- 4 -

During the morning hours, servants came and went as the Pharaoh called for Seto, then Meritaten and finally Yugi.

At mid-day, they were all invited back to the Great Hall for a celebration feast. Music was played, dancers danced and acrobats tumbled. Neither Kaiba nor Meritaten were in the mood to celebrate.

The tables were cleared and moved. Kaiba and Meritaten were called before Pharaoh. Osorkon's voice called out, "You both were offered positions with the Pharaoh. You both have refused."

Kaiba arms crossed defensively and his eyes narrowed. Meritaten's face was set as in stone.

"Though usually the penalty is death, Pharaoh has commanded leniency as you both have fulfilled the quest to bring him back. But he cannot allow defiance to go unchecked." Osorkon looked at them both. "Again, the positions are presented to you. Will you accept them?"

They both slowly and purposefully shook their heads – no. "Then as punishment you must duel each other in a Shadow Game."

A small girl ran to Meritaten with the deck she hadn't played in six years and Mokuba brought Seto his. "Good luck, Seto," he whispered to his brother and returned to his seat. Pharaoh stood up and gestured. The Millennium Items flashed. The crowd became silent as the staging area formed with two pedestals facing each other. Pharaoh spoke, "In this Shadow Game, you must use the strength of your minds to create the monsters and effects of the cards. I suggest you don't lose your concentration," he added with a snide smile.

Kaiba and Meritaten took their places behind the conjured pedestals and drew their hands. Kaiba said, "I'll start." He drew his first card Armed Dragon LV3. "I play Cave Dragon (2000/100) in Attack Mode." He flinched as the Cave Dragon appeared and his mind fought to keep it there. "Your turn."

Meritaten pulled Pot of Greed. "I place this card face down in Defense Mode, then cast Pot of Greed, which allows me to draw two new cards."

"I know what it does." Kaiba growled, his mind was starting to adapt to the strain of keeping his monster in play.

Meritaten rolled her eyes at him. Arrogant fool, I'll knock him down a peg. She nodded with satisfaction as she pulled another Masked Dragon and the Ring of Destruction. "Your move."

Defense mode? What an amateur, this will be a short duel! Kaiba smirked as he saw his next card, the Yamata Dragon. "I play the Masked Dragon (1400/1100) in Attack Mode and cast Dragon Treasure." He equipped his Cave Dragon with his spell card. The weight of keeping up two monsters nearly drove him to his knees. Now with an attack of 2300, he had his Cave Dragon attack her face down card.

Her Masked Dragon was sent to the Graveyard and another Masked Dragon was special summoned in Attack Mode in its place.

A duel of dragons. Pharaoh was amused. Meritaten's going to have her hands full. Wonder if she is up to the challenge. He asked Osorkon, "What kind of duelist is Meritaten?"

"While she was here, she never lost a duel. But it has been six years, and she has never played a Shadow Game."

"Interesting. Kaiba has never lost a duel against someone without a Millennium Item. This ought to be good."

Meritaten's next card was the Malevolent Nuzzler spell card. "I cast Malevolent Nuzzler and equip it to my Masked Dragon. I also cast Stomping Destruction and take out your Dragon Treasure. I claim first blood for 500 of your Life Points."

Seto's body went ridged with pain. Then with bravado he didn't feel, he said, "Big deal, I am not concerned."

"I then attack your Masked Dragon and take 700 more." This time Kaiba let out a groan as pain shot through him. Kaiba's Masked Dragon was replaced by the Dragon Dwelling in a Cave in Defense Mode (1200/2000).

"Are you finished?" said Kaiba with apparent unconcern, though he was breathing hard.

"No, I place this card face down, then end my turn."

Kaiba pulled the Mystical Space Typhoon, which he cast on Meritaten's Malevolent Nuzzler. "I play this card face down, and now I sacrifice my two dragons to summon my Yamata Dragon (2600/3100)." Sweat was running down his face as he strained with the more powerful monster. "Yamata Dragon, attack her Masked Dragon."

Meritaten's Life Points were now tied with Kaiba's and the Red-Eyes Black Chick appeared on her side of the field in Attack Mode. Tears ran down her face as quiet whimpers sounded with each breath she took.

Kaiba was still talking, "Yamata's special ability allows me to draw cards from my deck until I have five in my hand." He drew three cards: a Blue Eyes, a Lord of D. and the Polymerization spell card. He then removed Yamata Dragon from the field back to his hand. "I end my turn." The relief of not having to hold the monsters on the field was exhilarating.

The third card she pulled increased her confidence. I can beat anything Kaiba throws at me with this card. It was the Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon. "I will play this card face down, then sacrifice my Red-Eyes Black Chick to bring out my Red-Eyes Black Dragon!" She felt as though her brain was going to explode. "Rrrred-Eyes," she stammered, "attack his Life Points directly." Kaiba was now down to 400 Life Points. Meritaten had just enough presence of mind to gloat. "I activate my Mind Crush Trap, and designate your Yamata Dragon." After taking a minute to recover from her attack, Kaiba put his Yamata Dragon in his Graveyard. "Now, I cast Super Regeneration and since I tributed my Red-Eyes Black Chick, I draw one card." It was Premature Burial. Almost there. "Your move, Kaiba."

He drew and triumph shined in his eyes, it was his last Blue-Eyes. He took a deep breath and gathered all his strength and will. "I cast Polymerization and fuse my three Blue-Eyes White Dragons to make the BLUE EYES ULTIMATE DRAGON! My Ultimate Dragon, take out her Red-Eyes."

As her monster was destroyed and her Life Points were hit, Meritaten screamed as her every nerve activated at once. The dragon retook its position above his shaking master. Kaiba had locked every muscle and joint just to stay standing. "I believe … it is … your turn," he said through gritted teeth.

As the pain ebbed and the strain on her mind lifted, Meritaten eyes filled with terror – she realized her mistake. I should have tributed my Red-Eyes Black Dragon the same turn I tributed my Red-Eyes Black Chick and brought out my Darkness Dragon. Now all she could do was draw from her deck – Call of the Haunted. Meritaten looked at her cards, Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, Premature Burial and Call of the Haunted. One turn, that was all she needed to correct her mistake. But it wasn't there. She had 700 Life Points, not enough for the Premature Burial and her Trap must be set.

"What's taking so long? You're not going to surrender, are you? Or are you waiting for my strength to fail me? I assure you, I will hold this dragon all day if I have to!" Kaiba goaded her.

She stared at Kaiba with loathing. I will not be beaten by the likes of Kaiba – I WILL NOT! "I activate my Trap card – Ring of Destruction!" The Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon exploded with a blinding light. As the vision of the audience returned, both of the competitors Life Points were zero and both were unconscious. The duel was a draw.