Chapter Forty-Six: The Light of Courage
"Look, I know you want to go and help..." Joey began. After a new deck had been created, Yugi had declared he was going with Ryan and the Sages to stop Kaiba.
"It's not a matter of just wanting to help, Joey. I have to help. I helped caused this whole mess and now I have to help Ryan end it. Please understand," Yugi reasoned as he pulled the Millennium Puzzle over his new bulletproof vest.
"But it could be dangerous!" Teá argued.
"It doesn't matter. If I don't help, then I don't know how I'm going to live with myself. I helped put Saria in that hospital bed and I'm going to make sure that when she gets out of it, Kaiba'll be defeated," Yugi replied heatedly. Teá gasped at Yugi's change in demeanor.
"What you're saying is that we can't change your mind?" Tristan asked.
"That's right," Yugi replied as he stood up to leave.
"Then at least promise us you'll come back in one piece!" Teá said, nearly shouting.
"I promise."
"Good then get going!" Joey urged. Yugi nodded and he left the bridge. The teens watched as their best friend hopped into a waiting drop ship to be taken to the tower that had been dubbed the 'Shadow Tower'.
Yugi! Please come back to us in one piece. Teá prayed as the ship took off.
ABOARD THE DROPSHIP...
"You nervous kid?" Darunia grinned. Yugi looked up to the Goron leader.
"A little," Yugi admitted.
"Good. It means you're focused and you better be sure you're on your toes when we arrive at the tower."
"I know but I have to ask. Why are you here?"
"There's no way me, the Sages or the Floyds would let you go in alone. Besides, you're going to need us."
"How are you going to help us?"
"Yugi, our magic is necessary. Only we can pierce the barrier of shadow that surrounds the tower. Once the barrier is down, we'll go in to make sure things are safe," Soukan replied.
"We'll let you and Ryan handle Kaiba during your duel," the Zora Sage, Zoran added.
"What are you guys going to do while we duel?" Ryan wondered.
"We'll hold off any external threats," Michael said.
"OK. We appreciate what you're doing for us," Ryan replied.
"Heck, no problem. It's what we Sages do," Jennifer said kindly. Yugi then stared out as the ship neared the tower entrance.
I don't know who you are or what you think you are, but I will stop you evil spirit and I will save Saria and all of mankind. Yugi vowed as the ship landed.
BACK IN THE COURAGE X...
"They've landed," Mr. Floyd reported.
"Well, this is it. If Ryan and Yugi can't stop the demon possessing Kaiba, then who knows who can?" Ashley admitted as she stared back down at the still form of Saria. It was then Ashley noticed Saria's eyes had weakly opened.
"Saria? Are you awake?" Ashley asked softly. Saria painfully craned her head to see her Gerudo friend.
"Oh Din! She's awake!" Ashley said, getting up hastily. She ran out into the corridor and shouted for the others. Moments later, doctors were examining Saria.
"She's extremely weak from the blood loss but now that's she awake, we can finally administer some meds to make her pain more bearable," A doctor told the group as he prepared a syringe. Saria was too weak to reply as he put the needle in her arm and administered the clear medicine.
"Saria, you need to sleep understand? Your body is still trying to recover after the severe blood loss you experienced. So go straight back to sleep," the doctor ordered.
"Doctor?" Saria mumbled.
"Yes, go back to sleep," The doctor replied.
"My dad... Where's Dad...?" Mr. Floyd knelt at her side.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Demon... possessing Kaiba... Not one... There are two..." The medicine then became too strong for Saria to fight and she promptly fell into a deep sleep.
"Mr. Floyd? What did Saria say?" Teá pressed. Mr. Floyd stood up.
"I'm not sure," Mr. Floyd told the group.
"Excuse me Mr. Floyd. You should leave Saria to rest," The doctor interrupted.
"Yes of course. Come on everyone, let's leave," Mr. Floyd said, ushering the teenagers out of the room, leaving Mrs. Floyd alone with Saria.
It's good to know Saria's alive. Now if Ryan were here... Then things would be perfect, but he has a job to do. Becky thought as she prepared herself for a nap too.
BACK AT THE SHADOW TOWER...
"Tell me guys. What kind of tower has no guards, booby traps or obstacles?" Ryan asked. Entering the tower had been simple enough. The Sages had to destroy a barrier but otherwise, there was nothing in the tower. They had just entered the main hall and found there was nothing in it but a single elevator that the group was taking upwards.
