack Joey... will he?" Serenity mumbled to Tristan. Tristan could see the fear in her eyes.

"It's OK Serenity. Joey's got Yugi down there to help him out and if that isn't enough, Commander Matson will think of something won't you Commander?" Tristan reassured her, looking towards their friend.

"You betcha. I have a plan that can very well save Yugi and Joey from Kaiba's monster," Commander Matson grinned, "The moment Kaiba makes his move, we move in."

BACK IN THE ARENA...

"Now that I've got my ultimate warrior on the field, you two don't stand a chance! Ganondorf, King of Evil, attack Wheeler's life points directly with your Triforce power sword of darkness!" Kaiba commanded. Joey stood firm as the dark warrior charged its sword with magic.

"Hold on! I activate the trap card, Ultimate Offering! By paying 500 life points, I can summon a monster that'll defend my life points!" Joey interrupted, revealing his facedown card, "And I'll summon to the field my Battle Warrior (700/1000) in defense mode!" Joey's monster appearing on the field in time to intercept Kaiba's attack. Kaiba smirked.

"You fool! Don't you realize that Ganondorf was summoned by sacrificing two monsters of darkness? That gave it two spell tokens," Kaiba pointed out. Tied on to Kaiba's monster's belt were two leather pouches, "Every time a dark-type monster is summoned or sacrificed, my Ganondorf will gain tokens that I can use to activate his special abilities! I'll show you one such power now! By sacrificing one spell token, Ganondorf can inflict battle damage even when your monster is in defense mode!" Joey grimaced.

"That means I'll lose the duel on this attack!" Joey realized.

"About time you figured it out! Ganondorf, take out Wheeler like you took out that fool friend of his!" Kaiba commanded. Joey cried out in fear as Ganondorf gutted his monster and rushed him, Battle Warrior still hanging on his sword.

"Hold on Kaiba! Activating teleportation field now!" Came Commander Matson's voice over the Courage X's loudspeaker. Joey's body was enveloped in a bright green light and he vanished just before Ganondorf attacked.

IN THE COURAGE X'S BRIDGE...

"Ah don't!" Joey cried out, huddling in fear, not realizing what was going on.

"Joey!" Serenity cried out. She rushed past everyone and hugged her big brother.

"Serenity? Guys? What happened?" Joey asked, slightly confused.

"You were just about attacked by Ganondorf remember?" Teá replied.

"Yeah, it was lucky that Ashley was able to loan her power to the Courage X's teleportation unit," Sabrina said, pointing to her sweating daughter. Her shirt was soaked with sweat as was the rest of her face. Joey turned to her.

"Thanks. I don't know exactly what happened, but if you helped out, then I'm glad you were there," Joey smirked. Ashley smirked back.

"Yeah, well you needed me. My Triforce of Power's magic was the only thing powerful enough to break through Kaiba's energy shield," Ashley groaned. She rubbed her face and looked to her worried father.

"Dad? I feel so hot," Ashley admitted. Lance nodded.

"Loaning your power has taken its toll on you. You haven't had the proper training on how to control your powers yet. Just rest OK?" Lance replied, kissing his child on the forehead. He then stood up and looked out the bridge's window to the arena below.

"I think it's time I joined the battle," Lance announced.

BACK IN THE ARENA...

Damn! I can't hold up much longer! Mr. Floyd swore as he slayed another iron knight. The monsters were relentless in their attacks, trying to ambush him only to run into his magical sword and shield.

I hope Yugi and Joey are faring well against Kaiba because I fear if they don't stop him soon, I'll lose my kids to him. Mr. Floyd thought as he slashed at a Miniblin.

"Yugi! You don't stand a chance! My Ganondorf is already powerful enough to wipe out your monsters and your life points!" Kaiba boasted, his eyes alight with evil.

"Not so. Your monster has 4500 attack points and my two monsters have enough attack and defense points to protect me even if you attack with your so-called ultimate warlock," Yami noticed. Kaiba smiled even further.

"Is that so? Well if you want to know, Ganondorf gains 1000 extra attack points for every spell token he has equipped," Kaiba said, looking at his monster fondly, "What do you have to say to that?"

"Not much except watch my next move," Yami replied calmly, drawing a card, "Since Joey played Ultimate Offering, I too can give up 500 life points for an additional summoning and I shall summon Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts (1500/1200) in attack mode!"

"What good will that card do you? My Ganondorf still has enough attack points to destroy any monster you have and wipe out your life points."

"Not so! Watch now as I sacrifice my magnet warrior, my knight and my Gazelle in order to summon a monster whose powers know no bounds!" Yami warned, raising a card to the sky. Everyone watched as the card was struck by a bolt of lightning and made Yugi's body glow bright red.

I remember this! Kaiba thought.

"Prepare to experience a power like no other Kaiba! Slifer the Sky Dragon (X000/X000) come forth!" Yami Yugi shouted, placing his card onto his duel disk. The sky turned black as lightning struck around the island and shook everything but the duel arena.

"What's going on?" Mr. Floyd wondered. The monsters had stopped their attack to see lightning strike the energy shield and shatter it.

"No my shields are down!" Kaiba screamed as thunder rumbled all around like a war drum line.

"Yes and soon you will go down with them! Slifer! Arise and show yourself now!" Yami urged. Behind him, lightning struck down and the light emanated from the bolt took on the form of Yugi's great dragon. Its mighty roar made Kaiba shake in fear.

IN THE COURAGE X'S BRIDGE...

"Look at that!" Joey exclaimed, the Egyptian God monster appearing, its long body wrapping around the island and the arena's base.

"It looks like Yugi got a monster on the field that can match Kaiba's Ganondorf," Commander Matson noticed.

"Yeah," Teá breathed.

Yugi, please stop Kaiba before anyone else gets hurt. Please come back to our friends and me alive. Teá prayed as she stared at his cold face through a telescope.

BACK IN THE ARENA...

Kaiba was laughing hysterically.

"Yugi! I shouldn't say I'm surprised that you managed to summon Slifer the Sky Dragon but I am surprised to say you summoned it when your move was in vain! Your dragon's attack points are only 3000! With one swing of Ganondorf's sword, I can destroy your dragon and a good chunk of your life points," Kaiba noticed.

"Oh really. Perhaps you've forgotten about my facedown card? Allow me to show it to you! Behold my Pot of Greed!" Yami taunted, showing his facedown card.

"Not Pot of Greed!" Kaiba recoiled.

"Yes! My Pot of Greed lets me draw two cards from my deck and since Slifer gains 1000 attack and defense points for every card in my hand, my monster will be powerful enough to destroy your warlock!" Yugi replied, drawing two cards. Slifer's body glowed as it gained the 2000 extra attack and defense points.

"But that still isn't enough! Your sky dragon has only 5000 attack points while my King of Evil has 5500 attack points!" Kaiba stuttered, "My king can still win!

"Not so! You're so shaken up by my sky dragon that you won't win no matter how many attack points your warlock or my dragon has!" Yami shouted, pointing at Ganondorf, "It's your move, but I warn you! Attacking my dragon will be a grave mistake!"

This is it! Unless Kaiba's facedown card is powerful enough to stop my sky dragon, this duel is over! Yugi thought nervously as Kaiba drew and studied the field.