"I know. It's almost as if the demon possessing Kaiba wants a rematch with you." Nate replied, his blue eyes scanning around nervously.
"Yeah, and he's going to get the rematch of his life," Ryan declared looking at his watch. It was then the elevator stopped on the roof. Everyone looked around and saw a large dueling arena and Kaiba waiting, duel disk prepped.
"Welcome," Kaiba greeted as the group approached him.
"Kaiba or should I say demon? Well no matter! I challenge you to a duel!" Ryan challenged.
"Ha! What a joke! I guess your friends never told you what happened when your fool friend Yugi tried to duel me! I crushed him with Ganondorf the King of Evil and I'll do the same to you if you desire!" Kaiba laughed. Ryan scowled.
"Can it! I've had enough of your evil ways! You put my sister in that hospital bed and now I'm going to put you in one. Only you won't be recovering! Got it?" Ryan shot.
"Then draw your cards and lets begin this Shadow Game!" Kaiba declared as Ryan ran to the arena and stood on his side. Both players cut and shuffle their own decks and drew their opening hands.
"Well, since this is my tower, I'll go first. I summon Familiar Knight (1200/1400) in defense mode and I'll set one card facedown to end my turn," Kaiba declared, summoning his silver armor, red cape bearing knight to the field. It held a shield and sword in defense.
"Is that all you got?" Ryan asked as he drew a card. He looked at the card in his hand and grinned.
"Because I got better! Say hello to the card Joey loaned me: Gearfried the Iron Knight (1800/1600)!" Ryan added, summoning Joey's monster, "Then I'll place two cards facedown. Now Gearfried! Tear his knight to pieces with power forearm strike!" Kaiba grinned as Gearfried cut down his knight.
"Thanks. By destroying Familiar Knight, you activated its special ability. Each of us now summons a new four star monster to the field," Kaiba explained as he reached for his hand, "And I summon the Rare Metal Dragon (2400/1200) in attack mode!" Ryan watched as Kaiba's four-legged spiky, silver horned dragon appeared on the field.
"OK, then I summon Four Sword Hero (1000/1000) in attack mode!" Ryan replied, summoning the boy swordsman.
That's the same card Saria used when she first played the Hero of Time against Cassidy. Yugi recalled.
"Now, watch a real master of cards at work!" Kaiba commanded, drawing his card, "I summon Peten, the Dark Clown (500/1200) in defense mode." Ryan watched nervously as Kaiba's French clown monster took to the field, sticking his tongue out through his happy facemask.
Why play a weak monster like that? He must be up to something! Ryan thought as Kaiba again reached for another card.
"Now I'll place one more card facedown," Kaiba said, grinning widely, "Now Rare Metal Dragon! Destroy his Gearfried with dragon battle rush attack!" Ryan frowned as the dragon ran forward, leapt into the air and curled up into a spiky ball that smashed Gearfried to pieces. Ryan recoiled as the dragon didn't stop and hit him too, reducing his life points to 3400.
"That's right! Cower at my feet you fool! And by the way, since this is a Shadow Game, I'm afraid to say someone you care about is about to suffer!" Kaiba gloated, creating an orb of darkness high in the air for all to see.
"What is that?" Yugi and Ryan asked simultaneously.
"See that orb? Well with it, I can see all that happens. Now, look carefully at who gets hurt when your life points drop!" The orb displayed a blond-haired girl lying in a hospital bed.
"Saria!" Yugi and Ryan gasped. She was gripping her heart tightly as she squirmed in agony.
"And just so you know, when your life points reach zero, the dark magic that now surrounds her heart will take her life!" Kaiba added. Ryan stared at Kaiba in shock.
Damn! So this is why Kaiba accepted my challenge! He's trying to get rid of the both of Saria and me all at once! Ryan thought as he drew a card.
"Kaiba! If you think you have the right to play with people and their hearts like they're your playthings, then you have another thing coming! I play Pot of Greed which lets me draw two new cards from my deck!" Ryan declared, adding two new cards to his hand.
I got Yugi's favorite monster, the Dark Magician, but in order to play it, I need to sacrifice two monsters and I don't have two monsters. Not yet anyway! Ryan thought.
"I reveal my facedown card, the Four Sword magic card!" Ryan said, revealing one of his two facedown cards, "This magic card uses my Four Sword Hero (1000/1000) to create three more Four Sword Heroes then it doubles each of their attack and defense points to 2000!" Ryan explained, his hero multiplying so that there were four, each wearing a different colored tunic.
Is Ryan going to summon one of his Triforce Destiny Cards? Yugi wondered.
"Now Kaiba, I sacrifice two of my heroes in order to summon Yugi's Dark Magician (2500/2100)!" Ryan continued, two of his swordsman clones vanishing to reappear as Yugi's magician.
What? That's not a Triforce Destiny monster! Kaiba thought slightly shocked that Ryan summoned his nemesis' favorite creature.
"Surprised? You should be! I'm not some amateur! I knew you were ready to stop my summoning so I had a change of plans. And judging by that bewildered look on your face, I'd say my plan worked perfectly! And now, Dark Magician! Attack Kaiba's dragon with dark magic attack!" Ryan commanded, thrusting a hand outward. Kaiba groaned as Ryan's monster approached and with a twirl of its green wand, it blasted away Kaiba's dragon, reducing Kaiba's life points by 100.
"Now, your dragon is history and someone close to you will get hurt!" Ryan declared.
"You're right, and believe me! I couldn't care less about the individual who I chose to act as my martyr!" Kaiba said, stepping aside to reveal his brother Mokuba chained to a metal post. He appeared to be in great pain.
"That's Mokuba!" Yugi realized, turning to Kaiba, "Have you gone mad?! He's your brother, your flesh and blood! Are you honestly going to sit by and let him get hurt?"
"Ha! This isn't your fight Yugi so stay out of it! If you're trying to appeal to my so-called human soul, well I'll have you know that I am in complete control of myself! There's no demon possessing me! He's only aiding me in getting what I want!" Kaiba replied, pointing a thumb at himself.
He's in full control! He's not possessed? Ryan thought taking in the new information.
I'm afraid he's right. Came a female voice from inside of Ryan's consciousness. Ryan closed his eyes in thought.
Who are you? Ryan asked.
A guardian spirit like the one that now fights to protect Saria. The voice replied.
That doesn't exactly answer my question.
Well, OK. I'm one of your ancestors and the first bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. My name is Zelda.
I figured that when you mentioned the Triforce of Wisdom. Zelda giggled.
Well, at least you have spirit. I'm glad that my Triforce Amulet ended up around your neck. Zelda replied, showing herself in a semi-transparent form that only Ryan could see.
But shouldn't you be Saria's guardian? I don't bear Wisdom's element.
Not so. Because of your parents, you have the power to bear both Wisdom and Courage. And because of that, you can now fully-control the Princess of Destiny. Now listen carefully... Zelda informed him.
"Quit stalling or you will forfeit!" Kaiba shouted at his adversary.
"Thanks Zelda, now come help me here!" Ryan mumbled, putting the Triforce Amulet into his hand. He raised it to the cloud-ridden sky.
"Ancient creators of Hyrule! Come to me! Give me my rightful power so that this one of darkness will not make Power his ally! Come so that Wisdom and Courage be this being's king!" Ryan chanted, his entire body glowing a soft green.
BACK IN THE COURAGE X...
"Hey, what's with you Teá?" Joey asked. Teá's hand began to glow a soft yellow.
"I have no idea," Teá replied, staring at her glowing hand. It was then the light gathered in the palm of Teá's hand and formed a circular yellow medallion. Mrs. Floyd gasped at the symbol on the shining medallion.
"That's the Medallion of Light, the symbol of the Sage of Light!" Mrs. Floyd gasped, taking Teá's hands into her own. Teá stared at the woman in shock.
"What does that mean?" Joey asked, slightly curious.
"It means we need to get Teá to the Shadow Tower quickly," Lance replied.
"What? The Shadow Tower? Are you crazy?" Tristan shouted.
"Please, the fate of the entire world could depend on it!" Mrs. Floyd pleaded.
"She's right!" Teá added, looking over her worried her friends, "I can't explain it, but I have a feeling Yugi and the others need me. Please understand."
"OK, but if you're going, so are we! We're not leaving our buddy got it?" Joey declared, glancing at the adults. Lance nodded.
"OK, but I'm drivin'," Lance smirked.
BACK AT THE SHADOW TOWER...
"What's going on?" Yugi asked the Sages.
"He's drawing power from the Triforce of Courage and his Triforce Amulet!" Soukan replied in awe as incredible amounts of energy drew towards Ryan until his entire body glowed a bright gold. Everyone watched as Ryan's hands became covered in leather gauntlets and his tennis shoes turned to brown leather boots. Ryan's jeans turned a darker shade of blue and silver kneepads appeared. But what scared Kaiba was the new-hardened stare on Ryan's face that stared Kaiba back. It was the not the same as the one that had he had faced moments before.
"Kaiba! Your reign of evil is about to end!" Ryan shouted, his voice more commanding like Yami's. Kaiba shook out of his reverie.
"Ha! You think changing your clothes will stop me? You're even dumber than I thought. Now, lets continue with our duel! Now, you may have destroyed my dragon, but I still have Peten the Dark Clown on the field protecting my life points!" Kaiba replied coldly.
"Not for long! Four Sword Hero! Attack Kaiba's clown using the magic of my facedown card from Tristan: the Wide Formation magic card!" Ryan commanded, revealing Tristan's card.
"What is Wide Formation?" Kaiba asked. Ryan grinned.
"Glad you asked. This magic card lets me combine my two remaining Four Sword Heroes into the new monster, Four Sword Hero, Wide Formation (2200/1700)!" Ryan explained, one of his heroes, now standing more closely to the other, "This new monster has the special power to destroy any number of magic or trap cards when I destroy one of your monsters! So go Four Sword Hero, Wide Formation! Attack Kaiba's clown with wide double jumps attack!" Kaiba stared in shock as the new monster leapt forward and cut his monster to shreds, destroying it.
"Now, since your clown was a level three monster, I'm permitted to destroy up to three magic cards on your side of the field and so say goodbye to your two facedown cards!" Ryan declared.
"Hold on! You destroyed my dark clown so I can activate my Deck Destruction Virus trap card which will automatically destroy ten of your deck cards!" Kaiba interrupted, revealing his trap card.
Oh no! That trap could destroy one of Ryan's Triforce Destiny monsters! Yugi thought.
Hold on Yugi! Look at Ryan's face! Yami said. Yugi looked at Ryan and couldn't help staring at Ryan's eyes.
I can sense great Courage coming from him. Yugi admitted.
Yes, and I think he let Kaiba activate his trap card for a reason. Yami added as ten of Ryan's cards vanished to the graveyard.
"Well Kaiba, I must say that was a fine move. You sent one of my best cards to the graveyard so you got your what you wanted. Now take your turn," Ryan said calmly, masking his true intentions.
"Well, I must say you're pretty calm for a guy who lost twenty five percent of his deck to my trap card. But first, I must bring back an old friend. You may have destroyed my dark clown, but by removing the one in my graveyard from play, I can summon another to the field from my deck!" Kaiba began, summoning another clown, which again stuck its tongue out at Ryan.
"Now, I'll draw," Kaiba said, drawing a card, "Now, I'll play Card of Demise which lets me draw five cards but if I don't use them in five turns, they'll go straight to the graveyard." Ryan watched as Kaiba drew five more cards. He stared at two of his cards intently and then began to laugh.
"Well Ryan, it's time for you to go meet Teran as I play the ritual card, Evil's Summoning Ritual!" Kaiba laughed, flashing his magic card.
This is it! If I can't stop him, this duel is over and the entire world will be at Kaiba's mercy. Ryan thought as Ganondorf took to the field and Kaiba discarded two cards from his hand.
"Now Ganondorf! Destroy Four Sword Hero, Wide Formation!" Kaiba commanded. Ryan grimaced as his two warriors were vanquished and his life points dropped to 1200.
"Well Ryan. It looks like you're in trouble. Lucky for you, I wasn't able to discard any dark-attribute monsters so Ganondorf only has 4500 attack points but next turn, I swear I'll take you down!" Kaiba declared, pointing his thumb downward at his opponent. Ryan stared upward in shock at the image of Saria writhing in agony at his mistake.
"One card. I need one card to make my plan work," Ryan whispered as he reached nervously for his deck. Yugi could see the anguish his friend was enduring.
"Ryan!" Yugi shouted. Ryan turned to his friend.
"You have to trust in the heart of the cards! It's the only way to save Saria!" Yugi continued. Kaiba however, had heard enough.
"Yugi! Shut up! For the last time, this doesn't concern you so stay out of it!" Kaiba shouted in anger. That was what Ryan needed to regain his focus.
"Nobody talks to my friend like that!" Everyone turned to see Joey, Teá, Tristan, Serenity, Mrs. Floyd, and the Dragmires standing in front of the Sages.
"Kaiba! You'll never win!" Tristan challenged.
"Ryan's gonna crush you!" Serenity put in.
"The light which Ryan possesses will destroy the darkness around your heart!" Teá added, raising the Medallion of Light to the sky. Kaiba's eyes narrowed at the sight of the teenage girl.
That fool girl Teá is the Sage of Light! I must end this and then destroy her if I'm to remain in Kaiba's body. The demon thought as Ryan drew a card. He stared at it and gasped.
I did it! Ryan thought eagerly as he stared at Kaiba.
"Kaiba! Prepare yourself as I play Monster Reborn and revive the Princess of Destiny (3000/3000)!" Ryan began, summoning back the Triforce Destiny monster.
"But how?" Kaiba asked.
"When you played your Deck Destruction Virus, you sent my princess to the graveyard, but now that it's back, I can use its special ability! I can discard one magic card from my hand in order to play a magic card and activate it without having to pay any costs!" Ryan explained. Kaiba knew what was coming.
"You plan to summon your Hero of Time!" Kaiba smirked.
"In the words of Joey, bingo," Ryan grinned, his Hero of Time appearing in between his two other monsters.
"Of course, even with their special abilities, they can't match my King of Evil and his power. You summoned your monsters in vain!" Kaiba shouted. Ryan smiled.
"Not so. For the Hero of Time has one special ability only I can bust out on you," Ryan replied, "Hero of Time! Princess of Destiny! I sacrifice you and offer your power to Yugi's Dark Magician!"
"What?" Kaiba gasped, as the two Triforce Destiny monsters went limp and they began to glow white. That glow then combined with Yugi's Dark Magician.
"What's going on?" Yugi wondered.
"That's what I'd like to know," Joey replied as the Dark Magician continued to glow.
"Kaiba! My two monsters have infused their powers to my Dark Magician, transforming him into the creature that will bring about your demise!" Ryan explained as the Dark Magician was enveloped in a fierce explosion of white light that blinded all.
"What are you summoning?" Kaiba demanded as the light began to reveal a new monster. The new monster was Yugi's Dark Magician except its purple robes were now a shining white and it wore a golden cape. In its left hand was the Hero of Time's sword and in the other was the Princess of Destiny's scepter. Kaiba noticed that Ganondorf was shaking in fear of the new monster. It was then Teá walked to Ryan's side.
"Kaiba! It is time you paid for your crimes towards the innocents of this land," Teá said.
"And we'll make sure it happens with my monster, Paladin of Light, Envoy of Hope (25000/25000)!" Ryan added, pointing at his new monster, "My new magician of light has the special power to absorb the attack points of every light monster played in this duel and add the power to my life points." Kaiba watched as Ryan's life points rose greatly to a whopping 10100.
"Now I have enough power to destroy Ganondorf and wipe out your life points! Paladin of Light, Envoy of Hope! Attack Kaiba's King of Evil with sword strike magic of evil's bane!" Ryan commanded. Kaiba watched as the magician began drawing white magic power into its weapons, splitting the clouds in the sky. As the energy gathered, the wind began to whip up and tower began to shake.
"Ryan! I will not be defeated!" Kaiba shouted defiantly.
"You've already lost! Paladin of Light, attack!" Ryan commanded. Everyone watched as the Dark Magician rushed Ganondorf, firing magic from its scepter to paralyze him. Then it struck Ganondorf down, destroying it. The magician then turned on Kaiba's clown and did the same thing.
"Now Paladin of Light, Envoy of Hope! Attack Kaiba's life points directly and end this nightmare!" Ryan shouted, beginning to glow green again. Kaiba stepped back in fear as the magician charged even more power into its staff and sword. Kaiba recoiled in agony as the mage pointed its weapons at him and fired a mighty burst of rainbow-colored magic that enveloped Kaiba and took his remaining life points.
BACK IN THE COURAGE X...
"Hey doc! Get a load of Saria's vitals!" Mr. Floyd said, pointing a thumb at the machine. After sensing Saria's pain, Mr. Floyd had come in to check on her and done all he could to ease her pain. But right now, things were different. Saria was wide-awake now and the color had returned to her pale face.
"I don't believe it! According to the machine, Saria's in perfect health now. Pulse is normal and her blood pressure is too. Even the blood loss isn't affecting her now. It's like God put more life in her," The doctor admitted.
"No. Ryan did. I can feel it but that's not all doc. Check this out," Saria said and she sat up with ease. She reached for the bandages around her torso and before anyone could protest, she pulled the ones near her chest off. Mr. Floyd and the doctor gasped. The bruises that were once there were all gone. Next, Saria pulled the one on her right arm. The cut that had been there was healed too. Not even a scar remained.
"Ryan healed me," Saria smiled as she stared past the two men towards the Shadow Tower.